It will be noticed that then, as now, the Times, was a powerful organ for calling public attention to social grievances, and that people "wrote to" that paper as at the present time. We, in our time, know the little social inconveniences arising from staying at Hotels, where, not only does the proprietor charge for attendance, which we, no more than the writer of this letter, can understand is not included in his servants' wages—but we, also, if we want good attendance, have to "tip" the servants as well.
"To the CONDUCTOR of the TIMES.
"Sir,—Having frequent occasion to travel many of the principal roads of England, I have often witnessed the exorbitant demands of Inn-keepers, and the no less serious ones of their domestics, sanctioned only by custom, yet arisen to such a pitch as to become a burthen unable to be borne by the poor Tradesman who is obliged to travel to sell his goods, as well as an inconvenience to the person in middling circumstances of life, who, for his health, or otherwise, has occasion to travel. Grievances (the latter of which especially), are only suffered to exist from the disinclination people have to break through a custom, or to appear singular. Having hinted at the former, I shall only shew the nature, and point out a remedy for the latter. It is well known, that let an Innkeeper's bill be ever so exorbitant, you must not only comply with it, but also give the servants just as much as if it was reasonable: so that there is no end of the expence: for instance, if a man who has a horse, puts up at an inn, besides the usual bill, he must at least give 1s. to the waiter, 6d. to the chamber-maid, 6d. to the hostler, and 6d. to the jack-boot, making together 2s. 6d., and this to be repeated every night he lays on the road (I speak now of what's expected from those who appear in middling circumstances of life). The same expence in proportion occurs in the course of the day: at breakfast, you must give at least 6d. between the waiter and hostler. If the traveller only puts up to have a refreshment, besides paying for his horse's standing, he must give 3d. to the hostler: at dinner 6d. to the waiter and 3d. to the hostler: at tea 6d. between them, so that he gives away in the day 2s. 6d., which added to the 2s. 6d. for the night, makes 5s. per day on an average to servants. Thus he is putting his hand in his pocket from morning till night, not merely to satisfy the Landlord's demand, but to appease the croaking of domestics, who, it is well known, will let you see, or feel, their displeasure in some way or other if you do not, so that it is disagreeable to go to that inn the second time where you do not behave with profuseness at the first, and there is not only the above inconvenience, but also this, that after all your givings they are not satisfied, but often abuse you for your liberality. The following anecdote proves this:—Coming home from Colchester some time since, I put up at an Inn at Ingatestone, the Innkeeper's bill was as follows:—Supper 1s., beer 3d., bed 1s., horse and corn 1s. 7d.—together 3s. 10d. I gave away as follows: waiter 1s., chambermaid 6d., jack-boot 6d., hostler, the change out of 2s. I paid him for the horse, being 5d., together 2s. 5d., being 1s. 5d. less than the bill. Yet the hostler was so abusive, because I did not give him more than the odd 5d. change, that he actually threatened me that he would mark me if I came there again. I therefore did, what I wish every one would do in the like case, punish him on the spot for his insolence. I appeared to relent that I had not given him more, and desired him to give me the half-pence again that I might see for silver for him, which after he had done, I rode off, leaving him to repent he had not kept what I first gave him. It may be alleged that these servants have little or no wages, and therefore ought to receive liberally. Be that as it may, it is very hard that I am to pay wages to another man's servants. I pay the master his bill, in which he makes a charge sufficient to cover his servants' wages, and then he leaves me to pay his servants besides. If Innkeepers have nothing to pay for servants, their charges ought to be reasonable in proportion. But I would meet another objection that is likely to be made, which is, that what is given to servants at inns is not to be considered as wages, but as their perquisites. There are two answers to this, the one, that the very notion of perquisites, signifies something gotten over and above their usual wages, whereas it is notorious, that most Innkeepers allow their servants no wages: the other, that perquisites signify a gift, now a gift is free, and may be much, or little, as suits the inclination of the giver, but, according to the modern custom at inns, he is not permitted to use his discretion, but there must be a settled sum given to each servant, fixed as to the lowest quantum, though as much above that mark as he pleases, and, if he gives less than custom warrants, they have the impudence to tell him of it. Besides, why should Innkeepers, be exempted from paying their servants wages, any more than any other tradesman. If I go into a shop, to buy a few yards of any thing, I am not charged so much for the trouble of the shopman who cut it off. Tradesmen are contented to pay their servants out of the profit of their bills, without saddling it upon their customers: and I am fully persuaded, were travellers of all descriptions to withhold for a certain time their usual gifts to servants at inns, it would ultimately tend to the benefit of those servants themselves, as well as the comfort of travellers, for when the servants find their finances so low, they would insist upon, and would not hire themselves without stipulated wages, after which, travellers might again resume their former generosity, and what they then gave, would be looked upon in the light it ought, as a gift, and not a debt.
"A Constant Reader."
—(Times, Oct. 17, 1795.)
The following notices will show that, what with over-crowding, and bad roads, accidents were as frequent by road as they are now by rail—indeed, the per centage, considering the relative number of passengers, was much greater. The basket mentioned below, was a huge wicker work machine attached to the Coach, intended to carry parcels.
"Yesterday the driver of the Chelmsford and London Stage Coach, was convicted before the Magistrates at the Public Office, Whitechapel, in three separate penalties of 40s. each, for suffering more than six persons to ride on the roof of the said Coach.
"The owner and driver of the Bishop Stortford, and London, Stage Coach, was also convicted in the penalty of £4 for the same offence: and the driver of the Westham Stage Coach, in the same penalty, for suffering eight persons to ride on the roof of the said Coach."—(Times, Oct. 5, 1795.)
"In despite of continual and fatal accidents, not to mention the inferior consideration of pains and penalties, the Stage Coaches still continue to carry extra numbers on the outside. There were eleven on the coach, and box, of the Gosport Coach, beside the driver, and nine in the basket, on Thursday last."—(Times, Oct. 16, 1795.)
"The pavement in Bridge St. Blackfriars, which has been so long in a most dangerous state, has sunk near a foot more, within the last week, so that the roof of the main shore is every hour expected to give way."—(Times, Aug. 6, 1794.)