who lived in a lodging in the Clapham Road, tells how, amongst other
things, he used to sit in Garraway's Coffee House in the city to pass
away the time until it was time to dine, afterwards returning to his
lodgings in the evening.

But of all these references, Mr. Pickwick's mention of Garraway's in
his note to Mrs. Bardell is the one which will prevent its name and
fame from being forgotten more than any other incident connected
with it that we know of.

The "White Horse Cellar" from which the Pickwickians set out on the
coach journey to Bath stood, at the time, at the corner of Arlington
Street, Piccadilly, on the site occupied by the "Ritz" to-day. It
was as famous and notorious as any coaching office in London;
perhaps being in close proximity to the park and being in the west
end, more famous than any.

In those flourishing days of its existence it was the starting-point
of all the mails for the west of England, and was a bustling centre
of activity. It was, apparently, one of the "sights" of London,
for on fine evenings those with leisure on their hands would gather
to watch the departure of these coaches. The scene became more like
a miniature fair, with itinerants selling oranges, pencils, sponges
and such-like commodities, to the passengers and the spectators.

Mr. Pickwick chose to take an early morning coach, perhaps to avoid
the sightseers. In his anxiety he arrived much too soon and had to
take shelter in the travellers' room--the last resort, as Dickens
assures us, of human dejection.