moment, was drinking with the other witnesses under the pastoral
surveillance of the attorneys. During the night, or that part of it
which at sea would form the middle watch, he was driving. This
explanation certainly accounted for his drowsiness, but in a way which
made it much more alarming; since now, after several days' resistance
to this infirmity, at length he was steadily giving way. Throughout the
second stage he grew more and more drowsy. In the second mile of the
third stage he surrendered himself finally and without a struggle to
his perilous temptation. All his past resistance had but deepened the
weight of this final oppression. Seven atmospheres of sleep rested upon
him; and, to consummate the case, our worthy guard, after singing "Love
amongst the Roses" for perhaps thirty times, without invitation and
without applause, had in revenge moodily resigned himself to slumber--
not so deep, doubtless, as the coachman's, but deep enough for
mischief. And thus at last, about ten miles from Preston, it came about
that I found myself left in charge of his Majesty's London and Glasgow
mail, then running at the least twelve miles an hour.

What made this negligence less criminal than else it must have been
thought was the condition of the roads at night during the assizes. At
that time, all the law business of populous Liverpool, and also of
populous Manchester, with its vast cincture of populous rural
districts, was called up by ancient usage to the tribunal of
Lilliputian Lancaster. To break up this old traditional usage required,
1, a conflict with powerful established interests, 2, a large system of
new arrangements, and 3, a new parliamentary statute. But as yet this
change was merely in contemplation. As things were at present, twice in
the year [Footnote: "_Twice in the year_":--There were at that time
only two assizes even in the most populous counties--viz., the Lent
Assizes and the Summer Assizes.] so vast a body of business rolled