turn before sun-set.—No fraction, or any sum less than sixpence, to be demanded or paid.
For every hackney-coach hired, or kept by the day (not exceeding twelve hours), and before twelve o'clock at night, and not running more than twenty miles, the fare is eighteen shillings for each day.
Every hackney-coach hired, or kept in waiting for any time after twelve o'clock at night, and before six o'clock in the morning, for every distance not exceeding one mile, one shilling and sixpence; for every distance not exceeding one mile and a half, two shillings; and so on, adding sixpence to every additional shilling.—Ground or time may be taken by the coachman.
Distances not exceeding a mile, are one-shilling fares; not exceeding one mile and a half, are eighteen-penny fares; and not exceeding two miles, are two-shilling fares; between the hours of six o'clock in the morning and twelve o'clock at night.—Every coachman is compellable to go with any person desirous of hiring him, whether his coach is, or is not, on the stand, if he cannot prove that he is hired.
When the average price of oats shall exceed twenty-five shillings per quarter, the Commissioners may cause the following addition to the fares: upon every fare of two shillings, an additional sixpence; upon every fare of four shillings, an additional shilling; and so forth, upon every increase of two shillings. But, when the average price of oats is at, or under, one guinea per quarter, the following deductions must be made: sixpence from all fares between two shillings and five shillings; between five shillings and seven shillings and sixpence, one shilling; between seven shillings and sixpence and ten shillings, one shilling and sixpence; and from ten shillings, upwards, two shillings.
The penalties under the act for regulating hackney-coaches, are recoverable at the Hackney-coach Office, Somerset-place, Strand, where the Commissioners administer the most impartial justice between the hirer and the hired.
Stage-Coaches, are those appointed for the conveyance of travellers and property, from one city or town to another. The proprietors of these coaches are not liable to actions for the recovery of property lost by the coachman, if he take the carriage on his own account; unless such goods or parcels be properly entered into a book, and an adequate price be paid for them, if exceeding 5l. in value.
Mail-Coaches, are post-carriages of a peculiar construction, being lighter, more elegant, and not so liable to be overturned as the common stage-coaches. For a certain consideration, they carry His Majesty's mails; are protected by a guard; and subject to the regulations of the post-office. The time of their arrival and departure is fixed; they are restricted to four inside passengers; generally travel seven miles in an hour; and have been found very serviceable to the commerce and correspondence of this country.
COAL, in mineralogy, a solid, inflammable, and bituminous substance, commonly used for fuel: it consists of various species; the principal of which are:
1. The Lithantrax, or Pit-coal; a black, solid, compact, but brittle
