THE DOVER ROAD SKETCH BOOK. СНАР. І. LONDON TO GRAVESEND. PRELIMINARIES.-ROUTES TO DOVER.-BRICKLAYER'S ARMS. -KENT ROAD.-DEPTFORD.-GREENWICH.-BLACKHEATH. -WOODLANDS.-CHARLTON HOUSE AND GROVE.-VETERINARY HOSPITAL.-SHOOTER'S HILL.-BELLE GROVE.DANSON HILL,- WELLING.-BEXLEY HEATH. CRAY FORD. - DARTFORD. HORN'S CROSS. GREENHITHE.INGRESS PARK.-GALLEY HILL.-NORTHFLEET.-ROSIERVILLE.-GRAVESEND.-MILTON. THE most luxurious way of getting to Dover, is, doubtless, in one's own carriage (if we are fortunate enough to possess one), with post-horses; the next best mode, if we can afford it, is in a post-chaise. As, however, with the great majority of travellers, mere personal ease and pleasure are not the only considerations which influence their choice of route and mode of conveyance, the stage-coach is, with most persons, the obvious resource, than which, we believe, no other manner of journeying can be more cheap, more certain, or more independent and free from anxiety. There are still alternatives the steam-packets take passengers to Gravesend, (2s. after-cabin; 1s. 6d. fore-cabin); or to Herne Bay (6s. and 5s.); or to Whitstable (6s. and 5s.); and from either of those places the traveller may proceed on his road to Dover. Many persons may wish to know how; and we, therefore, postpone our A own trip, (which is destined to be along the beaten high road), to inform them— First, presuming the reader to have taken his seat in a Gravesend steam-boat-on reaching Gravesend, he may step immediately into one of the omnibuses, which continually ply between that town and Rochester. He may thus, if he leaves London at nine o'clock, rely on reaching Rochester by two, for the sum of 3s. 6d. (2s. the packet, and 1s. 6d. the omnibus). But here, at Rochester, 29 miles by land from London, his difficulties may begin; there are still 42 miles between that place and Dover, and no immediate mode of conveyance, except one of the coaches in which he might have ridden from London; and these, on passing through Rochester, may be full; he has, therefore, no certainty of reaching Dover that night. With those to whom delay is not of consequence, the case is very different. They need not post off to Rochester the instant they arrive at Gravesend; all they have to do is to resolve to sleep at Rochester, and until bed-time, to see all they can at both Rochester and Gravesend. (See our account of those places, end of Chaps. I. and II.) At nine o'clock the next morning, Pettit's van, (so called for "act of parliament reasons," because it carries luggage) which is, in reality, a neat omnibus, leaves Rochester for Canterbury, and runs the 27 miles in about four hours. A seat on the outside of this vehicle may be secured for 5s. On reaching Canterbury, if it is not thought desirable to remain for that day at a place where objects of interest abound, (see our description of this city, Chap. III.) the visitor may at once proceed, either by a long coach, or a pair-horse coach, (the latter from Herne Bay) at a moderate price. If he resolve on sleeping at Canterbury, Attwood's van, (a counterpart of Pettit's) leaves the city at nine o'clock the next morning, and will convey him with great comfort to Dover, by twelve, for the fare of 3s. 6d. The route to Dover, via Gravesend, by steam, therefore, can only be preferred by those who intend to make a plea |