Chapter IV: Part 4

and the Environs is as needful an Article in a Carriage, as a Compass in a Ship.

The size of this said Town of London is strangely changed since _Mr. Sorbiere_ wrote his _Journey to London_, 8vo. 1698, in p. 5 of which he says, “But that which makes the dwelling in the City of London most delightfully diverting, is the _extremely pleasant facility of walking out into the Fields_!!!”

“Happy were the Days then,
To what they is now.”

_Old Bawlit._

Now, instead of the Fields being come-atable with extremely pleasant facility! before you can put your Foot upon a blade of _Verdant_ Grass, (there is _Black_ Grass enough in the Squares), you must drag your Legs through a Grove of Houses of at least two or three Miles in length!

_The New Road from Paddington to Islington_ was, till lately, the Boundary line for limiting the ruinous rage for Building on the North side of the Town.--There is a _Ground Plan of the New Road_, from Islington to the Edgeware Road, shewing the then state of the Ground, (and the names of the Proprietors thereof) between Oxford Street and the New Road, in the Supplement to the _Gentleman’s Magazine_ for 1755.

A Stop ought to be put to the practice of constructing irregular groups of Houses. “The ACT OF PARLIAMENT for forming the New Road, which was made in 1755, directs that no building be erected within Fifty feet[21] of the _New Road_.”

“The present _mean appearance of the backs of the Houses and Hovels have rendered this approach to the Capital a scene of confusion and deformity_, extremely unbecoming the character of a Great and Opulent City.”--_Gwynn’s London Improved_, 4to. p. 11.

Mr. Gwynn’s remarks apply very aptly to _that Quarter of a Mile of the New Road which is between Westgate Turnpike at the crossing of Gower Street North, and the East Entrance to the Regent’s Park_.

The _Southern_ and _Western_ avenues to THE REGENT’S PARK are as they ought to be: the Roads are wide, and the space between the Houses and the Road is laid out in Gardens, as THE ACT directs--very different is the approach from the City along the _Eastern_ Road from the point above mentioned, which is narrow, and is perpetually obstructed by the Waggons, &c. that are unloading at the Timber and Stone Yards, &c.; occupying the ground which the Act of Parliament has ordered shall be _used only for Gardens_. The intention of this judicious clause was, no doubt, to preserve the Light, Air, and Cheerfulness, so highly necessary to a great leading Thoroughfare--such it has hitherto been, and with increasing respectability, excepting at the one point I am about to mention--many great Improvements have taken place--such as _the Regent’s Park and Crescent_--_The New Pancras Church and Euston Square_, &c. &c. With these useful and even splendid works upon the same line of Road, it becomes a matter of Surprise, that the distance _between Westgate turnpike, at the crossing of Gower Street North, up to the Regent’s Park_, should not only remain without any reformation, but that buildings,--workmen’s huts,--sheds,--smoky chimneys, and all manner of nuisances, should be allowed not only to continue, but to increase daily close to the Road.

In proceeding from the City Westward, a fine line of road, and noble footpaths _on each side_, are found, until on arriving near Tottenham Court Road both appear to terminate abruptly, and the Road is faced, and its regularity destroyed by the projection of a range of low buildings and hovels, converted, or now converting, into small Houses, close to the Highway, which, strange to say, is much _narrowed_, at a point where, from the increased traffic caused by the crossing of the Road to Hampstead, a considerable increase of width is doubly requisite.

But here the Houses project about Ten feet, and nearly close up the footpath; and this being one of the stations for the Paddington Coaches to stop at, it becomes a service of no small danger to drive through the very small opening that is left for the public to pass through.

A few yards further, on both sides of the Road, are ranges of Stone Yards, with the incessant music of Sawing, Chipping, and Hacking stone, grinding Chisels, and sharpening of Saws. Cow yards, picturesque stacks of Timber, building materials, and dead walls.

Another angle turned, and the Traveller emerges again from the region of smoke, stone dust, and mud, and traversing some hazardous passages, pounces at once into the magnificent Crescent of the REGENT’S PARK, wondering at the utter lack of Public Taste, which could allow such a combination of Nuisances to exist, and even increase, in the immediate neighbourhood of this great Public Improvement, and along the only Road leading to it from the City of London.

Can the blame attach to the Commissioners of Mary-le-bone Roads Trust?--or is it caused by the contending Interests of the 21 Paving Boards of the Parish of St. Pancras, _that the footpath on the South side of that quarter of a mile of Road is neither Paved nor Watched_.

Without venturing to propose _a Circus, or large open space, at the crossing of the New Road and Tottenham Court Road_, with an OBELISK in the centre, like that in St. George’s Fields, where there is not half the traffic there is at this point--at which, for want of space, Accidents happen almost daily; and which accommodation to the Public, in this age of Improvement, is not to be considered impossible--it may not be impertinent to suggest, that the few houses which project into the Road on both sides, as well as the Sheds, which are, by continual additions, gradually converting into Houses, should be immediately removed; some of them are at this present time undergoing additions,--the longer this measure is delayed, the more expensive will the purchase become;--at present, Money might be easily raised for amply remunerating the occupiers of the premises alluded to, and a great public Benefit produced without any injury to Individuals.

If the Clause in the Act of Parliament, alluded to above, had been kept in due force, the Evils would not have arisen.

It is hoped that the NEW COMMISSIONERS OF THE ROADS, who have the power, will have also the inclination, to remedy these Evils without delay, and that THE PARISH, and the COMMISSIONERS WHO HAVE THE MANAGEMENT OF THE REGENT’S PARK will unite their endeavours for the same purpose.

In other quarters of the Town, our Economical Ancestors appear to have considered him as the most ingenious Architect, who could build up the greatest number of Houses in a given Space--the Palladios of the present day, are as prodigal of Space, as their frugal Forefathers were parsimonious, and seem to fancy, that he is the cleverest fellow who pulls most Houses down in a given time.

It must be granted, that the Town is improved by the Widening of the Streets; but while it is the Fashion, for the Idle Children of the Largest Growth, to all run together, into one Street, at One Hour; it avails little how wide it may be; nor can it counteract the sad inconvenience which arises from the extending of the Buildings, making it impossible for two-thirds of the Inhabitants of London ever to enjoy the animating influence of a walk in the fresh and fragrant Air of the Country--a blessing which was within their reach, when they had only to cross the New Road to be in the _Mary-le-bone Fields_;[22] on which, read the following remarks, which we copied from “_the Examiner_” of Sunday, the 22d of October, 1826:--

“To call the enclosure of these Fields A PARK, is, with all submission, a little bit of a _Misnomer_; at least, it is no Park at present for the Public, who are excluded from all but _the gravelled Roads_, which are ornamented with about FIFTEEN BENCHES (without backs), _in a circle of Three Miles in circumference!_ the nearest of which to the New Road, on the West side, is more than a Mile from it!! Surely the Managers of this concern might afford to give us as comfortable Seats, and as plenty of them, as those which have been lately so liberally and so properly placed in ‘_Hyde Park_.’

“Many Valetudinarians, and Persons advanced in Life, who stand most in need of the invigorating influence of pure Air, cannot Walk more than a Mile without Resting--such persons are tired by the time they get to the Park; but if there were _Benches placed along the Walks opposite Park Square_, _York Terrace_, &c., the weak and the weary might rest themselves, and then toddle on and treat their Lungs with a little fresh Air.”

It is said, that the Reason given for excluding the People from the Park, is, that the Trees are so young that they _might_ be easily torn up--so _may_ those on the North side of _Hyde Park_, for they are no older: but softly, is not this presuming that Mr. BULL is a greater Brute, than the Beasts which are grazing where he ought to be walking?

The Persons who keep this ground from the Public, charity commands us to hope, do so, for reasons which appear to them to be good and sufficient; perhaps they think that it is most profitably, if not most properly, employed in being let out, as it appears to be, to Gardeners and Graziers!--at the same time gradually cutting it up into sites for Buildings as fast as they can find persons to speculate in it. To effect this without incurring the notice and consequent indignation of the Public, the encroachments upon their expected Playground have generally been commenced in the Winter Season, at a time when there are few People to observe them; and are so far advanced before the arrival of Fine weather, that it is useless to complain--The Ground is gone, for 99 years!!!

“Our gracious KING gave this ground to the Public,--surely a part of it at least might be open to that Public. Is it not a pity to see it wholly occupied by Market Gardeners, and Horses, and Cows, and Calves, to the total exclusion of Mr. BULL himself!”

“_When_ and _What Part_ of the Park is to be opened?”

The Public should certainly be informed of this, as it would guide them in the choice of Residences: some will like to live opposite to the lively scene which will be in the Part which is thrown open,--others, the quiet of that part that is opposite to the Slip of ground which is appropriated to the occupiers of the houses in the Park, and Persons who pay for Keys.

A certain portion, opposite to Portland Place, from which there is no View and no Variety, has been recently decorated with Rows of Trees. Surely this is not all that is to be saved from the Villa builders.

Who would propose to build Villas upon the highest and best ground in _Hyde Park_? and why should a difference be made?

Are these Parks not equally the property of the Public? And the site of _the Regent’s Park_, if left unoccupied by buildings, would be _more generally_ valuable to the Public as an Airing Ground, as it is more centrically situated than the other.

DRIVING.

To know how to Drive, so as to preserve the Carriage from the injury which it would otherwise receive by violent Jolts, Twists, &c., is a Merit of no small Value.

If a Carriage is driven on uneven ground, it requires great Attention, or it will receive more injury during a journey of a Mile, than it would by a Month’s moderate use on an even Road; therefore,

_The Pace_ in Driving should be accommodated to the roughness of the Road.

_The Turnings_ should be regulated by the Room. If a Carriage is not wheeled fairly across a channel, the Perch is twisted according to the descent, as the one Wheel falls, in proportion as the other at the opposite angle rises; and frequently by such a wrench the main or Perch Bolt is broken, and every part strained, especially when going fast. Desire your Coachman to _avoid all short sharp Turnings_; it is much wiser to go on a few poles further, where another Street will allow plenty of room.

HARD-DRIVING, _especially on the Stones_, exposes a Carriage to many mischiefs, either by running against other Vehicles, or breaking by the violence of its own motion.

Some fidgety Coachmen are continually whipping, or, as it is technically termed, “_fanning_” their Horses--this frets the poor creatures, and puts them into a state of irritation extremely injurious to them, and your Carriage moves in a “hop, skip, and jump” style:--Forbid all use of the Whip, but in cases of inevitable necessity.

Tell your Coachman that your motto for Drivers is

“_Slow_ and _Sure_;”

that the First time he presumes to attempt to display his Dexterity in any place by what is termed _driving to an Inch_, shall be the last time that you will trouble him to wear your Livery.--_Five Miles in an Hour_ is quite fast enough for Crowded Streets; especially when turning Corners, and in Streets which have many other Streets leading into them, as Oxford Street, Cheapside, &c.--Better wait Five minutes quietly, or follow a Hackney Coach for Ten paces, than cut and dash along at the risk of your Wheels, your Pannels, and your Neck, &c.: however, you must give him a license to drive a little “_ad libitum_” in some situations; a rapid movement is sometimes really requisite, in order to escape out of the way of Carts and Waggons, &c.

An experienced Whip, who has a sharp sight, may calculate pretty nearly what space will be sufficient to pass between two bodies which are at rest--but as he will unavoidably meet many Carriages, guided by inexperienced, and often drunken Drivers, which do not for half a minute together move in a precisely direct line, and his good Coachmanship cannot protect him against such Blunderers, unless he proceeds with extreme care, and allows them plenty of room.

A cautious Coachman is ever unremittingly upon the look out, keeping both his Eyes open; employing One to guide his own Horses, and the Other to watch how those who are coming guide theirs; or, as a Wag might say, _an Accomplis’d Coachman ought to Squint!_ He depends entirely upon his own Attention to keep so completely out of their way, that it may be next to impossible for them to run against him.

The most Crowded places are not always the most Dangerous: Accidents most frequently happen from _empty One Horse Carts_, in which the Driver rides, instead of walking by the side of the Horse. These vehicles are frequently conducted at such a furious rate by Carmen, in order to make up for the time they have wasted, in tippling, that they often run against inexperienced Coachmen. They abound most in Tottenham Court Road and Holborn, and the outlets from Town.

Every _Cart_ that approaches, a wary Coachman watches with the most anxious care, and gives all the room it appears to require.

A Fine of at least 10_s._ should be levied upon all persons driving Carts in such a manner, payable to any person who may demand it. In the event of their occasioning an Accident, let them not only be fined but punished severely.

If your Coachman drives leisurely, you will escape many Dangers, and your Carriage last much longer;--by such gentle use (excepting as to the Wheels) it is worn almost as little as if it remained in the Coach-house.

_In Crowded Streets_, never permit any person to ride on the Coach Box:--Conversation diverts the attention of the Driver from his Business, and accidents frequently ensue.

Never go into the City through the Strand, Fleet Street, and Cheapside, if you can avoid it, after twelve o’clock: from that hour until five o’clock, they are crowded with Carriages and Carts. In these great Thoroughfares _Hackney Coach Stands_ should not be permitted. At present the centre of Cheapside, &c. is sometimes filled with a Stand of _Hackney Coaches_ all the way from St. Paul’s to the Poultry: let these be removed from all Crowded Streets into the Cross Streets adjoining, as is ordered in _Bond Street_.

_If the Hackney Coach Stands are removed from the Strand_, _Fleet Street_, &c., the Public will no longer have to complain of the tedious Stoppages which are now so frequent between two and four o’clock of the Day, especially on Mondays, Fridays, and Saturdays.

If you go into the City on Mondays and Fridays you will have to encounter _the most_ BARBAROUS NUISANCE _that disgraces the British Capital_--droves of Oxen passing through its principal Streets in the middle of the Day. That this is still suffered to continue in these times of universal improvement appears to us as wonderful as it is offensive.

_To know to a Nicety at what Time you must start_ to arrive at a certain Place at a certain Hour, you have nothing to do but to ascertain _the Distance_, and direct _the Pace_ of travelling.

4 Miles an Hour is 1 Mile in 15 Minutes.
5 Ditto Ditto 12
6 Ditto Ditto 10
7 Ditto Ditto 8½
8 Ditto Ditto 7½
9 Ditto Ditto 6½
10 Ditto Ditto 6

_When you wish to go Faster or Slower_, do not say simply “_Faster_,” or “_Slower_,” but say “_Four_,” “_Six_,” or “_Eight_,” according to the number of Miles you wish to be driven in an Hour.

In traversing the main Streets of London, always allow at least five minutes in every half hour for Stoppages.

_Desire your Coachman to choose the Pleasantest, rather than the Nearest way._ Some inconsiderate charioteers, to save the tenth part of a Mile, will drive you through all the nasty narrow Lanes they can find, as if they were trying to make you sick with foul air. Moreover, such Bye-ways are generally so badly Paved, that you will be longer going over them than on a good road that is a little longer.

_Persons who have not an expert Coachman_, who has been accustomed to cut his way through Crowded Streets, should desire their Driver to avoid the great Thoroughfares, and to pass along the widest Streets which run parallel to them. This can generally be done without danger by a very young Coachman.

WHEN YOU STOP IN A PUBLIC STREET,

caution your Coachman always to avoid stopping where there is any other Carriage stopping near, either on the same, or on the other side of the way; and when he can, to choose the widest part of the Street, and _to draw up his Fore Wheels close to the Curb, and his Hinder Wheels quite square with them_. Most of the Accidents which happen to Carriages, while stopping in Crowded Streets, are owing to want of attention to this situation of the Hinder Wheels.

Whenever you get out of your Carriage, _Always Shut the Door_. If you only stop Two Minutes, it may be necessary for the Coachman to move from his station to prevent injury from other Carriages; and if the Door is open it will swing about, and the Hinges will be strained, and the Pannels may also get a violent blow against a Post, &c.

_Never keep your Carriage standing in a great Thoroughfare_, through which crowds of Coaches, Carts, &c. are passing; in so doing, you are a source of great inconvenience to others, by occasioning stoppages; and your own Pannels are every moment in danger of being defaced, &c., which cannot be repaired without fresh Painting the whole of the Body: this tedious process will deprive you of the use of your Carriage for at least Three Weeks; therefore, let it wait for you round the corner of some quiet neighbouring Street.

Remember the judicious Advice given by that arch adept in “_the Art of Shopping_,” _Lady Betty Buybargain_, to her Niece, _Miss K. Cutadash_. The fair Kitty was ever and anon irritably anxious to be whirled to the Door of every “_Magazin des Modes_” that her caprice called her to, in her Aunt’s shewy Carriage; saying, “I assure you, that if you go in your Carriage, my Dear Aunt, the people are infinitely politer than they are to their Walking Customers.” “Aye! Aye!” replied the discreet Dowager, “what you say may be True enough, Dear, and their Politeness would be pleasant enough, Love, _If_, as my poor dear _Sir Benjamin Buybargain_ always used to say, _If_ they did’nt Book it, Kitty!--but they charge for it, my Child; they charge for it, Dear!--as _Sir Benjamin_ used to say, ‘they put those Bows down in Their Bills!!!’”

However, there is nothing in which more People are more extremely mistaken, than in the general idea that keeping a Carriage always is (as it ought to be) infallible evidence of superfluous Wealth. Many pompous persons, in order to provide the means of indulging in this expensive Luxury, are miserably penurious in all other matters; and many Fine Liveries, &c. have been purchased with the Money that ought to have been spent in Food, Fire, &c.; and to cut a dash at Vanity Fair, and keep up an external glitter, the Comfort of Home is entirely sacrificed:--as _Sir Spendthrift_ says, “They must have a Carriage, if they are obliged to save it a Thousand ways.”

NEVER BREAK THE RANKS,

either in Crowded Streets or when setting down at Public Places: by attempting thus impatiently (and unfairly) to save a few minutes, many Carriages have been destroyed, and many Lives have been lost.

_In admitting others into the Rank_, (which you have often an opportunity of doing,) “_Do as you would be Done by_.”

THE WISEST PLAN WHEN GOING TO THEATRES,

or other extremely Crowded places, is, when the weather permits, to be put down a little before you get to them. This, however, is hardly ever necessary when going, when it is both more safe and more desirable, for many reasons, to be set down at the Door.

_When your Carriage is brought to take you Home_, desire your Coachman to select, for this purpose, a situation where there is least danger of being blockaded in by other Carriages, rather than that which may be nearest and most convenient to get in,--it is to little purpose that you can get Into your Carriage, if that cannot get Out.

Observe this particularly at the Play, or other Public places. If the weather is at all favourable, you can get to your Carriage in a tenth part of the time, and at half the risk, it can get to you; and even delicate Ladies will suffer less by skipping a few yards along the Pavement, than by waiting half an hour or more in the dangerous draughts of a cold Lobby or perishing Ante-room.

As soon as the Play or the Party is over, most people are in desperate haste to get Home; however, as _Tom Thrifty_ says, “Nothing is done well that is done in a Hurry, except catching of Fleas.” The frightful Confusion created in the immediate vicinity of crowded Assemblies, will be carefully avoided by all persons who wish to preserve their Carriage from damage, and their Persons from risk: even at a large party, in a private house, to get up to the Door is sometimes a service of both difficulty and danger.

_When you pull the Check String_, and do not at the same time direct the Coachman to stop at any particular House, tell him to take care not to stop before _the Door_ of any House, but _in the middle_ between Houses, so as not to give any persons the needless trouble to come to their Door, from an idea that you are coming to their House. And desire him never to drive up to a Door in the furious manner which vulgar Coachmen seem to imagine is very stylish, but to go at his usual quiet pace.

During what is termed _an Airing_, get as much pure Air as you can without risk of taking Cold: rather put down the Front than the Side Windows; the former are convenient for giving directions to the Coachman: by merely uttering the word “_Left_” or “_Right_,” you may direct his track wherever you wish.

In Cold weather, you may do this, by telling him to look round just before he comes to a Turning, by putting your hand to the Right hand front Glass when he is to go to the _Right_, and to the Left hand when he is to go to the _Left_: or you may arrange, that one smart pull of the Check String means “to turn to the _Right_;” a double one, “to the _Left_;” and a continued one, “to stop where he is.”

When you call out STOP! without saying or pointing to _where_, tell him you mean that he should instantly _Stop, i. e._ as quickly, and as nearly as possible where he then is, even if that be in the middle of a muddy Street.

One of the many and great advantages of having a Coachman a long time in your service, is, that a single word will direct him where to drive you: you have merely to say the name of the Street, or the Person to which you wish him to carry you. One Word does it; therefore, if you love your Lungs, beware of changing your Coachman.

SIR JOHN FIELDING, the famous Police Magistrate, who was blind, had a pipe fixed from the Carriage to the Coach Box, through which he could converse with the Coachman, without being heard by others. When his Chariot was stopped by any obstruction in the Streets, he inquired of the Coachman what kind of Carriage, &c. occasioned it; and it was his humour then to put out his head, and shout out in his usual peremptory tone, “Take that Cart out of the way!” or, “You Sir, in that Chaise, drive on!” This occasioned great astonishment, how he, who was blind, could perceive the cause of the stoppage, and was a source of great amusement to Sir John.

Desire your Coachman never to dispute with, or return any Uncivil language to any Coachman, Carman, &c.: if your Carriage is obstructed or offended by any disorderly persons, take out your Pocket Book, and let them see you are setting down their Number, and then coolly tell them you will summon them if they do not immediately clear the way.

By the 1st Geo. I. c. 57, “Drivers of Hackney Coaches are to give way to Gentlemen’s Carriages, under a penalty of 10s.”

_If your Carriage be injured_ by another running against it, ascertain whose Carriage has done the mischief, and let your Coachmaker give an Estimate of what he will charge for repairing it; then, before you have the repair done, let the person who injured it see the mischief and pay the sum charged for amending it. _Mr. Jarvis_ says, that the custom is for the Repair to be done by the Coachmaker of the Party who committed the Injury.

If curious Children ask “Whose Carriage is this?” tell your Coachman to Stare full in their face, and Say Nothing: if they have the Impudence to repeat the Question, he may reply, “it belongs to Mr. PRY.” If equivocation be ever allowable, it is to such Impertinents.

Those who may admire the Carriage and want to know who built it, will find the Coachmaker’s name on the Axle-tree Caps.

If any of your Coachman’s own acquaintance speak to him while he is either driving or waiting for You, he must answer them only by a civil movement of his Head or Whip hand. Nothing is more disrespectful and disorderly than Gossiping while on Duty.

CARE OF THE CARRIAGE.

Have an exact _Inventory_ of the Harness, Working Utensils, and every thing appertaining to your Carriage; give a Copy of this to your Coachman, and once in Three months examine the state of the various articles.

A Carriage (especially when newly Painted) should be cleaned as soon as possible after it has been used.

A conscientious Coachman, who has any regard either for your Carriage or his own Character, will never permit any body to touch it but himself. If in your Visits to the Stable, you frequently find him out, or observe any persons lurking about there, who are meddling with either your Horses or your Carriage, be sure that he is Idle and worthless, or has Business of his Own, which he likes better than Yours:--then let him follow it.

The sooner you give such a Gentleman notice to quit, the better.

Never permit a Coachman to keep either Fowls, Pigeons, Dogs, Goats, Pigs, &c. which will not only eat your Corn, but be a public Nuisance to your Neighbours; for which offence you will be Indicted. See page 87.

If a Carriage cannot be cleaned till the dirt is dry, let it be well sluiced, and let the water have time to loosen it:--by rubbing it when dry, the sand and gravel in the Dirt will inevitably scratch off the Varnish and deface the Paint. When the Pannels have been heated by the Sun, they should not be washed till they become cool.

While the Pannels are wet they must not be exposed to the Sun, which ought to be avoided at all times as much as possible, as nothing injures the Varnish more.

The Iron work must be wiped quite dry, particularly the Springs: if the wet gets between the Plates they will rust.

A Regular Coachman will get his Carriage and Horses cleaned and dressed as early in the morning as he can, and not wait lounging about to know when he will be wanted.

An active Stable-Man will begin his work by Six in the Morning: to set his Stable to rights, and Dress a pair of Horses, will take from an Hour and a Half to Two Hours.

Washing and Cleaning the Carriage and Harness will take from Two to Three Hours, according to the work on the Harness, &c.: including his time for Breakfast, &c., he will be ready by Eleven.

However late he comes home, a good Groom will oil and wipe the Bits, wash his Horses’ feet, give them a whisp down, &c.--to shake their Beds down, and give them Water and Corn, and to rack them up for the Night; if he has a Carriage, he will also dish-clout the Body of it, will take about from an Hour, to an Hour and a Half: therefore, when a Coachman is required to wait at Table, let him be Home a full Hour and a Half before he is so wanted.

THE HAMMERCLOTH.

When Coaches were first introduced, our frugal ancestors used to load the Carriage with provisions for the family when they came to London. The _hamper_, covered with a _cloth_, was a convenient repository, and a seat for the Coachman. This was afterwards converted into a _Box_. _Hammercloth_ is therefore very probably a corruption of _Hamper-cloth_: it is now one of the principal Ornaments to a Carriage:--according to the fulness of the plaiting of the Cloth, its depth, and the quantity of Trimming thereon, is the cost thereof, which varies from £10. to £40.

After a dusty Journey, let it be well brushed: if it is not, and it gets wetted, it will be spoiled; the Lace and Fringe cuddle dust greedily, and ought to be diligently disturbed.

SCREWING THE BOLTS.

The shaking of the Carriage frequently loosens the Bolts and Nuts[23]; and if these are not attended to immediately, the Timber, Iron work, &c. will suffer material injury.--A Coachman may attend to this as well as a Coachmaker.

A Careful Coachman will gently try the Nuts about once a fortnight; but, in screwing them up, use no violence, and take care not to injure the Paint with the Wrench.

RATTLING

is very disagreeable, and is a sign of something being loose about the Carriage, which requires to be tightened or lined with Leather; where Iron works upon Iron, if a thin piece of Leather can be introduced between, the Rattling will be stopped.

_The Squeaking_ of any part is to be cured by a little Oil or Grease: this frequently happens in the Bolts of the Springs, or in the shackles where the wet has got in and rusted them; it often proceeds from some loose Nut or Bolt.

_A Carriage, when first Painted_, requires great care to prevent it from being spotted with Dirt--the Colour and Varnish take a considerable time to harden before they can entirely resist the action of Wet, &c.

If Dirt be allowed to dry and remain on the Carriage, some Colours (especially a bright Green) will be marked with Spots, which are not removed without considerable difficulty.

Therefore, the moment a Newly-painted Carriage returns from Work, sluice the Pannels well, and with a wet Sponge wipe them clean all over. If dusty with Road dust, take it off as gently as possible with a Soft Brush--wiping it with a Cloth will scratch it.

Stains will also appear where the Rain has run for any length of time; to remove which, rub the pannels with a little sweet Oil on a bit of soft baize, so as just to damp them; rub the stained places with a little more strength than the other parts of the pannels; dry them off with another piece of baize, then with a third piece, and a little flour; wipe or rub the pannels very dry; and if the stain has not then disappeared, rub it hard with the palm of a dry soft hand, drawing it smartly down, till the friction elicits a sharp squeaking sound. This will probably clear the Stains; if not, after a short interval repeat the same process: if then it cannot be cleared, the Colour or Paint beneath the Varnish is injured, and nothing but time will effect a change.

Rubbing common Varnished Bodies rather strong with a soft Skin, and drying them with another, helps to increase the lustre of the Varnish--a common Varnished body, well kept and often cleaned, frequently improves in its lustre.

HIGHLY VARNISHED PANNELS.

The clear brightness of this polished surface shews every little blemish; and though likely to be stained from the same causes as the other, yet the colour is not so apt to be affected, as it is much more thickly coated with Varnish, and the resistance stronger--to clear them, use the means before mentioned.

TO RESTORE THE LUSTRE OF VARNISH.

The Varnish looking dull, striking in, or cracking, as often arises from the badness of its own quality, as from any improper treatment in the Cleaning, or effect of the Weather: the high Varnish in particular, on account of the extra quantity, which, if not good, produces a change much sooner that the common Varnish, the latter being much thinner.

When Varnish Cracks, it can only be remedied by the Painter, who should be immediately applied to; but if Varnish strikes in, and looks dull, as is sometimes the case in very damp weather, use the following means:--Get a quarter of a pound of Rotten Stone or Tripoly Powder from a Colour Shop, which must be ground with water, and used of the consistency of paste, in the following manner:--Double a piece of woollen cloth, and with the flat part rub each pannel with a gentle force for about a quarter of an hour, taking care to rub it equally all over; wash off the substance, and with a hand free from corns, and damped with a soft leather, rub it smartly downwards, till by the friction it makes a shrieking noise: if this does not sufficiently polish, the rubbing with the Rotten Stone and the hand should be repeated. Much depends upon the hand rubbing clean off the pannels and mouldings as before directed with soft baize, oil, and flour. If well managed, the Body will look nearly as well as if new Painted, particularly a common Varnished Body, especially if it has never gone through the process before.

Thus, with one or two days’ trouble, and at the expense of about one Shilling, New Painting may sometimes be saved.

Let _the Carpet_ at the Bottom of the Carriage be often cleaned and reversed, so that the wear may not always be in one place; for Winter use and for dirty Weather, one of the _Dressed Sheep’s Skins_ is the best foot warmer for the floor of a Carriage.

DOORS.

These, in New Carriages, will shrink in Dry, and swell in Damp Weather, however well seasoned the Wood may be--their tightness may often be cured by rubbing the edges with a little Soap:--be cautious not to touch either Door or Door Post with the Knife while damp weather continues; for sometimes they will shrink in Dry as much as they swell in Damp weather; and when Summer returns, you will find you have irremediably injured your Doors.

HINGES.

If these move stiffly, a few drops of Sweet Oil will generally make them easy enough.

GLASSES AND SHUTTERS.

If these do not slide easy enough, rub the grooves in which they slide with a little Soap--long exposure to wet will sometimes make them move stiffly; but after a few fine dry days, they will return to their proper dimensions.

STEPS.

If the Joints are stiff, drop a little Sweet Oil upon them, and work them well up and down.

SPARE PAINT.

Lastly; a little of the same Colour as that with which the Carriage is painted, should be kept in reserve to repair Accidents:--Colours can seldom be exactly matched; you will find that it is very convenient for touching the Mouldings occasionally;--as much of each Colour as will fill a pint pot will be sufficient; keep it in a pan under water.

The Brushes must be kept under Water;--but with all possible skill and care. New and Old Colours seldom match nearly enough for repairing any accident or bruise happening to a Pannel, which had generally as well be left as it is until you repaint the Carriage.

Let your Coachman have some “_Black Japan_,” to retouch those parts of the Carriage which are blacked, but which are frequently defaced by use: this will contribute greatly to the neat appearance of it.

REPAIRS.

The Expense of Keeping a Carriage in Repair is regulated very much by the original quality thereof--by the Work it has done--the Work it does, and the Care taken of it.

The Work it does may, in some measure, be computed by the wear of its Wheels, and its Appearance.

It is in a Carriage as in many other mechanical structures, that, in order to Repair it, it must be taken to pieces; and the taking to pieces and putting together again, costs more than the Repair itself, and thus the charges for trifling things appear enormous. The expense of unhanging, taking to pieces, putting together, and re-hanging, is the same in small as in large Repairs: some Coachmakers copiously mention in their bills every circumstance of the Job, almost to the number of turns of the screws, or blows of the hammer, with a constant repetition of driving out--driving in--taking off--putting on--unscrewing--screwing--nailing--unnailing--unhanging and re-hanging, &c. &c. &c., which sometimes seems to be done only to confound the charge for the Job with so many different matters as to make it perfectly incomprehensible.

To the above we have actually seen added, when the Carriage was taken to the Coachmaker’s to have any little Job done, “_To Washing and Cleaning_, 3_s._ 6_d._”--although the Coachman assured us that the Carriage was clean when he took it, and that he found it dirty when he went to fetch it home.

We refer the Reader to the

CAUTIONS ON REPAIRING CARRIAGES,

which are given in page 60 of this Work.

A Carriage cannot be taken to pieces and put together, by the most careful and skilful Workman, without in some degree diminishing both the Beauty and Strength of the Machinery; therefore, when it is asunder, order that every part that appears defective be made good, that the repetition of such separation may occur as seldom as possible, not only to avoid Expense, but the Inconvenience of being without your Carriage while the Repairs are going on, which take longer time than people expect, who do not consider that New Timbers, Iron work, &c. require Painting and Varnishing, which must have at some seasons of the Year a considerable time to dry thoroughly hard.

When any of the main Timbers begin to decay, the greater part may be supposed to be in a similar state; failures then become frequent, and it is prudent to have the whole that is decayed renewed at once--which will not only be Safest, but will save much Expense and Trouble.

MEM. _Be extremely cautious of altering_ any part of a Carriage--if you alter one part, it often becomes necessary to alter many other parts, and a trifling Expense becomes a very heavy one.

MEM. The Carriages commonly lent by common Coachmakers while they are repairing a Carriage, are sometimes so extremely old and ricketty, that it is not only disagreeable, but dangerous to ride in them;--insist upon having a good effective Vehicle, or go to another Coachmaker; therefore, _before you send a Carriage to be repaired_, desire the Coachmaker to let you see the Carriage which he intends to lend you during the time your own is repairing: this accommodation he ought to give you, if you are a constant customer, without making any charge for the use thereof.

_Have an Estimate in Writing_, particularly specifying every thing that is to be done, and the whole Expense for which he will undertake to make perfect every Repair that is wanting, without any subsequent extra charge, and the Time in which he will do so. I again repeat, that it is the cheapest and best plan To JOB a Carriage as well as Horses. See _Estimates_, No. 4 and No. 9.

Desire your Coachman to be continually on the Watch, and to immediately acquaint you of the least injury which the Carriage may sustain; for the immediate repair thereof, is equally advisable, both for your Economy, and for his own Safety.

The chief parts that wear, are the Timber works of the Carriage part, and these fail more frequently than you may expect--either from decay, faulty wood, or being too light made, and sometimes from Accident or Violence, which may be judged of when they are taken asunder.

The _Body_ requires Repair much less frequently than the _Carriage_, because it is placed on Springs in as easy a manner as possible, and therefore not shook about so violently as the Carriage part; but the _best plan is to have Springs under the Carriage fixed on the Axle-tree_: Carriages so mounted last three times as long as those on the old construction, and are extremely desirable from so seldom requiring separation.

UNDER SPRINGS

Are strongly recommended. They afford the following advantages:--there is no occasion for the Coachman’s seat to be attached to the Body, nor extra Springs for the same, which are a nuisance from their Noise and continually requiring Repairs:--the Coachman’s seat, to an Underspring Carriage, is bolted on a Budget, and fixed to the Carriage on a pair of Carved Blocks, the Body hanging free:--the additional expense is from £20. to £30.; but we have been told they save full an hundred and fifty pounds in the wear of a Carriage;--but remember, that although _Under Springs_ are easy to the Carriage, they are not so to the Carried, especially those whose top half is a _Dummy_, _i. e._ made of wood, which is used for cheapness. My last Chariot, which has such Springs, jerks and jumps about as much as a rough Trotting Horse, affording fine _Anti-bilious_ Exercise for those in tolerable Health, but is intolerably agitating to an Invalid!!

ON HORSES.

To define a perfect Horse is almost, and to find one, quite impossible.--_Camerarius_ says, that this useful and beautiful creature is an assemblage of Excellencies--“He should possess Two of the Beauties of a Woman; the Breast must be plump, and the Hips round.--In three things he should resemble _a Lion_; in ferocity of countenance, in fortitude, and irresistible impetuosity. He must have three things appertaining to a _Sheep_;--the nose, gentleness, and patience;--three of a _Mule_, strength, perseverance, and sureness of foot;--three of a _Deer_, head, legs, and skin;--three of a _Wolf_, throat, neck, and ears;--two of a _Fox_, tail and trot;--three of a _Serpent_, memory, sight, and flexibility;--and lastly, three of a _Hare_, running, walking, and perseverance.

“Round hoofed, short jointed, Fetlock shag and long.

“Broad Breast, full Eyes, small Head, and Nostrils wide.

“High Crest, short Ears, strait Legs, and passing Strong.

“Thin Mane, thick Tail, broad Buttocks, tender Hide.”--_Shakespeare’s Horse of Adonis._

No man who has witnessed the performance of _Mr. Ducrow’s_ stud in “_the Battle of Waterloo_” at Astley’s, will deny, that our Poet Pope’s epithet of “half-reasoning” is not quite as justly due to the sagacity of the Horse, as it is to the Elephant.

It would be Injustice not to add, that the energetic and natural acting of _Mr. Gomersal_ in his personation of “_Buonaparte_,” is as perfect a performance as the English stage can exhibit.

The whole of this Drama is a very extraordinary effort, and does great credit to the ingenious author of it, _Mr. J. Amherst_.

The figure and symmetry of the Horse is no where more perfectly displayed, than in _the Equestrian Statue of Charles the First_, at Charing Cross, which is said to be the most finished piece of workmanship of its kind ever produced: that of Marcus Aurelius, or the two Horses on the Monte Cavallo, or Quirino at Rome, not excepted.

Continually, however, in our sight, this “_Chef d’Œuvre_” is not only disregarded, but neglected.

English Horses, are equally remarkable for their Strength and for their Speed.

“Each seeming want compensated of course,--
Here with degrees of Swiftness, there of Force.”

_Pack Horses_ in Yorkshire carry, not unusually, loads of 420 Pounds.

A _London Dray Horse_ has been known to move, on a plane surface for a short space, the weight of Three Tons, and to draw half that weight a considerable distance.

On the Turnpike road, one Ton per horse is _the Weight usually allowed for a Journey_.

The famous _Childers_ moved 82½ Feet in one second of time, which is nearly at the rate of a Mile in a Minute; for he ran round a course at Newmarket (little less than four miles) in six minutes and forty seconds; a degree of Velocity, which no horse has been known to exceed.

Another account avers that he ran over another course at Newmarket (which is 380 yards more than Four English Miles) in 7½ Minutes.

In general, the Racers run round the Four Mile course in about seven minutes and forty seconds, or eight minutes, which gives Forty-four feet six inches in one second of time, and twenty-four English feet at each stretch.

The late Duke of Queensberry, on the 29th of August, 1750, won his wager, that he would produce a machine, with four wheels, which should pass over 19 miles in six minutes. The Carriage was made by Wright, of Long Acre, and was constructed partly of Wood and partly of Whalebone; and for the Harness, Silk was substituted for Leather.

The match was run at Newmarket, and four blood Horses rushing on with a velocity almost rivalling the progress of sound, darted within the appointed time to the Goal.--See an Engraving and particular Account of this Carriage in the _Gents. Mag._ for 1756, p. 440.

It would be happy if a Law were passed to prevent the furious spirit of Gaming which prevails at _Horse Races_:--this amusement might also be rendered useful, which it is not at present, for Horses of most Speed, are generally of least Use.

If _Premiums_ were allotted to those who brought to the field the strongest and most beautiful Horses of the best paces for the Saddle, Coach, or Cart, the Breed of these useful Animals might be really improved.

As managed at present, _Horse Racing_ is but one remove from the barbarous practice of “_Bear-baiting_,” and “_Bull-baiting_,” against which that excellent practical philosopher, _Montaigne_, has protested his honest Indignation, that “Few people are pleased to see Beasts caress, or play together; but many seem delighted to see them lacerate and worry one another.”

HINTS

TO

PURCHASERS OF HORSES.

To decide by the first appearance of a Horse, as to what he may prove on continual Exercise, is a perfection of Judgment which not even Experience itself can confer. Those erudite Equestrians, _Will Whipcord_ and _Sam Spur_, candidly assured us, that

HORSES WHICH ARE FOR SALE

are usually so pampered and highly fed, and have the interstices of their Muscles so filled with Fat, that their real shape, I. E. their form when in full Exercise, and with their ordinary Food, cannot be imagined.

If Dealers meet with a Horse that is unable to stand to the work they require of him, they let his Business be so light, that it may be merely Play to him--and so keep him in Condition till they can dispose of him.

Appearances are so deceitful, that the above-named skilful Jockeys confessed to me that they frequently found themselves mistaken. In the selection of a Horse, we rarely seek for latent good qualities, when the Eye is disgusted by deformity. A Horse of true proportions strikes the fancy of every beholder; we immediately assent to the beauty of the object, and take it for granted that Symmetry must be accompanied with either Strength or Swiftness. True Judgment is displayed in selecting a Horse possessing great powers, under the cover of an ill-favoured outward appearance, and discriminating from among those of a pleasing form such as are devoid of them.

Many who have written on Horses have attributed much to _the influence of Colour on the Constitutions of Horses_; but we fancy that Colour is often suffered to bias the decision on a Horse’s Goodness, when it should be considered merely as it relates to his Beauty. Many will not buy a Horse which has a _White Leg_; but _White Legs_ are as likely to fly as _Black Legs_.

Mr. Mennill, of Leicestershire’s, famous hunter, “_Whitestockings_,” had four White Legs; and a better hunter never leaped a Gate. _Childers_ had White Legs.

A Horse of symmetry and good action should not be undervalued from any peculiarity of Colour. Good Judges of Horses are very indifferent to the irregularity of Marks, &c. Thus much, however, is certain, that some colours denote Strength and Hardiness more than others, and are also more Beautiful; as the Dappled Grey,--Bays, particularly the Dappled, Golden, and Blood Bays, with the Legs, muzzle, tails, and list down the back black, Nutmeg Greys, Dark Duns, with mane, muzzle, tail, and legs, Black.

A mealy Bay and light Chesnut, or what is commonly called Sorrel, are for the most part delicate in Constitution. The latter is also often of a hot and choleric disposition.

As the Proverb says,

“_A Good Horse cannot be of a Bad Colour._”

Few things are more difficult to find than Horses that are exactly what you wish.

“It is a cruel thing to say, but a very true one, that amongst the present breed of Horses in this nation, a man of any tolerable judgment can hardly find One in Fifty for his purpose, whether designed to Draw or Ride.”--_Wm. Osmer on Horses_, 8vo. p. 59.

Many of the Defects of Horses cannot be discovered till they have been in your possession some days. As that experienced Equestrian, _Mr. Geoffrey Gambado_, said, some Horsedealers, like some other Merchants, are “not a bit honester than they ought to be.”

_Mr. Hanway_ observes, that “If the _Gentleman_[24] seldom treats his _Friend_, (and hardly ever an indifferent person,) with strict honour in selling a Horse!--what are we to expect of those who have been bred among Horses?”--_Hanway’s Travels_, 8vo. 1757, vol. i. p. 206.

The only safe, and indeed the only satisfactory plan, both to the Seller and to the Buyer of a Horse, is to

“Try,
Before you Buy,”

as _Capt. Bindon_ cautions you, “Don’t fall in Love with him before you Ride him.” In his _Gentleman’s Pocket Farrier_, printed at Edinburgh in 1731, of which most of the works with a similar title are incorrect copies, with merely another name to them.

Deal with a respectable Man, to whom you have been well recommended, and stipulate, that if after a Trial for a day or two, you do not like your purchase, that upon paying a certain Sum you may return it. This sort of Agreement will not always be acceded to, unless you are known to the Dealer, and are a constant Customer.