Transcriber’s Notes

Obvious typographical errors have been silently corrected. Variations
in hyphenation and accents have been standardised but all other
spelling and punctuation remains unchanged.

Italics are represented thus _italic_.

  THE

  TRAVELLER’S ORACLE;

  OR,

  MAXIMS FOR LOCOMOTION:

  CONTAINING

  PRECEPTS FOR PROMOTING THE PLEASURES,

  AND

  HINTS FOR PRESERVING THE HEALTH

  OF

  TRAVELLERS.

  PART II.

  COMPRISING THE

  HORSE AND CARRIAGE KEEPER’S ORACLE;

  RULES FOR PURCHASING AND KEEPING OR JOBBING

  HORSES AND CARRIAGES;

  ESTIMATES OF EXPENSES OCCASIONED THEREBY;

  AND AN EASY PLAN FOR

  ASCERTAINING EVERY HACKNEY-COACH FARE.

  By JOHN JERVIS,
  AN OLD COACHMAN.

  THE WHOLE REVISED
  By WILLIAM KITCHINER, M.D., &c.

  _SECOND EDITION._

  LONDON:
  HENRY COLBURN, NEW BURLINGTON STREET.
  1827.

  LONDON:
  PRINTED BY J. MOYES, TOOK’S COURT, CHANCERY LANE.

  THE

  HORSE AND CARRIAGE KEEPER’S

  ORACLE;

  OR,

  RULES FOR PURCHASING AND KEEPING

  OR

  JOBBING HORSES AND CARRIAGES;

  ACCURATE ESTIMATES

  OF

  EVERY EXPENSE OCCASIONED THEREBY;

  AND

  AN EASY PLAN

  FOR

  ASCERTAINING EVERY HACKNEY-COACH FARE.

CONTENTS OF PART II.

  INTRODUCTION                                                           3

  Estimate of Keeping a Groom and one Horse
  in your own Stable                                                    11

  Estimate of the Expense of Keeping one Horse
  at a Livery Stable                                                    15

  Estimates of various Carriages                                        16

  Expense of Keeping a Coachman, a Carriage, and two Horses
  in your own Coach-House and Stable                                    19

  Liberal Plan of Keeping a Carriage                                    33

  Estimate of Hiring a Carriage for any short Period                    39

  Estimate of Jobbing Horses                                            44

  Estimate and Description of a Handsome Town Chariot                   50

  Carriages and Coachmaking                                             59

  Of the Construction of a Chariot                                      65

  Of Axle-Trees                                                         93

  Of the Wheels                                                         99

  The Ornaments of Carriages                                           104

  Cautions against Purchasing of Cheap Second-hand Carriages           112

  Of the Harness                                                       119

  Of Second-hand Harness                                               121

  Travelling Carriages                                                 123

  Description of Buonaparte’s Travelling Chariot                       127

  Duties on Male Servants, Carriages, and Horses                       131

  The Art of Managing Coachmen                                         133

  Of Evening Parties                                                   136

  Of Coachmen and Orders                                           142-150

  Of Punctuality                                                       151

  Of Lending your Carriage                                             160

  The Fifteen Things which a good Coachman Won’t Do                    165

  Coachman’s Tools                                                     170

  Of the New Road and Regent’s Park                                    173

  Of Driving                                                           184

  Of Care of the Carriage                                              201

  Of Repairing Carriages                                               212

  On Horses                                                            218

  Hints to Purchasers of Horses                                        223

  To Preserve the Health of Horses                                     238

  To Make a Horse have a Fine Coat                                     246

  On the Food of Horses                                                249

  On sending Horses to Grass                                           257

  Colds of Horses                                                      261

  Of Stables                                                           266

  Management of Horses in case of Fire                                 272

  Hints to Horsemen                                                    273

  On the Rough Shodding of Horses in Frosty Weather                    281

  Of the Comparative Expense of a Private Carriage and of
  Hiring of Hackney Coaches                                            286

  An Easy Plan of Ascertaining every Fare of a Hackney Coach           292

  When and How to Call a Coach                                         312

  Hackney Coach and Chariot Fares                                      318

  Specimen of Cary’s New Guide for Ascertaining
  Hackney Coach Fares                                                  324

  MUSIC TO PART II.

  TRIO                                                     to face page 90

THE TRAVELLER’S ORACLE, PART II.

THE

HORSE AND CARRIAGE KEEPER’S

ORACLE.

INTRODUCTION.

The following Estimates of the Expense of keeping Horses and Carriages,
are Accurate Statements, they cannot be well kept for less, and they
need not cost more:--the Reader will have no difficulty in finding a
Hackneyman, and a Coachmaker, who will furnish him with them on the
terms herein set down; for we have adopted a mean between thoughtless
Extravagance on the one hand, and rigid Parsimony on the other.

It is a very frequent, and a very just complaint, that _the Expense of
a Carriage_ is not so much its _First Cost_, as the charge of _Keeping
it in Repair_. Many are deterred from indulging themselves therewith,
from a consciousness that they are so utterly unacquainted with the
management thereof, they are apprehensive the uncertainty of the
Expense, and the Trouble attending it, will produce Anxiety, which will
more than counterbalance the Comfort to be derived from it.

Few Machines vary more in quality than Carriages, the charge[1]
for them varies as much;--the best advice that can be offered to
the Reader, is, to “Deal with a Tradesman of Fair Character, and
established circumstances.--Such a person has every inducement to
charge reasonably, and has too much at stake, to forfeit, by any silly
Imposition, the Credit that he has been years in establishing by
careful Integrity.”----_Dr. Kitchiner’s_ HOUSEKEEPER’S LEDGER, 8vo.
1826, p. 20.

Those Carriages which cost least, are not always _the Cheapest_, but
often turn out, in the end, to be the _Dearest_.

Of Chariots, that appear to be equally handsome to a common Eye, which
has not been taught to look minutely into the several parts of their
machinery; One may be _cheap_ at 250_l._, and Another may be _dear_ at
200_l._: notwithstanding, the Vender of the latter may get more Profit
than the Builder of the former.

_The faculty of Counting_, too frequently, masters all the other
Faculties, and is the grand source of deception which Speculating
Shopkeepers are ever ready to take advantage of;--for catching
the majority of Customers, _Cheapness_ is the surest bait in the
World,--how many more people can count the difference between 20 and
25, than can judge of _the Quality_ of the article they are about to
buy?

_Quantity_ strikes the eye at once.--It is recorded, that a certain
King having commanded his Treasurer to give an Artist a Thousand
Pounds for some work which his faithful Minister knew would be most
liberally paid for with half that sum; the sagacious Treasurer ordered,
Five Hundred Pounds in Silver to be laid upon a Table in a Room which
he knew that his Majesty would pass through with him. On seeing the
heap of Silver, the King exclaimed, “What’s all that Money for?” The
Treasurer replied, “Sire, it is half of the Sum which your Majesty
commanded me to give to the Artist.”--On which, the King said, “Hey,
hey! a deal of Money--a deal of Money--Half of that will do!!!”

_Quantity_ may be estimated by an uneducated Eye--to discern _the
Quality_ of things, requires Experience and Judgment--capital Guides;
but with which the purchasers of Horses and Carriages are Years before
they acquire sufficient acquaintance to derive any benefit from them,
and their chief security is, to deal with Persons who have justly
acquired, and long maintained, an unblemished Reputation.

I must here protest against a Custom which it is high time was
abolished, that of asking _Guineas_ instead of _Pounds_,--as Guineas
are coined no more, there is no pretence for continuing this trick of
charging 5_l. per Cent extra_! Those who do it, know that nobody would
give them 105 _Pounds_; but, under the jingle of 100 _Guineas_, they
contrive to poke an additional Five Pounds out of your pocket!

As we have earnestly advised, that _the Coachman_ may be made
independent of _the Coachmaker_, so let the latter be entirely
independent of the former.

Be not so perfunctory, as to permit your Coachman to order what he
pleases. If you send a Carriage to be repaired, with the usual Message,
“To do any little Jobs that are wanted,” you will most likely not have
a little to pay.

When any Repair is required, desire your Coachman to tell you; examine
it with your own Eyes, and with your own hand write the order to the
Coachmaker, &c. for every thing that is wanted; and warn him you will
not pay for any Jobs, &c. not so ordered, and desire him to keep such
Orders and return them to you when he brings his Bill, that you may see
it tallies therewith, and you may keep a little Book yourself, into
which you may copy such Orders.

_Counsellor Cautious_ went one step further; and before any work was
begun, required a Note, stating for how much, and in how long, the
person would undertake to completely perform it.

However well built originally, the Durability of the Beauty and the
Strength of Carriages, depends much upon how they are managed;--they
are as much impaired by those to whose care they are entrusted, not
understanding, or not performing, the various operations which preserve
them, as they are by the Wear occasioned by Work.

_In hiring a Coachman_, his having a due knowledge of how to take care
of a Carriage, is of as much importance as his experience in Horses, or
his skill in Driving.

Persons who order Carriages, are frequently disappointed in the
convenience and appearance of them, from not giving their Directions
in terms sufficiently explicit;--when those who buy Carriages make
any such a mistake, it is said, that those who sell are not always
remarkably anxious to rectify it, unless at the expense of the
proprietor.

An Acquaintance of the Editor’s, ordered that the interior of a New
Chariot should be arranged exactly like his former Carriage:--when
it was finished, he found that there were several very disorderly
deviations from the old plan, which were extremely disagreeable to
him:--the Builder said, civilly enough, that he was exceedingly sorry,
and would soon set it all right--which he did; but presented a Bill of
Ten pounds for mending these mistakes, which having arisen entirely
from his own Inattention to the fitting up of the Old Carriage, his
Customer successfully resisted the payment of, having been prudent
enough to have the Agreement for building the Carriage, worded, “That
it should be finished _in all respects to his entire satisfaction, by a
certain Time, for a certain Sum_.”

To the end of this work is added a Copious _Glossary_, and an _Index_,
which will readily conduct the Reader to the various subjects, and be
found extremely useful in explaining the Technical terms, &c. commonly
used by Coachmakers.

The Editor has endeavoured to explain the various points in so plain a
manner, that persons who are previously entirely unacquainted with the
subject, may calculate exactly what will be the Expense, and ascertain
pretty accurately the best manner of managing, and of estimating the
pretensions of those they are about to employ, either to build or to
take care of a Carriage, &c., in almost as little time as they can read
this little Book; in which it is hoped that they will find Amusement
blended with useful Instruction, and soon gain such a general knowledge
of the subject, as will effectually protect them from Imposition:--at
all events, the Editor is quite sure, that it will soon save the
Purchaser more than double what he has been so good as to give his
friend the old Coachman for the following advice.--Now _Cent per Cent_,
even in these times, when it is said that Cash is scarce, is quite as
large a profit as can be made by most Purchases! Therefore, the Editor
sends _Mr. Jervis’s_ Book to Press, with a contented conscience, and a
hearty wish, that all who buy it may be able to invest all their Money
to equal advantage.

ESTIMATE No. 1.

EXPENSE OF KEEPING A GROOM AND ONE HORSE IN YOUR OWN STABLE.

A Saddle-Horse being but of little service during November, December,
January, and February, during these four Months Economical Equestrians
send their Nags to a Straw-Yard.

Sportsmen say, that nothing does a Horse more good than a Winter’s Run
once in Two or Three years--it far exceeds turning to Grass in Summer,
when the Flies are troublesome.

_The Price at Straw-Yards_ varies from 3_s._ 6_d._ to 5_s._ a week,
depending upon the Straw, which is contingent on the Corn Crops: some
Horses sleep in at Night, and have Hay given them, or at least ordered
for them, in which case, 7_s._ per Week is charged.

                                                      £   _s._   _d._
  The Straw-Yard for one Horse, for 17 Weeks,
    say at 4_s._ 6_d._ per Week, will be              3    16      6

This Holiday is very beneficial to the Horse, especially to his Legs
and Feet, which, when worn down by hard work, or cut up by flinty Roads
or bad Shoeing, are thereby greatly refreshed and strengthened.

  “_Rest makes a New Horse._”

For the remaining 35 Weeks, the allowance of Provisions per week
_cannot be less_ than

                                                        £   _s._ _d._

  1 Truss of Straw[2], at 36_s._ per Load               0    1    0

  1 Truss and a half of hay, at £5 per Load             0    4    2

  ¾ peck of Oats per Day, is per Week 5¼ pecks,
    and at 25_s._ per Quarter                           0    4    2
                                                       ------------
                     Food per Week                      0    9    4

                                                                 35
                                                       ------------
                     Food for 35 Weeks                 16    6    8

  Expense of Horse in Straw-Yard, brought forward       3   16    6

  Taking to and from the Straw-Yard                     0   10    0
                                                       ------------
                     Annual Keep                       20   13    2

  A Saddle-Horse, on an average, is shod about
    Once in four weeks, and the set of Shoes costs
    5_s._; Nine Sets of Shoes                           2    5    0

  The Annual Duty                                       1    8    9
                                                       ------------
                     Annual Expense                   £24    6   11
                                                       ------------

OBS.--This Allowance for Provision is hardly sufficient for _Horses
that do hard work_, which require a Peck of Oats per Day, a Truss and a
half of Straw, the same of Hay, with some good Chaff, and occasionally
a little Bran; also a handful of Beans in Wet Weather, especially to
Horses that work at Night.

A Hackneyman’s allowance for Two Horses is a Sack of Oats per week,
which give, if good measure, Four good feeds a day; Country measure,
will run nearly five feeds.

  The above is the Annual Expense--exclusive of
    Stable Rent--Interest of Money paid for the
    purchase of the Horses--Saddles--Bridles--Horse
    Cloths, &c.--Farrier’s Bills for Physic--Turnpikes--Travelling
    Expenses--Groom’s Wages and Livery, &c., which, excepting
    the difference of charge between
    a Coachman’s Box Coat, and a Groom’s
    Great Coat, and the difference of Rent
    and Taxes on a Single Stall Stable,
    (which it is often excessively difficult to obtain
    contiguous to your House), and on Two
    Stalls and a Coach-house, is, according to the
                                                        £  _s._  _d._
    Expense of keeping a Groom or Coachman
    given in Estimate No. 4, about                     95    0     0

                      Annual Keep                      24    6    11
                                                     ---------------
                      Total                          £119    6    11
                                                     ---------------

N.B.--The Hackneyman’s Charge for _Jobbing a Saddle Horse_, and finding
Stabling, &c. is, _per Annum_, about £70.

ESTIMATE No. II.

EXPENSE OF KEEPING ONE HORSE AT A LIVERY STABLE.

At some _Livery Stables_, your Horses will be taken as much care of as
they can be in your own: at others, they fare very sadly;--therefore,
cautiously inquire into the Character of the person keeping
them;--moreover, if his Rent is in arrear, your Carriage and Horses may
be seized and sold by his Landlord.

                                                        £  _s._  _d._

  Four Feeds per Day, at £1. 1_s._ per Week            54   12    0

  Hostler, 1_s._ or 1_s._ 6_d._ per Week--a Gratuity of a
    shilling now and then to the Under Hostler,
    who looks after the Chaise, or attends to the
    Horse, together, perhaps, equal to about            4    0    0

  Shoeing, and Duty per Annum                           4   13    9
                                                      -------------
                                                      £63    5    9
                                                      -------------

ESTIMATE No. III.

A CABRIOLET AND HARNESS,

                                                      £   _s._   _d._
  When quite new, if Jobbed, will be, for one
    Year, from £30 to                                40     0     0

  Tax thereon                                         3     5     0

  For Standing, and care at a Livery Stable, per
    Week, 1_s._ 6_d._                                 3    18     0
                                                    £47     3     0

The Price of a new Two-Wheel One Horse
Chaise--Dennett--Tilbury--Stanhope, &c. is from £40 to £90.

Of a Cabriolet, from £100 to £130.

Of a Four-Wheel One Horse Chaise, with head to it, from £100 to £150.

Of a Pair of the best Strong Gig Wheels, with Ash felleys and patent
hoop tires, about £7.

Wheels, at first, want only new Shoeing, or turning the Tire, as they
wear upon one edge principally: this is done for about 20_s._ or
25_s._, and they will last almost as long as at first.

New-tireing a Pair of Gig Wheels with Patent hoop-tire, costs about
£2. 10_s._

MEM.--_When going to Drive_, not only inquire, but give a look yourself
at the Wheels, &c. before you set off--trust this to no one--make sure
that the Bridle and the Bit fit easy to the Mouth, and see that the
Collar and every part of the Harness fit comfortably:--if your Horse
tosses his head up and down continually, he is not easy.

  “Safe bind, Safe find,”

is at no time a better maxim than when preparing for a Journey.

“_A Carriage with but two Wheels_ should be built so that the principal
part of the weight is on the Axle-Tree, (instead of the Horse’s back),
and the Carriage part of the Vehicle ought to be on Springs, as well
as the Body: this prevents the Bolts and Nuts working loose, and the
Joints opening, &c. _The Lamps_ should be at the sides; but the Dashing
Iron ought to have in front a socket on each side to place the Lamps
in at Night, which will throw the light before the Horse’s head, and
prevent any shadow from the Wheels--when they are used at the Sides,
you see your danger just too late. _The Shafts_ should be plated
underneath with Iron, or if your Horse falls, they are apt to break,
which may occasion a dangerous fall to the Persons in the Vehicle.”--A.
E.

CARRIAGES WITH TWO[3] WHEELS

Are the cheapest, and have the advantage over all others for Lightness
and Expedition; but MEM. If the Horse be ever so sure-footed, and the
Driver be ever so skilful and steady, they are still but Dangerous
Vehicles--which will only be used by those who are compelled to
sacrifice Safety to Celerity, and Comfort to Cheapness:--if risks,
however, are incurred by this mode of conveyance, Expense is certainly
diminished, for the rate of charges in Travelling is considerably less
in proportion for one Horse and Two Wheels, than for two Horses and
Four Wheels.

ESTIMATE No. IV.

EXPENSE OF KEEPING A COACHMAN, AND A CARRIAGE AND TWO HORSES, IN YOUR
OWN COACH-HOUSE AND STABLE.

                                                       £.  _s._  _d._

  A Peck of _Oats_ per Day for each Horse, when
    Corn is 25_s._ per Quarter; say 24 Quarters
    per Annum                                          30    0     0

  A Quarter of a Truss of Hay for each Horse
    per Day, at £5 per Load; say 5½ Loads per
    Annum                                              27   10     0

  One Truss of Straw each Horse per week; say
    three Loads per Annum, at 36_s._                    5    8     0

  _Beans_, which are only wanted when Horses are
    worked very hard; and _Physic_, which (excepting
    the _Persuader_ prescribed--see Index)
    is as little wanted by a Horse, as it is
    by a Man. See OBS. _to Estimate No. I._             4    0     0

  Twenty-eight sets of _Shoes_, at 5_s._ per set        7    0     0

  _Farriers’ Bills_,--the Risk of your Horses
    turning out unsound and inefficient,--the
    Expense of hiring other Horses while your
    own are Ill, &c., and the Interest of the Money
    paid for the purchase of the Horses, &c.,
    cannot be estimated at less than £20. per
    Annum for each Horse                               40    0     0
                                                         -----------
                                                      113   18     0

Those Persons who are most dependent upon their Carriage, frequently
require it to carry them only a Mile or Two, and may save the expense
of hiring another Horse while one of their own is Ill, or is in want of
a Day’s rest, by having a pair of Shafts made to fit on, and so use it
with only one Horse--which will do all the work required by many infirm
persons, almost as easily as Two:--we wonder that more Chariots are not
so constructed.

The preceding Calculation shews that the Expense of keeping Two Horses,
and the Risk of loss by Horses, &c. cannot well be set down at less
than £113. 18_s._ per Annum.

A Hackneyman will furnish a pair of Horses, take all the Hazards, and
bear all the expenses enumerated above; at from £135. to £160. _per
Annum_, according to the quantity of Work, and the Age, Colour, and
Quality of the Horses required.

If a Pair of Horses are hired for a Year, and they are given up at any
time within that period, it is customary to give a couple of months’
notice, or a couple of months’ money. Have a written agreement about
this.

The following is my Agreement for hiring Horses:--

“MEMORANDUM. Mr. Thurston agrees to furnish Dr. Kitchiner with a Pair
of Horses at £140. per Annum, to be paid Quarterly; and if Dr. K.
wishes to give them up, he must give two months’ notice, or two months’
money: _i. e._ £24.

  “From January 5th, 1827.

  WM. KITCHINER.
  JAS. THURSTON.”

I would not recommend a Carriage Horse to be less than Seven years old,
especially if to be driven in _Crowded Streets_:--Horses that have not
been taught how to behave in such situations, are extremely awkward and
unmanageable, and often occasion Accidents.

As I have said, the Price charged for Job Horses varies as the goodness
of the Horses, and as the Work required, does. Some persons do not
Exercise their Horses enough;--others require Two Horses to do as much
Labour as should be done by Three. Again, the price of Horses varies
from less than £80. a Pair, to twice £80. a piece.

_If you keep Horses for useful purposes_, you must not be too nice
about either their Colour, or the condition of their Coats.

_The ordinary Town Carriage Work_ can be done just as well by a Pair of
Horses, which may be had for £70. or £80. as with those that cost three
times that Sum; indeed it will most likely be done better. If you have
Horses worth an hundred pounds a piece, you will be afraid of using
them when you most want them; _i. e._ in Cold and Wet Weather, for fear
of their catching Cold and breaking their Coats, &c. Moreover, _the
Elegance of an Equipage_, in the Eyes of most people, depends more
upon the Carriage, Harness, and Liveries, than upon the Horses:--all
can judge of the former, but few of the latter; and, provided they are
the same Size and of the same Colour, the Million will be satisfied.

_Horses in Pairs_ are sometimes worth double what they are, singly--and
Horsedealers do not like to buy any but of the most common Colours; _i.
e._ Bays and Browns; because of the ease in matching them. Horses of
extraordinary Colours may be purchased at a proportionably cheap rate,
unless they are in Pairs, and happen to be an extraordinary good match,
when they will sometimes bring an extravagant price.

_An Ancient Equestrian_ gives the following advice; and also gave us
all those Paragraphs to which are affixed the initials A. E.:--

“_If you have occasion to match your Horse_, do not let the Dealer know
you are seeking for a _Match_ Horse, or he will demand a higher price;
nor do not send your servant to select for you.”--See the “_Hints to
Purchasers of Horses_,” in CHAP. IV.

If you will be contented with the useful Qualities of your Horses, _i.
e._ their Strength and Speed, and are not too nice about their matching
in Colour, you may be provided with capital Horses, at half the cost
of those who are particular about their Colour; and moreover, you may
easily choose such as will do double the service.

The Judgment and Liberality of the Proprietors are not so questionable
on account of the _Horses_ (which all the Wit and all the Wealth in
the World cannot always procure exactly what may be wished) as they
are about those works of Art, a _Carriage_ and a _Livery_; these, good
Taste and Liberality can always command. The difference in the charge
for the hire of an elegant New Carriage and a shabby Old one, does not
exceed £25. _per Annum_; and £10. _per Annum_ more will defray all the
extra expense incurred by giving a handsome Livery; so there is not 10
per Cent saved in the Shabbiest turn out.

As most people Job their Carriage Horses, we shall continue our
Estimate, and set down--

                                                       £.  _s._  _d._

  For a Pair of Jobbed Horses (the lowest price
    at present)                                       135    0     0

  The Duty on Two Horses                                4   14     6

  On a Four-Wheeled Carriage                            6    0     0

  On the Coachman                                       1   14     0

  Wages[4] of the Coachman, not less than 10_s._ per
    week                                               26    0     0

  Board, ditto, ditto, at 14_s._ per week              36    8     0
    N.B. If there are no Lodging Rooms over the
    Coach-house, it is customary to allow a Coachman
    about 4_s._ per Week, _i. e._ about £10. per Year,
    to pay his Lodging.

  Allowance for Oil and Grease, Towels and
    Leathers, to clean the Carriage, _at least_ 1_s._
    per Week                                            2   12     0

  Rent of Coach-house and Stable                       25    0     0

  Tax on ditto                                          3    0     0
                                                      240    8     6

The advice of our great Dramatic Bard cannot be quoted more aptly than
in the following Maxim for choosing a Livery:--

  “Costly thy Habit as thy Purse
  Can buy, but not expressed in fancy,
  Rich not gaudy: for the Apparel oft proclaims
  The Man.”

  _Shakespeare._

We recommend a Blue, Brown, Drab, or Green Livery, the whole of the
same Colour. To have a Coat of one Colour, and lined with another, a
Waistcoat of another, and the other Clothes of another Colour, claims
the Poet’s censure--it is “Gaudy”--unless for a full Dress Livery on
a Gala Day:--we equally disapprove of the Capes of a Box Coat being
alternately Blue and Yellow, or Brown and Red, &c.

_Coachman’s Livery._

Those who affect an elegant Equipage, usually give their Coachman
annually, say Two handsome Suits of what is termed the best Second
Cloth (what is called Livery Cloth is a little cheaper, but much
coarser, and not half so serviceable).

                                                       £.  _s._  _d._

  Brought forward                                     240    8     6

  Light Blue Cloth Double-breasted Coat, edged
    with Crimson, and lined with Shalloon same
    colour as the Coat, with Gold-laced Collar
    and Button Holes--

  _Waistcoat_, Blue Kerseymere, with Shalloon
    Sleeves;

  _Plush Breeches_, lined, and gilt Knee Buckles       14   14     0

  30 Large and 18 Small Buttons with Crest[5] and
    Motto, &c. thereon                                  0   13     6
  _Working Dress_, (once a Year), Drab Cord
    Breeches, Coat, Waistcoat, and Overalls
    (Drab Fustian, lined,) &c.                          3   13     0
                                                      259    9     0

For those who make but little use of their Carriage, ONE LIVERY a
Year, or Two in Three Years, is enough, especially if you give a
Working-dress, as the Livery is then worn merely when he mounts the Box
to drive.

Those who give only ONE LIVERY IN A YEAR, should do that in April, so
that they may have the credit of it during the Summer months, while it
is seen: during the Winter it is almost always covered by the Box Coat;
when the Coat the man does his work in, will do as well as any. If a
Livery Coat has a Laced Collar, wearing the Box Coat over it, will soon
cut it to pieces.

_Counsellor Cautious_ never gave a Coachman a Livery till he had served
him for Three Months. Some Persons, instead of a Livery, allow 3_s._ or
4_s._ per Week extra, and the Coachman finds his own Clothes, a plain
Blue Coat; they giving him only a Hat and Great Coat.

                                                         £. _s._ _d._

                Brought forward                         259   9    0

  A good full-made _Box Coat_, with six real Capes,
    and lined with Shalloon, about £7. (according
    to the number of Capes and the quality of the
    Cloth, the price varies from £5. to £8.), once
    in Three Years, at the end of which it is given
    to the Coachman, per Annum                            2   7    0

    _Plain Liveries_, without Lace, &c. one-third
    less, _i. e._ about £5. per Suit.

  Two Plain _Hats_                                        2  10    0
                                                         -----------
                                                       £264   6    0

With Gold Lace Binding, and a neat narrow Gold Band, they cost about
double the above sum.

Some give, Annually, one plain Hat for common use, and one edged with
Gold Lace and a Gold Band as a Dress Hat.

Those who like to see their Coachman neat and nice, give him a _Clothes
Box_ as well as a Clothes Brush, or, which is infinitely better, a
Cupboard six feet high, about three feet deep, and three feet wide,
with pegs to hang his Box Coat, Hat, and other Clothes on, which,
without such a case, are soon spoiled by the Dust of the Hay Loft.

                                                         £. _s._ _d._

              Brought forward                           264   6    0

  The Yearly hire of a handsome new Chariot or
    Coach and Harness, from £70. to £84.: if it
    is hired for only three or four Years, and fitted
    up with _Under-springs_, _Collinge’s Axles_, &c.,
    and finished in the best style, as described in
    Estimate No 9, it will be about                      84   0    0
                                                       -------------
                         Total                          348   6    0

To the above Estimate is to be added the charges of Turnpikes--Short
Baits[6]--Travelling Expenses, &c., extra Visiting, and numerous other
Expenses, which would not be incurred without a Carriage to carry you
to them: these will make the total amount of outgoings from keeping a
Carriage come up to not less than £400 _per Annum_.

The Editor is aware that the foregoing Computations are rather higher
than those random-guess Estimates, which some inexperienced persons
have published: however, his Calculations are neither more nor less
than the actual amount which he has himself paid; and he does not
believe that the business can be done properly for less than the Sums
set down;--therefore,

  Prudent Peruser of the present Page,
  To keep a Coach will add but Care to Age,
  Unless your Annual Income is quite clear
  Full Fifteen Hundred Pounds a Year.

ESTIMATE No. V.

The former is _The Usual and Liberal Plan of Keeping a Carriage_--it
cannot be kept so comfortably on any other; but we must also tell our
Readers _The Cheapest Plan_, which is about £100 per Annum less.

                                                         £. _s._ _d._

  1st. Instead of giving £84 per Annum for a New
    Carriage and Harness, made in the best style,
    as per Estimate No. 9, you may hire an inferior,
    or a vamped-up second-hand one for
    about                                                60   0    0

  A Hackneyman will supply a Pair of Horses, and
    keep them, &c. in his Livery Stables, for           135   0    0

  Standing of Carriage, and charge for cleaning
    and greasing, &c. as in Estimate No. 6, per
    annum, not less than                                 11  16    0

  Duty on Horses and Carriage                            10  14    6

  A Grand managing Economist informed me
    that he pays the Hostler at a Livery Stable 8_s._
    per week additional, _i. e._ £20 per annum, to
    do all the work usually done by the Coachman,
    except driving the Carriage--he comes
    for orders as a Coachman does, and brings
    the Carriage to the Door, when his Man
    Servant, who acts as Coachman[7], mounts the
    Box and drives it; on its return, the Footman
    drives it to the Stables, and the Hostler
    does all the rest of the business usually done
    by a Coachman                                        20   0    0

  Extra Wages to a Footman for Driving, and
    Box Coat, &c. not less than, per annum                8   0    0
                                                        ------------
                                                        245  10    6
                                                        ------------

OBS.--Few People but those who have either a very Strong Purse, or a
very Weak Person, really require a Carriage every day.

Twice, or Thrice in a week would be quite enough for many;--such will
do wisely, to find a Friend who will pay half of the Expense, and use
the Equipage on alternate days--and on Sundays let it rest.

ESTIMATE No. VI.

For those who wish for a Carriage merely as a matter of occasional
Parade, rather than of continual Convenience, and hardly require
it perhaps Two days in a Week, the cheapest plan is to purchase a
Carriage, and keep it at a Stable Yard, where, as often as they wish,
they can hire a pair of Horses: but a good Carriage must not stand in
a Public Yard, unless it is put into a private Coach-house, where it
can be carefully locked up:--if you pay a little extra for this, it is
money well spent.

                                                         £. _s._ _d._

  The Expense then will be, the Interest of the
    Money paid for the purchase of the Carriage
    and Harness, (which we will suppose may
    be bought second hand for about £200), and
    keeping it in Repair, which, as it is but
    seldom used, may be set down together at
    (not less than,) per annum                           30   0    0

  Standing of it, at 3_s._ per week, per annum            7  16    0

  For Oil and Grease, and to the Hostler for
    cleaning the Carriage, from 1_s._ to 1_s._ 6_d._ per
    week, per annum                                       4   0    0

  Tax                                                     6   0    0
                                                         -----------
                                                         47  16    0

And £1. 1_s._ per Day for Hire of Horses, and 5_s._ the Coachman. See
ESTIMATE NO. 7.

Thus, it appears, _To keep a Carriage, and to use it once in a Year,
costs £48. 2 s._!!!

The Hackneyman’s Charge for a Pair of Horses for three or four hours in
the middle of the Day, say from One till Five o’clock, is about 15_s._

From Four till Twelve at Night, that is, to take you to the Theatre or
out to Dinner, and to bring you Home after, is 12_s._

The Coachman’s fee for these Short Jobs, is about 2_s._ 6_d._

Many people do not require a Carriage more than twice in a Week; nor
then, more than for Three or Four hours: to such, the Saving will be
very great.

                                                         £. _s._ _d._

  Standing charges of the Carriage, &c. as per
    Estimate above                                       47  16    0

  Horses and Coachman, for Four Hours, Twice
    a Week, at 17_s._ 6_d._ each time                    91   0    0
                                                        ------------
                     Per Annum                          138  16    0
                                                        ------------

ESTIMATE No. VII.

HIRING FOR A SHORTER PERIOD THAN A YEAR.

If a Carriage be hired for a Day, a Week, or a Month, or for any time
less than a Year, the person who let it out pays the Duty.

The customary charge for those common Carriages, whether of Two or Four
Wheels, which are let out, is about 5_s._ per Day, or £5. per Month (28
Days).

_Open Carriages_ are charged higher, as the whole Year’s Duty is paid
upon them, though they are only used for a few Months.

When Coaches or Chariots are let by the Day or Week, the _Harness_ is
not included in the charge for them. Harness for a Pair of Horses is
charged 1_s._ per Day, or 5_s._ per Week.

Hired Carriages are expected to be turned out clean, greased, and fit
for immediate use:--examine them well before you take them; for if
any part breaks while in your use, you will be expected to pay for the
Repair thereof, unless you make a previous Agreement that it shall be
done by the person letting it.

Tell the person you hire of, how long you want the Carriage, and how
far you are going to travel:--he has then no excuse for not giving you
a sufficient Carriage.

The price of a Job during the dear Months, when the Town is full,
_i. e._ in April, May, and June, for a Chariot or Coach, a Pair of
Horses and Coachman, his Wages and Board Wages, the standing at the
Hackneyman’s, &c., and all charges included, is, (a little more or
less, according to the quality of the Horses and the Carriage), per
Month, (reckoning 28 Days), about £26.

The usual sum for _the Hire of a Coach or Chariot and Harness_, is,
according to the condition thereof, from £5. to £7. per Month:--if you
hire them of a Coachmaker, you will have more choice, and may get a
better Carriage.

_A Glass Coach_, or Chariot and Horses, not to travel beyond eight
miles from Town, may be hired, per Day, for from £1. 1_s._ to £1. 5_s._

The Coachman’s Fee is 5_s._

If he is employed all Day, especially if you go into the Country, it is
usual to give the Driver his Dinner.

For a distance exceeding eight miles from the place of letting, the
charge is 1_s._ 6_d._ per Mile out, and half that sum in returning.

For Three or Four Hours in the middle of the Day, 18_s._

The Coachman will expect about Half-a-Crown.

From Four till Twelve in the Evening, to take you out to Dinner, and to
bring you Home, 15_s._--Coachman, 2_s._ 6_d._

In either of the above cases, _if you find the Carriage_, the charge
will be from 3_s._ to 5_s._ less.

We subjoin a List of the charges for these things in Ireland.

MEETING OF THE COACH PROPRIETORS AND POST-MASTERS OF DUBLIN.

The Job Coach Proprietors and Post-Masters respectfully beg leave to
inform the Nobility, Gentry, their Friends, and the Public, that at a
Meeting of their Trade, held on Tuesday, the 25th of July, 1826, it was

Resolved--That in order to meet the exigency of the Times, the change
of Currency, and the advanced price of every article necessary for
their Trade, particularly forage, that from and after the 1st of August
next, the prices of Posting and Job Carriages will be as follow, in
British Currency.

POSTING.

                                                  _s._ _d._ British.

  Chaise and Pair, with one or two passengers      1   1 per Mile.

  Chaise and Pair, with three passengers           1   4  ditto.

  Chaise and Four                                  2   2  ditto.

  Coach and Four                                   2   6  ditto.

  Pair of Horses to Gentlemen’s Chaise, one
    or two passengers                              1   4  ditto.

  Ditto, with three passengers                     1   6  ditto.

  Ditto Gentleman’s Coach                          1   6  ditto.

  Four Horses to ditto                             2   6  ditto.

  Four Horses to Chaise                            2   2  ditto.

JOB CARRIAGES.

  Carriage and Pair for Town, from ten until
    five, evening                                 12   0

  Ditto, ditto, until twelve at night             17   0

  Ditto, from six in the evening until twelve
    at night                                      12   0

  Pair of Horses to Gentlemen’s Carriages, same rates.

Resolved--That the sum of Ten Pence, demanded by Messengers sent to us
for Carriages, be discontinued.

Resolved--That we will not hire or employ any Coachman who has not a
written recommendation from his last employer to produce.

Resolved--That the foregoing List of Prices, together with the
Resolutions, be published in _The Dublin Evening Mail_, &c.

ESTIMATE No. VIII.

JOBBING HORSES.

We think that it is quite as Cheap, and are sure it is by far the most
Comfortable plan, to _Job Horses_:--if one of them falls sick or lame,
the Hackneyman immediately furnishes you with another--and you avoid a
vast deal of Inconvenience and Anxiety. This begins to be so generally
understood now, that not only Coach, but Cart and Waggon Horses are
_Jobbed_ by the Year,--and Carts and Waggons also.

_To Job Horses_, is particularly recommended to persons who are
ambitious of having an elegant Equipage;--a pair of fine Horses that
match exactly are always expensive to purchase; and if one of them
dies, it is sometimes, to a private Gentleman, extremely difficult to
find a fellow to it.

Horses cannot work equally, nor at ease to themselves, if they are not
nearly of the same Size, of the same Temper, and of the same Strength,
and have the same Pace, and Step well together.

A Hackneyman or Horsedealer, who is in an extensive way of business,
has so many opportunities of seeing Horses, that he can match a Horse
with much less Expense, and more exactly, than any Gentleman or any
Groom may hope to do: therefore, those who are particular about the
match of their Horses, will find it not merely more expensive, but much
more troublesome, to Buy than it is to Job.

Job Masters, in general, Sell, as well as Let Horses;--therefore,
stipulate in your Agreement, that you shall, be supplied with various
Horses till you are suited to your satisfaction; and then, that neither
of them shall be changed without your consent:--for this, a Hackneyman
may demand, and deserves, a little larger price; but it is Money paid
for the purchase of Comfort,--is the only way to be well served, and
prevents all disputes. If you do not make such an Agreement, and your
Hackneyman happens to be offered a good price for one of your Horses,
he may take it; and Your’s, like many other Carriages in London, will
be little better than a Break:--nothing is more disagreeable, nay,
dangerous, than to be continually drawn by strange Horses.

_While the Job is travelling in the Country_, the Hackneyman is allowed
what is called Night, or Hay Money, _i. e._ an addition of 1_s._ 6_d._
per Night for each Horse, every Night the Horses are out.

This is considered as a compensation for the increased price charged
for Corn at Inns, which is much more than it costs the Hackneyman at
Home.

MEM.--_Make some previous agreement in Writing about all these things._

Some people who wish their Horses to be in high condition, yet desire
to avoid all Risk and Trouble, &c. hire Horses, and find them in Corn,
&c. themselves. A good Pair of Horses, without keep, are charged about
£70. _per Annum_.

The Old Proverb tells us, that “_The Eye[8] of the Master makes the
Horse Fat._”

“The next care a man should take, after he has found a Horse to his
mind, and purchased him, should be to provide a Stable so situated,
with respect to his house, that he may see him very frequently, and
to have his Stall so contrived, that it may be as difficult a task
to steal his Horse’s provender out of the _Manger_, as to take his
own victuals out of the _Larder_.”--From _Zenophon’s Treatise on
Horsemanship_, translated in Berenger’s Entertaining and Instructive
Book upon Horsemanship, 4to. 1771. p. 231.

If you have valuable Nags, do not think it time lost, occasionally to
visit the Stable, and see that they are comfortably taken care of,
have their proper allowance of Corn, and are well bedded, &c., and see
that the Corn be not brewed.--A smart Son of the Whip says, that “some
Hostlers are so clever, that they can turn Oats into Ale.”

The Word _Hostler_, I find in the most learned Lexicon in our Language,
which explains some thousands of words more than Johnson, is written
Oat-stealer--which this learned lexicographer says it must be allowed
appears to be the true word.

The Dictionary above alluded to is a very deep work:--instead of its
containing more words by thousands than are in Johnson,--Johnson does
not give us ten words that are in it--nor does it contain much above
ten words that are in Johnson: this admirable and elegant Dictionary
is entitled “A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, by F. Grose,
Esq., F.R.S. &c.”

Some people fancy that they have made a capital Bargain, by stipulating
that the Hackneyman shall let their Carriage and Horses stand in his
Livery Yard, and so save part of the charge of a private Coach-house
and Stable:--if Hackneymen have plenty of Room, they have sometimes no
objection to this; however, you must take into the reckoning, that your
Carriage, while standing in an open Coach-house, and even while being
cleaned in a Public Yard, is unavoidably exposed to continual danger
from being carelessly run against by other Carriages passing to and
fro: moreover, it is often injured by the dirty Mops and Cloths, and by
the careless manner in which it is cleaned. If you wish your Carriage
to be turned out in nice condition, you must have your own Coach-house
and Stable; it is much more advisable, not only for your own Advantage,
but for the Comfort of your Coachman, which you will consider also, if
you expect him to consider your Interest.

It is extremely desirable to have Stables, &c. adjoining your House;
because a Coachman, when your Carriage is not wanted, has many spare
hours in which he may be very useful in carrying Messages, &c.

ESTIMATE No. IX.

DESCRIPTION OF AND ESTIMATE FOR A HANDSOME TOWN CHARIOT.

A Chariot built with the very best Materials and of the best
Workmanship,--the Body made with convex sides, lined with fine cloth
and silk lace, and lace Footman’s holders, Morocco head Cushions and
Squabs, colour of Lace Cloth and Morocco, &c. to choice: handsome
Venetian Blinds, best lute-string Spring Curtains, double folding steps
trimmed with black Spanish Leather, lined with Cloth, and concealed in
Doors; best Brussels Carpet to the bottom of Body, and Steps and Oak
seat box.

The Body hung on a Carriage with compass perch, best Town-made Springs
and Iron work; the Wood work of Carriage beaded and carved; Axle-trees
turned and case hardened with solid pipe boxes; Wheels with the best
seasoned Ash felleys, and Patent hoop-tire rivetted: Barouche Dickey
Coach Box set on a Boot and attached to the Carriage by handsome Iron
Work, and made to take off in case of travelling; trimmed with the best
patent Leather borders, and lined with Cloth; large splashing Iron in
front of Body, covered with double patent leather; Mail Lamps; brass
moulding to Body; Swage Door handles; the Body, Carriage, and Wheels
painted to fancy; Arms painted in ornamented shields on Doors; and the
best plate Glasses to Windows; the whole made of the best materials,
and finished in the most complete manner,

                                                       £. _s._ _d._

                                                      240   0   0

  If the following Extras are required:--

  Handsome C springs with carved blocks, stays,
    &c. &c.                                            10   0   0

  Handsome carved hind Standards                       10   0   0

  Under-Springs                                        25   0   0

  Collinge’s Patent Axle-trees                         20   0   0

  New Pair of very Handsome Harness, with
    Patent Leather Water decks complete                36  15   0
                                                      -----------
                                                      341  15   0
                                                      -----------

The Coachmaker will keep the above Carriage and Harness in Repair, and
find Wheels, &c. for four Years, for £10. per Annum: this, at the end
of that time, would make its expense £381. 15_s._, and it might then be
worth about £100.; so that if you purchase, it will cost at least £70.
per Annum, besides the Interest of the Money advanced: moreover, you
will have more than common luck, if you get £100. for it at the end of
Four Years.

If such a Chariot, with its appendages and Harness, as explained in the
above Estimate, be taken on a Job, (the longer the period you hire it
for, the less will be the annual charge,) for Four Years, the charge is
about £84. per Annum. It is not advisable to agree to take a Carriage
for a longer period than it will look well without being repainted, &c.
After three or four Years, Carriages that are in continual use require
to go into Dock for a thorough repair.

_A Landaulett_ or a Landau is charged £10. per Annum more.

_A Landau_ is a Carriage in the form of a Coach, the upper part of
which may be opened for the advantage of air and prospect in Summer
time, and is principally intended for Country use, and is the most
convenient Carriage of any, as so many persons may be accommodated with
the pleasure of an Open and a Close Carriage in one, without the care
of Driving, as in other Open Carriages, or the expense and incumbrance
of keeping Two.

_A Landau or Landaulett_ is not only more expensive to build, but more
troublesome to keep nicely clean; and its Leather Roof much sooner
wears shabby, than the Japanned Roof of a Coach or Chariot.

NOTA BENE. It is customary for the Builder to warrant his Work for
the first Twelvemonths, and to undertake to make good all failures
happening within that time, which arise from the Timber or Iron
work’s breaking, but not those decays which necessarily follow from
reasonable use and wear, or damages by Accident. However, to prevent
all Misunderstanding, insert the following lines in your Contract for
Building:--also, that “after the Carriage has been out about two or
three months, and the Varnish has got thoroughly dry, the Builder
shall Polish it free of further expense.” This process can be performed
much better after a few months have elapsed, than it can when the
carriage first comes out, as the Varnish is not then sufficiently
hardened.--See _Cautions on Building Carriages_, at p. 65 et seq. of
this Work.

TO JOB OR HIRE A CARRIAGE

Is the most convenient and cheapest way of proceeding.

Carriages are usually hired for such a time as they may be expected to
last in Fashion, that is for about four or five years.

_A One Horse Chaise_ with Two Wheels may be jobbed for £20. to £40. per
Annum.

_A Four Wheel Chaise_ from £30. to £50.

The present charge for the hire of a Coach or Chariot, (see Estimate
No. IX.), Landau or Landaulett, and Harness, per Annum, is from £60. to
£100. One year of which is paid in advance.

Coachmakers will build a New Carriage for this purpose, and finish it
to your own fancy; exactly the same as if you were to purchase it, and
will paint it at the end of two or three years, if you hire it for a
longer period.

Persons who constantly require the use of a Carriage will do wisely
to _Hire_, and not for a longer period than Three or Four Years. The
frequent Repairs which are constantly wanting to Older Carriages,
occasion many Inconveniences, although the expenses of them are avoided
by Hiring.

Carriages are never better built than those which are made expressly
to be let on a Job. A Coachmaker takes care to choose materials and
workmen of the best kind for his own sake, to avoid those subsequent
charges, which, as has been observed before, constitute the evil of
inferior Carriages.

MEM. _In the Agreement for Hiring_, stipulate for the option of
purchasing the Carriage at the end of the First Year, at a certain
Sum, _i. e._ if the original price was £300., and you paid £80. per
Annum, for £220. _After a Year’s wear, you will be able to see pretty
clearly what kind of a Carriage you have got, and whether it is worth
purchasing._

_Harness_ is usually engaged with the Carriage, which is kept in
Wheels and all Repairs, excepting those which are required from
Accidents.

When Carriages are let by the Year, the following engagement is usually
entered into by the contracting Parties:--

COPY OF AGREEMENT.

Articles of Agreement made and entered into this 13th Day of April,
1826, between A. B., Gent., of ------- in the county of ------- on the
one part, and C. D., Coachmaker, of ------- in the county of ------- on
the other; and this certifies that the said C. D. doth agree to build,
and preserve in good and substantial repair, a Carriage with Harness
for the use of the said A. B. until the full expiration of Four Years,
from the date hereof, after the following manner:--(here is to be
inserted the manner in which the Carriage is to be built, see Estimate
No. IX., with all the particulars of keeping the same in repair, the
time of New Painting, New Green silk Blinds, Hammerclothing, &c.):--to
furnish New Wheels when the said A. B. desires them, and to supply him
with a good Chariot while this is repairing--and that A. B. shall have
the option of purchasing the said Carriage and Harness at the end of
the first Year for the sum of -------.

In consideration whereof the said A. B. doth agree to pay, or cause
to be paid, to the said C. D. the sum of ------- annually; the First
Year’s payment on the receipt of the said Carriage and Harness, the
Second on the commencement of the Second Year, and each Year’s hire to
be paid in advance; and at the expiration of the Four Years, the said
Carriage with Harness to be returned to the said C. D. with Glasses
whole, and every part of the said Carriage and Harness complete and
whole, excepting such deficiencies as may be expected from reasonable
use and wear, provided always, and on condition, that if the said
A. B. shall, during the said term of four Years, pay the said C. D.
the sum of thirty Guineas, and give up the said Chariot and Harness
complete, then this Agreement shall be void, any thing to the contrary
notwithstanding.

In witness hereof, each party hath set their hands and Seals this day
of

  A. B.
  C. D.
  Witness, F. G.

This agreement must be on a Stamp, or Stamped within fourteen days; or
if a question arise, and it should come into Court, the Stamping then
would cost £20.

CARRIAGES.

The Art of _Coachmaking_ within these last Thirty Years, has been
improved greatly in Beauty, Strength, and Convenience; and a Carriage
is now considered as a distinguishing mark of the taste of its
Proprietor.

There are few works of Art which require the aid of so many
different Artists as the constructing of a Carriage; there are
Wheel-wrights,--Spring,--Axle-tree,--Step,--and Tire,--Black
and White Smiths,--Brass Founders,--Engravers,--Painters,
--Carvers,--Carpenters,--Joiners,--Trimmers,--Lace Makers,--Lamp
Makers, --Curriers,--Collar Makers,--Harness Makers, &c. &c.; and upon
the quality of the Materials, and the capacity of these Workmen to
execute their respective parts in a perfect manner, and upon the taste
and skill of the Coachmaker in combining them, depends the Beauty and
the Durability of the Carriage.

ON THE CONSTRUCTION OF CARRIAGES.

_The best time to bring out a New Carriage_, is about April or May,
before the extreme heat comes on; moreover, the Taxes are reckoned from
one 5th of April to another: and if you enter a Carriage on the 5th of
March, you will have to pay for a whole Year, for only one Month’s use
of it.

If you have any thing peculiar about a Carriage, it will require much
more time in building, than if you are contented with merely ordering
“a fashionable Vehicle.” In the former case, do not hope to get it
under Three, nor be surprised if you wait Four Months for it.

However, if you have no particular desire to be disappointed, summon to
your assistance the aid of those powerful refreshers of a perfunctory
Memory, the _Goose_, the _Calf_, and the _Bee_;[9] _i. e._ take _Mr.
Jervis’s_ advice, and bind the Builder in a written contract, made by
your Attorney, and duly Stamped, Signed, Sealed, and Witnessed, &c.,
to deliver the Carriage, Harness, &c. completely finished on a certain
day--or that he shall forfeit, and that day shall pay to You, One
Hundred Pounds, and keep his Carriage himself.

Be careful that your Contract contains a full and very particular
description of every part; for

MEM.--If you order the least Alteration or Addition afterwards, it will
be charged _Extra_, unless you discreetly insert a sweeping clause,
that the Whole shall be completed to your entire satisfaction, for the
Money, and at the Time agreed upon.

_An Honest Man_ will have no more objection to sign a written Agreement
than to make a Verbal Promise, and _a Prudent Man_ will never take
the latter when he can get the former:--the Expense of a written
Agreement is Money expended in preventing Anxiety, which is like
sacrificing a Pebble to preserve a Diamond:--those who wish to avoid
disappointments and litigation, will not stir one step without _a
Written Agreement_--’tis a pretty bit of Paper, that makes men Honest,
and keeps them so.

After you have settled what is to be the price of the New
Carriage--then, before you sign the Agreement respecting it, make your
Bargain as to what Sum the Builder shall allow you for your Old One,
provided you do not previously otherwise dispose of it.

_The Money allowed for an Old Carriage_, is less than a Novice will
expect. I sold one Chariot, which I had in use only Five years, for
only £15., nor could I get more for it, although I kept it for several
Weeks.

I sold another Chariot, which had been in wear about the same time, for
£30.,--and it is not often that a Builder will allow much more for a
Carriage that has been in use for five or six Years:--by that time, the
shape of the Body is out of Fashion, the Lining is shabby, and before
it can be sold again to a particular person, it must be thoroughly
repaired, which will cost a considerable Sum.

The following is an Estimate which was given to the Gentleman who
bought my last Chariot.

AN ESTIMATE OF REPAIRING A CHARIOT

                                                         £. _s._ _d._

  And putting in all New wood work, neatly
    carved--fresh fitting, filing, and fixing the
    old Iron Work with new bolts--taking the
    Springs to pieces--fresh fitting the plates,
    and re-fixing Springs with new rivets and
    bolts--altering the Iron work of the Barouche
    seat--putting a New Foot-board and fresh
    hanging it and the Body                              26   0    0

  Handsome new Patent Lamps                               2   8    0

  Repairing braces, pole-pieces, &c., new covering
    roller, bolts, and pole with New Leather              1  14    0

  Altering and re-fixing the frame of Dash Iron,
    and covering it with New Leather                      4  12    0

  Covering the whole of the inside with new
    cotton false lining                                   5  10    0

  New Carpets to the Bottom and the Steps                 1   8    0

  New Plating the Commode Handles and rivetting
    the Door Handles                                      1   6    0

  New pair of Web Holders                                 0  14    0

  New Painting the Body of a Chariot                     14   0    0

  New Wheels                                             15   0    0

  New Lining                                             35   0    0

  Fresh Stringing and Painting Blinds                     1  15    0

  New covering Glass Frames                               1  15    0

  New Silk to Green Curtains                              1   5    0

  Under-Springs                                          25   0    0
                                                       -------------
                                                        137   7    0
                                                       -------------

Now, if the Body had not been a beautiful piece of Work, it would not
have been worth while to have bestowed this large sum in renewing the
Carriage part: but the whole of the exterior of the Old Body, although
it had been built some Years, was more sound and unwarped, than most
new Bodies are on the first day they are turned out; it was elegantly
formed, and the Interior so admirably constructed for Comfort, that
from it I learned the dimensions, &c. which I have given in the
following description of what I think a Chariot ought to be.

Coachmakers sometimes shew _Drawings of Carriages_ for their Customers
to choose from,--it _is more satisfactory, not only to see, but to take
a ride in a pattern Carriage_; this your Coachmaker can take you to
see, or, if you see a Carriage which pleases your Eye, your Coachman
can easily learn where it is put up; go with your Coachmaker and see
it, and have _a written Particular_ of all its peculiarities, _an exact
Measurement_ of its dimensions, and _an Estimate_ in Writing of the
cost thereof, similar to the one given in CHAP. I. Estimate No. 9.

OF THE

CONSTRUCTION OF A CHARIOT.

The Novice in these things may think that the following description
is unnecessarily minute, and that he need only go to a Coachmaker and
order “_a Chariot_,” and that Word will procure him all he wishes.

The form of Carriages is as absurdly at the mercy of Fashion, as the
Cut of a Coat is;--however, if the Reader is willing to let the Builder
please himself with the form of the Exterior, he will perhaps not be
quite so polite as to submit the construction of the Interior entirely
to the caprice of his Coachmaker.--If “as easy as an old Coat” be a
true Aphorism, “as easy as an Old Carriage” is equally so:--by riding
three or four Years in one, you become so used to it, that any change
is extremely unpleasant--and if the Elbows or the Seat are too high, or
too low, or too narrow, or too wide, &c. when the Body is built, it is
always difficult, and often impossible, to alter it; therefore, if you
like your Old Body, measure it, and order your New one accordingly.

_If you build a Body_, pay a visit to your Coachmaker while it is
in progress, especially just before it is put into the hands of the
Painter.

All Coachmakers, do not, always, go to the expense of covering the
Roof, Back, and Sides with one piece of Leather, as they ought to
do;--the common practice is to cover the Roof only with Leather, and
leave the Upper sides and back of pannel board, with a groove run in
the Roof where the Leather is nailed in covering the nails and filling
up the groove with Putty, which the Summer’s Sun and Winter’s Rain will
soon crack, and the Water entering will soil the Lining, and the Inside
of the Body will become damp:--the whole of the upper part of a Body
should be enveloped in one large hide of strong Leather, and neatly
worked in, so that it is one solid surface of Leather to paint on,
which neither Heat nor Wet can affect for many Years.

_The Breadth of a Body_, to contain three persons comfortably, should
not be less than 4 feet 3 inches.

_From Back to Front_, 4 feet are enough.

_The Height of the Seat_ from the bottom, about 1 foot.

_From the Seat to the Roof_, not less than 3 feet 6 inches; the
Cushions, which are commonly about three inches in thickness, not
included.

A few Inches in Width and Breadth add but a few Pounds to the Weight,
but contribute greatly to the Convenience of a Carriage, especially to
well-grown and full-fed persons.

The little thoroughly-ugly humpty-dumpty Chariot, which looked
something like a Champion Potatoe set on wheels, but which was the
grand rage with Children of the Largest Growth about 30 Years ago,
would not admit a small person to sit with his hat on, nor a tall one
with his Hat off:--these foolish little wee Vehicles weighed only a few
pounds less than the large commodious Chariots, in which the Lords and
Ladies of the Creation transport themselves in at the present day.

_The Elbows_ should not be more than 6 inches above the Cushion, and
should be so entirely in recess, that you may lean comfortably against
the side of the Carriage:--in some ill-contrived modern bodies, they
are placed too high, and project out, and as often as you loll towards
them, remind you that you should not, and force you back into your
perpendicular, by giving you a Punch in your Side.

In a Chariot Body of the size just described, there should be a
_Front Seat_ about 10 inches in width, which will occasionally carry
Two persons:--this addition is especially desirable in a Travelling
Chariot, as by sitting in one corner of the Carriage, you may put your
Legs upon it, and take a Nap very comfortably. This Front Seat is
doubly better than the old fashioned _Bodkin Seat_ which drew out from
the centre; and when you have Two fellow Travellers, in order to induce
one of them to sit upon this accommodation seat, you may tell them that
they will sit three times as comfortably there as on the front seat;
for if they sit on that, they will be crowded themselves, and crowd two
other persons also; but if one sits on the other seat, all may ride
comfortably enough:--it should be fixed on with Slip-Hinges, so that
it may be taken off at pleasure.

_The Door Lights or Windows_ are sometimes contracted on the Seat side
about 4 inches; however, some people like them as large as possible,
and besides, have the back of the Carriage stuffed eight or ten inches
deep, which is exceedingly convenient for those who are anxious to
exhibit themselves like Articles for sale in a Shew Glass.

Take care that _the Glasses_ are of the best Quality, well Polished,
White, and as free as possible from Specs and Veins.

These Glasses are commonly bound with Cloth of the same Colour that
the Carriage is lined with, or with Black Velvet, which wears better,
and works in the grooves more pleasantly than any binding:--the most
elegant binding is Lace like that of the Glass-holders, or in which the
Crest or Arms are woven.

_The present fashion of Stuffing_ is preposterous; it reduces a Large
Body to the size of a small One: however, if you like to ride about
for the benefit of public inspection, as your friends, my _Lady
Look-about_,--the _Widow Will-be-seen_,--and _Sir Simon Stare_, do,
pray study Geoffrey Gambado on the Art of sitting politely in Carriages
with the most becoming attitudes, &c. and choose wide Door Lights and
full Squabbing;--if you wish to go about peaceably and quietly, like
_Sir Solomon Snug_, and are contented with seeing without being seen,
adopt the contracted Lights and common Stuffing, which, among others,
have this great advantage, that when you sit back, you may have the
side Windows down, and a thorough Air passing through the Carriage,
without its blowing in directly upon you: this, to Invalids who easily
catch Cold, is very important.

_The Back Light_ must not be more than 27 inches from the surface of
the Cushions, or it will be too high for a person to look through it
without rising up--it is convenient to have this made to Open, as
it affords an easy opportunity of giving directions to the person
behind the Carriage, and is a desirable aperture for admitting Air in
very hot weather:--tell the Builder to give you a fine clear plate
for this purpose, and not to glaze it with a semidiaphanous “_Old
Accident_,”--a technical term for those “Odds and Ends” of broken Coach
Glasses which are sometimes used for this purpose, and which having
been continually cleaned every day for thirty or forty years, have
become so scratched, that you can hardly see through them.

I recommend _the Lining to be Green_, with Lace to correspond, and
the Green _silk Sun shades_ of the same Colour--Green is pleasant to
the Eye, and Superfine _Cloth_ or Tabinet, is, during nine months out
of the twelve, much more comfortable in this Cold climate, than the
chilling _Leather_ which has lately been the fashion: in Summer this
may be covered with what is commonly called a _False Lining_, which is
generally made of Gingham, and is equally useful to preserve a New or
hide an Old Trimming:--it should only be applied to the back and those
parts of the sides that are leaned against; the Front, Roof, and Doors,
should be left uncovered.

The Elegance of the Interior of a Carriage depends much upon the
pattern and breadth of _the Lace_ with which the Lining is bordered,
of which there are a great variety.--Lace-making is a distinct branch
of Manufactory; and as “every Eye makes its own Beauty,” the person who
builds a Carriage should desire his Coachmaker to furnish him with some
patterns to choose from:--there are several Coach Lace-makers in Long
Acre.

Some Carriages are fitted up with Squabs, _i. e._ Cushions stuffed with
Wool and covered on one side with Cloth, and on the other with Silk,
Linen, or Leather; the former side for Winter, the latter for Summer
use.

_The Seat Cushions_ should be covered on one side with Leather, and on
the other with Cloth.

Let _the Stuffing at the Back_ be no thicker than necessary to make it
easy, _i. e._ about 2½ inches in thickness.

Have _the Lid of the Sword Case_ to fall down with the back attached,
instead of lifting up, being much easier to put in a parcel without
troubling the passengers to rise.

_The Seats_, which are usually boarded, I would recommend to be, on
one side, Caned or Girt-webbed, for ease in Sitting--the other half
may be fitted up with a Case for containing Grog and Prog, &c. for a
Rusticating Party:--they _should be about 22 inches deep_--not more,
or Short people cannot sit upon them comfortably:--they will be much
easier if made on a bevil, and about an inch lower behind than they are
before: if not originally so constructed, the stuffing of the Cushions
may be easily adjusted so as to produce that effect.

_The Green Silk Spring Sun Shades_ should be fixed upon the Doors; this
saves the trouble of putting them up every time you open the Door,
which must be done when they are fixed to the Body;--if the Blinds
are fixed on the Door, take care to shut it when you get out of the
Carriage in Wet Weather, or they will be spoiled:--_when the Silk
becomes faded_, if it is turned upside down, the part most in sight
will look almost as well as new.

If the Ground Colour of the Body is good, _New Varnishing_ will
sometimes do almost as well as New Painting.

I am told that the best Colour for Wear is _Midgley’s Chrome Yellow_.
In consequence of the vivid brilliancy of this pigment, in all the
variety of its shades, from the pale Lemon colour to the full Orange,
it has of late come into general use. When properly prepared, it
possesses all the desiderata of perfect Colours, Smoothness, Body,
Extensibility, and ready Mixture with Oil or Water, and dries well and
blends well.

_Venetian Blinds_ are delightful shades in warm Weather, as they admit
the Air while they exclude the Sun; and when closed, serve as a shutter
to prevent dust from soiling the Carriage while it is standing by. They
should be painted on the Inside, of a Verdigrise Green, and on the
Outside of the same Colour as the Carriage.

If these are not made of _extremely well-seasoned Wood_, they rattle
very much in Dry, and swell in Damp weather.

These Blinds should have _Bolts_ affixed to them, which, when fastened
within, if you have _Locks_ on the Carriage Doors, enable you to fasten
up the interior of your Carriage completely.

There is a great deal of Rain falls during the warmest months in this
Country, and our Chariots very much want _an Exterior Blind_ (a Hood
as it were) in the front, which would exclude Rain, while it would
admit Air:--many of our Wet days are so warm, that our Carriages are a
shower Bath if the Windows are open, and a Vapour Bath if they are Shut!

_The Handle of the Door Latch_ should be double--that is, it should
have an additional Handle within side, the position of which will
afford you the satisfaction of seeing that the Door is properly
fastened, and also the power of easily opening it in case of an
Accident, &c.

It is a very great convenience to have _the power of opening the Door
from the inside_. This Handle should be made to turn towards the Door,
so as to be within the Door when the Door is opened, it will then be
out of the way of being struck against the Body in shutting; which, if
it turns to the Right, will sometimes happen when the Door is shut by
perfunctorious persons.

The spindles of these Handles during the first Year, till time has worn
them a little, will occasionally move too stiffly: the remedy for this
is a drop of Oil.

Never permit officious Strangers to shut your Carriage Door; in order
to save their own time and trouble, and to accomplish this at once,
some idle and ignorant people will bang it so furiously, one almost
fancies that they are trying to upset the Carriage, the pannels of
which are frequently injured by such rude violence; therefore, desire
your Coachman to be on the watch, and the moment he sees any one
prepare to touch your Door, to say loudly and imperatively “_Don’t
meddle with the Door!_”

Have _Locks_ to the Doors--they are very necessary when travelling, or
when your Carriage is waiting for you at Night: _a Latch_ inside that
will fasten the Door so that it cannot be opened on the outside, is
also desirable, especially in Travelling Chariots.

In Landaulets the door opening without the window frame, particular
directions to the Footman are necessary that he observe the Glass is
entirely down before he attempts to open the Door, or the pane will
be infallibly broken. When the glass is quite up there is no danger,
for in rising it releases a Spring which fastens the Door; the blind
does the same; so that if the Servant keep the blinds up while the
Carriage is waiting, a lock may be dispensed with. I would recommend
the addition of this contrivance to Coaches and Chariots.

_A Town Carriage_ should not be more than three feet from the Ground,
so as to require only _One Step_; to which should be fixed _a Strap_,
by which any person within the Carriage may very easily pull it up, and
with the help of the _Inside Handle_, may, with equal facility, finish
the Footman’s Work, and fasten the Door.

The above is an invaluable contrivance, and well deserves to be
called “_a Dumb Footman_;” it entirely prevents the necessity of the
Coachman’s leaving his Box; from which rash act, many lives have been
lost, and many Carriages destroyed by the Horses running away[10]:--All
will adopt it, excepting those persons who are so unfortunate, as
to be more Proud than Prudent. _Mr. Jervis_ was extremely earnest in
recommending these excellent appendages; and to impress the importance
of them upon the imagination of the Editor as strongly as possible,
he closed his arguments by averring, that for a Coachman to leave his
Reins would be as desperate an act of rashness as for a Cook to leave
her Kitchen while her Spit was going round, and equally likely to
produce the most tremendous and irreparable Evils!

If such a plan be adopted, the Body must not be hung further than
twenty-two inches from the Dickey, _i. e._ near enough to the Coach Box
to allow the Coachman to put his hand on the top of the Door when it is
opened, and hold it so while the Passengers get in and out. Till the
Hinges are worn a little, they will occasionally get rusty and move too
stiffly, and require a little Oil.

The present fashionable _Door Handle_ is too big by half, and is also
extremely inconvenient on account of the Hinge in it, which requires
an additional action, which in the course of a little wear becomes
ricketty and rattles, and you can hardly tell to a certainty whether it
fastens the Door completely or not.

The simple Handle without a Hinge, which was in vogue some years ago,
is infinitely more convenient and safe, because its single action is
more certain.

_The Crest or Arms_ in the Centre, is an elegant ornament for the Head
of the Handle.

_A Boot or Budget_ fixed on the fore Carriage between the front Springs
is useful to carry Horse Cloths, Luggage, &c.

_Hind Standards_ are very useful for town work, to keep the Horses and
Pole of other Carriages from injuring your Hind Pannels; but as they
are a heavy weight, they should be made to take off for the country.

A _Dickey Coach Box_ is the most convenient; it is less impediment to
the view of those who are inside the Carriage, and more comfortable to
the Coachman. They should be fixed on the Boot, and entirely detached
from the Body. Let it be large enough to contain Two persons. It is not
quite so easy as the Body; but for those who love Air and Exercise, and
a view of the Country, it is in Summer the pleasantest place.

_The Seat_ thereof to hold Two persons, should be thirty Inches wide
and twenty Inches deep, inside measurement. _The Cushion_ should be
of equal thickness, and not higher on the Driving side, as it is in a
Gig, because when only the Coachman is on the Box, he should sit in the
middle of it. There should be a Pocket on each side in the lining, for
putting Tickets in.

This kind of Coach Box may be so made as to take off, and fix on
behind the Carriage. Under the Seat, for the Coachman, should drop in
a Box to serve as a Tool Budget, and contain a few spare Bolts, Nuts,
Linch-Pins, Nails, a Wrench, a Winch that will fit your axle, Hammer,
Chisel, a Pair of Pincers, &c.; by help of which, a trifling accident
on the Road may be remedied without delay.

_Take care that your Coach Box is strongly and properly fixed on_,
and frequently examine the state of the Bolts and Nuts, &c. For want
of sufficient strength, or of the efficient state of the supports to
it, many dreadful accidents have happened; one of which we relate as a
warning:--

“On Tuesday morning last, while the Coachman and the Footman, in the
service of F. P. Ripley, Esq., 12, Woburn Place, Russell Square, were
driving their Master’s carriage along Tavistock Place, Tavistock
Square, the box on which they were sitting broke down, and precipitated
them to the ground. The carriage wheels passed over the right leg of
the Coachman and the left breast of the Footman. They were conveyed to
their master’s with the greatest alacrity, where they received such
treatment as their situations required. The coachman’s leg is bruised
and lacerated extremely. The footman, on being raised from the ground,
was excessively convulsed. We are sorry to add there are no hopes of
his recovery.”--_Times_, June 2, 1826.

_Spikes to fix on the Hind Standards._

These spikes may be so contrived as to be put on and off very easily,
with Three Nuts, in as few minutes;--the Footman’s Step should be fixed
on in the same manner.

_Do not permit Strangers to place themselves behind your Carriage_
at any time, or under any pretence whatever. There are innumerable
instances of Carriages having been disabled from proceeding, and
Travellers robbed and finished, by allowing such accommodation. The
Collectors of Check Braces, and Footmen’s Holders, assume all kind of
Characters, and are so expert, that they will take these articles off
in half the time that your Coachman can put them on; and will rob you
of what you cannot replace for a Pound, though they cannot sell them
for a Shilling.

Therefore, Spikes are indispensable when you have not a Footman;
otherwise, you will be perpetually loaded with idle people, _i. e._
unless you think that two or three outside passengers are ornamental
or convenient, or you like to have your Carriage continually surrounded
by Crowds of Children, incessantly screaming, “Cut! Cut behind!” Why do
not _the Street Keepers_ prevent this Nuisance? These officers should
be stationed in Sentry Boxes, as they are in the Parish of Bloomsbury,
_i. e._ the same as the Watchmen are at Night; where, when not going
their Rounds, they should remain.

The multitude of _Strayed Dogs_ which are perpetually prowling and
howling, and barking and biting at Horses’ heels, and making them
start, and those which _are carried about in Carts_, also frequently
frighten Horses and occasion Accidents, and are barbarous and dangerous
_Public Nuisances_, which “_the Street Keepers_” should suppress.

Let it be enacted--that all Dogs, Fowls, and any other Beasts and
Birds, found in the Streets, _not having a Collar_ on, on which is
engraven the Name and place of abode of the Owner thereof, shall
henceforth be seizeable by any Constable, or Street Keeper, or
Watchman, or any person who finds them; which they shall have power
to dispose of as their own property; and those _with a Collar_ also,
unless their owners immediately pay a fine of five shillings; one
moiety of which shall be to the person finding them, the other to the
Poor of the Parish. For want of such salutary Regulations, some of the
Streets of London are like a Dog Kennel or a Poultry Yard.

These Beasts and Birds are seldom kept except by petty Housekeepers,
who are perpetually applying to be excused paying Taxes. Surely such
persons should not be permitted to annoy their neighbours, who by duly
paying Parish rates, in fact, contribute to their maintenance.

_Dogs out of Doors_ are horribly noisy, especially on Moon-light
Nights, when they will turn up their Noses, and

  “Bay the Moon with hideous howl,”

for an hour together. They seldom give Tongue when inside of a House,
except when shut in by themselves in an Empty house. There are certain
Manufacturers who having more cunning than conscience, to evade paying
the Taxes upon their Warehouse, instead of letting somebody sleep in
it, which would subject them to the Taxes, turn in a Dog as a Watchman,
who barks and howls incessantly all night long. Surely such shirking
Gentry are not entitled to the privilege of annoying a score or two of
quiet Neighbours, who honestly pay the Taxes imposed by their Country!
They and their Cur-Watchman should be indicted and amerced _sans
cérémonie_.

Fowls, Parrots, Dogs, or any other of those Beasts or Birds, which
(because they make most Noise) are vulgarly called _Dumb Animals_,
bleating, barking, bellowing, in the Front Area or back Garden of a
House, &c. are an offence against the Public Peace--are an Indictable
Nuisance; and on the complaint of a Neighbouring Housekeeper, are as
cognizable by Constables, Street Keepers, Watchmen, &c. surely as
justly as the Owners of such Animals would be, were they to hoot and
bellow there,--for which they would, in the first instance, be taken to
a Watchhouse, and in the second Indicted and fined or sent to the Tread
Mill.

QY. What difference does it make whether the Peace is broken, and
Sleep destroyed, by an “_Animal plumis, vel implumis et bipes_,” _i.
e._ whether it wears ready-made Clothes, or employs a Tailor? Surely
it will not be allowed in this Age of Refinement, that the former is
entitled to more consideration than the latter.

They manage these things better in France. All Dogs, Fowls, &c. found
in the Streets of _Paris_, are finished forthwith by the _Gens d’Armes_.

It cannot be too generally known, that by _The Metropolis Street Act_
of the _57_th Geo. III. cap. 24. in § 67. “The Commissioners of the
Parochial Paving Boards are empowered to order the removal of _any
matter or thing which they consider a Nuisance, on the complaint of any
Inhabitant_.”

Such controlling power is but too needful--there is no lack of people
who love their _dear_ “_Dumb Animals_,” as they call their Dogs and
Parrots, &c. not a little better than they do their Neighbours,--aye,
who love them as well as _Simon Suck-eggs_ does his Fowls! who would
not willingly sacrifice the penny profit he makes by the oviparous
faculty of his Poultry, however much, or however many people may be
annoyed by it.

If Persons who are offended by any of the above nuisances, apply to
the Clerk of the Commissioners of the Paving, and beg him to lay their
complaint before the Board, they will issue a mandate ordering their
immediate abatement as _a Public Nuisance_: and thus, the evil is
removed, without any of that unpleasant feeling which might arise from
one Neighbour complaining of another.

The Author is now framing “_a Sleep Act_,” which will shew the
importance of Sleep to Health, the causes which so often and so cruelly
disturb “_the Business of the Night_,” on the due performance of which,
depends our power of performing “_the Business of the Day_,” and the
remedies which the Legislature may easily apply for its preservation.
One of their most beneficial acts would be to abolish a

_Vulgar and Barbarous Custom_ which prevails among common Workmen, when
they first come to work in the Morning, to make as much Noise as they
possibly can; thus, if you live near any Manufactory, &c., or if a
house is building or repairing near you--from Six in the Morning till
half-past, they will raise such a horrible din of Hammering, &c. that
all within Ear shot of them are presently awoke; and indeed they seem
to do it for that sole purpose, for the following hours they are often
quiet enough.

Those who are so outrageously active so early in the day are
technically termed _Powters_, _i. e._ such extraordinary industry being
very often a mere manœuvre to deceive their Neighbours, which they
artfully affect to gain Credit, and which, like setting up a shewy Shop
Front, _is one of the usual tokens of approaching Bankruptcy_.

Let it be enacted, that all Manufacturers do perform the Noisy part of
their processes during the middle of the Day:--this might be easily
managed in most trades without any interruption of their business! What
can be easier, than for the work which makes such a Noise during _the
first half hour_ in the Morning to be done in _the last half hour_ in
the Evening?

Let the DOG TAX be levied without exception, (but as far as regards
only those which lead Blind Men,) and let due Rewards be given to those
who inform against persons who evade it, of whom there are not a few,
the only way of preventing which is to LET ALL DOGS WEAR A COLLAR, on
which is engraved the Name and the place of Abode of the Owner;--He who
by Fraud avoids a Tax, which by the Laws of his Country he is commanded
to pay, is a Traitor, who commits a greater Crime, and deserves as
great a Punishment, as he who, by Force, breaks into the Treasury, and
takes so much Money out!!!

It is notorious, that the majority of these useless and offensive
Animals are maintained by paupers who have hardly the means of
maintaining Themselves!--these are the Dogs which, from spare and bad
food, are most frequently mischievous--most apt to run Mad--and are
most annoying and disturbing to the Public. “_As many Beggars, as many
Dogs_,” is one of our true Old Sayings, and of an Old Song, to which
in the next page we have had engraved as it was performed by “_Betsy,
Billy, and Bow Wow_.”

When the Author first learned the Song between this and the next page,
which is now nearly half a Century ago, he was a good deal surprised
at the last line of it, and thought that it savoured more of Rhyme
than of Reason, notwithstanding his Grandma’ told him that “Time the
Teacher” would soon shew him, that Opulence and Independence, and Wit
and Wisdom, are not always inseparable;--that he would frequently find
Integrity dwelling with Poverty, “_in Tags and Rags_;”--as often meet
with Nobleness of Mind among the Humble in Fortune, as with those who
are by courtesy called Noble, and who are Poor enough in principle, who
wear a VELVET GOWN.

The fact is, that the Poor are, very naturally, as fond of flattery as
the Rich:--now nothing in nature Flatters more fascinatingly than the
Eye of a Dog! If his master speak to him in any tone lower than that of
Anger, his Eye is ever ready to ogle obsequious Approbation:--and if he
scold him, the rudest expression it ever offers is seeming to say, with
the most subtle submission, “As you are _Great_! be Merciful!”

[Music] [Illustration: A TRIO

as performed by

BETSY, BILLY, and BOW WOW,

Engraved on Copper, by Sid^y. Hall, Bury Str^t. Bloomsb^y.

Hark, BOUGH, WOUGH,

Hark, how the Dogs bark! how the Dogs bark! WOUGH WOUGH WOUGH

How the Dogs bark!

Then the Beggars are coming, the Beggars are coming, the Beggars are
coming to Town,

There’s some in Tags, some in Rags, some in Rags, some in Tags, And
there’s some in a VELVET Gown aye! aye! aye, aye, aye, aye! some in
VELVET! in VELVET? in VELVET aye, aye, some in VELVET, some in VELVET,
some in a VELVET Gown.]

In future, instead of the trite Old Adage, “As Faithful,” it
might more properly be said, “As Flattering as a Dog:”--like other
Flatterers, “_they are Faithless as they are Flattering_.”

Every one knows that when Men go Mad, they always hate most those that
they loved best when they were in their Senses: and it is a frightful
Truth, that

“_A Mad Dog is always apt to bite his Master first._”

There have been many arguments _pro and con_, concerning the dreadful
Disease their bite produces;--it is enough to know, that Multitudes
of Men, Women, and Children, have died in consequence of being bitten
by Dogs.--What does it matter whether they were the Victims of Bodily
Disease or Mental Irritation? The Life of the most humble Human Being
is of more value than all the Dogs in the World--dare the most brutal
Cynic say otherwise?

Semi-drowning in the Sea, and all the pretended Specifics, are mere
delusions, and there is no real remedy but cutting the part out
immediately. If the bite be near a large Blood vessel, that cannot
always be done, nor when done, nor however soon done, or however well
done, will it always prevent the miserable Victim from dying the most
dreadful of Deaths!!!

Well might ST. PAUL desire us to

  “_Beware of Dogs._”

First Epistle to Phillipians, chap. iii. verse 2.

THE AXLE-TREES

Are formed of wrought Iron, and are the chief support of

_The Carriage[11]._

Four Wheeled Carriages are divided into two parts, the _Upper_ and
_Under Carriage_.

_The Upper_ is the main one, on which the Body is hung.

_The Under Carriage_ is the conductor, and is turned by means of the
Pole which acts on a centre-pin, called the _Perch Bolt_, which goes
through the fore Axle-tree bed and fore transom, and secures the fore
or under Carriage to the Upper one.

The Hind Wheels are placed on the _Upper_, the Fore Wheels on the
_Under Carriage_.

The utmost care should be taken to have every part made of good _Town
made Iron Work well wrought, and sound Wood well seasoned_, and of
sufficient strength, rather going to the extreme in thickness, than
risking the lives of the Passengers by the oversetting of the Carriage,
which often happens when an Axle-tree or a Perch, &c. breaks.

_The Common Axle-tree_ is that which is in general use, it being much
the cheapest, a pair of the best case hardened costing only £9. 9_s._

_Collinge’s Axles_ have many advantages, which more than compensate
the higher first charge for them, which is £28. 7_s._, but they wear
so much longer, and the silent and steady motion they preserve to the
Wheels, and the convenience of retaining Oil enough to travel a Journey
of 30 Miles a day for 9 Months, that is, above 7,500 Miles, (_i. e._ if
the Carriage does travel every day) without replenishing with Oil: the
Common Axle will hardly travel 100 Miles without requiring the Wheels
to be taken off and greased.

In the ordinary Town Work--say, on an average, about 10 Miles a day,
Oiling twice a Year is enough: MR. COLLINGE sends a person to do this,
and charges 2_s._ for each Wheel; if a new Leather Washer is wanted,
1_s._ 6_d._ is charged for each: these are rarely required oftener than
once in nine months.

Moreover, the Wheels are much better secured, and the draught of the
Carriage is very much lessened.

Keep the _Winch_ which fastens on the axle-cap in your own possession,
or some curious or clumsy person may unscrew it, and let out the Oil.

“COLLINGE’S AXLES are much more safe and secure, for they have Two
Collars and Two Nuts, which screw different ways, and a linch-Pin, and
a Cap which screws on over all.”--A. E.

A person who was formerly employed in Mr. Collinge’s Manufactory,
told me, that with all the evident advantages of these Axle-trees,
they were not such general favourites with some Coachmen as might
be expected, which, for a long time, he could not any how account
for--till the unaccountable cause was accidentally discovered in the
two following instances.

A Coachman to a Gentleman who had Collinge’s Axles, was continually
abusing them, and at length got himself discharged:--the workman met
him some time after, and said, “Well, my Friend, I cannot imagine why
you were such a determined enemy to our Axles, which save you a vast
deal of Trouble, for they don’t need Oiling more than twice a Year; and
I cannot conceive why you preferred your Common Axles, which required
taking to pieces and greasing, &c. once or twice in a Week! Now, as you
have left your place, and it cannot injure You, and may very greatly
serve Me, pray be so good as to tell me, why you so furiously opposed
our Axles?” “Why, sir,” replied Mr. Coachman, “the fact is, that what
you have stated as so great an advantage in your Axles, was a great
Dis-advantage to me: you know that my late Master, _Mr. Rusticate_,
used every week to go to his Country House, which is 30 miles from
Town: this gave me an opportunity of charging him 1_s._ 6_d._ for extra
Grease, which did not cost me 2_d._; therefore, your Axles were a dead
loss of £4. a year to me!!!”

He informed me that another unconquerable opponent was the servant of a
Gentleman who had a new Carriage every five years, and who gave the Old
one to his Coachman:--now, as Collinge’s Axles will wear out three or
four Carriages, they were taken away from the Old Carriage and put to
the New one,--which made it a less valuable perquisite to the Coachman
in the direct ratio of the worth of a set of Common Axles.

“_When you Build a Carriage, have Collinge’s Axles_;”--but remember, it
is not sufficient that you order the Builder to put in _Patent Axles_,
for some of the imitations of Collinge’s Axles are called Patent Axles;
and as they are got up cheap, some Coachmakers, unless you positively
desire them to go to _Collinge’s Manufactory_, (near the Marsh-gate
Turnpike, in the Westminster Bridge Road), will, to put a pound in
their own pocket, recommend the _Sham Patents_.

_Mr. Jervis_ says, that he has actually seen them put down in the Bill
under the Appellation of, and charged at the Price of, “_Collinge’s
Patent Axles_.”

THE WHEELS.

The Work of a Carriage is proved by the wear of the Wheels;--if it
runs upon an average 10 miles per day in Town, and 15 in the Country,
Well-made Hoop-rimmed Wheels, the Tire of which should not be less than
five-eighths of an inch in thickness, and for a Travelling Carriage
three-fourths of an inch, will not be worn out in less than 12 Months,
_i. e._ they will run at least 3,650 Miles in Town, and it is reckoned
that they will last twice or thrice as long on a smooth Road, as they
will on rough Pavement.

It is said that _the Macadamising_ of the Streets, if kept in _perfect_
Repair, would make the Wheels last a deal longer than they did on the
Pavement:--this operation is performed at present in a very clumsy
manner; instead of stopping up half the Street with a Wooden Hoard,
and breaking the Stones on the Spot, _the materials should be brought
there ready broken; One Twentieth part of the Time now taken would then
be more than enough entirely to finish a Road._

_The Flag Foot Pavement_ should also be brought ready chipped and
fitted;--by working the Stones in the Streets, the Eyes of the
Passengers are in no small danger.

By the Metropolis Street Act of the _57_th Geo. III. cap. xxix.
sec. lxiii. Every Occupier of any House, Warehouse, &c. during the
continuance of Frost, or after or during the Fall of Snow, shall
once in every day, before 10 of the clock in the forenoon, cause the
Footway, all along the Front, Side, or Back walls of such House, &c. to
be swept and cleansed;--for each neglect of doing so, to forfeit 10_s._

This order for keeping the Footway swept should be extended to all
Times and Seasons;--there is sometimes an accumulation of greasy dirt
on the pavement, which is as slippery as if it was soaped, and is as
dangerous as Ice itself:--might not this cleansing be done by poor from
the Workhouse?

In Walking the Streets of a Slippery Morning, you may guess where the
good-natured people live, by Sand or Ashes being thrown on the Ice
before their Doors.

How far the change of the permanent and easily kept clean Granite
Pavement, for the Mud and Dust of the present Roads, may be considered
an improvement by _the Eyes_, _the Legs_, _and the Lungs_ of our good
Londoners, the Editor has not studied the subject sufficiently to
venture a conjecture: the Quiet with which Carriages pass along is
certainly extremely desirable to the Ears of the Inhabitants of the
Houses which border the Streets so altered.

Our Granite Pavement has shared the fate of every thing in this World,
where nothing remains long at rest: as soon as it had arrived at as
high a degree of perfection as it appeared capable of, it was pulled
up, and hammered into pieces:--so much for the Constancy and permanency
of Human Ways!

Some persons use their Carriage so little, and go so gently, that a set
of Strong Wheels will last them three or four Years: Others will be
whirled along at such a furious rate, that they wear them out in ten or
twelve Months.

When New Wheels are put on to Old Carriages, and _the Old Wheels_ are
taken in exchange, the usual allowance for them is about two Guineas
per Set: but they are the perquisite of the Coachman if he has been in
your Service as long as the Wheels have.

From the beginning to the end, it will take not less than five Weeks
to finish a set of Wheels properly;--they should be made a fortnight
before they are painted, and they should not be put on for use till
a fortnight after they have been painted; therefore, order a set of
Wheels a couple of Months before they will be wanted.

The _Price of Four New Chariot Wheels_ with prime Ash felleys, and
patent hoop tires, all of the very best workmanship, including every
charge of Painting and Boxing, &c. is about £15.

A set of Wheels may be purchased for £12. 12_s._: in the early part of
my Apprenticeship to Carriage-Keeping, I paid as high as £16. 16_s._

_Watch the Tires._--When the Irons are getting thin, have them taken
off, before they become too weak to protect the Wood-work:--the best
plan is, _when the Irons are half worn out_, and before the joints
in the Wood-work get loose, as they wear most on the outer edge, to
have them taken off and turned;--if the Wood-work is sound, they will
run then half as long as they did at first; then, if the Wood-work
continues sound, have new Irons put on;--_the Ringing_ is about
one-third the price of New Wheels, say £6. 6_s._, and if the Spokes and
Naves are good, they will then run nearly as long as New Wheels.

THE

ORNAMENTS OF CARRIAGES,

If for common use, cannot be too simple and plain: Expense is saved in
the purchase, and Time in the cleaning;--it is not so much the Quantity
of furniture about the Carriage and Harness that makes it appear to
advantage, as the having what there is, kept nicely Clean and Bright.

I would not advise any Brass or Plated Beading on the Body of a
Carriage, as in the rubbing it bright, you are very apt to rub off the
Varnish and Paint contiguous to the moulding--which, for this reason,
had better be painted black, or of the same colour as the Body.

_The Key-hole of the Lock_ on the Carriage Door is sometimes of Brass,
or Plated, and covered with a Plate; but it is much neater to have
it Black;--as we have already observed, of all Ornaments attached
to the Body, as often as they are cleaned, some of the Varnish and
Paint is carried away, and in the same proportion that those Metallic
additions are kept bright, the Body becomes blemished. For this reason,
we recommend _the Accommodation Handles_, if any are fixed, (the Body
looks infinitely more elegant without), to be Black.

Those _Buckles_, &c. are best formed for wear that have fewest sharp
edges;--Round moulded furniture is also the cheapest.

Nothing varies in quality more than _the Plated Furniture_ for Horses
and Carriages--the inferior kind of Plating is cheaper than Brass, but
at first looks as well as the best strong plating, which costs twice as
much, although it will not wear half so long.

The making of _Lamps for Carriages_ is a distinct branch of
business--and those who are desirous of choosing for themselves, should
ask their Coachmaker to attend them to his Lamp Maker, where they may
see the various patterns which are in vogue.

The same with regard to _the Door Handles_.

There are several Shops for both these Articles in Long Acre.

The present fashion for Lamps is preposterous--many are made so
large and so heavy, that they are evidently too great a Load on the
Front Pillar of the Carriage. Have _Square Lamps_, about six inches
square:--these are sufficiently large to hold air enough to feed the
Lamp or Candle, and the less they are, the lighter they are, and the
less injury they do to the Carriage Pillars:--Two sides of this Lamp
are to be of Glass, and the others furnished with Reflectors, which
will increase the light on the Road, and exclude it from the interior
of the Carriage.

_Circular Lamps_ are the most elegant; but if your Carriage is much
used in Travelling, we must recommend _the Square sort_; because if
a Square Glass is broken, it can be replaced easily, and costs not
one-half so much as a Circular one, which it is also difficult to find,
except at the place where the Lamp was bought; moreover, they seldom
fit so nicely and so closely as the Square ones, and the Air rushing
in, your Candles are quickly consumed, without any additional light
being given.

Lamps are generally lighted by _Wax Candles_, which weigh each a
quarter of a Pound, and cost about 1_s._ each: if the Lamp is well made
and well glazed, and no air gets in except where the air-holes are,
they will burn about five hours: such Candles will burn about 7½ Hours
when still in a Room; but the motion of the Carriage, and the current
of Air in the Lamp, so greatly accelerates their consumption, that they
will sometimes flare away in three or four hours.

_Lamps with two Flat Wicks_ will burn for the same time as a quarter of
a pound Wax Candle, at one-fourth part the expense.

However, _Candles_ are most commonly used, because they remain ready
for immediate use for half a year together, without being injured
in quality, but will burn as brightly as if only put in the day
before:--_Oil_ soon loses its spirit by remaining in Lamps; and in
a little time it will hardly burn at all, therefore can only be
recommended to those who use their Lamps and trim them carefully every
day.

_The Best Lamps_ are those which give plenty of light around the
Carriage, but do not throw any into it,--unless the Passengers think
there is an absolute necessity for letting those without see who are
within.

Now the Streets are so well lighted, _Lamps are useful in London only
in Foggy Weather_: the lighting them in London at any other time--is an
act of Puerile Pomposity.

SPRINGS should be made of the best Steel--the longer they are, _ceteris
paribus_, the easier they are.

Improvements in the mechanism of Modern Carriages, by which they are
made to convey a person from place to place almost without giving him a
sense of motion, may be one of the circumstances that have contributed
to the increased prevalence of Nervous and Bilious Complaints,
which originate in a great degree from an indulgence in Lassitude
and Languor. The notion of taking _Exercise_ upon Springs of such
construction, is scarcely less absurd, than that of taking an _Airing_
with all the windows closed!

Valetudinarians who wish to derive all the good effects from the
Exercise of riding in a Carriage, must not be super-curious about
having it suspended on extremely elastic Springs. The Jolting of strong
Springs is a salutary concussion, which is extremely convenient to
Nervous, Indolent, and Infirm persons who do not take other Exercise,
and must be classed among the most agreeable of Anti-bilious remedies.

The Coachmaker’s usual phrase of commendation--that such a Carriage
“is as easy as a Boat,” should be a prohibition to Invalids against
purchasing it; who should prefer a Carriage with Strong Springs, that
will give them as good a shaking as Equestrian Agitation.

TO DETERMINE THE RELATIVE ADVANTAGES OF LONG AND SHORT CARRIAGES,

“A weight of _twenty-eight pounds_ was placed in the middle of a _Perch
one foot six inches long_, and it was drawn at the rate of five miles
and a half an hour by twelve pounds.

“When the same load was placed upon a perch three feet long, that is to
say, _twice as long as the former perch_, it required _precisely the
same weight of twelve pounds to draw it_.

“This experiment was repeated a number of times with the same result,
so that it may be relied upon. This is contrary to the opinion of
drivers of all descriptions, from the waggoner in his smock-frock, to
the high-bred Coachman: consequently, there must be some reason for
this universal prejudice. The reason that seems to have given rise to
this opinion, is, that carriages whose fore and hind wheels are near
each other, extricate themselves more readily from ruts, change quarter
more easily, turn in a shorter compass, and thus make their way in
crowded Streets with more facility than longer Carriages.”--_R. L.
Edgeworth on Roads and Carriages_, 8vo. p. 120. 1817.

However, _Short Carriages_ are considered as of easiest draught; and,
to use the language of the Stable, almost every Coachman and Coachmaker
insists upon it, that they _follow better_, and that a Long Carriage
will tire a pair of Horses more in _Three_, than a Short one will in
Five hours’ Travelling.

That if the Body is hung higher behind than it is before, so that it
leans forward, it will push on the fore Wheels, is a foolish Vulgar
Error. You often see Hackney Chariots so hung:--such a position is
uneasy to the Passengers, and of no advantage to the Horses.

In a Chariot, it adds to the elegance of its appearance, and the ease
of the passengers, if the Body is hung rather lower behind than it is
before; but not in a Coach, because what is gained on the front is lost
on the back Seat.

CAUTIONS

AGAINST PURCHASING OF

CHEAP SECOND-HAND CARRIAGES.

“_Caveat Emptor._”

“_Beware of Putty and Paint_,”

Mr. JERVIS told me must be the Motto for this Chapter, and that

  “_He who Buys,
  Had need have an Hundred Eyes._”
                      _Old Proverb._

Those who purchase Second-Hand Carriages ought to be extremely
circumspect indeed. Inexperienced People are apt to imagine, that if
the Price charged for a Carriage is only one-half of what a respectable
Coachmaker has told them that he must charge them for a New One, that
it must be a Cheap Bargain; when it is most likely not actually worth
one quarter of that sum.

  “_Experto Crede._”

Let no person venture to purchase without the advice of a Coachmaker.
It is easy enough to make an old worn-out Carriage appear fresh and
fair by the help of Paint and Putty, while at the same time, it may be
more fit to be broken up than to be made use of.

To promote the Sale of a Carriage, it is not seldom pretended, that it
belongs to _Sir Richard Whimmy_, or to some other Gentleman of fashion,
(who only parts with it merely because he happens to have it,) or that
the Proprietor is gone abroad; to which is generally added, it has been
only lately built, and has hardly worn the Nails of its First Wheels!!!
&c.

First observe the Fashion of the Body, keeping in mind the time when
such a shape was in vogue; examine the materials, especially the
timbers of the Carriage; for however cunningly a clever Coach-Cobbler
may have puttied and painted them, yet, in some parts, the infirmities
and chinks which time has made, will be visible enough to Eyes
accustomed to examine them.

If Old, the _Futchells_[12] in the chaps at the Pole Bolt hole, and at
the top where the Gib is placed, are rough and patched with Leather;
the Pole[13] if the original one, on the sides and top which go into
the Futchells, is likewise worn, and patched with a tin covering. Look
to _the Transom Plates_, if they are flat, thick, and clean, and that
if by pushing against the Coach Box, or Springs, the Upper Carriage
does not rock on them;--see that the _Fore Axle-tree Bed_, and transom
at the middle where the Perch Bolt is placed, are sound, and that about
the Perch Bolt hole there is not much patching with Leather--that the
ends of the Transom where the Springs and Coach Box is placed look
clean and sound;--_the Splinter Bar_, if much worn, has the moulding
towards the end nearly effaced;--_the Sway Bar_[14] and that part of
the bottom plate of the perch against which it wears, after much use
is gulled, and the defect is made up with Leather patched on it;--the
ends of the hind Axle-tree Bed where the Spring stays rest, if much
indented, is old:--the hind Foot board-ledge being worn hollow, is
another proof of the Carriage having been much used.

As to _the Body_ part, examine principally the Bottom sides, at the end
where the loops are placed; and in the corners of the rabbits under the
Door bottoms where the standing Pillars are framed, if very old they
will be rotten and appear rough; the mortices of the Door Locks, if
gulled, and the Bolts of the Lock if loose in the Spindles, are proofs
of their being old; and so it is if the Leather which covers the Roof
of the Quarters and Boot, appear to have been mended at the welts, or
if it has drawn from the sewings or nailing.

_The Braces_[15] should be supple and clean, free from patches and
cracks at the bearings;--the _Steps_, if ricketty at the Joints, and
when down, if the tread drops under, and the leather with which they
are trimmed is dingy and torn at the joint knuckles; this shews them to
have been much used: the leather also which covers the bottom sides at
the entrance of the Doors, if Old, is rough, and has the grain worn or
torn on the outside.

The Mahogany or Venetian Blind Frames, when old, have their colour
discharged by the weather, and look of a dingy brown;--the Glass
frames, particularly the front ones, are, when old, loose at the
corners, the sides of the grooves loosened, and held together only by
the Cloth which covers them.

Nothing is a better proof than the mouldings of the framings, and the
Scroll ends or finishings of the timber; for if much filled with Paint,
or defaced, it is a certain Proof of the Carriage having been often
painted, and of course old; the paint will, with a slight knock, if not
newly done, fly off in scales, particularly from the Iron work.

Examine well those places in the Body round the edges, if the framing
where the wet has been likely to lodge has not been rotten, and the
surface is not made up with Putty, or has been cased on the outside
with new pieces of Wood moulding.

Examine _the Cloth of the Lining_, observe the sides and back against
which the Shoulders rub, that the cloth is not threadbare, and that it
is free from Moth-holes in every part.

The Hand Holders and pasting Lace, particularly the small Lace which is
round the Lights or Windows.

If the Carriage has a Coach Box, examine the condition of the Seat
under the Hammercloth at the ends and corners on the inside; if it has
been much used, it will be ragged and worn through in many places.

In examining the _Wheels_, look not only to the outside edge of the
Iron which covers them, but also to the Spokes at the Nave, that they
are not started, and that the Wheels are firm on the Axle-trees.--These
are the General Rules to be observed when examining a Second-Hand
Carriage.

_Never buy without advice from some skilful and disinterested person._

HARNESS.

From decayed Harness, almost as much danger is to be dreaded as from a
faulty Carriage. However skilful the Coachman, if your Harness fails,
how can he manage his Horses?

That Harness may not be used so long as to become expensive and
troublesome in the repair, we will endeavour to give some guide as to
_how long it may be expected to last_: this, however, depends much on
the Quality of the Leather and the Goodness of the Workmanship, the
Weather it is exposed to, and the care that is taken of it.

Harness perishes with hanging by; and however moderately it may be
used, after five or six years is seldom fit for further service, unless
very extraordinary care has been taken to preserve it. It may be said
to wear in proportion to the Work done with it: this is ascertained by
the number of Wheels worn out, and we calculate that it will last in
London, at least, as long as Four Sets of Wheels.

Harness for common work should not be encumbered with superfluous
Ornaments, &c.: the plainer it is the better. The less the Horse is
burdened with trappings, the more easily he can do his Work;--the less
Time is required to keep it clean;--and the less Money it costs.

Those who are nice about the look of their Harness, must keep a set
of Old Harness for Wet Weather and Night Work; which is a plan to be
recommended to all Persons who make much use of their Carriage.

A Handsome set of Chariot Harness, of the very best Workmanship, with
patent Leather Waterdecks, according to Estimate (No. 9), costs from
about £30. to £36.

SECOND-HAND HARNESS.

Observe the condition of the Leather; if it is soft and pliable, it
is good:--if dry and stiff, it is bad. This is also the case if the
Grain is cracked, or if the Sewings are gummed up with grease, and the
veined marks on the edges are effaced. See that all the Leathers at the
buckling and looped parts are whole and perfect;--the trace ends, the
collars, the cruppers, the belly bands, and billets, shew best at the
buckling parts how much the Harness has been used.

The Furniture (except the Ornaments) usually remains longer perfect
than the Leather does, but look to the corners of the Buckles and Rings
of the Territs through which the Reins pass, and to the Ornaments;
likewise the inside Winker-pieces and the head chains; these are the
likeliest parts to look to for a proof of the Furniture, but the
Leather is the best guide, for if the pipes and ley of the Collars,
traces at the points, and the breeching at the straps, are perfect,
the Harness is likely to be a good one, though _a Second-Hand Harness
seldom proves_ (after the expense of alterations and changing the
Ornaments, which necessarily must be done before it can be used) _to be
so Cheap, in the long run, as a New one_.

TRAVELLING CARRIAGES

Should not be hung higher than Three feet from the ground, should have
strong well-seasoned Springs, which should be corded, and every part of
it should be much stronger than a Town Carriage. Bolts inside should be
attached to the Doors, to prevent their being opened on the outside.

The Dickey Box should have _Pistol Holsters_ on each side, covered with
black fur tops.

A front Budget attached to the Body, or fixed on the beds of Carriage.

_A hind Rumble_ for two servants, with knee boot attached to the Body.

_Cap Case_ to front of Body.

_Trunks for Travelling_ must be very strong, and strengthened at the
corners with Iron Plates, and should have Inside Straps and Laths;
these are conveniences to confine what the trunk contains from shifting
about; they are made with four or five laths covered with cloth or
paper, which are nailed, at a small distance from each other, to
three pieces of girth web, and lie at the top of the parcels within
the trunk; on the bottom of the trunks straps are nailed, which buckle
round the laths and keep all tight.

TRUNK COVERS

are made to fit the outside of the trunks, to cover and preserve them
from the weather; they are usually made of thick painted cloth, with
holes at the sides, for the handles of the trunk to be got at.

IMPERIALS,

are large flat cases made to the form of the whole or part of the Roof
or Body; they are conveniences to carry light articles safe, mostly
designed for wearing Apparel; they are made of thin boards, covered
with Leather, and lined with tow and baize: to prevent its rubbing
the roof, if intended to cover the whole of the roof, they are most
convenient to remove, if divided into, two parts; and as the half is
often sufficient for use, it saves unnecessary luggage. They are fixed
on the Roof by means of straps and staples.

DRAG CHAIN, SHOE, AND STAFF,

are necessary to every Travelling Carriage: the Chain is to lock the
Wheels, and to prevent the going too fast downhill; the Staff is to
stop the Carriage, and give rest to the Horses, when ascending a hill;
the chain is fixed to a hook about the middle of the perch or crane,
with a hook or shoe at the end for the Wheels. The Hook is most handy
for use, but the shoe is preferable, as it preserves the Iron of the
Wheel from Injury when dragging on hard stony ground. The Chain being
covered with Leather prevents it from rattling.

OIL-SKIN COVERS TO THE BODY

preserve the Paint from the injury of the Road dirt, or Boughs, while
Travelling: these covers are frequently used, and are so made that
the Doors may be opened and shut with them on. Every part of the Body
except the Windows and bottom is covered; it is looped on to the Body
by small buttons, and is put on and off with the utmost facility: they
are made of common oiled linen, lined with soft baize.

SPRING CORDING.

Springs are corded to prevent danger and delay, if by accident a plate
should break, and also to strengthen them, especially when Carriages
are loaded with heavy Imperials and much Luggage: it is done by placing
a thin piece of ash or a length of cord along the back, and afterwards
twisting a small but strong cord round, and fastening it well at the
top.

SAFETY BRACES

are fixed by strong Braces attached to the C springs, passing directly
under the bottom of the Body, (and prevent any stopping on the road by
the springs breaking or body-loops giving way), the expense of which,
with the fixing and check-loops, is 5 Guineas; the length varying from
nine to twelve feet, according to the length of the Carriage.

England is celebrated for the construction of Carriages of peculiar
Elegance and convenience; but the completest machine we have seen was

BUONAPARTE’S

TRAVELLING CHARIOT,

of which the following description may furnish hints to those who wish
to have a convenient Carriage.

The very curious and convenient Chariot of the late Emperor of
France, which I examined when it was exhibited at the London Museum,
Piccadilly, in 1816, was built by Symons of Brussels, for the Russian
Campaign, and was adapted to the various purposes of a _Pantry_ and of
a _Kitchen_; for it had places for holding and preparing refreshments,
which, by the aid of a Lamp, could be heated in the Carriage; it served
also for _a Bed Room_, _a Dressing Room_, _an Office_, &c.;--there was
a separation rising about six inches, dividing the Seat. The exterior
of this ingenious vehicle was of the form and dimensions of our large
Modern English Travelling Chariot--only that it had a projection in
front of about two feet, the right-hand half of which was open to the
inside to receive the feet, and thus formed a Bed--the left-hand
contained a store of various useful things.

Beyond the projection in front, and nearer to the Horses, was the seat
for the Coachman, ingeniously contrived so as to prevent the Driver
from viewing the interior of the Carriage, and yet so placed as to
afford those within a clear sight of the Horses and of the surrounding
Country:--beneath this seat was a receptacle for a Box, about 2½ feet
in length and 4 inches square, which contained a Bedstead of polished
Steel, which could be fitted up in a couple of minutes.

Over the Front Windows was a _Roller Blind_ of strong painted Canvass,
which, when pulled out, _excluded Rain, while it admitted Air_: we
wonder this is not an universal appendage to every Chariot in this
Country.

On the Ceiling of the Carriage was a Net work for carrying small
travelling requisites: in a recess there was a Sécrétaire 10 inches
square by 18 inches in length, which contained nearly an hundred
articles presented to Napoleon by Maria Louisa, under whose care it was
fitted up with every luxury and convenience that could be imagined,
and contained, besides the usual requisites for a Dressing-Box, most
of which were of solid Gold,--a magnificent Breakfast service, with
Plates--Candlesticks--Knives--Forks--Spoons--a spirit Lamp, for making
Breakfast in the Carriage--Gold Case for Napoleons--Gold Wash-hand
Basin--variety of Essence Bottles, Perfumes--and an almost infinite
variety of minute articles, down to Pins, Needles, Thread, and Silk.
Each of these were fitted into recesses, most ingeniously contrived,
and made in the solid Wood, in which they packed close together, and
many within each other, in so small a compass, that, on seeing them
arranged, it appeared impossible for them ever to be put in so small
a compass:--at the bottom of this Toilette Box, in divided recesses,
were found Two Thousand Gold Napoleons;--on the Top, Writing Materials,
Looking Glass, Combs, &c.--a Liqueur Case which had Two Bottles, one
with Malaga Wine, the other Rum,--a silver Sandwich Box, containing a
Plate, Knives, Spoons, Pepper and Salt Boxes, Mustard Pot, Decanter,
Glasses, &c.--a Wardrobe, Writing-Desk, Maps, Telescopes, Arms,
&c.--a large silver Chronometer, by which the Watches of the Army were
regulated, two Merino Mattresses, a Green Velvet Travelling Cap--also a
diamond Headdress (tiara), Hat, Sword, Uniform, and an Imperial Mantle,
&c. &c. &c.

DUTIES

PAYABLE ON MALE SERVANTS.

           Per Servant.  Total per Year.
  No. 1.    £1  4  0       £1  4  0
      2.     1 11  0        3  2  0
      3.     1 18  0        5 14  0
      4.     2  3  6        8 14  0

DUTIES ON HORSES.

           Per Horse.    Total per Year.
  No. 1.    £1  8  0        £1  8  0
      2.     2  7  3         4 14  6
      3.     2 12  3         7 16  9
      4.     2 15  0        11  0  0

DUTY ON CARRIAGES.

  With Two Wheels           £3  5  0
  With Four Ditto            6  0  0

The Duties on Servants, Carriages, and Horses, are collected by the
same Officers that collect the House and Window Taxes; and are
reckoned from one fifth of April to another; and if you keep a Horse or
Carriage for a Single week, you must pay the Tax thereon for a whole
Year.

THE ART

OF

MANAGING COACHMEN.

The Christian precept of

  “_Do as you would be done by_,”

is in few instances more difficult to observe, than it is towards a
Coachman, who is, in fact, paid to endure those Inconveniences from
which the Carriage protects his Employer. However, the Good Master will
“_do as he would be done by_,” and make his Servant as Comfortable as
the peculiar nature of his place permits.

_Merciful Masters_, who use their Carriage in Wet Weather[16], provide
their Coachman _Two Box Coats_:--a Second-hand Coat may be bought for
about £2. 10_s._--a slight increase to their Expense, a great addition
to his Comfort: for when _a Box Coat gets thoroughly Wet, it will take
forty-eight hours before it becomes thoroughly Dry_; for it must not be
dried otherwise than gradually and in the Air. _Mr. Jarvis_ says, that
“the best way of drying a Box Coat on these occasions, is to put it
round a Truss of Straw.”

The Hardy habits of Coachmen enable them to brave the inclemencies of
the Sky, and to set the Cold and Rain at defiance, when encompassed
in their seven-fold Cape, and a comfortable _Dry Coat_;--but, my
fair-weather friend, can you imagine a more awfully dangerous envelope
than _a Wet Blanket_?

Whatever Olympic Wits or Whips might think, there are few modern
Jockies who will agree with Pindarus, that Water is the best thing, at
least for the lining of the _Inner_ or the _Outer Coat_ of the Stomach.

_Damp Clothes_ are the cause of Coachmen being so often and so severely
afflicted with Rheumatism; therefore we insert the following, which has
frequently proved an efficacious remedy in old and inveterate attacks
of this complaint.

    _Anti-Rheumatic Embrocation._

    Sal Volatile, an ounce and a half;

    Laudanum, half an ounce;

    Mix--rub the part afflicted Night and Morning, and in the
    Middle of the Day.

The Reader may have observed, that the Coach Box of the Carriages of
many Medical Men is furnished with a _Knee Boot_, _i. e._ an Apron
like that of a Gig:--this is a comfortable, and, indeed, a needful
defence to the Legs and Feet. The Author advises the general adoption
thereof to those who use their Carriage much in Cold Wet Weather, and
especially recommends it to those Genteel[17] people, who courageously
keep their Servants and Horses in waiting half the Night, in bitter
cold weather, while they are indulging themselves in the opposite
extreme of temperature in Crowded Assemblies.

No _Entertainments_ (as those _Midnight Inflictions_ are by courtesy
termed), afford so little satisfaction as