The Merry Past 



Certain coaches could boast of a considerable 

 antiquity. 



The York Highflyer, for instance, which was running 

 in 1812, was the identical vehicle which had been 

 pictured by Hogarth. It had, of course, undergone 

 much renovation, and resembled the family relic 

 which the Irishman kept in memory of his grand- 

 mother — " a knife which had had two new handles 

 and three new blades." 



On the other hand, the efficient manner in which 

 some of the great roads were worked was remark- 

 able. 



One of the fast coaches which ran between Liver- 

 pool and Manchester in 1828, for instance, was 

 celebrated for the speed with which the horses were 

 changed, it being declared that this operation could be 

 effected in thirty-four seconds. Seven men, it seems, 

 were in attendance. Both wheelers and leaders were 

 brought out coupled, with the reins through all the 

 terrets ; but the novelty of the plan consisted ia the 

 management of the wheel traces. The chains at the 

 ends of them were opened sufficiently to fit the roller- 

 bolts on the splinter-bar, and kept open by means of 

 straw stuffed in a link of each — which straw, of course, 

 gave way as soon as the horses touched their collars, 

 and then the traces fitted tight. 



Another famous coach was the Shrewsbury Wonder. 

 It was established in February, 1825, and was the first 

 that ever attempted to perform so long a journey as 

 one hundred and fifty-four miles in a day ; in fact, 

 it was the wonder of the day, and thus the coach took 



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