WITH HORSE AND HOUND 



day, that they were met by the coachman of the Comet, who 

 was returning with his up-coach. When coming out of rival 

 yards, coachmen never fail to cast an eye to the loading of their 

 opponents on the road, and now that of the natty artist of the 

 Comet experienced a high treat. He had a full view of his 

 quondam passenger, and thus described his situation. 



' He was seated with his back to the horses — his teeth set 

 grim as death — his eyes cast down towards the ground, think- 

 ing the less he saw of his danger the better. There was what 

 is called a top-heavy load — perhaps a ton of luggage on the 

 roof, and, it may be, not quite in obedience to the Act of 

 Parliament standard,^ There were also two horses at wheel, 

 whose strides were of rather unequal length, and this operated 

 powerfully on the coach. In short, the lurches of the Regulator 

 were awful at the moment of the Comet meeting her. A tyro 

 in mechanics would have exclaimed, " The centre of gravity 

 must be lost, the centrifugal force will have the better of it — 

 over she must go ! ^^ 



' The centre of gravity having been preserved, the coach 

 arrived safe at Hartford Bridge ; but the old gentleman has 

 again had enough of it. "I will walk into Devonshire," said 

 he, as he descended from his perilous exaltation. " What did 

 that rascally waiter mean by telling me this was a slow coach ? 

 and moreover, look at the luggage on the roof ! " " Only 

 regulation height, sir," says the coachman ; "we aren't 

 allowed to have it an inch higher ; sorry we can't please you, 

 sir, but we will try and make room for you in front." " Fronti 

 nulla fides, ^"^ mutters the worthy to himself, as he walks 

 tremblingly into the house — adding, " I shall not give this 

 fellow a shilling ; he is dangerous." 



' The Regulator being off, the waiter is again applied to, 

 *' What do you charge per mile posting ? " " One and six- 

 pence, sir." " Bless me ! just double ! Let me see — two 



^ 60 Geo. in, J c. 48 came into operation in 1810. This enacted that on a four-horse 

 coach baggage might be piled to a height of 2 feet. To encourage low-hung coaches 

 this law allowed baggage to be piled to a height of 10 ft. 9 \u.from the ground. 



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