COACHING DAYS AND WAYS 



his face is left except his eyes.' {BelVs Life^ 22nd 

 September 1822). 



*A fatal accident happened to Gamble, coachman 

 of the Yeovil mail, on Wednesday, caused by the 

 leaders shying at an old oak tree. The coachman 

 was killed on the spot, and the guard escaped with 

 bruises. The horses started off and galloped into 

 Andover at the rate of 20 miles an hour. The 

 single inside passenger was not aware of anything 

 amiss until two gentlemen, who saw the horses going 

 at a furious rate without a driver, succeeded in 

 stopping them just as they were turning into the 

 George gateway.' {Times, 21st February 1838). 



Coachmen and guards were apt to leave too much 

 to the honour of the horses when stopping, and it 

 was not at all uncommon for the team to start on 

 its journey with nobody on the box. An old coach- 

 man told Lord Algernon St. Maur that on one 

 night's drive he met two coaches without any 

 driver ! In 1806 (46 Geo. III., c. 36) it was made 

 an offence punishable by fine to leave the team 

 without a proper person in charge while the coach 

 stopped. 



Organised races between public coaches were 



16 



