DISCOMFORTS OF THE WAGGON. 11 



Queen Victoria is a graceful borsewoman. Pre- 

 vious to the lamented decease of the Prince 

 Consort, Her Majesty constantly appeared on 

 horseback, and for all we know to tbe contrary. 

 Lord Cairns is able to " match the world with 

 noble horsemanship ;" still we think that such 

 an entree into London as that performed by the 

 Virgin Queen would surprise the weak minds of 

 the present generation. 



One can scarcely now realize the state of things 

 when a passenger starting by the waggon from 

 the metropohs at five o'clock in the morning, 

 did not arrive at Blackheath until half-past nine. 

 For four hours and a half were the unfortunate 

 travellers tossed, tumbled, jumbled, and rumbled 

 over a road full of holes and wheel-ruts, out of 

 which extra horses were employed to drag 

 the lumbering vehicle. Break-downs (not the 

 popular dance of that name) were frequent ; 

 much time was occupied in repairing the 

 waggons, and it often happened that, when a 

 wheelwright could not be got, the road was 

 blocked up by a broken-down vehicle. 



Macaulay tells us that, during the year which 

 immediately followed the Restoration, a dili- 

 gence ran between London and Oxford in two 

 days. The passengers slept at Beaconsfield. 



