14 COACHING. 



as far superior to any similar veliicles ever 

 known in the world. Their velocity is the 

 subject of special commendation, and is triumph- 

 antly contrasted with the sluggish pace of 

 the Continental posts. But with boasts like 

 these w^as mingled the sound of complaint and 

 invective. 



" The interest of large classes had been un- 

 favourably affected by the establishment of the 

 new diligences, and, as usual, many persons 

 were, from mere stupidity and obstinacy, dis- 

 posed to clamour against the innovation. It 

 was vehemently argued that this mode of con- 

 veyance would be fatal to the breed of horses 

 and to the noble art of horsemanship; that the 

 Thames, which had long been an important 

 nursery of seamen, would cease to be the chief 

 thoroughfare from Loudon up to Windsor, and 

 down to Gravesend ; that saddlers and spurriers 

 would be ruined by hundreds ; that numerous 

 inns at which mounted travellers had been in 

 the habit of stopping would be deserted, and 

 could no longer pay any rent; that the new 

 carriages were too hot in Summer and too cold 

 in Winter; that the passengers were grievously 

 annoyed by invalids and crying children ; that 

 the coach sometimes reached the inn so late 



