20 COACHING. 



when the Prince Regent, afterwards George 

 IV., selected Brighton, as a marine residence, 

 and squandered thousands and thousands of 

 pounds upon the Pavilion, the journey from 

 London to this then small fishing town occupied 

 two days ; the first night being passed at 

 Heigate or at Cuckfield, according to the road 

 the stao-e travelled. 



About seventy-five years ago an attempt was 

 made to run through in one day, and, to the 

 surprise of many, was accomplished ; but it was 

 not until 1 S23 that the Brighton road became 

 (what it continued to be until the rail was 

 introduced) the first in England for well- 

 appointed coaches, first-rate teams, and gentle- 

 man-like drivers. 



Harry Stevenson, who was educated at Cam- 

 bridge, was the first to introduce the fast light 

 coach, called the " Water witch," and truly did he 

 ^' u-itcli the world with noble coac/imanship." 

 After a time this beau-ideal of dragsmen started 

 another coach in lieu of the *' Water witch," which 

 he called the " Age," and which was unrivalled. 

 Who that ever saw that fancy team, the skew- 

 bald, dun, chestnut, and roan, sightly and full 

 of action, leave the Castle Square, witnessed that 

 which never has been and never can be equalled. 



