312 , COACHING. 



I have alluded to two upsets that I have in 

 the course of my life met with from private 

 travelling-carriages. The first occurred in July, 

 1814, when returning^ with the late Duke of 

 Wellington from Windsor to London. His Grace 

 had been dining with the oflBcers of the Royal 

 Horse Guards (Blues), in which regiment I 

 had the honour of holding a commission, when, 

 as v/e reached Brentford, at night, the linch 

 pin came out of the fore wheel of his carriage, 

 by which it was upset. 



Nothing would satisfy the people but drawing 

 the carriage to London, which they certainly 

 would have done but for the remonstrance of 

 his Grace, which finally succeeded. After a 

 delay of half an hour the damage was repaired, 

 and we reached London in safety. The accident 

 might have proved a fatal one, for we were 

 travelling as fast as four good horses could take 

 us. 



Had such a calamity happened to Wel- 

 lington, then in the prime of life, no one 

 can hardly picture the consequences. Hap- 

 pily his life was spared to add another 

 conquest to those he had won on the banks 

 of the Douro, of the Tagus, the Ebro, and the 

 Garonne. 



