CHAPTER XXIII. 



BY ROAD TO BRIGHTON. 



THERE is no more agreeable way, to my mind, of 

 journeying to the queen of watering-places than by 

 securing the box-seat on one of the admirably-ap- 

 pointed stage-coaches that run between Piccadilly and 

 Brighton. The spirited proprietors of these excel- 

 lently-horsed, well and carefully driven vehicles, 

 should have a greater amount of support than is 

 accorded to them by the visitors to this fashionable 

 resort. The fearful railway accidents that have re- 

 cently occurred will deal a heavy blow and great dis- 

 couragement to the proprietors of the iron horses of 

 the country, unless they improve a system of manage- 

 ment that allows such calamities to be possible. For 

 my part, I am convinced that the well-known proverb 

 that " Hurry is the Devil " showed the Arabs to be a 

 highly intelligent people; and impressed with this 

 view, when contemplating a visit to Brighton, I de- 

 cided, as I was only on pleasure bent, that I would 

 accept Mr. Freeman's invitation to occupy the box- 

 seat, and be conveyed to my destination by four quick- 

 stepping nags, rather than be whirled through the air 

 by an express train. It must be remembered that 



