THE ROAD. 
Regulator, moreover, loads well, not only with passen- 
gers, but with luggage ; and the last five miles of this 
stage, called the Hartford Bridge Flat, have the reputa- 
tion of being the best five miles for a coach to be found 
at this time in England. The ground is firm, the surface 
undulating, and therefore favourable to draught; always 
dry, not a shrub being near it ; nor is there a stone upon 
it much larger than a marble. These advantages, then, 
are not lost to the Regulator, or made use of without sore 
discomposure to the solitary tenant of her gammon-board. 
Any one that has looked into books wifl very readily 
account for the lateral motion, or rocking, as it is 
termed, of a coach, being greatest at the greatest dis- 
tance from the horses (as the tail of a paper kite is in 
motion whilst the body remains at rest); and more 
especially when laden as this coach was the greater 
part of the weight being forward. The situation of our 
friend, then, was once more deplorable. The Regulator 
takes but twenty-three minutes for these celebrated five 
miles, which cannot be done without "springing the 
cattle"* now and then; and it was in one of the very 
best of their gallops of that day, that they were met by 
the coachman of the Comet, who was returning with his 
up coach. When coming out of rival yards, coachmen 
never fail to cast an eye to the loading of their opponents 
on the road, and now that of the natty artist of the 
Comet experienced a high treat. He had a full view of 
* The term on the road is " springing them " the word cattle 'under- 
stood. 
