THE ROAD. 
The worst of accidents and one which, with the 
present structure of coaches, can never be entirely pro- 
vided against arises from broken axle trees, from which 
cause, since these articles first appeared, several lives 
have been lost, and more limbs fractured. There is 
certainly something startling in the reflection, that 
whenever we travel by a coach we are liable to this 
occurrence, which must happen if the weight above be 
too great for the sustaining power below ; and for this 
reason the mails are safer than stage-coaches, as not 
loading so heavily. Everything that can be done to 
prevent the snapping of the axletree has now been 
adopted, we think, by our coach-builders. In case it 
does break, what is called the idle wheel, in addition to 
the active wheel, is the only security against an upset ; 
but as this somewhat adds to the weight of a coach, the 
adoption of it has been abandoned. Accidents, then, 
are always to be apprehended by travellers from this 
cause ; the loss of wheels is another ; and until an act 
of parliament enforces the use of the patent box, or the 
screw-nut, so as to trust no longer to the common linch- 
pin, it will remain a third. * 
* The only linchpin that can be relied on is the wooden one, which 
together with the screw-nut, is used in the French diligences. It is made 
of heart of oak ; and being once driven through the eye of the arm, cannot 
be drawn out again, without cutting off the bottom of it, as it swells to a size 
which prevents its returning the way it went in. There is no dependence 
on iron linchpins. 
The model of a carriage has lately been exhibited, built on a plan by 
which the centre of gravity is preserved under any ordinary circumstances 
to which our coaches are exposed on the road. 
