THE ROAD. 
their being air- tight they wear out rather sooner than 
when used with the common axle. Their general 
adoption, however, would be a great safeguard to the 
public, as well as of considerable assistance to trade. 
In the mail-coaches, the boxes are of a different con- 
struction, and owe their safety to four bolts, which 
pass completely through the nave of the wheel, having 
a square shoulder on the back of the nave, with 
screws and nuts on its front. We have no hesitation 
in saying, this is the best wheel ever put under 
a coach ; and, of course, Mr. Vidler, the late con- 
tractor for the mails, had a patent for it. The mails 
could never do their work with the common axle and 
box.* 
Cicero laments the want of post-offices, and well he 
might. Nothing can excel that department in our 
* An improvement on all the patents yet brought forth was some time 
since attempted by two spirited coach-makers in London, but we have not 
heard of its success. Its object is to diminish draught in two distinct ways 
first, by reducing the bearing parts, and thereby lessening friction ; and, 
secondly, by diminishing the " dead hug," as it is termed, which is always 
an attendant on the cylindrical arm and box. It substitutes a square 
instead of a cylindrical box, in which the cylindrical axle or arm works. 
This is made to fit on each of the four sides as true and as air-tight as if 
it were a complete circle: and if the four different bearings are but one 
eighth of an inch each, it is apparent that there is but half an inch of 
surface for the arm to oppose or work against in each axle ; and so on in 
proportion to the size of the bearing. Nor is this all : those parts or angles 
not touched by the arm as may be seen when the box is revolving 
serve as reservoirs for oil, affording a constant supply. The nose of the 
arm is protected by a circular end, ground on to form the nicest fit, and 
prevent the possibility of the smallest particle of gravel finding its way into 
the box. 
