THE ROAD. 
trot. Indeed, coachmen have found out that their 
horses are gainers here, as in the trot every horse does 
his share ; whereas very few teams are all at work 
together when walking. Four weak horses, well put 
together, will draw a very heavy load up a hill of 
considerable acclivity, if the surface be hard, and they 
are kept to a trot. As a mechanical agent, the worst 
method in which the strength of a horse can be applied, 
is carrying a weight up hill ; and the best, that of 
drawing it. We should, however, give him every 
advantage; and, with a loaded coach, "keeping her 
alive," as coachmen translate the vis vivida of the 
mechanic, is of vast importance in the draught of her. 
We have now only one more hint to offer as to 
stage-coaches. Proprietors should never, if they can 
avoid it, suffer two coachmen to drive the same horses ; 
either each man should drive his own ground double, or 
he should go the journey throughout and return the 
next day. It cannot be expected that horses can do 
well in the hands of two coachmen, even allowing them 
equal merits ; and for these plain reasons : they not only 
feel the effect of change of hands, which ruffles them, 
but they know not what to be at in their work ; one 
man makes his play, as it is called, over one part of the 
ground, the other over another part. The system also 
destroys the pride a coachman takes in seeing his stock 
look well ; and if anything goes wrong, a wrangle is 
sure to be the consequence. As it is ascertained that 
no horse can run at the top of his speed more than seven 
102 
