THE ROAD. 
upon the fore-wheels, and looking as if the hinder ones 
had nothing to do but to follow. This was the favourite 
carriage of the late King, when Prince of Wales, and was 
commonly driven, by such as could afford it, with four 
horses in hand. Indeed, it may almost be said to have 
given birth to our gentleman-coachmanship, as well as 
to the well-known doggrel epigram : 
" What can Tommy Onslcnv do ? 
He can drive a phaeton and two. 
Can Tommy Onslow do no more? 
Yes he can drive a phaeton and four !" 
The phaeton was succeeded by the no less classically 
yclept curricle a carriage, when properly appointed, 
and followed by two well-dressed and well-mounted 
grooms, of singular elegance certainly. It had a long 
run in the fashionable world ; but being, like the 
phaeton, only calculated to carry two persons, and 
requiring never less than three horses, taxation and 
economy put an end to it. Then came the reign of the 
gig. The curate's wife, a gouty attorney, or a rich old 
farmer, fifty years ago, might be seen boxed up in a 
whiskey which, being hung on hind and fore-braces, 
with a head to protect its inmates from weather, made a 
convenient family conveyance, and with a steady 
dobbin to draw it a safe one. Economy induced a 
leader of ton to cast favouring eyes on this snug 
whiskey ; and thence the airy gig, which, with a hundred- 
guinea horse in it, has been the best friend to doctors 
and undertakers they have ever yet found. The race 
105 
