24 ANIMAL I'AINTERS 



have abandoned any intention he may have 

 cherished of earning his bread by means of his 

 brush, for he used the introduction to Mr. Wood, 

 a coach proprietor, which his coach-door painting- 

 procured him, to apply for the vacant seat on the 

 box of the Wakefield coach, on the strength of 

 his amateur experience gained when living at 

 home with his parents. Mr. Wood, not unnatu- 

 rally, had his doubts concerning the ability of an 

 artist to act as coachman, but Herring evidently 

 possessed the valuable gift of making people believe 

 in him, for it was arranged that he should be 

 Lriven a trial. He was allowed to drive the 

 "Highflyer" a day's journey on the London and 

 York road, and his employment was made con- 

 tingent on the good opinion of the up and down 

 coachmen of the day. The fact that the report 

 of these judges of the road was favourable points 

 to Herring's previous experience on the box, and 

 their verdict secured for him the desired seat 

 on the Wakefield and Lincoln coach " Nelson." 

 It is evident that whilst in his teens at home he 

 had been well tutored by some good coachman 

 who drove the road from his father's country house 

 into London. 



For nearly two years he continued to drive this 

 coach, afterwards taking his seat on the box of the 

 Doncaster and Halifax mail, which he drove for a 



