12 NIMROD'S NORTHERN TOUR. 



possessed what has been more profitable to him than a coach-load of wit — 

 namely strong sterling sense, and a very civil tongue — although no doubt, 

 with brothers in soul, a smart reply often produces an extra shilling. 



But the cottage with its contents, what can I say of that? Why, 

 nothing until I accept Mr. Chomley's pressing invitation to inspect it on 

 my next visit to the colonel, when he assured me I should find in it *' as 

 good a bottle of port as any in Kent, and not a very bad collection of 

 pictures !" 



Being now on the road, will you allow me a short digression ? It is 

 really lamentable to contemplate the numerous accidents of late to first- 

 rate coaches, and attended, in all cases, with loss of either life or limb, 

 from the giving way of axle-trees; and to one, the Yarmouth Magnet, 

 from the loss of a wheel, by which a young woman had both her thighs 

 broken ! It appears that all I have written on this subject has had no 



effect in preventing these dreadful occurrences, bat it is high time they 

 should be put an end to —at all events that such means as are most likely 

 to prevent them, should be resorted to. With respect to the loss of 

 wheels to which fast coaches, with the common linch-pin, are always 

 liable — I can name one which lost six in nine years— there should be an 

 act of Parliament to make it imperative that no stage-coach should travel 

 the road without its wheels being secured by screws, which is the prin- 

 cipal feature as regards safety in what are called patent boxes. As to 

 the giving way of axle-trees, — a never-failing cause of injury to passen- 

 gers from the rapid rate at which coaches now travel, — it is absurd to 

 say, that occurrence cannot be prevented, even without having recourse 

 to the idle wheel. How does the cable hold the ship but by multiplying 

 its power according to the tonnage of the vessel ? We are told, " the 



