152 MUFFS AND MUDDIES. 



must do so again in this place; and if the generality 

 of persons knew the effort it is to horses to hold 

 heavy carriages in going down hills, they would not 

 be surprised at my doing so. I am quite sure they 

 are more punished by doing this than they are by 

 drawing the same carriage up hill, setting aside the 

 danger to those behind them ; and in this respect its 

 great utility is to the full as pre-eminent when 

 applied to light vehicles as to heavier, as few men 

 are intrusted with the latter who are not more or less 

 coachmen ; whereas, God knows, we have a pretty 

 copious sprinkling of regular muffs who intrust 

 themselves with the charge of the former. When I 

 am quite tired of my life, as a less culpable act than 

 direct suicide, such a gentleman shall drive me ; till 

 then, "I thank him very much, but prefer walking." 

 A very low phaeton running on the haunches of a 

 spirited horse may be a very safe vehicle, but I don't 

 fancy it ; many people do. Give me a proper car- 

 riage and good tackle, I am not very nice as to what 

 horses do ; but in a low phaeton I feel myself in the 

 situation of a man sitting on a chair behind a horse's 

 heels, and touching him up to see whether he will in 

 return send those heels in the face, an experiment I 

 hold as somewhat dangerous. Now going down a 

 sharp hill in one of these muddies is really no joke, 

 but a drag makes it as safe as a level. If I learn 

 that Mr. Caudle has ever driven his wife down hill in 

 a low phaeton without one, I shall feel certain all her 

 accusations are well founded. No lady should ever 

 drive herself without one : not only as to hills, but 

 supposing a bolt on the part of her horse, if this drag, 

 which can be set in a minute, is attached to the 

 carriage she drives, that worst of casualties that can 



