56 ANNALS OF THE ROAD. 



my friends observe, (who know more of this matter than 

 myself) is, no doubt, a coachman, and I dare say, one 

 who has paid dearly for his knowledge, though it must 

 be admitted, he imparts it freely and agreeably, to those 

 who may wish to obtain it. He tells us how we are to do 

 that, in every department of his favourite science, if it may 

 be so called. But, Mr. Editor, I wish you would have 

 the goodness to request that he will inform us how we 

 are to travel fifty miles by a coach without having our 

 necks broken, or our limbs shattered and amputated ? It 

 is really heartrending to hear of the dreadful accidents 

 that befall His Majesty's subjects now on their travels 

 through the country. In my younger days, when I was 

 on the eve of setting out on a journey, my wife was in 

 the habit of giving me her parting blessing, concluding 

 with the words " God bless you, my dear, I hope you will 

 not be robbed." But it is now changed to " God bless 

 you, my dear, I hope you will not get your neck broke, 

 and that you will bring all your legs safe home again." 

 Now, Mr. Editor, this neck-breaking and leg-amputating 

 is all because one daring rascal wishes to show that he is 

 a better coachman than another daring rascal ; or because 

 one proprietor on the road is determined not to be out- 

 done by another proprietor on the road. 



' Neither can I think, sir, that such writers as Mr. 

 Nimrod mend the matter much. By a lively and tech- 

 nical description of these galloping coaches, he makes 

 many a young man fancy himself a coachman, from which 

 cause many an old man gets capsized and hurt. For 



