coachmen out of Birmingham. 



82 ANNALS OF THE ROAD. 



Cracknell (one of the first to dispense with cruppers 

 and running reins), Birmingham. 



Captain Warbuck, ' Alert;' Cheltenham to Birming- 

 ham. 



Wilcox's (two) 



Kingsbury 



Stephen Howse 



Tolley 



Jack Sprorson, who drove the ' York House' between 

 London and Marlborough. 



Cragnell, driving the ' Eclipse ' out of Southampton. 



Sydney Robinson, out of London. 



The task of the professional coachman was no light 

 one. ' The anxiety attendant upon driving a four- horse 

 stage,' says Pierce Egan, ' keeping strange horses at times 

 well together and to do their work, the duty to be per- 

 formed whether in hot or cold, wet or dry, the safety of 

 the passengers always in view either up or down the hills, 

 the absolute necessity of keeping time (and there is the 

 great secret to be learned by the would-be coachman), the 

 different tempers to please inside and outside the coach, 

 civility always required, and satisfaction to be given to the 

 various proprietors. When all the above circumstances 

 are taken into consideration, the liberal mind must be 

 clearly satisfied that 'the labourer is worthy of his hire.' 



Within the last twenty-five years the stage coachmen 

 throughout England are an improved race of men. 



Altogether the waste butt sort of chap is entirely re- 

 moved from the box, drinking at every inn quite ex- 



