PORTRAIT OF A STAGE COACHMAN. 85 



numerous and important class of functionaries, who have 

 a dress, a manner, a language, an air peculiar to them- 

 selves, and prevalent throughout the fraternity ; so that 

 wherever an English stage-coachman may be seen he 

 cannot be mistaken for one of any other craft or mystery. 

 He has commonly a broad full face, curiously mottled 

 with red, as if the blood had been forced by hard feeding 

 into every vessel of the skin ; he is swelled into jolly 

 dimensions by frequent potations of malt liquors, and his 

 bulk is still further increased by a multiplicity of coats in 

 which he is buried like a cauliflower, the upper one reach- 

 ing to his heels. He wears a broad-brimmed low-crowned 

 hat, a huge roll of coloured handkerchief about his neck, 

 knowingly knotted and tucked in at the bosom, and has 

 in summer time a large bouquet of flowers in his button- 

 hole, the present most probably of some enamoured 

 country lass. His waistcoat is commonly of some bright 

 colour, striped, and his small clothes extend far below the 

 knees to meet a pair of jockey boots, which reach about 

 half-way up his legs. 



'All this costume is maintained with much precision — 

 he has a pride in having his clothes of excellent materials ; 

 and notwithstanding the seeming grossness of his appear- 

 ance, there is still discernible that neatness and propriety 

 of person which is almost inherent in an Englishman. 

 He enjoys great consequence and consideration along 

 the road ; has frequent conferences with the village house- 

 wives, who look upon him as a man of great trust and 

 dependence ; and he seems to have a good understanding 

 with every bright-eyed country lass. The moment he 



