THE DAWN OF COACHING. 181 



into danger. That driving was in use previous to riding 

 horses, need not be observed to anyone acquainted 

 with Homer ; for among all his heroes, both Grecians 

 and Trojans, none of them make their appearance on 

 horseback but Ulysses and Diomedes. 



Driving more than two horses in a chariot, however, 

 was, I believe, not very usual among the ancients, 

 although we read of Nero driving ten, and unfortunately 

 for his country, not breaking his neck. Homer's chariots, 

 for the most part, had only two horses, coupled together ; 

 that of Achilles had no more ; and Virgil sends a chariot 

 and pair to absent yEneas. Driving four grey horses 

 was held sacred, and not allowed even in a triumph. 



Driving appears to have been practised in the earliest 

 ages of our own country. I believe Caesar found the 

 British chariots formidable, as they were armed with 

 scythes at their axletrees. 



We have all read Ossian's magnificent description of 

 the car of Cachullius, and his horses, whose names he 

 has condescended to mention ; and which must recall 

 to our recollection the one Homer gives of the horses 

 of Pallas. His description of a chariot race is sup- 

 posed to be one of the finest passages in his poem, 

 and is only equalled by a similar effort of the Mantuan 

 bard, which, it has been asserted, no one could read 

 without his soul being as it were, mounted on the box, 

 and whirled along in the race. 



Although the coachmanship of the ancients may have 

 little to do with our present method of driving, nevertheless 

 it may be amusing to some of your readers to refer to it in 



