2o6 ANNALS OF THE ROAD. 



another objection to a locked wheel. The chain may- 

 break when a coach is going fast down a hill, trusting to 

 the security of it ; or if a slipper or skid, the wheel may 

 fly out, by a sudden jerk of the road, which often happens 

 where it is rough and stony. In frosty weather, when 

 the road is glazed as it were, neither slipper nor chain 

 are of much use, and the only way in which a wheel can 

 then be tied to effect, is by a chain, so contrived as to 

 have it go around the felly of the wheel, instead of around 

 the spoke, taking care that it pass under the tire, just 

 where it takes the ground. — The roughness of the links 

 then stays the wheel, whereas the smooth and polished 

 surface of the skid would cause it to glide over the ice 

 like a skate. A passenger should never put his head 

 out of a coach window on the side on which a wheel is 

 chained, for should the chain break anywhere near the 

 perch, it would be instant death to him. 



From what I have said respecting the comparative 

 advantage of locking a wheel, or having breeching to 

 coach horses, it appears that much may be said on both 

 sides. With heavy work, and steep hills, either one or 

 other is necessary ; but upon the whole, I should, on 

 most occasions, prefer breechings, as safer, with top-heavy 

 loads, to the locked wheel, if proper attention be paid to 

 the tackle. Where the hills are very steep, and the 

 loading high, both are at times not more than necessary 

 to insure safety. It is wonderful what a steep hill some 

 horses will take a load down, with breechings on them, 

 if the road be smooth ; but when there are chucks and 

 ruts in it, there is always a chance of the pole snapping. 



