STANHOPES AND FASHIONABLE CARRIAGES. 221 



with the greatest safety. The spicier, however, has but 

 one current of air to contend with ; but the man in a 

 balloon has he knows not how many, and he is at the 

 mercy of them all. In short, a balloon can never be 

 applied to the useful purposes of life, and is therefore a 

 waste of time, money, and labour. 



In the progress of these letters, it is my intention to 

 enter very fully into the various departments of the road. 

 I do this, partly in fulfilment of my promise in my former 

 communications ; partly at the request of my friends, 

 amongst whom I have the honour of reckoning an 

 amateur of upwards of twenty years' standing — an ex- 

 cellent judge, and who has expressed his approbation, in 

 strong terms, of what I have already written on this sub- 

 ject ; and partly with a view that good will finally result 

 to the public from some practical observations which I 

 shall offer, as relating to prevention of accidents to pas- 

 sengers by the public coaches, and from which accidents 

 the pitb lie have a strong claim on the proprietors to be made 

 more secure than they now arc. I shall confine myself at 

 present to what we should call ' light summer work,' and 

 touch a little on the business of the day. 



When I first started in life, a gentleman would have 

 been ashamed of being seen in the streets of London in a 

 gig ; whereas, now, he is almost ashamed of being seen 

 out of one — the use of them having nearly superseded 

 that of legs, or a saddle-horse. So much, in the first 

 place, for fashion ; though, at the same time, it must be 

 observed that the London coachmakers have to thank 

 themselves for this great addition to their trade ; for, to 



