238 ANNALS OF THE ROAD. 



when the rate of travelling was three miles an hour. 1 

 When we consider that this increased pace makes a 

 difference of five hours between London and Birminpf- 

 ham, how great must be the benefit to the commercial 

 world ! This is not all. I contend, that passengers are 

 more secure in their persons when travelling at this ex- 

 peditious and agreeable rate, than they were formerly at 

 little more than six miles in the hour. 



I think, however, I hear some of the cautious ones 

 exclaim — ' Ah ! this ten mile an hour work is all very 

 well ; but danger attends it' This, barring unavoidable 

 casualties, I deny. On the contrary, I maintain that, as 

 the roads are now formed, a coach running by daylight, 

 and in proper hands (and none other should be put upon 

 such fast work), is equally safe when going ten miles in 

 the hour, as when she is going seven. To keep her 

 time, no galloping is required, unless indeed it be now 

 and then up a short pitch, where no danger can accrue. 

 I have had my share of galloping coaches, and I think I 

 may say that I have gone as fast on a coach box as I 

 ever went over a country. I do not, however, pretend 

 to deny that there is danger attending galloping coach 

 horses down hill, or on even ground ; and if an accident 

 happens it must be a bad one. The goodness of a road 

 is no preservative against it ; on the contrary, it is very 

 possible that if she takes to swing, she may go over from 



1 I remember being struck with the lively notice taken by Mr. Cobbett 

 of one of our modern stage coaches. After having described the beauty of 

 the horses, the neatness of the coach and harness, and the improvement in 

 the breed and manners of the coachmen, he concludes by saying, ' Away 

 goes half the population of a village at the rate of eight miles an hour.' 



