246 ANNALS OF THE ROAD. 



There was an excellent remark made a short time 

 back by an old coach proprietor — namely, that now-a- 

 days (alluding- to the smart coaches we see on the road) 

 the gold is put on the outside of the coaches, whereas, 

 in his younger days, it went into the proprietors' pockets. 

 There is doubtless much truth in this pithy sentence. 

 The consumption of horse flesh in fast work is a most 

 considerable drawback on the earnings of a coach — the 

 average being not more than three years for each horse's 

 work, whereas when the Dace is slow, it is more than 

 double that period. Neither do the fares cover this in- 

 creased expense — not making more than one-fourth dif- 

 ference 1 — and seldom so much — in the fastest coach and 

 the slowest. 



ON COACHMEN. 



Although it may be said that intellect directs it, yet 

 it is the structure of the hand of man that gives him the 

 superiority over other animals : but the use of this hand 

 varies wonderfully with various persons. Having, I 

 believe, mentioned most things relating to harnessing 

 horses, let us suppose them put to their coach, all ready 

 for a start — the reins thrown across the off wheel-horses' 



1 The fare from my house to London by Southampton ' Telegraph,' or 

 ' Independent ' — ten miles an hour — is twelve shillings: by ' Old Salisbury' — 

 six miles an hour — ten shillings, which is only one-fifth. 



