ON ACCIDENTS. 305 



road, and to lay it into the leaders (not the best in the 

 world) right and left, to get them out of the way of the 

 coach. We fortunately cleared the gate, and all was 

 well ; but the risk was very great, and all from want of 

 a little precaution, and of weighing consequences before- 

 hand. Doubtless, some of my brother whips may say, 

 all this is slow ; time must be kept. My answer is : it is 

 all true, and time can be kept without sending people 

 headlong into eternity, for which they may not be exactly 

 prepared at so short a notice. 1 



Before I quit down-hill work, and the chapter of 

 accidents, I wish to recommend one caution to young 

 coachmen in descending a hill ; and this is, to take care 

 that his leaders do not draw on the end of the pole, 

 which many free ones will do when they find the coach 

 coming quickly after them. This not only increases the 

 pressure of the coach on the wheelers, but should either 

 of them stumble, it would necessarily assist in bringing 

 him down. 



In one respect, the lives of passengers are made 

 more secure than they used to be, from the frequent 

 breaking of reins. Fast work, and consequently horses 

 in high condition, have obliged proprietors of coaches to 

 look to this most essential part of their duty ; and the 

 giving way of reins is now of rare occurrence. It was, 

 however, only last May twelve months that I was travel- 

 ling by a certain mail, and met with reins in a most 

 shameful state. It is true the horses were very quiet ; 



1 The patent brake will assist you here in keeping time. — Ed. 



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