306 ANNALS OF THE ROAD. 



but, in case of any accident happening to either of them, 

 a fresh one would of course have been put in his place ; 

 so, when I got off the box, I desired the horsekeeper to 

 give my compliments to his master, and tell him, that in 

 the course of a fortnight, I should be up the road again, 

 and if I found those reins were still at work, I should do 

 him the kindness to cut them to pieces before the coach 

 started from the door. If passengers were to act thus a 

 little oftener than they do, it would be advantageous 

 to the public. When reins give way, in certain situations, 

 an accident must be the consequence ; and I have heard 

 various opinions as to which is the most dangerous, the 

 breaking of those of leaders or wheelers. If in descending 

 a hill, more danger would attend the want of command 

 over wheel horses ; as they would, in all probability, 

 either run the leaders clown, or drive them out of the 

 road ; but in any other situation I should prefer having 

 hold of my leaders' heads, as by putting them straight, 

 I might keep the coach in the middle of the road, and so 

 prevent her upsetting. I know a guard to a very fast 

 coach which loads very heavily, who says, he does not 

 much mind how fast his coachmen drive him, provided 

 they will keep their horses in the middle of the road. 



Reins seldom break in any parts but those which run 

 through the territs, 1 the rings of the throat lash, or in the 

 billets ; and a little attention to these points would make 

 all safe, as far as this casualty is concerned. It is, in- 

 deed, an imperative duty in proprietors to look to these 



1 Let your reins pass through two rounded bars placed across the centre of 

 the territ, and friction to your reins is reduced, neither can they turn. — Ed. 



