NIGHT WORK. 311 



When all things are considered, our night-work on 

 the road is performed in a manner that is deserving of 

 the highest praise. There are instances of mails — and 

 those from the remotest parts of the kingdom — not 

 losing more than a few hours in the long period of 

 twelve months. Strange also as it may appear, as far as 

 the observation of myself, and many more with whom I 

 have conversed on the subject, has led us, fewer accidents 

 (those in thick fogs excepted) happen to coaches in the 

 night than by day-light. This — if such be the case — is 

 to be attributed to two causes : first, the attention of a 

 night coachman is always on the alert ; and secondly, for 

 the greater part of the night the road is clear of any 

 other carriages but those which travel with lights. No- 

 thing, however, but the width and the excellent state of 

 our present roads could enable the coaches to travel at 

 the pace they now do in the night — some of the mails 

 going ten and eleven miles in the hour, which can 

 scarcely be considered safe, taking the vicissitudes of the 

 weather into account. I have driven a good deal by 

 lamp-light, and I have seen the time when, from driven 

 rain or snow, it has been as much as I could do to open 

 my eyes so as to see the road to the extent of the light 

 given by the lamps ; in which case a tight hand on the 

 horses is especially necessary. Although, by looking 

 perpendicularly from his box, or at the hedges, if there are 

 any, a coachman can always see if he is in the road, yet 

 if he cannot throw his eye some way before his leader's 

 heads, he is going, as it were, by guess or at random. 

 He will often get close to things he may meet on the 



