LAMPS. 313 



either side — is much the best for night-work. Moon-light 

 is often glimmering and doubtful, particularly when 

 clouds are passing rapidly over her broad face. 



There is but one thing which baffles the skill and 

 intrepidity of our night coachmen, and that is — a heavy 

 fog. Lamps here are of no avail, as far as throwing light 

 forward ; and in the worst of cases, the only use that can 

 be made of them is, for a guard to hold one in his hand 

 behind the coach, by which he will be able to see whether 

 the horses are in the road or not. Lamps, however, are 

 always useful, in case of any accident happening ; and, 

 except in very clear moonlight, a night coach should 

 never travel without them. 



LAMPS, ROADS, COACHES, AND THE USE OF THE 



WHIP. 



I have always been of opinion that still greater im- 

 provement than has hitherto been effected might be made 

 in our coach lamps. They are certainly better than when 

 I first knew the road ; for then the glasses used to get 

 black with smoke, and after a certain time they were of 

 little service. If what we read in history be true, we 

 have never possessed the art of making lamps equal to 

 those of former times ; neither, indeed, have we possessed 

 the materials. Perhaps my readers may not object to 

 going back a little into former ages, and hear what they 

 have to say on this enlightening subject. 



Pausanias, in his history of Greece, informs us that 



