10 



RULE V. 



DESCENDING A HILL. 



In going down a hill, steady and feel the weight of the carriage 

 you have behind you ; go off the top as quietly as you can, for you will 

 discover before you get half way down, if it is at all a steep hill, the impetus 

 will be so much increased, that you will have quite enough to do, to keep 

 your coach steady and your horses under control. The patent drag is a 

 great boon, which we had not in the old coaching days. I have many 

 times gone off the top of a hill, and, before I got half way down, 

 wished that I had put on the shoe; but another coach coming behind, 

 with perhaps a lighter load than I had, they would have passed me 

 while I was putting on the drag; this was the reason we sometimes 

 neglected it, but you can always go faster down hill, with the drag, than 

 without it. 



RULE VI. 



POSITION OF THE HANDS. 



Keep your left hand up, within about ten or twelve inches of your 

 chest, with your arm and wrist a little bent ; you will then have your 

 reins in such a position, that your right hand will be able to assist the 

 other, without throwing your body forward to reach them. Many, 

 instead of putting their right hand just in front of the left, and drawing 

 the reins back towards them, put the right hand at least a foot before the 

 other, and push the reins, consequently they lose nearly all power over 

 the horses, and draw the reins away from the left hand. Besides being 

 unskilful, this has a very ugly appearance. 



