CHAPTER XT. 



OAERIAGES — THEIR COST, THEIR MAKE, THEIR EXCELLENCES, AND THEIR 



MANAGEMENT. 



The following particulars are derived from the highly respectable 

 establishment of Edwin Kesterton, (late Horn,) a well-known firm which 

 transacts business at No. 93 Long Acre. The writer is directly indebted 

 for the facts now stated to the generosity of Mr. John Ronald, the gen- 

 tleman to whose intelligence is intrusted the conduct of the before-named 

 business. If an extended observance, assisted by years of experience, 

 can lend value to information, certainly Mr. Ronald may advance a good 

 plea to be heard when speaking upon such a topic. And the editor can- 

 not forbear expressing a profound sense of personal obligation for the 

 unreserved and satisfactory manner in which all statements were com- 

 municated, and unhesitatingly submitted to the writer's discretion. In 

 short, Mr. Ronald's mode of communicating his knowledge speedily 

 gained the confidence of his listener; but as individual characteristics 

 cannot be embodied in a written declaration, the circumstance is only 

 mentioned, to assure the reader that the following details are worthy of 

 his acceptance and deserving of his consideration. 



Carriages are of various kinds ; they differ very widely as to cost. 

 Every maker will manufacture every variety which may not be under 

 the protection of the Patent Office. Certain houses, however, may be 

 famed for a certain description of conveyances, — as that of Tilbury for 

 the gig, which is known by the name of its inventor. 



The following statement of charges is to be regarded only as a prob- 

 able approximation to the cost of those articles which are specified. 

 Nothing assuming the form of a definite figure could be named, because 

 the orders given by gentlemen are so essentially opposite. Thus one 

 may be contented with a simple crest or two ; but another will insist 

 that his vehicle shall display the fullest heraldic adornments. Such 

 differences in taste regulate the extremes which divide the charges 

 made for the same description of article when furnished by two equally 

 respectable manufacturers. 



The gentlemen who profess Herald painting are remunerated accord- 



(477) 



