CARRIAGES. 485 



when harnessed to a pair of horses, is free from those objections that the 

 original form of this conveyance invariably suggested. 



A TWO-WHEELED DOG CART. 



A well-built carriage is, consequently, a rather expensive convenience ; 

 but, unfortunately for the honest tradesmen, few persons are qualified to 

 advance an opinion upon the conveyance. The reader, therefore, must 

 accord his indulgence while the author endeavors to explain the points 

 which characterize a well-manufactured article. In the first place, the 

 wheels should revolve without perceptibly varying from the line which 

 they indicated when the < carriage was stationary and the tires were 

 viewed from behind. They should not, during rotation, incline either to 

 the right or to the left, for if they, when in motion, alter even a hair's 

 breadth from such a line, it i§ proof positive that the wheels are faulty. 

 They should move slowly and quickly without making the slightest 

 sound : they should glide noiselessly over all even surfaces, and with no 

 more audible disturbance than is unavoidable, they should travel, at the 

 most rapid pace, over the roughest highway. 



The body should be poised so evenly as will answer to the gentlest 

 force, and be readily swayed by more violent action ; but however ex- 

 cited it may be, the body should never lean to either side, and, the im- 

 petus being arrested, it should speedily become stationary. All the 

 parts should be firmly united. When violently urged, the movements 

 should elicit no creaking; the steps should not jingle; the windows 

 should not rattle ; and, above all, when the outlets are shut, a person 

 inside should be incommoded by no perceptible draught. 



That time may not injure such properties, the coach-house should be 

 warm, should be well aired, and should be perfectly dry. Damp is 

 ruinous to the paint, to the ornaments, and, in short, to every part of a 

 conveyance. As the most used carriage must be a greater number of 

 hours within its house than it can possibly be abroad, so for the larger 

 portion of its existence is it exposed to the operation of those enemies 

 (when any exist) which will be silently destroying. The length of time 

 which a vehicle improperly housed may endure, will of course greatly 

 be dependent upon the amount of evil with which it has to contend ; 

 but only a moderate degree of moisture will so speedily tarnish as shall 



