)23 



CHAPTER XXV. 

 CARRIAGES. 



Four-wheeled Carriages: The rSrougham— Its Advantages — History of— Best kind of Wheels and Shafts— Its Drawbacks — 

 Requisites of a Brougham Horse— Brougham Harness — Driver of Brougham — 'Ihe Sociable Landau — Changes in Carriages 

 owing to Macadam and Railroads — The Wagonette — Its Advantages — Necessary Size of Seats and Backs— The Coach — 

 The Chariot— Anecdote— The Barouche— The Victoria— Carriages to be Driven by Owner— The Mail Phaeton, a Man's 

 Carriage — The Park Phaeton, a Ladies' Carriage — Good Horses Required — The Stanhope Phaeton — The Four-wheeled 

 vts-ti-vis Pony Phaeton — Changes in Carriage Taxes, and Adoption of Light Four-wheeled Carriages — Four-wheeled Dog 

 Carts. Two-wheeled Carriages : Ancient Use of — The Curricle — Expense and Disappearance of — The Cabriolet — The Gig 

 — Care Required in Construction of— Effect of Mr. Lowe's Reduction of Carriage Duty on Two-wheeled Vehicles — The 

 Private Hansom— The Sledge — Public Carriages- Taxes on Carriages — Hints on Preserving Carriages— Miscellaneous 

 Notes. 



Excellent carriages are built in the north, south, and east of London, as well as in 

 Long Acre and the west, and builders of well-deserved local reputation are to be found in 

 Scotland, in Ireland, and in almost every county of England, but, it may be laid down 

 as a safe rule, whether in town or country, that it is best to go to a man for what he 

 is most in the habit of building. A coachmaker may turn out an excellent dog-cart, 

 T-cart, wagonette, or any other sort of gentleman's driving carriage, who does not keep 

 the workmen or the models for making a really satisfactory brougham, landau, or barouche, 

 and vice versd. As a rule, not without exceptions, the town builder best understands the 

 requirements of town ; the countryman is the best judge of the article for long distances 

 and rough roads. 



There are four essentially family carriages, although three of them may also be all that 

 is most fashionable— the brougham, the sociable landau, the wagonette, and the four-inside 

 four-wheeled pony phaeton. There are three essentially fashionable carriages, very expensive 

 when purchased new, almost unsaleable when offered second-hand, even if all but new. These 

 are the C-springed coach, in which the many-daughtered duchess proceeds to Court; the 

 chariot, now scarcely used except at levees and drawing-rooms, by the sheriffs of the City 

 of London, and a few physicians who affect the old style; and the barouche, the most 

 aristocratic and stately of all carriages, when complete with a pair of gigantic steppers, 

 splendid in plate and patent leather, and a coachman and footman of appropriate size, in 

 gorgeous uniforms; or appointed in the style used by royalty, called by the French a la 

 DaiiinoHt, with four horses and two postillions. 



FOUR-WHEELED CARRIAGES : THE BROUGHAM. 



For the owner of a carriage who does not make driving a pleasure, for a family, a 

 single lady, or a bachelor, whether for town or country use, the brougham— which, speaking 

 historically, is one of the most modern of close carriages — occupies the first place. It is 

 the only close carriage that looks well with one horse and one man. It looks equally well 

 with a pair, if their size harmonises with the carriage. It may be light and single for the 



