i8 THE COACHING ERA 



effeminate degeneracy that after riding a few times in 

 coaches men became unwilHng to perform long journeys 

 on horseback. They were no longer "able to endure 

 frost, snow or rain, or to lodge in the fields"^ as had afore 

 time been their pleasing portion when benighted by the 

 way. All this, too, that they might "save their fine 

 clothes and keep themselves clean and dry." 



Nor was this all. "For the passage to London being 

 so easy, gentlemen came to London oftener than they 

 need, and their ladies either with them or, having the 

 convenience of the coaches, quickly follow them. And, 

 when they are there, they must be in the mode, having all 

 the new fashions, buy all their clothes there, and go to 

 plays, balls and treats, where they get such a habit of 

 jollity and love of gaiety and pleasure, that nothing will 

 afterwards serve them, if ever they should fix their 

 minds to live there again; but they must have all from 

 London whatever it costs." 



What was John Cressel's special grievance against 

 coaches can only be surmised; he may have been victim- 

 ized by country cousins, who, greatly undesired, came up 

 in relays by the six stage-coaches to visit him; at any 

 rate he expended all his eloquence in trying to prove 

 how much better it would be for people living in the 

 provinces to stop there. In case his scathing insinuations 

 as to their manhood should not have the desired effe6l, he 

 pretended an affe6lionate solicitude for their health, 

 and endeavoured to point out the manifold dangers they 



1 "The Grand Concern of England Explained." Harleian 

 Miscellany, Vol. VIII. 



