42 THE COACHING ERA 



comfort drive with more ease, the springs quickly came 

 into general use, and the box-seat became in consequence 

 a coveted position, whereas aforetimes travellers would 

 have been only too thankful to pay extra to avoid it. 



The mail-coaches appeared in great glory on the 

 anniversary of the Sovereign's birthday, when they 

 paraded many of the principal streets of London, and 

 provided an imposing spedlacle. No expense was spared 

 to make the occasion a memorable one, most of the 

 coaches being new, whilst those not used for the first 

 time came fresh from the workshop, where they had 

 undergone a thorough overhauling, and were as re- 

 splendent as fresh paint and varnish could make them. 

 Picked teams were used, and many country gentlemen 

 would send their horses to draw favourite coaches for 

 the ceremony. All the horses were groomed till their 

 coats shone like satin, and they stepped out seeming 

 proudly conscious of the important occasion, and of 

 their new silver plated harness, and gay rosettes. 



The Post Ofhce provided the guards with new scarlet 

 coats and gold-laced beaver hats, while the contractors, 

 not to be outdone, furnished the coachmen with 

 equally resplendent livery, and both coachmen and 

 guards provided themselves with enormous nosegays. 



No passengers were allowed outside the coaches, and 

 the interiors were filled with the friends of the coachmen 

 and guards. When the coaches left Millbank, the church 

 bells rang, guards blew their horns, and the procession, 

 headed by Bristol and oldest established Mail, started off. 

 The route taken varied, but a visit was always paid to 



