244 THE COACHING ERA 



of the first spring day — the splendid scenery the station 

 commands — the presence of hundreds of elegantly 

 dressed females rendered the whole proceedings of a 

 highly interesting nature." 



So far back as 1791 Dr. Erasmus Darwin had pub- 

 lished a remarkable prophecy, foretelling not only 

 railways and motor-cars, but also aeroplanes. 



"Soon shall thy arm unconquered steam afar 

 Drag the slow barge, or drive the rapid car; 

 Or on wide, waving wings expanded bear 

 The flying chariot through the fields of air. 

 Fair crews triumphant, leaning from above, 

 Shall wave the flutt'ring kerchiefs as they move; 

 Or warrior bands alarm the gaping crowd, 

 And armies shrink beneath the shadowy cloud." 



By 1836 the victory of steam over horse seemed 

 certain, and one writer was moved to prophesy what 

 changes would have taken place in so short a period as 

 seven years. 



"Imagine the surprise of an Englishman coming to 

 London (from a tour in terra incognita) in the year 

 1843. By that time the adoption of the new plan will 

 be universal, and every description of wheeled carriage 

 will be propelled by steam. What an interesting change 

 will have taken place in the aspe6l and arrangements 

 of the metropolis! Fuel, not horses, being the medium of 

 impulse. The property of all public vehicles will natur- 

 ally have changed hands; the Golden Cross, the Bull and 

 Mouth, and the Cross Keys, will have ceased to exist! 

 and the stage-coaches will be found setting off probably 



