J9 DRIVING. 



his coach off the road within a year of the opening of the 

 railway ; and those who have read the life of George Stephen- 

 son, the chief inventor of railways, may remember that he 

 thought it likely that railways would only be used to carry 

 heavy goods, or that, if they carried passengers, it would only 

 be at the rate of twelve miles an hour, as most people would 

 fear to go faster, whereas very shortly I found myself being 

 carried to Bath, no miles on the broad gauge, in two hours 

 and twenty minutes. At first railways met with much oppo- 

 sition, for not only were companies made to pay fabulous prices 

 for land, but several large landed proprietors ordered men 

 to watch day and night to prevent levels and measure- 

 ments being taken on their property, and there were many free 

 fights in consequence. Then we suddenly fell into the other 

 extreme, many people being most anxious that a branch railway 

 should be brought almost to their doors, or, at any rate, to 

 the small town or village near which they happened to reside. 



I think it was Charles Dickens who told the touching 

 story of the two coachmen (brothers, if not twins) who met 

 daily on the road, just raising their whips, or waving their 

 hands to each other, but scarcely ever having time to stop or 

 exchange a word. One died, after which the brother com- 

 plained how dull the road had become, adding, * I never see 

 Tom's cheery face now, all life seems to have left the road ; ' 

 and in a very few months he followed his brother. 



Let me conclude these remarks by mentioning the requisites 

 for driving, which are good eyes, strong arms, light hands, gcod 

 nerves, good temper, and plenty of practice. 



PROFESSIONAL REMINISCENCES. 



Any account of old coaching days and matters appertaining 

 to them must necessarily be interesting to those fond of the 

 road, and the fact that these reminiscences were supplied by 

 Philip Carter, a coachman of more than fifty years' experience 

 commencing from the year 1828 and continuing almost up to 

 the present time, will, it is hoped, tend to give them value. 



