370 DRIVING. 



reduced bulk and weight of materials ; and though great 

 diversities of form, shape, and size have to be provided for, 

 it is astonishing how little material change has been made 

 since the inventor first introduced the system. 



At this time London swarmed with the handsome chariots, 

 coaches, landaus, barouches, and britzskas of the nobility and 

 gentry. Many were hung on perches with C-springs, and almost 

 as many with under as well as C-springs, for they had been added 

 in the reign of George IV., much to the alarm of the London 

 artisans of that day, who considered that the vibration and 

 consequent wear and tear of the under works would be so 

 much reduced, and their durability so much prolonged, as to 

 deprive the workmen of the means of living. Like most other 

 improvements, they tended to the enjoyment of the buyers 

 and likewise to the welfare of the men, who were kept busily 

 employed making the carriages that had been so greatly im- 

 proved. It may here be mentioned that London carriages 

 were then being rapidly improved, and that wealthy foreign 

 nobles and merchants visiting England, ordered or bought 

 handsome and costly carriages to be sent to their own coun- 

 tries. The best London carriages and their makers' names 

 became well known in all the great capitals of Europe, where 

 English carriages were copied with more or less success by 

 the coachmakers carrying on business there. 



Mail-phaetons hung on mail springs and perches were much 

 used by noblemen and gentlemen ; the late Earl of Chesterfield 

 generally had the credit of turning out with one of the best, if 

 not actually the best. They were frequently used by bachelors 

 for long posting journeys in England, as well as on the Con- 

 tinent. They are still a favourite carriage (hung on elliptic 

 springs), and have almost reached perfection in the hands of 

 Peters. 



The carriages generally driven by ladies are mostly park 

 and pony phaetons. This type of carriage owes its origin and 

 fashion to the Prince Regent (afterwards George IV.) In 

 the course of his studies in coachmaking with the late Mr. 



