384 DRIVING. 



a well-doorway, entered by a single step ; they carry four persons 

 inside, have a folding head over the hind part of the body, and 

 a low driving-seat in front. They are generally driven with a 

 pair of horses of from 15 to 15*2 hands. This is a favourite 

 type of carriage with H.R.H. the Princess of Wales. 



' Barouche sociables ' differ from those already described in 

 several important features ; in form they resemble two cabriolet- 

 shaped bodies placed facing one another ; they are entered by 

 two steps, have four long wings over the wheels to protect the 

 occupants from mud, and always have a light driving-box sup- 

 ported on curved irons. They were chiefly used in establish- 

 ments of the first rank ; but for some unexplained reason are 

 gradually going out of use, although elegant and stylish carriages. 



Barouches have for more than fifty years been considered 

 an indispensable open carriage for nearly all first-class esta- 

 blishments. Originally made with full deep panels and sus- 

 pended on wooden perch and C-springs ; afterwards with panels 

 much reduced in depth, and with the front panels scooped 

 away to allow the passage of higher front wheels ; then hung 

 on wooden perch carriages with the addition of under springs 

 to the C-springs ; subsequently on forged iron perches, with 

 very shallow panels, and reduced in size and weight, always 

 with the driving-seat fixed on curved ornamental ironwork, 

 they have reached a refinement and elegance that seems to 

 have almost exhausted the chance of further improvements. 



Many such carriages have been hung on elliptic springs, 

 rendering them available for country as well as London work, 

 for which the C-spring barouches have in recent years been 

 almost exclusively retained. But the taste of the day sets in 

 favour of C-spring victorias rather than of the stately and lordly 

 barouche. 



The old type of family coach has, as an ordinary carriage, 

 gone out of use, but there is still need for close carriages to 

 carry four full-grown persons comfortably inside. This want 

 has been met by a reduction in size, and by a refinement of pro- 

 portions ; cutting through the doorways ; carrying down the 



