MODERN CARRIAGES. 393 



anticipated on their first being held. The frequent meetings 

 of exhibitors at one of the great international exhibitions led 

 to the establishment of the Master Coachbuilders' Benevolent 

 Institution, which has already collected upwards of 27,0007., 

 chiefly from those engaged in the manufacture. It maintains 

 thirty-five pensioners, has an annual income of 8oo/., and at 

 its monthly committee meetings unfortunate coach-makers, 

 their managers and clerks, are helped in times of trouble and 

 distress. 



Technical schools have been established in London, Man- 

 chester, New York, and Sydney ; and with a little more en- 

 couragement from some of the now worse than wasted old 

 endowments, would rapidly rise in efficiency and importance. 

 Annual examinations in the technology of carriage-building 

 are held under the auspices of the City and Guilds of London 

 Institute ; and it may here be mentioned that when proposed 

 and founded about fourteen years ago by the Council of the 

 Society of Arts, General Donnelly, R.E., was directed to con- 

 sult the writer with the view of including the art of carriage- 

 building in the five subjects (or industries) on which the plan 

 should be tried. After many consultations, a scheme was 

 worked out and organised, and of the total number of candi- 

 dates for the first five examinations, one-half were coach- 

 builders. After holding the office of examiner some seven or 

 eight years, the writer resigned in consequence of impaired 

 health and pressure of other duties. 



These technical classes, and annual examinations of the 

 pupils to test the results of the teaching of carriage drawing 

 and designing, and technology of construction and finish, are 

 exerting a very favourable influence on the industry both in 

 London and in the provinces, inducing a friendly rivalry 

 among the competitors, exciting them to renewed exertions, 

 improving them professionally, morally, and socially, so that 

 they are able to better their position both from a monetary 

 and social point of view a move forward highly to be valued 

 now that so large a proportion of working men are entrusted 



