COACHING IN THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY 97 



language of the time, this " coiiveniency " was 

 known much more aptly as the " rumhle- tumble." 

 In this " rumble-tumble," then, the second-class 

 passengers sat, up to their knees in straw. The 

 more straw tlie l)etter the travelling, for although 

 the body of the coach had by this time been eased 

 with springs, the basket was not provided with 

 any such luxury, and anything in the nature of 

 padding would have been welcome. Already, in 

 1747, Hogarth had pictured an inn yard A\ith a 

 coach preparing to start, and had shown a basket 

 fully occupied, and tAvo outsides above. 



The coaches were by now hung much higher, 

 and the original driver's seat had given place to a 

 lofty box, from which the coachman had a greater 

 command over his horses. 



The general appearance of stage-coaches at 

 this time has been eloquently described by Sir 

 Walter Scott. They were covered with dull black 

 leather, thickly studded with l)road-headed nails, 

 tracing out the jianels. The heavy window -frames 

 were painted red, and the windows themselves 

 provided with green stuff or leather curtains 

 which could be draAvn at will. On the panels 

 of the body were displayed in large characters 

 the names of the places whence the coach started 

 and whither it Avent. The coachman and guard 

 (Avhen there was a guard at all) sat in front ujoon 

 a high narrow boot, often garnished with a spread- 

 ing hammer-cloth with a deep fringe. The roof 

 rose in a high curve. The wheels Avere large, 

 massive, ill formed, and generally painted red. 

 VOL. I. 7 



