THE AMATEURS 253 



without regard to cost. In a time Avlicn brass- 

 mounted harness was your only wear, his was 

 silver-phited. The horse-cloths, too, exhibited this 

 unusual elegance, for they were edged with deep 

 silver lace and gold thread, and embroidered in 

 each corner Avith a royal croAvn and a sprig of 

 laurel in coloured silks and silver. These cloths 

 Avere, many years afterwards, presented to the 

 Brighton Museum by IMr. Thomas Ward Ca])ps, a 

 later pro2)rietor of the "Age," and they are still 

 to be seen there. 



This Avas not by any means the sum of Steven- 

 son's improvements. The usual guard he rej^laced 

 by a liveried servant, Avliom he caused to attend 

 upon the passengers, Avhen the coach changed 

 horses, Avith silver sandAvich-box and offers of 

 sherry of a kind that appealed even to the jaded 

 jialates of connoisseurs. Stevenson Avas as excellent 

 a Avhip as he Avas a good-hearted gentleman. " I 

 am not aAA^are," AA^rote "Viator Junior," "if, to 

 quote a a ulgar saying, he Avas ' born Avith a silver 

 spoon in his mouth,' but I certainly think he 

 must liaA'e been brought into the Avorld Avith a 

 Avliip and reins in his hand, for in point of ease 

 and elegance of execution as a light coachman 

 he beats nineteen out of tAventy of the regular 

 Avorking dragsmen into fits, and as an amateur 

 is only to be approached l)y tAvo or three of the 

 chosen fcAV." 



Of course, coaching on these luxurious terms 

 resulted in a staggering loss, and could not long 

 have continued, but eyeji those short possibilities 



