282 THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 



of punishment that, in my opinion, should never be in- 

 flicted but for vice. It is a brutal practice, and one which I 

 never had recourse to myself, except in the case of a kicker. 

 Young horses should have their heads a good deal at liberty. 

 Throat-latching a young horse, either wheeler or leader, 

 shows great want of judgment. Some will go more quietly 

 as leaders than at wheel, the reason for which I conceive to 

 be, their not liking to find themselves confined by the pole- 

 piece. All young horses should have their sides frequently 

 changed." 



Haryrave. " Thank you kindly, Jack, for your good 

 and practical advice. I will only trouble you to decide 

 a dispute lately in my presence, as to what description of 

 road is easier of draught ? " 



Jack Webber. " I can settle that point for you on the 

 authority of a very scientific man, and you will be sur- 

 prised at the result. The draught of a horse in harness is 

 thus calculated. On good pavement 33 Ib. ; on broken 

 stone surface 65 Ib. ; on broken stone, hard bound 

 45 Ib. ; on loose gravel 147 Ib. ! This accounts for the 

 London mail, and also that which runs to Manchester 

 from Chester, having only three horses for the first twenty 

 or thirty miles, the road being paved. As coachmen say, 

 when describing the vis vivida of the mechanic, a coach 

 running over pavement is always alive. In fact, she 

 jumps from stone to stone, whereby her motion is 

 accelerated." 



Lord Edmonston. " As for coaching, as you gentlemen 

 of the whip express yourselves, I know nothing of it 

 practically, and we should not attempt what we do not 

 understand. We have a good hint on this subject in the 

 fable of Icarus, and Persius tells us that, if a ploughman 

 were to take the helm of a ship, the gods would leave him 

 to his fate. I repeat, then, that I know nothing of ' coach- 

 ing,' but I see no reason why English gentlemen, who can 

 afford to do it, may not indulge themselves in driving their 

 own coaches." 



Goodall. " It is an old fashion Lateranus, the Roman 

 consul, drove his own chariot." 



Lord Edmonston. " Yes, but only by night, until the 

 year of his office was out." 



Goodall. " In Greece it was the amusement of kings : 

 Philip of Macedon had his chariot victories engraved on 

 his coins ; and Alcibiades had as many coach-horses in. 



