CHANGE 209 



remarkable alteration and improvement had taken place in 

 the system of stage-coach travelling. Instead of the old 

 heavy lumbering vehicle, with the boot fixed on the fore- 

 axle, and a large basket on the hind, with a license to 

 carry six inside passengers and as many as could well 

 be crowded on the outside, after repeated steps in the 

 forward direction, the new and elegant Telegraph coaches 

 made their appearance. With them came a change in the 

 quality of the animals, whether biped or quadruped, 

 attached to them. 



It is with the former I have more particularly to do. 

 Those of the original craft, sons of men who had been lono- 

 known in the old school — of whom I may speak more 

 particularly hereafter — assumed a different style of dress ; 

 and having benefited a little more by education than 

 their fathers, could assimilate themselves better to the 

 manners and understanding of a very different grade of 

 travellers — while the great improvement in the pace and 

 sort of animal required rendered the situation of the 

 " dragsman," as he was now termed, one of enviable 

 delioiit. 



Consequently men of a far different class aspired to it. 

 Yeomen left tilling their farms — military men forsook 

 their profession — even clergymen their pulpits, to enter 

 upon this pleasing vocation.^ 



These alterations and improvements began first of all 



^ Some of my readers may remember the handsome mihtary 

 officer, Captain Proben, who officiated on the Eeading coach (not 

 Wilhams') for many years, who has since inherited considerable 

 property in Gloucestershire ; as they will the poor Parson Dennis, 

 who exchanged his vicarage in Berkshire for the box of the White 

 Hart, Bath, but finished his career on the Norwich road. 



VOL. I. V 



