212 STAGE-COACH 



Now, if the railroads, that vile foe, t' our sport should put an end, 

 And England's pride, the four-in-hand, no longer have a friend, 

 To some lone cot I will retire, and dream upon the past, 

 And live again on what was once the fastest of the fast. 



When I used to push along, &c. 



But with all this, to me there was somethino; wantinofto 

 finish or fill up the picture. Altliough the four horses were 

 shown off to the best advantage that skill and judgment 

 could produce, joined to minute attention to the appoint- 

 ments of both carriage and harness, still there was a 

 nakedness about the whole affair, when contrasted with 

 that more humble, at the same time more useful, candi- 

 date for public favour — a stage-coach — they were striving 

 their utmost to imitate. Indeed, there was something 

 absurd in my eye in a nobleman or gentleman sitting 

 alone on his box, behind a splendid team that required 

 little or no driving, with no companions to share his 

 pleasure, envy his position, or admire his skill: — and 

 whose expensive equipage Avould seem to an indifferent 

 observer, devoted only to the enjoyment of two or more 

 flunkeys, seated on the hinder part of the vehicle, with 

 folded arms, surveying the beauties of the surrounding 

 country, through which their master was conveying them 

 so kindly, and in such a magnificent style. 



It is not intended by these observations to detract from 

 the merits, the beauty, or the utility of the accomplish- 

 ment of driving four horses well, or to deny the necessity 

 of practice in order to become a master of this manly 

 and national art, but to show how the Avant of companion- 

 ship would deprive the solitary votary of Jehu of half 

 his pleasure. Compare this with the well-appointed, 

 well-loaded stage-coach ; admire, as you may, the splendid 



