THE BRIGHTON COACH. 347 



fresh as paint, and any one who had seen them going along full of 

 play as kittens, would have set a coach-horse's down as a wondrously 

 easy life in the present day. These took us along merrily until the 

 finish of their stage was reached, when they were replaced by a very 

 good-looking white-faced black at lead, whose companion was a bay, 

 and behind them we had a dun and a grey, both very powerful 

 horses. 



What about our journey and the new route? As to the first, it 

 was as fortunate and pleasant as well could be under the circumstances. 

 It would be a manifest untruth were we to say that anything appears 

 as much couleur de rose in a drenching rain as in bright sunshine, but 

 a determination to make the best of things, and companions equally 

 willing to look at the bright side, will do wonders. This we had. 

 No doubt many little things which would have amused ourselves and 

 readers were passed over unnoticed, for it's ill writing notes in hard 

 rain, and a man who has to guard himself from rain and his hat from 

 flight as best he can is not in the position to write accurately every- 

 thing that occurs ; but these are evils that must be borne. As to the 

 change of route, it is, we think, altogether for the better. Those who 

 drive say the road is better, though rather longer, perhaps a mile ; 

 while as regards its beauty there can be no diversity of opinion. 

 The other is not to be compared to it for the views obtained or the 

 interest in the places passed through. To this, perhaps, may in 

 some measure be attributed the fact that in spite of the unkind 

 summer the Brighton has loaded better this season than she did last, 

 though Mr. Freeman thinks an increase in pace has something to do 

 with It. Perchance it has ; we do like to go the pace in the present 

 day on the road as well as elsewhere. That she has loaded better is 

 a fact, no matter how it comes about, and we are heartily glad of it. 

 May she continue to do so until the end of the season, and have such 

 a success that the proprietors may be induced to start her year after 

 year until they are beyond the delights of coaching, and may young 

 ones be constantly coming forward to fill their places as each retires. 



Innumerable articles of this kind are always ap- 

 pearing in the sporting papers, so that the proceedings 

 of the coaches are not likely to remain long unreported. 

 Some passengers on these coaches seem to be in some 

 doubt as to the social standing of the grentlemen who 

 drive them ; I have heard that on more than one occasion 

 .a tip has been offered them, and I think it was Mr. 

 Freeman who told me that, having driven a gentleman 

 and his family on his coach to Brighton, he was coolly 

 requested by Paterfamilias, when he arrived there, to 



