424 HIGHWAYS AND HORSES. 



one can see the other. But these tragic events- 

 are not likely to occur with the exercise of proper 

 precautions. 



Nevertheless, to drive without lamps except 

 at a walking pace, even on roads that have been 

 familiar to you in the daylight for years past, is a 

 matter of great difficulty ; and it is almost as bad 

 when the candle-lamps you are using will not burn 

 up properly, they merely render the darkness visible. 

 Possibly they light up very faintly the fence at the 

 side of the road, whilst leaving the road itself in utter 

 obscurity ; in fact, oftentimes when using lamps, and 

 the road is as I have described it, if you turn round 

 in your seat and look at the road you have left behind 

 you, you will observe that it is comparatively light 

 compared with the road in advance of you ; and 

 this is only in consequence of the insufficiency of 

 light produced by the lamps, and in consequence 

 of their not being directed toward that part of the road 

 in advance of you which it is most necessary should be 

 illuminated. Apart from the question of safety, it must 

 be remembered, that when you cannot see where you 

 are driving to, you can only drive very slowly, conse- 

 quently you double the length of the time required for 

 the accomplishment of your journey. I experienced an 

 instance of this the other night ; as a rule I have my 

 lamps in perfect order, but not having been out driving 

 after sunset this year, I had given no attention to the 

 matter. I drove over to Southampton from this house, 

 a distance of ten miles, intending to return before 

 dark, but this I failed to do ; consequently the drive: 

 that would by daylight have taken one hour took 

 nearly two, although I was driving in a light curricle 

 with two fast horses, I do not think that when driving 



