A MINIATURE DRAG. ^ 465 



first used in Edinburgh in 1780, but Swift says in the 

 Tatler of October 1 7th, 1 7 10 : 



The tucked-up seamstress walks with hasty strides, 

 Whilst streams run down her umbrella's sides. 



But to go back to our subject, or something more 

 nearly akin to it. 



The carriage of which I have spoken is an excellent 

 substitute for a coach, w^here a very light vehicle is 

 required, and where the passengers are in all cases few 

 in number ; the only alteration that would be required 

 to enable four horses to be driven with comfort would 

 be to raise the box seat. I remember making a draw- 

 ing of a carriage of this description, never supposing 

 that it had already been done ; this is one more proof 

 that invention repeats itself, if proof were needed, but 

 the instances of its having done so are so numerous 

 that no evidence is needed of this fact by those who 

 pass their time in planning and contriving. A simul- 

 taneous invention, or two minds conceiving exactly the 

 same thing in exactly the same way, and even at 

 exactly the same time, is not surprising when one 

 comes to consider it ; even poets and authors have 

 given expression to exactly the same thought in 

 exactly the same words, and yet it can be proved 

 beyond doubt that neither one can have seen or read 

 a word of the rival composition. A drawing can be 

 had of the carriaQ^e to which I have made reference. 

 For use in the country by a family composed of only a 

 few members, and when it is desired occasionally to 

 jdrive four horses, nothing could be more convenient, 

 and even if a team be not driven it has the following 

 advantages : 



As a station carriage it has a considerable capacity 



2 }i 



