^Nimrod ' 



attempting to get the better of their driver. A gentleman of 

 the name of Tongue, residing in Staffordshire, has obtained 

 a patent for a machine, to answer this end, known as 

 * Tongue's patent drag,' and it is now used on several coaches 

 out of London, as well as on various cross-roads. It is more 

 simple in its construction than that we see on the Continent, 

 and its additional weight — not exceeding twenty pounds — 

 is not worthy of regard when balanced against its security 

 to passengers, and the benefit wheel-horses derive from 

 being eased of the pressure of the load, which is considerable, 

 even on a moderate descent. 



The question often arises, — is there danger in galloping 

 horses in a coach on perfectly level ground } Under certain 

 circumstances there is. For instance, if there happen to be 

 two horses at wheel which take unequal strides in their 

 gallop, their action will be felt by the coach — they being so 

 near to her — and lateral motion will be produced, by which 

 her equilibrium may be destroyed. When a coach once 

 begins to swing, a little thing will upset her — even passing 

 over a small stone — as the faster she goes on level ground, 

 the more weight is thrown upon her fore- wheels, and, of 

 course, increased on a descent. Neither is a good road a 

 security to her ; on the contrary, the harder the surface of 

 it the more danger, there being nothing to hold the wheels 

 to the ground. If, however, it were possible to make the 

 stride and draught of four horses quite equal, their increased 

 speed would have but little effect on a coach upon tolerably 

 level ground ; which is proved by her being quite steady 



213 



