^Nimrod ' 



considerable assistance to trade. In the mail-coaches, the 

 boxes are of a different construction, and owe their safety 

 to four bolts, which pass completely through the nave of 

 the wheel, having a square shoulder on the back of the nave, 

 with screws and nuts on its front. We have no hesitation 

 in saying, this is the best wheel ever put under a coach ; and, 

 of course, Mr. Vidler, the late contractor for the mails, had a 

 patent for it. The mails could never do their work with 

 the common axle and box.^ 



Cicero laments the want of post-offices, and well he 

 might. Nothing can excel that department in our country, 

 as it has long been administered by the late Sir Francis 

 Freeling ; although we feared in this, as in more important 

 matters, we were about to lose sight of the good old rule of 

 ' letting well alone.' It was said to have been the intention 

 of Government to substitute light carriages with two horses, 

 for the present mail-coaches drawn by four ; but we had 



1 An improvement on all the patents yet brought forth was some time 

 since attempted by two spirited coach-makers in London, but we have not 

 heard of its success. Its object is to diminish draught in two distinct ways — 

 first, by reducing the bearing parts, and thereby lessening friction ; and, 

 secondly, by diminishing the ' dead hug,' as it is termed, which is always an 

 attendant on the cylindrical arm and box. It substitutes a square instead 

 of a cylindrical box, in which the cylindrical axle or arm works. This is made 

 to fit on each of the four sides as true and as air-tight as if it were a complete 

 circle ; and if the four diflferent bearings are but one-eighth of an inch each, 

 it is apparent that there is but half an inch of surface for the arm to oppose or 

 work against in each axle ; and so on in proportion to the size of the bearing. 

 Nor is this all : those parts or angles not touched by the arm — as may be seen 

 when the box is revolving — serve as reservoirs for oil, affording a constant 

 supply. The nose of the arm is protected by a circular end, ground on to 

 form the nicest fit, and prevent the possibility of the smallest particle of gravel 

 finding its way into the box. 



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