^Nimrod'' 



that cannot be done, too much precaution cannot be used 

 when turning her from her Hne. Only a few years back, 

 the Kingston and Worcester mail was upset in going round 

 a turn, where the road was in an opposite form to the one 

 we have just pointed out, when, according to evidence pro- 

 duced, she was going at the rate of only six miles in the 

 hour. The effects of this accident were dreadful. In one 

 respect, however, roads are more safe than they were, being 

 no longer rounded in the middle, which caused the over- 

 throw of many coaches in the act of crossing them, and the 

 ruin of many coach-horses, by straining them in the fetlock- 

 joint. 



The hills on our great roads are now so cut through, 

 that coaches ascend nearly all of them in the trot. Indeed, 

 coachmen have found out that their horses are gainers here, 

 as in the trot every horse does his share ; whereas very few 

 teams are all at work together when walking. Four weak 

 horses, well put together, will draw a 'very heavy load up a 

 hill of considerable acclivity, if the surface be hard, and 

 they are kept to a trot. As a mechanical agent, the worst 

 method in which the strength of a horse can be applied is 

 carrying a weight up hill ; and the best, that of drawing it. 

 We should, however, give him every advantage ; and, with 

 a loaded coach, ' keeping her alive,' as coachmen translate 

 the vis vivida of the mechanic, is of vast importance in the 

 draught of her. 



We have now only one more hint to offer as to stage- 

 coaches. Proprietors should never, if they can avoid it, 

 p 225 



