THE FOUR-IN-HAND CLUB. 



It is forty years since the late Sir Henry Peyton, 

 one of tlie staunchest members of the F.H.D.C. in 

 those days, elicited that remarkably clear and con- 

 clusive criticism from "Will Bowers/' the noted 

 Oxford coachman, on the difference between the newly- 

 instituted mode of locomotion by rail and the old, 

 legitimate, well-established, and delightful system 

 of travelling on a well-appointed coach, drawn by 

 four slapping horses, and tooled by a first-rate work- 

 man who handled the ribbons like an artist. "Why, 

 you see. Sir Henry,^' said this veteran of the road, 

 " if an accident happens to a coach, why, there you 

 are ; but, if an accident happens to a train, luhere are 

 you ? '^ Yet, notwithstanding the soundness of his 

 views in respect to the then vexed question of the 

 day, he lived to see railway travelling entirely super- 

 sede the ordinary modes of conveyance ; the great 

 posting-houses, such as Cranford Bridge, closed ; and 

 the grass growing in the streets of Hounslow, Brent- 

 ford, Barnet, and other towns, which were entirely 

 maintained by the traffic of stage-coaches. Nor was it 

 only the public conveyance that went out of favour, 

 for even the Four-in-Hand Club languished, and there 

 were many wise men of that generation who shook their 

 antiquated heads, and said, with solemn and seer-like 

 emphasis, that the days of coaches and coaching were 



