THE COACHING AGE. 



US some of the incidents of the 1820-40 period, as he 

 has so admirably depicted the sporting life of his 

 time, and the manners and customs of the early- 

 Victorian era ! He could be humorous without 

 being vulgar, delicate without being weak, satirical 

 without being sardonic. Never was power wielded 

 with more grace before or since his pencil went to 

 work. 



In the ' Annals of the Eoad ' are some excellent 

 descriptions of well-known coachmen. From their 

 association with every class, they derived a good 

 knowledge of human nature. They heard and re- 

 tailed an immense fund of good stories. The best 

 coachman was not always found with the best horses ; 

 some of the cleverest had to take cripples in hand, 

 and show their skill and perseverance in surmounting 

 difficulties. In fact, driving is an art which has to 

 be learnt. Peter Pry's description of the celebrated 

 Cartwright* is a-dmirable. We are made to see the 

 man before us, with his well-held reins and well- 

 poised whip, and his marvellous management of his 

 leaders. Nearly as good is his account of Leech's 

 team from Barnby Moor to Eossetter Bridge, with 

 four bay blood mares. 



In 1836-7 people frequented the great yards from 

 which started the mails, east, west, north and south — 

 * See Malet's ' Annals of the Eoad,' pp. 71-73. 



