CHAPTER VI. 



CONSTRUCTION OF COACHES. 



I DO not propose to enter into a description of 

 the different varieties of vehicles in use towards 

 the end of the last century, and passing under the 

 denomination of ' Flying Coaches,' ' Stage Chaises,' 

 ' Glass machines hung on steel springs,' etc. They 

 have been elaborately depicted in numerous illustra- 

 tions to be found in old books treating of the 

 travelling of the period ; and from the length of time 

 which has since elapsed I cannot, of course, give any 

 account of them from personal knowledge, or add 

 anything to what is contained in those works. The 

 improvement of the roads naturally rendered more 

 expeditious traffic practicable, and hence it became 

 necessary to supersede the tremendously heavy and 

 lumbering coaches by the introduction of some of a 

 much lighter character, and capable of being drawn 

 with safety at a greatly increased rate of speed. Euts, 

 or rather trenches, letting the wheels in up to the 

 axles, so that six or more horses were required to 



