CONSTRUCTION OF COACHES. 93 



had been very little attended to in arranging the size 

 of the bodies and the height and depth of the seats 

 inside the mails. 



Among the persons consulted by the Postmaster- 

 General on the construction of coaches, was Dr. 

 Lardner, a highly scientific man ; Sir Henry Parnell, 

 who had given a good deal of attention to the subject ; 

 and Mr. Peter Purcell, an extensive coach and mail 

 builder in Dublin. 



With reference to the improvements which had 

 taken place in the roads under McAdam and Telford, 

 Dr. Lardner was of opinion that a corresponding 

 change had not been made in the form and structure 

 of the carriages running upon them, which had 

 not received the benefit of the application of the 

 same scientific skill. In addition to his remarks 

 as to the size of wheels, the breadth of tires, and 

 the advantages of efiicient springs, he considered 

 that the mode in which the load should be 

 placed on a coach should be in proportion to the 

 size of the wheels, and hence that a greater part 

 of it should be thrown on the hind-wheels. Sir 

 H. Parnell concurred in this, and although it was 

 the practice of the coach-proprietors to, load the 

 front-boot with heavy luggage, scientific men said 

 the bulk pf the luggage should be kept as far 

 behind as possible, nothing but carpet-bags and light 



