362 THE COACHING AGE. 



in having only to pay for the post-chaise, and the 

 injury done to the off-leader of the Manchester 

 ' Cobourg,' his shoulder having been lacerated to 

 such an extent as to render him useless by coming 

 in contact with the other coach. 



Altogether, the coachman said this indiscretion on 

 his part cost him twenty pounds, an inconsiderable 

 sum compared with what might have happened ; but 

 it was sufficient to make him resolve never to run 

 such a risk again, a resolution to which in his long 

 subsequent connection with coaching he strictly 

 adhered. 



Probably this was the reason of his not meeting 

 with any other accident, in consequence of which he 

 acquired the confidence of the proprietors and the 

 public ; and in this he said he considered himself 

 very fortunate, accidents being frequent. Two of them 

 he witnessed — one to the Manchester ' Cobourg,' the 

 other to the Liverpool ' Umpire ;' and of the former 

 he gave this account : 



On the up-journey between Redbourn and St. 

 Albans he met the ' Cobourg,' the driver of which, 

 a man named Foster, kept on the wrong side of the 

 road to avoid the gravel, which was so heaped up as 

 to raise the middle of the road to an unnecessary 

 height. The 'Cobourg' was heavily loaded on the 

 top with luggage as well as passengers, so much so 



