Before getting upon the box, a coachman should walk round his horses’
heads, to see that his curb-chains and coupling reins are right, and,
above all, that the tongues of his billet-buckles are secure in their
holes. Many accidents have arisen from the want of this precaution. No
man is a safe coachman who does not see to these things. Of mounting
and dismounting, there is nothing particular to be said; except that,
in the former, the reins are to be taken in the right hand, and
transferred to the left as soon as the seat is reached.