mistaken, than in the general idea that keeping a Carriage always is
(as it ought to be) infallible evidence of superfluous Wealth. Many
pompous persons, in order to provide the means of indulging in this
expensive Luxury, are miserably penurious in all other matters; and
many Fine Liveries, &c. have been purchased with the Money that ought
to have been spent in Food, Fire, &c.; and to cut a dash at Vanity
Fair, and keep up an external glitter, the Comfort of Home is entirely
sacrificed:--as _Sir Spendthrift_ says, “They must have a Carriage, if
they are obliged to save it a Thousand ways.”
NEVER BREAK THE RANKS,
either in Crowded Streets or when setting down at Public Places: by
attempting thus impatiently (and unfairly) to save a few minutes, many
Carriages have been destroyed, and many Lives have been lost.
_In admitting others into the Rank_, (which you have often an
opportunity of doing,) “_Do as you would be Done by_.”
THE WISEST PLAN WHEN GOING TO THEATRES,
or other extremely Crowded places, is, when the weather permits, to be
put down a little before you get to them. This, however, is hardly ever
necessary when going, when it is both more safe and more desirable, for
many reasons, to be set down at the Door.
_When your Carriage is brought to take you Home_, desire your Coachman
to select, for this purpose, a situation where there is least danger of
being blockaded in by other Carriages, rather than that which may be
nearest and most convenient to get in,--it is to little purpose that
you can get Into your Carriage, if that cannot get Out.
Observe this particularly at the Play, or other Public places. If
the weather is at all favourable, you can get to your Carriage in a
tenth part of the time, and at half the risk, it can get to you; and
even delicate Ladies will suffer less by skipping a few yards along
the Pavement, than by waiting half an hour or more in the dangerous
draughts of a cold Lobby or perishing Ante-room.
As soon as the Play or the Party is over, most people are in desperate
haste to get Home; however, as _Tom Thrifty_ says, “Nothing is done
well that is done in a Hurry, except catching of Fleas.” The frightful
Confusion created in the immediate vicinity of crowded Assemblies, will
be carefully avoided by all persons who wish to preserve their Carriage
from damage, and their Persons from risk: even at a large party, in a
private house, to get up to the Door is sometimes a service of both
difficulty and danger.
_When you pull the Check String_, and do not at the same time direct
the Coachman to stop at any particular House, tell him to take care not
to stop before _the Door_ of any House, but _in the middle_ between
Houses, so as not to give any persons the needless trouble to come to
their Door, from an idea that you are coming to their House. And desire
him never to drive up to a Door in the furious manner which vulgar
Coachmen seem to imagine is very stylish, but to go at his usual quiet
pace.
During what is termed _an Airing_, get as much pure Air as you can
without risk of taking Cold: rather put down the Front than the Side
Windows; the former are convenient for giving directions to the
Coachman: by merely uttering the word “_Left_” or “_Right_,” you may
direct his track wherever you wish.
In Cold weather, you may do this, by telling him to look round just
before he comes to a Turning, by putting your hand to the Right hand
front Glass when he is to go to the _Right_, and to the Left hand when
he is to go to the _Left_: or you may arrange, that one smart pull of
the Check String means “to turn to the _Right_;” a double one, “to the
_Left_;” and a continued one, “to stop where he is.”
When you call out STOP! without saying or pointing to _where_, tell
him you mean that he should instantly _Stop, i. e._ as quickly, and as
nearly as possible where he then is, even if that be in the middle of a
muddy Street.
One of the many and great advantages of having a Coachman a long time
in your service, is, that a single word will direct him where to drive
you: you have merely to say the name of the Street, or the Person to
which you wish him to carry you. One Word does it; therefore, if you
love your Lungs, beware of changing your Coachman.
SIR JOHN FIELDING, the famous Police Magistrate, who was blind, had a
pipe fixed from the Carriage to the Coach Box, through which he could
converse with the Coachman, without being heard by others. When his
Chariot was stopped by any obstruction in the Streets, he inquired of
the Coachman what kind of Carriage, &c. occasioned it; and it was his
humour then to put out his head, and shout out in his usual peremptory
tone, “Take that Cart out of the way!” or, “You Sir, in that Chaise,
drive on!” This occasioned great astonishment, how he, who was blind,
could perceive the cause of the stoppage, and was a source of great
amusement to Sir John.
Desire your Coachman never to dispute with, or return any Uncivil
language to any Coachman, Carman, &c.: if your Carriage is obstructed
or offended by any disorderly persons, take out your Pocket Book, and
let them see you are setting down their Number, and then coolly tell
them you will summon them if they do not immediately clear the way.
By the 1st Geo. I. c. 57, “Drivers of Hackney Coaches are to give way
to Gentlemen’s Carriages, under a penalty of 10s.”
_If your Carriage be injured_ by another running against it, ascertain
whose Carriage has done the mischief, and let your Coachmaker give an
Estimate of what he will charge for repairing it; then, before you have
the repair done, let the person who injured it see the mischief and pay
the sum charged for amending it. _Mr. Jarvis_ says, that the custom is
for the Repair to be done by the Coachmaker of the Party who committed
the Injury.
If curious Children ask “Whose Carriage is this?” tell your Coachman to
Stare full in their face, and Say Nothing: if they have the Impudence
to repeat the Question, he may reply, “it belongs to Mr. PRY.” If
equivocation be ever allowable, it is to such Impertinents.
Those who may admire the Carriage and want to know who built it, will
find the Coachmaker’s name on the Axle-tree Caps.
If any of your Coachman’s own acquaintance speak to him while he is
either driving or waiting for You, he must answer them only by a civil
movement of his Head or Whip hand. Nothing is more disrespectful and
disorderly than Gossiping while on Duty.
CARE OF THE CARRIAGE.
Have an exact _Inventory_ of the Harness, Working Utensils, and every
thing appertaining to your Carriage; give a Copy of this to your
Coachman, and once in Three months examine the state of the various
articles.
A Carriage (especially when newly Painted) should be cleaned as soon as
possible after it has been used.
A conscientious Coachman, who has any regard either for your Carriage
or his own Character, will never permit any body to touch it but
himself. If in your Visits to the Stable, you frequently find him
out, or observe any persons lurking about there, who are meddling
with either your Horses or your Carriage, be sure that he is Idle and
worthless, or has Business of his Own, which he likes better than
Yours:--then let him follow it.
The sooner you give such a Gentleman notice to quit, the better.
Never permit a Coachman to keep either Fowls, Pigeons, Dogs, Goats,
Pigs, &c. which will not only eat your Corn, but be a public Nuisance
to your Neighbours; for which offence you will be Indicted. See page 87.
If a Carriage cannot be cleaned till the dirt is dry, let it be well
sluiced, and let the water have time to loosen it:--by rubbing it when
dry, the sand and gravel in the Dirt will inevitably scratch off the
Varnish and deface the Paint. When the Pannels have been heated by the
Sun, they should not be washed till they become cool.
While the Pannels are wet they must not be exposed to the Sun, which
ought to be avoided at all times as much as possible, as nothing
injures the Varnish more.
The Iron work must be wiped quite dry, particularly the Springs: if the
wet gets between the Plates they will rust.
A Regular Coachman will get his Carriage and Horses cleaned and
dressed as early in the morning as he can, and not wait lounging about
to know when he will be wanted.
An active Stable-Man will begin his work by Six in the Morning: to set
his Stable to rights, and Dress a pair of Horses, will take from an
Hour and a Half to Two Hours.
Washing and Cleaning the Carriage and Harness will take from Two to
Three Hours, according to the work on the Harness, &c.: including his
time for Breakfast, &c., he will be ready by Eleven.
However late he comes home, a good Groom will oil and wipe the Bits,
wash his Horses’ feet, give them a whisp down, &c.--to shake their Beds
down, and give them Water and Corn, and to rack them up for the Night;
if he has a Carriage, he will also dish-clout the Body of it, will take
about from an Hour, to an Hour and a Half: therefore, when a Coachman
is required to wait at Table, let him be Home a full Hour and a Half
before he is so wanted.
THE HAMMERCLOTH.
When Coaches were first introduced, our frugal ancestors used to
load the Carriage with provisions for the family when they came
to London. The _hamper_, covered with a _cloth_, was a convenient
repository, and a seat for the Coachman. This was afterwards converted
into a _Box_. _Hammercloth_ is therefore very probably a corruption
of _Hamper-cloth_: it is now one of the principal Ornaments to a
Carriage:--according to the fulness of the plaiting of the Cloth, its
depth, and the quantity of Trimming thereon, is the cost thereof, which
varies from £10. to £40.
After a dusty Journey, let it be well brushed: if it is not, and it
gets wetted, it will be spoiled; the Lace and Fringe cuddle dust
greedily, and ought to be diligently disturbed.
SCREWING THE BOLTS.
The shaking of the Carriage frequently loosens the Bolts and Nuts[23];
and if these are not attended to immediately, the Timber, Iron work,
&c. will suffer material injury.--A Coachman may attend to this as well
as a Coachmaker.
A Careful Coachman will gently try the Nuts about once a fortnight;
but, in screwing them up, use no violence, and take care not to injure
the Paint with the Wrench.
RATTLING
is very disagreeable, and is a sign of something being loose about the
Carriage, which requires to be tightened or lined with Leather; where
Iron works upon Iron, if a thin piece of Leather can be introduced
between, the Rattling will be stopped.
_The Squeaking_ of any part is to be cured by a little Oil or Grease:
this frequently happens in the Bolts of the Springs, or in the shackles
where the wet has got in and rusted them; it often proceeds from some
loose Nut or Bolt.
_A Carriage, when first Painted_, requires great care to prevent
it from being spotted with Dirt--the Colour and Varnish take a
considerable time to harden before they can entirely resist the action
of Wet, &c.
If Dirt be allowed to dry and remain on the Carriage, some Colours
(especially a bright Green) will be marked with Spots, which are not
removed without considerable difficulty.
Therefore, the moment a Newly-painted Carriage returns from Work,
sluice the Pannels well, and with a wet Sponge wipe them clean all
over. If dusty with Road dust, take it off as gently as possible with a
Soft Brush--wiping it with a Cloth will scratch it.
Stains will also appear where the Rain has run for any length of time;
to remove which, rub the pannels with a little sweet Oil on a bit of
soft baize, so as just to damp them; rub the stained places with a
little more strength than the other parts of the pannels; dry them off
with another piece of baize, then with a third piece, and a little
flour; wipe or rub the pannels very dry; and if the stain has not then
disappeared, rub it hard with the palm of a dry soft hand, drawing it
smartly down, till the friction elicits a sharp squeaking sound. This
will probably clear the Stains; if not, after a short interval repeat
the same process: if then it cannot be cleared, the Colour or Paint
beneath the Varnish is injured, and nothing but time will effect a
change.
Rubbing common Varnished Bodies rather strong with a soft Skin,
and drying them with another, helps to increase the lustre of the
Varnish--a common Varnished body, well kept and often cleaned,
frequently improves in its lustre.
HIGHLY VARNISHED PANNELS.
The clear brightness of this polished surface shews every little
blemish; and though likely to be stained from the same causes as the
other, yet the colour is not so apt to be affected, as it is much more
thickly coated with Varnish, and the resistance stronger--to clear
them, use the means before mentioned.
TO RESTORE THE LUSTRE OF VARNISH.
The Varnish looking dull, striking in, or cracking, as often arises
from the badness of its own quality, as from any improper treatment in
the Cleaning, or effect of the Weather: the high Varnish in particular,
on account of the extra quantity, which, if not good, produces a change
much sooner that the common Varnish, the latter being much thinner.
When Varnish Cracks, it can only be remedied by the Painter, who
should be immediately applied to; but if Varnish strikes in, and looks
dull, as is sometimes the case in very damp weather, use the following
means:--Get a quarter of a pound of Rotten Stone or Tripoly Powder
from a Colour Shop, which must be ground with water, and used of the
consistency of paste, in the following manner:--Double a piece of
woollen cloth, and with the flat part rub each pannel with a gentle
force for about a quarter of an hour, taking care to rub it equally
all over; wash off the substance, and with a hand free from corns,
and damped with a soft leather, rub it smartly downwards, till by the
friction it makes a shrieking noise: if this does not sufficiently
polish, the rubbing with the Rotten Stone and the hand should be
repeated. Much depends upon the hand rubbing clean off the pannels
and mouldings as before directed with soft baize, oil, and flour. If
well managed, the Body will look nearly as well as if new Painted,
particularly a common Varnished Body, especially if it has never gone
through the process before.
Thus, with one or two days’ trouble, and at the expense of about one
Shilling, New Painting may sometimes be saved.
Let _the Carpet_ at the Bottom of the Carriage be often cleaned and
reversed, so that the wear may not always be in one place; for Winter
use and for dirty Weather, one of the _Dressed Sheep’s Skins_ is the
best foot warmer for the floor of a Carriage.
DOORS.
These, in New Carriages, will shrink in Dry, and swell in Damp Weather,
however well seasoned the Wood may be--their tightness may often be
cured by rubbing the edges with a little Soap:--be cautious not to
touch either Door or Door Post with the Knife while damp weather
continues; for sometimes they will shrink in Dry as much as they
swell in Damp weather; and when Summer returns, you will find you have
irremediably injured your Doors.
HINGES.
If these move stiffly, a few drops of Sweet Oil will generally make
them easy enough.
GLASSES AND SHUTTERS.
If these do not slide easy enough, rub the grooves in which they slide
with a little Soap--long exposure to wet will sometimes make them move
stiffly; but after a few fine dry days, they will return to their
proper dimensions.
STEPS.
If the Joints are stiff, drop a little Sweet Oil upon them, and work
them well up and down.
SPARE PAINT.
Lastly; a little of the same Colour as that with which the Carriage is
painted, should be kept in reserve to repair Accidents:--Colours can
seldom be exactly matched; you will find that it is very convenient for
touching the Mouldings occasionally;--as much of each Colour as will
fill a pint pot will be sufficient; keep it in a pan under water.
The Brushes must be kept under Water;--but with all possible skill and
care. New and Old Colours seldom match nearly enough for repairing any
accident or bruise happening to a Pannel, which had generally as well
be left as it is until you repaint the Carriage.
Let your Coachman have some “_Black Japan_,” to retouch those parts of
the Carriage which are blacked, but which are frequently defaced by
use: this will contribute greatly to the neat appearance of it.
REPAIRS.
The Expense of Keeping a Carriage in Repair is regulated very much by
the original quality thereof--by the Work it has done--the Work it
does, and the Care taken of it.
The Work it does may, in some measure, be computed by the wear of its
Wheels, and its Appearance.
It is in a Carriage as in many other mechanical structures, that, in
order to Repair it, it must be taken to pieces; and the taking to
pieces and putting together again, costs more than the Repair itself,
and thus the charges for trifling things appear enormous. The expense
of unhanging, taking to pieces, putting together, and re-hanging, is
the same in small as in large Repairs: some Coachmakers copiously
mention in their bills every circumstance of the Job, almost to
the number of turns of the screws, or blows of the hammer, with a
constant repetition of driving out--driving in--taking off--putting
on--unscrewing--screwing--nailing--unnailing--unhanging and re-hanging,
&c. &c. &c., which sometimes seems to be done only to confound the
charge for the Job with so many different matters as to make it
perfectly incomprehensible.
To the above we have actually seen added, when the Carriage was taken
to the Coachmaker’s to have any little Job done, “_To Washing and
Cleaning_, 3_s._ 6_d._”--although the Coachman assured us that the
Carriage was clean when he took it, and that he found it dirty when he
went to fetch it home.
We refer the Reader to the
CAUTIONS ON REPAIRING CARRIAGES,
which are given in page 60 of this Work.
A Carriage cannot be taken to pieces and put together, by the most
careful and skilful Workman, without in some degree diminishing
both the Beauty and Strength of the Machinery; therefore, when it
is asunder, order that every part that appears defective be made
good, that the repetition of such separation may occur as seldom as
possible, not only to avoid Expense, but the Inconvenience of being
without your Carriage while the Repairs are going on, which take longer
time than people expect, who do not consider that New Timbers, Iron
work, &c. require Painting and Varnishing, which must have at some
seasons of the Year a considerable time to dry thoroughly hard.
When any of the main Timbers begin to decay, the greater part may be
supposed to be in a similar state; failures then become frequent, and
it is prudent to have the whole that is decayed renewed at once--which
will not only be Safest, but will save much Expense and Trouble.
MEM. _Be extremely cautious of altering_ any part of a Carriage--if you
alter one part, it often becomes necessary to alter many other parts,
and a trifling Expense becomes a very heavy one.
MEM. The Carriages commonly lent by common Coachmakers while they are
repairing a Carriage, are sometimes so extremely old and ricketty, that
it is not only disagreeable, but dangerous to ride in them;--insist
upon having a good effective Vehicle, or go to another Coachmaker;
therefore, _before you send a Carriage to be repaired_, desire the
Coachmaker to let you see the Carriage which he intends to lend you
during the time your own is repairing: this accommodation he ought to
give you, if you are a constant customer, without making any charge for
the use thereof.
_Have an Estimate in Writing_, particularly specifying every thing that
is to be done, and the whole Expense for which he will undertake to
make perfect every Repair that is wanting, without any subsequent extra
charge, and the Time in which he will do so. I again repeat, that it
is the cheapest and best plan To JOB a Carriage as well as Horses. See
_Estimates_, No. 4 and No. 9.
Desire your Coachman to be continually on the Watch, and to immediately
acquaint you of the least injury which the Carriage may sustain; for
the immediate repair thereof, is equally advisable, both for your
Economy, and for his own Safety.
The chief parts that wear, are the Timber works of the Carriage part,
and these fail more frequently than you may expect--either from decay,
faulty wood, or being too light made, and sometimes from Accident or
Violence, which may be judged of when they are taken asunder.
The _Body_ requires Repair much less frequently than the _Carriage_,
because it is placed on Springs in as easy a manner as possible, and
therefore not shook about so violently as the Carriage part; but
the _best plan is to have Springs under the Carriage fixed on the
Axle-tree_: Carriages so mounted last three times as long as those
on the old construction, and are extremely desirable from so seldom
requiring separation.
UNDER SPRINGS
Are strongly recommended. They afford the following advantages:--there
is no occasion for the Coachman’s seat to be attached to the Body, nor
extra Springs for the same, which are a nuisance from their Noise and
continually requiring Repairs:--the Coachman’s seat, to an Underspring
Carriage, is bolted on a Budget, and fixed to the Carriage on a pair of
Carved Blocks, the Body hanging free:--the additional expense is from
£20. to £30.; but we have been told they save full an hundred and fifty
pounds in the wear of a Carriage;--but remember, that although _Under
Springs_ are easy to the Carriage, they are not so to the Carried,
especially those whose top half is a _Dummy_, _i. e._ made of wood,
which is used for cheapness. My last Chariot, which has such Springs,
jerks and jumps about as much as a rough Trotting Horse, affording
fine _Anti-bilious_ Exercise for those in tolerable Health, but is
intolerably agitating to an Invalid!!
ON HORSES.
To define a perfect Horse is almost, and to find one, quite
impossible.--_Camerarius_ says, that this useful and beautiful creature
is an assemblage of Excellencies--“He should possess Two of the
Beauties of a Woman; the Breast must be plump, and the Hips round.--In
three things he should resemble _a Lion_; in ferocity of countenance,
in fortitude, and irresistible impetuosity. He must have three things
appertaining to a _Sheep_;--the nose, gentleness, and patience;--three
of a _Mule_, strength, perseverance, and sureness of foot;--three of
a _Deer_, head, legs, and skin;--three of a _Wolf_, throat, neck, and
ears;--two of a _Fox_, tail and trot;--three of a _Serpent_, memory,
sight, and flexibility;--and lastly, three of a _Hare_, running,
walking, and perseverance.
“Round hoofed, short jointed, Fetlock shag and long.
“Broad Breast, full Eyes, small Head, and Nostrils wide.
“High Crest, short Ears, strait Legs, and passing Strong.
“Thin Mane, thick Tail, broad Buttocks, tender Hide.”--_Shakespeare’s
Horse of Adonis._
No man who has witnessed the performance of _Mr. Ducrow’s_ stud in
“_the Battle of Waterloo_” at Astley’s, will deny, that our Poet Pope’s
epithet of “half-reasoning” is not quite as justly due to the sagacity
of the Horse, as it is to the Elephant.
It would be Injustice not to add, that the energetic and natural acting
of _Mr. Gomersal_ in his personation of “_Buonaparte_,” is as perfect a
performance as the English stage can exhibit.
The whole of this Drama is a very extraordinary effort, and does great
credit to the ingenious author of it, _Mr. J. Amherst_.
The figure and symmetry of the Horse is no where more perfectly
displayed, than in _the Equestrian Statue of Charles the First_,
at Charing Cross, which is said to be the most finished piece of
workmanship of its kind ever produced: that of Marcus Aurelius, or the
two Horses on the Monte Cavallo, or Quirino at Rome, not excepted.
Continually, however, in our sight, this “_Chef d’Œuvre_” is not only
disregarded, but neglected.
English Horses, are equally remarkable for their Strength and for their
Speed.
“Each seeming want compensated of course,--
Here with degrees of Swiftness, there of Force.”
_Pack Horses_ in Yorkshire carry, not unusually, loads of 420 Pounds.
A _London Dray Horse_ has been known to move, on a plane surface for a
short space, the weight of Three Tons, and to draw half that weight a
considerable distance.