gham was tolerably courageous, but totally destitute of
what is termed "hand," a quality as necessary in driving as in riding,
particularly with fractious or high-spirited horses. The seat of a
pony-carriage, besides, is not a position from which a Jehu has much
command over the animals in front of him; and although, as I have
repeatedly said, I am not nervous, I had earned sufficient experience
in the ways of the equine race to know that we might easily be placed
in a position of some peril should anything occur to excite the
mischievous propensities of either of the specimens now gambolling
before us. More accidents have happened out of pony-carriages than all
other descriptions of vehicle put together.

It is said that in the olden and golden days of the road the usual
death of a "long coachman" was to be pitched out of a gig; and
doubtless that two-wheeled conveniency, particularly when going at any
pace, is capable of arriving at a large proportion of grief. But even
a gig, if properly constructed, admits of the driver having a certain
amount of control over his horse; he is well above the animal, and can
get a good purchase to pull him up from, when the acceleration is
becoming dangerous, or there is a tendency to the grosser
insubordination of a "kicking match." Not so in a pony-carriage: low
down upon the ground, even under their very heels, you are completely
at the mercy of your team; and the facility of egress in the event of
a runaway only tempts you to the fatal expedient of jumping
out--another form of expression for "certain death."

To be sure, if people will but sit still, there is no reason why they
should be much alarmed, as an "upset" from so low an elevation need
not necessarily produce any very serious results. But they never
_will_ sit still--at least they won't in nine cases out of ten, and
the consequence is that whilst newspaper columns are filled with
"horrid accidents" and "frightful occurrences," based on the fact of
the "unfortunate sufferer taking an airing in his or her
pony-carriage," many an elderly lady and cautious gentleman is not to
be persuaded into entering one of these little conveyances, but
prefers the slow and sure travelling of his or her own respectable
feet.

Well, Lady Horsingham seemed rather uncomfortable on her driving-seat,
although far too proud to acknowledge so derogatory a feeling. We had
no servant with us; and when I suggested that we might as well take
one o