were used in America
and on the European continent. The _diligence_, though not invariably
with four horses, was the Continental analogue for public conveyance,
with other minor varieties such as the _Stellwagen_ and _Eilwagen_.

The driving of coaches with four horses was a task in which a
considerable amount of skill was required,[1] and English literature is
full of the difficulties and humours of "the road" in old days. A form
of sport thus arose for enterprising members of the nobility and gentry,
and after the introduction of railways made the mail-coach obsolete as a
matter of necessity, the old sport of coaching for pleasure still
survived, though only to a limited extent. The Four-in-hand Club was
started in England in 1856 and the Coaching Club in 1870, as the
successors of the old Bensington Driving Club (1807-1852), and
Four-Horse Club (1808-1829); and in America the New York Coaching Club
was founded in 1875. But coaching remains the sport of the wealthier
classes, although in various parts of England (e.g. London to Brighton,
and in the Lake district), in America, and in Europe, public coaches
still have their regular times and routes for those who enjoy this form
of travel. The earliest railway vehicles for passengers were merely the
road coaches of the period adapted to run on rails, and the expression
"coaching traffic" is still used in England to denote traffic carried in
passenger trains.

Of coaches possessing a history the two best known in the United Kingdom
are the king's state coach, and that of the lord mayor of London. The
latter is the oldest, having been built, or at least first used, for the
procession of Sir Charles Asgil, lord mayor elect, in November 1757. The
body of this vehicle is not supported by springs, but hung on leather
straps; and the whole structure is very richly loaded with ornamental
carving, gilding and paint-work. The different panels and the doors
contain various allegorical groups of figures representing suitable
subjects, and heraldic devices painted in a spirited manner. The royal
state coach, which is described as "the most superb carriage ever
built," was designed by Sir William Chambers, the paintings on it were
executed by Cipriani, and the work was completed in 1761. During the
later part of Queen Victoria's reign it was hardly ever seen, but on the
accession of Edward VII. the coach was once more put in order for use on
state occasions. The following is an offic