being drawn
tight over a leathern cushion--a fashion which Jonathan Oldbuck denounces
as "fit only for Mahound or Termagaunt." The production of the coach was
therefore the sign of a white or black day in the family
calendar--inasmuch as it indicated either marriage or funeral, the
approach of the Royal Judges or the execution of a state prisoner, the
drawing for the militia, or a county address to both Houses of Parliament
on the crying grievance of the Excise. It doubtless took some days to
prepare the imperator's chariot for a Roman triumph: it must have
employed nearly as many to clean and furbish the capacious body of the
modern vehicle. There was moreover a whole armoury of harness to mend
and polish; and as the six long-tailed Flemish horses were not often in
the traces together, some time was required by them to unlearn the rustic
habits of the farm-yard, and to regain the stately trot at which, where
the roads would admit of it, they ordinarily proceeded. The following
description of a journey to London by an M.P. of 1699 will convey to the
reader a lively yet tolerably exact conception both of the glory and
inconveniences of travelling in those days. It is taken from Vanbrugh's
comedy of the 'Journey to London,' better known in its modern form of
'The Provoked Husband.'

"_James_. Sir, Sir, do you hear the news? They are all a-coming.

"_Uncle Richard_. Ay, Sirrah, I hear it.

"_James_. Sir, here's John Moody arrived already: he's stumping
about the streets in his dirty boots, and asking every man he meets,
if they can tell him where he may have a good lodging for a
parliament-man, till he can hire such a house as becomes him. He
tells them his lady and all the family are coming too; and that they
are so nobly attended, they care not a fig for anybody. Sir, they
have added two cart-horses to the four old geldings, because my lady
will have it said she came to town in a coach and six--heavy George
the ploughman rides postilion.

"_U. Richard_. Very well, the journey begins as it should do. Dost
know whether they bring all the children with them?

"_James_. Only Squire Humphrey and Miss Betty, Sir; the other six
are put to board at half-a-crown a week a head, with Joan Growse at
Smoke-dunghill-farm.

"_U. Richard_. The Lord have mercy upon all good folks! What work
will these people make! Dost know when they'll be here