me on't. He went on leisurely after them, till both Parties
came into a narrow Lane, where there was no Possibility of an Escape,
when he gave his Horses a sudden Jerk, and came with such Violence
upon the People, that he pull'd their Machine quite over. He said, the
Cries of the Women were so loud that _the B--ches might be heard to
his Master's Yard in_ Piccadilly; that there being no-body near to
assist the People, he got clear off with two or three blind old Women
his Passengers some Miles beyond _Maidenhead_, safe both from Pursuit
and Evidence.

I have been credibly informed, that many of the Coachmen and
Postillions belonging to the Quality are seduced by the Masters of the
Travelling-Coaches to involve themselves in the Guilt of this
monstrous Enormity, and have certain Fees for dismounting Persons on
single Horses, and over-turning Chaises, when it shall suit with their
Convenience to do it with _Safety_, (that is, within the Verge of the
Law;) and in case of an _Action_ or _Indictment_, if the Master or
Mistress will not stand by their Servant, and believe the Mischief was
merely accidental, the Offender is then defended by a general
Contribution from all the Stage-Coach Masters within the Bills of
Mortality.

Those Hackney-Gentlemen who drive about the City and Suburbs of
_London_, have by their over-grown Insolence obliged the Government to
take notice of them, and make Laws for their Regulation; and as there
are Commissioners for receiving the Tax they pay to the Publick, so
those Commissioners have Power to hear and determine between the
Drivers and their Passengers upon any Abuse that happens: and yet
these ordinary Coachmen abate very little of their abusive Conduct,
but not only impose in Price upon those that hire them, but refuse to
go this or that way as they are call'd: whereas the Law obliges them
to go wherever they are legally required, and at reasonable Hours.
This Treatment, and the particular saucy impudent Behaviour of the
Coachmen in demanding _t'other Twelver or Tester_ above their Fare,
has been the occasion of innumerable Quarrels, Fighting and Abuses;
affronting Gentlemen; frighting and insulting Women; and such
Rudenesses, that no civil Government will, or indeed ought to suffer;
and above all, has been the occasion of the killing several Coachmen
by Gentlemen that have been provoked by the villainous Tongues of
those Fellows beyond the Extent of their Patience. Their intolerable
Beh