COACH ACCIDENTS--ACCIDENT FROM RACING--ACTIONS AT LAW--MAIL ROBBERIES--ROBBERY BY CONVICTS--A DANGEROUS START--A DRUNKEN DRIVER 127 CHAPTER IX. EXTRAORDINARY OCCURRENCE--COACH ACCIDENTS--DANGER ATTENDING PRINCE GEORGE OF DENMARK'S VISIT TO PETWORTH--THE MAILS STOPPED BY SEVERE SNOWSTORMS--SLEDGES USED FOR THE MAILS--DEATH FROM INCLEMENCY OF WEATHER--DREADFUL STORMS--FLOODS IN SCOTLAND IN 1829--ACCIDENT TO THE BATH AND DEVONPORT MAILS--MAIL ROBBERIES IN 1839--COACHING IN AUSTRALIA 143 CHAPTER X. COACHING ACQUAINTANCES--STAGE-COACHMEN OF BYGONE AND MODERN DAYS--AMATEUR DRIVERS--REQUISITES FOR DRIVING--CRACK DRIVERS--A POPULAR DRAGSMAN--HIS PRIVILEGES--HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS 169 CHAPTER XI. THE TURNPIKE GATE AT HYDE PARK CORNER--SUBURBAN AND PROVINCIAL TURNPIKE-MEN--THEIR REFLECTIONS--PANORAMA OF THE ROAD--THE "OLD WHITE HORSE CELLAR," PICCADILLY--GROUPS OF ITS FREQUENTERS 181 CHAPTER XII. AMATEUR DRAGSMEN--THE LATE FITZROY STANHOPE--THE OLD DRIVING CLUB OF 1808--THE HON. LINCOLN STANHOPE--THE WHIP CLUB--DESCRIPTION OF THE CARRIAGES--SONG OF THE WHIP CLUB--OUTRÉE DRESS OF THE DRIVERS RIDICULED BY CHARLES MATHEWS AND JOE GRIMALDI--FOUR-IN-HAND CLUB OF THE PRESENT DAY 195 CHAPTER XIII. OXFORD AND CAMBRIDGE MEN--ADVENTURE ON THE FAR-FAMED "TANTIVY" COACH--GALLANT CONDUCT OF THE GUARD--MY FIRST ATTEMPT AT DRIVING--JEM REVELL OF "THE PELICAN"--MY UPSET--TANDEM DRIVING--THE OSTLER--COUNTRY INNS--HOTEL CHARGES 209 CHAPTER XIV. NOBLE AND GENTLE DRAGSMEN--JOURNEY TO NEWMARKET--LORD GRANTLEY'S TEAM--A REFRACTORY WHEELER--USE AND ABUSE OF THE BEARING REIN--THE RUNNING REIN--HARNESS OF THE PRESENT DAY--THE ROYAL MAIL--GENERAL REMARKS ON DRIVING 223 CHAPTER XV. CARRIAGES OF BYGONE DAYS AND THE PRESENT--THE CABRIOLET--ANECDOTE OF THE LATE DUKE OF WELLINGTON--A HUNTING ADVENTURE--AN EVENTFUL DAY--A LUCKY ESCAPE--NOBLE CONDUCT OF THE IRON DUKE--SUGGESTIONS 237 CHAPTER XVI. HAIRBREADTH ESCAPES--DRIVE TO VALENCIENNES WITH FREDERICK YATES--MEET A DANCING BEAR--RESULT--WHEEL CARRIAGES IN TOWNS--STATE OF THE PUBLIC STREETS--GAY'S DESCRIPTION OF THEM--HACKNEY COACHES--TAYLOR, THE WATER POET--ROBBERIES IN LONDON--FIRST INTRODUCTION OF OMNIBUSES 251 CHAPTER XVII. AN ADVENTURE WITH BALL HUGHES, COMMONLY CALLED "THE GOLDEN BALL"--A SENSATION AT DARTFORD--A RELIC OF THE COMMUNE--RAILWAYS--PIONEERS OF THE RAIL--INTRODUCTION OF STEAM-CARRIAGES ON ROADS--SEDAN CHAIRS--PADDY'S PRACTICAL JOKE--FEUDS BETWEEN CHAIRMEN AND HACKNEY-COACHMEN 265 CHAPTER XVIII.