The improvement of stage coaches and their multiplication kept pace with the mails. Turnpike roads also had been much improved by Mr M‘Adam’s system. He substituted on roads hitherto laid with gravel of all sizes, and round or carelessly broken stones of other qualities and materials, the improved surfaces of granite and other hard stones and flints, carefully broken into small angular pieces, which during the passage of heavy traffic dovetailed into one another, and made the surface firmer, whereas the round pebbles, under the old system, would slip from under the wheels and leave the surface of the road still uneven. The factories for building stage coaches grew to be of large size and importance. Coach proprietors were often very successful, and their business increased until Mr Chaplin had two hotels, five yards, and 1300 horses at work. Messrs Horne and Sherman had 700 horses each; and Mr Nelson, of the “Bull Inn,” Aldgate, rivalled these. Stage coaches, as they carried more luggage and more outside passengers, were necessarily built stronger and rather heavier than the mail coaches. The cross roads, however, became gradually filled up with old mails re-painted, and stage coaches were also built upon elliptical springs in front, and generally three springs behind. Gentlemen took to driving coaches for amusement, and vehicles were built with high coach boxes and high hind servants’ seat; of different forms, it is true, and upon different sorts of springs. Two coaching clubs were formed of noblemen and gentlemen, who took an interest in four-in-hand driving and in vehicles in general. Several clubs of this kind are now flourishing, to encourage a manly sport, and with the capacity to promote improvements in the build and form of the “drag,” as it is now called. In Ireland, Mr Bianconi established a good system of travelling upon long four-wheeled cars of a light construction. The passengers sat back to back, and the luggage was piled between, and frequently so high that the traveller had only the opportunity of seeing one side of the road along which he passed. These vehicles would give more satisfaction now-a-days if better horses were used, and for shorter stages, on those routes where passengers are plentiful, but prefer to travel at more than five miles per hour.