“Never, Bat,” said I, desiring to conciliate him, “never in the whole course of my stage practice; and for many years of my life I was a daily visitant to Richmond.” “And no one else has ever seen it,” said Bat. “That’s a correct remark, anyhow. As for Richmond, he never drove a team in his life, for I asked him the question myself, just after his fight with Shelton.” THE CONTRAST. “I hope the Leviathan is outward-bound,” I ejaculated, half aloud, as I beheld the Kit-Kat portion of the Man-Mountain occupying the whole frame of the coach-window. But Hope deceived as usual; and in he came. I ought rather to have said he essayed to come in,--for it was only after repeated experiments upon material substances, that he contrived to enter the vehicle edgeways,--if such blunt bodies may be said to have an edge at all. As I contemplated his bulk, I could not help thinking of the mighty Lambert, and was ready to exclaim with Gratiano, “A Daniel! a second Daniel!” The Brobdignaggian had barely subsided in his seat, when the opposite door opened, and in stepped a Liliputian! The conjunction was whimsical. Yonder, thought I, is the Irish Giant, and the other is the dwarf, Count Borulawski. This coach is their travelling caravan--and as for myself, I am no doubt the showman. I was amusing myself with this and kindred fancies, when a hand suddenly held up something, at the coach window. “It’s my luggage,” said the Giant, with a small penny-trumpet of a pipe, and taking possession of a mere golden pippin of a bundle. “The three large trunks and the biggest carpet-bag are _my_ property,” said the Dwarf, with a voice as unexpectedly stentorian. [Illustration: THE GREAT MAIL CONTRACTOR.] “Warm day, Sir,” squeaked the Giant, by way of small talk. “Prodigious preponderance of caloric in the atmosphere,” thundered the Dwarf, by way of big talk. “Have you paid your fare, gentlemen?” asked the coachman, looking in at the door. “I have paid half of mine,” said the Stupendous, “and it’s booked. My name is Lightfoot.” “Mine is Heavyside,” said the Pigmy, “and I have disbursed the sum total.” The door slammed--the whip cracked--sixteen horse-shoes made a clatter, and away bowled the New Safety; but had barely rolled two hundred yards, when it gave an alarming bound over some loose paving stones, followed by a very critical swing. The Dwarf, in a tone louder than ever, gave vent to a prodigious oath; the Giant said, “Dear me!”