The Statesman.
London, England, 1821-10-30 00:00:00

TO THE EDIIOR OF THE SWESMAN.

Twickenham, October HI, MIL
Sts—As your paper frequently gives in;iiiitin
ters on points of public utility, I ant itidoCed to offer the
following fur your inset tion.
Last week, the Islewortli coach, while the coachman
Was letting out an inside passenger, was run away with •'
by the horses, upset, and a young woman on the box
killed upon the spot.
Unfortunately, the regulators and legislators in coach
affairs, appear not to be of thy.t class that travel by them;
and the object of protecting the last tittle of taxation,
or penal indiction, appears to be of more importance
than public safety ; anal while a quibble on the adjust-
ment of a trunk to an inch, makes the coach proprietor
a victim to the common informer, points on the hazard
of life, are left unguarded.
A penalty exists on a stage coachman giving the
reins to a stranger, or I believe leaving his horses, but
no method is provided how a coachman with no outside
passenger, or only a Nanale as such, shall let out an in-
side passenger, without quitting his box and reins.
Going to Richmond a •few evenings since by the stage,
I observed a boy riding on the steps behind, who as soon
as a passenger .41*a:ended from the top at Fulham,
the boy mounted thereon; at l'utney, on another pas-
senger presenting, the boy refused to go further on the
steps again, to the disappointment ofthe coachman, who
informed me, that if the 'Cadger was perceived on any
part above the steps, as he had his number of passengers,
he should be pulled up by the informer. From enquiries
I have learned, that most of the coachmen would employ
such attendants, to save themselves getting up and
down, were it not for paying for them as a passenger.
Stages rarely carry their full outside number half their
journey, and a boy of light weight would wake very
little difference to the safety. d, seat might be plepotely
constructed for him below the centre of gravity, and a
penalty, enforced on the coachman descending, without
the other relieving him, would prevent the occurrence
of the accident before stated. The guards of many of
the long stages appear to be more for this purpose, than
to defend the carriages from highwaymen.
If such a boy, with the number and name of his coach,
like the hackney coach waternien, were to be licensed to
every stage-coach, those host of depredators, pilferers
and extortioners, that are a nuisance in Piccadilly, at tint
Elephant and Castle, at Greenwich, and other plying
places for stages, might be done away with. The boy
with his respective coach, would he off therewith ; and
only one to every coach, would be nothing in compari-
son with that obstructive host, which annoy every foot
passenger, as well as traveller, particularly if limited to
occupy the space alongside his coach and horses.
In Combat, and many parts of the City, where there

is no stipendiary police, street keepers with the authority
of constables, are appointed to prevent such nuisances,
and keep carriages in a line; whereby, as in tiracechurrh•
street, for instance, where a hackney•coacb stand is In

• A Cadger : a vulgar term for helper or assistant, recli-
ner to coach-stands ; a corniptioa of cadet. Those =dom,
or men in manilas with them, are said freqeently to follow
upon the steps, until they see an opportwaity to pillage I
beadle. Au. of a passenger. They are never detected, in
Iconsequeace of being, of aseessity, eoehtierates.