Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-07-23

LAND.-Coaches came into general use 10
England earlier than on the continent Of
Europe. Queen Z Il ,beth's state car
rage was the first vehicle which was
designated by that name in the island.
10 1888 the queen rode from Somerset
House to Paul's Cross, to return thanks
after the destruction of the Spanish Ar
mada, In coach presented to her by
Henry, Earl of Arundel. 1t is described
as g a chariot throne, drawn by two wlIte
horses" The royal fashion found many
that period must have been clumsy and
uncomfortable, they multiplied SO rapidly
that Dekker, satIrizing the foiies of his
day, complains that the wife of every
citizen must be jolted" now-a very ex-
pressive phrase, since the coaches we're
made without springs, and the roads were
of the most primitive kind.
But long after the introduction of
coaches it was considered eliminate and
disgraceful for men to use them. Queen
Elizabeth always preferred to make her
journeys on horseback, and even in old age
and sickness took reluctantly to her coach.
In Sir Philip Sidney's time, SO famous for
men-at-arms, it was then held to be as
great disgrace for young gentleman to
be seen riding in the street in coach as
it would now for such a one to be seen in
the street in a petticoat and waistcoat; so
much is the fashion OF the times altered.
Like most other improvements, coaches
we're vehemently attacked, on the ground
that they promoted effsmiuate luxary.
Taylor, the waterproof, declares chat
housekeeping never decayei till coaches
came into England and much later, in
1872, Mr.. John Cressett wrote a pam
phlet urging the abolition of the stage
Goa ches between London aud the Interior,
| Among other grave reasons for their sup
pres sion. he urged that such stage-cosches
make gentlemen come to Lonlon on every
small occasion, which otherwise they would
not do bat upon urgent necessity ; nay, the
convenience of the passage makes their
wives often come up, who, rather than
cone such long journeys upon horseback,
would stay at home. Tnen, when they
come to town, they must presently be in
the mode, get fine clothes. 60 to plays and
treats, and by these means get su:h a
habit of id!eness and love of pleasure as
makes them uneasy ever after.
We are told also that the shop keepers
complained bitterly that they were ruined
by the coaches. Formerly" they said,
=. when ladies and geatl ,nen Wake IN the
streets, there was a chance of obtaining
customers to Inspect and purchase our
commodities ; but now they wh'sk past
in the coaches before our apprentices have
time to cry out. 'Waat dye lack P Az
other complaint was, that in former times
the tradesmen in the principal streets
earned as much as their rents by letting
out their upper apartments to members Of
parliament and country gentlemen visit
ing London on pleasure or business, until
the noise made by the coaches drove the
profitable dodgers to less frequented
streets. Another class of mel was
scarcely less bitter against the new mode
ot locomotiou-the boatmen on the
Thames, whose business was sadly inter-
fered with by the Introduction of the
more convenient vehicles /; and one ofthe;r
number, who is known 10 English litera-
ture as Taylor. the water poet" wrote
an invective against the new system, enti-
tied The World rups upon Wheels" In
this composition he vigorously attacks
coaches, and enumerates, in his peculiar
style, all the disadvantages caused by
their general Introduction. In another
publication, called "Tne Thief he thus
Inveigbs against them:
t'Carroches coaches, jades, and Flanders mares
Do rob us Oi our shares, wares our fares;
Against the grouni We stand ami ock oui heels
While all our profit runs away on wneels.''