Cheyenne transporter. [volume] (Darlington, Indian Terr.) 1879-1886, 1886-06-26

Those Used on state Occasions by
Queen Victoria and the Lord
Mayor of London--How
They Are Built.

first two Georges most persons OF rank
and wealth had carriages. State car
riages of great men of the Georgian
time are we'll illustrated by that of
Lord Darnley, now at South Kensing-
ton. The framework is admirably
carved, and the top covered with
leather and with guilt coroncts at the
angles. The panels are gaily painted,
and the hinges and other metal work
are modelled in bronze. The reader will
remember carriages like it in etchings
and pictures of Hogarth. Sedan-chairs
carried by two men have been in use
down to recent times. Persons of rank
went to drawing-rooms and court re-
ceptions with string of sedan-chairs,
accompanied by footmen, each contain
ing one of the ladies of the family.
Such procession has been described
to the present writer by an eyewitness
as nothing uncommon eighty years
ago. The tops of sedan-chairs are
hinged-are, in fact, lids which shut
down over the front and sides, and
keep them together when closed.
There are specimens from other coun-
tries now in the Kensington museum
for they were in use all over Europe.
There are, besides the speakers
coach already noticed, two other state
carriages in London, both built in the
last century, those of the lord mayor
and her majesty the queen. The form
er was built in the reign of George III.
1t was first used during the mayorality
of 1857, The framework is carved in
bold acanthus work, after the pattern
of the Italian acanthus carving on look
ing-glass frames, etc, of the day. The
upper panels are of plate-glass. The
fanciful in structure. The bed of it is
composed of four tritons, who support
the body on massive cables Of carved
oak. The drivers box is planted on
the two front figures, and he has carv-
cd scallop shell for footboard. The
body is composed of eight palm trees.
with trophies on the four angles. A
crown surmOunts the center, upheld by
three boys, representing the three king
doms. and holding ahe sword of state
and other insignia. The panels are of
beveled Vauxhall plate-glass. The
painting represents groups of allegori-
cal hgures-Britannia, victory, abun-
dance, and the virtues. 1t is drawn by
eight horses, but it has not been used
since the death of the prince consort
Is was designed by Sir w. Chambers,
and the decorations were superintend-
ed by Pigalle, sculptor, and by Capt.
soldi and Vouers, decorators settled in
London. Joseph Wilton superintend-
ed the painting; the carving is by Mich
olas Collett the chasing by Colt; the
builder was Butler. The harness is of
morocco, with silver-gilt mounts, made
by Ringstead 1t measures twenty
four feet by eight feet three inches; the
pole is twelve feet long.
Whatever may have been the skill of
the coach-makers of Hungary, France,
Italy, and other continental countries
during the reign of Louis the Magnif-
cent and his contemporaries, it seems
indisputable that from the reign of
George III. London builders have held
the palm in structures of this kind.
They were the first to make carriages
good carriages-of lighter and more
convenient shape. Englishmen bred
the best horses, and had passion for
fast. The state carriage of
the Irish chancellor is, though large,
light in comparison with the older car
riages we have described, A chariot
made for george III. differs from those
chariots which have not
wholly gone out of use, with G Springs
and sword cases. The sides are flatter,
and the fore and hind parts of the bed
are connected by two perches instead
of one. During the last century good
English carriages were bought by for
eigners who wanted the best thing of
the kind that was then to be had. There