“A Carriage with but two Wheels should be built so that the principal part of the weight is on the Axle-Tree, (instead of the Horse’s back), and the Carriage part of the Vehicle ought to be on Springs, as well as the Body: this prevents the Bolts and Nuts working loose, and the Joints opening, &c. The Lamps should be at the sides; but the Dashing Iron ought to have in front a socket on each side to place the Lamps in at Night, which will throw the light before the Horse’s head, and prevent any shadow from the Wheels—when they are used at the Sides, you see your danger just too late. The Shafts should be plated underneath with Iron, or if your Horse falls, they are apt to break, which may occasion a dangerous fall to the Persons in the Vehicle.”—A. E.
CARRIAGES WITH TWO[3] WHEELS
Are the cheapest, and have the advantage over all others for Lightness and Expedition; but Mem. If the Horse be ever so sure-footed, and the Driver be ever so skilful and steady, they are still but Dangerous Vehicles—which will only be used by those who are compelled to sacrifice Safety to Celerity, and Comfort to Cheapness:—if risks, however, are incurred by this mode of conveyance, Expense is certainly diminished, for the rate of charges in Travelling is considerably less in proportion for one Horse and Two Wheels, than for two Horses and Four Wheels.
ESTIMATE No. IV.
EXPENSE OF KEEPING A COACHMAN, AND A CARRIAGE AND TWO HORSES, IN YOUR OWN COACH-HOUSE AND STABLE.
| £. | _s._ | _d._ | |
| A Peck of _Oats_ per Day for each Horse, when Corn is 25_s._ per Quarter; say 24 Quarters per Annum | 30 | 0 | 0 |
| A Quarter of a Truss of Hay for each Horse per Day, at £5 per Load; say 5½ Loads per Annum | 27 | 10 | 0 |
| One Truss of Straw each Horse per week; say three Loads per Annum, at 36_s._ | 5 | 8 | 0 |
| _Beans_, which are only wanted when Horses are worked very hard; and _Physic_, which (excepting the _Persuader_ prescribed--see Index) is as little wanted by a Horse, as it is by a Man. See OBS. _to Estimate No. I._ | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Twenty-eight sets of _Shoes_, at 5_s._ per set | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| _Farriers’ Bills_,--the Risk of your Horses turning out unsound and inefficient,--the Expense of hiring other Horses while your own are Ill, &c., and the Interest of the Money paid for the purchase of the Horses, &c., cannot be estimated at less than £20. per Annum for each Horse | 40 | 0 | 0 |
| —————— | |||
| 113 | 18 | 0 | |
Those Persons who are most dependent upon their Carriage, frequently require it to carry them only a Mile or Two, and may save the expense of hiring another Horse while one of their own is Ill, or is in want of a Day’s rest, by having a pair of Shafts made to fit on, and so use it with only one Horse—which will do all the work required by many infirm persons, almost as easily as Two:—we wonder that more Chariots are not so constructed.
The preceding Calculation shews that the Expense of keeping Two Horses, and the Risk of loss by Horses, &c. cannot well be set down at less than £113. 18s. per Annum.
A Hackneyman will furnish a pair of Horses, take all the Hazards, and bear all the expenses enumerated above; at from £135. to £160. per Annum, according to the quantity of Work, and the Age, Colour, and Quality of the Horses required.