If you build a Body, pay a visit to your Coachmaker while it is in progress, especially just before it is put into the hands of the Painter.
All Coachmakers, do not, always, go to the expense of covering the Roof, Back, and Sides with one piece of Leather, as they ought to do;—the common practice is to cover the Roof only with Leather, and leave the Upper sides and back of pannel board, with a groove run in the Roof where the Leather is nailed in covering the nails and filling up the groove with Putty, which the Summer’s Sun and Winter’s Rain will soon crack, and the Water entering will soil the Lining, and the Inside of the Body will become damp:—the whole of the upper part of a Body should be enveloped in one large hide of strong Leather, and neatly worked in, so that it is one solid surface of Leather to paint on, which neither Heat nor Wet can affect for many Years.
The Breadth of a Body, to contain three persons comfortably, should not be less than 4 feet 3 inches.
From Back to Front, 4 feet are enough.
The Height of the Seat from the bottom, about 1 foot.
From the Seat to the Roof, not less than 3 feet 6 inches; the Cushions, which are commonly about three inches in thickness, not included.
A few Inches in Width and Breadth add but a few Pounds to the Weight, but contribute greatly to the Convenience of a Carriage, especially to well-grown and full-fed persons.
The little thoroughly-ugly humpty-dumpty Chariot, which looked something like a Champion Potatoe set on wheels, but which was the grand rage with Children of the Largest Growth about 30 Years ago, would not admit a small person to sit with his hat on, nor a tall one with his Hat off:—these foolish little wee Vehicles weighed only a few pounds less than the large commodious Chariots, in which the Lords and Ladies of the Creation transport themselves in at the present day.
The Elbows should not be more than 6 inches above the Cushion, and should be so entirely in recess, that you may lean comfortably against the side of the Carriage:—in some ill-contrived modern bodies, they are placed too high, and project out, and as often as you loll towards them, remind you that you should not, and force you back into your perpendicular, by giving you a Punch in your Side.
In a Chariot Body of the size just described, there should be a Front Seat about 10 inches in width, which will occasionally carry Two persons:—this addition is especially desirable in a Travelling Chariot, as by sitting in one corner of the Carriage, you may put your Legs upon it, and take a Nap very comfortably. This Front Seat is doubly better than the old fashioned Bodkin Seat which drew out from the centre; and when you have Two fellow Travellers, in order to induce one of them to sit upon this accommodation seat, you may tell them that they will sit three times as comfortably there as on the front seat; for if they sit on that, they will be crowded themselves, and crowd two other persons also; but if one sits on the other seat, all may ride comfortably enough:—it should be fixed on with Slip-Hinges, so that it may be taken off at pleasure.