The Door Lights or Windows are sometimes contracted on the Seat side about 4 inches; however, some people like them as large as possible, and besides, have the back of the Carriage stuffed eight or ten inches deep, which is exceedingly convenient for those who are anxious to exhibit themselves like Articles for sale in a Shew Glass.
Take care that the Glasses are of the best Quality, well Polished, White, and as free as possible from Specs and Veins.
These Glasses are commonly bound with Cloth of the same Colour that the Carriage is lined with, or with Black Velvet, which wears better, and works in the grooves more pleasantly than any binding:—the most elegant binding is Lace like that of the Glass-holders, or in which the Crest or Arms are woven.
The present fashion of Stuffing is preposterous; it reduces a Large Body to the size of a small One: however, if you like to ride about for the benefit of public inspection, as your friends, my Lady Look-about,—the Widow Will-be-seen,—and Sir Simon Stare, do, pray study Geoffrey Gambado on the Art of sitting politely in Carriages with the most becoming attitudes, &c. and choose wide Door Lights and full Squabbing;—if you wish to go about peaceably and quietly, like Sir Solomon Snug, and are contented with seeing without being seen, adopt the contracted Lights and common Stuffing, which, among others, have this great advantage, that when you sit back, you may have the side Windows down, and a thorough Air passing through the Carriage, without its blowing in directly upon you: this, to Invalids who easily catch Cold, is very important.
The Back Light must not be more than 27 inches from the surface of the Cushions, or it will be too high for a person to look through it without rising up—it is convenient to have this made to Open, as it affords an easy opportunity of giving directions to the person behind the Carriage, and is a desirable aperture for admitting Air in very hot weather:—tell the Builder to give you a fine clear plate for this purpose, and not to glaze it with a semidiaphanous “Old Accident,”—a technical term for those “Odds and Ends” of broken Coach Glasses which are sometimes used for this purpose, and which having been continually cleaned every day for thirty or forty years, have become so scratched, that you can hardly see through them.
I recommend the Lining to be Green, with Lace to correspond, and the Green silk Sun shades of the same Colour—Green is pleasant to the Eye, and Superfine Cloth or Tabinet, is, during nine months out of the twelve, much more comfortable in this Cold climate, than the chilling Leather which has lately been the fashion: in Summer this may be covered with what is commonly called a False Lining, which is generally made of Gingham, and is equally useful to preserve a New or hide an Old Trimming:—it should only be applied to the back and those parts of the sides that are leaned against; the Front, Roof, and Doors, should be left uncovered.
The Elegance of the Interior of a Carriage depends much upon the pattern and breadth of the Lace with which the Lining is bordered, of which there are a great variety.—Lace-making is a distinct branch of Manufactory; and as “every Eye makes its own Beauty,” the person who builds a Carriage should desire his Coachmaker to furnish him with some patterns to choose from:—there are several Coach Lace-makers in Long Acre.
Some Carriages are fitted up with Squabs, i. e. Cushions stuffed with Wool and covered on one side with Cloth, and on the other with Silk, Linen, or Leather; the former side for Winter, the latter for Summer use.
The Seat Cushions should be covered on one side with Leather, and on the other with Cloth.
Let the Stuffing at the Back be no thicker than necessary to make it easy, i. e. about 2½ inches in thickness.