Springs should be made of the best Steel—the longer they are, ceteris paribus, the easier they are.
Improvements in the mechanism of Modern Carriages, by which they are made to convey a person from place to place almost without giving him a sense of motion, may be one of the circumstances that have contributed to the increased prevalence of Nervous and Bilious Complaints, which originate in a great degree from an indulgence in Lassitude and Languor. The notion of taking Exercise upon Springs of such construction, is scarcely less absurd, than that of taking an Airing with all the windows closed!
Valetudinarians who wish to derive all the good effects from the Exercise of riding in a Carriage, must not be super-curious about having it suspended on extremely elastic Springs. The Jolting of strong Springs is a salutary concussion, which is extremely convenient to Nervous, Indolent, and Infirm persons who do not take other Exercise, and must be classed among the most agreeable of Anti-bilious remedies.
The Coachmaker’s usual phrase of commendation—that such a Carriage “is as easy as a Boat,” should be a prohibition to Invalids against purchasing it; who should prefer a Carriage with Strong Springs, that will give them as good a shaking as Equestrian Agitation.
TO DETERMINE THE RELATIVE ADVANTAGES OF LONG AND SHORT CARRIAGES,
“A weight of twenty-eight pounds was placed in the middle of a Perch one foot six inches long, and it was drawn at the rate of five miles and a half an hour by twelve pounds.
“When the same load was placed upon a perch three feet long, that is to say, twice as long as the former perch, it required precisely the same weight of twelve pounds to draw it.
“This experiment was repeated a number of times with the same result, so that it may be relied upon. This is contrary to the opinion of drivers of all descriptions, from the waggoner in his smock-frock, to the high-bred Coachman: consequently, there must be some reason for this universal prejudice. The reason that seems to have given rise to this opinion, is, that carriages whose fore and hind wheels are near each other, extricate themselves more readily from ruts, change quarter more easily, turn in a shorter compass, and thus make their way in crowded Streets with more facility than longer Carriages.”—R. L. Edgeworth on Roads and Carriages, 8vo. p. 120. 1817.
However, Short Carriages are considered as of easiest draught; and, to use the language of the Stable, almost every Coachman and Coachmaker insists upon it, that they follow better, and that a Long Carriage will tire a pair of Horses more in Three, than a Short one will in Five hours’ Travelling.
That if the Body is hung higher behind than it is before, so that it leans forward, it will push on the fore Wheels, is a foolish Vulgar Error. You often see Hackney Chariots so hung:—such a position is uneasy to the Passengers, and of no advantage to the Horses.