Have a Good going Clock placed where it may be easily seen by all the Members of your Household; by which let them set their Watches. Desire your Coachman, when he comes for Orders, to set his by this Clock; and then, if he is a steady fellow, by referring to your own, you will see when he comes for you. Let his Watch be so regulated, that it may rather gain than lose. If it be not a very good one, if it is set every morning by a good clock, it will answer almost all the purposes of a Good one. Keep it five minutes too Fast, and tell him to keep all appointments by its Dial, as if it shewed the True time.
Before you start from home, give your Coachman distinct directions when to come for you; and do this yourself: if you do it by deputy, or when you get out of your Carriage, and probably in a hurry, a mistake is easily enough made. When he is to call for you at any place with which you are not quite certain that he is acquainted, let the plainest possible Direction thereto be given him in Writing.
An experienced Driver can always calculate how long he will be in going; and when you tell him to come for you, you may be certain that he need never be more than five minutes after the time you order him: thus, you will be independent of any information from the Servants at the House where you visit.
“Punctual Masters make Punctual Servants.”
If you go out to Dinner in London, a distance exceeding Three Miles, it is more advisable to put up your Horses, than to send them Home, as the wear of the Carriage in doing the double work of going home and coming again for you, will cost as much as you will be charged for Hay at a Livery Stable, which will not be more than Two Shillings (including 6d. to the Hostler). Moreover, it is convenient to have the power of returning home sooner or later, as you like, without danger of your Servants and Horses catching Cold in waiting for you.
It is customary to allow the Coachman some refreshment when your Horses are put up, while you are at Dinner. Whatever you choose to give, give in Money.
If you go out to Dinner in the Country, your Nags will like to Dine too, and have half a peck of Corn and some Hay also. Different Inns vary in their charges from 2s. 6d. (including 6d. to the Hostler) to 3s. 6d.
When you go out to Dinner in the Environs of Town, where you have not been before, and are unacquainted with the Topography of the Country, start at least a quarter of an hour earlier than you may think is absolutely necessary, that you may have time to find the House, which is not always very easy, especially if your friend has only lately resided there.
Those who dwell in Suburban Villas, have (or ought to have) engraved on the back of their Cards, a Map of the Road from the Stones’ end to their House. This would save their Visitors a vast deal of trouble, and they would not have their Dinner spoiled quite so often, by their Guests not arriving in time, from not knowing the way.
Persons dwelling four or five Miles from Town, and those who invite Friends from the Country to dine with them, should Dine, and have all such Parties at least an Hour or two earlier than the fashionable town time, so that their Guests may get home at their usual hour of retiring to Rest.