The most Crowded places are not always the most Dangerous: Accidents most frequently happen from empty One Horse Carts, in which the Driver rides, instead of walking by the side of the Horse. These vehicles are frequently conducted at such a furious rate by Carmen, in order to make up for the time they have wasted, in tippling, that they often run against inexperienced Coachmen. They abound most in Tottenham Court Road and Holborn, and the outlets from Town.
Every Cart that approaches, a wary Coachman watches with the most anxious care, and gives all the room it appears to require.
A Fine of at least 10s. should be levied upon all persons driving Carts in such a manner, payable to any person who may demand it. In the event of their occasioning an Accident, let them not only be fined but punished severely.
If your Coachman drives leisurely, you will escape many Dangers, and your Carriage last much longer;—by such gentle use (excepting as to the Wheels) it is worn almost as little as if it remained in the Coach-house.
In Crowded Streets, never permit any person to ride on the Coach Box:—Conversation diverts the attention of the Driver from his Business, and accidents frequently ensue.
Never go into the City through the Strand, Fleet Street, and Cheapside, if you can avoid it, after twelve o’clock: from that hour until five o’clock, they are crowded with Carriages and Carts. In these great Thoroughfares Hackney Coach Stands should not be permitted. At present the centre of Cheapside, &c. is sometimes filled with a Stand of Hackney Coaches all the way from St. Paul’s to the Poultry: let these be removed from all Crowded Streets into the Cross Streets adjoining, as is ordered in Bond Street.
If the Hackney Coach Stands are removed from the Strand, Fleet Street, &c., the Public will no longer have to complain of the tedious Stoppages which are now so frequent between two and four o’clock of the Day, especially on Mondays, Fridays, and Saturdays.
If you go into the City on Mondays and Fridays you will have to encounter the most Barbarous Nuisance that disgraces the British Capital—droves of Oxen passing through its principal Streets in the middle of the Day. That this is still suffered to continue in these times of universal improvement appears to us as wonderful as it is offensive.
To know to a Nicety at what Time you must start to arrive at a certain Place at a certain Hour, you have nothing to do but to ascertain the Distance, and direct the Pace of travelling.
| 4 | Miles an Hour is | 1 Mile in | 15 Minutes. |
| 5 | Ditto | Ditto | 12 |
| 6 | Ditto | Ditto | 10 |
| 7 | Ditto | Ditto | 8½ |
| 8 | Ditto | Ditto | 7½ |
| 9 | Ditto | Ditto | 6½ |
| 10 | Ditto | Ditto | 6 |