In Cold weather, you may do this, by telling him to look round just before he comes to a Turning, by putting your hand to the Right hand front Glass when he is to go to the Right, and to the Left hand when he is to go to the Left: or you may arrange, that one smart pull of the Check String means “to turn to the Right;” a double one, “to the Left;” and a continued one, “to stop where he is.”
When you call out Stop! without saying or pointing to where, tell him you mean that he should instantly Stop, i. e. as quickly, and as nearly as possible where he then is, even if that be in the middle of a muddy Street.
One of the many and great advantages of having a Coachman a long time in your service, is, that a single word will direct him where to drive you: you have merely to say the name of the Street, or the Person to which you wish him to carry you. One Word does it; therefore, if you love your Lungs, beware of changing your Coachman.
Sir John Fielding, the famous Police Magistrate, who was blind, had a pipe fixed from the Carriage to the Coach Box, through which he could converse with the Coachman, without being heard by others. When his Chariot was stopped by any obstruction in the Streets, he inquired of the Coachman what kind of Carriage, &c. occasioned it; and it was his humour then to put out his head, and shout out in his usual peremptory tone, “Take that Cart out of the way!” or, “You Sir, in that Chaise, drive on!” This occasioned great astonishment, how he, who was blind, could perceive the cause of the stoppage, and was a source of great amusement to Sir John.
Desire your Coachman never to dispute with, or return any Uncivil language to any Coachman, Carman, &c.: if your Carriage is obstructed or offended by any disorderly persons, take out your Pocket Book, and let them see you are setting down their Number, and then coolly tell them you will summon them if they do not immediately clear the way.
By the 1st Geo. I. c. 57, “Drivers of Hackney Coaches are to give way to Gentlemen’s Carriages, under a penalty of 10s.”
If your Carriage be injured by another running against it, ascertain whose Carriage has done the mischief, and let your Coachmaker give an Estimate of what he will charge for repairing it; then, before you have the repair done, let the person who injured it see the mischief and pay the sum charged for amending it. Mr. Jarvis says, that the custom is for the Repair to be done by the Coachmaker of the Party who committed the Injury.
If curious Children ask “Whose Carriage is this?” tell your Coachman to Stare full in their face, and Say Nothing: if they have the Impudence to repeat the Question, he may reply, “it belongs to Mr. Pry.” If equivocation be ever allowable, it is to such Impertinents.
Those who may admire the Carriage and want to know who built it, will find the Coachmaker’s name on the Axle-tree Caps.
If any of your Coachman’s own acquaintance speak to him while he is either driving or waiting for You, he must answer them only by a civil movement of his Head or Whip hand. Nothing is more disrespectful and disorderly than Gossiping while on Duty.