CARE OF THE CARRIAGE.
Have an exact Inventory of the Harness, Working Utensils, and every thing appertaining to your Carriage; give a Copy of this to your Coachman, and once in Three months examine the state of the various articles.
A Carriage (especially when newly Painted) should be cleaned as soon as possible after it has been used.
A conscientious Coachman, who has any regard either for your Carriage or his own Character, will never permit any body to touch it but himself. If in your Visits to the Stable, you frequently find him out, or observe any persons lurking about there, who are meddling with either your Horses or your Carriage, be sure that he is Idle and worthless, or has Business of his Own, which he likes better than Yours:—then let him follow it.
The sooner you give such a Gentleman notice to quit, the better.
Never permit a Coachman to keep either Fowls, Pigeons, Dogs, Goats, Pigs, &c. which will not only eat your Corn, but be a public Nuisance to your Neighbours; for which offence you will be Indicted. See page 87.
If a Carriage cannot be cleaned till the dirt is dry, let it be well sluiced, and let the water have time to loosen it:—by rubbing it when dry, the sand and gravel in the Dirt will inevitably scratch off the Varnish and deface the Paint. When the Pannels have been heated by the Sun, they should not be washed till they become cool.
While the Pannels are wet they must not be exposed to the Sun, which ought to be avoided at all times as much as possible, as nothing injures the Varnish more.
The Iron work must be wiped quite dry, particularly the Springs: if the wet gets between the Plates they will rust.