Have an Estimate in Writing, particularly specifying every thing that is to be done, and the whole Expense for which he will undertake to make perfect every Repair that is wanting, without any subsequent extra charge, and the Time in which he will do so. I again repeat, that it is the cheapest and best plan To Job a Carriage as well as Horses. See Estimates, No. 4 and No. 9.
Desire your Coachman to be continually on the Watch, and to immediately acquaint you of the least injury which the Carriage may sustain; for the immediate repair thereof, is equally advisable, both for your Economy, and for his own Safety.
The chief parts that wear, are the Timber works of the Carriage part, and these fail more frequently than you may expect—either from decay, faulty wood, or being too light made, and sometimes from Accident or Violence, which may be judged of when they are taken asunder.
The Body requires Repair much less frequently than the Carriage, because it is placed on Springs in as easy a manner as possible, and therefore not shook about so violently as the Carriage part; but the best plan is to have Springs under the Carriage fixed on the Axle-tree: Carriages so mounted last three times as long as those on the old construction, and are extremely desirable from so seldom requiring separation.
UNDER SPRINGS
Are strongly recommended. They afford the following advantages:—there is no occasion for the Coachman’s seat to be attached to the Body, nor extra Springs for the same, which are a nuisance from their Noise and continually requiring Repairs:—the Coachman’s seat, to an Underspring Carriage, is bolted on a Budget, and fixed to the Carriage on a pair of Carved Blocks, the Body hanging free:—the additional expense is from £20. to £30.; but we have been told they save full an hundred and fifty pounds in the wear of a Carriage;—but remember, that although Under Springs are easy to the Carriage, they are not so to the Carried, especially those whose top half is a Dummy, i. e. made of wood, which is used for cheapness. My last Chariot, which has such Springs, jerks and jumps about as much as a rough Trotting Horse, affording fine Anti-bilious Exercise for those in tolerable Health, but is intolerably agitating to an Invalid!!
ON HORSES.
To define a perfect Horse is almost, and to find one, quite impossible.—Camerarius says, that this useful and beautiful creature is an assemblage of Excellencies—“He should possess Two of the Beauties of a Woman; the Breast must be plump, and the Hips round.—In three things he should resemble a Lion; in ferocity of countenance, in fortitude, and irresistible impetuosity. He must have three things appertaining to a Sheep;—the nose, gentleness, and patience;—three of a Mule, strength, perseverance, and sureness of foot;—three of a Deer, head, legs, and skin;—three of a Wolf, throat, neck, and ears;—two of a Fox, tail and trot;—three of a Serpent, memory, sight, and flexibility;—and lastly, three of a Hare, running, walking, and perseverance.
“Round hoofed, short jointed, Fetlock shag and long.