ADDENDA TO THE THIRD EDITION.

Since I wrote this little book, ten years have elapsed—ten eventful years to many of us; but the precepts and principles of sounding the Horn remain still unchanged from what they were even ten times ten years ago. I have read the book through again, and I see nothing to alter, nothing to correct, and nothing to regret, except the fact that the book, although copyright, entered at Stationers’ Hall and registered at the British Museum in proper form, has been copied by another “author,” some of my paragraphs literally quoted word for word, and then published by an eminent firm who certainly ought to have known better. Imitation, however, being the sincerest form of flattery, although not always the pleasantest, I have not yet made this piracy a subject for Her Majesty’s High Court of Justice.

I have, however, often been reproached, perhaps not altogether unjustly, for the small amount of printed matter contained in the first edition; and I have, therefore, ventured to add a few more remarks upon Coaching affairs generally, in the hope that they will prove interesting, and meet with the same kind approval from my readers.

I have also been asked to add to what I may call the music portion, by putting underneath the corresponding tones or sounds which can be played on the pianoforte; my object being that such of my readers as are not acquainted with music sufficiently to transpose, may get their sisters, or their cousins, or their aunts, or someone even dearer (in prospective) to strum them over for them on the pianoforte, thereby enabling them to pick up the various calls correctly 14by ear. This will not be found such an uninteresting occupation in agreeable society on a pouring wet day, or when locked up in the house by frost and snow; and the result, I hope, will prove in very many cases satisfactory to all the parties concerned. Assuming the pianoforte to be pretty well up to concert pitch, the notes played will be found to harmonize exactly with those which can be sounded on either of the celebrated Coach-horns, the “Beaufort” or the “Heavy Mail,” made by Köhler & Son, the firm already alluded to.

And now I will preface the following remarks by stating that I have recently returned from a trip—a most enjoyable trip—to America, and I was surprised, as well as delighted, to see the splendid array of Coaches in connection with the New York Coaching Club. The horses, too, are fine, well bred and powerful animals; and I was particularly struck with a team of fine bays, driven, I believe, by Mr. Bronson, which went up town from the Brunswick Hotel at a spanking rate.

May I be allowed to express the opinion that we owe a great deal of the revival of four-in-hand driving to our transatlantic cousins; for in 1851 there were few, very few, what I may call “swell” Stage Coaches, to be seen, at any rate, anywhere in the neighbourhood of London or the Parks.

Years ago, poor Alf Teddar drove the Brighton Coach in conjunction with Cracknell, as servant to the Duke of Beaufort, the noble President of the Coaching Club, and Mr. Cherry Angell, I think. But the late Mr. Edward Sacheverell Chandos Pole, of Radbourn, in 1866, revived the Derby and Brighton Coaches, and 15did much to make the art of driving Four-in-hand popular. Both in appearance and reality that gentleman was my beau-ideal of a thorough coachman. Cool, calm, and decided, it was a treat to see how cleverly he tooled his gallopers along the road; all the time chatting pleasantly with his companions on the box seat, or over his shoulder to his passengers. He could blow the Horn, too, and drive at the same time; rather a dangerous feat, which requires practice; and I would not recommend my readers to try it, although I have seen him do it.

Other gentlemen also identified themselves with “the Road” out of London, amongst whom are to be mentioned General Tyrwhitt, Colonel Clitherow, Captain Cooper, Mr. Freeman, and Mr. Challoner Smith, who were all accomplished “Whips” and thorough Coachmen, studying their passengers as well as the horses they drove.

This brings me down to about the time when Mr. Tiffany, a New York gentleman, and a pupil of Charles Ward, came to England and worked the Brighton Coach with his celebrated skewbald team, and Tom Tims as Guard, scenes carried down to posterity by the three pictures so cleverly painted by Mr. Sturgis.

I remember this gentleman (Mr. Tiffany, not Mr. Sturgis) calling when our old workshops were in Covent Garden, and after sounding several Coach-horns (and hearing me blow them), he startled me by saying, “Well, now, I want a Guard for my Coach, and I guess you’re just the man I want. Now tell me what would you ask for the season, say three months, till the end of September?” I said this offer would 16require some consideration, but as he still pressed me for an answer, I replied that I thought perhaps £600 would about compensate me for my absence from business and its inevitable consequences. He burst out laughing, and for once in my life I had the satisfaction of hearing an American say (not that he meant it) that “he couldn’t afford it!” Another American gentleman, too, Mr. Kane, took over the Virginia Water Coach, previously horsed by the then Lord Macduff, Captain Dickson, and Mr. Williams, three well-known Coachmen.

It may be a vulgar expression, but I have often heard it remarked that Americans make money like dirt, and that they spend it likewise, and certainly Mr. Kane spent his with great liberality, his stud at that time consisting of a horse a mile, besides reserves.

In connection with this subject, I ought to mention with respect Mr. Charles Hoare and his Beckenham Coach, and the one associated with Lord Bective, Colonel Fletcher Hathorne, and Mr. Chaplin, driven through the Garden of England to Tunbridge Wells. There was also the Epsom and Dorking Coach, regularly worked from the White Horse Cellars by Captain Blythe, Sir Henry de Bathe, and Mr. Hankey, another banker, through most pleasant country.

A series of wet, very wet, summers then ensued, and although none of the well-known gentlemen I have mentioned ever worked a Coach with any idea of profit, still the paucity of passengers, combined with torrents of rain, not only diminished the receipts, but cast what I may truly call such a damper upon Coaching enterprise that it was a wonder to me that it did not collapse altogether.

17The season of 1887, however, has been a Jubilee one for Coaching as well as for Her most Gracious Majesty; and from inquiries I have made at Hatchett’s I find that the number of passengers have been unusually heavy, all the Coaches being well loaded up.

In the foregoing statements I have endeavoured to trace the continuation of Coaching, when it languished in London and its neighbourhood, at any rate, as a fashionable amusement; although, no doubt, many private Coaches existed and were driven in various country places and provincial towns; and if I have given more credit than is fairly due to our American friends for the re-establishment of the art, it must be attributed to the remembrances connected with the trip already alluded to, and to the kindness and hospitality I experienced when travelling in their country.

This little book having reached that pinnacle of eminence known in the literary profession as a “standard work,” I hope that none of the gentlemen I have mentioned will object to see their names in print, but should they do so, I herewith offer my humble apologies. Some of them, alas! are no more; others have changed their names by inheriting their titles and estates; but many of them are acquainted with the Old Guard, and know his name very well, although I still prefer my nom de plume in this instance to the one given to me by “my godfathers and godmothers in my baptism, wherein,” etc.

With these remarks I conclude a third edition of my work, leaving it to my readers to decide by their appreciation of my efforts whether I shall ever be called upon to issue a fourth. In the meantime, I would ask them to remember the old toast,

“THE QUEEN AND THE ROAD!”

18Bromley, Kent,

February 2nd, 1907.

Sir,

We beg to announce that we have disposed of our entire business to Messrs. Swaine & Adeney of 185, Piccadilly, London, W., the well-known Whip Manufacturers.

We should like to thank our numerous customers for their kind patronage for so many years, and trust that the same will be extended to our successors who will keep a large stock of all our specialities.

Yours faithfully,

KÖHLER & SON.

185, Piccadilly, London, W.

February 2nd, 1907.

Sir,

We beg to announce that as stated on the opposite side we have purchased the old-established business of Messrs. J. Köhler & Son, Bromley, Kent, Hunting, Coaching, and Signal-Horn Manufacturers.

The factory will be retained as before, and customers can therefore rely on obtaining the unique tone and excellent qualities that have made their specialities so famous for over a century.

All orders and communications should be addressed to 185, Piccadilly, London, W., where customers wishing to choose a Horn personally will find a great variety of all the well-known patterns; also of all other of Messrs. Köhler & Son’s specialities.

We are,

Your obedient Servants,

SWAINE & ADENY.

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