STATE OP ENGLAND IN 1685 .

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Second, the flying coaches are extolled as far superior to anysimilar vehicles ever known in the world. Their velocity is ■the subject of special commendation, and is triumphantlycontrasted with the sluggish pace of the continental posts.But with boasts like these was mingled the sound of complaintand invective. The interests of large classes had been un-favourably affected by the establishment of the new dili-gences; and, as usual, many persons were, from mere stu-pidity and obstinacy, disposed to clamour against the innova-tion, simply because it was an innovation. It was vehementlyargued that this mode of conveyance would be fatal to thebreed of horses and to the noble art of horsemanship; thatthe Thames, which had long been an important nursery ofseamen, would cease to be the chief thoroughfare from Lon-don up to Windsor and down to Gravesend; that saddlersand spurriers would be ruined by hundreds; that numerousinns, at which mounted travellers had been in the habit ofstopping, would be deserted, and would no longer pay anyrent; that the new carriages were too hot in summer and toocold in winter; that the passengers were grievously annoyedby invalids and crying children; that the coach sometimesreached the inn so late that it was impossible to get supper,and sometimes started so early that it was impossible to getbreakfast. On these grounds it was gravely recommendedthat no public carriage should be permitted to have more thanfour horses, to start oftener than once a week, or to go morethan thirty miles a day. It was hoped that, if this regulationwere adopted, all except the sick and the lame would returnto the old mode of travelling. Petitions embodying suchopinions as these were presented to the King in council fromseveral companies of the City of London, from several pro-vincial towns, and from the justices of several counties. Wesmile at these things. It is not impossible that our descen-dants, when they read the history of the opposition offered by

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