THE COACH-MAKER.

The Coach-Makkr makes coaches, chaises of all kinds, and other vehicles of the more elegant kind for travelling.

The use of coaches has been carried by many writers much higher than is authorized by facts. Vehicles, approaching them in form, though under a variety of designations, have certainly been used at different times in different countries. Coaches, however, were
not known in Europe till the beginning of the sixteenth century, when they were used only by women of the first rank, it being considered disgraceful for men to ride in them. At that period, in Germany, when the electors and princes did not wish to be present at the meetings of the states, they excused themselves, by informing the emperor that their health would not permit them to ride on horseback.

The oldest carriages used by the ladies in England, were known under the now-forgotten name of whirlicotes.

We are expressly informed by Stow, that in 1555, Walter Ripon made a coach for the Earl of Rutland, " which was the first that was ever used in England."' In his larger Chronicle, however, he states, that coaches were brought more generally into fashion by one William Boonen, a Dutchman, in 1564, who was coachman to the Queen. It was not till the beginning of the seventeenth century, that a coach-box was added to the body. In 1605, coaches began to be in general use among the nobility and gentry in London. Hackney- Coaches began to ply in London streets in 1625 when twenty only was the number allowed; in ten years, their numbers multiplied so much, that their increase was restrained by order of Council. : In 1637, fifty coaches were allowed to be licensed by the Master of the horse. In 1652 they were increased to 200. In 1661 to 500. In 1694 to 700. Afterwards, to 800. In
1771 to 1000: arid since, to 1100.

Stage-Coaches were not in general use till the beginning of the eighteenth century. Post-Chaises weve introduced by Mr.Tull, son
to the well- known writer on husbandry. The celebrated Duke of Buckingham was the first person who rode in a coach with six
horses. To ridicule this new pomp, the Earl of Northumberland put eight horses to his carriage.

The fashions with regard to the form and ornament of coaches and other carriages for pleasure, are perpetually changing. The chief
kinds now in use, are the close coach and chariot, the landau, which can lower its roof and part of. its sides, like the head of a phaton, the barouche, or open summer carriage, the chariot intended only for two or three persons,; the landaulet, or chariot,
whose head folds back, the phaeton and caravan, which have only a head and no windows, with a leathern apron arising from the .foot board to the waist: the post-chaise is a sort of chariot without a box. There is, also, the berlin, which, and the landau, take their names from the places at which they were first made. Coaches are also distinguished according to the uses for which they are designed : thus, we have travelling-coaches, stage-coaches, hackney-coaches, &c..these all run on four wheels. Of the two-wheeled vehicles, there is the curricle, drawn by two horses ; .the gig, chaise, or whiskey, having one horse only. When a gig has two horses, one preceding the other in harness, the machine and its horses together are denominated a Tandem, a Latin word, signifying, at length.

Coaches consist of two principal parts, the body and the carriage. The body, is that part which is intended for the passengers; the
carriage, is that which sustains the body, and to which the wheels that give motion to the whole machine are fastened.

The body of the coach, is built chiefly with ash, on account of its great toughness, and its not being liable to snap by jerking; but the
pannels are generally made of mahogany ; the upper parts are covered with well-dressed and highly-varnished leather. The inside of a coach is lined with woollen cloth, and stuffed with horse hair. Coaches, however, made in a very high styles, are lined with silk, sometimes with velvet ; and not infrequently, with exceedingly fine and beautiful leather.

The carriage consists, principally, of two pair of wheels with axle trees and a perch.

The perch is that long pole which is fastened to the middle of the hind axle-tree, and passes between the fore axle and its bolster,
being secured by the pole pin, so as to move about it and connecting the fore and hind wheels together. It is plain, that in turning
a carriage of this construction, the larger the wheel, the sooner it will strike against the perch, on account of the axle being under the
perch ; and to accommodate some other contrivances in the lower part of the carriage, the fore-wheels are usually made smaller than the hind ones.

Coaches on the most elegant construction are made in London, whence they are exported to the Continent, to the East-Indies, and America : indeed, they are made more elegant for the East-Indies than those used in this country.

Modern European coaches were unknown in China, till Lord Macartney's embassy to that empire. With his Lordship, two of
Hatchett's most splendid carriages were sent as presents to the Emperor. These puzzled the Chinese more than any of the other
presents. Nothing of the kind had ever been seen at Pekin ; and the disputes among themselves as to the part intended for the seat of the Emperor were whimsical enough. The hammer-cloth that covered the box of the winter carriage had a smart edging, and was ornamented with festoons of roses. Its splendid appearance and elevated situation,, determined that once, in the opinion of the majority, to be the Emperpr's seat ; but a difficulty arose, how to appropriate the inside of the carriage. They examined the windows, the blinds, and the screens, and at last, concluded that it could be for nobody but bis ladies. An old eunuch sought particularly for information, and when he learned that the fine elevated box was to be the seat of the man who managed the horses,
and that the Emperor's place was within, he asked, with a sneer:, if it could be supposed that the Emperor would suffer any man to sit higher than himself, "and to turn his back towards him." He wished the coach-box to be removed and placed behind the body of the carriage.

The business of a Coach-Maker is divided into several branches ; the wages are in proportion to the nicety of the Work : thus,
the body-makers in general have two to three pounds per week : the carriage makers, between one and two pounds: the trimmers,
about two guineas : the painters, from twenty to thirty shillings : the body painters, about forty shillings : the herald painters, from three to four pounds : the smiths, about thirty shillings.

Hackney-Coaches and coachmen are subject to strict regulations; they are stationed at certain stands in the streets of London, and
other large cities; for the convenience of passengers, and are hired at fixed rates. The coachmen are liable to be punished for any
offences, such as insults to their passengers, or for over charges.'

Coach-Makers are now obliged to take out an annual license, and to render an account of the number of carriages thay sell, and to whom sold.