ased people to the
hospital, or dead bodies to the Surgeons' Hall. An English hackney
coach is a type of misery, as regards the horses' outsides, and a
_cloaca_ within; you know not, when you step into it, whether you are
not to encounter disease and death. It may be said that there are such
vehicles as glass coaches, as they are termed; but those are only to be
hired by the day, and become very expensive. The arrangements of these
vehicles should be under the police: every coach and cab should be
examined, at the commencement of the year, as to its appearance outside
as well as its cleanliness inside. The horses should be inspected, and
if not in fair working condition, and of a certain height, the license
should be refused. And there should be a superior class allowed at
certain stands, who are entitled to demand a higher fare. This would
not only be a boon to the public, but a much greater one to the poor
horse, who would not drag out his lengthened misery as he does now.
When there was no longer any means of selling a poor brute, to whom
death was a release, he would be put out of his misery. It would also
be a great improvement if the Numbers were put inside instead of out, as
they are abroad; and if _every_ description of vehicle, if well fitted,
were licensed.

CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN.

The Hotel des Bergues is certainly a splendid establishment; many people
winter at this hotel in preference to going to a pension, which is, with
the best arrangements, disagreeable, for you are obliged to conform to
the usages and customs, and to take your meals at certain hours, hungry
or not hungry, as if it were a pension of school-boys and girls, and not
grown up people. The price demanded is the same as at the pensions, viz
200 francs, or 8 pounds per month, which includes everything but wine
and fuel. The establishment is certainly very well conducted. There is
a salon, next to the table d'hote, large enough to hold 200 people, well
warmed and lighted, handsomely carpeted, with piano, books, prints,
newspapers, card tables, etcetera. Indeed, there is everything you wish
for, and you are all independent of each other, I was there for two or
three days, and found it very pleasant; I was amused with a circumstance
which occurred. One of the company, a Russian, sat down to the piano,
and played and sang. Every one wished to know who he was, and on
inquiring, it was a Russian prince. Now a prince is a very great