A NEW CARRIAGE

From Le Beau Monde, November 1809 at 132.

THE THORNTON JUBILEE SPORT LANDAULET.

The plate represents a carriage built by Mr. C.L. Birch of Great Queen-street, for Col. Thornton, whose loyalty as a soldier, whose knowledge as a sportsman, and whose name as a gentleman, are so well known. The Thornton Jubilee Sporting Landaulet may therefore be considered as the result of all those characteristics by which the liberal Proprietor is distinguished. We therefore conceive that we shall be the means of affording pleasure to the fashionable world, by introducing it to their notice and admiration.

This carriage answers the purpose of the following carriages: a Landaulet, Post-chariot, Barouche, and Phaeton; carries six persons, besides two or three children.

The introduction of this novel mode of hanging the body, and singular connection of the double and elliptic springs, convince the eye, at once, that a perch would be superfluous; consequently the carriage acts as a crane-necked; and from the unique shape of the body, becomes shorter than the generality of light phaetons. The interior of the body forms a bed; the exterior appearance is equally even on the roof and sides as a chariot, having no ribs or hoop sticks visible; and is so contrived, that the spring-curtains act without lines, and fall back with the head. An imperial can be placed on the roof, so as to remain when opened. A barouche seat is placed before, to be removed occasionally; and a concealed seat behind, to carry the servants in travelling, which forms the lid of the boot, and is contrived not to interfere with the trunk or luggage that may be placed in the interior; and, when closed, admits of an imperial on its top. A similar boot is before, which admits of the same or other imperials or trunks as go behind. These two boots have wells to receive drop-in trunks; and when the trunks are removed, may be used to carry dogs.—Springs, connected as these are, (acting with or without each other), prevent the possibility of the carriage turning over should either spring break; and are checks to each other, so as to prevent too much motion.