Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library

"A mail-coach, driven right to left, is overturning, the off back wheel having fallen off. The near horse is falling, the other rears violently. The driver has dropped the reins and holds up his arms; he is hidden by the guard seated on his left who falls backwards, his blunderbuss is going off and shatters the roof of the coach, causing letters and letter-bags to fly into the air. A pistol at his side is also going off; it fires point-blank at the bare posteriors of an elderly woman who has fallen head downwards, screaming, her person much exposed; she was apparently an outside passenger. A man puts his head and arms out of the coach-window, shouting in terror. On the centre panel of the coach and above the Royal Arms is inscribed 'The Mail Coach'; on each side panel, 'GR'. In the background (right) is a signpost pointing to the left, 'To Bath'."--British Museum online catalogue.