ful. One made by Sir Goldsworthy Gurney ran for three months in
1831 with passengers between Cheltenham and Gloucester, while Hancock's
steam omnibuses (carrying 14 to 16 passengers) ran in London pretty
constantly during the years 1833-36, and often at a speed of 10 or 12
miles an hour; some of his coaches ran long journeys, such as from London
to Brighton, and he was the most successful of all inventors in this
line, unless we except Scott Russell, who, in 1834, ran six steam coaches
between Glasgow and Paisley.

We read in the _Standard_ of 21 June, 1838, that "Yesterday afternoon,
Hyde Park presented a more than usually gay appearance, in consequence of
a crowd of fashionables being assembled to witness the trial of a
newly-constructed steam cab. Among the many splendid equipages were
observed those of the Dowager Duchess of Sutherland, the Marquis of
Salisbury, the Marquis of Northampton, the Earl of Winchilsea, Lord
Howick, Lord Holland, and many other distinguished personages. About 3
o'clock the object of attraction moved forward at a slow pace from the
old Foot Guard Barracks, Knightsbridge, and threaded its way through the
various vehicles into the Park, passing through the centre gate of the
triumphal arch, and making, in the open space opposite the statue,
several turns within its own length. The vehicle after the date hereof,
will render themselves liable to be hours round the Park, and, from the
slight noise it made, the horses passing did not appear to be frightened.
The average speed of the cab was about twelve miles an hour. The vehicle
was guided by Mr. Hancock, the inventor."

But, if mechanical science had advanced as far as motor cars, we were, in
other ways, still as backward as Belgium and Germany are at the present,
in using dogs as draught animals. This practice had increased to such an
extent that it was found necessary to placard the walls of the metropolis
with the following notice. "Notice is hereby given, that all persons
using dogs under carts or trucks, as beasts of burden, after the date
hereof, will render themselves liable to be prosecuted, and fined 2
pounds, according to the provisions of an obsolete Act lately discovered.
London, 18 Aug., 1838." This scandal did not last long, for in "an Act
for further improving the Police in and near the Metropolis," 2 and 3
Vict., c. 47 [17 Aug., 1839], we find that Section LVI. says, "And be it
enacted, That after the First Day of _Janua