Page:Report from the Select Committee on Steam Carriages.pdf/85



John Farey, Esq. 10 August, 1831. more expedition, than by mail. The road between London and Bristol might be taken as a suitable line, but I should expect a pair of horses to be provided at every notable hill, to help the Steam Carriage up Such a proposition, it is obvious, offers no inducement to individuals, because it would be all expence without any return; but if it were judiciously done at public expence, I have no doubt but that it would lead to as much improvement in the mode of execution of future Coaches, as would enable them to be run permanently as stage coaches with profitable loads. The great defect of all the present models, is want of strength to resist the violence to which they are subjected in rapid travelling with a full load; and if that strength were given upon the present construction by the mere addition of materials, they would become too heavy to be efficiently propelled, even if they carried no load in them.

Have you seen the last Coaches of Mr. Gurney and of Mr. Hancock?—I have not minutely examined the last edition of Mr. Gurney's Carriage, but have met it several times on the roads in my neighbourhood, as I have also that of Mr. Hancock; and I have travelled in the latter; but he has enlarged the cylinders of his engine since I have gone in it.

You have seen Mr. Gurney's original boilers; he states that he has altered very little in the form of them?—Yes; I was well acquainted with the construction and performance of all that Mr. Gurney had attained at the time when I specified bis patent, three years ago; and I understand generally the alterations he has since made, though I have not made trial of any of his more recent coaches; the principal change is in separating the engine and machinery from the Carriage which is to convey the passengers, so that there are two four-wheeled carriages, one drawing the other after it; this change involves no very great alteration in the machinery, which, I understand, is nearly the same as it was; but the impelling Carriage in which it is placed is very much lightened by transferring all the passengers to the additional carriage which is drawn. Mr. Hancock continues to follow