Page:Report from the Select Committee on Steam Carriages.pdf/95



John Farey, Esq. 10 August, 1831. and there is no adequate force to produce any such effect.

Are you acquainted with the construction of the new Steam Carriage which started this week from Gloucester to Cheltenham?—I am not, further than that it is on Mr. Gurney's plan.

Apprehension has been felt that these Steam Coaches will be found to give great annoyance to travellers passing them on the public roads, from smoke and the peculiar noise from letting off the steam; do you apprehend such results will take place?—I do not anticipate any great annoyance will result to travellers in other carriages; I have passed Mr. Hancock's on the road several times and Mr. Gurney's also, and have travelled in them often; horses take a little notice of them when in motion, but not much, and very soon become accustomed to them. I once met Mr. Hancock going very quick along the New Road, and drew up to see him pass; I had no difficulty whatever in making my pony stand, though rather a spirited one. Mr. Hancock did not observe me, and as I wished to go with him I turned and drove after him, and after a race to overtake him, I had no difficulty in drawing alongside of his Steam Carriage for a good way in order to speak to him and get him to stop for me. The emission of hot air was very sensible, when following close along side of the boiler, at the hinder end of the Carriage, but I did not observe any puffing of steam.

Do you think that whatever annoyance exists in the present Steam Coaches may be removed by the improvement of the Carriage, and particularly the appearance of the Carriage?—Certainly their appearance may be improved; they are most unsightly now. The general question of further improvements in Steam Coaches depends upon the general mechanical skill and judgment of the mechanicians, who turn their attention to the subject, and the peculiar experience they acquire in this particular branch of mechanics, by continually practising and exercising with Steam Carriages, on roads of all kinds, in all weathers, to find out their defects, and how to remedy