"The omnibus is a long coach, carrying fifteen or eighteen people, all inside. Of these carriages there were about half-a-dozen some months ago, and they have been augmented since; their profits are said to have repaid the outlay within the first year; the proprietors, among whom is M. Lafitte, the banker, are making a large revenue out of Parisian sous, and speculation is still alive." During the struggle of the three days in July, 1830, the accidental upsetting of one of these vehicles suggested an idea that barricades could be formed out of a number of them; and this plan was tried and followed out. Shortly after the introduction of the omnibus in Paris, a public-spirited individual started two of these carriages in London, which ran from the Bank of England to the Yorkshire Stingo, in the New-road, and were called "Shillibeers," after the introducer. Each of these vehicles carried twenty-two passengers inside, with only the driver and conductor outside; each omnibus was drawn by three horses, abreast, and the fare was one shilling for the whole distance, and sixpence for half. Since that time the fares have been considerably lowered, and outside passengers are taken. CHAPTER XVII. AN ADVENTURE WITH BALL HUGHES, COMMONLY CALLED "THE GOLDEN BALL"--A SENSATION AT DARTFORD--A RELIC OF THE COMMUNE--RAILWAYS--PIONEERS OF THE RAIL--INTRODUCTION OF STEAM-CARRIAGES ON ROADS--SEDAN CHAIRS--PADDY'S PRACTICAL JOKE--FEUDS BETWEEN CHAIRMEN AND HACKNEY-COACHMEN. CHAPTER XVII. An adventure which occurred to me some fifty years ago may not here be out of place. I was dining one day with Ball Hughes, commonly, from his wealth, called "The Golden Ball," when the conversation turned upon Paris. "What say you to going there?" he asked. "I should like it much," I replied. "Send for Guy," continued he, addressing the butler; "and help yourself to claret, we shall not have much time to spare." Before I could express my surprise, Guy, the coachman, entered the room. "Have the travelling-chariot with the four bays round in half-an-hour, and send the seats and imperial into my room to be packed. By the way," he proceeded, turning to me, "you will want some one to go and tell your servant to bring your clothes, we shall return in a week." "Are you in earnest?" I inquired, somewhat taken aback at this hasty movement. "Quite," he answered; "pass the bottle; and, John, take the small front imperial to Lord William's lodgings in Pall Mall, tell his servant to pack it up, and we will call for it on our way." In half-an-hour the carriage was at the door; we took our seats, the faithful valet ascended the rumble, and the order was given, "Make the best of your way to Dartford, call as you go by at No. 4, Pall Mall." It was a lovely evening in July, and despite of having all the windows down we felt greatly oppressed with heat. "What say you to riding?" inquired my companion; "pull up, boys."