OMNIBUSES AND CABS OMNIBUSES AND CABS _THEIR ORIGIN AND HISTORY_ BY HENRY CHARLES MOORE _WITH THIRTY-ONE ILLUSTRATIONS_ LONDON: CHAPMAN & HALL, LD. 1902 NOTE It is with great pleasure that I acknowledge my indebtedness to Mr. George A. Glover, who kindly placed at my disposal much valuable information concerning the early history of omnibuses and cabs, and several rare pictures, which are now reproduced for the first time. I desire, also, to thank Mr. G. A. Thrupp, the venerable author of “The History of the Art of Coach-Building,” for permitting me to have access to his interesting collection of illustrations of vehicles, and to reproduce several engravings dealing with the subject of this book. For a similar courtesy I am greatly indebted to the Worshipful Company of Coach Makers and Coach-Harness Makers. H. C. M. LONDON, _August 23, 1901_. CONTENTS PART I--OMNIBUSES CHAPTER I PAGE _Carrosses a cinq sous_ invented--Inauguration ceremony--M. Laffitte’s omnibuses--The origin of the word “omnibus” as applied to coaches 3 CHAPTER II George Shillibeer introduces omnibuses into England--The first omnibus route--Shillibeer’s conductors defraud him--His plans for preventing fraud--An omnibus library--Shopkeepers complain of omnibus obstruction 10 CHAPTER III Shillibeer runs omnibuses in opposition to a railway--Extraordinary action of the Stamp and Taxes Office--Shillibeer is ruined--He appeals to the Government for compensation--Government promises not fulfilled--Shillibeer becomes an undertaker 28 CHAPTER IV Introduction of steam omnibuses--The “Autopsy,” the “Era,” and the “Automaton”--Steam omnibuses a failure 36 CHAPTER V Some old omnibus names--Story of the “Royal Blues”--Omnibus racing--Complaints against conductors--Passengers’ behaviour--The well-conducted conductor--The ill-conducted conductor--The “equirotal omnibus” 46 CHAPTER VI Twopenny fares introduced--The first omnibus with advertisements--Penny fares tried--Omnibus improvements--Longitudinal seats objected to by the police--Omnibus associations--Newspapers on the “Favorites”--Foreigners in omnibuses--Fat and thin passengers--Thomas Tilling starts the “Times” omnibuses--Mr. Tilling at the Derby--Tilling’s gallery of photographs 62 CHAPTER VII