For two weeks everything went well, and the conductor was anticipating an order for a second register, when a gang of men, in sympathy with the discharged conductors, attacked the omnibus while it was standing outside the Yorkshire Stingo, smashed the patent register with sledge-hammers, and half murdered its inventor. Shillibeer, who had paid £300 for the demolished register, did not order another one to be made, but tried a new and less expensive check, which was in use in the Paris omnibuses. A specially made clock was fixed in a prominent position in each omnibus, with a notice beneath it informing the public that it was the conductor’s duty to move the hand a certain distance whenever a passenger entered, and requesting that any neglect of that duty should be reported to the proprietor. But, in spite of that appeal, the conductors neglected persistently to act according to instructions, and not one report of their breach of duty was ever received by Shillibeer from an ordinary passenger. Some of them, indeed, amused themselves by turning the hand round until the register showed that the omnibus had carried an impossible number of people. This amusement was getting very popular when Shillibeer put an end to it by removing the clocks and trusting to his conductors’ honour--a confidence which was proved, time after time, to be entirely misplaced. [Illustration: SHILLIBEER’S THIRD OMNIBUS.] But, in spite of all obstacles, Shillibeer prospered, and in less than nine months had twelve omnibuses at work. A few of these were two-horse omnibuses carrying twelve passengers inside and two outside. Some ran from Paddington to the Bank, _viâ_ Oxford Street and Holborn. On all these new vehicles “Shillibeer” was painted in large letters on the sides, instead of “Omnibus.” The Post Office authorities were the first to copy Shillibeer’s vehicles. They had four built, resembling the originals in every respect save the painting and lettering. On September 23, 1829, these vehicles--accelerators they were called--started at half-past eight in the morning from the back of the General Post Office for the western and north-western districts. Each accelerator carried twelve or thirteen letter-carriers, who were put down at various points to begin their delivery. A little later, Shillibeer’s brother-in-law started some omnibuses which ran along the Caledonian Road, and were known as “Caledonians.” These, too, were successful, and many years later became the property of Mr. Wilson, the once famous Islington omnibus proprietor. Wilson’s “Favorites” were known to every Londoner, and the “Caledonians” were merged into them. At the present day the “Favorites” belong to the London General Omnibus Company, Limited, and on their way from the Nag’s Head, Holloway, to West Kensington and Fulham traverse their original road.