But no such thing as strewing the roads with loose stones was ever adopted in London, and Hancock’s omnibuses had as fair a trial as any reasonable being could desire. The “Automaton,” the best steam omnibus ever built, was, unmistakably a failure, although Hancock, by publishing some statistics of its first five months at work, gave people the impression that it was a great success. In the 712 journeys which it made it carried 12,761 passengers--not a remarkable number, considering that it ran under favourable circumstances. That is to say, that when it was found that the interest in the “Automaton” was waning on one route, it was put immediately to another. The majority of journeys were from the City to Islington and back, but on some days the omnibus ran to Paddington, and on others to Stratford. One morning, on its way to the Bank, it came into collision with a waggon at Aldgate, and Hancock, in his report of its performances, declared that to be the only accident worth mentioning. Apparently occasional break-downs did not count. [Illustration: THE “AUTOMATON” STEAM OMNIBUS.] But the public’s patronage of the “Automaton” grew less as time went on. People soon found that riding in horse omnibuses was far more enjoyable. Moreover, they discovered that they were much more reliable, the falling of a horse and a minute or two’s delay caused thereby, being the worst that ever happened to them. The “Automaton,” however, could not even be relied upon to start when desired. In spite of loss of patronage, the “Automaton” dragged on its existence until 1840, when the Turnpike Acts were enforced in London, and gave Hancock the opportunity of discontinuing his steam omnibus and posing as an ill-used man. And so came to an end the first attempt to run horseless omnibuses in London. 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.” While Hancock’s steam omnibuses were endeavouring to win public support, horse omnibuses were in a very flourishing condition, and their proprietors were opening new lines in all the chief parts of London. In 1837 there were fourteen omnibuses running from Blackheath to Charing Cross; twenty-seven from Chelsea to Mile End Gate; forty-one from Piccadilly to Blackwall; nineteen from Hampstead to Holborn, Charing Cross, and the Bank; seventeen from the Angel, Islington, to the Elephant and Castle; and twenty-five from Edgware Road (the spot where Sutherland Avenue now joins Maida Vale) to the Bank. There were also many omnibuses running into the City from Putney, Kew, Richmond, Deptford, Greenwich, Lewisham, Holloway, Highbury, Hornsey, Highgate, Hackney, Homerton, Clapton, Enfield, Edmonton, Peckham, Brixton, Norwood, Kennington, Dulwich, Streatham, and elsewhere.