With respect to the mechanical propulsion of carriages along ordinary streets and highways, stringent regulations were in force until 1896, under which such carriages were not permitted to travel at a higher speed than four miles an hour. But the invention of "motor" carriages, propelled by steam, gas, oil, or electricity, convinced the authorities that these restrictions should be relaxed. This accordingly was done by Act of Parliament, and their removal was celebrated, on November 14, 1896, by the excursion of a number of horseless carriages from London to Brighton. Evil weather marred the display, nevertheless large numbers of persons turned out to witness it. It is too early to predict the extent to which horses may be displaced by motor carriages, but it can scarcely be doubtful that their obvious imperfections will yield to the ingenuity of inventors, so as to render them at least dangerous rivals to the old kind of equipage. [Illustration: GEORGE STEPHENSON, 1781-1848. Railway Engineer. Born at Wylam, Northumberland. Son of a colliery fireman. Constructed his first locomotive in 1814. Planned and constructed the first railways--Stockton and Darlington, 1815-25, Liverpool and Manchester, 1825-30. Was chief engineer to most of the lines constructed until 1840, when he retired, leaving his business to his son Robert.] [Sidenote: The Proposed Channel Tunnel.] Before leaving the subject of terrestrial locomotion, allusion must be made to the project of carrying a tunnel under the Straits of Dover to the French coast, to enable trains to be run without interruption from Great Britain to the Continent. The tunnel, the favourite scheme of Sir Edward Watkin, Chairman of the South-Eastern Railway, was begun some years ago, and was actually carried for several hundred yards under the sea. But the strategic advantages of an island realm are too substantial to be sacrificed by the creation of a highway, command of which would certainly be insisted on by any Power or combination of Powers which, in the future, might overcome Great Britain in arms. [Illustration: _From a Photograph_} {_by permission of Curzon, Robey & Co._ THE MOTOR-CAR PARADE, November 14, 1896: THE START FROM THE HOTEL METROPOLE.] [Sidenote: Steam Navigation.] [Sidenote: Ironclads.]