This invention made its _début_ in 1816, in the garden of Tivoli, which was at that time the favorite resort of the _crême de la crême_ of Parisian society. As originally constructed it appears to have been of the most simple kind. It consisted of a bar five feet long, supported at each end upon a single wheel, that designed for the front being so arranged as to turn obliquely to the line of the carriage. The rider sat astride the bar, and propelled the machine by the action of the feet upon the ground. The motion was much like walking upon the heels; as the feet were brought down flat, the heels were the first to touch. The vehicle was never generally patronized, because the pleasure of riding it was counterbalanced by the labor of propelling it. It was called the “Célérifère,” or “makespeed,” and many shafts of ridicule were leveled mercilessly at it. The mode of propelling it was not graceful, and this ridicule was not without foundation. It disappeared from view in France almost as rapidly as its inventor expected it to roll into public favor. This novel vehicle, under the name of “Drasina” was introduced into England in 1818, and, at first, the greatest possible expectations were created, with regard to its usefulness and speed. It was maintained, that it would travel up-hill on a post-road as fast as a man could walk; that on a level, even after a heavy rain, it would average six or seven miles an hour; and that, on a descent, it would equal a horse at full speed. It was described in the advertisements of the day as “consisting of two wheels, one behind the other, connected by a perch, on which a saddle is placed as a seat. The front wheel is made to turn on a pivot, guided by a circular lever or rudder, which comes up to the hand; _the fore-arms rest on a cushion in front_; in this position, both hands holding the rudder firmly, the machine and traveller are preserved _in equilibrio_.” In 1821 Lewis Gompertz of Surrey, introduced some decided improvements upon the Drasina, as will be seen from the accompanying engraving, extracted from the 39th volume of the English “Repertory of Arts.” [Illustration]