1828. ] Notes for the Month. 283 
is done—for the law does not enable a man to pay three shillings, when 
it forbids him to purchase at one shilling ; and the consequence is that 
he pays neither—he goes without the convenience. 
The second request—the stoppage of the “ branch coaches’—though 
a point of less importance, stands upon the same principle. In this case, 
no objection would arise on the part of the “ proprietary.” The stage- 
coach masters, who charge nothing for this collection of their customers, 
have adopted it only to meet competition in their own trade, and would 
be sufficiently contented with a law which should prohibit the practice 
generally. But then there is no reason why a traveller, who is about to 
pay—thanks to an open trade, and the most profitable disposition of 
capital and power—only thirty shillings for his conveyance from Lon- 
don to Liverpool, should be compelled to pay five shillings for his con- 
veyance, a fiftieth part of the distance, from Marylebone to the “ Swan 
with Two Necks,” or ‘the “Bull and Mouth ;” more especially when 
the “ Bull and Mouth” coachmaster is ready to take the trouble of 
carrying him that journey without any charge at all. The restrictive 
system, therefore, must be given up. In fact, the best thing the “ hack- 
ney” gentlemen could do would be at once to abandon it, and try to turn 
their property to account by the establishment of the very “ street stages” 
which they now reprehend. But all that part of their plan which goes 
to the amelioration of their own commodity, is well judged, and 
merited aid and consideration. The reduction of “ fare” we do not 
think would exactly have the effect that they propose. The same abate- 
ment of profit would be better laid out in the improvement of their 
vehicles, which are, in general, in but a ricketty condition ; and even 
at the ten-pence per mile—the price that they offer to come down to— 
they are mistaken if they suppose they will ever compete with the 
“« eabriolets.” 
The cabriolet—especially the description of vehicle last produced 
—is a better thing for the purposes for which people want hackney- 
coaches, than either the coach or the chariot. It can be better got up— 
built, horsed, and appointed—at eight-pence a mile, than the coach or 
chariot can at one shilling ; and, from the superior neatness of its equip- 
ment, the rapid rate at which it is worked, and the peculiar facility with 
which it is directed in driving from place to place about town, even if 
the rates of fare were equal, it would always get the preference, in fine 
weather and with single individuals. In fact, many of the cabriolets 
are now built and horsed in a manner which can hardly be surpassed by 
any private equipage. We suspect, therefore, that the hackney-coach 
owners had better improve their carriages than reduce their (lawful) 
fares ; but their good intentions, fortunately, need not consume for want 
of exercise on this point—the distinction between the fare payable to a 
hackney-coachman, and the fare paid, as times go, is a very material 
one ; and this discrepancy, with a very great many other nuisances and 
mischiefs, would be got rid of by the course proposed of “ licensing” the 
_ drivers. " 
It is only justice to the individuals who make a profession of driving of 
n Br onches, to declare, that they contain within their guild, or body, 
a sprinkling of the most eminent rascals about town. In burglaries, their 
accessoryship is known to be considerable. They do a good deal in the 
way of picking pockets, on wet nights, at the opera or the theatres ; and 
are invaluable eoadjutors to the receivers of stolen property and the 
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