BIANCOXl S CAUS. 123 



an institution tliat a brief sketch of the author 

 of the system may not be here out of place. Mr. 

 Charles Bianconi, a native of Milan, came over 

 to Ireland in the year 1800, and set up at 

 Clonmel as a picture-dealer. Struck with the 

 want of accommodation that existed between the 

 various towns of the district, an idea entered 

 his head of remedying the deficiency by introdu- 

 cing a new conveyance. He had heard that 

 Derrick, in 17G0, had been compelled to set out 

 on horseback on a journey from Cork to Killarney, 

 there being no TDublic carriage to be had in the 

 city of Cork. 



Between that period and 1800 no great im- 

 provement had taken place ; so the enterprising 

 Italian, who had saved some money, started a 

 car between Clonmel and Cahir. After strug- 

 gling for some time against all the difficulties 

 that ever attend a new scheme, after inciting the 

 people to abandon their indifference, to conquer 

 their prejudices, he so far succeeded as to 

 enable him to run others to Limerick and 

 Thurles. 



The public, hitherto apathetic, were roused 

 into action ; the new scheme met with universal 

 patronage ; soon Bianconi's name was upper- 

 most in everyone's thoughts ; the double cars 



