A STEAM-CARRIAGE IN 1830. 165 



eacli point, after having extracted the contents 

 belonging to their own station. In this manner 

 it was calculated that a letter might be sent 

 (from pillar to post) to the furthest limits of 

 the land in the course of a very small portion 

 of time ; from London to York, probably, in an 

 hour or two. In the absence of pillars, and 

 in the interior districts, it was suggested that 

 church-steeples, properly selected, might answer 

 the purpose, and in London the churches might 

 be used for the circulation of the twopenny 

 post. The introduction of the rail and the tele- 

 graph has completely remedied the evil Mr. 

 Babbage complained of. 



In May, 1S30, much attention was excited 

 in the neighbourhood of Portland Place by the 

 appearance of a steam-carriage, which made its 

 way through a crowded passage, without any 

 perceptible impulse. There was neither smoke 

 nor noise ; there was no external force nor 

 apparent directing agent ; the carriage seemed 

 to move by its own volition, passing by horses 

 without giving them the least alarm. Five 

 gentlemen and a lady formed the passengers. 

 One gentleman directed the moving principle, 

 and another appeared to sit unconcerned behind, 

 but his object was ascertained to be the care of 



