STREET DRIVING. 237 



an excuse for them, they are mostly uneducated men, 

 and cannot be expected to display so much etiquette in 

 street driving as their more refined, but equally reckless 

 brethren, who pilot lighter and more fashionable vehicles. 

 In fact, were it not for their insolence, at times, when 

 defending a flagrant case of crossing, out of their turn, 

 the experienced hand would have no objection to excuse 

 them altogether ; for he will take into consideration that 

 their horses are not naturally so active, nor can they be 

 with a heavy load at their quarters, as a high-bred, 

 short-stepping animal, attached to a feather weight in 

 comparison to theirs. 



Still, I am decidedly of opinion, that some of these 

 lurry-men drive much too fast through the crowded 

 thoroughfares of London, and they reiy more upon the 

 weight of their waggons than their own hands to clear 

 them a passage, besides risking the lives and limbs of 

 foot passengers at a crossing. 



There are no men who rise from their beds every 

 morning under a greater load of responsibility than the 

 London omnibus drivers, and no class of men to whom 

 more credit is due. Eor neither by the dear old stage- 

 coach, nor the modern railway conveyance, are so many 

 passengers daily conveyed, with so few accidents, as 

 by the London omnibuses ; and, notwithstanding the 

 ground they daily traverse is literally swarming with 

 every description of traffic, including perambulators full 

 of young hopefuls, in the middle of a crossing, and the 

 nursemaid staring about like a duck in a thunder-shower, 



