30 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



steam carriages were constructed with reference to this particular 

 object by cUft'erent individuals: Biu'tsall & Hill, of Leith; W, H. 

 James, ol Birmingham; Walter Hancock, Smnmers & Ogle; Heaton 

 and Dr. Church, of Birmingham; Dance &, Field, Squire k Mace- 

 rone, and Scott Russell, of Greenock; Hills, of Deptford; Sir J as. 

 Anderson, and others. 



Some of these gentlemen were able to perform lengthy journeys 

 in their carriages; but the want of the means of obtaining fuel and 

 water, and the ascent of hills, seemed to form a great impediment 

 to their successful operation. 



Mr. Goldsworthy Gurney, a lectui'er on chemistry at the Siu-rey 

 Institution, then took up the subject, and became a successful ex- 

 perimenter in steam carriages, and obtained more pecuniary assist- 

 ance than any other projector of his time. 



Whether he is entitled to all the credit generally ascribed to 

 him ? it is not necessary to decide; but upon the report of the 

 House of Commons in 1831 and 1835, (see pamphlet N^o. 114, 

 American Inst. Library,) founded upon the experiments of Gurney, 

 Hancock, James, and others, some reliable data may be obtained; we 

 say some data, for there were many things proved before that com- 

 mittee which we should hesitate to adopt as true. So much, however, 

 we can say, that we believe Gurney and Hancock constructed steam 

 carriages miobjectionable in form, and that would have answered 

 the purposes intended, had their boilers been properly constructed; 

 even with this defect they made satisfactory trips, and were capa- 

 ble of attaining a speed of twelve miles an hour Avheu loaded, and 

 were as safe and controlable as horses. 



But the passage by parliament of innumerable bills of proliibitory 

 tolls, compelled these projectors to abandon their experiment. 



We have thus endeavored to show what progress was heretofore 

 made in the adaptation of steam to locomotion over common and 

 macadamised roads. Tliis subject, after a repose of nearly twenty 

 years, we find again revived by the gentleman whose carriage and 

 plans have been referred to us for examination. There cannot, 

 after the experiments above alluded to, be any doubt whatever of 

 the practicability of the adaptation of the steam engine for the pur- 

 pose designed by Mr. Fisher. 



It would be singular, nay, remarkable, if Hancock, twenty years 

 ago, could run a steam carriage through the streets of London, 

 that with the innumeralDle improvements since made in the steam 

 engine, Mr. Fisher should not be able to design a plan for a steam 

 carriage far superior to Hancock's. 



