ADVANTAGES OF THE NEW SAFETY CAB. 
293 
flame ; e, the break ; /, places for the heated 
air to escape by, and through which the foul 
air cannot enter ; g, a lens to cast the light 
into those parts where the air is so foul as to 
cause the lamp to go out ; h, handle of the 
lamp, on the principle of the universal joint. 
Submitting the above to the impartial consi- 
deration of your readers, 
I am. Sir, 
Your obedient servant, 
POLLSA. 
THE NEW SAFETY CAB. 
Weextractthe following clear and sensible 
exposition of the advantages of this new vehi- 
cle (the invention of Mr, Hansom, the archi- 
tect of the Birmingham Town-hall, confessedly 
one of the finest architectural productions of 
modern times), from the prospectus of a com- 
pany which has been formed for promoting its 
introduction into the metropolis : — 
“ 'J lie very peculiar construction of this 
carriage secures advantages that men of science 
and of practical experience have long wished 
for, but which have never before been obtained. 
Instead of an axle going through from side to 
side of the carriage, Mr. Hansom uses a frame- 
work, so contrived, that, while fully able to 
sustain any shock to which it may be exposed, 
and admitting the use of wheels of any diame- 
ter, it allows the body to be placed at any 
distance, however small, from the ground. By 
this contrivance, three most important objects 
are attained ; namely — 
“ 1st. Absolute safety: for the body is 
placed so low, and the framework so arranged, 
as to render it impossible that the carriage 
should be upset in any direction whatever ; 
nor can a kicking, a rearing, or a stumbling 
horse place the passengers in danger. 
“2d. Great relief to the horse in peculiar 
situations : for the centre of gravity of the load 
being placed below the centre of the wheels, 
the injurious pressure on the horse, in ascending 
and descending hills with a 2-wheel carriage 
of the common construction, is avoided ; for, in 
descending, the pressure on his back is entire- 
ly removed; while, in ascending, a small and 
advantageous addition is made to it. 
“3d. Considerable reduction of draught in all 
circumstances: iov wheeh of larger diameter 
than usual maybe employed, not only without 
prejudice to the other advantages of the inven- 
tion, but in promotion of them ; and it is on 
all hands agreed, that very great saving of 
draught might be effected by the use of large 
wheels, but for the hitherto supposed impos- 
sibility of reconciling them with the other 
necessary properties and conveniences of a 
“ The inconvenience and danger of the 
present cabs have been long, loudly, and just- 
ly complained of. The new cab is perfectly 
and obviously safe, and effectually protects pas- 
sengers from injury by a vicious or stumbling 
horse ; it affords ingress and egress as safe and 
easy as those of a sedan-chair, and is smoother 
of motion than many of the best carriages of 
other kinds ; it also combines the shelter and 
comfort of a close carriage, with the lightness 
of an open one, and the speed of the best of 
the present cabs, at the cost of perhaps one- 
third less labour to the horse, and with the 
entire avoidance of the injurious effect of com- 
mon 2-wheel carriages on hilly roads. 
* * * # * 
“ In ascents and descents, any moderate 
degree of safety to the passenger, or of pres- 
sure on the horse, has been, hitherto, attain- 
able only by the use of four wheels. Where 
four are used, they cannot be large: much 
pow'eris thus lost— to say nothing of the addi- 
tional friction — and two horses are needed. 
Absolute safety, and greater comfort to the 
passengers, and much greater ease to the ani- 
mal, are now secured by two wheels, and those 
large ones. The additional horse is thus dis- 
pensed with, and posting may be done by one 
horse, on terms and with a convenience and 
rapidity yet unaccomplislied. The convey- 
ance of mails and dispatches maybe done by 
2-horse carriages, with the like, or even 
greater, benefit. 
“ A carriage has recently been built, and is 
ready for public inspection and trial, which 
exemplifies the plan, and fully justifies the 
preceding observations. It has been subjected 
to severe trials, both intentionally and by acci- 
dent; and, by coming out of them without 
the slightest failure, has proved that its frame- 
work may be safely relied on in any emer- 
gency.” 
ELECTRICAL SHOCK FROM A 
SHEET OF PAPER. 
Place an iron japanned tea tray on a dry, 
clean beaker-glass, then take a sheet of 
foolscap writing-paper, and hold it close to 
the fire until all its hygrometric moisture is 
dissipated, but not so as to scorch it ; in this 
state it is one of the finest electrics we have. 
Hold one end down on a table with the finger 
and thumb, and give it about a dozen strokes 
with a large piece of India-rubber from the 
left to the right, beginning at the top. Now 
take it up by two of the cornersand bring it over 
the tray, and it w'ill fall down on it like a 
stone ; if one finger be now brought under the 
tray, a sensible shock will be felt. Now lay 
a needle on the tray with its point projecting 
outwards, remove the paper, and a star sign of 
the negative electricity will be seen; return 
the paper, and the positive brush will appear. 
In fact, it forms a very good extemporaneous 
electrophorus, which will give a spark an inch 
long, and strong enough to set fire to some 
combustible bodies, and to exhibit all the elec- 
tric phenomena not requiring coated surfaces. 
If four beaker-glasses are placed on the floor, 
and a book laid on them, a person may stand 
on them insulated ; if he then holds the tray 
vertically, the paper will adhere strongly to it, 
and sparks may be drawn from any part of his 
body, or he may draw sparks from any other 
person, as the case may be ; or he may set fire 
to some inflammable bodies by touching them 
with a piece of ice. 
I beg to remain, 
Yours, &.C. 
G. Dakin. 
