The Early London Omnibus

When tbe qnem came to the throne, oninibuses were a uew but already popnlar inríru ii n Tbey were longer, narrawer and lower tban tbe present oues and had uo seats on tbe roof. The passengers were careiully hut in by a door at tbe eud. as if to make quite sure of them, once tbey were captnred, till they bad paid their tares. Ou a little round percb bebind stood the conductor or "cad. " bangiug on by a leather loop Iassed over nis arm. ixpence was the usual bus fare 80 yesirs ugo, whether you weut froin begiuiiiug to end of the journey or oiily a few hundred yards. As vi? very little regulation of the streef traffic of Loudon in those davs. if bas was fiiled up at starting it weii! like a tire eiïgiiie in order to get m ;;ü estra .iouruey, bnt otberwise it erawled and pottered about till the requisite tminfeer was obtained. Eacb onmibns as lir-eused only for a particular route. It paid the stagecoach duty oí L5 whí'o rir.st started aud -a shilling a year for keepiug the liceuse in forcé, besides a mileage duty. varying witb the uum'ber of passeugers it would hold. but coming to abont threepence