The Sun.
London, England, 1840-02-03 00:00:00

COMMON ROAD STEAM CON-
VEYANCES.

On Wednesday the Committee, Shareholders and
friends of the Common Road Steam Conveyance Shareholder:,
dined together at the Albion Hotel, Russell-street,
Covent-garden,--Mr. Thcobald, the Chairman of the
Committee, president.
The cloth having been removed, the healths of the
Queen, the Queen Dowager, and the rest of the Royal
Family, were drunk with due honours. Mr. Willing sung
the National Anthem in excellent style; and Mr. Mor-
gan's comic song of the Coronation was received with very
great laughter and applause.
Mr. CONCANRIC, one of the Solicitors to the Company,
then read the first Report of the Committee, which stated
that in the year 1831, a Committee of the House of Com-
mons reported that eteatn-carriages could ascend billy of
considerable inclination with facility and safety ; that they
would become a speedier and cheaper modeiof conveyance
than carriages drawn by horses, that with the slightest
exertion they might be stopped, and turned under circum-
stances where horses were totally unmanageable ; that they
would not act so incuriously on common roads as the feet
of horses; that the substitution of inanimate for animal
power in draught upon common roads is one of the most
important improvements in the Means of internal commu-
nication ever yet intioduced, and that its practicability had
been fully established. In a Committee of the House of
Commons in the year 1839, a most minute examination of
the question had taken place, and evidence in favour of
the plan which this Company is formed to carry out
had been received, whereupon Mr. Mackinnon, the Chair-
man of that Committee; observed that " the evidence re-
specting Colonel Meceroni's invention, was most satisfactory
and conclusive. He was very glad that evidence had been
received, as it would greatly assist the Committee in re-
commending a means of saving the main roads, and the
interests connected with them from the ruin with which
they were threatened." . It was in accordance with those
I views, the Company had undeetaken to introduce steam
conveyance on the common turnpike roads; and it was
with no small pride the Committee had to announce that
a carriage constructed on the principle of Col. Maccroni's
invention was about to start, which would at once satisfy
the Shareholders and the public, and lay the foun-
dation for its general adoption by every coaching
, establishment throughout the kingdom. But to facilitate
a speedy, uniform,. and general adoption of steam convey-
ance upon common roads, a large and liberal aid on the
part of those whose interest would be advanced thereby,
I was necessary. Of such aid the Committee had the most
positive assurances, for the road interests had by this time
discovered that it was only by the common road steam car-
riage their property could be preserved, and their
traffic maintained. Throughout the country the
coach proprietors, innkeepers, and the very large
body of persons who are interested in turnpike
trusts, as well as the inhabitants and proprietors
of every species of property upon and contigtious to the
public lines of road, are at this moment looking forward
with anxious hope to the success of this Company, as the
means whereby their activity shall be revived, and their
interests preserved from ruin. A patent had been oh-
! tained for Colonel Maceroni's invention, and a carriage
is in course of completion at Mr. Beale's factory, at East
Greenwich ; and the Committee arc convinced that they
will shortly be able to make arrangements for
bringing the steam-carriages into general use—(Hear,
hear, hear)—without calling for the full amount of
capital suggested in the prospectus. They had been
enabled to do their. work thus far without contracting any
debt which their fundi in hand (without resorting to fur-
ther calls) are not adequate to meet—(Applause)—and
they rest assured that when the carriage is once in opera-
tion before the public, ample resources will be at hand._
( Hear, bear.) Such care is taken in the construction of
the first carriages, under the superintendence of Mr. Alex-
ander Gordon, the eminent engineer, and in one of the most
celebrated manufacturing establishments in this country,
that the Committee fearlessly assert that they will excel all
others hitherto brought before the public in material and
manufacture, as well as in principle.—( Hear, hear.)
The CHAIRMAN, in proposing success to the " Maceroni
Common Road Steam Conveyance Company," observed,
that the toast involved success also to the Gallant Colonel,
upon whose invention the Company rested its hopes.—
( Hear, bear.) Of that success there was, he believed,
now no doubt. The innkeepers, coach-proprietors, and
trustees of roads throughout .the country had suffered
very greatly from the railroads ; and he had no doubt that
as soon as the carriages began to run there would be
abundant support from those sufferers.--(Hear, hear).
Indeed there was already a far greater demand for car-
riaa;es than the Company would be for some time able to
supply. The Company had also attracted already the
attention of the capitalists ; and every person whose name
appeared upon the list of Shareholders eras a bona fide
proprietor, and had paid up the full amount of his sharer.
—( Hear, hear, hear.) The whole question of their success
appeared to him to resolve itself into thi,—Had they a car-
riage which could run 2--( Hear, hear.) When lie consi-
dered the great results that had been obtained by the ap-
plication of steam, he did not think that there was any-
thing incredible in the supposition that a steam carriage
could run upon a common road. Indeed, after what had
been reported by the Committee of the Housed Commons
in 1831, and afterwards in 1839, the only wonder was that
such a steam-carriage was not running yet. Five years
ago, Colonel Maceroni had a carriage running for 18
months, with perfect success, and without any accident.
The statement of Mr. Mackinnon would be fully borne cut
by scientific men then present, who would bear testimony
to the entire practicability of the Celonel'e carriage upon
I a common road —( vicar.) The carriages of other in-
ventors had been tried certainly, but not at all to the same
extent, or with the same success as that of Colonel Ma-
ceroni's. This Company would shortly be able to run
their carriages from London to Birmingham, or elsewhere,
,at a lower rate than was charged by the railway, and
wouid, no doubt, realise for the Celenel the fortune which
he merited, and ample profit; to the Shareholders, and to
time proprietors and others who, would me the carriages,
and who had made epplications for them from all parts of
the country. They all knew what large sums had been
invested in the carrying establishments of this country, and
there was every reason to believe that many of time proprie-
tors of those establishments would in some form or other
advance to this Company the capital which heretofore they
had been accustomed to invest in the horse coaches. It
mattered not whether they advanced their money in the
purchase of shares, or in the form ofa bodus to the Share-
holders for the use of their carriages-4 Hear, hear)—and
that was one reason why he thought the Company should
be able to meet the demand, which was already so extensive,
without calling for all the capital stated in the prospectus.
For his own part he (Mr. Theobald) would have nothing to
do with this undertaking, if he had not the most perfect
faith in its success, and he was sure that that that was the
sentiment of every person in the Committee. He ap-
pealed to Mr. Herring on his right, and Mr. Hulmandel
on his left, who hal expended large sums of money upon
their confidence in the capabilities of Colonel Maceroni's
invention.—( Hear.)
Colonel Mneertoen in returning thanks for the toast
with which his name had been coupled, said that in the course
of the last 20 years many people had attempted to produce
a steam carriage that would run upon a common turnpike
road, and of these the mostclever were those which had the
least good 111(.1.-4 A laugh. ) The principal amongst
them was a Mr. James of Birmingham, who was fol-
lowed by Mr. Gurney. He (Colonel Maccrone) had as-
sisted the latter for six months, until he was convinced
that Mr. Gurney's plan was a failure altogether. He had
served an apprenticeship, but all that he had learned was
to avoid the errors of others. He hail found that there
must be no smoke—no noise—no chiamey—and no ashes
flying about. He had been asked by many editors of
newspapers to give them an account of what his carriage
could do. But he had invariably refused to do so.
and always told them to come and ride with him, that they
might judge of his performances for themselves, with their
watches in their hands. He appealed to Mr. Hulmandel,
whose name was connected with one of the most important
inventions of the age (lithography), and who had rode with
him for months, whether that statement was not true, and
whether he had not always told those gentlemen not to
show him what they wrote until it was published?—( Hear,
hear.) The Colonel, having briefly sketched the history
of his carriage, sat down amidst much applause.
Mr. HODGSON, who occupied the Vice Chair, said that
he had great pleasure in meeting on that occasion so many
friends of the Company, and he believed that their pre-
sence augured well for the success of the undertaking.
That the invention was one of surpassing grandeur, no
man could deny-- nor could it be denied that it would
attract public admiration, and that it would be attended
with great national advantage.—( Applause. ) Its progres s
had been retarded by that prejudice which opposes every
improvement. But there was now every reason to look
forward to its triumph. The carriage would have
all the advantage of Mr. Al. xander Cordon's scien-
tific so erintendence in its construction, and the me-
chanical skill, experience, and ample means of Mr.
Beak. These gentlemen would tell the Company
whether the carriage would give new life to the drooping
road interests.---( Hear.) The public would see that
those carriages would maintain the traffic upon the com-
mon roads without time dreadfully ruinous expense of the
railways, and would carry thorn from village' to village,
and from town to town, by the established routes.—
He himself had been sceptical as to the practicability
of the Colonel's plans ; but upon examining the mass of
evidence which appeared in support of them, conviction
had been carried to his mind, and he become a sincere ad.
wirer of the invention. It was not from any knowledge
of his own his judgment had been formed, but it was from
what be had seen of the evidence given upon oath, by
persons who were above suspicion, who were amongst the
highest rank, and the most eminent in science that this

country can boast of, that this invention of Maceronis had
been satisfactorily tried and had been amply successful.—
( Applauce.) That conviction was not confined to him
alone, nor to men of his rank, but it had reached the

House of Commons—(Hear)—it had reached the Mar-
quisate—(Hear, hear)—nay, he would ask, what man
could doubt the complete success of the carriage after the
decided and conclusive testimony given i❑ its favour by the
Marquis of Twceddale before the Committee of the House

of Commons in 1839 ?—( New:, hear.) But it was not to
be wondered at that that conviction had not been extended

more widely, -- -----
ft -Was obstructed by that prejudice to
to which he had before referred, when they remembered

that not many years had passed sirce six Briiish Admirals,
upon mature deliberation, solemnly pronounced that steam
navigaVon upon the high seas was quits impossible, and
now they saw those magnificent steam-ships, of thousands
of tons burthen, traversing the Atlantic with as much case
and certainty as others navigated The Thames, or crossed
the British Channel.—(Hear, hear.) In concluding his
eloquent speech, Mr. Hodgson, having complimented the
Committee for their indefatigable labours, and the zeal
and determination they had shown to carry to fulfilment
the objects of the Company, proposed the health of the
gentlemen composing tile Provisional Committee of the
Common Road Steam Conveyance Company.
Mr. TIIEOaALD bore testimony to the assiduity and pains
taken by the Committee. They had in everything
tected the interests of thc Company, and used every cpxreor-.
tion to accomplish tbeir object. ' The toast was drunk
with much applause. Song--" Dear Molly has never
been false," Mr. Willing.

The CHAIRMAN then proposed the health of Alexander
Garden, Esq., the engineer to the Company, whose skill
and exertion in superintending the coast' fiction of the Com-
pany's engines, and otherwise aiding the Committee by his
professional judgment and assistance, he warmly eulogised.
Mr. ALEXANDER CORDON returned thanks. It was
with extreme pleasure he saw so many gentlemen inte-
rested in the internal improvement of the country as-
sembled at that festive beard. He sincerely thanked
Hodgson for having acknowledged, in his eloquent
speech,
that he (Mr. Alexander Gordon) had been the
first to declare the practicability of steam carriages upon
public roads.---( Hear, hear.) He had made tha, declare-
don at the time when the Manchester and Liverpool Rail-
way was first projected. He had not only been unsupported
by his professional brethren, but he had been assailed with
misrepresentations and calumnies.—( Beer, hear, from
Colonel Maceroni.) Amidst these •he had protested
against those enactments of Parliament, giving to large,
powerful, and wealthy bodies the monopoly of the lines of
road ehich they selected—( Hear, hear)--advanteges were
granted to those bodies which no other institutions pos-
sessed. Canal companies were forbidden to be carriers
on their own lines ; turnpike trusts were not allowed to be
sources of profit; but the Railway companies had the
whole monopoly of the carrying trade upon their
own. lines, and there was no limit to the profits
which .they might exact. When they were insolvent
Gnverument assisted them with money to go on in oppo-
sition to those roads, - which were public property. In
1832 and 1833 he had put forth four propositions, one of
which was that the public roads, the proprietors of inns,
and carrying establishments, would inevitably be ruined,
however little profit the railways might produce to their
proprietors. After he had suffered so much from the
opposition of his
,colleagues, it was easy to suppose what he
felt when two Committees of the House of Commons
reported that the railways had effected the ruin which
he predicted, and that steam-carriages upon common
roads were not only praCticable but were capable of
maintaining tne main nee of reads, from which the ruin they
were threatened. Those Committees were composed of
Members interested with the commerce of the country,
and they would be well able to enforce their views, when
a Bill founded upon their recommendations came before
the House, and it shortly would. The cause of comnioe
road steam conveyance was not confined to. that room, but
the Goverrnment and the Legislature had found out the
evils .of the railway monopolies, which they had so long
encouraged. 'The Committee of last year bad been re-
composed of the same Members, and Mr. Labouchere, the
President of the Board of Trade, was its chairman. He
(Mr. G.) did not know how far it would be right to
suggest that this Company should petiiion the House
to bring the whole subject before the Coaarniztee. He did
not know how far it would be for the ad-
vantage of this Company to show the House that the
freedom of the carrying trade could be !maintained
by steam carriages.—(Loud and continued applause.)
Ile would not cuter into a comparison of Colonel
Maceroni's carriages with those of other inventors. He
would only say that with the attention which Mr. Beale
was applying to 'it, they Would now have a carriage which
would answer every purpose for which it was intended.
He concluded by proposing the health of Lord Brougham,
whom he eulogised as the friend of every real improvement,
and who took, he said, a deep interest in the objects cr, this
Company.
Dr. SCOTT, in an eloquent speech, which was raptu-
rously applauded, bore testimony to the eulogy which had
been passed upon Lord Brougham.
The health of Lord Brougham was than drunk with
enthusiasm, the whole company standing.
Mr. Morgan sang a new, original, and irresistibly laugh-
able song—," There never was such knowledge as we now
see."

The CHAMMAN next proposed the health of the Share-
hollers, through whose means it was that the Committee
had been enabled to surmount the difficulties which lay in
the way of their important, useful, and magnificent under-
taking. It was not to be forgotten, in doing due honour
to this lost, that, as had been already stated every per-
son whose name appeared upon the books of the Company
was a bona fide Shareholder, and had paid up the full
amount of the shares subscribed for.—(Hear.)
Mr. GOLDNEY returned thanks for the Shareholders.
After all that had been said by the previous speakers, he
would not attempt to recapitulate the advantages which
this country would derive from locomotive steam carriages
upon common roads. He would only express his regret
that those who were most interested in the preservation
of the roads, bad not come forward more numerously and
more liberally to forward the objects of this Company.—
(Hear, hear.) They were the persons to be benefited.—
( Hear, hear. ) The inns were shutting up—the business
of the Post-rnasters was cearly at an end, and the turn-
pike roads were deserted.—(Hear, bear.) But he had no
doubt that those parsons would soon come forward—that
they would very shortly be convinced how far their inte-
rests were involved in this national undertaking. He
himz,ll had become a shareholder, because he was con-
vinced of its importance and precticability, and the proofs
of its complete success were conclusive and undeniable.
Mr. CONOASEN said that ti: Se was one topic in the Re-
port to which he thought it right to advert—namely, the
eminent practical engineer to whom the construction
of the carriages had been cntrneted.—(Hear, hear.)
(Mr. Concanen then passed a warm. eulogy upon
Mr. Beale, which was cordially respOnded to by the
gentlemen present, especially by Colonel Maceroni and
Mr. Alexander Gordon.) For himself, he might take
that opportunity of observing that he had been at first ex-
ceedingly sceptical, as to the feasibility of all that was
affirmed of Colonel Maceroni's invention. But he could
no longer have a doubt when he read the numerous testi-
monials of the most scientific and unbiassed persons ; and
when he attended in the Committee-room of the House of
Commons, and_ heard the statements of Mr. Mackinnon,
the Chairman of the Committee, of Mr. Charles Hul-
manciel, of the Marquis of Tweeddale4 of Captain Fit zfzerald,
of Mr. Leitch Ritchie, and Mr. Alexander Gordon.—
(Hear, hear.) He observed on that occasion, that at the
commencement of the inquiry, nine out of ten of
the Members of the Committee were disposed to turn the
pretensions of the carriage into ridicule. But before the
conclusion, the evidence which they heard had upon them
the same effect that it bad upon him, and they became con-
verts to the same opinion.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. BEALE'S health having been drunk with applause,
that gentleman returned thanks. He would not occupy
the company with a long speech, but he was bound to say,
as a practical engineer, that Meceroni's steam-carriage was
the only one that over fascinated him. Many people in-
deed, and engineers too, took upon themselves to criticise
that invention without knowing anything about it.—
(Hear, hear.) He once asked a gentleman who was
speaking very learnedly upon the subject, if he knew
what was the dynamic force of one cubic foot of
water raised into steam? The• gentleman could not
tell. He had never considered the matter. Well, the dy-
namic force of a cubic foot of water raised into steam and
efficiently applied in Maceroni's engine, was equal to 32 000
lbs. per hour ?—(Hear.) He concluded by declaring his
confident belief that the undertaking would infallibly suc-
ceed.

Mr. BENINGFIELD, one of the Committee, proposed the
health of the innkeepers, coach-proprietors, and post-
masters of the country. He was satisfied that the Com-
pany was working out the prosperity of that now suffering
body. He was not surprised that the company had, as yet,
received but little aid from them, for although they were a
very intelligent body of men, they were but little acquaint-
ed with scientific matters. But when they came to
appreciate the grounds upon which his conviction bad
been formed (and he declared solemnly to his Maker, that
his ccnvictioa of the success of the carriages, was thorough
and sincere,) they would see how much their interests were
involved in this undertaking. Ile regretted that the
eminent and highly respectable coach-master, by whose
aide he had the pleasure of sitting at that table, during the
previous part of the evening, had been obliged to go
away before that toast was given. It would not, however,
be drunk the less cordially on that aceount.—( Appian:o.)
The toast was drunk with due honours, as were the
healths of the Chairman, and of Messrs. llcdgson and
Concanen, the solicitors, and the company separated at
a late hour, apparently much satisfied with the important
information they had received; and also well satisfied with
the faultless banquet which Mr. Simpson (the landlord)
had provided.