The Sun.
London, England, 1856-11-12 00:00:00

however desirable, being effected for many a long
year to come—inferring from this consideration
and others the propriety, not to say the neces4.y,
of doing, what is called, for thoroughly and welt,
which we submit would not be the c,se if sani
tary considerations were overlooked. We would
also impress on the minds of the Chief Commis-
sioner of Works and the Metropolitan Board the
duty of providing the best possible approaches to
the bridges and railway stations existing as well
as to be built above London-bridge. The metro-
polis is something more than the city and borough
boundaries, and its general interests, as well as
those of particular parts, demand the care-
ful consideration of those who are entrusted
with the oversight of the whole. The health
of the Borough and the convenience of pas-
sengers, by rail and otherwise, we therefore
trust will not be overlooked ; but, on the con-
trary, hope that everything will be done that can
be expected to meet the wants, and accord with
the enlightened spirit of the age, which regards
the future as well as the present, the health as
well as the commerce and material pro sperity of
the community at large.

If the public are really desirous of Omnibus
Reform, the matter is now in their own hands.

They have before them the two essentials—an

omnibus which is as great an improvement as we
can well conceive of upon the old ones, and the
opportunity to enforce its introduction.

In regard to the vehicle, we have carefully and
minutely inspected it at the maker's in Drury-
lane, and can therefore confidently pronounce
that it leaves little if anything to be desired; and
that little, not appreciable except by a close
scrutiny, will be supplied in the very next one
which is built. It is an admirable public car-
riage, and well deserves the title of " Saloon
Omnibus ;" for the arrangement of the seats, by
which so much convenience to passengers is
secured, reminds you of a room with settees
of various kinds tastefully disp )sed by the
lady of the house. But taste to au
omnibus traveller is of course a secondary
(natter. We want seats not over-crowded,
and height and room to reach and quit
them without unpleasant encounters with the roof,
or with the knees of our fellow-passengers. We
wraut, also, air to breathe, light after dusk, better
(miens of communication with the conductor than
sticks, umbrellas, and parasols, and for those who
take the outside by preference, or because " it's
full inside," something better than irons to climb
ap on more adapted to a tar than to a landsman,
and something more pleasant than the ambitious
and leg-wearying elevation of " the knife-board."
A long catalogue of wants these, yet -we think
they are fairly met by the omnibus we have just
orspected. How shall we describe it ? One glance
"the faithful eyes" would do it best for any
‘‘f our readers. To begin where travellers begin :
when the driver has pulled tolerably near
the kerbstone, a gentleman, and even a lady, will
ordinarily step easily from the pavement unto the
foot-board without venturing into the mud. The
hack presents a centre board for the conductor,
Ind two doors, one at each side, for the passengers ;
hence the steps for the passengers extend each
way as far as the width of the vehicle permits.
suppose you enter by the near-side door, at which
eleven of the " twelve inside" enter, you see before
von, not over your head, neat brasses to take hold
.f and to steady your movements, and save you
from annoying yourself or others by an accidental
lunge right or left. A wide and level floor also
relps you to preserve the erect position, the os
itcblime, said to be the honour of our species.
But if you happen to be amongst the early corners,
what a choice of seats for you ! At the further
,uci you see a rnDat comfortable easy chair,
)aok to horses—room for but one there, of
course the chairman of the party. Thre e
any have the honour of sitting cm his right hand,
,nd four that of taking his left. At the end of
soh of those seats there is gratuitous accommoda-
ion for those most annoying of all passengers,
'vet umbrellas. Eight have thus found pleasant
)erths.

Three more find thsirs on a centre seat

soar the door ; but the favoured twelfth, as we
lave made him by beginning at the wrong end,
`or he will generally be the first, where is he to
co Why, all by himself; that is from the elbows

lownwards, in a pleasant little seat of his own, at
-he back of the last mentioned three p tssengera.
FE e. enters by the offside door, and his pockets, his
•lothes, hi• knees, and all that appertains to him
tre as secure as if he were riding in his own
►rougham. It is the seat for a lady and her
,ifant. Our only fear is that our richer neigh
,ours will hire it by the quarter, at a rate above
vhat we should like.

The outside you ascend with ease, by good, avail-
.ble steps, and when there you find yourself com-
fortably seated, eight of you, vis-a-vis, at no
:'rightful elevation, and your knees and feet in a
•osition of ease. The other four sit, as usual,
mith the driver ; but an arrangement is marie to
+aye you from inconvenient contact with his

Abows. The ventilation can be as much or little
Ls is wished. The communic ttion with the con-
luctor is simple and effective, by means of a
powerful bell close to him ; and eight inches in-
zeased width in the interior give perfect freedom
of movement to the seven who sit facing each
ether. Here, then, we have the first desideratum
—an omnibus for the sake of which we should
be heartily glad to turn all the old ones off the
road. Of course, no one can say what further
improvements may be made ; but here is improve-
ment far more than enough to determine the
public to tolerate nothing inferior to it. We
have at least ‘: first caught our hare."
Now for carrying our point. We may compel
the adoption of the omnibuses. A company is
formed under the Limited Liability Act (see our
advertising columns) to carry it out. The names
of APSLEY PELLATT, Esq., Sir JAMES EYRE,
Alderman Sir R. W.
GARDEN, and Mr. Alder ra in
CARTER') as patrons and honorary referees, are
sufficient to assure the public that they are in the
hands of men of business and honour. The
shares are but 1/. each, and therefore open to all.
Is it not well worth while for all residents in the
suburbs especially to take a few shares? One
pound, or five pounds, very generally subscribed,
would raise the requisite amount. The liability
would be closed with the payment ;
and one thing
is certain, that if from subsequent competition, or
any other cause, the company _failei, it would
have compelled a
universal improvement of the
omnibuses. Few .of us would be unwilling to
put down two pounds or five pounds, if all the
omnibuses in
London were certain to became
" Saloon Omnibuses." And we think it is abso-
lutely certain that this result must follow. We
should secure
almost the difference between first-
class and third-class railway accommodation, and
at least at fares not eiceedina those nor. charged.
We should like the meritorious patentee and the
c.impany to succeed,
and we see no reason why
'hey should not become a paying company; but,
,vhether they did or not, we should have carried
,ur main point, and have obtained an umnibui in
which both ladies and gentlemen could ride with
a degree of comfort now unknown. We should
recommend the
company to canvass the suburbs
from house to house. A very large constituency
of shareholders would give the public full power
to keep the managers of the omnibuses to their
duty, and we should think that not many would
grudge a pound or two to abate an inconvenience
they haye ?c, long )
Gerepleiued of.