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as were stationed for liire in the streets. Iu 1G50 Charles Villerine obtained the exclusive privilege of hiring out fiacres in Paris for a payment of 5000 livres. The prototype of the modern omnibus first commenced plying in the streets of Paris on the 18th March 1062, going at fixed hours, at a stated fare of five sous. Soldiers, lackeys, pages, and livery servants were forbidden to enter such con veyances, which were announced to be pour la plus grand commodite et lihcrte des personnes de merite. In the time of Charles X. the omnibus system in reality was established ; for no exclusion of any class or condition of person who tendered the proper fare was permitted in the vehicles then put on various routes, and the fact of the carriages being

thus at the service of all gave rise to the present name.

Hackney coaches were first established in London in 1 625. Writing in 1 634 to Lord Stafford, Mr Garrard says, " Here is one Captain Bailey ; he hath been a sea captain, but now lives on the land, about this city, where he tries experiments. He hath erected, according to his ability, some four hackney-coaches, put his men iu livery, and appointed them to stand at the May-pole in the Strand, giving them instructions at what rate to carry men into several parts of the town, where all day they may be had. Other hackney-men seeing this way, they flocked to the same place, and perform their journeys at the same rate, so that sometimes there is twenty of them together."

In 1637 there were in London and Westminster no f 3wer than 50 such coaches ; in 1652 they had increased tj 200, and in 1654 to 300, employing 600 horses. In 1694 the number of hackney coaches was limited to 700, and in 1715 to 800. Thus, notwithstanding the competi tion of sedan chairs, the hackney-coach held its place and grew in importance till it was, about 1820, supplanted by the cabriolet de place, now shortened into " cab," which had previously held a most important place in Paris. In that city the cabriolet came into great public favour about the middle of the 18th century, and in the year 1813 there were 1150 such vehicles plying in the Parisian streets. The original cabriolet was a kind of liooded gig, inside which the driver sat, besides whom there was only room left for a single passenger. Mr Hansom, the inventor whose name attaches to the London two-wheeled vehicle to the present day, patented his cab first in the year 1834. It consisted originally of a square body hung in the centre of a square frame, the two wheels being about 7 feet 6 inches in diameter, the same height as the vehicle. On this very numerous improvements were quickly made, and iu 1836, after a fresh patent had been obtained in name of Messrs Gillett and Chapman, a com- pauy was formed for establishing hansom cabs essentially the same as now in use.

Of coaches possessing a history the two best known in the United Kingdom are Her Majesty s state coach, and that of the Lord Mayor of London. The latter is the oldest, having been built, or at least first used, for the procession of Sir Charles Asgil, Lord Mayor elect, in November 1757. The body of this wonderful vehicle is not supported by springs, but hung on leather straps ; and the whole structure is very richly loaded with ornamental carving, gilding, and paint-work. The different panels and the doors contain various allegorical groups of figures re presenting suitable subjects and heraldic devices painted in a spirited manner. The royal state coach, which is described as " the most superb carriage ever built," was designed by Sir William Chambers, the paintings on it were executed by Cipriani, and the work was completed in 1761. The following is an official description of it :

"The whole of the carriage and body is richly ornamented with laurel and carved work, beautifully gilt. The length, 24 feet ; tddth, 8 feet 3 inches ; height, 12 foot ; length of pole, 12 feet 4 inches ; weight, 4 tons. The carriage and body of the coach is com posed as follows : Of four large Tritons, who support the body by four braces, covered with red morocco leather, and ornamented with gilt buckles, the two figures placed in front of the carriage bear the driver, and are represented in the action of drawing by cables extending round their shoulders, and the cranes and sounding- shells to announce the approach of the monarch of the Ocean ; and those at the back carry the imperial fasces, topped with tridents. The driver s foot-board is a large scallop shell, ornamented with bunches of reeds and other marine plants. The pole represents a bundle of lances ; the splinter bar is composed of a rich moulding, issuing from beneath a voluted shell, and each end terminating in the head of a dolphin ; and the wheels are imitated from those of the ancient triumphal chariot. The body of the coach is composed of eight palm-trees, which, branching out at the top, sustain the roof ; and four angular trees are loaded with trophies allusive to the victories obtained by Great Britain, during the late glorious war, supported by four lions heads. On the centre of the roof stand three boys, representing the genii of England, Scotland, and Ireland, support ing the imperial crown of Great Britain, and holding in their hands the sceptre, sword of state, and ensigns of knighthood ; their bodies are adorned with festoons of laurel, which fall from thence towards the four corners. The panels and doors are painted with appropri ate emblematical devices, and the linings are of scarlet velvet richly embossed with national emblems."

Modern Carriages.—The forms of carnages as now built are so numerous as almost to defy classification, and they altogether baffle detailed description. The climate, con ditions of life, and various other circumstances of different countries have originated modified forms of carriage in each of them, some of which have come into general use, while others are seldom seen out of the land of their origin. Mr G. N. Hooper, of the firm of Hooper & Co. of London, who has given valuable assistance in the preparation of the present article, supplies the following table of modern carriages with the countries of their origin:—

Coach. Kotze, Berlin. Hungary or Prussia. Chariot. Coupe. France. Barouche. Caleche. Britzska. Britzska. Austria. Droski. Droitzska. Germany and Russia. Cabriolet. Cabriolet. France. Cab Phaeton. Milord or Victoria. England. Mail Phaeton. Mail phaeton. M Gig and Tilbury. Tilbury. ,, Curricle. Curricle. Italy. Landau. Landau . Germany. Fourgon. Fourgon. France. Dog-cart. To-car. England. Omnibus. Omnibus. France (byShillibeer, an Englishman). Drag. Malle-Anglaise. England. Park Phaeton. Phaeton de pare. Brougham. Petit coupe. )) (Lord Brougham). Double Brougham. ) Clarence. Clarence. England. Waggonette. Waggonette Sociable. Sociable. n T-cart. T-cart. Sociable-landau. Basket carriage. Panier-a-salade. ti Britzska-chariot. Eilwagen. Germany. Spider phaeton. America. Kockaway. ,, Char-a-cote. Switzerland. Tarantaa. Voiture de voyage. Russia. Kibitka. ,, Telega. ,, Troika. ,, Outside car on two ) T 1 1 or four wheels. irclQ-iid. SlIaArrn ! Russia, Norway, Ger oiecige. 1 many, Canada, &c. Carriole. Norway. In addition to this list there are numberless forms of fancy carriage, and the misdirected ingenuity of coach-builders is frequently exercised in the attempt to combine the features

and advantages of several vehicles in one structure,