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Motor-Propelled Vehicles 311 the tune of £2 ! Needless to say, it would have required the resources of a millionaire to have main- tained a public service in the face of these condi- tions. Hancock did not happen to be a millionaire and so he bowed to the inexorable decree of Fate. He withdrew his vehicles, literally hounded off the streets. But it must not be imagined for a single moment that all these pioneers calmly submitted to the public wrath. Then, as now, cunning resort was made to subterfuge in the hope of achieving the desired end without coming into conflict with the powers that appeared to hold the whip hand. As the greater objection arose from the pollution of the streets during the day, when they were thronged with other traffic, both pedestrian and vehicular, one or two of the advocates of the new system of locomotion decided to run their vehicles during the night, when the highways were deserted and all good people and animals were at rest. This move proved highly successful for a time and during 1861 the nocturnal steam-driven coaches plied a thriving trade. Owing to operations being conducted during the hours of darkness, a vehicle engaged in this business became christened as the “ fly-by-night.” The enthusiastic owner of such a carriage rather enjoyed the nocturnal ride. The road- ways being free of other traffic, there was the chance “ to open her out and to let her go for all she was worth.” The ability to thunder along the roads and to rattle and chug through villages at 10 to 15 miles an hour provided a new and thrilling sensation. But the guardians of the community came to the