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wished to throw him upon his own resources； and as he would soon
be subject to the conscription； he thought of sending him to some
foreign country in order to avoid the forced service。 Young
fellows； who had any love of labour or promptings of independence
in them； were then accustomed to leave home and carry on their
occupations abroad。 It was a common practice for workmen in the
neighbourhood of Como to emigrate to England and carry on various
trades； more particularly the manufacture and sale of barometers；
looking…glasses； images； prints； pictures； and other articles。
Accordingly； Bianconi's father arranged with one Andrea Faroni to
take the young man to England and instruct him in the trade of
print…selling。 Bianconi was to be Faroni's apprentice for
eighteen months； and in the event of his not liking the
occupation； he was to be placed under the care of Colnaghi； a
friend of his father's； who was then making considerable progress
as a print…seller in London； and who afterwards succeeded in
achieving a considerable fortune and reputation。
Bianconi made his preparations for leaving home。 A little
festive entertainment was given at a little inn in Como； at which
the whole family were present。 It was a sad thing for Bianconi's
mother to take leave of her boy； wild though he was。 On the
occasion of this parting ceremony； she fainted outright； at which
the young fellow thought that things were assuming a rather
serious aspect。 As he finally left the family home at Tregolo；
the last words his mother said to him were these words which he
never forgot： 〃When you remember me； think of me as waiting at
this window； watching for your return。〃
Besides Charles Bianconi； Faroni took three other boys under his
charge。 One was the son of a small village innkeeper； another
the son of a tailor； and the third the son of a flax…dealer。
This party； under charge of the Padre； ascended the Alps by the
Val San Giacomo road。 From the summit of the pass they saw the
plains of Lombardy stretching away in the blue distance。 They
soon crossed the Swiss frontier； and then Bianconi found himself
finally separated from home。 He now felt； that without further
help from friends or relatives； he had his own way to make in the
world。
The party of travellers duly reached England； but Faroni； without
stopping in London； took them over to Ireland at once。 They
reached Dublin in the summer of 1802； and lodged in Temple Bar；
near Essex Bridge。 It was some little time before Faroni could
send out the boys to sell pictures。 First he had the leaden
frames to cast； then they had to be trimmed and coloured； and
then the picturesmostly of sacred subjects； or of public
charactershad to be mounted。 The flowers； which were of wax；
had also to be prepared and finished； ready for sale to the
passers…by。
When Bianconi went into the streets of Dublin to sell his mounted
prints； he could not speak a word of English。 He could only say；
〃Buy； buy！〃 Everybody spoke to him an unknown tongue。 When
asked the price； he could only indicate by his fingers the number
of pence he wanted for his goods。 At length he learned a little
English；at least sufficient 〃for the road；〃 and then he was
sent into the country to sell his merchandize。 He was despatched
every Monday morning with about forty shillings' worth of stock；
and ordered to return home on Saturdays； or as much sooner as he
liked； if he had sold all the pictures。 The only money his
master allowed him at starting was fourpence。 When Bianconi
remonstrated at the smallness of the amount； Faroni answered；
〃While you have goods you have money； make haste to sell your
goods！〃
During his apprenticeship； Bianconi learnt much of the country
through which he travelled。 He was constantly making
acquaintances with new people； and visiting new places。 At
Waterford he did a good trade in small prints。 Besides the
Scripture pieces； he sold portraits of the Royal Family； as well
as of Bonaparte and his most distinguished generals。 〃Bony〃 was
the dread of all magistrates； especially in Ireland。 At Passage；
near Waterford； Bianconi was arrested for having sold a leaden
framed picture of the famous French Emperor。 He was thrown into
a cold guard…room； and spent the night there without bed； or
fire； or food。 Next morning he was discharged by the magistrate；
but cautioned that he must not sell any more of such pictures。
Many things struck Bianconi in making his first journeys through
Ireland。 He was astonished at the dram…drinking of the men； and
the pipe…smoking of the women。 The violent faction…fights which
took place at the fairs which he frequented； were of a kind which
he had never before observed among the pacific people of North
Italy。 These faction…fights were the result； partly of
dram…drinking； and partly of the fighting mania which then
prevailed in Ireland。 There were also numbers of crippled and
deformed beggars in every town；quarrelling and fighting in the
streets；rows and drinkings at wakes；gambling； duelling； and
riotous living amongst all classes of the people；things which
could not but strike any ordinary observer at the time； but which
have now； for the most part； happily passed away。
At the end of eighteen months； Bianconi's apprenticeship was out；
and Faroni then offered to take him back to his father； in
compliance with the original understanding。 But Bianconi had no
wish to return to Italy。 Faroni then made over to him the money
he had retained on his account； and Bianconi set up business for
himself。 He was now about eighteen years old； he was strong and
healthy； and able to walk with a heavy load on his back from
twenty to thirty miles a day。 He bought a large case； filled it
with coloured prints and other articles； and started from Dublin
on a tour through the south of Ireland。 He succeeded； like most
persons who labour diligently。 The curly…haired Italian lad
became a general favourite。 He took his native politeness with
him everywhere； and made many friends among his various
customers throughout the country。
Bianconi used to say that it was about this time when he was
carrying his heavy case upon his back； weighing at least a
hundred poundsthat the idea began to strike him； of some cheap
method of conveyance being established for the accommodation of
the poorer classes in Ireland。 As he dismantled himself of his
case of pictures； and sat wearied and resting on the milestones
along the road； he puzzled his mind with the thought； 〃Why should
poor people walk and toil； and rich people ride and take their
ease？ Could not some method be devised by which poor people also
might have the opportunity of travelling comfortably？〃
It will thus be seen that Bianconi was already beginning to think
about the matter。 When asked； not long before his death； how it
was that he had first thought of starting his extensive Car
est