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Clonmel； the second day to do his business； and the third to walk
back again； whereas he could； in one day； travel backwards and
forwards between the two towns； and have five or six intermediate
hours for the purpose of doing his business。 Thus two clear days
could be saved。
Still carrying out his scheme； Bianconi； in the following year
（1816）； put on a car from Clonmel to Waterford。 Before that time
there was no car accommodation between Clonmel and
Carrick…on…Suir； about half…way to Waterford； but there was an
accommodation by boat between Carrick and Waterford。 The
distance between the two latter places was； by road； twelve
miles； and by the river Suir twenty…four miles。 Tom Morrissey's
boat plied two days a week； it carried from eight to ten
passengers at 6 1/2d。 of the then currency； it did the voyage in
from four to five hours； and besides had to wait for the tide to
float it up and down the river。 When Bianconi's car was put on；
it did the distance daily and regularly in two hours； at a fare
of two shillings。
The people soon got accustomed to the convenience of the cars。
They also learned from them the uses of punctuality and the value
of time。 They liked the open…air travelling and the sidelong
motion。 The new cars were also safe and well…appointed。 They
were drawn by good horses and driven by good coachmen。
Jaunting…car travelling had before been rather unsafe。 The
country cars were of a ramshackle order； and the drivers were
often reckless。 〃Will I pay the pike； or drive at it； plaise
your honour？〃 said a driver to his passenger on approaching a
turnpike…gate。 Sam Lover used to tell a story of a car…driver；
who； after driving his passenger up…hill and down…hill； along a
very bad road； asked him for something extra at the end of his
journey。
〃Faith；〃 said the driver； 〃its not putting me off with this ye'd
be； if ye knew but all。〃 The gentleman gave him another
shilling。 〃And now what do you mean by saying； 'if ye knew but
all？'〃 〃That I druv yer honor the last three miles widout a
linch…pin！〃
Bianconi； to make sure of the soundness and safety of his cars；
set up a workshop to build them for himself。 He could thus
depend upon their soundness； down even to the linch…pin itself。
He kept on his carving and gilding shop until his car business
had increased so much that it required the whole of his time and
attention； and then he gave it up。 In fact； when he was able to
run a car from Clonmel to Waterford… a distance of thirty…two
milesat a fare of three…and…sixpence； his eventual triumph was
secure。
He made Waterford one of the centres of his operations； as he had
already made Clonmel。 In 1818 he established a car between
Waterford and Ross； in the following year a car between Waterford
and Wexford； and another between Waterford and Enniscorthy。 A
few years later he established other cars between Waterford and
Kilkenny； and Waterford and Dungarvan。 From these furthest
points； again； other cars were established in communication with
them； carrying the line further north； east； and west。 So much
had the travelling between Clonmel and Waterford increased； that
in a few years （instead of the eight or ten passengers conveyed
by Tom Morrissey's boat on the Suir） there was horse and car
power capable of conveying a hundred passengers daily between the
two places。
Bianconi did a great stroke of business at the Waterford election
of 1826。 Indeed it was the turning point of his fortunes。 He
was at first greatly cramped for capital。 The expense of
maintaining and increasing his stock of cars； and of foddering
his horses was very great； and he was always on the look…out for
more capital。 When the Waterford election took place； the
Beresford party； then all…powerful； engaged all his cars to drive
the electors to the poll。 The popular party； however； started a
candidate； and applied to Bianconi for help。 But he could not
comply； for his cars were all engaged。 The morning after his
refusal of the application； Bianconi was pelted with mud。 One or
two of his cars and horses were heaved over the bridge。
Bianconi then wrote to Beresford's agent； stating that he could
no longer risk the lives of his drivers and his horses； and
desiring to be released from his engagement。 The Beresford party
had no desire to endanger the lives of the car…drivers or their
horses； and they set Bianconi free。 He then engaged with the
popular party； and enabled them to win the election。 For this he
was paid the sum of a thousand pounds。 This access of capital
was greatly helpful to him under the circumstances。 He was able
to command the market； both for horses and fodder。 He was also
placed in a position to extend the area of his car routes。
He now found time； amidst his numerous avocations； to get
married！ He was forty years of age before this event occurred。
He married Eliza Hayes； some twenty years younger than himself；
the daughter of Patrick Hayes； of Dublin； and of Henrietta
Burton； an English…woman。 The marriage was celebrated on the
14th of February； 1827； and the ceremony was performed by the
late Archbishop Murray。 Mr。 Bianconi must now have been in good
circumstances； as he settled two thousand pounds upon his wife on
their marriage…day。 His early married life was divided between
his cars； electioneering； and Repeal agitationfor he was always
a great ally of O'Connell。 Though he joined in the Repeal
movement； his sympathies were not with it； for he preferred
Imperial to Home Rule。 But he could never deny himself the
pleasure of following O'Connell； 〃right or wrong。〃
Let us give a picture of Bianconi now。 The curly…haired Italian
boy had grown a handsome man。 His black locks curled all over
his head like those of an ancient Roman bust。 His face was full
of power； his chin was firm； his nose was finely cut and
well…formed； his eyes were keen and sparkling； as if throwing out
a challenge to fortune。 He was active； energetic； healthy； and
strong； spending his time mostly in the open air。 He had a
wonderful recollection of faces； and rarely forgot to recognise
the countenance that he had once seen。 He even knew all his
horses by name。 He spent little of his time at home； but was
constantly rushing about the country after business； extending
his connections； organizing his staff； and arranging the centres
of his traffic。
To return to the car arrangements。 A line was early opened from
Clonmel which was at first the centre of the entire
connectionto Cork； and that line was extended northward；
through Mallow and Limerick。 Then； the Limerick car went on to
Tralee； and from thence to Cahirciveen； on the south…west coast
of Ireland。 The cars were also extended northward from Thurles
to Roscrea； Ballinasloe； Athlone； Roscommon； and Sligo； and to
all the principal towns in the north…west counties of Ireland。
The cars interlaced with e