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all the principal towns in the north…west counties of Ireland。
The cars interlaced with each other； and plied； not so much in
continuous main lines； as across country； so as to bring all
important towns； but especially the market towns； into regular
daily communication with each other。 Thus； in the course of
about thirty years； Bianconi succeeded in establishing a system
of internal communication in Ireland； which traversed the main
highways and cross…roads from town to town； and gave the public a
regular and safe car accommodation at the average rate of a
penny…farthing per mile。
The traffic in all directions steadily increased。 The first car
used was capable of accommodating only six persons。 This was
between Clonmel and Cahir。 But when it went on to Limerick； a
larger car was required。 The traffic between Clonmel and
Waterford was also begun with a small…sized car。 But in the
course of a few years； there were four large…sized cars；
travelling daily each way； between the two places。 And so it was
in other directions； between Cork in the south； and Sligo and
Strabane in the north and north…west； between Wexford in the
east； and Galway and Skibbereen in the west and south…west。
Bianconi first increased the accommodation of these cars so as to
carry four persons on each side instead of three； drawn by two
horses。 But as the two horses could quite as easily carry two
additional passengers； another piece was added to the car so as
to carry five passengers。 Then another four…wheeled car was
built； drawn by three horses； so as to carry six passengers on
each side。 And lastly； a fourth horse was used； and the car was
further enlarged； so as to accommodate seven； and eventually
eight passengers on each side； with one on the box； which made a
total accommodation for seventeen passengers。 The largest and
heaviest of the long cars； on four wheels； was called 〃Finn
MacCoul's；〃 after Ossian's Giant； the fast cars； of a light
build； on two wheels； were called 〃Faugh…a…ballagh；〃 or 〃clear
the way〃； while the intermediate cars were named 〃Massey
Dawsons；〃 after a popular Tory squire。
When Bianconi's system was complete； he had about a hundred
vehicles at work； a hundred and forty stations for changing
horses； where from one to eight grooms were employed； about a
hundred drivers； thirteen hundred horses； performing an average
distance of three thousand eight hundred miles daily； passing
through twenty…three counties； and visiting no fewer than a
hundred and twenty of the principal towns and cities in the south
and west and midland counties of Ireland。 Bianconi's horses
consumed on an average from three to four thousand tons of hay
yearly； and from thirty to forty thousand barrels of oats； all of
which were purchased in the respective localities in which they
were grown。
Bianconi's carsor 〃The Bians〃soon became very popular。
Everybody was under obligations to them。 They greatly promoted
the improvement of the country。 People could go to market and
buy or sell their goods more advantageously。 It was cheaper for
them to ride than to walk。 They brought the whole people of the
country so much nearer to each other。 They virtually opened up
about seven…tenths of Ireland to civilisation and commerce； and
among their other advantages； they opened markets for the fresh
fish caught by the fishermen of Galway； Clifden； Westport； and
other places； enabling them to be sold throughout the country on
the day after they were caught。 They also opened the magnificent
scenery of Ireland to tourists； and enabled them to visit Bantry
Bay； Killarney； South Donegal； and the wilds of Connemara in
safety； all the year round。
Bianconi's service to the public was so great； and it was done
with so much tact； that nobody had a word to say against him。
Everybody was his friend。 Not even the Whiteboys would injure
him or the mails he carried。 He could say with pride； that in
the most disturbed times his cars had never been molested。 Even
during the Whiteboy insurrection； though hundreds of people were
on the roads at night； the traffic went on without interference。
At the meeting of the British Association in 1857； Bianconi said：
〃My conveyances； many of them carrying very important mails； have
been travelling during all hours of the day and night； often in
lonely and unfrequented places； and during the long period of
forty…two years that my establishment has been in existence； the
slightest injury has never been done by the people to my
property； or that entrusted to my care； and this fact gives me
greater pleasure than any pride I might feel in reflecting upon
the other rewards of my life's labour。〃
Of course Bianconi's cars were found of great use for carrying
the mails。 The post was； at the beginning of his enterprise；
very badly served in Ireland； chiefly by foot and horse posts。
When the first car was run from Clonmel to Cahir； Bianconi
offered to carry the mail for half the price then paid for
〃sending it alternately by a mule and a bad horse。〃 The post was
afterwards found to come regularly instead of irregularly to
Cahir； and the practice of sending the mails by Bianconi's cars
increased from year to year。 Dispatch won its way to popularity
in Ireland as elsewhere； and Bianconi lived to see all the
cross…posts in Ireland arranged on his system。
The postage authorities frequently used the cars of Bianconi as a
means of competing with the few existing mail…coaches。 For
instance； they asked him to compete for carrying the post between
Limerick and Tralee； then carried by a mail…coach。 Before
tendering； Bianconi called on the contractor； to induce him to
give in to the requirements of the Post Office； because he knew
that the postal authorities only desired to make use of him to
fight the coach proprietors。 But having been informed that it
was the intention of the Post Office to discontinue the
mail…coach whether Bianconi took the contract or not； he at
length sent in his tender； and obtained the contract。
He succeeded in performing the service； and delivered the mail
much earlier than it had been done before。 But the former
contractor； finding that he had made a mistake； got up a movement
in favour of re…establishing the mail…coach upon that line of
road； and he eventually induced the postage authorities to take
the mail contract out of the hands of Bianconi； and give it back
to himself； as formerly。 Bianconi； however； continued to keep
his cars upon the road。 He had before stated to the contractor；
that if he once started his cars； he would not leave it； even
though the contract were taken from him。 Both coach and car
therefore ran for years upon the road； each losing thousands of
pounds。 〃But；〃 said Bianconi； when asked about the matter by the
Committee on Postage in 1838； 〃I kept my word： I must either
lose character by breaking my word； or lose money。 I prefer