. . .Notwithstanding these difficulties, the importance of applying steam as a locomotive power for passenger traffic became so apparent, that a Committee of the House of Commons was appointed in 1831, to consider whether the plan could be adopted with safety on common roads, and whether it should not be encouraged by passing an Act of Parliament for regulating the tolls chargeable on such carriages, and for preventing the obstructions to which they had been exposed. The evidence given before the Committee was greatly in favor of steam carriages, and tended to show that there was no insuperable difficulty to the general adoption of them. The Committee accordingly reported as follows:—

"Sufficient evidence has been adduced to convince your Committee—

"1st. That carriages can be propelled by steam on common roads at an average speed of ten miles an hour.

40 "2nd. That at that rate they have conveyed upwards fourteen passengers.

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