The million-peopled city
Garwood, John
1853
Their present Number.
In the census returns of , the number of persons connected with the hackney carriage business of the metro- polis was 2,047, which in the succeeding 20 years has increased far more rapidly, notwithstanding the immense amount of business done in omnibuses, which has sprung up during that period. On , there were 3,593 licensed metropolitan cabs. The number of licensed cab-drivers was 6,388, and of licensed watermen 346, making a total of 6,734. With their wives and families, they probably constitute a body of 25,000 indi- viduals. They are also every year increasing in number. During the last 6 years the number of cabs has increased 943, and of cab-drivers 1,751. Unlicensed men are also to be added to this enumeration. | |
There are far more men employed in this manner in London than there are in all the other towns of the United | |
171 | Kingdom added together. According to the "Occupation Abstract" of , of 14,469 "coachmen, coach-guards, and post-boys," in Great Britain, 9,104 were employed in the metropolis. |