My point was that maybe the wording (as it has come down) possibly relied on two errors. Firstly the writer understanding 'Hansom' as meaning 'for hire', and then mistakenly writing it down as 'Handsome'

Had the word been 'Hackney' rather than 'Hansom' the meaning would come down as meaning a boatman 'for hire'. The word Hackney still being used for licensed Taxi cabs to this day, and also used for journalists who offer their skills for hire (an old 'hack').
John Mortimore even allows "Rumpole" to occasionally describe himself as a 'Hack' lawyer

I hope this illuminates, reather than further muddying the waters.

CHEERS
Nigel