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History of a Road.

veomen, and the daily increasing prosperity of the towns on the coast, are among the principal causes of this rapid change, which commenced as soon as the road to Guildford, Horsham, and Arundel, was opened.

Legal Evil.

It is said that some of the very lowest class of attorneys, have been in the habit of sending down informers from London into several counties, to discover the names of drawing with more than the number of persons whose teams are now on the road, horses allowed; and they then immediately issue a writ out of the Court of King's Bench, and before the party has an opportunity of staying proceedings, he is put to four or five pounds expence.

Duty.

for ten stages and six mails, by an account The duty paid in the course of one year delivered to the office, from April 6, 1807, to March 7, 1808, appears to be £14,906. 7s. Od.

Remarks on the Mischiefs arising from return Post Chaises, &c. &c. being permitted to carry a Number of outside and inside Passengers.

The road leading from Warnham near Horsham, to Arundel; but this account particularly refers to that part lying in the parishes of Hinfold and Billingshurst. Twenty years ago, the produce of this country was carried to Darking market on packhorses, during the winter. About that time the farmers made a most excellent stone road, which the great plenty of stone in those days enabled them to do at a moderate expense; conceiving this road could be always maintained with little cost, from being used only by themselves, they declined petitioning for an act. From the neglect always attending the execution of the parish offices, the new road, which, if attended to every year, would have been kept -up at a moderate cost, from not being repair. ed for seven years, became almost irreparably injured, the great foundation stones, (the under bed of the road,) being laid bare. and cut through. A vast expense has every year since been incurred to keep up a very bad and dangerous road, continually under indictment. A navigation being brought within a mile of Billingshurst, this line of road is now perhaps become one of the greatest thoroughfares in the county, for the conveyance of coals, chalk, lime, and corn to Horsham, and timber from the deep parts of the county to the wharf. From there being no tolls, and the distance being less, this road receives a natural preference to any other, and every effort to improve it is restrained, from the conviction that a degree of deterioration will be the infallible consequence of amendment. No gentleman having resided in the country possessed of freehold property, is the principal. reason why the inhabitants were not instigated to procure an act of parliament, to set up toll gates long since; for the last two years it has been under consideration, yet the expense Besides his regular ontgoings, loss of horses, of the act (£300 at least) is found a great wear and tear of chaises, carriage duty £17 obstacle, and one which ought not to exist in per annum, hay, corn, stable rent, harness, the way of public improvements. Stone is no collar and coachmaker's bills, &c. &c. all longer to be procured, but at a great depth, which must be paid out of the balance of and a greater distance than usual; and this has 10s. 6d. The post-boy, on the other hand, at least brought us to a crisis, for the expense when he gets to Barnet, has given him by the is so enormous, that the road will be abandon-traveller 2s. 6d. a good dinner, or what he ed, or an act must be procured to relieve us chuses to eat or drink at the inn; and if the from part of the burthen. The country pro- traveller is going farther, he sometimes reduces plenty of stone, and the general import-ceives from 29. to 10s. 6d. for bringing the ance of this road to the whole country is in- | job into his line, which is paid by them all calculable, since it is a very fertile corn coun- jointly. The boy then loiters about three or try for the most part and exceedingly popu-four hours, more or less, till he gets a load of lous. There is no other direct road in Kent, back passengers, and of them he gets half-aSurrey, or Sussex, which has not long derived crown per head, which, the benefit of the toll system, though many Supposing three, is of them do not, like this, possess the least What he received of the traveller means of amendment. This part of Sussex more...... was but a few years ago uncivilized, and it advance in agriculture and internal improve ment, is unparalleled. The demand for timber, the low rent of land, the number of

Supposing a post-master's post-chaise is hired by a gentleman to go to Barnet, of any other given distance of 12 post miles, the gentleman, at the present rate of posting, namely, Is. 3d. per mile, is charged 15s. for the job, out of which the postmaster has got to pay 14d. per mile for each horse, suppose two, for the said 12 miles, The duty amounts to Feed of corn for two horses

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Besides treats from the passengers, &c. He then gallops back to the half-way house with his passengers, in general of the lowest order, leaves the horses to stand in the cool air at the door, gets drunk, stops beyond the time when he ought to be home, perhaps for some hours, spoils the horses, tears the chaise to pieces; and upon any observation on his conduct his master receives a shower of abuse, and a threat to leave his service; and as for changing, the next would be as bad.

It is therefore humbly conceived, that pernitting such a practice is a gross fraud upon the revenue, an injury to the boys (as the money they get makes them bad members of society) as well as their masters, and calls loudly for redress.

It cannot be supposed that our limits permit us to include so much as we desire of these Reports, at large, on a subject so copious as that of the highways of this extensive kingdom. We must, therefore, content ourselves with presenting the principal and leading ideas distinctly but there are many others that well deserve attention. A number of ingenious men, who have made observations on what has appeared to them detrimental, or have turned their attention to what would be in their judgment improvements, cannot communicate their opinions without producing much benefit to the public. We are to recollect that the diversity of seasons, the differences of soil, the uphills and downhills of roads, as well as the density or rarity of population, are all to be considered and provided against, if possible, by a legislator. The system of Britain, which allows of no vis inertiæ, no stagnation, no suspension of urgency, requires uncommon management to support it. Whether it be natural to man to labour and travel by night as well as by day, may be decided without much difficulty: yet the interests of commerce, the speedy conveyance of letters, and the passage of those whose time is too valuable to admit of delay, induce us to waive such inquiries, and to avail ourselves of the resources offered by art. We accept these advantages, without inquiring whence they come; and we read in the newspapers of horses dropping down dead from intense heat, and violent exertion; or of the waters being out, and overflowing extensive tracts of country: or of snows filling up the roads, and resisting every effort made to extricate carriages of various descriptions. We then pay a few pence

for a letter, and think no more of what it really has cost. The sufferings of men and horses, are supposed to be paid for by a pecuniary compensation. This sentiment is too general.

Whoever suggests an improvement on methods now in use, by which labour is alleviated, by which the cattle that sustain such labour are eased, is a friend to humanity, and deserves praise and honour: whoever adds to the personal safety of those who travel is the friend of his country. The good condition of the roads is one mean of such safety, and we have purposely reserved to this place the minute observation, that even the introduction of a better species of nail into the tire of wheels, is entitled to commendation, and may prove of considerable service. What are called "rose-headed" nails, project from the circumference of the wheel, and by the weight they support are pressed into the ground they pass over. A countersunk nail, is free from this objection, and avoids this damage: "using the broad part of the nail, cross the bate, or grain of the wood, is a great improvement,' says a gentleman, who was consulted by the committee. Nothing can be more easy than to give this simple practice a fair trial. Our inference is, that the slightest practical hint may be of essential service, and when it has been fixed by usage it may be of lasting benefit.

We find suggestions on a great variety of subjects, in these Reports. Some think the tolls on coaches should be according to the number of passengers, and that a double toll for all passengers exceeding the limited number, would prevent the evil of overloaded carriages To this we object, that now passengers will get down from a coach on its approach to a turnpike, and walk a little way, till out of sight from the gate-keeper, and thenmount again. Would they not do this to greater extent, knowing that the increased toll would be charged to them by the coachman ?

Some have proposed the laying of stone waggon ways along the roads, but these, in the opinions of others, would soon be worn into grooves, and become nearly useless. Iron railways are not liable to this imperfection. But these are objectionable, in as much as they render crossing impracticable, or at least, all crossings are interruptions of them; while

continued in one line, they are admirable, but on one line only. These, with other suggestions, are very proper to be hinted at: but before they are enacted they ought to be thoroughly examined.

If we consider what must have been the origin of most roads in our island, we shall find it in the conjunction and enlargement of ancient paths; sheep paths, perhaps, in the first instance. These would turn aside to avoid a bank that presented no obstacle which is now thought worthy of attention: perhaps it has been cut through ages ago; or they skirted some marsh, which has long been converted into solid ground and we now seek with wonder for the cause of their deviation. In like manner, fords dictated the course of paths, and their direction to the places where such conveniences were to be found: instead of which, we now cross over the stream by a bridge. But these improvements have not in all cases varied the lines of roads so effectually as to improve them to every advantage that they might possess under modern improvements.

"In most hilly situations, the road passes oversteep ascents, when a level course could be obtained by winding round the base, without increasing the distance, an improvement which might be effected by a small increase in the toll, which would be amply compensated for, by the consequent diminution of draught, and charge of conveyance. And we have examples of its utility in several roads in Derbyshire and Gloucestershire, and particularly in the military roads in Scotland, cut through much more stubborn materials than any part of England presents.

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"In fact, the more hilly the face of the country, the more practicable is the improvement; the necessity of mounting high ascents is only evident in passing the central ridges, which par tition the country into districts."

Such are the considerations, that demand investigation on every side, before parliament can commit itself by the establishing of permanent regulations, intended to augment the utility, of these very important means of communication; -means which, in fact, do more practi cally towards making ONE COMMUNITY of the United Kingdom, than all the political efforts of the most enlightened

statesman.

But, some degree of jealousy as to the beauty of our roads, and of the scenery of which they form a part, may be pardoned in those who have visited foreign countries, and have considered the system on which their roads are constructed. In many districts of our island, the public highway offers a variety of most delightful scenes. Every turn increases the enjoyment, as it shifts the prospect. Travelling in some counties is little other than a progress through a park: the eye is delighted, the heart is cheered, and the spirit is revived, too; it is even of political benefit that the " green island" (the ancient name of Britain) should be the first of islands in beauty as in importance, should expand the soul with gratulation, while a Briton glowing with affection to his native land, his own, own Albion, should be prompted to adopt with honest fervency and commendable partiality, the language of Thomson :—

Oh blest Britannia!-Guardian of mankind!

Eternal verdure crowns

Her meads: her gardens smile eternal spring.

Add cities, full

of wealth, of trade, of cheerful toiling crowds; Add thriving towns; add villages and farms, Innumerous sow'd along the lively vale :

Add ancient seats, with venerable oaks

Embosom'd high, while kindred floods below Wind through the mead; and those of modern hand,

More pompous, add, that splendid shine afar.
Lo! ray'd from cities o'er the brighten❜d land,
Connecting sea to sea, the SOLID ROAD.
Lo! the proud arch (no vile exactor's stand)
With easy sweep bestrides the chasing flood.
See! long canals, and deepened rivers join
Each part with each, and with the circling main
The whole enliven'd isle.-

And by the broad imperious mote repell'd,

HARK! HOW THE BAFFLED STORM INDIGNANT ROARS!

In PANORAMA, Vol. III. p. 1. et seq. may be seen an outline of the attention paid by Parliament to the forming of new roads in Scotland: and in the same Volume, p. 237.-In Vol. I. p. 365, and p. 557, we have given a view of the principles proposed for the construction of highways generally, as appears by the Report of a Committee of Hon. House of Commons; to that article we beg leave to refer, as closely connected with the pre

sent.

at Scanderoon, where he resided six years. He died in 1785; and the reason assigned for not publishing his narrative sooner, is the professional engagements of the editor, to whom the MS, descended as son of Rev. J. Berjew, of Bristol, brother-in-law of the author.

Travels in Asia and Africa; including a Journey from Scanderoon to Aleppo, and over the Desert to Bagdad and Bussora; a Voyage from Bussora to Bombay, and along the Western Coast of India; a VoyThe course of the last thirty years has proage from Bombay to Mocha and Suez in the Red Sea; and a Journey from Suez to duced a variety of information on the state Cairo and Rosetta in Egypt. By the late of the Oriental countries, partly collectAbraham Parsons, Esq. Consul and Faced by foreign writers, principally French,

tor-Marine at Scanderoon. In 4to. PP. 346. Price £1.5s. London, Longman and

Co. 1808.

THE art of observing is very distinct from the act of travelling; it requires preparations much more extensive, and, in our opinion, much more important. Travellers, indeed, are said to see much of the world; but their different manners of seeing, or of describing what they have seen, may confer on their works, when submitted to the public, very different degrees of interest and importance. The intention with which a gentleman tra vels seldom fails to give a tone to his observations; while his natural disposition, or adventitious circumstances, directs him in the choice of subjects for his peculiar attention. Station of life also has a power ful effect; the military officer analyses the courage and skill of the natives of those countries through which he passes; while the merchant examines their natural productions, and means of exporta tion. But the merchant does not always communicate the whole of his observations to the world: his situation usually implies confidence; and his unwillingness to disclose too much, restrains him from affording all the intelligence that he safely might afford. This volume is a proof of the justice of our remark. Unquestionably, Mr. P. must have had opportunities of intimate acquaintance with the commerce of the East, and, after a lapse of thirty years, we should suppose, that the general course of it might, without hazard, have been explained to the reader. An article of this description, marked by such authority, would have been read with interest, But, we are not to condemn a work because it does not contain all we desire: and we are rather in justice to consider Mr. P. as furnishing memoranda of his journey from Aleppo eastward, that as occupying a station of trust VOL. V. [Lit. Pan. Oct. 1808.]

Had the work before us appeared at the and partly by those of our own island. time when it was fresh from the hands of the author, it would have had greater pretensions to novelty, than it now has; nor could that comparison, which now is not to its advantage, have been made. The present state of these countries, as of all others, is at this moment the main object of inquiry; and the desire of forming some rational judgment as to their awaited destiny, is the strongest that rises in our minds with respect to them. This cannot anticipate much gratification from travels dated in the year 1774. The course of nature, to be sure, is the same; the rivers, the mountains, and the deserts, are permanent: but the disposition of the inhabitants, their sentiments, their condition, and the state of knowledge among them, may be so changed as to justify conclusions, altogether opposite to those which must be deduced from the descriptions of Mr. P.

Under these considerations, we shall do little more than transcribe a few passages, by which the reader may form his own opinion on the work. The track pursued by our author has strong claims to consideration. The course of his first excursion lay through the celebrated Passes from Asia Minor into Syria. His more extensive journey was from Aleppo over the great Desert to Bagdad, from Bagdad across Mesopotamia to Helah on the Euphrates, thence a voyage down the river conveyed him to Bussora: At the time of his visit, this city was besieged by the Persians, and his editor ought to have gratified the curiosity excited by his author, by stating the result of the enterprize, which was its capture in 1775.

Mr. P. follows the regular course by sea to India, along the coast of Malabar to Bombay from whence he proceeds down the Red Sea to Suez;-be arrives at Cairo, in time to witress an

insurrection
the Beys, and, while
among
in Egypt, he visits the Pyramids, &c. as
in duty bound. Every traveller, in so ex-
tensive a route, must furnish something
not so well described by others: yet we
must own that with the greater part of
the contents of this volume we have been
already familiar in earlier works.

Mr. P. relates an incident that happen ed at Aleppo, at which the reader will smile: it sets the shrewdness of the Turks in no unfavourable point of view.

He

The French consul on public audiences always outshines those of the other nations, not only as there are more French merchants than of any other nation, but, as the missionaries are under his protection (although Italians), they add greatly to the number of his attendants. On this occasion there were upwards of thirty of these ecclesiastics who were known to the pasha; although, pretending ignorance, he demanded of the consul who those reverend looking men were. was told that they were Religious, sent by his holiness the Pope to instruct them in the dus ties of their religion, and to serve as chaplains in their church: "What!" exclaimed the pasha, "so many? Why they double the number of the merchants," and seemed amazed. The next day the English consul had his audience, and the pasha spying the chaplain with his gown and band, inquired who he was; the consul told him that he was a minister of their church, and chaplain to the English factory. And have you but one chaplain," replied he; he was answered in the negative. Some time after the French consul demanded an audience on some national business, and went attended in the usual manner, and was thus addressed by the pasha: "The next day after you were here, the English consul and the merchants visited me, and I could not help noticing that they had only one chaplain, althongh, besides the consul, there were twelve merchants; now here I see with you above thirty chaplains, and only eighteen merchants; I am told that among Christians there are many different sects, and that each has a different way of worshipping God, and that the French and English differ much: I do not pretend to know who is most in the right; but must observe, that if eighteen Frenchmen must have upwards of thirty religious men of your church to superintend their conduct, and that twelve English men can be kept in order by one religious man of theirs, I must certainly give the preference to the English church; and if I turn Christian" (added he smiling) "I will be of their church." Although it was easy to see the raillery of the pasha, the French seemed greatly chagrined.

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The present state of the Greek church may be seen in the treatment it experiences from the domineering Turks: an instance given by Mr. P. is striking.

Close to the entrance of the east gate of Antioch, on the left hand, are the remains of St. Paul's church, which (as the Greeks in this place inforn me) was built by the first Christians, who were converted by that apostle in this city, and is dedicated to him. The walls

are very strong, and are yet in such a state, that, with little repair, they may last many hundred years; but the roof has fallen in so long since, that the oldest inhabitant now living does not remember any part of it standing; and yet the Greeks here have no other place of worship, nor will the Turks suffer them to build any, nor to repair this, without paying such a sum of money as the Greeks of Antioch could not raise, even at the expense of all their fortunes. The church is but small, being fifteen paces broad, and twenty in length; the height of the walls at present seems to be about fifteen to sixteen feet; there is not any door remaining. When the bishop or priest officiates, a canopy is raised occasionally for him to sit or stand under during divine service.

The following is one of the best descriptions of the salt lake in the neighbourhood of Aleppo, that we remember to have read: but, this lake is not quite so singular as our author supposed.

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We passed close to the banks of the great salt lake, in a fine moon-light night, and proached near a point of land, called by the Arabs the Nose of the Desart: we travelled in the night, to endeavour to steal a march, and thereby avoid the Rushwans.

Between Sferris and Hagley begins the salt lake. We travelled to the south of it, close to it's banks, and were seven hours and a half in passing; as we had a smooth path the whole time, we must have proceeded at the rate of four miles an hour, so that it cannot be less than thirty miles in length. It extends from east-south-east to west-north-west, the breadth being irregular; in the broadest part it does not exceed two miles, in some places not a mile. There are several small islands in it, or rather grounds so high as not to be overflown. This lake is dry eight months in the year, and is believed to be quite singular in its kind, when it is considered to be above one hundred and twenty miles from the seacoast. The water is rain water, and, in riding by it, my horse seeming inclined to drink, I rode into the lake: the Arabs of our caravan called to me, and desired me to come back, as the water was salt; but my borse drank so plentifully, that, much doubting it, I alighted on the bank, and took some

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