601 



POST-OFFICE, ROADS, AND CONVEYANCE.* 



" Next to the general influence of the seasons," says the Eighteenth 

 Report of the Revenue Commissioners, " upon which the regular sup- 

 ply of our wants, and a great proportion of our comforts, so much 

 depend, there is no circumstance more interesting to men in a civi- 

 lized state than the perfection of the means of interior communica- 

 tion." This remark contains a truism upon which it is wholly unne- 

 cessary to dilate. Frequent, punctual, and quick communication, 

 may be classed amongst the elements of profitable commerce. It is 

 essential to the purposes of government, and subservient to all the 

 ends of national policy. 



In a great commercial country like ours, whatever tends to improve 

 roads, public conveyance, and correspondence, ought to be a matter 

 of the last importance. General prosperity and progress in locomo- 

 tion invariably go hand in hand. This has been illustrated by the 

 rapid advancement in social improvement which this country has 

 made since the introduction of mail-coaches. But notwithstanding 

 the comparative perfection at which we have arrived in this depart- 

 ment, the probability is that it will bear no proportion to what will 

 be attained during the next quarter of a century. Apart, however, 

 from the change which will be produced by the introduction of new 

 inventions, there is much in the existing systems which is anomalous, 

 expensive, and defective. And amidst the multiplicity of reforms 

 which engage the attention of parliament and the community, there 

 is not one which will be productive of more general or lasting benefit 

 than one which shall cause a thorough revision in these particulars. 

 Upon this point expectation has for some time been alive from the 

 pledge given by his majesty's government that the subject should be 

 considered. 



Mr. Fuge, eighteen months ago, published the Essay, which 

 is referred to in the note below, with a view of shewing the de- 

 fective parts of the existing incongruous and irresponsible construc- 

 tion of expenditure in the numerous trusts for the roads, and sug- 

 gesting that a more efficient system be adopted by responsible cha- 

 racters to whom their scientific and economical direction may be 



* " AN ESSAY on the Turnpike Roads of the Kingdom, and the practicability 

 of uniting them with the department of the General Post-office : also showing 

 the advantages of abolishing the Tolls now collected on all public Roads, and 

 substituting a Rate on each county for the maintainance and repairs." London : 

 Hurst, 65, St. Paul's Church Yard. 



" A LETTER to his Grace the Duke of Richmond, as Chairman of the Select 

 Committee of the House of Lords, appointed to examine the Turnpike Returns, 

 and to consider whether any alteration can be made in the Law relative to 

 Turnpike Trusts." London: Longman and Co. 



" PROPOSAL for a Government Consolidation of the Post-office, Roads, and Lo- 

 comotive Conveyance, and appropriation of their Revenue for the Service of 

 the State : whereby Taxes and Poor-rates may be reduced, Food cheapened, 

 Manual Labour increased, and Capital distributed. "London : Cochrane and 

 M'Crone, Waterloo Place. 



M.M. No. 102. 4H 



