12 On the Scheme of a Perpetual Full Moon. 
of injury, to the roads, would of course follow: for by varying the 
breadth of carriages according to the breadth of wheel, or accord- 
ing to any other given rule, the wheels of each would require a 
different line, and so, in a certain degree, each successive car- 
riage would operate as a roller, instead of contributing to make 
ruts, which is the effect of the present restrictions, from the in- 
surmountable aptitude of horses and drivers to pursue the same 
track. 
Although no exposition of the injurious effects of this law has 
appeared in any of those parts of the printed evidence taken be- 
fore the Committee of the House of Commons which have fallen 
under my eye, yet, I conclude that a mischief and a remedy so 
obvious could not have escaped the attention of the numerous 
and well-informed gentlemen who have inquired into, or written 
on, the subject. I donot, therefore, either in that or any other 
point embraced in this address, claim the merit of originality. 
My motive, as already disclosed, is merely to invoke an investi- 
gation, which may, in the end, bring all the conflicting opinions 
which have been promulgated, or which may exist, on these im- 
portant matters, into collision; and thus that errors may be de- 
tected, and the necessary changes and reformations established 
on bases of truth and science. J have, therefore, refrained as much 
as possible from intruding my own humble opinions on the notice 
of the public. I think it necessary however to add, that I shall 
at all times be ready to disclose my sentiments on the matters to 
which I have in any degree alluded, should it appear necessary; 
and an inclination to forward the work of improvement induces 
me thus publicly to invite fair criticism on my works, and to de- 
clare that the public may obtain from me a full exposition of the 
plans I have pursued. 
Bath Roads Office, Dec. 12, 1818. 
III. On the Scheme of a Perpetual Full Moon. By Mr. Henry 
MEIKLE. 
To Mr. Tilloch. 
Str, — O; all the various ways in which human weakness ma- 
nifests itself, perhaps there is none wherein it is more pompously 
displayed than by pretending to improve the mechanism of the 
universe, 
Our own country is not altogether barren of such pretensions ; 
and if at any time we are likely to run short of scepticism, we 
have only to call for help from the continent. There is an in- 
stance of this, in a work from which better things might have 
been 
