1815.] Draught of Carriages. I73 



posing the saving to be only one-half or one-third of this sum, 

 surely it is a great consideration in political economy. 



It may also be observed, that the wear and tear of carriages on 

 rough roads will be considerably diminished by the use of springs : 



'I'hat the carriages with springs may be made much lighter than 

 those without them, and that the weight so saved may he part of 

 the loading of the carriage, instead of being uselessly a part of the 

 carriage itself : 



That by such carriages the roads will be less injured than they are 

 at present, and that the thill-iiorse, though drawing heavier loads, 

 will not be liable to the violent succussions to which it is now 

 exposed in bad roads. 



If this paper should in any degree obtain the attention of the 

 Board of Agriculture, it may perhaps conduce to promote tiie 

 adoption of a scheme which appears to me of the utmost national 

 importance. I allude to a proposal, which I have elsewhere made, 

 of carrying on publicly and daily for some months in the vicinity of 

 the metropolis a system of large experiments with real carriages on 

 a real road. 



For this purpose a piece of a common near a great road should 

 be fenced off, and there a quarter of a mile of road slwuld be con- 

 structed on the best principles. And on this road, during two 

 months at least, carriages upon the most approved construction 

 should constantly be employed. Their number should be such that 

 the traffic on the experimental road should equal that which is 

 carried on upon the common road with which it is compared. 



Beside this, part of the enclosure should be appropriated to expe- 

 riments upon large carriages of different construction, with and 

 without springs, in the manner above described. 



These last-mentioned experiments might be repeated once a 

 week for the period above-mentioned, so that the philosopher, the 

 legislator, the farmer, the manufacturer, the coach-maker, the 

 wheel-wright, the coachman, and the carter, might satisfy himself 

 by the conviction of his own senses, observation, and understand- 

 ing, of the true practical result of all that has been said, written, 

 and tried, upon the subject of wheel carriages. 



Such a large and unequivocal exposition of the truth would put 

 an end to many a vain and interested project. It would be the 

 result of real patriotism — of that genuine English patriotism which 

 generously promotes what is essential to the economical interests of 

 the state. Here nothing is promised but what every man in Eng- 

 land must wis!) to have accomplished ; and a scheme is proposed 

 which DO adventurer can turn to private advantage. 



