FRENCH ROADS. 



almost every town and village. Hence the cost of every com- 

 modity was enormously enhanced, even at short distances from the 

 place of its production. 



11. The disorganisation of society and the destruction of the 

 institutions of feudalism which followed the French Revolution of 

 1789, caused some improvement in the means of internal commerce 

 in Europe, and would have caused a much greater development 

 in this instrument of civilisation, hut for the wars which imme- 

 diately succeeded that political catastrophe, and which only 

 terminated with the hattle of Waterloo. 



Indeed Xapoleon, conscious of the vast importance of a more 

 complete system of roads, had actually projected one, which he 

 intended to spread over Europe. His fall, however, inter- 

 cepted the realisation of this magnificent design, and the 

 Siu^on remains as the only monument of his glory in this 

 department of art. 



After the re-establishment of peace, the nations of Europe, 

 directing their activity to industry and commerce, soon became 

 impressed with the necessity of effecting a great improvement in 

 the means of internal communication. Western Europe, accord- 

 ingly, soon began to be covered with roads and canals.- The 

 obstructions arising from fiscal causes, if not removed, were greatly 

 diminished. 



The advance made by France especially in this department, is 

 deserving of notice. That country possesses at present four or five 

 times the extent of roads which were practicable under the Empire ; 

 a sum of nearly four millions sterling was, until lately, expended 

 annually upon the completion and maintenance of these great 

 lines of communication. 



The roads of France consist of three classes ; the first, until the 

 late revolution, were called royal roads, and are now called 

 national roads. These are the great arteries of communication 

 carried from one chief town to another throughout the' territory, 

 and being used indifferently, or nearly so, by the whole population, 

 are constructed and maintained at the general expense of the 

 nation. The second class are departmental roads, or what would 

 be called in England county roads. These are chiefly the branches 

 running into the royal roads, by which the local interests of the 

 departments are served, and are accordingly maintained at the 

 expense of the departments. Finally, the third class is called 

 vicinal roads, which would correspond to our parish roads. 



The rate at which these improved communications have con- 

 tributed to augment the internal commerce and national wealth, 

 may be estimated in some degree from the statistical results which 

 have been published. In 1810, the various stage-coach establish- 



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