CHAPTER XI 



TRADE AND TRANSPORT IN THE TURNPIKE ERA 



IN strong contrast to the vigorous denunciations of Arthur 

 Young of so many, though not all, of the roads over which his 

 extensive journeyings through England had led him, are the 

 statements of other authorities, writing about the same time, 

 as to the commercial and social advantages resulting from 

 such improvements as had been brought about. The conflict 

 of testimony appears inconsistent until one remembers that, 

 bad as were the particular conditions which Arthur Young 

 describes, the general conditions were, nevertheless, better 

 than before. Just as the first bone-shaking stage-coach, without 

 springs, seemed to Chamberlayne an " admirable com- 

 modiousness," such as the world had never before seen, so, in 

 the view of the writers who had not the same experience 

 of travel as Arthur Young, turnpike roads of any kind may 

 have appeared a vast improvement on the boggy roads or the 

 narrow bridle paths they had succeeded. 



Whatever, again, the dangers and discomforts of so many 

 even of the new turnpike roads, there is no doubt that a 

 distinct stimulus was given to trade and travel as the result 

 not only of the better roads but of the better vehicles that 

 could be, and were being, used on them. Agriculture, indus- 

 tries, commerce and social progress all, in fact, took another 

 step forward as these opportunities for transport and com- 

 munication relatively improved. 



Under the influence, possibly, of such considerations as these 

 Henry Homer, writing in 1767, regards with great satis- 

 faction the general outlook at that time. He says : 



" Our very Carriages travel with almost winged Expedition 

 between every Town of Consequence in the Kingdom and the 

 Metropolis. By this, as well as the yet more valuable Project 

 of increasing inland Navigation, a Facility of Communication 

 is soon likely to be established from every Part of the Island 



