COACH LEGISLATION 203 



which AYOiild certainly have flattened out the most 

 rugged of roads had it been jiossiblc for horses 

 to have moved the enormous weight. As a result 

 of much trial, the stage-Avaggons of the time were 

 constructed Avith Avheels Avhose breadth ranged 

 from six to nine inches, and such vehicles enjoyed 

 a remission of extraordinary toll in proportion 

 to those measurements. Prom 1760, then, four- 

 Avheeled waggons Aveigliing over three tons, with 

 Avheels less than nine inches in breadth, paid 

 20s. over and al)ove the ordinary toll ; all over 

 six tons, irrespective of Avheels, 20s. ; and two- 

 Avheeled carts over three tons, 20s. ; Avhile Avaggons 

 and carts so constructed Avitli regard to long and 

 short axletrees to front and hind Avheels that, 

 in conjunction Avitli the breadth of their AAdieels, 

 they rolled a track of not less than sixteen inches 

 on either side, paid only half of the ordinary toll 

 levied upon Avaggons Avith a nine-inch breadth of 

 Avheel. These provisions may perhaps seem a 

 little complicated, but they were a great deal 

 more so in actual Avorking, for their chance of 

 being ahvays understood and fairly applied Avas 

 small Avhen administered by country pike-keepers. 

 The maximum length and Avidtli of Avaggons 

 Avas specified by this Act, Avhich declared it to be 

 unlawful for any but timl^er-Avaggons to be of 

 greater breadth than four feet six inches between 

 the axletrees, or of a greater length than nine feet 

 from the centre of fore Avheels to tliat of the hind 

 ones. No broad-Avheeled Avaggon Avas to be draAv^n 

 by more than eight horses, or tAvo-Avheeled carts 



