422 GROWTH OF MANCHESTER. TAUT V. 



principal of which was at the White House. Late roy- 

 sterers at that place of resort, unless they could form a 

 party or secure the services of " the patrol," had fre- 

 quently to sojourn there all night. The officers consti- 

 tuting the patrol l carried swords and horn lanterns ; 

 and, clad as they were in heavy greatcoats with many 

 capes, they were by no means light of foot, or at all 

 formidable adversaries to the footpads who " worked " 

 the district. 



Among the most remarkable improvements in Man- 

 chester of late years, have been the numerous spacious 

 thoroughfares which have been opened up in all direc- 

 tions. In this respect, the public spirit of Manchester 

 has not been surpassed by any town in the kingdom, 

 the new streets being laid out on a settled plan with 

 a view to future extension, and executed with admirable 

 judgment. Narrow, dark, and crooked ways have thus 

 been converted into wide and straight streets, admitting 

 light, air, and health to the inhabitants, and affording 

 spacious highways for the great and growing traffic of 

 the town and district. The important street-improve- 

 ments executed in Manchester during the last thirty 

 years have cost an aggregate of about 800,000/. The 

 central and oldest part of the town has thus undergone 

 a complete transformation. So numerous are the dark 

 and narrow entries that have been opened up the ob- 

 structive buildings that have been swept away, the pro- 

 jecting angles that have been cut off, and the crooked ways 

 that have been made straight that the denizen of a 

 former age would be very unlikely to recognise the Man- 

 chester of to-day, were it possible for him to revisit it. 



Some of the street-improvements have their peculiar 

 social aspects, and call up curious reminiscences. The 



1 On the subject of watchmen, it 

 may be mentioned that the first 

 watchman was appointed for Chorlton- 

 on-Medlock in 1814. In 1832 an 



Act \vas obtained for improving ;m<l 1834. 



regulating that township, and so re- 

 cently as 1833 it was lirst lighted 

 with gas. The Police Act for the 

 Township of Hiiliue was obtainrd in 



