xiv PREFACE. 



works to maintain them in a proper and suitable condition; 

 whilst every one individually can, in a manner, contribute to 

 the welfare of the district in which they reside. 



But it is the highways and byways of which I would 

 more especially speak, as it is they that come within the 

 province of this work, and it is they that offer the first 

 indication, to persons visiting rural districts, of the condition 

 of the neighbourhood. 



The contents of this volume w^ere suggested in a great 

 measure by the state of the roads around my own country- 

 house in Hampshire. I first agitated the question of 

 improved road maintenance in the Haiiipshire CJironicle 

 (published at Winchester), during two severe and trying 

 winters ; and, encouraged by the interest with which the 

 subject appeared to be generally regarded, I decided to 

 go more deeply into the matter and commit to writing 

 the result of my frequent observations, with a view to 

 publishing a book on the maintenance of High and Byways. 



As regards knowledge of various kinds of roads, I 

 drive a great deal and have done so all my life. The 

 autumn before last I drove from this house 260 miles in 

 nine days. A few years ago I drove from here through 

 Gloucestershire, Warwickshire, and Berkshire ; some time 

 since I drove from London to Wales, vi^ Oxford and 

 Gloucester; and before that I drove from London through 

 the IMidland Counties. I have driven from London to 

 Brighton in the day with my own horses, changing half- 

 way, and driven coaches in different parts of England ; so 

 I may be said to have some experience of English 

 roads. 



My favourite carriage of late years for fast travelling 

 and the performance of long distances has been a 

 curricle, for reasons I will afterwards explain ; sufficient 

 to say, that there is no w^eight on the horses' backs, the 

 load is perfectly balanced, no carriage for two horses can 

 be lighter or easier to ride in. The special curricle to 

 which I refer is my own design ; it was a long time 



