CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER I. 



THE HISTORY AND ORIGIN OF ROADS 



The good old times— Consequences of the establishment of roads 

 — Origin of byways or cross-roads— Peruvian, Greek, Cartha- 

 ginian, and Roman roads —The Roman Empire— Roman roads 

 in Britain — Alpine roads — The Mont Cenis Tunnel — The 

 Grotto Pausilipo— The Pyrenees — American roads— Depopu- 

 lation of English country districts — Concentration of wealth in 

 London — Stagnant state of affairs in rural districts— Continental 

 roads— English roads— Further history of roads in the reigns 

 of Queens Mary and Elizabeth— Difficulty of transporting goods 

 — Pepys' Diary — Stage waggons and the first coaches — 

 Shocking state of English roads— Scotch and Irish roads — 

 Telford's roads— The Holyhead road— The turnpikes— John 

 Metcalf, the blind road-maker— Telford and the Scotch roads 

 — MacAdam — London streets — Dirt and dust. 



CHAPTER n. 



MAIL AND STAGE COACHES 



Last days of road travelling — Aspect of the roads— Long distance 

 day coaches — Road versus rail — Of the clock — The time 

 journeys occupy — Horses a necessity — Fast coaches — Guards' 

 time-bills — Too late — Farming turnpikes — Snowstorm of 1854 

 — Great snowstorm of 1836 — The clerk of the weather — 

 Sleighing — Driving in a fog — Old coaching inns — Mail guards 

 — Inn yards and stables — The yard of tin — Improvement in 

 coaches — The last coaches — Preservation of leather — Coach 

 inspectors — Highwaymen — Skids and breaks — Horsing the 

 mails — Mail coachmen — A coach attacked by a lioness — Coach 



