HIGHWAYS AND HORSES. 



CHAPTER I. 



THE HISTORY AND ORIGIN OF ROADS. 



"The good of ancient times let others state, 

 I think it lucky I was born so late." 



CoLLEY Gibber. 



The good old times — Consequences of the establishment of roads 

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

 ginian, and Roman roads — The Roman Empire — Roman 

 roads in Britain — Alpine roads — The IMont Genis Tunnel — 

 The Grotto Pausilipo — The Pyrenees — American roads — 

 Depopulation of English country districts — Goncentration of 

 wealth in London — Stagnant state of affairs in rural districts — 

 Gontinental 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. 



These two lines of Gibber's are true and wise indica- 

 tions of the general feeling that animates the present 

 dwellers in civilised countries. Nevertheless, there were 

 advantages enjoyed by people in past times of which 



