52 HIGHWAYS AND HORSES. 



aroused, that the high-roads really began to approach 

 their present condition. 



As late as the middle of the last century, it took a 

 day and a half for the stage-coach to travel from 

 Edinburgh to Glasgow. 



Mr. Chambers says, in his paper called the Estimate : 

 " Turnpikes, which were first introduced after the 

 Restoration of Charles II., were erected slowly in 

 opposition to the people. The Act which made it felony 

 at the commencement of George the Second's reign to 

 pull down a toll-gate was continued as a perpetual law. 

 Yet the great roads of England remained in their 

 abominable condition even as late as 1752 or 1754, 

 when a traveller seldom saw a turnpike after leaving 

 London or its vicinity, and yet 452 Turnpike Acts were 

 passed between 1760 and 1774; and since then, from 



1785 to 1792, 302 Acts were passed ; 



1792 to 1800, 341 



1800 to 1S09, 419 ,, ,, 



Every year since 1809, turnpike roads increased 

 until they covered 23,000 miles in England alone ; now 

 the roads are being freed, and the various parishes 

 through which they pass are forced to maintain them. 

 With regard to the route taken by turnpike roads before 

 being properly constructed, they in many instances 

 followed the direction taken by the earliest inhabitants 

 of the country ; these foot-paths became in time bridle- 

 paths, and at last these tracks became so fixed and 

 unalterable owing to long custom, and were consequently 

 so improved, as to become highways suitable for 

 wheeled vehicles." 



Sir Henry Parnell complains that there was no 

 work published on roads in his time, but this defect has 

 been since remedied, as there are now several books 

 treating on the subject. 



