66 HIGHWAYS AND HORSES. 



was the inventor of no system ; that the custom of 

 breaking stones small was practised in Sweden and 

 Switzerland long before the existence of MacAdam ; 

 and It goes on to say that if MacAclam's name had 

 not been admissible as a verb, it would have never 

 been so generally known. Thus we say a macadamised 

 road, or to macadamise a road ; one could not well 

 say, to Brown or Smith a road, or a Smithed or 

 Browned road. MacAdam certainly called attention to 

 the condition of the roads, and persuaded the Turnpike 

 Trustees to keep them in proper repair. 



And yet, where there is much traffic, as in towns, 

 macadamised roads get worn into innumerable holes, 

 causing the greatest discomfort to persons driving over 

 them — I refer to the granite-made roads, as with those 

 made of a softer stone this discomfort is not felt. It 

 was on this account that a road was being taken up at 

 Tunbridge Wells while I was staying there, which is 

 mentioned In the chapter on Road Construction and 

 Maintenance. 



The road on the Thames Embankment, between 

 Northumberland Avenue and St. Stephen's Club, was 

 a striking instance of this peculiarity. The whole road- 

 way was one mass of depressions, causing the wheels 

 of one's carriage to fly about In all directions ; this 

 could of course be remedied by picking up the road- 

 way and laying it afresh ; but It is no doubt In 

 consequence of the hardness and unyielding nature 

 of the granite that this happens. The granite is so 

 hard that it does not crumble away at the edges and 

 accommodate Itself to Its surroundings ; In some places 

 it sinks under heavy traffic, owing to no great resist- 

 ance being offered to Its consolidation, in other places 

 it refuses to settle down, and consequently there is 



