68 HIGHWAYS AND HORSES. 



in a condition of perpetual cleanliness at all times and 

 seasons of the year. 



Thus I have brought my history down from the 

 time of the Carthaginians and Lacedsemonians to the 

 Londoners of the nineteenth century. What we have 

 lost in ignorance and barbarism, we have gained in 

 a highly-cultivated system of perpetual dirt in wet 

 weather, and dust in dry weather. Who is it benefits 

 by this condition of things ? No one except the boot- 

 maker and the laundress. Dust rising from the street 

 injures the interior of our houses, and all that is 

 within, whereas mud is destructive to one's carriages, 

 clothes, and boots. If the depreciation in property 

 from these two causes were carefully computed, it 

 would more than suffice to keep an enormous staff 

 of workmen engaged night and day upon the main- 

 tenance and cleansing of the streets of the metropolis. 



An improvement in tliis respect would benefit all 

 classes of the community ; considering the heavy rates 

 paid by Londoners, it is only natural to suppose that 

 the roads and pavements would meet, at the hands of 

 the various parishes in which they are situated, with 

 proper care and attention. If every one contributed just 

 sufficient to keep the pavement and half the street that 

 was immediately before their own dwelling clean, well 

 scavenged, and well maintained, that would be quite 

 sufficient. There is no reason why the streets of 

 London should not be at all times in perfect condition, 

 in the winter free from snow or mud, and in the summer 

 free of dust, the drains well scavenged, the gutters 

 constantly flushed, and the roads watered ; were this 

 done, in place of the heat, dust, and impure odours, the 

 London streets might be as clean and fresh as any 

 country road after an April shower. 



