THE COUNTY OF FIFE* 



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opulent, though not the least useful members of 

 the community. 



Before I quit this article, it may be proper to 

 observe, that although in none of the acts of 

 Parliament respecting the roads, is any direct 

 mention made of the by-roads, the general tenor 

 of the act for converting the statute-labour, and 

 the powers thereby lodged with the trustees, 

 render it probable that the framers of the act 

 had these likewise in their eye. The funds are 

 to be laid out in the parishes where they are le- 

 vied respectively, and in no other place. And 

 though it is provided that they shall be applied, 

 in the first instance, to the great and cross-roads 

 within the parish, it is obvious, that, when the 

 first object is obtained, the funds of the parish 

 may and ought to be laid out in making and re- 

 pairing the by-roads in the same. 



The case is, indeed, extremely urgent. The 

 by-roads are in a most deplorable state. Many 

 parishes can derive little benefit from the great 

 and cross-roads, though in the best state of re- 

 pair. Numbers of the inhabitants cannot reach 

 a turnpike-road, but with great difficulty, and 

 with scarcely half a load ; and when they have 

 reached it, besides the previous risk of horses 

 and carts, and the great expence of time and la- 

 bour, they are subjected to double duty, paying 

 as much for the half load as others do for the 

 whole. 



An immediate and universal remedy cannot, 

 perhaps, be applied to this evil. But it may be 

 expected that the trustees, by the means they 

 now have in their power, will be able to accom- 

 plish it, at no very distant period. By the am- 



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