[ 434 J 



Ftere you muft let me paufe; for thefc 

 execrable roads continuing no further, I 

 muft in general advife all who travel on 

 any bulinefs but abfolute neceffity, to avoid 

 any journey further north than Newcajlle. 

 Ail between that place and Prefton is a 

 country, one would fuppofe, devoid of all 

 thofe improvements and embellishments, 

 which the riches and fpirit of modern 

 times have occafioned in other parts : It is 

 a track of country which lays a moft heavy 

 tax upon all travellers, and upon itfelf. 

 Such roads are a much heavier tax than half 

 a crown a horfe for a toll would be. Agri- 

 culture, manufactures, and commerce, muft 

 fuller in fuch a track, as well as the tra- 

 veller. The rates of carriage and hire of 

 carts muft either run enormoufly high, or 

 the farmers ftarve by letting their teams. 

 But it is only bad management that can 

 occafion fuch very miierable roads, in a 

 country fo abounding with towns, trade, and 

 manufactures : The tolls of the turnpikes 

 for feveral paved roads do not rife higher 

 than 3 J. per horfe, for which fum they 

 pave wide enough for one carriage. If this 

 was quadrupled, they might certainly do 

 it well for three, and then it would elcape 

 being cut up : But if they were five times 

 trebled, it would be infinitely preferable 

 to the prefent condition. Until better ma- 



nagement 



