Barslow. 87 



and unbroken, except here and there by plantations of trees, 

 now pastures of verdant turf — now fields of ripening grain, 

 or lands teeming with heavy crops — present themselves to 

 the eye. 



As we left Sheffield the mist and clouds which had hung 

 around the town, disappeared, and before we reached Barslow, 

 distant about fifteen miles, the weather had become warmer 

 and more pleasant. A few miles from Barslow the highly 

 cultivated country suddenly changes, to a barren moor of 

 hundreds of acres in extent, and covered with the heather 

 (Erica of several species and varieties,) which at this season 

 was redolent with its elegant blossoms : a dreary and black- 

 ened aspect have these moors a mile or two distant, but as we 

 near them, and see the surface one mass of brilliant blossoms, 

 they change to one of interest and beauty. Winding slowly 

 up the hill we reached its highest point, and now more 

 rapidly descending, the neat village of Barslow lay before us 

 just at the gates of Chatsworth Park. 



The roads in both England and Scotland, are objects which 

 attract the attention of the stranger. They are generally, 

 models in this respect, and are so far superior to our own that 

 no one of the least observation can be insensible to their ex- 

 cellence. For the most part they are Macadamized in the 

 true meaning of the word; not covered with rocks and 

 stones, of all sizes, but with pieces which have been care- 

 fully broken and as nearly of equal size as possible. The 

 surface is made of a proper rise in the centre, so as to throw 

 off the water, and is scraped after every heavy rain. This 

 is of the utmost importance ; for if the loose dirt that is worn 

 up is allowed to remain, it obstructs the free passage of wa- 

 ter, and the consequence is that it soon grinds up the hard 

 surface, and destroys the road. We sincerely hope that the 

 towns in the neighborhood of our large cities will attempt the 

 repair of their roads in the same manner as it is done here ; 

 on many of the principal routes how important that it should 

 be done : at present the roads around Boston are either 

 muddy or dusty the year round ; and until they are made on 

 a better principle than at present, it will be quite impossible 

 to expect to have them in good condition. Our remarks 

 have reference to roads in large towns where there is the 



