Pleasiiig Effects in the Aspect of the Country. 397 



almost perpendicular cliff. These turns and windings in the 

 road produce a constant change and variety of prospect, some- 

 times rude and wild, then smooth and cultivated : for the 

 numerous country-seats, which have lately been erected on 

 this shore, have added a new feature to its wild and romantic 

 scenery. If one needs to be convinced of the superior advan- 

 tages of prospect afforded by a road, whose course is deter- 

 mined by the irregularities of the surface, compared with 

 those afforded by a straight road, that forces its way through 

 all intervening obstacles, let him, after having travelled over 

 this old road, ride over the same country on the Gloucester 

 railroad. The views from the railroad are not in any respect 

 remarkable. In many places the old road has been straight- 

 ened, but in almost every instance the beauty of the route 

 has been injured by such improvements. 



A contemporary remarks that "a road ought always to be 

 winding." It would savor a little of absurdity, however, to 

 carry a road in a winding course over a level plain. For 

 picturesque effects, it is only necessary that a road should 

 pursue a straight or crooked course, as the inequalities of the 

 surface might render it convenient or necessary. 



Any rules for road-making, with reference to pleasing 

 effects, must necessarily be general. By entering minutely 

 into details, one might commit the error of making rules that 

 could not be easily applied. If road-makers could only be 

 convinced of the expediency of paying regard to the princi- 

 ples of taste, in laying out a road, as well as in laying out a 

 garden, they would commit but few offences against these 

 principles. There is but little disagreement among men as to 

 what constitutes a pleasant route or an agreeable prospect : 

 but many have never entertained a thought of taking pros- 

 pect into consideration in laying out a road. I would simply 

 recommend, whenever it is practicable and expedient, to 

 carry our roads in such a direction as may afford the traveller 

 the most pleasing view of the country. 



In conclusion, whatever system of rules we may follow in 

 the construction of new roads, let us carefully preserve our 

 old picturesque, winding roads, with all their primitive eccen- 



