22 



with what success, remains to be determined, viz. The consideration of 

 the plans or resources whicli can be resorted to, for the removal of tbese 

 evil effects of the Shoe. 



On the Poivers of the Natural Hoof in respect to weur oh the Roads. 



The noxious effects of the comnioo shoe being clearly manifested, it 

 became a point of sonie interest, to ascertain accurately what Services 

 might be expected from the natural hoof, and what it was, and what it 

 was not capable of, on our common roads, both paved and gravel. I was 

 Ihe more led to this enquiry from observing the fact, that the ancients 

 never in a general way shod their horses, which is now admitted to be 

 decisively proved, and yet accoraplished by their armies such extraordi- 

 nary feats. In respect to swift riding also, Gibbon has mentioned, on 

 good authority, a remarkable instance of speedy travelling with them, 

 which nearly equals any thing of modern tinies, with all the advantages 

 of shoes. In the first chapter, of bis ftrst book, giving a general view of 

 the State of the Roman empire in all respects under the Antonines, he 

 is led to notice their roads, and observes, that one Caesarius, a magistrate 

 of high rank, in the time of the Emperor Theodosius, rode post from 

 Antioch to Constantinople, a distance of seven hundred and twenty-five 

 Roman miles; or six hundred and sixty five British miles, in six days* 

 Our surprize will be considerably lessened, when the means which they 

 used of doing this are pointed out. For, the Roman roads were wide 

 causeways, raised in the niiddle, and covered with large flat stones 

 nicely jointed, and sometimes cemented together; these roads or cause- 

 ways passed in nearly straight lines through every country subjected 

 to their power, proceeding from the Forum of Rome as from a couunon 

 centre.f Post-Houses for the purposes of the Government were erected 

 along these ways, at the distance of every five or six miles, each provided 

 with forty horses ; these frequent relays rendered the accomplishment 

 of the thing not difficult without much cruel exertion on the part of the 

 animals. The horses hoofs it may be remarked would be very Httle 

 worn, if the surfaces of the stones were kept clean, and the joints in 



* Codex Theodosianus, Lib. 8. tit. V. Vol. 2. p. 506. Libaniu^ Orat. 22, and It'meraria, p. 572, 581. 

 Procopius in Hist. Arcanä, c. 30. t Belgier, Histoire des grands Chemins de l'Empire Romaine. 

 Lib. 2 cap. 1. 28 and Lib. 4. 



