13 



of the great fire. Even when at last plans tyf real improvement began 



to be entertained it was no thought of resisting the increase of disease, 

 pauperism and crime, by other means than fencing it out, that produced 

 the change, hut mainly the intolerable hindrance to commerce of the old 



fashioned arrangements. Though some refused to see it and still pro- 

 tested against the plans of improvement as wholly unnecessary, hazard, 

 ous, reckless, and extravagant, and denounced those' who urged them, as 

 unprincipled speculators or visionary enthusiasts, the merchants gen- 

 erally could no longer avoid the conviction that their prosperity was 

 seriously checked by the inadequacy of the thoroughfares of the town 

 for the duty required of them. Parliament was therefore induced in 

 the latter part of the last century, to authorize a series of measures 

 which gradually brought about in the course of fifty years, larger and 

 more important changes than had occurred before during many cen- 

 turies. 



As the definite aim of these changes was to get rid of certain incon- 

 veniences which had previously been classed among the necessary evils 

 of large towns and as the measure with reference to which the purpose 

 of their design was limited is thus clearly established it is evident that 

 before we can realize the degree in which they were likely to approach 

 the ultimatum of civilized requirement we need to know more exactly 

 what the inconveniences in question amounted to. 



It appears then that the imperfect pavements, never having been 

 adequately revised since the days of hand-barrow and pack-horse trans- 

 portation, were constantly being misplaced and the ground worn into 

 deep ruts by the crushing weight of the wheels; the slops and offal 

 matters thrown out of the houses were combined with the dung of the 

 horses and the mud to make a tenacious puddle through which the 

 people on foot had to drag their way m constant apprehension of 

 being run down or crushed against the wall. In the principal streets 

 strong posts were planted at intervals behind which active men were ac- 

 customed to dodge for safety as the wagons came upon them. Coaches 

 had been introduced in the time of Elizabeth, but though simple, strong 

 and rudely hung vehicles, they were considered to be very dangerous 

 in the streets and their use within the town was for some time forbidden. 

 Sedan chairs for all ordinary purposes superseded them and for a long 

 time had been in common use by all except the poorer classes upon 

 every occasion of going into the streets. When George the Third went 

 in the state coach to open Parliament, the streets through which he 

 passed were previously prepared by laying faggots in the ruts to 

 make the motion easier. There was little or no sewerage or covered 

 drainage, and heavy storms formed gullies of the ruts and often flooded 

 the cellars destroying a great deal of merchandise. 



