1 9 2 WINCHESTER ^ ALTON, 
the prebends, for whofe civilities we were much obliged. The 
fky, which had been hitherto fo indulgent to us, now let fall 
a fhower, but it ferved only to cool the earth, for the fun 
foon cheared us again with his rays, and helped to fupport the 
good humor of the company. We are much oftener obliged 
for our happinefs to the weather, than we are aware of ; fuch 
is the ftate of the body, and its influence on the mind. We 
palled through alesford, which is diftant eight miles. This 
is a market- town, and diftinguifhed for its neatnefs. About 
forty years fince it was entirely co fumed by fire, and the 
houfes for the mofi: part appear new. The polite captain 
rodney has a new houfe here, which is very pleafantly fitu- 
ated. Alesford is remarkabl n this, that the road through it 
is broad, hard, and fmooth, to. a degree that does great honor 
to the inhabitants : at lead it was fo at this time. It is ama- 
zing how stupid the greateft part of the people of England 
are ! Either from ignorance, or indolence, one can hardly 
find a village, the road through which is broad, or rightly form- 
ed, and as feldom kept in complete repair. But, alas, what 
fhall we fay of the roads, if fo we may call the pavements, 
through the ftreets of London and Westminster ? Ignorance 
and indolence, a little narrow felfifh fpirit, with an impolitic 
contempt of the laws in being, all unite to render them abo- 
minably irregular, and confequently extremely inconvenient, 
and pernicious to man and beaft. It might be otherwife at a 
moderate expence to individuals, or I am extremely miftaken. 
From alesford to Alton is ten miles, the road very fair and 
pleafant ; the country abounds in corn and meadow lands, but 
it 
