Roads * 295 
the level turnpike roads, in level countries, which were construct- 
ed in the early period of this improvement of the public highways* 
were made on this principle, namely, of an alternate artificial 
ascent and descent. 
My memory however furnishes me only with perfect knowledge 
of the fact ; and I regret that I cannot point out the source of infor- 
mation from which I derived it. I recollect however passing over 
such a road in the hundreds of Essex, during some part of my re- 
sidence of about ten years in England (about 20 years ago) and I also 
recollect having assigned, as reasons why the method was disconti- 
nued, that it was much more expensive than to barrel the roads 
(to give them a convex surface) and that the lowest parts were 
apt to be overflown. These are good reasons, although the dis- 
carded method is certainly preferable to that which succeeded it. 
The overflowing of the lower parts or kennels would be avoided 
by culverts or drains across the road. I know in our country no 
extensive levels, in which the soil is clay, and of course in which 
the roads are apt to be miry excepting the levels in the county of 
Fauquier, in Virginia, abounding in copper ore, and in which are 
the sources of the Occoquan. In Jersey, Delaware, and Mary- 
land there are level and extensive clayey swamps, but all theee 
may be drained, by carrying the drains to a sufficient distance. 
Having had occasion in the Peninsula between the Delaware and 
Chesapeake to run many miles of level through such flats, I have 
found them all to descend 6 inches in a mile to the S. E. In such si- 
tuations, the whole road to the width of two rods (33°) should be 
raised above the level by the contents of deep and wide ditches on 
each side, before the hard material is carried on them.— And in 
my opinion they should be made perfectly fiat, if not concave with 
occasional ditches and culverts or bridges across them. To make 
good roads over a rolling country, little art, but much. labour, is 
required. The most difficult task, and that requiring the most art, 
is to make a good road over a level clay country. 
In the level country between Retford and Gainsborough, in 
England, and throughout the clay flats of the counties of Notting- 
ham and Lincoln, a sort of horse path exists, the continuation of 
which is ascribed to the Romans, and which is certainly not of ve- 
ry modern date. These paths are ditches, the bottoms of which 
are filled with sea-beach pebbles, (shingle.) 
In several visits to that part of England I never saw them free 
from water ; and have rode in them many miles, always wet above 
the horses fet-locks. They are to thh day m excellent horse 
