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Roads « 
path in the most miry country in the world. — I was informed that 
they had never, within the memory of man, been replenished with 
fresh pebbles. The proposition may seem strange, and will be no 
doubt ridiculed, but, — if travelling in water were not disagree- 
able, — I cannot help thinking that over a flat wet country such a 
ditch road 20 feet broad, filled with gravel or pebbles, or broken 
stones a foot deep in the bottom and having not more than six 
inches of water upon it, would be the best possible road that could 
be made. One cause of destruction would be avoided, the washing 
away of the hard particles separated by attrition ; they would al- 
ways remain and fill the interstices so as probably in time to convert 
the road into a sort of rock. — Nor would the frost, another power- 
ful destroyer of roads affect it.— But it is useless to discuss a 
method which will never be used, and for which fortunately we 
have no frequent occasion. 
Mr. Wilkes, an opulent banker in London, who possessed 
large estates in the county of Derby in England — and a spirit of 
enterprize combined with uncommon force of intellect, engaged 
largely in the making of turnpike roads in that county, and in con- 
versations with him on that subject, I have received more infor» 
mation than from any other source whatever. 
His roads were the best in England. On to some of them he 
had led a running stream of water ; all that I saw were somewhat 
concave instead of convex. But least I should misstate any thing 
respecting them, for want of correct recollection, I will content 
myself with this notice of his operations, in order that you or some 
of your correspondents may be led to enquire whether or not some- 
thing has been published by himself, on this subject. I have a 
faint idea that I have seen a description of the principles and me- 
thod, by which he constructed his roads, in print. 
E. 
These oblique gutters are defended, as stopping places for car- 
riages. — It is indeed, in common humanity, proper to stop in the 
gutter, after the horses have exhausted themselves by dragging a 
waggon or carriage over the ridge. But if the waggoner would 
carry along with him a block of wood with a handle, by way of a 
scotch, (catch) to his wheel he could stop where he pleased. 
The roller used in England would answer the same purpose, hut 
although it effectually prevents the injury which might occur by 
the waggon’s running back unexpectedly, it is not otherwise a bet- 
ter, nor a more convenient contrivance than the block. 
Should the papers I now send, be honoured with a place in the 
Emporium, I will endeavour to collect all the information on pub- 
