350 Introduction of the Iron Chain Suspension Bridge, [Dec, 
three most valuable trees) ; the richest and most extensive pasturages ; situated 
so conveniently for trade, between two countries, mutually in want of each 
other’s productions, this tract does not yet yield a revenue of perhaps ^30,000. 
Can it be doubted, but that good roads and bridges would do much for such a 
country ? 
Unfortunately, however,tlie people are too poor to undertake any thing of this kind 
themselves. These works must indeed in every country be the result of a ccrtaiu de- 
gree of national prosperity, on which they again react ; produciug an accelerated 
progress. To carry into effect extensive schemes of public utility, requires capital ; 
and this is unfortunately an element of improvement as much a desideratum in these 
countries, as the execution of the projects which can only be secured by it. In Eu- 
rope the first impulse is given by the great landed proprietors and capitalists, who 
have their remuneration, the former in the improved value of their estates, the latter 
in the return made by the employment* of their capital. In India we have no pro- 
prietors of land hut the Government, nor any capitalists capable of comprehending 
the full value of projects of public utility, still less of rising to the conception of 
so paradoxical a thing (to them) as public spirit. It is by the Government, and by 
them only, that such works can be expected to be undertaken ; and I may add, 
that in the double capacity of rulers, and landed proprietors, it is their interest to 
engage in them. Nothing can be clearer than that improved facilities of in- 
tercommunication allow of a country’s resources being fully developed. As 
internal and external commerce increases ; with it increase the wealth and com- 
forts of the people. Population then takes a start, and with it must increase 
the productions of the agriculturist. Land acquires a new value, correspond- 
ing to the increased demand for its produce, and the means of the consumers to 
purchase. Thence a direct interest as landed proprietors ; while as rulers, it is 
sufficiently obvious, that the more prosperous the commerce and agriculture of 
a country, the more productive will its revenue be ; its revenue, I mean, as 
composed of ordinary taxes. In America it has been found, that the revenue 
has steadily increased with the developenient of her resources ; and it will be even 
found, that the rate of increase in the line of roads, taken as a single element 
of national improvement, corresponds part passu w r itli that of the revenue. 
The value of a proper system of intercommunication, as a step in the im- 
provement of a country, is indeed so fully acknowledged, as to stand in no need of 
illustration ; were it a doubtful question, the practice of that magnificent people 
the Romans, might serve to reassure us. Even our Mogul predecessors could 
discover this truth, and their best princes made the construction of roads and 
bridges a principal object of their care. It is remarkable, how little we have 
done, when our means of accomplishing so much are taken into consideration. 
By a laudable innovation on the established maxims of a cruel justice, we have 
sparingly administered the punishment of death ; and have in all, but the very 
heaviest offences, commuted that punishment for labour on the roads ; our 
delinquents are therefore collected in prisons all over the country, and in con- 
siderable numbers. As their punishment is expressly declared to be LABOUR 
on the roads, and as their numbers are very great, the stranger might naturally 
conclude, that our roads, at least in the plain country, must be excellent. Our 
residents can tell a different story, particularly those who have travelled much ; in 
no country on the face of the globe is the state of the roads so truly disgraceful, 
or so little indicative of the rule of an enlightened people. This is a truth the more 
provoking, because so little expenditure of labour would suffice to ensure all that is 
wanted*. 
The utility of a few good lines of road in a mountainous country, is, if possible, 
more directly obvious, at least to the traveller, than in the plain country. But 
if roads are useful, bridges may be said to be absolutely necessary ; for without 
them, there cau he no intercourse whatever in a country so completely intersected 
by rivers ; by rivers that are very seldom fordable, and never navigable. Ferries in 
such rivers are entirely out of the question ; without bridges, therefore, the people 
must be confined to the narrow spots on which they were born, and all inter- 
I should be sorry to be so far misunderstood in any of these remarks, as to 
have it supposed, I mean to impute blame to any one ; either to the officers of Go- 
vernment or to the Government itself. It is as far from possibility, that one man 
should be able to do the work of ten, as that 5 or GOO Europeans,” be their intel- 
ligence, zeal, and activity, what they may, should be able to govern and perfectly 
manage in all its details, a country so extensive as this subject to our sway. The 
wonder is, that it lias been done so well. The fault is in the system. 
