ROADS AND HIGHWAYS.
to the genial influence of the seasons, upon which the regular supply of our wants, and a great portion of our comforts so much depend, there is per haps no circumstance more interesting to men in a civilized state than the perfection of the means of in terior comniunication." This sentiment, quoted in one of the reports of the committee of the House of Com mons upon the highways of the kingdom, speaks to the healt and feelings of every one, and marks in a strong potnt of view, an object, a hich for the last twenty years, has mote especially occupied the British le,islature; so that while the field of battle has been oscillating between the extremes of Hamborgh and Rome, and of Madrid and Aloscow, the domestic policy of Britain has in no instance been more strik ii.g Lan in opening the country by the formation of numerous roads. If we look comparatively to the map of Europe, the surface of the United Kingdom appears every where intersected with numerous roads, while in other countries they seem to radiate only from their respective capitals. Some years since, the writer of this article made a cursory estimate of the extent of the highways of Great Britain and Ire land, when it appeared, that, independently of an almost incalculable number of parish and private roads, the highways alone extended to about 25,000 miles. Upon a very moderate calculation of the ex pense of these roads, including bridges and compen sation for land, we may state it at the rate of 8001. per mile, which is equal to no less than the ag gregate sum of twenty millions sterling. Now we may fairly ask, to what branch of political economy can we look for more splendid examples of internal re source? It has been truly said, that until a country is traversed and laid open by roads, its government must be weak, and its people remain in a state of poverty. On of such universal interest as the forma tion of roads, the mind delights to dwell, while it traces their connection with the progressive stages of civili zation in the occupation of the hamlet, the village, and the city. Perhaps we shall best treat the historical part of our subject by a general reference to roads, both at home and abroad.
In speaking of the roads of other countries, we may. observe that a people who have executed such splendid works as those of Egypt and Persia, must to a certain extent have had a system of roads corresponding to their habits, no less perfect than those of later times. The circle of the arts seems to move round, yet, doubtless, the same portion of mind has existed in every age, though our record or knowledge even of comparatively late periods, has by many perverted chances become extremely imperfect. The territory or jurisdiction of the Greeks and other nations, who, in early times, flourished upon the shores of the Mediter ranean was small; and although they achieved works of magnitude with a display of taste which still continues to he the subject of our wonder, and will perhaps ever remain to be consulted as our authorities, yet but little is known of their municipal affairs.
But it is far otherwise with the works of the Ro mans, whose conquests extended to all parts of the then known world. With that nation it was always a primary object to lay open subdued countries with roads to be applied to its future purposes either for obtaining supplies or securing a retreat. Such was the ?Iur•lian road, which led from the gate of that name to Milan, and from thence across the Alps by various routes, forming the key to Gaul, and all the nations of the north. In Italy alone, the Romans arc said to have laid about 11,000 miles of road. Of these the classic antiquary has been able to reckon many of the principal ways which led from Rome by the dif ferent gates, such as the 4fillian, Salernian, Ostian, Praenestine, Trinm/(hal, and others, varying in extent and importance according to the circumstances of the country through which they passed ; and from these again, a vast number of sub ordinate roads, ramified in every direction. Some re mains of these splendid works are still to be seen, though the face of the country in the lapse of ages, and the vicissitudes of time, has undergone such changes, as to leave little more to us than the mere recital of their names.