" In mountainous districts, the roads were alternately cut through moun tains and raised above the valleys, so as to preserve either a level line, or a uniform inclination. They founded the road on piles, where the ground was not solid, and raised it by strong side walls, or by arches and piers, where it was necessary to gain elevation. The paved part of the great military roads was 16 Roman feet wide, with two side ways, each 8 feet wide, separated from the middle way by two raised paths 2 feet each." At every mile, columns were erected to mark the distance from place to place ; blocks of stone for foot tra vellers to rest on, and for horsemen to mount their steeds with ; temples, tri umphal arches, and mausoleums adorned them, and military stations defended and commanded them. By the formation of these great highways, an impulse was given in Britain to the national industry. The genius of the British people, essentially commercial, hastened to avail itself of the facilities (limited as they were) for intercourse and traffic; and we may fairly attribute to the conquest of Britain by the Romans, her present commercial superiority.
On the continent the Italians have not degenerated in this respect. The roads are still exceedingly good, and the people display both taste and judgment in their preservation. The pass of the Simplon over the Alps, will ever remain a noble monument to the genius of Buonaparte, the talents of his military engineers, and the persevering industry of the French soldiers.
The highways of France, called Chanastee, usually take the straight line of direction, without much regard to the line of draught. The breadth varies from 30 to 70 feet. The middle part, measuring about 18 feet in breadth, is paved with stones of 6, 8, or 10 inches square, firmly set, on a previously-drained and well-prepared bottom. On each side are bridle roads. Uniformity of inclina tion is little attended to, and the observing traveller is surprised to see, when toiling over hills and hollows, how small a deviation would have obtained the advantage of perhaps a perfect level.
The roads in France are under the management of the Poets et Mammies, the funds for their maintenance being voted by as a part of the national expenditure. The sum voted in the year 1830 was 1,800,0001. " Notwithstanding, however," observes Sir Henry Parnell, " the attention which has been paid to the roads in France, the actual state of them, with regard to their number, extent, and condition, is evidence of the system of management being extremely imperfect." With the exception of those parts
of the main roads leading from Paris, which are paved, the roads are weak and rutted. In those districts where they are repaired with gravel, they are almost impassable in winter ; the diligenees, with six horses, can with difficulty travel four miles an hour. In other districts, where the roads are harder, there is seldom to be seen a read with a smooth surface, and of sufficient strength. There are very extensive tracts of the kingdom Wholly -without any regularly formed roads ; and, therefore, however valuable the effirts of the statesmen of France may have been in carrying the progress of road-making to the point at which it has arrived, there is still wanting some new plan of legislation by which good roads may be made, not only from one town to another, but into, and through every commune in France." The funds for the maintenance of roads in Spain are derived partly from tolls, and partly from local taxes. The average annual expenditure may be roughly estimated at 90,0001. The disturbed state of the for so many years, has rendered it impossible for the inhabitants to forward those public works in which other countries have been happily engaged since the return of peace. Her roads, then, as may be mpecta, are, as in Portugal, execrable. The main roads leading from both Madrid and Lisbon, are, for a few miles, tolerably good ; the roads, also, in Catalonia, are both numerous and well kept; but these are exceptions :—the general character of the internal communication is worse than in any of the other continental states.
in Germany the roads are paved similarly to the French Chaussees ; but as little attention is paid to the preparation of the bed of the road by previously draining the subsoil, and rendering it firm for the reception of the road mate rial, they are miserably bad, and, in many parts, almost impassable. The Dutch, on the contrary, take great pains with their roads, carefully prepare the foundation, and then lay them with thin bricks, bedded in lime ; on these roads carriages run very smoothly, and even ordinary market carts travel with con siderable speed . The roads are generally straight, with a ditch on each side, and planted with rows of trees.
In Sweden the roads are well made, and the principal ones equal to the good roads in England. The materials are readily obtained, good ruck being plen tiful, and this well broken, and laid on to a considerable thickness, has formed firm and smooth roads throughout the Swedish territory.