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the locality； it frequently happened that while the roads of one
county were exceedingly good； those of the adjoining county were
altogether execrable。
Even in the immediate vicinity of the metropolis the Surrey roads
remained comparatively unimproved。 Those through the interior of
Kent were wretched。 When Mr。 Rennie； the engineer； was engaged in
surveying the Weald with a view to the cutting of a canal through
it in 1802； he found the country almost destitute of practicable
roads； though so near to the metropolis on the one hand and to the
sea…coast on the other。 The interior of the county was then
comparatively untraversed； except by bands of smugglers； who kept
the inhabitants in a state of constant terror。 In an agricultural
report on the county of Northampton as late as the year 1813； it
was stated that the only way of getting along some of the main
lines of road in rainy weather； was by swimming！
In the neighbourhood of the city of Lincoln the communications were
little better； and there still stands upon what is called Lincoln
Heaththough a heath no longera curious memorial of the past in
the shape of Dunstan Pillar； a column seventy feet high； erected
about the middle of last century in the midst of the then dreary；
barren waste； for the purpose of serving as a mark to wayfarers by
day and a beacon to them by night。*＇2＇
＇Image＇ Land Lighthouse on Lincoln Heath。
At that time the Heath was not only uncultivated； but it was also
unprovided with a road across it。 When the late Lady Robert
Manners visited Lincoln from her residence at Bloxholm； she was
accustomed to send forward a groom to examine some track； that on
his return he might be able to report one that was practicable。
Travellers frequently lost themselves upon this heath。 Thus a
family； returning from a ball at Lincoln； strayed from the track
twice in one night； and they were obliged to remain there until
morning。 All this is now changed； and Lincoln Heath has become
covered with excellent roads and thriving farmsteads。
〃This Dunstan Pillar；〃 says Mr。 Pusey； in his review of the
agriculture of Lincolnshire； in 1843； 〃lighted up no longer time
ago for so singular a purpose； did appear to me a striking witness
of the spirit of industry which； in our own days； has reared the
thriving homesteads around it； and spread a mantle of teeming
vegetation to its very base。 And it was certainly surprising to
discover at once the finest farming I had ever seen and the only
land lighthouse ever raised。*＇3＇ Now that the pillar has ceased to
cheer the wayfarer； it may serve as a beacon to encourage other
landowners in converting their dreary moors into similar scenes of
thriving industry。〃*＇4＇ When the improvement of the high roads of
the country fairly set in； the progress made was very rapid。
This was greatly stimulated by the important inventions of tools；
machines； and engines； made towards the close of last century；
the products of whichmore especially of the steam…engine and
spinning…machineso largely increased the wealth of the nation。
Manufactures； commerce； and shipping； made unprecedented strides；
life became more active； persons and commodities circulated more
rapidly； every improvement in the internal communications being
followed by an increase of ease； rapidity； and economy in
locomotion。 Turnpike and post roads were speedily extended all
over the country； and even the rugged mountain districts of North
Wales and the Scotch Highlands became as accessible as any English
county。 The riding postman was superseded by the smartly appointed
mail…coach； performing its journeys with remarkable regularity at
the average speed of ten miles an hour。 Slow stagecoaches gave
place to fast ones； splendidly horsed and 〃tooled；〃 until
travelling by road in England was pronounced almost perfect。
But all this was not enough。 The roads and canals； numerous and
perfect though they might be； were found altogether inadequate to
the accommodation of the traffic of the country； which had
increased； at a constantly accelerating ratio； with the increased
application of steam power to the purposes of productive industry。
At length steam itself was applied to remedy the inconveniences
which it had caused； the locomotive engine was invented； and
travelling by railway became generally adopted。 The effect of
these several improvements in the means of locomotion； has been to
greatly increase the public activity； and to promote the general
comfort and well…being。 They have tended to bring the country and
the town much closer together； and； by annihilating distance as
measured by time； to make the whole kingdom as one great city。
What the personal blessings of improved communication have been； no
one has described so well as the witty and sensible Sydney Smith：
〃It is of some importance；〃 he wrote； 〃at what period
a man is born。 A young man alive at this period
hardly knows to what improvement of human life he has
been introduced； and I would bring before his notice
the changes which have taken place in England since I
began to breathe the breath of life； a period
amounting to over eighty years。 Gas was unknown；
I groped about the streets of London in the all but
utter darkness of a twinkling oil lamp； under the
protection of watchmen in their grand climacteric；
and exposed to every species of degradation and
insult。 I have been nine hours in sailing from Dover
to Calais； before the invention of steam。 It took me
nine hours to go from Taunton to Bath； before the
invention of railroads； and I now go in six hours
from Taunton to London！ In going from Taunton to
Bath； I suffered between l0；000 and 12；000 severe
contusions； before stone…breaking Macadam was
born。。。。 As the basket of stage…coaches in which
luggage was then carried had no springs； your clothes
were rubbed all to pieces； and； even in the best
society； one…third of the gentlemen at least were
always drunk。。。。。 I paid 15L。 in a single year for
repairs of carriage…springs on the pavement of
London； and I now glide without noise or fracture on
wooden pavement。 I can walk； by the assistance of the
police； from one end of London to the other without
molestation； or； if tired； get into a cheap and
active cab； instead of those cottages on wheels which
the hackney coaches were at the beginning of my
life。。。。。 Whatever miseries I suffered； there was no
post to whisk my complaints for a single penny to the
remotest comer of the empire； and yet； in spite of
all these privations； I lived on quietly； and am now
ashamed that I was not more discontented； and utterly
surprised that all these changes and inventions did
not occur two centuries ago。
With the history of these great improvements is also mixed up the
story of huma