20

A TREATISE ON ROADS.

dentally propose to travel this terrible country toavoid it as they would the devil, for a thousand toone they break their necks or their limbs, by over-throws or breakings down. They will here meetwith ruts, which I actually measured four feet deep,and floating with mud only from a wet summer;what therefore must it be after a winter ? The onlymending it receives is tumbling in some loosestones, which serve no other purpose than joltinga carriage in the most intolerable manner. Theseare not merely opinions, but facts; for I actuallypassed three carts, broken down, in these eighteenmiles of execrable memory. To Warrington.Turnpike. —This is a paved road, most infamouslybad ; any person would imagine the people of thecountry had made it with a view to immediatedestruction! for the breadth is only sufficient forone carriage, consequently it is cut at once intoruts; and you may easily conceive what a breakdown, dislocating road ruts, cut through a pave-ment, must be.

“ From Dunholm to Knutsford . Turnpike. —It is impossible to describe these infernal roads interms adequate to their deserts. To Newcastle.Turnpike. — A more dreadful road cannot beimagined. I was obliged to hire two men at oneplace to support my chaise from overturning. Letme persuade all travellers to avoid this terriblecountry, which must either dislocate their boneswith broken pavements, or bury them in muddysand.