HISTORY

OF THE

ENGLISH RAILWAY.

CHAPTER I.

ROADS DURING THE AGE OF CHIVALRY.-DANGERS OF TRAVELLING.-EXPENSE OF TRAVELLING DIFFICULTY OF CONVEYING GOODS. THE STREETS OF LONDON-FIRST LEGISLATIVE

ENACTMENT.-FORCED

LABOUR.-PRIMEVAL

STATE OF THE COUNTRY VILLAGE. INFORMATION DIFFICULT TO TRANSMIT. -TRAVELLING IN COMPANY.-THE PACK-HORSE.-STAGE COACHES.--OPINIONS CONCERNING THEM.— JOURNEY TO CAMBRIDGE.—THE PEER IN 1750 AND 1850-IMPROVEMENT IN THE ROADS OCCASIONED BY CIVIL WAR.THE IMPORTANCE OF THE PEDLER IN COMMUNICATION.-FIRST TURNPIKE GATES.- LAND TAX.-THE HIGHWAYMAN. THE ROADS OF LANCASHIRE. THE ROADS OF NEWCASTLE.-IMPROVEMENT OF THE HIGHWAY.-RAILROADS.

THERE are few subjects more interesting to the antiquarian than the science of locomotion; nor is any topic more important to the political economist than the roads of England. By them he traces her social progress, and watching them as, gradually formed for necessary intercourse, they increase with the demand they supply, he regards them as at once a cause and