Lynchburg Star

With regard to agriculture and internal commerce before that period. And though it was believed a while since, no one who then knew the things will contradict us.

At that time a journey from Glasgow to Edinburgh was an arduous undertaking, at any season of the year. It could only be performed on foot or on horse back; and, during the winter, it was a matter of the utmost difficulty. The roads were so excessively rough and deep, that a horse then could scarcely attempt to trot; and the inns were so poor, and the accommodations so bad that it made the stoutest heart shrink from the enterprise: for, with the best horse, it was two days journey at least, and often more. For the truth of this I appeal to the honourable commander in chief of his majesty's forces in Scotland, who was sometimes obliged to undertake this journey at that period.

At present it is well known to be an easy journey of 6 or 8 hours only; which can be performed by the most delicate lady, in all seasons, by night or by day, without risk or danger.

At that time, I am pretty confident, that not more than ten or twelve carriages of any sort, carts included, passed in a year between Glasgow and Edinburgh.

All commercial intercourse being then carried on between these two great cities, by a string of ten or twelve pack horses, who went and returned once a week; the leading horse being ornamented with bells, on purpose to give notice to travellers not to enter into narrow defiles, where they could not pass the whole troop. Where I would ask, is the road in the north of Scotland, between two considerable towns that is so little frequented as this road then was?

Were this question with extreme precision answered, sir, it would make no doubt; that string it be the roads to Glasgow their ridg. was worse than two carriages are: It is by pretty, per day on an average: To our bridge the rif. Thy money bor. gw, i our ta: f: z: cnabled, the, tate-s to :tie 'ir an the te.roays, :iebargartrat rivqtld to frequent: lrry wh'chitc: could not o. xherwif1a.4,3r. .h1.g , wl G: P griicgi.is obferve. thnt,"wirh itiyer ta trt :s puuving of the cuuneryi the v:" 4: rtad', save :caabledotbe farmere : not-dv tv rsty. the, plaiuce of:thcir "Tari:kur ir'avjfer : but to Woing. manurei froma-ditapk, it nn expence graiiy ie1s than tb=y :(tnerwrie: couid: tave done, Thecdhtrcfence is; toai tarnt -hare-ri-. Sen uajerifly, in their val", Io mere

Vocot than two t brought from s miles all round price of that article per ton, is now re though the quantity dinbutg is perhaps a aier, than at the time the turnpikes had been ve been nearly as prac. lace in the moon, as buildings that have whin the lat 20 years The hundredth part of e wanted for the leaf ay occasioned a famine, week e timt. f Edinburgh, howe- ante of every other better, complained would be subjected ; as the toll there ex- would enhance the of life, that were hat has been the ftated at to hay. ais; before the tre brought to horfe back: I have been aw, the load can be ex- ft weigh other day, -me "s of coals. price of shce j to f coals, trom ce to ain

With respect to travellers, they are equally benefited by turnpikes, as every other active order of people. For, though it seems to take money from them; yet it actually saves to them, upon the whole, a great deal that they must otherwise have given on it. Horses too fasted for themselves.

Perhaps the easiest mode of computing the expense of travelling is by comparing the price for a seat in fly, or stage coach, from one place to another, equally distant, with or without turnpikes.

For, as the undertakers pay for the turnpikes, where there are any, this forms a part of the expense on one road, which they are not under the necessity of paying in the others. By this rule, then, let us compare the expense of travelling without or with turnpikes. As he

From Glasgow to Edinburgh, the nearest road smiles the price ot ftage Ltucker & things which i something less than two pence farthing a mile.

From Edinburgh to Aberdeen, 1al miles the price of a stage ticket, two goincan whichli (mall traetion leis Chan four pence per nuset In the fiht caft, chere are turnpikcet through the greatet pait of the road tc Aberdeen, the e arc none. In this laft the travelling charge is pca.ly double lothat from Glal gow.to Erunbaig Yet, notwjthflanding this extiavagant chargt in conlequence of the badncts of roads, the lofs of horf. eo the breaking of harnefs thc repair. of machinery &c.are fo Brat, as.to leavc.the undertakcri fo little ntofit, ibat they are ufuallyobly ged to give jt up for (Ore menths eich winrer ; Ou:ing w bich time, nothin leh than jour horler can rag along even an cmety carri ge, He heshath ars to tiear let him oblerves Cnd fi lncts do not convince his on dereandin let them continue tobe an obieer to.derifion by every man-of -con- mon(al.s.d

VIATOR.