Several essays relating to accademies, banks, bankrupts, charity-lotteries, courts of enquiries, court merchants, friendly-societies, high-ways, pension-office, seamen, wagering, &c. now communicated to the world for publick good.

As thus:

Suppose the Tax on Land, and Tenements for the whole County of Middlesex, does, or shou'd be so or∣der'd, as it might amount to 20000 l. per Ann. more or less, which it now

does, and much more, including the Work of the Farmer's Teams, which must be accounted as Money, and is equivalent to it, with some Allowance to be Rated for the City of London, &c. who do enjoy the Benefit, and make the most use of the said Roads, both for carrying of Goods, and bringing Provisions to the City, and therefore in reason ought to Contribute towards the High-ways; for it is a most un∣equal thing, that the Road from High∣gate to Smithfield-Market, by which the whole City is, in a manner, sup∣pli'd with Live Cattel, and the Road by those Cattel horribly spoil'd, shou'd lie all upon that one Parish of Islington to Repair; wherefore I'le suppose a Rate for the High-ways to be gather'd through the City of London of 10000 l. per Ann. more; which may be Ap∣pointed to be paid by Carriers, Dro∣vers, and all such as keep Teams,

Horses, or Coaches, and the like, or many ways, as is most Equal and Rea∣sonable; the waste Lands in the said County, which by the Consent of the Parishes, Lords of the Mannors, and Proprietors, shall be allow'd to the Undertakers when Enclos'd and Let out, may (the Land in Middlesex generally Letting high) amount to 5000 l. per Ann. more. If then an Act of Parliament be procur'd to settle the Tax of 30000 l. per Ann. for Eight Years, most of which will be Levi'd in Workmen, and not in Money, and the Waste Lands for ever: I dare be bold to offer, That the High-Ways for the whole County of Middlesex shou'd be put into the following Form, and the 5000 l. per Ann. Land be bound to remain as a Security to main∣tain them so, and the County be ne∣ver Burthen'd with any further Tax for the Repair of the High-Ways.

And that I may not Propose a Mat∣ter in General, like begging the Que∣stion, without Demonstration, I shall enter into the Particulars, How it may be perform'd, and that under these following Heads of Articles.

• (1.) What I Propose to do to the High-Ways.
• (2.) What the Charge will be.
• (3.) How to be Rais'd.
• (4.) What Security for Performance.
• (5.) What Profit to the Undertaker.

(1.) What I Propose to do to the High-Ways.

I Answer First, Not Repair them; And yet Secondly, Not alter them, that is, not alter the Course they run.

But perfectly Build them as a Fa∣brick. And to descend to the Particulars,

'tis first necessary to Note, which are the Roads I mean, and their Dimen∣sions.

First, The High Post-Roads, and they are for the County of Middlesex as follows.

	Miles
From London to Stane••, which is	15
From London to Colebrook is from Hounslow	05
From London to Uxbridge	15
From London to Bushy the Old Street-way	10
From London to Barnet, or near it	09
From London to Waltham-Cross in Ware Road	10
From London to Bow	02
	67

Besides these, there are Cross-Roads, By-Roads, and Lanes, which must also be look'd after, and that some of them may be put into Condition, others may be wholly slighted and shut up, or made Drift-ways, Bridle-ways, or Foot-ways, as may be thought con∣venient by the Countries.

The Cross-Roads of most Repute are as follows:

		Miles
From London	to Hackney, Old Ford, and Bow	05
From Hackney	to Dalston and Islington	02
From Ditto	to Hornsy, Muzzle-Hill, to Whetston	08
From Tottenham	to The Chase, South-Gate, &c. call'd Greenlanes	06
From Enfield-Wash	to Enfield-Town, Whetston, Tot∣teridge, to Egworth	10
From London	to Hamstead, Hendon, and Edgworth	08
From Edgworth	to Stanmore, to Pinner, to Ux∣bridge	08
From London	to Harrow and Pinner-Green	11
From London	to Chelsea, Fullham	04
From Brantford	to Thistleworth, Twittenham, and Kingston	06
From Kingston	to Stanes, Colebrook and Uxbridge	17
From Ditto	to Chersey-Bridge	05
		90
Overplus Miles		50
		140

And because there may be many Parts of the Cross-Roads which can∣not be accounted in the Number a∣bove-mention'd, or may slip my knowledge or memory, I allow an overplus of 50 Miles, to be added to the 90 Miles above, which together makes the Cross-Roads of Middlesex to be 140 Miles.

For the By-Lanes, such as may be slighted need nothing but to be ditch'd up; such as are for private use of Lands, for carrying off Corn, and driving Cattle, are to be look'd after by pri∣vate hands.

But of the last sort, not to be ac∣counted by Particulars, in the small County of Middlesex, we cannot al∣low less in Cross By-lanes, from Village to Village, and from Dwell∣ing-Houses which stand out of the way to the Roads, than 1000 Miles.

So in the whole County I reckon up,

	Miles
Of the High Post-Road	0067
Of Cross-Roads less Publick	0140
Of By-Lanes and Passes	1000
	1207

These are the Roads I mean, and thus divided under their several deno∣minations.

To the Question, What I wou'd do to them? I Answer,

(1.) For the 67 Miles of High Post-Road, I Propose to throw up a firm strong Causway well bottom'd, 6 Foot high in the middle, and 4 Foot on the side, fac'd with Brick or Stone, and crown'd with Gravel, Chalk, or Stone, as the several Countries they are made through will afford, being 44 Foot in Breadth, with Ditches on either side 8 Foot Broad and 4 Foot Deep; so the whole Breadth will be 60 Foot, if the Ground will permit.

At the end of every Two Miles, or such like convenient distances, shall be a Cottage Erected, with Half an Acre of Ground allow'd, which shall be given Gratis, with 1 s. per Week Wages, to such Poor Man of the Pa∣rish, as shall be approv'd, who shall Once, at least, every day, view his Walk, to open Passages for the Water

to run into the Ditches, to fill up Holes or soft Places.

Two Riders shall be allow'd to be always moving the Rounds, to view every thing out of Repair, and make Report to the Directors, and to see that the Cottagers do their Duty.

(2.) For the 140 Miles of Cross-Road, a like Causway to be made, but of different Dimensions, the Breadth 20 Foot, if the Ground will allow it, the Ditches 4 Foot Broad, 3 Foot Deep, the Heighth in the middle 3 Foot, and on the sides 1 Foot, or 2 where it may be needful; to be also crown'd with Gravel, and 1 s. per Week to be allow'd to the Poor of every Parish, the Constables to be Bound to find a Man to Walk on the High-Way every Division, for the same Purpose as the Cottagers do on the Greater Roads.

Posts to be set up at every turning

to Note whither it goes, for the Di∣rection of Strangers, and how many Miles distant.

(3.) For a 1000 Miles By-Lanes, only good and sufficient Care to keep them in Repair as they are, and to carry the Water off by clearing and cutting the Ditches, and laying Ma∣terials where it is wanted.

This is what I Propose to do to them; and what if once perform'd, I suppose all People wou'd own to be an Undertaking both Useful and Honour∣able.

(2.) The Second Question I Pro∣pose to give an Account of, is, What the Charge will be.

Which I account thus;

The Work of the great Causway I Propose, shall not Cost less than 10 s. per Foot, supposing Materials to be Bought, Carriage and Mens La∣bour to be all Hir'd, which for 67

Miles in Length, is no less than the Sum of 176880 Pounds; as thus,

Every Mile accounted at 1760 Yards, and 3 Foot to the Yard, is 5280 Foot, which at 10 s. per Foot, is 2640 l. per Mile, and that again Multiplied by 67, makes the sum of 176880, into which I include the Charge of Water-Courses, Mills to throw off Water where needful, Dreins, &c.

To this Charge must be added, Ditching to Enclose Land for 30 Cot∣tages, and Building 30 Cottages at 40 l. each, which is 1200 l.

The Work of the smaller Causway I Propose to finish at the Rate of 12 d. per Foot, which being for 140 Miles in Length, at 5280 Foot per Mile, amounts to 36960 l.

Ditching, Dreining, and Repairing 1000 Miles, suppos'd at 3 s. per Rod, as for 320000 Rod, is 48000 l. which

added to the Two former Accounts, is thus,

	l.
The High Post-Roads, or the Great Cawsey	178080
The small Cawsey	036960
By Lanes, &c.	048000
	263040

If I were to Propose some Mea∣sures for the easing this Charge, I cou'd, perhaps, lay a Scheme down how it may be perform'd for less than one half of this Charge.

As first, By a grant of the Court at the Old-Baily, whereby all such Cri∣minals as are Condemn'd to Die for smaller Crimes, may instead of Tran∣sportation be Order'd a Year's Work on the High-Ways; others instead of Whippings, a proportion'd Time, and the like; which wou'd, by a mo∣derate computation, provide us gene∣rally

asupply of 200 Workmen, and coming in as fast as they go off; and let the Overseers alone to make them Work.

Secondly, By an Agreement with the Guinea-Company to furnish 200 Negroes, who are generally Persons that do a great deal of Work; and all these are Subsisted very reasonably out of a Publick Store-house.

Thirdly, By Carts and Horses to be Bought, not Hir'd, with a few Able Carters; and to the other a few Workmen that have Judgment to Di∣rect the rest; and thus I question not the Great Causway shall be done for 4 s. per Foot Charge; but of this by the by.

Fourthly, A Liberty to ask Chari∣rities and Benevolences to the Work.

(3.) To the Question, How this Money shall be Rais'd? I think if the Parliament settle the Tax on the

County for Eight Years, at 30000 l. per Ann. no Man need ask, how it shall be Rais'd, — It will be easy enough to Raise the Money; and no Parish can grudge to pay a little larger Rate for such a Term, on condition never to be Tax'd for the High-Ways any more.

Eight Years Assessment at 30000 l. per Ann. is enough to afford to Bor∣row the Money by way of Anticipa∣tion, if need be, the Fund being secur'd by Parliament, and appropriated to that Use and no other.

As to what Security for Perform∣ance:

The Lands which are Enclos'd may be appropriated by the same Act of Parliament to the Bank and Underta∣kers, upon condition of Performance, and to be Forfeit to the use of the se∣veral Parishes to which they belong, in case upon Presentation by the Grand

Juries, and reasonable Time given, any part of the Roads in such and such Parishes, be not kept and main∣tain'd in that Posture they are Pro∣pos'd to be. Now the Lands thus settled are an eternal Security to the Country, for the keeping the Roads in Repair; because they will always be of so much Value over the need∣ful Charge, as will make it worth while to the Undertakers to preserve their Title to them; and the Tenure of them being so precarious, as to be liable to Forfeiture on Default, they will always be careful to uphold the Causways.

Lastly, What Profit to the Under∣takers? For we must allow them to Gain, and that considerably, or no Man wou'd undertake such a Work.

To this I propose, First,

During the Work allow them out of the Stock 3000 l. per Ann. for Ma∣nagement.

After the Work is finish'd, so much of the 5000 l. per Ann. as can be sav'd, and the Roads kept in good Repair, let be their own; and if the Lands Secur'd be not of the Value of 5000 l. a Year, let so much of the Eight Years Tax be set apart as may Pur∣chase Land to make them up; if they come to more, let the Benefit be to the Adventurers.

It may be Objected here, That a Tax of 30000 l. for Eight Years will come in as fast as it can well be laid out, and so no Anticipations will be requisite; for the whole Work Pro∣pos'd cannot be probably finished in less Time; and if so,

	l.
The Charge of the Country amounts to	240000
The Lands sav'd Eight Years Revenue	040000
	280000

which is 13000 l. more than the

Charge; and if the Work be done so much Cheaper, as is mentioned, the Profit to the Undertaker will be Un∣reasonable.

To this I say, I wou'd have the Undertakers bound to accept the Sal∣lary of 3000 l. per Ann. for Manage∣ment, and if a whole Years Tax can be spar'd, either leave it Unrais'd up∣on the Country, or put it in Bank to be improv'd against any occasion, of Building, perhaps, a great Bridge; or some very wet Season, or Frost, may so Damnify the Works, as to make them require more than ordinary Re∣pair. But the Undertakers shou'd make no private Advantage of such an Overplus, there might be ways enough found for it.

Another Objection lies against the Possibility of Enclosing the Lands up∣on the Waste, which generally belongs

to some Mannor, whose different Te∣nures may be so cross, and so other∣wise encumbred, that even the Lord of those Mannors, though they were willing, cou'd not Convey them.

This may be Answer'd in General, That an Act of Parliament is Omni∣potent with respect to Titles and Te∣nures of Land, and can Empower Lords and Tenants to Consent to what else they cou'd not; as to Particulars, they cannot be Answer'd till they are Propos'd; but there is no doubt but an Act of Parliament may adjust it all in one Head.

What a Kingdom wou'd England be if this were perform'd in all the Counties of it! and yet I believe it is feasible, even in the worst. I have narrowly observ'd all the Considerable Ways in that unpassable County of Sussex, which especially in some parts in the Wild, as they very properly call

it, of the County, hardly admits the Countrey People to Travel to Mar∣kets in Winter, and makes Corn dear at Market because it can't be brought, and cheap at the Farmer's House be∣cause he can't carry it to Market; yet even in that County wou'd I un∣dertake to carry on this Proposal, and that to great Advantage, if back'd with the Authority of an Act of Par∣liament.

I have seen in that horrible Coun∣try the Road 60 to 100 Yards Broad, lie from side to side all Poach'd with Cattel, the Land of no manner of Benefit, and yet no going with a Horse, but at every step up to the Shoulders, full of Sloughs and Holes, and covered with standing-water. It costs them incredible Sums of Money to Repair them; and the very Places that are mended, wou'd fright a young Traveller to go over them: The Ro∣mans

Master'd this Work, and by a firm Causeway made a High-way quite through this deep Country, through Darkin in Surry to Stansted, and thence to Okeley, and so on to Arundel; its Name tells us what it was made of; for it was call'd Stone∣street, and many visible parts of it re∣main to this day.

Now would any Lord of a Mannor refuse to allow 40 Yards in breadth out of that Road I mention'd, to have the other 20 made into a Firm, Fair, and Pleasant Causeway over that Wilder∣ness of a Countrey?

Or would not any man acknow∣ledge, That putting this Country into a condition for Carriages and Travellers to pass, would be a great Work? The Gentlemen would find the Benefit of it in the Rent of their Land, and Price of their Timber; the Countrey Peo∣ple would find the difference in the

Sale of their Goods, which now they cannot carry beyond the first Market-Town, and hardly thither; and the whole County would reap an Advan∣tage an hundred to one greater than the Charge of it. And since the Want we feel of any Convenience is gene∣rally the first Motive to Contrivance for a Remedy, I wonder no man ever thought of some Expedient for so con∣siderable a Defect.