Profit, conveniency, and pleasure, to the whole nation being a short rational discourse, lately presented to His Majesty, concerning the high-ways of England : their badness, the causes thereof, the reasons of those causes, the impossibility of ever having them well-mended according to the old way of mending, but may most certainly be done, and for ever so maintained (according to this new way) substantially, and with very much ease : and so that in the very depth of winter there shall not be much dirt, no deep-cart-rutts, or high-ridges, no holes, or vneven places, nor so much as a loose stone (the very worst of evils both to man and horse) in any of the horse-tracts, nor shall any person have cause to be once put out of his way in any hundred of miles riding.

The Order of the Day-man, and his Constant Work.

First, having his station or allotment given him, how far, or how many miles he is to take into his Charge and Care, (which may, and must be more or less, according to the goodness or bad∣ness of the Nature of the Ground) I say, he ha∣ving once settled, and entred upon his underta∣king, he shall then every working day, be up and upon the High-wayes at working time, Summer and Winter, either with Mattock, Shovel, Rake, Scoop, Wood-bill, Wheel-barrow, or what other Tool or Implements may be thought needfull for such a Work.

And thus shall he walk and work from morn∣ing to night.

First, he shall work half his station one way, for two or three days, forwards and backwards, and perform whatever may be most needfull for his days-work there.

Then the next two or three days, he shall do the like to his other half station, the other way.

So that once in a weeks time, shall his whole allotment be constantly amended: And I suppose one Man may look after ten miles very well, in most ordinary good Soyls.

So that by this Rule, ten Men shall constantly keep one hundred of miles perfect and firm the whole year; which cannot be esteemed a great Charge.

Here may be an Objection:

But suppose it may be objected thus, (and truly) That in some Grounds, one man cannot possibly manage ten miles, by reason of the bad∣ness of the Soyl, &c.

I answer thus: Then let him (notwithstand∣ing) manage so far as he can, in this manner: Although it be but five miles, viz. his two miles and a half one way in two or three days, and his two miles and a half the other way next two or three days, more or less, as shall be found by experience fit.

And if quite through the Land the work would require such a Charge as this, viz. one Day-man for every five miles, what could that signifie?

Nothing, in reference to so great a Benefit to all Travellers, and a general good to the whole Na∣tion,

as I shall declare: Therefore ought not to be repined at.

Yet I am very confident, that in most places, (and but very few excepted) that one Man may very well keep ten miles tollerably well, in al∣most the worst Soyls; Yet it must be granted, that those worst Grounds can never be kept so sprucely fine (or Garden-like) as may those other Sandy or Gravelly Soyls.

However, it may most easily be conceived, that the constant attendance of a continual Day∣man, must necessarily keep the very worst of wayes so, that they shall absolutely be free from those gross and common annoyances, and most grie∣vous inconveniences, which we find by daily and wofull experience.

Therefore, I say, let the Cost be what it will, That should not deterr us from putting it into practice or tryal. Yet I believe I am much about the matter in respect of the Charge.

I am likewise very confident, that after the first thorough cleansing and amending, the ordi∣nary Statutable yearly Charge, viz. every man's six days work, &c. will suffice; together with those other Provisions already design'd and allowed to that purpose.

Yet if I be a little out in This, I hope I shall be excus'd when it shall be consider'd, that I am not out in the grand Cast of the design.

But at the first there must be some way found out, for more than an ordinary Charge, to have them once firmly done: And after that, these con∣stant Labouring men shall keep them ever so, at a small expence.

Notes

• The Day-mans work.
• His Imple∣ments or Tools.
• One hundred miles kept well by ten men.
• Objection.
• Answer.
• Concerning the Cost or Charge.