It is impossible not to see that statute labour is a remnant of personal service; a gentleman might as well argue at the present day, that rents paid in kind, are more easy and equitable than monied rents, as to defend the custom of mending highways by compulsory labour. EDGEWORTH’S ESSAY ON THE CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS AND CARRIAGES, p. 46. The sum of money annually raised in the kingdom for roads is very great, and would be found, if carefully examined into, much beyond the general belief. Government have procured information, as to the sum raised annually for _parish_ roads (generally denominated highways) but they have not yet enquired into the amount of the much greater sum raised for the maintenance of the _turnpike_ roads, nor into the amount of the debt incurred for the same purpose. These funds, considerable as they are, continue to be expended, _nominally_, under the direction of Commissioners, but _effectually_ and _practically_ under the Surveyors, over whom the Commissioners have very uncertain means of useful controul; and there is no doubt, that much abuse exists in the expenditure, partly from ignorance, but much more from peculation and patronage very much misplaced. Under such circumstances the protection of the funds would be promoted by the inspection and controul of a superior officer; and finally it might be desirable, that a report from each trust should be made to Parliament of the receipt and expenditure for the year. That the funds provided by Parliament for the roads are either insufficient for the object, or that they are improvidently expended, is best proved by the numerous applications to Parliament in every Session, for extension of powers and increase of tolls; setting forth that without such aid the debts cannot be paid, nor the roads kept in repair. In the Session of Parliament 1815, thirty-four such petitions were presented; and in the Session of 1816, thirty-two; all which bills were passed _as a matter of course_; the petitioners being only required to prove the _actual necessity_ to the Committee, but no enquiry seems to have been made as to the _cause_ of that necessity. An efficient, uniform and constant controul of the expenditure of road funds, and an annual report of the result to Parliament would enable the House of Commons to form a judgment, whether the deficiency proceeded from inadequacy of the means, or from improvident expenditure; and thereby that Honourable House would be enabled to use means for preventing the growing amount of debt, which the petitions presented each Sessions sufficiently shew to be increasing to an alarming degree; and which, being incurred under the authority of Parliament, must ultimately become a claim upon the justice of the country.