Upon consideration of this important subject it appears, that a review of the turnpike laws has become indispensable, for the purpose of altering and amending obsolete, useless, and oppressive regulations; and for substituting others more consonant with the present state of society. This review is required by experience of the inadequacy of the present system, to the great object of forming the best and easiest communications through every part of the country, with a due regard to economy; and for preventing the increase of a debt, which has been allowed, _in silence_, to accumulate to an extent, that will hardly be credited when properly and accurately ascertained. Many and important improvements have originated from the good sense and zeal of individual Commissioners, or from particular district meetings, the good effects of which have been confined to the place of origin; such improvements have also ceased to operate, on the death or removal of their authors, and have been thereby finally lost, for want of a general superintendance, which would have an interest in the improvement of the whole. The defective state of the roads, independent of the unnecessary expence, is oppressive on agriculture, commerce, and manufactures, by the increase of the price of transport, by waste of the labour of cattle, and wear of carriages, as well as by causing much delay of time. Under an efficient and responsible executive department, established and directed by the wisdom of Parliament, this subject would be brought within the means of examination and regulation; and many local improvements, which have been confined to small districts, would be brought forward, and communicated generally for the public benefit.[7] Footnote 7: Since this Essay was written, I have visited England, and have found, on a journey of many hundred miles, scarcely twenty miles of well-made road. In many parts of the country, and especially round London, the roads are in a shameful condition. This must strike the public; and sooner or later the good sense of the English nation will feel the necessity of adopting some means of improvement. EDGEWORTH’S ESSAY, Preface, p. 7. In Ireland, the cross roads are generally better than the great roads, and comparing all the roads in that country with the roads in England, the shameful inferiority of the latter would evidently appear. EDGEWORTH’S ESSAY, p. 46. The Author has abstained from any notice of the parish roads; although their condition and the state of their funds, are more deplorable than that of the turnpike roads. The Legislative enactments for their maintenance and repair are so inadequate to the object, that they may be considered as being placed almost out of the protection of the law.