And that its general adoption would be highly beneficial to the coach proprietors, and to the public?—Most certainly. Mr. _Fromont_ being prevented by an accident from attending the Committee, it was resolved that the following Letter be entered on the Minutes: Thatcham, May 1819. Gentlemen, I think it a duty incumbent on me to present to you my opinion respecting Mr. MᶜAdam’s plan of repairing and improving turnpike roads. From what I have noticed of his improvement on different parts of the Bath road, on which I am at present working different coaches a distance of above 500 miles per day, I think his plan altogether, _i. e._ first of screening and cleansing the gravel, and breaking the stones; secondly, of preparing the road to receive it; and thirdly, of laying it on the road, is the best and safest method I have ever seen in the course of fifty years experience in the coach and waggon business. I have formerly had several accidents happen from the gravel being laid too thick and very high in the middle of the road; and have killed some hundreds of horses (extra) in pulling through it; and I think I may venture to say, that if Mr. MᶜAdam’s plan was adopted generally throughout the kingdom, in the course of a short time the public would be enabled to travel with much greater ease and safety, and at nearly one-third less of expense; at all events I am convinced that nearly one-third less labour is required to work a fast coach over part of the road between Reading and London, where MᶜAdam’s plan has been adopted, than there is over other parts of the road where they still continue the old plan In short, my opinion may be given in a few words; his plan, if adopted generally, will cause the traveller to find easier, safer, and more expeditious travelling, and the owners of horses a diminution of nearly one-third of the original labour. I am, Gentlemen, with respect, Your most obedient servant, _Edward Fromont_. _Jovis, 4º die Martii, 1819._ _John Loudon MᶜAdam_, Esq. called in; and Examined. I believe, Mr. MᶜAdam, you reside at Bristol?—Yes, I do. And have under your care a considerable district of the turnpike roads in that neighbourhood?—Yes, about one hundred and eighty miles of road in that neighbourhood. How long has your attention been particularly directed to the state of the public roads of the kingdom generally, and the means of their improvement?—About twenty-five years. Are you a professional civil engineer?—No.