Are you of opinion that any alteration of the present law, either in regard to the repeal of the present regulations or the enactment of new ones, could advantageously take place in regard to the shape of wheels, and the allowance of weight to be carried in waggons and carts?—I am of opinion that the descriptions of wheels given in all the acts of parliament in the last sessions are the most convenient and useful; and I have thought of the matter very much, without being able to suggest any alteration profitable to the public. With respect to weights, I consider there are very great difficulties in that business. We have weighing machines in the neighbourhood I now am in, and I am persuaded in many instances that they are made instruments of oppression, and in a great many cases the means of committing very great fraud on the commissioners and others; and if some method could be fallen upon by which weighing machines might be dispensed with altogether, and the road reasonably protected, I should think it a very great public advantage. In the new Bristol Act, I have proposed to the commissioners that they should submit to parliament to lay a toll-duty upon the number of horses in a progressive ratio, so as to compel those people who offend to bring in their hands the penalty in the shape of toll; I think it would prevent a great deal of that system of entering into combinations between the toll collectors and the waggoners, which is carried on to a great extent. Do you think, that if horses in narrow-wheeled waggons were obliged to draw otherwise than at length, it would afford any protection to the road?—Yes. Has not the practice of making horses draw at length very much a tendency to make the horses follow one track, be the road ever so good?—Yes; and I must mention to the Committee, that the feet of horses on ill-made roads do full as much mischief as the wheels. It is driving horses in a string that makes a road what the country people call “gridironed;” it is an odd expression, but it is a very significant one. Do you not believe, that if horses were attached to narrow wheeled waggons in pairs, it would be found very considerably easier to drive and guide them when abreast, than when placed at length?—I should think it would. And would it not tend to prevent accidents?—Horses driven in pairs would provide in a great measure against the accidents that arise from the carelessness of those persons who drive them, which is extremely great. Do you think that if horses were put in pairs to waggons, the power of holding back those waggons when going down a hill, would be so much increased as to prevent the necessity of so frequently locking the wheels?—Certainly it would; because on certain slopes it would not be necessary to lock the wheels; but there are very steep hills where you cannot do without locking.