The Press.
London, England, 1855-10-13 00:00:00

THE PRESS.

will first recur to the former. We need not, perhaps, go back to the
time of the Carthaginians, who first paved roads, but begin with their
imitators, the Romans. Their first paved road was to Capua, after-
wards continued to Brundusium, which is about 350 miles. It was
called Regina Viarum, which may, I think, be fairly translated, Queen
Street. The Paving Commissioners should be aware that this road
was ordinarily about fourteen feet wide, and contained a stratum of
rough stones cemented with mortar, and over that another of gravel.
The stones for foot-passengers were called margines.

271. This is very interesting, but its bearing upon the question is
not so evident.

All facts connected with a topic should be carefully considered.
I deem it desirable, therefore, to remind the Committee that among
the Romans the charge of the roads and streets was intrusted to men
of the highest rank, who were attended by lictors. I need not do
more than mention that the Roman streets were called vim, and the
cross streets vie transverse; and I proceed to the bridges, which form
an important part of our subject, because I understand that a bridge
over the Thames from a street at the east end of St. Paul's is contem-
plated. There were eight bridges in Rome—the pons sublicius, the
pons Fabricius, the pons Cestius, the pons
(The witness was removed in custody of the Sergeant-at-Arms, to
whom he explained that the "pone lifilvius" was outside the city).
309. (Sir GEORGE GREY.) Do you think that additional facilities
for traffic ought to be afforded?
Certainly not. People pester me quite enough already, without
your making it easier for them to come to my office. I wish, on the
contrary, that anybody who wanted to call at the Home-office had to
go ten miles round.
(The witness left hastily and in displeasure.)
516. (Mr. FREDERIC PEEL.) Would you widen the streets, and
make new communications?
Without committing myself to a reply to that question, I am of
opinion that the preservation of the existing condition of things may
be defended very satisfactorily. In the first place, carts and carriages
have been built with reference to the present state of your streets,
and their size will be disproportioned to a changed! arrangement.
Next, I think, if you widen the street, it will be more difficult for the
time keepers of the omnibuses to read the number of each vehicle as
it passes. Again, you will have more accidents, if you increase the
distance a foot-passenger has to run in order to get out of the way of
the carriages. Fourthly, I think that the vested interest of the
dossing-sweeper, who undertook the business of sweeping twenty
yards, ought to be considered before you increase his work to thirty
yards. In regard to new streets, they are an innovation, but I think
that if you would appoint a salaried commission to examine and
report upon the subject, it might, at some future time, be brought
under the consideration of Government.

613. (Sir WILLIAM MOLESWORTH.) Will you favour the Com-
mittee with any opinions you may have on the points before them ?
I think that the subject may be regarded in various lights, the
social, the financial, and the constitutional being the three of most
importance. In a social point of view, there can be no doubt that the
more you enable a man to communicate with his fellows, the more
opportunity you afford him of exchanging assistance and succour with
them, and thus of fulfilling the implied compact under which society is
held together. In a financial point of view, I think not only that it
is wise to promote commerce, but that a special tax—which will
certainly become necessary as we proceed with the war, and which
I propose to suggest to my Right Hon. friend the Chancellor of the
Exchequer—namely, a tax upon every revolution of every wheel of
every vehicle in the kingdom, will be rendered more productive by every
additional facility to locomotion. In a constitutional point of view,
I think it may be held that, as the contract between a constitutional
monarch and his or her subjects provides for reasonable liberty of
action on the part of both, such provision is defeated if the sovereign
in his carriage, or the mechanic in his cart, is prevented from easy
and speedy ingress, egress, and regress throughout the scene of their
respective avocations
740. (Mr. BERNAL OSBORNE.) In what way would you facilitate
communication in the City?
I'd silence the church-bells.
741. Pray why, sir ?
Because that would be getting rid of the tolls.
742. Would you suggest anything else ?
Yes. I'd have a road from the top of the Monument into the
middle of next week.
743. Anything further?
(The witness was ransacking his memory for another joke, when it
was announced that the Speaker was at prayers.

TO " THE PRESS."
You fully calculate, no doubt,
That if the Premier be well shaken,
He must eventually go out—
But you're decidedly mistaken.
For, mark, his power can scarcely cease
If, when he's in, he rolls war's thunder;
And, if he's out, the Palm of peace
The glad land would live smiling under.

I.N•immonsmomoillMMOl