Page:Remarks on the Present System of Road Making (1823).djvu/16

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county, under such regulations, and with such powers as the wisdom of Parliament may deem most effectual.

A General Road Act must, in order to adapt itself to the exigences of the times, embrace a comprehensive view of the subject: and effectually remedy all the great evils which have originated in the weakness of the system, and have been allowed to grow up, through a want of attention to the altered state of the commerce, agriculture, manufactures, and general interests of the kingdom. Until the Legislature shall be pleased to enter into a serious consideration of the subject, no general and useful amendment can take place. The great debt, (exceeding at this moment Seven Millions,) will continue to increase, and improvement will still be impeded by obstacles not removeable by any other power except the authority of Parliament.