Appendix (B.)
MEMORANDUM of Mr. Johnson, respecting the Roads under Mr. M'Adam's superintendence.
As I travel rapidly over great distances, and my attention is
usually much occupied with the immediate business of the
office, I cannot speak with accuracy about particular and local
alterations. But I feel myself well warranted in stating, that
whenever I have found any thing done under Mr. M'Adam's
immediate direction, or by his pupils, or even in imitation of
his plan and principles, the improvement has been most decisive,
and the superiority over the common method of repairing
roads, most evident; and, as superintendent of mailcoaches, I
have abundant reason to wish that Mr. M'Adam's principles
were acted upon very generally. If they were, a pace, which
in winter or any bad weather cannot be accomplished without
difficulty, would become perfectly easy, to say nothing of the
comfort and safety of the traveller, and the credit to humanity
in lessening the hard labour of the animals. I may add, that
although so much has been accomplished, the postmaster general
could still expedite the conveyance of the mails, and bring
the arrangements of the posts nearer to perfection, if the roads
were universally as much improved as the practice of Mr.
M'Adam's plan would effect.
Chas. Johnson.
General Post-office,
Dec. 8, 1819.
P.S. As one instance of the benefit of Mr. M'Adam's im-
