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instead of facilitating the inland commerce of the country as at
present； would soon become a very great incumbrance upon it。 The
expense of transporting all heavy goods from one part of the
country to another would soon be so much increased； the market
for all such goods； consequently； would soon be so much narrowed；
that their production would be in a great measure discouraged；
and the most important branches of the domestic industry of the
country annihilated altogether。 * I have now good reasons to
believe that all these conjectural sums are by much too large。
Secondly； a tax upon carriages in proportion to their
weight； though a very equal tax when applied to the sole purpose
of repairing the roads； is a very unequal one when applied to any
other purpose； or to supply the common exigencies of the state。
When it is applied to the sole purpose above mentioned； each
carriage is supposed to pay exactly for the wear and tear which
that carriage occasions of the roads。 But when it is applied to
any other purpose； each carriage is supposed to pay for more than
that wear and tear； and contributes to the supply of some other
exigency of the state。 But as the turnpike toll raises the price
of goods in proportion to their weight； and not to their value；
it is chiefly paid by the consumers of coarse and bulky； not by
those of precious and light； commodities。 Whatever exigency of
the state therefore this tax might be intended to supply； that
exigency would be chiefly supplied at the expense of the poor；
not the rich； at the expense of those who are least able to
supply it； not of those who are most able。
Thirdly； if government should at any time neglect the
reparation of the high roads； it would be still more difficult
than it is at present to compel the proper application of any
part of the turnpike tolls。 A large revenue might thus be levied
upon the people without any part of it being applied to the only
purpose to which a revenue levied in this manner ought ever to be
applied。 If the meanness and poverty of the trustees of turnpike
roads render it sometimes difficult at present to oblige them to
repair their wrong； their wealth and greatness would render it
ten times more so in the case which is here supposed。
In France； the funds destined for the reparation of high
roads are under the immediate direction of the executive power。
Those funds consist partly in a certain number of days' labour
which the country people are in most parts of Europe obliged to
give to the reparation of the highways； and partly in such a
portion of the general revenue of the state as the king chooses
to spare from his other expenses。
By the ancient law of France； as well as by that of most
other parts of Europe； the labour of the country people was under
the direction of a local or provincial magistracy； which had no
immediate dependency upon the king's council。 But by the present
practice both the labour of the people； and whatever other fund
the king may choose to assign for the reparation of the high
roads in any particular province or generality； are entirely
under the management of the intendant； an officer who is
appointed and removed by the king's council； and who receives his
orders from it； and is in constant correspondence with it。 In the
progress of despotism the authority of the executive power
gradually absorbs that of every other power in the state； and
assumes to itself the management of every branch of revenue which
is destined for any public purpose。 In France； however； the great
post…roads； the roads which make the communication between the
principal towns of the kingdom； are in general kept in good
order； and in some provinces are even a good deal superior to the
greater part of the turnpike roads of England。 But what we call
the cross…roads； that is； the far greater part of the roads in
the country； are entirely neglected； and are in many places
absolutely impassable for any heavy carriage。 In some places it
is even dangerous to travel on horseback； and mules are the only
conveyances which can safely be trusted。 The proud minister of an
ostentatious court may frequently take pleasure in executing a
work of splendour and magnificence； such as a great highway；
which is frequently seen by the principal nobility； whose
applauses not only flatter his vanity； but even contribute to
support his interest at court。 But to execute a great number of
little works； in which nothing that can be done can make any
great appearance； or excite the smallest degree of admiration in
any traveller； and which； in short； have nothing to recommend
them but their extreme utility； is a business which appears in
every respect too mean and paltry to merit the attention of so
great a magistrate。 Under such an administration； therefore； such
works are almost always entirely neglected。
In China； and in several other governments of Asia； the
executive power charges itself both with the reparation of the
high roads and with the maintenance of the navigable canals。 In
the instructions which are given to the governor of each
province； those objects； it is said； are constantly recommended
to him； and the judgment which the court forms of his conduct is
very much regulated by the attention which he appears to have
paid to this part of his instructions。 This branch of public
police accordingly is said to be very much attended to in all
those countries； but particularly in China； where the high roads；
and still more the navigable canals； it is pretended； exceed very
much everything of the same kind which is known in Europe。 The
accounts of those works； however； which have been transmitted to
Europe； have generally been drawn up by weak and wondering
travellers； frequently by stupid and lying missionaries。 If they
had been examined by more intelligent eyes； and if the accounts
of them had been reported by more faithful witnesses； they would
not； perhaps； appear to be so wonderful。 The account which
Bernier gives of some works of this kind in Indostan falls very
much short of what had been reported of them by other travellers；
more disposed to the marvellous than he was。 It may too； perhaps；
be in those countries； as in France； where the great roads； the
great communications which are likely to be the subjects of
conversation at the court and in the capital； are attended to；
and all the rest neglected。 In China； besides； in Indostan； and
in several other governments of Asia； the revenue of the
sovereign arises almost altogether from a land tax or land rent；
which rises or falls with the rise and fall of the annual produce
of the land。 The great interest of the sovereign； therefore； his
revenue； is in such countries necessarily and immediately
connected with the cultivation of the land； with the greatness of
its produce； and with the value of its produce。 But in order to
render that produce both as great and as valuable as possible； it
is necessary to procure to it as extensive a market as possible；
and consequently to establish the freest； the easiest； and the
least expensive communication between all the different parts of
the country； which can be done only by means of the best roads
and the best navigable canals。 But the revenue of the sovereign
does not； in any part of Europe； arise chiefly from a land tax or
land rent。 In all the great kingdoms of Europe； perhaps； the
greater part of it may ultimately depend upon the produce of the
land： but that dependency is neither so immediate； nor so
evident。 In Europe； therefore； the sovereign does not feel
himself so directly called upon to promote the increase； both in
quantity and value； of the produce of the land； or； by
maintaining good roads and canals； to provide the most extensive
market for that produce。 Though it should be true； therefore；
what I apprehend is not a little doubtful； that in some parts of
Asia this department of th