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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 the public police is very properly
managed by the executive power； there is not the least
probability that； during the present state of things； it could be
tolerably managed by that power in any part of Europe。
Even those public works which are of such a nature that they
cannot afford any revenue for maintaining themselves； but of
which the conveniency is nearly confined to some particular place
or district； are always better maintained by a local or
provincial revenue； under the management of a local or provincial
administration； than by the general revenue of the state； of
which the executive power must always have the management。 Were
the streets of London to be lighted and paved at the expense of
the treasury； is there any probability that they would be so well
lighted and paved as they are at present； or even at so small an
expense？ The expense； besides； instead of being raised by a local
tax upon the inhabitants of each particular street； parish； or
district in London； would； in this case； be defrayed out of the
general revenue of the state； and would consequently be raised by
a tax upon all the inhabitants of the kingdom； of whom the
greater part derive no sort of benefit from the lighting and
paving of the streets of London。
The abuses which sometimes creep into the local and
provincial administration of a local and provincial revenue； how
enormous soever they may appear； are in reality； however； almost
always very trifling in comparison of those which commonly take
place in the administration and expenditure of the revenue of a
great empire。 They are； besides； much more easily corrected。
Under the local or provincial administration of the justices of
the peace in Great Britain； the six days' labour which the
country people are obliged to give to the reparation of the
highways is not always perhaps very judiciously applied； but it
is scarce ever exacted with any circumstances of cruelty or
oppression。 In France； under the administration of the
intendants； the application is not always more judicious； and the
exaction is frequently the most cruel and oppressive。 Such
Corvees； as they are called； make one of the principal
instruments of tyranny by which those officers chastise any
parish or communaute which has had the misfortune to fall under
their displeasure。
Of the Public Works and Institutions which are necessary for
facilitating particular Branches of Commerce。
The object of the public works and institutions above
mentioned is to facilitate commerce in general。 But in order to
facilitate some particular branches of it； particular
institutions are necessary； which again require a particular and
extraordinary expense。
Some particular branches of commerce； which are carried on
with barbarous and uncivilised nations； require extraordinary
protection。 An ordinary store or counting…house could give little
security to the g