he
semblance of ditches, and, under adverse weather conditions, impassable.
Travellers also had the risk of assault by robbers and highwaymen. As
early as 1285 a law provided for the cutting down of trees and bushes on
either side of highways, so as to deprive lawless men of cover.
Instances of legislation as regards the upkeep of roads are recorded
from time to time after this date, but (to take a single illustration)
even in the middle of the 18th century the journey from the village, as
it was then, of Paddington to London by stage occupied from 2-1/2 to 3
hours. But from 1784 to 1792 upwards of 300 acts were passed dealing
with the construction of new roads and bridges.

_Railways._--The history and development of railways in England, their
birthplace, and in Ireland and Scotland, with illustrative statistics,
are considered under the heading UNITED KINGDOM. The following list
indicates the year of foundation, termini, chief offices and
geographical sphere of the chief railways of England and Wales.

1. _Railways with Termini in London._

(a) NORTHERN.

_Great Northern_ (1846).--Terminus and offices, King's Cross. Main
line--Peterborough, Grantham, Newark, Doncaster; forming, with the
North-Eastern and North British lines, the "East Coast" route to
Scotland. Serving also the West Riding of Yorkshire, Lincolnshire,
Nottingham and other towns of the midlands, and Manchester (by running
powers over the Great Central metals). This company has so extensive a
system of running powers over other railways, and of lines held
jointly with other companies, that few of its more important express
trains from London complete their journeys entirely on the company's
own lines.

_Midland_ (1844, an amalgamation of the former North Midland, Midland
Counties, Birmingham & Derby, and other lines).--Terminus, St Pancras;
offices, Derby. Main line--Bedford, Leicester, Sheffield, Leeds and
Carlisle, affording the "Midland" route to Scotland. Serving also
Nottingham, Derby, and the principal towns of the midlands and West
Riding, and Manchester. West and North line from Bristol, Gloucester
and Birmingham to Leicester and Derby. Also an Irish section, the
Belfast and Northern Counties system being acquired in 1903. Docks at
Heysham, Lancashire; and steamship services to Belfast, &c.

_London & North-Western_ (1846, an amalgamation of the London &
Birmingham, Grand Junction, and Manches