Bibliothèque mondiale du cheval

« In a book on Roads and Railroads which came into my hands after the following pages were penned, the writer quotes a remark of Reynal’s, that « Wherever we find no facilities for travelling from a city to a town, or from a village to a hamlet, we may pronounce the people to be Barbarians ».
That many of our country districts are rapidly approaching, to this lamentable want of facilities of transit for the laboring classes cannot be doubted by the traveller. The cause of such a semi-barbarous state I have endeavoured to point out, and sought to suggest the remedy, to be summed up in a few words; the cause, is an unjust and oppressive system of taxation on the conveyances; the remedy, abolish the taxes on travelling.
Whatever imperfections may appear in my compilation, (and in wishing to give concise glances at the many incidents of a national question, I am certain I cannot be free from them) I trust will be pointed out for correction in a subsequent impression.
To the numerous gentlemen who have so liberally sub scribed their names for copies of the hand-book, and to the Stage Coach owners throughout England, Scotland and Wales, who have readily supplied information and suggestions, I must tender my warmest thanks; and in the hope that my reader will be instructed by the little book, I respectfully submit it. » Présentation de l’éditeur (1855)