idea had occurred at an earlier period of the work, it would probably have been of much greater extent.
71¼ 26
The Trent and Mersey Canal flows parallel with, and close to the east side of the road. We here pass through Bird's Wood, an extensive fox cover, this cutting will add greatly to the safety of the ancient family of foxes, although a sad foil to the amusement of the squirearchy. The road is here a perfect level for about a quarter of a mile; it then has a descent of 1 in 330, for little more than a mile;
70¾ 26½
at the 26½ post, the Dutton Embankment carries us across Dutton Bottoms; to the right, opposite here, is Aston Hall, the seat of Aston Esq., a little further on, the road crosses a bridge, and to the left may be discerned the village of Dutton; a slight cutting (over which is a handsome skew bridge) brings us in view of
DUTTON VIADUCT,
which carries the railroad across the valley of the Weaver. This magnificent work cost about £50,000. It consists of twenty arches, each of 65 feet span. The road is 27½ feet wide, and is 65 feet above the level of the Weaver and Canal, which passes under it. It was found necessary to drive piles in some places, to form a foundation for the
