The merits of the ease appear to us to be
very plain. The present path, no doubt, detracts very seriously from the comfort of the private residence; the new path would constitute a transit between the two roads more con- venient than the present devious way; and if the public had some security that the proposed line would be made not only commodious but also as ornamental and agreeable as the present route, we cannot see what ob- jection there would be to the change. There has been a talk of building; and, from the character of the alterations as they are begun, it might na- turally be suspected that the new pathway, although more convenient, would be much more ugly: now we suspect that the dislike to lose a "pretty walk" has bad more to do with the opposition than anything else, and very properly so. If the public were satisfied on that point, We be- lieve that all opposition would die away. Surely the balance of opinion would be quite turned, if the portion of the lane common to both lines were improved and beautified; which might easily be done by substituting a close ornamental hedge and iron railing for the unsightly palings. And if the owners of the property on the other side would concur in the im- provement, a really beautiful walk might be made of Nightingale Lane.
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