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the life of thomas telford- µÚ39²¿·Ö


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on¡¡the¡¡eighth¡¡day¡¡after¡¡leaving¡¡Inverness¡£*£§4£§¡¡¡¡Very¡¡few¡¡persons

then¡¡travelled¡¡into¡¡the¡¡Highlands¡¡on¡¡foot£»¡¡though¡¡Bewick£»¡¡the¡¡father

of¡¡wood¡­engraving£»¡¡made¡¡such¡¡a¡¡journey¡¡round¡¡Loch¡¡Lomond¡¡in¡¡1775¡£

He¡¡relates¡¡that¡¡his¡¡appearance¡¡excited¡¡the¡¡greatest¡¡interest¡¡at¡¡the

Highland¡¡huts¡¡in¡¡which¡¡he¡¡lodged£»¡¡the¡¡women¡¡¡¡curiously¡¡examining

him¡¡from¡¡head¡¡to¡¡foot£»¡¡having¡¡never¡¡seen¡¡an¡¡¡¡Englishman¡¡before¡£

The¡¡strange¡¡part¡¡of¡¡his¡¡story¡¡is£»¡¡that¡¡he¡¡set¡¡out¡¡upon¡¡his¡¡journey

from¡¡Cherryburn£»¡¡near¡¡Newcastle£»¡¡with¡¡only¡¡three¡¡¡¡guineas¡¡sewed¡¡in

his¡¡waistband£»¡¡and¡¡when¡¡he¡¡reached¡¡home¡¡he¡¡had¡¡still¡¡a¡¡few

shillings¡¡left¡¡in¡¡his¡¡pocket£¡



In¡¡1802£»¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Telford¡¡was¡¡called¡¡upon¡¡by¡¡the¡¡Government¡¡to¡¡make¡¡a

survey¡¡of¡¡Scotland£»¡¡and¡¡report¡¡as¡¡to¡¡the¡¡measures¡¡which¡¡were

necessary¡¡for¡¡the¡¡improvement¡¡of¡¡the¡¡roads¡¡and¡¡bridges¡¡of¡¡that¡¡part

of¡¡the¡¡kingdom£»¡¡and¡¡also¡¡on¡¡the¡¡means¡¡of¡¡promoting¡¡the¡¡fisheries¡¡on

the¡¡east¡¡and¡¡west¡¡coasts£»¡¡with¡¡the¡¡object¡¡of¡¡better¡¡opening¡¡up¡¡the

country¡¡and¡¡preventing¡¡further¡¡extensive¡¡emigration¡£¡¡¡¡Previous¡¡to

this¡¡time¡¡he¡¡had¡¡been¡¡employed¡¡by¡¡the¡¡British¡¡Fisheries¡¡Society

of¡¡which¡¡his¡¡friend¡¡Sir¡¡William¡¡Pulteney¡¡was¡¡Governorto¡¡inspect

the¡¡harbours¡¡at¡¡their¡¡several¡¡stations£»¡¡and¡¡to¡¡devise¡¡a¡¡plan¡¡for

the¡¡establishment¡¡of¡¡a¡¡fishery¡¡on¡¡the¡¡coast¡¡of¡¡Caithness¡£

He¡¡accordingly¡¡made¡¡an¡¡extensive¡¡tour¡¡of¡¡Scotland£»¡¡examining£»¡¡among

other¡¡harbours£»¡¡that¡¡of¡¡Annan£»¡¡from¡¡which¡¡he¡¡proceeded¡¡northward¡¡by

Aberdeen¡¡to¡¡Wick¡¡and¡¡Thurso£»¡¡returning¡¡to¡¡Shrewsbury¡¡by¡¡Edinburgh

and¡¡Dumfries¡£*£§5£§¡¡¡¡He¡¡accumulated¡¡a¡¡large¡¡mass¡¡of¡¡data¡¡for¡¡his

report£»¡¡which¡¡was¡¡sent¡¡in¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Fishery¡¡Society£»¡¡with¡¡charts¡¡and

plans£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡course¡¡of¡¡¡¡the¡¡following¡¡year¡£



In¡¡July£»¡¡1802£»¡¡he¡¡was¡¡requested¡¡by¡¡the¡¡Lords¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Treasury£»¡¡most

probably¡¡in¡¡consequence¡¡of¡¡the¡¡preceding¡¡report£»¡¡to¡¡make¡¡a¡¡further

survey¡¡of¡¡the¡¡interior¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Highlands£»¡¡the¡¡result¡¡of¡¡which¡¡he

communicated¡¡in¡¡his¡¡report¡¡presented¡¡to¡¡Parliament¡¡in¡¡the¡¡following

year¡£¡¡¡¡Although¡¡full¡¡of¡¡important¡¡local¡¡business£»¡¡¡¨kept¡¡running£»¡¨

as¡¡he¡¡says£»¡¡¡¨from¡¡town¡¡to¡¡country£»¡¡and¡¡from¡¡country¡¡to¡¡town£»¡¡never

when¡¡awake£»¡¡and¡¡perhaps¡¡not¡¡always¡¡when¡¡asleep£»¡¡have¡¡my¡¡Scotch

surveys¡¡been¡¡absent¡¡from¡¡my¡¡mind¡£¡¨¡¡¡¡He¡¡had¡¡worked¡¡very¡¡hard¡¡at¡¡his

report£»¡¡and¡¡hoped¡¡that¡¡it¡¡might¡¡be¡¡productive¡¡of¡¡some¡¡good¡£



The¡¡report¡¡was¡¡duly¡¡presented£»¡¡printed£»*£§6£§¡¡and¡¡approved£»¡¡and¡¡it

formed¡¡the¡¡starting¡­point¡¡of¡¡a¡¡system¡¡of¡¡legislation¡¡with¡¡reference

to¡¡the¡¡Highlands¡¡which¡¡extended¡¡over¡¡many¡¡years£»¡¡and¡¡had¡¡the¡¡effect

of¡¡completely¡¡opening¡¡up¡¡that¡¡romantic¡¡but¡¡rugged¡¡district¡¡of¡¡country£»

and¡¡extending¡¡to¡¡its¡¡inhabitants¡¡the¡¡advantages¡¡of¡¡improved

intercourse¡¡with¡¡the¡¡other¡¡parts¡¡of¡¡the¡¡kingdom¡£¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Telford

pointed¡¡out¡¡that¡¡the¡¡military¡¡roads¡¡were¡¡altogether¡¡inadequate¡¡to

the¡¡requirements¡¡of¡¡the¡¡population£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡the¡¡use¡¡of¡¡them¡¡was¡¡in

many¡¡places¡¡very¡¡much¡¡circumscribed¡¡by¡¡the¡¡want¡¡of¡¡bridges¡¡over

some¡¡of¡¡the¡¡principal¡¡rivers¡£¡¡¡¡For¡¡instance£»¡¡the¡¡route¡¡from

Edinburgh¡¡to¡¡Inverness£»¡¡through¡¡the¡¡Central¡¡Highlands£»¡¡was

seriously¡¡interrupted¡¡at¡¡Dunkeld£»¡¡where¡¡the¡¡Tay¡¡is¡¡broad¡¡and¡¡deep£»

and¡¡not¡¡always¡¡easy¡¡to¡¡be¡¡crossed¡¡by¡¡means¡¡of¡¡a¡¡boat¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡route¡¡to

the¡¡same¡¡place¡¡by¡¡the¡¡east¡¡coast¡¡was¡¡in¡¡like¡¡manner¡¡broken¡¡at

Fochabers£»¡¡where¡¡the¡¡rapid¡¡Spey¡¡could¡¡only¡¡be¡¡crossed¡¡by¡¡a

dangerous¡¡ferry¡£



The¡¡difficulties¡¡encountered¡¡by¡¡gentlemen¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Bar£»¡¡in¡¡travelling

the¡¡north¡¡circuit¡¡about¡¡this¡¡time£»¡¡are¡¡well¡¡described¡¡by¡¡Lord

Cockburn¡¡in¡¡his¡¡'Memorials¡£'¡¡¡¨Those¡¡who¡¡are¡¡born¡¡to¡¡modem

travelling£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡says£»¡¡¡¨can¡¡scarcely¡¡be¡¡made¡¡to¡¡understand¡¡how¡¡the

previous¡¡age¡¡got¡¡on¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡state¡¡of¡¡the¡¡roads¡¡may¡¡be¡¡judged¡¡of¡¡from

two¡¡or¡¡three¡¡facts¡£¡¡¡¡There¡¡was¡¡no¡¡bridge¡¡over¡¡the¡¡Tay¡¡at¡¡Dunkeld£»

or¡¡over¡¡the¡¡Spey¡¡at¡¡Fochabers£»¡¡or¡¡over¡¡the¡¡Findhorn¡¡at¡¡Forres¡£

Nothing¡¡but¡¡wretched¡¡pierless¡¡ferries£»¡¡let¡¡to¡¡poor¡¡cottars£»¡¡who

rowed£»¡¡or¡¡hauled£»¡¡or¡¡pushed¡¡a¡¡crazy¡¡boat¡¡across£»¡¡or¡¡more¡¡commonly

got¡¡their¡¡wives¡¡to¡¡do¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡There¡¡was¡¡no¡¡mail¡­coach¡¡north¡¡of

Aberdeen¡¡till£»¡¡I¡¡think£»¡¡after¡¡the¡¡battle¡¡of¡¡Waterloo¡£¡¡¡¡What¡¡it¡¡must

have¡¡been¡¡a¡¡few¡¡years¡¡before¡¡my¡¡time¡¡may¡¡be¡¡judged¡¡of¡¡from¡¡Bozzy's

'Letter¡¡to¡¡Lord¡¡Braxfield£»'¡¡published¡¡in¡¡1780¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡thinks¡¡that£»

besides¡¡a¡¡carriage¡¡and¡¡his¡¡own¡¡carriage¡­horses£»¡¡every¡¡judge¡¡ought

to¡¡have¡¡his¡¡sumpter¡­horse£»¡¡and¡¡ought¡¡not¡¡to¡¡travel¡¡faster¡¡than¡¡the

waggon¡¡which¡¡carried¡¡the¡¡baggage¡¡of¡¡the¡¡circuit¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡understood¡¡from

Hope¡¡that£»¡¡after¡¡1784£»¡¡when¡¡he¡¡came¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Bar£»¡¡he¡¡and¡¡Braxfield

rode¡¡a¡¡whole¡¡north¡¡circuit£»¡¡and¡¡that£»¡¡from¡¡the¡¡Findhorn¡¡being¡¡in¡¡a

flood£»¡¡they¡¡were¡¡obliged¡¡to¡¡go¡¡up¡¡its¡¡banks¡¡for¡¡about¡¡twenty¡­eight

miles¡¡to¡¡the¡¡bridge¡¡of¡¡Dulsie¡¡before¡¡they¡¡could¡¡cross¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡myself

rode¡¡circuits¡¡when¡¡I¡¡was¡¡Advocate¡­Depute¡¡between¡¡1807¡¡and¡¡1810¡£

The¡¡fashion¡¡of¡¡every¡¡Depute¡¡carrying¡¡his¡¡own¡¡shell¡¡on¡¡his¡¡back£»¡¡in

the¡¡form¡¡of¡¡his¡¡own¡¡carriage£»¡¡is¡¡a¡¡piece¡¡of¡¡very¡¡modern

antiquity¡£¡¨*£§7£§¡¡¡¡North¡¡of¡¡Inverness£»¡¡matters¡¡were£»¡¡if¡¡possible£»

still¡¡worse¡£¡¡¡¡There¡¡was¡¡no¡¡bridge¡¡over¡¡the¡¡Beauly¡¡or¡¡the¡¡Conan¡£

The¡¡drovers¡¡coming¡¡south¡¡swam¡¡the¡¡rivers¡¡with¡¡their¡¡cattle¡£¡¡¡¡There

being¡¡no¡¡roads£»¡¡there¡¡was¡¡little¡¡use¡¡for¡¡carts¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡the¡¡whole

county¡¡of¡¡Caithness£»¡¡there¡¡was¡¡¡¡scarcely¡¡a¡¡farmer¡¡who¡¡owned¡¡a

wheel¡­cart¡£¡¡¡¡Burdens¡¡were¡¡conveyed¡¡usually¡¡on¡¡the¡¡backs¡¡of¡¡ponies£»

but¡¡quite¡¡as¡¡often¡¡on¡¡the¡¡backs¡¡of¡¡women¡£*£§8£§¡¡¡¡The¡¡interior¡¡of¡¡the

county¡¡of¡¡Sutherland¡¡being¡¡almost¡¡inaccessible£»¡¡the¡¡only¡¡track¡¡lay

along¡¡the¡¡shore£»¡¡among¡¡rocks¡¡and¡¡sand£»¡¡and¡¡was¡¡covered¡¡by¡¡the¡¡sea

at¡¡every¡¡tide¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨The¡¡people¡¡lay¡¡scattered¡¡in¡¡inaccessible¡¡straths

and¡¡spots¡¡among¡¡the¡¡mountains£»¡¡where¡¡they¡¡lived¡¡in¡¡family¡¡with

their¡¡pigs¡¡and¡¡kyloes¡¡£¨cattle£©£»¡¡in¡¡turf¡¡cabins¡¡of¡¡the¡¡most

miserable¡¡description£»¡¡they¡¡spoke¡¡only¡¡Gaelic£»¡¡and¡¡spent¡¡the¡¡whole

of¡¡their¡¡time¡¡in¡¡indolence¡¡and¡¡sloth¡£¡¡¡¡Thus¡¡they¡¡had¡¡gone¡¡on¡¡from

father¡¡to¡¡son£»¡¡with¡¡little¡¡change£»¡¡except¡¡what¡¡the¡¡introduction¡¡of

illicit¡¡distillation¡¡had¡¡wrought£»¡¡and¡¡making¡¡little¡¡or¡¡no¡¡export

from¡¡the¡¡country¡¡beyond¡¡the¡¡few¡¡lean¡¡kyloes£»¡¡which¡¡paid¡¡the¡¡rent

and¡¡produced¡¡wherewithal¡¡to¡¡pay¡¡for¡¡the¡¡oatmeal¡¡imported¡£¡¨*£§9£§

Telford's¡¡first¡¡recommendation¡¡was£»¡¡that¡¡a¡¡bridge¡¡should¡¡be¡¡thrown

across¡¡the¡¡Tay¡¡at¡¡Dunkeld£»¡¡to¡¡connect¡¡the¡¡improved¡¡lines¡¡of¡¡road

proposed¡¡to¡¡be¡¡made¡¡on¡¡each¡¡side¡¡of¡¡the¡¡river¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡regarded¡¡this

measure¡¡as¡¡of¡¡the¡¡first¡¡importance¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Central¡¡Highlands£»¡¡and¡¡as

the¡¡Duke¡¡of¡¡Athol¡¡was¡¡willing¡¡to¡¡pay¡¡one¡­half¡¡of¡¡the¡¡cost¡¡of¡¡the

erection£»¡¡if¡¡the¡¡Government¡¡would¡¡defray¡¡the¡¡otherthe¡¡bridge¡¡to

be¡¡free¡¡of¡¡toll¡¡after¡¡a¡¡certain¡¡periodit¡¡appeared¡¡to¡¡the¡¡engineer

that¡¡this¡¡was¡¡a¡¡reasonable¡¡and¡¡just¡¡mode¡¡of¡¡providing¡¡for¡¡the

contingency¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡the¡¡next¡¡place£»¡¡he¡¡recommended¡¡a¡¡bridge¡¡over¡¡the

Spey£»¡¡which¡¡drained¡¡a¡¡great¡¡extent¡¡of¡¡mountainous¡¡country£»¡¡and£»

being¡¡liable¡¡to¡¡sudden¡¡inundations£»¡¡was¡¡very¡¡dangerous¡¡to¡¡cross¡£

Yet¡¡this¡¡ferry¡¡formed¡¡the¡¡only¡¡link¡¡of¡¡communication¡¡between¡¡the

whole¡¡of¡¡the¡¡northern¡¡counties¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡site¡¡pointed¡¡out¡¡for¡¡the

proposed¡¡bridge¡¡was¡¡adjacent¡¡to¡¡the¡¡town¡¡of¡¡Fochabers£»¡¡and¡¡here

also¡¡the¡¡Duke¡¡of¡¡Gordon¡¡and¡¡other¡¡county¡¡gentlemen¡¡were¡¡willing¡¡to

provide¡¡one¡­half¡¡of¡¡the¡¡means¡¡for¡¡its¡¡erection¡£



Mr¡£¡¡Telford¡¡further¡¡described¡¡in¡¡detail¡¡the¡¡roads¡¡necessary¡¡to¡¡be

constructed¡¡in¡¡the¡¡north¡¡and¡¡west¡¡Highlands£»¡¡with¡¡the¡¡object¡¡of

opening¡¡up¡¡the¡¡western¡¡parts¡¡of¡¡the¡¡counties¡¡of¡¡Inverness¡¡and¡¡Ross£»

and¡¡affording¡¡a¡¡ready¡¡communication¡¡from¡¡the¡¡Clyde¡¡to¡¡the¡¡fishing

lochs¡¡in¡¡the¡¡neighbourhood¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Isle¡¡of¡¡Skye¡£¡¡¡¡As¡¡to¡¡the¡¡means¡¡of

executing¡¡these¡¡improvements£»¡¡he¡¡suggested¡¡that¡¡Government¡¡would¡¡be

justified¡¡in¡¡dealing¡¡with¡¡the¡¡Highland¡¡roads¡¡and¡¡bridges¡¡as

exceptional¡¡and¡¡extraordinary¡¡works£»¡¡and¡¡extending¡¡the¡¡public¡¡aid

towards¡¡carrying¡¡them¡¡into¡¡effect£»¡¡as£»¡¡but¡¡for¡¡such¡¡assistance£»¡¡the

country¡¡must¡¡remain£»¡¡perhaps¡¡for¡¡ages¡¡to¡¡come£»¡¡imperfectly¡¡opened¡¡up¡£

His¡¡report¡¡further¡¡embraced¡¡certain¡¡improvements¡¡in¡¡the¡¡harbours¡¡of

Aberdeen¡¡and¡¡Wick£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡description¡¡of¡¡the¡¡country¡¡through¡¡which

the¡¡proposed¡¡line¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Caledonian¡¡Canal¡¡would¡¡necessarily¡¡pass

a¡¡canal¡¡which¡¡had¡¡long¡¡been¡¡the¡¡subject¡¡of¡¡inquiry£»¡¡but¡¡had¡¡not¡¡as

yet¡¡emerged¡¡from¡¡a¡¡state¡¡of¡¡mere¡¡speculation¡£



The¡¡new¡¡roads£»¡¡bridges£»¡¡and¡¡other¡¡improvements¡¡suggested¡¡by¡¡the

engineer£»¡¡excited¡¡much¡¡interest¡¡in¡¡the¡¡north¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡Highland¡¡Society

voted¡¡him¡¡their¡¡thanks¡¡by¡¡acclamation£»¡¡the¡¡counties¡¡of¡¡Inverness

and¡¡Ross¡¡followed£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡had¡¡letters¡¡of¡¡thanks¡¡and¡¡congratulation

from¡¡many¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Highland¡¡chiefs¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨If¡¡they¡¡will¡¡persevere£»¡¨¡¡says¡¡he£»

¡¨with¡¡anything¡¡like¡¡their¡¡present¡¡zeal£»¡¡they¡¡will¡¡have¡¡the

satisfaction¡¡of¡¡greatly¡¡improving¡¡a¡¡country¡¡that¡¡has¡¡been¡¡too¡¡long

neglected¡£¡¡¡¡Things¡¡are¡¡greatly¡¡changed¡¡now¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Highlands¡£¡¡¡¡Even

were¡¡the¡¡chiefs¡¡to¡¡quarrel£»¡¡de'il¡¡a¡¡Highlandman¡¡would¡¡stir¡¡for¡¡them¡£

The¡¡lairds¡¡have¡¡transferred¡¡their¡¡affections¡¡from¡¡their¡¡people¡¡to

flocks¡¡of¡¡sheep£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡people¡¡have¡¡lost¡¡their¡¡veneration¡¡for¡¡the

lairds¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡seems¡¡to¡¡be¡¡the¡¡natural¡¡progress¡¡of¡¡society£»¡¡but¡¡it¡¡is

not¡¡an¡¡altogether¡¡satisfactory¡¡change¡£¡¡¡¡There¡¡were¡¡some¡¡fine

features¡¡in¡¡the¡¡former¡¡patriarchal¡¡state¡¡of¡¡society£»¡¡but¡¡now

clanship¡¡is¡¡gone£»¡¡and¡¡chiefs¡¡and¡¡people¡¡are¡¡hastening¡¡into¡¡the

opposite¡¡extreme¡£¡¡¡¡This¡¡seems¡¡to¡¡me¡¡to¡¡be¡¡quite¡¡wrong¡£¡¨*£§10£§

In¡¡the¡¡same¡¡year£»¡¡Telford¡¡was¡¡elected¡¡a¡¡member¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Royal¡¡Society

of¡¡Edinburgh£»¡¡on¡¡which¡¡occasion¡¡he¡¡was¡¡proposed¡¡and¡¡supported¡¡by

three¡¡professors£»¡¡so¡¡that¡¡the¡¡former¡¡Edinburgh¡¡mason¡¡was¡¡rising¡¡in

the¡¡world¡¡and¡¡receiving¡¡due¡¡honour¡¡in¡¡his¡¡own¡¡country¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡effect

of¡¡his¡¡report¡¡was¡¡such£»¡¡that¡¡in¡¡the¡¡session¡¡of¡¡1803¡¡a¡¡Parliamentary

Commission¡¡was¡¡appointed£»¡¡under¡¡whose¡¡direction¡¡a¡¡series¡¡of

practical¡¡improvements¡¡was¡¡commenced£»¡¡which¡¡issued¡¡in¡¡the

construction¡¡of¡¡not¡¡less¡¡than¡¡920¡¡additional¡¡miles¡¡of¡¡roads¡¡and

bridges¡¡throughout¡¡the¡¡Highlands£»¡¡one¡­half¡¡of¡¡the¡¡cost¡¡of¡¡which¡¡was

defrayed¡¡by¡¡the¡¡Government¡¡and¡¡the¡¡other¡¡half¡¡by¡¡local¡¡assessment¡£

But¡¡in¡¡addition¡¡to¡¡these¡¡main¡¡lines¡¡of¡¡communication£»¡¡numberless

county¡¡roads¡¡were¡¡formed¡¡by¡¡statute¡¡labour£»¡¡under¡¡local¡¡road¡¡Acts

and¡¡by¡¡other¡¡means£»¡¡the¡¡land¡­owners¡¡of¡¡Sutherland¡¡alone

constructing¡¡nearly¡¡300¡¡miles¡¡of¡¡district¡¡roads¡¡at¡¡their¡¡own¡¡cost¡£



£§Image£§¡¡Map¡¡of¡¡Telford's¡¡Roads¡£
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