The Life of Thomas Telford | Page 3

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This etext produced by Eric Hutton, email: [email protected] additional proof reading by David G Haren and Simon Allen

The Life of Thomas Telford civil engineer with an introductory history of roads and travelling in Great Britian
by Samuel Smiles

"Let us travel, and wherever we find no facility for travelling from a city to a town, from a village to a hamlet, we may pronounce the people to be barbarous" --Abbe Raynal
"The opening up of the internal communications of a country is undoubtedly the first and most important element of its growth in commerce and civilization" --Richard Cobden
CONTENTS
Preface
EARLY ROADS AND MODES OF TRAVELLING
CHAPTER I.
Old Roads
Roads as agents of civilization Their important uses Ancient British trackways or ridgeways The Romans and their roads in Britain Decay of the Roman roads Early legislation relating to highways Roads near London The Weald of Kent Great Western roads Hollow ways or lanes Roads on Dartmoor in Sussex at Kensington
CHAPTER II.
Early Modes of Conveyance
Riding on horseback the ancient mode of traveling Shakespear's description of travelling in 'Henry IV.' Queen Elizabeth and her coach Introduction of coaches or waggons Painful journeys by coach Carriers in reign of James I Great north Road in reign of Charles I Mace's description of roads and travellers stage-coaches introduced Sobriere's account of the Dover stage-coach Thoresby's account of stage-coaches and travelling Roads and travelling in North Wales Proposal to suppres stage-coaches Tediousness and discomforts of travelling by coach Pennant's account of the Chester and London stage Travelling on horseback preferred The night coach Highway robbers and foot-pads Methods of transport of the merchandize pack-horse convoys Traffic between lancashire and Yorkshire Signs of the pack-horse
CHAPTER III.
Influence of Roads on Society
Restricted intercourse between districts Local dialects and customs thereby preserved Camden's fear of travelling into the barbarous regions of the North Rev. Mr Brome's travels in England Old Leisure Imperfect postal communication Hawkers and pedlars Laying in stores for winter Household occupations Great fairs of ancient times Local fairs Fair on Dartmoor Primitive manners of Dartmoor District
CHAPTER IV.
Roads in Scotland last centuary
Poverty of Scotland Backwardness of agriculture Idleness of the people Andrew Flecher's description of Scotland Slavery of colliers and salters Improvements in agriculture opposed Low wages of the labouring population State of the Lothians and Ayrshire Wretched states of the roads Difficulty of communication between districts Coach started between Edinburgh and Glasgow Carrier's perils between Edinburgh and Selkirk Dangers of travelling in Galloway Lawlessness of the Highlands Picking and lifting of cattle Ferocity of population on the Highland Border Ancient civilization of Scotland
CHAPTER V.
Travelling in England last century
Progress made in travelling by coach Fast coaches established Bad state of the roads Foreigners' accounts of travelling in England Herr Moritz's journey by the basket coach Arthur Young's description of English roads Palmer's mail coaches introduced The first 'Turnpike' roads Turnpike riots The rebellion of 1745 Passing of numerous highway Acts Road-making thought beneath the dignity of the engineer
CHAPTER VI.
John Metcalf, road-maker.
Metcalf's boyhood His blindness His boldness Becomes a Musician His travels Journey on foot from London to Harrogate Joins the army as musician in the rebellion of 1745 Adventures in Scotland Becomes travelling merchant and horse dealer Begins road-making Builds a bridge His extensive road contracts in Yorkshire and Lancashire Manner of aking his surveys His skill in road-making His last road--his death Roads in the south of England Want of roads on Lincoln Heath Land lighthouses Dunstan pillar Rapid improvement in the roads Application of steam Sydney Smith on improved facilities of communication
THE LIFE OF THOMAS TELFORD
CHAPTER I.
Eskdale.
Eskdale Langholm Former lawlessness of the Border population Jonnie armstrong Border energy Westerkirk Telford's birthplace Glendinning Valley of the Meggat The 'unblameable shepherd' Telford's mother Early years Laughing Tam Put to school His school-fellows
CHAPTER II.
Langholm--Telford a Stonemason
Telford apprenticed to a stonemason Runs away Re-apprenticed to a mason at Langholm Building operations in the district Miss Pasley lends books to young Telford Attempt to write poetry Becomes village letter-writer Works as a journeyman mason Employed on Langholm Bridge Manse of Westerkirk Poem of 'Eskdale' Hews headstones and doorheads Works as a mason at Edinburgh Study of architecture Revisits Eskdale His ride to London
CHAPTER III.
Arrives in London
Telford a working man in London Obtains employment as a mason at Somerset House Correspondence with Eskdale friends Observations on his fellow-workman Propses to begin business, but wants money Mr. Pulteney Becomes foreman of builders at Portsmouth Dockyard Continues to write poetry Employment of his time