The Life of Thomas Telford, Civil Engineer

This etext produced by Eric Hutton, email: bookman@rmplc.co.uk 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.