charged upon the Consolidated Fund to meet assessments and tolls of

the Highland roads, amounting to about 7500L. a year, was
transferred to the annual Estimates, when it became the subject of

annualrevision; and a few years since the grant was suddenly
extinguished by an adverse vote of the House of Commons. The Board

of Commissioners had, therefore, nothing left but to deliver over
the roads to the several local authorities, and the harbours to the

proprietors of the adjacent lands, and to present to Parliament a
final account of their work and its results. Reviewing the whole,

they say that the operations of the Commission have been most
beneficial to the country concerned. They "found it barren and

uncultivated, inhabited by heritors without capital or enterprise,
and by a poor and ill-employed peasantry, and destitute of trade,

shipping, and manufactures. They leave it with wealthy proprietors,
a profitableagriculture, a thriving population, and active

industry; furnishing now its fair proportion of taxes to the
national exchequer, and helping by its improved agriculture to meet

the ever-increasing wants of the populous south."
Footnotes for Chapter XIV.

*[1] We have been indebted to Mr. Robert Rawlinson, C.E., in whose
possession the MS. now is, for the privilege of inspecting it, and

making the above abstract, which we have the less hesitation in
giving as it has not before appeared in print.

*[2] Mr. Rickman was the secretary to the Highland Roads
Commission.

*[3] Referring to the famous battle of Bannockburn, Southey writes
--"This is the only great battle that ever was lost by the English.

At Hastings there was no disgrace. Here it was an army of lions
commanded by a stag."

*[4] See View of Banff facing p. 216.
CHAPTER XV.

MR. TELFORD'S LATER YEARS--HIS DEATH AND CHARACTER.
When Mr. Telford had occasion to visit London on business during

the early period of his career, his quarters were at the Salopian
Coffee House, now the Ship Hotel, at Charing Cross. It is probable

that his Shropshire connections led him in the first instance to
the 'Salopian;' but the situation being near to the Houses of

Parliament, and in many respects convenient for the purposes of his
business, he continued to live there for no less a period than

twenty-one years. During that time the Salopian became a favourite
resort of engineers; and not only Telford's provincial associates,

but numerous visitors from abroad (where his works attracted even
more attention than they did in England) took up their quarters

there. Several apartments were specially reserved for Telford's
exclusive use, and he could always readily command any additional

accommodation for purposes of business or hospitality.
The successivelandlords of the Salopian came to regard the

engineer as a fixture, and even bought and sold him from time to
time with the goodwill of the business. When he at length resolved,

on the persuasion of his friends, to take a house of his own, and
gave notice of his intention of leaving, the landlord, who had but

recently entered into possession, almost stood aghast. "What! leave
the house!" said he; "Why, Sir, I have just paid 750L. for you!"

On explanation it appeared that this price had actually been paid by
him to the outgoing landlord, on the assumption that Mr. Telford

was a fixture of the hotel; the previoustenant having paid 450L.
for him; the increase in the price marking very significantly the

growing importance of the engineer's position. There was, however,
no help for the disconsolate landlord, and Telford left the Salopian

to take possession of his new house at 24, Abingdon Street. Labelye,
the engineer of Westminster Bridge, had formerly occupied the

dwelling; and, at a subsequent period, Sir William Chambers, the
architect of Somerset House, Telford used to take much pleasure in

pointing out to his visitors the painting of Westminster Bridge,
impanelled in the wall over the parlour mantelpiece, made for

Labelye by an Italian artist whilst the bridge works were in
progress. In that house Telford continued to live until the close

of his life.
One of the subjects in which he took much interest during his later

years was the establishment of the Institute of Civil Engineers.
In 1818 a Society had been formed, consisting principally" target="_blank" title="ad.主要地；大体上">principally of young

men educated to civil and mechanicalengineering, who occasionally
met to discuss matters of interest relating to their profession.

As early as the time of Smeaton, a social meeting of engineers was
occasionally held at an inn in Holborn, which was discontinued in

1792, in consequence of some personal differences amongst the
members. It was revived in the following year, under the auspices

of Mr. Jessop, Mr. Naylor, Mr. Rennie, and Mr. Whitworth, and
joined by other gentlemen of scientificdistinction. They were

accustomed to dine together every fortnight at the Crown and Anchor
in the Strand, spending the evening in conversation on engineering

subjects. But as the numbers and importance of the profession
increased, the desire began to be felt, especially among the junior

members of the profession, for an institution of a more enlarged
character. Hence the movement above alluded to, which led to an

invitation being given to Mr. Telford to accept the office of
President of the proposed Engineers' Institute. To this he consented,

and entered upon the duties of the office on the 21st of March,
1820.*[1] During the remainder of his life, Mr. Telford continued

to watch over the progress of the Society, which gradually grew in
importance and usefulness. He supplied it with the nucleus of a

reference library, now become of great value to its members.
He established the practice of recording the proceedings,*[2] minutes

of discussions, and substance of the papers read, which has led to
the accumulation, in the printed records of the Institute, of a

vast body of information as to engineering practice. In 1828 he
exerted himself strenuously and successfully in obtaining a Charter

of Incorporation for the Society; and finally, at his death, he
left the Institute their first bequest of 2000L., together with

many valuable books, and a large collection of documents which had
been subservient to his own professional labours.

In the distinguished position which he occupied, it was natural
that Mr. Telford should be called upon, as he often was, towards

the close of his life, to give his opinion and advice as to
projects of public importance. Where strongly conflicting opinions

were entertained on any subject, his help was occasionally found
most valuable; for he possessed great tact and suavity of manner,

which often enabled him to reconcile opposing interests when they
stood in the way of important enterprises.

In 1828 he was appointed one of the commissioners to investigate
the subject of the supply of water to the metropolis, in conjunction

with Dr. Roget and Professor Brande, and the result was the very
able report published in that year. Only a few months before his

death, in 1834, he prepared and sent in an elaborate separate
report, containing many excellent practical suggestions, which had

the effect of stimulating the efforts of the water companies, and
eventually leading, to great improvements.

On the subject of roads, Telford continued to be the very highest
authority, his friend Southey jocularly styling him the "Colossus

of Roads." The Russian Government frequently consulted him with
reference to the new roads with which that great empire was being

opened up. The Polish road from Warsaw to Briesc, on the Russian
frontier, 120 miles in length, was constructed after his plans, and

it remains, we believe, the finest road in the Russian dominions to
this day.

[Image] Section of Polish Road
He was consulted by the Austrian Government on the subject of

bridges as well as roads. Count Szechenyi recounts the very
agreeable and instructiveinterview which he had with Telford when

he called to consult him as to the bridge proposed to be erected
across the Danube, between the towns of Buda and Pesth. On a

suspensionbridge being suggested by the English engineer, the
Count, with surprise, asked if such an erection was possible under

the circumstances he had described? "We do not consider anything to
be impossible," replied Telford; "impossibilities exist chiefly in

the prejudices of mankind, to which some are slaves, and from which
few are able to emancipate themselves and enter on the path of

truth." But supposing a suspensionbridge were not deemed advisable
under the circumstances, and it were considered necessary

altogether to avoid motion, "then," said he, "I should recommend
you to erect a cast iron bridge of three spans, each 400 feet; such

a bridge will have no motion, and though half the world lay a