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the clans had not been completely broken by the severe repressive
measures which followed the rebellion of Forty…five。 But the people
had hot yet learnt to bend their backs； like the Sassenach； to the
stubborn soil； and they sat gloomily by their turf…fires at home；
or wandered away to settle in other lands beyond the seas。 It even
began to be feared that the country would so on be entirely
depopulated； and it became a matter of national concern to devise
methods of opening up the district so as to develope its industry
and afford improved means of sustenance for its population。
The poverty of the inhabitants rendered the attempt to construct
roadseven had they desired thembeyond their scanty means； but
the ministry of the day entertained the opinion that； by contributing
a certain proportion of the necessary expense； the proprietors of
Highland estates might be induced to advance the remainder； and on
this principle the construction of the new roads in those districts
was undertaken。
The country lying to the west of the Great Glen was absolutely
without a road of any kind。 The only district through which
travellers passed was that penetrated by the great Highland road by
Badenoch； between Perth and Inverness； and for a considerable time
after the suppression of the rebellion of 1745； it was infested by
gangs of desperate robbers。 So unsafe was the route across the
Grampians； that persons who had occasion to travel it usually made
their wills before setting out。 Garrons； or little Highland ponies；
were then used by the gentry as well as the peasantry。 Inns were
few and bad； and even when postchaises were introduced at Inverness；
the expense of hiring one was thought of for weeks； perhaps months；
and arrangements were usually made for sharing it among as many
individuals as it would contain。 If the harness and springs of the
vehicle held together； travellers thought themselves fortunate in
reaching Edinburgh； jaded and weary； but safe in purse and limb；
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 e