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a new channel for the river was excavated； which further enlarged
the floating space and wharf accommodation； wet and dry docks were
added； until at length the quay berthage amounted to not less than
6290 feet； or nearly a mile and a quarter in length。 By these
combined improvements an additional extent of quay room was
obtained of about 4000 feet； an excellent tidal harbour was formed；
in which； at spring tides； the depth of water is about 15 feet；
while on the bar it was increased to about 19 feet。 The prosperity
of Aberdeen had meanwhile been advancing apace。 The city had been
greatly beautified and enlarged： shipbuilding had made rapid
progress； Aberdeen clippers became famous； and Aberdeen merchants
carried on a trade with all parts of the world； manufactures of
wool； cotton； flax； and iron were carried on with great success；
its population rapidly increased； and； as a maritime city； Aberdeen
took rank as the third in Scotland； the tonnage entering the port
having increased from 50；000 tons in 1800 to about 300；000 in
1860。
Improvements of an equally important character were carried out by
Mr。 Telford in the port of Dundee； also situated on the east coast
of Scotland； at the entrance to the Frith of Tay。 There are those
still living at the place who remember its former haven； consisting
of a crooked wall； affording shelter to only a few fishing…boats or
smuggling vesselsits trade being then altogether paltry； scarcely
deserving the name； and its population not one fifth of what it now
is。 Helped by its commodious and capacious harbour； it has become
one of the most populous and thriving towns on the east coast。
＇Image＇ Plan of Dundee Harbour。
The trade of the place took a great start forward at the close of
the war； and Mr。 Telford was called upon to supply the plans of a
new harbour。 His first design； which he submitted in 1814； was of
a comparatively limited character； but it was greatly enlarged
during the progress of the works。 Floating docks were added； as
well as graving docks for large vessels。 The necessary powers were
obtained in 1815； the works proceeded vigorously under the Harbour
Commissioners； who superseded the old obstructive corporation； and
in 1825 the splendid new floating dock750 feet long by 450 broad；
having an entrance…lock 170 feet long and 40 feet widewas opened
to the shipping of all countries。
＇Image＇ Dundee Harbour。
Footnotes for Chapter IX。
*＇1＇ Hugh Millar； in his 'Cruise of the Betsy；' attributes the
invention of columnar pier…work to Mr。 Bremner； whom he terms 〃the
Brindley of Scotland。〃 He has acquired great fame for his skill in
raising sunken ships； having warped the Great Britain steamer off
the shores of Dundrum Bay。 But we believe Mr。 Telford had adopted
the practice of columnar pier…work before Mr。 Bremner； in forming
the little harbour of Folkestone in 1808； where the work is still
to be seen quite perfect。 The most solid mode of laying stone on
land is in flat courses； but in open pier work the reverse process
is adopted。 The blocks are laid on end in columns； like upright
beams jammed together。 Thus laid； the wave which dashes against
them is broken； and spends itself on the interstices； where as；
if it struck the broad solid blocks； the tendency would be to lift
them from their beds and set the work afloat； and in a furious
storm such blocks would be driven about almost like pebbles。
The rebound from flat surfaces is also very heavy； and produces
violent commotion； where as these broken； upright； columnar…looking
piers seem to absorb the fury of the sea； and render its wildest
waves comparatively innocuous。
*＇2＇ 'Memorials from Peterhead and Banff； concerning Damage
occasioned by a Storm。' Ordered by the House of Commons to be
printed； 5th July； 1820。 ＇242。＇
*＇3＇ 'A Description of Bothe Touns of Aberdeene。' By James Gordon；
Parson of Rothiemay。 Reprinted in Gavin Turreff's 'Antiquarian
Gleanings from Aberdeenshire Records。' Aberdeen； 1889。
*＇4＇ Robertson's 'Book of Bon…Accord。'
*＇5＇ Ibid。； quoted in Turreff's 'Antiquarian Gleanings；' p。 222。
*＇6＇ One of them； however； did returnPeter Williamson； a native
of the town； sold for a slave in Pennsylvania； 〃a rough； ragged；
humle…headed； long； stowie； clever boy；〃 who； reaching York；
published an account of the infamous traffic； in a pamphlet which
excited extraordinary interest at the time； and met with a rapid
and extensive circulation。 But his exposure of kidnapping gave
very great offence to the magistrates； who dragged him before their
tribunal as having 〃published a scurrilous and infamous libel on
the corporation；〃 and he was sentenced to be imprisoned until he
should sign a denial of the truth of his statements。 He brought an
action against the corporation for their proceedings； and obtained
a verdict and damages； and he further proceeded against Baillie
Fordyce （one of his kidnappers； and others； from whom he obtained
200L。 damages； with costs。 The system was thus effectually put a
stop to。
*＇8＇ 'A Description of Bothe Touns of Aberdeene。' By James Gordon；
Parson of Rothiemay。 Quoted by Turreff； p。 109。
*＇8＇ Communication with London was as yet by no means frequent；
and far from expeditious； as the following advertisement of 1778
will show：〃For London： To sail positively on Saturday next； the
7th November； wind and weather permitting； the Aberdeen smack。
Will lie a short time at London； and； if no convoy is appointed；
will sail under care of a fleet of colliers the best convoy of any。
For particulars apply；〃 &c。； &c。
*＇9＇ 〃The bottom under the foundations；〃 says Mr。 Gibb； in his
description of the work； 〃is nothing better than loose sand and
gravel； constantly thrown up by the sea on that stormy coast；
so that it was necessary to consolidate the work under low water by
dropping large stones from lighters； and filling the interstices
with smaller ones； until it was brought within about a foot of the
level of low water； when the ashlar work was commenced； but in
place of laying the stones horizontally in their beds； each course
was laid at an angle of 45 degrees； to within about 18 inches of
the top； when a level coping was added。 This mode of building
enabled the work to be carried on expeditiously； and rendered it
while in progress less liable to temporary damage； likewise
affording three points of bearing； for while the ashlar walling was
carrying up on both sides； the middle or body of the pier was
carried up at the same time by a careful backing throughout of
large rubble…stone； to within 18 inches of the top； when the whole
was covered with granite coping and paving 18 inches deep； with a
cut granite parapet wall on the north side of the whole length of
the pier； thus protected for the convenience of those who might
have occasion to frequent it。〃Mr。 Gibb's 'Narrative of Aberdeen
Harbour Works。'
CHAPTER X。
CALEDONIAN AND OTHER CANALS。
The formation of a navigable highway through the chain of locks
lying in the Great Glen of the Highlands； and extending diagonally
across Scotland from the Atlantic to the North Sea； had long been
regarded as a work of national importance。 As early as 1773；
James Watt； then following the business of a land…surveyor at Glasgow；
made a survey of the country at the instance of the Commissioners
of Forfeited Estates。 He pronounced the canal practicable； and
pointed out how it could best be constructed。 There was certainly
no want of water； for Watt was repeatedly drenched with rain while
he was making his survey； and he had difficulty in preserving even
his journal book。 〃On my way home；〃 he says； 〃I passed through the
wildest country I ever saw； and over the worst conducted roads。〃
Twenty years later； in 1793； Mr。 Rennie was consulted as to the
canal； and he also prepared a scheme： but nothing was done。 The
project was； however； revived in 1801 during the war with Napoleon；
when various inland ship canalssuch as those from London to
Portsmouth； and from Bristol to the English Channelwere under
consideration with the view of enabling British shipping to pass
from one part of the kingdom to another without being exposed to
the attacks of French privateers。 But there was another reason for
urging the formation of the canal through the Great Glen of Scotland；
which was regarded as of considerable importance before the
introduction of steam enabled vessels to set the winds and tides at
comparative defiance。 It was this： vessels sailing from the
eastern ports to America had to beat up the Pentland Frith； often
against adverse winds and stormy seas； which rendered the navigation
both tedious and dangerous。 Thus it was cited by Sir Edward Parry；
in his evidence before Parliament in favour of completing the
Caledonian Canal； that of two vessels despatched from Newcastle on
the same dayone bound