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state that no subsidence is discoverable； and we presume that the
entire lock； as well as every part of it； may now be deemed as
immovable； and as little liable to destruction； as any other large
mass of masonry。 This was the most remarkable work performed under
the immediate care of Mr。 Matthew Davidson； our superintendent at
Clachnaharry； from 1804 till the time of his decease。 He was a man
perfectly qualified for the employment by inflexible integrity；
unwearied industry； and zeal to a degree of anxiety； in all the
operations committed to his care。〃*＇1＇
As may naturally be supposed； the execution of these great works
involved vast labour and anxiety。 They were designed with much
skill； and executed with equal ability。 There were lock…gates to
be constructed； principally of cast iron； sheathed with pine
planking。 Eight public road bridges crossed the line of the
canal； which were made of cast iron； and swung horizontally。
There were many mountain streams； swollen to torrents in winter；
crossing under the canal； for which abundant water…way had to be
provided； involving the construction of numerous culverts； tunnels；
and under…bridges of large dimensions。 There were also powerful
sluices to let off the excess of water sent down from the adjacent
mountains into the canal during winter。 Three of these； of great
size； high above the river Lochy； are constructed at a point where
the canal is cut through the solid rock； and the sight of the mass
of waters rushing down into the valley beneath； gives an impression
of power which； once seen； is never forgotten。
These great works were only brought to a completion after the
labours of many years； during which the difficulties encountered in
their construction had swelled the cost of the canal far beyond the
original estimate。 The rapid advances which had taken place in the
interval in the prices of labour and materials also tended greatly
to increase the expenses； and； after all； the canal； when completed
and opened； was comparatively little used。 This was doubtless
owing； in a great measure； to the rapid changes which occurred in
the system of navigation shortly after the projection of the
undertaking。 For these Telford was not responsible。 He was called
upon to make the canal； and he did so in the best manner。
Engineers are not required to speculate as to the commercial value
of the works they are required to construct； and there were
circumstances connected with the scheme of the Caledonian Canal
which removed it from the category of mere commercial adventures。
It was a Government project； and it proved a failure as a paying
concern。 Hence it formed a prominent topic for discussion in the
journals of the day； but the attacks made upon the Government
because of their expenditure on the hapless undertaking were
perhaps more felt by Telford； who was its engineer； than by all the
ministers of state conjoined。
〃The unfortunate issue of this great work；〃 writes the present
engineer of the canal； to whom we are indebted for many of the
preceding facts； 〃was a grievous disappointment to Mr。 Telford；
and was in fact the one great bitter in his otherwise unalloyed cup
of happiness and prosperity。 The undertaking was maligned by
thousands who knew nothing of its character。 It became 'a dog with
a bad name；' and all the proverbial consequences followed。
The most absurd errors and misconceptions were propagated respecting
it from year to year； and it was impossible during Telford's lifetime
to stem the torrent of popular prejudice and objurgation。 It must；
however； be admitted； after a long experience； that Telford was
greatly over…sanguine in his expectations as to the national uses
of the canal； and he was doomed to suffer acutely in his personal
feelings； little though he may have been personally to blame； the
consequences of what in this commercial country is regarded as so
much worse than a crime； namely； a financial mistake。〃*＇2＇
Mr。 Telford's great sensitiveness made him feel the ill success of
this enterprise far more than most other men would have done。
He was accustomed to throw himself into the projects on which he
was employed with an enthusiasm almost poetic。 He regarded them
not merely as so much engineering； but as works which were to be
instrumental in opening up the communications of the country and
extending its civilization。 Viewed in this light； his canals；
roads； bridges； and harbours were unquestionably of great national
importance； though their commercial results might not in all cases
justify the estimates of their projectors。 To refer to like
instancesno one can doubt the immense value and public uses of
Mr。 Rennie's Waterloo Bridge or Mr。 Robert Stephenson's Britannia
and Victoria Bridges； though every one knows that； commercially；
they have been failures。 But it is probable that neither of these
eminent engineers gave himself anything like the anxious concern
that Telford did about the financial issue of his undertaking。
Were railway engineers to fret and vex themselves about the commercial
value of the schemes in which they have been engaged； there are few
of them but would be so haunted by the ghosts of wrecked speculations
that they could scarcely lay their heads upon their pillows for a
single night in peace。
While the Caledonian Canal was in progress； Mr。 Telford was
occupied in various works of a similar kind in England and Scotland；
and also upon one in Sweden。 In 1804； while on one of his journeys
to the north； he was requested by the Earl of Eglinton and others
to examine a project for making a canal from Glasgow to Saltcoats
and Ardrossan； on the north…western coast of the county of Ayr；
passing near the important manufacturing town of Paisley。 A new
survey of the line was made； and the works were carried on during
several successive years until a very fine capacious canal was
completed； on the same level； as far as Paisley and Johnstown。
But the funds of the company falling short； the works were stopped；
and the canal was carried no further。 Besides； the measures adopted
by the Clyde Trustees to deepen the bed of that river and enable
ships of large burden to pass up as high as Glasgow； had proved so
successful that the ultimate extension of the canal to Ardrossan
was no longer deemed necessary； and the prosecution of the work was
accordingly abandoned。 But as Mr。 Telford has observed； no person
suspected； when the canal was laid out in 1805； 〃that steamboats
would not only monopolise the trade of the Clyde； but penetrate
into every creek where there is water to float them； in the British
Isles and the continent of Europe； and be seen in every quarter of
the world。〃
Another of the navigations on which Mr。 Telford was long employed
was that of the river Weaver in Cheshire。 It was only twenty…four
miles in extent； but of considerable importance to the country
through which it passed； accommodating the salt…manufacturing
districts； of which the towns of Nantwich； Northwich； and Frodsham
are the centres。 The channel of the river was extremely crooked
and much obstructed by shoals； when Telford took the navigation in
hand in the year 1807； and a number of essential improvements were
made in it； by means of new locks； weirs； and side cuts； which had
the effect of greatly improving the communications of these
important districts。
In the following year we find our engineer consulted； at the
instance of the King of Sweden； on the best mode of constructing
the Gotha Canal； between Lake Wenern and the Baltic； to complete
the communication with the North Sea。 In 1808； at the invitation
of Count Platen； Mr。 Telford visited Sweden and made a careful
survey of the district。 The service occupied him and his
assistants two months； after which he prepared and sent in a series
of detailed plans and sections； together with an elaborate report
on the subject。 His plans having been adopted； he again visited
Sweden in 1810； to inspect the excavations which had already been
begun； when he supplied the drawings for the locks and bridges。
With the sanction of the British Government； he at the same time
furnished the Swedish contractors with patterns of the most
improved tools used in canal making； and took with him a number of
experienced lock…makers and navvies for the purpose of instructing
the native workmen。
The construction of the Gotha Canal was an undertaking of great
magnitude and difficulty； similar in many respects to the
Caledonian Canal； though much more extensive。 The length of
artificial canal was 55 miles； and of the whole navigation；
including the lakes； 120 miles。 The locks are 120 feet long and
24 feet broad； the width of the canal at bottom being 42 feet；
and the depth of water 10 feet。 The results； so far as the engineer
was concerned； were much more satisfactory than in the case of the
Caledonian Ca