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the Highland roads； amounting to about 7500L。 a year； was
transferred to the annual Estimates； when it became the subject of
annual revision； 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 profitable agriculture； 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 YEARSHIS 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 successive landlords 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 previous tenant 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 of young
men educated to civil and mechanical engineering； 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 scientific distinction。 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 r