Report of MR TELFORD, Civil Engineer, on the intended EDINBURGH and GLASGOW Union Canal.

HAVING examined the country through which it is intended to carry this Canal, I beg leave to offer the following as my Report upon the subject, and which is confined within as narrow limits as the subject admits.

In forming designs to connect different districts by navigable canals, it is the uniform practice to choose the lowest part of the general summit of the country; this was very judiciously selected by Mr Smeaton for the Forth and Clyde Canal, which he was fortunately enabled to construct at an elevation of only 150 feet above the level of the tide way; and instead of our now wishing it had been higher, it is rather to be regretted that its summit was not placed a few feet lower, to drain Dollater Bog, and approach nearer the city of Glasgow, which is considerably below its

termination at Port Dundas.

The summit of the Forth and Clyde Canal, therefore, occupies the most favourable pass afforded by this part of the country, and being locked down to the nearest point of the River Forth, the whole line takes the shortest and most convenient direction between the east and west seas, and is proved by experience to be nearly perfect, as far as regards vessels connected with the tideway.

But, between the eastern termination of the summit of this Canal and the city of Edinburgh, a distance of upwards of thirty miles, there is an extensive, rich, and populous country, including several considerable towns, yet destitute of inland navigation; it is to remedy this defect that the Union Canal is now proposed; it will open inexhaustible coal fields to the inhabitants of Edinburgh, facilitate its intercourse with the city of Glasgow, and the populous districts situMay 1815.

ated in the vallies of the Forth and Clyde.

In constructing the Union Canal, it would have been desirable to have

continued upon the summit level of the Forth and Clyde Canal; but this, the local formation of the intervening country, and other circumstances, rendered inadvisable, and indeed quite impracticable. The next most desirable object was to discover the lowest practicable line, and this, after many trials and mature deliberation, the engineer employed (Mr Hugh Baird) has, in my opinion, chosen with great judgment. It is well known that in most countries, and more especially in Scotland, that along the immediate skirts of the hills, and also near to the sea shores, the ground is rugged and intersected by deep ravines, and that it is in the middle space between these that the most uniform surface is to be found. The line of the Union Canal occupies this middle space, and, most fortunately, on arriving at Edinburgh, is also in the most advantageous level for accommodating the several quarters of that city, and likewise for passing (if judged advisable) down to the port of Leith, either by means of locks or railways.

Being on the lowest practicable level, this line is evidently by much the most advantageous for all the coal fields and valuable quarries of freestone and limestone which are situated in the country through which it passes, and it also affords the most perfect drainage.

I have already stated, that lines, on a lower level, are impracticable; to seek for lines on a higher level appears most injudicious; the ground immediately to the south west of Edinburgh rises considerably above that adjacent to the city; a higher level must therefore terminate at an inconvenient distance: the proceeding upon it westward through the country would be entangled by the

valley

valley west of Merchiston, and afterwards by the rugged bases of hills, which would obstruct its course, and lengthen its line, by unavoidable circuities. This is evident from a line surveyed 46 feet higher, being six miles more in length, between Edinburgh and Falkirk, than that of the Union Canal. This higher line, if continued, as has been proposed, on the same level, besides being nearly parallel to two Canals (the Forth and Clyde and Monkland) already constructed at great expence, would terminate 2 miles from Glasgow, and at 126 feet above Port Dundas, and this for purposes for which the Forth and Clyde and Union Canals, on lower levels, are much better adapted. At the eastern termination, this higher line is just as much more inconvenient for a connection with Leith, as it is elevated above the level of the Union line, and is in the same ratio unfit for a communication with the city of Edinburgh.

With regard to the practicability of making extensions from the Union Canal and the Forth and Clyde with which it will be connected, I beg leave to state, that from its eastern extremity the valley west of Merchiston House (the summit of which is only 18 feet above the Union level) opens a passage to East Lothian and Berwickshire, more favourable than from a higher level. From the summit of the Forth and Clyde, a level line may be carried many miles through coal fields towards Stirling, and another to embrace the coal fields, which, for a great distance, occupy the base of the Campsie hills. With these supplies, which, fortunately for the public, are comparatively inexhaustible, added to the extensive coal fields in the line of the Union Canal adjacent to Falkirk, it is evidently extravagant for the inhabitants of the eastern side of the summit to look towards the valley of the Clyde; but was this very distant resource de

manded, a line of canal may be made from the summit of the Forth and Clyde, near to Kirkintulloch, to the Monkland Canal, the distance being only 7 miles, perfectly accessible by 96 feet of lockage; and the latter Canal may be extended to the upper parts of Lanarkshire in all directions.-To Ayrshire the communication is most direct and commodious; the Forth and Clyde Canal is already locked down to and terminated in the tideway at Bowling Bay, and from its lower level opposite Paisley, it has always been contemplated to pass to the Ardrossan Canal, at that industrious and populous town, so that either by the shore ports of Ardrossan, Saltcoats, Irvine, Troon, and Ayr, or by the interior, the intercourse in that quarter may readily be rendered complete.

Having shewn that the general direction of the Union Canal has been judiciously chosen, I shall proceed to recommend an improvement in its western termination. Instead of descending by nine locks, near Falkirk, to lock No. 16. upon the Forth and Clyde Canal, which is four locks behind its summit, I would pass the Union down six only to the level of the said summit; from thence proceed through some fields belonging to Colonel Duncan, and then lock down to the Forth and Clyde Canal, in order to embrace the communication with Grangemouth. The main line should, by the Forth and Clyde Canal Company, be carried on to the eastern termination of their summit at lock No. 20. This would divide the communication between Edinburgh and Glasgow, a distance of 54 miles, into two great levels, separated (near to Falkirk) by six locks only; and as abundance of water can be procured upon the Union summit, which would then ultimately pass into the summit of the Forth and Clyde, these six locks may be placed together within a length of about 400 feet.

The

The Edinburgh passage boats would, by this means, travel 28 miles, and those from Glasgow 26, without passing a single lock; the trading boats would have to pass six only instead of 13 (as now proposed) and all without interfering with the sea vessels. With this improvement, I am convinced that the inland navigation, between Edinburgh and Glasgow, would by the Union line be rendered as perfect as it is possible.

Besides the general intercourse between the before-mentioned great cities at the extremities, this line of canal, by passing close to the towns of Falkirk, Linlithgow, and many populous villages, and being convenient for the adjacent extensive and rich districts, seems to embrace every object for promoting the prosperity of the country, by agriculture, manufactures, and commerce.

I have not yet had time to go through calculations, in order to prove Mr Baird's estimate; it appears to have been made out with great care. The ground in general is favourable for a canal; building materials are very convenient; there are no formidable obstacles, and the great in tercourse to be expected, justifies incurring any reasonable expence.

The passing through the ridge south of Calender Park, instead of making an open cut through the wood, removes the objection made by Mr Forbes; the trifling variation I have recommended has obtained the consent of Mr Baird of Manual Mill: and the before-mentioned change of the western termination removes every reasonable cause of objection on the part of Colonel Duncan. In every other part of this extensive line, Mr Baird has bestowed much pains to avoid Mansion Houses, Parks, and Lawns, and has accomplished this with an unusual degree of success. Every other line, which has or can be proposed, is much more obnoxious in this respect, and the one adopted

MUNGO PARK, whose atchievements as a traveller and an explorer of unknown countries, have thrown so much lustre on his country, was born at Fowlshiels, in the county of Selkirk, on the 10th September 1771. His father was a respectable yeoman, and held the above-mentioned farm under the Duke of Buccleugh. The family consisted of thirteen children, of whom he was the seventh. Particular attention was paid by the father to the education of his family, and, though far from being in affluent circumstances, he engaged a tutor to reside in his house. Mungo was placed, in due time, at the grammar school of Selkirk, where he shewed extraordinary application, and was always at the head of his class. He was remarked as silent and thoughtful; nor were his companions aware of that daring spirit of adventure which lay concealed under this outward coldness and reserve.

This studious turn of Park inspired his father with the design of educating him for the church, a common object of ambition among the Scottish tenantry. His son, however, having made choice of the medical profession, he readily acquiesced. At the age of fifteen, he was bound apprentice to Mr Thomas Anderson, surgeon in Selkirk, with whom he spent three years. In 1789, he removed to Edinburgh, and attended for three successive sessions, the lectures delivered at that great seminary of medical learning.

Mr Park pursued with assiduity all the studies subservient to his profes

sion; but his peculiar attachment was to the science of Botany. For this he seems to have been in a great measure indebted to his intimacy with his brother-in-law Mr James Dickson. This person, born of humble parents, went to work in the garden of an eminent nurseryman at Hammersmith, where he was distinguished by Sir Joseph Banks, who happened to reside in that neighbourhood. Sir Joseph, on his return to London, received him with kindness, encouraged his pursuits, and admitted him to the use of his extensive library. By the diligent use of these advantages, Mr Dickson has become one of the most eminent English botanists. Mr Park, therefore, having come to London to seek employment in his profession, he found in Mr Dickson a most valuable friend. He was thus introduced to Sir Joseph Banks, through whom he obtained the appointment of assistant surgeon to the Worcester East Indiaman. He made a voyage to Bencoolen in the island of Sumatra, and, continuing to cultivate his favourite pursuits, collected a number of specimens in botany and natural history. On the 4th November 1794, he read a paper before the Linnæn Society, afterwards printed in their Transactions, containing a description of eight new species of fishes from Sumatra.

What Mr Park's views now were, does not certainly appear; for the crisis had arrived, which was to give a decisive turn to the events of his future life. The Association for promoting discovery in Africa, had, in the course of a few years, made a number of important discoveries in the interior of that great continent. In the course of these, it came to be their main object to ascertain the course of the Niger, and the present state of the great central emporium of Tombuctoo. Sir Joseph Banks, who was one of the most active members of the association, turned his eyes upon Park as the most proper person for entering

upon this career of adventure. On the suggestion being made, Park eagerly offered himself for the service, and was readily accepted. On the 22d of May 1795, he set sail from Portsmouth, on board the Endeavour, an African trader, and arrived in the Gambia on the 21st of the following month. The expedition which followed, the perils and hardships thro' which he passed, and the important discoveries which crowned them, must be fami liar to all our readers, and it would serve no purpose to make a meagre abridgment of them.

After an absence from England of two years and seven months, Mr Park arrived at Falmouth on the 22d December 1797, and reached London before day-light on the morning of Christmas. Walking about the streets till it should be time to go to Mr Dickson's house, he entered the gar den of the British Museum, where, to the infinite surprize of both, he met Mr Dickson. The reader may easily conceive the emotion of both, above all of the latter, who had now long given over his friend for lost. He was received with triumph by the friends of the African association; and the enthusiasm was soon shared by the public. He remained a considerable time in London, making ar rangements for the publication of his travels. About this time government made several applications to him on the subject of a projected survey of New Holland. These were however declined, for what reason does not exactly appear.

In June 1798 he went down to reside with his mother and other rel tions at Fowlshiels, where he spent the summer and autumn in assiduous labour upon the volume which he was about to publish. In the end of the year he carried it to London, and it was published in spring 1799. It has been reported to have been almost entirely written by Mr Bryan Edwards, which, from different cir

cumstances,

cumstances, we incline to believe an exaggeration, though he was no doubt assisted by that gentleman. It is needless to state how universally this volume was read, and what interest it excited.

After the publication of his travels, Mr Park returned to Scotland, and formed a matrimonial connection with Miss Anderson, daughter of the gentleman with whom he had served his apprenticeship. The marriage took place on the 2d of August 1799. For more than two years after, he lived with his mother and brothers in the farm of Fowlshiels. The remuneration which he had received from the African association, joined to the profits of his travels, had placed him for the time in easy circumstances, and he seems to have hesitated as to the line of life which he was now to follow. He seems constantly to have entertained the hope of being sent out on another expedition. Time continuing to elapse, however, without any proposition occurring, he resolved, not very heartily, to embrace an opening which presented itself, of setting up as a surgeon in the town of Peebles. He accordingly went to reside there in the month of October 1801. He did not however get into very extensive practice, and he seems to have felt the situation extremely irksome to him. He expressed this feeling strongly to a friend, who remonstrated with him against setting out on his second journey, by saying, "that a few inglorious winters of practice at Peebles was risk as great, and would tend as effectually to shorten life as the journey which he was about to undertake." His only enjoyments during this period seem to have arisen from the society of his friends, and from that of some distinguished individuals who happened to reside in the neighbourhood of Peebles. Among them is particularly mentioned Dr Adam Ferguson, so well known by

a

his works on History and Philosophy, then residing at Hallyards in Tweedsdale, and who still survives at the age of ninety-one, though he has removed his residence to St Andrews. Mr Park was also intimate with Colonel John Murray of Kringaltie, a respectable old officer, retired from the service. He is also said to have been highly gratified with some personal attentions which he received about this time from Mr Dugald Stewart.

With these feelings, and with a character so active and adventurous, it will not appear surprising that Park should be ready to enter anew upon the career which he had already filled so brilliantly. On the signing of the preliminaries of peace in 1801, he received a letter from Sir Joseph Banks, intimating, that the plan of penetrating into the interior of Africa would certainly be revived; that there were hopes of its receiving the support of government; in which case the association would not hesitate to recommend him as the proper person for conducting it. He heard nothing farther till the autumn of 1803, when he was asked to repair to London, and received a proposition from Lord Hobart to the above effect. Although he asked a short delay, and consulted some of his friends, he never seems, in his own mind, to have hesitated a moment as to the accep tance of the offer. Owing to changes in the ministry, however, and the usual delays of office, the affair was spun out till the beginning of 1805, when, on the 30th of January, he set sail from Portsmouth. On the 8th March, he arrived at St Jago, one of the Cape de Verd islands, where he laid in a stock of provisions, and the asses necessary for his expedition. On the 28th, he arrived at Goree. He had received authority to enlist a detachment of the garrison, and take the command of them. The promise of double pay and discharge soon