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ordered him to instant execution。 Had Johnnie Armstrong； like the
Scotts and Kers and Johnstones of like calling； been imprisoned
beforehand； he might possibly have lived to found a British
peerage； but as it was； the genius of the Armstrong dynasty was for
a time extinguished； only； however； to reappear； after the lapse
of a few centuries； in the person of the eminent engineer of
Newcastle…upon…Tyne； the inventor of the Armstrong gun。
The two centuries and a half which have elapsed since then have
indeed seen extraordinary changes。*＇2＇ The energy which the old
borderers threw into their feuds has not become extinct； but
survives under more benignant aspects； exhibiting itself in efforts
to enlighten； fertilize； and enrich the country which their
wasteful ardour before did so much to disturb and impoverish。
The heads of the Buccleugh and Elliot family now sit in the British
House of Lords。 The descendant of Scott of Harden has achieved a
world…wide reputation as a poet and novelist； and the late Sir
James Graham； the representative of the Graemes of Netherby； on the
English side of the border； was one of the most venerable and
respected of British statesmen。 The border men； who used to make
such furious raids and forays； have now come to regard each other；
across the imaginary line which divides them； as friends and
neighbours； and they meet as competitors for victory only at
agricultural meetings； where they strive to win prizes for the
biggest turnips or the most effective reaping…machines； while the
men who followed their Johnstone or Armstrong chiefs as prickers or
hobilers to the fray have； like Telford； crossed the border with
powers of road…making and bridge…building which have proved a
source of increased civilization and well…being to the population
of the entire United Kingdom。
The hamlet of Westerkirk； with its parish church and school；
lies in a narrow part of the valley； a few miles above Langholm。
Westerkirk parish is long and narrow； its boundaries being the
hill…tops on either side of the dale。 It is about seven miles long
and two broad； with a population of about 600 persons of all ages。
Yet this number is quite as much as the district is able to
support； as is proved by its remaining as nearly as possible
stationary from one generation to another。*＇3＇ But what becomes of
the natural increase of families？ 〃They swarm off！〃 was the
explanation given to us by a native of the valley。 〃If they
remained at home；〃 said he； 〃we should all be sunk in poverty；
scrambling with each other amongst these hills for a bare living。
But our peasantry have a spirit above that： they will not consent
to sink； they look up； and our parish schools give them a power of
making their way in the world； each man for himself。 So they swarm
offsome to America； some to Australia； some to India； and some；
like Telford； work their way across the border and up to London。〃
One would scarcely have expected to find the birthplace of the
builder of the Menai Bridge and other great national works in so
obscure a corner of the kingdom。 Possibly it may already have
struck the reader with surprise； that not only were all the early
engineers self…taught in their profession； but they were brought up
mostly in remote country places； far from the active life of great
towns and cities。 But genius is of no locality； and springs alike
from the farmhouse； the peasant's hut； or the herd's shieling。
Strange； indeed； it is that the men who have built our bridges；
docks； lighthouses； canals； and railways； should nearly all have
been country…bred boys： Edwards and Brindley； the sons of small
farmers； Smeaton； brought up in his father's country house at
Austhorpe； Rennie； the son of a farmer and freeholder； and
Stephenson； reared in a colliery village； an engine…tenter's son。
But Telford； even more than any of these； was a purely country…bred
boy； and was born and brought up in a valley so secluded that it
could not even boast of a cluster of houses of the dimensions of a
village。
Telford's father was a herd on the sheep…farm of Glendinning。
The farm consists of green hills； lying along the valley of the Meggat；
a little burn； which descends from the moorlands on the east； and
falls into the Esk near the hamlet of Westerkirk。 John Telford's
cottage was little better than a shieling； consisting of four mud
walls； spanned by a thatched roof。 It stood upon a knoll near the
lower end of a gully worn in the hillside by the torrents of many
winters。
The ground stretches away from it in a long sweeping slope up to
the sky； and is green to the top； except where the bare grey rocks
in some places crop out to the day。 From the knoll may be seen
miles on miles of hills up and down the valley； winding in and out；
sometimes branching off into smaller glens； each with its gurgling
rivulet of peaty…brown water flowing down from the mosses above。
Only a narrow strip of arable land is here and there visible along
the bottom of the dale； all above being sheep…pasture； moors； and
rocks。 At Glendinning you seem to have got almost to the world's end。
There the road ceases； and above it stretch trackless moors；
the solitude of which is broken only by the whimpling sound of the
burns on their way to the valley below； the hum of bees gathering
honey among the heather； the whirr of a blackcock on the wing； the
plaintive cry of the ewes at lambing…time； or the sharp bark of the
shepherd's dog gathering the flock together for the fauld。
＇Image＇ Telford's Birthplace
In this cottage on the knoll Thomas Telford was born on the 9th of
August； 1757； and before the year was out he was already an orphan。
The shepherd； his father； died in the month of November； and was
buried in Westerkirk churchyard； leaving behind him his widow and
her only child altogether unprovided for。 We may here mention that
one of the first things which that child did； when he had grown up
to manhood and could 〃cut a headstone；〃 was to erect one with the
following inscription； hewn and lettered by himself； over his
father's grave： 〃IN MEMORY OF
JOHN TELFORD；
WHO AFTER LIVING 33 YEARS
AN UNBLAMEABLE SHEPHERD；
DIED AT GLENDINNING；
NOVEMBER； 1757；〃
a simple but poetical epitaph； which Wordsworth himself might have
written。
The widow had a long and hard struggle with the world before her；
but she encountered it bravely。 She had her boy to work for； and；
destitute though she was； she had him to educate。 She was helped；
as the poor so often are； by those of her own condition； and there
is no sense of degradation in receiving such help。 One of the
risks of benevolence is its tendency to lower the recipient to the
condition of an alms…taker。 Doles from poor's…boxes have this
enfeebling effect； but a poor neighbour giving a destitute widow a
help in her time of need is felt to be a friendly act； and is alike
elevating to the character of both。 Though misery such as is
witnessed in large towns was quite unknown in the valley； there was
poverty； but it was honest as well as hopeful； and none felt
ashamed of it。 The farmers of the dale were very primitive*＇4＇
in their manners and habits； and being a warm…hearted； though by no
means a demonstrative race； they were kind to the widow and her
fatherless boy。 They took him by turns to live with them at their
houses； and gave his mother occasional employment。 In summer she
milked the ewes and made hay； and in harvest she went a…shearing；
contriving not only to live； but to be cheerful。
The house to which the widow and her son removed at the Whitsuntide
following the death of her husband was at a place called The Crooks；
about midway between Glendinning and Westerkirk。 It was a thatched
cot…house； with two ends； in one of