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employed。 At first； they could scarcely work at all： they were
totally unacquainted with labour； they could not use the tools。
They have since become excellent labourers； and of the above number
we consider about one…fourth left us annually； taught to work。
These undertakings may； indeed； be regarded in the light of a
working academy； from which eight hundred men have annually gone
forth improved workmen。 They have either returned to their native
districts with the advantage of having used the most perfect sort
of tools and utensils （which alone cannot be estimated at less than
ten per cent。 on any sort of labour）； or they have been usefully
distributed through the other parts of the country。 Since these
roads were made accessible； wheelwrights and cartwrights have been
established； the plough has been introduced； and improved tools and
utensils are generally used。 The plough was not previously
employed； in the interior and mountainous parts they used crooked
sticks； with iron on them； drawn or pushed along。 The moral habits
of the great masses of the working classes are changed； they see
that they may depend on their own exertions for support： this goes
on silently； and is scarcely perceived until apparent by the
results。 I consider these improvements among the greatest
blessings ever conferred on any country。 About two hundred thousand
pounds has been granted in fifteen years。 It has been the means of
advancing the country at least a century。〃
The progress made in the Lowland districts of Scotland since the
same period has been no less remarkable。 If the state of the
country； as we have above described it from authentic documents；
be compared with what it is now； it will be found that there are few
countries which have accomplished so much within so short a period。
It is usual to cite the United States as furnishing the most
extraordinary instance of social progress in modem times。 But
America has had the advantage of importing its civilization for the
most part ready made； whereas that of Scotland has been entirely
her own creation。 By nature America is rich； and of boundless
extent； whereas Scotland is by nature poor； the greater part of her
limited area consisting of sterile heath and mountain。 Little more
than a century ago Scotland was considerably in the rear of Ireland。
It was a country almost without agriculture； without mines； without
fisheries； without shipping； without money； without roads。
The people were ill…fed； half barbarous； and habitually indolent。
The colliers and salters were veritable slaves； and were subject to
be sold together with the estates to which they belonged。
What do we find now？ Praedial slavery completely abolished；
heritable jurisdictions at an end； the face of the country entirely
changed； its agriculture acknowledged to be the first in the world；
its mines and fisheries productive in the highest degree； its
banking a model of efficiency and public usefulness； its roads
equal to the best roads in England or in Europe。 The people are
active and energetic； alike in education； in trade； in manufactures；
in construction； in invention。 Watt's invention of the steam
engine； and Symington's invention of the steam…boat； proved a
source of wealth and power； not only to their own country； but to
the world at large； while Telford； by his roads； bound England and
Scotland； before separated； firmly into one； and rendered the union
a source of wealth and strength to both。
At the same time； active and powerful minds were occupied in
extending the domain of knowledge；Adam Smith in Political
Economy； Reid and Dugald Stewart in Moral Philosophy； and Black and
Robison in Physical Science。 And thus Scotland； instead of being
one of the idlest and most backward countries in Europe； has；
within the compass of little more than a lifetime； issued in one of
the most active； contented； and prosperous；exercising an amount
of influence upon the literature； science； political economy； and
industry of modern times； out of all proportion to the natural
resources of its soil or the amount of its population。
If we look for the causes of this extraordinary social progress；
we shall probably find the principal to consist in the fact that
Scotland； though originally poor as a country； was rich in Parish
schools； founded under the provisions of an Act passed by the
Scottish Parliament in the year 1696。 It was there ordained
〃that there be a school settled and established； and a schoolmaster
appointed； in every parish not already provided； by advice of the
heritors and minister of the parish。〃 Common day…schools were
accordingly provided and maintained throughout the country for the
education of children of all ranks and conditions。 The consequence
was； that in the course of a few generations； these schools；
working steadily upon the minds of the young； all of whom passed
under the hands of the teachers； educated the population into a
state of intelligence and aptitude greatly in advance of their
material well…being； and it is in this circumstance； we apprehend；
that the explanation is to be found of the rapid start forward
which the whole country took； dating more particularly from the
year 1745。 Agriculture was naturally the first branch of industry
to exhibit signs of decided improvement； to be speedily followed by
like advances in trade； commerce； and manufactures。 Indeed； from
that time the country never looked back； but her progress went on
at a constantly accelerated rate； issuing in results as marvellous
as they have probably been unprecedented。
Footnotes for Chapter VIII。
*＇1＇ Romilly's Autobiography；' ii。 22。
*＇2＇ Statistical Account of Scotland；' iii。 185。
*＇3＇ The cas…chrom was a rude combination of a lever for the
removal of rocks； a spade to cut the earth； and a foot…plough to
turn it。 We annex an illustration of this curious and now obsolete
instrument。 It weighed about eighteen pounds。 In working it； the〃
upper part of the handle； to which the left hand was applied；
reached the workman's shoulder； and being slightly elevated； the
point； shod with iron； was pushed into the ground horizontally； the
soil being turned over by inclining the handle to the furrow side；
at the same time making the heel act as a fulcrum to raise the
point of the instrument。 In turning up unbroken ground； it was
first employed with the heel uppermost； with pushing strokes to cut
the breadth of the sward to be turned over； after which； it was
used horizontally as above described。 We are indebted to a
Parliamentary Blue Book for the following representation of this
interesting relic of ancient agriculture。 It is given in the
appendix to the 'Ninth Report of the Commissioners for Highland
Roads and Bridges；' ordered by the House of Commons to be printed；
19th April； 1821。
*＇4＇ Anderson's 'Guide to the Highlands and Islands of Scotland；'
3rd ed。 p。48。
*＇5＇ He was accompanied on this tour by Colonel Dirom； with whom he
returned to his house at Mount Annan； in Dumfries。 Telford says of
him： 〃The Colonel seems to have roused the county of Dumfries from
the lethargy in which it has slumbered for centuries。 The map of
the county； the mineralogical survey； the new roads； the opening of
lime works； the competition of ploughing； the improving harbours；
the building of bridges； are works which bespeak the exertions of
no common man。〃Letter to Mr。 Andrew。 Little； dated Shrewsbury；
30th November； 1801。
*＇6＇ Ordered to be printed 5th of April； 1803。
*＇7＇ 'Memorials of his Time；〃 by Henry Cockburn； pp。 341…3。
*＇8＇ 'Memoirs of the Life and Writings of Sir John Sinclair； Barb；'
vol。 i。； p。 339。
*＇9＇ Extract of a letter from a gentleman residing in Sunderland；
quoted in 'Life of Telford；' p。 465。
*＇10＇ Letter to Mr。 Andrew Little； Langholm； dated Salop； 18th
February； 1803。
*＇11＇ The names of Ce