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a new channel for the river was excavated; which further enlarged

the floating space and wharf accommodation; wet and dry docks were

added; until at length the quay berthage amounted to not less than

6290 feet; or nearly a mile and a quarter in length。  By these

combined improvements an additional extent of quay room was

obtained of about 4000 feet; an excellent tidal harbour was formed;

in which; at spring tides; the depth of water is about 15 feet;

while on the bar it was increased to about 19 feet。  The prosperity

of Aberdeen had meanwhile been advancing apace。  The city had been

greatly beautified and enlarged: shipbuilding had made rapid

progress; Aberdeen clippers became famous; and Aberdeen merchants

carried on a trade with all parts of the world; manufactures of

wool; cotton; flax; and iron were carried on with great success;

its population rapidly increased; and; as a maritime city; Aberdeen

took rank as the third in Scotland; the tonnage entering the port

having increased from 50;000 tons in 1800 to about 300;000 in

1860。



Improvements of an equally important character were carried out by

Mr。 Telford in the port of Dundee; also situated on the east coast

of Scotland; at the entrance to the Frith of Tay。  There are those

still living at the place who remember its former haven; consisting

of a crooked wall; affording shelter to only a few fishing…boats or

smuggling vesselsits trade being then altogether paltry; scarcely

deserving the name; and its population not one fifth of what it now

is。  Helped by its commodious and capacious harbour; it has become

one of the most populous and thriving towns on the east coast。



'Image' Plan of Dundee Harbour。



The trade of the place took a great start forward at the close of

the war; and Mr。 Telford was called upon to supply the plans of a

new harbour。  His first design; which he submitted in 1814; was of

a comparatively limited character; but it was greatly enlarged

during the progress of the works。  Floating docks were added; as

well as graving docks for large vessels。  The necessary powers were

obtained in 1815; the works proceeded vigorously under the Harbour

Commissioners; who superseded the old obstructive corporation; and

in 1825 the splendid new floating dock750 feet long by 450 broad;

having an entrance…lock 170 feet long and 40 feet widewas opened

to the shipping of all countries。



'Image' Dundee Harbour。



Footnotes for Chapter IX。



*'1' Hugh Millar; in his 'Cruise of the Betsy;' attributes the

invention of columnar pier…work to Mr。 Bremner; whom he terms 〃the

Brindley of Scotland。〃  He has acquired great fame for his skill in

raising sunken ships; having warped the Great Britain steamer off

the shores of Dundrum Bay。  But we believe Mr。 Telford had adopted

the practice of columnar pier…work before Mr。 Bremner; in forming

the little harbour of Folkestone in 1808; where the work is still

to be seen quite perfect。  The most solid mode of laying stone on

land is in flat courses; but in open pier work the reverse process

is adopted。  The blocks are laid on end in columns; like upright

beams jammed together。  Thus laid; the wave which dashes against

them is broken; and spends itself on the interstices; where as;

if it struck the broad solid blocks; the tendency would be to lift

them from their beds and set the work afloat; and in a furious

storm such blocks would be driven about almost like pebbles。

The rebound from flat surfaces is also very heavy; and produces

violent commotion; where as these broken; upright; columnar…looking

piers seem to absorb the fury of the sea; and render its wildest

waves comparatively innocuous。



*'2' 'Memorials from Peterhead and Banff; concerning Damage

occasioned by a Storm。' Ordered by the House of Commons to be

printed; 5th July; 1820。 '242。'



*'3' 'A Description of Bothe Touns of Aberdeene。' By James Gordon;

Parson of Rothiemay。  Reprinted in Gavin Turreff's 'Antiquarian

Gleanings from Aberdeenshire Records。' Aberdeen; 1889。



*'4' Robertson's 'Book of Bon…Accord。'



*'5' Ibid。; quoted in Turreff's 'Antiquarian Gleanings;' p。 222。



*'6' One of them; however; did returnPeter Williamson; a native

of the town; sold for a slave in Pennsylvania; 〃a rough; ragged;

humle…headed; long; stowie; clever boy;〃 who; reaching York;

published an account of the infamous traffic; in a pamphlet which

excited extraordinary interest at the time; and met with a rapid

and extensive circulation。  But his exposure of kidnapping gave

very great offence to the magistrates; who dragged him before their

tribunal as having 〃published a scurrilous and infamous libel on

the corporation;〃 and he was sentenced to be imprisoned until he

should sign a denial of the truth of his statements。  He brought an

action against the corporation for their proceedings; and obtained

a verdict and damages; and he further proceeded against Baillie

Fordyce (one of his kidnappers; and others; from whom he obtained

200L。 damages; with costs。  The system was thus effectually put a

stop to。



*'8' 'A Description of Bothe Touns of Aberdeene。' By James Gordon;

Parson of Rothiemay。  Quoted by Turreff; p。 109。



*'8' Communication with London was as yet by no means frequent;

and far from expeditious; as the following advertisement of 1778

will show:〃For London: To sail positively on Saturday next; the

7th November; wind and weather permitting; the Aberdeen smack。

Will lie a short time at London; and; if no convoy is appointed;

will sail under care of a fleet of colliers the best convoy of any。

For particulars apply;〃 &c。; &c。



*'9' 〃The bottom under the foundations;〃 says Mr。 Gibb; in his

description of the work; 〃is nothing better than loose sand and

gravel; constantly thrown up by the sea on that stormy coast;

so that it was necessary to consolidate the work under low water by

dropping large stones from lighters; and filling the interstices

with smaller ones; until it was brought within about a foot of the

level of low water; when the ashlar work was commenced; but in

place of laying the stones horizontally in their beds; each course

was laid at an angle of 45 degrees; to within about 18 inches of

the top; when a level coping was added。  This mode of building

enabled the work to be carried on expeditiously; and rendered it

while in progress less liable to temporary damage; likewise

affording three points of bearing; for while the ashlar walling was

carrying up on both sides; the middle or body of the pier was

carried up at the same time by a careful backing throughout of

large rubble…stone; to within 18 inches of the top; when the whole

was covered with granite coping and paving 18 inches deep; with a

cut granite parapet wall on the north side of the whole length of

the pier; thus protected for the convenience of those who might

have occasion to frequent it。〃Mr。 Gibb's 'Narrative of Aberdeen

Harbour Works。'





CHAPTER X。



CALEDONIAN AND OTHER CANALS。



The formation of a navigable highway through the chain of locks

lying in the Great Glen of the Highlands; and extending diagonally

across Scotland from the Atlantic to the North Sea; had long been

regarded as a work of national importance。  As early as 1773;

James Watt; then following the business of a land…surveyor at Glasgow;

made a survey of the country at the instance of the Commissioners

of Forfeited Estates。  He pronounced the canal practicable; and

pointed out how it could best be constructed。  There was certainly

no want of water; for Watt was repeatedly drenched with rain while

he was making his survey; and he had difficulty in preserving even

his journal book。  〃On my way home;〃 he says; 〃I passed through the

wildest country I ever saw; and over the worst conducted roads。〃



Twenty years later; in 1793; Mr。 Rennie was consulted as to the

canal; and he also prepared a scheme: but nothing was done。 The

project was; however;

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