The Sun.
London, England, 1830-04-08 00:00:00

Lordships not to permit the proposed alteration to take
place

Signed by 3 d Inbabitanti.
Received 18th February, 1529.

APPENDIX, NO. 8.
PETITION OF THE MAGISTRATES AND TOWN
COUNCIL OF THE ROYAL BURGH OF DUN-
BAR.
Unto his Grace the Duke of Blanchester, Postmaster-

General, &c. &c.
The Petition of the Magistrates and Town Council of the

Royal Burgh of Dunbar,—
Humbly sheweth,—That the petitioners observe with re-
gret that the inhabitants of the city of Edinburgh are still
unsatisfied with the late acceleration of the London mail.
That change has been attended with considerable disadvan-
tage to the trade of this burgh, for between the arrival of
the London and the Edinburgh mails there is just the space
of two hours, and the sorting of letters for delivery and
for snaking up the bag occupies at least three quarters of
an hour, so that the inhabitants have not snore than an
hour and a quarter to answer letters to Edinburgh in course.
This space, it must be admitted, is too short ; but as it
still left some time, the petitioners had no wish to trouble
your Grace ; if, however, the arrival should be made
sooner, the coaches would most likely meet here, and there
would be no course until next day. Thus it would happen
that between Dunbar and Edinburgh, a distance of 27
miles, an answer to a letter written in Edinburgh on
Monday afternoon could not be received before Wednesday
afternoon. It is true that the coaches must meet some-
where,
but were they to meet about the stages of Hound-
wood or Renton, the evil would be felt by none, while by
meeting about Dunbar, it must of necessity put an end to
all intercourse through the post-office on matters of de-
spatch. For example, during the herring fishing, the
Leith curers depend on advises from Dunbar for sending
their vessels to the Frith fishing ; but if they could not
rec,ive an answer to a Monday's letter before Wednesday,
the fishing might be over before their vessel could arrive.
Again, as by the late improvements in the Customs, the
head office for this port is now at Leith, were the course
of post waited for in correspondence, the greatest delays
would take place in the despatch of the vessels.
The petitioners have no desire to interfere with the
wishes of their neighbours; but as the interests of none
should be overlooked, they trust that if your Grace shall
be induced to hasten the arrival to Edinburgh, you will
devise some means by which the arrival here from Edin-
burgh may be made earlier, that this burgh may still have
the benefit of answering on the same day. Indeed, they
are not aware of the difficulties which at present prevent
the mail leaving Edinburgh an hour sooner, which would
make up fur the loss this burgh has sustained by the late
change.
The petitioners observe that the inhabitants of Edin-
burgh still wish the great London snail road changed by
Wooler. From the opinion already given by your Grace,
the petitioners are in no great feats of this change. The
liability of the Wooler road to be blocked up with snow,
must always render conveyances by it in the winter season
very uncertain ; and it is generally understood that it
would not maintain a mail. It is true that there is a
stage-coach on that road ; and it has been maintained, if
it can support a coach at all, it may support a mail. But
it ought to be known that the stage-coach miles with an-
other coach on this road, and the Wooler one has always
been considered as a drawback, and would not pay by itself.
The petitioners therefore pray that the great London
road may not be changed by Wooler ; and that if it should
still be thought advisable to expedite the arrival of the
London mail to Edinburgh, that the change will be such
as to give time to the inhabitants of this burgh for answer-
ing letters to Edinburgh by the same day's snail, or at
least allow their letters to be forwarded by some one of the
stage coaches which daily pass through the town.
And your petitioners will ever pray, &c.
Signed, in the name of the Magistrates and Council, by
Bth July, 1529.

ArPENDIX, NO. 9.
MR. TELFORD'S REPORT ON THE PROPOSED
NEW MAIL ROAD FROM CARLISLE TO EDIN-

BURGH.
SIR,—On receiving your instructions, dated 27th INlay,
828, I immediately took measures to carry, this extensive

survey into effect.
The whole of the district of the South of Scotland.
consisting of successive ranges of mountains, over which
mists and heavy rains very generally take place, render it
tedious and difficult to carry on surveying operations ; the
broken surface of the country also rendered it absolutely
necessary that sundry different directions should be sur-
veyed in order to show the comparative merits of the
several practicable lines; these circumstances, and a serious
interruption in the health of the surveyer, and also my
own, will account for the length of time occupied in
masking the field surveys, laying down the maps and sec-
tions, and making out the estimates and report.
The general instructions were for a new line of road
from Carlisle, by Langholrn, to Edinburgh, passing through
the county of Peebles, and referring to the two following
memorials.
THE MEMORIAL FROM TIIE COUNTY OF PEEBLES,
Dated 24th of October, 1825, states the probable saving
of distance by the proposed new line to be from fourteen to
fifteen miles ; that a large tract of country would be opened
to coal and lime ; that it would be of importance to the
manufacturing districts in the north-west of England, and
the north-east of Scotland ; and that the north mail, being
now detained one hour at Edinburgh for the arrival of that
from Carlisle, would be accommodated by this new road.
THE ABERDEEN MEMORIAL
Repeats the allegations set forth in the Peebles memorial,
and adds, that the proposed new road would be of import-
ance to the city of Aberdeen and the east-coast of Scotland.
From the city of Carlisle along the present road, for a
distance of upwards of seven miles, at the letter A in the
map and section, excepting some small cuttings and em-
bankings at Grimour-hill, Blackford-bridge, and near the
seventh milestone, it is only necessary to put the present
road into a proper shape, lay on some additional road me-
tal, make eleven cross drains, build some retaining wall at
Gritnour-hill, and fix railing along the proposed embank-
ment at Blackford. The expense of this is estimated at
1,742/. Os. 2d.
From A to B at Longtown, being a distance of about
one mile, it is proposed to avoid the circuity at Arthuret
Church, by making an entirely new road in a straight di-
rection, which would shorten the distance about one-fourth

of a mile.
Thu whole way from Carlisle to Longtown, excepting a
short ascent from the bridge over the river Eden, to Stan-
wise-bank, which is one in thirteen and a half and sixteen
and a half, the road is all sufficiently level. The expense
of the new line is 1,2151. 15s. 6d.
After passing Longtown, and crossing the river Esk, it
is proposed to avoid a considerable circuity by a new and
nearly straight line, of nearly one one-tenth of a mile,
whereby about one-fourth of a mile in distance would be
saved. This is estimated at 1,071/. 12a.
From D to E, at the Scotch Dyke, a distance of about
one and three-quarter miles, it is only proposed to improve
the present road by a little cutting and embanking at
Clinger Burn, bringing the road into a proper shape, pit-
ting on a coat of metal 16 feet in width, making four
cross drains with some fencing. Expence about 1641.
Is. Id.
From E at the Scotch Dyke, to H at the Hollows, at
the Guilknockie Border Tower, the present road is encum-
bered with some ineonvenizatly steep inclinations, some of
them as much as one in twelve or thirteen ; it afterwards
crosses the river Esk, by Canobie Bridge, passes along the
steep slippery banks on the eastern side of the river, and
re-crosses at the before-mentioned Hollows Tower.
The first part of this division might be improved by a
new line carried along the flat ground, by the side of the
river, but this would cut the valuable meadow land imme-
diately in front of Woodhot'se Lee, and would be objected
to by the proprietor, Mr. Scott; and even if this was ac-
ceded to, the road would cross the river twice, and still be
subject to accident 11'0111 the slippery banks.
The road which formerly passed up the western hank of
the river by Braehead might he restored, but in this case
it would all be required to be re-made, and would, as may
be seen by the section, pass over a very considerable hill.
Under these circumstances I was induced to survey a
new line between the Scotch Dyke and the Hollows,
which, as may be seen by the map, is nearly straight, and
saves a mile in distance. I therefore recommend that this
line be adopted ; it passes over some pretty high ground,
but at sufficiently easy inclinations ; the ground is not
valuable. The length to be made will be about three
miles and a quarter, and the expense wou'd amount to
about 3,9701. 4s. 6d.
From II to I it is proposed to keep upon the present
road, improving it similar to what has been already de-
scribed, at an expense of about 2061.
Between I and K it is necessary to make two short
variations, in order to correct two awkward bends ; these,
including a new bridge over the Hag Burn, are estimated
at -161!. 19s. 10d.
From K, past Admiral Sir Pultenev Malcolm's residence
at Irvine, to L, for a distance of about a mile and a half,
the present road may be improved in the before-mentioned
manner, at an expense of 443/. l2s. ltd.
Front L to M, in order to ease the hill opposite the Cap-

tak's Island, it is necessary to make a short variation,
which will cost 186/. Os. 10d.
From AL to and through the town of Langholm to N
on Mick!ellen] Holm; at Gollowside Cottage, a distance of
nearly two miles, it is proposed to keep upon and improve
the present road, at an expense of about 457/. 7s. 9d.
From N, passing up the vale of the Esk, to opposite the
bridge at Wester Kirk, a distance of nearly 51 miles,
although from the shape of the ground the present line
must not be far deviated from, yet, as may be seen by the
map awl section, about one-half the distance must be wholly
new made, and the other half, where the present road is
kept, must be very materially improved, the whole ex-
pence is estimated at 3,5171. 12s. 6d.
From 0, opposite the bridge of Wester Kirk, to P, at
the boundaries of the counties of Dumfries and Selkirk,
being a distance of fourteen miles and a half, there is now
a country road, which continues up the valley of the river
to the summit of the country, occasionally crossing and re-
crossing the river; and although the country constantly
continues to ascend until at the before-mentioned summit
1,020 feet above the cross of Carlisle, yet excepting the
ascent of the Shaw Rigg, opposite the junction of the
Black and White Esks (and which may lie reduced to
above one in twenty on an average), all other portions of
the road may be made with very easy inclinations, so as
to be sufficiently commodious. Of the total distance,
above eight miles will require to be new made, and the
remaining six miles and a half may be improved in the
manner already described. The expense of performing all
this in a proper manner is estimated at 10,613/. 15s. 2d
From P, at tire summit of this part of the country, and
which divides the counties of Dumfries and Selkirk, the
present line is followed down the Tima Water, to near
where it falls into the Ettrick ; here a new line crosses
the Time, and passes down the eastern side of the Ettrick,
and crosses it at the Hope House, where the present road
is joined, and kept to Q, at Tushealaw Bridge, being a
distance of about eight miles ; one half of this will be new
road making, and the other half improved in the manner
formerly described ; the estimated expense is 5,7301. 11. s.
The inclinations in these eight miles are remarkably
easy, being a gradual and regular descent.
From Q, at Tushealaw Bridge, which is 695 feet above
the level of the cross of Carlisle, the road leaves the Et-
trick, and turns up Cross Lee Burn, ascending about two
miles to Berry Know, which is 1,166 feet above the afore-
said level, at rates varying from one in IS, 20, and 25 to
30. It thence turns at a right angle, and descends for
nearly three miles and two-thirds to a new bridge over the
Yarrow, at still easier rates, and equally gradual, to 672
feet above the afore-mentioned level. From the Yarrow
the road ascends for about three miles, at rates varying
at one in 19 to one in 26, to a summit at Paddock
Slack, which is 1,084 feet above Carlisle. It thence
descends nearly three miles and a half in a very regular
manner, at rates of one in 20, 22, 2S, and 30, to the
letter R, at the boundary of the county of Peebles : of
this distance about three miles and a half of the present
road is proposed to be improved, and seven miles and a
half of road will require to be made entirely new. The
estimated expence is 10,729/. 13s. sd.
From R to S, at the town of Inverleithen, which, ex-
clusive of the bridge over the river Tweed, now building,
and its immediate approaches, is a distance of about two
miles, the expence of which is estimated at 2,135/. ; In-
verleithen is about 410 feet above Carlisle.
From S at Inverleithen, to T, at the boundaries of the
counties of Peebles and Edinburgh, a distance of about
seven miles, a new road has been Lady made ; the ascent,
though long continued, is at a very gentle rate, the sum-
mit is 1,134 feet above Carlisle ; the expellee of render-
ing this road as perfect as the portions already described,
is estimated at 1,613!. 15s. 3d.
From T, at the boundaries of the counties of Peebles
and Edinburgh, to the south suburb of the city, with the
exception of a few very short pieces, making together
about two miles and a half, a totally new line has been se-
lected, which instead of running down the Ilerriot Water,
and passing in a circuitous manner by Dalkeith, is carried
nearly on a level until it reaches the ridge of the Moorfoot
Hills, and there has only to ascend 170 feet, to a sort of
pass known by the name of Carcant Nick, at an inclina-
tion of one in 22. Front this place, which is 1,269 feet
above Carlisle, the line descends to the plain below, at the
rates of one in 23, 18, 22, and 30, and thence in a pretty
direct line by the village of Temple, and after crossing the
water of that name, reaches a road from Dalkeith to
Peebles ; this is a distance of fully nine miles and a quar-
ter, and the estimated cost, including several expensive
bridges, is about 23,8501. 17s. 11d.
From the before-mentioned Peebles road, the line passes
in a direct line across the country, by the village of Las-
wade to the northern boundary of that parish, at Broken
Bridge Burn.
Although in this distance of about six miles and a half,
there are do intervenieg hills of any 'Magnitude, yet the
country is intersected by narrow vallies of rather unusual
depth, as at South Esk, and the still more formidable bat
beautiful dingle of the North Eak, at Laswade ;
these will require large and expensive bridges, and there
are also sundry cuttings and embankments, with several
bridges of inferior dimensions ; this renders the division
very expensive ; the estimate amounts to 29,965/. Is. 10d.
From the north bank of Broken Bridge Burn to the
Mayfield toll-gate, adjoining the south suburb of the city,
a distance of about two miles and a quarter, there are sundry
small cuttings and embankments, and only one of any mag-
nitude, the inclinations are very uniform and easy ; the
estimated expellee of rendering this division perfect amounts
to 4,4551. 9s. 6d.
The whole line between Carlisle and Edinburgh, which
has been here described, is proposed to be made in the
same perfect and substantial manner as the Glasgow and
Carlisle road.
From the cross at Carlisle to the general post-office
Edinburgh, by this line of read, the distance is S 9 miles
731 yards, and the estimated expense is 116,431/. Is. 9d.
The distance between the same places by milestones upon
the present mail road, is 98 miles 278 yards.
As passing along portions of the Ettrick and Esk vallies
causes a Considerable deviation to the westward of a straight
line between Carlisle and Edinburgh, it occurred that a
considerable saving of distance might be effected by
avoiding the angle made by the direction of these vallies.
In order to accomplish this, I caused a survey to be
made from the bridge of Westerkirk on the Esk, up the
valley of the Maggot Water, by Glendinning, and after
passing the summit four miles north of that place, the line
was carried rather by a circuitous course, but with suffi-
ciently easy inclinations, to the Tushealaw Bridge, upon
the Ettrick Water, where the line formerly described
would be joined. By adopting this route, about two miles
in distance might be saved. .The whole length of twenty-
one miles must (with the exception of about two miles and
a half at its northern extremity) be an entirely new road.
But this plan would leave the uprise parts of the Ettrick
and Esk vallies, which have a considerable population,
quite unaccommodated, and tie new road would pass
through a very thinly peopled district. The estimated
expense is 27,179/. is.
Instead of crossing the Moorfoot Hills in Edinburgh.
shire, a very easy road may be made by passing down the
Herriot Water to the Selkirk road, at tire fifteenth mile-
stone, and thence passing by Dalkeith to Edinburgh, but
this route is more circuitous than either of the others, by
upwards of three miles.
In order to connect with the lime works at Middleton
n the- shortest way, a line was surveyed from the upper
part of Herriot Water, crossing the Moorfoot Hills at the
Foul Slough, and joining the present Selkirk road at the
twelfth milestone. This line is also laid down en the
general map, and is accompanied by a separate section
(No. 4).
Upon the whole, although front a line drawn on the
ground map of Scotland, it has appeared that much dis-
tance would be saved by carrying a line of road from Car-
lisle, by Langholm, through Ettrick Forest, and by In-
verleithen in the county of Peebles, and directly by Las-
wade to Edinburgh, yet after every effort that could be
made to lessen the distance, from the mountainous con-
formation of the country, and the frequent circuities
which must unavoidably be made to obtain a mail road,
with proper declivities, and keep in the most populous
vallies, scarcely four miles in distance has been saved ; and
even if the Glendinning line was adopted, the saving in
distance would not much exceed six miles.
But as the acceleration of one hour in the arrival of the
Carlisle mail at Edinburgh is stated of importance, with
a new road made upon improved principles, I ant of opi-
nion the saving of double that time may be accomplished.
To the upper parts of the Esk valley, and also of the
Ettrick and Yarrow, and adjacent country, the establish-
ing a direct and commodious communication with the
Middleton lime works would be of incalculable advantage
to the agriculture of these extensive districts.
THOMAS TELFORD.

London, Aug. 14, 1829.
The map connected with this report has been directed
to be lithographed, but is not yet completed.
March 20, 1830.

APPENDIX, NO. 10.

OBSERVATIONS OF THE COMMITTEE FOR
THE COUNTY OF EDINBURGH ON A LET-
TER FROM THE POSTMASTER-GENERAL
TO THE TREASURY.

The Committce appointed by the County of Edinburg,ll
to take into consideration the acceleration of the 1%1a4

from London, and the improvement of the Great North
Road, have referred to a letter addressed by the Postmas-
ter-General to the Lords of His Majesty's Treasury, dated
May 22, 1829, upon which the Committee beg to sub-
mit to their Lordships the following observations.
The Postmaster-General begins by stating that the me-
morials communicated to the post-office,on which his letter is
grounded, are chiefly a repetition of applications which the
parties suppose have been rejected in consequence of the
expense attending a compliance with them. This remark
appears to the Committee to be no reply whatever to, nor
any argument aga'nst the facts stated or the request made
in the Edinburgh memorial and petition, on which they
think the county and city of Edinburgh are entitled to a

more specific report.
The Postmaster-General then asserts that the principal
demands made are,
1. For a mail from London to Edinburgh, and another
to Glasgow, by the shortest roads, at an unprecedented

speed,
The Committee deny in the most explicit terms that
unprecedented speed has been ever required, the change
sought for in the memorial being calculated at the present
rate at which the mail-coach travels a considerable part of
the distance, and which, if continued during the whole of
it, would accomplish the object at which the memo-

rialists aim.
2. A double mail-coach from London to Edinburgh,
and a similar double mail from Edinburgh to Aberdeen,
with an additional mail between London, Manchester, and

Glasgow.
No double mail-coaches, such as are named, were either
contemplated or desired by the Edinburgh petitioners, but
only a double or branch mail-coach from Morpeth to Edin-
burgh, so as to secure one by Berwick and another by

Wooler.
The Postmaster-General proceeds to contend that with
reference to the interests of the revenue, and with the

necessary caution in sorting letters, and the delay occa-
sioned by passengers and parcels, any acceleration of the
mails to Scotland can scarcely be thought practicable. If
the improvement proposed to be effected were to be the
result of undue or extraordinary speed in running the mail-
coach to Edinburgh, this observation of the Postmaster-
General would undoubtedly have weight, but as the pre-
sent rate of travelling part of the way is that assumed by
the petitioners for the whole, though less than the rate
established for many mail-coaches in England, the reason-
ing of the paragraph does not apply, and the conclusion
in consequence falls to the ground.
The Committee are also of opinion that the doctrine
relatiVe to the revenue laid down in it is quite untenable.
If, heretofore, the produce of the tax arising from
postages has been larger in consequence of the arrange-
ment by which passengers and parcels pay for the trans-
port of letters, it has unquestionably been the means of
materially benefiting that branch of the public revenue.
But it never can be argued with justice or propriety, that
the Post-office, unlike every other source of the public in-
come, is not to be charged with the expenses of its own
receipt, whenever public convenience or necessity shows
that the other modes of defraying them are become inex-
pedient. The Post-office was established for regulating
the conveyance of letters only ; it has nothing to do with
that of passengers and parcels, except as a subordinate
principle for facilitating the conveyance of the former, to
be altogether abandoned when, instead of forwarding, it
interferes with the primary object of the public accommo-
dation for which the Post-office, as a public Board, is re-
sponsible.
It is questionable whether, upon any just principle,
persons it a remote distance from the metropolis ought to
pay a higher for on their letters than those residing in a
more favourable situation : but if, in addition to such an
impost, they are to have the arrival and return of their
'Weis retarded solely on the ground of having the cost of
their transport paid by passengers and parcels, instead of
this being charged on the post-office revenue, they then
have an additional and still more powerful reason for com-
plaint, and a just cause for earnestly soliciting an alteration
in the system.
With regard to the observations of the Postmaster-Ge-
neral as to the timing of the•mails, the Committee beg to
remark that if the Edinbure h mail were to travel at ten
miles per hour, it would reach that city in 40 hours by
the present road, which is all that is asked fur in the me-
morial : should the present contractors object to do this,
the difficulty it is believed would be instantly removed by
throwing open the contracts to general competition.
The remarks and objections made by the Postmaster-
general to the supposition that the inhabitants of the
county and city of Edinburgh are desirous that the mail
should abandon York and be diverted front the Berwick
to the Wooler road, without compensation, proceeds
upon a total misapprehension of the facts of the case.
It was no part of their request that York should be
left out of the stages to Edinburgh, nor that a
mail to Edinburgh should come by Wooler without
a branch mail-coach from Newcastle or Merpeth by
Alnwick and Berwick being kept on that road ; anti this
being now clearly understood both by the citizens of York,
and by the interest on the Alnwick, Berwick, and Had-
dington road, all opposition has ceased from those quarters,
and there remains no longer any foundation for what the
Postmaster-General urges against the projected change
under that head. The Postmaster-General concludes by
recapitulating some of his former objections to the pro-
posed change, and then asks, whether a partial accommo-
dation to Edinburgh (and to certain towns mentioned in
several memorials) is to be afforded at the expense of a
decided injury and inconvenience to other places. The
Committee being quite unaware that either injury or in-
convenience will he sustained by any one place were the
prayer of the Edinburgh petition acceded to, conceive they
are warranted in denying the accuracy of a contrary as-
sertion, while not only will the city of Edinburgh and ad-
jacent country, the south of Scotland, and time north of
England, receive material benefit by the acceleration of the
mail, but a most important though collateral consequence
will result from it, by which great advantage will accrue
in the communication with all those parts of Scotland
north of the Forth and Tay.
The Committee feel themselves the more called upon to
press for the proposed change, and to offer the above re-
marks in reply to the !slain objections urged against it,
in consequence of the recent arrangement in the Boards of
Excise and Customs at Edinburgh, by whirls the principal
!art of the business in both these departments is conduct-
ed in London ; and as the mail now arrives at Edinburgh
after these offices are shut, great public inconvenience must
of necessity frequently arise from a lapse of 17 hours alter
the arrival of the post and before the tneetit;9 of the Boards.
Agreed to at a meeting of tie Committee, the Earl of
Ilosebery, Chairman, and directed to be forwarded to the
Lords of his Majesty's Treasury.