*[6] Douglas was first mentioned to Telford, in a letter from Mr. Pasley, as a young man, a native of Bigholmes, Eskdale, who had, after serving his time there as a mechanic, emigrated to America, where he showed such proofs of mechanical genius that he attracted the notice of Mr. Liston, the British Minister, who paid his expenses home to England, that his services might not be lost to his country, and at the same time gave him a letter of introduction to the Society of Arts in London. Telford, in a letter to Andrew Little, dated 4th December, 1797, expressed a desire "to know more of this Eskdale Archimedes." Shortly after, we find Douglas mentioned as having invented a brick machine, a shearing-machine, and a ball for destroying the rigging of ships; for the two former of which he secured patents. He afterwards settled in France, where he introduced machinery for the improved manufacture of woollen cloth; and being patronised by the Government, he succeeded in realising considerable wealth, which, how ever, he did not live to enjoy. *[7] Letter to Mr. Andrew Little, Langholm, dated London, l3th May, 1800. *[8] The evidence is fairly set forth in 'Cresy's Encyclopedia of Civil Engineering,' p. 475. *[9] Article on Iron Bridges, in the 'Encyclopedia Britannica,' Edinburgh, 1857. *[10] His foreman of masons at Bewdley Bridge, and afterwards his assistant in numerous important works. *[11] The work is thus described in Robert Chambers's ' Picture of Scotland':--"Opposite Compston there is a magnificent new bridge over the Dee. It consists of a single web, the span of which is 112 feet; and it is built of vast blocks of freestone brought from the isle of Arran. The cost of this work was somewhere about 7000L. sterling; and it may be mentioned, to the honour of the Stewartry, that this sum was raised by the private contributions of the gentlemen of the district. From Tongueland Hill, in the immediate vicinity of the bridge, there is a view well worthy of a painter's eye, and which is not inferior in beauty and magnificence to any in Scotland." *[12] Letter to Mr. Andrew Little, Langholm, dated Salop, 13th July, 1799. *[13] Letter to Mr. Andrew Little, Langholm, dated Liverpool, 9th September, 1800. *[14] Brodie was originally a blacksmith. He was a man of much ingenuity and industry, and introduced many improvements in iron work; he invented stoves for chimneys, ships' hearths, &c. He had above a hundred men working in his London shop, besides carrying on an iron work at Coalbrookdale. He afterwards established a woollen manufactory near Peebles. *[15] Dated London, l4th April, 1802. *[16] Letter to Mr. Andrew Little, Langholm, dated Salop, 30th November, 1799. CHAPTER VIII. HIGHLAND ROADS AND BRIDGES.