SCOTCH AND IRISH ROADS. 53 



Parnell was an Honorary Member of the Institution 

 of Civil Engineers. ^logg refers to him in his edition 

 of Colonel Paterson's road-book, and I believe Parnell 

 was in some way connected with that department ot 

 the Government which dealt with turnpike roads. He 

 was Member of Parliament for Queen's County, Ireland, 

 and afterwards for Dundee, in Scotland ; by his exertions 

 he carried the Holyhead Road Bill through Parliament, 

 and was appointed one of the commissioners. Sir 

 Henry Parnell was afterwards created Lord Congleton, 

 and died 1842. 



Lord Daer, eldest son of the Earl of Selkirk, about 

 the year 1 790 introduced into Scotland the practice of 

 laying out roads with a spirit-level. The road from 

 Dumfries to Castle Douglas was laid out by him so as 

 to have no greater inclination than i in 40, although 

 passing through a very hilly country. Mr. Abercomby, 

 too, a gentleman by birth, pursued as a profession the 

 business of road-making. He laid out the road between 

 Kinross and Perth, and by following the valleys 

 obtained excellent levels ; he also laid out the road 

 from Perth to Dunkeld. On all occasions he made it his 

 rule never to ascend a single foot unless absolutely 

 unavoidable, and this he accomplished by following 

 the valleys and cutting through high banks, and filling 

 up hollows. Mr. Abercomby made all his road surfaces 

 with stone broken very small. The practice had 

 long existed in Scotland, and is recommended by old 

 French writers on road construction lone before the 

 existence of INIacAdam. 



In Ireland the abolition of the statute labour in 

 1763, and placing the business of road-making under 

 the jurisdiction of the grand juries, immediately led 

 to improvement ; the general result was the establish- 

 ment of excellent roads throughout Ireland, which 



