“I am convinced,” said he, writing to his Langholm friend [Andrew Little], “that the situation of Great Britain is such, that nothing short of some signal revolution can prevent her from sinking into bankruptcy, slavery, and insignificancy.” He held that the national expenditure was so enormous, arising from the corrupt administration of the country, that it was impossible the “bloated mass could hold together any longer”; and as he could not expect that “a hundred Pulteneys,” such as his employer, could be found to restore it to health, the conclusion he arrived at was that ruin was “inevitable.” [...]

It is only right to add, that as Telford grew older and wiser, he became more careful in jumping at conclusions on political topics. The events which shortly occurred in France tended in a great measure to heal his mental distresses as to the future of England.* When the “liberty” won by the Parisians ran into riot, and the “Friends of Man” occupied themselves in taking off the heads of those who differed from them, he became wonderfully reconciled to the enjoyment of the substantial freedom which, after all, was secured to him by the English Constitution.