In 1814 there was only one steam vessel in Scotland; while England possessed none at all.

Now, the British mercantile steam-ships number about 5000, with about 4 millions of aggregate tonnage.[2] In olden times this country possessed the materials for great things, as well as the men fitted to develope them into great results.

But the nation was slow to awake and take advantage of its opportunities.
There was no enterprise, no commerce--no "go" in the people.

The roads were frightfully bad; and there was little communication between one part of the country and another.
If anything important had to be done, we used to send for foreigners to come and teach us how to do it.

We sent for them to drain our fens, to build our piers and harbours, and even to pump our water at London Bridge.