My life : a record of events and opinions - Wallace-online.org

64 MY LIFEthe roadside, were six ancient barrows or tumuli,which I carefully inspected ;and whenever I havesince travelled by the Great Northern Railway, Ihave looked out for these six tumuli, near which theline passes.After a few weeks at home at Hoddesdon, I wentback to Barton, where we had some work till afterChristmas. On New Year's Day, 1838, the firstsection of the London and Birmingham Railway wasopened to Tring, and I and my brother took advantageof it to go up to London, where he had somebusiness, and the next day I walked to Hoddesdonfor a short holiday. My brother while in Londonobtained the survey for tithe commutation of a parishin Bedfordshire, where I was to meet him on the 14thor 15th of January, at the village of Turvey, eightmiles beyond Bedford.I had first to go back to Barton to pay a few billsand pack up the books, instruments, etc., we had leftthere to be sent by carrier's waggon. I therefore lefthome on the 12th, and I think walked back toBarton, and the next day did what was required, tookleave of my friends there, and on the morning of the14th, after an early breakfast, started to walk toTurvey through Bedford, a distance of about twentymiles. I dined at Bedford, and reached Turvey beforedark.For the next six days we were at work laying outthe main lines for the survey of the parish, cuttinghedges, ranging flags, ascertaining boundaries, andbeginning the actual measurements.A curious incident may here be noted. One dayI was out on the frozen meadows across the riverOuse, assisting in marking out one of our main lineswhich had to cross the windings of the river, when I