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in later years to pursue the special cultivation of the art。
Shortly after； when work became slack in the district； Telford
undertook to do small jobs on his own account such as the hewing of
grave…stones and ornamental doorheads。 He prided himself especially
upon his hewing； and from the specimens of his workmanship which
are still to be seen in the churchyards of Langholm and Westerkirk；
he had evidently attained considerable skill。 On some of these
pieces of masonry the year is carved1779； or 1780。 One of the
most ornamental is that set into the wall of Westerkirk church；
being a monumental slab； with an inscription and moulding；
surmounted by a coat of arms； to the memory of James Pasley of Craig。
He had now learnt all that his native valley could teach him of the
art of masonry； and； bent upon self…improvement and gaining a
larger experience of life； as well as knowledge of his trade； he
determined to seek employment elsewhere。 He accordingly left
Eskdale for the first time； in 1780； and sought work in Edinburgh；
where the New Town was then in course of erection on the elevated
land； formerly green fields； extending along the north bank of the
〃Nor' Loch。〃 A bridge had been thrown across the Loch in 1769；
the stagnant pond or marsh in the hollow had been filled up；
and Princes Street was rising as if by magic。 Skilled masons were
in great demand for the purpose of carrying out these and the numerous
other architectural improvements which were in progress； and
Telford had no difficulty in obtaining employment。
Our stone…mason remained at Edinburgh for about two years； during
which he had the advantage of taking part in first…rate work and
maintaining himself comfortably； while he devoted much of his spare
time to drawing； in its application to architecture。 He took the
opportunity of visiting and carefully studying the fine specimens
of ancient work at Holyrood House and Chapel； the Castle； Heriot's
Hospital； and the numerous curious illustrations of middle age
domestic architecture with which the Old Town abounds。 He also made
several journeys to the beautiful old chapel of Rosslyn； situated
some miles to the south of Edinburgh； making careful drawings of
the more important parts of that building。
When he had thus improved himself； 〃and studied all that was to be
seen in Edinburgh； in returning to the western border；〃 he says；
〃I visited the justly celebrated Abbey of Melrose。〃 There he was
charmed by the delicate and perfect workmanship still visible even
in the ruins of that fine old Abbey； and with his folio filled with
sketches and drawings； he made his way back to Eskdale and the
humble cottage at The Crooks。 But not to remain there long。
He merely wished to pay a parting visit to his mother and other
relatives before starting upon a longer journey。 〃Having acquired；〃
he says in his Autobiography； 〃the rudiments of my profession；
I considered that my native country afforded few opportunities of
exercising it to any extent； and therefore judged it advisable
（like many of my countrymen） to proceed southward； where industry
might find more employment and be better remunerated。〃
Before setting out； he called upon all his old friends and
acquaintances in the dalethe neighbouring farmers； who had
befriended him and his mother when struggling with povertyhis
schoolfellows； many of whom were preparing to migrate； like
himself； from their native valleyand the many friends and
acquaintances he had made while working as a mason in Langholm。
Everybody knew that Tom was going south； and all wished him God
speed。 At length the leave…taking was over； and he set out for
London in the year 1782； when twenty…five years old。 He had； like
the little river Meggat； on the banks of which he was born； floated
gradually on towards the outer world： first from the nook in the
valley； to Westerkirk school； then to Langholm and its little
circle； and now； like the Meggat； which flows with the Esk into the
ocean； he was about to be borne away into the wide world。 Telford；
however； had confidence in himself； and no one had fears for him。
As the neighbours said； wisely wagging their heads； 〃Ah； he's an
auld…farran chap is Tam； he'll either mak a spoon or spoil a horn；
any how； he's gatten a good trade at his fingers' ends。〃
Telford had made all his previous journeys on foot； but this one he
made on horseback。 It happened that Sir James Johnstone； the laird
of Wester Hall； had occasion to send a horse from Eskdale to a
member of his family in London； and he had some difficulty in
finding a person to take charge of it。 It occurred to Mr。 Jackson；
the laird's factor； that this was a capital opportunity for his
cousin Tom； the mason； and it was accordingly arranged that he
should ride the horse to town。 When a boy； he had learnt rough
riding sufficiently well for the purpose； and the better to fit him
for the hardships of the road； Mr。 Jackson lent him his buckskin
breeches。 Thus Tom set out from his native valley well mounted；
with his little bundle of 〃traps〃 buckled behind him； and； after a
prosperous journey； duly reached London； and delivered up the horse
as he had been directed。 Long after； Mr。 Jackson used to tell the
story of his cousin's first ride to London with great glee； and he
always took care to wind up with〃but Tam forgot to send me back
my breeks！〃
＇Image＇ Lower Valley of the Meggat； the Crooks in the distance。
Footnotes for Chapter II。
*＇1＇ In his 'Epistle to Mr。 Walter Ruddiman；' first published in
'Ruddiman's Weekly Magazine；' in 1779； occur the following lines
addressed to Burns； in which Telford incidentally sketches himself
at the time； and hints at his own subsequent meritorious career；
〃Nor pass the tentie curious lad；
Who o'er the ingle hangs his head；
And begs of neighbours books to read；
For hence arise
Thy country's sons； who far are spread；
Baith bold and wise。〃
*＇2＇ The 'Poetical Museum；' Hawick； p。267。 ' Eskdale' was
afterwards reprinted by Telford when living at Shrewsbury； when he
added a few lines by way of conclusion。 The poem describes very
pleasantly the fine pastoral scenery of the district：
〃Deep 'mid the green sequester'd glens below；
Where murmuring streams among the alders flow；
Where flowery meadows down their margins spread；
And the brown hamlet lifts its humble head
There； round his little fields； the peasant strays；
And sees his flock along the mountain graze；
And； while the gale breathes o'er his ripening grain；
And soft repeats his upland shepherd's strain；
And western suns with mellow radiance play。
And gild his straw…roof'd cottage with their ray；
Feels Nature's love his throbbing heart employ；
Nor envies towns their artificial joy。〃
The features of the valley are very fairly described。 Its early
history is then rapidly sketched； next its period of border strife；
at length happily allayed by the union of the kingdoms； under which
the Johnstones； Pasleys； and others； men of Eskdale； achieve honour
and fame。 Nor did he forget to mention Armstrong； the author of the
'Art of Preserving Health；' son of the minister of Castleton； a few
miles east of Westerkirk； and Mickle； the translator of the 'Lusiad；'
whose father was minister of the parish of Langholm； both of whom
Telford took a natural pride in as native poets of Eskdale。
CHAPTER III。
TELFORD A WORKING MASON IN LONDON； AND FOREMAN OF MASONS AT PORTSMOUTH。
A common working man； whose sole property consisted in his mallet
and chisels； his leathern apron and his industry； might not seem to
amount to much in 〃the great world of London。〃 But； as Telford
afterwards used to say； very much depends on whether the man has
got a head with brains in it of the right sort upon his shoulders。
In London； the weak man is simply a unit added to the vast floating
crowd； and may be driven hither and thither； if he do not sink
altogether； while the strong man will strike out； keep his head
above water； and make a course for himself； as Telford did。
There is indeed a wonderful impartiality about London。 There the
capable person usually finds his place。 When work of importance is
required； nobody cares to ask where the man who can do it best
comes from； or what he has been； but what he is； and what he can
do。 Nor did it ever stand in Telford's way that his father had been
a poor shepherd in Eskdale； and that he himself had begun his
London career by working for weekly wages with a mallet and chisel。
After duly delivering up the horse； Telford proceeded to present a
letter with which he had been charged by his friend Miss Pasley on
leaving Langholm。 It was addressed to her brother； Mr。 John Pasley；
an eminent London merchant； brother also of Sir Thomas Pasley； and
uncle of the Malcolms。 Miss Pasley requ