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drawing； and this work I always take care to keep under by
reserving my time for it； and being in advance of my work rather
than behind it。 Then； as knowledge is my most ardent pursuit； a
thousand things occur which call for investigation which would
pass unnoticed by those who are content to trudge only in the
beaten path。 I am not contented unless I can give a reason for
every particular method or practice which is pursued。 Hence I am
now very deep in chemistry。 The mode of making mortar in the best
way led me to inquire into the nature of lime。 Having； in pursuit
of this inquiry； looked into some books on chemistry； I perceived
the field was boundless； but that to assign satisfactory reasons
for many mechanical processes required a general knowledge of that
science。 I have therefore borrowed a MS。 copy of Dr。 Black's
Lectures。 I have bought his 'Experiments on Magnesia and
Quicklime；' and also Fourcroy's Lectures； translated from the
French by one Mr。 Elliot； of Edinburgh。 And I am determined to
study the subject with unwearied attention until I attain some
accurate knowledge of chemistry； which is of no less use in the
practice of the arts than it is in that of medicine。〃 He adds； that
he continues to receive the cordial approval of the Commissioners
for the manner in which he performs his duties； and says； 〃I take
care to be so far master of the business committed to me as that
none shall be able to eclipse me in that respect。〃*＇6＇ At the same
time he states he is taking great delight in Freemasonry； and is
about to have a lodge…room at the George Inn fitted up after his
plans and under his direction。 Nor does he forget to add that he
has his hair powdered every day； and puts on a clean shirt three
times a week。
The Eskdale mason was evidently getting on； as he deserved to do。
But he was not puffed up。 To his Langholm friend he averred that
〃he would rather have it said of him that he possessed one grain of
good nature or good sense than shine the finest puppet in
Christendom。〃 〃Let my mother know that I am well；〃 he wrote to
Andrew Little； 〃and that I will print her a letter soon。〃*＇7＇
For it was a practice of this good son； down to the period of his
mother's death； no matter how much burdened he was with business；
to set apart occasional times for the careful penning of a letter
in printed characters； that she might the more easily be able to
decipher it with her old and dimmed eyes by her cottage fireside at
The Crooks。 As a man's real disposition usually displays itself
most strikingly in small matterslike light； which gleams the
most brightly when seen through narrow chinksit will probably
be admitted that this trait； trifling though it may appear； was
truly characteristic of the simple and affectionate nature of the
hero of our story。
The buildings at Portsmouth were finished by the end of 1786； when
Telford's duties there being at an end； and having no engagement
beyond the termination of the contract； he prepared to leave； and
began to look about him for other employment。
Footnotes for Chapter III。
*＇1＇ Robert and John Adam were architects of considerable repute in
their day。 Among their London erections were the Adelphi Buildings；
in the Strand； Lansdowne House； in Berkeley Square； Caen Wood
House； near Hampstead （Lord Mansfield's）； Portland Place； Regent's
Park； and numerous West End streets and mansions。 The screen of the
Admiralty and the ornaments of Draper's Hall were also designed by
them。
*＇2＇ Long after Telford had become famous； he was passing over
Waterloo Bridge one day with a friend； when； pointing to some
finely…cut stones in the corner nearest the bridge； he said：
〃You see those stones there； forty years since I hewed and laid them；
when working on that building as a common mason。〃
*＇3＇Letter to Mr。 Andrew Little； Langholm； dated London； July； 1783。
*＇4＇ Mr。； afterwards Sir William； Pulteney； was the second son of
Sir James Johnstone； of Wester Hall； and assumed the name of
Pulteney； on his marriage to Miss Pulteney； niece of the Earl of
Bath and of General Pulteney； by whom he succeeded to a large
fortune。 He afterwards succeeded to the baronetcy of his elder
brother James； who died without issue in 1797。 Sir William Pulteney
represented Cromarty； and afterwards Shrewsbury； where he usually
resided； in seven successive Parliaments。 He was a great patron of
Telford's； as we shall afterwards find。
*＇5＇ Letter to Andrew Little； Langholm； dated Portsmouth； July 23rd；
1784。
*＇6＇ Letter to Mr。 Andrew Little； Langholm； dated Portsmouth
Dockyard； Feb。 1； 1786。
*＇7＇ Ibid
CHAPTER IV。
BECOMES SURVEYOR FOR THE COUNTY OF SALOP。
Mr。 Pulteney； member for Shrewsbury； was the owner of extensive
estates in that neighbourhood by virtue of his marriage with the
niece of the last Earl of Bath。 Having resolved to fit up the
Castle there as a residence； he bethought him of the young Eskdale
mason； who had； some years before； advised him as to the repairs of
the Johnstone mansion at Wester Hall。 Telford was soon found； and
engaged to go down to Shrewsbury to superintend the necessary
alterations。 Their execution occupied his attention for some time；
and during their progress he was so fortunate as to obtain the
appointment of Surveyor of Public Works for the county of Salop；
most probably through the influence of his patron。 Indeed； Telford
was known to be so great a favourite with Mr。 Pulteney that at
Shrewsbury he usually went by the name of 〃Young Pulteney。〃
Much of his attention was from this time occupied with the surveys
and repairs of roads； bridges； and gaols； and the supervision of
all public buildings under the control of the magistrates of the
county。 He was also frequently called upon by the corporation of
the borough of Shrewsbury to furnish plans for the improvement of
the streets and buildings of that fine old town； and many
alterations were carried out under his direction during the period
of his residence there。
While the Castle repairs were in course of execution； Telford was
called upon by the justices to superintend the erection of a new
gaol； the plans for which had already been prepared and settled。
The benevolent Howard； who devoted himself with such zeal to gaol
improvement； on hearing of the intentions of the magistrates； made
a visit to Shrewsbury for the purpose of examining the plans； and
the circumstance is thus adverted to by Telford in one of his
letters to his Eskdale correspondent：〃About ten days ago I had a
visit from the celebrated John Howard； Esq。 I say I； for he was on
his tour of gaols and infirmaries； and those of Shrewsbury being
both under my direction； this was； of course； the cause of my being
thus distinguished。 I accompanied him through the infirmary and the
gaol。 I showed him the plans of the proposed new buildings； and had
much conversation with him on both subjects。 In consequence of his
suggestions as to the former； I have revised and amended the plans；
so as to carry out a thorough reformation； and my alterations
having been approved by a general board； they have been referred to
a committee to carry out。 Mr。 Howard also took objection to the
plan of the proposed gaol； and requested me to inform the
magistrates that； in his opinion； the interior courts were too
small； and not sufficiently ventilated； and the magistrates； having
approved his suggestions； ordered the plans to be amended
accordingly。 You may easily conceive how I enjoyed the conversation
of this truly good man； and how much I would strive to possess his
good opinion。 I regard him as the guardian angel of the miserable。
He travels into all parts of Europe with the sole object of doing
good； merely for its own sake； and not for the sake of men's praise。
To give an instance of his delicacy； and his desire to avoid public
notice； I may mention that； being a Presbyterian； he attended the
meeting…house of that denomination in Shrewsbury on Sunday morning；
on which occasion I accompanied him； but in the afternoon he
expressed a wish to attend another place of worship； his presence
in the town having excited considerable curiosity； though his wish
was to avoid public recognition。 Nay； more； he assures me that he
hates travelling； and was born to be a domestic man。 He never sees
his country…house but he says within himself； 'Oh！ might I but rest
here； and never more travel three miles from home； then should I be
happy indeed！' But he has become so committed； and so pledged
himself to his own conscience to carry out his great work； that he
says he is doubtful whether he will ever be able to attain the
desire of his heartlife at home。 He never dines out； and scarcely
takes time to dine at all： he says he is growing old； and has no
time to lose。 His manner is simplicity itself。 Indeed； I have
never yet met so n