按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
time to lose。 His manner is simplicity itself。 Indeed； I have
never yet met so noble a being。 He is going abroad again shortly
on one of his long tours of mercy。〃*＇1＇ The journey to which
Telford here refers was Howard's last。 In the following year he
left England to return no more； and the great and good man died at
Cherson； on the shores of the Black Sea； less than two years after
his interview with the young engineer at Shrewsbury。
Telford writes to his Langholm friend at the same time that he is
working very hard； and studying to improve himself in branches of
knowledge in which he feels himself deficient。 He is practising
very temperate habits： for half a year past he has taken to
drinking water only； avoiding all sweets； and eating no
〃nick…nacks。〃 He has 〃sowens and milk；' （oatmeal flummery） every
night for his supper。 His friend having asked his opinion of
politics； he says he really knows nothing about them； he had been
so completely engrossed by his own business that he has not had
time to read even a newspaper。 But； though an ignoramus in
politics； he has been studying lime； which is more to his purpose。
If his friend can give him any information about that； he will
promise to read a newspaper now and then in the ensuing session of
Parliament； for the purpose of forming some opinion of politics：
he adds； however； 〃not if it interfere with my businessmind that！'；
His friend told him that he proposed translating a system of
chemistry。 〃Now you know；〃 wrote Telford； 〃that I am chemistry mad；
and if I were near you； I would make you promise to communicate any
information on the subject that you thought would be of service to
your friend； especially about calcareous matters and the mode of
forming the best composition for building with； as well above as
below water。 But not to be confined to that alone； for you must
know I have a book for the pocket；*＇2＇ which I always carry with me；
into which I have extracted the essence of Fourcroy's Lectures；
Black on Quicklime； Scheele's Essays； Watson's Essays； and various
points from the letters of my respected friend Dr。 Irving。*＇3＇
So much for chemistry。 But I have also crammed into it facts
relating to mechanics； hydrostatics； pneumatics； and all manner of
stuff； to which I keep continually adding； and it will be a charity
to me if you will kindly contribute your mite。〃*＇4＇ He says it
has been； and will continue to be； his aim to endeavour to unite
those 〃two frequently jarring pursuits； literature and business；〃
and he does not see why a man should be less efficient in the
latter capacity because he has well informed； stored； and humanized
his mind by the cultivation of letters。 There was both good sense
and sound practical wisdom in this view of Telford。
While the gaol was in course of erection； after the improved plans
suggested by Howard； a variety of important matters occupied the
county surveyor's attention。 During the summer of 1788 he says he
is very much occupied； having about ten different jobs on hand：
roads； bridges； streets； drainage…works； gaol； and infirmary。
Yet he had time to write verses； copies of which he forwarded to his
Eskdale correspondent； inviting his criticism。 Several of these
were elegiac lines； somewhat exaggerated in their praises of the
deceased； though doubtless sincere。 One poem was in memory of
George Johnstone； Esq。； a member of the Wester Hall family； and
another on the death of William Telford； an Eskdale farmer's son；
an intimate friend and schoolfellow of our engineer。*＇5＇ These；
however； were but the votive offerings of private friendship；
persons more immediately about him knowing nothing of his stolen
pleasures in versemaking。 He continued to be shy of strangers；
and was very 〃nice；〃 as he calls it； as to those whom he admitted
to his bosom。
Two circumstances of considerable interest occurred in the course
of the same year （1788）； which are worthy of passing notice。
The one was the fall of the church of St。 Chad's； at Shrewsbury；
the other was the discovery of the ruins of the Roman city of
Uriconium； in the immediate neighbourhood。 The church of St。 Chad's
was about four centuries old； and stood greatly in need of repairs。
The roof let in the rain upon the congregation； and the parish
vestry met to settle the plans for mending it； but they could not
agree about the mode of procedure。 In this emergency Telford was
sent for； and requested to advise what was best to he done。 After a
rapid glance at the interior； which was in an exceedingly dangerous
state； he said to the churchwardens； 〃Gentlemen； we'll consult
together on the outside； if you please。〃 He found that not only the
roof but the walls of the church were in a most decayed state。
It appeared that； in consequence of graves having been dug in the
loose soil close to the shallow foundation of the north…west pillar
of the tower； it had sunk so as to endanger the whole structure。
〃I discovered；〃 says he； 〃that there were large fractures in the
walls； on tracing which I found that the old building was in a most
shattered and decrepit condition； though until then it had been
scarcely noticed。 Upon this I declined giving any recommendation as
to the repairs of the roof unless they would come to the resolution
to secure the more essential parts； as the fabric appeared to me
to be in a very alarming condition。 I sent in a written report to
the same effect。〃 *＇6＇
The parish vestry again met； and the report was read； but the
meeting exclaimed against so extensive a proposal； imputing mere
motives of self…interest to the surveyor。 〃Popular clamour；〃 says
Telford； 〃overcame my report。 'These fractures；' exclaimed the
vestrymen； 'have been there from time immemorial；' and there were
some otherwise sensible persons； who remarked that professional men
always wanted to carve out employment for themselves； and that the
whole of the necessary repairs could be done at a comparatively
small expense。〃*＇7＇ The vestry then called in another person；
a mason of the town； and directed him to cut away the injured part
of a particular pillar； in order to underbuild it。 On the second
evening after the commencement of the operations； the sexton was
alarmed by a fail of lime…dust and mortar when he attempted to toll
the great bell； on which he immediately desisted and left the
church。 Early next morning （on the 9th of July）； while the workmen
were waiting at the church door for the key； the bell struck four；
and the vibration at once brought down the tower； which overwhelmed
the nave； demolishing all the pillars along the north side； and
shattering the rest。 〃The very parts I had pointed out；〃 says
Telford； 〃were those which gave way； and down tumbled the tower；
forming a very remarkable ruin； which astonished and surprised the
vestry； and roused them from their infatuation； though they have
not yet recovered from the shock。〃*＇8＇
The other circumstance to which we have above referred was the
discovery of the Roman city of Uriconium； near Wroxeter； about five
miles from Shrewsbury； in the year 1788。 The situation of the place
is extremely beautiful； the river Severn flowing along its western
margin； and forming a barrier against what were once the hostile
districts of West Britain。 For many centuries the dead city had
slept under the irregular mounds of earth which covered it； like
those of Mossul and Nineveh。 Farmers raised heavy crops of turnips
and grain from the surface and they scarcely ever ploughed or
harrowed the ground without turning up Roman coins or pieces of
pottery。 They also observed that in certain places the corn was
more apt to be scorched in dry weather than in othersa sure sign
to them that there were ruins underneath； and their practice； when
they wished to find stones for building； was to set a mark upon the
scorched places when the corn was on the ground； and after harvest
to dig down； sure of finding the store of stones which they wanted
for walls； cottages； or farm…houses。 In fact； the place came to be
regarded in the light of a quarry； rich in ready…worked materials
for building purposes。 A quantity of stone being wanted for the
purpose of erecting a blacksmith's shop； on digging down upon one
of the marked places； the labourers came upon some ancient works of
a more perfect appearance than usual。 Curiosity was excited
antiquarians made their way to the spotand lo！ they pronounced
the ruins to be neither more nor less than a Roman bath； in a
remarkably perfect state of preservation。 Mr。 Telford was requested
to apply to Mr。 Pulteney； the lord of the manor； to prevent the
destruction of these interesting remains； and also to permit the
excavations to proceed； with a view to the buildings being
completely explored。 This was readily granted； and Mr。 Pulteney
authorised Telford himself to conduct the necessary excavations at
his expe