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was substantially executed in red sandstone； and proved a very
serviceable bridge； forming part of the great high road from
Shrewsbury into Wales。 It was finished in the year 1792。
In the same year； we find Telford engaged as an architect in
preparing the designs and superintending the construction of the
new parish church of St。 Mary Magdalen at Bridgenorth。 It stands at
the end of Castle Street； near to the old ruined fortress perched
upon the bold red sandstone bluff on which the upper part of the
town is built。 The situation of the church is very fine； and an
extensive view of the beautiful vale of the Severn is obtained from it。
Telford's design is by no means striking； 〃being；〃 as he said；
〃a regular Tuscan elevation； the inside is as regularly Ionic： its
only merit is simplicity and uniformity； it is surmounted by a
Doric tower； which contains the bells and a clock。〃 A graceful
Gothic church would have been more appropriate to the situation；
and a much finer object in the landscape； but Gothic was not then
in fashiononly a mongrel mixture of many styles； without regard
to either purity or gracefulness。 The church； however； proved
comfortable and commodious； and these were doubtless the points to
which the architect paid most attention。
＇Image＇ St。 Mary Magdalen； Bridgenorth。
His completion of the church at Bridgenorth to the satisfaction of
the inhabitants； brought Telford a commission； in the following
year； to erect a similar edifice at Coalbrookdale。 But in the mean
time； to enlarge his knowledge and increase his acquaintance with
the best forms of architecture； he determined to make a journey to
London and through some of the principal towns of the south of
England。 He accordingly visited Gloucester； Worcester； and Bath；
remaining several days in the last…mentioned city。 He was charmed
beyond expression by his journey through the manufacturing
districts of Gloucestershire； more particularly by the fine scenery
of the Vale of Stroud。 The whole seemed to him a smiling scene of
prosperous industry and middle…class comfort。
But passing out of this 〃Paradise；〃 as he styled it； another stage
brought him into a region the very opposite。 〃We stopped；〃 says he；
〃at a little alehouse on the side of a rough hill to water the
horses； and lo！ the place was full of drunken blackguards；
bellowing out 'Church and King！' A poor ragged German Jew happened
to come up； whom those furious loyalists had set upon and accused
of being a Frenchman in disguise。 He protested that he was only a
poor German who 'cut de corns；' and that all he wanted was to buy a
little bread and cheese。 Nothing would serve them but they must
carry him before the Justice。 The great brawny fellow of a landlord
swore he should have nothing in his house； and； being a； constable；
told him that he would carry him to gaol。 I interfered； and
endeavoured to pacify the assailants of the poor man； when suddenly
the landlord； snatching up a long knife； sliced off about a pound
of raw bacon from a ham which hung overhead； and； presenting it to
the Jew； swore that if he did not swallow it down at once he should
not be allowed to go。 The man was in a worse plight than ever。
He said he was a 'poor Shoe；' and durst not eat that。 In the midst
of the uproar； Church and King were forgotten； and eventually I
prevailed upon the landlord to accept from me as much as enabled
poor little Moses to get his meal of bread and cheese； and by the
time the coach started they all seemed perfectly reconciled。〃 *＇1＇
Telford was much gratified by his visit to Bath； and inspected its
fine buildings with admiration。 But he thought that Mr。 Wood；
who； he says； 〃created modern Bath；〃 had left no worthy
successor。 In the buildings then in progress he saw clumsy
designers at work； 〃blundering round about a meaning〃if； indeed；
there was any meaning at all in their designs； which he confessed
he failed to see。 From Bath he went to London by coach； making the
journey in safety； 〃although；〃 he says； the collectors had been
doing duty on Hounslow Heath。〃 During his stay in London he
carefully examined the principal public buildings by the light of
the experience which he had gained since he last saw them。 He also
spent a good deal of his time in studying rare and expensive works
on architecturethe use of which he could not elsewhere procure
at the libraries of the Antiquarian Society and the British Museum。
There he perused the various editions of Vitruvius and Palladio；
as well as Wren's 'Parentalia。' He found a rich store of ancient
architectural remains in the British Museum； which he studied with
great care： antiquities from Athens； Baalbec； Palmyra； and
Herculaneum； 〃so that；〃 he says； 〃what with the information I was
before possessed of； and that which I have now accumulated； I think
I have obtained a tolerably good general notion of architecture。〃
From London he proceeded to Oxford； where he carefully inspected
its colleges and churches； afterwards expressing the great delight
and profit which he had derived from his visit。 He was entertained
while there by Mr。 Robertson； an eminent mathematician； then
superintending the publication of an edition of the works of
Archimedes。 The architectural designs of buildings that most
pleased him were those of Dr。 Aldrich； Dean of Christchurch about
the time of Sir Christopher Wren。 He tore himself from Oxford with
great regret； proceeding by Birmingham on his way home to
Shrewsbury： 〃Birmingham；〃 he says； 〃famous for its buttons and
locks； its ignorance and barbarismits prosperity increases with
the corruption of taste and morals。 Its nicknacks； hardware； and
gilt gimcracks are proofs of the former； and its locks and bars；
and the recent barbarous conduct of its populace；*＇2＇ are evidences
of the latter。〃 His principal object in visiting the place was to
call upon a stained glass…maker respecting a window for the new
church at Bridgenorth。
On his return to Shrewsbury； Telford proposed to proceed with his
favourite study of architecture； but this； said he； 〃will probably
be very slowly； as I must attend to my every day employment；〃
namely； the superintendence of the county road and bridge repairs；
and the direction of the convicts' labour。 〃If I keep my health；
however；〃 he added； 〃and have no unforeseen hindrance； it shall not
be forgotten； but will be creeping on by degrees。〃 An unforeseen
circumstance； though not a hindrance； did very shortly occur； which
launched Telford upon a new career； for which his unremitting
study； as well as his carefully improved experience； eminently
fitted him： we refer to his appointment as engineer to the
Ellesmere Canal Company。
The conscientious carefulness with which Telford performed the
duties entrusted to him； and the skill with which he directed the
works placed under his charge； had secured the general approbation
of the gentlemen of the county。 His straightforward and outspoken
manner had further obtained for him the friendship of many of them。
At the meetings of quarter…sessions his plans had often to encounter
considerable opposition； and； when called upon to defend them； he
did so with such firmness； persuasiveness； and good temper； that he
usually carried his point。 〃Some of the magistrates are ignorant；〃
he wrote in 1789； 〃and some are obstinate： though I must say that
on the whole there is a very respectable bench； and with the
sensible part I believe I am on good terms。〃 This was amply proved
some four years later； when it became necessary to appoint an
engineer to the Ellesmere Canal； on which occasion the magistrates；
who were mainly the promoters of the undertaking； almost
unanimously solicited their Surveyor to accept the office。
Indeed； Telford had become a general favourite in the county。
He was cheerful and cordial in his manner； though somewhat brusque。
Though now thirty…five years old； he had not lost the humorousness
which had procured for him the sobriquet of 〃Laughing Tam。〃
He laughed at his own jokes as well as at others。 He was spoken of
as jollya word then much more rarely as well as more choicely used
than it is now。 Yet he had a manly spirit； and was very jealous of
his independence。 All this made him none the less liked by
free…minded men。 Speaking of the friendly support which he had
throughout received from Mr。 Pulteney； he said； 〃His good opinion
has always been a great satisfaction to me； and the more so； as it
has neither been obtained nor preserved by deceit； cringing； nor
flattery。 On the contrary； I believe I am almost the only man that
speaks out fairly to him； and who contradicts him the most。
In fact； between us； we sometimes quarrel like tinkers； but I hold
my ground； and when he sees I am right he quietly gives in。〃
Although Mr。 Pulteney's influence had no doubt assisted Telford in
obtaining the appointment of surve