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Although Mr。 Pulteney's influence had no doubt assisted Telford in
obtaining the appointment of surveyor； it had nothing to do with
the unsolicited invitation which now emanated from the county
gentlemen。 Telford was not even a candidate for the engineership；
and had not dreamt of offering himself； so that the proposal came
upon him entirely by surprise。 Though he admitted he had
self…confidence； he frankly confessed that he had not a sufficient
amount of it to justify him in aspiring to the office of engineer
to one of the most important undertakings of the day。 The following
is his own account of the circumstance：
〃My literary project*＇3＇ is at present at a stand； and may be
retarded for some time to come； as I was last Monday appointed sole
agent； architect； and engineer to the canal which is projected to
join the Mersey； the Dee； and the Severn。 It is the greatest work；
I believe； now in hand in this kingdom； and will not be completed
for many years to come。 You will be surprised that I have not
mentioned this to you before； but the fact is that I had no idea of
any such appointment until an application was made to me by some of
the leading gentlemen； and I was appointed； though many others had
made much interest for the place。 This will be a great and
laborious undertaking； but the line which it opens is vast and
noble； and coming as the appointment does in this honourable way；
I thought it too great a opportunity to be neglected； especially as I
have stipulated for； and been allowed； the privilege of carrying on
my architectural profession。 The work will require great labour
and exertions； but it is worthy of them all。〃*＇4＇ Telford's
appointment was duly confirmed by the next general meeting of the
shareholders of the Ellesmere Canal。 An attempt was made to get up
a party against him； but it failed。 〃I am fortunate；〃 he said； 〃in
being on good terms with most of the leading men； both of property
and abilities； and on this occasion I had the decided support of
the great John Wilkinson； king of the ironmasters； himself a host。
I travelled in his carriage to the meeting； and found him much
disposed to be friendly。〃*＇5＇ The salary at which Telford was
engaged was 500L。 a year； out of which he had to pay one clerk and
one confidential foreman； besides defraying his own travelling
expenses。 It would not appear that after making these
disbursements much would remain for Telford's own labour； but in
those days engineers were satisfied with comparatively small pay；
and did not dream of making large fortunes。
Though Telford intended to continue his architectural business；
he decided to give up his county surveyorship and other minor matters；
which； he said； 〃give a great deal of very unpleasant labour for
very little profit； in short they are like the calls of a country
surgeon。〃 One part of his former business which he did not give up
was what related to the affairs of Mr。 Pulteney and Lady Bath； with
whom he continued on intimate and friendly terms。 He incidentally
mentions in one of his letters a graceful and charming act of her
Ladyship。 On going into his room one day he found that； before
setting out for Buxton； she had left upon his table a copy of
Ferguson's 'Roman Republic；' in three quarto volumes； superbly
bound and gilt。
He now looked forward with anxiety to the commencement of the
canal； the execution of which would necessarily call for great
exertion on his part； as well as unremitting attention and
industry； 〃for；〃 said he； 〃besides the actual labour which
necessarily attends so extensive a public work； there are
contentions； jealousies； and prejudices； stationed like gloomy
sentinels from one extremity of the line to the other。 But； as I
have heard my mother say that an honest man might look the Devil in
the face without being afraid； so we must just trudge along in the
old way。〃*＇6＇
Footnotes for Chapter V。
*＇1＇ Letter to Mr。 Andrew Little； Langholm； dated Shrewsbury；
10th March； 1793
*＇2＇ Referring to the burning of Dr。 Priestley's library。
*＇3＇ The preparation of some translations from Buchanan which he
had contemplated。
*＇4＇ Letter to Mr。 Andrew Little； Langholm； dated Shrewsbury；
29th September； 1793。
*＇5＇ John Wilkinson and his brother William were the first of the
great class of ironmasters。 They possessed iron forges at Bersham
near Chester； at Bradley； Brimbo； Merthyr Tydvil； and other places；
and became by far the largest iron manufacturers of their day。
For notice of them see 'Lives of Boulton and Watt；' p。 212。
*＇6＇ Letter to Mr。 Andrew Little； Langholm； dated Shrewsbury；
3rd November； 1793。
CHAPTER VI。
THE ELLESMERE CANAL。
The ellesmere canal consists of a series of navigations proceeding
from the river Dee in the vale of Llangollen。 One branch passes
northward； near the towns of Ellesmere； Whitchurch； Nantwich； and
the city of Chester； to Ellesmere Port on the Mersey； another；
in a south…easterly direction； through the middle of Shropshire
towards Shrewsbury on the Severn； and a third； in a south…westerly
direction； by the town of Oswestry； to the Montgomeryshire Canal
near Llanymynech； its whole extent； including the Chester Canal；
incorporated with it； being about 112 miles。
＇Image＇ Map of Ellesmere Canal
The success of the Duke of Bridgewater's Canal had awakened the
attention of the landowners throughout England； but more especially
in the districts immediately adjacent to the scene of the Duke's
operations； as they saw with their own eyes the extraordinary
benefits which had followed the opening up of the navigations。
The resistance of the landed gentry； which many of these schemes had
originally to encounter； had now completely given way； and； instead
of opposing canals； they were everywhere found anxious for their
construction。 The navigations brought lime； coal； manure； and
merchandise； almost to the farmers' doors； and provided them at the
same time with ready means of conveyance for their produce to good
markets。 Farms in remote situations were thus placed more on an
equality with those in the neighbourhood of large towns； rents rose
in consequence； and the owners of land everywhere became the
advocates and projectors of canals。
The dividends paid by the first companies were very high； and it
was well known that the Duke's property was bringing him in immense
wealth。 There was； therefore； no difficulty in getting the shares
in new projects readily subscribed for： indeed Mr。 Telford relates
that at the first meeting of the Ellesmere projectors； so eager
were the public； that four times the estimated expense was
subscribed without hesitation。 Yet this navigation passed through
a difficult country； necessarily involving very costly works； and
as the district was but thinly inhabited； it did not present a very
inviting prospect of dividends。*＇1＇ But the mania had fairly set
in； and it was determined that the canal should be made。 And
whether the investment repaid the immediate proprietors or not； it
unquestionably proved of immense advantage to the population of the
districts through which it passed； and contributed to enhance the
value of most of the adjoining property。
The Act authorising the construction of the canal was obtained in
1793； and Telford commenced operations very shortly after his
appointment in October of the same year。 His first business was to
go carefully over the whole of the proposed line； and make a careful
working survey； settling the levels of the different lengths；
and the position of the locks； embankments； cuttings； and aqueducts。
In all matters of masonry work he felt himself master of the
necessary details； but having had comparatively small experience of
earthwork； and none of canal…making； he determined to take the
advice of Mr。 William Jessop on that part of the subject； and he
cordially acknowledges the obligations he was under to that eminent
engineer for the kind assistance which he received from him on many
occasions。
The heaviest and most important part of the undertaking was in
carrying the canal through the rugged country between the rivers
Dee and Ceriog； in the vale of Llangollen。 From Nantwich to
Whitchurch the distance is 16 miles； and the rise 132 feet；
involving nineteen locks； and from thence to Ellesmere； Chirk；
Pont…Cysylltau； and the river Dee； 1 3/4 mile above Llangollen； the
distance is 38 1/4 miles； and the rise 13 feet； involving only two
locks。 The latter part of the undertaking presented the greatest
difficulties； as； in order to avoid the expense of constructing
numerous locks； which would also involve serious delay and heavy
expense in working the navigation； it became necessary to contrive
means for carrying the canal on the same level from one side of the
respective valleys of the Dee and the Ceriog to the other； and