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dear Eskdale； and the many friends he had left there； but more
especially to see his infirm mother； who had descended far into the
vale of years； and longed to see her son once more before she died。
He had taken constant care that she should want for nothing。
She formed the burden of many of his letters to Andrew Little。
〃Your kindness in visiting and paying so much attention to her；〃
said he； 〃is doing me the greatest favour which you could possibly
confer upon me。〃 He sent his friend frequent sums of money； which
he requested him to lay out in providing sundry little comforts for
his mother； who seems to have carried her spirit of independence so
far as to have expressed reluctance to accept money even from her
own son。 〃I must request；〃 said he； 〃that you will purchase and
send up what things may be likely to be wanted； either for her or
the person who may be with her； as her habits of economy will
prevent her from getting plenty of everything； especially as she
thinks that I have to pay for it； which really hurts me more than
anything else。〃*＇7＇ Though anxious to pay his intended visit； he
was so occupied with one urgent matter of business and another that
he feared it would be November before he could set out。 He had to
prepare a general statement as to the navigation affairs for a
meeting of the committee； he must attend the approaching Salop
quarter sessions； and after that a general meeting of the Canal
Company； so that his visit must be postponed for yet another month。
〃Indeed；〃 said he； 〃I am rather distressed at the thoughts of
running down to see a kind parent in the last stage of decay； on
whom I can only bestow an affectionate look； and then leave her：
her mind will not be much consoled by this parting； and the
impression left upon mine will be more lasting； than pleasant。〃*＇8＇
He did； however； contrive to run down to Eskdale in the following
November。 His mother was alive； but that was all。 After doing what
he could for her comfort； and providing that all her little wants
were properly attended to； he hastened back to his responsible
duties in connection with the Ellesmere Canal。 When at Langholm；
he called upon his former friends to recount with them the incidents
of their youth。 He was declared to be the same 〃canty〃 fellow as
ever； and； though he had risen greatly in the world； he was 〃not a
bit set up。〃 He found one of his old fellow workmen； Frank Beattie；
become the principal innkeeper of the place。 〃What have you made of
your mell and chisels？〃 asked Telford。 〃Oh！〃 replied Beattie；
〃they are all dispersedperhaps lost。〃 〃I have taken better care
of mine；〃 said Telford； 〃I have them all locked up in a room at
Shrewsbury； as well as my old working clothes and leather apron：
you know one can never tell what may happen。〃
He was surprised； as most people are who visit the scenes of their
youth after a long absence； to see into what small dimensions
Langholm had shrunk。 That High Street； which before had seemed so
big； and that frowning gaol and court…house in the Market Place；
were now comparatively paltry to eyes that had been familiar with
Shrewsbury； Portsmouth； and London。 But he was charmed； as ever；
with the sight of the heather hills and the narrow winding valley
〃Where deep and low the hamlets lie
Beneath their little patch of sky；
And little lot of stars。〃
On his return southward； he was again delighted by the sight of old
Gilnockie Castle and the surrounding scenery。 As he afterwards
wrote to his friend Little； 〃Broomholm was in all his glory。〃
Probably one of the results of this visit was the revision of the
poem of 'Eskdale；' which he undertook in the course of the
following spring； putting in some fresh touches and adding many new
lines； whereby the effect of the whole was considerably improved。
He had the poem printed privately； merely for distribution amongst
friends； being careful；〃 as he said； that 〃no copies should be
smuggled and sold。〃
Later in the year we find him； on his way to London on business；
sparing a day or two for the purpose of visiting the Duke of
Buckingham's palace and treasures of art at Stowe； afterwards
writing out an eight…page description of it for the perusal of his
friends at Langholm。 At another time； when engaged upon the viaduct
at Pont…Cysylltau； he snatched a few day's leisure to run through
North Wales； of which he afterwards gave a glowing account to his
correspondent。 He passed by Cader Idris； Snowdon； and Penmaen Mawr。
〃Parts of the country we passed through；〃 he says； 〃very much
resemble the lofty green hills and woody vales of Eskdale。 In other
parts the magnificent boldness of the mountains； the torrents；
lakes； and waterfalls； give a special character to the scenery；
unlike everything of the kind I had before seen。 The vale of
Llanrwst is peculiarly beautiful and fertile。 In this vale is the
celebrated bridge of Inigo Jones； but what is a much more
delightful circumstance； the inhabitants of the vale are the most
beautiful race of people I have ever beheld； and I am much
astonished that this never seems to have struck the Welsh tourists。
The vale of Llangollen is very fine； and not the least interesting
object in it； I can assure you； is Davidson's famous aqueduct
＇Pont…Cysylltau＇； which is already reckoned among the wonders of
Wales。 Your old acquaintance thinks nothing of having three or
four carriages at his door at a time。〃*＇9＇ It seems that； besides
attending to the construction of the works； Telford had to
organise the conduct of the navigation at those points at which the
canal was open for traffic。 By the middle of 1797 he states that
twenty miles were in working condition； along which coal and lime
were conveyed in considerable quantifies； to the profit of the
Company and the benefit of the public； the price of these articles
having already in some places been reduced twenty…five； and in
others as much as fifty； per cent。 〃The canal affairs；〃 he says in
one of his letters； 〃have required a good deal of exertion； though
we are on the whole doing well。 But； besides carrying on the
works； it is now necessary to bestow considerable attention on the
creating and guiding of a trade upon those portions which are
executed。 This involves various considerations； and many
contending and sometimes clashing interests。 In short； it is the
working of a great machine： in the first place； to draw money out
of the pockets of a numerous proprietary to make an expensive
canal； and then to make the money return into their pockets by the
creation of a business upon that canal。〃 But； as if all this
business were not enough； he was occupied at the same time in
writing a book upon the subject of Mills。 In the year 1796 he had
undertaken to draw up a paper on this topic for the Board of
Agriculture； and by degrees it had grown into a large quarto
volume； illustrated by upwards of thirty plates。 He was also
reading extensively in his few leisure moments； and among the solid
works which he perused we find him mentioning Robertson's
'Disquisitions on Ancient India；' Stewart's 'Philosophy of the
Human Mind；' and Alison's 'Principles of Taste。' As a relief from
these graver studies； he seems； above all things； to have taken
peculiar pleasure〃 In occasionally throwing off a bit of
poetry。 Thus； when laid up at an hotel in Chester by a blow on his
leg； which disabled him for some weeks； he employed part of his
time in writing his 'Verses on hearing of the Death of Robert
Burns。' On another occasion； when on his way to London； and
detained for a night at Stratford…on…Avon； he occupied the evening
at his inn in composing some stanzas； entitled 'An Address to the
River Avon。' And when on his way back to Shrewsbury； while resting
for the night at Bridgenorth； he amused himself with revising and
copying out the verses for the perusal of Andrew Little。
〃There are worse employments；〃 he said；〃when one has an hour to
spare from business；〃 and he asked his friend's opinion of the
composition。 It seems to have been no more favourable than the
verses deserved； for； in his next letter； Telford says； 〃I think
your observation respecting the verses to the Avon are correct。
It is but seldom I have time to versify； but it is to me something
like what a fiddle is to others； I apply to it in order to relieve
my mind； after being much fatigued with close attention to
business。〃
It is very pleasant to see the engineer relaxing himself in this
way； and submitting cheerfully to unfavourable criticism； which is
so trying to even the best of tempers。 The time； however； thus
taken from his regular work was not loss； but gain。 Taking the
character of his occupation into account； it was probably the best
kind of relaxation he could have indulged in。 With his head full of
bridges and viaducts； he thus kept his heart open to the influences