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Towards the close of his life； he was afflicted by deafness； which
made him feel exceedingly uncomfortable in mixed society。 Thanks to
a healthy constitution； unimpaired by excess and invigorated by
active occupation； his working powers had lasted longer than those
of most men。 He was still cheerful； clear…headed； and skilful in
the arts of his profession； and felt the same pleasure in useful
work that he had ever done。 It was； therefore； with difficulty that
he could reconcile himself to the idea of retiring from the field
of honourable labour； which he had so long occupied； into a state
of comparative inactivity。 But he was not a man who could be idle；
and he determined； like his great predecessor Smeaton； to occupy
the remaining years of his life in arranging his engineering papers
for publication。 Vigorous though he had been； he felt that the time
was shortly approaching when the wheels of life must stand still
altogether。 Writing to a friend at Langholm； he said； 〃Having now
being occupied for about seventy…five years in incessant exertion；
I have for some time past arranged to decline the contest； but the
numerous works in which I am engaged have hitherto prevented my
succeeding。 In the mean time I occasionally amuse myself with
setting down in what manner a long life has been laboriously； and I
hope usefully； employed。〃 And again； a little later； he writes：
〃During the last twelve months I have had several rubs； at
seventy…seven they tell more seriously than formerly； and call for
less exertion and require greater precautions。 I fancy that few of
my age belonging to the valley of the Esk remain in the land of the
living。〃*＇4＇
One of the last works on which Mr。 Telford was professionally
consulted was at the instance of the Duke of Wellingtonnot many
years younger than himself； but of equally vigorous intellectual
powersas to the improvement of Dover Harbour； then falling
rapidly to decay。 The long…continued south…westerly gales of 1833…4
had the effect of rolling an immense quantity of shingle up Channel
towards that port； at the entrance to which it became deposited in
unusual quantities； so as to render it at times altogether
inaccessible。 The Duke； as a military man； took a more than
ordinary interest in the improvement of Dover； as the military and
naval station nearest to the French coast； and it fell to him as
Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports to watch over the preservation of
the harbour； situated at a point in the English Channel which he
regarded as of great strategic importance in the event of a
continental war。 He therefore desired Mr。 Telford to visit the
place and give his opinion as to the most advisable mode of
procedure with a view to improving the harbour。 The result was a
report； in which the engineer recommended a plan of sluicing；
similar to that adopted by Mr。 Smeaton at Ramsgate； which was
afterwards carried out with considerable success by Mr。 James
Walker； C。E。
This was his last piece of professional work。 A few months later he
was laid up by bilious derangement of a serious character； which
recurred with increased violence towards the close of the year； and
on the 2nd of September； 1834； Thomas Telford closed his useful and
honoured career； at the advanced age of seventy…seven。 With that
absence of ostentation which characterised him through life； he
directed that his remains should be laid； without ceremony； in the
burial ground of the parish church of St。 Margaret's； Westminster。
But the members of the Institute of Civil Engineers； who justly
deemed him their benefactor and chief ornament； urged upon his
executors the propriety of interring him in Westminster Abbey。
＇Image＇ Telford's Burial Place in Westminster Abbey
He was buried there accordingly； near the middle of the nave；
where the letters； 〃Thomas Telford； 1834； mark the place beneath
which he lies。*＇5＇ The adjoining stone bears the inscription；
〃Robert Stephenson； 1859；〃 that engineer having during his life
expressed the wish that his body should be laid near that of
Telford； and the son of the Killingworth engineman thus sleeps by
the side of the son of the Eskdale shepherd。
It was a long； a successful； and a useful life which thus ended。
Every step in his upward career； from the poor peasant's hut in
Eskdale to Westminster Abbey； was nobly and valorously won。 The man
was diligent and conscientious； whether as a working mason hewing
stone blocks at Somerset House； as a foreman of builders at
Portsmouth； as a road surveyor at Shrewsbury； or as an engineer of
bridges； canals； docks； and harbours。 The success which followed
his efforts was thoroughly well…deserved。 He was laborious；
pains…taking； and skilful； but； what was better； he was honest and
upright。 He was a most reliable man； and hence he came to be
extensively trusted。 Whatever he undertook； he endeavoured to excel
in。 He would be a first…rate hewer； and he became one。 He was
himself accustomed to attribute much of his success to the thorough
way in which he had mastered the humble beginnings of this trade。
He was even of opinion that the course of manual training he had
undergone； and the drudgery； as some would call it； of daily labour
first as an apprentice； and afterwards as a journeyman mason
had been of greater service to him than if he had passed through
the curriculum of a University。
Writing to his friend； Miss Malcolm； respecting a young man who
desired to enter the engineering profession； he in the first place
endeavoured to dissuade the lady from encouraging the ambition of
her protege； the profession being overstocked； and offering very
few prizes in proportion to the large number of blanks。 〃But；〃
he added； 〃if civil engineering； notwithstanding these
discouragements； is still preferred； I may point out that the way
in which both Mr。 Rennie and myself proceeded； was to serve a
regular apprenticeship to some practical employmenthe to a
millwright； and I to a general house…builder。 In this way we
secured the means； by hard labour； of earning a subsistence； and；
in time； we obtained by good conduct the confidence of our
employers and the public； eventually rising into the rank of what
is called Civil Engineering。 This is the true way of acquiring
practical skill； a thorough knowledge of the materials employed in
construction； and last； but not least； a perfect knowledge of the
habits and dispositions of the workmen who carry out our designs。
This course； although forbidding to many a young person； who
believes it possible to find a short and rapid path to distinction；
is proved to be otherwise by the two examples I have cited。 For my
own part； I may truly aver that 'steep is the ascent； and slippery
is the way。'〃*＇6＇ That Mr。 Telford was enabled to continue to so
advanced an age employed on laborious and anxious work； was no
doubt attributable in a great measure to the cheerfulness of his
nature。 He was； indeed； a most happy…minded man。 It will be
remembered that； when a boy； he had been known in his valley as
〃Laughing Tam。〃 The same disposition continued to characterise him
in his old age。 He was playful and jocular； and rejoiced in the
society of children and young people； especially when well…informed
and modest。 But when they pretended to acquirements they did not
possess； he was quick to detect and see through them。 One day a
youth expatiated to him in very large terms about a friend of his；
who had done this and that； and made so and so； and could do all
manner of wonderful things。 Telford listened with great attention；
and when the youth had done … he quietly asked； with a twinkle in
his eye； 〃Pray； can your friend lay eggs？〃
When in society he gave himself up to it； and thoroughly enjoyed it。
He did not sit apart； a moody and abstracted 〃lion；〃 nor desire to
be regarded as 〃the great engineer；〃 pondering new Menai Bridges；
But he appeared in his natural character of a simple； intelligent；
cheerful companion； as ready to laugh at his own jokes as at other
people's； and he was as communicative to a child as to any
philosopher of the party。
Robert Southey； than whom there was no better judge of a loveable
man； said of him； 〃I would go a long way for the sake of seeing
Telford and spending a few days in his company。〃 Southey； as we
have seen； had the best opportunities of knowing him well； for a
long journey together extending over many weeks； is； probably；
better than anything else； calculated to bring out the weak as well
as the strong points of a friend： indeed； many friendships have
completely broken down under the severe test of a single week's
tour。 But Southey on that occasion firmly cemented a friendship
which lasted until Telford's death。 On one occasion the latter
called at the poet's house； in company with Sir Henry Parnell； when
engaged upon the survey of one of his northern roads