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engaged upon the survey of one of his northern roads。 Unhappily
Southey was absent at the time； and； writing about the circumstance
to a correspondent； he said； 〃This was a mortification to me； in as
much as I owe Telford every kind of friendly attention； and like
him heartily。〃
Campbell； the poet； was another early friend of our engineer； and
the attachment seems to have been mutual。 Writing to Dr。 Currie；
of Liverpool； in 1802； Campbell says： 〃I have become acquainted with
Telford the engineer； 'a fellow of infinite humour；' and of strong
enterprising mind。 He has almost made me a bridge…builder already；
at least he has inspired me with new sensations of interest in the
improvement and ornament of our country。 Have you seen his plan of
London Bridge？ or his scheme for a new canal in the North Highlands；
which will unite； if put in effect； our Eastern and Atlantic
commerce； and render Scotland the very emporium of navigation？
Telford is a most useful cicerone in London。 He is so universally
acquainted； and so popular in his manners； that he can introduce
one to all kinds of novelty； and all descriptions of interesting
society。〃 Shortly after； Campbell named his first son after
Telford； who stood godfather for the boy。 Indeed； for many years；
Telford played the part of Mentor to the young and impulsive poet；
advising him about his course in life； trying to keep him steady；
and holding him aloof as much as possible from the seductive
allurements of the capital。 But it was a difficult task； and
Telford's numerous engagements necessarily left the poet at many
seasons very much to himself。 It appears that they were living
together at the Salopian when Campbell composed the first draft of
his poem of Hohenlinden； and several important emendations made in
it by Telford were adopted by Campbell。 Although the two friends
pursued different roads in life； and for many years saw little of
each other； they often met again； especially after Telford took up
his abode at his house in Abingdon Street； where Campbell was a
frequent and always a welcome guest。
When engaged upon his surveys； our engineer was the same simple；
cheerful； laborious man。 While at work； he gave his whole mind to
the subject in hand； thinking of nothing else for the time；
dismissing it at the close of each day's work； but ready to take it
up afresh with the next day's duties。 This was a great advantage to
him as respected the prolongation of his working faculty。 He did
not take his anxieties to bed with him； as many do； and rise up
with them in the morning； but he laid down the load at the end of
each day； and resumed it all the more cheerfully when refreshed and
invigorated by natural rest； It was only while the engrossing
anxieties connected with the suspension of the chains of Menai
Bridge were weighing heavily upon his mind； that he could not
sleep； and then； age having stolen upon him； he felt the strain
almost more than he could bear。 But that great anxiety once fairly
over； his spirits speedily resumed their wonted elasticity。
When engaged upon the construction of the Carlisle and Glasgow
road； he was very fond of getting a few of the 〃navvy men；〃 as he
called them； to join him at an ordinary at the Hamilton Arms Hotel；
Lanarkshire； each paying his own expenses。 On such occasions
Telford would say that； though he could not drink； yet he would
carve and draw corks for them。 One of the rules he laid down was
that no business was to be introduced from the moment they sat down
to dinner。 All at once； from being the plodding； hard…working
engineer； with responsibility and thought in every feature； Telford
unbended and relaxed； and became the merriest and drollest of the
party。 He possessed a great fund of anecdote available for such
occasions； had an extraordinary memory for facts relating to
persons and families； and the wonder to many of his auditors was；
how in all the world a man living in London should know so much
better about their locality and many of its oddities than they did
themselves。
In his leisure hours at home； which were but few； he occupied
himself a good deal in the perusal of miscellaneous literature；
never losing his taste for poetry。 He continued to indulge in the
occasional composition of verses until a comparatively late period
of his life； one of his most successful efforts being a translation
of the 'Ode to May；' from Buchanan's Latin poems； executed in a
very tender and graceful manner。 That he might be enabled to peruse
engineering works in French and German； he prosecuted the study of
those languages； and with such success that he was shortly able to
read them with comparative ease。 He occasionally occupied himself
in literary composition on subjects connected with his profession。
Thus he wrote for the Edinburgh Encyclopedia； conducted by his
friend Sir David （then Dr。） Brewster； the elaborate and able
articles on Architecture； Bridge…building； and Canal…making。
Besides his contributions to that work； he advanced a considerable
sum of money to aid in its publication； which remained a debt due
to his estate at the period of his death。
Notwithstanding the pains that Telford took in the course of his
life to acquire a knowledge of the elements of natural science；
it is somewhat remarkable to find him holding； acquirements in
mathematics so cheap。 But probably this is to be accounted for by
the circumstance of his education being entirely practical； and
mainly self…acquired。 When a young man was on one occasion
recommended to him as a pupil because of his proficiency in
mathematics； the engineer expressed the opinion that such
acquirements were no recommendation。 Like Smeaton； he held that
deductions drawn from theory were never to be trusted； and he
placed his reliance mainly on observation； experience； and
carefully…conducted experiments。 He was also； like most men of
strong practical sagacity； quick in mother wit； and arrived rapidly
at conclusions； guided by a sort of intellectual instinct which can
neither be defined nor described。*＇7＇ Although occupied as a
leading engineer for nearly forty years having certified
contractors' bills during that time amounting to several millions
sterlinghe died in comparatively moderate circumstances。 Eminent
constructive ability was not very highly remunerated in Telford's
time； and he was satisfied with a rate of pay which even the
smallest 〃M。 I。 C。 E。〃 would now refuse to accept。 Telford's
charges were； however； perhaps too low； and a deputation of members
of the profession on one occasion formally expostulated with him on
the subject。
Although he could not be said to have an indifference for money； he
yet estimated it as a thing worth infinitely less than character；
and every penny that he earned was honestly come by。 He had no
wife； *＇8＇ nor family； nor near relations to provide for；only
himself in his old age。 Not being thought rich； he was saved the
annoyance of being haunted by toadies or pestered by parasites。 His
wants were few； and his household expenses small； and though he
entertained many visitors and friends； it was in a quiet way and on
a moderate scale。 The small regard he had for personal dignity may
be inferred from the fact； that to the last he continued the
practice； which he had learnt when a working mason； of darning his
own stockings。*＇9＇
Telford nevertheless had the highest idea of the dignity of his
profession； not because of the money it would produce； but of the
great things it was calculated to accomplish。 In his most
confidential letters we find him often expatiating on the noble
works he was engaged in designing or constructing； and the national
good they were calculated to produce； but never on the pecuniary
advantages he himself was to derive from them。 He doubtless prized；
and prized highly； the reputation they would bring him； and； above
all； there seemed to be uppermost in his mind； especially in the
earlier part of his career； while many of his schoolfellows were
still alive； the thought of 〃What will they say of this in
Eskdale？〃 but as for the money results to himself； Telford seemed；
to the close of his life； to regard them as of comparatively small
moment。
During the twenty…one years that he acted as principal engineer for
the Caledonian Canal； we find from the Parliamentary returns that
the amount paid to him for his reports； detailed plans； and
superintendence； was exactly 237L。 a year。 Where he conceived any
works to be of great public importance； and he found them to be
promoted by public…spirited persons at their own expense； he
refused to receive any payment for his labour； or even repayment of
the expenses incurred by him。 Thus； while employed by the
Government in the improvement of the Highland roads； he persuaded
himself that he ought at the same time to promote the similar
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