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Government in the improvement of the Highland roads； he persuaded
himself that he ought at the same time to promote the similar
patriotic objects of the British Fisheries Society； which were
carried out by voluntary subscription； and for many years he acted
as their engineer； refusing to accept any remuneration whatever for
his trouble。*＇10＇
Telford held the sordid money…grubber in perfect detestation。
He was of opinion that the adulation paid to mere money was one of
the greatest dangers with which modern society was threatened。
〃I admire commercial enterprise；〃 he would say； 〃it is the vigorous
outgrowth of our industrial life： I admire everything that gives it
free scope：； as； wherever it goes； activity； energy； intelligence
all that we call civilizationaccompany it； but I hold that the
aim and end of all ought not to be a mere bag； of money； but
something far higher and far better。〃
Writing once to his Langholm correspondent about an old schoolfellow；
who had grown rich by scraping； Telford said： 〃Poor Bob L His
industry and sagacity were more than counterbalanced by his
childish vanity and silly avarice； which rendered his friendship
dangerous； and his conversation tiresome。 He was like a man in
London； whose lips； while walking by himself along the streets；
were constantly ejaculating 'Money！ Money！' But peace to Bob's
memory： I need scarcely add； confusion to his thousands！〃 Telford
was himself most careful in resisting the temptations to which men
in his position are frequently exposed； but he was preserved by his
honest pride； not less than by the purity of his character。
He invariably refused to receive anything in the shape of presents
or testimonials from persons employed under him。 He would not have
even the shadow of an obligation stand in the way of his duty to
those who employed him to watch over and protect their interests。
During the many years that he was employed on public works； no one
could ever charge him in the remotest degree with entering into a
collusion with contractors。 He looked upon such arrangements as
degrading and infamous； and considered that they meant nothing less
than an inducement to 〃scamping；〃 which he would never tolerate。
His inspection of work was most rigid。 The security of his
structures was not a question of money； but of character。 As human
life depended upon their stability； not a point was neglected that
could ensure it。 Hence； in his selection of resident engineers and
inspectors of works； he exercised the greatest possible precautions；
and here his observation of character proved of essential value。
Mr。 Hughes says he never allowed any but his most experienced and
confidential assistants to have anything to do with exploring the
foundations of buildings he was about to erect。 His scrutiny into
the qualifications of those employed about such structures extended
to the subordinate overseers； and even to the workmen； insomuch
that men whose general habits had before passed unnoticed； and
whose characters had never been inquired into； did not escape his
observation when set to work in operations connected with
foundations。*＇11＇ If he detected a man who gave evidences of
unsteadiness； inaccuracy； or carelessness； he would reprimand the
overseer for employing such a person； and order him to be removed
to some other part of the undertaking where his negligence could do
no harm。 And thus it was that Telford put his own character；
through those whom he employed； into the various buildings which he
was employed to construct。
But though Telford was comparatively indifferent about money； he
was not without a proper regard for it； as a means of conferring
benefits on others； and especially as a means of being independent。
At the close of his life he had accumulated as much as； invested at
interest； brought him in about 800L。 a year； and enabled him to
occupy the house in Abingdon Street in which he died。 This was
amply sufficient for his wants； and more than enough for his
independence。 It enabled him also to continue those secret acts of
benevolence which constituted perhaps the most genuine pleasure of
his life。 It is one of the most delightful traits in this excellent
man's career to find him so constantly occupied in works of
spontaneous charity； in quarters so remote and unknown that it is
impossible the slightest feeling of ostentation could have sullied
the purity of the acts。 Among the large mass of Telford's private
letters which have been submitted to us； we find frequent reference
to sums of money transmitted for the support of poor people in his
native valley。 At new year's time he regularly sent remittances of
from 30L。 to 50L。； to be distributed by the kind Miss Malcolm of
Burnfoot； and； after her death； by Mr。 Little； the postmaster at
Langholm； and the contributions thus so kindly made； did much to
fend off the winter's cold； and surround with many small comforts
those who most needed help； but were perhaps too modest to ask
it。*＇12＇
Many of those in the valley of the Esk had known of Telford in his
younger years as a poor barefooted boy； though now become a man of
distinction； he had too much good sense to be ashamed of his humble
origin； perhaps he even felt proud that； by dint of his own
valorous and persevering efforts； he had been able to rise so much
above it。 Throughout his long life； his heart always warmed at the
thought of Eskdale。 He rejoiced at the honourable rise of Eskdale
men as reflecting credit upon his 〃beloved valley。〃 Thus； writing
to his Langholm correspondent with reference to the honours
conferred on the different members of the family of Malcolm； he
said： 〃The distinctions so deservedly bestowed upon the Burnfoot
family； establish a splendid era in Eskdale； and almost tempt your
correspondent to sport his Swedish honours； which that grateful
country has repeatedly； in spite of refusal； transmitted。〃
It might be said that there was narrowness and provincialism in
this； But when young men are thrown into the world； with all its
temptations and snares； it is well that the recollections of home
and kindred should survive to hold them in the path of rectitude；
and cheer them in their onward and upward course in life。 And there
is no doubt that Telford was borne up on many occasions by the
thought of what the folks in the valley would say about him and his
progress in life； when they met together at market； or at the
Westerkirk porch on Sabbath mornings。 In this light； provincialism
or local patriotism is a prolific source of good； and may be
regarded as among the most valuable and beautiful emanations of the
parish life of our country。 Although Telford was honoured with the
titles and orders of merit conferred upon him by foreign monarchs；
what he esteemed beyond them all was the respect and gratitude of
his own countrymen； and； not least； the honour which his really
noble and beneficent career was calculated to reflect upon 〃the
folks of the nook；〃 the remote inhabitants of his native Eskdale。
When the engineer proceeded to dispose of his savings by will；
which he did a few months before his death； the distribution was a
comparatively easy matter。 The total amount of his bequeathments
was 16；600L。*＇13＇ About one…fourth of the whole he set apart for
educational purposes； 2000L。 to the Civil Engineers' Institute；
and 1000L。 each to the ministers of Langholm and Westerkirk； in
trust for the parish libraries。 The rest was bequeathed； in sums
of from 200L。 to 500L。； to different persons who had acted as
clerks； assistants； and surveyors； in his various public works； and
to his intimate personal friends。 Amongst these latter were Colonel
Pasley； the nephew of his early benefactor； Mr。 Rickman； Mr。 Milne；
and Mr。 Hope； his three executors； and Robert Southey and Thomas
Campbell； the poets。 To both of these last the gift was most
welcome。 Southey said of his： 〃Mr。 Telford has most kindly and
unexpectedly left me 500L。； with a share of his residuary property；
which I am told will make it amount in all to 850L。 This is truly a
godsend； and I am most grateful for it。 It gives me the comfortable
knowledge that； if it should please God soon to take me from this
world； my family would have resources fully sufficient for their
support till such time as their affairs could be put in order； and
the proceeds of my books； remains； &c。； be rendered available。
I have never been anxious overmuch； nor ever taken more thought for
the morrow than it is the duty of every one to take who has to earn
his livelihood； but to be thus provided for at this time I feel to
be an especial blessing。'〃*＇14＇ Among the most valuable results of
Telford's bequests in his own district； was the establishment of
the popular libraries at Langholm and Westerkirk； each of which now
contains about 4000 volumes。 That at Westerkirk had been
origina