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" target="_blank" title="ad.比较地；比较上">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 literarycomposition 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 intellectualinstinct 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

sterling--he died in comparatively" target="_blank" title="ad.比较地；比较上">comparativelymoderate 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" target="_blank" title="ad.比较地；比较上">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
patriotic objects of the British Fisheries Society, which were

carried out by voluntarysubscription; 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 civilization--accompany 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" target="_blank" title="ad.比较地；比较上">comparativelyindifferent 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