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became familiar to him。 One evening a Langholm man asked Tom to
write a letter for him to his son in England； and when the young
scribe read over what had been written to the old man's dictation；
the latter； at the end of almost every sentence； exclaimed；
〃Capital！ capital！〃 and at the close he said； 〃Well！ I declare；
Tom！ Werricht himsel' couldna ha' written a better！〃Wright being
a well…known lawyer or 〃writer〃 in Langholm。
His apprenticeship over； Telford went on working as a journeyman at
Langholm； his wages at the time being only eighteen pence a day。
What was called the New Town was then in course of erection；
and there are houses still pointed out in it； the walls of which
Telford helped to put together。 In the town are three arched
door…heads of a more ornamental character than the rest； of Telford's
hewing； for he was already beginning to set up his pretensions as a
craftsman； and took pride in pointing to the superior handiwork
which proceeded from his chisel。
About the same time； the bridge connecting the Old with the New
Town was built across the Esk at Langholm； and upon that structure
he was also employed。 Many of the stones in it were hewn by his
hand； and on several of the blocks forming the land…breast his
tool…mark is still to be seen。
Not long after the bridge was finished； an unusually high flood or
spate swept down the valley。 The Esk was 〃roaring red frae bank to
brae；〃 and it was generally feared that the new brig would be
carried away。 Robin Hotson； the master mason； was from home at the
time； and his wife； Tibby； knowing that he was bound by his
contract to maintain the fabric for a period of seven years； was in
a state of great alarm。 She ran from one person to another；
wringing her hands and sobbing； 〃Oh！ we'll be ruinedwe'll a' be
ruined！〃 In her distress she thought of Telford； in whom she had
great confidence； and called out； 〃Oh！ where's Tammy Telfer
where's Tammy？〃 He was immediately sent for。 It was evening； and
he was soon found at the house of Miss Pasley。 When he came
running up； Tibby exclaimed； 〃Oh； Tammy！ they've been on the brig；
and they say its shakin'！ It 'll be doon！〃 〃Never you heed them；
Tibby；〃 said Telford； clapping her on the shoulder； 〃there's nae
fear o' the brig。 I like it a' the better that it shakes
it proves its weel put thegither。〃 Tibby's fears； however； were not
so easily allayed； and insisting that she heard the brig 〃rumlin；〃
she ran upso the neighbours afterwards used to say of herand set
her back against the parapet to hold it together。 At this； it is
said； 〃Tam bodged and leuch；〃 and Tibby； observing how easily he
took it； at length grew more calm。 It soon became clear enough
that the bridge was sufficiently strong； for the flood subsided
without doing it any harm； and it has stood the furious spates of
nearly a century uninjured。
Telford acquired considerable general experience about the same
time as a house…builder； though the structures on which he was
engaged were of a humble order； being chiefly small farm…houses on
the Duke of Buccleugh's estate； with the usual out…buildings。
Perhaps the most important of the jobs on which he was employed was
the manse of Westerkirk； where he was comparatively at home。
The hamlet stands on a green hill…side； a little below the entrance
to the valley of the Meggat。 It consists of the kirk； the minister's
manse； the parish…school； and a few cottages； every occupant of
which was known to Telford。 It is backed by the purple moors；
up which he loved to wander in his leisure hours and read the poems
of Fergusson and Burns。 The river Esk gurgles along its rocky bed
in the bottom of the dale； separated from the kirkyard by a steep
bank； covered with natural wood； while near at hand； behind the
manse； stretch the fine woods of Wester Hall； where Telford was
often wont to roam。
＇Image＇ Valley of Eskdale； Westerkirk in the distance。
We can scarcely therefore wonder that； amidst such pastoral
scenery； and reading such books as he did； the poetic faculty of
the country mason should have become so decidedly developed。
It was while working at Westerkirk manse that he sketched the first
draft of his descriptive poem entitled 'Eskdale；' which was published
in the 'Poetical Museum' in 1784。*＇2＇ These early poetical efforts
were at least useful in stimulating his self…education。 For the
practice of poetical composition； while it cultivates the
sentiment of beauty in thought and feeling； is probably the best of
all exercises in the art of writing correctly； grammatically；
and expressively。 By drawing a man out of his ordinary calling； too；
it often furnishes him with a power of happy thinking which may in
after life become a source of the purest pleasure； and this； we
believe； proved to be the case with Telford； even though he ceased
in later years to pursue the special cultivation of the art。
Shortly after； when work became slack in the district； Telford
undertook to do small jobs on his own account such as the hewing of
grave…stones and ornamental doorheads。 He prided himself especially
upon his hewing； and from the specimens of his workmanship which
are still to be seen in the churchyards of Langholm and Westerkirk；
he had evidently attained considerable skill。 On some of these
pieces of masonry the year is carved1779； or 1780。 One of the
most ornamental is that set into the wall of Westerkirk church；
being a monumental slab； with an inscription and moulding；
surmounted by a coat of arms； to the memory of James Pasley of Craig。
He had now learnt all that his native valley could teach him of the
art of masonry； and； bent upon self…improvement and gaining a
larger experience of life； as well as knowledge of his trade； he
determined to seek employment elsewhere。 He accordingly left
Eskdale for the first time； in 1780； and sought work in Edinburgh；
where the New Town was then in course of erection on the elevated
land； formerly green fields； extending along the north bank of the
〃Nor' Loch。〃 A bridge had been thrown across the Loch in 1769；
the stagnant pond or marsh in the hollow had been filled up；
and Princes Street was rising as if by magic。 Skilled masons were
in great demand for the purpose of carrying out these and the numerous
other architectural improvements which were in progress； and
Telford had no difficulty in obtaining employment。
Our stone…mason remained at Edinburgh for about two years； during
which he had the advantage of taking part in first…rate work and
maintaining himself comfortably； while he devoted much of his spare
time to drawing； in its application to architecture。 He took the
opportunity of visiting and carefully studying the fine specimens
of ancient work at Holyrood House and Chapel； the Castle； Heriot's
Hospital； and the numerous curious illustrations of middle age
domestic architecture with which the Old Town abounds。 He also made
sever