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Castle there as a residence； he bethought him of the young Eskdale
mason； who had； some years before； advised him as to the repairs of
the Johnstone mansion at Wester Hall。 Telford was soon found； and
engaged to go down to Shrewsbury to superintend the necessary
alterations。 Their execution occupied his attention for some time；
and during their progress he was so fortunate as to obtain the
appointment of Surveyor of Public Works for the county of Salop；
most probably through the influence of his patron。 Indeed； Telford
was known to be so great a favourite with Mr。 Pulteney that at
Shrewsbury he usually went by the name of 〃Young Pulteney。〃
Much of his attention was from this time occupied with the surveys
and repairs of roads； bridges； and gaols； and the supervision of
all public buildings under the control of the magistrates of the
county。 He was also frequently called upon by the corporation of
the borough of Shrewsbury to furnish plans for the improvement of
the streets and buildings of that fine old town； and many
alterations were carried out under his direction during the period
of his residence there。
While the Castle repairs were in course of execution； Telford was
called upon by the justices to superintend the erection of a new
gaol； the plans for which had already been prepared and settled。
The benevolent Howard； who devoted himself with such zeal to gaol
improvement； on hearing of the intentions of the magistrates； made
a visit to Shrewsbury for the purpose of examining the plans； and
the circumstance is thus adverted to by Telford in one of his
letters to his Eskdale correspondent：〃About ten days ago I had a
visit from the celebrated John Howard； Esq。 I say I； for he was on
his tour of gaols and infirmaries； and those of Shrewsbury being
both under my direction； this was； of course； the cause of my being
thus distinguished。 I accompanied him through the infirmary and the
gaol。 I showed him the plans of the proposed new buildings； and had
much conversation with him on both subjects。 In consequence of his
suggestions as to the former； I have revised and amended the plans；
so as to carry out a thorough reformation； and my alterations
having been approved by a general board； they have been referred to
a committee to carry out。 Mr。 Howard also took objection to the
plan of the proposed gaol； and requested me to inform the
magistrates that； in his opinion； the interior courts were too
small； and not sufficiently ventilated； and the magistrates； having
approved his suggestions； ordered the plans to be amended
accordingly。 You may easily conceive how I enjoyed the conversation
of this truly good man； and how much I would strive to possess his
good opinion。 I regard him as the guardian angel of the miserable。
He travels into all parts of Europe with the sole object of doing
good； merely for its own sake； and not for the sake of men's praise。
To give an instance of his delicacy； and his desire to avoid public
notice； I may mention that； being a Presbyterian； he attended the
meeting…house of that denomination in Shrewsbury on Sunday morning；
on which occasion I accompanied him； but in the afternoon he
expressed a wish to attend another place of worship； his presence
in the town having excited considerable curiosity； though his wish
was to avoid public recognition。 Nay； more； he assures me that he
hates travelling； and was born to be a domestic man。 He never sees
his country…house but he says within himself； 'Oh！ might I but rest
here； and never more travel three miles from home； then should I be
happy indeed！' But he has become so committed； and so pledged
himself to his own conscience to carry out his great work； that he
says he is doubtful whether he will ever be able to attain the
desire of his heartlife at home。 He never dines out； and scarcely
takes time to dine at all： he says he is growing old； and has no
time to lose。 His manner is simplicity itself。 Indeed； I have
never yet met so noble a being。 He is going abroad again shortly
on one of his long tours of mercy。〃*＇1＇ The journey to which
Telford here refers was Howard's last。 In the following year he
left England to return no more； and the great and good man died at
Cherson； on the shores of the Black Sea； less than two years after
his interview with the young engineer at Shrewsbury。
Telford writes to his Langholm friend at the same time that he is
working very hard； and studying to improve himself in branches of
knowledge in which he feels himself deficient。 He is practising
very temperate habits： for half a year past he has taken to
drinking water only； avoiding all sweets； and eating no
〃nick…nacks。〃 He has 〃sowens and milk；' （oatmeal flummery） every
night for his supper。 His friend having asked his opinion of
politics； he says he really knows nothing about them； he had been
so completely engrossed by his own business that he has not had
time to read even a newspaper。 But； though an ignoramus in
politics； he has been studying lime； which is more to his purpose。
If his friend can give him any information about that； he will
promise to read a newspaper now and then in the ensuing session of
Parliament； for the purpose of forming some opinion of politics：
he adds； however； 〃not if it interfere with my businessmind that！'；
His friend told him that he proposed translating a system of
chemistry。 〃Now you know；〃 wrote Telford； 〃that I am chemistry mad；
and if I were near you； I would make you promise to communicate any
information on the subject that you thought would be of service to
your friend； especially about calcareous matters and the mode of
forming the best composition for building with； as well above as
below water。 But not to be confined to that alone； for you must
know I have a book for the pocket；*＇2＇ which I always carry with me；
into which I have extracted the essence of Fourcroy's Lectures；
Black on Quicklime； Scheele's Essays； Watson's Essays； and various
points from the letters of my respected friend Dr。 Irving。*＇3＇
So much for chemistry。 But I have also crammed into it facts
relating to mechanics； hydrostatics； pneumatics； and all manner of
stuff； to which I keep continually adding； and it will be a charity
to me if you will kindly contribute your mite。〃*＇4＇ He says it
has been； and will continue to be； his aim to endeavour to unite
those 〃two frequently jarring pursuits； literature and business；〃
and he does not see why a man should be less efficient in the
latter capacity because he has well informed； stored； and humanized
his mind by the cultivation of letters。 There was both good sense
and sound practical wisdom in this view of Telford。
While the gaol was in course of erection； after the improved plans
suggested by Howard； a variety of important matters occupied the
county surveyor's attention。 During the summer of 1788 he says he
is very much occupied； having about ten different jobs on hand：