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one of his scholars to read it in the evenings。 Mr。 Little had
received an academical education before he lost his sight； and；
aided by a memory of uncommon powers； he taught the classics； and
particularly Greek； with much higher reputation than any other
schoolmaster within a pretty extensive circuit。 Two of his pupils
read all the Iliad； and all or the greater part of Sophocles。
After hearing a long sentence of Greek or Latin distinctly recited；
he could generally construe and translate it with little or no
hesitation。 He was always much gratified by Telford's visits；
which were not infrequent； to his native district。〃
CHAPTER V。
TELFORD'S FIRST EMPLOYMENT AS AN ENGINEER。
As surveyor for the county； Telford was frequently called upon by
the magistrates to advise them as to the improvement of roads and
the building or repair of bridges。 His early experience of
bridge…building in his native district now proved of much service
to him； and he used often to congratulate himself； even when he had
reached the highest rank in his profession； upon the circumstances
which had compelled him to begin his career by working with his own
hands。 To be a thorough judge of work； he held that a man must
himself have been practically engaged in it。
〃Not only；〃 he said； 〃are the natural senses of seeing and feeling
requisite in the examination of materials； but also the practised
eye； and the hand which has had experience of the kind and
qualities of stone； of lime； of iron； of timber； and even of earth；
and of the effects of human ingenuity in applying and combining all
these substances； are necessary for arriving at mastery in the
profession； for； how can a man give judicious directions unless he
possesses personal knowledge of the details requisite to effect
his ultimate purpose in the best and cheapest manner？ It has
happened to me more than once； when taking opportunities of being
useful to a young man of merit； that I have experienced opposition
in taking him from his books and drawings； and placing a mallet；
chisel； or trowel in his hand； till； rendered confident by the
solid knowledge which experience only can bestow； he was qualified
to insist on the due performance of workmanship； and to judge of
merit in the lower as well as the higher departments of a
profession in which no kind or degree of practical knowledge is
superfluous。〃
The first bridge designed and built under Telford's superintendence
was one of no great magnitude； across the river Severn at Montford；
about four miles west of Shrewsbury。 It was a stone bridge of three
elliptical arches； one of 58 feet and two of 55 feet span each。
The Severn at that point is deep and narrow； and its bed and banks
are of alluvial earth。 It was necessary to make the foundations
very secure； as the river is subject to high floods； and this was
effectuality accomplished by means of coffer…dams。 The building
was substantially executed in red sandstone； and proved a very
serviceable bridge； forming part of the great high road from
Shrewsbury into Wales。 It was finished in the year 1792。
In the same year； we find Telford engaged as an architect in
preparing the designs and superintending the construction of the
new parish church of St。 Mary Magdalen at Bridgenorth。 It stands at
the end of Castle Street； near to the old ruined fortress perched
upon the bold red sandstone bluff on which the upper part of the
town is built。 The situation of the church is very fine； and an
extensive view of the beautiful vale of the Severn is obtained from it。
Telford's design is by no means striking； 〃being；〃 as he said；
〃a regular Tuscan elevation； the inside is as regularly Ionic： its
only merit is simplicity and uniformity； it is surmounted by a
Doric tower； which contains the bells and a clock。〃 A graceful
Gothic church would have been more appropriate to the situation；
and a much finer object in the landscape； but Gothic was not then
in fashiononly a mongrel mixture of many styles； without regard
to either purity or gracefulness。 The church； however； proved
comfortable and commodious； and these were doubtless the points to
which the architect paid most attention。
＇Image＇ St。 Mary Magdalen； Bridgenorth。
His completion of the church at Bridgenorth to the satisfaction of
the inhabitants； brought Telford a commission； in the following
year； to erect a similar edifice at Coalbrookdale。 But in the mean
time； to enlarge his knowledge and increase his acquaintance with
the best forms of architecture； he determined to make a journey to
London and through some of the principal towns of the south of
England。 He accordingly visited Gloucester； Worcester； and Bath；
remaining several days in the last…mentioned city。 He was charmed
beyond expression by his journey through the manufacturing
districts of Gloucestershire； more particularly by the fine scenery
of the Vale of Stroud。 The whole seemed to him a smiling scene of
prosperous industry and middle…class comfort。
But passing out of this 〃Paradise；〃 as he styled it； another stage
brought him into a region the very opposite。 〃We stopped；〃 says he；
〃at a little alehouse on the side of a rough hill to water the
horses； and lo！ the place was full of drunken blackguards；
bellowing out 'Church and King！' A poor ragged German Jew happened
to come up； whom those furious loyalists had set upon and accused
of being a Frenchman in disguise。 He protested that he was only a
poor German who 'cut de corns；' and that all he wanted was to buy a
little bread and cheese。 Nothing would serve them but they must
carry him before the Justice。 The great brawny fellow of a landlord
swore he should have nothing in his house； and； being a； constable；
told him that he would carry him to gaol。 I interfered； and
endeavoured to pacify the assailants of the poor man； when suddenly
the landlord； snatching up a long knife； sliced off about a pound
of raw bacon from a ham which hung overhead； and； presenting it to
the Jew； swore that if he did not swallow it down at once he should
not be allowed to go。 The man was in a worse plight than ever。
He said he was a 'poor Shoe；' and durst not eat that。 In the midst
of the uproar； Church and King were forgotten； and eventually I
prevailed upon the landlord to accept from me as much as enabled
poor little Moses to get his meal of bread and cheese； and by the
time the coach started they all seemed perfectly reconciled。〃 *＇1＇
Telford was much gratified by his visit to Bath； and inspected its
fine buildings with admiration。 But he thought that Mr。 Wood；
who； he says； 〃created modern Bath；〃 had left no worthy
successor。 In the buildings then in progress he saw clumsy
designers at work； 〃blundering round about a meaning〃if； indeed；
there was any meaning at all in their designs； which he confessed
he failed to see。 From Bath he went to London by coach； making the
journey in safety； 〃altho