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water…way of 11 feet 10 inches； of which the towing…path； standing
upon iron pillars rising from the bed of the canal； occupied 4 feet
8 inches； leaving a space of 7 feet 2 inches for the boat。*＇6＇
The whole cost of this part of the canal was 47；018L。； which was
considered by Telford a moderate sum compared with what it must
have cost if executed after the ordinary manner。 The aqueduct was
formally opened for traffic in 1805。 〃And thus；〃 said Telford； 〃has
been added a striking feature to the beautiful vale of Llangollen；
where formerly was the fastness of Owen Glendower； but which； now
cleared of its entangled woods； contains a useful line of
intercourse between England and Ireland； and the water drawn from
the once sacred Devon furnishes the means of distributing
prosperity over the adjacent land of the Saxons。〃
＇Image＇ Section of Top of Pont…Cyslltau Aqueduct。
It is scarcely necessary to refer to the other works upon this
canal； some of which were of considerable magnitude； though they
may now seem dwarfed by comparison with the works of recent
engineers； Thus； there were two difficult tunnels cut through hard
rock； under the rugged ground which separates the valleys of the
Dee and the Ceriog。 One of these is 500 and the other 200 yards in
length。 To ensure a supply of water for the summit of the canal；
the lake called Bala Pool was dammed up by a regulating weir； and
by its means the water was drawn off at Llandisilio when required
for the purposes of the navigation； the navigable feeder being six
miles long； carried along the bank of the Llangollen valley。
All these works were skilfully executed； and when the undertaking
was finished； Mr。 Telford may be said to have fairly established
his reputation as an engineer of first rate ability。
We now return to Telford's personal history during this important
period of his career。 He had long promised himself a visit to his
dear Eskdale； and the many friends he had left there； but more
especially to see his infirm mother； who had descended far into the
vale of years； and longed to see her son once more before she died。
He had taken constant care that she should want for nothing。
She formed the burden of many of his letters to Andrew Little。
〃Your kindness in visiting and paying so much attention to her；〃
said he； 〃is doing me the greatest favour which you could possibly
confer upon me。〃 He sent his friend frequent sums of money； which
he requested him to lay out in providing sundry little comforts for
his mother； who seems to have carried her spirit of independence so
far as to have expressed reluctance to accept money even from her
own son。 〃I must request；〃 said he； 〃that you will purchase and
send up what things may be likely to be wanted； either for her or
the person who may be with her； as her habits of economy will
prevent her from getting plenty of everything； especially as she
thinks that I have to pay for it； which really hurts me more than
anything else。〃*＇7＇ Though anxious to pay his intended visit； he
was so occupied with one urgent matter of business and another that
he feared it would be November before he could set out。 He had to
prepare a general statement as to the navigation affairs for a
meeting of the committee； he must attend the approaching Salop
quarter sessions； and after that a general meeting of the Canal
Company； so that his visit must be postponed for yet another month。
〃Indeed；〃 said he； 〃I am rather distressed at the thoughts of
running down to see a kind parent in the last stage of decay； on
whom I can only bestow an affectionate look； and then leave her：
her mind will not be much consoled by this parting； and the
impression left upon mine will be more lasting； than pleasant。〃*＇8＇
He did； however； contrive to run down to Eskdale in the following
November。 His mother was alive； but that was all。 After doing what
he could for her comfort； and providing that all her little wants
were properly attended to； he hastened back to his responsible
duties in connection with the Ellesmere Canal。 When at Langholm；
he called upon his former friends to recount with them the incidents
of their youth。 He was declared to be the same 〃canty〃 fellow as
ever； and； though he had risen greatly in the world； he was 〃not a
bit set up。〃 He found one of his old fellow workmen； Frank Beattie；
become the principal innkeeper of the place。 〃What have you made of
your mell and chisels？〃 asked Telford。 〃Oh！〃 replied Beattie；
〃they are all dispersedperhaps lost。〃 〃I have taken better care
of mine；〃 said Telford； 〃I have them all locked up in a room at
Shrewsbury； as well as my old working clothes and leather apron：
you know one can never tell what may happen。〃
He was surprised； as most people are who visit the scenes of their
youth after a long absence； to see into what small dimensions
Langholm had shrunk。 That High Street； which before had seemed so
big； and that frowning gaol and court…house in the Market Place；
were now comparatively paltry to eyes that had been familiar with
Shrewsbury； Portsmouth； and London。 But he was charmed； as ever；
with the sight of the heather hills and the narrow winding valley
〃Where deep and low the hamlets lie
Beneath their little patch of sky；
And little lot of stars。〃
On his return southward； he was again delighted by the sight of old
Gilnockie Castle and the surrounding scenery。 As he afterwards
wrote to his friend Little； 〃Broomholm was in all his glory。〃
Probably one of the results of this visit was the revision of the
poem of 'Eskdale；' which he undertook in the course of the
following spring； putting in some fresh touches and adding many new
lines； whereby the effect of the whole was considerably improved。
He had the poem printed privately； merely for distribution amongst
friends； being careful；〃 as he said； that 〃no copies should be
smuggled and sold。〃
Later in the year we find him； on his way to London on business；
sparing a day or two for the purpose of visiting the Duke of
Buckingham's palace and treasures of art at Stowe； afterwards
writing out an eight…page description of it for the perusal of his
friends at Langholm。 At another time； when engaged upon the viaduct
at Pont…Cysylltau； he snatched a few day's leisure to run through
North Wales； of which he afterwards gave a glowing account to his
correspondent。 He passed by Cader Idris； Snowdon； and Penmaen Mawr。
〃Parts of the country we passed through；〃 he says； 〃very much
resemble the lofty green hills and woody vales of Eskdale。 In other
parts the magnificent boldness of the mountains； the torrents；
lakes； and waterfalls； give a special character to the scenery；
unlike everything of the kind I had before seen。 The vale of
Llanrwst is peculiarly beautiful and fertile。 In this vale is the
celebrated bridge of Inigo Jones； but what is a much more
delightful circumstance； the inhabitants of the vale are the