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is； in regard to the production of wealth and the practice of the
useful arts。〃*＇12＇ Amidst all this progress； which so strikingly
characterized the western districts of England； Telford also
thought that there was a prospect of coming improvement for Ireland。
〃There is a board of five members appointed by Parliament； to act
as a board of control over all the inland navigations； &c。； of
Ireland。 One of the members is a particular friend of mine； and at
this moment a pupil； as it were； anxious for information。 This is
a noble object： the field is wide； the ground new and capable of
vast improvement。 To take up and manage the water of a fine island
is like a fairy tale； and； if properly conducted； it would render
Ireland truly a jewel among the nations。〃*＇13＇ It does not；
however； appear that Telford was ever employed by the board to
carry out the grand scheme which thus fired his engineering
imagination。
Mixing freely with men of all classes； our engineer seems to have
made many new friends and acquaintances about this time。 While on
his journeys north and south； he frequently took the opportunity of
looking in upon the venerable James Watt〃a great and good man；〃
he terms himat his house at Heathfield； near Birmingham。
At London he says he is 〃often with old Brodie and Black； each the
first in his profession； though they walked up together to the
great city on foot；*＇14＇ more than half a century agoGloria！〃
About the same time we find him taking interest in the projects of
a deserving person； named Holwell； a coal…master in Staffordshire；
and assisting him to take out a patent for boring wooden pipes；
〃he being a person；〃 says Telford； 〃little known； and not having
capital； interest； or connections； to bring the matter forward。〃
Telford also kept up his literary friendships and preserved his
love for poetical reading。 At Shrewsbury； one of his most intimate
friends was Dr。 Darwin； son of the author of the 'Botanic Garden。'
At Liverpool； he made the acquaintance of Dr。 Currie； and was
favoured with a sight of his manuscript of the ' Life of Burns；'
then in course of publication。 Curiously enough； Dr。 Currie had
found among Burns's papers a copy of some verses； addressed to the
poet； which Telford recognised as his own； written many years
before while working as a mason at Langholm。 Their purport was to
urge Burns to devote himself to the composition of poems of a
serious character； such as the 'Cotter's Saturday Night。' With
Telford's permission； several extracts from his Address to Burns
were published in 1800 in Currie's Life of the poet。 Another of
his literary friendships； formed about the same time； was that with
Thomas Campbell； then a very young man； whose 'Pleasures of Hope'
had just made its appearance。 Telford； in one of his letters； says；
〃I will not leave a stone unturned to try to serve the author of
that charming poem。 In a subsequent communication*＇15＇ he says；
〃The author of the 'Pleasures of Hope' has been here for some time。
I am quite delighted with him。 He is the very spirit of poetry。
On Monday I introduced him to the King's librarian； and I imagine
some good may result to him from the introduction。〃
In the midst of his plans of docks； canals； and bridges； he wrote
letters to his friends about the peculiarities of Goethe's poems
and Kotzebue's plays； Roman antiquities； Buonaparte's campaign in
Egypt； and the merits of the last new book。 He confessed； however；
that his leisure for reading was rapidly diminishing in consequence
of the increasing professional demands upon his time； but he bought
the 'Encyclopedia Britannica；' which he described as 〃a perfect
treasure； containing everything； and always at hand。〃 He thus
rapidly described the manner in which his time was engrossed。
〃A few days since； I attended a general assembly of the canal
proprietors in Shropshire。 I have to be at Chester again in a
week； upon an arbitration business respecting the rebuilding of the
county hall and gaol； but previous to that I must visit Liverpool；
and afterwards proceed into Worcestershire。 So you see what sort
of a life I have of it。 It is something like Buonaparte； when in
Italy； fighting battles at fifty or a hundred miles distance every
other day。 However； plenty of employment is what every
professional man is seeking after； and my various occupations now
require of me great exertions； which they certainly shall have so
long as life and health are spared to me。〃*＇16＇ Amidst all his
engagements； Telford found time to make particular inquiry about
many poor families formerly known to him in Eskdale； for some of
whom he paid house…rent； while he transmitted the means of
supplying others with coals； meal； and necessaries； during the
severe winter months；a practice which he continued to the close
of his life。
Footnotes for Chapter VII。
*＇1＇ 'Encyclopedia Britannica；' 8th ed。 Art。 〃Iron Bridges。〃
*＇2＇ According to the statement made in the petition drawn by Paine；
excise officers were then （1772） paid only 1s。 9 1/4d。 a day。
*＇3＇ In England； Paine took out a patent for his Iron Bridge in
1788。 Specification of Patents （old law） No。 1667。
*＇4＇ ＇Image＇ Buildwas Bridge。
The following are further details： 〃Each of the main ribs of the
flat arch consists of three pieces； and at each junction they are
secured by a grated plate； which connects all the parallel ribs
together into one frame。 The back of each abutment is in a
wedge…shape； so as to throw off laterally much of the pressure of
the earth。 Under the bridge is a towing path on each side of the
river。 The bridge was cast in an admirable manner by the
Coalbrookdale iron…masters in the year 1796； under contract with
the county magistrates。 The total cost was 6034L。 l3s。 3d。〃
*＇5＇ Letter to Mr。 Andrew Little； Langholm； dated Shrewsbury；
l8th March； 1795。
*＇6＇ Douglas was first mentioned to Telford； in a letter from
Mr。 Pasley； as a young man； a native of Bigholmes； Eskdale； who had；
after serving his time there as a mechanic； emigrated to America；
where he showed such proofs of mechanical genius that he attracted
the notice of Mr。 Liston； the British Minister； who paid his
expenses home to England； that his services might not be lost to
his country； and at the same time gave him a letter of introduction
to the Society of Arts in London。 Telford； in a letter to Andrew
Little； dated 4th December； 1797； expressed a desire 〃to know more
of this Eskdale Archimedes。〃 Shortly after； we find Douglas
mentioned as having invented a brick machine； a shearing…machine；
and a ball for destroying the rigging of ships； for the two former
of which he secured patents。 He afterwards settled in France； where
he introduced machinery for the improved manufacture of woollen
cloth； and being patronised by the Government； he succeeded in
realising considerable wealth； which； how ever； he did not live to
enjoy。