the life of thomas telford-第70节
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contains about 4000 volumes。 That at Westerkirk had been
originally instituted in the year 1792； by the miners employed to
work an antimony mine （since abandoned） on the farm of Glendinning；
within sight of the place where Telford was born。 On the
dissolution of the mining company； in 1800； the little collection
of books was removed to Kirkton Hill； but on receipt of Telford's
bequest； a special building was erected for their reception at Old
Bentpath near the village of Westerkirk。 The annual income derived
from the Telford fund enabled additions of new volumes to be made
to it from time to time； and its uses as a public institution were
thus greatly increased。 The books are exchanged once a month； on
the day of the full moon； on which occasion readers of all ages and
conditions；farmers； shepherds； ploughmen； labourers； and their
children；resort to it from far and near； taking away with them as
many volumes as they desire for the month's readings。
Thus there is scarcely a cottage in the valley in which good books
are not to be found under perusal； and we are told that it is a
common thing for the Eskdale shepherd to take a book in his plaid
to the hill…sidea volume of Shakespeare； Prescott； or Macaulay
and read it there； under the blue sky； with his sheep and the green
hills before him。 And thus； so long as the bequest lasts； the good；
great engineer will not cease to be remembered with gratitude in
his beloved Eskdale。
Footnotes for Chapter XV。
*＇1＇ In his inaugural address to the members on taking the chair；
the President pointed out that the principles of the Institution
rested on the practical efforts and unceasing perseverance of the
members themselves。 〃In foreign countries；〃 he said； 〃similar
establishments are instituted by government； and their members and
proceedings are under their control； but here； a different course
being adopted； it becomes incumbent on each individual member to
feel that the very existence and prosperity of the Institution
depend； in no small degree； on his personal conduct and exertions；
and my merely mentioning the circumstance will； I am convinced； be
sufficient to command the best efforts of the present and future
members。〃
*＇2＇ We are informed by Joseph Mitchell； Esq。； C。E。； of the origin
of this practice。 Mr。 Mitchell was a pupil of Mr。 Telford's； living
with him in his house at 24； Abingdon Street。 It was the engineer's
custom to have a dinner party every Tuesday； after which his
engineering friends were invited to accompany him to the Institution；
the meetings of which were then held on Tuesday evenings in a house
in Buckingham Street； Strand。 The meetings did not usually consist
of more than from twenty to thirty persons。 Mr。 Mitchell took
notes of the conversations which followed the reading of the papers。
Mr。 Telford afterwards found his pupil extending the notes；
on which he asked permission to read them； and was so much pleased
that he took them to the next meeting and read them to the members。
Mr。 Mitchell was then formally appointed reporter of conversations
to the Institute； and the custom having been continued； a large
mass of valuable practical information has thus been placed on
record。
*＇3＇ Supplement to Weale's 'Bridges；' Count Szechenyi's Report； p。 18。
*＇4＇ Letter to Mrs。 Little； Langholm； 28th August； 1833。
*＇5＇ A statue of him； by Bailey； has since been placed in the east
aisle of the north transept； known as the Islip Chapel。 It is
considered a fine work； but its effect is quite lost in consequence
of the crowded state of the aisle； which has very much the look of
a sculptor's workshop。 The subscription raised for the purpose of
erecting the statue was 1000L。； of which 200L。 was paid to the Dean
for permission to place it within the Abbey。
*＇6＇ Letter to Miss Malcolm； Burnfoot； Langholm； dated 7th October；
1830。
*＇7＇ Sir David Brewster； observes on this point： 〃It is difficult
to analyse that peculiar faculty of mind which directs a successful
engineer who is not guided by the deductions of the exact sciences；
but it must consist mainly in the power of observing the effects of
natural causes acting in a variety of circumstances； and in the
judicious application of this knowledge to cases when the same
causes come into operation。 But while this sagacity is a prominent
feature in the designs of Mr。 Telford； it appears no less
distinctly in the choice of the men by whom they were to be
practically executed。 His quick perception of character； his
honesty of purpose； and his contempt for all otheracquirements；
save that practical knowledge and experience which was best fitted
to accomplish； in the best manner； the object he had in view；have
enables him to leave behind him works of inestimable value； and
monuments of professional celebrity which have not been surpassed
either in Britain or in Europe。〃'Edinburgh Review；' vol。 lxx。 p。 46。
*＇8＇ It seems singular that with Telford's great natural powers of
pleasing； his warm social temperament； and his capability of
forming ardent attachments for friends； many of them women； he
should never have formed an attachment of the heart。 Even in his
youthful and poetical days； the subject of love； so frequently the
theme of boyish song； is never alluded to； while his school
friendships are often recalled to mind and； indeed； made the
special subject of his verse。 It seems odd to find him； when at
Shrewsburya handsome fellow； with a good position； and many
beautiful women about himaddressing his friend； the blind
schoolmaster at Langholm； as his 〃Stella〃！
*＇9＇ Mr。 Mitchell says： 〃He lived at the rate of about 1200L。 a
year。 He kept a carriage； but no horses； and used his carriage
principally for making his journeys through the country on business。
I once accompanied him to Bath and Cornwall； when he made me keep
an accurate journal of all I saw。 He used to lecture us on being
independent； even in little matters； and not ask servants to do for
us what we might easily do for ourselves。 He carried in his pocket
a small book containing needles； thread； and buttons； and on an
emergency was always ready to put in a stitch。 A curious habit he
had of mending his stockings； which I suppose he acquired when a
working mason。 He would not permit his housekeeper to touch them；
but after his work at night； about nine or half past； he would go
up stairs； and take down a lot； and sit mending them with great
apparent delight in his own room till bed…time。 I have frequently
gone in to him with some message； and found him occupied with this
work。〃
*＇10＇ 〃The British Fisheries Society；〃 adds Mr。 Rickman； 〃did not
suffer themselves to be entirely outdone in liberality； and shortly
before his death they pressed upon Mr。 Telford a very handsome gift
of plate； which； being inscribed with expressions of their
thankfulness and gratitude towards him； he could not possibly
refuse to accept。〃'Life of Telford；' p。 283。
*＇11＇ Weale's 'Theory。 Practice； and Architecture of Bridges；'
vol。i。： 'Essay on Foundations of Bridges；' by T。 Hughes； C。E。； p。 33。
*＇12＇ Letter to Mr。 William Little； Langholm； 24th January； 1815。
*＇13＇ Telford thought so little about money； that he did not even
know the amount he died possessed of。 It turned out that instead of
16；600L。 it was about 30；000L。； so that his legatees had their
bequests nearly doubled。 For many years he had abstained from
drawing the dividends on the shares which he held in the canals and
other public companies in which he was concerned。 At the money
panic of 1825； it was found that he had a considerable sum lying in
the hands of his London bankers at little or no interest； and it
was only on the urgent recommendation of his friend； Sir P。 Malcolm；
that he invested it in government securities； then very low。
*＇14＇ 'Selections from the Letters of Robert Southey；' vol。 iv。；
p。 391。 We may here mention that the last article which Southey
wrote for the 'Quarterly' was his review of the ' Life of Telford。'
End
