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第33章

the life of thomas telford-第33章

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through years; he thought that the complete life structure should

be built up。  He thus describes one of the best of his fellow…workmen

at that timethe only individual he had formed an intimacy with:

〃He has been six years at Somerset House; and is esteemed the

finest workman in London; and consequently in England。  He works

equally in stone and marble。  He has excelled the professed carvers

in cutting Corinthian capitals and other ornaments about this

edifice; many of which will stand as a monument to his honour。

He understands drawing thoroughly; and the master he works under

looks on him as the principal support of his business。  This man;

whose name is Mr。 Hatton; may be half a dozen years older than

myself at most。  He is honesty and good nature itself; and is

adored by both his master and fellow…workmen。 Notwithstanding his

extraordinary skill and abilities; he has been working all this

time as a common journeyman; contented with a few shillings a week

more than the rest; but I believe your uneasy friend has kindled a

spark in his breast that he never felt before。〃 *'3'



In fact; Telford had formed the intention of inducing this

admirable fellow to join him in commencing business as builders on

their own account。  〃There is nothing done in stone or marble;〃 he

says; 〃that we cannot do in the completest manner。〃  Mr。 Robert Adam;

to whom the scheme was mentioned; promised his support; and said he

would do all in his power to recommend them。  But the great

difficulty was money; which neither of them possessed; and Telford;

with grief; admitting that this was an 〃insuperable bar;〃 went no

further with the scheme。



About this time Telford was consulted by Mr。 Pulteney*'4'

respecting the alterations making in the mansion at Wester Hall;

and was often with him on this business。  We find him also writing

down to Langholm for the prices of roofing; masonry; and timber…work;

with a view to preparing estimates for a friend who was building a

house in that neighbourhood。  Although determined to reach the

highest excellence as a manual worker; it is clear that he was

already aspiring to be something more。  Indeed; his steadiness;

perseverance; and general ability; pointed him out as one well

worthy of promotion。



How he achieved his next step we are not informed; but we find him;

in July; 1784; engaged in superintending the erection of a house;

after a design by Mr。 Samuel Wyatt; intended for the residence of

the Commissioner (now occupied by the Port Admiral) at Portsmouth

Dockyard; together with a new chapel; and several buildings

connected with the Yard。  Telford took care to keep his eyes open to

all the other works going forward in the neighbourhood; and he

states that he had frequent opportunities of observing the various

operations necessary in the foundation and construction of

graving…docks; wharf…walls; and such like; which were among the

principal occupations of his after…life。



The letters written by him from Portsmouth to his Eskdale

correspondents about this time were cheerful and hopeful; like

those he had sent from London。  His principal grievance was that he

received so few from home; but he supposed that opportunities for

forwarding them by hand had not occurred; postage being so dear as

scarcely then to be thought of。  To tempt them to correspondence he

sent copies of the poems which he still continued to compose in the

leisure of his evenings: one of these was a 'Poem on Portsdown Hill。'

As for himself; he was doing very well。  The buildings were

advancing satisfactorily; but; 〃above all;〃 said he; 〃my proceedings

are entirely approved by the Commissioners and officers here

so much so that they would sooner go by my advice than my master's;

which is a dangerous point; being difficult to keep their good

graces as well as his。  However; I will contrive to manage it〃*'5'



The following is his own account of the manner in which he was

usually occupied during the winter months while at Portsmouth Dock:

〃I rise in the morning at 7 (February 1st); and will get up

earlier as the days lengthen until it come to 5 o'clock。

I immediately set to work to make out accounts; write on matters of

business; or draw; until breakfast; which is at 9。  Then I go into

the Yard about 10; see that all are at their posts; and am ready to

advise about any matters that may require attention。  This; and

going round the several works; occupies until about dinner…time;

which is at 2; and after that I again go round and attend to what

may be wanted。  I draw till 5; then tea; and after that I write;

draw; or read until half after 9; then comes supper and bed。  This

my ordinary round; unless when I dine or spend an evening with a

friend; but I do not make many friends; being very particular; nay;

nice to a degree。  My business requires a great deal of writing and

drawing; and this work I always take care to keep under by

reserving my time for it; and being in advance of my work rather

than behind it。  Then; as knowledge is my most ardent pursuit; a

thousand things occur which call for investigation which would

pass unnoticed by those who are content to trudge only in the

beaten path。  I am not contented unless I can give a reason for

every particular method or practice which is pursued。  Hence I am

now very deep in chemistry。  The mode of making mortar in the best

way led me to inquire into the nature of lime。  Having; in pursuit

of this inquiry; looked into some books on chemistry; I perceived

the field was boundless; but that to assign satisfactory reasons

for many mechanical processes required a general knowledge of that

science。  I have therefore borrowed a MS。 copy of Dr。 Black's

Lectures。  I have bought his 'Experiments on Magnesia and

Quicklime;' and also Fourcroy's Lectures; translated from the

French by one Mr。 Elliot; of Edinburgh。  And I am determined to

study the subject with unwearied attention until I attain some

accurate knowledge of chemistry; which is of no less use in the

practice of the arts than it is in that of medicine。〃  He adds; that

he continues to receive the cordial approval of the Commissioners

for the manner in which he performs his duties; and says; 〃I take

care to be so far master of the business committed to me as that

none shall be able to eclipse me in that respect。〃*'6'  At the same

time he states he is taking great delight in Freemasonry; and is

about to have a lodge…room at the George Inn fitted up after his

plans and under his direction。  Nor does he forget to add that he

has his hair powdered every day; and puts on a clean shirt three

times a week。



The Eskdale mason was evidently getting on; as he deserved to do。

But he was not puffed up。  To his Langholm friend he averred that

〃he would rather have it said of him that he possessed one grain of

good nature or good sense than shine the finest puppet in

Christendom。〃  〃Let my mother know that I am well;〃 he wrote to

Andrew Little; 〃and that I will print her a letter soon。〃*'7'

For it was a practice of this good son; down to the period of his

mother's death; no matter how much burdened he was with business;

to set apart occasional times for the careful penning of a letter

in printed characters; that she might the more easily be able to

decipher it with her old and dimmed eyes by her cottage fireside at

The Crooks。  As a man's real disposition usually displays itself

most strikingly in small matterslike light; which gleams the

most brightly when seen through narrow chinksit will probably

be admitted that this trait; trifling though it may appear; was

truly characteristic of the simple and affectionate nature of the

hero of our story。



The buildings at Portsmouth were finished by the end of 1786; when

Telford's duties there being at an end; and having no engagement

beyond the termination of the contract; he prepared to leave; and

began to look about him for other employment。



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