274 WILLIAM EDWARDS, BRIDGE BUILDER. TAKT IV. 



in this respect upon his earlier ones ; and while he con- 

 tinued to be equally careful in providing ample water- 

 way under the arching, and to erect his bridges with a 

 view to the greatest possible durability, he took in- 

 creasing pains to provide a more capacious and level 

 roadway over them, and render them in all ways more 

 easy and convenient for public use. 



Besides his numerous bridges, Edwards continued, 

 during the remainder of his long life, to erect smelt- 

 ing-houses, forges, and buildings of various kinds for 

 purposes of manufacture. Nor did his building busi- 

 ness exclusively occupy his time, for, in addition to 

 his trade or profession as a building engineer, he carried 

 on the business of a farmer until the close of his life. 

 Not even on Sundays did he cease from his labours ; 

 but, though the Sabbath was no day of rest for him, his 

 labours then were all labours of love. In 1750 he 

 became an ordained preacher amongst the Independents. 

 Shortly after, he was chosen minister of the congregation 

 to which he belonged, and he continued to hold the 

 office for about forty years, until his death. He occa- 

 sionally preached in the neighbouring meeting-houses : 

 amongst others, in that of Mr. Eees, the father of Abra- 

 ham Rees, editor of the well-known ' Encyclopedia.' 

 This meeting-house was one of the numerous buildings 

 erected by Edwards himself. He always preached in 

 Welsh, and his discourses are said to have been simple, 

 sensible, and full of loving-kindness. His fellow-country- 

 man Malkin l says of him, that, though a Calviiiist, he 

 was one of a very liberal description ; indeed, he carried 

 his charity so far that many persons suspected he Lad 

 changed his opinions, and for that reason spoke very 

 unhandsomely of him. As he grew older he became 

 increasingly charitable and tolerant of other men's 

 views, avoiding points of doctrinal difference, but urging 



1 'The Scenery, Antiquities, and I Benjamin Heath Malkin, Esq., IM.A.. 

 Biography of South Wales.' By | F.A.S. 1807. Vol. i., p. 144. 



