CHAP. III. WILLIAM Ml >\\ A III >S. I >> RIDGE BUILDER. L>7.-. 



and enforcing" tliat flic love of God and of our neigh- 

 bour is the aim and end of all religion. Holding it to 

 be the duty of every religious society to contribute 

 liberally of their means to the support of their ministry, 

 he regularly took the stipulated salary which his con- 

 gregation allowed to their preachers, but distributed 

 the whole of it amongst the poorer members of his 

 church, often adding to it largely from his own means. 

 r l'h is worthy Christian labourer died at the advanced 

 a ire of seventy, respected and beloved by men of all 

 parties, and he was buried in the churchyard of his 

 native parish of Eglwysilan, amidst the graves of his 

 children. Three of his sons were, like their father, 

 eminent bridge-builders : David having constructed the 

 fine five-arched bridge over the Usk at Newport, as well 

 as the bridges at Llandilo, Edwinsford, Pontloyrig, Bed- 

 wax, and other places. Indeed, William Edwards may 

 be said to have fairly inaugurated the revival of the art 

 of bridge-building in England. After his time, it was 

 taken up by Smeaton, Rennie, and Telford, arid its 

 progress will accordingly be found described in connec- 

 tion with the lives and works of those distinguished 

 engineers. 



T 2 



