CHAP. III. 



A HEWER AT SOMERSET HOUSE. 



309 



mason from Eskdale, the bearer of the letter. Mr. Pasley 

 received his countryman kindly, and furnished him with 

 letters of introduction to Sir William Chambers, the 

 architect of Somerset House, then in course of erec- 

 tion. It was the finest architectural work in progress 

 in the metropolis, and Telford, desirous of improving 

 himself by experience of the best kind, wished to be 

 employed upon it. It did not, indeed, need any in- 

 fluence to obtain work there, for good hewers were in 

 great demand ; but our mason thought it well to make 

 sure, and accordingly provided himself beforehand with 

 the letter of introduction to the architect. He was 

 employed immediately, and set to work amongst the 

 hewers, receiving the usual wages for his work. 



Mr. Pasley also furnished him with a letter to Mr. 

 Robert Adam, 1 another distinguished architect of the 

 time ; and Telford seems to have been much gratified 

 by the civility which he received from him. Sir Wil- 

 liam Chambers he found haughty and reserved, pro- 

 bably being too much occupied to bestow attention on 

 the Somerset House hewer, whilst Adam he described 

 as affable and communicative. " Although I derived 

 no direct advantage from either," Telford says, " yet 

 so powerful is manner, that the latter left the most 

 favourable impression ; while the interviews with both 

 convinced me that my safest plan was to endeavour 

 to advance, if by slower degrees, yet by independent 

 conduct." 



There was a good deal of fine hewer's work about 

 Somerset House, and from the first Telford aimed at 

 taking the highest place as an artist and tradesman in 



1 Robert and John Adam were 

 architects of considerable repute in 

 their day. Among their London erec- 

 tions were the Adelphi Buildings, in 

 the Strand; Lansdowne House, in 

 Berkeley Square ; Caen Wood House, 



near Hampstead (Lord Mansfield's); 

 Portland Place, Regent's Park; and 

 numerous West End streets and man- 

 sions. The screen of the Admiralty 

 and the ornaments of Drapers' Hall 

 were also designed by them. 



