CHAP. III. A HEWER AT SOMERSET HOUSE. 311 



make every effort : they would work hard, exert them- 

 selves to keep them up to the highest point, and very 

 readily " strike " to secure an advance ; but as for the 

 next week, or the next year, he thought them exceed- 

 ingly careless. On the Monday mornings they began 

 " clean ;" and on Saturdays there was the week's earn- 

 ings to spend. Thus they lived from one week to another 

 their limited notion of " the week " seeming to bound 

 their existence. 



Telford, on the other hand, looked upon the week as 

 only one of the storeys of a building ; and upon the 

 succession of weeks, running on 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 time the 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. Not- 

 withstanding 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." * 



In fact, Telford had formed the intention of inducing 

 this admirable fellow to join him in commencing busi- 

 ness as builders on their own account. " There is nothing 



1 Letter to Mr. Andrew Little, Laugholm, dated London, July, 1783. 



