314 TELFORD AT PORTSMOUTH PART VIII. 



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 is 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 de- 

 gree. 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 know- 

 ledge of that science. I have therefore borrowed a 

 MS. copy of Dr. Black's Lectures. I have bought his 

 4 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." At 



1 Letter to Mr. Andrew Little, Limgliolm, dated Portsmouth Dockyard, 

 Feb. 1, 1786. 



