330 TELFOKD ON MECHANICAL EXPERIENCE. PART Vlll. 



CHAPTER V. 



TELFORD'S FIRST EMPLOYMENT AS AN ENGINEER. 







As surveyor for the county, Telford was frequently 

 called upon by the magistrates to advise them as to the 

 improvement of roads and the building or repairs of 

 bridges. His early experience of bridge-building in his 

 native district now proved of much service to him, and 

 he used often to congratulate himself, even when he had 

 reached the highest rank in his profession, upon the cir- 

 cumstances which had compelled him to begin his career 

 by working with his own hands. To be a thorough 

 judge of work, he held that a man must himself have 

 been practically engaged in it. " Not only," he said, 

 " are the natural senses of seeing and feeling requisite in 

 the examination of materials, but also the practised eye, 

 and the hand which has had experience of the kind and 

 qualities of stone, of lime, of iron, of timber, and even 

 of earth, and of the effects of human ingenuity in applying 

 and combining all these substances, are necessary for 

 arriving at mastery in the profession ; for, how can a 

 man give judicious directions unless he possesses personal 

 knowledge of the details requisite to effect his ultimate 

 purpose in the best and cheapest manner ? It has hap- 

 pened to me more than once, when taking opportunities 

 of being useful to a young man of merit, that I have 

 experienced opposition in taking him from his books and 

 drawings, and placing a mallet, chisel, or trowel in his 

 hand, till, rendered confident by the solid knowledge 

 which experience only can bestow, he was qualified to 

 insist on the due performance of workmanship, and to 



