336 TELFORD'S EMPLOYMENT PART VIII. 



only man that speaks out fairly to him, and who contra- 

 dicts him the most. In fact, between us, we sometimes 

 quarrel like tinkers ; but I hold my ground, and when 

 he sees I am right he quietly gives in." 



Although Mr. Pulteney's influence had no doubt 

 assisted Telford in obtaining the appointment of sur- 

 veyor, it had nothing to do with the unsolicited invi- 

 tation which now emanated from the county gentlemen. 

 Telford was not even a candidate for the engineership, 

 and had not dreamt of offering himself, so that the pro- 

 posal came upon him entirely by surprise. Though he 

 admitted he had self-confidence, he frankly confessed 

 that he had not a sufficient amount of it to justify him 

 in aspiring to the office of engineer to one of the most 

 important undertakings of the day. The following is 

 his own account of the circumstance : 



" My literary project l is at present at a stand, and 

 may be retarded for some time to come, as I was last 

 Monday appointed sole agent, architect, and engineer to 

 the canal which is projected to join the Mersey, the Dee, 

 and the Severn. It is the greatest work, I believe, now 

 in hand in this kingdom, and will not be completed for 

 many years to come. You will be surprised that I have 

 not mentioned this to you before ; but the fact is that I 

 had no idea of any such appointment until an applica- 

 tion was made to me by some of the leading gentlemen, 

 and I was appointed, though many others had made 

 much interest for the place. This will be a great and 

 laborious undertaking, but the line which it opens is 

 vast and noble ; and coming as the appointment does 

 in this honourable way, I thought it too great an 

 opportunity to be neglected, especially as I have stipu- 

 lated for, and been allowed, the privilege of carrying 

 on my architectural profession. The work will re- 



1 The preparation of some translations from Buchanan which he had con- 

 templated. 



