474 INSTITUTE OF CIVIL ENGINEERS. PART YJ IT. 



450/. for him ; the increase in the price marking very 

 significantly the growing importance of the engineer's 

 position. There was, however, no help for the discon- 

 solate landlord, and Telford left the Salopian to take 

 possession of his new house at 24, Abingdon Street. 

 Labelye, the engineer of Westminster Bridge, had for- 

 merly occupied the dwelling ; and, at a subsequent period, 

 Sir William Chambers, the architect of Somerset House. 

 Telford used to take much pleasure in pointing out to 

 his visitors the painting of Westminster Bridge, impa- 

 nelled in the wall over the parlour mantelpiece, made 

 for Labelye by an Italian artist whilst the bridge works 

 were in progress. In that house Telford continued to 

 live until the close of his life. 



One of the subjects in which he took much interest 

 during his later years was the establishment of the In- 

 stitute of Civil Engineers. In 1818 a society had been 

 formed, consisting principally of young men educated 

 to civil and mechanical engineering, who occasionally 

 met to discuss matters of interest relating to their 

 profession. As early as the time of Smeaton, a social 

 meeting of engineers was occasionally held at an inn 

 in Holborn, which was discontinued, in 1792, in con- 

 sequence of some personal differences amongst the 

 members. It was revived in the following year, under 

 the auspices of Mr. Jessop, Mr. Naylor, Mr. Rennie, 

 and Mr. Whitworth, and joined by other gentlemen of 

 scientific distinction. They were accustomed to dine 

 together every fortnight at the Crown and Anchor in 

 the Strand, spending the evening in conversation on 

 engineering subjects. But as the numbers and import- 

 ance of the profession increased, the desire began to be 

 felt, especially amongst the junior members, for an insti- 

 tution of a more enlarged character. Hence the move- 

 ment among the younger men to which we have alluded, 

 and which led to an invitation to Mr. Telford to accept 

 the office of President of their proposed Engineers' In- 



