CHAP. XIV. 



HIS DOMESTIC HABITS. 



487 



lecture, Bridge-building, and Canal making. Besides 

 his contributions to that work, he advanced a consider- 

 able sum of money to aid in its publication, which 

 remained a debt due to his estate at the period of his 

 death. 



Although occupied as a leading engineer for nearly 

 forty years having certified contractors' bills during 

 that time amounting to many millions sterling he 

 died in comparatively moderate circumstances. Eminent 

 constructive ability was not very highly remunerated in 

 Telford's time, and his average income did not amount 

 to more than is paid to the resident engineer of any 

 modern railway. But Telford's charges were perhaps 

 unusually low so much so that a deputation of members 

 of the profession on one occasion formally expostulated 

 with him on the subject. 



Although he could not be said to have an indifference 

 for money, he yet estimated it as a thing worth infinitely 

 less than character. His wants were few, and his house- 

 hold expenses small ; and though he entertained many 

 visitors and friends, it was in a quiet way and on a 

 moderate scale. The small regard he had for personal 

 dignity may be inferred from the fact, that to the last he 

 continued the practice, which he had learnt when a work- 

 ing mason, of darning his own stockings. 1 But he had 

 nevertheless the highest idea of the dignity of his pro- 

 fession ; not, however, because of the money it would 



1 Mr. Mitchell says : " He lived at 

 the rate of about 1200Z. a year. He 

 kept a carriage, but no horses, and 

 used his carriage principally for making 

 his journeys through the country on 

 business. I once accompanied him to 

 Bath and Cornwall, when he made 

 me keep an accurate journal of all I 

 saw. He used to lecture us on being 

 independent, even in little matters, 

 and not ask servants to do for us 

 what we might easily do for ourselves. 

 He carried in his pocket a small book 

 containing needles, thread, and but- 



tons, and on an emergency was always 

 ready to put in a stitch. A curious 

 habit he had of mending his stock- 

 ings, which I suppose he acquired 

 when a working mason. He would 

 not permit his housekeeper to touch 

 them, but after his work at night, 

 about nine or half-past, he would go 

 upstairs, and take down a lot, and sit 

 mending them with great apparent 

 delight in his own room till bed-time. 

 I have frequently gone in to him with 

 some message, and found him occu- 

 pied with this work." 



