488 



HIS REMUNERATION. 



PAKT VIII. 



produce, but of the great things it was calculated to 

 accomplish. In his most confidential letters we find him 

 often expatiating on the noble works he was engaged in 

 designing or constructing, and the national good likely 

 to flow from them, but never on the pecuniary advan- 

 tages he himself was to reap. He doubtless prized, and 

 prized highly, the reputation they would bring him ; and, 

 above all, there seemed to be uppermost in his mind, 

 especially in the earlier part of his career, whilst many 

 of his schoolfellows were still alive, the thought of 

 " What will they say of this in Eskdale ? " but as for 

 the money results to himself, Telford seemed, to the 

 close of his life, to regard them as of comparatively small 

 moment. 



During the twenty-one years that he acted as principal 

 engineer for the Caledonian Canal, we find from the Par- 

 liamentary returns that the amount paid to him for his 

 reports, detailed plans, and superintendence, was exactly 

 237/. a-year. When he conceived the works to be of 

 great public importance, and promoted by public-spirited 

 persons at their own expense, he refused to receive any 

 payment for his labour, or even repayment of the ex- 

 penses incurred by him. Thus, while employed by the 

 Government in the improvement of the Highland roads, 

 he persuaded himself that he ought at the same time to 

 promote the similar patriotic objects of the British 

 Fisheries Society, which were carried out by voluntary 

 subscription ; and for many years he acted as their 

 engineer, refusing to accept any remuneration whatever 

 for his trouble. 1 



Mr. Telford held the sordid money-grubber in perfect 

 detestation. He was of opinion that the adulation paid 



i "The British Fisheries Society," 

 adds Mr. Rickman, " did not suffer 

 themselves to be entirely outdone in 

 liberality, and shortly before his 

 death they pressed upon Mr. Telford 

 a very handsome gift of plate, which, 



being inscribed with expressions of 

 their thankfulness and gratitude to- 

 wards him, he could not possibly re- 

 fuse to accept." * Life of Telford,' p. 

 283. 



