The Life Of Thomas Paine, Vol. 1. (of 2): With A History of His Literary, Political and Religious Career in America France, and England; to which is added a Sketch of Paine by William CobbettConway, Moncure Daniel
Religion
The Life Of Thomas Paine, Vol. 1. (of 2): With A History of His Literary, Political and Religious Career in America France, and England; to which is added a Sketch of Paine by William Cobbett
Conway, Moncure Daniel
Paine, Thomas, 1737-1809
"I thank you for the many and judicious observations about my bridge.
I am exactly in your Ideas as you will perceive by the following
account.--I went to the Iron Works the latter end of Octr. My intention
at the time of writing to you was to construct an experiment arch of 250
feet, but in the first place, the season was too far advanced to work
out of doors and an arch of that extent could not be worked within
doors, and nextly, there was a prospect of a real Bridge being wanted on
the spot of 90 feet extent. The person who appeared disposed to erect a
Bridge is Mr. Foljambe nephew to the late Sir George Saville, and member
in the last Parliament for Yorkshire. He lives about three miles from
the works, and the River Don runs in front of his house, over which
there is an old ill constructed Bridge which he wants to remove.
These circumstances determined me to begin an arch of 90 feet with an
elevation of 5 feet. This extent I could manage within doors by working
half the arch at a time.... A great part of our time, as you will
naturally suppose was taken up in preparations, but after we began to
work we went on rapidly, and that without any mistake, or anything
to alter or amend. The foreman of the works is a Relation to the
Proprietors, an excellent mechanic and who fell into all my Ideas with
great ease and penetration. I staid at the works till one half the Rib,
45 feet, was compleated and framed horizontally together and came up to
London at the meeting of Parliament on the 4th of December. The foreman,
whom, as I told him, I should appoint 'President of the Board of Works,'
in my absence wrote me word that he has got the other half together with
much less trouble than the first. He is now preparing for erecting and I
for returning.
"February 26.--A few days ago I received a letter from Mr. Foljambe in
which he says: I saw the Rib of your Bridge. In point of elegance and
beauty, it far exceeded my expectations and is certainly beyond any
thing I ever saw.'--My model and myself had many visitors while I was at
the works. A few days after I got there, Lord Fitz-William, heir to the
Marquis of Rockingham, came with Mr. Burke. The former gave the workmen
five guineas and invited me to Wentworth House, a few miles distant from
the works, where I went, and staid a few days.
"This Bridge I expect will bring forth something greater, but in the
meantime I feel like a Bird from its nest and wishing most anxiously
to return. Therefore, as soon as I can bring any thing to bear, I shall
dispose of the contract and bid adieu. I can very truly say that my mind
is not at home.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account