Mr。Stephensonaddsthatfromadefectintheconstructiontheabutmentswerethrustinwardsattheapproachesandtheribspartiallyfractured。Weare，however，informedthatthisisamistake，thoughitdoesappearthattheapprehensionatonetimeexistedthatsuchanaccidentmightpossiblyoccur。
Toremedythesupposeddefect，twosmalllandarcheswere，intheyear1800，substitutedforthestoneapproachontheBroseleysideofthebridge。Whiletheworkwasinprogress，Mr。Telford，thewell-knownengineer，carefullyexaminedthebridge，andthusspokeofitsconditionatthetime：——”Thegreatimprovementoferectinguponanavigableriverabridgeofcast-ironofonearchonlywasfirstputinpracticenearCoalbrookdale。Thebridgewasexecutedin1777
byMr。AbrahamDarby，andtheironworkisnowquiteasperfectaswhenitwasfirstputup。Drawingsofthisbridgehavelongbeenbeforethepublic，andhavebeenmuchandjustlyadmired。”*
[footnote……
PLYMLEY，GeneralViewoftheAgricultureofShropshire。
ACoalbrookdalecorrespondent，writinginMay，1862，informsusthat”atthepresenttimethebridgeisundergoingrepair；and，specialexaminationhavingbeenmade，thereisnoappearanceeitherthattheabutmentshavemoved，orthattheribshavebeenbrokeninthecentreorareoutoftheirproperrightline。Therehas，itistrue，beenastrainonthelandarches，andontheroadwayplates，which，however，themainarchhasbeenableeffectuallytoresist。”
Thebridgehasnowbeeninprofitabledailyuseforupwardsofeightyyears，andhasduringthattimeprovedofthegreatestconveniencetothepopulationofthedistrict。Sojudiciouswastheselectionofitssite，andsogreatitsutility，thatathrivingtownofthenameofIronbridgehasgrownuparoundituponwhat，atthetimeofitserection，wasanamelesspartof”thewasteofthemanorofMadeley。”
Anditisprobablethatthebridgewilllastforcenturiestocome。
Thus，also，wastheuseofironasanimportantmaterialinbridge-buildingfairlyinitiatedatCoalbrookdalebyAbrahamDarby，astheuseofironrailswasbyRichardReynolds。Weneedscarcelyaddthatsincetheinventionandextensiveadoptionofrailwaylocomotion，theemploymentofironinvariousformsinrailwayandbridgestructureshasrapidlyincreased，untilironhascometoberegardedastheverysheet-anchoroftherailwayengineer。
InthemeantimetheworksatCoalbrookdalehadbecomelargelyextended。In1784，whenthegovernmentofthedayproposedtolevyataxonpit-coal，RichardReynoldsstronglyurgeduponMr。Pitt，thenChancelloroftheExchequer，aswellasonLordGower，afterwardsMarquisofStafford，theimpolicyofsuchatax。Tothelatterherepresentedthatlargecapitalshadbeeninvestedintheirontrade，whichwaswithdifficultycarriedoninthefaceofthecompetitionwithSwedishandRussianiron。AtCoalbrookdale，sixteen”fireengines，”assteamengineswerefirstcalled，werethenatwork，eightblast-furnacesandnineforges，besidestheairfurnacesandmillsatthefoundry，which，withthelevels，roads，andmorethantwentymilesofironrailways，gaveemploymenttoaverylargenumberofpeople。”Theadvancementoftheirontradewithinthesefewyears，”saidhe，”hasbeenprodigious。Itwasthought，andjustly，thatthemakingofpig-ironwithpitcoalwasagreatacquisitiontothecountrybysavingthewoodandsupplyingamaterialtomanufactures，theproductionofwhich，bytheconsumptionofallthewoodthecountryproduced，wasformerlyunequaltothedemand，andthenailtrade，perhapsthemostconsiderableofanyonearticleofmanufacturediron，wouldhavebeenlosttothiscountryhaditnotbeenfoundpracticabletomakenailsofironmadewithpitcoal。Wehavenowanotherprocesstoattempt，andthatistomakeBARIRON
withpitcoal；anditisforthatpurposewehavemade，orratheraremaking，alterationsatDonningtonWood，Ketley，andelsewhere，whichweexpecttocompleteinthepresentyear，butnotatalessexpensethantwentythousandpounds，whichwillbelosttous，andgainedbynobody，ifthistaxislaiduponourcoals。”Hewouldnot，however，haveitunderstoodthathesoughtforanyPROTECTIONforthehomemadeiron，notwithstandingthelowerpricesoftheforeignarticle。”Fromitsmostimperfectstateaspig-iron，”heobservedtoLordSheffield，”toitshighestfinishintheregulatingspringsofawatch，wehavenothingtofeariftheimportationintoeachcountryshouldbepermittedwithoutduty。”WeneedscarcelyaddthatthesubsequenthistoryoftheirontradeabundantlyjustifiedthesesagaciousanticipationsofRichardReynolds。
Hewasnowfaradvancedinyears。Hisbusinesshadprospered，hismeanswereample，andhesoughtretirement。Hedidnotdesiretopossessgreatwealth，whichinhisopinionentailedsuchseriousresponsibilitiesuponitspossessor；andheheldthattheaccumulationoflargepropertywasmoretobedeprecatedthandesired。HethereforedeterminedtogiveuphissharesintheironworksatKetleytohissonsWilliamandJoseph，whocontinuedtocarrythemon。Williamwasamanofeminentability，wellversedinscience，andanexcellentmechanic。Heintroducedgreatimprovementsintheworkingofthecoalandironmines，employingnewmachineryforthepurpose，andavailinghimselfwithmuchingenuityofthediscoveriesthenbeingmadeinthescienceofchemistry。Hewasalsoaninventor，havingbeenthefirsttoemployin1788inclinedplanes，consistingofparallelrailways，toconnectandworkcanalsofdifferentlevels，——aninventionerroneouslyattributedtoFulton，butwhichthelatterhimselfacknowledgedtobelongtoWilliamReynolds。Inthefirstchapterofhis’TreatiseonCanalNavigation，’
publishedin1796，Fultonsays：——”AslocalprejudicesopposedtheDukeofBridgewater’scanalinthefirstinstance，prejudicesequallystrongasfirmlyadheredtotheprincipleonwhichitwasconstructed；anditwasthoughtimpossibletoleadonethroughacountry，ortoworkittoanyadvantage，unlessbylocksandboatsofatleasttwenty-fivetons，tillthegeniusofMr。WilliamReynolds，ofKetley，inShropshire，steppedfromtheaccustomedpath，constructedthefirstinclinedplane，andintroducedboatsoffivetons。This，liketheDuke’scanal，wasdeemedavisionaryproject，andparticularlybyhisGrace，whowaspartialtolocks；yetthisisalsointroducedintopractice，andwillinmanyinstancessupersedelockcanals。”Telford，theengineer，alsogracefullyacknowledgedthevaluableassistancehereceivedfromWilliamReynoldsinplanningtheironaqueductbymeansofwhichtheEllesmereCanalwascarriedoverthePontCysylltau，andinexecutingthenecessarycastingsforthepurposeattheKetleyfoundry。
Thefuturemanagementofhisextensiveironworksbeingthusplacedinablehands，RichardReynoldsfinallyleftCoalbrookdalein1804，forBristol，hisnativetown，wherehespenttheremainderofhislifeinworksofcharityandmercy。Herewemightleavethesubject，butcannotrefrainfromaddingafewconcludingwordsastothemoralcharacteristicsofthistrulygoodman。Thoughhabituallyreligious，hewasneitherdemurenormorose，butcheerful，gay，andhumorous。Hetookgreatinterestinthepleasuresoftheyoungpeopleabouthim，andexertedhimselfinallwaystopromotetheirhappiness。Hewasfondofbooks，pictures，poetry，andmusic，thoughtheindulgenceofartistictastesisnotthoughtbecomingintheSocietytowhichhebelonged。Hisloveforthebeautiesofnatureamountedalmosttoapassion，andwhenlivingatTheBank，nearKetley，itwashisgreatdelightinthesummereveningstoretirewithhispipetoaruralseatcommandingafullviewoftheWrekin，theErcallWoods，withCaderIdrisandtheMontgomeryshirehillsinthedistance，andwatchthesungodowninthewestinhisglory。OnceineveryyearheassembledalargepartytospendadaywithhimontheWrekin，andamongstthoseinvitedweretheprincipalclerksinthecompany’semployment，togetherwiththeirfamilies。AtMadeley，nearCoalbrookdale，whereheboughtaproperty，helaidout，fortheexpressuseoftheworkmen，extensivewalksthroughthewoodsonLincolnHill，commandingbeautifulviews。Theywerecalled”TheWorkmen’sWalks，”andwereasourceofgreatenjoymenttothemandtheirfamilies，especiallyonSundayafternoons。
WhenMr。ReynoldswenttoLondononbusiness，hewasaccustomedtomakearoundofvisits，onhiswayhome，toplacesremarkablefortheirpicturesquebeauty，suchasStowe，HagleyPark，andtheLeasowes。Afteravisittothelatterplacein1767，hethus，inalettertohisfriendJohnMaccappen，vindicatedhisloveforthebeautifulinnature：——”Ithinkitnotonlylawfulbutexpedienttocultivateadispositiontobepleasedwiththebeautiesofnature，byfrequentindulgencesforthatpurpose。Themind，bybeingcontinuallyappliedtotheconsiderationofwaysandmeanstogainmoney，contractsanindifferencyifnotaninsensibilitytotheprofusionofbeautieswhichthebenevolentCreatorhasimpresseduponeverypartofthematerialcreation。Asordidloveofgold，thepossessionofwhatgoldcanpurchase，andthereputationofbeingrich，havesodepravedthefinerfeelingsofsomemen，thattheypassthroughthemostdelightfulgrove，filledwiththemelodyofnature，orlistentothemurmuringsofthebrookinthevalley，withaslittlepleasureandwithnomoreofthevernaldelightwhichMiltondescribes，thantheyfeelinpassingthroughsomeobscurealleyinatown。”
Whenintheprimeoflife，Mr。Reynoldswasanexcellentrider，performingallhisjourneysonhorseback。Heusedtogivealudicrousaccountofaraceheonceranwithanotheryouth，eachhavingaladyseatedonapillionbehindhim；Mr。Reynoldsreachedthegoalfirst，butwhenhelookedroundhefoundthathehadlosthisfaircompanion，whohadfallenoffintherace！OnanotheroccasionhehadahardrunwithLordThurlowduringavisitpaidbythelattertotheKetleyIron-Works。LordThurlowpulleduphishorsefirst，andobserved，laughing，”Ithink，Mr。Reynolds，thisisprobablythefirsttimethateveraLordChancellorrodearacewithaQuaker！”
ButastrangerrencontrewasonewhichbefelMr。ReynoldsonBlackheath。ThoughhedeclinedGovernmentordersforcannon，heseemstohavehadasecrethankeringafterthe”pompandcircumstance”ofmilitarylife。Atallevent’shewaspresentonBlackheathonedaywhenGeorgeIII。wasreviewingsometroops。Mr。Reynold’shorse，anoldtrooper，nosoonerheardthesoundofthetrumpetthanhestartedoffatfullspeed，andmadedirectlyforthegroupofofficersbeforewhomthetroopsweredefiling。GreatwasthesurpriseoftheKingwhenhesawtheQuakerdrawupalongsideofhim，butstillgreater，perhaps，wastheconfusionoftheQuakeratfindinghimselfinsuchcompany。
Duringthelateryearsofhislife，whilelivingatBristol，hishandwasineverygoodwork；anditwasoftenfeltwhereitwasnotseen。
Forhecarefullyavoidedostentation，andpreferreddoinghisgoodinsecret。Hestronglydisapprovedofmakingcharitablebequestsbywill，whichheobservedinmanycasestohavebeenthefoundationofenormousabuses，butheldittobethedutyofeachmantodoallthepossiblegoodthathecouldduringhislifetime。Manyweretheinstancesofhisprincely，thoughatthetimeunknown，munificence。
Unwillingtoberecognisedasthegiveroflargesums，heemployedagentstodispensehisanonymousbenefactions。Hethussent20，000L。
toLondontobedistributedduringthedistressof1795。HehadfouralmonersconstantlyemployedinBristol，findingoutcasesofdistress，relievingthem，andpresentingtheiraccountstohimweekly，withdetailsofthecasesrelieved。Hesearchedthedebtors’
prisons，andwhere，asoftenhappened，deservingbutunfortunatemenwerefoundconfinedfordebt，hepaidtheclaimsagainstthemandprocuredtheirrelease。Suchamancouldnotfailtobefollowedwithblessingsandgratitude；butthesehesoughttodirecttotheGiverofallGood。”Mytalent，”saidhetoafriend，”isthemeanestofalltalents——alittlesordiddust；butasthemanintheparablewhohadbutonetalentwasheldaccountable，IalsoamaccountableforthetalentthatIpossess，humbleasitis，tothegreatLordofall。”Ononeoccasionthecaseofapoororphanboywassubmittedtohim，whoseparents，bothdyingyoung，hadlefthimdestitute，onwhichMr。
Reynoldsgenerouslyofferedtoplaceasuminthenamesoftrusteesforhiseducationandmaintenanceuntilhecouldbeapprenticedtoabusiness。Theladywhorepresentedthecasewassooverpoweredbythemunificenceoftheactthatsheburstintotears，and，strugglingtoexpresshergratitude，concludedwith——”andwhenthedearchildisoldenough，Iwillteachhimtothankhisbenefactor。””Thoumustteachhimtolookhigher，”interruptedReynolds：”Dowethankthecloudsforrain?Whenthechildgrowsup，teachhimtothankHimwhosendethboththecloudsandtherain。”Reynoldshimselfdeploredhisinfirmityoftemper，whichwasbynaturehasty；and，ashisbenevolencewasknown，andappealsweremadetohimatalltimes，seasonableandunseasonable，hesometimesmetthemwithasharpword，which，however，hehadscarcelyutteredbeforeherepentedofit：andheisknowntohavefollowedapoorwomantoherhomeandaskforgivenessforhavingspokenhastilyinanswertoherapplicationforhelp。
This”greatgoodman”diedonthel0thofSeptember，1816，inthe81styearofhisage。AthisfuneralthepoorofBristolwerethechiefmourners。Thechildrenofthebenevolentsocietieswhichhehadmunificentlysupportedduringhislifetime，andsomeofwhichhehadfounded，followedhisbodytothegrave。Theprocessionwasjoinedbytheclergyandministersofalldenominations，andbymenofallclassesandpersuasions。AndthuswasRichardReynoldslaidtohisrest，leavingbehindhimanamefullofgoododour，whichwilllongbeheldingratefulremembrancebytheinhabitantsofBristol。
CHAPTERVI。
INVENTIONOFCASTSTEEL——BENJAMINHUNTSMAN。