2

INTRODUCTION.

erection of a chain-bridge over the Strait ofMenai. He recommended such a mode ofconstruction as adapted to remove the ob-jections made to a bridge by the witnessesexamined in respect to the navigation of theStrait, who anticipated much injury to vesselsfrom baffling winds, in case such bridges asthose which had been proposed should bebuilt over the Strait. He also recommendedit on account of its comparatively small cost,which he estimated at 34,600/., also on ac-count of the facility with which it might beconstructed, and of the short time in whichit might be rendered passable. But the fol-lowing is a copy of the final paragraph ofthe report of February 18. 1819 : sc Whenit is remembered, that the first estimateprepared for Lord Colchester (when Chief-Secretary for Ireland ) for building a cast-iron bridge across the Menai Strait,amounted to 268,500/., your committeeare of opinion, that the public stand greatlyindebted to the industry of Mr. Telford, forhaving contrived a plan on so secure aprinciple for executing this work for thesum of 70,000/.”