Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1848-11-30

prehenslby large city as myself But alas! my
wardrobe was gone to supply me with wretchcd-
lY baked corn bread, on which lived entirely |
| slept on straw, for which paid a half penny
per night. | became ragged and filthy, and
could no longer GO among men Of business
Up to this time my spirits never sunk nor did
they then; but my sufferings were great. My
limbs distorted by rheumatism induced by cold &
exposure-my face and head swelled to most
unnatural size by cold and toothache, and those
who slept in the same horrid den as myself were
wretchod street beggars, the very cleanest of
them literally alive with all manner Of creeping
things. But was no beggar never begged,
nor never asked favor of man since came
to England.
Ask George Bancroft whom called upon two
or three times, il ever asked the slightest fa
vor, oil even presumed upon the letter you gave
ME to him. I did write him note asking him
to come and see the triumph Of opening the
bridge at the Gardens, and delivered the nnte al
his own house myself, and although Prince Al
bert came, never got even a reply to my note
If Bancroft had come and been the man to re
cognize me in my rags as was, it would have
saved me much subsequent suffering. will not
believe that Bancroft ever saw my note, for his
department to me was ever kind.
The succeeding three months after the first
five will not detail, up to the time when | COM
menced to build the bridge. will not harrow
up my feelings to write, or pain your kind heart
tOread the incidents or those ninety days. My
head tnrnod grey, aud must have died, but Tor
the Jews, who did give me one shilling down for
my acknowledgment of sfl0 on demand These
wicked robberles have amounted to several hun
dred pounds, every penny Of which have had
to pay subsequently, for since my success at
Stafford not man in England who can read
but knows my address, 1t cost me 6l0 to OBJ
tain the shilling with which paid my admttance
into the Royal Geological Gardens, where |
succeeded after much modification, in getting
the ghost of model made of the bridge. The
model, although bad one astonished every
body, Every engineer of celebrity in London
was called to decide whether it was practicable
to throw it across the lake Four or five of them,
at the final decision, declared that the model be-
fore them was passing strange, but that it could
not be carried to a much greater length than the
length of the model This was the point of life
or death with me
was standing amidst men Of the supposed
greatest talents as civil engineers that the world
could produce, and the point decided against
me. This one time alone were my whole ener-
ges ever aroused. | never talked bef0re-I was
haggard and faint for want of food-my rpirits
sunk in sorrow in view Of my mournful pros
pects-c clothes had none-yet standing over
this model, did battle with those men, Every
word uttered came from my Utmost soul, and
was big with truth-every argument carried
conviction. The effect on these men was like
I'D Al
to believe under the circumstances. succeeded.
My agreement with the proprietor was, that /
should superntend the construction of the bridge
without any pay whatever, but during the time
of the building, | might sleep in the e. dens,
and if the bridge should succeed, it should be
called "Remington's Bridge"
lodged in an old lions cage, not strong
nough for Iion but by putting some straw on
the floor, it held me very we'll and indeed was a
greater luxury than had had for many months.
The carpenters that worked on the bridge some
times gave me part of their dlnnel On this |
lived, and was comparatively happy. 1t was a
little 'ove, however, to see man in rags dl
recting gentlemany looking head carpenters..-
The bridge triumphed, and the cost was IS,
and was the greatest hit ever made in London
The money made by it is astonishingIy great
thousands and tens of thousands crossing il. pa\.
ing tolls, besides being the great attraction t.
the Gardens Not publication in London but
what has spoken largely upon it. Although !
have never received penny, nor ever WILL lnr
building the bridge, Ihave no fault to find with
Mr. Ty Ter, the proprietor, for he has done all
fully that he promised to do-that was, to call II
''Remington's Bridge"
The largest wood cut perhaps ever made in
the world is made of the brjlge. Every lct,~r
of my name is nearly as large as myself The
bridge to this day is the prominent curiosity ol
the Gardens. You can't open paper but you
may find "Remington's Bridge" Soon after il
was built have frequently seen hundreds o
men looking at the large picture of the bridge al
the corners of the streets, and envying Reming
ton, when have stood unknown in the crowd
literally starving. However, the great success,
of the bridge gave me some credit with a tailor
got a suit of clothes and some shrts-a clean
shirt, Any shirt was great but a clean shirt
O what luxury Thousands Of cards were LEFT
for me at the Gardens, many men came to see the
bridge from all parts of the kingdom. But witt
all my due bills in the hands of the Jews, o
course had to slope, aud come down to Stat
ford.
first built the mill, which is the most popular
patent ever taken in England. The coffee pot
and many other small patents, take exceedingly
well, The drainage of Tixal meadows is The
greatest triumph have yet had in England
carriage bridge for Earl Talbot is most majestic
aud wonderfully beautiful thing. Dukes, mar
quises, earls lords, &c, and their ladies', are
coming to see it from all parts. have now
more orders for bridges from the aristocracy than
can execute i'll ten years, if would do them
Indeed, have been so much among the orisoc
racy Of late that what with high living, being SC
sudden transition from starving, have beer
compelled to go through course of medicine,
and am just now convalescent Of course, any
thing once built prccludes the possibility of ia.
king patent in England, but its merits and val
ue are beyond all calculation.
permanent, beautiful and steady bridge may
be thrSwn across a river half mile wide, out o.
the reach of foods, and without anything
touching the water, at most inconsiderable ex-
pense.
The American patent is well secured at home