that seaport, but also the manufacturing districts of Staffordshire, Warwickshire, and the other central counties of England situated at the confluence of the various navigations. Liverpool thus became the great focus of import and export for the northern and western districts. The raw materials of commerce were poured into it from Ireland, America, and the Indies. From thence they were distributed along the canals amongst the various seats of manufacturing industry, and a large proportion was readily returned by the same route to the same port, in a manufactured state, for shipment to all parts of the world. At the time of which we speak, however, it will be observed that the communication between Liverpool and Manchester was very imperfect. It was not only difficult to convey goods between the two places, but it was also difficult to convey persons. In fine weather, those who required to travel the thirty miles which separated them, could ride or walk, resting at Warrington for the night. But in winter the roads, like most of the other country roads at the time, were simply impassable. Although an Act had been passed as early as the year 1726 for repairing and enlarging the road from Liverpool to Prescot, coaches could not come nearer to the town than Warrington in 1750, the road being impracticable for such vehicles even in summer.† A stage-coach was not started between Liverpool and Manchester until the year 1767, performing the journey only three times a week. It required six and sometimes eight horses to draw the lumbering vehicle and its load CHAP. IX. BRINDLEY'S SURVEY OF A CANAL. 189 along the ruts and through the sloughs, the whole day being occupied in making the journey. The coach was accustomed to start early in the morning from Liverpool; it breakfasted at Prescot, dined at Warrington, and arrived at Manchester usually in time for supper. On one occasion, at Warrington, the coachman intimated his wish to proceed, when the company requested him to take another pint, as they had not finished their wine, asking him at the same time if he was in a hurry? "Oh," replied the driver, "I'm not partic'lar to an hour or so!" As late as 1775, no mailcoach ran between Liverpool and any other town, the bags being conveyed to and from it on horseback; and one letter-carrier was found sufficient for the wants of the place. A heavy stage then ran, or rather crawled, between Liverpool and London, making only four journeys a week in the winter time. It started from the Golden Talbot, in Water-street, and was three days on the road. It went by Middlewich, where one of its proprietors kept the White Bear inn; and during the Knutsford race-week the coach was sent all the way round by that place, in order to bring customers to the Bear. We have said that Brindley was engaged upon the preliminary survey of a canal to connect Manchester with the Mersey, immediately after the original Worsley line had been opened, and before its paying qualities had been ascertained. But the Duke, having once made up his mind as to the expediency of carrying out this larger project, never halted nor looked back, but made arrangements for prosecuting a bill for the purpose of enabling the canal to be made in the very next session of Parliament. We find that Brindley's first visit to Liverpool and the intervening district on the business of the survey was made early in September, 1761. During the remainder of the month he was principally occupied in Staffordshire, looking after the working of his fire-engine at Fenton Vivian, carrying out improvements in the silk-manufactory at Congleton, and inspecting various mills at Newcastleunder-Lyne and the neighbourhood. His only idle day during that month seems to have been the 22nd, which was a holiday, for he makes the entry in his book of "crounation of Georg and Sharlot," the new King and Queen of England. By the 25th we find him again with the Duke at Worsley, and on the 30th he makes the entry, “set out at Dunham to Level for Liverpool." The work then went on continuously until the survey was completed; and on the 19th of November he set out for London, with 77. 18s. in his pocket. In the course of his numerous journeys, we find Brindley carefully noting down the various items of his expenses, which were curiously small. Although he was four or five days on the road to London, and stayed eight days there, his total expenses, both going and returning, amounted to only 41. 8s.: it is most probable, however, that he lived at the Duke's house whilst in town. On the 1st of December we find him, on his return journey to Worsley, resting the first night at a place called Brickhill; the next at Coventry, where he makes the entry, "Moy mar had a bad fall in the frasst ;" the third at Sandon; the fourth at Congleton; and the fifth at Worsley. He had still some inquiries to make as to the depth of water and the conditions of the tide at Hempstones; and for three days he seems to have been occupied in traffictaking, with a view to the evidence to be given before Parliament; for on the 10th of December we find him at Stretford, "to count the caridgos," and on the 12th he is at Manchester for the same purpose, “counting the loded caridgos and horses." The following bill refers to some of the work done by him at this time, and is a curious specimen of an engineer's travelling charges in those days-the engineer himself being at the same time paid at the rate of 2s. 6d. a day :— CHAP. IX. HIS TRAVELLING CHARGES. 191 Expenses for His Grace the Duk of Bridgwator to pay for traveling Chareges by James Brindley. 18 Novem-1761. 0 7 4 18 No masuring a Cros from Dunham to Warbuton Mercey and Thalwall, 38-11d Dunham for 2 diners 1s - 3d for the man 18-0d at Thalwall 18-2d all Night Warington 19 Novem Sat out from Chester for London & at Worsley Septm 5 Retorned back going to London and at London & hors back to Worsley Charged Hors & my salf .... 4 8 0 9 december Coming back from Ham Stone Charges at Wilderspool all Night at Warington to meet Mr Ashley dining 10 to ataind the Turn pike Rode 28 - 6d & againe on te 12 De Rode 38-6d 21 Decm to inspect te flux and Reflux at Ham Stone 2 dayes Charges.. 26 Dec 1761. Recd the Contents of the above Bill by the Hands of John Gilbert. James Brindley.. 04 8 0 2 06 0 0 6 6 £6 00 0 In the early part of the month of January, 1762, we find Brindley busy measuring soughs, gauging the tides at Hempstones, and examining and altering the Duke's paper-mills and iron slitting-mills at Worsley; and on the 7th we find this entry: "to masuor the Duks pools I and Smeaton." On the following day he makes " ochilor survey from Saldnoor [Sale Moor] to Stockport," with a view to a branch canal being carried in that direction. On the 14th, he sets out from Congleton, by way of Ashbourne, Northampton, and Dunstable, arriving in London on the fifth day. an Immediately on his arrival in town we find him proceeding to rig himself out in a new suit of clothes. His means were small, his habits thrifty, and his wardrobe scanty; but as he was about to appear in an important character, as the principal engineering witness before a Parliamentary Committee in support of the Duke's bill, he felt it necessary to incur an extra expenditure on dress for the occasion. Accordingly, on the morning of the 18th we find him expending a guinea-an entire week's pay in the purchase of a pair of new breeches; two guineas on a coat and waistcoat of broadcloth, and six shillings for a pair of new shoes. The subjoined is a fac-simile of the entry in his pocketbook. It will be observed that an expenditure is here entered of nine shillings for going to "the play." It would appear that his friend Gilbert, who was in London with him on the canal business, prevailed on Brindley to go with |