CHAPTER IX.

EXTENSION OF THE DUKE'S CANAL TO THE MERSEY.

-

Brindley's survey from Stretford to the Mersey-Importance of com-

munication between Manchester and Liverpool-Growth of Liverpool

-Decay of Chester-Liverpool coaches, 1726 to 1750-The Duke's

project of a Manchester and Liverpool Canal - Brindley's survey —

Extract from diary - Brindley in London-" At the play"- Oppo-

sition to the Duke's project - Brindley as witness for the Bill-

His model and explanation of "puddling"- Canal lock described

Brindley's powers with chalk- The Manchester and Liverpool Canal

authorised - Brindley's capital idea of long level reaches and concen-

tration of locks — Continued but bootless opposition of the Old Quay

Navigation and the landowners-Importance of the Duke's scheme

-Sketch of the works, and Brindley's contrivances - Sale Moor

Moss-Steam engine and pump at Dunham-"The Duke's folly"

- Brindley's floating workshops Provision against outbursts of

the banks-Attention to details - Rate of wages paid to workmen

- Entries in diary - Brindley's training of workmen Their trade

secrets Lawrence Earnshaw - Number of men employed on the

Brindley's bold idea of a bridge across the tideway of the

Mersey The Duke's Dock at Liverpool

Canal

-

-

-

-

184-216

CHAPTER X.

THE DUKE'S DIFFICULTIES

- COMPLETION OF THE CANAL –

GROWTH OF MANCHESTER.

-

--

The Duke's straits for money - Great extent and cost of the under-
taking - His bravery and perseverance — Worsley Old Hall - His
shifts to pay the workmen on Saturday nights - Alleged to be
"drowned in debt"-Anecdote of the Duke, Brindley, and Gilbert
in committee on ways and means Gilbert and the highwayman —
The Duke obtains loans from Child and Co., Bankers, London - The
level portion of Canal finished 1767, and the Runcorn Locks 1773 —
Extensive coal workings at Worsley - Cost of the Canal from Worsley
to Manchester, and from Longford Bridge to Runcorn - Cost of water-
carriage reduced one-half- Brindley's insignificant remuneration
Disputes between the Duke and Brindley-The Duke's personal
interest in his canals, coal-mines, and mills Personal traits and
anecdotes of the Duke - His business habits-Care for his work-
people Visits to Trentham - Fondness for Worsley - Visit of

-

-

-

Fulton -Resolved to have steam-boats for his canals His manners
and habits-The Bridgewater Gallery- His death, character, and
public services - Benefits of his Canal to Manchester and Liverpool
and the district - Extraordinary growth of Manchester 217-247

CHAPTER XI.

BRINDLEY CONSTRUCTS THE GRAND TRUNK CANAL.

Canal to connect the Mersey with the Trent- Brindley employed as
engineer - Survey of Staffordshire Canal - Earl Gower and the Earl
of Stamford promoters of canals - Desire of the manufacturers for
water-communication The earthenware and salt manufactures
Expense of land-carriage by pack-horses - Sketch of the potteries
district and population - Josiah Wedgwood - His energy and enter-
prise in manufactures — Promotes improved means of communication

-

-

- Supports Brindley's Grand Trunk Canal - Public support - The
opposition to the scheme - Timidity of promoters - Vested interests
preserved - Sketch of the route of the Grand Trunk - The Act
obtained-First sod cut by Josiah Wedgwood- Great rejoicings
Wedgwood's works at Etruria Extent of the Grand Trunk
Dimensions, aqueducts, Harecastle Tunnel — Difficulties conquered,
and tunnel finished Description of Brindley and his works
Benefits conferred by the Canal-New branches of industry opened
up - Moral and social influences of Canals - Wesley's testimony

248-274

CHAPTER XII.

BRINDLEY'S LAST CANAL - HIS DEATH AND CHARACTER.
Brindley's idea of the use of rivers - His ideas of the Grand Trunk
realised The Wolverhampton, the Coventry, the Birmingham, the
Droitwich, and the Oxford Canals — Brindley's plans the ground-work
for future measures - The Birmingham Canal-Matthew Boulton
and Josiah Wedgwood its promoters - Brindley's level lengths -
Canal between Chesterfield and the Trent- Extent of Canals laid
out by Brindley-His educational disadvantages - His work not
duly appreciated in his own day- Other Canal projects on which
Brindley was consulted-The Leeds and Liverpool, its great extent
and importance - Brindley's survey of the Thames Consulted as
to drainage in Lincolnshire - His pupils - Wide range of Brindley's

-

--

-

employments and engineering skill - His private life-His strange

courtship and marriage - His home at Turnhurst - Colliery at

Golden Hill Illness and death - Characteristics Mechanical

genius- His studies in bed - His private character - Influence of

Brindley's Canals on the enterprise and speculation of the time-

Extent of the Canal system in Great Britain and Ireland -- Canal

traffic-Canals and Railways

275-300

APPENDIX.

PIERRE-PAUL RIQUET, CONSTRUCTOR OF THE GRAND CANAL

The Canal du Midi-

Mediterranean

-

-

OF LANGUEDOC.

Its importance as uniting the Atlantic with the
Riquet de Bonrepos, its constructor, originally a
common exciseman, not an engineer - His amateur surveys in the
district Miniature Canal works Lays his plans of the Canal
before Colbert and Lewis XIV. - A Royal Commission appointed, and
report favourably as to Riquet's design - A patent issued authorising
the construction of the Canal - Riquet becomes undertaker of works

-

-

- Money fails, and he incurs heavy debts-Anecdote of the use
made by him of Colbert's influence - Obtains assistance from the
farmers-general of the province — Canal completed from Toulouse
to Trebes - Riquet's difficulties, bravery, and perseverance — Progress
of the works-Quarrels between the King's Commissioners and the
States as to inspection - Financial troubles and appeals to Colbert-
The works nearly completed when Riquet dies-Cost of the Canal.

301-312

JAMES BRINDLEY

AND

THE EARLY ENGINEERS.