v Wedgwood begins Business for Himself 53 



would run right through the centre of the potteries, 

 and fall at either end into a turnpike road. 



The bill was not, however, obtained without con- 

 siderable difficulty. It was violently opposed by the 

 inhabitants of Newcastle-under-Lyme, on the ground 

 that the proposed new road would enable the pack- 

 horses and carts to travel north and south without 

 passing through their town. The public-house keepers 

 acted as if they had a vested interest in the atrocious 

 badness of the roads and lanes. Their business would 

 be destroyed, and hence they opposed the bill. The 

 bill was passed in a modified form, whereby the road was 

 curtailed at the south end, and stopped short at 

 Burslem. This was, no doubt, something gained, but 

 it was not enough ; and through communication must 

 be established in some way between the north and 

 south. It was not until the Grand Trunk Canal was 

 projected in the promotion of which Wedgwood took 

 a leading part that he was able to carry out his 

 intentions to the fullest extent. But the descrip- 

 tion of this great enterprise is reserved to a succeeding 

 chapter. 



