96 Josiah Wedgwood CHAP. 



inland navigation through the potteries was proposed, 

 it was natural that James Biindley and Josiah Wedg- 

 wood should be brought into close communication. 

 The manner in which Brindley had conquered the 

 difficulties of the Duke's Canal, and successfully accom- 

 plished the erection of his " Castle in the Air " that is, 

 the crossing of the Irwell by the Barton Viaduct led 

 to his being proposed as the only possible engineer for 

 the new Staffordshire Canal. 1 



The opening of a water communication through the 

 potteries had long been the subject of discussion, and a 

 survey was made by Brindley in 1760 at the expense 

 of Earl Gower and Lord Anson ; but many years elapsed 

 before anything practical was attempted. The first 

 public movement in support of Brindley's survey 

 occurred in December 1765, when an open-air meeting 

 was held at Wolseley Bridge. Earl Gower, Lord Lieu- 

 tenant of the county, occupied the chair ; and Lord Gray, 

 and Mr. Bagot, Mr. Anson, Mr. Gilbert, Mr. Wedgwood, 

 and many more, were present. Brindley submitted his 

 plans. They were fully discussed and finally adopted ; 

 and it was resolved that a bill should be applied for in 

 the next session of Parliament, to obtain powers to 

 construct a canal from the Mersey to the Trent. Wedg- 

 wood, with his usual generosity, subscribed 1000 to- 

 wards the preliminary expenses, and also promised to 

 subscribe largely for shares in the undertaking. 



3 The full account of Brindley is given in Lives of the Engineers, 

 vol. i. 



