x Roads and Canals through Staffordshire 97 



The principal promoters of the measure proposed to 

 designate the work as " The Canal from the Trent to 

 the Mersey," but Brindley, with sagacious foresight, 

 urged that it should be called "The Grand Trunk 

 Canal," because, in his judgment, numerous other 

 canals would eventually branch out from it at various 

 points of its course, just as the arteries of the human 

 system branch out from the aorta. Brindley's views 

 were adopted, and before many years had passed, his 

 anticipations were fully realised. 



The Staffordshire potters were greatly delighted with 

 the decision of the public meeting, and on the following 

 evening they assembled round a large bonfire at Burs- 

 lem, where they wished every prosperity to the Grand 

 Trunk Canal, and drank the health of Earl Gower, Mr. 

 Wedgwood, Mr. Gilbert, and the other promoters of the 

 scheme, with fervent demonstrations of joy. 



Of course the proposal to make a canal through 

 the potteries was bitterly opposed. Brindley's Grand 

 Trunk line was intended to join the Duke of Bridge - 

 water's canal at Preston- on- the-Hill, not far from Eun- 

 corn. As the Duke was desirous of placing his naviga- 

 tion in connection with the Cheshire Wiches and the 

 Staffordshire Potteries, and already had been at the 

 expense of making a preliminary survey, he at once 

 threw the whole weight of his support on the side of 

 Brindley's Grand Trunk Canal. 



The owners of the Eiver Weaver Navigation Company 

 were the principal opponents of the measure. They 



H 



