ioo Josiah Wedgwood CHAP. 



At length, after prolonged opposition, the Grand 

 Trunk bill was passed ; first through the Commons ; 

 then through the Lords ; and on the 14th of May 1766, 

 it received the royal assent, and became an Act of Parlia- 

 ment. About the same time another important Act was 

 passed empowering the construction of the Wolver- 

 hampton Canal from the river Trent near Haywood 

 Mill and the river Severn near Bewdley ; thus uniting 

 the navigation of the three rivers which had their 

 termini at the ports of Liverpool, Hull, and Bristol, on 

 the opposite sides of the island. 



Of course there were great rejoicings at Burslem on 

 the triumph of Brindley, Wedgwood, and their friends. 

 Shortly after the passing of the Act, on the 26th of July 

 1766, a general holiday was held at Burslem and the 

 neighbouring pottery villages. The first sod of the 

 new canal was dug by Josiah Wedgwood on the 

 declivity of Brownhills. It was placed in a barrow 

 close at hand, and, Wedgwood being lame, it was 

 wheeled away by Brindley amidst deafening cheers. A 

 barrel of old Staffordshire ale was broached, and the 

 healths of Earl Gower, Lord Anson, Lord Gray, and 

 others, were drunk ; and Mr. Wedgwood was thanked, in 

 the name of the assembled potters, for his indefatigable 

 services in the cause. Lunches and dinners followed. 

 Mrs. Wedgwood entertained many guests. In the after- 

 noon a sheep was roasted whole for the benefit of the 

 poorer potters. After sunset bonfires were lighted in 

 various parts of Burslem. A feu de joie was fired in 



