GRAND TRUNK CANAL. WEDGWOOD'S LIBERALITY 169 



came to seliset Lord Gree in faver of the Staffordshire Calial and 

 stade at Mrs. Latoune all night & I whith him & on frydey sat out 

 to wate on Mr. Edgerton to selesit Him. Hee sase Sparrow and 

 others are indavering to gat ye Land owners consants from Hare 

 Castle to Agden." 



On the 30th of the same month (December, 1765) a 

 meeting was held for the furtherance of the scheme, the lord- 

 lieutenant of the county presiding, and being supported by 

 the county and borough members, and others of influence. 

 At this meeting Brindley, in his quiet and simple manner, 

 explained his plans, and having fully shown their feasibility, 

 they were at once adopted, with only some trifling altera- 

 tions. At this meeting it was determined to apply to Par- 

 liament for power to construct the canal, and the question 

 of ways and means was fully discussed. Wedgwood took so 

 prominent a part in the discussion, and was so warm in his 

 support of the scheme, that the chairman, Earl Gower, 

 asked him, it is said somewhat derisively, as he was so for- 

 ward in -pressing the scheme, what was he prepared to 

 embark in it ? To this Wedgwood immediately replied, that 

 he would at once subscribe a thousand pounds towards the 

 preliminary expenses and take, I know not how many, 

 shares besides. This liberality, showing an honesty of 

 purpose, and a strong faith in the project, became conta- 

 gious, and put to the blush many milk-and-water sup- 

 porters of the scheme who were present. Wedgwood's 

 offer, it would seem, decided the matter ; money enough was 

 raised, an Act of Parliament was applied for, and by the 

 middle of the ensuing year, 1766, obtained. 



The inhabitants of Burslem and the neighbourhood were 

 so much elated with the news of the result of the meeting, 

 and so rejoiced at the spirit which Wedgwood and others 

 had displayed, that the next evening following the meeting 

 the last day of the year 1765 they lit a huge bonfire in 

 the town, and round it drank the healths of the promoters 

 of the scheme. 



In the preceding chapter I have alluded to the bad state 



