JOHN WESLEY AT BURSLEM. 173 



"poor potters" at Burslem were " more civilised" tlian " the 

 better sort (so-called) at Congleton." The following is an 

 extract : 



" 1760, March 8th. Went from "Wolverhampton to Burslem 

 (near Newcastle-under-Lyme), a scattered town on the top of a hill, 

 inhabited almost entirely by potters, a multitude of whom assembled 

 at five in the evening. Deep attention sat on every face, though as 

 yet accompanied with deep ignorance ; but if the heart be toward 

 God, He will in due time enlighten the understanding. 



" Sunday , 9th. I preached at eight to near double the 



number, some quite innocent of thought. Five or six were 

 laughing and talking till I had near done ; and one of them threw 

 a clod of earth, which struck me on the side of the head, but it 

 neither disturbed me nor the congregation." 



" 1761, March 9tk. Preached at Burslem at half-past five, in an 

 open place on the top of the hill, to a large and attentive congrega- 

 tion, though it rained almost all the time, and the air was extremely 

 cold. The next morning (being Good Friday) preached at eight, 

 and again in the evening. The cold considerably lessened the con- 

 gregation so small are the things which divert mankind from what 

 ought to be" the means of their eternal salvation." 



"1764, July 20th. It rained all day till seven in the evening, 

 when I began preaching at Burslem. Even the poor potters here 

 are a more civilised people than the letter sort (so called) at 

 Congleton." 



The Act of Parliament for the proposed Grand Trunk 

 Canal having been obtained, after constant and unwearied 

 anxiety, the honour of cutting the first sod was wisely 

 accorded to Mr. Wedgwood, its most prominent, most ener- 

 getic, and most liberal promoter. This important ceremony 

 important, as it proved to be, not only to the potteries, but 

 to the kingdom at large was performed with all necessary 

 formalities on the 26th of July, 1766. The first sod was cut 

 by Josiah Wedgwood, on the declivity of Brownhills, on a 

 piece of land within a few yards of the bridge which now 

 crosses the canal. Brindley, the engineer, and many in- 

 fluential persons, were present, and each cut a sod, or wheeled 

 away some earth after Wedgwood had set the good example. 

 In the evening a bonfire was lit in Burslem, a sheep was roasted 



