CHAP. III. TIIF Di'KM OF BRIDGEWATER. 335 



the ( 1 orpor:ition of Liverpool had under their considera- 

 tion a much larger scheme no less than a canal to unite 

 the Trent and the Mersey, and thus open a water-com- 

 munication between the ports of Liverpool and Hull. 

 1 1 was proposed that the line should proceed by Chester, 

 Stafford, Derby, and Nottingham. A survey was made, 

 principally at the instance of Mr. Hardman, a public 

 spirited merchant of Liverpool, and for many years one 

 of its representatives in Parliament. Another survey 

 was made at the instance of Earl Gower, afterwards 

 Marquis of Stafford, and it was in making this survey 

 that Brindley's attention was first directed to the business 

 of canal engineering. We find his first entry relating to 

 the subject was on the 5th of February, 1758 "novo- 

 cion [navigation] 5 days ;" the second, a little better 

 spelt, on the 19th of the same month " a bout the novo- 

 pition 3 days;" and afterwards " surveing the novoga- 

 tion from Long brigg to Kinges Milles 12 days |." It 

 does not, however, appear that the scheme made much 

 progress, or that steps were taken at that time to bring 

 the measure before Parliament ; and Brindley con- 

 tinued to pursue his other employments, more especially 

 the erection of " fire-engines " after his new patent. This 

 continued until the following year, when we find him in 

 close consultation with the Duke of Bridgewater relative 

 to the construction of his proposed canal from Worsley 

 to Manchester. 



The early career of this distinguished nobleman was of 

 a somewhat remarkable character. He was born in 1736, 

 the fifth and youngest son of Scroop, third Earl and first 

 Duke of Bridgewater, by Lady Eachel Russell. He lost 

 liis father when only five years old, and all his brothers 

 died by the time that he had reached his twelfth year, at 

 which early age he succeeded to the title of Duke of 

 Bridgewater. He was a weak and sickly child, and his 

 mental capacity was thought so defective, that steps were 

 even in contemplation to set him aside in favour of the 



