.3-48 



THE BRIDGKWATEli CANAL 



I'.MIT V. 



MAP OP THE DDKE'S CANAL 

 [Western Fart ] 



in the conduct of the traffic, which it was most desirable 

 to avoid. Neither the Duke nor Gilbert had any prac- 

 tical knowledge of engineering ; nor, indeed, were there 

 many men in the country at that time who knew 

 much of the subject. For it must be remembered that 

 this canal of the Duke's was the very first project in 

 England for cutting a navigable trench through the dry 

 land, and carrying merchandise across the country in it 

 independent of the course of the existing streams. 



It was in this emergency that Gilbert advised the 

 Duke to call to his aid James Brindley, whose fertility 

 of resources and skill in overcoming mechanical diffi- 

 culties had long been the theme of general admiration 

 in the district. Doubtless the Duke was as much im- 

 pressed by the native vigour and originality of the un- 

 lettered genius thus introduced to him, as were all with 

 whom he was brought in contact. Certain it was that 

 the Duke showed his confidence in Brindley by en- 



