350 THE BRIDGEWATER CANAL 



possible to execute works of such magnitude ? Brindley 

 expressed so strong and decided an opinion of their prac- 

 ticability, that the Duke became won over to his views, 

 and determined again to go to Parliament for the requi- 

 site powers to enable the design to be carried out. 



Many were the deliberations which took place about 

 this time between the Duke, Gilbert, and Brindley, in the 

 Old Hall at Worsley, where the Duke had now taken up 

 his abode. We find from Brindley' s pocket-book memo- 

 randa, that in the month of July, 1759, he had taken up 

 his temporary quarters at the Old Hall ; and from time t< > 

 time, in the course of the same year, while the details of 

 the plan were being prepared with a view to the intended 

 application to Parliament, he occasionally stayed with 

 the Duke for several weeks together. He made a de- 

 tailed survey of the new line, and at the same time, in 

 order to facilitate the completion of the undertaking 

 when the new powers had been obtained, he proceeded 

 with the construction of the sough or level at Worsley 

 Mill, and such other portions of the work as could be 

 executed under the original powers. 



During the same period Brindley travelled backwards 

 and forwards a great deal, on matters connected with 

 his various business in the Pottery district. We find, 

 from his record, that he was occupied at mtei A T als in 

 carrying forward his survey of the proposed canal 

 through Staffordshire, visiting with this object the 

 neighbourhood of Newcastle-under-Lyme, Lichfield, and 

 Tamworth. He also continued to give his attention to 

 mills, water-wheels, cranes, and fire-engines, which he had 

 erected, or required repairs, in various parts of the same 

 district. In short, he seems at this time to have been 

 fully employed as a millwright ; and although, as we 

 have seen, the remuneration which he received for his 

 skill was comparatively small, being a man of frugal 

 habits he had saved a little money ; for about this time 

 we find him able to raise a sum of 543Z. 6s. 8<7.. being 



