IH'KK'S (ANAL To THK MMHSKV. 



373 



nap- free. It was also shown that the Duke's canal 

 rouM not ahstrart water from either the Mersey or the 

 Irwell, as the level of hoth rivers was considerably below 

 that of the intended canal, which would be supplied 

 almost entirely from the drainage of his own coal-mines 

 at Worsley ; and with respect to the plea of vested 

 rights set up, it was shown that Parliament, in granting 

 certain powers to the old navigators, had regard mainly 

 to the convenience and advantage of the public ; and 

 they were not precluded from empowering a new navi- 

 gation to be formed if it could be proved to present a 

 more convenient and advantageous mode of conveyance. 

 And on this ground the Duke was strongly supported 

 by the inhabitants of the locality proposed to be served 

 by the intended canal. The " Junto of Old Navigators," 

 as they were termed, 1 had for many years carried things 

 with a very high hand, extorted the highest rates, and, 

 in cases of loss by delay or damage to goods in transit, 

 refused all redress. A feeling very hostile to them and 

 their monopoly had accordingly grown up, which now 

 exhibited itself in a powerful array of petitions to Par- 

 liament in favour of the Duke's bill. 



On the 17th of February, 1762, the bill came be- 

 fore the Committee of the House of Commons, and 

 Briiidley gave his evidence in its support. We regret 

 that no copy of this evidence now exists 2 from which 

 we might have formed an opinion of the engineer's 

 abilities as a witness. Some curious anecdotes have, 

 however, been preserved of his appearance as a wit- 

 ness on canal bills before Parliament. When asked, 

 on one occasion, to produce a drawing of an intended 



1 Letter of John Hart to the Gen- 



tlrineii and Tradesmen at Warrington, 

 Dec. 21st, L761. 



- Search lias lx.'en made at the 



Brid-ewater Kslate ofiiees at Man- 

 chester, ami in the archives of the 

 Houses of Parliament, hut no copy 



(.in l>e found. It is probable that the 



Parliamentary papers connected with 

 this application to Parliament were 

 destroyed by the lire which consumed 

 so many similar documents some 



twenty years a_<>. 



