416 



GROWTH OF ^lAXC 



PAKT V. 



But, besides being a waterway for coal, the Duke's 

 canal, when opened out to Liverpool, immediately 

 conferred upon Manchester the immense advantage of 

 direct connection with an excellent seaport. New 

 canals, supported by the Duke and constructed by the 

 Duke's engineer, grew out of the original scheme be- 

 tween Manchester and Runcorn, which had the further 

 effect of placing the former town in direct water-com- 

 munication with the rich districts of the north-west of 

 England. Then the Duke's canal terminus became so 

 important, that most of the new navigations were laid 

 out so as to join it ; those of Leigh, Bolton, Stockport, 

 Rochdale, and the West Riding of Yorkshire, being all 

 connected with the Duke's system, whose centre was at 

 Manchester. And thus the whole industry of these dis- 

 tricts was brought, as it were, to the very doors of that, 

 town. 



But Liverpool was not less directly benefited by the 

 Duke's enterprise. Before his canal was constructed, 

 the small quantity of Manchester woollens and cottons 

 manufactured for exportation, was carried on horses' 

 backs to Bewdley and Bridgenorth on the Severn, 

 from whence they were floated down that river to 

 Bristol, then the chief seaport on the west coast. No 

 sooner, however, was the new water-road opened out 

 than the Bridgenorth pack-horses were taken off, and 

 the whole export trade of the district concentrated on 

 Liverpool. The additional accommodation required for 

 the increased business of the port was promptly pro- 

 vided as occasion required. New harbours and docks 

 were built, and before many years had passed Liverpool 

 had shot far ahead of Bristol, and became the chief 

 port on the west coast, if not in all England. Had 

 Bristol been blessed with a Duke of Bridge water, the 



one cotton-flat a day reached Man- 

 chester from Liverpool. In the Duke's 

 time the flats always "cast anchor" 

 on their way, or at least laid up for 



the night, at six o'clock 

 starting again at MX oVl<> 

 following morning. 



