CHAP. VIII. TIIK GRAND TRUNK CANAL. 429 



business is the hammer, and the beast of burden the 



ass." 



The district, however, was not without its sprinkling 

 of public-spirited men, who were actively engaged in 

 devising new sources of employment for the population ; 

 and, as one of the most effective means of accomplishing 

 this object, opening up the communications, by road 

 ;u id canal, with near as well as distant parts of the 

 country. One of the most zealous of such workers was 

 the illustrious Josiah Wedgwood. He was one of those 

 indefatigable workers who from time to time spring 

 from the ranks of the common people, and by their 

 energy, skill, and enterprise, not only practically edu- 

 cate the working population in habits of industry, but, 

 by the example of diligence and perseverance which 

 they set before them, largely influence the public activity 

 in all directions, and contribute in a great measure to 

 form the national character. Josiah Wedgwood was 

 born in a very humble position in life ; and though he 

 rose to eminence as a man of science as well as a manu- 

 facturer, he possessed no greater advantages at starting 

 Hun Brindley himself did. His grandfather and grand- 

 uncle were both potters, as was also his father Thomas, 

 who died when Josiah was a mere boy, the youngest of 

 a family of thirteen children. He began his industrial 

 life as a thrower in a small pot-work, conducted by his 

 elder brother ; and he might have continued working at 

 the wheel but for an attack of virulent small-pox, which, 

 being neglected, led to a disease in his right leg, which 

 ended in his sneering amputation, when he became 

 unfitted for following even that humble employment. 

 During his illness he took to reading and thinking, and 

 turned over in his mind the various ways of making a 

 living by his trade, now that he could no longer work 

 at the potter's wheel. \Vhen sufficiently recovered, 

 he began making fancy articles out of potter's clay, 



1 ' History of Birmingham.' Ed. 1836, p. 24. 



