( HAP. VIII. TIM': (illAND TIM'NK CANAL. 433 



' k I s<i\vc Docter Scswi^c who scsc Hoe wants to see you about 

 |;ini!int of His Lund in Cheshire 



"On Wednesday thcr was not much transpired but was so dark 

 I o-oiiM c.irsc do aiK'ything 



" On Thursdey Wadgwood of Burslam came to Dunham & sant 

 for mee and wee dined with Lord Gree [Grrey] & Sir Hare Main- 

 wring and others Sir Hare cud not ceep His Tamer [temper] 

 Mr. Wedgwood came to seliset Lord Gree in faver of the Stafford- 

 shire Canal & stade at Mrs Latoune all night & I whith him & on 

 fry dey sat out to wate on Mr Edgerton to seliset Him Hee sase 

 Sparrow and others are indavering to gat ye Land owners consants 

 from Hare Castle to Agden 



" I have ordered Simcock to ye Langth falls of Sanke Nave- 

 gacion. 



" Kyle wants to have coals sant faster to Alteringham that Hee 

 may have an opertunety dray of ye sale Moor Canal in a bout a 

 \\vi-ks time. 



" I in tend being back on Tusdy at fardest." 



The first public movement was made by the supporters 

 of Brindley's scheme. They held an open meeting at 

 Wolseley Bridge, Staffordshire, on the 30th of Decem- 

 ber, 1705, at which the subject was fully discussed. 

 Karl Gower, the lord-lieutenant of the county, occupied 

 the chair ; and Lord Grrey and Mr. Bagot, members for 

 the county, Mr. Anson, member for Lichfield, Mr. 

 Thomas Gilbert, the agent for Earl Gower, then member 

 for Newcastle-under-Lyme, Mr. Wedgwood, and many 

 other influential gentlemen, were present to take part in 

 the proceedings. Mr. Brindley was called upon to 

 explain his plans, which he did to the satisfaction of 

 the meeting; and these having been adopted, with a 

 few immaterial alterations, it was determined that steps 

 si 101 1 Id IH> taken to apply for a bill conferring the neces- 

 sary powers in the ensuing session of Parliament. Mr. 

 Wedgwood put his name down for a thousand pounds 

 towards the preliminary expenses, and promised to sub- 

 scribe largely for shares besides. 1 The promoters of the 



1 Wedgwood even entered tin- lists ! Trunk project, ami, in 1765, he and 

 as a luniphletrer in :iil of the (irand j liis )mrtner, Mr. Bentley (son of Dr. 



VOL. I. 2 F 



