OBAP. VIII. TIIK QBAND TIIUNK CANAL. 435 



add that, l>etbre many years had passed, our engineer's 

 anticipations of the progress of canal enterprise were 

 fully justified. The Staffordshire potters were so much 

 rejoiced at the decision of the meeting that on the fol- 

 lowing eveni'iii; 1 they assembled round a large bonfire 

 at Uurslem, and drank the healths of Lord Gower, Mr. 

 Gilbert, and the other promoters of the scheme, with 

 ferment demonstrations of joy. 



The opponents of the measure also held meetings at 

 which they strongly declaimed against the Duke's pro- 

 posed monopoly, and set forth the superior merits of 

 their respective schemes. One of these was a canal 

 from the river Weaver, by Nantwich, Eccleshall, and 

 Stafford, to the Trent at Wilden Ferry, without touching 

 the Potteries at all. Another was for a canal from the 

 Weaver at Northwich, passing by Macclesfield and Stock- 

 port, round to Manchester, thus completely surrounding 

 the Duke's navigation, and preventing its extension 

 southward into Staffordshire or any other part of the 

 Midland districts. But there was also a strong party 

 opposed to all canals whatever the party of croakers, 

 who are always found in opposition to improved com- 

 munications, whether in the shape of turnpike roads, 

 canals, or railways. These proclaimed that if the pro- 

 posed canals were made, the country would be ruined, 

 the breed of English horses would be destroyed, the 

 innkeepers would be made bankrupts, and the pack- 

 horses and their drivers would be deprived of their 

 subsistence. It was even said that the canals, by 

 putting a stop to the coasting-trade, would destroy the 

 race of seamen. It is a fortunate thing for England 

 that it has contrived to survive these repeated pro- 

 pi lecies of ruin. But the manner in which our country- 

 men contrive to grumble their way along the high road 

 of enterprise, thriving and grumbling, is one of the 

 peculiar features in our character which perhaps Eng- 

 lishmen only can understand and appreciate. 



2 F 2 



