452 BRINDLEY'S LAST CANALS. PARTY. 



Canal ; it was carried out by his successors, partly by 

 his pupil, Mr. Whitworth, and partly by Smeaton and 

 Telford. Brindley's plan was, as usual, to cut the level 

 as flat as possible, in order to avoid lockage ; but his 

 successors, in order to relieve the capital expenditure, as 

 they supposed, constructed it with a number of locks to 

 carry it over the summit at Smithwick. Shortly after its 

 opening, however, the Company found reason to regret 

 their rejection of Mr. Brindley's advice, and they lowered 

 the summit by cutting a tunnel, as he had originally 

 proposed, and thereby incurred an extra expense of 

 about 30,000/. 



Another of Brindley's canals, authorised in 1769, was 

 that between Chesterfield and the river Trent, at Stock- 

 with, about forty-six miles in length, intended for the 

 transport of coal, lime, and lead from the rich mineral 

 districts of Derbyshire, and the return trade of deals, 

 corn, and groceries to the same districts. It would 

 appear that Mr. Grrundy, another engineer, of consider- 

 able reputation in his day, was consulted about the 

 project, and that he advised a much more direct route 

 than that pointed out by Brindley, who looked to the 

 accommodation of the existing towns, rather than short- 

 ness of route, as the main thing to be provided for. 

 Brindley, in this respect, took very much the same view 

 in laying out his canals as was afterwards taken by 

 George Stephenson a man whom he resembled in many 

 respects in laying out railways. He would rather go 

 round an obstacle in the shape of an elevated range of 

 country, than go through it, especially if in going round 

 and avoiding expense he could accommodate a number 



when they are sent, as we shall advertise " We shall send you this week end, 



them in several of the Country papers: double salts, creams, pott'y potts, table 

 Mr. Walker, of Oxford, Steward to D. of plates of all sorts, sallad dishes, covered do., 



Marlbro' you may perhaps get them sent ! pierced desert plates, &c. We cannot get 



from Marlbro' house; Mr. Dudley, Attor- \ Sadler to send us any pierced desert \v:m , 



ney-at-Law, Coventiy; Mr. Richardson, . &c. P;iy Addison 5 or <> guineas. 



Silversmith, in Chester; Mr. Perry, Wol- I " Yours, &c., .1. W." 



verhampton. 



