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CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTORY.
Labour and skill have made modern England—Early
settlement of Britain — Early works of embankment and draining —
Reclamation of Romney Marsh — Early embankments of the Thames —
Great Level of the Fens — Laws for preserving the reclaimed lands —
Destructive floods —James I. encourages drainage works — Cornelius
Vermuyden, the Dutch engineer, employed by king James — England's
dependence upon foreigners in former times —England's progress in
engineering and manufacturing skill.
CHAPTER II.
SIR CORNELIUS VERMUYDEN—DRAINAGE OF THE FENS.
Vermuyden's embankment and drainage works at Dagenham
and Windsor — The Isle. of Axholme — Reclamation of Hatfield Chase —
The works carried out by foreign capital and foreign labour
—Opposition of the native population — The embankments broken by the
Parliamentarians—Vermuyden undertakes the drainage of the Great Fen
Level—Francis Earl of Bedford becomes chief undertaker — Opposition
of the Fen-men and of the town population — Satirical songs and
ballads against the Fen-drainers — "The Powte's Complaint" — Oliver
Cromwell heads an agitation against the Fen-drainers — The Fen-men
destroy the works and property at Lindsey Level and other Fen
districts — Vermuyden's "discourse" on the drainage of the Fens,
1649 — Works completed, 1652 — Public thanksgiving — Vermuyden's
labours, personal sacrifices, and death — Progressive improvements
in the Fen district — Salubrity of the Fens.
CHAPTER III.
SIR HUGH MYDDELTON — CUTTING OF THE NEW RIVER.
Old London, its water supply by streams and conduits
— Defective supply in London and in other towns — Water-works at
Hull and Tiverton — Plymouth leet constructed by Sir Francis Drake
—The Myddelton family— Hugh entered an apprentice Goldsmith — London
in the 16th century—Myddelton as Goldsmith, Merchant Adventurer and
Cloth-maker — His marriage — Is first alderman of Denbigh— Appointed
afterwards recorder and M.P. — Appointed a member of committees on
water supply of London — Difficulty in finding an engineer —
Myddelton undertakes the work — The New River —Hostility of owners
of property — King James assists Myddelton in the completion of the
work — Public ceremony on the opening of the New River — Benefits of
the increased' water supply —The water carriers— Formation of the
New River Company.
CHAPTER IV.
SIR HUGH MYDDELTON (continued) —His OTHER ENGINEERING AND MINING
WORKS—HIS DEATH.
Brading Haven — Its reclamation undertaken by
Myddelton — Myddelton arranges with King James — Takes out patent
for draining land —Sir John Oglander's account of the circumstances
connected with the reclamation — Failure of the works — Hugh and
Thomas Myddelton as Members of Parliament — Hugh's connection with
Wales—Mines Royal Company of Cardiganshire —Their mines
unsuccessfully worked — Myddelton farms the mines — Is made a
baronet by King James — The king confirms the lease of the mines-
and waives claim to royalty — Myddelton's mining works—Their
valuable produce — Myddelton's residence at Lodge Park —Invited to
execute reclamation works at Gwydir — Letter to Sir John Wynn — Sir
Hugh's death — His will — His character.
CHAPTER V.
CAPTAIN PERRY — STOPPAGE OF DAGENHAM BREACH.
Breaches in the Thames embankments between London and
Greenwich —between Plumstead and Erith — Inundations on the north
shore —Great breach at Dagenham — Futile attempts to stem the breach
— Navigation of the river obstructed — Boswell, a contractor,
attempts to stop the breach, and fails — Captain John Perry — His
early career as a sailor — Employed by the Czar Peter of Russia to
superintend a canal from St. Petersburg to the Caspian Sea — Perry
is appointed comptroller of Russian maritime works — Surveys canal
route from St. Petersburg to the Volga — Quits Russia without pay or
reward for his services — Undertakes the stoppage of Dagenham breach
on the Thames — Description of his process — Opposition of Boswell —
Confidence of the Parliamentary Committee — The works continued by
Perry; their completion — Gigantic traffic of the Thames — Extent of
the embankments — Perry a loser by his contract — His employment as
surveyor of harbours and in directing works of reclamation and
drainage —His death.
CHAPTER VI.
JAMES BRINDLEY — THE BEGINNING OF CANAL NAVIGATION.
Insignificant trade of England in the last century
—Defective state of road and river communication — Modes and cost of
inland carriage— —Natural advantages for communication by rivers and
canals — England behind Holland, France, and Russia — Isolated
efforts — John Trew's Canal at Exeter — Francis Matthew's project of
a Canal from London to Bristol — Andrew Yarranton's schemes — Want
of money for great engineering works —Aire and Calder Navigation —
The Mersey and Irwell, the Weaver, Douglas, and Sankey Navigations
in Lancashire and Cheshire — Beginning of artificial Canals in
England — James Brindley — His Birth and Birthplace — Macclesfield,
its trade — The "Flash Men" and Broken Cross gangs — Brindley's
Croft — His Parentage — Boyhood —Apprenticed to a Millwright —
Importance of the Millwright's position and craft — Brindley, though
neglected, successfully repairs a silk-mill—His His excellent work —
Brindley successfully erects machinery fora paper-mill — Takes charge
of his Master's business— Begins business for himself at Leek.
CHAPTER VII.
BRINDLEY AS MASTER WHEELWRIGHT AND MILLWRIGHT.
Various nature of Brindley's employment — His
ingenuity gets him the name of "The Schemer" — His memoranda books —
His employment by Earl Gower at Trentham — Flint introduced in
Pottery manufacture — Brindley makes improved flint-mills — Employed
by the brothers Wedgwood—John E. Heathcote, of Clifton Colliery,
employs Brindley to drain his drowned mines — Brindley succeeds
where others failed — Low remuneration for skilled labour — Brindley
employed in fitting up a silk-mill at Congleton —His habits of
observation and fertility of resources — His improvements in
machinery for silk manufacture — Employed on mills, machines, and
pumps at the Potteries — His original contrivances — Improved mill
for Wedgwood, at Burslem — Suggests flint grinding in water— Success
of the process — Improves the steam-engine—Erects an engine at
Fenton Vivian—Its working and cost — His engine patent —Erects
steam-engine successfully at Walker Colliery, Newcastle.
CHAPTER VIII.
THE DUKE OF BRIDGEWATER — BRINDLEY EMPLOYED AS ENGINEER OF HIS
CANAL.
Attempts at improved inland navigation in Lancashire,
Cheshire, and Yorkshire — Acts passed in 1737 and 1755 — Worsley
Brook to the Irwell, Sankey Brook to the Mersey — The Sankey Canal —
Canal from the Trent to the Mersey — Brindley makes survey for Earl
Gower — Engaged by the Duke of Bridgewater for the Worsley Canal —
The Duke's birth and parentage — Neglected in his early years — He
travels abroad accompanied by Mr. Robert Wood — Return to England
and sporting career — The young Duke's love affair with Miss
Gunning—His disappointment and retirement to Worsley—Manchester and
Liverpool in the last century, their extent, trade, and manufactures
— State of the roads about Manchester and elsewhere —Scarcity of
food from the badness of the roads — Bad, roads and dear coals — The
Mersey and Irwell, bad navigation — The Duke of Bridgewater's
project to make a water road from his collieries at Worsley to
Manchester — Act obtained in 1759 — John and Thomas Gilbert —
Brindley introduced to the Duke — Brindley's new survey and plans —
Execution of the Canal — The Barton Aqueduct pronounced "a castle in
the air" — Description of the Aqueduct and other works — Trafford
Moss — Subterraneous Canal at Worsley — Brindley's mechanical and
other contrivances — The range and fertility of his genius —
Valuable uses of the Canal when finished.
CHAPTER IX.
EXTENSION OF THE DUKE'S CANAL TO THE MERSEY.
Brindley's survey from Stretford to the Mersey —
Importance of communication between Manchester and Liverpool —
Growth of Liverpool — Decay of Chester — Liverpool coaches, 1726 to
1750 — The Duke's project of a Manchester and Liverpool Canal —
Brindley's survey —Extract from diary — Brindley in London — "At the
play" — Opposition to the Duke's project — Brindley as witness for
the Bill —His model and explanation of "puddling" — Canal lock
described —Brindley's powers with chalk — The Manchester and
Liverpool Canal authorised — Brindley's capital idea of long level
reaches and concentration of locks — Continued but bootless
opposition of the Old Quay Navigation and the landowners —
Importance of the Duke's scheme — Sketch of the works, and
Brindley's contrivances — Sale Moor Moss — Steam engine and pump at
Dunham — "The Duke's folly" — Brindley's floating workshops —
Provision against outbursts of the banks — Attention to details —
Rate of wages paid to workmen — Entries in diary — Brindley's
training of workmen — Their trade secrets — Lawrence Earnshaw —
Number of men employed on the Canal — Brindley's bold idea of a
bridge across the tideway of the Mersey — The Duke's Dock at
Liverpool.
CHAPTER X.
THE DUKE'S DIFFICULTIES — COMPLETION OF THE CANAL —GROWTH OF
MANCHESTER.
The Duke's straits for money—Great extent and cost of
the under- taking — His bravery and perseverance — Worsley Old Hall
— His shifts to pay the workmen on Saturday nights — Alleged to be
"drowned in debt" — Anecdote of the Duke, Brindley, and Gilbert in
committee on ways and means — Gilbert and the highwayman —The Duke
obtains loans from Child and Co., Bankers, London — The level
portion of Canal finished 1767, and the Runcorn Locks 1773
—Extensive coal workings at Worsley — Cost of the Canal from Worsley
to Manchester, and from Longford Bridge to Runcorn — Cost of
water-carriage reduced one-half — Brindley's insignificant
remuneration —Disputes between the Duke and Brindley —The Duke's
personal interest in his canals, coal-mines, and mills — Personal
traits and anecdotes of the Duke — His business habits — Care for
his work-people —Visits to Trentham — Fondness for Worsley — Visit
of Fulton — Resolved to have steam-boats for his canals — His
manners and habits — The Bridgewater Gallery — His death, character,
and public services — Benefits of his Canal to Manchester and
Liverpool and the district — Extraordinary growth of Manchester.
CHAPTER XI.
BRINDLEY CONSTRUCTS THE GRAND TRUNK CANAL.
Canal to connect the Mersey with the Trent —Brindley
employed as engineer — Survey of Staffordshire Canal — Earl Gower
and the Earl of Stamford promoters of canals — Desire of the
manufacturers for water-communication — The earthenware and salt
manufactures —Expense of land-carriage by pack-horses — Sketch of
the potteries district and population — Josiah Wedgwood — His energy
and enterprise in manufactures—Promotes improved means of
communication — Supports Brindley's Grand Trunk Canal — Public
support — The opposition to the scheme — Timidity of promoters —
Vested interests preserved — Sketch of the route of the Grand Trunk
— The Act obtained — First sod cut by Josiah Wedgwood — Great
rejoicings — Wedgwood's works at Etruria — Extent of the Grand Trunk
—Dimensions, aqueducts, Harecastle Tunnel — Difficulties conquered,
and tunnel finished — Description of Brindley and his works
—Benefits conferred by the Canal — New branches of industry opened
up — Moral and social influences of
Canals — Wesley's testimony.
CHAPTER XII.
BRINDLEY'S LAST CANAL — HIS DEATH AND CHARACTER.
Brindley's idea of the use of rivers — His ideas of
the Grand Trunk realised — The Wolverhampton, the Coventry, the
Birmingham, the Droitwich, and the Oxford Canals — Brindley's plans
the ground-work for future measures — The Birmingham Canal — Matthew
Boulton and Josiah Wedgwood its promoters — Brindley's level lengths
—Canal between Chesterfield and the Trent—Extent of Canals laid out
by Brindley — His educational disadvantages — His work not duly
appreciated in his own day — Other Canal projects on which Brindley
was consulted — The Leeds and Liverpool, its great extent and
importance — Brindley's survey of the Thames — Consulted as to
drainage in Lincolnshire — His pupils — Wide range of Brindley's
employments and engineering skill — His private life — His strange
courtship and marriage — His home at Turnhurst — Colliery at Golden
Hill — Illness and death — Characteristics — Mechanical genius — His
studies in bed — His private character — Influence of Brindley's
Canals on the enterprise and speculation of the time—Extent of the
Canal system in Great Britain and Ireland — Canal traffic — Canals
and Railways.
APPENDIX.
PIERRE-PAUL RIQUET, CONSTRUCTOR OF THE GRAND CANAL OF LANGUEDOC.
The Canal du Midi — Its importance as uniting the
Atlantic with the Mediterranean —Riquet de Bonrepos, its
constructor, originally a common exciseman, not an engineer—His
amateur surveys in the district — Miniature Canal works — Lays his
plans of the Canal before Colbert and Lewis XIV. — A Royal
Commission appointed, and report favourably as to Riquet's design —A
patent issued authorising the construction of the Canal — Riquet
becomes undertaker of works —Money fails, and he incurs heavy
debts—Anecdote of the use made by him of Colbert's influence —
Obtains assistance from the farmers-general of the province — Canal
completed from Toulouse to Trebel — Riquet's difficulties, bravery,
and perseverance — Progress of the works — Quarrels between the
King's Commissioners and the States as to inspection — Financial
troubles and appeals to Colbert—The works nearly completed when
Riquet dies—Cost of the Canal. |
