HISTORY OF

r§6

Newcastle-under-Line' and Clithero, as also by a great number os theprincipal gentlemen of that and the neighbouring counties, it wasunanimously resolved to apply to parliament for leave to bring in a l.illfor making a navigable canal from Wilden, in the county of Derby,through Staffordshire, to the river Mersey.

Lord Gower opened the meeting with a very sensible and elegantspeech; in which he expressed his satisfaction in seeing so many gentle-men met together upon so great a design. He declared, that he lookedupon it as of the utmost consequence to the manufacturers of that andthe adjacent counties, and to the kingdom in general; that ever sincehe had heard of the scheme, it had been his determination to support itwith all his interest, both provincial and political; for he was satisfied,that the landed and trading interest were so far from being incompati-ble, that they were the mutual support of each other; and therefore hislordship hoped that every gentleman present would concur with himin endeavouring to carry so noble and so useful a design into execu-tion. Mr. Brindley, engineer to the duke of Bridgewater, was thencalled in, and examined, and the heads of the plan were also producedand agreed to with very little alteration, and the necessary steps takenfor the intended application to parliament.

It was then resolved, That it will be most convenient for the execu-tion of this undertaking, if the expences of making and completingthe navigation, which have been estimated at one hundred and onethousand pounds, were to be distributed into five hundred and fiveshares, and raised by subscription ; and that no one person should havemore than twenty shares; and the money to be advanced by each sub-scriber in equal proportions as the fame shall be wanted; and the sharesmade transferable by a form to be prescribed by the act.

That a subscription be opened for a fund to defray the necessary ex-pences in obtaining the act; and that the money there subscribed

shall,