The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1804-10-10

had received no iritruStion, and Bennett, on his
return, was greatly ailonilhed to Zee improve
ments in various parts of mechaniIm of which
he had no previous conception. Ii was not
long before the millers ditcovered Brindey's
merits, and preferred him in tl,r execution of
their orders, to the matter or any other work
men. At the expiration Of his frrvitude Bennett,
being grown into years, he took the manage
ment of the huiinels upon hi,nielf, and, by his
Kill and induitrY, contributed to fupport his
old matter and family in comfortable manner.
| In procefs of time Brindey iet up as mill
wright on his own account, and, by number
or new and ingenious contrivances, greatly un-
proved that branch of mechanicks, and acquired
a high reputation in the neghbourhood. His
fame extended to a wider circle; ne was en-
ployed in 1859 TO erect water engines ct Clifton,
/ IN Lancaihire, for the purpoie of draining iome
coal mines. Here he gave an eiiay Of his abili-
ties in kind of work for which he was after
wards 10 much diltinguifhed, driving tunnel
under ground, through rock nearly 500 yards
In length, By which water was brought out of
the Irwell, for the purpofe of turning a wheel,
| liked 80 feet below the firtace of the earth. In
1855 he was employed TO execute the larger
wheels for fix mill It Congleton; and ano-
Their perion, who was engaged to make other
| parts ofthe machinery, and to fuperintend the
! whole, proving incapable CT completing the
4
Brindley, who not only executed the original
plan in mafterly manner, but made the addi-
ton of many curious and valuable improve
nents, as well in the contribution of the engine
itfe!f, as in the method of making the wheels &
! pinions belonging to it. About this time, too,
the mills for grinding flints in the Staf1ordfhire
potteries received various uieful improvements
| from his ingenuity.
| In the year 1856 he undertook to erect a
iteam-cngine, upon new plan, 1t New-caftle-
underline; and he was for time very intent
upon variety of contrivances for improving
| this ufeful piece ofmechanifn but from thefe
deiigns he was, happily for the public, called a.
way to take the lead in (what the event has
proved to be) national concern of capital i'm
portancc, the projecting the fytein of canal ma
vgation. The Duke of Bridgewater, who bad
formed his deGsn ofcarrying canal from his
coal works at Worfey to Manchester, was in
duced, by the reputation of MIR. Brirdlev, to
confult him on the execution Of it /; and having
the iagaclty to perceive, and ftrength of mind
to conhde in, the original and commanding abb
lties of this ielf-tsught genius, he committed to
him the management OF the arduous undertake
ing. In the projecting of thefe works, Mr.
BrindIey, from the very hrf, adopted thofe
leading principles which he ever after adhered
to, and in which he has been initiated by all fuc-
ceeding artifts.
To preferve rs much as pofIible the level of
his canals, and to avoid the mixture and inter-
ference of all natural ftreams, were objects at
which he conftanty aimed. To accornplfh
| theie No labor and expence was fpared, and his
genius ieened to delight in overcoming all OBJ
ffacles to them, by the difcovery Off new and ex-
traordinary contrivances.
The mott experienced engineers upon former
iyltems were amazed and confounded at his
projects ofaquedu6t bridges over navigable ri
vers, mounds acrois deep vallies, and fubter-
raneouS tunnels nor could they believe in the
praetlcabiIity oftome of thefe ichelneS till they
Jaw them etfeaed. In the execution, the ideas
he followed were his own ; and the minutef, rs
well as the greateh, OF the expedients he en-
ployed, bore the itamp of originality Every
| man of genius is an enthuiaft. Mr.. Brindey
was AN enthu6alt in favour OF the fuperiority
| of canal navig2tions above thofc of rivers and
this triumph of art over nature, led him to view
with a fort of contempt the winding ltream, in
which the lover of rural beauty 10 much de-
lights. This fentiment he is faid to have ex-
Preifed in ttrikipg manner at an examination
before Committee OF the Houfe of Commons,
when, on being afsed, after be had made fome
oontemptuous remarks relative to rivers, what
he conceived they were created for, he anfwered,
' to feed navigabie canals.' 4 direct rivalry
with the navigation of the Irwe and Merfey
was The bold enterprise of his fri great canal /;
and iince the fuccels of that defign, it has be-
come common all over the kingdom to fee ca
nails accompanying with nfuiting parallel the
courfe of navigable rivers.
After the fuccefsful execution of the Duke
of Bridgewater's canal to Merfey, Mr.. Brindley
was employed i'll the revived delign of carrying
canal from that river TO the Trent, through
the counties Of Chefter and Stafford. This un-
dertaking commenced in the year 766, and
from the great ideas if opened to the mind of its
conductor, of fcheme of inland navigation,
which fhonld connect all the internal parts of
England with each other, and with the princi-
pal fea ports, by means of branches from this
| main fem, he gave il the emphatical name OF
| the " Grand Trunk" In executing this he
was called upon to employ all the refources of
his invention, on account of the inequality and
various nature Of the ground to be cut through ;
in particular the hill Of Harecafle, which was on
ly to be pahed by a tunnel of great length,
bore through ardta of different coniiftency, and
fone Of them mere quck-fand, proved to be a
mott difficult az well as expenfige obfacIe,
which, however, he completely furmounted.
Whe this was carrying on, branch from the
Grand Trunk to Join the Severn, near Bewdley,
was committed to bis management, and was f.
nithed i'll 1779. He alto executed a canal
from Droitwch to the Severn and he planned
the Coventry canal, and for fome time fiperin-
tended lis execution, but on account Of fome
difference in opinion he refgned that Office.
fL.f, y Al n