2. In this way the cost of conveyance was enormous, and thus any active trade was next to impossible. Something had been done to make the rivers more useful for conveying goods. Some large channels that had been cut in the Fen districts, in the east of England, had been used to a small extent for the same purpose. A small canal, three miles long, was constructed near Exeter in 1566 by a man named John Trew.

3. But it was not until the year 1716 that the first constructor of canals, and the founder of our present large canal system, was born in a very humble cottage about three miles from Buxton in Derbyshire. His name was James Brindley.

4. In 1733, Brindley, who never went to school, was bound apprentice, near Macclesfield, to a wheelwright and mill-wright of the name of Bennett. His master seems to have neglected his business very much, and to have liked the public-house better than his shop. He thought Brindley more dull and stupid than most boys, and he left him very much to himself, to learn his trade as best he could.

5. It is no wonder that the poor lad often made terrible mistakes; but he had been thinking and watching and learning all the time, and before he had completed his time as an apprentice, the customers of Mr. Bennett began to find out the skill and ability of the young man. They even asked that Brindley might be sent to do their work rather than the master.

6. On one occasion Bennett was employed to con

struct the machinery for a new paper-mill. Though he had been sent to look at some models, which he was to imitate, he proved quite unable to complete his task. When finished, it would not work.

7. Bennett's failure began to be talked about, and Brindley resolved to make an effort to save his master from disgrace. At the end of the week, without saying a word to any one, away he went to Manchester to inspect the machinery, which was to have been copied in the new mill. He examined it carefully. He was unable to write, but he remembered every point carefully.

8. He obtained permission from his master to take the whole matter in hand. He examined and refitted the works, and introduced many improvements of his own, and finally completed the whole job to the great relief of Bennett, and the satisfaction of all concerned.

9. Though he learnt to write, he was never a good penman, and he never learnt to spell. He seemed to have a wonderful power of carrying the most minute details in his head,-a power gained by his thorough attention to the matter in hand.

10. Brindley began business for himself in 1742 at Leek, in North Staffordshire. Very soon his name was widely known as a clever mechanic and engineer. He succeeded in clearing of water some coal-pits at Clifton, when all previous attempts had failed. He erected several mills, and was always able to overcome any difficulties which came in his way.

11. The Duke of Bridgewater was anxious to de

vise some means by which he could convey the coal from his pits at Worsley to Manchester more cheaply and rapidly than could then be done. Hence he

formed the design of making a canal about ten miles long. He was advised to apply to James Brindley, and to put the matter entirely into his hands. This was in 1759.

12. In order to complete this work it was necessary to carry the proposed canal over the river Irwell. Brindley proposed what is called an "aqueduct," by which this could be done. These aqueducts are now very common, but at that time such things had never been heard of in this country.

People laughed at the idea of carrying water over water. The Duke was told he was throwing away his money. But both the Duke and Brindley persevered. The thing was done, and the canal completed.

13. From this small beginning, our large canal system took its rise. Brindley lived to plan, and to a large extent execute, three hundred and sixty miles of canals. Trade was thus vastly increased. The price of fuel and other necessaries of life was much reduced. Comforts, that had never been known before, were placed within the reach of the poorest and humblest. Brindley died in 1772, in the fifty-sixth year of his age.

14. Such were the small and humble beginnings of our present system of travelling.

Where was the first canal ever made in England? Who was our first great canal maker? Where was he born? Give an account of the apprenticeship of James Brindley. Describe his success at Clifton. What did the Duke of Bridgewater want to do? What plan did he form to carry out his design? What do you mean by an duct?" Where was the first aqueduct made?

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it was scrambling up a hill, he got into the basket behind, which was put there to carry luggage. But when they began to go down hill he was beaten on

all sides by the shaking boxes and trunks. "Then," he says, "all the boxes began, as it were, to dance around me; everything in the basket appeared to be alive, and every moment I received such violent blows that I thought my last hour had come." He was glad to creep back, as soon as he could, to his old seat.

5. In 1789 the Prince of Wales, afterwards George the Fourth, was upset, as he was riding in his carriage from Wentworth House, near Sheffield, to London. The Prince's coach, when near Newark, was overthrown by a cart in a narrow part of the road, and, rolling down a slope, was dashed to pieces. Strange to say, the Prince was not very much hurt.