Description:Contrasting with the views of Robert Wilmot, there were many people who supported the development of navigable waterways in the early nineteenth century. As a prominent political figure in the House of Lords, Sir John Leveson-Gower’s papers include a number of letters asking him to support schemes to create navigable waterways.
One letter amongst Sir John’s papers promotes ‘making the River-Weaver navigable’, and is signed by a J. Egerton. Although the surname could be a coincidence, J. Egerton may have been a relation of Scroop Egerton, the first Duke of Brdigewater,(1681–1745) who is often attributed with pioneering navigable canals.
Egerton states that the scheme to make the River Weaver navigable is in the interests of the general public. He describes the scheme as ‘an affair, in which my Duty to the Publick hath engag’d me to be an Undertaker, whose good it principally aims at’.
Egerton strongly promotes the scheme to Sir John, stating that ‘the advantages of this navigation are so obvious, incontestable, & great’. His letter also discusses the opposition to the Bill proposing the scheme. He writes: ‘Lord Barrymore, Mr Fleetwood, & others, opposers of the Bill before the Parliament, always approved of the Design when they were with us, & only objected against the manner of the Performance.’
Egerton criticises arguments which oppose the development of canals, arguing that ‘the Pretences of Publick Damage are such as may equally be thrown against every thing of this nature.’ He refers to the men opposing the Bill as being ‘of the common sort, who fear, or wou’d seem to fear, the Ruin of so many People, now employ’d in the Carriage of Salt and Coal’. Egerton dismisses this concern, stating that ‘it will be demonstrated that the navigation cannot at all affect this kind of Carriage’. Indeed, he elaborates suggesting that ‘great sums’ are spent on ‘High-ways which still are, & will continue almost impassible, unless this River be made navigable’.
Egerton’s letter reflects contemporary concerns surrounding the development of navigable waterways in the early eighteenth century.
Contextual information about the Bridgewater family from Louis A. Knafla, ‘Egerton, John, third earl of Bridgewater (1646–1701)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, Sept 2004; online edn [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/8589]. See also K. R. Fairclough, ‘Egerton, Francis, third duke of Bridgewater (1736–1803)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004[http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/8584]