In February I posted two verses of this song in the Canal Songs (UK) thread (here) with a promise to try and find the rest of the song. I've now found a few more verses, but there's a long way to go - I have 5 of 19 verses. Since the search may well take some time, I've started this separate thread to keep track. Any help welcome!

The five verses I have found are given below, and the story so far is as follows.

I came across a reference in Charles Hadfield's British Canals to this song, written for the opening of the Neath & Swansea Junction Canal (usually called the Tennant Canal - George Tennant was the promoter). Hadfield gives the first and last verses and says:

The opening of a canal was an occasion for considerable jollification. Sometimes verse contributed, as when Elizabeth Davies, who kept a lollipop shop in Wind Street, Neath, wrote a song of nineteen verses, of which two are given here, to commemorate the opening of the Neath & Swansea Junction (usually called the Tennant) Canal:

The song is quoted from The History of the Vale of Neath by DR Phillips, 1925. I found a recent limited edition reprint in Port Talbot library this week, but I had very little time available. In a section on the canal, Phillips quotes the five verses below with the following preamble:

In 1824, to herald its opening ceremony, Elizabeth Davies the Rhymer, who kept a lollipop shop in Wind Street, Neath, issued 'Lines on the Neath and Red Jacket Junction Canal'. The ballad, printed by Filmer Fagg at Swansea, shows that, in her simple way, the author was anxious to do justice to the enterprise of Squire George Tennant of Cadoxton Lodge. She lauds the skill of Mr. William Kirkhouse who was in charge of the operations, and notes that no accident marred the progress of the great aqueduct 'where two crystal rivers in union do meet'. She carefully points out, in one stanza, that:

"The stones that are in it are the best of all:
They came from the rocks of Dylais water-fall."

The song contains 19 verses. It begins and closes as follows:-

O! could I make verses with humour and wit,
George Tennant, Esquire's great genius to fit;
From morn until even, I would sit down and tell,
And sing in the praise of Neath Junction Canal.

To his noble genius, great merit is due,
The increase of traffic, he'll daily pursue;
Employ to poor labourers, it is known full well
He gave them by making Neath Junction Canal.

***

But I think that my duty I do not fulfill
If I pass Mr Kirkhouse's very great skill.
He exerted his talents as wonderf'lly well
In that great undertaking; Neath Junction Canal

My song it is ended and now I will rest
In hopes Squire Tennant will ever be blest.
His goodness to the poor there is no tongue can tell
Of his courage in making Neath Junction Canal.

I hope when he's dead and laid in his grave,
His soul will in heaven be eternally saved;
It will then be recorded for ages to tell,
Who was the great founder of Neath Junction Canal.

Neath, March 1 1824    Elizabeth Davies