252^ ' Supply of Water to the Metropolis. 



further on, not upon the threadbare authority of the peptic 

 empirics of the present day, but upon that of Hippocrates and 

 Sir George Staunton, and of the " amiable Izaak AValton," 

 and the unamiable Count Rumford. These conflicting evi- 

 dences agree in the main point of showing that pure and clear 

 water is much more agreeable than that which is loaded with 

 filth and soluble impurities : and, as most of our readers will 

 probably grant this point without further proof, we shall not 

 waste their time in extended remarks ; observing, however, by 

 the way, that it was probably after reading the convincing facts 

 detailed in these sections, that Sir H. Halford Avas induced to 

 move, atone of the anti-junctionist meetings, '^ That a constant 

 supply of pure and wholesome water is essential to the health 

 and comfort of the inhabitants of this great and thickly-peopled 

 metropohs !" 



The second part of this pamphlet contains a common-place 

 account of the different water-companies ; and the third is 

 particularly devoted to the Dolphin, or Grand Junction Nui- 

 sance : to this we must at present confine our attention, as it is 

 here that the heavy accusations to which we have above alluded 

 are embodied. 



It is well known, that the different water-companies being 

 upon the brink of ruin, entered into a mutual agreement to 

 partition out the town amongst them : this bold, and we must 

 call it, unconstitutional step was carried into effect towards the 

 close of 1817, by the simultaneous retirement from each al- 

 lotted district, of all the companies previously employed, ex- 

 cept the individual one thenceforward to be left in the exclu- 

 sive possession of the field. 



The companies gave no previous notice whatever of tlieir inten- 

 tions : and, in reply to the remonstrances of their customers, they 

 were informed, that, for the future, they could only be supplied by 

 the one-continuing Company ; and they were also given to under- 

 stand, that an increased rate would be shortly exacted. The in- 

 decency of the proceeding produced a temporary burst of indig- 

 nation ; but, so deadening are the effects of monopoly, that the 

 imposition was tamely submitted to, and the nefarious scheme 

 brought to completion. 



That a combination, bottomed in such a total disregard for the 

 public welfare, should exist for any long period, without producing 

 the train of evils ever attendant upon monopoly, was not to be 



