THE ESSEX FIELD CI.UR. 207 



in some deep-seated springs which occur in the Lower Chalk. Mr. Whitaker, the 

 well-known geologist, says they are the only springs in the Lea which rise at that 

 depth. I shall not pursue the geology of the river basin, as we shall, later in the 

 daj', have the advantage of a paper hereon by Mr. Holmes. 



" The town of Luton (famous for its straw-making trade, which was suggested 

 by Mary Queen of Scots, and was introduced in the time of James L) formerly 

 was a source of great fouling of the Lea. The Lee Conservancy Act, 1868, 

 inasmuch as a special clause was inserted for the protection of the rights of the 

 town, so far as discharge of its refuse went, did not help the matter much. This 

 clause was allowed when disposal of refuse was not so well understood as it is 

 now. However, on my appointment, in 1871, to the charge of the Watershed, I 

 determined to put an end to this unsatisfactory state of affairs, and, thanks to the 

 good people of Luton, of whose wise deeds I have many times spoken in another 

 place, all the sewage is now pumped on to high land, away from the town, and 

 the river, and no pollution exists. I think Luton has spent over ;^40,ooo in this 

 great help to me in carrying out my duty. (Applause.) I wish I could speak 

 equally well of all the towns in the Watershed. Still, we advance, and the doings 

 of the Lee Conservancy Board have left their mark on the history of the water 

 supply of London, so far as some 38 per cent, of it is concerned, namely, that 

 supplied by the New River and East London Water Companies. It is a curious 

 fact that on an inspection of the river, from its source to. the intakes of the 

 companies, which I made in 1891, in conjunction with Mr. W. C. Young, F.l.C, 

 my consulting chemist, who analysed the samples, it was found there was more 

 cMganic matter in solution in the water at Leegrave Marsh, the so\irce of the river, 

 than that at the companies' intakes. The figures are interesting,^ and are given 

 in the footnote^. These figures have been confirmed since 1891 by Mr. Young 

 and were given to the recent Royal Commission on water supply, under the 

 chairmanship of Lord Balfour of Burleigh, on which I was a witness. 



" The River Lea is joined at Hertford by several tributary streams, all of which 

 are fully described in the little work 1 had the pleasure to offer for your 

 acceptance. 



" The Mimram is the first. This joins the Lea above Hertford. The river, 

 however, is previously increased in volume by a large spring in the park at 

 Woolmers. 



" The Mimram is famous for its trout. I shall not, however, say a word about 

 fishing. We are promised a paper on Izaak Walton after lunch. 



"The Beane joins the Lea near Benges, and the Rib joins the Beane, and 

 together these streams increase the Lea at Ware Park Mill. 



" There is so much of historical interest above and in Hertford, that I fear, out 

 of compassion for my audience, I must leave unsaid nearly all that might be told 

 with advantage, if time permitted, and again refer you to the little blue book in 

 your hands. 



" I may for a moment note that at Bayfordbury Hall, Mr. Baker's house, the 

 portraits of ' The Kit Cat Club ' are preserved. It is a curious fact that the 

 members of this club were all of considerable rank and position, and assembled 



I Organic Matter in Solution in Different Regions of the Waters of the J^ea. 

 (In grains per gallon.) 



Lea Below Rye House .... 0623 

 Lea Below Walthain .•Vbbey . . . o'686 



Source of the Lea . . - . . o'sii 

 Chadwell Spring, source of the New 



River -....- 0.693 



Lea, in Town of Hertford . . o'637 



Intake of New Rive from Lea . . o'44i 



Lea Below Enfield Lock . . . 0*490 



Intake of East London from Lea . . o'433 



