bar ley >, 
228 Means of supplying Water for Fire Engines. [Nov. 1, 
shall seize end apprehend all pilferers, 
&c. and give their utmost assistance to 
help the inhabitants to rémove their 
goods ;” it should be enacted, “* that they 
shall immediately procure all the fire- 
plugs to be opened and stup blocks to 
be set up,” &c. agreeable to the 74th 
clause, and for which a certain fee is di- 
rected for the turncock. 
It is well known that, although several 
engines were presently on the spot, there 
was little or no water for near one hour, 
amischief that might in every simiar 
case be very easily prevented, Let the 
constables or other persons go from beuse 
to house, requesting as much water as 
their cisterns or pumps, &c. will afford, 
which, being poured into the channels 
. of the street, may be so conducted 
to the engines as to supply them for a 
considerable time, until water could 
be procured at the plugs. 
Cornhill, and its vicinity, had often 
been a prey to fire, in a great degree, as 
its old inhabitants can testify : but after 
the great fire, which many years ago, be- 
gan where the London-tavern is now, 
and which raged with such destructive 
fury, that at one period I saw three out 
of the four opposite corners of four streets 
on fire at once, burning tremendously, 
and which had got to a great height be- 
fore any water could be procured; a 
meeting of the inhabitants, on the subject 
was called; and as London is well known 
to be mostly built on a fine gravelly soil, 
it was resolved to sink a Jarge well in the 
highest ground, and put thereto pumps of 
great force, water beingsure to be found 
in abundance. Two very large bored 
pumps were so placed that several 
men might work at them at once, and 
which would (by properly damming up 
the several parts required, or by handing 
the buckets full, by a double line of men) 
keep many engines supplied even ata 
considerable distance; and if there bea 
descent toward the engines, i might 
flow in the channels. 
It seems to have been one of the many 
foresights which too often are stifled in 
their birth, but which if attended to at 
the moment, might be of great future be- 
nefit ; yet I believe that this well and the 
pumps, though formed near thirty years 
ago, have never been called into use for a 
suppiy at a fire. Were such plans con- 
ceived in the various wards or pa- 
rishes in London, of what utility might 
they be; they might be ever in use for 
beverage as well as the other. Good 
spring water isa most useful article, and 
the New River Company would do well 
to encourage all such works within the 
limits of their service; for T have often 
known the water turned off before the 
engines could extinguish fires, and this 
has been urged asa reason, “ If we con- 
tinue to supply you here, other parts will 
have none;” but bythe multiplying of 
wells and pumps, very little of their river 
need be taken. 
Next, every parish should have at their 
watch-house, as many leather buckets as 
could well be therein contained ; and 
then, at the breaking out of any fire 
near, every watchman should take two, 
at least, with his lanthern and staff. The 
names and residence of the turncocks 
should be painted on the wall, by the 
buckets. Attendance thus _ alertly, 
would often check the progress be- 
fore the engines could be got to play. 
Every housekeeper should also have 
buckets according to his ability. The 
churches are generally supplied with 
them, and the sexton should have a fee 
for expeditiously distributing them. 
Every fireman should carry one with him, 
and hy this means there would be an 
ample supply of water into the engines. 
A proofof this want of water occurred in 
October 1807, at the fire near the bottom 
of Fleet-street, and at Bolt-court, on the 
5th of November following, where no water 
could be got at the plugs, and yet large 
quantities of water were furnished bymany 
of the housekeepers near. I was-at one 
house which had three pails employed 
from their cistern and a pump, until the 
pump broke ; and the persons who carried 
the water, not returning the pails, the ser- 
vants actually furhished water in their 
saucepans and kettles; and one girl 
did the best she could with two ale-house 
pots, a quart and a pint—so earnest 
were all employed, and thus the fire was 
checked. 
It is material that every engine should 
be worked once a mouth, whether at a 
fire or not, to sce that itis in order; and 
certain men in every parish, at a small 
annual stipend, be considered as hired-at- 
tendants and when employed, be paid 
by the hour, as the firemen are; and 
each should hate a water-proof fear- 
nought jacket to put on at such times, 
marked with a number, and the name of 
the parish ; it would distinguish them 
from the rabble usually attending at such 
calamities, 
Next, the volunteers—to whom, in ge- 
neral, too much praise cannot be given, 
though en the business of this morning, 
Biv a smal} 
