CHAP.I, \Y.\TKII sriM'l.Y OF LnXDoX IN KA1ILY TIMKs. 



89 



to throw the water over St. Magnus's steeple, greatly 

 lo the wonderment of the Mayor and Aldermen, who 

 ;i- -in I ded lo witness the experiment. The machinery 

 succeeded so well that a few years later we find the 

 corporation empowering the same engineer to use the 

 second arch of London Bridge for a similar purpose. 1 



But even tin's augmented machinery for pumping 

 was found inadequate for the supply of London. The 

 town was extending rapidly in all directions, and the 

 growing density of the population along the river hanks 

 was every year adding to the impurity of the water, 

 and rendering it less and less fit for domestic pur- 

 poses. Hence the demand for a more copious and ready 

 supply of pure water continued steadily to increase. 

 Where was the new supply to be obtained, and how 

 was it to be rendered the most readily available for 

 the uses of the citizens? Water is by no means a 

 scarce element in England ; and no difficulty was expe- 

 rienced in finding a sufficiency of springs and rivers of 

 pure water at no great distance from the metropolis. 

 Thus, various springs were known to exist in different 

 parts of Hertfordshire and Middlesex ; and many inde- 

 finite plans were proposed for conveying their waters to 

 London. To enable some plan or other to be carried 

 out, the corporation obtained an Act towards the end of 

 Queen Elizabeth's reign, 2 empowering them to cut a 

 river to the city from any part of Middlesex or Hert- 

 fordshire ; and ten years were specified as the time allowed 

 lo r ea r ry i n g out the necessary works. But, though many 

 plans were suggested and discussed, no steps were taken 

 to cut the proposed river. The enterprise seemed too 

 large for any private individual to undertake; and 

 though the corporation were willing to sanction it, they 



1 The river pumping-leases con- 

 tinued in the family of the Morices 

 until 1701, when the then owner sold 

 his rights to Richard Soams for 



38,0001, and hy him they were after- 

 wards transferred to the New llivrr 

 Company at a still higher price. 

 2 Act 13 Eliz. c. 18. 



