LONDON. 



173 



tidal current, and worked a pump whicli forced the water through pipes into the 

 streets and houses. These water works turned out a great success, and they 

 disappeared only with old London Bridge in 1831. In 1606 the City obtained 

 an Act of Parliament for bringing a stream of pure water from Hertfordshire 

 into London, but, frightened at the magnitude of the task which they had under- 

 taken, they were only too happy when Hugh Myddelton undertook to carry out 



Fig. 91. — London: Hyde Pakk and the Serpextixe. 



the scheme at his own risk. This was the origin of the New River Company, 

 one of the most successful undertakings in the world. The cost of this enterprise 

 only amounted to £17,000 ; * but a few years ago a single share of the company was 

 sold for £50,000. At the present time the London water supply forms the 

 subject of serious discussion, and various schemes have been brought forward for 

 rendering the metropolis independent of a river which receives the sewage of 

 a million inhabitants. It has been proposed to collect the rain-water which 



* See Timbs's " Curiosities of London." 



