The National Register.
London, England, 1818-04-06 00:00:00

.IN

A Petition against the additional duty on Leather was pre.
sewed by the Earl of Shaftesbury from theiatmers of Whit.
by ; and another Petition, having the same object, by the Earl
of Lauderdale from the Tanners of Inverness.
Earl GRUA esion alluded to the accounts of places in re-
version helm e the hoarse, and repeated what he had before
stated, that there appeared to be some errors in the returns.
He also stated, that he had received a letter from Lord
Duck-, by which it appeared that his Lordship bad
relinquished all the endowments of the Office before the date
of the Grant in Reversion, made, as we understood, to the
• Pruvest Marshal of Jamaica. The Noble Earl said he should
take an early opportunity of bringing the subject under the
cowitterafiou of their Lordships.
The Noble Earl then said, that while he was on his legs, he
would take the opportunity of noticing another subject of im-
portance. He .had learned from some of his tenants in Gros.
venur-square, that a coalition had been formed between cer-
taiit water companies. He understood, that the charge was
not more moderate, uud that the supply was very bad. The
-water at presentsupplied by the Grand Junction water_wooks
was, he understoOd, very much discoloured. He had thought
it riglrt to mention this subject, es the state of the water sop•
.plied by these companies was of great consequence to the
Lealtt and safuty of the metropolis.
. The Earl of L.suliEftnst.r. said Parliament had at different
• times passed bills for incorporating' different companies to
supply the metropolis with water. This had been done on the
principle, that the competition thus cream: would procure
for the inhabitants a cheaper and better supply ; but the
contrary had been the fart. Indeed, it 110 W appeared that
• some of these corporations had formed a- ooalition for one
7 quarter of the town, and others for another, so that•they di-
vided the metropolis between them. 'flans, instead of the
competition winch had been anticipated, a complete mono-
• poly was established. In consequence of this state of things,
• the supply-of water was• not only bad, but i 1 a lire took-place
in a quarter of the metropolis appropriated to one company,
' the water of another could not be applied to it.
.The Loan CHANCELLOR hoped their Lordships would not
separate without its being distinctly entlerstood that, if these
• companies acted in a way to defeat the object the Legisla-
• tore had in view at the time• of their incorporation, that

it was in the power of Parliament to correct such a proceed-
ing.
The Earl e SmarrasseaY said, tkat every attention had
been paid to the sills on the subject which had been already
before the-House; and that in the ease of any new measure,
he would devote all his attention to render it fit to accom-
p7ish the object the!i..T.ordships always Las. in view in passiug
• any act for establishing such companies.—Adjourned.

HOUSE OP COMAIONS.

TRVRSD•Y, APRIL 2.

A Petition was presented frowthe cotton mannfacturera of
• Carlisle, praying for•regithition of dm hours of labour.
Mr. livzsr:.yros: postponed his Motioa respecting. widows'
• peasions to that day fortnigitt.
.General Gasicovise withdrew his Motion respecting costs of
• snit, in consequence cif • seine conversation he had. iield•with
I then A ttornertieneral.
• Mr. ot. LE presented atPetition • frown the truners at Drug-
! heda las we lerstoorr, against the leather duties.
• A siniilar'Petition v:as presented front the tanners of Dam-
s Irk C.