The Sun.
London, England, 1827-04-09 00:00:00

SUPPLY OF WATER TO THE METROPOLIS.

A numerous and highly respectable Meeting of Noble-
men and Gentlemen was held this day at Willis's Rooms,
King-street, to take into consideration the means of pro-
curing a wholesome supply of water to the inhabitants of
the Western portion of the Metropolis.
Upon the motion of Lord RossiArs, Mr. Hoanousit
took the Chair, in the absence of Sir Francis Burdett.
Upon being called to the Chair, the Hon. Gentleman
briefly stated the object of the meeting, and observed, that
the inhabitants of this portion of the metropolis had suffered
for a long period from the supply of bad water, but that
some of the most influential inhabitants were now convinced
of the necessity of exertion, and he had no doubt that pro-
per means would be pointed out.
Sir H. HALFORD came forward to move the first reso-
lution, which was to the effect, that a pure and whole-
some supply of water was an object of prime necessity.
Lord WHARNCLIFTE seconded the resolution : he said
there was no doubt that for a long time past the public
had been exceedingly ill-used, and that if the statements
made with respect to the Grand Junction Canal Company
are well-founded, he conceived they had lost all claim
to
Theth cir
the suppAoiratb:liNd csoindfidheencheeodf
rteheeeive public. —(Hear.)d a communication
from the Grand Junction Company, which he would take
leave to read. (The letter :merely stated the willingness
of the Company to submit to any investigation.)
Lord &term; said he had taken the trouble yesterday to
visit that part of the river where the Dolphin was situated,
and he could assure the Meeting that it was placed exactly
opposite to the mouth of the great common sewer.
At this period Sir F. Burdett arrived, and was greeted
with loud cheers. He immediately took the Chair, and
observed, that he should feel great pleasure if he could do
any thing to effect the important object of the Meeting.-_
(Cheers.)—ln his opinion, the straight-forward plan was
to bring the matter under the consideration of Parliament
by Petition, and to move for a Committee to inquire into
the manner in which the Metropolis was now supplied with
water.

The other resolutions, which were as follow, were then
read.

SECOND.-That the principle of the Acts of Parlia-
ment under which the several Companies supply the
Metropolis with water were instituted, was to encourage
competition ; seeing that it is only from competition that
a perfect security can be had for a good, a cheap, and a
plentiful supply.
TIMM-That by an arrangement entered into about the
year 1817, between the several Companies supplying the
Metropolis with water, all competition was put an end to,
and a monopolyof this necessary of life virtually established.
FOURTIL—That the water taken up from the River
Thames at Chelsea for the use of the inhabitants of the
Western portion of the Metropolis being charged with the
contents of the great common sewers, the drainings from
dung-hills and laystalls, the refuse of hospitals, slaugh-
terhouses, color, lead, and soap works, drug-mills, and de-
composed animal and vegetable substances--rendering the
said water offensive to the sight, disgusting to the imagi-
nation, and destructive to health, ought no longer to be
taken up by any of the Water Companies from so foul a
source.

FIFTIL—That the Grand Junction Works Company
having engaged to supply their customers with water of
the purest and most wholesome quality, to be drawn from
the Rivers Colne and Brent, and from an immense Reser-
voir of nearly one hundred acres, fed by the streams of the
Vale of Ruislip ; have, nevertheless, since the month of
September, 1820, drawn their supply from the Thames,
at the foot of Chelsea Hospital, and opposite to the mouth
of the great Ranelagh Common Sewer.
SIXTH. —That the water supplied by the Grand Junction
Company, to more than seven thousand families, had been
pronounced by professional men of the first eminence, to be a
"filthy fluid, loaded with decayed vegetable matter, and other
substances equally deleterious to health ; to be so filthy as
to be unfit for the breakfast-table, and for culinary purposes,
to be so impure asto add to the other unwholesome consti-
tuents of bread, and to render every meal injurious to the
health of thousands" " to have frequently an unwholesome
smell—to contain leeches, shrimp-like insects, worms,
and other animalculre, and in the summer known to be
sometimes putrid.
A Gentleman who stated himself to be an ex-Director of
the Grand Junction Company, said, that the Company
were now making preparations to improve the water, and
that if the public waited six weeks, they would find excel-
lent water supplied.—(Hisses.)
Dr. PAnis said, that no process of filtering could much
benefit the water, while it continued to be taken from its
present impure source.—(Hear, hear.)
Lord Ros►LYN was greatly opposed to waiting for six
weeks, for at the end of that period, the session would be
too far advanced to apply to Parliament.—(Hear, bear.)
These Resolutions having been carried unanimously,
Lord RossLYN came forward and observed, that a peti-
tion had been drawn up, founded on the Resolutions, and
he begged to propose that it should be adopted as the peti-
tion of the Meeting.

The Resolution was seconded by Lord TANLIRVILLE,
and passed unanimously.
Mr. FORD thought the best mode of meeting the monopoly
of the existing Company, would be to establish a new
Company.

Mr. itu.t.s said, he had a cottage opposite the Dolphin,
at Chelsea, and observed the daily action of the common
sewer, the contents of which were drawn into the Dolphin.
In his opinion, as an Engineer, the best part of London could
never get a proper supply of water, except from the River
Thames, but to get that supply, of a proper quality, it was
necessary to take it from Teddington Lock, where the tide
did not come.

Lord HARDWICKE then moved, that a subscription
should be entered into to defray the expeuce of the Petition,
and Sir F. Burdett and Mr. Hobliouse be requested to sup-
port its prayer.
Thanks were then voted to the Chairman, and the Meet-
ing adjourned.
Several gentlemen produced phial., containing large
worms, a variety of animalculw, which had been found in
the water, at present supplied by'the Grand Junction Coin-
pany.—The meeting was more numerously and respectably
attended than any that has been held in the Metropolis
during the present season.

ELECTION COMMITTEES.--(THIS DAY).

Several witnesses were examined this day on behalf of
Colonel White, who, as far as they went, have completely
rebutted the evidence on the other side. There was only
one charge of bribery directly against Colonel White, of
which any evidence had been produced by the peti-
tioner. The witness brought forward to support that
charge was a person of the name of Johnson, an
ex-clerk of Mr. Hamilton, the attorney, who swore
that he saw Colonel White give a voter of the name
of Austin 51. on the second day of the election, in
the presence of the Rev. Mr. Murray, a Catholic Priest,
at the hustings. Both Austin and Mr. Murray deposed
this day, not only the falsehood of the fact, but that neither
of them was at the hustings on the day in question. Mr.
Murray underwent a severe examination by the Members,
more particularly by Mr. Moor, of Dublin, who is Mr. H.'s
nominee. The Rev. Gentleman stated that previously to the
election he had explained tehis flock the nature of the bribery
oath, and told them, that even in voting for their favourite
candidate, if they, or any of their family were promised, or
expected any remuneration for their vote, that they could
not, conscientiously take the bribery oath.
THE WESTMEATH ELECTION.

When the petitioner's case will close is very uncertain.
The general impression is, that he cannot make out such a
cue as will render it necessary for any evidence to be pro-
duced on behalf of the sitting members. If he does, there
will be a commission sent to Ireland to examine witnesses.

SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE-(THIS DAY.)

FROM LLOYD'S.

DxsL, .APRIL 7 AND B.—Wind N.E.—Passed, from
London, the Hambletonian, for Vera-Cruz; Roxburgh Castle,
for India; Union, Thisbe, and Garter, for Demerara. Ar-
rived and sailed for the River, the General Harrison, Stan-
ton, from China ; and Canning, from ditto. Arrived from
London, the Apollo, Blight, from Berbice ; the Jane,
Wylee, from St. Lucie ; Lawrence, Harley, from Quebec ;
and Enterprise, Dillon, from Bombay. Arrived and sailed
for the River, the Harriet, Guthrie, from Bengal 30th
Nov., and St. Helena, 10th Feb. ; also the Recovery, Chap-
man, from Bombay; Finchal, M'Pherson, from Gibraltar;
and West India, Guldney, from Jamaica.
FALMOUTH, APRIL 7.—Wised S. W.—Arrived off the
port, the Hygeia, Clark, from St. John's ; Commerce,
of and from Poole, for Oporto ; and Olham, Parkins,
from the South Seas. Arrived the Cynthia packet, from
Buenos Ayres, 7th January, Monte Video 12th, and from
Rio Bth Feb. The Forte frigate arrived at Rio from
England 7th February. Sailed, the Francis Freeling
packet, for the Mediterranean; Gipsey, Boy, for Antwerp;
Osborne packet for Jamaica ; and Monticello, for St.
Petersburgh.
PORTSMOUTH, APRIL B.—Wind E. S.E.—Arrived his
Majesty's ship Slaney, from Ceylon, December the let, the
Cape, February 4, St. Helena the 17th February, Ascen-
sion Island, February 27. His Majesty's ship Grass-
hopper, from the North American station, last from Ber-
muda the 17th March ; also the King George, Jeffrey,
from St. Michael's; and Sarah, Gull, from St. Kitt's;
and Stockton, Hannah, and O'Hara, from Quebec ; and
Camilla, from Memel.

PLYMOUTH, APRIL 6 and 7.—Wind W.S.W.Ar-
rived, the Tantiyy, Odge, from Zealand; Caledonia,
Creighton, from Cadiz; and Scarbro' Castle, Mary, from
Charente.

The Baltic, Huddlestone, sailed from Whitehayen the
26th ult. for Dublin, and it is feared was lost on the 29th
off Castletown, Isle of Man.

NORTH AND SOUTH AMERICAN COFFEE-
HOUSE.

CALCUTTA, Nov. 23.—The demand for Indigo, during
the week, has been extremely active, and choice parcels
now readily command 30 rupees per maund. The low
price of Cotton has attracted the notice of the Shippers to
Europe, who appear disposed to purchase freely at the
current rates. Sugar has suffered a slight decline, the de-
mand, although steady, being met by large arrivals from
the interior. Saltpetre continues to experience a steady
demand. Silk is dull of sale, and the inferior descriptions
have fallen. The Spice Market being well supplied with
Black Pepper, while the demand is entirely confined to
Native consumption, prices are looking down, and at the
present low rates of freight, this article may again be
wanted for re-exportation. Ginger continues to look up.
Speltre still supports itself with a steady demand. Block
Tin is a shade lower.

THE MARKETS.-(THIS DAY.)

CORN-EXCHANGE.

The arrivals of all kinds of Grain last week were tolerably
good, and of Flour the quantity was considerable. To this morn-
ing's market the additional supply of English Corn is not exten-
sive, but several more foreigh vessels are reported with Oats.
In superfine samples of Wheat last Monday's terms are fully
supported, but all other sorts meet a very dull sale, even though
offered at less prices. Barley remains much the same as on this
day se'nnight. Beans, of dry quality, meet a free sale, at last
quotations. Pease, of both kinds, remain extremely dull in dis-
posal, but prices do not give way. The weather being very fa-
vourable for Spring operations occasions a languid demand for
Oats, and this article may be stated Is. per quarter lower than
last Monday. The sellers of Flour being very anxious to quit,
this article meets a heavy demand.

PRICES ON BOARD. OF SHIP.
Wheat, Red (old) -s. -s. Beans, Small (new)... 50s. Ms.
.---- White (old)
-Red (1826) ... 50s. 545. - Tick (new ...456. 471.
--_-_-- Fine Ms. 58s.
-s. --s.
----- Superfine.. 58s. 60s. - Harrow (new)47s. 50s.
,White (1826). Ms. 565.
Fine Ms. 60s. Brank --s. -s.
Superfine .. 625. 655. Oats, Feed 245. 28s.
Rye (new) 36s. 40s. Fine 29s. 318.
Barley 36s. Ms - Poland 295. 325.
Fine (new) .... 395. 40s. Fine Ms. 365.
---- Superfine 4ls. 435. Potatoe 325. 345.
Malt 495. Ms.
- Fine 575. 655. Scotch 39s. 40s.
Pease, Grey (new) .... 48s. 50s. Flour (per sack) 4ss. 50s.
- Maple (new)... 51s. 525. - Seconds 425. 435.
- White (new)... 435. 48s. - North Country 40s. 455.
Boilers