The Statesman.
London, England, 1818-10-31 00:00:00

,Frr4MAN

Yeeterilay a very numerous Meeting of the Inhabit.,
ants 'of the Tower and Fieshstry &starts of Lou.
duo took place at the City of London Tavern, for
the purpose ofronsidering the best means of prosid.
img I' remedy for the evils of which they complain,
in cons•cprenci of the inadequate supply of, and es.
(*Wig* theme for. Water in those Districts.
Mr. T.,8. Sumer being called to the Chair, he es-
vessel' a hope that in yielding to the solicitation of
these who did him the honour of proposing his ap.
potato...to, he ;Weld be ...bled, through the indol-
ent consirietation of the Meeting, to preside over
the business of the day. The interests which every
moan who heard him most feel is. that Dimities% would,
he had no doubt, insure • patient sad deliberate at.
teutioo to the fIOSSAITIV width were to be proensed.-
3t win known that a number of Geotlemen of consi-
derable intelligence aud just feeling bad long Viewed
with concern the misery seseltiug from the system of
Monopoly eetablishesi by certain Water Companies
in that. District wish which he was connected. Until
;kg year 1507, the New River Company had the en-
tire monopoly of the supply of water for London. But,
eo inordinate were the demands of that, Company,
while its supply of water was insufficient, that an
epplicatinn was made to Parliament for the consti,
tattoo of another Water Company, which applic,a.
tiew was successful, and accordingly the East London
Water Company was established. For some time
this Company went on very well, and gave general
estisfaction in those whom it supplied. But the dpi.
tit of intrigue soon began to act, sod succeeded in
producing a combination between this Company and
that of the New River, the effect of which was,
that each of those Companies transferred whole dis-
tricts to the other, net only without the consent, but
without even condescending to consult the judgmeet of
the inhabitants of those districts, In consequence, in.
deed, of this conspiracy, that monopoly, to set aside
which was the object of the application to Parliament
in 1807, was completely reestablished. This re-esta.
idishment was immedistely followed by an advance of
prices en the part of both Companies, e bile the supply
of water from each was so insufficient as considerably
to aggravate the alarm, and to augment the mischief
molting from fires.—Another evil arose oat of this
'monopoly, namely, that no water would be let on
to small premises, unless the landlords consented to
guarantee the paymeet. Thus those Companies as-
sumed to impose a new tax upon landlords. But
the evils resultiog from the system complained of
were so notorious to those likens be had the honour
to address, that he could not think it necessary to
4etail them. To provide some remedy for those evils
was the object of this Meeting ; and he (festal that
.the measures to be proposed would be fully and fairly
considered. Re expressed a hope that no Gentle-
Alen mould attempt to embarrass that. consideration,
or bawd the excitement of dissension, by thd intro-
duction deny irrelevant matter; and he particularly
deprecated any political allusion upon the discussion
a a subject quite of local interest.
Mr. Brest in Mos 44r-repeat a series of Resela.
lions, observed, that some might have looked for the
attendance at this Meeting of Gentlemen of great
fortune, and perhaps Members of Parliament ; but,
from the very nature of the Meeting, those only
could be expected or desired to attend who practically
experienced the evils tomplained ofe and who were
acquainted with the details. The fact was, that in
consequence of the combination complained of, those
evils which had been adverted to by the Chairman,
were at present mach more severely felt than even
befoSto the interposition of the Legislature toptnove
the monopoly of the New River Company, and it
behoved the People more now than at any former
period to devise some remedy for such a system.—
leer as in consequence of the Corn Bill, it could not
be espected that the qoartern loaf would ever sell at
less than a shilling, it was of importance to the Peo-
ple to provide, that souther article so essential for
their subsistence should be had upon moderate terms.
The advance in the price of water within the districts
from which the Meeting was convened, was notori.
Dully exorbitant. That advance had, indeed, in many
places been no less than from 2 to 54 per cent. and
the argument or apology offered for such an estraor.
dinary advaatte, was the espence incurred in laying
down iron instead of wooden pipes, for the convey-
ance of the water. But this new espence or change
of system might proceed, as there was reason to sus-
pect,
from the circumstance of some of the Gentlemen
connected with the management of these Water Com-
panies being engaged in the iron trade.—(A laugh,
and hear, hear!)—The Worthy Gentleman con-
cluded with reading the Resolotioos, and opoo their
proposition,
Mr. Busmen rose to second them. Ile described
the mode to which the two Companies alluded to pro.
teamd to carry their combination into effect. They
divided the Metropolis between them—the Fast Lon.
don Water Company took op all its surface pipes ou
the western side of the line of demarkation, while the
New River Company removed all its pipes on the
other side. Thus each Company had a complete mo-
nopoly in its respective division. Each accordingly
charged at any rate it thought proper ; and if the de.
mend were refused, the party refusing moat dispense
with water, for the other Company would not fur-
nish it. The consequence of such a system was such
as might be expected ; for the price of water, soon
sifter the establishment of the combination, rose from
50 to DO per cent.; nay, in some cases'it rose up to
from two to three hundred per cent.;--(llear, hear !)
...-Hore the Worthy Gentleman quoted several in-
staller'+ of enormous enhancement. An inhabitant of
East Him, who some time since paid 41. a year for
his water, was now compelled to pay M. sod the
charge to the parish work-house of Betbnal-green
was advanced from sus to twelve pounds a year.
Bot another singular case had come to his harm-
ledge : for some time after the establishineot of the
East London ifter Conosioy, persons interested
in the concern mob sevetOolications to a certain
dying-borne to take
.its leder from that Company.
But those applicesiens wale refused, because, as it
was alleged, the water impplied by this Company
was not so suitable for business, because not so soft
es that of the New Rivet; and yet this dying.hoose
was now coepetled to tail its water from the East
London Company, at se espence too of NI. a year,
whereas it paid only IEOI. to the New River Com-
pany. Hue the: sea h cue of palpable elution

alto injestice—but smother Justine, of sr jus•
Inas had come lit his keowlede: a cettain imams'
of persons who mere about to build alien ten*.
wants, iiaving appointed a Deputsiinn In enquire
of She Directors of the East !.notion Comp/19.0P
terms ihey woaid scree co 60,44 those boom"
with water ? The Chairman of the Dilemma replied,
for eight sl Whigs a year each 'for "e'en years Au
agreement was accotdingly concluded. and a memo
random was 4igeted by the partie.—t Pt Wore half the
time specified in the agreemiint had eapired, this
Company demanded 16 shillings for earls of those
houses, which tlemand ass pattered ba an arbitrary
levy. For all those ,viii he could conceive but, one
romedy, namely, that of the erection a a new Water
Cempaey, which was necessary to break down the
monopoly occasioned by the combinations so generally
and so jostly complained of. The Companies forming
this combination were, he understood, in the habiti
of pleAing as an apology for the rise of their prices;
that .their profits were small, and to• show this, they
referred to the reduced amount of their anneal did.
deeds. But the fact was, as he wee assured, that the
,proprietors
were in the habit of sinking their divi.i
deeds hire capital, for the purpose of advancing nail
vales of their shares in the concern.
Mr. J. Pavia vindicated the conduct anti character
of the East London Water Company, contending
that that body did not 'deserve any of the censer,"
applied' to it in the cooing; of the discussion, and that
the Directors were uniformly actuated by a sine-Mr
desire to act f;irly and liberally towards the Public.
That they were subjected to greet espence was so:
deniable, and much of this elpence arose from 111.
non-payment of those who occupied smell team°
mews; for these the Company, after laying doves
pipes to supply these tenements, had no ventunere.'
lion whatever. This loss was, indeed, severely
felt by both the New River and the East Lon-
don Companies, for when any of the . inhabitants
of these small tenements incurred a debt with one of
the Companies, he immediately turned to the other.
Thus both were defrauded, and hence, for common
defence, that arrangement was made which some
Gentlemen had thought proper to denomipate a coo."
'piracy. But why should it be made matter of cons.
plaint, that each Company refused to supply any per-
son within its districts with water until a receipt was''!
shown from the Company which had previously served
such person? The espence of the East London Com•
patty had to his knowledge, amounted within a few
years to nearly 410.0001. He denied that the Coat.
pony sought to esiablish coy monopoly, or to ac•
quire any undue profits. On the contrary, indeed,
be was authorised to soy, that the Directors were
perfectly willing to confer with any gentleman,
whom that Meeting might think proper to appoint,
and to satisfy such gentleman, that they. required only ,
fair profits upon the capital embarked in the concern.
It was said that in some instances the price for water
bad been advanced from .$0 to 30 per cent. Thisbe
solemnly denied. Bet if any such case of advents
had occurred, all he could allow it to prove was, that
the charge in the first instance was very much too
low. A. to the assertion respeeting" the profits de-
rived bribe Proprietors, Welts enabled to Mete,
that their annual dividends were under 3 per tent.'
and it was quite a fallacy to say that they *ere
in the habit of allowing their dividends to be ten-
verted into capital, as one gentleman had been le to
believe. The Worthy Gentleman repeated his as-
surance, that the Directors of the East Leaden Com-
pany were ready to confer with any deputation front
that Meeting, and to do every thing in their power to
meet the wishes of the Public.
Mr. LANA complained of the conduct of the East
London Company, in his neighbourhood, namely,
at Hackney, where, upon the water being with-
drawn from a canal, this Company refused to supply
the inhabitants, unless they (the inhabitants) con-
sented to defray all the espence of constructing pipes
for the convey auce of water, as well as to pay for
the water itself. But to this extraordinary proposi.
tion his neighbours very properly refused to accede.
Mr. ALEXANDER stated, that after the water had
been laid on by the East London Company to a
house of his in Whitechapel, at the rate of 18,.
a-year, that Company demanded an enormous ad-
vance, which he refused to pay ; but the Company
actually distrained for 51. 18s.
Mr. EltrisT observed, that the Company alluded
to were in the habit of making the most enormous
demands, and having a monopoly, they seemed de-
termined that John Bull should pay whatever they
thought proper to demand. They, had commenced
their system of 'traction with 10 per cent., but that
would not satisfy them, for they aeon carried their
advance to 50 per cant.
Mr. Yourta defended the Cwt London Company,
and proposed as en Amendment, that all the Resolu-
tions should be rejected, with the esception lot the
last, for the appointment of a Committee, and that
such Cosseting* should be instructed to coder with
the Directors of that Company.
Mr. DAM weeded the proposition, pledging him.
self that the Directors of the Company alluded to
would consent to any arrangement that could in fair-
ness be demanded.
'Mr. Hosea asked the last speaker by what au-
thority he spoke as to thodispositiou of the Directors,
of the East London Company? 4, •
Mr. Davis replied, that be spoke ate *mod, the
Directors, and from a perfect kneettedge of 1109
dis-
position of his Colleagues.
The Amendment was negatived by a large majority.
Mr. Bice observed, that there was no case so
desperate, that some one would not be found to de-
fend, end especially where many were interested in
its defence. He had therefore calculated open some
such effort as that which the Meeting had witnessed,
and that an attempt would be made to prevent fur.
ther proceeding or enqiiry upon this business by prep
renting some plausible offer ; but, happily, the good
sense of the Meeting had defeated the. endesvour.
The several Resolutions were then agreed to, and
the Chairman, after returning thanks for the atten-
tion he had esperienced, stated, that books were
opened for the subscription of (hose Gentlemen who
might think proper to contribute towards defraying
the espence which would necessarily be incurred in
the promotion of the object for which they were as.
ambled.
Thanks were then voted to the Chairmen, whoa
pressed himself much obliged tit tf a Meeting fee their
atteutioo.—The Meeting separated at few o'clock.

flit STOCKS THI% 0.11,t AT ONE (VCI„)01%.
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THE STATESMAN.

•

LONDON:

OCTOIIii 31, 11118.

STATE OF THE QUEEN.
Her MAJEsTY was throughout yesterday in the
same enfeebled state in which she has been for the
last eight or nine days; and the Bulletin of this
morning shows, that no perceptible amendment has
taken place from the slight repose she obtained du-
ring the night ; on the contrary, her MAJESTY is
evidently growing worse. Thecough is said to increase,
and her complaints are scarcely audible. The Bet.
win is as follows :