"In 1606 nearly £20,000 was expended in scouring the River Fleet, which was kept open for the purpose of navigation as high as Holborn Bridge." An Act was passed in 1609 for bringing water by means of engines from Hackney Marsh, to supply the City of London; the profits arising from the enterprise were to go to the College of Polemical Divines, founded by Dr. Sutcliffe, at Chelsea. At the close of Queen Elizabeth's Reign an Act was passed empowering the Corporation to cut a river for the purpose of conveying water from Middlesex and Hertfordshire to the City, but nothing was done in this direction till after the accession of James I to the throne. In 1605 and 1606 Acts of Parliament were passed empowering the Corporation to bring water from the Springs of Chadwell and Amwell to the northern parts of the City. The Corporation transferred their power in 1609 to Hugh, afterwards (Sir Hugh) Middleton, Citizen, and Goldsmith, who with characteristic energy entered into the vast scheme which was effectually carried out at an immense expense. On Sept. 29th, 1613 the New River was opened, and London from this source received an abundant supply of water. The New River Company was incorporated in 1620. The City was supplied with its water by the conveyance of wooden pipes in the streets, and small leaden ones to the houses. Among the Records known as the _Remembrancia_ preserved among the Archives of the City of London. London, 1878. Some curious particulars are mentioned respecting the applications made by various noblemen to be allowed to have pipes, of the size of a goose-quill, attached to the city pipes, for the purpose of supplying their houses with water. "In 1592 Lord Cobham applied to the Lord Mayor for a quill of water from the conduit at Ludgate to his house in Blackfriars, but the consideration of the request was postponed, and in 1594 Lord Burghley wrote to the Lord Mayor and Alderman in support of Lord Cobham's application. Lady Essex and Walsingham asked for a supply of water for Essex-house in 1601, and obtained the Lord Chamberlain's (Earl of Suffolk) influence to further their suit; but on June 8th, 1608, the Lord Mayor wrote to Lord Suffolk that the water in the conduits had become so low, and the poor were so clamorous on account of the dearth, that it became necessary to cut off several of the quills. 'Moreover,' he added, 'complaints had been made of the extraordinary waste of water in Essex-house, it being taken not only for dressing meat, but for the laundry, the stable, and other offices, which might be otherwise served.' As London extended itself westward, and the City came to join Westminster, the drain must have been great upon the water supply, which was originally intended for a considerably smaller area. In 1613 Lord Fenton applied for a quill of water for his house at Charing Cross, but the Lord Mayor refused to grant the request on the ground that the conduits did not supply sufficient water for the City. Sir