Base of AMWELL Hill, which is surrounded by the NEW RIVER; the retired Situation, and the River flowing gently towards the Metropolis, suggested, that this would be the most eligible Place, for a Tribute to the Memory of Sir HUGH MIDDLETON. Two large weeping Willows, drop their graceful Boughs into the Stream, and a Circle of Foliage shades the funereal VASE. An Inscription is engraven on each Side of the PEDESTAL; that on the SOUTH, is,

Sacred to the MEMORY, of Sir HUGH MIDDLETON, Bart.
Whose successful Care, assisted by the Patronage of his
KING,

Conveyed this Stream to LONDON.
An immortal Work;

Since MAN, cannot more nearly imitate the DEITY,
Than in bestowing HEALTH.

On the NORTH, is a Latin Translation of the above: that on the WEST, recites the Distance of CHADWELL, the other SOURCE of the NEW RIVER, at Two Miles; and the Meanders of the River, from AMWELL to LONDON, at Forty more: The EAST, records the Erection of this Memorial by Mr. MYLNE, Anno 1800.

The Work was begun in 1608, and on MICHAELMAS DAY, Anno 1613, the Water was first admitted, into the Reservoir in the SPA Fields, near ISLINGTON, in the Presence of an innumerable Concourse of Spectators. The Spot where the Reservoir was dug, was "in former Times," according to Srow," an open idell Pool, commonly called the Ducking Pond."

Sir HUGH, was the Sixth Son of Mr. RICHARD MIDDLETON, of Denbigh, and worked a SILVER Mine in Cardiganshire, which produced one Hundred pounds per Day, for some time, and enabled him to bring the NEW RIVER to LONDON: Half the SHARES in this Concern, were offered by him to the CORPORATION; but they refused them, under a Plea, that the Undertaking would injure the Water-bearers, then, very numerous. The SHARES, Seventy-two in number, were divided into two equal Parts, one of which was held by JAMES I. under the Patent, and these were called the KING's Moiety; but, as this valuable Project, had nearly ruined Sir HUGH, the MONARCH resigned his Moiety, and received only Five hundred per Annum, though the Thirty-six SHARES are yet called

the KING'S Moiety, and now bear an enormous Price*. In the year ending CHRISTMAS 1809, a Share paid a Dividend of 5691. and the Price demanded in October, 1810, for a KING'S SHARE, was 11,500l. It was remarked in November, 1811, that the Opposition, between the rival Water Work Companies, around LONDON, was carrying on with increasing Energy on all Sides, and it may reasonably be hoped, for the public Advantage. This will account for the new cylindrical Pipes, that are now laying down in every Direction†. The West Middlesex Company, have just completed a Reservoir, upon true orthodox Principles, the Summit of it, being of an exact parallel Altitude, with the Vane of St. Pancras

* A SHARE was sold in 1770, for 6700l. and it is said, the Company now pay Fifteen hundred per Annum, for the Ground at the NEW RIVER Head, which had been rented by them, for Fifty pounds, previous to 1774, when the Old Leases Expired.

It was observed by an elderly Country Gentleman, that he much wished, the Improvements in the LIQUID, might compensate for the Damage sustained, by one of the SOLID Comforts of LONDON, being the Injury done to the Pavement, and which is in many Places so considerable, as to have reduced it nearly to the pristine State, before the Introduction of the Scotch Pebble.

Church. The SHARES of one of the oldest and most respectable Companies, are reported to have fallen, in Consequence of these contending Interests, from 16,500l. to 40007. each! But this immense Deterioration from the present Price of NEW RIVER Property, does not seem to have really taken place, (however negligently, and below the Value, the SHARE mentioned as under, was disposed of, in 1785,) since on Tuesday the Fifth of June, 1812, a KING'S SHARE of the New River Company, late the Property of JOHN LANGSTON, Esq. deceased, was bought in at public Auction, for 79501. The Dividend 1810, was 4651. Os. 6d.; Dividend 1811, 282l. 12s. 94d. The Land-tax, amounting to 50l. per annum, is redeemed, but there is a yearly Deduction, of 15l. 6s. 8d. This same SHARE was sold by Mr. LowTEN, of the Temple, in 1785, when the Dividend amounted to 380l. 10s. with a regular annual Increase, for 72501. The Three per Cents. when this first Sale took place, were 70, and are now at 60. The Difference of the Dividend, 1810, to 1811, is more than one-third, and with the Prospect of further Reduction, in consequence of the Competition, arising from the recent Establishment of other Companies, for the Supply

of WATER, to the Inhabitants of the ME

TROPOLIS.

It is to be hoped, that none of the new Projectors, will merit the Retort, given by a Clergyman to a noble Lord, distinguished for a total Neglect of RELIGION, and who, boasting the superior Excellence of some WATER WORKS, which he had invented and constructed, added, that after having been so useful to Mankind, he expected to be very comfortable in the NEXT WORLD, notwithstanding his Ridicule, and Disbelief, of RELIGION; "Ah," replied the other, "if you mean to be comfortable THERE, you must take your WATER WORKS along with you."

Huntingdonshire.

HUNTINGDON, was the Birth-place, of One of the most extraordinary Personages, that ever lived, the Protector, OLIVER CROMWELL, who, though prevented by Considerations of Policy, from assuming the Royal Title, enjoyed all the Essentials of SoVEREIGNTY,