grew so depraved, that the doctor was obliged to call to its aid music and rich scenery; but the attractions of the principal theatres at the western part of the city, proved fatal to this playhouse, and its site is occupied by the house and grounds of

THE NEW RIVER COMPANY.

Of the several projects for supplying the metropolis with soft water, none was ever so well executed, or so useful, as that of the New River, first proposed by the citizens of London, and confirmed to them in the third year of king James I. by an act of parliament; whereby the mayor and citizens were empowered to bring water from the springs of Chadwell and Amwell, in the county of Hertford, in an open cut, or close trench of bricks, or stones, not exceeding in breadth the length of ten feet: but, being by them left unattempted, was undertaken, on his own account, by Mr. HUGH MIDDLETON, afterwards Sir Hugh, citizen and goldsmith of London, who had considerably enriched himself by a copper, or, according to some, a silver mine, in Cardiganshire, which he farmed of the company of Minesroyal, at the rent of 400l. per annum.

His agreement with the city was signed on the 1st of April, 1606, and contained, that Mr. Middleton might, at his own expence, and for his own benefit, execute the powers of the above-cited act, provided he should begin the cut within the term of two months, and use the best endeavours to finish it in four years from the date thereof.

Mr. Middleton set about the work with all diligence; but, in the year 1609, was so obstructed by divers complaints exhibited against him by sundry persons of the counties of Middlesex and Hertford; as to oblige him to petition the lord mayor and commonalty of London for a prolongation of time to accomplish his undertaking; who, after mature consideration, granted him an additional term of five years,

by

by a second letter of attorney, dated the 1st of March, 1609, for the completion of his enterprize*.

By means of royal assistance the work of the New River went on with vigour; was finished according to Mr. Middleton's agreement with the city of London: and on Michaelmas Day, 1613, the water was brought into the bason, commonly called the New River Head at Islington, in the presence of his brother Sir Thomas Middleton, the lord mayor elect, and Sir John Swinnerton, the lord mayor of London, attended by many of the aldermen, recorder, &c.

The perfection of so great and necessary a work gained. the attention and admiration of the public, and men of property began to think it a proper fund to increase their wealth. So that the New River water was soon divided into twenty-nine shares, and the shares incorporated by the name of the New River Company, by letters patent of the

* Mr. Middleton's difficulties did not terminato here; for, after he had adjusted all his controversies in an amicable manner, and brought the water into the neighbourhood of Enfield, he was so impoverished with the expence of his undertaking, that he was once more obliged to apply to the lord mayor and commonalty of London to interest themselves in so great and useful a work, directly calculated for their immediate good; and, upon their refusal to embark in so chargeable and hazardous an enterprize, he applied with more success to the king himself, who, in consideration of yielding up to his majesty one moiety of the whole undertaking, and delivering in to the lord treasurer a just account of all his disbursements past, did, by an indenture under the great seal, of the 2d of May, 1612, covenant to pay half the expence of the whole work, past and to come. And, in pursuance of this agreement, it appears by the books of the Exchequer, that the following sums were paid to Mr. Middleton on the king's account:

21st of June, 1619. And though king James I. by virtue of covenant, was a proprietor of one-half of the whole work, Mr. Middleton, to prevent the direction of the com pany's affairs from falling into the hands of courtiers, precluded him from having any share in the management thereof; and only allowed him a person to be present at the several courts and meetings of the company, to prevent in justice being done to his royal principal.

There was no dividend made among the proprietors till the year 1633, when 117. 19s. Id. was divided upon each share. But the second dividend only amounting to 3%. 4s. 2d. and that instead of a third dividend, a call being expected, king Charles I. in possession of his royal father's moiety, resolved to disengage himself from so hazardous and chargeable an affair; and therefore proposed to Sir Hugh Middleton, now created a baronet, that if he would secure to him, and to his successors, a fee-farm rent of five hundred pounds per annum out of the profits of the company, clear of all reprizes, he would re-convey to him all his right and interest in the said New River; which proposal being readily accepted, the royal moiety was, by a deed under the great seal, re-conveyed to Sir Hugh: and thenceforward the king's proxy appeared no more at the board of the company.

Sir Hugh Middleton immediately divided this moiety into thirty-six shares, to equal the shares of the other moiety, called, The Adventurers', which were now risen or subdivided into thirty-six shares also. And he not only discretionally burdened them with the foresaid fee farm rent of 500l. per annum, but likewise subjected two of the Adventurers' shares for the payment of the said annuity.

From this time there were seventy-two shares; one half whereof are called, The Adventurers'; the other, The King's. The proprietors of the former, as above-mentioned, being originally twenty-nine in number, the government of the company's affairs was lodged in their hands; and, by this preclusion of the holders of the king's shares from the government of the company, their shares, ex

clusive