ples, they invited, by public advertisement, gentlemen of science, particularly in chemical analysis, to examine the qualities of the respective waters in the vicinity of Newcastle. This drew forth the talents of Drs. Rotheram, Wilson, Hall, and others, on the fubject of the comparative qualities of water, for lightness, sweetness, and attainable quantity. Dr. Rotheram published his sentiments on the subject in a pamphlet, price 2s. 6d. This was attacked with great ability, but also with some asperity, by a Mr. Tytler, chemist, at that time in Gateshead. Doctors Wilfon and Hall also published their joint sentiments on the subject; as did Mr. Tytler his observations on the quality of waters in and near this town, in which he charged Dr. Rotheram with having prejudiced the public against Coxlodge water, which had on a memorable occafion, at Bath, been called " throwing a toad into the spring."

The magistrates, however, not confining the information they might receive by the enquiries of these professional gentlemen, especially as, which is not feldom the cafe, the "Doctors disagreed," had the precaution to tranfmit samples of the different waters in and about Newcastle to Dr. Black, profeffor of chemistry, at Edinburgh, and to Dr. Saunders, lecturer on chemistry, at London. The result of all which was, that they gave the preference to Coxlodge water. This report Mr. Richard Lambert, furgeon, was directed to publish in the Newcastle Courant, which was accordingly inferted in that news-paper, November 3, 1770.

The opinions of these chemical philosophers, the first of their profeffion in Europe, determined the choice of the magiftrates of Newcastle.

Accord

Accordingly, on the 19th of September, 1770, the common-council ordered a lease, under their seal, to be granted to Mr. Ralph Lodge, and the other proprietors of the undertaking, to supply the town of Newcastle with good water, of a piece of ground at the foot or fouth end of the Townmoor, with liberty to dig and make a refervoir there, and to erect, set up, and make one hundred fireplugs, or such further number as should be wanted, in convenient and proper parts of the town, within or without the walls, at the direction of the com. mon-council, to be used for extinguishing casual fires; as also to make a proper pipe trench, and lay and keep pipes therein, for bringing water from Coxlodge grounds, through the Town_moor, to the faid refervoir, and from thence into the town, for the term of two hundred and twenty-seven years, from the 11th day of October following, at the annual rent of thirteen shillings and fourpence. On condition also, that the mayor and burgesses should pay fifty pounds per annum to the said proprietors for the above hundred fire-plugs, and ten shillings a-piece yearly for any others that might be wanted.

December 18, 1777, there was an order of common-council to empower Mr. Richard Brown, cclliery viewer, and Mr. John Fenwick, town's furveyor, to proceed in the necessary works for conveying the water in Spring Gardens, at the head of Gallowgate, into the town of Newcastle, for the use of the public at large, agreeable to the particulars and estimate that had been laid before them.

This water had been generoufly proffered to the public by George Stephenson, Esq. of Elfwick, in a letter

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letter addressed to the common-council, who accepted his kind offer, and are faid to have expended five hundred pounds in preparing aqueducts for conveying it into the town.

We hope to be excused in being rather copious in the detailed account which we have presented to our readers, of the attempts which the corporation of this town have made, for a number of years, nay centuries past, to obtain and secure a fufficient fupply of this most neceffary of all elements, for the fupport and comfort of human life. The linen, the complexion, the liveliness of the inhabitants of any large town, like this, are known by the quality of the water which they enjoy. And if we cannot affent to the maxim of the Grecian fage, who affirmed, that "water is not only the best of all the elements, but it is the first principle and origin of all things;" yet we can fay with him, it is a pure, pleasant, and delightful element, and without which man could not exift. It mingles with, and forms the greatest part of the mass of our blood; it penetrates our arteries, veins, nerves, and, in a word, pervades our whole animal frame: the magistrates, therefore, who are affiduous in procuring an ample supply of this moft neceffary fluid deferve well of their fellow citizens. It is remarkable what prodigious pains and expence the magiftrates of the first city in the world, London, have employed to procure, at any expence, and from any distance, such abundance of foft, delicious water, as is not to be equalled in any capital in the world.

It has long been the pride and boast of Newcastle, that the inhabitants enjoy, with no very great expence, the way, the water, and the word.

Before

Before we proceed to the more interesting branches of our history, we may, to avoid confufion, in this place, give an account of the

Boundaries of the Town of Newcastle.

When the mayor and burgesses perambulate the boundaries of their liberties, they proceed as follows. They go from the Guildhall to the blue stone on the bridge; from thence, along the Close, to the boundary-stone standing against the east corner of the iron foundery, immediately on the west fide of the runner called Skinner's-bourn; up that bourn, on the west side of the ground belonging to the Infirmary, and through the garden of the late Mr. Geo. Anderson, to the West-gate; from thence, up the lane, to a stone nearly oppofite to St. John's poorhouse: from thence eastward, down the lane to Gallowgate; thence croffing a low house near the pant, through a part of the ground called Spring. gardens; thence onward, by the infide of the dykes, by the boundary-ftones in the lands of Elfwick; from thence, on the infide of the hedge on the weft fide of the Town-moor, by the boundary-ftones on the lands of Fenham: cross the Ponteland turnpike-road, then by the infide of the hedges, to the north-west corner of the Nun's-moor, in the lands of Kenton and Coxlodge; by the north fide of the Nun's and Town-moor, to the Morpeth turnpike; croffing which, by the boundary-ftones, in the infide of the hedges, of the lands of Gosforth, on the north-eaft corner of the Town-moor; then croffing the road leading to Kil. lingworth, &c. fouthward by the boundary-ftones on the infide of the hedges of the lands of Jefinond, to

the

the Barras-bridge; thence, along the lane, to Sandiford-bridge; thence southward, through the Shieldfield, over a house there, adjoining to the road leading to Ouse-bourn; thence on a line fouthward, by the east fide of the Red-barns pond, to the boundary. ftone at the east corner of the garden-wall of the Redbarns; then eastward, by the boundary-stones, to the Oufe-bourn, crossing a little above the Gib, the boundary-line trends south-east to the south side of the houses on the fouth fide of Shields turnpike, near to the gate: from thence, by the lands of Byker, to St. Lawrence's Dyke; then southward, to the boun. dary stone standing on the east side of the runner near the gate leading from St. Peter's Quay to the Mushroom glasshouses; thence by the Glasshousebridge, up the road, to the Shields turnpike; thence through St. Ann's-street, to the Swirle, the ancient boundary eastward of the town; through Sandgate, along the Quayfide and the Sandhill, to Guildhall.

Such are the boundaries of this famous and ancient town; which is ten miles and fifty yards in circumference.

In the year 1751, an order of common-council was made, that the boundaries of the town, by land, should be perambulated once in three years; which has been observed, in general, ever fince.

The day appointed for riding the boundaries is, when the weather happens to be favourable, devoted to general festivity and amusement, especially by the younger part of the inhabitants. They attend in crowds; and when the boundary-stones are faluted, by the mayor and his fuite, with parcels of currants, raisins, confections, &c. the contest for a participation in the delicious scramble is arduous and violent;