Lambe's Conduit, was constructed at his own cost, by a gentleman of the name of Lambe, who belonged to the chapel royal of Henry VIIL, and who thus conferred great advantage on the populous neighborhood of Snow Hill. Numerous other conduits were established, from different spring heads, and at different times. These conduits were for the most part small, circular buildings, with a spacious basin within, into which flowed the water through leaden pipes, from the source, and thence was carried by watermen, who made it a business, or by the servants of the neighboring houses the ;

vessels in which water was carried about were called tankards, holding about three gallons, and resembling in shape the cans used by milk-sellers. All the conduits were under the special supervision of the city authorities, whose animal visit to inspect their condition was quite a festival ; the aldermen proceeding on

horseback, and having the diversion beforehand, of hunting the hare the ladies following in wagons, to partake in the sport and all assembling afterwards in the true spirit of corporation enjoyments, at a good dinner.* Like the Arabian fountains in the Alhambra, too, these conduits were made to promote moral instruction, by short sentences inscribed on them. We annex one or two specimens :

Upon the Conduit in Grateous (Gracechurch) Street. " Let money be a slave to thee, Yet keep his service if you can ;

For if thy purse no money have, Thy person is but half a man." On that in Cornwall (Cornhill). "Bread, earned with honest, lab'ring hands, Tastes better than fruite of ill-gotte lands."