Owing to leakage, decay, and constant repairs, incident to such structures, they have been superseded by artificial mounds of earth and clay, preserving the natural flow and level of the river. The old Chronicler, Stowe, thus relates the rejoicings, on the occasion of first letting the water of the New River into the cisterns or reservoirs prepared for it. " Being brought to the intended cistern, but not, as yet, the water admitted entrance thereinto on Michaelmas day, anno. 1613, being the day when Sir Thos. Myddelton ;

Knt. (brother of Sir Hugh) was elected Lord Maior of London, for the year ensuing in ;

the afternoon of the same day, Sir Wm. Swinnerton, Knt., and Lord Maior of London, accompanied with said Sir Thomas, Sir H. Montague, Knt., the Recorder of London, and many of the worthy Aldermen rode to see the cistern and the first issuing of the river thereinto, which was performed in this manner. "A troop of laborers to the number of sixty or more, well apparallelled, and wearing green Monmouth caps all alike, carried spades, shovels, pick-axes, and such like instruments of laborious employments, marching after drums twice or thrice about the cisterns, the mount, where the Lord Maior and worthy company stood presented themselves before to behold them, and one man in behalf of all the rest, delivered a speech in verse, narraof the work. It thus concluded ting the progress :

At the Opening of the Sluice : " Now for the fruits then, flow forth precious spring, So long and dearly sought for and now bring Comfort to all that love thee loudly sing, ;