The accomplishment of this noble and disinterested enterprise, has justly immortalized the name of Hugh Myddelton. The Goldsmith's Company, of which craft he was, has his portrait among the decorations of their Hall, and in the year 1800, Robert Mylue, Esq., the engineer of the Company who own the river which Myddelton lias taught to pour its salubrious stream into the heart of London, erected on an islet in the basin at Amwell, a monument to his memory, one side of which bears this inscription :

SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF SIR HUGH MYDDELTON, BARONET, WHOSE SUCCESSFUL CARE, AIDED BY THE PATRONAGE OF HIS KING, CONVEYED THIS STREAM TO LONDON: AN IMMORTAL WORK, SINCE MEN CANNOT MORE NEARLY IMITATE THE DEITY, THAN IN BESTOWING HEALTH.

The documents connected with the cost of this most useful work, were destroyed by fire ; but, from conjectural estimates, it is calculated at between one and two hundred thousand pounds.

The New River Company was incorporated under James L, in 1619, and Sir Hugh Myddelton, was appointed Governor. For the purpose of avoiding hills and valleys, the New River has a meandering course, arid hence the various windings render its length considerable, although the springs at its source if measured in a direct line, are distant only about twenty miles from London. The line of the river is very nearly thirty-four miles. More than one hundred and sixty bridges cross it- some of brick, some of iron, and some of wood. There are about sixty culverts that pass beneath its bed the various brooks and rivulets which it traverses in its course. The descent is about three inches to the mile. Both its depth and width vary the former seldom exceeding five feet, the latter averaging eighteen feet.