Weston accepted the appointment, and in March, 1799, made a favorable report on the practicability and sufficiency of the supply from the Bronx river, as recommended by Dr. Brown, the way seemed clear for at once undertaking the work. The memorial of Dr. Brown, argued the question on the score of health, safety, and comfort. The yellow fever had made great ravages in the city, and Dr. Brown, who believed in the domestic origin of the disease, demonstrated that its virulence was much

aggravated by the insufficiency of the supply of water, and its impure quality. He declares " I do not emphatically, presume to say that the introduction of a large quantity of water into the city, would alone prevent the rise and spreading of putrid diseases, but I am well warranted in saying that, under Providence, it would, more than all other things, contribute to this most desirable end." He also dwells upon the comparative immunity from fire, which such a supply would afford. The preference of the great mass of the inhabitants at that time, as appears both by Dr. Brown's memorial, and Mr. Weston's report, was for the waters of the Collect, owing,

mainly, to their superior coolness. This preference both these gentlemen earnestly resist. Dr. Brown thus discourses concerning it :

" The large stagnating, filthy pond, commonly called the Collect, which now is, or soon will be, the centre of the city, has been looked to by some people, as a fund from whence an adequate supply might be obtained, by means of a steam engine, for all the purposes already spoken of. I cannot undertake to say, that this source would at present be incompetent to all the preceding purposes, for which a supply of water is wanted but ;