This was followed by a petition from numerous brewers, complaining of the impure and noxious qualities of the Manhattan water of which this analysis, made in 1831, by the chemist, Chilton, furnishes abundant proof :

ANALYSIS OF THE MANHATTAN WATER. The sample was obtained from the pump at the works before its entrance into the cistern, sp. gr. 1011. One wine quart was slowly evaporated to dryness. The dry mass weighed 31.45 equal to 125.80 of solid matter in the gallon, consisting of

Muriate of Soda, Muriate of Magnesia, -

Sulphate of Magnesia, Carbonate of Lime, with a little Carbonate of Magnesia, Sulphate of Lime, Extractive Matter, with Combined Water,

125.80 November 25, 1831. GEORGE CHILTON.

108 MEMOIROFTHE The quantity of foreign matter in the waters of the Bronx, and of Rye Pond, was, on an analysis by the same chemist, less than two grains !

On the 28th February, the resolutions of Alderman Stevens were debated and adopted, except that which asked permission to raise two million of dollars which was opposed and lost. At the same meeting, Mr. Townsend presented a report from the Lyceum of Natural History, in New York, in answer to queries addressed to that Society, relative to the probable supply and quality of water which Manhattan Island might furnish. As a disposition then existed in some quarters, and perhaps even still lingers, to rely upon the water and wells of the island, the facts and reasonings of the Report (drawn Up, we believe, by Dr. Dekay,) cannot be uninteresting, however startling to the fastidious, some of the statements may appear.