This was declined on our part, on the principle that the Commissioners were bound to report to the Common Council any and all the information they possessed on the subject of supplying this city with water, and they could not therefore receive any communication under the injunction of secrecy. On the 8th of November, Mr. Hunter, in accordance with a previous arrangement, met the Commissioners at their room in the Hall of Records. That portion of the act of the Legislature, which requires the Commissioners to "make a report, containing a full statement and description of the plan adopted by them, and an estimate of the expenses thereof," was read to Mr. Hunter, and he was at the same time informed, if he communicated his plan to the Commissioners, and if they adopted it, they would so report to the Common Council if they rejected it, they would so report, with their reasons for such rejection. ;

Mr. Hunter finally promised to communicate his views to the Commissioners in writing. On the 17th of November a communication was received from Mr. Hunter, stating, among other observations not material to the matter in hand, that he deemed it necessary to make his communication preliminary to a full development at a future time that his ;

object in withholding his communication from the Commissioners was, that he may have some assurance from the Common Council, that his plan will not be made use of without his consent and approbation. He states that he " will now develope a part of the plan, and then make a proposition to carry it into effect, not expecting that it would be accepted without a full development, but merely to bring the subject to a tangible point." He then proposes to deliver a sufficient supply of pure water for all present purposes, " in a permanent aqueduct, ot sufficient capacity, at the base of Harlem heights, below the surface on the north side, ready and suitable to be elevated to the height that it may be necessary for conveying it to the city." He further states, that he will build a reservoir of sufficient capacity, and erect the machinery for raising the water to the reservoir, for one million seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars the Corporation to pay all damages ;