inspected--in plain English, watched--at a very heavy expense to
the nation by Government officers; and compelled to do their best,
and take their utmost care. And so it has come to pass that the
London water is not now nearly as bad as some of it was thirty
years ago, when it was no more fit to drink than that in the
cattle-yard tank. But still we must have more water, and better,
in London; for it is growing year by year. There are more than
three millions of people already in what we call London; and ere
you are an old man there may be between four and five millions.
Now to supply all these people with water is a duty which we must
not leave to any private companies. It must be done by a public
authority, as is fit and proper in a free self-governing country.
In this matter, as in all others, we will try to do what the Royal
Commission told us four years ago we ought to do. I hope that you
will see, though I may not, the day when what we call London, but
which is really nine-tenths of it, only a great nest of separate
villages huddled together, will be divided into three great self-
governing cities, London, Westminster, and Southwark; each with
its own corporation, like that of the venerable and well-governed
city of London; each managing its own water-supply, gas-supply,
and sewage, and other matters besides; and managing them, like
Dublin, Glasgow, Manchester, Liverpool, and other great northern
towns, far more cheaply and far better than any companies can do
it for them."

"But where shall we get water enough for all these millions of
people? There are no mountains near London. But we might give
them the water off our moors."

"No, no, my boy,