Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 39.djvu/443

 with Sir Walter Raleigh and other sea captains, including his brother, William Myddelton [q. v.], who made profitable speculations on the Spanish main (, Ancient and Modern Denbigh, p. 105). There is a tradition that Myddelton and Raleigh used to sit together at the door of the former's shop and smoke the newly introduced weed tobacco, greatly to the amazement of the passers-by. He likewise entered into the new trade of clothmaking with great energy, and followed it with so much success, that in a speech delivered by him in the House of Commons between 1614 and 1617 on the proposed cloth patent, he stated that he and his partner employed several hundred families.

Myddelton continued to keep up a friendly connection with Denbigh, and he seems to have been mainly instrumental in obtaining for the borough its charter of incorporation in 1596. In recognition of this service the burgesses elected him their first alderman, and in that capacity he signed the first by-laws of the borough in 1597. About the same date he made an abortive attempt to sink for coal in the neighbourhood. He was subsequently appointed recorder of Denbigh, and in 1603 he was elected M.P. for the borough, and again in 1614, 1620, 1623, 1625, and 1628. He was frequently associated with his brother Robert on parliamentary committees of inquiry into matters connected with trade and finance.

London had now far outgrown its existing means of water supply, but although complaints had been constantly made, and even acts of parliament had been obtained in 1605 and 1606, authorising the corporation to remedy the want by bringing in a stream from the springs at Chadwell and Amwell, Hertfordshire, no steps had been taken to carry them out. At length Myddelton, who had already paid considerable attention to the subject as a member of the committees of the House of Commons, before whom the recent acts had been discussed, offered to execute the work. The corporation readily agreed to transfer to him their powers on condition of his finishing the work within four years from the spring of 1609. The first sod upon the works of the proposed New River was turned on 21 April 1609. With untiring energy Myddelton persevered in his undertaking, despite the opposition of the landowners through whose property the stream was to pass, and who complained that their land was likely to suffer in consequence by the overflow of water. In 1610 his opponents carried their complaints before the House of Commons, and a committee was directed to make a report upon their case as soon as the house reassembled in October.

When that date arrived, the members had more important matters to attend to, and Myddelton's hands were soon set free by the dissolution of parliament. The opposition of the landlords was so annoying, and the demands which were made on his purse were in all probability increased so largely thereby, that Myddelton in 1611 was compelled to apply to the corporation for an extension of the stipulated time, which was granted by indenture dated 28 March, and to the king for assistance in raising the capital. James had already had dealings with Myddelton as a jeweller. Moreover he had become interested in the works from observing their progress at Theobalds, and he now agreed, by document dated 2 May 1612, to pay half the cost of the work, both past and future, upon condition of receiving half the profit, and without reserving to the crown any share in the management of the work, except that of appointing a commissioner to examine the accounts, and receive payment of the royal share of the profit. On Michaelmas day 1613 the work was complete ; and the entrance of the New River water into London was celebrated at the new cistern at Clerkenwell by a public ceremony, presided over by the lord mayor, Sir Thomas Myddelton, the projector's elder brother. A large print was afterwards published by George Bickham in commemoration of the event, entitled ' Sir Hugh Myddelton's Glory.' The statement that Myddelton was knighted on the occasion is erroneous.

The New River, as originally executed, was a canal of ten feet wide, and probably about four feet deep. It drew its supply of water from the Chadwell and Amwell springs, near Ware, and followed a very winding course of about thirty-eight miles and three-quarters, with a slight fall, to Islington, where it discharged its water into a reservoir called the New River Head. In more recent times its channel has been widened, shortened, and otherwise improved ; larger reservoirs have been constructed, and a great additional supply of water has been obtained from the river Lea, and from numerous wells in the chalk ; but the general course and site of the works are nearly the same as in the time of Myddelton. While superintending the works Myddelton lived at a house at Bush Hill, near Edmonton, which he afterwards made his country residence (, Edmonton, p. 32). Monumental pedestals have been erected to his memory at the sources of the New River at Chadwell and Amwell. There are also statues