follow sixteen lines of rhyme in praise of "this noble water," and inviting ladies and gentlemen to drink of it.1

"Pancras Wash.-A few days since the water was so deep that it almost came up to the windows of the stage coaches. One horse was drowned, and others narrowly escaped the same fate.""

"Judge Jeffreys, of infamous memory, resided in Kentish Town. His house stood on the site of the old workhouse." 3

"Highway robberies were so frequent up to 1820, that patrols crossed the fields from Highgate to Kentish Town, etc., to escort pedestrians at stated intervals."

In 1819 there was a formal complaint made at the "Court Leet" that drainage found its way into the ponds, which was the only source of water supply for the poor and those who did not possess wells of their own, and from which they had drawn their supplies for two hundred years!

1 Palmer's St. Pancras.

2 Newspaper cutting, April 1786.

3 MSS., Heal.

4 From an old Highgate resident.

Well water was carted up the Hill, and was retailed at twopence per pailful, but the price by competition eventually fell to a halfpenny. Öld Jack Foster, who resided in a picturesque old cottage at the bottom of Townsend's Yard, was the popular purveyor. He died in June 1865, aged eighty-four.

The water from the wells in Southwood Lane was of some celebrity for the purpose of bathing weak eyes, being strongly impregnated with iron; persons not only came from very great distances to fetch it, but it was sold in London as " Highgate eyewater."

In 1816, during the severe drought, the ponds dried up, and one of them was so hardened by the sun's rays that Gillman and Atkins's menagerie was exhibited on the site, the novelty of the position considerably assisting the attraction.

In 1845 the two ponds were thrown into one, at a cost of £438 8s. 2d., of which sum the Parish of St. Pancras contributed £60, and the remainder was raised by subscription.

In 1864, the water of the New River supplying the houses, the pond was no longer a necessity, and, being neglected, became a source of very considerable nuisance, and in fact danger to the health of the surrounding residents. Accordingly the pond was filled up, and the sum of £640 raised by subscription to plant and lay out the enclosures. Towards this sum the parish made no contribution whatever.

This arrangement answered its purpose for some twenty years, when, the fences getting out of repair, and as the trees, which had made con

siderable growth, were being gradually destroyed, an appeal was made to the parish to take over the ground as an open space, which eventually it did, filling in the hollow of the old pond with many hundred loads of rubbish, covering it with asphalt, and placing on it some convenient seats.

The site of the pond made by the old hermit some five hundred years since is now a pleasant resting-place for the pedestrian after the ascent of the Hill, and a much appreciated playground for the children; and from the formation of the ground, rising gently to the centre in order to provide a good fall for the rain, it is now about the last place in Highgate which would be suggestive of a standing sheet of water.

HIGHGATE MODEL YACHT CLUB.

The Highgate Ponds (Millfield Lane) have been much appreciated by the Highgate boys of succeeding generations as being specially adapted for the manœuvres of their mimic vessels, and this appreciation has doubtless existed as long as "the boys" and the "Ponds "have been on paddling acquaintance.

In 1850 there was a very successful club, the rules having a very nautical smack indeed. The following are extracts from its Laws and

Regulations about 1850.

Rule I.—The Club shall consist of a Commodore, Vice-Commodore, Treasurer, Secretary, Recorder, and Ordinary Members.

Rule VIII. That four feet be the maximum size of any Yacht to be entitled to sail for prizes given by the Club; the measurement to be made from the stern-post to the foot of the cutwater, along the keel; and no vessel to exceed five feet of deck.

Rule IX. That the Club Flag be the British White Ensign, with Yellow Lion in the centre of the Red Cross. The Bourgee to consist of a White Ground, with Red Cross, and Yellow Lion in the centre of the Red Cross.

Rule X.-That Yachts sailing in a match be managed by Members only. That Cutters be restricted to Mainsail, Foresail, Jib, and Gaff-Topsail; Yawls to Trysail, Foresail, Jib, Gaff-topsail, Mizen, and Mizen-Topsail. Schooners-Canvas unlimited, Square-sail excepted. This rule to be modified by any alterations which may be laid down in the sailing regulations for any given Regattas.

Rule XI. --That any Yacht having carried the prize in two successive Club Matches be unqualified for sailing at the next Regatta.

Rule XII. That any Yacht fouling another by the negligence or wilfulness of the Owner or other Members sailing the same shall pay the full amount of damage done, and in addition the fine of 5s. for the Funds of the Club.

Rule XIII. That any Member having a boat, and wishing to sail her in any Regatta, must pay 2s. 6d. for tonnage dues, irrespective of size.

Rule XIV. That any Member being unavoidably absent from a Meeting, may send his vote by proxy, a printed paper having been submitted to him for that purpose, to which he must affix his signature.

Rule XV.—That all protests be lodged with the Secretary.

A. RIVINGTON, Secretary.

The Highgate Model Yacht Club.

MATCH I.

FOR A SILVER

CUP,

On TUESDAY, the 2nd AUGUST, 1853, at Three o' Clock, precisely,

For Yachts not exceeding 4 ft. keel, and 5 ft. deck, as described in Rule 8 of the Club. The Course to be twice up and down the Lake, but no interval to be allowed between the Heats.

For Yachts not exceeding 2 ft. 6 ins. keel, and 3 ft. deck, measured as in Rule 8.
The Course to be once up and down the Lake.

Every Yacht to carry her Sailing Colour at her Main Mast Head.

All disputes to be settled by the Umpires.

ALEXANDER RIVINGTON, Secretaries
ROBERT LODGE,

HIGHGATE TOKENS.

Boyne, in his interesting work on Tokens, issued in the seventeenth century, mentions four as having been issued by innkeepers at Highgate, as follows:

1. O. Thomas Childe=(A Sugar Loaf). (A Sugar Loaf). R., In Highgate, 1670. His Half Peny T.S.C.

2. O. Edward Cutler at yo Gate gate, 1668. His Half Peny.

the=(An

(A Gateway). R., House at High

3. O. William Fisher at the (An Angel). R., Angell, in Highgate, 1669. His Half Penny, W.S.F.

4. O. William Prockter at y° (A Lion rampant). R. Red Lyon, at Highgate, his Halfe Penny, 1668. 1

Three of the above inns still exist. Query, what has become of the Sugar Loaf"? Or was it a grocer's token?

The letters T.S.C. and W.S.F. are initials of Christian and surnames of husband and wife. O. Obverse, R. reverse of the coin.

HIGHGATE AND HER MAJESTY QUEEN VICTORIA.

THE FOX AND CROWN, WEST HILL.-Over the door of this quaint little tavern are the royal arms, with the following inscription :

THE FOX AND CROWN.

6TH JULY, 1837.

This coat-of-arms is a grant from Queen Victoria, for services rendered to Her Majesty while in danger travelling down this hill.

"Fourteen days after Her Majesty succeeded to the throne of England she was taking the air on the Northern Heights with her mother, the Duchess of Kent, in a carriage drawn by four horses ridden by postilions, and, while descending West Hill, the horses became restive and plunged violently. The nature of the thoroughfare is of dangerous character for carriage traffic, from the peculiar sharpness of descent. Being without a drag chain, the carriage pressed upon the horses, which greatly increased their fright. At this unfortunate juncture of circumstances, the then landlord of The Fox, Mr. Turner, sprang forward, and in the most intrepid manner succeeded in blocking the wheels of the vehicle. Her

1

1 From Cassini's illustrated copy of Prickett in the possession of Mr. George Potter.