manner to defray the
expenses of erection. The plan of attaching moneyboxes to the fountains
for the donations of friends has been adopted, and the first money-box
has been placed at the first erected fountain on Snow Hill. So far as
the experience of four weeks justifies an opinion, it is very
encouraging, and a sum of 8d. a day has been deposited in small coins,
varying from farthings to two-shilling pieces. The experiment is to be
extended to five other fountains, when, if successful, it is proposed to
supply every fountain with a money-box, when the erection will be more
than self-supporting. "Of all the efforts I have been called to make,"
said the Earl of Shaftesbury, "there is none that so strongly commends
itself to my feelings and my judgment as the Free Drinking Fountain
movement." The Earl of Carlisle says, "Erect drinking fountains, and
habits of intemperance will soon show a diminution, and with a diminution
of intemperance will be stopped the most prolific of all the sources of
crime and misery." Most people will say the same, and we look upon these
fountains--elegant in character, supplied with pure water--as a grateful
acknowledgment by the richer classes of the interest and sympathy they
feel for those in less happy circumstances.

As evidence of the grateful interest elicited by this movement in the
humblest classes, let the reader take the following letters. The first
was addressed, "for Mr. Samuel Gurney Esquire who bilt the fountaine
Newgate Street."

to Mr. Gurney esquire

July 9

Kind Sir

i take liberty to giv you my best thanks fore the butiful fountaine
what you wos so kind to giv to us poor men for Newgate Street and i
would plese ask you sir to be so kind and giv us 2 more cups extra
fore wen in Newgate street i see the squeeging and shovin for water
for only the 2 cups of woman and little boys is not enuff this verry
hot days and God bless you Sir fore all your goodness what you do

from a poor man in London.

* * * * *

Monday June the 20th

Gentlemen of the Committee

I see by the paper of yesterday the working Men had a large Meeting
on the Fountain question. I think under your care and good
Management the Working Women coul