From the lower part of these cylinders come out necks, turning upwards archwise, whose upper parts are cast with flanches to screw up to a trunk; which necks have bores of seven inches diameter, and holes in the trunk above, communicating with each of them; at which joining are placed four valves. This trunk is cast with four bosses, or protuberances, standing out against the valves, to give room for their opening and shutting; and on the upper side are four holes stopped with plugs, which take out, on occasion, to cleanse the valves. One end of the trunk is stopped by a plug; and iron pipes are joined by flanches to the other end, thro’ which the water is forced up to any height or place required.
Besides these four forcers, there are four more placed at the other ends of the levers, which work in the same manner, with rods and cylinders, as above. And the same works are repeated at the other end of the water-wheel, viz. a cog-wheel, a trundle, a spindle, a crank, sucking-pipes, four levers, eight forcing-rods, eight cylinders, &c. four trunks, and two forcing-pipes: so that one single wheel works sixteen pumps.
In the first arch next the city, is one wheel with double work of sixteen forcers. In the third arch, where the first wheel has double work at the one end, and single at the other, there are twelve forcers: the second wheel, placed in the middle, has eight forcers; and the third wheel sixteen forcers. In all fifty-two forcers.
One turn of the four wheels makes 114 strokes; and when the river is at best, the wheels go six times round in a minute, and but four and a half at middle water; so that the number of strokes in a minute are 684; and as the stroke is two feet and a half in a seven inch bore, which raises three ale gallons, they raise 2052 gallons in a minute; that is, 123,120 gallons, or 1954 hogsheads in an hour, which is at the rate of 46,896 hogsheads per day, to the height of 120 feet, including the waste, which may be settled at a fifth part of the whole. Desaguliers Mathematics.
London Bridge yard, Tooley street.
London court, 1. London street. 2. Rosemary lane.
London House, on the west side of Aldersgate street, was anciently called Dorchester House, and afterwards Petre’s House, from its having been possessed by the Marquis of Dorchester, and afterwards by the Lord Petre: but after the restoration being purchased for the residence of the Bishop of London, it obtained the name of London House. It is a large commodious brick building, with a neat chapel belonging to it; but being deserted by the Prelates of this see, is now let out into several tenements and warehouses.
London House yard, 1. Aldersgate street. 2. St. Paul’s church yard.
London Infirmary, on the south side of Whitechapel, is one of the many foundations that distinguish our country and the present age. It is supported by charitable and voluntary contributions, for the relief of all sick and diseased persons; and, in particular, manufacturers, seamen in the merchants service, and their wives and children.
This charity was instituted on the 2d of November 1740, in a large house in Prescot street, Goodman’s Fields, which is now the Magdalen hospital; but that becoming too small for this extensive charity, a new, more capacious, and more commodious building was erected by the voluntary contributions of several Governors, in an airy situation, near the Mount in Whitechapel road.