MANCHESTER AND THIRLMERE.
[TO TH3 EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR "J Sin,—Permit me, as one of your constant readers, to express my surprise that the nauseous effusion which in your last number is hurled at the heads of those who, in our City Council, or out of it, have seen it right to range themselves as supporters of the "Thirlmere scheme," should have been honoured with a place in the columns of the Spectator.
This calling Heaven to witness, as if there were no Third Commandment, and the cool assumption of moral and in- tellectual superiority which seems to be a characteristic of op- ponents of the measure, appear to me to be little calculated to forward the cause they have at heart. A genuine sentiment, unconnected with the possession of a property on the line of pipes, which contemplates with a feeling of pain the obliteration of some familiar feature of the lakes, endeared by old associa- tions, is worthy of our respect and sympathy ; but your tontributor, who so complacently sees a special interposi- tion of Providence in the delay of our Water Bill for a Session on a technical issue, after passing through the Lower House on its merits, seems to need reminding that its neces- sity was established to the satisfaction of a Special Committee of the House of Commons, that the geological indications appear to point to the lake having once naturally occupied the area to which -it is now proposed simply to restore it, and that owing to the formation of the land, the extended lake is likely to be even less liable to variations of contour from the drawing-off of water than is now the case from alternations of flood and drought ; that the valley below will benefit by immunity from floods, and that the Bill receives strong support in Keswick; that no evidence has been offered that the restored lake will be less beautiful than in its present contracted shape ; and that our Corporation, in acquiring the surrounding slopes to protect them from building or mining -operations, is really preserving for posterity the " natural loveli- ness" of the lake's surroundings ; which is likely to be enjoyed to a much fuller extent than hitherto, as it is proposed to cons truct a new road on that side of the lake from which the public is at present excluded.
If an unbiassed mind can see in all this greater loss than gain to the preservation of the deservedly cherished beauties of our Lake district, it would be more becoming, at all events, not to arrogate superior wisdom, but allow that, necessity apart, there may be two aides to the question.—I am, Sir, &c., Manchester, June 12th. J. C.
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