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32
ing such water. I have, however, already expressed
to you my conviction that a water freer from
injurious impurities than filtered Thames water
may be obtained for drinking purposes in London,
from the chalk beneath our feet, and that which
forms the sides of the great basin of London. The
Thames water is not pure, filtered, as it is by the
present water companies, and as long as it is drunk
at all it may be drunk in an impure condition, and
become injurious to human health.
In the pursuit of an object like that of the preservation
of the life of society, we must recollect that
the moral obligation is co-extensive with the law
that "Thou shalt do no murder;" and, that we must
not be satisfied with the conditions that kill only a
few of the community, but seek for those that shall
not kill at all. It is, I believe, under a sense of
this obligation that you have endeavoured to carry
out the sanitary welfare of this great parish, and I
have, in conclusion, to offer you my sincere thanks
for the support I have received during the past
year, in carrying out the arduous and often thankless
duties of the office which, through your
confidence, I have the honour to hold.
I have the honour to be,
Gentlemen,
Your most obedient humble servant,
EDWIN LANKESTER.
8, Savile Row.