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for the District are elected by the guardians of the Westminster
Union.
Population.—The resident population of the Parish at the
last census (April 1881) was ascertained to be 29,865, and
the number of occupied houses 3,018. In this enumeration,
however, no account is taken of the large number of persons
engaged in the Parish during the day only, the sleeping
population being alone enumerated in the Census Returns.
Representation in Parliament.— The Parish of St.
James forms a part of the Parliamentary Borough of the
City of Westminster, which returns two members to Parliament,
the sitting members being the Rt. Hon. W. H. Smith
and Lord Algernon Percy. The Register prepared in 1884
contains the names of 3,610 electors, viz., 4 on the Scot
and Lot List, 408 Lodgers and 3,198 possessing other
qualifications.
There are also 196 registered voters for the County of
Middlesex in respect of property situate wholly or in part in
the Parish of St. James.
By the Elementary Education Act, 1870, the Parish is.
included in the Westminster Division of the School Board
for London. Five members of the School Board are elected
by the ratepayers of the Division.
Water Supply.—Until quite recent times the inhabitants
were largely independent of the Water Companies, and drew
their supply of water from various surface wells. Some of
these wells acquired a degree of notoriety for drinking purposes,
in consequence of the bright and sparkling appearance
of their water; but, unfortunately, as the Cholera epidemic of
1854 but too clearly proved, the appearance of the water
formed no criterion of its purity. From the year 1854 to the