Robert Somervell

“ The sentiment of beauty in Nature, and the love of mountain scenery, have been much developed of late years, and are likely to increase in power and importance. Much that is hurtful and destructive has been done, both to Nature and Art, in the hurry and excitement of this age of mechanical enterprise; and the cheering revival of some consideration for the beautiful—though too often misdirected—makes it certain that such scenes of natural grandeur or loveliness as are still unspoiled, will be doubly dear to the next generation. ”

“ With persons of this temper it would obviously be hopeless to argue: to show them the transcending loveliness of Nature would be about as easy as to prove, off hand, the greatness of Shakespeare to a man who can 'see nothing in him.' The expressed opinions of such people so plainly manifest their incompetence to form a right judgment of the matter that they are not likely to have much weight with thoughtful persons. ”

“ We have no price-current for the beauties with which God has clothed our world, but the immense sums which people, of all degrees and classes, spend every year, to procure for themselves, in one way or other, the enjoyment which these beauties (or often the most feeble imitation of them) can afford, would be sufficient, one would think, in itself, to prove to the most unsentimental mind, that the best and rarest materials for such enjoyments are very far from worthless. ”

“ Now, everyone acquainted with Thirlmere knows that the western bank is, beyond comparison, the most beautiful shore of the Lake District; and, that to raise or drop the level of the water, even twenty or thirty feet, would utterly mar the whole effect. The mountains would remain, but the Lake would, for centuries, be simply an artificial reservoir. ”

“ These will ask themselves whether it be wise, except under the compulsion of inevitable necessity to mar the face of Nature, in a district the loveliness of which has a value to the Nation at large, exceeding a hundredfold the commercial price of its surface. ”

“ It is now very generally known that the Corporation of Manchester have determined to apply for an Act, during the session of 1878, by which they will be enabled to convert Thirlmere Lake into a reservoir; and, by means of a tunnel through Dunmail Raise, and a covered aqueduct thence to Manchester, to obtain an increased supply of water for the use of that town and its neighbourhood.
In many cases, landowners whose property, and other persons whose business, will be injuriously affected by undertakings such as this, are the only parties whose interests require much attention ”

“ It is evident enough, from official statements, as well as from some gushing utterances which accompanied the announcement of the scheme, that Thirlmere has been chosen because it is expected to yield a large daily supply of water, at a cost considerably below the price of that which is obtained from Longdendale; and because the surplus profit will form a large annual revenue for the benefit of the city. It is equally certain that, from a public point of view, the choice is a most unfortunate one. There is hardly another lake which would be so utterly ruined by its conversion to this use ”

“ It now seems pretty certain that this scheme will be prosecuted by the Manchester Corporation with a vigour proportionate to the boldness with which it has been announced. This makes it most desirable that all such as feel an interest in the matter, on public grounds, should join with those who are personally and locally concerned, in making a strong and unmistakable protest against any needless tampering with the natural beauties of the English Lake District; and against the granting, by Parliament, of any power to do so, without a careful consideration of the case, in all its bearings ”

“ Englishmen generally have a direct interest in the preservation of the natural beauties of our mountain districts, the value of which increases year by year with our increasing population, and the consequent rapid appropriation of the general surface of the land to purely utilitarian purposes. ”

“ It remains now for all who share our views to bestir themselves promptly and vigorously, so as to secure the dissemination of a full knowledge of the question, and such a powerful representation of the National view of the subject as shall ensure the withdrawal, or the rejection, of the scheme. ”

“ A passage in the Engineer's report, which bears strongly on this aspect of the question, is one in which he states that in the position which the Corporation have assumed, "an addition of 6,000,000 gallons per day is not worth considering;" a quantity, nevertheless, equal to the total consumption for sanitary and domestic purposes in the two Boroughs during 1874, if money values correspond with quantities. ”