Dictionary of Birmingham. (continued 8)

Malins, David.—Brassfounder, who in course of his life filled several of the chief offices of our local governing bodies. Born June 5, 1803; died December, 1881. Antiquarian and persevering collector of all works throwing light upon or having connection with Birmingham or Warwickshire history. Mr. Malins, after the burning of the Free Library, generously gave the whole of his collection to the formation of the New Reference Library, many of the books being most rare and valuable, and of some of which no other copies are known to exist.

Mellon, Alfred.—Though actually born in London, Mr. Mellon's parents (his father was a Frenchman) were residents in Birmingham, and we must claim this popular conductor as a local musician of note. He was only twelve when he joined the Theatre Royal band, but at sixteen he was the leader and remained so for eight years, removing to London in 1844. In 1856 Mr. Mellon conducted the opening performances at the Music Hall in Broad Street (now Prince of Wales's Theatre): and will be long remembered for the "Promenade Concerts" he gave at Covent Garden and in the provinces. He died from the breaking of a blood-vessel, March 27, 1867.

Mogridge, George, born at Ashted Feb. 17th, 1787, and brought up as a japanner, was the original "Old Humphrey" of our childhood's days, the author of "Grandfather Grey," "Old Humphrey's Walks in London," "Old Humphrey's Country Strolls," and other juvenile works, of which many millions of copies have been sold in England, America, and the Colonies. "Peter Parley's Tales" have been also ascribed to our townsman, who died Nov. 2, 1854.

Munden, T.—In the year 1818, Mr. Munden (born in London in 1798) came to this town as organist of Christ Church, and was also chosen as teacher of the Oratorio Choral Society, and to this day it may be said that the reputation of our Festival Choir is mostly based on the instruction given by him during his long residence among us. From 1823 till 1849 Mr. Munden acted as Assistant-conductor at the Festivals, retiring from public life in 1853.

Muntz.—The Revolution in 1792 drove the Muntz family to emigrate from their aristocratic abode in France, and a younger son came to this town, where he married a Miss Purden, and established himself in business. From this alliance sprung our race of the Muntzes. George Frederic, the eldest, was born in November, 1794, and losing his father in early life, was head of the family in his 18th year. He devoted himself for many years, and with great success, to mercantile affairs, but his most fortunate undertaking, and which has made his name known all over the world, was the manufacture of sheathing metal for ships bottoms. It has been doubted whether he did any more than revive another man's lapsed patent, but it has never been questioned that he made a vast sum of money out of the "yellow metal." In politics, G.F.M. took a very active part, even before the formation of the Political Union in 1830, and for many years he was the idol of his fellow-townsmen. He was elected M.P. for Birmingham, in January, 1840, and held the seat till the day of his death, which took place July 30, 1857. His name will be found on many a page of our local history, even though a statue of him is not yet posed on a pedestal.

Murdoch, William.—Born at Bellow Mill, near Old Cumnock, Ayrshire, in 1750, and brought up as a millwright, came here in search of work in 1777. He was employed by Boulton at 15s. per week for the first two years, but he soon became the most trusted of all the many engaged at Soho, and never left there though offered £1,000 a year to do so. The first steam engine applied to drawing carriages was constructed by him in the shape of a model which ran round a room in his house at Redruth in 1784, and which is still in existence. As an inventor, he was second only to Watt, his introduction of gas lighting being almost equal to that of the steam engine. He lived to be 85, dying November 15, 1839, at his residence, Sycamore Hill, Handsworth. His remains lie near those of his loved employers, Boulton and Watt, in the parish church.

Pettitt.—Mr. Joseph Pettitt, who died Sept. 9, 1882, in his 70th year, was a local artist of note, a member of the Society of Artists, and for many years a regular exhibitor at the Royal Academy, our local, and other exhibitions. In his younger years Mr. Pettitt was employed in the papier-mâché trade, a business peculiarly suited to persons gifted with artistic faculties. His earliest specimens of landscape attracted attention, and Mr. Joseph Gillott commissioned the painter to furnish a number of Swiss views for the collection of pictures he had began to gather. Mr. Pettitt pleased the penmaker, and soon made a name for himself, his works being characterised by fine colour and broad vigorous handling.

Phillips, Alderman, died Feb. 25, 1876. A member of the first Town Council, and Mayor in 1844. Mr. Phillips long took active part in municipal matters, and was the founder of the Licensed Victuallers' Asylum.

Pickard, James.—A Birmingham button maker, who patented, Aug. 23, 1780, the use of the crank in the steam engine to procure rotary motion. He is supposed to have got the idea from overhearing the conversation of some Soho workmen while at their cups. The first engine in which it was used (and the fly-wheel) was for a manufacturer in Snow Hill, and was put up by Matthew Washborough, of Bristol.

Plant.—Mr. T.L. Plant, who died very suddenly in a railway carriage in which he was coming into town on the morning of August 31, 1883, came to Birmingham in 1840. As a meteorologist, who for more than forty years had kept close record of wind and weather, he was well known; his letters to the newspapers on this and kindred subjects were always interesting, and the part he took in advanced sanitary questions gained him the friendship of all. Mr. Plant was a native of Yorkshire, and was in his 64th year at the time of his death.

Playfair, William (brother of the eminent Scotch mathematician) was engaged as a draughtsman at the Soho Works, after serving apprenticeship as a millwright. He patented various inventions, and was well known as a political writer, &c. Born, 1759; died, 1823.

Postgate, John.—This name should be honoured in every household for a life's exertion in the obtainment of purity in what we eat and drink. Beginning life as a grocer's boy, he saw the most gross adulteration carried on in all the varieties of articles sold by his employers, and afterwards being with a medical firm, he studied chemistry, and devoted his life to analysing food and drugs. Coming to this town in 1854, he obtained the assistance of Mr. Wm. Scholefield, by whose means the first Parliamentary Committee of Enquiry was appointed; the revelations were astounding, but it was not till 1875 that anything like a stringent Act was passed whereby the adulterators could be properly punished. The author of this great national benefit was allowed to die almost in poverty, uncared for by his countrymen at large, or by his adopted townsmen of Birmingham. Born October 21, 1820, Mr. Postgate died in July, 1881.

Ragg, Rev. Thomas.—Once a bookseller and printer, editor and publisher of the Birmingham Advertiser, and author of several works, one of which secured for him the goodwill of the Bishop of Rochester, who ordained him a minister of the Established Church in 1858. He died December 3rd, 1881, in his 74th year, at Lawley, Salop, having been perpetual curate thereof from 1865. His parishioners and friends subscribed for a memorial window, and a fund of a little over £200 was raised for the benefit of the widow, but a very small part thereof went from Birmingham.

Ratcliffe.—Mr. John Ratcliffe, who had in past years been a Town Commissioner, a Low Bailiff, a Town Councillor, and Alderman, was chosen as Mayor in 1856, and, being popular as well as wealthy, got reappointed yearly until 1859. In the first-named year, H.R.H. the Duke of Cambridge was the Mayor's guest when he came to open Calthorpe Park. When the Princess Royal was married, in 1858, the Mayor celebrated the auspicious event by giving a dinner to more than a thousand poor people, and he headed the deputation which was sent from here to present England's royal daughter with some articles of Birmingham manufacture. On the occasion of the Queen's visit to open Aston Park, Mr. Mayor received the honour of Knighthood, and became Sir John, dying in 1864, in his 67th year.

Rennie, John.—The celebrated engineer and architect, who built Waterloo and Southwark Bridges, Plymouth Breakwater, &c., was for a short time in the employ of Boulton and Watt.

Roebuck, Dr. John, grandfather of the late John Arthur Roebuck, M.D. was born at Sheffield in 1718; came to Birmingham in 1745. He introduced better methods of refining gold and silver, originated more economical styles of manufacturing the chemicals used in trade (especially oil of vitriol), and revived the use of pit coal in smelting iron. After leaving this town he started the Carron Ironworks on the Clyde, and in 1768 joined James Watt in bringing out the latter's steam engine. Some mining investments failed before the engine was perfected, and his interest thereon was transferred to Mr. Boulton, the doctor dying in 1794 a poor man.

Rogers.—John Rogers, one of "the glorious army of martyrs," was burnt at Smithfield (London) on February 4, 1555. He was born in Deritend about the year 1500, and assisted in the translation and printing of the Bible into English. He was one of the Prebendaries of St. Paul's, London, but after Queen Mary came to the throne he gave offence by preaching against idolatry and superstition, and was kept imprisoned for eighteen months prior to condemnation and execution, being the first martyr of the Reformation. He left a wife and eleven children. See "Statues and Memorials."

Russell.—William Congreve Russell, Esq., J.P., and in 1832 elected M.P. for East Worcestershire, who died Nov. 30, 1850, aged 72, was the last of a family whose seat was at Moor Green for many generations.

Ryall, Dr. John.—The first headmaster of the Edgbaston Proprietary School, which opened under his superintendence in January, 1838, his connection therewith continuing till Christmas, 1846. He was a man of great learning, with a remarkable command of language, and a singularly accurate writer. Born March 11, 1806, his intellectual acquirements expanded so rapidly that at sixteen he was able to support himself, and, passing with the highest honours, he had taken his degree and accepted the head mastership of Truro Grammar School before his 21st birthday. For the last 30 years of his life he filled the post of Vice-President of Queen's College, Cork, departing to a better sphere June 21, 1875.

Ryland, Arthur.—Descendant of a locally long-honoured family this gentleman, a lawyer, added considerably to the prestige of the name by the prominent position he took in every work leading to the advancement of his townsmen, social, moral, and political. Connected with almost every institution in the borough, many of which he aided to establish or develop. Mr. Ryland's name is placed foremost among the founders of the Birmingham and Midland Institute, the Art Gallery, the public Libraries, the Hospitals for Women and Children, the Sanatorium, &c., while he was one of the greatest friends to the Volunteer movement and the adoption of the School Board's system of education. During life he was appointed to all the leading offices of citizenship, in addition to being chosen President of the Law Society and other bodies. He died at Cannes, March 23, 1877, in his 70th year.

Scholefield, William.—Son of Joshua Scholefield, was chosen as the first Mayor after the incorporation, having previously been the High Bailiff of the Court Leet. In 1847 he was elected M.P., holding that office through five Parliaments and until his death July 9, 1867 (in his 58th year). In the House, as well as in his private life and business circles, he was much esteemed for the honest fixity of purpose which characterised all his life.

Shaw, Charles, commonly known as "Charley" Shaw, was a large manufacturing merchant, and held high position as a moneyed man for many years down to his death. He was as hard as a nail, rough as a bear, and many funny tales have been told about him, but he is worth a place in local history, if only for the fact that it was principally through his exertions that the great monetary panic of 1837 was prevented from becoming almost a national collapse.

Sherlock.—Though not to be counted exactly as one of our Birmingham men, Thomas Sherlock, Bishop of London, who purchased the manor estates in or about 1730, must have a place among the "noteworthies." Hutton states that when the Bishop made his bargain the estate brought in about £400 per annum, but that in another thirty years or so it had increased to twice the value. The historian goes on to say that "the pious old Bishop was frequently solicited to grant building leases, but answered, 'his land was valuable, and if built upon, his successor, at the expiration of the term, would have the rubbish to carry off:' he therefore not only refused, but prohibited his successor from granting such leases. But Sir Thomas Gooch, who succeeded him, seeing the great improvement of the neighbouring estates, and wisely judging fifty pounds per acre preferable to five, procured an Act in about 1766, to set aside the prohibiting clause in the Bishop's will. Since which, a considerable town may be said to have been erected upon his property, now (1787) about £2,400 per annum." Bishop and historian alike, would be a little astonished at the present value of the property, could they see it.

Small, Dr. William.—A friend of Boulton, Watt, and Priestley, and one of the famous Lunar Society, born in county Angus, Scotland, in 1734, dying here in 1778. A physician of most extensive knowledge, during a residence in America he filled the chair of Professor of Natural Philosophy at the University of Williamsburg, Virginia. In the beautiful pleasure grounds of Soho House, when Matthew Boulton lived, there was an urn inscribed to the memory of Dr. Small, on which appeared some impressive lines written by Dr. Darwin, of Derby:—

Smith.—Mr. Brooke Smith (of the well-known firm of Martineau and Smith), a valued supporter of Penn Street and Dale Street Industrial Schools, the Graham Street Charity, and other institutions connected with the welfare of the young, died in April, 1876, in his 78th year. A Liberal in every way, the sound common sense of Mr. Brooke Smith, who was noted for an unvarying courtesy to all parties and creeds, kept him from taking any active share in local politics where urbanity and kindliness is heavily discounted.

Sturge, Joseph.—Born August 2, 1793, at Alberton, a village on the Severn, was intended for a farmer, but commenced trading as a cornfactor at Bewdley, in 1814, his brother Charles joining him in 1822, in which year they also came to Birmingham. Mr. Sturge was chosen a Town Commissioner, but resigned in 1830, being opposed to the use of the Town Hall being granted for oratorios. He was one of the directors of the London and Birmingham Railway when it was opened in 1836, but objecting to the running of Sunday trains, withdrew from the board. In 1838 he was elected Alderman for St. Thomas's Ward, but would not subscribe to the required declaration respecting the Established religion. At a very early date he took an active part in the Anti-slavery movement, and his visit to the West Indies and subsequent reports thereon had much to do with hastening the abolition of slavery. When the working-classes were struggling for electoral freedom and "the Charter," Mr. Sturge was one of the few found willing to help them, though his peace-loving disposition failed to induce them to give up the idea of "forcing" their rights. Having a wish to take part in the making of the laws, he issued an address to the electors of Birmingham in 1840, but was induced to retire; in August, 1842, he contested Nottingham, receiving 1,801 votes against his opponent's 1885; in 1844 he put up for Birmingham, but only 364 votes were given him; and he again failed at Leeds in 1847, though he polled 1,976 voters. In 1850 he visited Schleswig-Holstein and Denmark, and in February, 1854, St. Petersburgh, each time in hopes of doing something to prevent the wars then commencing, but failure did not keep him from Finland in 1856 with relief for the sufferers. In 1851 he took a house in Ryland Road and fitted it up as a reformatory, which afterwards led to the establishment at Stoke Prior. Mr. Sturge died on May 14, 1859, and was buried on the 20th in Bull Street. His character needs no comment, for he was a Christian in his walk as well as in his talk.

Taylor, John.—Died in 1775, aged 64, leaving a fortune of over £200,000, acquired in the manufacture of metal buttons, japanned ware, snuff boxes, &c. It is stated that he sent out £800 worth of buttons weekly, and that one of his workmen earned 70s. per week by painting snuff boxes at 1/4d. each. Mr. Taylor must have had a monopoly in the latter, for this one hand at the rate named must have decorated some 170,000 boxes per annum.

Tomlins.—Samuel Boulton Tomlins, the son of a local iron merchant (who was one of the founders of the Birmingham Exchange) and Mary Harvey Boulton (a near relative to Matthew) was born September 28, 1797, at Park House, in Park Street, then a vine-covered residence surrounded by gardens. His mother was so great a favourite with Baskerville that the celebrated printer gave her one of two specially-printed Bibles, retaining the other for himself. After serving an apprenticeship to a bookseller, Mr. Tomlins was taken into Lloyd's Bank as a clerk, but was soon promoted to be manager of the branch then at Stockport, but which was taken over afterwards by a Manchester Banking Company, with whom Mr. Tomlins stayed until 1873, dying September 8, 1879.

Ulwin.—Though nearly last in our list, Ulwin, or Alwyne, the son of Wigod, and the grandson of Woolgeat, the Danish Earl of Warwick, must rank first among our noteworthy men, if only from the fact that his name is absolutely the first found in historical records as having anything to do with Birmingham. This was in King Edward the Confessor's time, when Alwyne was Sheriff (vice-comes) and through his son Turchill, who came to be Earl of Warwick, the Ardens and the Bracebridges trace their descent from the old Saxon kings, Alwyne's mother being sister to Leofric, III., Earl of Mercia. Whether Alwyne thrived on his unearned increment or not, the politicians of the time have not told us, but the possessions that came to him by the Dano-Saxon marriage of his parents seems to have been rather extensive, as it is written that he owned not only the manor of Birmingham, but also Halesowen, Escelie, Hagley, and Swinford in Wirecescire (Worcestershire), Great Barr, Handsworth, Penn, Rushall and Walsall, in Staffordshire, as well as Aston, Witton, Erdington, and Edgbaston. The modern name of Allen is deducible from Alwyne, and the bearers thereof, if so inclined, may thus be enabled to also claim a kingly descent, and much good may it do them.

Underwood, Thomas.—The first printer to introduce the art of lithography into Birmingham, and he is also credited with being the discoverer of chromo-litho, and the first to publish coloured almanacks and calendars. He did much to foster the taste for art, but will probably be most generally recollected by the number of views of old Birmingham and reproductions of pictures and maps of local interest that he published. Mr. Underwood died March 14, 1882, in his 73rd year.

Van Wart.—Henry Van Wart, was born near New York, Sept. 25, 1783, and took up his abode with us in 1808. By birth an American, by descent a Dutchman, he became a Brum through being naturalised by special Act of Parliament, and for nearly seventy years was one of our principal merchants. He was also one of the first Aldermen chosen for the borough. Died Feb. 15, 1873, in his 90th year.

Ward.—Humble Ward, son of Charles I.'s jeweller, who married the daughter of the Earl of Dudley, was created Baron Ward of Birmingham. Their son Edward thus came to the title of Lord Dudley and Ward in 1697.

Warren.—Thomas Warren was a well-known local bookseller of the last century. He joined Wyatt and Paul in their endeavours to establish the Cotton Spinning Mill, putting £1,000 into the speculation, which unfortunately landed him in bankruptcy. He afterwards became an auctioneer, and in 1788 had the pleasure of selling the machinery of the mill in which forty years previous his money had been lost.

Watt, James, was born at Greenock, Jan. 19, 1736, and (if we are to credit the somewhat apocryphal anecdote of his testing the power of steam as it issued from his aunt's teakettle when a little lad barely breeched) at an early age he gave evidence of what sort of a man he would be. In such a condensed work as the present book, it is impossible to give much of the life of this celebrated genius; but fortunately there are many biographies of him to which the student can refer, as well as scientific and other tomes, in which his manifold inventions have been recorded, and in no corner of the earth where the steam-engine has been introduced can his name be unknown. After many years' labour to bring the new motive power into practical use, Watt, helped by his friend Dr. Roebuck, took out his first patent in 1769. Roebuck's share was transferred to Matthew Boulton in 1773, and in the following year James Watt came to Birmingham. An Act of Parliament prolonging the patent for a term of twenty-four years was obtained in May, 1775, and on the first of June was commenced the world-famous partnership of Boulton and Watt. Up to this date the only engine made to work was the one brought by Watt from Scotland, though more than nine years had been spent on it, and thousands of pounds expended in experiments, improvements, and alterations. Watt's first residence here was in Regent's Place, Harper's Hill, to which (Aug. 17, 1775) he brought his second wife. He afterwards removed to Heathfield, where the workshop in which he occupied his latest years still remains, as on the day of his death. In 1785, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society; in 1806, the University of Glasgow conferred the degree of LL.D. upon him, and in 1808 he was elected a member of the National Institute of France. One of the latest inventions of James Watt was a machine for the mechanical copying of sculpture and statuary, its production being the amusement of his octogenarian years, for, like his partner Boulton, Watt was permitted to stay on the earth for longer than the so-called allotted term, his death taking place on the 19th of August, 1819, when he was in his 83rd year. He was buried in Handsworth Church, where there is a monument, the features of which are said to be very like him. A statue was erected to his memory in Westminster Abbey in 1824, and others have been set up in Birmingham, Manchester, Greenock, and Glasgow. The following is the inscription (written by Lord Brougham) on the tomb of Watt in Westminster Abbey, towards the cost of which George IV. contributed £500:—

"Not to perpetuate a name which must endure while the peaceful arts flourish, but to show that mankind have learned to honour those who best deserve their gratitude, the King, his ministers, and many of the nobles and commoners of the realm, raised this monument to JAMES WATT, who, directing the force of an original genius, early exercised in philosophical research, to the improvement of the steam-engine, enlarged the resources of his country, increased the power of man, and rose to an eminent place among the most illustrious followers of science and the real benefactors of the world. Born at Greenock, 1736; died at Heathfield, in Staffordshire, 1819."

One of James Watt's sons, Gregory, who devoted himself to science and literature, died in 1804, at the early age of 27. James, born Feb. 5, 1769, resided for a number of years at Aston Hall, where he died in 1848. In 1817 he voyaged to Holland in the first steam vessel that left an English port, the engines having been manufactured at Soho. He was of a very retiring disposition, and not particularly popular with the public, though valued and appreciated by those admitted to closer intimacy.

West.—Though he did not come to Birmingham until close upon sixty years of age, being born in 1770, William West, in his "History of Warwickshire," published one of the best descriptions of this town ever yet prepared. He had establishments in London and Cork, and was the author of several amusing and interesting works, such as "Tavern Anecdotes," "Fifty Years' Recollections of an Old Bookseller." &c., now scarce, though "West's Warwickshire" may often be met with at the "Chaucer's Head," and other old bookshops.

Williams, Fleetwood, who died in 1836, at the early age of 29, was the author of sundry locally interesting prose works and poetical "skits." He was connected with several debating clubs, and showed talent that promised future distinction.

Willmore.—James Tibbets Willmore, a native of Handsworth, was an eminent landscape engraver, famed for his reproductions of Turner's works. His death occurred in March, 1863, in his 63rd year.

Winfield.—Mr. Robert Walter Winfield, though he took comparatively little part in the public life of our town, deserves a prominent place among our men of note as a manufacturer who did much towards securing Birmingham a somewhat better name than has occasionally been given it, in respect to the quality of the work sent out. Starting early in life, in the military ornament line, Mr. Winfield began in a somewhat small way on the site of the present extensive block of buildings known as Cambridge Street Works, which has now developed into an establishment covering several acres of land. Here have been manufactured some of the choicest specimens of brass foundry work that could be desired, no expense being spared at any time in the procuring of the best patterns, and (which is of almost equal importance) the employment of the best workmen. The goods sent from Cambridge Street to the first Great Exhibition, 1851, obtained the highest award, the Council's Gold Medal, for excellence of workmanship, beauty of design, and general treatment, and the house retains its position. Mr. Winfield was a true man, Conservative in politics, but most, truly liberal in all matters connected with his work-people and their families. In the education and advancement of the younger hands he took the deepest interest, spending thousands in the erection of schools and the appointment of teachers for them, and not a few of our present leading men have to thank him for their first step in life. The death of his only son, Mr. J.F. Winfield, in 1861, was a great blow to the father, and caused him to retire from active business through failing health. His death (Dec. 16, 1869), was generally felt as a loss to the town.

Wyatt.—John Wyatt, one of Birmingham's most ingenious sons, invented (in 1738) the spinning of cotton by means of rollers, but unlike Richard Arkwright, who afterwards introduced a more perfect machine and made a fortune, the process was never other than a source of loss to the original inventor and his partners, who vainly tried to make it a staple manufacture of the town. The weighing machine was also the work of Wyatt's brain, though he did not live to see the machine in use, dying Nov. 29, 1766, broken down by misfortune, but honoured by such men as Baskerville and Boulton who, then rising themselves, knew the worth of the man whose loss they deplored. Wyatt's grave is on the Blue Coat School side of St. Philip's churchyard.

Wyon.—A celebrated local family of die-sinkers and medalists. William Wyon (born in 1795) receiving the gold medal of the Society of Arts, for his medal of Ceres, obtained in 1816 the post of second engraver at the Mint, his cousin, Thomas Wyon, being then the chief. One of the finest medals engraved by him was that of Boulton, struck by Thomason, in high relief, and 4in. in diameter. He died in 1851, having produced all the coins and medals for Queen Victoria and William IV., part of George IV.'s, and prize medals for many societies. His son, Leonard Wyon, produced the Exhibition medals in 1851.

The preceding are really but a few of the men of note whose connection with Birmingham has been of historical interest, and the catalogue might be extended to great length with the names of the De Birminghams, the Smalbrokes, Middlemores, Colmores, and others of the old families alone. Scores of pages would not suffice to give even the shortest biographies of the many who, by their inventive genius and persistent labour, placed our town at the head of the world's workshops, the assistants and followers of the great men of Soho, the Thomasons, Taylors, and others living in the early part of the century, or the Elkingtons, Chances, &c., of later days. A volume might easily be filled with lives of scientific and literary men of the past, Hutton the historian, Morfitt, poet and barrister; Beilby, Hodgetts, Hudson, and other bookmen, to say naught of the many Press writers (who in their day added not a little to the advancement of their fellow-townsmen), or the venerable doctors, the school teachers and scholars, the pastors and masters of the old School and the old Hospital. Mention is made of a few here and there in this book; of others there have been special histories published, and, perchance some day "Birmingham men" will form the title of a more comprehensive work.

Novel Sight.—The appearance in the streets of Birmingham of a real war vessel would be a wonderful thing even in these days of railways and steam. Sir Rowland Hill, speaking of his childhood's days, said he could recollect once during the war with Napoleon that a French gunboat was dragged across the country, and shown in Birmingham at a small charge. He had never then seen any vessel bigger than a coal barge, but this was a real ship, with real anchor and real ship guns.

Numbering of Houses.—We are rapidly improving in many ways, and the gradual introduction of the system of alternate numbering, the odd numbers on one side of the street, and the evens on the other, is an advance in the right direction. Still, the fixing of the diminutive figure plate on the sideposts of a door, or, as is frequently found to be the case, in the shadow of a porch, is very tantalising, especially to the stranger. Householders should see that the No. is placed in a conspicuous spot, and have the figures painted so that they can be well seen even on a dusky evening.

Nunneries.—See "Religious Associations."

Nurseries.—The outskirts, and indeed many parts of the town, less than a century back were studded with gardens, but the flowers have had to give place to the more prosaic bricks and mortar, and householders desirous of floral ornaments have now in a great measure to resort to the nursery grounds of the professed horticulturists. Foremost among the nurseries of the neighbourhood are those of Mr. R.H. Vertegans, Chad Valley, Edgbaston which were laid out some thirty-five years ago. The same gentleman has another establishment of even older date at Malvern, and a third at Metchley. The grounds of Messrs. Pope and Sons, at King's Norton, are also extensive and worthy of a visit. There are other nurseries at Solihull (Mr. Hewitt's), at Spark hill (Mr. Tomkins'), at Handsworth (Mr. Southhall's), and in several other parts of the suburbs. The Gardeners' Chronicle, the editor of which is supposed to be a good judge, said that the floral arrangement at the opening of the Mason Science College surpassed anything of the kind ever seen in Birmingham, Mr. Vertegans having supplied not less than thirty van loads, comprising over 5,000 of the choicest exotic flowers and evergreens.

Oak Leaf Day.—In the adjoining counties, and to a certain extent in Birmingham itself, it has been the custom for carters and coachmen to decorate their horses' heads and their own hats with sprays of oak leaves on the 29th of May, and 99 out of the 100 would tell you they did so to commemorate Charles II. hiding in the oak tree near to Boscobel House. It is curious to note how long an erroneous idea will last. The hunted King would not have found much shelter in his historical oak in the month of May, as the trees would hardly have been sufficiently in leaf to have screened him, and, as it happened, it was the 4th of September and not the 29th of May when the event occurred. The popular mistake is supposed to have arisen from the fact that Charles made his public entry into London on May 29, which was also his birthday, when the Royalists decked themselves with oak in remembrance of that tree having been instrumental in the King's restoration.

Obsolete Street Names.—Town improvements of one sort and another have necessitated the entire clearance of many streets whose names may be found inscribed on the old maps, and their very sites will in time be forgotten. Changes in name have also occurred more frequently perhaps than may be imagined, and it will be well to note a few. As will be seen, several streets have been christened and re-christened more than once.

Baskerville-street is now Easy-row.

Bath-road is Bristol-street.

Beast Market was that part of High-street contiguous to New-street; also called English Market.

Bewdley-street, afterwards Ann-street, now Colmore-row.

Birch Hole-street has been improved to Birchall street.

Black Boy Yard is now Jamaica-row.

Brick Kiln lane is the Horse Fair.

Broad-street—Dale End was so called in the 15th century.

Buckle-row. Between Silver-street and Thomas-street.

Button Alley—Bishop-street, Masshouse-lane.

Butts-lane—Tanter-street; The Butts being Stafford-street.

Catherine-street—Whittal-street.

Cawsey (The Causeway)—Lower part of Digbeth.

Chapel-street—Bull-street was so called in the 14th century.

Chappel-row—Jennens'-row and Buck-street.

Charles or Little Charles-street—Now part of New Edmund-street.

Cock-street—Upper part of Digbeth; also called Well-street.

Colmore-street—From Worcester-street to Peck-lane.

Cony Greve street is now Congreve-street.

Cooper's Mill-lane is Heathmill-lane.

Corbett's Alley—Union-street.

Corn Cheaping or Corn Market was part of the Bull Ring.

Court-lane—Moat-lane.

Cottage-lane—Sheepcote-lane.

Crescent-street—Part of King Edward's Road.

Cross-street—Vauxhall-street.

Crown-street, afterwards Nelson-street is now Sheepcote-street.

Deadman's Lane—Warstone-lane.

Ditch—The Gullet was The Ditch.

Dock Alley—New Inkleys.

Dudwall-lane—Dudley-street

Farmer-street—Sand-street.

Ferney Fields—Great Hampton-street

Feck-lane or Peck-lane—Covered by New-street Station.

God's Cart-lane—Carrs-lane.

Grindstone-lane—Westfield-road.

Hangman's-lane, or Hay Barns-lane—Great Hampton-row.

Harlow-street—Edmund-street.

Haymarket—one of the names given to Ann-street.

High Town—Upper part of Bull Ring.

Hill-street—Little Charles-street.

Jennings-street—Fox-street.

King-street and Queen-street, as well as Great Queen-street, have made way for New-street Station.

Lake Meadow-hill—Bordesley-street and Fazeley-street.

Lamb-yard—Crooked-lane.

Long-lane—Harborne-road.

Ludgate-hill was part of Church-street.

Martin-street—Victoria-street.

Mercer-street, or Spicer-street—Spiceal-street.

Mount Pleasant—Ann-street.

New road—Summer-row.

Old Meeting-street has at various periods been known as Grub-street, Littleworth street, New-row, and Phillips-street.

Pemberton's-yard, Lower Minories, or Coach-yard—Dalton-street.

Pitt-street and Porter-street were portions of Old Cross-street.

Priors Conigree-lane, or Whitealls-lane is now Steelhouse-lane.

Priory-lane—Monmouth-street.

Rother Market—New-street next to High-street and High-street next to New-street was once so called.

Sandy-lane—Snow Hill in the 16th century. Lee Bank-road has also been called Sandy-lane.

Shambles—Part of Bull Ring.

Swan Alley—Worcester-street.

Swinford-street—Upper end of New-street.

Temple Alley, also called Tory-row—Temple-row.

Walmer-lane (in the 15th century Wold Moors)—Lancaster-street.

Water-street—Floodgate-street.

Welch End or Welch Market—Junction of Bull-street, High-street, and Dale End.

Westley's-row, Westley-street, or London 'Prentice-street forms part of Dalton-street.

Withering-street—Union-street.

Wyllattes Green—Prospect Row.

Old Cock Pump.—This was the old pump formerly under St. Martin's Churchyard wall, from which the water-carriers and others obtained their supply of drinking water. The rule of the pump was "last come last served," and frequently a long string of men, women, and children might be seen waiting their turn. Many of us can recollect the old Digbeth men, with their shoulder-yoke and two buckets, plodding along to find customers for their "Wartâ;" and certain elderly ladies are still in existence who would fear the shortening of their lives were their tea-kettles filled with aught but the pure Digbeth water, though it does not come from the pump at St. Martin's, for that was removed in 1873. It has been written that on one occasion (in the days before waterworks were practicable, and the old pump was a real blessing), when the poor folks came to fill their cans early in the morning, they found the handle gone, and great was the outcry thereat. It soon afterwards transpired that a blacksmith, short of iron, had taken the handle to make into horseshoes.

Old Meeting House Yard.—The name gives its own origin. One of the earliest built of our Dissenting places of worship was here situated.

Old Square.—There are grounds for believing that this was the site of the Hospital or Priory of St. Thomas the Apostle; the reason of no foundations or relics of that building having been come across arising from its having been erected on a knoll or mount there, and which would be the highest bit of land in Birmingham. This opinion is borne out by the fact that the Square was originally called The Priory, and doubtless the Upper and Lower Priories and the Minories of later years were at first but the entrance roads to the old Hospital, as it was most frequently styled in deeds and documents. Mr. John Pemberton, who purchased this portion of the Priory lands in 1697, and laid it out for building, would naturally have it levelled, and, not unlikely from a reverent feeling, so planned that the old site of the religious houses should remain clear and undesecrated. From old conveyances we find that 20s. per yard frontage was paid for the site of some of the houses in the square, and up to 40s. in Bull Street; the back plots, including the Friends' burial ground (once gardens to the front houses) being valued at 1s. to 2s. per yard. Some of the covenants between the vendor and the purchasers are very curious, such as that the latter "shall and will for ever hereafter putt and keep good bars of iron or wood, or otherwise secure all the lights and windows that are or shall be, that soe any children or others may not or cannot creep through, gett, or come through such lights or windows into or upon the same piece of land." Here appears the motive for the erection of the iron railings so closely placed in front of the old houses. Another covenant was against "putting there any muckhill or dunghill places, pigstyes or workhouses, shopps or places that shall he noysome or stink, or be nautionse or troublesome," and also to have there "no butcher's or smith's slaughter house or smithey harth." One of the corner houses, originally called "the Angle House," was sold in 1791 for £420; in 1805 it realised £970; in 1843, £1,330? and in 1853, £2,515. The centre of the Square was enclosed and neatly kept as a garden with walks across, for the use of the inhabitants there, but (possibly it was "nobody's business") in course of time it became neglected, and we have at least one instance, in 1832, of its being the scene of a public demonstration. About the time of the Parliamentary election in that year, the carriageway round the Square had been newly macadamised, and on the polling day, when Dempster Heming opposed William Stratford Dugdale, the stones were found very handy, and were made liberal use of, as per the usual order of the day at that time on such occasions. The trees and railings were removed in 1836 or 1837 in consequence of many accidents occurring there, the roadways being narrow and very dangerous from the numerous angles, the Street Commissioners undertaking to give the inhabitants a wide and handsome flagging as a footpath on all sides of the square, conditionally with the freeholders of the property giving up their rights to and share in the enclosure.

Omnibuses.—The first omnibus was started in 1828, by Mr. Doughty, a fishmonger, and its route lay between the White Swan, Snow Hill, to the Sun, in Bristol Road. In 1836 an "Omnibus Conveyance Co," was proposed, with a magnificent capital of £5,000. The projectors would have been a little startled if they could have seen the prospectuses of some of our modern conveyance companies.—See "Tramways."

Open Spaces.—March 8, 1883, saw the formation of the Birmingham Association for the Prevention of Open Spaces and Public Footpaths, the object of which is to be the securing of the rights of the public to the open spots, footpaths, and green places, which, for generations, have belonged to them. There are few such left in the borough now, but the Association may find plenty to do in the near neighbourhood, and if its members can but save us one or two of the old country walks they will do good service to the community.

Orange Tree.—This public-house was built in 1780, the neighbourhood being then known as "Boswell Heath." A walk to the Orange Tree over the "hilly fields," where Conybere and other streets now are, was a pleasant Sunday morning ramble even forty years back.

Oratory.—See "Places of Worship."

Organs.—According to the oft-quoted extract from the Halesowen Churchwardens' books—"1497. Paid for repeyling the organs to the organ maker at Bromycham 10s,"—organ-building must have been one of the few recognised trades of this town at a very early date. It is a pity the same accounts do not give the maker's name of the instruments for which in 1539 they "paid my lord Abbot 4 marks," or name the parties who were then employed and paid for "mending and setting the organs up, 40s." Whether any of the most celebrated organs in the country have, or have not, been made here, is quite uncertain, though the Directories and papers of all dates tell us that makers thereof have never been wanting. In 1730, one Thomas Swarbrick made the organ for St. Mary's Church, Warwick, and the Directory for 1836 gives the name of Isaac Craddock (the original maker of the taper penholder), who repaired and in several cases enlarged the instruments at many of our places of worship, as well as supplying the beautiful organ for St. Mary's, at Coventry.—The tale has often been told of the consternation caused by the introduction of a barrel organ into a church, when from some catch or other it would not stop at the finish of the first tune, and had to be carried outside, while the remainder of its repertoire pealed forth, but such instruments were not unknown in sacred edifices in this neighbourhood but a short time back [see "Northfield"].—A splendid organ was erected in Broad Street Music Hall when it was opened, and it was said to be the second largest in England, costing £2,000; it was afterwards purchased for St. Pancras' Church, London.—The organ in the Town Hall, constructed by Mr. Hill, of London, cost nearly £4,000 and, when put up, was considered to be one of the finest and most powerful in the world, and it cannot have lost much of its prestige, as many improvements have since been made in it. The outer case is 45ft. high, 40ft. wide, and 17ft. deep, and the timber used in the construction of the organ weighed nearly 30 tons. There are 4 keyboards, 71 draw stops, and over 4,000 pipes of various forms and sizes, some long, some short, some trumpet-like in shape, and others cylindrical, while in size they range from two or three inches in length to the great pedal pipe, 32ft. high and a yard in width, with an interior capacity of 224 cubic feet. In the "great organ" there are 18 stops, viz.: Clarion (2ft.), ditto (4ft.), posanne, trumpet, principal (1 and 2), gamba, stopped diapason, four open diapasons, doublette, harmonic flute, mixture sesquialtra, fifteenth, and twelfth, containing altogether 1,338 pipes. In the "choir organ" there are nine stops, viz.: Wald flute, fifteenth stopped flute, oboe flute, principal, stopped diapason, hohl flute, cornopean, and open diapason, making together 486 pipes. The "swell organ" contains 10 stops, viz.: Hautbois, trumpet, horn, fifteenth, sesquialtra, principal, stopped diapason, open diapason, clarion, and boureon and dulciana, the whole requiring 702 pipes. In the "solo organ" the principal stops are the harmonica, krum, horn, and flageolet, but many of the stops in the swell and choir organs work in connection with the solo. In the "pedal organ" are 12 stops, viz.: Open diapason 16ft. (bottom octave) wood, ditto, 16ft., metal, ditto, 16ft. (bottom octave) metal, bourdon principal, twelfth, fifteenth, sesquialtra, mixture, posanne, 8ft. trumpet, and 4ft. trumpet. There are besides, three 32ft. stops, one wood, one metal, and one trombone. There are four bellows attached to the organ, and they are of great size, one being for the 32ft. pipes alone. The Town Hall organ had its first public trial August 29, 1834, when the Birmingham Choral Society went through a selection of choruses, as a kind of advance note of the then coming Festival.

Orphanages.—The first local establishment of the nature of an orphanage was the so called Orphan Asylum in Summer Lane, built in 1797 for the rearing of poor children from the Workhouse. It was a very useful institution up to the time of its close in 1852, but like the Homes at Marston Green, where the young unfortunates from the present Workhouse are reared and trained to industrial habits, it was almost a misnomer to dub it an "orphan asylum."—An Orphanage at Erdington was begun by the late Sir Josiah Mason, in 1858, in connection with his Almshouses there, it being his then intention to find shelter for some three score of the aged and infantile "waifs and strays" of humanity. In 1860 he extended his design so far as to commence the present Orphanage, the foundation stone of which was laid by himself Sept. 19 in that year, the building being finished and first occupied in 1863. In addition to the expenditure of £60,000 on the buildings, the founder endowed the institution with land and property to the value of £250,000. No publicity was given to this munificent benevolence until the twelve months prescribed by the statute had elapsed after the date of the deed, when, on the 29th of July, 1869, the Orphanage and estates were handed over to seven trustees, who, together with Sir Josiah himself, formed the first Board of Management. At his death, as provided by the trust deed, seven other trustees chosen by the Birmingham Town Council were added to the Board. The inmates of the Orphanage are lodged, clothed, fed, maintained, educated, and brought up at the exclusive cost of the institution, there being no restriction whatever as to locality, nationality, or religious persuasion of parents or friends. In 1874 the building was enlarged, so as to accommodate 300 girls, 150 boys, and 50 infants, the original part being reserved for the girls and infants and a new wing built for the boys. The two are connected by the lofty dining hall, 200ft. long, with tables and seats for 500 children. Every part of the establishment is on a liberal scale and fitted with the best appliances; each child has its separate bed, and the playgrounds are most extensive.—The Princess Alice Orphanage, of which the foundation-stone was laid Sept. 19, 1882, has rather more than a Birmingham interest, as it is intended in the first instance for the reception of children from all parts of the country whose parents have been Wesleyans. In connection with the Wesleyan Thanksgiving Fund, Mr. Solomon Jevons, of this town, made an offer to the committee that if from the fund they would make a grant of £10,000 towards establishing an orphanage in the neighbourhood of Birmingham, he would supplement it by a donation of £10,000. After due consideration the offer was accepted. Plans were prepared by Mr. J.L. Ball for as much of the building as it was proposed immediately to erect, and the contract was let to Messrs. J. Wilson and Sons, of Handsworth. The sanction of her Majesty the Queen was obtained to call the building the "Princess Alice" Orphanage, in memory of her lamented daughter, the late Princess of Hesse. The site chosen is about halfway between Erdington and Sutton Coldfield on the Chester Road, and very near to the "Beggar's Bush." Facing the road, though forty yards from it, is the central block of buildings, 250 feet in length, including the master's house, board room and offices, store rooms, &c., with a large hall, 90 feet by 33 feet, for use as a dining hall, general gatherings, morning prayers, &c., the children's homes being in cottages at varying distances, so that when the whole twenty-four homes (twelve each for boys and girls) are erected it will be like a miniature village, sundry farm buildings and workshops being interspersed here and there. Each cottage is intended to be the home of about twenty children, but at first, and until the funds for the maintenance of the orphanage have been increased, the inmates will be limited to the accommodation that can be provided at the central block and the nearest two or three homes, the rest being built as occasion offers.

Oscott College.—See "Schools," &c.

Oxford, (Edward).—The boy Oxford who shot at the Queen, on June 10, 1840, was born here and had worked at several shops in the town.

Oxygen.—It was on the first of August, 1774, that Dr. Priestley discovered the nature of oxygen or "dephlogisticated air." If he could visit Oxygen Street in this town in August of any year, he would probably say that the air there to be breathed required dephlogisticating over and over again.

Packhorses.—In and about the year 1750 the only method of conveying parcels of goods from here to London was by means of packhorses, the charge being at the rate of £7 to £9 per ton; to Liverpool and Bristol, £5.

Panorama.—A circular erection in New Street, and now partly incorporated in the Society of Artists building, where early in the century panoramas of various kinds were exhibited.

Panoramic View.—A peculiar view of this town was published in 1847 by Ackermann of London, and was thus called, as it purported to give the thoroughfares pictorially, showing the houses as they would appear from a balloon over Moseley Street. The size was 27-1/2 in. by 14-3/4 in. As a curiosity it is prizable, but its correctness of delineation is marred very much by the plan adopted.

Pantechnetheca.—A large place of general business, opened in 1824, at the New-street end of Union-passage. In 1817, there stood on this spot a publichouse, known as the "Old Crown," the entrance to which was in a large, open gateway at its side, through which a path led to the cherry orchard. The Pantechnetheca was one of "the sights" of the town, the exterior being ornamented with pillars and statues; while the name was not only a puzzle to the "Black Country" visitors, but quite a subject of dispute as to its etymology among the Greek scholars of the Grammar School opposite.

Paradise Street.—The footpath on the Town Hall side used to be several feet higher than the causeway, and was supplied with iron railings. If the name had been given in late years, it might be supposed to have been chosen because the doors of the Parish Offices are in the street.

Parish Offices.—See "Public Buildings."

Parkesine.—A material used for knife handles and other purposes, so named after its maker, Alexander Parkes, a well-known local manufacturer, who said it was made from refuse vegetable fibre, pyroxyline, oil, naphtha, and chloride of sulphur.

Park Lane.—From Aston Cross Tavern to the Birchfield Road, originally being the road outside the wall of Aston Park. The first lots of land for building that were sold were those fronting Church Lane, and they fetched an average price of 2s. 2d. per yard, each lot being 12 yards by 60 yards. The next were the lots marked out by the side of Park Lane, and it was at about the middle of Park Lane that the first house was built in Aston Park in 1854 or 1855.

Park Road.—Leading over the hill from Aston Cross to Aston Church, was the first laid out, and the first opened to the public (Easter Monday, 1855) through the old grounds belonging to the Holts.

Parks.—Thanks to the munificence of Miss Ryland, Lord Calthorpe, Sir Charles Adderley, and Mr. W. Middlemore, with the concurrent generosity of the Church authorities, in whom the freehold of our churchyards was invested, Birmingham cannot be said to be short of parks and public grounds, though with all put together the area is nothing like that taken from the inhabitants under the Enclosures Acts of last century. The first movement for the acquisition of public parks took the shape of a town's meeting, Dec. 22, 1853, when the burgesses approved the purchase, and in 1854 an Act was obtained for the formation thereof. The first to be opened was Adderley Park, Aug. 30, 1856, the gift of Sir Charles Adderley. Its area is 10A. Or. 22P., and it is held nominally on a 999 years' lease, at a rental of 5s. per year. Calthorpe Park was opened June 1, 1857; its area being 31A. 1R. 13P., and it is held under a grant by the Calthorpe family that is equivalent to a conveyance in fee. Aston Park was opened Sept. 22, 1864; its area is 49A. 2R. 8P., and it belongs to the town by purchase. Cannon Hill Park, the gift of Miss Ryland, was opened Sept. 1, 1873; its area being 57A. 1R. 9P. In 1874, the Town Council gave the Trustees of Holliers' Charity the sum of £8,300 for the 8A. 8R. 28P. of land situated between the Moseley Road and Alcester Street, and after expending over £5,400 in laying out, fencing, and planting, opened it as Highgate Park June 2, 1876. In 1876 Summerfield House and grounds covering 12A. 0R. 20P. were purchased from Mr. Henry Weiss for £9,000, and after fencing, &c., was thrown open as Summerfield Park, July 29, 1876. In the following year, Mr. William Middlemore presented to the town a plot of ground, 4A. 1R. 3p. in extent, in Burbury Street, having spent about £3,500 in fencing and laying it out, principally as a recreation ground for children (the total value being over £12,000), and it was opened as Hockley Park, December 1, 1877.—Small Heath Park, comprising 41A. 3R. 34p., is another of the gifts of Miss Ryland, who presented it to the town June 2, 1876, and in addition provided £4,000 of the £10,000 the Town Council expended in laying it out. The formal opening ceremony took place April 5, 1879. There are still several points of the compass directing to suburbs which would be benefited by the appropriation of a little breathing place or two, and possibly in due time they will be acquired. The Nechells people have had laid out for their delectation the waste ground near the gas works which may be called Nechells Park for the time being. The Earl of Dartmouth in June, 1878, gave 56 acres out of Sandwell Park to the inhabitants of West Bromwich, and they call it Dartmouth Park.

Park Street takes its name from the small park or wood surrounding Park House, once existing somewhere near to the burial ground.

Park Street Gardens—As they are now called, comprise the Park Street Burial Ground and St. Bartholomew's Churchyard, the possession of which (under a nominal lease for 999 years) was given by the Rectors of St. Martin's and St. Bartholomew's to the Corporation according to the provisions of the Closed Burial Grounds Act. The whole area included a little over five acres, and the size thus given was valued at £50,000. About half an acre was devoted to the widening of the surrounding streets, the remainder being properly fenced in and laid out as recreating grounds and gardens. The opening ceremony took place, June 25, 1880.

Parliamentary Elections.—Notwithstanding the safeguards provided by the Ballot Act, and all the deterrent measures enacted against bribery and intimidation, and those peculiar tactics known as "getting up steam," the period of an election for Parliamentary representatives is a time of great excitement even in these days. But it is comparatively naught to what it used to be, when the art of kidnapping Tory voters, or "bottling" Whigs, was considered as only a small part of the education required by aspiring political agents. Leading burly prizefighters to clear the hustings on nomination day, upsetting carriages containing voters going to poll, and such like practical jokes were all en regle, and as such "goings-on" were to be found as much on the one side as the other, neither party's pot had a right to call the opponent's kettle black. Prior to the enfranchisement of the borough, one of the most exciting elections in which the Brums had been engaged was that for the county of Warwick in 1774, when Sir Charles Holte, of Aston Hall, was returned. The nomination took place Oct. 13, the candidates being Mr. Shipworth (a previous member), Mr. (afterwards Lord) Mordaunt, and Sir Charles, who for once pleased the Birmingham folks by calling himself an "Independent." The polling, which commenced on the 20th, was continued for ten days, closing on the 31st, and as Mr. Mordaunt had the lead for many days the excitement was intense, and the rejoicings proportionate at the end when the local candidate came in with flying colours. The voting ran:—Shipwith, 2,954; Holte, 1,845; Mordaunt, 1,787.—A Birmingham man was a candidate at the next great county contest, forty-six years after. This was Mr. Richard Spooner, then (1820) a young man and of rather Radical tendencies. His opponent, Mr. Francis Lawley, was of the old-fashioned Whig party, and the treatment his supporters received at the hands of the Birmingham and Coventry people was disgraceful. Hundreds of special constables had to be sworn in at Warwick during the fourteen days' polling, business being suspended for days together, but Radical Richard's roughs failed to influence the election, as Mr. Lawley obtained 2,153 votes against Mr. Spooner's 970. As Mr. Spooner grew older he became more prominent in commercial circles, and was peculiarly au fait in all currency matters, but he lost his hold on local electors by turning to the Conservative side of politics. Of this he was more than once reminded in after years, when speaking in the Town Hall, by individuals taking off their coats, turning them inside out, and having put them on again, standing prominently in front of "Yellow Dick" as they then called him.

That the inhabitants of Birmingham, so rapidly increasing in numbers and wealth, should be desirous of direct representation in the House of Commons, could be no wonder even to the most bigoted politicians of the last and early part of the present century. Possibly, had there been '91 Riots, nor quite so much "tall talk," the Legislature might have vouchsafed us a share in the manufacture of our country's laws a little earlier than they did, and the attempt to force a member through the doors of the House could not have added to any desire that may have existed in the minds of the gentlemen inside to admit the representative of Birmingham. The Newhall Hill meeting of July 12th, 1819, may be reckoned as the first pitched battle between the invaders and defenders of the then existing Parliamentary Constitution. The appointment of Sir Charles Wolesey as "Legislatorial Attorney and Representative," with instructions to take his seat as M.P. for the town (and many so styled him), even though made at a meeting of 20,000 would-be electors, does not appear to have been the wisest way to have gone to work, notwithstanding the fact that Sir Charles himself said he had no doubt of their right to send him up as their Member. Prosecution of the leaders followed, as a matter of course, and if the twenty-and-odd-thousands of the local Conservative electors of to-day were thus to try to obtain their due share of representation in the House, most likely the leaders of such a movement would be as liberally dealt with. The "battle of freedom," as the great Reform movement came to be called, has often been described, and honour been given to all who took part in it. The old soldiers of the campaign should be allowed, if they choose, to "fight their battles o'er again," as long as they live, but it is about time that the hatchet of party spite, (hitherto so freely used in local political warfare) was buried out of sight, and all sides be as willing to give equal rights as their fathers were to fight for theirs. Birmingham, however, was not without some friends in Parliament, and on the occasion of the disfranchisement of the borough of East Retford in 1827, it was proposed by Mr. Charles Tennyson that the two seats thus voided should be given to Birmingham. Mr. George Attwood was High Bailiff at the time, and he at once called a public meeting to support Mr. Tennyson's proposition by petition. The Public Office was not large enough for those who attended the meeting (June 22, 1827) and they adjourned to Beardsworth's Repository, where speeches were delivered by the leading men of all parties. Petitions to both Houses were drawn up and signed, the county members, Dugdale Stratford Dugdale and Francis Lawley, Esqrs., being asked to introduce the one to the House of Commons, and Lord Dudley and Ward (Baron of Birmingham) and Lord Calthorpe to support the petitioners' prayer in the Upper House. Mr. Tennyson (who afterwards took the name of D'Eyncourt) brought in his Bill, but notwithstanding all that could be said or done by the friends of the town they were outvoted (March 21, 1828), and the Bill was thrown out. The next four years were full of trouble, and the news of the passing of the Reform Bill (June 7, 1832), which at last gave Birmingham its long-sought political rights was most welcome indeed. The first election day was fixed for December 12, and for some time it was rumoured that Mr. Richard Spooner would stand in opposition to Messrs. Thomas Attwood and Joshua Scholefield, the chosen representatives of the Liberals; but the Conservative party, deeming it but right that those who had borne the brunt of the constitutional fight should be allowed the first honours of the local victory, declined to oppose those gentlemen, and they were accordingly returned without opposition. The hustings had been erected on a plot of land opposite the Public Offices and here the nominations took place at the early hour of 8 a.m. The proceedings were over by nine o'clock, but the "victory," as the popular party chose to consider it, did not satisfy them, and as there was an election on at Walsall the same day it was determined that the Birmingham Liberals should go there to help Mr. Bosco Attwood in his contest with Mr. Foster. A procession of some thousands, with bands and banners, according marched the whole of the distance so Walsall, and if their behaviour there represented what they were prepared to do at home had they not been allowed to have their own way, it was well for Birmingham they were not opposed. Long before evening this town was in the most fearful excitement, the passengers and guards of the various coaches which had passed through Walsall bringing the direst news of fire and riot, mixed with reports of the military being called out and firing on the people, numbers being killed, &c. Fortunately there was much exaggeration in these tales, and by degrees most of the Birmingham men found their way home, though many were in sad plight through the outrageous behaviour of themselves and the "victorious" crew who went off so gaily with them in the morning. The elections in after years may be briefly chronicled.

1835.—At the general election, which occurred this year, the Town Hall was first used as the place of nomination (Jan. 7th). During the proceedings the front of the great gallery gave way and precipitated those sitting there on to the heads of the people below, but providentially, the injuries received were not of a serious character. Mr. R. Spooner was most impatiently heard, and the show of hands was decidedly against him. The state of the poll showed:—

Thomas Attwood 1,718 votes }Returned

Joshua Scholefidd 1,660 "

Richard Spooner 915 "

1837, August.—At this election the late sitting members were opposed by Mr. A. G. Stapleton, but unsuccessfully, the voting being

Thomas Attwood 2,145 }Returned

Joshua Scholefield 2,114

A.G. Stapleton 1,046

1840, January.—Mr. Attwood having resigned, Sir Charles Wetherell appeared in the Conservative interest against Mr. G.F. Muntz. Mr. Joseph Sturge, who also issued an address to the electors, retiring on the solicitation of his friends, on the understanding that the whole Liberal party would support him at the next vacancy. The result was in favour of Mr. Muntz, thus—

Geo. Fred. Muntz 1,454 Returned.

Sir C. Wetherell 915

1841, July.—Mr. Richard Spooner, who opposed Messrs. Muntz and Scholefield, was again defeated, through receiving the suffrages of double the number of electors who voted for him in 1835. The returns were—

Geo. Fred. Muntz 2,176 }Returned

Joshua Scholefield 1,963

Richard Spooner 1,825

1842, August.—Mr. Joseph Sturge fought Mr. Walter (of The Times) for the honour of representing Nottingham, but the plucky "Birmingham Quaker Chartist," as The Times called him, came off second best, the votes given being 1,799 for Walter, and 1,725 for Sturge.

1843, March.—Mr. Newdegate was first returned for North Warwickshire, and he retains his seat to the present day.

1844, July.—On the death of Mr. Scholefield, his son William was nominated to fill the vacant seat for Birmingham. Mr. Sturge, relying on the promises made him in 1840, also put in a claim, but his connection with the working classes, and his "complete suffrage" dream, had estranged many of his friends, and the split in the party enabled Mr. Spooner at last to head the poll, and for the first and only time (up to June 1885) a Conservative member went to the House as representative for Birmingham.

Richard Spooner 2,095 }Returned

William Scholefield 1,735

Joseph Sturge 346

1847, August—Mr. Spooner this time had to make way for Mr. Scholefleld; Mr. Serjeant Allen, who also tried, being "nowhere" in the running, the figures being:—

Geo. Fred. Muntz 2,830 }Returned

William Scholefield 2,824

Richard Spooner 2,302

Serjeant Allen 80

Mr. Spooner was soon consoled for his defeat here by being returned for North Warwickshire along with Mr. Newdegate, though not without a hard struggle, his opponent, the Hon. W.H. Leigh, polling 2,278 votes against Spooner's 2,454, and Newdegate's 2,915. Mr. Spooner retained his seat for North Warwick until his death in 1864.

1852, July.—No one opposed the re-election of Messrs. Muntz and Scholefield.

1857, March.—The same gentlemen were again returned without opposition.

1857, August.—On the death of Mr. Muntz, though the names of George Dawson and others were whispered, the unanimous choice fell upon Mr. John Bright, "the rejected of Manchester," and it may be truly said he was at that time the chosen of the people. Birmingham men of all shades of politics appreciating his eloquence and admiring his sterling honesty, though many differed with his opinions. Addresses were early issued by Baron Dickenson Webster and Mr. M'Geachy, but both were at once withdrawn when Mr. Bright consented to stand and his address appeared.

1859, April.—At the election of this year, though defeat must have been a foregone conclusion, Mr. Thomas D. Acland waged battle with Messrs. Scholefield and Bright, and the result was:—

William Scholefield 4,425 }Returned

John Bright 4,282

T.D. Acland 1,544

1864, December.—On the death of Mr. Spooner, Mr. Davenport-Bromley, (afterwards Bromley-Davenport) was elected un-opposed, and retained his seat until his death, June 15, 1884.

1864.—Householders, whose rates were compounded for by their landlords, had hitherto not been allowed to exercise their right of voting, but the decision given in their favour, Feb. 17, 1864, was the means of raising the number of voters' names on the register to over 40,000.

1865, July.—Whether from fear of the newly-formed Liberal Association (which was inaugurated in February for the avowed purpose of controlling the Parliamentary elections in the borough and adjoining county divisions), or the lack of a sufficiently popular local man, there was no opposition offered to the return of Messrs. Scholefield and Bright at the election of this year.

1867, July.—On the death of Mr. Scholefield, Mr. George Dixon was nominated by the Liberals and opposed by Mr. Sampson S. Lloyd The result was:—

Geo. Dixon 5,819 Returned.

S.S. Lloyd 4,214

1868, November.—This was the first election after the passing of the Reform Bill of 1867, by which Birmingham became entitled to send three members to the House of Commons; and as the Bill contained a proviso (generally known as the "minority clause") that each voter should be limited to giving his support to two only of the candidates, an immense amount of interest was taken in the interest that ensued. The Conservatives brought forward Mr. Sampson S. Lloyd and Mr. Sebastian Evans, the Liberal Association nominating Messrs. John Bright, George Dixon, and Philip Henry Muntz (brother to the old member G.F. Muntz). The election has become historical from the cleverly-manipulated scheme devised by the Liberal Association, and the strict enforcement of their "vote-as-you're-told" policy, by which, abnegating all personal freedom or choice in the matter the electors under the influence of the Association were moved at the will of the chiefs of their party. That the new tactics were successful is shown by the returns:—

George Dixon 15,188 }Returned

P.H. Muntz 14,614

John Bright 14,601

S.S. Lloyd 8,700

S. Evans 7,061

1868, Dec. 21.—Mr. Bright having been appointed President of the Board of Trade, was re-elected without opposition. He held office till the close of 1870, but for a long time was absent from Parliament through illness.

1873, Aug. 6.—Mr. John Jaffray, one of the proprietors of the Daily Post, contested East Staffordshire against Mr. Allsopp, but he only obtained 2,893 votes, as against Mr. Allsopp's 3,630.

1873, Oct. 18.—Soon after recovery of health Mr. Bright returned to his seat, and being appointed to the office of the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, was re-elected in due course.

1874, Jan. 30.—No opposition was made to the re-election of Messrs. Bright, Dixon, and Muntz.

1876, June 27.—Mr. Joseph Chamberlain was elected without opposition on the resignation of Mr. Dixon.

1880, March 31.—Though free from all the rioting and possible bloodshed that would have attended such an occasion a hundred years ago, the election of 1880 was the most exciting and hardest-fought battle between the two great political parties of the town yet recorded in local history. The candidates were Messrs. John Bright, Joseph Chamberlain and Philip Henry Muntz, the previous members and nominees of the Liberal Association, and Major Burnaby and the Hon. A.C.G. Calthorpe, Conservatives. There were 139 polling stations, and no less than 47,776 out of the 63,398 persons whose names were on the register, recorded their votes under the protection of the Ballot Act of 1870, now first brought into use at a Parliamentary election. The usual courtesies (!) appertaining to political contests were indulged in to considerable extent, and personalities of all sorts much too freely bandied about, but the election altogether passed off in the most creditable manner. The returns of the polling stood thus—

Philip Henry Muntz 22,803 }Returned}

John Bright 21,986

Joseph Chamberlain 19,476

Major Burnaby 15,716

Hon. A.C.G. Calthorpe 14,270

An analysis of the polling issued by the Mayor about a week after the election showed that 16,098 voters supported the Conservative candidates and 33,302 the Liberals. Deducting the 2,004 who "split" their votes between the parties, and 380 whose papers were either rejected or not counted as being doubtful, the total gives 47,396 as the actual number whose votes decided the election. As a curiosity and a puzzle for future politicians, the Mayor's analysis is worth preserving, as here re-analysed:—

PLUMPERS.

Calthorpe only 42

Burnaby only 164 206

Chamberlain only 50

Muntz only 199

Bright only 86 335

SPLIT VOTES.

Calthorpe and Muntz 153

Calthorpe and Chamberlain 83

Burnaby and Muntz 1,239

Burnaby and Chamberlain 182

Bright and Calthorpe 104

Bright and Burnaby 243 2,004

CON. PARTY VOTES.

Burnaby and Calthorpe 13,888 13,888

LIBERAL PARTY VOTES.

Chamberlain and Muntz 9,410

Bright and Muntz 11,802

Bright and Chamberlain 9,751 30,963

Voting papers rejected and doubtful 380

Total number of voters polled 47,776

Mr. Bright having been again appointed Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, and Mr. Chamberlain chosen as President of the Board of Trade, they were re-elected, without opposition, early in May following the election. Three other local Liberal gentlemen were returned to Parliament during this general election, viz.:—Mr. Jesse Collings for Ipswich (receiving 3,074 votes), Mr. H. Wiggin for East Staffordshire (4,617 votes), and Mr. J.S. Wright for Nottingham (8,085 votes). The last-named, however, did not live to take his seat, dying very suddenly while attending a committee-meeting at the Council House, Birmingham, on the 15th April.—See "Statues," &c According to the published returns of January, 1884, Birmingham was then the largest borough constituency in England, the number of electors on the register then in force being 63,221: Liverpool coming next with 61,336; and Lambeth third, with 55,588; but Glasgow was the largest in the United Kingdom, with 68,025. The largest county constituency in England and Wales was Middlesex, with 41,299 electors; the next being South-West Lancashire, with 30,624; the third, South-East Lancashire, with 28,728; and the fourth, the southern division of the West Riding, with 27,625. The total electorate for England and Wales, was 2,660,444; Scotland, 331,264; and Ireland, 230,156.

The following statistics have been taken from the returns named, showing in respect of each constituency in this neighbourhood, the area of each borough, city, or county division, the population, the number of inhabited houses, the number of voters and their qualifications, and the Members sent to Parliament prior to the passing of the Franchise and Redistribution Bills of 1885, and are worth preserving for future local reference:—

Population in Inhabited Houses in City or Borough Electors County Electors

Borough, City or County Division Area in Square Miles. 1871 1881 1871 1881 £10 Occupiers and Inhabitant House- holders. Lodgers Freehold and Burgage Tenants. Free- men or Voters by Ancient Rights £12 Occupiers. £50 Tenants. Owners. Total No. of Electors. M.P.'s Returned

Birmingham 13 343,787 400,774 68,532 78,301 63,149 72 63,221 3

Bewdley 11¼ 7,614 8,678 1,717 1,839 273 2 1 1,276 1

Bridgnorth 17 7,317 7,212 1,565 1,52[**] 055 163 1,218 1

Coventry 10 41,348 46,563 9,334 10,185 4,733 12 3,995 8,740 2

Droitwich 43 9,510 9,858 1,931 2,006 1,409 1 1,410 1

Dudley 12 82,249 87,527 15,985 16,889 14,833 1 14,834 1

E. Staffordshire 218 101,564 138,439 19,960 26,003 5,106 141 6,481 11,728 2

E. Worcestershr. 324 147,685 117,257 30,551 35,781 4,745 567 6,931 12,243 2

Evesham 3½ 4,888 5,112 1,001 1,050 794 11 20 825 1

Kidderminster 3¾ 20,814 25,633 4,292 5,062 3,898 5 3,903 1

Lichfield 5 7,347 8,349 1,543 1,678 1,095 7 101 39 1,242 1

Newcastle (Stff.) 1 15,948 17,493 3,180 3,393 2,431 5 679 3,115 2

N. Staffordshire 396 120,217 132,684 24,194 26,403 3,008 1,071 7,141 11,220 2

N. Warwickshire 383 134,723 170,086 29,032 35,151 5,878 516 5,603 11,997 2

S. Warwickshire 462 96,905 99,592 20,803 21,485 2,561 688 3,253 6,502 2

Stafford 1 15,946 18,904 2,939 3,385 2,764 22 798 3,584 2

Stoke-on-Trent 14 130,575 152,394 24,582 28,350 21,131 13 21,144 2

Tamworth 18 11,493 14,101 2,357 2,772 2,220 6 3 2,229 2

Walsall 11¾ 49,018 59,402 9,566 11,140 9,821 3 .. 9,824 1

Warwick 8½ 10,986 11,800 2,418 2,518 1,742 4 15 1,761 2

Wednesbury 17¾ 116,809 124,437 22,621 23,443 19,807 3 19,810 1

W. Staffordshire 434 100,413 117,737 20,134 23,261 2,715 661 8,570 11,946 2

W. Worchestershr 341 66,419 67,139 13,895 13,928 1,142 1,033 4,426 6,601 2

Wolverhampton 29½ 156,978 164,332 30,424 31,475 23,559 31 23,590 2

Worcester 5 38,116 40,354 8,043 8,539 5,948 59 355 6,362 1

Parsonage.—The Old Parsonage, at the corner of Smallbrook Street and Pershore Street, an old-fashioned two-storey gabled house, was moated round and almost hidden by trees, and has been preserved for future historians in one of David Cox's sketches, which remains as a curious memento of the once rural appearance of what are now some of the busiest spots in town. The house was pulled down in 1826.

Parson and Clerk.—A noted publichouse on the old Chester Road is the Royal Oak, better known as "The Parson and Clerk." An old pamphlet thus gives the why and wherefore:

"There had used to be on the top of the house two figures—one of a parson leaning his head in prayer, while the clerk was behind him with uplifted axe, going to chop off his head. These two figures were placed there by John Gough, Esq., of Perry Hall, to commemorate a law suit between him and the Rev. T. Lane, each having annoyed the other. Mr. Lane had kept the Squire out of possession of this house, and had withheld the licenses, while the latter had compelled the clergyman to officiate daily in the church, by sending his servants to form a congregation. Squire Gough won the day, re-built the house in 1788, and put up the figures to annoy Parson Lane, parsons of all sorts being out of his good books."

Parsons, Preachers, and Priests of the Past.—It would be a lengthy list or make note of all the worthy and reverend gentlemen who have, from pulpit or platform, lectured and preached to the people in our town, or who have aided in the intellectual advancement and education of the rising generation of their time. Church and Chapel alike have had their good men and true, and neither can claim a monopoly of talent, or boast much of their superiority in Christian fellowship or love of their kind. Many shepherds have been taken from their so-called flocks whose places at the time it was thought could never be filled, but whose very names are now only to be found on their tombs, or mentioned in old magazines or newspapers. Some few are here recalled as of interest from their position, peculiarities, &c.

John Angell James.—A Wiltshire man was John Angell James, who, after a short course of itinerary preaching came to Birmingham, and for more than fifty years was the idolised minister of Carr's Lane congregation. He was a good man and eloquent, having a certain attractive way which endeared him to many. He lived, and was loved by those who liked him, till he had reached the age of 74, dying Oct. 1, 1859, his remains being buried like those of a saint, under the pulpit from which he had so long preached.

Samuel Bache.—Coming as a Christmas-box to his parents in 1804, and early trained for the pulpit, the Rev. Samuel Bache joined the Rev. John Kentish in his ministrations to the Unitarian flock in 1832, and remained with us until 1868. Loved in his own community for faithfully preaching their peculiar doctrines, Mr. Bache proved himself a man of broad and enlightened sympathies; one who could appreciate and support anything and everything that tended to elevate the people in their amusements as well as in matters connected with education.

George Croft.—The Lectureship of St. Martin's in the first year of the present century was vested in Dr. George Croft, one of the good old sort of Church and King parsons, orthodox to the backbone, but from sundry peculiarities not particularly popular with the major portion of his parishioners. He died in 1809.

George Dawson.—Born in London, February 24, 1821, George Dawson studied at Glasgow for the Baptist ministry, and came to this town in 1844 to take the charge of Mount Zion chapel. The cribbed and crabbed restraints of denominational church government failed, however, to satisfy his independent heart, and in little more than two years his connection with the Mount Zion congregation ceased (June 24, 1846). The Church of the Saviour was soon after erected for him, and here he drew together worshippers of many shades of religious belief, and ministered unto them till his death. As a lecturer he was known everywhere, and there are but few towns in the kingdom that he did not visit, while his tour in America, in the Autumn of 1874, was a great success. His connection with the public institutions of this town is part of our modern history, and no man yet ever exercised such influence or did more to advance the intelligence and culture of the people, and, as John Bright once said of Cobden "it was not until we had lost him that we knew how much we loved him." The sincerity and honesty of purpose right through his life, and exhibited in all his actions, won the highest esteem of even those who differed from him, and the announcement of his sudden death (Nov. 30, 1876) was felt as a blow by men of all creeds or politics who had ever known him or heard him. To him the world owes the formation of the first Shakesperian Library—to have witnessed its destruction would indeed have been bitter agony to the man who (in October, 1866) had been chosen to deliver the inaugural address at the opening of the Free Reference Library, to which he, with friends, made such an addition. As a preacher, he was gifted with remarkable powers; as a lecturer, he was unsurpassed; in social matters, he was the friend of all, with ever-open hand to those in need; as a politician, though keen at repartee and a hard hitter, he was straightforward, and no time-server; and in the word of his favourite author, "Take him all in all, we ne'er shall look on his like again."—See "Statues," &c.

W. D. Long.—The Rev. Wm Duncan Long (who died at Godalming, April 12, 1878), according to the Record, was "a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith." In our local records he is noted as being distinguished for hard work among the poor of St. Bartholomew's, of which parish he was minister for many years prior to 1851.

Thomas Swann.—The Rev. Thomas Swann, who came here in January 1829, after a few years' sojourn in India, served the Cannon Street body for 28 years, during which time he baptised 966 persons, admitting into membership a total of 1,233. Mr. Swann had an attack of apoplexy, while in Glasgow, on Sunday, March 7, 1857, and died two days afterwards. His remains were brought to Birmingham, and were followed to the grave (March 16) by a large concourse of persons, a number of ministers taking part in the funeral service.

W. L. Giles.—The Rev. W. Leese Giles, who filled the pulpit in Cannon Street from Oct., 1863, to July, 1872, was peculiarly successful in his ministrations, especially among the young.

Lewis Chapman.—The Rev. Lewis Chapman (taken to his fathers Oct. 2, 1877, at the age of 81), after performing the duties and functions of Rabbi to the local Jewish community for more than forty-five years, was, from his amiability and benevolence, characterised by many Gentile friends as "an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile."

Hon. G. M. Yorke.—Brother to the late Earl of Hardwicke, and born in 1809, Mr. Yorke, on finishing his University education, entered the army, obtaining a commission in the Fourth Dragoons; and, considering his subsequent connection with Birmingham in a widely different character, it is curious that his first visit here should have been paid as an officer of dragoons in the Chartist riots of 1839. Mr. Yorke's personal tastes, however, led him to prefer the Church to the army, and he entered into holy orders, the Bishop of Worcester, in 1814, presenting him to the rectory of St. Philip's: and at a later period he was nominated Rural Dean. Mr. Yorke held the living of St. Philip's for the long period of thirty years—until 1874—when the Prime Minister appointed him Dean of Worcester. During his residence in Birmingham Mr. Yorke did much public service in connection with various educational institutions. He promoted good schools in St. Philip's parish, and was an active member of the committee of the Educational Prize Scheme, and then of the Education Aid Society, both of them institutions which were of great value in their day. He also took a strong interest in the affairs of Queen's College, of which he was for many years the Vice-president. In the Diocesan Training College, at Saldey, he likewise took part as a member of the managing body and he was interested in the School of Art and the Midland Institute. Wherever, indeed, there was educational work to be done, the Rector of St. Philip's was sure to be found helping in it; and though there have been many Rectors at the church it can be truly said that none left more regretted by the poor, notwithstanding the aristocratic handle to his name, than did Mr. Yorke. The Hon. and Rev. gentleman died at Worcester, Oct. 2, 1879.

J.C. Miller.—The Rev. John Cale Miller (born at Margate, in 1814), though only thirty-two, hail already attracted the notice of the Evangelical Party in the Church, and his appointment to St. Martin's (Sept. 1846), gave general satisfaction. His reputation as a preacher had preceded him, and he soon diffused a knowledge of his vigour as a worker, and his capacity as an administrator. Few men have entered so quickly into popular favour as Dr. Miller did, which may, perhaps, be accounted for by the fact that he not only showed a sincere desire to live in harmony with the Dissenters of all shades, but that he was prepared to take his full share in the public work of the town, and determined to be the minister—not of any section of the people, but of the parish altogether. Under his direction St. Martin's became a model parish. New facilities were afforded for public worship, schools were established, parochial institutions multiplied under his hand, an ample staff of curates and scripture-readers took their share of labour, and the energies of the lay members of the congregation were called into active exercise. To the Grammar School, the Midland Institute, the Free Libraries, the Hospitals and Charities of the town, the Volunteer movement, &c., he gave most assiduous attention, and as long as he remained with us, his interest in all public matters never failed. In the early part of 1866, Dr. Miller was presented to the living at Greenwich, taking his farewell of the townspeople of Birmingham at a meeting in the Town Hall, April 21, when substantial proof of the public goodwill towards him was given by a crowded audience of all creeds and all classes. A handsome service of plate and a purse of 600 guineas, were presented to him, along with addresses from the congregation of St. Martin's, the Charity Collections Committee, the Rifle Volunteers (to whom he had been Chaplain), the Committees of the Hospitals, and from the town at large. The farewell sermon to St. Martin's congregation was preached April 29. In 1871 Dr. Miller was appointed residential Canon of Worcester, which preferment he soon afterwards exchanged for a Canonry at Rochester as being nearer to his home, other honours also falling to him before his death, which took place on the night of Sunday, July 11, 1880.

George Peake.—The Rev. G. Peake, Vicar of Aston, from 1852 to his death, July 9, 1876, was a ripe scholar and archæologist, a kind-hearted pastor, and an effective preacher.

Isaiah Birt.—Mr. Isaiah Birt, a native of Coleford, undertook the pastorship of Cannon Street in 1800, holding it until Christmas, 1825, when from ill-health he resigned. The congregation allowed Mr. Birt an annuity of £100 until his death, in 1837, when he had reached 80 years of age.

Thomas Potts.—The Rev. Thomas Potts, who died in the early part of December, 1819, at the age of sixty-and-six, was, according to the printed funeral oration pronounced at the time, "an accurate, profound, and cautious theologian," who had conducted the classical studies at Oscott College for five-and-twenty years with vigour and enthusiasm, and "a grandeur of ability peculiarly his own."

Sacheveral.—Dr. Sacheveral, the noted and noisy worthy who kicked up such a rumpus in the days of Queen Anne, was a native of Sutton Coldfield, and his passing through Birmingham in 1709 was considered such an event of consequence that the names of the fellows who cheered him in the streets were reported to Government.

Pearce.—Ordained pastor of Cannon Street, Aug. 18, 1790. Mr. Pearce, in the course of a short life, made himself one of the most prominent Baptist divines of the day, the church under his charge increasing so rapidly that it became the source of great uneasiness to the deacons. Mr. Pearce took great interest in the missionary cause, preaching here the first sermon on behalf of the Baptist Missionary Society (Oct., 1792), on which occasion £70 was handed in; he also volunteered to go to India himself. Suffering from consumption he preached his last sermon Dec. 2, 1798, lingering on till the 10th of October following, and dying at the early age of 33. He was buried at the foot of the pulpit stairs.

Slater.—Hutton says that an apothecary named Slater made himself Rector of St. Martin's during the days of the Commonwealth, and that when the authorities came to turn him out he hid himself in a dark corner. This is the individual named in Houghton's "History of Religion in England" as being brought before the Court of Arches charged with having forged his letters of orders, with preaching among the Quakers, railing in the pulpit at the parishioners, swearing, gambling, and other more scandalous offences.

Scholefield.—The pastor of the Old Meeting Congregation in 1787 was named Scholefield, and he was the first to properly organise Sunday Schools in connection with Dissenting places of worship.

Robert Taylor.—The horrible title of "The Devil's Chaplain" was given the Rev. Robert Taylor, B.A., who in 1819-20 was for short periods curate at Yardley and at St. Paul's in this town. He had been educated for the Church, and matriculated well, but adopted such Deistical opinions that he was ultimately expelled the Church, and more than once after leaving here was imprisoned for blasphemy.

Charles Vince.—Charles Vince was the son of a carpenter, and was a native of Surrey, being born at Farnham in 1823. For some years after reaching manhood Mr. Vince was a Chartist lecturer, but was chosen minister of Mount Zion Chapel in 1851, and remained with us till Oct. 22, 1874, when he was removed to the world above. His death was a loss to the whole community, among whom he had none but friends.

John Webb.—The Rev. John Webb, who about 1802 was appointed Lecturer at St. Martin's and Minister of St. Bartholomew's was an antiquarian scholar of some celebrity; but was specially valued here (though his stay was not long) on account of his friendship with Mendelssohn and Neukomm, and for the valued services he rendered at several Festivals. He wrote the English adaptation of Winter's "Timoteo," or "Triumph of Gideon," performed at the Festival of 1823, and other effective pieces before and after that date, interesting himself in the success of the Triennials for many years. He died February 18, 1869, in Herefordshire.

William Wollaston.—That eminent English divine, the Rev. William Wollaston, who was born in the neighbouring county of Stafford, in 1659, was for several years assistant, and afterwards head master at our Free Grammar School, but, coming into a rich inheritance, retired. He died in 1724.

And so the list might go on, with such names as the Rev. Charles Curtis, of St. Martin's (1784) the Rev. E. Burn, of St. Mary's (1818), the Rev. John Cook, of St. Bartholomew's (1820), the Rev. W.F. Hook, of Moseley (1822), afterwards Dean of Christchurch; Dr. Outram, of St. Philip's (who died in 1821); Rann Kennedy, of St. Paul's; G.S. Bull, of St. Thomas's; with I. C. Barratt, of St Mary's, and many other clergymen and ministers, who have departed in these later years.

Patents.—The first patent granted to a Birmingham inventor is dated May 22, 1722, it being granted to Richard Baddeley for having "with much pains, labour, and expense, invented and brought to perfection 'An Art for making streaks for binding Cart and Wagon Wheels and Box Smoothing Irons' (never yet practised in this our kingdom) which will be more durable and do three times the service of those made of bar iron," &c., &c. It is not particularly wonderful that the toyshop of England should stand first on the list as regards the number of patent grants applied for and taken out. As Bisset said—

By the end of 1799 the list shows that 92 patents had been granted to Birmingham men after Richard Baddeley had brought out his "patent streaks," and during the present century there have been many hundreds of designs patented or registered, scores of fortunes being made and thousands of hands employed, but often the inventors themselves have sold their rights for trifling amounts or succumbed to the difficulties that stood in the way of bringing their brainwork into practical use. Could the records of our County Asylums be thoroughly inspected, it is to be feared that disappointed inventors would be found more numerous than any other class of inmates. The costs of taking out, renewing, and protecting patents were formerly so enormous as practically to prevent any great improvements where capital was short, and scores of our local workers emigrated to America and elsewhere for a clearer field wherein to exercise their inventive faculties without being so weighted down by patent laws. The Patent Law Amendment Act of 1852 was hailed with rejoicing, but even the requirements of that Act were found much too heavy. The Act which came into force Jan. 1, 1884, promises to remedy many of the evils hitherto existing. By this Act, the fees payable on patents are as follows:—On application for provisional specification, £1; on filing complete specification, £3; or, on filing complete specification with the first application, £4. These are all the fees up to the date of granting a patent. After granting, the following fees are payable: Before four years from date of patent, £50; and before the end of eight years from the date of patent, £100. In lieu of the £50 and the £100 payments, the following annual fees may be paid: Before the end of the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh years. £10 each year; before the end of the eighth and ninth years, £15 each year; and before the end of the tenth, eleventh, twelfth, and thirteenth years, £20 each year.—If the number of words contained in the specifications constitutes the value of a patent, that taken out by our townsman, James Hardy (March 28, 1844), for an improvement in tube-rolling must have been one of the most valuable ever known. The specifications filled 176 folios, in addition to a large sheet of drawings, the cost of an "office copy" being no less than £12 18s! The Mechanics' Magazine said it could have all been described in 176 words.