Libraries.—The first public or semi-public library founded in Birmingham, was the Theological. In 1733 the Rev. William Higgs, first Rector of St. Philip's, left his collection of 550 volumes, and a sum of money, to found a library for the use of clergymen and students. The books, many of which are rare, are kept in a building erected in 1792, adjacent to the Rectory, and are accessible to all for whom the library was designed.—A Circulating Library was opened in Colmore Row, in 1763, and at one time there was a second-class institution of the kind at a house up one of the courts in Dale End.—A "New Library" was opened in Cannon Street, April 26, 1796, which was removed to Temple Row, in 1821, and afterwards united to the Old Library. The latter was commenced in 1779, the first room for the convenience of members being opened in 1782, and the present building in Union Street, erected in 1798. The report of the committee for the year 1882 showed that there were 772 proprietors, at 21s. per annum; 35 annual subscribers, at 31s. 6d. per annum; 528 at 2ls.; 6 quarterly, at 9s. per quarter; 53 at 6s. per quarter; 17 resident members of subscribers' families, at 10s. per annum; and 118 resident members of subscribers' families (readers) at 5s. The total number of members was 1,479; the year's subscriptions being L1,594. The price of shares has been raised from two to three guineas during the past year. Receipts from shares, fines, &c., amounted to about L480, making the amount actually received in 1882, L2,012 6s. The expenditure had been L1,818 19s. 9d., inclusive of L60 carried to the reserve fund, and L108 paid on account of the new catalogue; and there remained a balance of L198 6s. 1d. in hand. L782 0s. 9d. had been expended on the purchase of 1,560 additional books, re-binding others, &c., making a total of about 50,000 volumes. The library needs extension, but the shortness of the lease (thirty years only) and the high value of the adjoining land prevents any step being taken in that direction at present. The Birmingham Law Society's Library was founded in February, 1831, by Mr. Arthur Ryland, and has now nearly 6,000 volumes of law works, law reports (English, Scotch, and Irish), local and personal Acts, &c., &c. The present home in Wellington Passage was opened August 2, 1876, being far more commodious than the old abode in Waterloo-street, the "library" itself being a room 35ft. long, 22ft. wide, and 20ft. high, with a gallery round it. There are several extensive libraries connected with places of worship, such as the Church of the Saviour, Edward Street, Severn Street Schools, the Friends' Meeting House, &c. and a number of valuable collections in the hands of some well-known connoisseurs, literati, and antiquarians, access to most of which may be obtained on proper introduction.

Libraries (The Free).—The first attempt to found a Free Library in this town was the holding of a public meeting in April, 1852, under the provisions of the Museums and Libraries Act of 1850, which allowed of a 1/2d. rate being levied for the support of such institutions. Whether the townsfolk were careless on the subject, or extra careful, and therefore, doubtful of the sufficiency of the 1/2d. rate to provide them, is not certain; but so little interest was shown in the matter that only 534 persons voted for the adoption of the Act, while 363 voted against it, and the question for the time was shelved, as the Act required the assents to be two-thirds of the total votes given. In 1855 the Commissioner of patents presented to the town some 200 volumes, conditionally that they should be kept in a Free Library, and about the same time another proposal was made to establish such a Library, but to no effect. The Act was altered so that a penny rate could be made, and in October, 1859, it was again suggested to try the burgesses. On February 21, 1860, the meeting was held and the adoption of the Act carried by a large majority. A committee of sixteen, eight members of the Council, and eight out if it, was chosen, and in a short time their work was shown by the transfer of 10,000 square feet of land belonging to the Midland Institute, on which to erect a central library, the preparations of plans therefor, the purchase of books, and (April 3, 1861) the opening of the first branch library and reading room in Constitution Hill. Mr. E.M. Barry, the architect of the Midland Institute, put in designs, including Art Gallery, but his figures were too high, being L14,250 10s., the Town Council having only voted L10,500. The plans of Mr. W. Martin, whose estimate was L12,000 were adopted, the Council added L1,500, a loan for the cash was negotiated, and building commenced by Messrs. Branson and Murray, whose tender to do the work for L8,600 was accepted. Thirty-two applications for the chief librarianship at L200 per annum were sent in, the chosen man being Mr. J.D. Mullins, though he was not the one recommended by the Committee. The Central Lending Library (with 10,000 volumes) and Reading-room, with Art Gallery, was formally opened September 6, 1865, and the Reference Library (then containing 18,200 volumes) October 26, 1866. In 1869, the latter was much enlarged by the purchase of 604 square yards of land in Edmund Street, and the total cost of the building came to L14,896. The Branch Library at Adderley Park was opened January 11, 1864; that at Deritend Oct. 2, 1866, and at Gosta Green Feb. 1, 1868. At the end of 1870, the total number of volumes in the whole of the Libraries was 56,764, of which 26,590 were in the Reference, and 12,595 in the Central Lending Library. By 1877, the total number of volumes had reached 86,087, of which 46,520 were in the Reference, and 17,543 in the Central Lending, the total number of borrowers being 8,947 at the Central, 4,188 at Constitution Hill, 3,002 at Deritend, 2,668 at Gosta Green, and 271 at Adderley Park. Meantime several new features in connection with the Reference Library had appeared. A room had been fitted up and dedicated to the reception of the "Shakespeare Memorial Library," presented April 23, 1864; the "Cervantes Library," presented by Mr. Bragge, was opened on a similar date in 1873; the "Staunton Collection" purchased for L2,400, (not half its value) was added Sept. 1, 1875, and very many important additions had been made to the Art Gallery and incipient Museum. For a long time, the Free Libraries' Committee had under consideration the necessity of extending the building, by adding a wing, which should be used not only as an Art Gallery, but also as an Industrial Museum; the Art Gallery and its treasures being located in that portion of the premises devoted to the Midland Institute, which was found to be a very inconvenient arrangement. The subject came under the notice of the Council on February 19th, 1878, when the committee submitted plans of the proposed alterations. These included the erection of a new block of buildings fronting Edmund Street, to consist of three storeys. The Town Council approved the plans, and granted L11,000 to defray the cost of the enlargement. About Midsummer the committee proceeded to carry out the plans, and in order to do this it was necessary to remove the old entrance hall and the flight of stairs which led up to the Shakespeare Memorial Library and to the Reference Library, and to make sundry other alterations of the buildings. The Library was closed for several days, and in the meantime the walls, where the entrances were, were pulled down and wooden partitions were run up across the room, making each department of much smaller area than before. In addition to this a boarded-in staircase was erected in Edmund Street, by which persons were able to gain access to the Lending Library, which is on the ground floor, and to the Reference Library, which was immediately above. A similar staircase was made in Ratcliff-place, near the cab stand, for the accommodation of the members of the Midland Institute, who occupy the Paradise-street side of the building. The space between the two staircases was boarded up, in order to keep the public off the works during the alterations, and the necessary gas supply pipes, &c., were located outside these wooden partitions. The alterations were well advanced by Christmas, and everything bade fair for an early and satisfactory completion of the undertaking. The weather, however, was most severe, and now and then the moisture in the gas-pipes exposed to the air became frozen. This occurred on the afternoon of Saturday, January 11, 1879, and an employe of the gas office lit a gas jet to thaw one of the pipes, A shaving was blown by the wind across this light, it blazed; the flame caught other shavings, which had been packed round the pipe to keep the frost out, and in less than a minute the fire was inside, and in one hour the Birmingham Reference Library was doomed to destruction. It was the greatest loss the town had ever suffered, but a new building has arisen on the site, and (with certain exceptions) it is hoped that a more perfect and valuable Library will be gathered to fill it. In a few days after the fire it was decided to ask the public at large for at least L10,000 towards a new collection, and within a week L7,000 had been sent in, the principal donors named in the list being—

L s. The Mayor (Mr. Jesse Collins). .. .. .. 100 0 Alderman Chamberlain, M.P. (as Trustee of the late Mrs. Chamberlain, Moor Green) .. .. .. .. 1000 0 Alderman Chamberlain, M.P. .. .. .. .. 500 0 Alderman Avery .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 500 0 Mr. John Jaffray.. .. .. .. .. .. .. 500 0 Mr. A. Follett Osler, F.R.S... .. .. .. 500 0 Mr. John Feeney .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 250 0 Mrs. Harrold .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 250 0 Mr. Timothy Kenrick .. .. .. .. .. .. 250 0 Mr. William Middlemore .. .. .. .. .. 250 0 A Friend .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 250 0 Mr. James Atkins.. .. .. .. .. .. .. 105 0 Lord Calthorpe .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 100 0 Lord Teynham.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 100 0 Mr. Thomas Gladstone.. .. .. .. .. .. 100 0 Messrs. William Tonks and Sons .. .. .. 100 0 Mr. W.A. Watkins.. .. .. .. .. .. .. 100 0 Mr. and Mrs. T. Scruton .. .. .. .. .. 75 0 Dr. Anthony .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 52 10 Mr. Oliver Pemberton.. .. .. .. .. .. 52 10 Alderman Baker .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 50 0 Alderman Barrow .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 50 0 Messrs. Cadbury Brothers.. .. .. .. .. 50 0 Mr. J.H. Chamberlain.. .. .. .. .. .. 50 0 Alderman Deykin .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 50 0 Mr. T.S. Fallows.. .. .. .. .. .. .. 50 0 Mr. J.D. Goodman.. .. .. .. .. .. .. 50 0 Councillor Johnson .. .. .. .. .. .. 50 0 Mr. William Martin .. .. .. .. .. .. 50 0 Councillor Thomas Martineau .. .. .. .. 50 0 Councillor R.F. Martineau .. .. .. .. 50 0 Mr. Lawley Parker .. .. .. .. .. .. 50 0 Mrs. E. Phipson .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 50 0 Messrs. Player Brothers .. .. .. .. .. 50 0 Mr. Walter Showell .. .. .. .. .. .. 50 0 Mr. Sam Timmins .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 50 0 The Rev. A.R. Vardy .. .. .. .. .. .. 50 0 Mr. J.S. Wright and Sons.. .. .. .. .. 50 0 In sums of L20, &c .. .. .. .. .. .. 480 5 In sums of L10, &c .. .. .. .. .. .. 247 2 In sums of L5, &c .. .. .. .. .. .. 169 5 Smaller amounts .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 88 8

This fund has received many noble additions since the above, the total, with interest, amounting, up to the end of 1883, to no less than L15,500, of which there is still in hand, L10,000 for the purchase of books. The precaution of insuring such an institution and its contents had of course been taken, and most fortunately the requisite endorsements on the policies had been made to cover the extra risk accruing from the alteration in progress. The insurances were made in the "Lancashire" and "Yorkshire" offices, the buildings for L10,000, the Reference Library for L12,000, the Lending Library for L1,000, the Shakespeare Library for L1,500, the Prince Consort statue for L1,000, the models of Burke and Goldsmith for L100, and the bust of Mr. Timmins for L100, making L25,700 in all. The two companies hardly waited for the claim to be made, but met it in a most generous manner, paying over at once L20,000, of which L10,528 has been devoted to the buildings and fittings, nearly L500 paid for expenses and injury to statues, and the remaining L9,000 put to the book purchase fund. In the Reference Library there were quite 48,000 volumes, in addition to about 4,000 of patent specifications. Every great department of human knowledge was represented by the best known works. In history, biography, voyages, and travels, natural history, fine arts, all the greatest works, not only in English, but often in the principal European languages, had been gathered. Volumes of maps and plans, engravings of all sorts of antiquities, costumes, weapons, transactions of all the chief learned societies, and especially bibliography, or "books about books" had been collected with unceasing care, the shelves being loaded with costly and valuable works rarely found out of the great libraries of London, or Oxford, Cambridge, Edinburgh, or Glasgow. Among the collections lost were many volumes relating to the early history of railways in England, originally collected by Mr. Charles Brewin, and supplemented by all the pamphlets and tracts procurable. Many of those volumes were full of cuttings from contemporary newspapers, and early reports of early railway companies, and of the condition of canals and roads. Still more valuable were many bundles of papers, letters, invoices, calculations, etc., concerning the early attempt to establish the cotton manufacture in Birmingham at the beginning of the last century, including the papers of Warren, the printer, and some letters of Dr. Johnson, and others relating the story of the invention of spinning by rollers—the work of John Wyatt and Lewis Paul—long before Arkwright's time. Among the immense collection of Birmingham books and papers were hundreds of Acts of Parliament, Birmingham Almanacs, Directories (from 1770) most curious, valuable, and rare; a heap of pamphlets on the Grammar School, Birmingham History, Topography, and Guides; the political pamphlets of Job Nott and John Nott, some of which were the only copies known, the more ancient pamphlets describing Prince Rupert's Burning Love (date 1613) and others of that time; reports from the year 1726 of the several local learned institutions; an invaluable collection of maps; programmes of the Festivals; and copies of all the known Birmingham newspapers and periodicals (some being perfect sets) etc., etc. Of all the host not more than 1,000 volumes were saved. The fame of the Shakespeare Memorial Library at Birmingham was world-wide and to us it had extra value as emanating from the love which George Dawson bore for the memory of Shakespeare. It was his wish that the library should be possessed of every known edition of the bard's works in every language, and that it should contain every book ever printed about him or his writings. In the words of Mr. Timmins, "The devotion of George Dawson to Shakespeare was not based upon literary reasons alone, nor did it only rest upon his admiration and his marvel at the wondrous gifts bestowed upon this greatest of men, but it was founded upon his love for one who loved so much. His heart, which knew no inhumanity, rejoiced in one who was so greatly human, and the basis of his reverence for Shakespeare was his own reverence for man. It was thus, to him, a constant pleasure to mark the increasing number of the students of Shakespeare, and to see how, first in one language and then in another, attempts were made to bring some knowledge of his work to other nations than the English-speaking ones; and the acquisition of some of these books by the library was received by him with delight, not merely or not much for acquisition sake, but as another evidence of the ever-widening influence of Shakespeare's work. The contents of this library were to Mr. Dawson a great and convincing proof that the greatest of all English authors had not lived fruitlessly, and that the widest human heart the world has known had not poured out its treasure in vain." So successful had the attempts of the collectors been that nearly 7,000 volumes had been brought together, many of them coming from the most distant parts of the globe. The collection included 336 editions of Shakspeare's complete works in English, 17 in French, 58 in German, 3 in Danish, 1 in Dutch, 1 in Bohemian, 3 in Italian, 4 in Polish, 2 in Russian, 1 in Spanish, 1 in Swedish; while in Frisian, Icelandic, Hebrew, Greek, Servian, Wallachian, Welsh, and Tamil there were copies of many separate plays. The English volumes numbered 4,500, the German 1,500, the French 400. The great and costly editions of Boydell and Halliwell, the original folios of 1632, 1664, and 1685, the very rare quarto contemporary issues of various plays, the valuable German editions, the matchless collection of "ana," in contemporary criticism, reviews, &c., and the interesting garnering of all the details of the Tercentenary Celebration— wall-posters, tickets, pamphlets, caricatures, &c., were all to be found here, forming the largest and most varied collection of Shakspeare's works, and the English and foreign literature illustrating them, which has ever been made, and the greatest literary memorial which any author has ever yet received. So highly was the library valued that its contents were consulted from Berlin and Paris, and even from the United States, and similar libraries have been founded in other places. Only 500 of the books were preserved, and many of them were much damaged. The loss of the famed Staunton or Warwickshire collection was even worse than that of the Shakespearean, rich and rare as that was, for it included the results of more than two centuries' patient work, from the days of Sir William Dugdale down to the beginning of the present century. The manuscript collections of Sir Simon Archer, fellow-labourer of Dugdale, the records of the Berkeley, Digby, and Ferrers families, the valued and patient gatherings of Thomas Sharpe, the Coventry antiquarian, of William Hamper, the Birmingham collector, and of William Staunton himself, were all here, forming the most wonderful county collection ever yet formed, and which a hundred years' work will never replace. The books, many rare or unique, and of extraordinary value, comprised over 2000 volumes; there were hundreds of sketches and water-colour drawings of buildings long since destroyed, and more than 1,500 engravings of various places in the county, among them being some 300 relating to Birmingham, 200 to Coventry, 200 to Warwick Castle, 200 to Kenilworth Castle, and more than 100 to Stratford-on-Avon. The thousand portraits of Warwickshire Worthies, more rare and valuable still, included no less than 267 distinct portraits of Shakespeare, every one from a different block or plate. There was, in fact, everything about Warwickshire which successive generations of learned and generous collectors could secure. Among other treasures were hundreds of Acts of Parliament, all pedigrees, pamphlets, &c., about the Earls of Warwick and the town of Warwick; the original vellum volume with the installation of Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, to the Order of St. Michael, with his own autograph; volumes of rare, curious autographs of county interest; county poll books, newspapers and magazines; all the rare Civil War pamphlets relating to the Warwickshire incidents; ancient deeds, indulgences, charters, seals, rubbings of brasses long lost or worn away, medals, coins, hundreds in number; and rare and invaluable volumes, like the Duc de Nortombria's "Arcano de Mare," and two fine copies of Dugdale's Warwickshire; besides hundreds of books, engravings, caricatures, pamphlets and tracts. The catalogue of this precious collection had only recently been completed, but even that was burnt, so that there is nothing left to show the full extent of the loss sustained. The only salvage consisted of three books, though most providentially one of the three was the splendid Cartulary of the Priory of St. Anne, at Knowle, a noble vellum folio, richly illuminated by some patient scribe four centuries ago, and preserving not only the names of the benefactors of the Priory, and details of its possessions, but also the service books of the Church, with the ancient music and illuminated initials, as fresh and perfect as when first written. Of almost inestimable value, it has now an acquired interest in the fact of its being, so to speak, all that remains of all the great Staunton collection. The Cervantes Library, which had taken him a quarter of a century to gather together, was presented by Mr. William Bragge. For many years, even in a busy life, Mr. Bragge, in his visits to Spain and his travels all over Europe, had been able to collect nearly all the known editions, not only of "Don Quixote," but of all the other works of Cervantes. Not only editions, but translations into any and every language were eagerly sought; and, after cherishing his treasures for many years, Mr. Bragge was so impressed with the Shakespeare Library that he generously offered his unrivalled collection of the great contemporary author to the town of which he is a native, and in which he afterwards came to live. The collection extended from editions published in 1605 down to our own days, and included many very rare and very costly illustrated volumes, which can never be replaced. All the known translations were among the thousand volumes, and all the works were in the choicest condition, but only ten survived the fire.—From the Lending Library about 10,000 volumes were rescued, and as there were nearly 4,000 in the hands of readers, the loss here was comparatively small. The present number of books in the Reference Library bids fair to surpass the collection lost, except, of course, as regards the Shakespeare, Cervantes, and Staunton gatherings, the latter of which it is simply impossible to replace, while it will take many years to make up the other two. There are now (March, 1884) over 54,000 volumes on the shelves, including 4,300 saved from the fire, about 33,000 purchased, and nearly 17,000 presented. Among the latter are many rare and costly works given to Birmingham soon after the catastrophe by a number of societies and gentlemen connected with the town, as well as others at home and abroad. To catalogue the names of all donors is impossible, but a few of those who first contributed may be given. Foremost, many of the books being of local character, was the gift of Mr. David Malins, which included Schedel's Nuremberg Chronicle, 1492, one vol.; Camden's Britannia, ed. Gibson, 1695, one vol.; Ackermann's London, Westminster Abbey, Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, &c., ten vols.; Works of Samuel Parr, 1828, eight vols.; Illustrated Record of European Events, 1812-1815, one vol.; Thompson's Seasons, illustrated by Bartolozzi, and other works, seventy vols.; Notes and Queries (complete set of five series), 1850-78, fifty-seven vols.; Dugdale's "Warwickshire, 1656, and other books relating to Birmingham, Warwickshire and neighbourhood, seventy-four vols.; books printed by Baskerville, ten vols.; Birmingham-printed books, 203 vols.; books on or by Birmingham authors, fifty-six vols.; total, 491 vols.; in addition to a collection of about 600 portraits, maps and views relating to Birmingham, Warwickshire and the neighbourhood, including sixty portraits of Shakespeare. The Manchester Town Council sent us from their Public Library about 300 volumes, among which may be named the edition of Barclay's Apology printed by Baskerville (1765); a fine copy of the folio edition of Ben Johnson (1640); the Duke of Newcastle's New Method to Dress Horses (1667); several volumes of the Maitland Club books, the catalogue of the Harleian MSS (1759); two tracts of Socinus (1618); the Foundations of Manchester (4 vols.); Daulby's Rembrandt Catalogue; Weever's Funeral Monuments (1631); Visconti's Egyptian Antiquities (1837); Heylyn's History of St. George (1633), and Nicholl's History of English Poor Law. There are also a considerable number of works of science and general literature of a more modern date. The trustees of the British Museum gave about 150 works, relating to Greek, Egyptian, Syrian, Phoenician, and other antiquities, to various departments of natural science, and other interesting matters, the whole constituting a valuable contribution towards the restored library. The Science and Art Department of South Kensington sent a selection of catalogues, chromo-lithographs, books of etchings, photographs, &c. Dr. F.A. Leo, of Berlin, sent a splendid copy of his valuable fac-simile of "Four Chapters of North's Plutarch," illustrating Shakespeare's Roman plays, to replace his former gift-volume lost in the calamitous fire. The volume is one of twenty-four copies, and the learned Professor added a printed dedication as a record of the fire and the loss. Dr. Delius, of Bonn, Herr Wilhelm Oechelhaueser, of Dessau, and other German Shakespeare authors sent copies of their works. Mr. J. Payne Collier offered copies of his rare quarto reprints of Elizabethan books, to replace those which had been lost. Mr. Gerald Massey offered a copy of his rare volume on Shakespeare's Sonnets, "because it is a Free Library." Mr. H. Reader Lack offered a set of the Patent Office volumes from the limited number at his disposal as Chief of the Patent Office. Dr. Kaines, of Trinder Road, London, selected 100 volumes from his library for acceptance; Mrs. and Miss L. Toulmin Smith sent all they could make up of the works of Mr. J. Toulmin Smith, and of his father, Mr. W. Hawkes Smith, both natives of our town; Messrs. Low, Son, and Co., gave 120 excellent volumes; Messrs. W. and R. Chambers, Messrs. Crosby, Lockwood, and Co., and other publishers, valuable books; Mr. James Coleman his "Index to Pedigrees," "Somerset House Registers," and "William Penn Pedigrees;" Miss N. Bradley (Bath) the new reissue of Professor Ruskin's works; Mr. H.W. Adnitt (Shrewsbury) his reprint of Gough's curious "History of Myddie," and of Churchyard's "Miserie of Flaunders," and "The Four Ministers of Salop:" Mr. H.F. Osle presented a, fine collection of Art books, including Gruener's great work, and Mr. J.H. Stone made a valuable donation of the same kind. The above are mere items in the list of generous donors, and gives but small idea of the many thousands of volumes which have streamed in from all parts. Many indeed have been the valuable gifts and additions by purchase since the fire, one of the latest being nearly the whole of the almost priceless collection of Birmingham books, papers, &c., belonging to Mr. Sam. Timmins. The sum of L1,100 was paid him for a certain portion of backs, but the number he has given at various times is almost past count. Immediate steps were taken after the fire to get the lending department of the Library into work again, and on the 9th of June, 1879, a commodious (though rather dark) reading room was opened in Eden Place, the Town Council allowing a number of rooms in the Municipal Buildings to be used by the Libraries Committee. In a little time the nucleus of the new Reference gathering was also in hand, and for three years the institution sojourned with the Council. The new buildings were opened June 1st, 1882, and the date should be recorded as a day of rejoicing and thanksgiving. The Reference department was opened to readers on the 26th of the same month. In place of the hired rooms so long used as a library in Constitution Hill, there has been erected in the near neighbourhood a neat two-storey building which will accommodate some 2,000 readers per day, and the shelves are supplied with about 7,000 volumes. This new library was opened July 18, 1883. To summarise this brief history of the Birmingham Free Libraries it is well to state that L78,000 has been spent on them, of which L36,392 has been for buildings. The cost of the Central Library so far has been L55,000, the remaining L23,000 being the expenditure on the branch libraries. The present annual cost is L9,372, of which L3,372 goes for interest and sinking fund, so that an addition must soon be made to the 1d. rate, which produces L6,454. The power to increase the rate is given in the last Act of Parliament obtained by the Corporation. At the end of 1882 the Reference Library contained 50,000 volumes. The number of books in the Central Lending Library was 21,394, while the branch lending libraries contained—Constitution Hill, 7,815; Deritend, 8,295; Gosta Green, 8,274; and Adderley Park, 3,122. The aggregate of all the libraries was 98,900 volumes. The issues of books during 1882 were as follows:—Reference Library, 202,179; Central Lending Library, 186,988; Constitution Hill, 73,705; Deriteud, 70,218; Gosta Green, 56,160; Adderley Park, 8,497; total, 597,747; giving a daily average of 2,127 issues. These figures are exclusive of the Sunday issues at the Reference Library, which numbered 25,095. The average number of readers in the Reference Library on Sundays has been 545; and the average attendance at all the libraries shows something like 55,000 readers per week, 133 different weekly and monthly periodicals being put on the tables for their use, besides the books. At a meeting of the School Board, June 4, 1875, permission was given to use the several infants' schoolrooms connected with the Board Schools, as evening reading rooms in connection with the libraries.

The Shakespeare Memorial Library, though to all intents and purposes part and parcel of the Reference Library, has a separate and distinct history. Mr. Sam. Timmins, who is generally credited with having (in 1858) first suggested the formation of a library, which should consist solely of Shakespeare's works, and Shakespeareana of all possible kinds, said, at the tercentenary meeting, that the idea originated with George Dawson, but perhaps the honour should be divided, as their mutual appreciation of the greatest poet whose genius has found utterance in our language is well known. The first practical step taken was the meeting, held (July 10, 1863) of gentlemen interested in the tercentenary, for the purpose of considering a proposal to celebrate that event by the formation of a Shakespearean library. The Rev. Charles Evans, head master of King Edward's School, presided. The following resolution, moved by Mr. G. Dawson, and seconded by the Rev. S. Bache, was adopted:—"That it is desirable to celebrate the tercentenary of the birth of Shakespeare by the formation of a Shakespearean library, comprising the various editions of the poet's works, and the literature and works of art connected therewith, and to associate such library with the Borough Central Reference Library, in order that it may be permanently preserved." A hundred pounds were subscribed at this meeting, and a committee formed to proceed with the project. In a very few months funds rolled in, and Shakespeareans from all parts of the world sent willing contributions to this the first Shakespearean library ever thought of. It was determined to call it a "Memorial" library, in honour of the tercentenary of 1864, and on the poet's day of that year, the library was formally presented to the town at a breakfast given at Nock's Hotel by the Mayor (Mr. W. Holliday). Dr. Miller, George Dawson, M.D. Hill (Recorder), T.C.S. Kynnersley, R.W. Dale, Sam. Timmins, and others took part in the proceedings, and the Mayor, on behalf of the Free Libraries Committee, accepted the gift on the terms agreed to by the Town Council, viz., that the Library should be called "The Shakespearean Memorial Library," that a room should be specially and exclusively appropriated for the purposes thereof; that the library should be under the same regulations as the Reference Library; and that the Free Libraries' Committee should maintain and augment it, and accept all works appertaining to Shakespeare that might be presented, &c. As George Dawson prophesied on that occasion, the library in a few years become the finest collection of Shakespearean literature in Europe therein being gathered from every land which the poet's fame had reached, not only the multitudinous editions of his works, but also every available scrap of literature bearing thereon, from the massive folios and quaint quartoes of the old times to the veriest trifle of current gossip culled from the columns of the newspapers. Nothing was considered too rare or too unimportant, so long as it had connection even remote to Shakespeare; and the very room (opened April 23, 1888), in which the books were stored itself acquired a Shakespearean value in its carved and elaborately-appropriate fittings. When started, it was hoped that at least 5,000 volumes would be got together, but that number was passed in 1874, and at the end of 1878 there were more than 8,700, in addition to the books, pictures, documents, and relics connected with Stratford-on-Avon and her gifted son contained in the Staunton collection. How all the treasures vanished has already been told. Much has been done to replace the library, and many valuable works have been secured; but, as the figures last published show, the new library is a long way behind as yet. It now contains 4,558 volumes, valued at L1,352 9s. 3d., classified as follows:—English, 2,205 volumes; French, 322; German, 1,639; Bohemian, 14; Danish, 25; Dutch, 68; Finnish, 4; Frisian, 2; Greek, 9; Hebrew, 2; Hungarian, 44; Icelandic, 3; Italian, 94; Polish, 15; Portuguese, 3; Roumanian, 1; Roumelian, 1; Russian, 56; Spanish, 18; Swedish, 30; Ukraine, 1; Wallachian, 1; and Welsh, 1.

Libraries Suburban.—The ratepayers of the Manor of Aston adopted the Free Libraries Act, May 15, 1877, and their Library forms part of the Local Board buildings in Witton Road. At the end of March, 1883, the number of volumes in the reference library was 3,216, and the issues during the year numbered 8,096. In the lending department the library consists of 5,582 volumes, and the total issues during the year were 74,483; giving a daily average of 245. The number of borrowers was 3,669.—Aston and Handsworth being almost part of Birmingham, it would be an act of kindness if local gentlemen having duplicates on their library shelves, would share them between the two.

Handsworth Free Library was opened at the Local Board Offices, of which building it forms a part, on May 1, 1880, with a collection of about 5,000 volumes, which has since been increased to nearly 7,500. That the library is appreciated is shown by the fact that during last year the issues numbered 42,234 volumes, the borrowers being 514 males and 561 females.

Smethwick Free Library and Reading Room was opened Aug. 14, 1880.

King's Norton.—In or about 1680, the Rev. Thomas Hall, B.D., founded a curious old Library for the use of the parishioners, and the books are preserved in the Grammar School, near the Church. This is the earliest free library known in the Midlands.

Licensed Victuallers' Society.—See "Trade Protection Societies."

Licensed Victuallers' Asylum.—See "Philanthropical Institutions."

Licensed Victuallers.—The following table shows the number of licensed victuallers, dealers in wine, beer, &c., in the borough as well as the holders of what are known as outdoor licenses:—

Year. Licensed Beer and Total. Population. Beer, &c., Grocers. Victuallers. Wine On. Off. 1870 687 1166 1853 337,982 .. .. 1871 683 1165 1848 343,690 .. .. 1872 684 1117 1801 349,398 .. 23 1873 684 1083 1767 355,106 4 53 1874 680 1081 1761 360,814 4 53 1875 676 1057 1733 366,522 7 73 1876 675 1059 1734 372,230 171 73 1877 673 1054 1727 377,938 223 74 1878 672 1046 1718 383,646 334 77 1879 671 1061 1732 389,354 433 61 1880 670 1060 1730 395,063 454 63 1881 669 1054 1723 400,774 454 55 1882 670 1054 1724 406,482 459 57

Lifeboats.—In 1864-65 a small committee, composed of Messrs. H. Fulford, G. Groves, J. Pearce, D. Moran, G. Williams, R. Foreshaw, and G. Lempiere, aided by the Mayor and Dr. Miller, raised about L500 as a contribution from Birmingham to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. Two boats were credited to us in the Society's books, one called "Birmingham" (launched at Soho Pool, November 26, 1864), and the other the "James Pearce." These boats, placed on the Lincolnshire and Norfolk coasts, were instrumental in the saving of some hundreds of lives, but both have, long since, been worn out, and it is about time that Birmingham replaced them. Messrs. C. and W. Barwell, Pickford Street, act as local hon. secs. The "Charles Ingleby" lifeboat, at Hartlepool, was paid for, and the establishment for its maintenance endowed, out of the sum of L1,700, contributed by C.P. Wragge, Esq., in memory of the late Rev. Charles Ingleby.

Lifford, in the parish of King's Norton, once boasted of a Monastic establishment, which was squelched by Bluff King Harry, the only remains now to be found consisting of a few more than half-buried foundations and watercourses.

Lighting.—Oil lamps for giving light in the streets were in limited use here in 1733, even before an Act was obtained to enforce payment of a rate therefor. Deritend and Bordesley obtained light by the Act passed in 1791. The Street Commissioners, Nov. 8, 1816, advertised for tenders for lighting the streets with gas, but it was nearly ten years (April 29, 1826) before the lamps were thus supplied. The Lighting Act was adopted at Saltley April 1, 1875. Lighting the streets by electricity may come some day, though, as the Gas Works belong to the town, it will, doubtless, be in the days of our grandchildren.

Lighting by Electricity.—After the very successful application of the electric light in the Town Hall on the occasion of the Festival in 1882, it is not surprising that an attempt should be made to give it a more extended trial. A scheme has been drawn out by the Crompton-Winfield Company for this purpose, and it has received the sanction of the Town Council, and been confirmed by the Board of Trade, shopkeepers in the centre of the town may soon have a choice of lights for the display of their wares. The area fixed by the scheme is described by the following boundaries:—Great Charles Street to Congreve Street; Congreve Street to Edmund Street; Edmund Street to Newhall Street; Newhall Street to Colmore Row; Colmore Row to Bull Street; Bull Street, High Street, New Street, Stephenson Place, Paradise Street, and Easy Row. The streets to be supplied with electric mains within two years are as follows:—Great Charles Street (to Congreve Street), Congreve Street, New Street, Stephenson Place, Easy Row, and Paradise Street. The Corporation are to have powers of purchasing the undertaking at the end of sixteen years— that is, fourteen years after the expiration of the two-years' term allowed for the experimental lighting of the limited area. The order, while fully protecting the rights of the public and of the Corporation, justly recognises the experimental character of the project of electric-lighting from a common centre, and is much more favourable, in many ways, to the promoters than the legislation under which gas undertakings are conducted. Whether this will tend towards reducing the price of gas remains to be seen.

Lightning Conductors were introduced here in 1765.

Lindon.—The Minerva, in Peck Lane, was, circa 1835, kept by "Joe Lindon," a host as popular then as our modern "Joe Hillman," up at "The Stores," in Paradise Street.

Literary Associations.—The Central Literary Association first met Nov. 28, 1856. The Moseley and Balsall Heath, Oct. 11, 1877.

Livery Street.—So called from the Livery stables once there, opposite Brittle street, which is now covered by the Great Western Railway Station.

Livingstone.—Dr. Livingstone, the African traveller, delivered an address in the Town Hall, October 23, 1857.

Loans.—According to the Registrar-General's late report, there were 380 loan societies in the kingdom, who had among them a capital of L122,160, the members of the said societies numbering 33,520, giving an average lending capital of L3 12s. 10-1/2d. each. That is certainly not a very large sum to invest in the money market, and it is to be hoped that the score or two of local societies can show better funds. What the profits of this business are frequently appear in the reports taken at Police Courts and County Courts, where Mr. Cent.-per-Cent. now and then bashfully acknowledges that he is sometimes satisfied with a profit of 200 per cent. There are respectable offices in Birmingham where loans can be obtained at a fair and reasonable rate, but Punch's advice to those about to marry may well be given in the generality of cases, to anyone thinking of visiting a loan office. Young men starting in business may, under certain conditions, obtain help for that purpose from the "Dudley Trust."—See "Philanthropical Trusts."

Loans, Public.—England, with its National Debt of L776,000,000, is about the richest country in the world, and if the amount of indebtedness is the sign of prosperity, Birmingham must be tolerably well off. Up to the end of 1882 our little loan account stood thus:—

Borrowd Repaid Owing. Baths .. .. .. .. L62,425 L27,743 L34,682 Cemetery .. .. .. 46,500 19,316 27,184 Closed Burial Gr'nds 10,000 41 9,959 Council House .. .. 135,762 10,208 125,554 Fire Brigade Station 6,000 53 5,947 Free Libraries.. .. 56,050 7,534 48,516 Gaol .. .. .. .. 92,350 79,425 12,925 Industrial School .. 13,710 2,310 11,400 Asylum, Winson Gn... 100,000 97,020 2,980 " Rubery Hill.. 100,012 5,887 94,125 Markt Hall & Markts 186,942 73,463 113,479 Mortuaries.. .. .. 700 103 597 Parks .. .. .. .. 63,210 12,347 50,863 Paving roads .. .. 158,100 30,088 128,012 Paving footways .. 79,950 8,113 71,837 Police Stations .. 25,231 9,839 15,392 Public Office .. .. 23,400 14,285 9,115 Sewers & Sewerage .. 366,235 81,338 284,897 Tramways .. .. .. 65,450 17,125 48,325 Town Hall .. .. .. 69,521 37,885 31,636 Town Improvements .. 348,680 134,156 214,524 ——————————————— 2,010,227 668,278 1,341,949 Improvem't scheme .. 1,534,731 31,987 1,502,744 Gasworks .. .. .. 2,184,186 142,359 2,041,827 Waterworks.. .. .. 1,814,792 5,086 1,809,706 ——————————————- Totals.. .. .. .. 7,543,936 847,710 6,696,226

The above large total, however, does not show all that was owing. The United Drainage Board have borrowed L386,806, and as Birmingham pays L24,722 out of the year's expenditure of L33,277 of that Board, rather more than seven-tenths of that debt must be added to the Borough account, say L270,000. The Board of Guardians have, between June, 1869, and January, 1883, borrowed on loan L130,093, and during same period have repaid L14,808, leaving L115,285 due by them, which must also be added to the list of the town's debts.

Local Acts.—There have been a sufficient number of specially-local Acts of Parliament passed in connection with this town to fill a law library of considerable size. Statutes, clauses, sections, and orders have followed in rapid succession for the last generation or two. Our forefathers were satisfied and gratified if they got a regal of parliamentary notice of this kind once in a century, but no sooner did the inhabitants find themselves under a "properly-constituted" body of "head men," than the lawyers' game began. First a law must be got to make a street, another to light it, a third to pave it, and then one to keep it clean. It is a narrow street, and an Act must be obtained to widen it; when widened some wiseacre thinks a market should be held in it, and a law is got for that, and for gathering tolls; after a bit, another is required to remove the market, and then the street must be "improved," and somebody receives more pounds per yard than he gave pence for the bit of ground wanted to round off the corners; and so the Birmingham world wagged on until the town became a big town, and could afford to have a big Town Hall when other big towns couldn't, and a covered Market Hall and a Smithfield of good size, while other places dwelt under bare skies. The Act by which the authority of the Street Commissioners and Highway Surveyors was transferred to the Corporation was passed in 1851; the expenses of obtaining it reaching nearly L9,000. It took effect on New Year's Day following, and the Commissioners were no longer "one of the powers that be," but some of the Commissioners' bonds are effective still. Since that date there have been twenty local statutes and orders relating to the borough of Birmingham, from the Birmingham Improvement Act, 1851, to the Provisional Order Confirmation Act, passed in 1882, the twenty containing a thousand or more sections. All this, however, has recently been altered, the powers that are now having (through the Town Clerk, Mr. Orford Smith) rolled all the old Acts into one, eliminating useless and obsolete clauses, and inserting others necessitated by our high state of advanced civilisation. The new Act, which is known as the Birmingham Corporation Consolidation Act, came into force January 1, 1884, and all who desire to master our local governing laws easily and completely had better procure a copy of the book containing it, with notes of all the included statutes, compiled by the Town Clerk, and published by Messrs. Cornish, New Street.

Local Epitaphs.—Baskerville, when young, was a stone cutter, and it was known that there was a gravestone in Handsworth churchyard and another in Edgbaston churchyard which were cut by him. The latter was accidentally broken many years back, but was moved and kept as a curiosity until it mysteriously vanished while some repairs were being done at the church. It is believed that Baskerville wrote as well as carved the inscription which commemorated the death of Edward Richards who was an idiot, and died Sept. 21st, 1728, and that it ran thus:—

"If innocents are the fav'rites of heaven, And God but little asks where little's given, My great Creator has for me in store Eternal joys—What wise man can ask more?"

The gravestone at Handsworth was "under the chancel window," sixty years ago, overgrown with moss and weeds, but inscription and stone have long since gone. Baskerville's own epitaph, on the Mausoleum in his grounds at Easy Hill, has often been quoted:—

'Stranger, Beneath this cone, in unconsecrated ground, A friend to the liberties of mankind directed his body to be inurned. May the example contribute to emancipate thy mind From the idle fears of Superstition, And the wicked Act of Priesthood!

Almost as historical as the above, is the inscription on the tombstone erected over Mary Ashford, at Sutton Coldfield:—

As a Warning to Female Virtue, And a humble Monument of Female Chastity, This Stone marks the Grave of MARY ASHFORD, Who, in the 20th year of her age, Having incautiously repaired To a scene of amusement Without proper protection, Was brutally violated and murdered, On the 27th May, 1817.

Lovely and chaste as is the primrose pale, Rifled of virgin sweetness by the gale, Mary! The wretch who thee remorseless slew, Will surely God's avenging wrath pursue.

For, though the deed of blood be veiled in night, "Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?" Fair, blighted flower! The muse, that weeps thy doom, Rears o'er thy sleeping dust this warning tomb!

The following quaint inscription appears on the tombstone erected in memory of John Dowler, the blacksmith, in Aston churchyard:—

Sacred to the Memory of JOHN DOWLER, Late of Castle Bromwich, who Departed this life December 6th, 1787, Aged 42, Also two of his Sons, JAMES and CHARLES, Who died infants.

My sledge and hammer lie reclined, My bellows, too, have lost their wind My fire's extinct, my forge decayed, And in the dust my vice is laid; My coal is spent, my iron gone, My nails are drove, my work is done.

The latter part of the above, like the next four, has appeared in many parts of the country, as well as in the local burial grounds, from which they have been copied:—

From St. Bartholomew's:

"The bitter cup that death gave me Is passing round to come to thee."

From General Cemetery:

"Life is a city full of crooked streets, Death is the market-place where all men meets; If life were merchandise which men could buy, The rich would only live, the poor would die."

From Witton Cemetery:

"O earth, O earth! observe this well— That earth to earth shall come to dwell; Then earth in earth shall close remain, Till earth from earth shall rise again."

From St. Philip's:

"Oh, cruel death, how could you be so unkind To take him before, and leave me behind? You should have taken both of us, if either, Which would have been more pleasing to the survivor."

The next, upon an infant, is superior to the general run of this class of inscription. It was copied from a slab intended to be placed in Old Edgbaston Churchyard:

"Beneath this stone, in sweet repose, Is laid a mother's dearest pride; A flower that scarce had waked to life, And light and beauty, ere it died. God and His wisdom has recalled The precious boon His love has given; And though the casket moulders here, The gem is sparkling now in heaven."

Ramblers may find many quaint epitaphs in neighbouring village churchyards. In Shustoke churchyard, or rather on a tablet placed against the wall of the church over the tomb of a person named Hautbach, the date on which is 1712, there is an inscription, remarkable not only for lines almost identical with those over Shakespeare's grave, but for combining several other favourite specimens of graveological literature, as here bracketed:

"When Death shall cut the thread of life, Both of Mee and my living Wife, When please God our change shall bee, There is a Tomb for Mee and Shee, Wee freely shall resign up all To Him who gave, and us doth call.

{Sleep here wee must, both in the Dust, {Till the Resurrection of the Just.

{Good friend, within these Railes forbear {To dig the dust enclosed here. {Blest bee the man who spares these stones {And Curst be he that moves our bones.

{Whilst living here, learn how to die; {This benefit thoul't reap thereby: {Neither the life or death will bee {Grievous or sad, but joy to thee.

{Watch thoue, and pray; thy time well spend; {Unknown is the hour of thy end.

{As thou art, so once were wee, {As wee are, so must thou bee, Dumspiramus Speramus."

It is a collection of epitaphs in itself, even to the last line, which is to be found in Durham Cathedral on a "brass" before the altar.

Local Landowners.—It is somewhat a difficult matter to tell how much of the ground on which the town is built belongs to any one particular person, even with the assistance of the "Returns" obtained by John Bright of "the owner" of land so called, possessing estimated yearly rentals of L1,000 and upwards. That these "Returns" may be useful to biassed politicians is likely enough, as Lord Calthorpe is put down as owner of 2,073 acres at an estimated rental of L113,707, while Mr. Muntz appears as owning 2,486 acres at an estimated rental of L3,948. His lordship's L113,707 "estimated" rental must be considerably reduced when the leaseholders have taken their share and left him only the ground rents. The other large ground landlords are the Trustees of the Grammar School, the Trustees of the Colmore, Gooch, Vyse, Inge, Digby, Gillot, Robins, and Mason estates, &c., Earl Howe, Lench's Trust, the Blue Coat School, &c. The Corporation of Birmingham is returned as owning 257 acres, in addition to 134 had from the Waterworks Co., but that does not include the additions made under the Improvement Scheme, &c. The manner in which the estates of the old Lords of the Manor, of the Guild of Holy Cross, and the possessions of the ancient Priory, have been divided and portioned out by descent, marriage, forfeiture, plunder, and purchase is interesting matter of history, but rather of a private than public nature.

Local Notes and Queries.—The gathering of odd scraps of past local history, notes of men and manners of a bygone time, and the stray (and sometimes strange) bits of folklore garnered alone in the recollections of greybeards, has been an interesting occupation for more than one during the past score or two of years. The first series of "Local Notes and Queries" in our newspapers appeared in the Gazette, commencing in Feb., 1856, and was continued till Sept., 1860. There was a somewhat similar but short series running in the columns of the Journal from August, 1861, to May, 1862. The Daily Post took it up in Jan., 1863, and devoted a column per week to "Notes" up to March, 1865, resuming at intervals from 1867 to 1872. The series now (1884) appearing in the Weekly Post was commenced on the first Saturday (Jan. 6) in 1877.

Local Taxation.—See "Municipal Expenditure."

Locks.—The making of locks must have been one of the earliest of our local trades, as we read of one at Throckmorton of very quaint design, but rare workmanship, with the name thereon of "Johannes Wilkes, Birmingham," towards the end of the 17th century. In 1824 there were 186 locksmiths named in the Directory.

Lodger Franchise.—Considering the vast amount of interest taken in all matters connected with local Parliamentary representation, and the periodical battles of bile and banter earned on in the Revision Courts over the lists of voters, it is somewhat curious to note how little advantage has been taken of the clause in the last Reform Bill which gives the right of voting to lodgers. The qualification required is simply the exclusive occupation of lodgings which, if let unfurnished, are of the clear yearly value of L10; and there must be many hundreds of gentlemen in the borough residing in apartments who would come under this head. Out of a total of 63,221 electors in 1883 there were only 72 who had claimed their right to vote. In many other boroughs the same discrepancy exists, though here and there the political wire-pullers have evidently seen how to use the lodger franchise to much better effect, as in the case of Worcester for instance, where there are 59 lodger voters out of a total of 6,362.—See "Parliamentary Elections."

London 'Prentice Street, was called Western Street or Westley's Row on the old maps, its continuation, the Coach Yard, being then Pemberton's Yard. How the name of London 'Prentice Street came to be given to the delectable thoroughfare is one of "those things no fellow can understand." At one time there was a schoolroom there, the boys being taught good manners upstairs, while they could learn lessons of depravity below. With the anxious desire of putting the best face on everything that characterises the present local "fathers of the people," the London 'Prentice has been sent to the right-about, and the nasty dirty stinking thoroughfare is now called "Dalton Street."

Loveday Street, from Loveday Croft, a field given in Good Queen Bess's reign, by John Cooper, as a trysting-place for the Brummagem lads and lasses when on wooing bent.

Low Rents.—A return of unassessed houses in the parish of Birmingham, taken October 19, 1790, showed 2,000 at a rental under L5, 2,000 others under L6, 3,000 under L7, 2,000 under L8, 500 under L9, and 500 under L10.

Lozells.—In the lease of a farm of 138 acres, sold by auction, June 24, 1793, it was written "Lowcells." Possibly the name is derived from the Saxon "lowe" (hill) and "cele" (cold or chill) making it "the cold hill."

Lunacy.—Whether it arises from political heat, religious ecstacies, intemperance, or the cares and worry of the universal hunt for wealth, it is certainly a painful fact to chronicle that in proportion to population insanity is far more prevalent now than it was fifty years ago, and Birmingham has no more share in such excess than other parts of the kingdom. Possibly, the figures show more prominently from the action of the wise rules that enforce the gathering of the insane into public institutions, instead of leaving the unfortunates to the care (or carelessness) of their relatives as in past days, when the wards of the poor-houses were the only receptacles for those who had no relatives to shelter them. The erection of the Borough Asylum, at Winson Green, was commenced in 1846, and it was finished in 1851. The house and grounds covered an area of about twenty acres, the building being arranged to accommodate 330 patients. Great as this number appeared to be, not many years passed before the necessity of enlargement was perceived, and, ultimately, it became evident the Winson Green establishment must either be doubled in size or that a second Asylum must be erected on another site. An estate of 150 acres on the south-eastern slopes of Rubery Hill, on the right-hand side of the turnpike road from here to Bromsgrove, was purchased by the Corporation, and a new Asylum, which will accommodate 616 patients, has there been erected. For the house and its immediate grounds, 70 acres have been apportioned, the remainder being kept for the purposes of a farm, where those of the inmates fit for work can be employed, and where the sewage from the asylum will be utilised. The cost of the land was L6,576 8s. 5d., and that of the buildings, the furnishing, and the laying out of the grounds, L133,495 5s. 8d. The report of the Lunatic Asylums Committee for 1882 stated that the number of patients, including those boarded under contract at other asylums, on the first of Jan., 1882, was 839. There were admitted to Winson Green and Rubery Hill during the year 349. There were discharged during the year 94, and there died 124, leaving, on the 31st Dec., 970. The whole of the 970 were then at the borough asylums, and were chargeable as follows:—To Birmingham parish, 644; to Birmingham borough, 8; to Aston Union, in the borough, 168; to King's Norton, 16; to other unions under contract, 98; the remaining 36 patients not being paupers. The income of the asylums for the year was—from Birmingham patients L20,748 1s. 9.; from pauper patients under contract, and from patients not paupers, L2,989 9s. 5d.; from goods sold, L680 1s. 5d.; total, L24,417 12s. 7d. The expenditure on maintenance account was L21,964 4s., and on building capital account L2,966 7s. 7d.—total, L24,915 11s. 7d.; showing a balance against the asylums of L497 19s. The nett average weekly cost for the year was 9s. 6-1/2d. per head. Mr. E.B. Whitcombe, medical superintendent at Winson Green, says that among the causes of insanity in those admitted it is satisfactory to note a large decrease in the number from intemperance, the percentage for the year being 7.7, as compared with 18 and 21 per cent. in 1881 and 1880 respectively. The proportion of recoveries to admissions was in the males 27.7, in the females 36, and in the total 32.3 percent. This is below the average, and is due to a large number of chronic and unfavourable cases admitted. At Rubery Hill Asylum, Dr. Lyle reports that out of the first 450 admissions there were six patients discharged as recovered.—The Midland Counties' Idiot Asylum, at Knowle, opened in 1867, also finds shelter for some of Birmingham's unfortunate children. The Asylum provides a home for about 50, but it is in contemplation to considerably enlarge it. At the end of 1882 there were 28 males and 21 females, 47 being the average number of inmates during the year, the cost per head being L41 13s. 6d. Of the limited number of inmates in the institution no fewer than thirteen came from Birmingham, and altogether as many as thirty-five candidates had been elected from Birmingham. The income from all sources, exclusive of contributions to the building fund, amounted to L2,033 3s. 8d., and the total expenditure (including L193 3s. 4d. written off for depreciation of buildings) to L1,763 15s. 7d., leaving a balance in hand of L269 8s. 1d. The fund which is being raised for the enlargement of the institution then amounted to L605 15s., the sum required being L5,000. The society's capital was then L10,850 12s. 8d. of which L7,358 12s. 5d. had been laid out in lands and buildings. Mr. Tait, the medical officer, was of opinion that one-fourth of the children were capable of becoming productive workers under kindly direction and supervision, the progress made by some of the boys in basket-making being very marked.

Lunar Society.—So called from the meetings being held at the full of the moon that the members might have light nights to drive home, but from which they were nicknamed "the lunatics." Originally commenced about 1765, it included among its members Baskerville, Boulton, Watt, Priestley, Thomas Day, Samuel Galton, R.L. Edgeworth, Dr. Withering, Dr. Small, Dr. Darwin, Wedgwood, Keir, and indeed almost every man of intellectual note of the time. It died down as death took the leaders, but it may be said to have left traces in many learned societies of later date.

Luncheon Bars.—The honour of introducing the modern style of luncheon bar must be awarded to the landlord of the Acorn, in Temple Street, who, having seen something of the kind in one of the Channel Islands, imported the notion to Birmingham. The lumber rooms and stables at back of his house were cleared and fitted up as smoke rooms, and bread and cheese, and beer, &c., dealt out over the counter. Here it was that Mr. Hillman took his degree as popular waiter, and from the Acorn also he took a wife to help him start "The Stores," in Paradise Street. Mr. Thomas Hanson was not long behind Hillman before he opened up "The Corner Stores," in Union Passage, following that with the "St. James" in New Street, and several others in various parts of the town. The "Bars" are now an "institution" that has become absolutely indispensable, even for the class who prefer the semi-privacy of the "Restaurants," as the proprietors of the more select Bars like to call their establishments.

Magistrates.—By direction of the Queen's Council, in 1569, all magistrates had to send up "bonds" that they would subscribe to the then recently passed Act for the Uniformity of Common Prayers and Services in the Church, and the Administration of the Sacraments. The local name of Middlemore appears among the few in this county who objected to do so, and most likely his descendants would do the same. The first twenty-five of our borough magistrates were appointed about nine weeks after the date of the Charter of Incorporation, 1839. In 1841, 1849, 1856, and 1859, other gentlemen were placed on the roll, and in April, 1880, ten more names were added to the list, having been sent up to the Lord Chancellor a few days before he vacated office, by some knowing gentlemen who had conceived a notion that the Conservative element was hardly strong enough among the occupants of the Bench. There are now 52, in addition to the Stipendiary Magistrate and the Recorder, and as politics must enter into every matter connected with public life in Birmingham, we record the interesting fact that 31 of these gentlemen are Liberals and 21 Conservatives. Mr. T.C.S. Kynnersley first acted as Stipendiary, April 19, 1856.

Magazines.—See "Newspapers and Periodicals."

Manor House.—How few of the thousands who pass Smithfield every day know that they are treading upon ground where once the Barons of Birmingham kept house in feudal grandeur. Whether the ancient Castle, destroyed in the time of Stephen, pre-occupied the site of the Manor House (or, as it was of late years called—the Moat House), is more than antiquarians have yet found out, any more than they can tell us when the latter building was erected, or when it was demolished. Hutton says: "The first certain account we meet of the moat (which surrounded the island on which the erections were built) is in the reign of Henry the Second, 1154, when Peter de Bermingham, then lord of the fee, had a castle here, and lived in splendour. All the succeeding lords resided upon the same island till their cruel expulsion by John, Duke of Northumberland, in 1537. The old castle followed its lords, and is buried in the ruins of time. Upon the spot, about fifty years ago [1730], rose a house in the modern style, occupied by a manufacturer (Thomas Francis); in one of the outbuildings is shown the apartment where the ancient lords kept their court leet. The trench being filled with water has nearly the same appearance now as perhaps a thousand years ago; but not altogether the same use. It then served to protect its master, but now to turn a thread mill." Moat Lane and Mill Lane are the only names by which the memory of the old house is now retained. The thread mill spoken of by Hutton gave place to a brass or iron foundry, and the property being purchased by the Commissioners, the whole was cleared off the ground in 1815 or 1816, the sale of the building materials, &c., taking place July 5, 1815. Among the "lots" sold, the Moat House and offices adjoining realised L290; the large gates at the entrance with the brick pillars, L16; the bridge, L11; the timber trees, L25; a fire engine with carriage, &c., L6 15s. (possibly some sort of steam engine, then called fire engines); the total produce, including counting-house, warehouse, casting, tinning, burnishing, blacking, and blacksmiths' shops, a horse mill, scouring mill, and a quantity of wood sheds and palisading, amounted to nearly L1,150. The prosaic minds of the Commissioners evidently did not lead them to value "the apartments where the ancient lords kept their court," or it had been turned into a scouring or tinning shop, for no mention was made of it in the catalogue of sale, and as the old Castle disappeared, so did the Manor House, leaving not a stone behind. Mr. William Hamper took a sketch of the old house, in May, 1814, and he then wrote of the oldest part of the building, that it was "half-timbered," and seemingly of about Henry VIII.'s time, or perhaps a little later, but some of the timbers had evidently been used in a former building (probably the old Manorial residence) as the old mortices were to be seen in several of the beams and uprights. The house itself was cleared away in May, 1816, and the last of the outbuildings in the following month. So perfect was the clearance, that not even any of the foundations have been turned up during the alterations lately effected in Smithfield Market. In 1746, the "manorial rights" were purchased by Thomas Archer, of Umberslade, from whose descendants they were acquired by the Commissioners, in 1812, under an Act of Parliament obtained for the purpose, the price given for the Manor House, meat, and ground, being L5,672, in addition to L12,500, for "market tolls," &c.

Manufactures.—For a few notes respecting the manufactures carried on in Birmingham, see "Trades."

Maps of Birmingham.—Westley's "Plan of Birmingham, surveyed in the year 1731," is the earliest published map yet met with; Bradford's in 1750, is the next. Hanson's of 1778, was reduced for Hutton's work, in 1781. For the third edition, 1792, Pye's map was used, and it was added to in 1795. 1800 saw Bissett's "Magnificent Directory" published, with a map; and in 1815 Kempson's survey was taken, and, as well as Pye's, was several times issued with slight alterations, as required. In 1825, Pigott Smith's valuable map, with names of landowners (and a miniature copy of Westley's in upper left-hand corner), was issued, and for many years it was the most reliable authority that could be referred to. 1834 was prolific in maps; Arrowsmith's, Wrightson and Webb's, Guest's, and Hunt's, appearing, the best of them being the first-named. The Useful Knowledge Society's map, with views of public buildings, was issued in 1844, and again in 1849. In 1848, Fowler and Son published a finely-engraved map, 68-1/4in. by 50-1/2in., of the parish of Aston, with the Duddeston-cum-Nechells, Deritend, and Bordesley wards, and the hamlets of Erdington, Castle Bromwich, Little Bromwich, Saltley, and Washwood Heath, Water Orton, and Witton. The Board of Health map was issued in 1849; Guest's reissued in 1850; Blood's "ten-mile map" in 1853; and the Post-office Directory map in 1854. In the next year, the Town Council street map (by Pigott Smith) was published, followed by Moody's in 1858, Cornish's and Granger's in 1860, and also a corrected and enlarged edition of the Post-office Directory map. A variety, though mostly of the nature of street maps, have appeared since then, the latest, most useful, and correct (being brought down to the latest date) being that issued to their friends, mounted for use, by Messrs. Walter Showell and Sons, at whose head offices in Great Charles Street copies can be obtained.—In 1882 the Corporation reproduced and issued a series of ancient and hitherto private maps of the town and neighbourhood, which are of great value to the historian and everyone interested in the land on which Birmingham and its suburbs are built. The first of these maps in point of date is that of the Manor of Edgbaston 1718, followed by that of the Manor of Aston 1758, Little Bromwich Manor 1759, Bordesley Manor 1760, Saltley Manor 1760, Duddeston and Nechells Manors 1778, and of Birmingham parish 1779. The last-named was the work of a local surveyor, John Snape, and it is said that he used a camera obscura of his own construction to enable him to make his work so perfect that it served as correct guide to the map makers for fifty years after.

Markets.—Some writers have dated the existence of Birmingham as a market town as being prior to the Norman Conquest, charters (they say) for the holding of markets having been granted by both Saxon and Danish Kings. That market was held here at an early period is evident from the fact of the charter therefore being renewed by Richard I., who visited the De Berminghams in 1189. The market day has never been changed from Thursday, though Tuesday and Saturday besides are now not enough; in fact, every day may be called market day, though Thursday attracts more of our friends from the country. The opening of Smithfield (May 29, 1817) was the means of concentrating the markets for horses, pigs, cattle, sheep, and farm produce, which for years previously had been offered for sale in New Street, Ann Street, High Street, and Dale End. The Market tolls, for which L12,500 was paid in 1812, produced L5,706 10s. 5d. in the year 1840.

Cattle Market.—Prior to 1769 cattle were sold in High Street; in that year their standings were removed to Dale End, and in 1776 (Oct. 28.) to Deritend. Pigs and sheep were sold in New Street up to the opening of Smithfield. Some five-and-twenty years back a movement was set on foot for the removal of the Cattle Market to the Old Vauxhall neighbourhood, but the cost frightened the people, and the project was shelved. The "town improvers" of to-day, who play with thousands of pounds as children used to do at chuck-farthing, are not so easily baulked, and the taxpayers will doubtless soon have to find the cash for a very much larger Cattle Market in some other part of the borough. A site has been fixed upon in Rupert Street by the "lords in Convention," but up to now (March, 1885), the question is not quite settled.

Corn Market.—The ancient market for corn, or "Corn Cheaping," formed, part of "le Bul ryng" which at one time was almost the sole place of traffic of our forefathers. At first an open space, as the market granted by the early Norman Kings grew in extent, the custom arose of setting up stalls, the right to do which was doubtless bought of the Lords of the Manor. These grew into permanent tenements, and stallages, "freeboards," shambles, and even houses (some with small gardens abutting on the unfenced churchyard), gradually covered the whole ground, and it ultimately cost the town a large sum to clear it, the Commissioners, in 1806-7, paying nearly L25,000 for the purpose. The farmers of a hundred years ago used to assemble with their samples of grain round the Old Cross, or High Cross, standing nearly opposite the present Market Hall steps, and in times of scarcity, when bread was dear, they needed the protection of special constables.

Fish Market.—In April, 1851, the fishmongers' stalls were removed from Dale End, and the sale was confined to the Market Hall, but consequent on the increase of population, and therefore of consumption, a separate market, at corner of Bell Street, was opened in 1870, and that is now being enlarged.

Hide and Skin Market.—The sale of these not particularly sweet-smelling animal products was formerly carried on in the open at Smithfield, but a special market for them and for tallow was opened May 25, 1850; the same building being utilised as a wool market July 29, 1851.

Vegetable Market, so long held in the Bull Ring, is now principally held in the covered portion of Smithfield, which promises to be soon a huge wholesale market.

Marriages.—This is the style in which these interesting events used to chronicled:—

"Sept. 30, 1751. On Monday last, the Rev. Mr. Willes, a relation of the Lord Chief Justice Willes, was married to Miss Wilkins, daughter of an eminent grocer of this town, a young lady of great merit, and handsome fortune."

"Nov. 23, 1751. On Tuesday last, was married at St. Mary-le-Bow, in Cheapside, Mr. W. Welch, an eminent hardware man of Birmingham, to Miss Nancy Morton, of Sheffield, an agreeable young lady, with a handsome fortune."

"June 4, 1772 (and not before as mentioned by mistake) at St. Philip's Church in this town, Mr. Thomas Smallwood, an eminent wine merchant, to Miss Harris, a young lady of distinguished accomplishments, with a fortune of L1,500."

Masshouse Lane.—Takes its name from the Roman Catholic Church (or Mass House, as such edifices were then called) erected in 1687, and dedicated to St. Mary Magdalen and St. Francis. The foundation stone was laid March 23, in the above year, and on 16th August, 1688, the first stone of a Franciscan Convent was laid adjoining to the Church, which latter was consecrated Sept. 4. The Church was 95ft long by 33ft. wide, and towards the building of it and the Convent, James II. gave 125 "tuns of timber," which were sold for L180; Sir John Gage gave timber valued at L140; the Dowager Queen Catherine gave L10 15s.; and a Mrs. Anne Gregg, L250. This would appear to have been the first place of worship put up here by the Romish Church since the time of Henry VIII., and it was not allowed to stand long, for the Church and what part of the Convent was built (in the words of the Franciscan priest who laid the first stone) "was first defaced, and most of it burrent within to near ye vallue of 400lb., by ye Lord Dellamer's order upon ye 26 of November, 1688, and ye day sevennight following ye rabble of Birmingham begon to pul ye Church and Convent down, and saesed not until they had pulled up ye fundations. They sold ye materials, of which many houses and parts of houses are built in ye town of Birmingham, ye townsmen of ye better sort not resisting ye rabble, but quietly permitting, if not prompting them to doe itt." The poor priests found shelter at Harborne, where there is another Masshouse Lane, their "Masshouse" being a little further on in Pritchett's Lane, where for nearly a century the double work of conducting a school and ministering to their scattered Catholic flock was carried on, the next local place of worship built here being "St. Peters's Chapel," off Broad Street, erected about 1786. It is believed that St. Bartholomew's Church covers the site of the short-lived "Mass House."

Masonic.—That the Freemasons are many among us is proved by the number of their Lodges, but the writer has no record throwing light on their past local history, though mention is found now and then in old newspapers of their taking part in the ceremonies attending the erection of more than one of our public buildings. Of their local acts of benevolence they sayeth naught, though, as is well-known, their charity is never found wanting. The three Masonic charitable institutions which are supported by the voluntary contributions of the craft during 1883 realised a total income of L55,994 14s. 3d. Of this sum the boys' school received L24,895 7s. 1d.; the Benevolent Institution, L18,449 6s.; and the girls' school, L12,650 1s. 2d. The largest total attained previous to 1883 was in 1880, when the sum amounted to L49,763. The boys' school, which is now at the head of the list, is boarding, housing clothing, and educating 221 boys; the Benevolent Institution, the second on the list, is granting annuities of L40 each to 172 men and L32 each to 167 widows; and the girls' school houses, boards, clothes, and educates 239 girls, between the ages of seven and sixteen. The boys leave school at fifteen. During the year L8,675 has been granted to 334 cases of distress from the Fund of Benevolence, which is composed of 4s. a year taken from every London Mason's subscription to his lodge and 2s. a year from every country Mason's subscription. The local lodges meet as follows:—At the Masonic Hall, New Street: St. Paul's Lodge, No. 43; the Faithful Lodge, No. 473; the Howe Lodge, No. 587; the Howe R.A. Chapter; the Howe Mark Master's Lodge; the Howe Preceptory of Knight Templars; the Temperance Lodge, No. 739; the Leigh Lodge, No. 887; the Bedford Lodge, No. 925; the Bedford R.A. Chapter; the Grosvenor Lodge, No. 938; the Grosvenor R.A. Chapter; the Elkington Lodge, No 1,016; the Elkington R.A. Chapter; the Fletcher Lodge, No. 1,031; the Fletcher R.A. Chapter; the Lodge of Emulation, No. 1,163; the Forward Lodge, No. 1,180; the Lodge of Charity, No. 1,551; and the Alma Mater Lodge, No. 1,644. At the Masonic Hall, Severn Street: The Athol Lodge, No. 74; the Athol R.A. Chapter; the Athol Mark Master's Lodge; and the Lodge of Israel, No. 1,474. At the Great Western Hotel: The Lodge of Light, No. 468; the R.A. Chapter of Fortitude; and the Vernon Chapter of S.P.R.C. of H.R.D.M., No. 5. At the Holte Hotel, Aston: The Holte Lodge, No. 1,246.

Matches.—Baker's are best, the maker says. Lucifer matches were the invention of a young German patriot, named Kammerer, who beguiled his time in prison (in 1832) with chemical experiments, though a North of England apothecary, Walker, lays claim to the invention. They were first made in Birmingham in 1852, but they have not, as yet, completely driven the old-fashioned, and now-despised tinder-box out of the world, as many of the latter are still manufactured in this town for sundry foreign parts.

Mecca.—The late Mr. J.H. Chamberlain, shortly before his death, said that he looked upon Birmingham, "perhaps with a foolish pride," as the Holy City, the Mecca of England; where life was fuller of possibilities of utility—happier, broader, wiser, and a thousand times better than it was in any other town in the United Kingdom.

Mechanical Engineers.—The Institution of Mechanical Engineers was organised in this town, in October 1847, but its headquarters were removed to London, in 1877.

Mechanics' Institute.—The proposal to form a local institution of a popular nature, for the encouragement of learning among our workers, like unto others which had been established in several large places elsewhere, was published in June, 1825, and several meetings were held before December 27, when officers were chosen, and entry made of nearly 200 members, to start with, the subscription being 5/-per quarter. The formal opening took place March 21, 1826, the members assembling in Mount Zion Chapel, to hear an address from Mr. B. Cook, the vice-president. The class-rooms, library, and reading-rooms, were at the school attached to the Old Meeting House, and here the Institution, so far as the conduct of classes, and the imparting of knowledge went, thrived and prospered. Financially, however, though at one time there were nearly 500 members, it was never successful, possibly through lack of assistance that might have been expected from the manufacturers and large employers, for, hide it as we may, with a few honourable exceptions, that class, fifty years ago, preferred strong men to wise ones, and rather set their banks against opening the doors of knowledge to their workpeople, or their children. It was a dozen years before the Institution was able to remove to a home of its own in Newhall Street, but it rapidly got into a hopeless state of debt. To lessen this incubus, and provide funds for some needed alterations, the committee decided to hold an exhibition of "manufactures, the fine arts, and objects illustrative of experimental philosophy, &c." The exhibition was opened Dec. 19, 1839, and in all ways was a splendid success, a fairly-large sum of money being realised. Unfortunately, a second exhibition was held in the following years, when all the profits of the former were not only lost, but so heavy an addition made to the debt, that it may be said to have ruined the institution completely. Creditors took possession of the premises in January, 1842, and in June operations were suspended, and, notwithstanding several attempts to revive the institution, it died out altogether. As the only popular educational establishment open to the young men of the time, it did good work, many of its pupils having made their mark in the paths of literature, art, and science.

Medical Associations.—According to the "Medical Register" there are 35 physicians and 210 surgeons resident in the borough, and there are rather more than 300 chemists and druggists. According to a summary of the census tables, the medical profession "and their subordinates" number in Birmingham and Aston 940, of whom 376 are males and 564 females. In 1834, at Worcester, under the presidency of Dr. Johnson, of this town, the Provincial Medical and Surgical Association was formed for encouraging scientific research, improving the practice of medicine, and generally looking after the interests of the profession. In 1856 the name was changed to The British Medical Association, with head offices in London, but prior to that branches had been established in various large towns, the Birmingham and Midland Counties' branch being foremost, holding its first meeting at Dee's Hotel, in December, 1854. The society has now about 9,000 members, with a reserve fund of L10,000; in the local branch there are 359 members, who subscribe about L150 per annum. —The Birmingham Medical Institute was launched Feb. 5, 1876, but the question of admitting homeopathists as members was nearly the upsetting of the craft at the first meeting; thanks to the sails being trimmed with a little common sense, however, the difficulty was tided over. The opening of the Institute in Edmund Street took place December 17, 1880. The cost of the building was about L6,000, and the purposes to which it is applied are the providing accommodation for meetings of the profession and the housing of the valuable medical library of over 6,000 books. As something worthy of note, it may be mentioned that the Institute was opened free from debt, the whole cost being previously subscribed.

Memorials and Monuments.—See "Statues," &c.

Men of Worth.—The "Toy-shop of the World," the home of workers, free from the blue blood of titled families, and having but few reapers of "unearned increment," is hardly the place to look for "men of worth or value" in a monetary point of view, but we have not been without them. A writer in Gazette, September 1, 1828, reckoned up 120 inhabitants who were each worth over L10,000 each; 50 worth over L20,000; 16 worth over L50,000; 9 worth over L100,000; 3 worth over L200,000; 2 worth over L300,000 each, and 1 worth over L400,000. Taking certain Income Tax Returns and other information for his basis another man of figures in 1878 made calculations showing that there were then among us some 800 persons worth more than L5,000 each, 200 worth over L10,000, 50 worth over L20,000, 35 worth over L50,000, 26 worth over L100,000, 12 worth over L250,000, 5 worth over L500,000, and 2 worth over or near L1,000,000 each.

Mercia.—In 585, this neighbourhood formed part of the Heptarchic kingdom of Mercia, under Cridda; in 697, Mercia was divided into four dioceses; this district being included in that of Lichfield; in 878, Mercia was merged in the kingdom of England. According to Bede and the Saxon Chronicles, Beorned was, in 757, king of Mercia, of which Birmingham formed part, and in Canute's reign there was an Earl Beorn, the king's nephew, and it has been fancifully suggested that in this name Beorn may lie the much-sought root for the etymology of the town's name. Beorn, or Bern, being derived from ber, a bear or boar, it might be arranged thusly:—

Ber, bear or boar; moeng, many; ham, dwelling—the whole making Bermoengham, the dwelling of many bears, or the home of many pigs!

Metchley Camp.—At Metchley Park, about three miles from town, near to Harborne, there are the remains of an old camp or station which Hutton attributes to "those pilfering vermin, the Danes," other writers thinking it was constructed by the Romans, but it is hardly possible that an undertaking requiring such immense labour as this must have done, could have been overlooked in any history of the Roman occupation. More likely it was a stronghold of the native Britons who opposed their advance, a superstition borne out by its being adjacent to their line of Icknield Street, and near the heart of England. From a measurement made in 1822, the camp appears to have covered an area of about 15-1/2 acres. Hutton gives it as 30 acres, and describes a third embankment. The present outer vallum was 330 yards long by 228 wide, and the interior camp 187 yards long by 165 wide. The ancient vallum and fosse have suffered much by the lapse of time, by the occupiers partially levelling the ground, and by the passing through it of the Worcester and Birmingham canal, to make the banks of which the southern extremity of the camp was completely destroyed. Some few pieces of ancient weapons, swords and battle-axes, and portions of bucklers, have been found here, but nothing of a distinctively Roman or Danish character. As the fortification was of such great size and strength, and evidently formed for no mere temporary occupation, had either of those passers-by been the constructors we should naturally have expected that more positive traces of their nationality would have been found.

Methodism.—The introduction here must date from Wesley's first visit in March, 1738. In 1764, Moor Street Theatre was taken as a meeting place, and John Wesley opened it March 21. The new sect afterwards occupied the King Street Theatre. Hutton says:—"The Methodists occupied for many years a place in Steelhouse Lane, where the wags of the age observed, 'they were eaten out by the bugs.' They therefore procured the cast-off Theatre in Moor Street, where they continued to exhibit till 1782, when, quitting the stage, they erected a superb meeting house in Cherry Street, at the expense of L1,200. This was opened, July 7, by John Wesley, the chief priest, whose extensive knowledge and unblemished manners give us a tolerable picture of apostolic purity, who believed as if he were to be saved by faith, and who laboured as if he were to be saved by works." The note made by Wesley, who was in his 80th year, respecting the opening of Cherry Street Chapel, has been preserved. He says:—"July 6th, 1782. I came to Birmingham, and preached once more in the old dreary preaching-house. The next day I opened the new house at eight, and it contained the people well, but not in the evening, many more then constrained to go away. In the middle of the sermon a huge noise was heard, caused by the breaking of a bench on which some people stood. None of them were hurt; yet it occasioned a general panic at first, but in a few minutes all was quiet." Four years after the opening, Wesley preached in the chapel again, and found great prosperity. "At first," he wrote, "the preaching-house would not near contain the congregation. Afterwards I administered the Lord's Supper to about 500 communicants." Old as he then was, the apostle of Methodism came here a time or two after that, his last visit being in 1790. Many talented men have since served the Wesleyan body in this town, and the society holds a strong position among our Dissenting brethren. The minutes of the Wesleyan Conference last issued give the following statistics of the Birmingham and Shrewsbury District:—Church members, 18,875; on trial for membership, l,537; members of junior classes, 2,143; number of ministerial class leaders, 72; lay class leaders, 1,269; local or lay preachers, 769 (the largest number in any district except Nottingham and Derby, which has 798). There are 40 circuits in the district, of which 27 report an increase of membership, and 13 a decrease.—See "Places of Worship."

Methodism, Primitive.—The origin of the Primitive Methodist Connexion dates from 1808, and it sprung solely from the custom (introduced by Lorenzo Dow, from America, in the previous year) of holding "camp meetings," which the Wesleyan Conference decided to be "highly improper in England, even if allowable in America, and likely to be productive of considerable mischief," expelling the preachers who conducted them. A new society was the result, and the first service in this town was held in Moor Sreet, in the open air, near to the Public Office, in the summer of 1824. The first "lovefeast" took place, March 6, 1825, and the first "camp meeting," a few months later. A circuit was formed, the first minister being the Rev. T. Nelson, and in 1826, a chapel was opened in Bordesley Street, others following in due course of time, as the Primitives increased in number. The Birmingham circuit contains about 800 members, with over 2,000 Sunday School scholars, and 250 teachers.— See "Places of Worship."

Metric System.—This, the simplest decimal system of computation yet legalised is in use in France, Belgium, Holland, Italy, Spain, and other parts of Europe, as well as in Chili, Peru, Mexico, &c., and by 27 and 28 Vic., cap. 117, its use has been rendered legal in this country. As our local trade with the above and other countries is increasing (unfortunately in some respects), rules for working out the metric measures into English and vice versa may be useful. The unit of length is the metre (equal to 39.37 inches); it is divided into tenths (decimetres), hundredths (centimetres), and thousandths (millimetres), and it is multiplied by decimals in like way into hectometres, kilometres, and myriometres. The unit of weight is the gramme, divided as the metre into decigrammes, centigrammes, and milligrammes; multiplied into decagrammes, hectogrammes, and kilogrammes. The unit of capacity is the litre, divided and multiplied like the others.

1 inch equals 2-1/2 centimetres. 1 foot equals 3 decimetres. 1 mile equals 1-3/5 kilometres. 1 cwt. equals 50.8 kilogrammes. 1 ounce (troy) equals 31 grammes. 1 pound (troy) equals 3.72 decagrammes. 1 gallon equals 4-1/2 litres. 1 quart equals 1-1/16 litres. 1 metre equals 39.37 inches. 1 hectometre equals 109-1/3 yards. 1 cubic metre equals 61,027 cubic inches. 1 kilometre equals 1,093 yards. 1 decigramme equals 1-1/2 grains. 1 gramme equals 15 grains. 1 kilogramme equals 2-1/5 pounds (avoirdupois). 1 litre equals 1-3/4 pints.

To turn inches into millimetres add the figures 00 to the number of inches, divide by 4, and add the result two-fifths of the original number of inches.

To turn millimetres to inches add the figure 0 and divide by 254.

To make cubic inches into cubic centimetres multiply by 721 and divide by 44; cubic centimetres into cubic inches multiply by 44 and divide by 721.

To turn grains into grammes, multiply the number by 648 and divide the product by 10,000.

To turn grammes into grains, multiply by 10,000, dividing the result by 648.

The metric system is especially useful in our local jewellery and other trades, but it is very slowly making its way against the old English foot and yaid, even such a learned man as Professor Rankine poking fun at the foreign measures in a comic song of which two verses run:—

Some talk of millimetres, and some of kilogrammes, And some of decillitres to measure beer and drams; But I'm an English workman, too old to go to school, So by pounds I'll eat, by quarts I'll drink, and work by my two-foot rule.

A party of astronomers went measuring of the earth, And forty million metres they took to be its girth; Five hundred million inches now go through from pole to pole, So we'll stick to inches, feet, and yards, and our own old two-foot rule.

Mid-England.—Meriden, near Coventry, is believed to be about the centre spot of England.

Midland Institute.—Suggestions of some such an institution, to take the place of the defunct Mechanics', had several time appeared in print, but nothing definite was done in the matter until the subject was discussed (June 4, 1852) over the dinner table of Mr. Arthur Ryland. Practical shape being given to the ideas then advanced, a town's meeting on Dec. 3, 1853, sanctioned the grant by the Council of the land necessary for the erection of a proper building, and an Act of Incorporation was obtained in the following Parliamentiry session. In December 1854, Charles Dickens gave three readings in the Town Hall, in behalf of the building fund, whereby L227 13s. 9d. was realised, the donations then amounting to L8,467. The foundation stone was laid by Prince Albert, on Nov. 22, 1855, and the contract for the first part of the building given to Messrs. Branston and Gwyther for L12,000. The lecture theatre was opened Oct. 13, 1857, when addresses were delivered by Lord Brougham, Lord Russell, and Lord Stanley, the latter delivering the prizes to the students who had attended the classes, which were first started in October, 1854, at the Philosophical Institute. In 1859, the portrait of David Cox was presented to the Institute, forming the first contribution to the Fine Art Gallery, which was built on portion of the land originally given to the Institute, the whole of the buildings being designed by Mr. E.M. Barry. The amount subscribed to the building fund was about L18,000, and the coat, including furniture and apparatus more than L16,000. Great extension has been made since then, on the Paradise Street side, and many thousands spent on the enlargement, branch classes bring also held at several of the Board Schools to relieve the pressure on the Institute. In 1864, the members of the Institute numbered 660, and the students 880, with an income of L998; in January, 1874, there were 1,591 members, 733 family ticket holders. 2,172 students, and an income of L2,580. At the end of 1833, the number of annual subscribers was 1,900, and lecture ticket-holders 838. In the Industrial Department there were 4,334 students; the Archaeological Section numbered 226 members, and the musical Section 183. 108 students attended the Laws of Health classes, 220 the Ladies classes, and 36 the classes for preparation for matriculation. The benefits derived from the establishment of the Midland Institute, and the amount of useful, practical, and scientific knowledge disseminated by means of its classes among the intelligent working men of the town and the rising generation, is incalculable. These classes, many of which are open at the low fee of 1d., and some others specially for females, now include the whole of the following subjects:—English language and literature, English history, French, German, Latin, Greek, and Spanish, algebra, geometry, mensuration, trignometry, and arithmetic, music, drawing, writing, English grammar, and composition, botany, chemistry, experimental physics, practical mechanics, and metallurgy, elementary singing, physical geography, animal physiology, geology, practical plane and solid geometry, &c. The general position of the Institute with regard to finance was as follows:—Gross receipts in General Department, L3,281 5s. 6d.; expenditure in this department (including L998 1s. 6d. deficiency at the close of the year 1882), L3,088 17s. 2d.; balance in favour of the General Department, L192 8s. 4d. Gross receipts in Industrial Department, L1,747 13s.; expenditure in this department, L3,173 7s. 10d.; deficiency, Ll,425 14s. 10d., met by a transfer from the funds of the General Department. The total result of the year's operations in both departments left a deficiency of L1,233 6s. 6d. The amount due to bankers on the General Fund was L863 13s. 6d; and the amount standing to the credit of the Institute on the Repairs Account is L440 12s. 2d. It is much to be regretted that there is a total debt on the Institute, amounting to L19,000, the paying of interest on which sadly retards its usefulness. Many munificent donations have been made to the funds of the Institute from time to time, one being the sum of L3,000, given by an anonymous donor in 186[**], "in memory of Arthur Ryland." In August, same year, it was announced that the late Mr. Alfred Wilkes had bequeathed the bulk of his estate, estimated at about L100,000, in trust for his two sisters during their lives, with reversion in equal shares to the General Hospital and the Midland Institute, being a deferred benefaction of L50,000 to each.

Midland Metropolis.—Birmingham was so entitled because it was the largest town, and has more inhabitants than any town in the centre of England. To use a Yankeeism, it is "the hub" of the Kingdom; here is the throbbing heart of all that is Liberal in the political life of Europe; this is the workshop of the world, the birth-spot of the steam-engine, and the home of mock jewellery. In all matters political, social, and national, it takes the lead, and if London is the Metropolis of all that is effete and aristocratic, Birmingham has the moving-power of all that is progressive, recuperative and advancing. When Macaulay's New Zealander sits sadly viewing the silent ruins of the once gigantic city on the Thames, he will have the consolation of knowing that the pulse-beats of his progenitors will still be found in the Mid-England Metropolis, once known as the town of Burningsham or Birmingham.