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Mr,  and  Mrs.  James  B* 

Adams 


STANFORD   UNIVERSITY   LIBRARIES 


OLD  AND   NEW   BIRMINGHAM. 


**  A«k  Britain  who  gives  her  the  sjKiar  ami  the  sliield. 
The  helmet,  the  sword — her  ilefencf  in  the  fielil  ? 
Ask  Science  (from  Science  the  tribute  is  due) 
Who  gives  her  the  lever,  the  wedge,  and  the  screw  ? 
Ask  Ceres  (for  Ceres  the  cliiini  will  allow) 
Who  gives  her  the  sickle,  the  scythe,  and  the  plough  ? 
'Tis  Birmingham  ! " 

—William    Hamper. 


Old  and  New  Birmingham: 


A  HISTORY  OF 

The   Town  and  Its  People. 


BV 


ROBERT    K.    DENT. 


'  *  So  describe, 
That  you  shall  fairly  streets  and  buildings  trace, 
And  all  tl^at  gives  distinction  to  the  place." 

— CllABBE. 


WITH  NEARLY  200  ILLUSTRATIONS  FROM  THE  MOST  AUTHENTIC  SOURCES. 


BIRMINGHAM : 
HOUGHTON    AND    HAMMOND,    SCOTLAND    PASSAGE. 


1880. 


SAM:    TIMMINS,    ESQ.,    J.P.,    F.S.A., 

WHOSE   LABOURS  IN   THE   DEPARTMENT  OF  ARCHEOLOGY 
ENTITLE  HIM   TO   REPRESENT 

0  L  1)     1]  1  K  M  INGHAM; 


JOSEPH    CHAMBERLAIN,    ESQ,    M.P, 

WHO    HAS,    BY    H18   CONSTANT    EFFORTS   FOR   TlIK   WKLFARE    OF 
THE   TOWN,    RENDERED 

X  K  w      n  I  R  M  I  N  G  n  A  M 

FAMOUS    AND    riloSPKlKK's, 


nns  niHTouY  of 


OLD    AND    NEW    BIRMINGHAM" 


IS     UKDICATEl),     AS     A     T(»KKN     OF     IIIK    MNMEKKST    AI».M  1 1:  A I  I<>N     AND     UKSPKCT, 


AUTHOR    AND    PUBLISHERS. 


PREFACE. 

i 

I  DARE  not  hope  that  this  book  will  satisfy  the  requirements  of  the  antiquary,  or  of 
those  learned  in  the  ancient  history  of  our  town,  as  the  space  at  my  disposal — in 
order  to  bring  the  entire  history  within  the  compass  of  a  popular  volume — does  not 
allow  of  my  entering  upon  the  minuticc  of  local  archaeology.  But  I  have  endeavoured 
to  omit  nothing  of  interest  from  the  early  history  of  the  town  I  love  so  well,  and  have 
striven  to  present  an  accumte  pictuie  of  old  lUrmingham,  as  well  as  of  the  Birmingham 
of  to-day. 

1  have  also  endeavoured  to  weave  into  the  story  of  the  town  some  account 
of  those  who  have  helped  to  rnake  her  what  she  has  become.  The  lives  of  William 
Hutton  and  John  Baskerville,  of  Matthew  Boulton,  James  Watt,  and  Joseph  l^iiestley, 
are  as  much  a  part  of  the  history  of  the  town  as  the  story  of  the  rise  of  her 
institutions. 

It  has  been  my  aim  to  preserve,  as  far  as  it  is  practicable,  the  chronological 
secjuence  of  the  events  in  our  local  history,  endeavouring  to  keep  the  various  portions 
of  the  story  abreast,  so  to  speak,  and  to  give  as  completely  as  possible  the  jucture 
of  each  period  by  itself, — rather  than  to  trace  out  the  entire  history  of  each  of  the 
various  institutions  separately.  How  far  I  have  succeeded  it  will  be  for  the  reader 
to  judge. 

I  need  scarcely  say  that  the  work  could  not  possibly  have  been  accomplished 
without  the  kind  assistance  of  tliose  who  possess  original  documents,  or  rare  books 
and  prints,  who  have  generously  placed  these  valuable  materials  at  my  disposal.  The 
cordial  manner  in  which  the  authors  of  tlie  many  valuable  works  on  the  history  of 
various  local  institutions,  etc.,  have  permitted  me  to  make  use  of  those  storehouses 
of  local  history  has  also  greatly  encouraged  me,  and  I  here  tender  to  them  my 
grateful  thanks   for  the   incalculable   assistance   I   have  received   therefrom. 

My  thanks  are  due  to  Mr.  W.  Bates,  B.A.,  Mr.  J.  T.  Bunco,  Dr.  J.  A.  Langford, 
and  Mr.  Sam:  TimmuLS,  for  permission  to  quote  from  tlieir  various  works  relating 
to  Birmingham,  and  I  have  also  to  acknowledge  my  indebtedness  to  the  works  of 
William  Hutton,  W.  Hawkes  Smith,  and  J.  Toulmin  Smith,  and  to  the  "Hints 
for  a  History  (»f  Birmingham,"  by  Mr.  James  Jalfiay.  Many  rare  and  valuable 
books,   prints,   MSS.,   pamphlets,   and   broadsides   have    been   very   kindly    lent    to    me 


VIU.  PREFACE. 

by  Mr.  Alderman  Avery,  Mr.  W.  Bates,  B.A.,  Mr.  W.  Franks  Beale,  Mr.  R  Birbeck, 
Mr.  W.  Buncher,  Mr.  W.  Downing,  Mr.  Joseph  Hill,  Mr.  J.  Hitchman,  Mr.  Joseph 
Lander,  Mr.  Oliver  Pemberton,  Mr.  Sam :  Timmins,  and  Mr.  J.  Wilson,  and  to  theM 
my  sincerest  thanks  are  due,  as  also  to  Mr.  J.  D.  Mullins,  and  Mr.  C.  K  Souii^ 
for  their  great  kindness  in  permitting  me  to  make  use  of  the  Birmingham  books  ifi^ 
the  libraries  under  their  superintendence.  '► 

I  should  be  wanting  in  gratitude  if    I    did    not    also  acknowledge  here   tbll^ 

thanks  I  owe  to  the  publishers,  Messrs.  Houghton  and  Hammond,  for  the  manner  m  . 

which    they    have    entered    into    the    work,  and    also   for    the    great    kindness    sad 

consideration  which  has    rendered    its   publication  one  of   the  pleasantest  experiences 

of  my  life. 

R  K  D. 

AaUnif  November  Both,  1879. 


^ 


LD  AND  NEW  BIRMINGHAM. 


Is  the  far  went  of  Americii  there  Iiave  grown  up  within  the 
memory  of  thoii^nda  now  livings  great  and  pojitLlous  citioe, 
aboiimlmg  in  handsome  buOdinga,  with  llioroughfares  which 
have  olnjady  taken  rank  among  the  **  streets  of  the  worlds'* 
— cities  which  twenty  veara  ago  were  not  thought  worthy 
*if  the  briefest  notice  in  the  gazetteer  or  geogi'nphy,  which  were 
in  fact  little  better  than  rude  back  wood  settlement*,  eelcctcd 
hy  the  emigrant  settler  on  account  of  their  nalnral  advantage* 
The  history  of  such  a  city  will  naturally  be  brief,  and  easOy 
traced  out  Extending  over  only  bsilf  a  lifetime^  its  bejrinnivg.i 
will  be  within  the  memory  not  merely  of  "the  oldest  inha- 
hilimt,"  hut  of  many  who  cannot  lay  claim  to  Hiat  proud 
distinction,  Bnt  where  the  growth  of  a  great  town  has 
been  the  work  of  centuries,  rather  than  of  decades,  where  it 
has  existed  as  a  small  town  or  village  for  some  hundreds  of 
years, — as  is  the  case  with  many  of  the  large  towns  and  cities 
of  England,  the  tracing  out  of  its  early  histor}^  is  a  matter  of 
greater  difhculty,  and  is  in  some  cases  almost  an  impossibility. 
The  little  village  or  town,  having  existed  for  so  long  a  period 
Ik? fore  it  became  of  sufficient  importance  to  excite  uny  interest 
in  its  history,  its  origin  and  early  history  are  not  unfreijuently 


2 


OLD  AND  NEW   BIRMINGHAM. 


[Introductory. 


shrouded  in  dense  obscurity,  which  the  most 
painstaking  research  fails  to  dispel. 

Such,  to  a  considerable  extent,  is  the  case  with 
the  town  of  which  we  are  about  to  write;  and 
although  we  shall  find  liere  and  there  a  ray  of  light 
tlirown  on  our  path  by  the  labours  and  researches 
of  the  worthy  historians  who  have  preceded  us, 
we  shall  be  able  to  give  but  a  brief  outline  of 
the  early  history  of  that  little  Warwickshire  vil- 
lage which  has,  by  the  industry  and  ingenuity 
of  its  inhabitants,  so  outgrown  its  ancient  limits 
as  to  take  high  rank  among  the  great  cities  of 
the  empire,  and  has  become  famous  all  over  the 
world,  as  the  home  of  the  arts,  the  birthplace  of 
many  of  the  most  useful  inventions  which  have 
blessed  mankind,  and  one  of  the  great  centi'es  of 
intellectual  and  political  liberty. 

"  Boston  State-House,"  says  the  most  delightful 
essayist  of  our  time,  "is  the  hub  of  the  solar 
system.  .  .  .  Cockneys  think  London  is  the 
only  place  in  the  world.  ...  It  is  quite  as 
bad  with  smaller  places.  .  .  .  The  axis  of  the 
earth  sticks  out  visibly  through  the  centre  of 
each  and  every  town  or  city."  *  We  fear  our  love 
and  veneration  for  Birmingham — the  old  and  the 
new  alike — ^may  lead  us  into  a  similar  weakness, 
one  of  which  almost  every  good  citizen  of  Bir- 
mingham is  guilty,  for  one  of  the  most  notable 
traits  in  the  character  of  Birmingham  men  and 
women  is  their  attachment  to,  and  love  of,  the  town 
of  their  birth  or  adoption.  We  must  crave  the 
forgiveness,  therefore,  of  outsiders  who  may  read 
these  notices  of  Old  and  New  Birmingham,  if  in 
our  records  of  its  history  we  may  seem  to  them  to 
be  guilty  of  the  Bostonian  error  of  supposing  our 
town  to  be  the  centre  of  the  universe,  or  of 
ignoring  the  fact  that  there  are,  up  and  down 
our  world,  greater  cities  than  that  of  which 
we  write — cities  which  can  boast  of  an  antiquity 
which  makes  the  earliest  records  of  our  own 
seem  to  be  but  things  of  yesterday,  and  which 
may  point  to  a  history  beside  which  our  own 
annals  may  appear  but  as  "  small  beer  chronicles  " 


OUTir  Wcnddl  Holmes:  AmioenU  tifiU  BnO^fiui  ToMc 


and  simple  village  records.  But  we  are  conscious 
of  these  facts,  and  it  is  for  this  reason  that  we 
would  warn  all  who  seek  for  chronicles  filled  with 
the  records  of  brilliant  pageants  and  pompous 
ceremonials,  the  doings  of  courts  and  the  for- 
tunes of  court  favourites,  that  in  turning  over 
these  pages  they  will  be  wofully  disappointed. 
Boyal  visits  to  Birmingham  have  been  few  and 
far  between,  and  have  not  always  conduced  to 
the  happiness  and  comfort  of  the  royal  visitors; 
no  decrees  or  edicts,  so  far  as  we  are  aware,  have 
ever  been  "given  at  our  Court  at  Birmingham,"' 
and  no  building  now  standing,  or  that  ever  has 
stood,  in  the  great  hardwai'e  village,  has  at  any 
time  been  used  as  a  palace  of  royalty. 

But  if  the  reader  be  interested  in  the  history  of 
industrial  progress,  in  "  the  story  of  our  lives  from 
year  to  year,"  in  this  busy  hive  of  workers, — if  he 
has  any  desire  to  trace  the  growth  of  Birmingham 
from  the  little  village  of  one  street,  as  Leland  saw 
it  in  the  beginning  of  the  sixteenth  century,  to 
the  great  midland  metropolis  of  the  last  quarter 
of  the  nineteenth  century,  then  we  will  endeavour 
to  fulfil  his  expectations. 

We  shall  try  to  picture  the  town,  both  by  pen 
and  pencil,  as  it  was  in  its  infancy,  to  look  upon 
it  in  its  lusty  youth,  when  the  stem  suppoiten 
of  Cromwell  and  his  Parliament  were  fighting 
against  their  king  and  his  courtiers, — ^in  its  early 
manhood,  when  Samuel  Johnson,  then  unknown 
to  fame  and  unable  to  obtain  an  entrance  into 
the  inner  world  of  letters,  first  made  his  abode 
here,  and  spent  his  leisure  hours  in  translating 
Lobo*s  Voyage  to  Abyssinia^ — and  to  journey 
hither  and  thither  through  the  old  streeis  and 
into  the  old  places  of  resort,  now  into  the  church 
and  among  the  tombs,  anon  into  the  theatres  and 
other  places  of  amusement  and  recreation,  here 
in  the  tavern  club  among  the  old  newsmongers, 
politicians,  and  scribblers,  and  there  amid  the  din 
of  anvils  and  hammers,  watching  the  stout  work- 
men as  they  help  to  lay  the  foundation  of  Bir- 
mingham's  future  gzeatneM^  by  tibuir  canning 
handicraft,  which  even  in  Camd#iiU  diy  was 


The  Hanor  and  its  Lonls.] 


OLD  A^^D  NEW   BIRMINGHAM. 


3 


heard  of  as  far  away  as  London  and  even 
Ireland.  As  we  pass  out  of  the  eighteenth 
century  we  shall  find  ourselves  now  and  then 
among  the  men  who  helped  to  gain  for  us 
onr  political  freedom,  and  to  secure  for  our 
town  a  voice  in  the  councils  of  the  nation.  We 
shall  stand  once  more  amid  the  throng  on 
Xewhall  Hill,  as  they  solemnly  promise  to  sacri- 
fice themselves,  their  homes,  and  their  families 
on  the  altar  of  freedom;  we  shall  not  forget  to 
pay  a   visit   to   the  great   Soho   factory,  where 


Boulton  and  Watt  and  their  associates  are  en- 
gaged in  the  production  of  that  which  kings 
strive  most  to  possess — Power;  and  we  shall 
watch  the  growth  of  the  new  Borough,  one 
long  series  of  triumphs  over  injustice  and  social 
inequality,  over  vice,  and  wretchedness,  and 
ignorance,  until  the  name  of  Birmingham  has 
become  almost  synonymous  with  good  govern- 
ment, and  the  greatest  of  English  statesmen 
point  thereto,  as  an  example  which  other  towns 
would  do  well  to  imitate. 


CHAPTER     I. 
THE    MANOR    AND    ITS    LORDS. 

Tlie  DmnMday  Surrey-  -Etymology  of  the  Name— Tho  Story  of  the  Bermingliams— Api>earanee  of  the  Town  in  the  twelfth  centnry  - 
81  Martin's  Chorch— The  Monuments— Appearance  of  tlie  (luiKhed  medieval  church. 


"Richard  holds  of  William  [Fitz-Ausculf]  four 
hides  in  Bermingham,  The  arable  employs  six 
ploughs  ;  one  is  in  the  demesne.  There  are  five 
villeins  and  four  bordars,  with  two  ploughs. 
Wood  half  a  mile  long  and  four  furlongs  broad. 
It  was  and  is  worth  203."  In  this  brief  passage, 
translated  from  the  great  Domesday  Book  of 
William  the  Conqueror,  we  have  the  first  mention 
of  the  place  which  in  after  ages  was  to  bo  known 
not  merely  as  *  the  Toyshop  of  Euroj)e,'  but  as 
the  great  hardware  manufactory  of  the  world — 
which  should  supply  many  of  the  most  iudis- 
j»en sable  articles  of  daily  use,  not  merely  to  the 
rities  of  the  Continent,  but  to  the  emigrant  in  the 
bush  and  the  backwoods ;  to  the  half-savage  inha- 
bitant of  the  heart  of  Africa,  and  the  islander  of  the 
»S«»uth  Seas — a  great  hive  of  toilers  whose  handi- 
work should  go  forth  to  the  ends  of  the  earth. 

**  A  hide,"  says  Hutton,  "  was  as  much  as  a 
team  could  conveniently  plough  in  a  year,  per- 
hai»s  about  fifty  acres.  I  think  there  are  not 
now  more  than  two  hundred  ploughed  in  the 
parish."  Speaking  of  the  "  wood  half  a  mile  long 
and  four  furlongs  broad,"  he  observes, — "  What 
difference   subsisted   between   half  a  mile  and 


four  furlongs,  in  ancient  times,  is  uncertain; 
we  know  of  none  now.  The  mile  was  reduced 
to  its  present  standard  in  the  reign  of  Queen 
Elizabeth  :  neither  are  there  the  least  traces  of 
those  woods,  for  at  this  day  it  is  difficult  to  find 
a  stick  that  deserves  the  name  of  a  tree,  in  the 
whole  manor."  Let  us  hope  the  next  generation 
of  Birmingham  men  and  women  may  find  matters 
improved  in  this  particular,  and  that  the  youthful 
trees  recently  planted  in  various  parts  of  the 
borough  may,  in  years  to  come,  afibrd  pleasant 
shade,  and  help  to  beautify  our  streets,  and  thus 
restore  something  of  the  old  pleasantly-wooded 
ai)pearance  to  our  town. 

The  etymology  of  the  name  of  the  town  has  at 
all  times  been  a  bone  of  contention  among  local 
antiquaries,  from  Ilutton  downwards.  According 
to  Dr.  Langford,  there  are  at  least  one  hundred 
and  forty  different  ways  of  spelling  the  word. 
William  Hutton,  misled  by  the  common  corrup- 
tion of  the  name  into  Brommigeham,  or  Brum- 
magem, beheved  the  original  to  have  been 
Bromwi/ch ;  "  Brom,  perhaps,  from  broom,  a 
shrub  for  the  growth  of  which  the  soil  is 
extremely  favourable;    Wych,   a  dwelling,  or  a 


OLD  AND  NEW   BlRMINcUlAM. 


tTliF  lienor  rail  Ite  Uinb 


descent/*  Thb,  he  8upjx:»se^,  may  have  been  iU 
Duly  name  for  many  ccnturiea,  until,  **a  .^rics 
oi  prosperity  attending  it,  it«  lord  mij^ht  aasimie 
it-s  name,  reside  in  it,  and  the  particle  ham 
['*  Rromwych's  home"]  would  naturally  follow. 
Tlua  vtMry  probably  happened  under  the  Saxon 
Heptarchy^  and  the  name  was  no  othor  than 
Bromwtjt'htWh**  But  the  original  name  was  not 
Ih'omwych,  nor  even  Bromwicham,  but  Ber- 
niiiigeham  or  Bermingham,  as  we  have  aeen  from 
the  entry  in  Boraesdny  Book.  Bu^dale  supposeg 
tht*  name  to  have  been  given  to  the  place  by  its 
original  owner,  and  this  supposition  is  borne  out 
by  a  modem  authority,  Mr.  E.  A.  Freeman,  the 
able  historian  of  the  Norman  Conquest.  In  a 
letter  published  in  the  AthencEum^  Sept,  8,  1855, 
he  saya,  **  The  word  Birmingham  is  so  thcroughly 
Saxon  in  its  construction  that  nothing  short  of 
positive  historical  evidence  would  warrant  us  in 
assi^^ing  any  otlier  than  a  Saxon  origin  to 
it.  Tlje  ftnal  syllable,  hum^  means  a  home  or 
residence,  and  Benntngkas  would  bo  a  patronymic 
or  family  name,  meaning  the  Berms  (from  Berm, 
a  mim*8  name,  and  inf;  or  iuuff^  the  young, 
progeny,  race,  or  tribe).  The  word  dissected  in 
this  manner,  would  signify  the  home  or  residence 
of  the  Berms;  and  there  can  be  Httle  question 
that  this  is  its  true  meaning."  It  is  probable,  as 
hi;  SHba^tiun  Evans  suggests,  that  the  corruption 
of  the  name  into  "  Brummagem  **  arose  from  the 
old  local  pronwiiciation  of  the  g  soft,  as  in 
''siuge,"  and  fcimilar  woriU, 

Hutton  labours  hard  to  show  that  the  town 
was  of  considerable  importance  even  in  the 
time  of  t!ie  ancient  Britons,  and  both  Hamper 
and  Dr.  Wlii taker  attempted  to  identify  it  with 
the  Bomaii  station  Bremenium,  but  there  is  much 
of  fancy  and  im-iginatiou  and  but  little  of  fiict 
in  tlie  picture  of  Bij-mingham  as  a  flourishing 
and  importajit  *  ha  id  ware  village '  supplying  botli 
Jiritcins  and  Romans  with  weapons  of  warfare 
aud  implements  of  agriculture.  Tliat  one  of  the 
great  Homan  Toads  passed  near  to  the  place  is 
ei'Ttain  enough,  and  a  memorial  of  the  fiict  stiU 


remains  m  the  name  of  leknield  Street,  and  soail 
tracea  of  the  road  remain  in  Icknield  Port  Jxm 
and  more  perfectly  in  Sutton  Park,     But  the 
history  of  our  town  does  not  commence   nnti 
a   much  later  period  than  that   of   tlje   Bomn 
occupation  of   Britain.      It  was  in  Edwanl  th 
Confessors    days,    according    to    Dngciale,    th 
freehold   of  one  ITlwine,  but  after  the  Norma 
invasion   (as   we   have   alniivdy   seen    from    tlrt 
Survey)  it  wm  the  property  of   William  Fit: 
Ausculf,  who  had  his  home  at   Dudley   Castid 
It   was,   as   wo   have  also  seen,  mted   for  fon 
hides,    valued    at    twenty    sliiUings,    and    hell 
of  FitE-Ausculi  by  **Bichartl"     '*  Whether  lb 
before   spocihod    Richard,**  says   Dugdsle,  "  wn 
paternxd     ancestor    to     those    who     aftcrwardg 
assumed  this  place  for  their  simame,  I 
positively   affirm ;     but   cortiiin   it   is,   that    ti 
Paganclls  (who  immediately  succeeded  W.  Fife 
Ausculf  in  the  enjoyment  of  Dudley  Castle  an 
the  substance  of  all  other  his  lands)  passed 
away,  with  other  fair  possessions,  to  he  held 
military  service:     for  in  12    Henry  IL  (1166 
amongst  the  knights*  fees  then  certified  by  Crcr 
Paganell,  it  appotUs  that  Petor  de  Berminghad 
held  nine  of  him,  de  veteii  feopjhiertio  ;  so  that ; 
is  thereby  clear  tliat  the  father  of  the  same  Pet« 
whf>se  name  was  WUliain,  il  n(»t  his  grajidfatha 
became  hrst  enfeoft  thereof  in  Heni-y  I.  time." 
Peter  de  Bcrmingham  was  steward  to  Gcrva 


Tlir  fttirirnt  »vAt  of  the  LoM  BiriuUi^hajLU 
Pr..iTi  W. iiiUTj'*  Mflp.  \7M 

PaganeU,  Lord  of  Dudley,  and  lunl  a  castle  he? 


6 


OLD  AND  NEW  BIKMINGHAM. 


[The  ICanor  and  its  Lords. 


which  according  to  Dugdalc,  **  stood  scarce  a  bow- 
shoot  from  the  church  south-westwards."  The 
luoat  which  surrounded  this  castle  is  shown  in 
Westleys  map  of  the  town  published  in  1731, 
althougli  it  does  not  appear  in  the  "Prospect" 
engraved  in  Dugdale's  Warwickshire,  in  1656, 
from  which  our  first  view  of  the  town  is  taken. 
The  site  is  still  indicated  in  the  names  of  Moat 
Row  and  Moat  Lane  in  that  locality. 

During  the  lifetime  of  Peter  de  Bermingham,  a 
weekly  market  on  the  Thursday  was  established 
in  the  town  by  grant  of  King  Henry  II,,  as  also  of 
Gervase  Paganell.  This  privilege  was  confirmed 
to  Peter's  son  and  successor,  William  de  Borming- 
liam,  whose  uncle  was  supposed  to  be  instrumental, 
under  Richard  Strongbow,  in  the  reduction  of 
Ireland,  in  the  reign  of  Henry  IL,  and  was 
rewarded  with  an  estate  in  that  country,  and  the 
title  of  Earl  of  Lowth. 

William  de  Bermingham  was  succeeded  in  the 
year  1246  by  his  son  William,  who  married  the 
daughter  of  the  eminent  Thomas  de  Astley.  Id 
34  Henry  III.  (1250)  he  had  a  charter  for  a  four- 
days'  fair  to  be  held  annually  here,  beginning  on 
the  eve  of  Ascension  Day  (Holy  Thursday).  In 
the  rebellion  raised  by  Simon  de  Montfort  against 
Henry  IIL,  this  William  de  Bermingham  joined 
his  father-in-law,  Thomas  de  Astley,  and  was 
slain  in  the  battle  of  Evesham,  in  the  year  1265. 
For  the  part  the  lord  of  Birmingham  had  taken  in 
this  rebellion,  his  lands  (including  the  Manor  of 
Birmingham,  then  valued  at  £40)  were  confiscated, 
and  given  to  Roger  de  Cliflford,  as  a  reward  for 
his  faithful  service.  ITie  lands  thus  forfeited 
were,  however,  redeemed  by  the  son  of  the  rebel, 
the  third  William  de  Bermingham,  who  in  11 
Edward  I.  (1283)  obtained  a  charter  of  free  warren 
throughout  all  his  demesne  lands  here,  as  well  as 
in  his  other  estates.  In  the  25th  year  of  the  same 
king's  reign  (1297),  he  was,  according  to  Dugdale, 
in  the  service  of  the  king  in  Gascony,  under  the 
conduct  of  the  Earl  of  Lincoln  and  John  de  St. 
John  of  Basing  (a  great  baron),  where,  intending  to 
relieve  Bellagaid,  then  bedeged  by  the  Count  of 


Arras,  the  said  earl  and  baron  divided  their  forces, 
the  Lord  St.  John  leading  the  van  through  a  wood ; 
and,  being  encountered  by  the  enemy,  was  over- 
powered with  numbers,  and  so  routed,  himself, 
with  Sir  William  de  Bermingham  and  eight  more 
knights,  and  many  esquires,  taken  prisoners,  and 
carried  in  triumph  to  Paris. 

William  de  Bermingham  died,  and  was  succeeded 
by  his  son,  the  fourth  William,  in  1306,  who  was 
knighted  in  1317. 

In  a  suit  betwixt  this  William  de  Bermingham 
and  certain  inhabitants  of  King's  Norton,  for  the 
recovery  of  market  tolls  from  the  latter,  the  lord 
of  Birmingham  alleged  in  justification  of  his 
cause,  that  ^?w  arK^eators  hcul  a  market  in  the  town 
he/are  the  Norman  Conquest,  "  In  1 1  Edward 
IL  "  [1317],  says  Dugdale,  "this  William  was  a 
knight;  after  that,  finding  no  more  of  him  by 
that  title,  I  have  adventured  to  conclude  the  next 
mentioned  William  to  be  his  son."  This  fifth 
William  de  Bermingham  raised  troops  under 
Edward  IL,  in  the  year  1324,  "four  hundred  foot 
soldiers  within  this  county,  excepting  the  towns 
of  Warwick  and  Coventre,  and  [armed]  them  for 
the  defence  of  the  realm ;  and  likewise  the  same 
year  knights,  esquires,  and  other  men  at  armes 
to  attend  the  king  into  Gascoin." 

In  1326  (after  the  deposition  of  Edward  11.) 
he  had  the  custody  of  Dudley  Castle ;  and  in  the 
following  year,  the  first  of  Edward  IIL,  was  for 
the  first  and  only  time  summoned  to  Parliament 
by  the  title  of  Lord  William  de  Bermingham. 

The  fifth  and  last  of  the  Williams  was  suc- 
ceeded (before  or  about  the  year  1340)  by  Sir 
Fouk  de  Bermingham,  of  whom  the  first  mention 
discovered  by  Dugdale  is,  that  in  the  above  nameil 
year  he  lent  48  marks  to  Sir  Baldwin  Frevill,  of 
Tamworth  Castle,  in  return  for  which  he  ha<l  five 
mills  in  that  ancient  borough,  in  lease  for  one 
year.  In  the  year  1344  he  was  retained  by 
Thomas,  bishop  of  Durham,  to  attend  the  King 
in  his  French  expedition.  j^Latterly  he  was 
returned  member  for  Warwick  in  several  Parlia- 
menta 


i»ira<i4  lU  Lords  ? 


OLD  AND   NEW   BIEMTNGHAM. 


him  saoeoeded  John  <le  BcnuiughaiUf  who 
En  sticcc«on,  returned  luumber  for  the  coun- 
f  Wju^wiek,  lictlford^  and  Burkingbam.  He 
without  issue,  and  his  widow,  Elizabeth, 
ed  the  Lord  Clinton,  and  held  the  lonlghip 
rmiBgham  in  duwer  till  htsr  dentb,  in  the 

un. 

e  niysi  now  \m&&  over  a  poriod  (hirini;  which 
Sur  oetiito  *)l  Btrminghiira  was  held  by  cora- 
hm  slfmngen^  until  the  year  1500,  when 
feB«  tho  last  of  thtj  Boriniui^hiinis,  8Ucct*eded 
PBidXath6r»  at  t)u*  uge  uf  thrt^e,  (being  bom 
197). 

[watU  Bentnnghaai  could  not  but  b?  proud 
in  noble  pi)Ǥscssiona  which  had  thus  falk'U  to 
after  a  hym  of  juauy  yeai^  They  then  in- 
td  not  merely  the  manor  of  Birmingham,  but 

KiUm  in   Oxfordshire,    Bucks,   nnd 
But  **  being  conteni|>orary  with 
.  man,   John   Dudley,   afterwanls 

bit  Vhht  (more  commonly  kno^vn  by  those 
Wf  titlo8  which  ho  sometimes  had,  iriz,,  Earl 
ITaririck  and  Duke  of  Northumberland),  he 
Kangely  wrested  out  of  this  lordship ;  for 
mm  Johj],  !i  saest  himself  of  Dudlej 

11^  lod  obs<  I  ',,'•'  vruingham  a  fit  ornament 
lo  iK^ble  a  seat^  but  being  the  principal  real- 
a  of  such  a  fainily  as  Imd  for  gome  hundreds 
mm  enjoyed  it,  not  bktdy  to  be  purchtised 
,  Iba  then  rightful  owner,  conspired  by  a 
Kalntagcm  to  work  him  out  of  it"* 
^B  but  a  repetition  of  the  old  story  of  Ahab 
^Bgrwdy  desire  for  the  viueyartl  of  Naboth, 
wbtu  au  unscmpulons  Almb  finds  luniaelf 
»lo  to  gratify  his  seUislmess  by  ordinary  means, 
I  Dot  alow  to  arail  himself  of  mor^  desperate 
ooUwftil  mnuniei.  John  Dudley,  seeing 
Hre  waa  no  hope  of  his  becoming  the  pur- 
^W  Edward  Bermingham'a  est^ite,  **  did  sot 
\c  of  his  agents  to  lodge  in  Bermingham, 
when  Master  Bermingham  was  to 
home;  wliich  boing  accordingly 
ly  au  contrived  their  bu^incssy  that  one 


of  thoir  plot  should  ri^lo  leisuitdy  before,  so  that 
they  might  ftijon,  keeping  but  an  onlinary  pace, 
OTertake  hun  ;  whereupon  they  watcht  an  oppor- 
tunity to  strike  into  Master  Berminghara*a  com- 
pany, as  travellers,  with  whnm  they  soberly  rode 
for  a  while,  but  being  come  up  to  theii*  con- 
federate,  forthwith  set  upon  him  for  his  purse,  su 
that  the  vilhdn  thus  se«»nuugly  robMj  makes  pur- 
suit after  them,  and  likewise  after  Mastt^r  Ber- 
mingham,  as  one  of  the  pack ;  who,  being  theiv- 
iipon  apprehended  and  ]irL»secuted,  apparently  saw 
his  diinger/**  Tbe  plot  was  tbei-efore  to  make 
Etlwanl  Beruiingham  a  criujinal,  the  perpetrator 
of  a  crime  which  wa«  punishable  by  deaUi.  Nt)t 
that  it  was  iutende<l  thnt  he  should  suffer  tint 
penalty  of  the  law, — that  would  not  have  fallen 
in  with  tlie  conspirator's  base  design,  lie,  good 
man,  anxious  to  save  poor  Edward  Bermingham  s 
life,  was  to  ajipear  as  the  condemned  criminal's 
friend,  on  condition  that  the  fair  estate  which  he 
BO  coveted  should  be  given  up  to  him,  as  the 
reward  of  his  mediatorial  efforts  on  his  friend's 
behalf. 

In  order  to  give  the  better  colour  to  the  trans- 
action, the  estates  were  yielded  to  the  King,  and 
mtiiiod  by  special  Act  of  Parliament,  which  Dug- 
dale  gives,  as  follows  ; — 

**  Wnxiia  Edward  Byrmingliim),  late  of  Bynoiaghiim 
in  the  Coantic  of  Warwick  Rarjuire,  otherwijie  callid 
Etiward  Byriniughara  Esquire,  ys  nnd  atauclyth  law- 
fully iiidettid  to  our  sovcreing  Lord  the  Kynge  iu 
dive  me  grt-te  summea  of  money  ;  And  also  standyth 
at  tha  mercy  of  his  Htghaeaa,  for  that  the  same 
Edward  ys  at  this  present  convicted  of  Felony  ;  our 
aeide  fiorereign  Lord  the  Kynge,  ys  cootentid  and 
pleased^  that  for  and  ia  rtcompence  and  satisrACtiou 
to  hi»  gnce  of  the  seyde  Bummea  of  money,  to  accept 
and  take  of  the  seyde  Edwanl,  the  Mannour  and  I^ord- 
ahip  of  Byrmiagham,  otherwise  callid  Bynniacbam, 
with  tho  appurteaances,  lying  and  hetag  in  th« 
Countie  of  Warw  ick,  and  all  and  aiagular  other  lauda 
and  tenements,  reversions,  Eeati,  Services,  ivnd  hens- 
ditaments  of  the  same  Fdwurd  Byrmiagham,  act 
lying  and  beying  in  the  Countie  of  Warwick  alfore* 
seyde.     B«  yt  therefore  orde^'&ed  and  enacted,  by  the 


OLD   AND   NEW  BIR^^NGHA^f. 


[The  Manor  and  iU  Lordi. 


Huthorities  of  this  present  Parliament,  that  our  saide 
Bovereine  Lonl  the  Kynge,  shall  have  hold  and  enjoy 
to  him  his  heirs  and  assigncs,  for  ever,  the  seido 
Mannour  and  Lordship  of  B3'rmingliam  (&c.)  In 
which  Act  there  is  a  Keser\'ation  of  £40  jier  An.  to 
the  said  Edward,  and  Elizabeth  his  Wife,  during 
their  Lives." 

It  was  not  the  design  of  the  wily  Dudley  to 
seize  upon  the  injured  man's  possessions  at  once. 
He  allowed  nine  years  to  elapse  before  the  grant 
was  made  from  the  Crown  to  himself,  in  the 
thirty-seventh  year  of  the  reign  of  Henry  the 
Kighth,  December  21,  1545;  but  the  ill-gotten 
possessions  were  enjoyed  only  for  a  brief  space, 
for  in  the  first  year  of  tlie  reign  of  Queen  Mar}', 
being  attainted,  he  lost  his  head  on  the  scaffold, 
and  all  his  estates  passed  to  tlie  Crown. 

Having  thus  brouglit  to  a  conclusion  our  story 
of  the  lords  of  the  manor,  wo  will  retrace  our 
steps  a  little,  and  take  a  peep  at  Birmingham  as 
it  appeared  during  the  lordship  of  the  Ikrming- 
ham  family. 

"  If  we  survey  Linningham  in  the  twelfth 
century,"  says  Hutton,  "  we  shall  find  her  crowded 
with  timber,  within  and  without ;  her  streets 
dirty  and  narrow,  but  much  trodden.  The  in- 
habitant became  an  early  encroacher  upon  her 
narrow  streets,  and  sometimes  the  lord  was  the 
greatest.  Her  houses  were  mean  and  low,  but 
few  reaching  higher  than  one  story,  perhaps 
none  more  than  two ;  composed  of  wood  and 
plaister — she  was  a  stranger  to  brick.  Her  public 
buildings  consisted  solely  of  one,  tlie  Church*^ 

Little  is  known  of  the  early  history  of  the 
mother  church  of  Birmingham.  "  The  materials 
for  any  history  at  all,"  says  Mr.  Bunce,  "are  very 
scanty.  There  is  no  known  record  of  the  foun- 
dation or  consecration  of  the  Church  in  existence, 
nor  any  trace  of  such  record.  In  Domesday 
there  is  no  mention  of  either  a  Church  or  priest 
in  Birmingham,  which  quite  disposes  of  Hutton's 
fanciful  conjecture  that  the  building  dates  as  far 
back  as  Saxon  times.  Until  lately,  it  was  believed 
that  no  fragment  even  of  Norman  architecture 


was  preserved  to  justify  the  supposition  that 
a  Norman  Church  once  occupied  the  site ;  but  in 
the  course  of  demolishing  the  late  buUding,  a 
few  pieces  of  stonework,  evidently  Norman,  were 
found  built  into  a  wall."* 

There  is  therefore  some  ground  for  presuming 
that  a  small  Church,  sufiicient  for  the  accommo- 
dation of  the  village  population,  existed  in  the 
days  of  the  Norman  rule.  The  building  whidi 
wjis  removed  to  make  way  for  the  present  hand- 
some Church,  is  supposed  by  Eickman  and  others 
to  have  been  erected  in  the  latter  part  of  the 
thirteenth  century.  Tlie  earliest  mention  of  a 
Church  in  Birmingham  appears  in  the  Inquisition 
taken  on  the  death  of  Boger  de  Somen,  in  1290. 
It  is  also  mentioned  in  the  Norwich  Taxation,  at 
about  the  same  period,  and  valued  at  £b  per 
annum. 

Tliere  exists  no  documentary  evidence  as  to  the 
founders  of  the  Church,  but  it  was  in  all  proba- 
bility erected  by  one  of  the  lords  of  Birmingham, 
whoso  residence  was  "  scarce  a  bowshoot "  there- 
from. The  principal  benefactors  to  the  Church 
were  the  Clodshales,  lords  of  Saltley,  who  founded 
chantries,  the  services  in  which  continued  until 
tlic  suppression  of  religious  houses  and  endow- 
ments by  Henry  the  Eighth,  at  which  date  they 
were  valued  at  £11  16s.  3d.  Trivial  as  this 
endowment  would  seem,  compared  with  the  im- 
mense revenues  Henry  seized  elsewhere,  it  was 
not  too  small  to  escape,  and  "the  Clodshale 
Chantries  went  the  way  of  the  great  foundations 
of  Tintem,  of  Rievaulx,  and  of  Fountains :  the 
Mass  was  unsung,  the  priests  dispossessed,  and 
the  lands  passed  to  the  Crown."t  They  were 
afterwards  disposed  of  by  the  Crown,  to  Torions 
persons, — ^to  the  Throckmorton  family^  William 
Morice,  of  Chipping  Ongar,  Essex,  John  Nethoi^ 
mill,  of  Coventry,  and  several  others. 

Among  other  Church  property  belonging  to  St 
Martin's,  seized  by  Henry  VIIL,was  theChontiy 
foimded  by  the  Gild  of  the  Holy  Cross,  ou 


•  J.  T.  BuiroB :  Histonr  of  Old  St  Martin'«, 
t  (6.  f.  4. 


10 


OLD  AND  KEW  BIKMLNGHAM. 


[The  Manor  and  ito  Lords 


elation  of  Birminghain  men  for  various  religious, 
charitable,  and  educational  works,  of  which  the 
reader  may  find  further  particulars,  (as  well  as  of 
*  the  Gild  called  Lench*s  Trust,'  and  other  similar 
societies),  in  the  late  Mr.  Toulmin  Smith's 
"  Memorials  of  Old  Birmingham :  Men  and 
Names,"  and  in  his  very  valuable  "History  of 
English  Gilds."  The  endowments  belonging  to 
this  Gild  thus  seized  were  returned  to  the  town  in 
the  reign  of  Edward  VL,  for  the  purpose  of 
establishing  a  Gmmmar  School,  of  which  we 
shall  have  to  speak  hereafter. 

A  few  words  are  necessary  respecting  the  monu- 
ments, of  which  there  now  remain  four,  reposing 
on  altar  tombs.  Our  engraving  is  taken  from  that 
contained  in  Dugdale's  "  Antiquities  of  Warwick- 
shire," made  before  the  year  1656,  and  thus  repre- 
sents them  in  an  almost  perfect  condition ;  but  they 
have  since  suffered  much  from  rude  and  careless 
hands,  and  exist  only  as  ruins  of  what  they  once 
were.  The  first,  as  will  be  seen  from  the  en- 
graving, consists  of  two  figures  on  one  tomb. 
The  nearest,  bearing  a  shield  charged  with  a  bend 
lozenge,  is  supposed  to  be  the  thiixl  William  de 
Bermingham,  who  was  made  a  prisoner  by  the 
French  at  the  siege  of  Bellagard,  in  the  year 
1297.  It  is  a  common  error  to  suppose  the  ci*oss- 
legged  attitude  to  indicate  that  the  person  thus 
represented  had  visited  the  Holy  Land  as  a  Cru- 
sader. **  It  had  probably,"  says  Mr.  Bloxam,  in 
a  description  of  the  monuments,  "a  symbolic 
though  now  esoteric  meaning." 

The  further  efiigy  on  the  same  tomb  is  as- 
signed by  the  authority  quoted  above  to  the 
middle  of  the  fourteenth  centuty,  and  supposed  to 
be  the  fifth  William  de  Benningham.  "These  two 
statues  cut  in  freestone,"  says  Dugdale  in  his 
MS.  notes,  "doe  lye  thus  upon  a  raysed  tombe, 
scarce  two  footo  high,  in  the  south  ile  of  the 
Church." 

The  second  altar  tomb  represented  in  our 
engraving,  bears  the  recumbent  figure  of  an 
ecclesiastic,  in  alabaster,  assigned  by  Bloxam  to  the 
latter  part  of  the  fifteenth  century,  {temp.  Henry 


VII.).  Dugdale  says,  "This  monument  of  ala- 
baster, of  one  of  the  Berminghams,  a  priest, 
standeth  close  to  the  wall  at  the  foot  of  the  last" 

The  lowest  figuie  in  the  engraving  represents  a 
high  tomb  of  alabaster,  bearing  the  recumbent 
figure  of  a  knight,  sculptured  in  alabaster,  and 
clad  in  plate  armour.  "  This  faire  monument  of 
alabaster,"  says  Dugdale,  "standeth  in  the  same 
ile  towards  the  chancel,  and  was  erected  (as  I 
suppose)  for  Sir  John  Benningham,  Knt.,  who 
married  Elizabeth,  the  daughter  and  heir  of 
William  de  la  Plaunche."  If  the  reader  desires  a 
fuller  description  of  these  inten^^ting  monuments, 
we  would  refer  him  to  that  which  was  written 
by  Mr.  M.  H.  Bloxham  at  the  time  of  their 
restoration,  in  1846,  and  published  in  the  Midland 
Counties  Herald^  from  which  it  is  reprinted  in 
Mr.  Bunce's  "  History  of  Old  St.  Martin's." 

Of  the  appearance  of  the  finished  Mediaeval 
Churcli,  with  the  various  chantries  previously 
mentioned,  Mr.  Bunce  says  : — 

"  It  consisted  of  nave  and  chancel,  both  lofty 
and  nobly  proportioned  ;  north  and  south  aisles, 
extending  almost  as  fai'  eastward  as  the  chancel 
itself,  and  with  the  clerestory  windows  of  the 
nave  rising  well  above  them ;  and  a  tower  and 
spire  at  the  north-west  corner,  the  tower  opening 
by  a  bold  and  lofty  arch  into  the  north  aisle,  and 
by  another  arch  into  the  nave.  Beneath  tlie 
south  aisle,  at  the  west  end,  was  a  crypt,  and 
another  crypt,  larger  and  capable  of  use  as  a 
priest's  chamber,  existed  beneath  the  chancel. 
The  internal  dimensions  of  the  Church  were  of 
importance.  Its  length  from  the  west  end  of  the 
nave  to  the  east  end  of  the  chancel,  was  probably 
about  113  feet ;  its  breadth,  from  wall  to  wall  of 
the  aisles,  65  feet ;  its  height  over  60  feet ;  while 
the  tower  and  spire  rose  above  the  body  of  the 
fabric  to  a  height  of  200  feet.  Besidejs  these 
general  outlines,  some  details  help  us  to  form 
some  idea  of  the  building  and  its  appearance. 
Internally  it  was  probably  covered  with  paintings 
— scenes  from  the  life  of  St.  Martin,  the  patron, 
and  patterns  of  various  deacriptions  in  colour; 


Til*  Umiktft  Mul  lU  hmlLl 


OLD   AND   NEW    BIRMINGHAM. 


11 


having  betsii  fouud  of  both  these  kinds 
de<!omtion*«.  There  were  three  altars— tho 
kigb  attar  in  the  chaucel ;  on  the  south  side,  the 
altar  of  the  Hloss^d  Virgin,  in  Clodsbale's 
elumtiy ;  on  tlie  north  side,  tlie  altar,  probably, 
of  Sl  Katherine,  in  the  chantry  of  the  Guild  of 
the  Holy  Cross.  Th€^30  altara  would  be  '  served ' 
by  8dV«ral  priests— the  Rector  of  the  Churoh  and 
at  least  one  assistant,  for  the  high  ultur ;  two 
priesta  for  the  Clodshale  chantries ;  and  one,  if 
not  more,  for  the  chantry'  of  the  Guild,  The 
weri?  no  doubt  completely  laid  with  en- 

tilegj  of  which  a  few  specimens  were 
fnund  in  tht*  coiu^e  of  demolition  ;  the  windows 
were  filled  with  f^tained  glass,  large  remains  of 
irhlrh  ♦•xfsU*»l   in  Dn"d;i]i\   thin*,   rmd   soiih'  t^vpn 


ill  lluttun's ;  antl  probably  in  the  Clodshale 
chantry,  and  in  the  chancel,  on  either  side,  were 
the  monuments  of  the  lords  of  Birminghara  and 
other  benefactors,  reposing  on  altar  tombs.  When 
these  details  are  combined  into  a  mental  picture^ 
and  heightened  by  tliu  spectacle  of  worship,  the 
solemn  strains  of  the  Mass,  the  priestn  in  their 
vestmenU,  the  lighted  caudles  on  the  altnr»  thp 
clouds  of  incense  rising  in  the  chancel,  the  gleauj 
of  colour  from  widl,  and  window,  and  roof,  and 
tlwr,  with  iho  great  picture  of  the  Last  Judg- 
ment above  the  chancel  arch, — it  will  be  seen 
that  !^^edileval  8t.  Martin's  was  a  C.*hurch  not 
unworthy  of  a  town  destined  to  bocome  one  of 
the  greatest  comnnmities  in  the  kingdom^  and  one 
to  which  Birmingbaiii  may  look  Imrk  with  pride/' 


CHAPTEIl    11. 
DEUITEND:      ITS    CHAPEL    AND     ITS     M  A  IIT  V  K  ♦  W  O  KT  H  V. 

Mtte  of  Derltcnd  Chiircli— Api^ofntineiit  of  a  Minister— Apn»eniei»t  wlili  the  Moulis  of  Tlikfnrif— Jolin  Hotj^rs,  Tmnflttti>r  of  ibe 
,  Mi*t  flmt  It^tctUfit  Martyr  of  thi'  roign  of  Qm*«n  M«ry— Ai'prMirnnct-  of  the  town  iu  lb*?  fntirt*'«utT>  c^ntim'-The  ♦'Old 
CtmmBiomit.' 


Ab  the  fourteenth  century  drew  towards  its  close, 
and  the  new  doctrines  t^f  John  Wycliffe  and  his 
foDowers  began  to  be  circulate  and  when  those 
Qiatiiiscript  copies  of  Uie  scriptures  which  the 
great  reformer  caused  to  be  made  found  their  way 
into  many  of  the  towns  and  villages  in  the 
niirlliinds,  the  iidiabitantii  of  the  hamlets  fyf 
Deritend  and  Bordesley  became  "moved  !jy  the 
spirit  that  breathed  through  the  teachings  of  Piers 
Plowman  and  WycJif,  and  had  grown  thoronghly 
ilisaatiftfied  with  being  dependent  for  their 
nsUgioQa  aemcea  upon  Aston  Cliureh  and  its 
Tiear."^  For  these  hamlets,  although  in  the  lord- 
fhip  of  Birminghiun,  were  (and  are  still)  in  the 
ptrish  of  Aston  ;  and  the  great  distance  at  which 
they  were  situated  from  their  parish  chnrch 
often  pnvvented  the  inhabitants  from  joining  in 
tba  pQbltc  worship  of  God,  especially  in  the 
iriiilar  timC|  when  '*  the  Hooding  of  the  streams^ 

•  TMilmiB  antldi ;  "  OlruilngtiAiu  Men  nnd  HAOia.'* 


and  the  obstructions  often  ,  ,  .  tbrpatening  and 
happening  in  the  other  ways  between  the  afore- 
said pariah  church  of  Aston,  and  the  far-ofif 
towns  or  hamlets  of  Deritend  and  Bordesley,  (as 
a  document  to  which  reference  will  lie  more 
particularly  made  hereafter  quaintly  sets  forth) — 
rendered  a  journey  to  church  by  no  means 
uneventful,  and  gave  the  villagers  many  good 
reasons  forspending  the  Sunday  at  home.  This 
was  an  unsatisfactorj^  state  of  afl'airs  to  people 
who  evidently  did  not  Ijelieve  themselves  to  be 
**  farthest  from  God  when  the  t^huich  they  were 
near,"  (whether  they  believed  or  not  that  the 
•*  infants  dwelling  in  the  said  towns  or  hamlets 
for  want  of  the  rite  of  baptism  might  perish 
for  ever,"  as  the  *  Agreement '  urges),  and  they 
determined  to  build  a  church  for  themselves 
by  the  side  of  their  owii  iiver  Rea,  where 
they  might  meet,  from  week  to  week,  to 
worship     God,    without    fear    of    accident    by 


12 


OLD  AND  NEW  BIRMINGHAM. 


iDvlUBd. 


flood  or  field, -T-and  perhaps  in  a  purer  form, 
more  in  accordance  with  the  teachings  of  the 
parson  of  Lutterworth,  than  that  used  by  Sir 
John  Sliobenhale,  perpetual  vicar  of  Aston. 
"The  new  church  was  begun,"  says  Toulniin 
Smith,  "according  to  trustworthy  tradition,  in 
the  year  1375."  It  was  somewhat  smaller  than 
the  present  building,  but  certainly  not  so  ugly. 
A  plain,  modest  little  church,  such  as  may  be 
found  to-day  in  hundreds  of  English  villages, 
standing  at  the  end  of  the  hamlet,  nearest  Bir- 
mingham, almost  opposite  the  "  mansion  house  of 
tymber,"  close  to  the  banks  of  the  brooklet,  forming 
a  pretty  picture  of  rustic  comfort  and  simplicity 
such  as  could  not  fail  to  charm  the  traveller  as  he 
passed  through  it  on  his  way  to  Birmingham,  and 
did  so  delight  the  old  antiquary  Leland  that  he 
declared  it  to  be  "  a  pretty  street  as  ever  I  entred." 
Having  built  a  church,  it  was  next  necessary  to 
obtain  a  minister.  The  Bectorial  appropriators  of 
the  parish  of  Aston  were  the  Monks  of  Tickford 
(or  Tykeford),  near  Newport  Pagnell,  and  an  agree- 
ment was  made  between  them  and  the  Vicar  of 
Aston  on  the  one  hand  and  the  Lord  of  Bir- 
mingham and  thirteen  inhabitants  of  the  hamlets 
of  Deritend  and  Bordeslcy*  on  the  other,  (with  the 
consent  of  the  Bishop  of  Lichfield  and  Coventry, 
Sir  Robert  Stretton — who  by  some  authorities  is 
believed  to  have  been  a  Birmingham  man),  whereby 
the  aforesaid  parishioners  (for  tlie  reasons  already 
quoted  from  this  *  Agreement')  "shall  have  and 
may  appoint^  at  their  own  charges,  one  chaplain  fit 
to  administer  and  discharge,  before  God  and  the 
parishioners  dwelling  in  the  aforesaid  towns  or 
hamlets  of  Derit<jnd  and  Bordesley,  divine 
services  ;  which  are  always  and  forever  henceforth 
to  be  celebrated  in*  a  certain  Chapel  in  honour  of 
John  the  Baptist,  there  lately  built  within  the 
lordship  of  Deritend  aft)res;iid."  The  ver}-  im- 
portant privilege  thus  accorded  to  the  people  of 
Deritend,  of  appointing  their  own  Cliaplain,  has 

*  "  Geofby  Boteler,  Robert  o*  the  Grene,  John  Smyth,  William 
Jeffe,  Thomu  Holdon,  Williem  Ooaper,  WlUiun  Dod,  Adam  Bene, 
Richard  Bene,  Simon  Huwet,  Richard  of  Broke,  Robert  PlaomTile, 
and  Thomu  Cbattok.** 


been  exercised  from  that  time  until  the  present 
day,  and  thus  rendered  them  entirely  independent 
of  the  vicar  of  Aston,  both  in  the  choice  of  a 
pastor  after  their  own  hearts,  and  in  the  adoption 
of  a  form  of  worship  more  in  accordance  with  the 
doctrines  which  they  appear  to  have  accepted ;  and 
in  this  little  church, — and  probably  from  tliis  veiy 
clergyman, — John  Eogers,  the  first  Protestant 
martyr  of  the  troublous  times  of  Queen  Mary,  and 
the  coadjutor  of  Miles  Coverdalo  in  the  transla- 
tion of  tho  Bible,  received  his  earliest  religious 
teaching. 

Jolin  Eogers  was  bom  in  the  hamlet  of  Deritend 
somewhere  about  the  year  1500.  The  honour  of 
having  given  birth  to  the  first  martyr  of  the  leign 
of  Mary,  and  the  editor  of  the  first  printed  English 
Bible,  was  originally  claimed  for  Birmingham  by 
Anderson  in  his  Annals  of  the  English  Bible,  and 
this  claim  has  since  been  substantiated  by  our 
own  historian,  Mr.  Toidmin  Smith. 

Rogers  was  educated  in  the  University  of  Cam- 
bridge, "  where,"  says  the  ^fartyrologist  Fox,  "  lie 
profitably  travailed  in  good  learning,  at  length  was 
chosen  and  exiled  by  the  merchant  adventurers  to 
be  their  chaplain  at  Antweq)  in  Brabant,  whom 
he  served  to  their  good  intention  many  years." 
At  Antwerp  he  became  acquainted  with  William 
Tyndale  and  Miles  Coverdale,  who  were  both  at 
that  time  exiled  from  their  native  land  by  their 
religious  con\4ctions.  In  John  Rogers  the  two 
Reformers  recogn'seil  one  who  from  his  learning 
and  ability  would  be  of  great  assistance  to  them 
in  the  work  of  translating  the  Bible  into  the 
English  langimge.  "  In  conferring  with  them  the 
Scripture,"  says  Fox,  "he  came  to  great  know- 
ledge in  the  gospel  of  God,  insomuch  that  he  cast 
off  the  heavy  yoke  of  popery,  perceiving  it  to  be 
impure  and  filthy  idolatry.  .  .  .  He,  knowing 
by  the  Scriptures  that  unlawful  vows  may  law- 
fully be  broken,  and  that  matrimony  is  both 
honest  and  honourable  among  all  men,  joined 
himself  in  lawful  matrimony,  and  so  went  tp 
Wittenberg  in  Saxony,  where  he^  with  much 
soberness  of  living,  did  not  only  greatly  incxease 


OTP   A  XT)  NKW   BIRMINGHAM, 


13 


I  an  good  and  ^odlj  Icaroin}/,  but  also  ah  miu-Ij 
fiKifit^d  in  the  knoTrledgv?  of  the  Dut^^h  tongue, 
ikftl  the  chaise  of  a  congregation  was  orderly 
commit  tat  to  hie  «!are.*** 

Afti»r  the  Acec^ion  of  Edwnrd  th«>  Hixth  in 
1547,  Bishop  KicUcy  inviiod  Hoj^ers  to  return  to 
Kli|Haiid,  to  whioh  invitntiou  he  would  seem  to 
httVi*  itnmrHliatrly  responded^  aa  appears  from  b 
prvf»ce  to  Mdwnctlinn^s  worlv  nu  tiu^  "Weighing 
i>f  the    Iiil< rim,"  s^igrnd    hx  Kogers  and   dated 


the  first  Rf'pmon  aftRr  the  Queen's  proclamation, 
and  although  he  knew  the  danger  to  which  his 
opinions  exposed  him  under  the  new  r4rfime^  yet 
h©  had  the  courage  to  proclaim  them  openly, 
avovriiig  his  continuance  in  the  Proteatant  faith 
as  steadfastly  as  he  had  done  under  royal  and 
episcopal  favour,  and  exhopting  the  people  con- 
stantly to  remain  in  thf?  same,  and  to  "heware  of 
all  pestilent  popery,  iilolatry,  and  superstition."* 
For  this  sermon  he  was  iuuriodiatelv  summoueil 


t 


JOEX   aOQEJtS, 


[August  Itft,  151^.  In  1550  he  was  presented  to  the 
\  of  St.  Sei'ulchre's,  nnd  the  rectory  of  St. 
Hoysey,  lioth  of  which  churuhes  were 
4«tTOTed  in  the  great  fire  of  1666.  I»i  1551  he 
wa»  appointed  a  Prebendary  of  St,  Paul's  by 
Ubtinp  Kid  ley,  and  was  soon  after  elected  by  the 
iNsfin  of  the  College  of  St.  Paulas  to  llie  professor- 
|«lup  ol  Theology.  On  the  accessiou  of  Queen 
iMarj  hi?  waa  called  to  preach  at  8t.  Paul's  Croas 


l*l»e.  U76.— at.  J- 


Ui  appe4ir  befure  tho  Privy  Council,  and  he  there 
defended  his  conduct  with  ao  much  ability,  that 
he  obtaiJied  a  temponiry  dismissal,  but  was  recalled 
ten  days  later,  to  answer  again  for  the  same  ser* 
mon.  The  result  of  this  examiuatiou  was  that  he 
was  commanded  to  remjiin  a  pri.^oner  in  !us  own 
house. 

He  remained  in  this  seclusion  for  six  months, 
**till  at   length,"    Fox  tells   us,    *Hhrt)ugh   the 
uncharitable  procurement  of   Bonner,   hishup  of 
•lb.  ilLi. 


14 


OLD  AND   NEW  BIRMINGHAM. 


(Deritond. 


London,  who  could  not  abide  such  honest  neigh- 
bours to  dwell  by  him,  ho  was  removed  from  his 
own  house  to  the  prison  called  Newgate,  where 
he  was  lodged  among  thieves  and  murderers." 
Twelve  months  passed  away  before  he  was  re- 
moved from  his  prison  hou»e  for  examination,  and 
during  this  period  he  was  debarred  from  all  com- 
l)anionahip,  even  tliat  of  his  books.  He  was 
refused  intercourse  with  his  family,  and,  as  it 
would  appear,  kept  without  any  knowledge  of 
them  wliatever.  On  the  ?.2nd  of  January,  1555, 
he  was  examined  before  the  Privy  Council,  and 
once  more  made  a  bold  stand  for  the  truth,  and 
w»ems  to  have  been  quite  a  match  for  his  enemies, 
who  again  ordered  him  back  into  prison,  but  re- 
oalled  him  for  a  final  examination  on  the  28th  of 
the  same  month,  pronounced  sentence  of  excom- 
munication, and  handed  him  over  to  the  judgment 
of  the  s(»cular  power.  On  ^fonday,  the  fourth 
of  February,  1555,  he  was  awakcnl  early,  and 
warned  to  prepare  himself  imniediately  for  the 
fin\  So  soundly  did  he  sleoj)  even  in  tlie  hour 
nf  imminent  peril,  that,  says  Fox,  "he  scarce, 
witli  much  shogging,"  could  l>e  awaked.  Ikying 
told  to  make  haste,  he  replied,  "  tlien  if  it  be  so, 
1  need  not  tie  my  points."  He  begged  to  be 
allowed  to  speak  for  a  few  minutes  with  liis  wife 
before  his  execution,  but  tliis  ref^uest  was  cruelly 
refused.  "So  he  was  brought  into  Smitlifield 
by  Master  Chester  and  Master  "Woodrooife,  then 
sheriffs  of  London,  there  to  be  burnt;  where 
he  showed  most  constant  patience,  not  using 
many  words,  for  he  could  not  be  permitted  ;  but 
only  exhorting  the  people  constantly  to  remain  in 
that  faith  and  true  doctrine  which  he  before  had 
taught,  and  they  had  learned,  and  for  the  confir- 
mation whereof  he  was  not  only  cont<jnt  patiently 
to  suffer  and  bear  all  such  bitterness  and  cruelty 
as  had  been  sliowed  him,  but  also  most  gladly 
to  resign  up  his  life,  and  to  give  his  flesh  to  the 
consuming  fire,  for  the  testimony  of  the  same."* 
Thus  bravely  perished  John  Eogers,  a  man 
whom  fiinningham  shonld  be  proud  to  enrol 

*ib.  Ui.  16. 


among  her  worthiest  8on&    Why  has  he  remained 
so  long  without  a  memorial  in  his  native  town  t 
Lot  us  now  once  more  glance  at  the  growth  of 
the  town,  in  the  fourteenth  century,  through  the 
eyes  of  our  quaint  old  historian,  Hutton. 

"If,"  he  says,  "we  behold  her  in  the  four- 
teenth century,  we  shall  observe  her  private 
buildings  multiplied  more  than  improved  ;  her 
narrow  streets,  by  trespass,  become  narrower ;  her 
public  buildings  increased  to  four,  two  in  the 
town  and  two  at  a  distance — ^the  Priory,  of  stone, 
founded  by  contribution,  at  the  head  of  which 
stood  her  lonl ;  the  Guild,  of  timber,  now  the 
[old]  Five  School ;  and  Deritend  Chapel,  of  the 
same  materials,  resembling  a  Iwim,  with  some- 
thing like  an  awkwartl  dovecot  at  the  west  eml, 
by  way  of  8teepl(»." 

Mr.  J.  T.  liunce,  writing  of  the  same  period, 
says,  **  In  the  14th  century  Birmingham  was  but 
a  small  place,  a  sort  of  country  and  town  in 
union.  The  Church  was  probably  somewlmt 
alxwe  the  centre  of  the  town,  standing  on  a  green 
hill — sandstone  rock  below — sloping  boldly  from 
the  brow  at  present  occupied  by  High  Street  and 
New  Street,  to  the  actual  site  of  the  Church,  and 
thence  falling  somewhat  abmptly  down  to  the 
present  site  of  Smithfield,  then  occupied  by  the 
Manor  House,  or  dwelling  of  the  lortis  of  Bir- 
mingham. Not  far  from  the  Church,  at  the  end 
of  what  is  now  Edgbaston  Street,  stood  the 
Hfctory  house  or  parsonage,  a  clear  stream  running 
by  it,  forming,  low(;r  down,  the  moat  of  the 
Manor  House,  and  thence  passing  on  to  fall  into 
the  Eea,  There  was  probably  a  fringe  of  houses 
along  the  sides  of  the  Bull  liing,  in  the  upper 
part  of  which  stood  the  Old  Cross.  Further  in 
this  <lirection  there  would  be  nothing  but  the 
Guild  Hall,  on  the  site  of  the  present  Grammar 
School,  and  the  Priory,  on  the  site  of  the  Old 
Sqimre,  and  including  in  its  lands  the  streets  now 
known  as  the  Upper  and  Lower  Priory.  To  the 
west,  from  the  line  of  St  Martin's,  might  be  seen 
Edgbaston  Church,  with  the  ancient  home  of  the 
Middlemores ;  to  the  north  cast,  Aston  Church  ; 


^Ib€  south,  St  John's  Chapel,  Dcritetid, 

BBti9l€r  of  houfies  dott^U  near  it,  the  chapel 

*  buUt  because  the  mhahitanU  of  this  distant 

of  Asian  coultl  not  get  to  their  parisli  church 

trinU^^,  on  account  of  the  floods.    Pigbeth 

lituted    the   road  between   Birmingham  und 

lend*  «cid  Trns  proluibly  lined  with  houses 

f    'nlwir  framing,   filled  in  with  plaster, 

,^   in  the  gpotiud  floor  the  open  shops  in 

Biie  amiths — then  the  chief  artificers — had 

'  hciirtba.     It  is  poasible,  though  not  certain, 

w  houses  were  dotted  along  Moor  Street, 

on  th^  siU*  of  the  narrow  streets 

off  from  tlie  oppoedte  aide  of  the 

There  would  be  houi^es  in  Spiccal 

nd  p^^rhapu  one  or  two  in  Ht  Martin's 

!  ;  And  the^e  would  be  sill,     ISeyond  the  lines 

e   indicated,    therw   would    be    notliin^    but 

tt   idofie   to  tlio   Uiwn,  and  open   uiienciosed 

try  beyund.     The  roada  loading  in  each  di- 

OQ   wcrp   mere   footj»aths   most   of    them — 

pling  the  main  roud  through  the  town  from 

p  Hill  to  llocklcy,  and  thence  on  to  Wolver- 

pitoii^ — and  the  re^it  horse  roada,  very  narrow, 

sunken  between  high  banks/' 

it  among  iUv.  buildings  on  the  banks 

le  Kea,  in  the  Doritcnd  portion  of  tiio  town, 

the  fair '*  Mansion  House  of  tvmW,"  which 

iikft  to  this  day  a^  the   **  Old  Crown  House." 

iu>D86,  which  was  built  in  the  ktter  part  of 

'(>llct4.n»ntU  century,  still  remains,  in  very  fine 

of   prraorvatiou,   having   Won'  rt'storod   to 

ihtng  like  its  ancient  appearance  by  the  late 

%  My*  J,  Toulroin  Smith,  about  fifteen  years 

It  Wiia  built^  likt?  most  housifs  of  that  period, 

ly  tif  liniljer,  and  eonsistctl,   on  the  ground 

^  4>f  a  large  Central  UaLl,  with  smaller  rooms 

well  side.     On  the   uppr  floor  there  were 

tmlly   four  ro<im?,   but   tlic  portion   of    the 

Mi    Chamber''    which    projc^cts    very    jjto- 

ilillf  tieyond  the  rest  of  the  v^all  over  the 

I'^ntly  miuK*  into  a  separate 

a\y  ycJU's  bt.nje  the  name  of 

|i  Galiorye  CharahiT;"    probably    bo    called 


from  its  having  in  earlier  times  been  separated 
from  the  remainder  of  the  Great  Chamber  by  a 
bcdustrade. 

In  a  town  like  Binningliam,  in  which  so  few 
remains  of  antiquity  exist,  such  a  house  as  the 
*^  Ohl  Crown  "  cannot  fail  to  interest  us,  by  the 
associations  which  cluster  round  it  For  little  le-'is 
than  five  hiunln*<l  years, — aa  Toulmin  Smith  re- 
marks,  in  his  interesting  history  of  this  huu:?^' — 
no  one  has  gone  out  of  Bii'mingham  towariU  War* 
wick  and  Coventry,  or  come  into  the  town  fnnn 
thu  Warwick  and  Coventry  Koad,  without  his  cycg 
falling  t»n  that  fair  "  Mansion  House  of  tymber '' 
now  nailed  the  Old  Crown  House.  Hy  far  the 
most  intei-esting  apartment  in  the  building  is  that 
which  is  called  the  Oalloiye  Chamber.  In  it, 
aeeortling  to  tmdiliun,  (^»ueen  ELii«ibeth  once 
passcil  a  night,  and  f*landing  in  its  lattiied,  over- 
hanging window,  one  cannot  but  recall  memories 
of  the  principal  events  of  onr  past  history  during 
tlie  five  hunih-ed  years  through  which  tlii.s  house 
has  remained,  amid  the  destruction  which  has 
left  liut  little  of  the  old  town  standiiiLV  As  we 
look  through  the  eastern  lattice,  wo  think  of 
Piince  linpevt,  and  of  the  gallant  strngglo  which 
our  ancestors  mwh  to  prevent  his  entering  the 
town, — of  his  manifestation  of  hi«  **  Burning 
Love  to  En^^laml  in  Uirniinghanfa  names;" — of 
Shakespeare,  who  may  perhaps  have  journeyed 
past  the  mansion  of  timber  into  Birmingham, 
during  those  early  days  of  Warwickshire  rambling, 
before  he  sought  ft^r  tamo  and  fortune  in  the 
metropolis; — of  old  Leland,  riding  through  as 
pretty  a  street  as  ever  he  entered,  into  Birming- 
ham ; — of  the  flrw  which  blazed  half  a  mile 
away  from  hero  on  that  14th  of  July,  1791, 
when  th«  infuriated  **  Church  and  King  "  rabble, 
failing  in  their  endeavours  to  take  the  life 
of  that  devoted  disciple  of  philosophy,  Joseph 
Priystley,  set  fire  to  his  dwelling,  and  destroyed 
his  invaluable  phili»5?ophienl  library,  the  whole 
road,  almost  a8  far  as  the  hoti^o  in whiJ*  wc  j^taml 
to  take  our  survey,  being  filled  with  the  bunit 
pa|)era; — aa  we  look  through  the  western  lattice, 


I 


a£  iho  littlft  village  wc  have  been  eii- 

U>  <Jc*icribc — of  th&  old  lords  of  the 

i>l  iLo  Si»cot)d  William  de  1  lermingham, 

m  pHKHiMJ  out  to  join  his  father-in-law  in  the 

*  Tontfort— and  of  E<]%vnTd 

farth  on  that  ill  fated 

imtrtmy  which  cofit  luja  hi^  inharitanoe ; — we  think 

I  of  th'^  **  one  street  '*  of  Lcknd's  time,  and  as  we 

ipAunf!    Ill   mtr  re  Verio   ottr  eye  rests   upan    the 

[••n!^ior«!  **  Church  of    St  Martiu,  and   brings 

our  mind  tlie  contrast  botweeu  the 

ojii   vilLigo  mid  the  great   modern  city, 

}  mm  ttt  once  I'eiiuUed  frtun  our  diiy -dream 

fta  uo  matt^r^^f-fact  of  our  story. 

Ab  an  illutfUatlon  of  llie  diversity  of  callings 


pursued  by  Birniin;j[ham  men,  even  in  the  inlnncy 
of  the  town,  the  following  extract  is  given  by 
Nash  in  his  Oistury  of  Worcestershire,  from  the 
Churehwardens'  ledger  of  Halesowen: — "1498, 
paid  for  rcjMitjUng  the  orfjan^,  to  the  orgnn-mtticer 
oi  Bromwlchamy  10s"  Kemarking  on  this  entry, 
Hutton  says,  "  Birmingham  thoni  wo  find,  dia- 
covered  the  iMnwora  of  goriins  in  tlio  fine  arts,  as 
well  as  in  iron.  By  ^the  organ-maker,'  we 
should  suppose  them  was  hut  one.  It  appears 
that  the  art  of  acrjuiring  riches  waa  as  well  under- 
stood by  our  fathers  «s  1>y  us ;  while  an  artist 
could  ret!eive  aB  mueli  money  for  tunuig  an  organ, 
as  would  purchaao  an  acre  of  land,  or  treat  near 
half  a  gi'oss  of  Lord  Abbots."^ 


CHAPTER     III. 
BIRMIxSGnAM    IN    THE    SIXTEENTH    CENTURY, 

n*i  ddseHiytJoii   of  \ht  town— Die   Spdtiisb    AriEM'lA— (^imu  Elbubeth  At  KenLlirartli— SIiiLke$p«&r«    m 


now  came  to  the  lirst  authentic  contem* 
vry  pteimt)  of   Binnlngliam,   as  seen  hy  a 
id  the  first  liteniry  notice  of  the  town 
I-  except  the  brief  note  in  Domesday, 
t^n  of  King  Henry  the  Eighth,  John 
matle  hiH  famous   Itineror}^   of   Britain, 
^^^  the  year  1*J38  {lOiiyed  through  Bir- 
'  Iju.  ad  iworda  hia  impTeasiuna  of  the  place 

dUowb: — 
■*•'  -^T     ■  h    a   jtretty  street  m  ever  I 

.hitm  towne.     Thl^  stJ^et,  aa 
I  Tememhirrr  i^  cialled  Dirtey.     [Deritend.]     In  it 
gmith*  '  and  cutlurs,  and  there  is  a  bi^oke 
,  divideth  this  street  from   Bermingliam,  aud 
Im  mn  H&mh«U  or  Member,  belouginge  to  the  parish 
[  fliectibytt. 

^*ni«re  id  at  Lho  tmd  of  Dirtey  a  propper  chap- 

,:,  ..litl  mansion  houao  of  tymber*  hard  on  the 

^t  M  i^  lifuoko  nmnoth  downc  ;  and  oa  I  went 

'     V    ^r  the  bridge,  the  water  i*an 

Laud,  and  a  few  milea  bulow 


iHrnM.**    t  lUak 


goeth  into  Tame,  ripa  dextra.  Tldg  brookc,  above 
Dirtoy,  breakoth  in  two  armes,  that  a  little  be- 
neath the  bridge  close  agam.  This  brookc  riseth, 
as  some  say,  four  or  li\'e  miles  above  Bermingham, 
towards  Black  Hilles. 

"The  beauty  of  Bermiuglmra,  a  goud  markett 
to\v^ne  in  the  cxtreame  partd  of  Warwikeshire,  id 
one  street  going  up  alongc,  almost  from  the  left 
ripe  of  the  brooke,  up  a  meano  hill,  by  the  length 
of  a  quarter  of  a  mile.  I  saw  but  one  rjirroch 
Churcli  in  the  towne.  There  be  many  smiths  in 
the  towne  that  nso  to  make  knives  and  all  man> 
nour  of  cut  tinge  tooles,  and  many  loriiiei-s  that 
make  bitte*^,  aud  a  gre^it  many  naylors.  Soe  tliat 
a  great  part  of  the  towne  is  maintained  hy  smitlies, 
who  have  their  iron  aud  sea-cole  out  of  Statf<rr<l- 
ahiro/'t 

Of  the  "  propper  chappeU  and  mansion  house 

•  AUnilingto  ttHfttlior  e3t tract  from  Uko  mhio  lodger  ;  **  l*aU  J&r 
hrr^vi  atut  aitt  Ut  nuUr-  my  L'utt  Atifiot  itfini,,  in  lUtQ^mon  wt*l,  t\t* 
riutiou  n,d4)ii,  "  Wiitii  shniiUl  wrc  now  ililiuk  of  j^n  eccltsiiuitti' 
aee  ptltig  «  l«f«i'«imf  thwU  tnnu  a  countrj-  dmrtiliwiirrtmi  T* 

t  Ljclaxi*  :  «rtcrmd  edition «  tijr  Tbr}ma«  Ur^mOt  MA.,  Oxfcil\)| 
17«.     l».,  106. 


IS 


OLD   AND  WEW   BIliMIKGHAiL       fBin»iiinfiwinb>ibei«ti.cennox. 


of  tymbor  "  wo  Lavu  already  spoken*  Tlie  '*  one 
street"  consisted,  of  com-»e,  of  Digbctli,  and  tho 
lower  part  of  High  Street,  with  a  few  narrow  off- 
shoots on  either  hand,  and  a  part  of  Spiceal  Street 
on  the  westom  side  of  the  churcli*  Thi^  e^rly 
picture  of  the  busy  aspect  of  the  town  is  inteiei^t- 
ing,  not  only  as  showing  the  antiquity  of  liir- 
mingham  as  a  manufacturing  coninmnity,  hut  also 
in  preserving  for  vm  a  record  of  an  ahnost  extinct 
local  trade — that  of  general  cutlery.  Tho  **knive8 
and  all  mannour  of  euttingc  tooles  '*  made  in  Bir- 
mingham now-a-daya  cut  hut  a  pour  figure  in  our 
local  trade  returns,  and  tlie  Binniugham  urtizun 
would  gpum  the  knife  that  had  not  a  Shefheld 
brand  on  it-  But  the  fire-amis  that  have  made 
Birmingham  known  all  over  the  world  do  not  find 
a  mention  in  Leland*a  entry,  neither  do  the  but- 
tons, or  the  countless  other  useful  and  indispcns 
able  articles^  wliich  are  now  turned  out  by  millions 
from  the  **  toyshop  of  the  world." 

We  have  no  further  notice  of  Birmingham  mxtil 
1586,  in  which  year  Ben  Jonsons  well-beloved 
teacher,  Williiim  Camden,  published  his  **  Brit- 
annia," He  came  to  Birmingham  from  Kenil- 
wortb,  through  Soliludl  (which  he  spells  '*  Boly- 
bill  ")|  where  he  saw  nothing  remarkable  but  its 
church,  but  as  he  parsed  through  the  same  pretty 
street,  and  past  the  same  line  old  **  mansion  house 
of  timber,"  m  his  predecessor  Leland,  and  came 
into  **Brcmicham,"  he  found  it  ^^  siranninu  tm'th 
IfihnhitanU^  and  echmng  with  the  num  of  anvil/" 
adding,  that  "  herc^  are  gieat  number.^  of  smiths." 
As  he  entered  the  town,  he  noticed  that  the  lower 
part  waa  *'  very  watery,**  but  observes,  that  **  the 
upper  i>art  rises  i^-ith  abundance  of  handsome 
buildijigs ;  and  it  is  none  of  the  least  honours  of 
the  place  that  from  hence  the  noble  and  warlike 
family  of  Bremichams  in  Ireland  had  their  origiaal 
and  name," 

iif ter  this  there  is  another  blanlc,  dining  which 
we  find  no  records  of  tho  town  or  of  its  people. 
Doubtless,  however,  the  latter  went  about  their 
work  as  usual,  making,  perhaps^  more  and  more 
weapons  of  warfare,  which  were  not  destined  to 


remain   long  unused.     In   158S  came   hIati 
rumours  of  a  threatened  Spanish  invasion,  fa 
lowe<^l  quickly  by  tidings  of  the  oc|uipment  of 
Invincible  Armada,  which  waa  even  then  on  iti 
way  to  England,  to  crush  the  power  of  the  glorioii 
queen,  and  once  more  to  replace  the  yoke  of  th<j| 
Popedom  on  the  necks  of  a  newly-liberated  people 
II10  alarm  tijished  forth  through  the  length  snd^ 
breadth  of  the  land  on  beacon  fires,  which 
•*  Sprang  from  hill  to  hill^ 
Till  the  proud  peak  uafurlcd  the  flag  o'er  Darwin's  rd 

djdeS} 
Till  like  volcanoes  flarwl  to  henven  the  stormy  hills 

Wales, 
Till  twelve  fair  cxmniiea  6aw  the  bliusc  on  Malv<^n*s  looel 

ht'lglit. 
Till  etreamed  ia  orimson  on  the  wind  the  Wrekin^i  c 

of  light*' 

These  "  answering  i)oinls  of  fire  "  would  doubt 
le.^si  rouse  the  inhabitants  of  the  little  hillside 
Warwickshiitj  town,  and  from  the  crest  of  lli 
I  **  meane  hill "  whi«h  overtopped  St,  Martin's,  the 
bladng  bcacnn-lirc  would  fla^h  the  news  along  ta 
the  swart  toilciis  in  the  "sea-coal  mines"  of  StafJ 
fordshii'e,  and  while 
"  The  fislier  left  hia  skiff  to  rock  on  Tamar's  glitteting 

waves," 

and 

**The  ntgged  miners  poiirt^d  to  wur  from  Mondip's  sua-^ 

less  caves/* 
the    **many  smiths/'  the    **loriners   that    mak$ 
bittf^/^  and  the  **  great  many  naylot^  *'  of  Bir 
ingham,  would  not  l>o  behind  their  toiling  brethr 
in  tlie  manifestation  of  their  patriotism ;  and 
would  indeed  ill  at-fonl  with  the  traditional  lov^ 
of  liberty  wliich  has  ever  characterized  Birmin^ 
ham  men  if,  amid  tlie  ranks  at  Tilbury  whic 
listened  to  tho  inspiriting  words  of  the  ^*  Viiglii^ 
Queen/'  iliem  were  not  some  of  those  stalv 
workmen  whoso  resounding  anvils  WiUiam  Can 
den  had  heard  a  few  months  earlier,  and  who 
sons  80  gallantly  withstood  the  Cavaliers  at  Camj^ 
Hill  fifty  years  later. 

Tho  remembranee  of  this  stirring  period 
English  hiatory  make^  us  the  more  regret  tha 
there  is  no  direct  light  thrown  by  the  historiii 
on  the  doings  of  our  townsmen  during  thoso  ye 


he 

I 


I  intl  Mm  OfmvT*  J 


OLD   AND  NEW   BIRMINGHAM. 


19 


wlitck  ftttpoed  bciwcc^n  Camden's  visit  in  1586, 
fuid  tli«  **Baitlo  of  Birmingham''  in  1G43.  For 
dnriDg  that  pcHod  many  intereeting  events  hap- 
pme<L  In  1575  Queen  Elizabeth  was  the  gnast 
of  ill©  proud  Earl  of  Leicester  at  Kenilwortb, 
and  the  fame  of  that  splendid  pageant  could  not 
fail  ta  reach  the  ears  of  Birmingham  men,  and 
perhaps  some  uf  them  may  have  even  witnessed 
thone  "  P''"**^*-*y®  pleasures"  so  elaborately  de- 
deribed  by  Gaaeoigne  and  Lanchanh  "The  pre- 
pamlions  for  this  celebrated  entertniuioent/'  says 
Mr.  Charles  Knight,  **  were  on  so  magnificent  a 
acde,  the  pnrveyiugg  must  have  been  so  enormou^i, 
the  podts  so  luiinterniltting^  that  there  had  needed 
not  the  dourishings  of  paragniphs  (for  the  age  of 
parngnphs  waa  not  aj  yet)  to  have  roused  the 
cmioftity  of  all  mid-England."* 

Duriiig  the  same  period  the  matchless  dramas 
qI  the  barvl  of  Avon  were  produced,  and  oven  in 
Birmingham^  albeit  there  wa^  not  at  that  time  a 
single  shop  in  the  town  at  which  even  a  Bible  or 
an  almanack  might  be  bought,  there  migbt  per- 
bflpa  have  fotind  their  way  a  few  of  tliose  en- 
tc&ncijig  little  sixpenny  quartos  of  the  **Mid- 
•Qfinmcr  Nights  Dieame,"  *'Tho  Tragicall  Historie 
of  Ilamlet,  Prince  of  Denmarke/'  the  "Merrie 
Wititti  of  Windsor,"  *•- The  Lamentable  Tragedie 
of  Romeo  and  IvUet,**  or  other  of  those  now  ex- 


ceieivcly  rare  little  pamphlets  of  which  a  few 
may  be  seen  in  our  Shakespeare  Memonal 
Library.  Perhaps  even  the  great  poet  himself 
may  have  read  in  (vuniden's  '*  Britannia  "  of  the 
busy  httlo  town  "  swarming  with  inhabitants  and 
echoing  with  the  noise  of  anvils,"  and  may  have 
travelled  from  Stratford  to  see  the  town  and  to 
note  the  humours  of  the  hu9>y  throng,  some  of 
whom  he  may  have  immortah^ed  in  those  nieiry 
groups  of  workmen  and  citizens  whicli  figure  in 
his  Eoman  and  Englii^h  llisloiical  Plays,  The 
prototype  of  the  moriy  quibbling  cobljler  in  the 
first  scene  of  JuUm  Ctemr  may  have  been  foumi, 
perchance,  in  **tho  street  caOi'd  Diiley,"  and  the 
poet  may  have  met  Kit  Sly  iu  the  kitchen  of  the 
**  Ohl  Leather  Bottel  *'  or  other  of  the  qmiint  old 
taverns  which  were  dotted  along  the  same  "  pretty 
street"  Perhaps  the  poet  may  liave  passed 
through  the  town  in  see  the  sites  of  some  of  the 
incidents  of  the  historical  plays  •  "  through 
Coventry"  to  Birmingham,  and  thence  "to 
Sutton  Coldfield  to-night;"  to  the  "plain  near 
Tamworth,"  where  Uichmonds  army  encamped 
before  the  Battle  of  Bosworth  FieUl ;  perhaps  to 
Bos  worth  Field  itself.  Ho  may  at  least  have 
visited  8ome  of  these  places,  and  would  scarcely 
be  likely  to  miss  the  opportunity  of  seeing  Bir- 
mingham on  his  way* 


CHAPTEE     IV, 
ASTON    HALL    AND    ITS    OWNERS. 

Ibt  Holt*  ftaidy  At  Dudikttufi— InTentory  of  f^mltore^  fte.,  tt  0udtle«ton  Hali—Slt-  Tliomos  Holt«  obtaliii  the  tttl«  of  Baro;i«t— 
r^aiTlptinh  of  Alton  Hull— Rdward  HotU'v  nrnnitge  and  Its  con««qaencef-^Vlsit  of  CharlM  I.  to  Aston— PeaUi  of  Edwartl  Holte— 
fbtt  8k^  of  A»tuit  Uall^A  (lark  dced^Drnth  of  8Ir  TbomAs  Holte— A»toti  Choreti. 


I  DOMxa  the  year  1618  Birmingham  people,  look- 
jrth-eastward,  where  rose  the  graceful 
m  Church,  saw  rising  among  the  trees 
[  ol  Iba  well  wooded  park  the  noble  outline  of  that 
jieh  the  newly^created  baronet  of  Duddes- 
Qfjluu^i\  ^uTlkiymHH  Ilulte,  waa  building 
for  UsOlBAlf . 


'  f>Tan***  Emoiif  t  *'  WnitA'ii  SluJtiperpf  «  Biography." 


The  Holte  family  had  resided  in  or  near  Bir- 
mingham since  the  close  of  the  13th  century,  the 
first  of  whom  any  mention  is  found  being  Sir 
Henry  Holte.  The  name  is  of  Saxon  origin,  the 
early  bearers  of  it  using  the  prefix  "atte."  The 
word  Holte  signifies  a  grove,  or  woody  place. 
With  the  earlier  members  of  the  family,  how- 
ever,  we  have  not  here  to  do ;   out8  is  not  a 


fly  Ulatory,  ejtccpt  in  so  far  as  the  history  of 
&  fftmUy  iUiutratea  Ibat  of  the  to^vn. 

Thti  lirj^t  moniljer  of  the  Holte  family  of  whom 
ilicf*  nsMa  any  momiraent,  lit  Aston  is  William, 
tbe  tbifii!eaih  from  Sir  Honry^  llw  fir^t  known 
beotisr  of  the  name.  Ho  di^  in  1514,  nnd  was 
%nmA  in  tho  Goit]i  aisle  of  the  ohurch,  under  an 
nlUr  Wskb^  Wring  his  effigy,  life-size,  clad  m  a 
«^ttl  of  ontl  ftfmour.  The  foiirteonth,  Thomas 
ilolte,  WW  a  "  hiarned  Liwyer,"  and  Justice  of 
^orlli  Wales  in  the  n?ign  of  Henry  the  Eighth, 
Uo  htm  buried  hy  the  sido  of  hia  father,  his  tomb 
I^Bg  eoTOitod  by  a  monumental  bniss,  laid  in  tlie 
fliMir«  ecmtiiining  |iortnut«t  of  himself  and  his  wife, 
with  tlio  fallowing  epitaph  : 

*^Tboam^  Uolti?  hen  lyeih  io  gni?e ;  Ihii  for  thyn 

On  him  tliod  hure  compnissjoQ,  nml  his  soolle  do  save/* 
Tlnf  following  particulars  from  an  '*  Inventory  of 
aU  the  giiodiis  and  catclls  movable  and  unmovable, 
'  (tKalCr  j^^»  And  houshold  stulTti  of  Thomas 
^  Ho!t6»  csqnir^  doccsscd "  (given  in  Davidson's 
ftj«Btaitory  of  the  Holtes  of  Aston,"  to  wliich  we 
^^Hin4ehtbd  fur  mo^t  of  the  particulars  relating 
^^Wttic  family),  will  help  to  give  the  reader  some 
L  idoft  of  the  fijjte  and  appointments  of  the  Manor 
■  Uooao  of  Duddeston  at  this  peric»d.  Of  sleeping 
~   apftiitneatft  there    were    thirteen,    "the  chambiir 

Iovew  the  battriej  the  chappell  chambur,  the 
mafdta/  chambur,  the  great  chambur,  the  inner 
etunnbur  to  tlie  grt!at  chambre,  [sicJ]  the  yate- 
howie  rhamhnr,  the  inner  chambut  to  the  same, 
this  gofiton  chambur,  th'  crosse  chambur,  the 
inner  chftxnbur,  tlie  clark'a  chambre^  the  yeomen's 
rbaiobrev  and  tbe  hyne's  chambre,"  Besitle  thcs^e 
lhci«  WW  **  the  hawlt*,  tlie  piece,  the  storehouse, 
the  galafja,  the  buttery e,  the  ketchyn,  the  larder 
bowac,  this  deyhowse,  the  bakhowse,  thebultynge 
howfe,  and  the  yeling  hawse  ;'*  also  a  chapel,  of 
whiiib  the  fumitun;  was  a^  follows  : 


*'  Iii|vt9tli  m  etiuibe,  a  pis«,  and  the 
rs '  tliL't^f 

*'  \%nn  cm»eA  tj  [iDIm  for  the 

•  •ni. ,  hj  imata,  ij  jtert  6f  ve^l- 
m^ciU,  •  ■'opcw  ij  caudjcsticki,  • 


Burple^,  a  masbok,  iij  altr  clothes, 
ij  cruets,  n  pcrc.^  of  censes,  iij 
toivhcs,  iij  cf^i-pyt  qiiissions,  iiy 

carpels,  and  u  eliallcs  ,.,».,. ,,  viy/i 

"  Item  in  tUo  bodtly  of  the  chuppcll  n 
frunt  for  m\  niter,  a  doth  fnr  tln! 
flAmc,  0  pentyd  table,  luid  ij  l>ollt^  %f. 

Sum  ......    IX H  iiju.   nij«?. 

**  The    principal    bed    clmmbers,**    says    Mr. 
Davidson,  "  were  hung  with  splendid  hangings, 
those  of  the  great  chamber  being  *  of  gaye  colors, 
blewe  and  redde;*  one  of  the  l>eds  in  the  same 
room    being    *  wrought  with  gildinge    and  fyne 
bise/  and  having  'a  tester  of  sat  ten,  blewe  and 
redde;  with   cuvcrleyd  of  sarsnet  of    the  same 
coUor/     In  the   same   room  were   also  *ij  long 
sat  ten  quissions,  a  tjuission  of  yellow  and  blewe 
for  the   cheyr<3,  and  a  qiiission  of  tynsnll  for  the 
cup^jorde/  '*     The  total  value  of  the  furniture  in 
this  riehly  aduriieil  room  is  set  down  in  the  in- 
ventory at  £13  14s.  4d.     The  other  apartments 
were  furnished  in  the  same  luxurious  style,  and 
evidences  the  posseasioD  of  considerable  wexdth. 
His  son  and  successor,  Edward  Holte,  was  born 
iu  15n,  and  was  therefore  only  about  fuur  years 
old  at  his  father's  death.     He  married  Dorothy, 
daughter   of    John   Ferrers,   Esq.,   of  Tarn  worth 
Castle,    a   descendant   of    the   famous    Marraion 

— -^^  Lord  of  FotiUnaye, 
"  Of  Lntterward  ancl  Stirivell»ay« 
**  Of  Tara worth  tower  ami  town." 

Ho  died  Febmary  3rd,  1592,  and  his  lady 
survived  him  only  a  little  more  than  two 
yeai*3,  being  buried  on  tbe  20th  of  De^^ember, 
1594.  His  eldest  ^on,  Thomas,  who  succeeded  to 
the  estate,  was  born  in  1571,  and  had  therefore 
jviet  reached  manhood  at  the  time  of  his  father's 
decease*  In  the  year  1599,  he  serve*!  the  o(tic:e 
of  Sheriif  for  the  county,  and  in  April,  1 603,  was 
a  member  of  a  dt  pu  tat  ion  to  welcome  King  James 
to  England,  and  on  the  18th  ol  the  same  month 
received  the  honour  of  kniglithood.  But  Sir 
Thomas  Hulte  had  not  yet  reached  the  summit 
of  his  ambition,  and  an  event  of  grave  national 
^ij^.  iiij<f,  imporiance  aHorded  the  ambitious  knight  the 
means  of  gratifying  his  still  unsatLslied  desire 
after    woridly    distinction.       The    prxjvinee    of 


a 


OLD   AOT)   NEW  BlR^^irNGHAM 


[A«ton  11»11  And  lU  CNniet! . 


ITkter  was  in  t%  state  of  n-lHlHun,  and  thorc 
seemed  to  be  no  means  of  redacing  it  to  obe- 
dience, except  by  increasing  tlie  ab'eaJy  heavy 
bunion  of  taxation-  But  tbo  gagncity  of  James  L 
was  equal  to  the  occasion.  He  offered  a  title  of 
baronetcy  to  every  genUeinan  posseased  of  an 
annual  income  of  Xl^OOO,  whose  ancestois,  for 
two  generations  at  least,  had  borne  arms,  the 
principal  co  ml  it  ion  being,  however,  that  he 
should  maintain,  for  the  defence  of  Ireland,  **aiid 
especially  for  the  srcurity  of  the  Province  of 
Ulstei',  .  .  .  thirty  foot  doldicra  in  the  King's 
army,  after  the  rate  of  8d.  sterling  per  day,**  for 
three  years,  the  whole  amounting  to  £1,095,  The 
royal  arms  of  LTleter — the  red  hand — was  also  as* 
jiigned  to  the  baronets  thus  created,  from  whence 
lias  arisen  the  grue.*iome  notion  of  a  "  blooiiy  hand  ** 
in  htTiddry,  erroneously  supposed  to  denote  tlie 
presence  uf  the  stain  of  murtler  on  tlie  family 
escutcheon.  The  popular  estimate  of  the  cost  of  a 
baronetcy  having  been  XI, 000  is  not,  as  we  have 
seen,  so  wide  of  the  mark.  Twelve  montlis  after 
the  creation  of  the  new  order  Sir  Thomaa  Ilolte 
obtained  this  dignity,  and,  immediately  afterwards, 
commenced  the  work  of  enclosing  the  park  at  Aston, 
preparatory  tn  the  erection  of  a  new  family  mansion, 
more  in  keeping  with  his  increased  dignity  and 
wealth,  luwT^ng  received  a  considemljle  accession  of 
property  by  his  marriage  with  (Jmce,  daughter  of 
William  Bradbornej  Esq.,  of  Hough,  Derbyshire, 
The  erection  of  the  nohle  hall  at  Aston  was 
commenced  in  April,  1618,  He  came  to  reside 
in  liis  new  mansion  in  1C31,  althnugh,  as  the  in- 


scription over  the  entnince  seta  fortii,  it  wm  no 
completely   finished   until   1635,     Tbo   build 
appropriately  crowned  the  principal  eminence  la 
the  park,  and  was  approached  from  the  Lichfii'lj 
Eoad,  through  a  noble  avenue  of  elms  and  Spiuisb 
chestnuts.     Like  most  buildings  of  its  class  whicll 
were  erected  at  that  period,  it  consists  of  a  oentr 
and  two  wings,  a  compliment  to  the  Queen  aft 
whom  tlie  style  is  called,  being  emblematic  of  th4 
initial  letter  of  her  name.     The   name  of 
architect  of  this  noble  mansion  is  nut  known,  bii 
it  is  not  inipossiblo  that  it  may  have  been  one  < 
the  works  of   Inigo  Jonoa.      At  each   sidev 
little   in   advance    of    tlie    main    building^  biH 
connected  tlierewith  by  a  wall,  am  small  build 
ings    of    two    stories,   intended    as    lodges    ft* 
the    falconer    or     gamekeeper,    and    gardened 
The  two  %vings,  which  may  be  said  to  form  thd 
t^p  and  bottom  of  the  letter  K,  each  contain  tw 
latge   embayed   windows  to   the  front,  and  an 
surmounted  by  lofty  towera  with  closed  ogee  roofi 
of  a  dome-like  character.     In  the  centre  of 
main  building  Is  a  similar,   bat  more  massivei 
tower,  siu'mounted   by  a  double  ogee  roof, 
either  side  of  the  tower  are  two  curved  gable 
those  nearest  the  tower  rising  above  the  comio 
and  balustrade  which  sumiounta  the  projectin 
portion  of  the  front ;  the  other  two  surmount  thd 
more  embayed  portions  on  either  side.     The  do 
way  consists  of  a  semicircular  arch,  with  U 
fluted  columns   on  square  bases,  8Upp:»rting 
entablature,  above  which  is  an  ornamental  pane 
containing  the  following  inscription  ; 


Sr  TnOMVS   HOLTR  OF   DvnDESTOX   IS  THK  OOVNTIB  OF  WaUWICK   KnIORT 

And  BAnoNiiT  bkgan  ro  nviLO  rnis  Hovwk  in  Aprill  is  anso  DoMtKl 

1618:     IN    TUF*    16th    YKARK    of   the    ItAtClNE    OF    KlXO    IaMKS    of    ENttLANtl   Ac, 

AND  UF  Scotland  the  onis  and  fiftieth  and  the  ?aid  Sr  Thomas  Holtr 

CAilE     TO     DWELL     IN     THIS     HoYf?E     IN     MaY      IN'      ANNO      DuMlNI  :      1631  :      IS      THE 
SeAVENTH    YllAllJS  OF  THE   RAlONfi  OF  OVB  SoVEIlAlGNE   LoftD   KiKO 

Charles,  and  he  did  finish  this  Hov.^e  in  Aj'uill  anno  Dokxni  1635  : 

In  thk  elkvekth  yearb  op  the  raione  of  thb  said  Kino  Chablf^. 

LAYS  DEO. 


Above  the  inscription  is  a  shield,  on  which  are 
emblazoned  quarterly  the  anns  of  Holte,  Castolls, 
Maidenach  with  Grimsarwe,  and  Willington, 


**  If  the  oast  front  of  Aston  Hall  may  be  dd 
sijjnated  as  grand,**  says  Davidson,  **  Uio  soulhe 
view    may,   with    equal    propriety,    be    tormo 


The  mor6  iirumiDetit  leutui'e  is  tlie 
in  the  ceiiir<%  containing  Uie  win- 
to  the  Clmpel,  and  the  lai^e  one  in 
Gtvat  Drawing  Jioom,  On  each  aide,  on 
gTcmuil  floor,  Ih  a  colonnade  of  fonr  «rches, 
hariti^  pkin  circttlor  pillars,  with  cApitals  and 
hm&k  Tbcso  piliars  support  iemicircnlar  arches 
with  ilripstoni'^  and  otiiamented  on  the  faco^  and 
rrrml^  with  »uuk  panels.  Adjuiniug  tho  Grvat 
Dniwing  Hoom,  iind  over  the  cast  colonrade,  are 
Iw-'  King  a  }UA  lioom  and  Dre^^in^  Kuam,  tlie 
tttter  having  b«543n  piirtitioncd  ofV  fi-om  another 
the  remaining  poilion  als^i  serving  as  a 
fling  mom  to  the  first  floor  room  as  seen  from 
Iront*  llic^e  two  dressing  rooms,  and 
of  tbtj  toluiiniide  over  wliich  they  are 
I,  did  not  form  a  portion  of  the  original 
IiniMmg,  gm  0  '  '  a  of  an  oriid  window  may 
W  so(%  part  1  lien  hy  the  roof  of  the  colon- 

iiade ;  and  the  places  where  the  junctions  have 
h€«i  offecti*d  are  distinctly  visible  on  the  exterior 
^oftbe  building.** 

H  Ovia*  the  wcstem  colomiade,  and  adjoiuing  the 
HCftai  Drawing  Room,  is  Lady  Hoi  tea  Drawing 
rRooiai  the  wall  of  whieh  stil]  be^im  tnues  of  the 
csanonading  in  1643,  the  lie^icgere'  battery  having 
been  er»ct«d,  as  is  supposeil,  on  a  amall  tsminenc^ 
■Iioat  240  yards  from  the  Hall,  exactly  opposite 
tliij  fuoxQ*  Many  of  the  balls  passed  cntixoly 
tbroitgh  tliLi  room  to  the  Great  St^iirease  j  one  of 
lUrttt  ©hiittoriiig  a  massive  oak  standard]  and  ItHlg- 
ing  in  the  adjoining  wall,  as  shown  in  our  engrav- 
ing of  tlMt  st*iirr4iJ!*o,  Further  west  ward  over  the 
tftinp  iTolonnade  is  the  vestibule  to  the  Long 
Gmilcry. 

Do  tli»e  western  front  are  five  rooms  on  the 
l^iovmd  floor,  and  the  whole  of  the  lower  portion 
nl  thi«  wall  was  formerly  mantlevl  with  iv}% 
AboTe  tbi£e  five  rooms  is  the  Long  Gtdlery,  with- 
out whkb  ti*j  Klixaliethim  mansion  of  an  important 
cbafncUfr  was  considered  complete*  The  northern 
Old  of  tlie  building  contains,  on  the  gi^tund  floor, 
iht  Serraatt'  Ihdl,  Kitchen,  ajxd  Uonsckeeper's 
BoonBi  and   on   tlie  fimt   floor  the  Blue  lioom, 


Chinese  Koom,  and  Lady  Holte*s  Bed  Room  and 
ISondoir.  Tlio  centre  of  this  side  projects  slightly 
beyond  the  Long  Gallery.  This  is  tlje  leaat  in- 
teresting side  of  the  Hall,  and  has  been  disfigured 
by  tlic  alteration  and  modernization  of  many  of  the 
wnndows.  Beyond  this,  on  the  northern  side  of 
the  Hall,  are  tlie  stables  and  outrofBcea. 

In  the  above  description  of  the  external 
aiHRnirance  of  the  building  we  have  sufliciently 
indicated  the  jmsition  of  most  of  the  rooms  ; 
it  will  not  therefore  be  necessar}'  to  make  further 
reference  to  the  less  important  of  them.  The 
principal  apartments  requiring  special  notice  are 
the  Great  Hall,  the  Chapel,  the  Great  Drawing 
Rof»m,  the  Long  Gallery,  and  King  Charles's  Bed 
Room.  The  Great  Hall  is  47  iwi  Vjitg  by  24 
feet  wide,  and  has  four  lafge  windows,  two  on 
each  side  of  the  entrance,  deeply  ^ci  in  the  walls. 
The  ceiling  is  richly  decorated  with  bonses,  gm- 
tesque  heads,  flowers,  etc, ;  and  a  broad  c<:*mice, 
interspersed  with  various  animals  (including  the 
elephant,  lion,  unicorn,  gritHn,  stag,  etc.)  is  carried 
roimd  the  room.  The  lower  portions  of  the  walls 
are  wainscotted,  with  the  exception  of  four  com- 
partments (on  each  side  of  I  he  door  leading  to  the 
8alnon,  oppi>sitci  the  enti-ance,  and  in  the  north- 
west and  south-west  comers)^  flankeil  by  pilasters, 
each  containing  a  |>iituR%— those  on  each  side 
of  the  ISiduon  being  Ltndscapes,  and  those  in  the 
two  corners  full-length  JiguiH^s  of  Roman  Empewrs. 
On  the  norlli  side  of  the  apartment  is  the  fireplace  ; 
the  back  of  the  grate  bears  the  Royal  *\rnjs  and 
the  initials  C.Ii»  and  the  conij^artnKnjt^  on  each 
side  the  Holte  Crest,  with  the  initials  IL  jmd  W. 
Over  the  chimney-piece  are  the  following  verges  : 

Tf  »?,rvic'1!  re  thy  meake  to  thrive, 

ThoV    MVHT  THKaKIN    REMAISX, 
lioTH   SILENT  PAITUFVL   IVST  A«I)  TRl^Tl, 

Context  to  take  some  patne; 
If  Love  or  veiitve  may  ali.vre. 

Or   HoI'K   of    WOKtOLY   OAlNJt, 

If  feauk  or  Oon  may  thej?  rBOiTVBK, 

To  SKIiVE  DOE  iior  m**X}MSK 

From  the  son th- west  corner  of  the  HaU   we 
enter  the  vestibule  leading  to  tlie  Great  Staiitrase  -, 


u 


OLD   AXD   KKW  BIRMrNGHAM. 


tAKun  UaU  tml  Ua  0««m 


Imt  heforo  ascon«Uu^  to  tlio  iii>per  ai>artiiicnt«i  wc 
piU58  through  the  Cliapcl  Pi^asage  and  enter  the 
Gallery  of  tlio  (JlmpiiL  This  galkry  was  the  saat 
appropriJitctl  t(>  the  family,  and  is  raised  a  few 
feet  above  tho  levni  of  the  chap<?L  It  is  very 
coin  mod  iouft,  cxtendin*^  along  the  wholw  of  the 
north  side ;   the  froi\t  was  covi^nid  with  vclviit, 


and  all  tlio  cushions  were  of  TV    •  :yjk» 

containe4  thei^in  were  Wd'  ,  and 

seventeen  Prayer  Books :  two  folio  editifOdlB  piib^ 
lished  by  Baskott»  covered  with  velvet;  mi6  kry 
BUI.  in  blue  Tuikey ;  one  Inrgo  qniirto,  by  B«- 
kt'tt,  alao  in  blue  Turkey ;  twelve  in  adf,  fxuirktfd 
with  tho  nnmo  of  .^ir  Lister  Holte;  and  an  ocJt^vo 


f. 


:iti-j«) 


ASTO^  HALL. 


printLid  by  liaskenille.  The  cLaptl  wdn  lighted 
by  two  windows  in  tho  south  wall,  bgth  of  which 
Were  afterwards  stopped  up,  but  have  of  late 
be^n  reopened ;  but  of  tho  alteratioa'5  we  shall 
have  to  spe^k  hort*aftcr,  in  our  notice  of  the 
preijuut  cun<Utiun  of  the  buildiBg,  The  walla  are 
wainscottod ;  tho  lloor  of  tho  building  contained 
largo  seats  on  tlio  e^isitim  and  western  aides  for  the 
ilomestics,  the  centre  being  unappropriated*  The 
uommunion  table  (of  oak)  was  placed  between 


the  two  windows,  and  waa  t^vcred  with  a  velvul 
cloth, 

Eetuming  from  tlie  Chapel  wc  oacend  the  Grt4it 
S tail-case,  which  is  very  similar  in  design  to  tho 
famous  one  at  Crewe.  It  is  divided  into  numerous 
landings,  and  to  each  Eight  is  aii  ornamtiiilal 
compartment  divided  by  s«i\iare  liigh  standards, 
ricldy  carved^  and  surmount-ed  with  vaao-liko 
tcrmmatione,  boldly  carveil,  and  capped  with  an 
Ionic  volute.     The  fourth  landing  (by  whiuli  we 


36 


OLD  AND  NEW  BIKMlNfiUAiL 


(AKtoii  Eiilt  aud  lU  Owtm% 


arriTe  at  llie  ilr^t  fli  or)  lnur?*  tintort  t»f  ihr  ntt;u'k 
ID  1643,  tu  wbidi  wo  shall  reftfr  mor«  [mriicularly 
hurciifter.  Tfie  8t4iircase  coniuiues  upvranl  to  the 
top  of  the  house,  where  u  door  leads  out  to  the 
leads  over  the  Long  Gallery.  Another  door  laads 
lu  ^  gloomy  corridor  iu  the  roof,  called  **  Dink's 
Gtirret/'  from  a  domestic  of  that  name  who  is  sutid 
to  have  hung  himself  there  from  one  of  the  low 
rafters  of  the  roof. 

Bat  we  cannot  stay  to  explore  theae  lonalj 
regions  ftirthei,  mid  so  return  t<j  the  first  liuidiiig, 
and  enter  the  Great  Drawing  Koom,  which  ia  over 
the  ChapeL  *'Thifl  fiplendid  apartment,  which  ia 
39  feet  hy  23  feet^  is  lighted  from  the  south  hy 
twii  noble  muUioned  windows^  of  thrr-e  divisions 
ami  nine  lights  eaidi,  iond  from  the  j»ortion  of  the 
wall  in  which  they  are  placed  projecting  a  little 
beyond  the  main  line  of  the  building,  advantage 
has  been  taken  to  introduce  a  small  window  of 
two  divisions  and  six  lights  on  each  side,  thus 
adding  materially  to  the  effect  A  large  north 
window  looking  into  the  quadrangle  has  long 
been  Btop])ed  up.  The  walla  are  panelled  to 
within  about  a  yard  of  the  cornice,  which  is  bold, 
but  plain.  The  most  peculiar  feature  of  the 
decoration  of  the  room,  however,  is  an  orna- 
mented atone  frieze  placed  between  the  cornioe 
and  panelling.  It  contains,  under  shallow  semi- 
circular-headed openings,  placed  at  alternate  dis- 
tances round  the  room,  bold  figures  in  military 
costumes  of  diffenmt  times  and  nations,  ranging 
from  the  polished  Iloman  to  the  rude  High- 
lander ;  and  from  the  mail-cLid  media? val  warrior 
to  the  courtly  knight  of  the  Elizabethan  era. 
Four  of  these  figures  arc  displayed  on  the  west, 
three  on  the  south,  three  on  the  east,  and  one 
on  the  north,  waUs,  The  portions  of  the  frieze 
between  the  figtirejs  are  coveretl  with  decorations 
ill  low  I'clief,  similtir  to  those  in  the  ceiling, 
Thei'e  is  a  general  resemblance  between  this  room 
and  the  large  one  at  Crewe,  though  the  details 
and  the  figures  in  the  latter  are  much  bolder. 
The  ceiling  is  oniamented  with  one  of  those 
indescribable  pattej-na  peculiar  to  Uie  period.     It 


roiisists  «if  thr^e  large  centre  oval  < 
lianked  by  the  sfime  nxanber,  of  a  ^i 
tion,  on  each  side,  evtry  oval  cotitaining  a  smalloi 
one    umamented    with    ap{»K>priftt«*    Elizabothaj 
scroll   work,   the   centimes  containing  a   cherub*! 
head ;   and   each  of  the   circles   formed   at 
junctions  of  the  principal  orah  ia  filled  with 
grotesque  heurL     llie  chii.  '  *? 

worthy  of  notice.  It  neai 
nice,  and  ia  divided  into  two  iiarts  by  bcdd 
taUaturtfs,  each  being  supporteil  by  gnwhiat^ 
pilasters ;  the  upper  one<j,  moreover,  rust  on 
supported  by  grotesque  head^,  Tlie  centre  of 
upper  pai't  is  left  perfectly  plain.  On  the  upp 
entablature  are  placed  scrcdl  omamentA,  cnrieh« 
with  sbelLs ;  at  equid  distances  on  the  scndl 
Ijoing  platted  shields — Holte ;  Holtit  quarterin 
Castells,  Maidenach  with  Grimsnrwc^  and  Wtl-" 
lington;  and  Holte  impaling  Braiiboume. 
door  in  the  east  wall,  close  to  the  fire-pla 
opens  into  King  Charles's  Bod  Koom,  and  one  i 
the  opi>o8ite  side  leads  through  Lady  Holtei 
Drawing  Koom  to  the  Long  Gallcr>%  .  .  .  Thi| 
Gallery — perhaps,  with  the  exception  of  those 
Hardwicke  and  Hatfield,  the  finest  in  England- 
is  136  feet  iu  length,  by  18  feet  in  width,  and  II 
foet  high.  It  is  lighted  hy  five  largo  muUione 
windows,  of  four  lights  and  twelve  divisions  ea 
the  centre  i^-indow  slightly  projecting.  At  tfa 
north  end  is  a  large  oriel,  in  one  of  the  comj 
ments  of  wliich  is  a  small  shield^  in  stained  gla 
charged  with  the  Family  anas  iinijaling  Newto 
and  similar  to  the  one  in  the  east  window  of 
north  aisle  of  the  ChurclL  The  walls  are  cuve 
with  oak  panelling,  divided,  by  pilasters  hnvt 
capitals,  into  thirteen  comjMirtments.  Tliese  pil 
tew  are  divided  into  three  atages^tlie  lower,  < 
base,  being  boldly  moulded  and  ornamented, 
second  lias  numeix)us  projecting  bevelled  Uoi:! 
placed  periiendicularly  and  horizontally,  and  ail 
rounding  a  boldly  carved  acom  ;  while  the  thin 
or  upper,  is  fluted  in  minute  divisions,  and  fiiiii 
with  a  capittd.  The  rows  of  pimejs  are  eight 
numbef,  each  containing  a  semicircular  arch  i 


ht/km  lyil  Mot  ilA  Dini»i«.  ] 


OLD   AND  NEW   Bmi^irKGHAM. 


27 


I 


by  pilastLTrs  nil  in  low  rv'Jief,  mmilar  to 
0  often  goon  in  (nilpits  af  the  Jacobean  era. 
A  ihailDvr  convicc,  or  frieze,  covaretl  with  onia- 
Hiffita,  ftbo  in  low  ruliof,  ix  corneil  roim<l  the 
Tocm.  Th'  '  '.  decarati^l  with  two  mws  of 
tftnameDtB,  ;  l  squafvd,  having  st^m [circular 

innjedkunja;,  tho  ccntita  being  tiiccupied  with  grace- 
ftd  (]cvic«3f  of  which  the  principal  feature  is  the 
camucopia.  Tlio  chimney-piece  ia  of  marble,  and 
bj  £f&r  the  most  important  in  the  hoiiae,  and  h  in 
the  rentre  of  the  east  wall  lU  principal  features 
in*  hrcmil  entablaturai  ami  conuccs^  supported  by 
grytnatfue  Cor)'ati«k%  and  divided  into  two  prin- 
ciple poftionA,  thi«  upper  one,  again,  being  also 
«lividipd  into  tw<  >  i  uient*,  containing  oblong 

panels  of  grey  u-  i  rounded  by  gcroU-work. 

Tho  lowrr  poriiofi  is  supported  by  graduated 
*culptnretl  head^,  in  a  fine  style  of 
shields,  cliarged  similarly  to  those  in 
Uiis  Gfuit  Drawing  Room,  are  placed  on  the  upper 
pofi  of  tho  chimney  piece.  Tlie  fireplace  has 
hr     *  '  ^  irting  logs  of  wood,"* 

i  f  rooms  (including  out-h0U8^, 

cle^  and  thts  Chapel, )  is  1  OS.  '  *  It  was  ft viden tly  the 
architect's  intention/'  observes  Mr,  Davidson,  **to 
bring  prominently  forward  in  the  internal  construe- 
Uim,  the  Entrance  Hall^  the  Groat  Drawing  Roon\ 
the  I*ong  Gallery^  and  the  Staircases,  as,  after  these, 
cvt-nr  other  portion  is  conipiu-ntively  small,  and 
pUin  in  the  dcconvtion  ;  and  the  traflitionary  cvm- 
Unti  of  having  the  chief  rooms  on  the  upper  floor 
bo*  been  obs^^rved," 

Wc  ROW  retiim  t«»  the  story  of  tho  noble  owner 
of  A^Um  Hail.  He  had  a  family  of  fifteen  child- 
nai,  tbtt  iiide«t  of  wbora,  Robert,  died  young.  The 
story  of  the  second,  Edward,  who  wtis  bom  in 
IISOO,  is  fyll  of  iiadneas^  yet  of  sweetneas  also. 
He  maffiiHi  one  of  the  danghters  of  Dr»  John 
King,  Bishop  of  London,^Kujg  JamivVB  **  King 
of  Pf^ncbers  " — anil  thervby  so  provoked  the  ire 
of  Umb  ItAoghty  Baronot  that  he  threatened  to  <lis- 
inberit  U'  prevented  from  this  act 

ofrriKl  .__^--Lliun of  King  Charles, who 

'  V  }F .  >TirM>9 :  Ili«t«i7  <)f  tho  Holkt  of  Aflioii,  pp.  634. 


cithpr  at  tbia  timn,  or  i\  little  Iat<3r,  appointed  tho 
offending  heir  of  Ajston  his  Groom  of  tbo  Bed- 
chamber. Tlie  royal  letter  to  Sir  Thomas  is  given 
by  Daviilsoni  from  the  original,  which  was  then 
in  the  posses;sion  of  the  late  C.  Holte  Bracobridge, 
Eft].  It  nina  aa  follows : 
**  Charles  R, 

**  Trusty  and  well  beloved,  Weo  greet  you 
wqU.  Wee  have  taken  knowledge  of  &  niamago  between 
your  aonnc  and  «  dftughter  of  the  late  Bishop  of  I^ndon, 
and  of  your  dUHke  ihcruof^  soe  far  expressed  as  to  Ihri'Aten 
a  disiuhcritanco  of  your  sonne  :  of  whotii  wt^e  bnve  idso 
heard  very  w«ll,  uh  having  many  good  paitsthat  make  him 
abla  to  dcM)  us  scr\*ieef  and  fitt  rathat  to  bee  eheristted  of 
all  good  encoiinigeTntnts,  thnn  oppressed  with  a  lii-Mvy  hand. 
Whereas  Is  no  greater  caiwe  of  otTence  again §t  him^  and  th« 
interest  wee  havr  in  all  our  subjects^  and  cBperially  hi 
families  of  the  be-st  tiualitit\  giv^jth  Va  cause  to  inter[K>Ac 
in  tliifl,  where  a  severe  pri^w^fding  againat  your  sou ne  woiUd 
endanger  the  overthrow  of  your  house,  wh<;rtJof  there 
are  so  many  examples,  and  leave  that  tytle  of  honour  whieh 
mujft  dea*!end  upon  him  by  our  late  father's  gratiou8gr.int»» 
contemptable,  when  it  should  fall  upon  one,  deprived  by 
your  act  of  the  state  and  means  to  snpi>ort  it.  For  the 
mati  h^  We  consider  and  may  v;ell  hope  that  a  blessinge  and 
many  comfort**  will  follow  the  dau^^htor  of  a  aoe  revoifud 
and  good  a  ninn,  whone  other  children  are  in  soe  ho|>eful 
wayes  and  soe  wtU  disposed  ;  and  an  alliance  with  them 
cannot  be  a  disparagemcnto.^nml  what  iriequalilie  yon 
may  thinke  of  bctweeue  your  sonne  and  her,  for  estate  or 
otherwise.  Wee  will  be  reatly  to  supjdy  our  grace  and  aaai^t- 
ancis  in  giving  him  advancement  and  impartinge  our 
favour  to  him  in  such  wayea  aa  his  good  parta  are  capable 
of.  Wee  doe  therefore  reoouini»ude  it  to  you  that  you  doe 
not  only  forbearc  any  act  against  your  sonne  in  respect  of 
his  match,  but  thnt  you  restore  hini  into  your  former 
favour  and  good  opinion,  wben-in  Wee  doubt  not  that  our 
uiediatiou  njion  groundii  of  muf'h  reason  and  indiUVrenee 
will  soe  far  prevail  with  you,  that  Wee  shall  hnvc  en  use  to 
accept  graciously  your  iuiH\vi»r»  which  Weeexiwct  you  return 
unto  Ua  with  all  convcmency,  Given  ut  our  Courte  at 
Hampton,  the  7th  dny  of  August,  in  the  third  yeare  of 
our  reigne." 

liut  even  the  royal  intercession  was  of  no  avail 
in  rei^torinij:  liiin  to  favour*  The  proud,  unyielding 
baronet  still  refused  to  forgive  his  exiled  son* 

In  October,  1 642,  that  son,  probaVdy  for  the  first 
time  since  Ida  marriage,  spent  two  nights  under  his 
fatber^a  roof,  fur,  on  the  evciungs  of  Sunilay  and 
Monday,  the  ICth  and  17th  of  that  month,  King 
Charba,  whose  army  was  marehing  from  Shrews- 
bury towartls  Banbury,  (to  relieve  Banbury-  Castle,) 
staid  at  Afeton  Hall,  as  the  gueet  of  Sir  Thomas 
Holte.     The  rcu^m  in  which  he  sleirt  during  that 


from  the  highest  turret,  od  if  iti  defiance  of 
^yeiSL  We  hear  the  cla^sh  of  arms,  the 
pmi  flottrish  of  martial  miwic,  the  joyous  ring- 
^  of  tile  old  church  belLs,  the  glad  ocelaim  of 
Ipyml  aasembloge,  who  niise  the  shout  which 
ni  greeteti  the  ear  of  the  Jewish  king ;  and  %ve 
on  the  sombre,  pensive  counteiumce  of  him, 
li  whom  honour  all  thw  demouRtratioTi  \»  made, 


eighteen  yearft,  he  has  viewed  >vith  unmitigated 
hatred.  And,  as  no  ray  of  compassion  beams 
from  the  eye  of  the  old  man,  we  can  well  imagine 
that  utter  sinking  of  spirit  which  came  over  *  the 
noblest,  the  be^t,  and  the  bravest,'  of  all  who 
ever  bore  the  name  of  Holte.  Go,  old  man  !  hug 
thy  patents  and  commisaions — produce  thy  par- 
don from  thy  sovereign,  duly  signed,  sealed,  and 


'  .9^ 


CllARLLH   I, 


•*  i»^  courleoii-sly  arknowleilged  the  defert^utial 
'*M«aijKrt  of  the  a>«€inbled  tlirung.  In  that 
<*tinu»  of  attendants  on  tlm  monarch,  we  likewise 
Wk*Jd  one,  who,  with  sorrowful  face  antl  averted 
•f^  CtttA  Around  I  dm  furtive  glances  as  the 
*^4lMe  pcoo$edii»  and  ia  auxiously  longing 
^  •»  if  the  man  who  h  »o  prodigal  of 
"^  tSectioiii)  towarda  hi«  sovereign  has  any 
Wii^  of   ruganl  tuwanls  a    son,    whom,    for 


(lelivered,  anil  defy  tlie  world  to  cliatge  thee  with 
fiime — rejoice  in  thy  noble  miuiiiion  ond  thy 
broad*  domains — but  remember  1  there  is  a  canker 
at  tlit^  i-cjot  of  all  thy  greatness,  so  long  ub  I  hut 
gallant  son  of  thine — in  so  few  days  to  shed  his 
blood  in  thy  royal  master's  cause— remains  un- 
forgiven  for  the  magnanimous  mmt  of  having 
made  her  whom  he  so  truly  loved  his  wife.'* 
Edwanl  Holte  was  wounded  at  tlie  battle  of 


OLD   AND   XEW   BIEMINGHAK 


[Astcm  0*11  AMd  Its  ( 


Edge  Hill — oi»]y  scvyn  iluys  after  that  Simday  cm 
which  he  had  first  looked  upon  hia  lathers  house 
lifter  nearly  twenty  years*  exile.  He  recovered, 
however,  and  still  romamod  faithful  to  his  royal 
master;  but  died  on  the  26th  of  August  in  the 
next  year,  1643,  from  a  fever  contracted  while  ha 
was  oDgagcd  in  the  d'^fence  of  Oxford,  Ho  was 
hurled  in  the  cathedral  of  that  city,  close  by  the 
luonunii'ut  of  an  earlier  Bishop  King  (of  Oxford), 
grand-uncle  of  hia  vnh^s  father. 

Eeturniug  to  Aston,  wo  find  the  residenta  at 
the  hall  in  some  alarm  at  the  state  of  afluirs  in 
liirniingham,  to  which  we  shall  more  particularly 
refer  in  the  next  chapter.  Fearing  that  the  people 
who  had  been  so  cruelly  treated  by  Prince  Eui>ert 
and  the  Cavaliers  might  poj^sibly  be  led  to  avenge 
themselves  upon  one  who  was  now  bo  well  known 
as  a  frieud  of  the  King,  and  a  trusty  supporter  of 
his  cjuise  in  the  war  against  the  Parliament—for  he 
assisted  the  royal  cause  with  his  pui'se,  although  too 
fir  advanced  in  years  to  render  any  assistance  in 
actual  warfare— Sir  Thomas  applied  to  Colonel 
Leveson,  Goveruor  of  iHidley  Castle,  for  a  guard 
of  Boldiers  ui  order  to  protect  the  hall  from  the 
possible  attacks  of  his  Pirtningham  noighl^ours  j 
and  on  the  18th  of  iJecendier,  forly  miisketec^rs 
were  lodged  in  his  hotiKe.  Did  the  uld  man  ever 
think,  diiriug  those  days  and  nights  of  peril, 
of  that  brave  s^n  whose  death  his  anger  had  iu 
all  probiibility  accelerated,  and  who  olherwiae 
might  have  n*ndered  valuable  assistance  in  de- 
fend iug  bis  lielovcd  home,  hud  lie  been  peruutted 
to  dwell  under  its  roof?  Pid  ho  tluuk  of  the 
valorous  services  of  hia  son  Edward  at  Edge 
Hill,  whore 

**  in  hi«  Koyal  Master's  caose  aud  war, 
*^  Mu  venture  J  life  lu'oiight  off  a  noble  akariie  ; 
**  Nor  did  bja  faithful  servicer  dcsi^it, 
**  Till  Deutli  unliintly  struck  him  from  the  Uat."* 

lliere  came  a  time,  tluring  those  dark  Decem- 
ber days,  when  the  presence  of  sueh  a  son  would 
have  been  an  aim  of  strength  for  the  old  man  to 


""An  Elegy  on  Um  Bo&ih  &f  Mr.  Edwtknl  Uolta,'"  bjr  )ils  li>ratber> 
Iti-lAW,  Dr.  Kiit^t  Bishop  of  Chlcli»tor;  i\  B&\iJmh*a  iuutioii  of  hi* 
Poutu*  |>.  104. 


lean  Ujxjn,  for  on  the  26th  of  the  moiiih. 
bably  in  the  midst  of  the  d^tcly  fttstivitifv 
Chrlstmaa,   the    Parliamentary  forces   (1,200 
niunber)  commenced  their  attack  upon  the 
It  is  the  opinion  of  ^Ir.  Davidson  that  the  ar 
thus  hrouglit  against  the  Hall  could  not  have  e«jfi 
sisted  of  rc»gidar  troops,  as  in  tluit  case  the  \ 
number  of  the  beseiged — forty  foot  soldiers  and  th 
housuhold  of  Sir  Thomaa — could  not  have  defende 
the  place  for  any  length  of  time.     It  ia  prolmbh 
that  they  consisted  of  an  undisciplined  concoa 
of  townsmen^  wdio  had  not  foi'gotten  the  eniellia 
perpetmted  on  the  preceding  Easter  ^tondiy  an 
Tuesday,  anil  had  determined,  with  the 
of  a  few  gunners   and  othf^r  rogtilar  soldietft, 
revenge  themselves  upon  the  loyal  old  baronet 
A»ton.     The  aiego  c^intinued  thi^  days,  and 
the  entl  of  that  time  the  defenders  surnrndcn 
their  forces,  having  lost  twelve  of  their  owti  meij 
and  indicted  a  loss  of  sixty  on  the  enemy, 
marks  of  the  cannonading  are  still  visible  on 
outer  wall,  while  within,  the  bantlsome  stiiir 
bears   evidence,  in  a  shattered  pillar  and  oth« 
considerable  damage,  to  the  nkill  of  the  gnnne 
in  their  dangerous  craft. 

The  Hall  w^as  plundered  by  the  besie^rs,  ma 
of  the   family  papers  were  destroyed,  and   8i 
Thomas  was  imprisoned.     His  household  go 
were   twice   confiscated,   and    other    sums   wt 
forced  fr<:»m  liiui;  alt«jgethor,  the  damage  he  »it| 
tained  through  hia  loyalty  to  his  Sovei-eign  wi 
estimated  by  Collins  at  about  -e20,000. 

Wo  have  thus  far  seen  that,  excepting  Sl 
Thomas  Holte's  loyalty  to  hia  Sovereign,  the 
Avas  but  little  in  liis  chamcter  worthy  of  admir 
tion,  Mr.  Davidson's  estimate  is  that,  as  fur  i 
the  baronet^s  actions  serve  as  a  test,  **  he  apjw 
to  have  been  proud,  obstinato,  and  revcngefii] 
Of  his  pride,  the  costly  mansion  he  ha;s  l«i 
behind  him,  and  the  purchase  of  the  title 
Baronet  at  a  cost  of  over  a  thousand  pound 
are  sufficient  e^^dences.  Of  his  obstinacy 
neeil  look  no  fui'ther  for  an  example  than 
incident  we  have  just  described,  in  which  he 


kattm  lUU  UkA  !!•  OmiiBL] 


OLD  AKD   NEW   BTKMrNGHAM. 


31 


li»|)dct«lir  dtfi'udod  hU  uiaiiniori  at  the  caai  of 
|]  lives,  wiien  (lie  uveqiowcring  miroLer 
the  betiogors  shoiUd  have  bHowh  \i\m  at  once 
plfee  falility  of  ttueh  a  proceeding.  And  in  tbe 
■  «a4  s4t>ry  of  poor  Edward  Uolte,  exiled  from 
_  bk  1»oino  and  left  in  penury,  depentknt  upun 
Btlie  duinty  cif  a  brother-in-law,  for  tbe  Btmpio 
^KoBcaciB  of  loinng  a  tme  and  noble  woman,  and 
^BauikiQg  ber  his  wife,  we  have  surely  euch  an 
Htt»la&ce  of  mingled  pridtj  and  revenge  as  hoij 

■  ftddom  Ktin  equalled. 

But  of  hh  cruel  vengeance,  if  a  tradition  for 
which  llicitj  is  nmch  corroborative  evidence  is  to 
\ht  ttdlieTed,  there  is  an  even  wor^ic  cxaniplii  on 
fiQOCMtl.     The  moat  probable  vemon  of  the  story 
ihiit  be  was  ou  one  oceasion   returning  from 
I  litmling,  iin<V  i^  tlie  comse  of  conversation,  laid 
8  to  tbe  punctuality  of  his  cook,  who 
fatal  occasion  was,  for  once,  behind  time, 
\Tlm  berontst,   enrngeil  at  tlic  jeers  of  his  com- 
[i^ions,  is  said  to  have  rushed  into  the  kitchen, 
I  and  seizing  a  cleaver  which  lay  at  hand,  clove 
^  l2>e  poar  cook's  heatl  in  twain.      This  tradition 
hoA  been  associated  by  the  ignorant  with  the  so 
«lU«d  "  bloody-band  "  in  the  arma  of  the  family, 

■  hnX  we  have  already  pointed  out  the  ciToneoua 
H  oatiifis  of  the  supposition  that  the  Ulster  badge 
^■ipioting  baronetcy  has  auythirg  to  do  with 
Bmoiier.       But    there   is   suiticient    evidence    to 

prtiTi  tlmt  this  terrible  story  has  not  been  in- 
TeDtod  to  €2£j>Iain  the  presence  of  the  supposed 

'  «taUi  oi  murder  in  tbe  coat  of  arms,  for  in  160G 
Hiw  Tlii^mas  Holte,  by  bis  attorney,  preferred  a 

[  tiiU  i^gatoflt  one  William  Asoricki  for  having 
'dpt^n^  publicly,  maliciously,  and  in  the  hearing 

I  of  diTcra  perstin^,'*  uttere*!  "with  a  loud  voice, 
ihmti  (mlm,  Bctitious,  scandalous,  and  opprobrious 
wotdfri  ,  respecting  the  said  Sir  Thomas, 

tit:  •:  ..  ...  i^,is  Holte  tooke  a  cleever,  and 
liyil  byi  eooke  with  the  same  clecvcr  uppon  the 
li«^<^  aad  clave  his  hoade,  that  one  syde  thereof 
kr  one  of  his  shuulders,  and  the  other 

•jf'i  'J  other  shoulder;    and    this   I   will 

I  ^myf^  to  be  trewt^/  *'     llie  damages  were  laid  at 


£1000,  Tlie  dufendiifit,  by  a  «|ni]iblp,  pleaded 
not  guilty  ;  but  a  verdict  was  returned  for  Sir 
Thomas,  with  damtiges  to  tlie  amount  of  £30, 
with  one  shilling  costs.  But  when  we  take  into 
consideration  the  fact  that  Sir  Thomas,  in  1625  6 
obtained,  from  Charles  I.  a  royal  parJon,  "so 
ample,"  says  Mr,  Davidson,  *Uhat  every  crime 
of  thought,  word,  or  deed,  prior  to  the  27tb  of 
March  then  last  past  (the  flay  of  tlie  death  of 
King  James),  is  entirely  remitted,"  and  that  nut 
mcitjly  every  crime,  but  Q\(^Ty  mHjncum  of  crime 
is  included  therein,  wo  cannot  but  come  to  the 
same  conclusion  as  the  historian  of  tlie  Holtes, 
*'  that  a  very  strong  degree  of  probability  rests  in 
favour  of  the  opinion  that  the  poor  cook's  bead 
was  cloven  in  twain,  as  ch urged  in  the  libel." 

Sir  Thonms  out-lived  all  his  children  ex«;e^>t 
one,  his  eldest  daughtiT  Graee^  who  mamed  Sir 
L'iclmrtl  Shuck  burgh.  He  died  at  the  ago  of  83 
(December,  1654),  and  was  buried  with  his 
anccstois  in  Aston  Church,  where  a  handsome 
monument  sets  forth,  in  Latin,  his  many  virtues, 
and  oven  claims  some  reflected  honour  towards 
himself  from  the  position  of  his  di.'=owncd  son 
Edward  tis  chambt  rlain  to  Charles  the  First ! 
Hutton  says,  in  his  quaintly  cynical  manner,  of 
the  founders  of  tbo  Gild8,  "When  a  man  of 
fortune  had  nearly  done  with  time,  he  began  to 
peep  into  eternity  through  the  windows  of  an 
abbey ;  or  if  a  villian  had  committed  a  piece  of 
l>utchery,  or  had  cheated  the  world  for  sixty 
years,  there  was  no  doubt  hut  ho  could  buiTOW 
his  way  to  gloiy  through  the  foundations  of  an 
abbey/'  Perhaps  Sir  Thomas  Holte  may  hano 
had  some  qualms  of  conseience  on  the  score  of 
his  cruelty  Ui  his  son  and  his  servant,  and  may 
have  thought  tliat  a  littl<?  posthumous  kindness 
to  the  poor  and  iiiiirm  at  his  gates  miglit  per 
chance  equalise  the  balance  a  little.  Ho  therefore 
provided  in  bis  will  for  the  erection  of  an 
Almshouse  (which  virtuous  act  is  duly  set  forth 
on  the  before-mentioned  Uiblot),  which  still  re- 
mains, an  asylum  for  the  poor,  in  which  they 
may  spend  the  end  of  tlieir  days  in  peaoe^  while 


32 


OLD  AND  NEW  BKMINGHAM. 


[The  Buttle  of 


the  family  out  of  whose  bounty  it  was  erected  is 
known  in  Aston  no  more. 

Sir  Thomas  was  suc^jceded  by  hia  grandson 
Eobcrt,  the  elder  son  of  the  unfortunate  Edward, 
but  the  story  of  his  life,  and  of  his  succeasorp, 
need  not  be  told  in  these  pages.  We  shall  have 
something  to  say  of  the  decadence  of  this  noble 
family  at  a  later  i>eriod  of  our  story. 

Opposite  the  principal  entrance  gates  to  Aston 
Park  is  the  fine  old  church,  which  was  originally 
built  by  the  prior  and  monks  of  Tickfonl,  New- 


port Pagnel,  in  the  year  1253.  The  east  end  of 
the  chancel  was  added  in  the  leign  of  Edward  U., 
and  the  fine  tower,  with  its  tall  and  graceful 
spire,  was  erected  in  the  reign  of  Henry  VL 
Beside  the  Holte  monuments  there  are  several 
altar  tombs,  the  finest  being  that  erected  to  the 
memory  of  Walter  de  Arden,  A.I).  1407.  A 
more  detailed  account  of  this  church  and  of  the 
village  of  Aston  will  be  given  later  on,  in  the 
chai)ter3  devoted  to  the  history  of  the  suburbs  of 
Birmingham. 


CHAPTER    V. 
THE    BATTLE    OF    BIRMINGHAM. 


Tlic  Ro>-ftIiHt«  harassed  by  the  iicople  of  Binningham— "  Si^nt  t«»  Coventrj- "— Discijiliue  of  the  RnyaliKt  troope— Prince  Rupert  oppHaiyl  at 
Caiiii>  lliU— Defeat  of  thu  towiianien— Lokh  of  Royali»t  ofilccre— Tlie  sacking  and  biirning  of  the  town— Tracts  relating  to  the  battle. 

only  refused  to  supply  the  King's  forces  with 
swords  for  their  money,  but  imprisoned  diverse 
who  bought  swords,  upon  suspicion  that  they  in- 
tended to  supply  the  King's  forces  with  them.** 

The  apologists  and  partizans  of  the  royalists 
have  endeavoured  to  represent  the  soldiers  as 
being  restrained  from  all  acts  of  violence  or  op- 
pression, and  rigorously  punished  when  detected 
therein.  "  There  was  not,"  says  Clarendon,  in  his 
History  of  the  BeMlion^  "  the  least  violence  or  dis- 
order among  the  common  soldiers  in  their  march 
which  'scaped  exemplary  punishment,  so  that  at 
Bromwicham,  a  town  so  generally  wicked,  that  it 
had  risen  ujk)!!  small  parties  of  the  King's,  and 
killed  or  taken  them  prisoners,  and  sent  them  to 
Coventry^  declaring  a  more  peremptory  malice  to 
his  Majesty  than  any  other  place,  two  soldiers 
were  executed  for  having  taken  some  trifle  of  no 
value,  out  of  a  house,  whose  owner  was  at  that 
time  in  the  rebel's  army."  How  far  this  represen- 
tation, and  that  of  the  "Worthy  Gentleman," 
who  wrote  from  "  Walshall,"  are  borne  out  by 
facts,  may  be  judged  from  the  ensuing  narrative. 

Early  in  the  spring  of  1643,  Prince  Euperi  re* 
ceived  orders  from  his  royal  master  to  proceed, 
with  a  detachment  of  1,200  hon%  and  betweoa 


Our  last  chapter  has  somewhat  overstepped  the 
bounds  of  the  period  it  was  destined  to  cover.  It 
will  be  necessary,  therefore,  for  us  to  retrace  our 
steps,  and  take  a  glance  at  the  doings  of  our 
townsmen  in  the  year  1642. 

A  few  days  before  the  memorable  IJattle  of 
Edge  Hill,  which  was  fought  on  the  23x^1  of 
October,  in  the  above-mentioned  year,  King 
Charles  L  passed  through  Birmingham  on  his 
march  from  Slirew8])ury  (on  which  occasion,  as 
stated  in  our  last  chapter,  he  was  the  guest  of  Sir 
'iliomas  Holte,  at  Aston  Hall);  and  the  day  after 
left  the  town,  the  inhabitants  seized  his  carriages  he 
containing  the  royal  plate  and  other  valuables,  and 
removed  them  to  Warwick  Castle.  They  also 
harassed  the  royal  party  in  many  ways ;  attack- 
ing small  parties  of  them  whenever  they  appeared, 
and  sending  them  as  prisoners  to  Coventry. 
"  Hence,"  says  Hutton,  "  the  proverbial  expres- 
sion to  a  refractory  person,  tierul  him  to  Covvntry" 
Xor  did  they  merely  exhibit  their  preference  for 
the  Parliament  party,  by  harassing  the  royalists, 
but  afforded  material  assistance  to  the  fonner,  by 
supplying  them  with  arms ;  having  sent,  according 
to  the  "  Letter  from  WalshaU,'*  fifteen  thousand 
Bwords  for  the  Earl  of  Essex's  forces,  and  **  not 


34 


OLD  AND   NEW  BIRMINGHAM. 


[The  Battle  <tf  Btrwtngtwin 


miglit  pHSci  tliein  by,  but  as  they  supposed,  his 
design  was  to  enter  Staffordshire,  they  felt  that 
there  was  little  ground  for  the  hope.  It  was  about 
three  o'clock  on  Easter  Monday  afternoon,  when 
the  prince,  with  his  amiy,  i*eached  Birmingham. 
I'here  was  a  small  company  of  foot  belonging  to 
the  "  rebels  "  stationed  in  the  town,  also  a  tr<x>i) 
of  hors(?,  from  the  garrison  at  Lichtield,  but  the 
entire  force  did  not  amount  to  more  than  two 
hundred,  and  the  prince  did  not  suppose  they 
would  attempt  resistance  at  such  (nlds,  so  sent  his 
([uarter-masters  to  demand  lodging  and  oiler  pro- 
tection ;  assuring  them,  (according  to  the  **  Letter 
from  WaUhallf^)  that  if  they  would  (piietly  receive 
his  Highness  and  his  forces  they  should  sufl'er  no 
injury.  "  But,"  says  Hut  ton,  **  the  sturdy  sons 
of  freedom  having  cast  up  slight  works  at  each 
end  of  the  town,  and  barricaded  the  lesser  avenues, 
rejected  the  offer  and  the  ofhcers."  Soldiei-s  and 
citizens  joined  to  oj)poso  the  progress  of  the 
prince's  forces,  "  and  from  their  little  works,  with 
mettle  c<iuai  to  their  mtdice,  they  discharged  tludr 
shot  upon  him."  ♦  The  royalist  i)amphlct^er  of 
Walsall  says  tliat  **  when  his  forces  drew  neare 
they  set  up  their  Colours,  and  sidlyed  out  of  their 
workes,  and  gave  fire  upon  them,  and  with  oppro- 
bious  speeches  reviled  tliem,  calling  them  Cursed 
doggs,  develish  Cavaliers,  Popish  TraytorSy  and 
this  was  done  not  by  a  few  of  them,  but  by  almost 
all  of  them  with  groat  shouts  and  clamours." 
They  fought  bravely,  and  succeeded  twice  in 
Ijeatuig  off  the  i)rince'8  army  at  the  entrance  of 
the  town,  but,  notwithstanding  that  thtty  had  an 
excellent  position  for  defence,  were  compelled  at 
lengtli  to  yield,  being  oveipowered  by  force  of 
numbers,  the  prince's  army  being  in  the  propor- 
tion of  t«n  to  one.  But  although  he  succeeded 
in  silencing  the  townspeople's  lii-e  he  was  still 
unable  to  ent<jr  the  town,  for  the  inhabitants  had 
blocked  up  the  deep  and  narrow  way  between 
Deritend  and  Camp  Hill  with  carriages,  so  that 
he  was  compelled  to  alter  his  route,  and  his  men 
had  to  *'  force  the  waies  over  the  medowes  .  .  . 
*Ctoiendon. 


and  so  by  iucompassiug  them  that  did  defend  the 
out-worke,  caused  them  to  draw  inward,  to  other 
workes  there  in  Dighoth,  which  worke  they  de- 
fended to  the  adversaries  losse."  *  Thoy  kept  up  a 
running  fire  through  the  town,  but  were  again 
silenced  by  the  enemy,  and  put  to  flight,  and 
"  with    breaking    through  houses,   over    garden 
waies,  escaped  over  hedges  and  boggy  medowe*, 
and  hiding  their  anues,  saved  most  of  them."t 
"  Tlie  Cavaliers,"  says  another  account,  **  rode  up 
into  the  Tuwue  like  so  many  Furyes  or  Beillams, 
the  Earle  of  Denbigh  being  in  the  Front,  singing  as 
ho  rode,  they  shot  at  every  dooro  or  window  where 
they  coidd  espy  any  looking  out,  they  liacked,  hewed, 
or  pistolled  all  they  met  with,  without  distinction, 
blaspheming  .    .  [and]  cm-sing  most  hideously.  "J 
'       Discovering  a  troop  of  horse  (of  the  Parliament- 
'  ary   army)    which  was   under  tlie   command  of 
I  Captain  Greaves,  at  the  northern  end  of  the  town, 
i  the  Earl  of  Denbigli  i)ui'sued  them  some  two  miles 
i  out  of  town,  up  Shii-land  lane,  in  the  manor  of 
j  Smethwick,  when,  says  the  writer  of  the   first 
narrative    in    the     True    Relationy  §    **  Captain 
I  GiXMives  observing  his  time,  betwixt  two  woods, 
faced    about    and    charged   the    pursuers    most 
valiantly,  as  they  themselves  confesse,  and  drove 
them   backe   agoine :     in   which    charge  Denby 
was  slaine  immediately,  and  the  rust  fled,  and 
so  we  escaped  with  safety;  onely  Captaine  Greaves 
i-eceived  one  shot  in  the  face,  and  a  cut  in  the 
ai'me,  but  not  mortall :    in  the  pursuit  of  that 
troope  God  made   a  way  for  all  our  souldiers, 
saving  some  two  or  tliree,  to  esca^M)  most  with  their 
ai'mes,  which  they  threw  away  and  hid  in  pita  and 
ditches  as  they  could,  whereof  the  most,  I  thinke, 
the  cavaleeres  found  not,  and  not  one  Captaine  or 
Officer  was  hurt  or  taken  prisoner,  nor  any  consider- 
able man,  but  most  poore  fellowes,  and  maliguants, 
because  they  could  meet  with  no  better,  and  all 
are  released  saving  two  of  the  best,  tliough  of  no 


*  '*  A  True  Rf lation,"  etc.  [R.  O.'e  nairatiyel  «ei  p.  S7. 
fib.,  we/J.  37. 

X  "  Prince  Rupert's  Burning  LoTe,"  «m  p.  M, 
i  SappoMd  to  be  R.  Porter,  «  eword-blade  mannfbctorar,  of 
THrminghem,  eer  nui  pag* 


Tit*  IWnl*  i£  lUiTiiinffliiini  1 


nLD   Amy    KEW  BTEMIXOHAM. 


,15 


pT  %  fiume  rv^'iLom-.a  thoraselves  for  2d., 

1 2  -  1.  npicc^,  and  some  one  or  twofor  208/* 

Provoked  at  the  con  tinned  resiatanco  of  the 
and  still  moi'C  rnraged  at  the  loss  of 
fct^.^.  ,.,  .iiif^uished  officers  of  his  army,  Ptinco 
Supcit  gave  orders  lo  his  soldions  to  sot  lire,  to  tho 
kiwn.  "His  wmth  ib  said  to  have  kindled  in 
Bun  StTt^ct,"  snys  llulton,  **and  consumed  several 
bockset  Boar  the  ifspot^  now  No.  12,"  The  wrikr 
«f  ibe  pamphlet  entitled  Prince  Rupert's  Bimunrf 
l/K^^  ete,^  sav^  *' they  ustnl  all  possible  diligence 
in  every  Street  to  kindle  fire  in  the  T*»wne 
wiili  GmipowileT,  Match,  W^mjs  of  Straw,  and 
Be*3niesL  burning  coalos  of  fire  ii't*.  Ihmg  into 
Stiaw^  Hay,  Kid  pDes  [/.r,  piles  of  wood  fuel], 
C»fl*.*rs,  niatcb.  and  any  other  places,  where  it 
WHS  hictsly  to  ralch  hold  ;  .  ,  .  yea,  it  ia  cson- 
fjdently  reloted,  that  they  shot  fire  out  of  their 
Piatolif,  wrapping  lighte*!  MaWh  with  powder  or 

I  tmot  other  ingredients  in  formes  of  slugs,  or  bullets 
in  btovB  PaptT,  which  themselves*  coiifcased  wns 
^tm  Lonl  Diffhiea  devise,  that  English  Firebrand ; 
«xid  lest  any  should  «ive  any  of  their  goods  they 
h*id  Wt,  or  quench  their  flames,  they  stuod  with 
thm  drawno  swonls  and  Pistils,  ahoul  the  bum- 
jiig  HoujBes,  shooting  and  indeavouring  to  kill  every 

I  oae  that,  appearwil  to  preserve  goods,  and  cpieneh 
linp/*     Eighty-sevi'n  houses  are  said  to  hnve 
thus  distlvM'ed,  besides   stables   and    oilier 

r  oiillmQilin^c^  an<l  between  three  and  four  hundred 
pcts^tfins  were  I»^ft  homeless, 

Xni  eont**nt  witlj  thus  setting  tire  to  the  town, 

*  tlnij  ftt^o  pillaged  aiul  plundered  the  town  to  a 
ooottdomlile  extent,  "  picking  piirfies  antl  pockets, 
■KIT  * '  n  holes  and  comers,  Tiles  of  bouses, 
Wt  i  ios^  Vaulta,  Gardt-ns,  tind  every  place 

\  \hty  ociqH  suspect  for  money  and  ipfoods/*  One 
niOBtss  Peake,  a  miser,  wns  said  to  have  been 
robbed  of  nearly  £'1,500,     Altogether,  the  pam- 

I  fibkteer  above  qnoted  estimates  that  they  took 
away  from  the  town  about  £3,000  in  money, 
•pesdifig  the  liui^t  night  of  their  occupation  of  the 
lovn  in  tlift  most  shameless  rioting,  drunkenness, 
dithAttcbory*     Ypt  withal  Vicar  says,  \n  his 


God  in  the  Mounts  **  that  in  the  plund<^ring  and 
burning  of  the  Town,  tho  greatest  losse  was  to  tho 
malignant  partie  of  that  Town  who  hihabited 
among  them,  most  of  the  honest  and  godly  men 
there,  having  by  God^s  mercy  and  good  providence 
carry ed  and  conveyed  away  tlioir  best  goods  into 
Coventry  before  the  Cavaliei-s  cam«  to  their  Town." 
Some  time  after  this  tho  royalists  caused  the 
Til ade-m ill  of  one  Mr,  Porter  to  Ikj  destroyed,  on 
aceoiint  of  the  disloyalty  of  its  owner,  in  making 
8Wor<l-b]adeK  tliereat  for  the  aen^ice  of  tlie  Purlia* 
ment-iry  aruiy  only.  Thi^^  Mr.  Porter  would 
appear  to  bo  the  **  R.  P.*'  whosa  signature  i^ 
appeudod  to  the  first  of  the  two  narratives  in  the 
'*Tiue  Relatrou  of  Prince  Ruperts  Barbaruuf* 
( *ruelty  against  the  Tnwue  of  Rrumingham,"  for 
he  says  thepuin,  *'The  maliguants  .  .  ,  Ijave 
since  pnlh*d  down  my  Wi\\  and  prt-tend  tliat 
1  Prince  Pupert  so  *>ommanded/'  If  it  he  the  same, 
tins  old  liiniiingham  sword-cutler  could  not  ouly 
nudce  these  implements  nf  warfare,  but  also  knew 
well  how  to  use  them,  for  lie  .says  iw  his  narrative 
that  he  himself  was  in  Captain  Greaves'  troop 
whif'li  so  valiantly  withstood  and  vanquirflied 
their  pursuers  near  Smethwick,  in  winch  engage- 
ment the  Karl  of  Denbigh  lost  his  life. 

We  have  thus  endeavoured  to  re-tell  the  story 
of  the  Bidtlf'  of  Binuingliam  from  the  jmmphlets 
and  other  coutenijHirary  record i^  therf^nf,  hirt  as 
there  may  be  aninng  our  readers  some  who  ai'e 
dci^irous  of  i^erusing  IheHe  euriout;  old  pamphlets 
themselves,  we  have  here  i*e[>rinted  them  verbatim. 
The  lirst  in  clironologiral  order  is  that  to  which 
we  have  just  referixd,  containing  two  narratives,  the 
first  signed  "  E.  P.  [1  R.  Porter]  Gw^niri/,  A/nif  8, 
164.1,"  and  tlie  second  "  R  G/'     It  is  entitled  : 

A    THl'K 

K  ELATION 

OF 

PRINCE     RUPEllT^S 
BARBAROUS  CRUELTY 

TOi;\^^E    OF    BRUM  INGHAM, 

To  which  place  on  Mondfty  Apr.  3,  1<J13,  be  mnrebt  with 
2000  hf^me  nad  foot,  4  Dmkos,  and  2  Sokera  ;  when 


36 


OLD   AXD    XEW   BIRMINGHAM. 


[The  Battle  of  Binningbam. 


after  two  hoares  fight  (being  twice  beat,  n  off  by  the 
Townsmen,  in  all  but  140  Kusquetcers)  he  entered, 
put  (livers  to  the  Swonl,  and  burnt  about  80  Houses 
to  ashes,  suffering  no  man  to  carry  away  his  goods, 
or  quench  the  fire,  and  making  no  difference  between 
friend  or  foe  ;  yet  by  Ood's  providence  the  greatest 
losse  fell  on  the  malignants  of  the  Town. 

And  of  the  Cavaliers  were  slaine  divers  chiefe  Commanders, 

and  men  of  great  quality,  amongst  whom  was 

the  Earle  of  Denbigh,  the  Lonl  John 

Stewart  :  and  as  themselves 

report,  the  Lord  Digby. 


London  : 

Printed  for  John  Wright  in  the  Old-baily, 

April  12,  164.3. 

A   TRUE 

K  K  L  A  T  I  O  N  , 
kc. 


Sir, 

J.  rf OUGH  I  can  write  you  but  the  same 
lamentation  which  I  believe  you  have  already  heard,  yet  1 
cannot  be  silent  to  .acquaint  you  of  the  truth  as  neere  as  1 
can  ;  If  Coventrey  had  sent  us  what  heli>e  it  iiii^^ht,  I 
beleeve  the  enemy  durst  not  have  assaulted  us,  but  in 
regard  they  had  been  in  danger  of  cutting  off  by  tlie  way, 
in  case  they  had  been  sent,  I  must  excuse  them,  though 
it  be  to  our  owne  suffering.  We  with  the  Captaines  were 
sensible,  that  if  the  Cavaliers  came,  we  were  not  likely  to 
withstand  them,  they  being  neei-e  ir>00,  and  we  not  alwve 
150  Musketiers,  with  a  Troope  of  Horse  of  Captaine 
C; reaves,  which  did  no  good  but  in  their  flight,  as  here- 
after you  will  heare  ;  but  in  regard  the  generall  desire  of 
the  Towno,  especially  of  those  that  bore  Armes,  would 
have  them  stand  it  out,  and  not  march  away  with  their 
.-Vrmes,  as  we  might  in  time,  and  that  both  they,  and  the 
malignant  would  have  reviled,  and  curst  the  Captaines 
and  Majestratcs  of  the  Towne  if  they  had  left  tlicni,  made 
the  Captaines  and  better  f  ort  content  to  stay  and  trie  the 
issue,  rather  than  be  so  perpetually  r»*j>roacht.  And 
though  the  same  fall  hard  on  our  side  in  loosing  the 
Towno  and  some  Armes,  and  about  80  Houses  burnt  to 
ashes,  with  all  that  therein  was,  and  some  fifteen  men, 
and  two  women  lost  their  lives,  yet  their  gaiue  was 
nothing  at  all,  yea,  they  count  it  greale  losse  and  curse 
the  time  that  ever  they  medled  with  us,  for  I  beelive 
they  lost  as  many  ordinary  men  as  we,  besides  three  men 
of  great  quality,  which  they  much  lament,  whereof  two 
of  them  were  Lords,  as  we  have  great  cause  to  thinke,  the 
one  the  Earle  of  Deuby  that's  sure,  the  other  I..onl  we 
something  doubt  of  his  name,  but  we  heare  by  divers  of 
the  Cavaliers  it  is  Digby,  sure  we  are  he  is  wounded  ;  and 
it  is  as  sure  that  some  of  their  CoUonels  say  it  was  a  man 
of  greater  ranke,  and  more  considerable  then  Denby  ;  the 
other  a  chiefe  Commander  :  Denby  pursued  Captaine 
GreaTes  Troope  some  two  Miles  out  of  Towne  being  at 


their  heeles,  before  our  Troope  departed,  among  whom  I 
went  away,    and  Captain  Greaves    observing  his  Time 
betwixt  two  woods  faced  abont,  and  charged  the  pursuers 
most  valiantly  as  they  themselves  confesse,  and  drove 
them  backe  againe  :   in  wliich  charge  Denby  was  slaine 
immediately,  and  the  rest  fled,  and  so  we  escaped  with 
safety  ;  onely  Captaine  Greaves  received  one  shot  in  the 
face,  and  a  cut  in  the  Anne,  but  not  mortall;  in  the 
pursuit    of  that  troope  God  made  a  way  for  all  our 
souldiers,  saving  some  two  or  three,  to  escape  most  with 
their  armes,  which  they  threw  away  and  hid  in  pits  and 
ditches  as  they  could,  whereof  the  most,   I  thinke,  the 
cavaleeres  found  not,  and  not  one  Captaine  or  Officer  was 
hurt  or  taken  i»risoner,   nor  any  considerable  man,  but 
most  poore  fellowes,  and  malignants,  because  they  couM 
meet  with  no  lietter,  and  all  are  released  saving  two  of 
tlie  bi'st,  though  of  no  great  quality,  some  redeemed  them- 
selves for  2d.  12d.  and  8d.  apiece,  and  some  one  or  two 
for  20s.      Prince  Hubert  being  enragcil  that  he  should 
take  never  a  jjrisoner  of  so  great  a  company,  and  of  those 
not  to  raise  20/.  when  he  himselfe  had  undergon  so  great 
a  losse  ;  and  of  tho8<?  that  were  slaine  [of  our  side  were 
most  poore  malignants,  some  three  young  men  of  onlinary 
quality  that  bare  Armes,  and  John  Carter,  and  that  in 
their  flight ;  for  but  one  was  slaine,]  and  one  lightly  shot 
in  the  flesh  ;    in  the  enterance  for  pillage  they  sitare^l 
non?,  friend  or  foe  they  lighted  of,  yet  for  the  most  part 
those  that  did  most  against  them  escaped  best,  the  same  I 
may  say  of  the  fire,  though  they  intended  to  bume  the 
Towne  utterly,  as  may  be  known  by  their  laying  lightetl 
match,  with  powder,  j»nd  other  combustible  matter  at  the 
other  end,   which  fired  in  divers  places,  and  divers  was 
found  out  and  prevented,  so  that  we  may  truely  say,  that 
the  flames,  sword,  pilledgers,  but  especially  the  prison, 
made  a  difference  betwixt  those  that  feared  Ood,   and 
those  that  fearc  him  not.     But  this  is  remarkable  in  their 
vilenesse,  that  all  these  houses  saving  two  were  fired  in 
cold  blood,  at  their  departure,  wherein  they  endeavouretl 
to  fire  all,   and  in  the  flames  they  would  not  suffer  the 
l>eoj)le    to    carr}'    out    their   goods,    or    to    quench    it, 
triumphantly  with   reproaches   rejoyced  that  the  Wind 
stood  right  to  consume  the  Towne,  at  which  present  the 
Lord  caused  the  Winds  to  turn,  which  was  a  token  of  his 
notice  of  their  insultation. 

For  pillage  1  heare  but  of  little  1  lost,  having  obscured 
the  things  I  had  of  any  valew  ;  and  for  fire,  God  did 
marveliously  prevent,  both  to  me  and  many  others, 
whereat  the  malignants  are  so  enraged  that  they  have 
since  pulled  down  my  Mill,  and  pretend  that  Prince 
Hupert  so  commanded,  and  threaten  to  pull  downe  my 
house  and  divers  others,  which  I  thinke  they  dare  not, 
lest  they  build  it  up  againe,  the  County  having  sent  them 
admonition  of  their  insolency. 

Prince  Rupert  with  Hastings  kept  their  rendervow  this 
day,  within  two  miles  of  Lichfield,  as  we  credibly  heare, 
what  their  designe  is  we  know  not.  I  believe  they  can 
doe  no  good* at  Lichfield;  I  hope  their  cruelty  in  our 
sufferings  will  provoke  this  unwilling  kingdoxne  to 
jealousy  for  the  Parliament.  I  pray  you  when  you  have 
i-cad  this,  shew  it  to  Mr.  B.  and  Mr.  £.  not  onely  to 


Ae  Bim»  of  Bf  rniihebAm.  ] 


OLD  AND   NEW   lilltMINGEAM, 


37 


■   '  itli  tb«  newcs,  but  of  my  being  in  hcjillbj 

i  'ay,   wherdn    I  ljf*vo  gjtnt  cniinp   to 
WT-j>:  irj  lUr  Una,  niul  fcO  1  ii»t, 

Yotir  loring  friend, 

my  pTomi«s  Ingoged  unto  you,  I  am  now 

"n   Af  n  most  btiTl>aroua  mnssucree  of  our 

m,  and  of  Iht;  enraged  rnjfhy  of 

uhumanc  CavalierB  ;  Sir,  thus  it 

«M»  *U»iii  iiir«j4:  ol  the  clocki}  out'  Minntnv  in  the  after- 


pftcse  the  Towne,  nnd  force  the  waies  ovci' Ihe  uu'dowes, 
«Tii\  ft  rod  the  Towne  in  two  plates,  and  so  by  in  com  parsing 
tln^rn  tbttt  did  dufend  the  ottt-wprlcp'^  cttUBcd  them  to  dmw 
inwuiHl,  to  othrr  ivotkes  tbete  in  Digboth,  v:hirh  worke 
they  defended  to  the  ndversaries  lof*e,  bnt  being  the 
enemy  brake  in  at  tbe  Millone*  they  were  forced  to  leave 
that  worke  also,  find  so  put  to  shift  for  themselves,  with 
breaking  through  houses^  over  garden  waies,  escaped  over 
hedges  und  boggy  medowes,  and  hiding  their  armes,  saved 
mciftt  of  them>  the  <'iieniy  killed  none,  rb  I  here  in  fight 
nnlesse  some  three  or  foure,   Air.   Carter,    and  Saninell 


'^f 


PUINTE   RUPERT, 


J^^Qe,  lie  httil  witb  nei^re  two  thousand  horse  ;ind  footf, 
wtTf  tir^Ivf-^  und  two  Sakeri,  act  agjinst  the  towne, 
J'  «  or»lnani  <>,  und  endeavouring  to  foire  his 

•  and  horse,  were  twice  beaten  off  with  our 

•  the  entrance  of  Lkrrimfhm,  tit  which  many 

"  '-^1,  the  towni^ft-men  held  them  in  play  jibove 

^  hiittTn,  '•^  had  not  above  one  hundred  and  fonilie 
■«»«joeta  and  having  many  entrances  into  the  towne  they 
•**  many  too  few,  Conientnj  men  had  withdrawn e  their 
tettthi-^-  '---  »..r  .-^,  ,m  yj,jt  i^i^XMwz  CaMkdomten 
jNp^t"  '>rae  of  Mitster  /Vrjir/fcoinrnnnded 

"fOiplau*  -,..<,^,  m,-  in  th*«  Towne,  not  fit  for  that 
•'Tip?,  JOmXtf  f*r«jx*  when  the  wlvrj-wirieH  began  to  incom- 


EJmiKrre^  \mj\g  of  them,  some  with  their  aniRS  defended 
lhe»msplv'ps  stoutly  till  death,  they  persued  the  rest  in 
tit'kls  anil  lanes,  cutting  and  luoBt  barbarously  mangling 
naked  men  to  the  number  of  fifteene  men,  one  woman, 
another  bring  shot,  and  many  hurt,  many  men  sore 
woiindinl,  aud  Mr.  TiUam  the  surgeon  standing  in  hia 
dor©  to  entertaine  them,  was  most  cruelly  shot,  havine 
his  leg  and  thigh  boneft  broken,  they  pilluged  the  Towne 
genemlly,  their  owno  friends  sped  worst,  and  one  tneaday 
morning  set  fire  in  diverse  places  of  the  Towne,  and  bavo 
bnrnt  neere  a  hundred  dwellings  the  Webb  end,  Dale 


*  li  tliU  a  mlK-prlnt  Tor  MiVrtaw  f 


38 


OLl')   ANP    NEW   BTRMINGHAM. 


[The  Battle  of  Birmingfaaic. 


einl,  and  More  street  end,  Ilimiphroy  JlanSf  tho  Bell,  and 
diverse  liouses  therealK)nt,  many  other  lires  they  kindled, 
but  they  did  not  bume,  they  left  kindled  matches  with 
gunpowder  nlso  in  other  places,  intending  nothing  lesse 
then  utterly  to  destroy  the  Towne,  but  by  Gods  providence 
they  whose  hurt  they  chiefly  intended  by  Gods  hand  is 
much  prevented,  tlie  Cavaliers  lye  about  Clanke  beyond 
WosaJl,  are  joyned  with  Hastings  forces,  and  intend  to 
set  on  the  Close  at  Lichfield^  where  I  feare  not  but  they 
will  have  enough  ;  your  Father's  house  stands,  but  hath 
lost  much,  ^Fr.  Rdtcrta  Mr.  PorUrs^  and  mine  be  safe,  but 
are  threatned  to  bo  pulled  downc,  and  they  pretend  Prince 
Ruiyerts  warrant,  but  however  its  their  envy  to  God's 
overruling  providence  hath  turned  the  mischiofe  so  much 
on  the  heads  of  those  that  might  with  their  timely  helj»e 
have  preventetl  this  mischief ;  I  am  much  grieved  at  the 
losae  of  your  brother,  and  many  other  friends,  three  being 
my  honest  worke-men,  whose  lives  I  would  I  had  redeemed 
with  mine  estate.  The  Cavaliers  have  lost  thirty  men  at 
least,  of  which  there  be  three  or  foure  chiefe  men  Earles 
and  Ijord.s,  I  beleeve  you  have  heard  them  named  the 
Earle  of  Denhy^  the  Lord  John  Stevxirt^  some  say  the 
Lord  Dighy,  thirty  are  said  to  be  buried  and  many  carried 
awny  woun<led,  this  did  so  much  enrage  them,  that  they 
appeared  more  like  Devills  then  men,  lamenting  more 
their  losse,  then  boasting  of  their  gaine,  which  was  much 
in  goods  and  in  money,  its  thought  above  two-thousand 
l>ound,  thirteene  hundred  being  taken  from  Mr.  Pcake, 
Mr.  Jenncns  lost  much,  the  which  men  if  they  had  parted 
with  little  before,  our  fortification  had  beene  such  as 
they  could  not  have  entred,  which  went  on  well  for  the 
time.  So  wishing  you  to  have  comfort  in  our  God,  who 
is  able  to  turne  the  rage  of  men  to  his  j)raiKe,  and 
sweeten  this  bitter  cup  by  some  other  comfort,  I  conclude 
ond  rest. 

Yours  to  commnnd, 

R.G. 
I  could  wish  I  might  hcure  how  the  City  stands  nflect'-d 
with  our  losse,  for  a  little  relicfe  from  them,  might  nun*h 
comfort  many  poore  people,  which  have  lost  all,  and  ore 
left  well  nie  naked  and  harbourlesse  :  it  would  much 
encourage  all  to  stand  out  in  the  cause,  that  ait?  but 
indifferent,  a  helj>e  to  ease  the  better  party  of,  the 
burthen  of  the  which  will  be  otherwaies  too  great  for 
us  ;  I  would  move  some  friends  if  you  thinke  fit,  I  have 
already  put  on  the  worke  of  contribution  in  this  City. 

FINIS. 

Tlie  second  ift  that  of  tlio  royalist  of  Walsall  : 

A 

LETT    E    R 

WIJITTKX   FTIOM 

W    A    L    S    H    A     L    L    , 

BV  A  WOr.THY  OKXTLEMAN  TO  HIS  FRIEND  IN  OXFORD, 
CONCERN INC  J 

B  V  R  M  I  N  G  11  A  M  . 


LETTER 

WRITTEN  FROM  WAMHALL  BY   A  WORTHY  GENTLE- 
MAN TO  HIS  FRIEND   IN  OXFORD, 
COXCERNIXG  DURMINGHAM. 


SIR, 


He 


Printed    in    the    Yeare    M.DU.XLIIL 
(A  MS.  Note  adds  "April  14th.") 


EARING  of  the  appri^ach  of  Prince 
liuprrf.  his  Ilighnesse,  and  coming  according  to  my  duty 
to  attend  him.  In  my  way  I  heard  of  the  miserable 
destruction  of  Burmingham  by  fire  ;  which  I  must  con- 
fcflse  tooke  the  deei>est  Apprehensions  with  me  of  any  one 
accident  since  the  beginning  of  these  unhappy  distract ioa^t, 
as  presenting  to  my  view  a  picture  of  the  present  estate  of 
Oemmnif,  and  as  by  a  pros]>ective  shewing  roe  (not  T»»ry 
farro  OiT)  the  Scene  translated  from  thence  hither.  Thin 
sad  thought  dn'w  me  to  a  more  narrow  enquiry  of  the 
causes  of  the  burning  of  the  Towne,  and  wliether  it 
was  (ione  by  authority  or  no.  And  I  found  that  the 
Inhabitants  of  that  Towne  were  they  who  first  Btirre.! 
up  those  of  Corrutri/  to  resist  the  King,  and  that  about 
300  from  thence  went  into  Coventry  to  defend  it  against 
the  Kings  Forces,  that  from  thence  they  sent  15000 
Swonls  for  the  Eario  of  Essex  liis  Forces,  and  the  ayd 
of  that  Party,  and  not  onely  refused  to  supply  the  King's 
Forces  with  Swonls  for  their  money,  but  imprisoned 
diverse  who  bought  swords,  ui>on  suspicion  that  they 
intended  to  supply  the  King's  forces  with  them.  That 
aftorwanls  when  His  Majesty  marched  that  way  with  His 
Army,  out  of  his  princely  goodnesse  and  in  hope  that  His 
Grace  and  favour  would  prevayle  with  them  to  turne  good 
subjects,  he  gave  expresse  order  that  they  should  not  be 
])lundered.  and  because  some  were  plundered  (though  but  a 
few  and  very  little  taken  from  them)  there  was  exemplary 
.lustice  done  by  the  hanging  of  two  Officers,  and  they  had 
a  sp4»ciall  protection  gittntetl  to  them.  Yet  so  little  use 
did  they  make  of  the  King's  Clemency,  that  the  King's 
Army  was  no  sooner  removed  from  thence  but  they  stayml 
nil  the  Carriages  which  did  not  move  the  same  day  with 
the  King's  Army,  amongst  which  was  some  of  the  King's 
Plate  and  diverse  goods  of  great  value,  and  therein  they 
were  so  hearty  and  zealous  that  at  their  owne  charges  they 
carried  them  to  H'arirklr  Castle  before  the  king  was  out 
of  that  Shire. 

And  they  have  still  continued  u^wn  all  occasions 
violently  to  oppose  tlie  King,  and  to  aytl  those  who 
have  taken  up  amies  against  him.  Insomuch  that  they 
made  fortifications  al>out  the  Town,  and  sent  out  parties 
to  plunder  the  King's  friends. 

And  when  his  Highnesse  upon  Munday  last  sent  one  to 
them  to  take  up  his  quarter  at  Burtningham,  who  assured 
them  that  if  they  would  quietly  receive  his  Highnesse 
and  his  forces  they  should  sutler  no  injury.  But  otherwise 
they  must  exi)ect  to  be  forced  to  it,  they  refused  to  give 
him  Entrance,  and  pre^iared  themselves  with  all  their 
strength  to  resist  him ;  and  when  his  forces  drew  neare 
they  set  up  their  Colours,  and  sallyed  out  of  their  workes, 
and  gave  fire  upon  them,  and  with  opprobions  speeches 
reviled  them,  calling  them  Cursed  dogga,  develisk  Cavalien, 


» of  Binulngfeia.] 


OLD   Amy   NEW  BIRMINGHAM. 


39 


i^fuh  Tra^ttofs,  End  this  wii*  dime  not  by  a  few  of  theai 

but  Vy  almost  all  of  ihftn  vriUi  great  abouts  arid  clainoiirs. 

I  Thh  could  not  Imt  intcns*?  the  arnddicrs,  und  the  Triace 

III  make  ki!*  ]jii<isago  into  the  Towdo  wns  forced  to  ^ve 

l«d«rs  for  fijin^  a  house  or  two  ;  but  they  r«liring  and 

|ll|rtli^^  upon  his  cntmncc  into  the  Townc  he  itnnn^diately 

'g*rit  orlcr  for  tjneuching  of  the  fii"e  which  wru*  done 

ii»rdlt)|(l7,  und  no   iuoid  Unrt  wa^  done   on   Muiiduy. 

t  je^t^rdny  hia  lli^huesse  being  to  march  from  them'e, 

fr^Tin^  what  those  great  provocations  miglit  worke 

'wit]  he   guve  exprcsac  comiurmd  that  no 

til  .  jn[>t  to  firu  the  Towne.     And  nfter  hli 

are  ih«nc«  »om«  honldit-rs  (»s  yet  nnknownj  having 

i  the  Towne  in  diverse  places,  he  immediatly  »eiit  to 

t^  inhahi Lints  of  the  Towne,  to  Itt  thum  know  it  wo*  not 

doii£  by  hi  a  command,  uod  therefore  wiahod  them  to  qnench 

11,  hut  the  wind  being  high  and  the  iirc  encreased,  it  could 

DCi  btf  m>  Boone  extingnliithed  an  wiis  to  he  dcidrctl  I 

0»c  thing  more  t  heard  of  iit  thi»  taking  of  Burminff- 
A<wn,  wliieJi  uiajde  isome  Impression  with  me,  which  wait 
the  ilenth  of  ft  minister  killed  presently  after  the  entry  of 
the  touldif^rs  into  the  Towne.     But  it  is  alleadged  that  he 
lold  the  aotildier  who  killed  him,  that  the  King  was  a 
Pefjnred  anil  Papisticall  Kingi  and  that  he  had  rather  dye 
lli€n  lire  under  such  a  king,  and  that  he  did  and  would 
u»i  him  ;  and  in  his  pofzket  after  his  death  were 
De  jAaper?  »n!fiiient  to  make  niee  to  beleeve  the 
i  either  nuul,  or  one  of  the  new  Enthusirtsts,     It 
bftciiaiift  my  moilcsty  to  re^H^at  them,  but  the  truth  (wldch 
^1    you  will  d«^&ire  to  know)  extorts  them  from  mee,  some  of 
H  Uirm  wcr*  to  this  effect,  that  the  2S  of  March  last  ho  had 
^^Wc<  "  ■'     KiBsv   frcm   Mris,    E.    with  some  moyst- 

^^^B.^  <*tber  day  a  cynnamon  Kisse  from  another 

^^iSlinaw,  aiuL  another  from  one  of  14  yearea  old,  with  much 
III       mmt  marh  like  stuffe  which  I  blush  to  write, 
|H      And  attt^ly  whatsoever  the  Principles  of  the«e  teachers 
H  way  b<,  the  conclusions  made  by  their  Diisciplcs  is  very 

V  itms^gis.     One  of  the  be«t  sort  of  their  priaouera  heix*  being 

V  iliace>fmF«l  '^ithall  ronceming  hia  taking  np  am»es  against 
~     Uie  Ki-b^  !  how  he  could  tnke  up  armes  in 

his  oathv  of  Altegiiitice  and  Su- 
I  iy  answered,  he  never  did  nor  never 
ths. 

r  lit  t«  write  U>  yoa,  whih'  the  memory 

Irtish  ;  and  though  it  may  be  accom- 

cireumstancca,  yet  it  mmdi  troubk*8  hia 

Li  this  Accident  ahouJd  now  fall  out,  he  well 

knowing  that  they  who  are  the  great  BouU  Jiem  and 

liusaidiarka  In  the  State,  will  be  apt  to  calumniate  him 

lor  tin  firing  of  this  Towne,  which  he  never  Commanded 

«r  C«v&tenancedr   and  the  actors  of  which  he   ia  moat 

^wiffnoa  to  puni»bt  and  h  most  carefnll  to  find  out.     And 

tUb  MJTBtivM   '"'^^    111  I'L    v.iu  TitMV  V  conJident  is  true, 

OMontQ^  froni 

faithftdi  Servant. 
WaUliali,  A|itll  2^.  IfiS. 

V13IU. 


TliH  third,  which  certainly  bears  the  pulm  for 
cumi)relieiisiveue8^  of  title,  m  qiuiiutly  iiititlrd, 
PRINCE    n VFEHT  s 

BtTRXlNG   IA\Y\S.  T(» 

ENGLAND, 

Dl8«.K>VlCltEl»   IN 

BI  RMl  NG  JIAM'b    FLAMES, 
oji, 
A  more  ExatJt  and  true  Narntion  of  Bimiingham* b  Cala^ 
mitics,  under  tlic  barbiroua  and  inhumane 
Cruelties  of  P.  l{upert*8  forces, 
Whcr»iin  is  related  how  that  famous  and  well   atlc^ncd 
Town  of  Binninfjkam  was 
L'uworthily  opijostd,      \ 
Insolently  invadtd,         j 
Notoriouiily    robbed 

and  plundered,  f  Bij  li^ittce  I{u|H'rl*tj  ForccM. 

And  moat  cruelly  tilled  i 
in    cold    blood    the 
next  day.  ^ 

Together  with  the  Numher  ol  Prince  Ilujfcrt's  Foix'e«| 
his  considerable  Persons  slaiiu*,  or  mortally  wounnled  ; 
th<?ir  many  abominable  Carriagiis  in  and  after  the  taking 
of  the  Town.  The  small  Strength  which  Birtfiiwjfunn 
hiul  to  iriaintaiue  thi-ir  defence,  the  Namca  of  their  men 
slidne  ;  the  tmiubcr  of  houses  burned,  and  persons  thereby 
destitute  of  hiibitation  ;  with  divers  otlier  considerable 
passages. 


Published  at  the  request  of  the  Committee  at  Coventry^ 
that  the  Kingdom  may  timely  take  notice  what  is  generally 
to  be  expected  U'  the  Cavaliers  iu»olcncics  be  uot  speedily 
cnished. 


A  TLghtcoas  man  tfQarihth  the  lifs  of  his  Bea4%  but  the 
tiHfUr  vurck^  of  tlu  wicked  arc  erue.lL     Prov,  xii,  10. 


londun:  Printed  for  Thmnaw  F^vdethill,  1643. 
[A  MS.  Note  adds,  "  Ut  of  May."] 


tkl:k  relation 

or  TtlX   INUUMA1<£   CBlfKLTtES   EXKKCIhKD   BY 
CAVALliSlta 

At  Bmnirtjfhavtf  in  Warwickahiie. 


HJ£ 


iO  correct  the  many  false  Reporta  already 
fpreikd  abroad,  and  to  prevent  all  hha  narrations  for 
future,  conceniing  tlie  late  surprisall  and  spoyliug  of  the 
Towne  of  Bit  tain gUtm^  in  the  County  of  W unpick. 
Tins  ensuing  Itcktion  of  Passages,  hiith  bcenc  collected 
from  the  severall  I  ti  formations  of  divers  tru-sty  and 
Intel ligent  Inhabitants  of  Birmiinjimm^  who  were  eye 
witnesses  of,  and  sutferers  nndcr  many  the  said  caJamitiot 
of  that  Towne^  so  farre  as  the  tmth  of  smih  turbulent 
diatmctfid  Oocurrents  can  be  yet  discorered. 
The  Towne  of  Birmingham  perouiving  tl^iat  for  their 


40 


OLD  AND    NEW    BIRMINGHAM. 


[The  Battle  of  Bhmingfaam. 


fjiitlifull  alfection  to  King  and  Parliament,  ihuy  had  de- 
rived the  hatred  of  Popish  and  prophane  Malignants  upon 
themselves  ;  and  that  since  the  Noble  I^rd  Brookes  death, 
these  parts  of  the  Country  began  to  be  much  infested  uith 
divers  Troopes  of  Kobbers  and  Plunderers,  whereby  their 
persons  and  estates  were  much  indaugered,  resolved  to 
Arme  themselves  and  estates,  and  to  maintaine  two  Cap- 
taines  for  the  better  Disciplining  and  ordering  of  their 
men  to  that  end  :  But  whilst  they  were  beginning  to  make 
some  slight  mounds  and  Breast-works  for  defence  the  week 
before  Kaster  last,  information  came  that  Prince  llvj^ert 
with  1500  or  2000  men  with  4  Drakes  and  2  Sacres  was 
upon  his  march  at  Stratford  upon  Avon  and  about  llcnly 
some  10  miles  distant  from  Binningham^  whore  these 
forces  hovered  about  4  dayes,  pillageing  the  Country  ex- 
treamly  (as  their  manner  is)  Bimiinijham  hoped  they 
might  ]iasse  by  them,  but  afterwards  pen'civing  on  Satur- 
day night,  that  it  was  probable  their  designe  was  toward 
Staffordshire^  and  that  tliey  would  take  Birmingham  in 
their  way  ;  The  Minister  of  Binningluun  entreated  the 
Captaines  and  chiefe  of  the  Towne,  by  no  meanes  to  thinke 
of  such  an  impossible  defence  of  themselves  a^jainst  2000, 
themselves  having  scarce  six  score  Mus([ueteei*s  in  all  the 
Towne,  but  rather  to  march  away  with  all  their  Armes, 
and  so  secure  their  Armes  and  persons,  though  their  goods 
were  hazarded,  as  a  thing  farre  more  safe  and  rationall, 
which  motion  the  Captaines  and  chicle  of  the  Town  readily 
imbraced,  but  the  middle  and  inferior  sort  of  people, 
(especially  those  that  bore  Annes)  would  by  no  meanes  be 
drawn  to  leave  the  Towne,  and  so  they  all  resolved  to 
stand  upon  their  own  guard,  otherwise  the  chiefe  of  the 
Towne  and  the  Captaines  must  have  departed  as  Cowards, 
with  great  Contempt  many  seomes  and  curses. 

Oji  Easter  Monday  Prince  Jlu})€^'Cs  Forces  approtiched 
to  the  Towne  about  2  or  3  o'Clock  in  the  Aftcmoone,  at 
one  end,  jiresently  assaulted  it  with  great  fuiy,  discharging 
their  Musquets  and  great  pieces  onely  about  100  Mus- 
ketiers  opjwsing  them  (the  rest  hiding  themselves)  which 
were  also  divided  into  severall  ends  of  the  Town,  and  not 
many  in  any  one  place,  a  gootl  while  the  Musketiei-s  kept 
them  off  their  Works,  and  drove  them  back  till  they 
tii-ed  a  thatched  house,  and  burnt  2  or  3  houses  at  Towns 
end  and  their  Horse  also  broke  into  the  fields  and  came  in 
at  the  backsides  of  the  Town  through  Lake-meadow, 
which  forced  the  Towus-meu  to  retreat  back  into  the 
Towne  to  chaise  them,  when  they  came  up,  when  they 
slew  some  very  considerable  man  who  was  presently 
stripped  of  his  rich  garments,  and  wrapped  in  a  gray 
coat,  and  a  woman  of  theirs  suborned  to  lament  for  him 
as  her  husband,  they  called  him  Adam  a  Bell,  but  this 
loss©  so  enraged  them  that  they  presently  burnt  2  or  3 
houses  to  the  ground,  where  they  conceived  he  was  shot ; 
then  they  broke  in  so  forcibly  ujwn  the  few  men  in  the 
town  that  they  were  forced  to  scatter  and  fly  for  their 
lives.  It  is  very  remarkable  that  none  of  them  were 
slaine  or  hurt  whiles  they  stood  upon  their  Guard  (as  is 
credibly  averred)  till  they  scattered  and  were  so  singled 
out.  The  Cavaliers  rode  up  into  the  Towne  like  so  many 
Furyes  or  Bedlams,  the  Earle  of  Denbigh  being  in  the 
Front,   singing  as  ho  rode,  they  shot  at  every  doore  or 


window  whei-e  they  could  espy  any  looking  out,  they 
hacked,  hewed,  or  pistolled  all  they  met  with,  without 
distinction,  blaspheming,  cursing,  and  damVning  them- 
selves most  hidiously.  Discovering  a  Troope  of  Horse, 
which  was  under  the  command  of  Captain  Greaves  at  the 
further  end  of  the  Towne  facing  them,  they  pursued  after 
them,  who  after  a  little  flight  wheeled  about,  and  most 
stoutly  charged  them  through,  and  the  Captaine  received 
five  small  wounds  (which  are  now  almost  well :)  In  which 
charge  the  £a.  of  Denbigh  was  knockt  off  his  horse,  laid 
for  dead,  and  his  pockets  rifled  (though  his  wounds  not 
so  mortall  as  to  die  presently)  the  rest  of  his  horse  were 
chased  till  they  came  neere  their  own  Colours,  which  was 
excellent  Service,  for  meane  while  most  of  the  Townes 
foot  escaped  away. 

After  which  Captaine  Oreaves  retreated,  and  so  advanced 
to  Lichfield.  Their  Horse  rode  desparatly  round  the  Town, 
leaping  hedges  and  ditches  (wherein  one  is  reported  to 
breake  his  neck)  to  catch  the  Townes-men ;  no  madmen 
could  ride  more  furiously.  They  slew  in  their  frenzy  as 
we  are  informed,  about  14  in  all,  viz.  John  Carter ,  junior, 
William  Knight^  Glasier,  William  Billingsley,  junior, 
Joseph  Rastcllf  William  Turton,  Cutler,  Thomas  the 
Ostler  at  Swan,  pistolled  comming  oflSciously  to  take  their 
Horses,  Richard  Hunt  Cobler,  Henry  Benton  Labourer, 
Samuel  Elsmore  Cutler,  William  Ward  Cutler,  Richard 
Adams  Cobler,  Widdow  Collins,  Lucas  his  Wife,  and  one 
Mr.  WhiteJiall  a  Minister,  who  hath  bin  long  Lunatick, 
held  Jewish  opinions,  and  had  layn  in  Bedlam  and  other 
prisons  (some  say)  16,  some  22  yeares,  and  was  lately  come 
out ;  they  comming  to  him  asked  him  if  he  would  have 
<iuarter,  he  answered  to  this  (or  like  purx)06e)  he  scorned 
Quarter  from  any  Popish  Annies  or  Souldiers,  whereupon 
they  supiK)sing  him  to  be  Mr.  Roberts  yiimster  of  Birming- 
ham, did  most  cnielly  mangle  and  hack  him  to  death,  and 
found  certain  idle  and  foolish  pai)ers  in  his  pocket, 
which  they  spared  not  to  divulge  (as  they  thought  to  the 
Roundheads  infamy)  and  so  went  insulting  up  and  down 
the  Towne  that  they  had  quartered  their  Minister,  out  of 
whose  bloody  hands  the  Lord's  gracious  providence  de- 
livered him  a  little  before  the  Towne  was  assaulted,  au-l 
(blessed  be  (Jod)  hee  is  neither  slain  nor  hurt.  All  the 
considerable  men  escaped  out  of  their  snare,  some  40  (they 
say)  were  taken  prisoners,  whereof  scarce  20.  of  their  own 
Towne,  all  inferior  men,  most  of  them  their  own  favourci"i», 
an«l  since  for  trifling  sums  of  money  they  are  released  all, 
save  2  or  3  (as  unworthy  to  be  kept.) 

Having  thus  |)ossesscd  themselves  of  the  Towne,  they 
ran  into  every  house  cursing  and  damming,  threatning 
and  terrifying  the  poorc  women,  most  terribly,  setting 
naked  Swords  and  Pistolls  to  their  breasts,  they  fell  to 
plundering  all  the  Towne  before  tliem,  as  well  Malignants 
as  others,  picking  purses,  and  pockets,  searcliing  in  holes 
and  comers.  Tiles  of  houses.  Wells,  Pooles,  Vaults, 
Gardens  and  every  place  they  could  suspect  for  money 
and  goods,  forcing  people  to  deliver  all  the  money  they 
had.  It  is  credibly  believed  they  took  from  one  Thomas 
Peake  a  Councellor  1500  or  1300  /».  at  least,  for  ho  after- 
wanls  deeply  professed  that  they  had  but  left  him  in 
money  15iL  q ;  and  it  was  commonly  known  he  had  aboat 


41 


"A 


4d 


OLD   AND  KE\V  BIEMIXGHAM. 


[Th«  B«U)a  ot  Slrmltighaciii.  , 


ilio  wiiO  sums  lyiug  fanktriug  anl  rusting  by  him  for 
ihfso  iDftny  Yenrea,  unci  yet  to  tJiis  day  he  would  never 
voluntarily  leud  or  give  the  least  samme  for  the  Belief  of 
Uod's  Ch  :  and  the  Laud  in  llm  present  saddest  distresswi, 
who  being  under  Oiuals  hands  (m  we  arc  cr^ibly 
iTilonne*!)  when  tidiugs  of  their  MiniRter'a  death  wa« 
brought  to  hiuj,  rei»liod  (thinking  thereby  to  curry 
favour)  that  it  Imd  bin  well  if  he  had  bin  kilkd  7 
ye^rcs  agoc.  They  havo  had  divers  great  Summer  also 
frtjm  othcra,  who  htive  shewed  small  love  to  King  and 
Parliament  ;  tooke  much  money  to  proti.*tt  jM»o(di?*fi 
Houses,  and  afterwards  betrnycil  th<^m,  and  Jict  thcro 
on  fij-e.  It  is  conceived  ttiey  hud  3eH)0/.  in  money 
from  the  Townc.  They  beaafly  nss»«lied  many  Women's 
rhastit)%  ond  itnimdently  made  their  braga  of  it  after- 
wards, how  many  tliey  hid  ravished  ;  glorying  in 
their  shame,  especially  the  Frrnrh  among  them,  were 
oittragionsiy  h»»civious  and  letchcTOU*.  They  broke  the 
Windowes,  s]Joyled  the  gDodn  they  could  not  take  away, 
iind  carried  with  them  all  the  chiefe  goods  in  the  Townc, 
some  having  littk  leK,  some  nothing  but  bare  walla,  some 
nothing  but  tloatlies  on  their  backs,  and  some  atiipped  to 
their  very  shirts  an<l  left  nuked.  That  night  few  or  none 
of  them  went  to  Bed,  but  sate  up  revelling,  robbing,  «nd 
Tyrannizing  over  Ih**  jioore  affrighted  Women  and  j»ri. 
aoncrB,  drinking  drunken  healihing  upon  their  kneels  yen 
drinking  HealthJi  to  PdnLe  Muperti  Dog. 

Nor  did  their  rage  here  ceJise,  but  when  on  next  day 
they  were  to  march  forth  of  the  Towne,  they  used  all  pH>9* 
Slide  tlEigeuee  in  eveiy  Street  to  kindle  fire  iu  the  Tovvne 
with  CfUnfKJwder,  Alateb,  Wispej*  of  Straw,  and  Besonics 
burning  coalesof  fire&c,  tlung  itUo  Straw,  Hay,  Kid  piles, 
fullers,  Thatch,  and  aay  otlier  places,  where  it  was  likely 
lo  oateh  hold  ;  many  of  which  attempti*  were  saccesslesse 
and  found  after  their  departure,  yea,  it  is  confidently  re- 
lated, that  they  shot  fire  out  of  their  Pistolla,  wrapping 
lighted  Match  with  powder  or  some  other  ipgredienbi  in 
formeti  of  alugs,  or  bullets  in  brown  I'aiwr,  which  them- 
jselve^  confej^sed  was  the  Lord  Dighi/'i  devl«^e,  that  English 
Firebrand  ;  nnd  lest  any  should  save  any  of  their  goods 
they  had  left,  or  quench  their  flames,  they  stood  with  their 
Jmwne  swords  and  Pistols,  akiut  the  burning  Houses, 
hooting  and  indeavouring  to  kill  every  one  that  appeared 
to  preserve  goods,  and  quench  the  fire,  domineering  at  the 
ftajnes,  Where*s  if  our  Covert  (nj  noivf  IF  hen' a  ijoiir  God 
lirookes  now  f  Vou  matf  set  how  God  Ji/jhts  agninM  3/0 w, 
&e.  And  when  some  of  the  Town  (whose  purser  bad 
<learely  purchased  some  interest  among  them)  diswadcd 
them  from  further  fiering,  one  of  their  owne  men  confessed 
that  every  QuartermasUr  was  swome  to  fire  his  owne 
Quarter,  and  that  they  durst  not  hut  doe  it.  By  all 
which  it  notoriously  appcares,  that  their  full  intention 
i**w,  and  that  by  command  (let  them  pretend  what  excuse 
they  can)  to  bume  downe  the  whole  Towne  to  the  ground, 
and  doubtlesse  would  have  done  it^  had  not  the  Lord  been 
ihd  more  memfull  :  the  houses  burned,  were  about  B7* 
besides  multitudes  of  Barnes,  Stables,  and  other  back 
buildings,  Ijelouging  both  to  these  dwelling  Houses  and 
to  others  that  escaped  the  lUmes,  Persons  unfumiahod 
and  faUen  into  extreme  distre«86  by  this  fire,  340,  and 


upwards.     Ho  that  nrnny  mt  quji. 
barojm  cruelties,  which  0110  wi  mncli 
much  OS  Jill  these  (except  fivt?  or  six  hi 
in  cool  blood,  the  next  day  after  they 
Towne.     And  yet  for  all  this  th«  8oubij  i;    Ifl 

habitants,    that    Prince    Jtuptri    dealt  wiQ 

them  :  but  when  they  came  back  againe  with  lh*j  Qa 
Af^iy^    they   would    If'sve    neither   Man,    Woman, 
childe   alive.      Such   are   the   Cavaliers   morcies. 
Towne  (as  is    thought)    was    the    first    Towne    in 
Kingdom,    that    was    gemridly    plunder\;d    when 
King  nmrchcd  from  Shrcusburp,  before  Kq/nton  batt« 
and  the  lirst  tlmt  in  cohl  blood  was  barbai-oasly  It 
However    Piince    Ktiiicrt    bath     got     hiUi&elfe     ftemai 
honour,   by  conquering  ho    mighty  an   enemy   us   IC 
Mosketieru,  with  so  small  an  army  as  SHOO,  m«ii.     Sin^ 
their  dej»artm"e   Pjincc   RtifKri    heart Rg    that    som* 
Birminfjhatn^  cursed  him  for  his  Cnjcltif>3,  had  deaig 
(fts  one  of  th*^!r  owne  Party  inforn»»*d)  two  Trooptt* 
Horse  to  fire  the  rest  of  the  Towne.     Whereupon  !*f^ine 
the  Towne  petitioning  him  not  to  doe  it,  he  rcplred  I 
would  not  if  they  rel^elled  not  agidm^^  nor  i**^tumed  lo  th 
Tomit.     Sithence  they  have  cauetMl  one  Mr.  Porters  Xih 
mill  in  the  Towne,  to  be  pulled  downe,  wherein  swonlbU 
were  made  and  imployed,   onely  for  tins  wrvi<'e  of 
Parliament,    and   so    they    w^cre    Lnfonned    (which 
erecting  about  100/.)  threatning  if  it  were  not   li<]tll| 
downe,  the  r«*8t  of  the  Towne  sJiould  be  burnt     Pot  tin 
they  Inegin  to  be  great  Agents  in  Kire-Workes» 

On  their  part  it  is  probably  believed  there  fell  tliti 
veiy  considerable  Men,  rr:,  ICarle  of  Denbigh  who  did 
not  long  after  of  his  Wountls,  an*>tlier  as  is  supposed, 
Sir  iraiiam  AYKES.     The  third  o^  yet  not  knowue. 

Certainely  two  Collins  wei-e  made  in  Btrniivifham,  whil 
the   Earle  of   Denbigh  was  alive  ;    and   many   comina 
Souldiors  are  supijosed  to  be  slaiue,  some  susjmcte*!  lo 
buryed  in  the  Breast* worke»  ditch  tliey  enlredt    whic 
they  laid  tiat,  and  charged  that  none  should  meddle  wi^ 
it  a|K)u  priine  of  death,   and  when  they  came  into  til 
Towne,  they  cursed  at  the  Round-heads,  and  swore 
sltotf  nt  if  they  hud  been  efhooting  at  .V/«rr(itr«,  n^vtree  en 
missed  Man  or  Horse.     They  tooke  away  two  Cart  loa*l 
wounded  Aten,  about  12  in  a  Cart,  when  they  went  awajj 
Now  they  have  made  BIrminfjham  a  w*oful  8pectm.de  ' 
behold,  a  thorow  Faire  for  Thieve*  and  j^lunileuTs ; 
rich  are  wofully  wasted  and  spoyled  mnltitudi%  olmm 
quite    beggei-ed,     and    undone  ;     it   is  thought    2000 
cannot  rcpaire  their  lossts,  their  own  Malignant  noig 
hours  rage   at  the   welbaffected,    like   mad    men,    thil 
minister  \h  driven  from  home,  debarred  from  all  inijdojj 
ment  and  deprived  of  all  his  maintenance  ;  bc«ide 
many  Iors<"ii  by  fire  an«J  plundering,  and  till  tho 
be  cleared  small  hopes  of  hia  safe  returne,  being  so' 
maligned    and    threatned    by    the    Cavaliers,    and 
domineering  anti-guurd  led  in  Birmingham,     The  Pcop 
that  ai'e  left  are  fed  with  sutdi  rayUng  Sermons  as  od 
Orton  Curute  to  Parson  Smith  the  ancient  Pluralist 
afforrl  them,  rankly  tempered  with  the  malignancy  of  ' 
owne  distempered  Spirit.     And  all  welbatfoctod  Pe* 
are  forced  to  be  absent  from  their  habitations,  to  thd 


dl»rf»  iu   Uii«  thoir  low  esUte,   for  feare   of 

l<ir?t  famines  \mng  pi  offered   to  apprehend 

o*e  of  better  mnko.     Yet  they  deisire 

'  io\  ^*^  ptttieotly  ar»d  profitnbly  take  with 

joy  tiiv  .  ill  tbeir  goods,  kuowiug  in  th«ttiselvea 

thmt  *^hr  Id  ^ooii  cmi^e,  and  that  they  bftve  in 

H^  1  and  moi*e  Midiiriu^j  substance, 

Ij  ioutf' vvrll  conMJder  Birminyhnnut  ca]^- 

i  conclude  what  all  %r^.  like  to  ffele  nnlesse  thpy 
bo^tirro  thcmsitdvcs  to  shake  otT  the  Cavalier* 
twm  l]l«ti  E^pttan  yoke. 


ITie  pcifiSiigte  frc»m  Viciirs's  "  God  in  ilte  MomU"^ 

reUtisi^   to    tliis  ev^nt,   (from   which    we    have 

mlttadj  quot^  in  oui-  narrative),  h  m  follows : — 

*'  April  th<»  Sth  enmc  ccrtjiin  intflHgirnoe  to  Lontlan  frotn 

[  Antjit»ii^*Aiti«f  of  thfl  cruell  slnughtcr  of  diverse  of  the  in- 

labstmU  of  tJMt  honeftt  Town^  and  tluit  nbnut  df^hty  of 

)  Uirfr  direlljuj?  hoiusrs  were  burnt  down*:  by  that  bar!>ftJous 

ka^d  buU:iii-rJy  Prince  of  Jttfhbci'f^  nnd  his  accursed  Cii\*n* 

Bat  yet  withal),  Uiat  his  filching  Forcoa  got  little 

[  Uj  tbifir  m  inhnrnflno  barbarity  :  for,  Cod  foutrht  for  those 

!  inhabitnntfl,  who  wierc  for  the  most  part, 

profcKidtiii  or  trade  was  to  make  uaiU,  sythcs 

[M^wii  surit  it^«,  iron  commodities;  and  tbit  with  such  iron* 

•f«om  OM  thiry  had  they  «o  knocked  the  Eiirl  of  Ikubifjh 

^At  Uw  r»i»civcd  hi.*  deaths  wound  in  bis  furious  pursuit  of 

'  of  th<ff»i,  and  imm<?<iittt'dy  after  dyed  of  those  his 

wiwin'ln  :  And  with  him  also  fns  it  was  credibly  infortned) 

tht  L^ni  /}urhu  that  uirih-tri^itor  to  the  Common  wenlth 

*>f  '^  'I  in  the  same  fight.     And 

*i»i  ly  infonned  them'«  as  a  re- 

ul  liic  Lord.     Thnt  in  the  plunder- 

rhi^  Town  the  greatest  lossy  was  to  the 

1  ^i^  Town  who  inhabited  among  thera, 

>  t'y  men  there,  having  by  Gods 

rycd  k  convijyed  .iwiiy  their 

^^'  ^  the  Cavaliers  came  tothtir 

'  Tewu. 

The  OM  Ship  Inn,  Camp  HiD,  is  said  to  have 

lii»cn  the  h^ail  quarUjni  of  Prince  Rupert  (luring 

I  the  AtUek  on  the  town^  an*i  tho  last  proprietor 

'  »f  •'  pixsvious  to  its  flemolition,  published 

bU  k   on  it8  hLstorj' and  fige»  coTitaining 

Bi4ay  curioBfl  nnd  iptrrefttin;^  detaOs,  which  were 

Willi  w  rring,     \MiGther  this  house  waa 

^Prin*^    .,.,i   ,i.d  Head  Quarters"  or  not»  there 

mn  bo  no  doubt  it  is  a  very  old  one,  and  was 

pfobftUly  a  toad^ide  inn  three  centuries  ago,     It 

—  f  Tmtdy  known  as  **The  Anchor/* 


There  13  yet  another  pamphlet  relating  to  tho 
civil  war  troubles  in  the  viciiuty  of  Birmingham 
wlxich  we  do  not  remember  to  have  seen  reprinted 
or  referred  to  in  any  previous  history  of  the  town. 
It  woiJd  seem  to  refer  to  the  period  at  which  the 
p^?oplc  of  Birniinghani  harassed  the  royalist  troops, 
and  seized  the  king's  carriages,  hut  we  cannot  find 
any  mention  elsewhere  of  such  a  battle  near  Bir- 
mingliaTu.  The  copy  of  the  tract  from  which  we 
have  taken  our  roprint  b  in  tho  valuable  collec- 
tion of  Warwickshire  books,  prints,  and  MSS, 
formed  by  the  hite  Mr.  Staunton,  of  Longbridge, 
Warwickshire,  now  in  the  Birmingham  I?eferenco 
Library.  It  is  not  improlmble  that  this  exceed- 
ingly rare  littie  pamphlet  of  eight  pages  is  unique. 


A  TUUE 

RELATION 

OF  A 

AND        CRUELL 


GREAT 


Ikttell   fought   by   the    Lonl     Willowjhhif 

of  Pnrhnm  with  800,    Horse  and    Foot  who 

were  going  to  the  L.  Oenerall,  against  Prince 

Uiihvtt  with  9.  Troops  of  Horse,  nnd  300. 

Foot,  nccr  Bruuiegum  in  Warwickt^ 

shiret  October  the  17. 

iMcliiring  also  the   manner  of  the   L    Wif- 

Joutjhbits  obtftinin(<  the  Victory»    killing  nbont 

60.  ofthoCavaieevs,  and  taking  20.  prisoners, 

wUk  the  Imsft  of  20,  inen. 

Sent  in  a  Letter  from  Hu  ExcelUncu  to  the 

Hou4e  of  C&mmms^  and  read  in  thu  mul 

House,  October  18. 


6y  i«tai  ?lK»f». 


tUA  \n  tft»  Maaat ;  or.  fSttglosd**  ttemfvtnbmnecf . 
U)iiiU>ii,  lux.    p,  390. 


Fiintcd  for  Rkfmrd  fFest    October  20, 

A   BEKOWKED 

V    I    C    T    0    K    I     E 

OBTAIN  EI) 

By    Ihi^    Lord     JViJlourjhhtj    of   Purham^    «- 

gainst  Prince  Rujieit  witliin  three  mik-s  of 

Bromegimi,  October  18, 

HIh  Majesty  having  divided  hia  Army  into  two  jmrta, 
the  on«  he  hntb  committed  to  the  Commttnd  of 
Prince  liupfrt,  E.  of  Dt:rht/^  Eit'era^  Lhulutt/,  and  Lord 
Onindi4(rHf  by  which  di vision  some  nd vantage  arisetb  to 
the  Lorii  Generalls  Army,  for  that  Prine*  Robert  with  HIa 
Forces  cannot  now  rome  upon  an}^  occudiou  to  joyn  with 
His  Majesty  His  Eatcellencie  with  Hia  Anny  being  gotten 
between  them. 

That  Pnnce  Ihbert  \%  marched  with  HU  Anny  towanb 
WarwUk, 


44 


OLD  AND  NEW  BIRMINGHAM. 


[Binnlng^iam  in  ^wulticiL 


It  is  also  informed  by  divers  Letters  from  Brximeginn, 
that  the  Lord  Willouffhhy  of  Parham  with  about  800. 
horse  and  foot  in  his  march  towards  the  Lord  Generall, 
met  Pirinee  Robert  with  8.  Troops  of  horse  and  about  300. 
Foot,  two  or  tliree  miles  trom  Bruimgum,  and  gave  him 
battle  which  was  very  fierce  and  cruell  on  either  side,  but 
at  length  the  Princes  sonldiers  retreated,  and  fled,  tliere 
being  slain  of  the  Malignants  about  50.  and  20.  taken 
prisoners,  and  of  the  I^ord  JFillotighbies  side  about  17. 
The  figlit  being  ended,  tlie  L.  IFiUoughhi'i  with  his  Forces 
marclied  forwnrd  to  his  Kxcellencie,  with  whom  he  hath 
now  joyncd  himself. 

lIl>on  Friday  last  it  was  again  reported  to  the  E.  of 
EsseXy  that  his  Maj.  would  give  him  battle  the  next  day, 
but  the  Extraordinary  Rain  tliat  fell  those  two  dais  pre- 
vented the  meeting  of  the  Armies. 

It  is  also  conceived  that  His  Majesty  would  not  delay 
the  meeting  with  His  Lordship  so  lon^,  but  that  he  hatli 
aljout  24.  pieces  of  Ordnance,  that  he  daily  expects  daily 
to  be  brought  to  His  Anny  from  LndJow^  Cheskr^  New- 
castle^  and  some  otlier  places,  hut  cannot  have  them  as  yet 
brought,  but  is  in  fear  they  will  be  stopped  and  seized  on 
by  the  Parliament- forces,  there  being  order  to  that  pur- 
pose issued  out  from  his  Excellency. 

His  Excellency  hath  also  sent  the  Lord  JVhartoii  with 
1000.  Horse  and  Foot  to  dense  the  County  near  Man- 
chesUr  of  the  E.  of  Derbij,  and  the  L.  Rivers,  who  do 
nothing  but  plunder  and  pillage  where  ever  they  (;ome. 

The  said  Lords  do  daily  indeavour  to  march  and  joyn 
with  His  Majesties  Army,  but  are  prevented  by  the  said 
L.  Wluirton,  and  his  Forces,  so  that  it  is  ho])ed  they  must 
yit'ld,  or  perish  by  the  sword. 

His  Excellencie  hath  also  sent  ColloncU  Chohnhj, 
CoUonell  Berrie,  and  Capt.  Boston  with  two  Hegimeuts  of 
Horse  and  Foot,  and  12.  pieces  of  Great  Ordnance  to  /r^/- 
vi-rhampU/ti,  for  the  fortifying  and  securing  that  town 
against  the  Malignants  His  Majesty  with  His  Army  being 
Itetreated,  and  niHrched  fix)ni  thence  againe  to  Shriursburtj^ 
and  is  intended  to  give  battle  to  His  Excellency  on  Mon- 
day next,  being  it  is  conceived  constrained  thereto,  for 
that  there  is  no  subsistance  for  His  Army  any  longer, 
having  taken  from  the  Inhabitants  of  these  towns  what 
they  can,  and  cannot  march  into  any  other  County  with- 
out lighting. 


It  was  also  signified  by  Letters  from  His  Excellencie  to 
the  House  of  Commons,  that  His  Majesty  hath  granted  a 
Commission  to  divers  great  Papists  in  the  County  of  Lan- 
caster  to  raise  what  men  they  can  for  His  Majesties  service 
of  that  Faction,  and  what  Money,  Plate,  or  Horse  can  be 
by  them  raised,  and  to  send  the  same  to  His  Majesty,  with 
power  to  take  perforce  and  seize  upon  the  goods,  mony, 
horse  and  Plate  of  any  Persons  whatsoever,  that  shall 
refuse  to  contribute  the  same  to  relieve  his  Majesties 
present  necessity,  as  Enemies  to  His  Majesty,  and  as  dls- 
loyall  and  trayterous  Subjects,  which  many  have  done 
according  to  the  said  Commission  in  the  further  parts  of 
Lancashire,  to  the  great  terrour,  trouble,  and  oppression 
of  t^*e  Protestants,  and  well  affected  persons  in  those  parts 
of  that  County. 

That  His  Excellency  having  information  of  these  pro- 
ceedings in  Lancashire,  hath  sent  Captain  Brown  with  a 
Regiment  of  Horse  and  Foot,  and  two  pieces  of  Ordnance 
to  relievo  and  assist  that  County,  and  snppresse  the 
Rel)ellious  and  Trayterous  Papists  and  perverse  Malignants 
there  Adherents. 

This  is  the  true  and  perfect  Relation  of  all  the  Pro- 
ceedings that  have  hapned  bince  Thursday  the  13.  of 
October,  till  the  19.  1642. 


The  Parliaments  Resolution  Concerning  all  those 
that  refuseth  to  bring  in  tlieir  Mony  or 
Plate. 
rtMInt  the  Bishops  in  England  being  the  chief  Incendiaries 
-^    of  the  present  great  distractions  in  England,  and  hate 
imploycd    their  Rents    and  Profits    toioards    the    main- 
tdinance  of  a  Civill-Warre   in   this   Kitigdotne   against 
the   Parliament :     The  Profits  and   Revenews  belonging 
to  their  scverall   Bishopricks  shall    be  from    henceforth 
seijitestred,  to  be  employed  for  the  publike  good  ami  safely 
of  the  Kingdma. 

That  all  such  as  ?Mve  refused  to  lend  Money,  Horse,  or 
Plate,  (being  able)  upon  the  Propositions,  for  the  service  of 
the  King  and  Parliament,  in  this  time  of  great  txtremitie, 
shall  be  disarmed;  That  thereby  there  may  be  a  timely 
prevention,  that  they  may  not  use  their  Armes  to  the  pre- 
judice of  the  Parliament,  and  the  whole  Kingdoms 

FINIS. 


CHAPTKU     VI. 


HIUMINOHAM     IN     TRANSITION. 

Tlie  PhiKwe  in  Biriuingham-Iy>M  Mm-auIay'H  .l..s«riptiun  of  BirmiuKlmm-"  BrumruaKem  OnMiU"-The  "  re«U)ratloii  -  of  St  MarUn'»- 
The  Gun  trade— Biruiiiighain  ffuuH  supplierl  to  the  Oovenimeut-The  Leather  traUe-Biriiungham  trades  in  transition— Binnlimham 
charity— Churchea  and  aeuts  in  the  seventeenth  century. 


From  the  ashes  of  the  fires  kindled  by  Prince 
Kupert  in  1643,  Eimiingham  seenis  to  have 
steadily  risen  into  prosperity  as  a  nuinufrtctiuing 


community  whoso  wares  rendered   hep  famous 
throughout  the  kingdom. 

liut  in  the  Black  Year  1665,  when  the  Qxeat 


46 


OLD   AND   NEW  BIRMINGHAjM. 


[Birmingham  in  Truudtioo. 


But  still  the  town  js^ew  and  flourished.  "Bir- 
mingham/* says  Lord  Macaiilay,  "  had  not  been 
thought  of  sufficient  importance  to  njtum  a 
member  to  Oliver's  Parliament.  Yet  the  manu- 
facturers of  Birmingham  were  already  a  busy  and 
thriving  race.  They  boasted  that  their  hardware 
was  highly  esteemed,  not  indeed  as  now,  at  Pekin 
and  Lima,  at  Bokhara  and  Timbuctoo,  but  in 
London,  and  even  as  far  off  as  Ireland.  They 
had  acquired  a  less  honourable  name  as  coiners 
of  bad  money.  In  allusion  to  their  spurious 
groats,  some  Tory  wit  had  fixed  on  demagogues, 
who  hypocritically  affected  zeal  against  Popery, 
the  nickname  of  Birminghams.  Yet  in  1685  the 
population,  which  is  now  [1848]  little  less  than 
two  hundred  thousand,  did  not  amount  to  four 
thousand.  Birmingham  buttons  were  just  begin- 
ning to  be  known :  of  Birmingham  gims  nobody 
had  yet  heard ;  and  the  place  whence,  two  genera- 
tions later,  the  magnificent  editions  of  Baskerville 
went  forth  to  astonish  all  the  librarians  of  Euioi)e, 
did  not  contain  a  single  regular  shop  where  a 
Bible  or  an  almanack  could  be  bought.  On 
market  days  a  bookseller  named  Michael  Johnson, 
the  father  of  the  great  Samuel  Johnson,  came 
over  from  Lichfield,  and  opened  a  stall  for  a  few 
hours.  This  supply  was  long  found  equal  to 
the  demand." 

The  unenviable  notoriety  of  Birmingham  in 
the  matter  of  base  coinage,  together  with  the 
part  taken  by  our  townsmen  in  the  civil  war, 
caused  the  town  to  become  the  butt  of  every  court 
wit,  and  her  name  the  synonym  for  every  species 
of  meanness  and  villany.  Dryden  says,  in  one 
of  his  prefaces,  "  The  longest  chapti^r  in  Deuter- 
onomy has  not  curaos  enough  for  an  Anti-Bro- 
mingham."  In  another  place  we  read  respecting 
Shaftesbury's  medal,  (1G82), 
•*  'Twas  coined  by  stealth,  like  groats  at  Birmingham." 

Tom  Brown  refers  to  the  same  practice  in  his 
"Reasons  for  Mr.  Bayes,"  [i.e.  Dryden,]  changing 
his  Eeligion:  "I  coined  heroes  as  fast  as  Bir- 
mingham  groats,^'  Tl^e  aflfected  zeal  for  the 
Protestant  leligion  on  the  part  of  the  country 


party  led  to  their  being  nicknamed  Birmingham 
Profestcuifs,  In  fact,  the  Whigs  generally  came 
in  for  the  name  of  the  midland  hardware  village, 
and  "  Whig  and  Birmingham,"  "  Birminghams 
royal,"  "  Birmingham  pretences,"  and  other 
uncomplimentary  allusions  of  the  same  character 
are  to  be  found  scattered  through  many  of  the 
songs  and  other  poetical  emanations  from  Grub 
Street  during  the  reign  of  James  IL 

But  in  all  the  base  products  of  our  town 
at  that  period,  surely  no  worse  example  of 
"Brummagem"  taste  and  skill  was  perpetrated 
than  that  of  which  the  fine  old  church  of  St.* 
Martin  was  the  victim.  We  quoted,  in  our  first 
chapter,  a  description  of  this  noble  fabric  as  it 
must  have  appeared  when  first  completed ;  of  its 
grace  of  form  and  wealth  of  colour  ;  "  a  church," 
as  Mr.  Bunco  tndy  says,  "not  unworthy  of  a 
town  destined  to  become  one  of  the  greatest 
communities  in  the  kingdom."  It  woidd  appear, 
however,  according  to  Hutton,  that  the  stone 
,  used  in  the  buildmg  of  the  church  was  of  a  soft^ 
j  friable  nature,  and,  he  says,  "the  rough  blasts 
!  of  nine  hundred  years  p]  had  made  inroads  into 
the  fabric."  The  churcliwardens  appear  to  have 
had  no  other  idea  of  preserving  the  church  than 
by  entombing  it  in  a  hideoiis  case  of  brick,  which 
ex([uisite  piece  of  workmanship  was  performed  in 
the  year  1G90,  under  the  direction  of  Thomas 
Gisbume  and  Edward  Est,  the  churchwardens 
of  that  year.  "They  first  dressed  the  church 
in  brick, — tower,  nave  and  chancel  ;  the  spire 
most  likely  would  have  been  cased  likewise,  if 
the  bricks  could  have  conveniently  been  carried 
up."*  "  The  whole  fabric,"  says  the  writer  just 
quoted,  "was  there  buried  in  an  ugly  tomb, 
literally  bricked  up  as  if  like  unhappy  Constance 
in  *  ^Nlarmion '  it  had  committed  an  inexpiable 
sin,  and  had  received  sentence  of  living  deatL^t 
This  supremely  ugly  structure  remained,  a  disgiace 
to  the  town  of  which  it  was  the  "  mother  church," 
until  1872.     Hutton's  admiration  of  this  piece  of 

*  J.  T.  BuvcE :  History  of  Old  St  Huti&'i,  p.  19. 
tlb.,p..I8. 


h:»ni  in  IVaitiiitiiiii.l 


OLD   AND   NEW   BIRMINGHAM. 


fuurni  utu-mnc*?  in  a  Mn^k'  sentence  ;  '*  th*i 
iinU  the  workmaasluiv*'  lie  says,  **are 
;edlefit  1**^^— **  eommeudiition/*  sayji  Mr.  Bonoa, 
not  unlike  that  of  an  iiiaTtiatic  (Umrch  dignitary 
whn,  tK^tng  invite*]  to  admire  a  newly  finished 
1^  piece  of  seulptiire,  complimented  the  carver  by 
HiAjtiig  that  it  was  'very  largw.*"  The  further 
^MM||)aJiitit>t]S  which  the  building  underwent 
^^^tioiis  iu  its  complete  demoliiion  in  1872 
will  Ik^  noticed  from  time  to  time  iu  their 
'^'ical  &eqnence.  The  fir«t,  whicli  we 
.i-^t  tlescribed^  left  the  spire  uuinjuied  ', 
Ibe  porch  was  aUo  left^  and  the  clerestory  might 
be  fteeo^  above  the  balustrade  with  which 
luife  roof  was  finished. 
VTMJi*,  huwever,  liiruiipglmm  gainetl  ou  nn- 
iirtalila  reptitation  abmnd  far  luise  coinage, 
end  pejpetmted  at  homo  an  example  of  bane 
;biteelurQ  almost  unequalled,  slxe  still  worked 
A  Mitom  honuat  munner  too  ; — base  groivts  did 
lol  form  the  staple  article  of  manufacture,  and 
n^pute  in  which  such  goods  were  held  did 
altogether  obecui^  tlie  reputatiun  »lm  had 
Mined  for  skilful  workmau^hip  of  a  more  legiti- 
«»!»  V  t+ijr.  ^Uextmder  Misaen  says  in  bis 
Tifcv  IGDO),  that  he  saw  at  Milan  **fine 

of    Rock    Crystal,    Swords,    Ht^ads    fur 
inuff  Boxes,    and    other   fine    works    of 
tht^i/  can  lit  hud  chmiHu*  and  Mter 
Birmimjlmm .  '*    And  if  11  utton  may  be  ci-edited, 
lirmingliam  enjoyed  some  little  reputation  even 
Cotirt,   in  the   n^jgn  of   \Villi;im   the    Third. 
X  muoiinzl^  he  say  a,  waiv  once  lamenting  **  That 
w«re  not  maiiufaetnrDd  in  Ids  dominions,  but 
1^        '  '    '  d  lo  procure  them  f rum  Holland 
:>  and  greater  dilficulty."     One 
Uie  iiiieJnbefs  for  Wtirivickshire  [8ir  Richard 
rv  ing  present,  told  the  King  "That 

1  [in  Warwickshire,  and  that  bethought 

i ,         ; .  ;  !  J  11  Li  could  iins wnr  his  majesty  *s  wishes, " 
king  wiifl  plca&ed  with  the  remark,  and  the 
to  Birmingham,    Upon  a[tplication 
Dig  bet  h,  whuae  name  I  forget,  the 
piSlim  wiu  executed  with  precision,  which,  when 


pr*36euted  to  the  ro^  al  board,  gave  eutire  satifif ac- 
tion.*** But,  from  the  corretspoudence  on  this 
subject  first  published  in  the  admirable  volume  of 
reports  on  local  products  and  resources,  collected 
h^  the  Local  Industries  Committee  of  the  British 
Assoc iation^  in  1865,  and  edited  by  Mr.  Samuel 
Timminsjt  it  appears  that  the  local  gun  trade  was 
not  introiluced  untler  the  circiimstancea  described 
by  H utton,  but  had  existed  lojjg  before.  "  The 
question,"  says  the  editor,  *Svas  not  whether  Bir* 
niingham  should  make  guns,  but  whether  they 
could  be  produced  equal  to  the  Government  pattern 
sent  down  frum  London,  and  at  a  cei*t4tiu  price.  *^} 
Mr,  Tiramins  cijncludcs  therefore  that  not  only  the 
Bword  trade  but  the  ^^m\  trade  also,  had  l:»cen  intro- 
duced and  carried  on  with  much  auccesii  long  before 
the  Revolution  fn  1088. 

The  papers  to  which  we  have  referred,  being 
the  lirst  in  which  the  gun  trade  of  Birmingham 
is  mentioned,  will  probably  interest  many  of 
our  readers,  and  we  therefore,  with  the  per- 
mission of  the  editor,  reprint  them  here. 

The   first   is    a  letter  addressed   by    tbe   War 

Departnieut  to  Sir  Richard  Xewdigate,  and  is  as 

follows  : — 

For  their  Ma*?  Service 

To  Sf  Richard  Kewdigat© 

Htt  Ajbury 

near 
Warwick 
These  —  — - 
Sf 

Parsuaut  to  aa  order  of  this  Board,  Wee  hare 
directed  the  aenJiug  to  you  by  the  Tumworth  Canyer  2 
aunpbance  Mosqui^tlsof  ditrenng  sorts  fur  patteraes  dcaire- 
iag  yoa  will  plcnse  To  caase  them  to  be  shewed  to  yc 
liimuiighain  Workum*fii  and  apon  yof  rctanie  of  their 
fthiljty  and  n?adiafsjt  to  undertake  the  aiiiking  and  ITixiag 
tlu'ta  iwoordiagly.  Or  the  making  Barrelb  ur  Locks  oaly 
Tog*  ihor  w*i^  the  tyme  a  suiHcieat  Quantity  of  BurrelLs 
can  be  made  in  to  answer  the  Trouble  and  charge  of  send- 
ing an  Officer  on  pnrpoAe  to  prove  the  same  according  to 
the  Tower  proofe  which  is  the  Equuli  weight  of  powdiir  to 
one  of  the  BuUett  aboe  aent  you  And  their  lowest  price 
either  for  a  com  pi  eat  Mu>sc|uett  rendy  fixt  or  ti>T  n  Bnrrell 

*  W.  HirrroN  :  Hbtury  of  Blmilu^lmm.  1781,  aud  laier  ctliLiutm. 

t  Thy  Re*ojrco«,  FrcwlncU,  tiiiJ  hidustriiil  History  of  Biruiuii;- 

liATii  RijJ  th^'  MiiUoiic)  mirdwar^  Pistiict ;   ft  8erlo$  of  Hcixorti 

&Ul«l  by  6^mel  Tiinmltm     1660— jlrti.     "  The  ludttft* 

trldl  nutorj  of  EtrmUigliun/'  hjr  tba  Editor^  pp.  207>£24 ;  snd 

"  Ttifi  BirmlQ^hAm  Gnu  Trode,"  bf  John  n  Ooodnavft,  pp.  3S1<45V 

%  ib.  p,  ail. 


id 


(iIJ)  AND  NEW  I!1I;M1NGHAM. 


[Blrtiiln^uuo  inTlstiMtkMt 


Of  a  Lock  distmct  or  togenlher  us  they  will  undertake  to 
miiko  them.  We  shiill  Uiereupou  am^  fuithtir  direction 
to  be  given  as  shnll  lie  most  benefidall  for  their  Mutf 
Bcryice  with  a  thankful  I  ackuowlt'dgtiit  of  yt  great  favour 
AJid  trouble  afforded  us  herein.  Wu  aiu 
Sr 
Office  of  Ordne  Your  most  humble  Scrv» 

1 0«i  of  January,  CH.  Al  Y  DDE J.TON, 

1689. 

T.  GARDINER,  JOS.  CHARLTON,  WM,  BOULTEE 
/Note  by  the  late  Bp  Roger  Kfwdegate,  Bart — 
\      **  Before,  all  the  Guns  for  the  Army  were  imported j 
from  Germ  any/'  / 

"  Tlie  t<?rm  snaphanco,  used  in  this  letter,"  mys 
!Mr.  Goodjxtan,  **ifi  thus  explained  ]*y  Grose  in  his 
Treatise  on  Ancient  Armoiir  and  AV  capons,  IJe 
states  that  it  is  derived  irom  the  troojjs  who  mude 
use  of  it»  I'bese  were  a  set  of  marauders,  whom 
the  Dutch  termed  ^S nap-bans'  or  poultry  stealers* 
The  use  of  the  match-lock  exposed  them,  when  on 
their  marauding  expeditions,  to  this  iiicoiive- 
iiience,  thai  the  light  from  the  hiiming  match 
pointed  out  their  position.  They  were  uimhle  to 
provide  themselvet*  with  wheeLhx^k  guns  on 
accoimt  of  their  expense.  In  this  dilemma  tht^y 
formed  the  sjiaphunee  from  a  study  of  the  wheel- 
locL  A  flat  piece  of  steel,  furrowed  in  imitation 
of  the  wdiecl,  >vas  placed  on  a  steel  post,  which 
was  screwed  beyuiid  tbj^  pan,  and  made  moveiilde. 
Tlio  furrowed  piece  being  brought  to  stand  over 
it,  on  pulling  the  trigger,  the  ihnt  wliicli  was  sub- 
stituted for  the  pyrites  in  the  cock,  struck  against 
it,  lUid  the  spark  was  produced.  The  giuis  ordered 
from  the  Binningham  makers,  although  rotainiimg 
the  name,  were  of  course  an  improvement  on  the 
onginal  snaphance^  and  were  no  doubt  a  near 
approach  to  the  flint  lock  of  modern  times."* 

A  trial  order  was  given,  as  the  result  of  this 

example  of  the  skill  of  Bimiingham  w^orkmen,  in 

Slarch,  1692,  followed  by  a  further  order,  which 

we  tianscribe  at  full  length  : — 

Cinttrattrb  and  agreed  this  fifth  day  of  Jammry  Aimo 

Dui  1693^  and  in  the  fifth  year  of  the  Reignc  of  our 

Soveraigut?  Lurd  and  Lady  King  William  and  Queene 

Marye  by  the  Grace  of  God  of  England,  Scotland, 

France,  and  Ireland,  Defenders  of  the  faith  &c.     By 

virtue  of  an  order  of  the  Eight  Uont»lo  Henry  Lord 

YiiooFimt  Sidiiey  Master  Gen^l  of  their  Mati««  OrdnftDoe 


*  MiiUaxui  fiflrdwira  Dicthct,  p.  4m. 


and  the  Ikiard  24tl»  Novem  Last  Between  th©  II  out** 

the  principal  Officers  of  the  same  on   their  Ma*f< 

bi<halfe  of  the  one  part  and  William  Bounn\ 

Jloorc,  John  West,  Rich*?  Wcaton  and  Jacob  Attst 

of   Birmingham    in   the    County  of  Warwick 

Smithi'sof  the  j>art  as  folk,  viz. — 

f  m^yrtmiff,  The  said  William  Bourne,  Tho,  Mo 

John  West,  Bich^*  Weston  and  Jacob  Au»tin  do  He 

aevemJly  Covenant  and  rtgr«c  to  and  w**'  the  said  princip 

Officers  of  their  Matk'»  Ordnance  on  their  Itehalfc  olj 

selves  and  the  rest  of  the  Gun-makers  of  Birmingh 

they  Mhall  and  will  make  and  provide  for  their  ! 

Service  two  hundred  Snaphanct^  ;Mn.'*tta€ta  every  JToa 

for  the  spare  of  one  Yeare  from  the  Exvi™ti"»i  ^f  th 

luM  Contract  Bearing  Date  the  six  anil  daf 

Mart'h    lUt»2,     To   be   three  foot  ten   i) 

WaUnutt*treo  and  Ash  Stocks.     And  thiit  one  hall  of  i 

said  Muaqueta  shall  have  flatt  locks  engraven,  and 

other  half  Round  Locks  and  that  all  of  them  shall 

brass  pipes  cast  and  brass  heel  plates  and  oil  the  tfto 

varnished,  and  to  have  six  GikkI  thrid*  in   the  Bn 

screws,  and  that  all  the  said  Gun  Stocks  Bhtill  be  n 

well  and  Substantiall  and  none  of  thera  Glewc<L 

^nb  aUo  that  the  ludd  Muuqnct  Bamdlfi  shall 
Compleatly  filt-d  hefore  they  are  proved  and  thnt  th 
slitiU  be  proved  at  IJirmingham  iicconling  to  this  Tom 
prrnife  and  a  fitt  person  (who  shall  be  Impowercd  by  I 
Office)  shall  insyjcct  the  same  and  marke  theni  w** 
Oflice  Marke,  and  (when  finished)  to  survey  Ujem, 
thnt  powder  and  bullets  shall  he  provid-  '        * 
nt  the  Charge  of  this  Office  for  the  proofs  - 

^nb  thf  ssit  prindpall  officers  of  their  MjiI';'^  « 
(for  and  on   the  Mati*-*  behalfe)  dm  *igrec  wtk 
William    Bonme,    Thomas    Moore,   John   Weet*  \ 
Weston,  and  Jacob  Austin  in  l>ehalfe  of  lhftm«fc 
the  rest  of  the  Gun  Makers  of  Bimiin 
shall  be  paid  for  the  said  Arroes  in   i- 
viz.,    for  every   one    hundred    eevenill    ^Vnuci   aft^ 
Httte  of  seavcnteene  shilling  per  piece  Tva<ly  tnon«y  ] 
way  of  debenture   w^   in   one  Meek  after  tli«   dcUf 
thereof  into  thf  ir  Matip*  stores  in  the  tower  of  Lon 
Any  other  pluce  within  this  kingdome,  as  th»»  Bo 
order  and  direct,  and  also  that  they  shall  be 
allowed   three  shillings  for  the   carriage  of    every 
hundred  weight  from  Birmingliam  to  tlie  tower  and  1 
proportionally  to  any  other  place  And  that  the    moa 
shall  be  paid  to  them  without  any  charge  or  trouble  | 
they  shall  direct  and  Returne  the  same  firom  time  to 
to  BuTiiiiigbam. 

In  Siliinras  whereof  the  snid  {arties  to  these  pn 
Interchangeably  have  set  their  liands  and  «eals  tho  t 
and  year  first  above  written 


Sealed  and  delivered 


THO  :  LITTELTON 


in  the  presence  of  JO  .  CHARLTON 

\VtLL  I'UKLPs  WM.  BorLTER 


lb  'nrmainUou. 


OLD   AND   NEW   BIKMINGHAM, 


40 


ibe  otlit-r  early  tiiidcii  fur  which  liir- 

mi    become   noted    was   that   of   the 

of  leather     **  It  may  seem  singular 

1  eye^,"  stays  Hutton,  **to  view  this 

light  of  one  vadt  Uui-yai^d,     Though 

appoamnce  u{  that  necessary  article 

yoi  Birmingham  was  once  a  famous 

k*4ither<     I)iglH?lh  nut  only  /ihoutided 


iiexl  ceiitm-y  was  almost  furgutten,  save  for  the 
annual  election  of  two  officers  called  '*  leather- 
sealers,"  whose  duty  it  had  been  in  former  days 
to  mark  the  vendible  hide?,  but  had  then,  says 
our  c^uaint  historian,  **  no  duty  but  that  of  taking 
an  elegant  dinner."  WTien  Huttou  published  his 
History,  in  1781,  shops  had  been  erected  upon 
th(-  tnn-vata,  the  Leather  hall  had  gone  to  deatruC' 


'.,  ''^1*,  J 


HritAlFiiKI*    imi  SK.       (ii**  J«iJ*  ^''fJ 


bul  large  niunhers  of  hule^r  arrivetl 
[  etle,  where  the  whole  coimtry  found 
I  When  the  weather  woulil  allow,  they 
columns  in  the  High-street,  and 
f  depomted  in  the  leather  Htdl,  at 
of  Kew-^treot,  appropriated  for  their 

io  period  at  which  we  have  now  arrived 
Yf — the  close  of  the  seventeenth  cen- 
KinMle  hud  dudtncd,  and  early  in  tiie 


tiou,  and  tlie  town  was  reduc*  d,  he  say?,  to  one 
solitary  tanner. 

This  was,  in  faet,  the  real  transition  period  in 
our  l<x!al  history.  Our  trades,  as  well  as  the  ap- 
pcarance  of  the  town,  (to  which  we  shall  refer 
more  particularly  in  our  next  chapter,)  underwent 
a  great  change  during  the  closing  years  of  the 
sevontoenth  century. 

"Though  she  had  before  held  a  considerable 
degi^e  of  eminence,"  b«ys  ilutton,  **yet  at  this 


50 


OLD   AND    NEW   BIRMINGHAM. 


[Birmingham  in  TrantiUoo. 


period,  the  curious  arts  Lcgan  to  take  root,  and 
were  cultivated  by  the  hand  of  genius.  Building 
leases,  also,  began  to  take  effect,  extension  fol- 
lowed, and  numbers  of  people  crowded  upon  each 
other,  as  into  a  Paradise.  .  .  .  But  .  .  . 
we  have  only  seen  her  in  infancy.  (Comparatively 
small  in  her  size,  homely  in  her  person,  and  coarse 
in  her  dress.  Her  ornaments,  wholly  of  iron,  from 
her  own  forge. 

"  But  now,  her  growths  will  be  amazing ;  lier 
expansion  rapid,  perhaps  not  to  be  i)aralleled  in 
history.  We  shall  see  lier  rise  in  all  the  beauty 
of  youth,  of  grace,  of  elegance,  and  attract  the 
notice  of  the  commercial  world.  Slio  will  also 
add  to  her  iron  ornaments,  the  lustre  of  every 
metal  that  the  whole  earth  can  produce,  with  all 
their  illustrious  race  of  compounds,  heightened 
by  fancy,  and  garnished  with  jewels.  She  will 
draw  from  the  fossil,  and  the  vegetable  kingdoms; 
press  the  ocean  for  sliell,  skin,  and  cond.  She 
will  also  tax  the  animal,  for  horn,  bone,  and 
ivory,  and  she  will  docomte  the  whole  with  the 
touches  of  her  pencil." 

The  change  which  thiis  took  place  in  our  trades 
would  have  a  marked  effect  both  iipon  the  town 
and  its  inhabitants.  From  being  merely  smiths 
and  workers  of  the  coarser  kind  they  beciame 
skilled  and  cunning  artiiicei"S,  with  some  degree 
of  artistic  taste,  and  tliis  would  doubtless  liavo 
an  effect  upon  the  appearance  of  the  town.  They 
would  be  more  careful  as  to  tlieir  own  houses,  and 
as  they  would  earn  considerably  higher  wages 
than  their  fathers  who  worked  in  coarser  materials, 
they  would  be  able  to  bestow  more  expense  in 
making  their  homes  comfortable.  Thus  the 
greater  prosperity  of  the  people  would  be  i-efiected 
in  the  improved  appearance  of  the  town ;  and  so 
began  the  new  era,  the  modei-n,  as  distinguished 
from  the  aiicimt  history  of  Birmingham. 

"  During  the  seventeenth  and  eighteenth 
centuries,"  says  Mr.  Timmins,  "the  progress 
of  Birmingham  manufactures  was  simply  mar- 
vellous. Our  town  seemed  to  have  the  power 
of  attractiug   within  its  boundaries  artisans  of 


every  tmde  and  every  degree  of  skilL  Although 
not  situated  on  any  of  the  great  highways  of  the 
land,  it  was  near  enough  to  be  easily  accessible. 
It  awarded  almost  perfect  freedom  to  all  who 
chose  to  come.  Dissenters  and  Quakers  and 
hei'etics  of  all  sorts  were  welcomed  and  undis- 
turbed, so  far  as  their  religious  observances  were 
concerned.  No  trades  unions,  no  trade  gilds,  no 
companies  existed,  and  every  man  was  free  to 
come  and  go,  to  found  or  to  follow  or  to  leave  a 
trade  just  as  he  chose.  The  system  of  apprentice- 
ship was  only  partially  known,  and  Birmingham 
became  emphatically  the  town  of  'free  tiade^' 
whei'e  practically  no  restrictions,  commercial  or 
municipal,  were  known.  Coal  and  iron  were 
easily  obtainable  from  the  growing  mines  and 
iron  works  of  Staffordshire,  and  every  facility 
was  afforded  by  such  proximities,  and  by  the 
numerous  water  mills  and  the  central  position 
of  the  town,  for  the  rapid  extension  of  the 
hardware  trades." 

In  their  pix>sperity  the  i^eople  of  Binningliam 
do  not  seem  to  have  been  deaf  to  the  cries  for 
help  which  came  to  them  from  their  sufieriug 
brethren  in  various  i>arts  of  the  country.  From 
a  ver}^  curious  manuscript  book  in  two  volomes, 
described  as  "The  Town  Book,"  discovered  in 
St  Martin's  Chmch  during  the  process  of  demoli- 
tion, Mr.  Bunce,  in  his  history  of  that  churoh, 
makes  a  number  of  exceedingly  interesting  ex- 
tmcts,  and  among  those  of  the  earliest  period 
(from  1676  to  the  close  of  the  seventeenth  cen- . 
tury)  are  numerous  memoranda  of  various  sums 
collected  for  charitable  and  other  purposes.  Under 
date  June  6,  1679,  is  an  entry  of  X2.  18s.,  "col- 
lected for  a  fier  at  Wcedon  Northampton  Sheer 
and  for  Lorgj'on  in  the  South  of  Wilts  Sheer ;" 
on  the  2nd  of  May,  1680,  XL  6a  6d.  was 
collected  "for  Sufferers  by  a  ffier  at  Wolston," 
and  on  the  30th  of  the  same  month  a  like  sum, 
all  but  one  penny,  was  collected  "for  Sufferers 
by  ffyro  at  Edglill  in  ths  county  of  Salop." 
Fires  would  seem  to  have  been  pretty  numerous 
at  that  time,  and  perhaps  the  warm  hearts  which 


I  loTlmiicition.I 


OLD  Amy   NEW   BIRMINGHAM. 


51 


Insat  vitUin  the  stunly  fratnes  of  the  artiznns  of 
Ihu  hardware  village  had  become  widely  known, 
for  th«y  do  not  appiear  ever  to  have  bet^n  appealed 
Id  in  vain,  for  dimng  1682-3  there  are  entiies  of 
KBUB  collected  for  the  relief  nf  **  sufferers  by  ffier" 
Al  *^  Luamington  Priors,"  Snitterfieldj  Eiishara, 
In  ChtfoTv|fihii%  Stoats  by  Clnre,  (Suffolk),  "  Pres- 
iCsudeer  in  County  of  Sonttanptn/'  CoUump- 
,  (D^Ton),  Bradueck,  (Devon),  Chaimtll  IJow, 
WMtmiiiAtejr,  Bafi&ingboume,  and  several  other 
toimi«  iu  wUieli^  alLhongh  fire  is  not  named,  this 
MTU*  pfcibttbly  the  calamity  from  wliich  the  in- 
hAbitAuU  fluflVrcd*  Again  in  April,  1684,  a 
^Ikction  was  made  "for  poore  diatressed  fianiylys 
of  the  Towne  of  Alrewors  who  lost  ye  houses  & 
efitnted  by  fire;"  an«l  tliroughoiit  the  century 
Mber  siciiUar  entries  occur.  **  A  fellow-feeling 
nuikce  one  woiidrouu  kind  ; "  and  jx^rhaps  the 
tcttKin  for  tbia  fpeciid  commiseration  felt  hy  om' 
UtwnxmiM  for  all  mitferers  by  fire  may  lie  found 
ill  tbo  fact  tiiat  they  hail  nut  yet  forgotten  their 
wris  mflerin^tt  wlien  Prince  l^upert  manifested 
bin  liciming  Love  for  England,  in  Birniinghani's 
FlameJ^ 

Fmm  the  charity  of  our  forefathers  to  their 
irligion  18  on  msy  and  natural  transition,  and  we 
ii»y  therefore,  perhaps,  appropriately  pause  here 
m  our  narrative  to  take  a  dun^ey  uf  tlie  churches 
and  2»ectB,  as  they  exiKted  in  tlie  town  during  the 
laUi*r  half  of  tb*5  seventeenth  eentiir>'.  Accord- 
to^  to  Huttiin,  the  spiritual  needs  of  the  wor- 
»liip[Nn«  at  St.  Martin's  were  iU-provided  for 
dtmng  Ibe  pint<*ctorate  of  Oliver  t'romwelL 
;  ^Ona  Samiid  Slater,  a  broketiHlowu  apnthccarA% 
kaWig,'^  be  saya,  **  been  uueuccessful  in  curing 
tl*e  body,  rei^otved  to  attempt  curing  the  soul. 
He  llnerefore,  to  rcpnir  his  misfortunea,  asaumed 
tbii  ckiieal  clinracter.  and  ca«t  an  eye  on  the 
nxlory  »»f  St.  Martinis;  but  he  bad  many 
poirerfol  oppouentfl ;  among  others  were  Jennena, 
an  tfimataster,  posdeSBor  of  Aaton  furnace; 
HataUbroki),  another  weallhy  inhabitant;  and 
8cr  XhoQiaa  Holte.  However,  be,  witli  diOi- 
eollji  tiittmphed  over  bis  enoiuitas,  stepped  into 


tlie  pulpit,  and  hold  the  rectory  till  the  Resto- 
ration."* 

He  seems  to  have  carried  his  irreverence  into 
the  pulpit  with  him,  if  Hutton  ia  to  be  credited, 
— though  the  somewhat  clumsy  pleasantry  sounds 
not  a  little  like  Hutton's  own, ^remarking,  in 
his  first  sermon  that  **  the  Lord  had  carried  bim 
through  many  troubles ;  for  he  had  passed  like 
kSliedrach,  [dc\]  Mesehaeh,  and  Abednego,  through 
the  fiery  furnace.  And  as  the  Lord  had  enabled 
the  Children  of  It*rael  to  pass  over  the  Ived  Sea,  so 
he  had  assisted  him  in  passiug  over  the  Snutll- 
brooh%  and  to  overcome  the  strong  ffolts  of  sin 
an<l  Satan/'t 

"  At  the  restoration,"  continues  Hutton,  "  sus- 
pecting the  approach  of  the  proper  ofllicers,  to 
expel  him  from  the  parsonge  house,  he  crept  into 
a  hiding-place,  under  the  stairs ;  hut^  being  dis- 
covered, was  drawn  out  by  foi-ce,  and  the  place 
ever  after  bore  the  name  of  Slater' d  Hole." 

In  1665  the  living  was  conferred  npon  John 
Rihind,  Archdeacon  of  Coventry ;  of  whose 
cliaracter  the  followijig  dcscriidiou  is  given  by 
his  son : — **  He  was  very  constant  in  his  medi- 
tations and  devotions,  both  public  and  private, 
which  he  delivered  with  such  plainness  and  sim- 
plicity' of  speech  and  deportment,  that  there  was 
not  the  k-ast  appearance  of  any  unnatural  and 
forced  llights  and  enthusiastic  ra]ttures.  There 
was  such  a  strict  and  universal  holiness  in  his 
life  and  conversation,  that  he  is  now  called  in 
Birmingham  '  that  holy  man.'  He  was  so  very 
afiUl.le  and  humble  that  he  never  passed  by  any 
one  without  some  particular  regard  and  friendly 
salutation.  Ho  was  such  a  lover  of  j^eace  that 
he  labored  much  for  it ;  and  when  he  coidd  not 
persuade  those  that  were  at  variance  to  abate 
anything  of  the  height  of  their  demands,  be 
many  times  deposited  the  money  out  of  his  own 
pocket  that  lie  might  make  one  of  two  contending 
parties.  He  was  so  chariUible  that  he  carried 
about  a  poor-box  with  him,  and  never  reckoned 
himself  poor  but  when  that  was  empty ;  and  it 
*  nntUMi.  »lxth  Mlittooi  pp.  SAM.    i  i\>,  |i  IM. 


5t 


OLT>   A^^»    XEW   BIBISni^GnAM. 


roimringtimn  in  lkan»tM<m« 


wad  not  a  singlt*  uburity  Ut»  gtivu  tliem,  liecatise 
be  not  only  fL*cl  ibeir  bodies,  but  tbeir  souls ;  for 
when  he  gave  tbem  a  dole  of  brca«l  in  the  chiirchi 
be  eolled  them  togetber,  and  tben  framed  a  dLs- 
course  t^  them,  parti rulnrly  suited  to  their  cir- 
cumstauccs.  Iiidcn'd  bis  t^xbortations  on  tbeso 
occasions  were  eo  excellent  and  ediljing,  that 
several  of  the  chief  inhabitants  came  to  bear 
them,  and  went  away,  as  well  satisfied  with 
tba^ie,  i\a  the  poor  with  the  bread."  He  died 
at  Binuiiigbam  in  1672,  and  was  buried  in  St. 
5rartin*3,  where  a  monument  w*as  placed  to  bis 
memory,  with  a  Latin  inscription,  which  is  tlius 
translated  by  Colvile,  in  hm  "Wortbiea  of 
Warwickshire  " : — 

**  Sacrcfl  to  the  ineinorT  of  John  Rjland  (as  wtll  u  to  bl«  4e«rMt 
wife  Cledy»  ami  only  diiti|;htei-,  MbtIa)  Areh'fwipon  of  Coveiitiy, 
and  cniniRtcr  of  tht"  itarisli,  lui  well  u  luiilglifjit  ortiiimcnt ; 
wbo  corrected  unlwelier  and  funatietHii)  and  till  the  evlla 
of  tbU  depraved  ogv,  not  xo  niucli  by  liiM  writinj^a  nud  «erra«ii8, 
alOiougb  witb  spirit  Id  tli<^^e  too,  na  by  the  eonataut  and 
tuihending  course  cif  au  uubliLtu cable  life. 
Having  in  youth,  completed  lui  ^xrmplary  pttpilii;g«  At 
Kagdalen  Collect-,  Oxford,  bo  wm  ^^icodily  clcrettHl  a  Fidlow 
of  thai  Society,  aihi,  after  a  life  s]i<!iit  in  varioa.*  i<lau(»« 
and  regioaa,  aufreriog  from  the  ingratitude  uf  the  tluici, 
liero  be  Mttled  at  Imit,  atict  bei^  be  d1e<l  in  tlic  '»3r(i  yesr 
Of  bti  Age— March  ard,  iu  tbo  ye«r  of  t>ur  Lorri  16T2.*' 

"  A  succeeding  rector,  William  Daggett,"  says 
Hutton,  **  i&  said  to  have  uudei-stOLxl  the  art  of 
boxing,  better  than  that  of  preaching :  his  clerk 
often  felt  the  weightier  argument  of  hia  baud. 
Meeting  a  Quaker,  whose  profession,  then  in 
infitney,  did  not  stand  liigh  in  esteem,  he  offered 
Bome  insults,  which  the  other  resenting,  told 
him,  *  If  be  was  not  protected  by  bis  clutb,  br 
wouhJ  make  him  repent  the  indignity,*  Daggett 
immedmtely  stripjied,  'There, now  I  have  thrown 
off  my  prot^ection/ — They  fought ;  hut  the 
spiritual  bruiser  proved  too  bard  for  the  injured 
Quaker/* 

From  a  Tcrner  of  the  Hectory,  written  by  thii^ 
Mr,  iJaggott,  Hutkm  estimates  the  value  of  tbo 
living  at  that  time  at  about  £90  per  imnunL 

Iu  1662,  the  Act  of  Uniformity  was  passed, 
and,  as  Binuiiigbam,  not  being  a  corpomte  town, 
vvus  exempt  from  the  operation  of  the  •*  Five  Milo 
Act,"  (which  probihited  nonconforming  ministers 
fiH)m  coming  within  five  miles  of  any  corporate 


town,   or  of  the  place  wlu^re  tb»y  bad  exep 
their  ministry,)  it  became  a  place  of  refuge  i4 
many  of  those  ^brave  men  who  preferred  to  aacri- 
fice  tbeir  livings  rather  than  do  violence  to  ■ 
dictates  of  their  conscience,  and  here  they  wo 
shipped  God,  in  secret,  in  the  manner  which 
accorded  with  their  own  convictions,  fmra  bota 
to  house,  often  in  danger  of  persw?cution  and  in 
prisonment,  yet  braving  all  perd  and  danger  Id 
the  cause  of  religious  freedom.     In  1672,  an 
dulgence  was  grantetl,  aud  th**  fii-st  room  Jicen^ 
for  public  worship,  the  preacher  b«?i«g  an  ejecti 
minister  of   Cheshire,   Samuel   Fi»her,  for 
pastor  of  niomtondn'tbe-Moor,  in  that  countj 
In  1689,  the  Act  of  Toleration  was  passc<.l,  wbie 
revoked  the  penalties  against  attending  **  eonvtn- 
tides,"  and  for  the  first  time  permitted  Pi-otesta 
Dissentei-s  to  worship  God  iiccording  to  their  0¥ 
consf"ience,  and  made  it  penal  for  anyone  tu  eiit< 
a  meeting  bouse  for  the  pui-poso  of  molefding  i 
worshippers;  and   immedititely  ;iftor  the  passin 
of  this  act  the  Dissenters  of  Birmingham  built  f^ 
themselves  a  Meetiug  House, — ^the  fir&t  Diasentia 


OLD  MKETtXU   HOrst 


Chapel  erected  in  Blnuingluim, — on  the  site 
the  place  of  worship  which  still  bears  the  tiaizie  i 
*'  the  Ohl  Meeting  House,"  nt  the  littek  of  Wd 


I  la  T^vuitionO 


OLD  AOT>NEW  ErRMmGHAM, 


53 


» 


oeiter  Street,  the  firat  Tniniskr  being  the  Rev.  W. 
1W|0D»  who  had  previously  officiated  in  the 
Ikeiised  room  since  the  year  1686.  Throe  years 
after  tht*  building  of  the  first  meeting  house,  the 
lilQ&ber  of  nonconfonnists  in  the  town  had  so  in- 
rrviWNl  Uiat  a  aornnd  society  was  funned,  and 
motlicr  meeting  houae  opened  in  Digbeth,  in 
1692,  irith  a  Mr.  Sdlitoe  as  minister.  Of  the  iVm- 
tttTbanc4»  of  whk'h  these  two  places  of  worship 
have  been  the  scene^  we  shall  have  to  speak  in 
future  chnpters^  as  also  of  the  eminent  <livinoa 
who  have  from  time  to  time  ministered  therein. 
Sittiice  here  lo  say  that  thia  second  church  has 
laijoyiM!  the  ministrations  of  Joseph  Priestley,  of 
John  Kentish,  and  Joshua  Toulmin,  and  of  many 
nthiT  eminent,  leametL,  and  devoted  pjistors*,  i>f 
whom  we  shall  roiikc  mention  hereafter. 

Anions  others  who  benefited  by  the  Act  of 
Toleration^  beside  the  ejected  ministera  of  1662, 
W&P^  the  members  of  the  newly-formed  "  Society 
of  Friendi^/*  commonly  cjdled  Q^iakers.  The 
r«r^"-^*  *"^-  'rd  of  tho  oxistom-c  of  this  society  in 
r.-  a,  according  to  Button,  is  in  1682,  but 

our  hiatorian  is  of  opinion  that  they  had  ej^isted 
aa  a  society  here  for  some  years  previous  tu  that 
flaia  They  proluibly  met  from  huuse  to  house 
during  the  seventeenth  and  the  earlier  part  of  the 
fdg'  i'Dlury. 

]„  :..  uan  Catholics  had  a  place  of  worship 
near  Iba  preiK^nt  church  of  St.  Eartholomew,  aa 
ailill  tiidi^tated  by  the  name  of  Masshouse  Lane, 
Fr^"  *^  '  'f*ry  inlfresting  and  Inist worthy  Guide 
to  .  lam,*  compiled  by  Mr.  William  Bates, 

%A>t  WW  temn  that  the  first  atone  of  this  building 
Wi  '  *  *  '  Ikothi^r  Lw,  of  St.  Mary  Magdalen, 
tiJi  Iph,  of  the  Holy  Order  of  St,  Francis, 

on  tilt  23rd  of  Iklarch,  1687  ;  and  the  church  was 
aqimscrlUhI  ou  the  4th  of  September,  1688,  by 


*  A  ririfiirtuii  OoiJe  to  fi^mtinghiuii  i  iHng  ii  (.k»tiuis«p  Mk«torii^«l 
J(mUU  M\eu  mud  ^n,  iMt^.    ]>.  hit. 


Bishop  GifTard  of  Mandara,  a  favom'ite  of  James 
II.  The  church  was  dedicated  to  St.  Marie  Mag- 
dalen, and  contained  three  altars  :  the  high  altar, 
in  honour  of  God  and  St.  Marie  Magdalen ;  the 
north  altar,  in  honour  of  Goil  and  the  Blessed 
Lady ;  and  the  south,  in  honour  of  God  and  the 
Holy  Father  St.  Francis.  A  convent  was  also 
erected  adjoining  the  north-west  corner  of  the 
church;  and  the  entire  coat  of  the  buildings 
(mnountmg  to  £1,281,  2a,  5d.)  was  raised  by 
subscriptions  and  donations.  James  IL  gave 
125  tons  of  timber  from  Need  wood  Forest;  Sir 
John  Gage  gave  timber  valued  at  jG140  ;  Mrs. 
Ajin  Gregg  gave  J£250  j  and  the  Dowager  Queen 
Catherine  gave  £10,  15s. 

But  t3ie.^e  costly  builtlinga  were  not  destined 
to  remain  long-  The  storm  which  burst  forth 
ngainst  the  King  and  the  Catholics  in  10B8 — the 
year  in  which  the  Binuingham  Church  and  Con- 
vent were  erected — was  felt  hero  as  elsewhere, 
and  on  the  26th  of  November,  little  more  than 
two  months  after  the  consecration,  the  church  and 
part  of  the  convent  was  defaced,  and  the  interior 
burnt,  to  the  value  of  j£400,  by  the  orders  of 
Lord  Delamere.  Seven  days  later,  "the  rude 
luuids  of  irreligion'^  (as  Hutton  terms  them) 
finiiihtHl  the  work  of  destniction,  ceasing  only 
when  tlioy  had  destroyed  the  very  foundationa 
of  the  building.  Subse^|uently  the  Eoman 
Catliolics  erected  a  small  chapel  Fit  Edgbaston, 
which,  after  its  disuse  by  that  body,  still 
retained  the  name  of  the  Mwis-houm. 

There  wore,  therefore,  before  the  close  of  thu 
scventoeth  century,  no  less  than  six  "  churches  " 
or  religious  societies  in  Birmingham,  (without 
counting  any  of  the  suburban  eliu relies  belonging 
to  the  Establishment,)  viz.:  St.  Martin's,  St, 
John's  Chapid,  Deritend,  the  first  Pi-e^byterian 
Cliurch,  on  the  western  side  of  St.  Martin's,  and 
the  second  on  the  south  eastern  side,  the  Quakei*, 
and  the  l?oman  Catholics, 


54 


OLD  AND   NEW  BIRMINGHAM.    [AppeM«iioeoftheiv>ini-ie».im 


CHAPTER  VII. 


APPEARANCE  OF  THE  TO WN— 1660-1700. 

Btrmingham  in  1(»0— Number  of  stweto— The  Old  Ship  [nn— Stratford  House— Deritend  and  Dlgbeth^St.  Martin's  Church— The  Maxkat 
Cross— The  High  Town— New  Street— The  Beast  Market— Bull  Street— The  Welsh  End— The  Old  Cross— fit.  Martin's  Rectoiy— The 
Moat-  Alterations  and  AddiUons  between  1660  and  1700— Early  viaiU  of  "  the  stroUeis." 


HuTTON,  in  his  History,  quotes  from  an  anony- 
mous author  who  wrote  in  1743,  an  ohservation 
to  the  effect  that  "  Binningham,  at  the  Restora- 
tion, probably  consisted  only  of  three  streets."  Our 
historian  is,  however,  of  opinion  that  it  consisted 
probably  of  fifteen,  which  he  enumerates,  and 
that  there  were  at  that  time  about  nine  hundred 
houses.  It  may  be,  however,  that  the  earlier  writer 
considered  Deritend.and  Bordesley,  Digbeth,  Well 
Street,  the  Com  Market  and  Shambles,  as  one  street, 
High  Street  and  Spicer  (Spiceal)  Street  as  the 
second,  and  Edgbaston  Street,  St.  Martin's  Lane, 
and  Park  Street  as  the  third  ;*  regarding  the  few 
houses  on  the  various  roads  out  of  the  town,  and 
the  short  oflf-shoots  on  either  side  of  those  three 
thoroughfares,  as  not  worthy  to  be  designated 
streets ;  and  if  that  be  the  case  the  two  estimates 
will  not  differ  very  widely.  Hutton^s  fifteen 
streets  comprised  Digbeth,  Moat  Lane  (called  also 
("ourt  Lane),  the  Com  Market  and  Shambles, 
Spiceal  Street,  (sometimes  called  Mercer  and 
sometimes  Spieer  Street,)  Dudley  Street,  Bell 
Street,  Philip  Street,  St.  Martin's  Lane,  Edg- 
baston Street,  Lee*s  Lane,  Park  Street,  (from 
Digbeth  nearly  to  Freeman  Street,)  Moor  Street, 
(as  far  as  Castle  Street,)  Bull  Street,  (not  so 
high  as  the  Minories,)  High  Street,  and  Deritend 
and  Bordesley.  But  some  of  these  could  scarcely 
have  been  worthy  of  the  nume  of  streets  so  early 
as  1660. 

Probably  the  first  house  the  traveller  reached 
(entering  the  town  from  the  same  point  as  Leland 
did)  would  be  the  Old  Ship  Inn,  the  traditional 
head-quarters  of  Priince  Rupert,  in  1643.     On 

*  Set  fiuisimile  of  Westley's  map. 


the  rising  ground  to  the  left,  near  to  the  position 
taken  up  by  the  townsmen  in  their  attack  on  the 
Royalist  forces,  he  would  see  the  quaint  old  half- 
timbered  "Stratford  House,"  from  which  the 
fierce  struggle  on  that  Easter  Monday  afternoon 
might  have  been  watched,  not  without  fear, 
perhaps,  of  the  "burning  love"  of  the  Cavalier 
Prince.  Few  other  houses  would  be  passed  until 
he  reached  the  "Old  Crown."  He  then  enters 
the  "pretty  street"  called  Deritend,  passing  St 
John's  Chapel  on  the  left ;  crosses  the  river  Rea 
by  the  old  bridge, — with  its  recesses  to  enable 
foot-passengers  to  take  refuge  out  of  the  way  of 
any  passing  vehicle, — and  reaches  Digbeth,* 
which  then  commenced  from  the  Birmingham 
side  of  the  bridge.  Deritend  and  Digbeth  still 
together  form  the  most  picturesque  street  in  the 
town,  with  their  many  windings,  and  quaint 
old  half-timbered  houses, — and  we  can  form 
no  better  idea  of  the  appearance  of  old  Bir- 
mingham than  by  passing  along  this,  the  real 
"old  town."  Our  traveller,  proceeding  up  Dig- 
beth, and,  after  passing  these  picturesque  old 
houses,  would  enter  Cock  Street,  or  Well  Street, 
as  the  upper  part  of  Digbeth  was  then  called, 
(the  latter  name  from  the  same  circumstance  as 
"Digbeth,")  from  which  he  would  soon  reach 
St.  Martin's  Church, — not  yet  desecrated  by  the 
ugly  brick  encasement,  but  much  weatherworn 
and  dilapidated, — and  passing  the  eastern  end 
of  it,  along  the  "Corn  Cheaping,"  through  the 
Shambles,  (which  occupied  the  place  of  the  present 
Bull  Ring,)  and  by  the  old  Market  Croea,  he 


*  Dudfi  Bath,— 90  called  fh>m  an  exceUent  spring  of  poft  tntw 
at  the  upper  end  of  the  itreet. 


>ii»T^wi.-iwo.i7wi     OLD   Amy  KEW   BLRMmGHAM, 


55 


fwofUd  tisedi  the  "High  Town,"  the  ^Mirtiun  uf 
Hi^  Sirttt  below  the  end  of  what  was  ait^r- 
wudfi  GoU^d  N«w  Street,  but  which  was  then 
metflj  the  Stnnrhridge  road,  nntl  contnined  few 
btukltDgs  except  the  old  Frco  School^  of  timber, 
I  (formctrlj  the  Hall  of  tlie  Gild  of  the  Holy  Crass,) 
I  aJid  the  Leather  Hall,  both  of  which  were  at  the 
[  fl  igh  Street  end.    Ikyond  that  point  tlie  thorough- 


pursued  by  tho  Earl  nf  Denbigh,  in  1643.  There 
would  also  be  a  few  houses  at  the  beginning  of 
Bale  End,  (aa  we  gather  from  the  first  of  the 
Civil  War  tracts,)  the  upper  part  of  which  ia 
called  in  We*tley*a  map  "  Broad  Street "  At  the 
juBtrtion  of  those  niiads,  whicli  had  long  been 
called  the  **  Welsh  End,"  the  Welsh  Cross  was 
afterward;*  built,  and  further  along  the  CUileahill 


.Mita 


'fi^^ 


«d  at  ^  s=>  sfi  •«  «f  2ft  ^ 


iSrll 


■M 


HAftKET  CROSS. 


laru  (atf^coniing  to  Weetley's  map)  was  called  the 
Miu^ket^  and,  if  Hutton  is  right  in  his  con- 
the  traveller  would   find   a   few  houses 
here  and  there  along  Bull  Street  at  the 
«!iid  of  the  town,  although  in  all  proba- 
iVQltx  **Bun  StrtHit"  was  not  known  by  name, 

IWf -T    [)S  men-dy  the  road  out  of  town  to 

|Wi .  [4on  and  Wal^l,   along  wliich  the 

[mroEiMi  towmnmn.  undor  Captuin  Greaves,  wor© 


road,  at  tlie  point  at  which  the  Btalfonl  road  (after- 
words called  **The  Butts,'*  or  "Stafford  Street,") 
branched  off,  was  an  older  cross  of  the  simplest 
form  :  a  plain  stone  pillar  with  short  cross-piec^, 
resting  on  a  rude  pedestaL  We  now  (accompanying 
our  aeventeenth-eentury  traveller  on  his  itinerary 
through  the  town)  retrace  our  steps  as  far  a«  the 
JMarket  Cross,  passing  by  the  western  end  of 
St.  Martin's  this  time,  down  Mercer  ur  Spicer 


56 


OLD    AND    NEW    BIRMINGHAM.        [AppearMiceoftheTowii-ie».1700. 


JSti-eet.     It  was  originally  called  Mercer  Street, 
from  the  number  of  mercers'  shops;  and  as  the 
members  of  that  trade  dealt  also  in  grocery,  it 
was  promiscuously  called  Spicer  Street, 
which  afterwards  became  corrupted  into 
Spiceal  Street     Turning  to  the  right, 
THEOL^^Ross  aloug  Edgbastou  Street,  our  traveller 
plaZmi.'  would  speedily  find  himself  on  the  wes- 
tern outskirts  of  the  town,  one  of  the  last  houses 
probably  being  St.  Martin's  Rectory,  an  ancient 
half-timbered  house,  surrounded  by  a  moat,  plea- 
santly situated  opposite  the  end  of  the  road  now 
called  Dudley  Street.     If  our  itinerant  retraced  his 
steps,  and  passed  down  St.  Martin's  Lane,  on  the 
south  side  of  the  church,  he  woidd,  by  turning  to 
the  right,  down  Moat  or  Court  Lane,  immediately 
come  to  the  moat  surrounding  the  ancient  mano- 
rial residence  of  the  Lords  of  Birmingham,  and 
would  thus  have  completed  his  survey  of  the  town. 
If    the    traveller,   whom   we    have    imagined 
taking  a   survey  of  the   town  immediately  after 
the  restoration,  had  retmned  at  the  close  of  the 
century,    he    would    have    found     considerable 
changes  in  its  appearance  and  extent.    St.  Mar- 
tin's Church,  in  its  ugly  red  brick  casing,  newly 
finished,  woidd  strike  him  as  being  anything  but 
an  improvement  upon  the  gi-ey  crumbling  walls  of 
the  fine  old  church  of  thirty  or  forty  years  ago ; 
nor  would  the  two  meeting  houses  of  the  most 
unpretending  order,  of    architecture   which  had 
arisen  since  his  last  visit  compensate  him  for  the 
loss  of  the  old  church.     He  would  find  at  least 
seven  new  streets,  and — if  Hutton's  calculation  is 
right  as  to  the  number  of  houses  at  the  restoration 
— nearly   three   times  as   many   houses.      Since 
he  last   saw  this  hive  of   busy  workere,  their 
number  had  increased  threefold;  there  were,  in 
the  year  1700,  upwards  of  fifteen  thousand  in- 
habitants.    Between  High   Street,   New  Street, 
Edgbaston  Street,  and  Dudley  Street,  (around  the 
principal  Meeting  House,)  had  grown  up  quite  a 
new  town,  with  several  streets  intersecting  it, 
among  them  Old  Meeting  Street,  Colmore  Street, 
and  The  Froggary.     New  Street  had  probably 


grown  at  least  as  far  as  Peck  Lane,  and  £il 

Street  as  far  as  the  Minories.     Going  out  in  th 

direction  of  Coleshill,  the  houses  would  now  e: 

tend  almost  to  the  Old  Cross,  while  much  of  th 

ground  between  the  part  of  High  Street  calle 

the  Beast  Market  and  Moor  Street  would  be  tille 

up   with  dwellings.     In   the   town  itself,  ther 

would  be  fewer  open  spaces  at  the  back  of  th 

houses  which  lined  the  streets,  for  there  were  noi 

one  hundred  courts  and  alleys.     But  there  wer 

still  green  fields  and  pleasant  gardens  within  eas; 

access  on  every  side.     The  upper  end  of  Moo 

Street,  and  all  the  land  below  Park  Street,  wa 

yet  under  cultivation  or  used  as  grazing  land 

Behind  the  fringe  of  houses  which  shut  in  Hig] 

Street  from  the  country  on  the  north-eastern  sid^ 

of  the  town,  fields  and  gardens  stretclied  out 

across  which  one  might  look  as  far  as  New  Hall 

which  was  situated  on  the  crown  of  the  hill  nop 

covered  by  Mount  Street  and   Graham   Street 

St.  Philip's  Church  was  yet  imthought  of,  and  the 

pleasant  grassy  knoll  which  was  afterwards  called 

Bennett's  Hill  was  far  away  from  the  smoke  and 

bustle  of  the  town  and  the  sound  of  the  anvil. 

The   busy  inhabitants   had  probably  by  this 

time  begun  to  taste  the  pleasures  of  theatrical 

entertainments.      Occasionally   a   rude  shed  of 

boards'  in  the  fields  now  called  Temple  Street 

became  the  temporary  abode  of  various  compauiefi 

of  strolling  players.     It  is  not  probable  that  such 

performers  ever  attempted  anything  higher  than 

the  "  Drolls,"  of  which  a  number  of  examples  ore 

to  be  found  in  a  curious  book  compiled  by  Francis 

Kirkman,  and  published  in  1672,  called  "The 

Wits,  or  Sport  upon  Sport"     But  among  thefie 

drolleries  were  several  of  the  choicest  comic  scenee 

from  the  plays  of  Shakespeare.     "  The  Humouis 

of  Bottom  the  Weaver,"  and  "  The  Droll  of  the 

Grave  makers,"    (the    famous    Graveyard    Scene 

from  Hamlet,)  may  perhaps  have  been  among 

those  rude   performances  which   delighted    our 

forefathers  in  the  simple  shed  which  did  duty 

for  a  theatre  on  that  hill-eide  field  which  ia  now 

in  the  heart  of  the  great  modem  city. 


iP«pfatotbeowTownBoi»ki,.i       OLD   AND   NEW   BIRMINGHAM. 


57 


CHAPTEE     VIII. 
A     PKEP     INTO    THE    OLD    TOWN     BO(»KS. 

Sik  of  iwenrediittiiigi  In  St.  Martin'i  Church—'*  Utensils  and  \e8i8ell«  l;*?longiiig  to  tlw  Church  "--llrtastinK  of  the  IwUs— Their  sevenil 
Weighta— The  Market  Crosa— The  '•  Royal  Touch"-  Drums  and  Colours  for  liirmingliani— Custody  of  the  Fire  Engine— Necessity  of  a 
Clmuhrrfor  public  meetings— A  room  built  over  the  Cross— The  Welsh  Cross— Teuiple  Row. 


HiviKo  glanced  in  our  laajb  chapter  at  tlie  api)ear- 
ance  and  extent  of  the  town  duiing  the  later 
ywn  of  the  seventeenth  century,  it  may  be 
interesting  now  to  refer  once  more  to  the  old  Town 
IJooks  mentioned  in  our  sixth  chapter,  and  by 
their  aid  to  take  a  peep  at  the  doings  of  the 
inhabitants  during  the  same  period. 

Ve  l>egin  at  Church.     In  that  sacred  edifice, 

even  at  that  early  period,  the  warning  of  St. 

James  had  already  begun  to  be  neglected,  and 

the  best  seals  were  reserved  for  those  who  could 

affonl  to  pay  for  them.     It  is  true  the  sum  which 

entitled  the  worshipper  to  one  of  the  favoured  seats 

vas  not  higli,  the  charge  being,  as  appears  from 

these  interesting  records,  f  ourpence  for  each  sitting. 

**Tlie  Account  of  those  persons  that  were  entered 

''V  John   Allen   and   John  AValloxall,    Church- 

wanlens  for  the  yeore  1G76,  into  Seats  in  the 

rhurt-h/*  states  that  on  June  3rd,  fouq^ence  was 

receivi'd  "of  Mr  Hurse  for  his  wife's  seat,"  and 

a  like  sum  from  each  of  the  following,  during 

the  same  year:   of  Thomas  Day  "for  William 

Eilj^leys  plact?,"  of  Richard  BoUingsley  "for  his 

wifes  place  being  the  widow  Bakers,"  "  of  ^fary 

i'ooke  for  her  Mother  Alice  Graves  place,"  of 

iiichard  Lewis  "for  to  reserve  his  wifes  place," 

of  Tobit  Manwaring  "for  his  wifes  place,"  and 

of  "William  Doley,  **  for  his  wifes  place  in  the 

27  jKtw  in  the  Middle  Aisle."     In  the  next  year, 

l»i77,  the  first  receipt  is  "for  ^Ir.  (iregorys  place 

in  the   new  South  loft  next  the  pulpitt,"  the 

intending   new   occupant  being  a  Mr.   Kichard 

Scott;  there  are  many  others  during  the  year, 

and  from  the  positions  in  the  church  being  in 

moet  cases  indicated,  they  possess  more  general 

8 


interest  than  those  of  1676.  One  of  these  is 
for  five  places  (the  amount  being  as  usual  four- 
pence  for  each  sitting,  without  reduction  in 
consideration  of  the  quantity),  the  sum  of  one 
shilling  and  eighti)cnce  being  received  "  of 
Jonathan  Newman  and  his  wife  and  Benjamin 
Hawkes   and   Thomas   Townsend    and   William 

*    for   5   places   in   a  seat   they  have 

builded  it  being  the  hinderraost  seat  between 
the  West  Dore  and  the  Staires  directly  behind 
William  Greaves  seat."  Later  on  is  a  quaint 
entry  of  the  receipt  of  the  usual  amount  from 
John  Grumpton  "  for  his  Mothers  place  in  the 
Middle  He.  pew  beliind  the  pulpitt  by  consent 
of  his  Mother."  The  next  receipt  Is  from  one 
of  tho  churchwardens  named  at  the  commence- 
ment of  the  entries,  John  Walloxall,  "for  a  place 
in  the  New  Seats  behind  the  South  door  at  the 
going  up  of  the  Staires  that  goes  up  into  the 
west  loft  for  his  man  to  sit  in,  he  being  the 
Church  warden."  His  successor,  it  would  appear, 
built  a  seat  for  himself,  but  honestly  debited 
himself  with  the  usual  charge  for  sittings  in  the 
church.     The  entry  is  as  follows  : 

"Nov  7  1678  Georgo  Abell  and  Kichard 
Wliyle  being  thon  Churchwardens 
found  a  vacant  place  in  the  Church 
before  the  seates  where  William 
Greaves  did  Sitt  Kichard  Whyle  at 
his  own  cost  and  charge  did  build  a 
seat  there  by  consent  of  his  partener 
joining  to  the  conion  Scate  for  the 
Churchwardens  over  against  the  font, 
under  the  old  loft  for  himself  and  a 
Sonne  to  set  in,  and  doth  acicompt  to 
the  Towne  according  to  the  Custom 
of  the  Towne  for  the  grownde  ....     0    0     8  " 


Nam*'  undpolphi'mble. 


^^1>   NEW  BIItMlN^ 


[A  Pe«?i»  tot4>  the  OW  Town 


On  the  22nd  of  April,  1682,  is  recorded  the 
transfer,  from  the  retiring  Churchwardona  to 
those  newly  appointed,  of  **thtse  utensils  and 
veeaells  belongijig  to  the  Church/* 

**  2  Comunion  Ctipps  with  their  Cover?*  k  Cftflea 
4  Pi  wt**!*  fflngtin^ 
*i  iH?w  tut  |tljttA  to  ^tltiT  nio]if' y  in 
4  trt.nehoi"3 

a  Lyii  tit"!!  k  a  BrctachtCurpet  for  y^  Comuiuoii Tabic 
1  riishoii 
20  Savv  LenlUaniG  Buuketts 

(tUcy  will  Bot  take  chargo  of  Duclcotts.]  ** 


•*  1   Bell  wav<l 

2  Bell 

3  Boll 

4  B«>n 

5  n^ii 

e  ni41 


ill  uU 


c. 

qs. 

■  J 

6 

3 

^   ^ 

7 

1 

'   ■ 

B 

3 

23      ^ 

10 

a 

8           1 

12 

124             1 

17 

3 

•J 

03 

1 

15" 

We  hixYti  s<*i^n,   m  our  forcicr  cxtracta 
these  books,  the  wilUngnesa  of  the  people  of  lii 
rainghain  to  give  of  their  dubstance  to  aid  tho 
who  had  suffered  from  diaaatrous  fires ;  but 


TIIK  WKI*«H   CHOKS, 


Tho  receipt  of  those  articles  is  duly  acknow- 
ledgod  hj  the  new  war^lens,  Sttniuel  Banner  am! 
John  Kogers,  during  whom  year  of  olht;e  the  six 
bells,  then  comprising  the  only  peal  in  Birming- 
hatn,  Were  recast,  the  several  weights  being  entered 
in  th&  Town  Houk  as  fi>Iiaws  : 


they  a|)pcar  at  all  times  to  have  ghully  resjiontU 
to  npiteais  of  thl!§  kind,  they  were  aUo  willi; 
to  tLsaist  others — ^anil  oven  those  of  other  ooimti 
—in  distress.     On  **  July  y*  IT*  1682"  wm  ^ 
lected  in  the  Toiine  of  Bimiinf^ham  by  Lett< 
Patent  fur  the  pei-secutoil   T^niiv^j-mt^  gf  ifj^^xi^ 


mtmk 


iiv,.  «i-.tJ»*nMT«wf,ttinU)      OLH   AND    XFAV   DIimiXGHAM. 


59 


iu  i.M,  U'lr        I '111  nio  iiui.'ibirivuu  tlid  not,  iu 

IhHf  li1>erality  towards  otliPi^,  foi^et  tLeir  o\im 

lawrti  and    its    nectisaities.     The    Market  Cro€£t 

Dwdwl  to  lie  rppairiHi  :  a  nen'  too(  was  nccessar}'* 

tjul  u  ccilk^etion  wx*  made  for  thai  |tui*pOHe,  th*? 

iwijJlof  which  i^  thu;5  recorded  : — 

*'IM  iUr  19   June  1633  of   the  lnhn»>itaht^  of  the 

Tontic  the  aiim  of  H\x  j»oim<U  fonrtcm  Shil- 

liQg^  and  Kle?eii  t«Dce  town rf Is  tht*  Lending 

of  3**  Cross, 

H«tneAa  taf  Iiand  Wm  W.  B.  Bridgmiin 

wh  WHS  p**  by  our  constant 
wcttitfaa  our  ]iands 
Geo  IfeQlliani 
Tho  Flentwell 
Samuel  Tayler 
George  Abell 
WilHftm  Gucat 
Ambrose  Leay 
ThoioM  Birch  *' 

Thf  next  entry  recall?  an  old  superstition  : 
'•Mirth    lit    t(SS3  KUznbt'th  dnughter  of  Johu  and 
Annf  Dickftus  of  Birniiuj^ltam  in  Ih^  Court ty  of  Wwwick 
»*^  ctiteiSed  for  hi  order  to  obUyuc  hi»  Mjyesty's  Touch 
'*f  hft  cure 

Ueu*'  Gruvc  Minister 

John  Biriii       i  ,,. 

H.i»y  Porter     {  ^^^^i^^^^^'^'^ 

\ut  many  years  aftt-nvanls,  the  poor  aftlii.ted 

itttle   sou    lif   the   Lichfield  h<jokseller,   Michael 

'Win$<jn»  (of  whose  wet^kly  bookstall  in  Binning* 

hnm  our  readers  have  already  hwird)  paid  his  first 

rifflt  to  the  metropolis  wliich  he  afterwards  loved 

m  well,  for  the*  same  purjxMte.     He  was  *  touched* 

hy  Queen  Aime,  and  altliongh  only  tldrty  months 

[old  at  the  time,  retained  throughout  his  life  "a 

I  ranfuiied^  hat  somehow  a  sort  of  solemn  recollection 

[of  ^  huljr  ixt  diamomld^  and  a  long  black  lioodr" 

Iw   1692,   Birminghnnj  wuuM  appear  to  have 

Ilioeume  amhitiou?  of  martial  ilis]day.     Amongsst 

Ithtf  diflbardementa  of  that  year  ia  an  entry  of  one 

I  to  *Mlitin  Court,  for  Drums  &  Collora"  (colours), 

tZ  1 6a  6d,,  and  in  the  receipts  is  one  **for  Dnmm 

Bd  Coll..ni  for  Bir."  £2A  IQs.  Cd, 

ITudcff  date  May  7th,  16D5,  is  an  agreement 

tVilliam  Bum  "  to  keep  the  Engine  in 

tq  plajr  3t  4  times  every  year,  and  the 

[michwai^lcn^  are  to  give  him  Tnenty  Slallings 

I  J4mt9  f0T  <b<»  same.** 


M'ith  drums  and  colours,  and  a  ft  re  engine, 
still  Eirmingham  was  **  not  happy."  The  people 
needed  a  room  in  which  to  hold  public  meetings, 
and  almost  as  soon  as  the  eighteenth  century  had 
dawned  the  sum  of  M7  15s.  3il,  was  subscribed 
for  the  repairing  of  the  Market  Croas,  and 
**  making  a  roome  over  it.**  In  the  March  of 
1703  this  room  Avas  neiirly  finished,  antl  the 
fuHowing  entry  occurs  as  to  the  puq^oses  for 
which  it  ia  to  he  u^ed  : 

**  March  ye  22  1703.  Whems  there  is  a  Itooni 
nearly  built  over  that  wliich  is  the  Butter  Cros-s 
(the  account  and  rluirge  1  liave  of  it  is  on  tlie 
other  side),  itts  this  day  uidei-ed  antl  agi-eed  by 
va  whose  names  arc  viidcr  written  that  the  key 
&  letting  theare  of  to  tlie  best  advantage  shall 
be  in  the  power  of  the  Constables  ffor  the  time 
being,  they  reserving  llbr  all  publick  meetings  f^jr 
the  Uf^e  of  the  inhabitants  and  what  advantage 
is  tttude  thereof  they  shall  account  for  when  they 
give  iipp  tlierc  other  acconnts  to  the  Towno/* 

In  the  next  year  is  the  lii*st  entry  of  a  meeting 
in  the  new  Chamber: 

"Sept  19  170-1.  It  was  then  agreed  at  a 
meeting  ut  the  Chamber  over  the  Cross  the 
Consttd>le  Church%vardens  and  overseers  being 
psent,  That  for  the  future  noe  money  shall  he 
spent  on  the  puhlick  account  upon  any  day  of 
Public  Kejgycing  unless  the  ofhcer  fii-st  call  a 
public k  jnceting  at  the  said  Chamber,  in  order 
to  liave  the  Coiu  'A  of  the  Inhabitajiits  uidess 
pai-ticvdar  diicction  siudl  be  given  by  the  Deputy 
Lieuten^  Justices  of  the  i>caL'e  or  othei-s  in 
authnrity  for  that   purpose." 

Whore  public  meetings  had  previously  been 
held  we  do  not  know,  but  thei^e  ia  an  entry  in 
tlm  hooks  of  one  having  been  held  before  the 
linishing  of  the  Crosa  Chamber. 

**  April  7th  1702  Its  this  day  ordered  att  a 
Public  meeting  of  the  Parifihon"^  of  Birmingham 
That  tlie  Twenty  ponce  that  hath  used  to  be 
paid  to  the  Church wai<lens  for  the  Ringing  the 
Bell  to  any  funerall  shall  not  be  paid  (t  the 
1  future  by  any  penon/' 


60 


OLD  AND  NEW  BIRMINGHAM. 


tSaint  Philip's  Church. 


The  Welsh  Cross  would  appear  to  have  been 
built  in  the  year  1706,  as  on  the  1 6th  of  February 
in  that  year  "  it  was  ordered  that  the  Constables 
shall  disburse  the  sum  of  18.  12.  0  towards  the 
finishing  of  -the  Welch  Cross  and  Chamber  over 
the  same."  There  were  therefore  now  two  Cham- 
bers in  the  town  in  which  meetings  might  be 
held,  but  in  neither  of  them  was  there  sufficient 
accommodation,  one  would  imagine,  for  anything 
like  a  representative  toivn's  meeting,  even  with 
tlie  comparatively  small  population  of  that  period. 

The  next  entry  of  general  interest  relates  to 
the  new  Church  of  St.  Philip,  a  description  of 
which  will  form  the  subject  of  our  next  chapter. 

"  1715  Whereas  it  is  thought  proper  by  most 
of  the  principal  inhabitants  of  the  Town  of 
Birmingham  in  the  County  of  AVarwick  that  a 
more  Convenient  way  or  passage  should  be  pur- 


1 


chased  out  of  Bull  Street  to  the  New  Church  in 
Bu'mingham  aforesaed  Called  St.  Phillips  And 
whereas  at  a  parech  Meeting  of  the  p*  [present] 
principal  Inhabitants  this  day  appointed  tc 
consult  thereupon  It  appears  that  a  conveniem 
way  or  i)lace  may  be  purchased,. such  purchas  ia 
ordered." 

"  This  *  passage,' "  says  Mr.  Bunce,  "is  no  douU 
the  present  Temple  Row." 

AVe  may  now  leave  the  Toivn  Books  for  i]^ 
present.  The  few  remaining  entries  of  intere.= 
in  the  first  book  will  be  referred  to  in  the  co\irs= 
of  our  story,  as  illustrating  the  growth  of  oi 
public  buildings,  and  at  a  later  period  we  m» 
take  a  peep  at  the  second  book,  in  the  beginnii:a 
of  whicli  for  the  first  time  are  entered  (i 
addition  to  those  of  St.  Martin's)  the  names  c: 
the  Churchwardens  of  the  Church  of  St.  Philip- 


CHAPTER     IX. 
THK    CHURCH     IN     PROSPERITY,     AND     **THE    CHURCH     IN    DANGER." 

XecesBlty  for  a  new  chuix-h— The  site  of  St.  Philip's— William  Hutton  on  religious  donations— The  chiin'h  built — I>escTii»tion  of 
building— "  The  church  in  danger"— Dr.  Sacheverell  in   Binningliani— His  sermon  at  Sutton  Coldfleld,  and   Its  effects— Riot « 
Birmingham- Attack  on  the  Meeting  Hoiises. 


Thb  rapid  growth  of  the  town  during  the  closing 
years  of  the  seventeenth  century  and  the  early 
part  of  the  eighteenth,  i-endered  it  impossible  for 
the  single  parish  church  to  accommodate  the  in- 
creasing number  of  the  parishioners,  and  an  Act 
of  Parliament  was  obtained  in  1711  (7th  Anne) 
for  building  a  new  parish  church  and  parsonage, 
and  making  a  new  parish  and  a  new  churchyard 
in  Birmingham,  the  land  being  given  by  llobert 
Phillips,  Esq.,  an  ancestor  of  the  Inge  family. 
It  was  formerly  part  of  a  farm,  and  bore  the 
name  of  the  Horse  Close,  afterwards  Barley  Close. 
"Thus,"  says  our  quaint  historian,  "a  benign 
spot  of  earth  gave  additional  spirits  to  a  man 
while  living,  and  kindly  covered  him  in  its  bosom 
when  dead."  This  spot  is  the  summit  of  the 
highest  eminence  in  the  town,  and  was  stated 


in  a  rei)ort  of  the  British  College  of  Physiciai:* 
published  about  thirty  years  ago,  to  be  level  wi  t 
the  top  of  the  cross  of  St.  Paul's,  London;  an 
is,  according  to  Fullarton's  Directory,  475  fc^' 
above  sou-level. 

Some  of  Hutton's  remarks  on  religious  doi:i 
tions  (djH'opos  of  the  gift  of  the  land  for  ti 
Philip's)  ai*e  worth  quoting  here  on  account  * 
their  quaint  half-cynical  humour.  "  Sometimes, 
he  says,  "  we  assign  our  property  for  religiou 
uses  late  in  the  evening  of  life,  when  enjoyinen 
is  over,  and  almost  possession.  Thus  we  bequeati 
to  piety  what  we  can  keep  no  longer.  ^^ 
convey  our  name  to  posterity  at  the  expense 
of  our  successor,  and  scafifold  our  way  towards 
heaven  up  the  walls  of  a  steepla  Will  charity 
chalk   up   one  additional  score  in  our  favour, 


62 


OLD  AND  NEW  BIRMINGHAM. 


[St  PhUip's  ChnrcK. 


because  we  grant  a  small  portion  of  our  land 
to  found  a  church,  which  enables  us  to  augment 
the  remainder  treble  its  value,  by  grunting 
building  leases  1 " 

The  land  given  by  Robert  Phillips  for  the  new 
Church  and  Churchyaixl  was  at  that  time  quite 
outside  the  town,  the  nearest  buildings  at  that 
time  being  those  in  liull  Sti-eet  The  building 
was  commenced  in  1711,  under  a  Commission, 
consisting  of  twenty  of  the  neighbouring  gentry 
appointed,  in  accord.inco  with  the  provisions  of 
the  Act  of  Parliament,  by  the  bishop  of  the 
diocese  ;  their  commission  ending  twelve  months 
aftyf  the  erection  of  the  church.  The  building 
was  not  linisheil  until  1719,  having  occupied 
ciglit  years  in  its  erection,  but  was  consecrated 
in  1715,  and  dedicated  to  8t.  Philip,  thus,  a.s 
JIutton  puts  it,  joining  the  donor's  name  in 
partnership  with  a  saint  in  order  t»)  perpetuate 
his  (the  donor's)  memor}',  and  share  with  the 
saintly  patron  a  red  letter  in  the  almanack. 

"  When  I  first  saw  St.  Philip's,  in  the  year 
1741,"  says  our  pleasant  chatty  historian,  **at  a 
proper  distance,  uncrowded  with  houses,  for  thei-e 
were  none  to  the  north.  New  Hall  excepted, 
untaraished  with  smoke,  and  illuminated  by  a 
w*estern  sun,  I  was  delighted  with  its  appearance, 
and  thought  it  then,  what  I  do  now,  and  what 
others  will  in  future,  tlte  lyride  of  the  place.  If 
we  assemble  the  beauties  of  the  edifice,  which 
cover  a  rood  of  ground ;  the  spacious  area  of  the 
churchyard,  occupying  four  acres,  ornamented 
with  walks  in  great  perfection,  shaded  with  trees 
in  double  and  treble  ranks,  and  surrounded  with 
buildings  in  elegant  taste;  perhaps  its  equal 
cannot  be  found  in  the  British  dominions." 

The  architectural  character  of  this  beautiful 
structure  is  Italian,  consisting  of  a  pedestal  line 
of  good  height,  a  range  of  lofty  Doric  pilasters, 
enclosing  the  large  and  well-proportioned  win- 
dows, and  a  handsome  balustrade,  which  wiis 
subsequently  surmounted  by  a  row  of  urns,  in 
the  year  1756  (during  the  watdensbip  of  John 
Baskerville,  the  famous  pnntor) ;  but  these  latter 


were  i-emoved,  being  in  a  dangerous  condition,  a 
few  years  before  the  restoration  of  the  building 
of  which  we  shall  have  to  speak  hereafter. 
At  the  western  end  of  the  church,  between 
the  two  entrances,  is  a  square  projection  above 
which  rises  the  elegant  tower,  with  Corinthian 
pilasters,  carried  upwards  by  a  series  of  carved 
figures,  within  which  arc  enclosed  the  four  dials  of 
the  clock.  The  tower  is  surmounted  by  a  well- 
proportioned  dome,  above  which  rises  a  lantern 
cupola,  with  a  ball  and  vane.  Tlie  design  for 
the  building  was  furnished  by  one  of  the  com- 
missioner, Thomas  Archer,  Esq. 

"This  curious  piece  of  arcliitecture,"  says 
Hutton,  "the  steeple  of  which  is  erected  after 
the  model  of  St.  Paul's,  in  London,  but  without 
its  weight,  does  honom*  to  the  ago  that  raised  it, 
find  to  the  place  that  contiiins  it  Perhaps  the 
eye  of  the  critic  cannot  point  out  a  fault,  which 
tlie  hand  of  the  artist  can  mend;  perhaps  tew, 
the  attentive  eye  cannot  survey  this  pile  of  build- 
ing, without  communicating  to  the  mind  a  small 
degree  of  pleasure.  If  the  materials  are  not  proof 
against  time,  it  is  rather  a  misfortune  to  bt» 
lamented,  rather  than  an  en-or  to  bo  complained 
of,  the  country  producing  no  better." 

If  we  enter  the  building  w&  shall  find  its  inter- 
nal appearance  fully  bear  out  the  expectations 
raised  by  the  beauty  of  the  exterior.  It  is  said  to 
be  capable  of  holding  upwards  of  2,000  persons, 
and  consists  of  a  nave  and  two  side  aisles,  formed 
by  two  rows  of  fluted  Doric  columns,  from  which 
spring  arches  wliich  support  the  roof.  At  the 
east  end  is  a  handsome  altar  screen;  and  the 
ornaments  of  the  building  are  in  every  way  appro- 
priate. "  The  organ  excels;  the  paintings,  mould- 
ings, and  gildings  are  superb;  whether  the  stranger 
takes  an  external  or  an  internal  survey,  the  eye  is 
struck  with  delight,  and  he  2)ronounces  the  whole 
the  work  of  a  master.  Its  conveniency  also  can 
only  be  equalled  by  its  elegance."  ♦ 

There  is,  however,  one  fault,  viz.,  in  the  posi- 
tion of  the  building,  which  does  not  range  either 

*  Rntton. 


with  ibe  boimdary  lines  of  the  cluirchyardj  or 
irith  any  of  the  rows  of  handsome  buildings 
whidi  siirroimd  it.  This  defect  arises  from  a 
stdjci  odLereDce  to  the  canoBical  regulation  for 
ph^fig  the  chaijcol  eastwar<L  **It  is  aniimng/' 
mf$  HntV^Di  "  that  even  weakness  itself,  by  long 
imciioe,  becomes  canonical ;  it  gains  credit  by  its 
age  and  its  company*  Hence,  Sternhold  and 
Bc^pkina,  by  being  long  bound  up  with  scripture, 
ftoc^oiii^l  a  kind  of  scripture  authority/*  A  de- 
I  acdptiaa  of  the  churchyard  and  the  many  interest- 
memorials  of  departed  Llirniiughiuu  worthier 
be  given  in  our  notice  uf  the  restorntion  of 
tine  ehuieh,  a  matter  wluch  pertains  to  the  New 
Bir  .  rather  than  the  Old, 

\.  _...  ,iie  Chuivh  in  Birmingham  wjis  giving 
Qzuitiiiakeable  signs  of  prosperity,  in  the  provision 
tn^e  by  the  erection  of  St  Philip's,  for  the  in- 
enttsing  number  of  worshippers,  a  cry  was  being 
misrcl  by  various  bigots  throughout  tlie  countiy, 
(with  Dr.  SacheveTcU  at  their  head,)  of  **the 
Omrch  in  danger,"  '*\Vlien  that  fluining  lu- 
miJiaf^,  I)t*  SachevoK-ll,  set  half  the  kingdom 
nt  m  Uacdf  the  inhabitants  of  this  region  of  in* 
dualty  caught  the  Ppark  of  the  da}-,  and  grew 
waim  for  the  church.  They  had  always  been 
i&ttied  to  Jtr^t  but  now  we  behold  them  between 
two,***  The  doctor,  according  to  ITutton,  **rtDde 
tft  tritunph  through  the  streets  of  Birmingham," 
»  17Qt,  where  '*thia  flimsy  iihil  of  party  siiulUd 
il^*lbe  incense  of  the  popidace," — not  of  the 
ik»rt  among  them,  however ;  **  the  iuor»* 
iiblc,**  mhU  nur  historian,  **  withheld  tiieir 
homage,'*  He  preached  at  Sutton  Coklfield,  where 
he  liail  fsimily  connections,  and,  we  are  t^ild,  **  the 


people  of  Birmingham  crowded  in  mtdtitudes 
roimd  his  pulpit."  His  message  to  the  people  in 
the  8 apposed  lioitr  of  danger  does  not  seem  to 
have  been  one  of  peace  and  conciliation.  *'  It 
does  not  appear/*  says,  Huttou,  qiiuiutly,  "  that 
he  tiiught  his  healers  to  build  iqj  Zlon^  but  per- 
haps to  pull  her  down  ;  for  they  immediately  went 
and  gutted  a  meeting-house/'  The  fire  of  hatred 
towards  the  dissenters  thus  wickedly  scattered 
umongst  the  people  of  Birmingham,  smouldered 
for  about  six  years,  at  the  end  of  which  period  it 
found  vent  in  serious  riots,  which  broke  out  on 
the  16th  of  Jidy,  ITLx  On  Saturday,  Jxdy  16, 
the  mob  made  an  attack  upon  the  Lower  Meeting 
Hnuse,  in  Digbeth  ;  but  upon  the  prtiprietor  of 
the  building  making  a  promise  that  it  should  be 
put  to  other  uses,  they  took  out  the  seats  and 
whatever  else  they  could  find  belonging  to  the 
congregation,  and  hunit  them,  leaving  the  build- 
ing uninjured.  It  was  afti^rwiirds  converted  into 
a  workshop,  but  the  memory  of  the  early  Kou- 
conformists  who  worshipped  on  tliia  site  ie  still 
perpetuated  in  the  name  of  ^^eeting  House  Yard* 
"  The  sctund  of  the  pulpit,"  says  our  quaint  his- 
torian, *'  is  changed  into  that  ol  the  bellows ; 
itiJitead  of  an  impression  upon  the  lieart,  it  is  now 
stamped  upon  the  button.  The  visitants  used  to 
ajvpear  in  a  variety  of  colours,  but  now  always  in 
black," 

The  rioters  continticil  their  work  of  destruction 
on  the  next  day,  {Sunday,)  by  attacking  the 
Upper,  or  Ohl  Meeting  House,  and  destroyed  nearly 
the  wholo  of  the  interior  by  fire.  They  also  puEed 
down  meeting  houses  at  West  Bromwich,  Cradley, 
and  liratlley,  and  burnt  one  at  Oldbury  lujtl 
another  at  lUidlev. 


64 


OLD     AXn     XEW     BTln^IXaHA^^.      rAPictuw»rBlni.lut:h«in.lnl73(.-.U 


GUAPTEK     X. 


A    PICTURE      OF     BIRMINGHAM,      IN      1780-31. 


Wrsth>y's  Prospect  am\  /'/fi/i— Nt-w  IIsill  Ijinc— Wliitoliall  (»r  Stoelhouse  Lime— "Tlie  Butts -—Baptist  Meetiug  llonia— Tha  Vtir  1 

Jlouae— Tlie  old  Crosses— The  Mi>at  -  St.  MailiirsUccturi-- La«ly  Wt-U  aii'l  tho  "  CoM  Bath  "—Open Spacer— The  BqiMrt    TtftChwy 
Orihards— The  Inklcys— Riinil  Walks-  Market  riaoes-Tlic  Welsh  Cross  as  a  Giuird  House— Orowth  of  the  Town,  from  ITOttolViL] 

We  now  come  to  the  first  elaborate  picture  of 
the  town, — the  first  having  any  pretension  to 
accnracy  of  detail  at  all.  There  had  previously 
existed  only  the  "prospect"  in  Dugdale's  War- 
wickshire, which  was  too  small  and  contracted  to 
admit  of  any  attempt  at  detail.  And  since  the 
time  of  Dugdale,  as  we  have  seen,  the  town  hail 
not  only  greatly  increased  in  size,  but  hatl  been 
idso  much  adorned  and  improved.  This  large 
''  Prospect,"  drawn  by  W.  Westley,  about  1730,* 
(which  is  33  in.  by  l.'U,  in.  in  size,  exclusive  of 
margin,)  is  therefore  one  of  the  most  interesting 
documents  extant  relating  to  old  Birmingham, 
and,  when  taken  in  connection  with  the  "Plan," 
(also  engraved  by  AVestley,  in  1731,)  will  help 
to  give  us  a  better  idea  of  the  extent  and  appear- 
an(^e  t)f  the  town  than  we  have  hitherto  (obtained. 
The  three  most  prominent  objects  in  the 
"  Prospect "  are  St.  Martin's  Chui'ch,  the  newly- 
built  Grammar  School,  (of  which  an  account  will 
be  given  in  our  next  chapter,)  an<l  St.  Philip's 
(.'hurch.  The  latter  was,  as  we  have  sai<l,  on 
the  outskirts  of  the  town.  The  road  on  tlu» 
north-eastern  side  of  it  was  then  called  Xew  Hall 
T^ne,  and,  with  the  exception  of  one  or  two 
houses  at  the  end  now  willed  Monmouth  Street, 
was  as  yet  unbuilt  upon.  Its  appearance  at  that 
time  may  best  bo  seen  by  referring  to  AVestley ^s 
view  of  St.  Philip's,  a  fac-simile  of  which  is  give:i 
on  page  61. 


'  Tliere  is  no  date  upon  the  engraving,  but  in  the  sixtli  edition 
of  Button,  (Quest's,)  it  is  given  as  1720.  It  could  not  have  been  as 
early  as  that,  howerer,  as  the  New  Meeting  House  in  Moor  Street, 
(whioh  is  shown  in  the  engraving,)  was  not  commenced  until 
17V. 


"  Xew  Hall  Lane,"  says  a  recent 
'^was  a  pleasant  country  road,  skirted  <m  tm 
side  by  the  newly  laid-out  churchjaid  otl'fli 
Philip's,  and  on  the  other,  from  SnowHBLlft 
Pamdise  Street,  by  the  park  and  gronndi  H 
Colemore  family.  The  ancient  mansion, 
as  '  Xew  Hall,'  stood  in  lonely  grandeor  iQ;'Ai 
mid.^t  of  this  estate,  embowered  in  tzeea.'  ^Che 
roadway  of  Xew  Hall  Street,  just  on  the'lmw 
of  the  hill  below  Great  Charles  Street^  < 
the  site  of  this  house,  the  approach  to  whiek  - 
through  a  pair  of  iron  gates,  which  stood 
diately  opposite  the  top  of  the  present  Bennetts 
Hill.  From  these  gates  to  tho  hall  was  a  faioad 
carriage  drive  with  a  fine  avenue  of  lofty  efana 
The  grounds  extended  from  Snow  Hill  on  the 
right  to  Paradise  Street  on  the  loft,  and  stretched 
backwards  to  Warstone  Lane  and  HaU  Street 
AVithin  this  large  area  the  Xew  Hall  waii  As 
only  house,  and  there  was  no  public  road.  ■  Ob 
the  site  of  the  Union  Club  House  there  waa;  a 
deep  pool.  AVhere  the  gold  now  chinks  npoafliB 
counter  of  the  District  Bank  the  song  of  flis 
thrush  fmm  the  tree-top  was  then  the  only 
music.  AVhere  Messrs.  Sabin  and  Stockley  now 
dispense  ocarinas  and  harmoniums  in  Ann  Street 
the  lark  nursed  her  young  amongst  the  eowdipi^ 
while  her  mate  warbled  to  her  from  the  hlue  aky 
overhead.  The  cattle  and  tho  sheep  that  greied 
in  the  ploiisant  pastures  looked  clean  and  white^ 

*  Mr.  Eliczer  Edwards,  author  of  tho  \'ery  intereitiiic  TitaM 
of  "  Personal  Recollections  "  recently  published,  and  of  ttt  mtat 
curious  and  interesting  papers  on  Old  Biroiln^iham  wtaMl  hnt 
appeared  during  the  past  few  months  in  tht  . 
MaU. 


«e 


OLD  AND  XEW  BIEMIIvGHAM.     iAnetuT«orBiniiii^giuim.iiiiT3 


for  in  thoso  days  eteam-enginea  were  not^  and 
the  showers  of  sooty  particles  tlmt  now  make 
everythmg  in  tho  neighbourhood  look  black  and 
dingy  were  unkuowiL  The  Colmore  estate  was 
as  rural,  as  bright,  iind  as  fresh  as  any  part  of 
the  glorious  landscape  upon  which  on©  looks 
from  the  heights  of  Malvern. 

"Nor  was  the  estate  wanting  in  the  chann  which 
water  gives  to  a  landscape.  A  small  stream  came 
trickling  down  from  the  roach  pool  and  entered 
the  estate  on  the  western  side,  Near  where 
Messrs.  Elkington*a  famous  works  now  stand  the 
stTcam  widened  into  a  pool,  and  on  the  site  of  the 
Hour  mills  at  the  foot  of  Snow  Hill  was  a  larger 
sheet  of  water  called  the  *  Great  Pool*  Tho 
stream  flowed  thence  across  the  *  Wolverhanipton 
Koad '  on  the  surface,  but  a  narrow  bridge  of 
brickwork  stood  on  each  side  of  tho  nmdway  for 
the  convenience  of  foot  pasaen gel's.  A  spectator 
looking  from  the  north  side  of  the  balcony  of  St, 
Philip's  Church  saw  open  coimtrj  extending  from 
Sutton  and  Fazeley  eastwards  to  the  noble  range 
of  the  Clent  and  Lickey  Hills  on  the  west,  and  in 
all  that  broad  expanse  not  a  factory  chimney 
smoked,  nor  was  a  bit  of  'town  life'  visible. 
Birmingham  lay  altogether  southwards,  and  its 
entire  population  was  only  fifteen  thousand*— 
rather  leas  than  the  present  population  of  Smetli- 
wick/' 

The  continuation  of  New  Hall  Lane,  as  will  be 

,  seen  from  the  Plan,  was  built  upon  almost  as  far 

ias  St4^tTord  Street,  and  was  then  promiscuously 

called  White  Hall  or  Steel-house  Lane,  the  latter 

name  from  "  Kettle^s  Steel  Houses,"  which  are 

shown  both  on  the  Plan  and  the  Prospect ;  in  the 

r latter  as  situated  on  either  aide  of  a  continuation 

Lpf  Newton  Street     These  were  the  first  funiaces 

in  Binningham  lor  converting  iron  into  steel ; 

and  were  erected  about   the    be^^iimiiig  of   the 

eighteenth  century.     The  SUifTord  road  had  now 

taken   the   nam©   of   Stalford   Street,    or    *'The 

[*  According  to  th«  fiUknivut  &i  tlie  foci  of  Westlfyj*  "  Pljiu," 
the  porutntJon  of  BinalngUftm  in  1731  (tlic  ]*tnod  of  which  Mr. 
^Awt^ds  write*)  was  ^,2S0.  There  wtrt  14,0A2  ishftbitunU  in  the 
yw  1700— ii.KJJJ 


Butts,'*  as  it  was  sometimes  called;  **being,"  says 

Hutton,  "  a  mark  to  ?hoot  at,  when  the  bow  wiia_ 

tho  fashionable  instrument  of    war,  which  tb 

artist  of  Binningham  knew  well  how  to  make  i 

to  use."    Coleshill  Street  extended  aa  far  05  tho  oli 

Cross,  at  tho  end  of  Stiifford  Street,  (where 

End  now  terminates,)  and  Moor  Street  (and«nllj 

called  Mole  Strt^et,  fj'oui  the  eminence  on  on 

side,   or  the  decli\Hty  on  the  other,)  was  builj 

upon  on  one  side  along  its  entire  length.     Ca 

Lane  is  called  in  Westlcy's  Flan  *'Care  Lane.1 

Mr.  W»  Bates,  in  a  MS.  note  to  his  interest!  n 

Ouide,  glvea  the  following  us  the  origin  of 

name :  **  In  this  locality  was  tlie  hovel  in  whic 

was  kept  tho   Cart  used  to  convey  the  variou 

sacred  matters  used  in  processions  to  and  froij 

the  mother  Church  of  St  Martin's ;  hence  Car 

lanc^  Car-lane,  Carr' it-lane,     Mr.  James  *  receive 

this  information  from  ^fr,  (rarbutt,  who  fouB 

it  among  the  records  of  King  Edwaid^s  School. "| 

Owing  to  the  '*veiy  stoop"  declivity  at 

High  Street  end  of  this  thoroughfare,  it  was  i 

that  time  the  scene  of  many  accidents,  some 

whic!i  proved  fatal.     In  Ari^'a  Gazette  (of  whic 

jonnifti  we  shall  have  more  to  say  hereafter) 

the  6th  of  January,  1T45,  is  the  following: 

"Birmingham,  January  6. — On  WciluemUy 
[Jrmniiry  Ist]  a  Man  who  was  turning  n  londt'd  Wi 
IVom  the  High  Street  in  i\m  Town»  ilown  Car's  Laue«  I 
very  steep  Turning,  without  Lokirig  tho  Wheels,  by  til 
sud<lcii  Motion  of  the  Waggon  he  was  knock M  down  1 
tlir  Slmfts,  and  thu  Wheels  going  ovitr  hini/he  riH**ir|i 
so  much  Hurt  thiit  lie  died  in  an  Hour  ftften.viinls,' 

Tliree  years  afterwards  another  fatal  accident 

on  the  same  spot  is  chrnnicled  in  that  journa],  > 

follows : 

**  Dirminghani,  Mitj  2nd,  1748,— On  Thursday  hi 
by  the  surldcn  Turning  of  a  Cart  from  the  Higli  Stn 
Cftrr's  baiKfi  in  this  Town,  the  Driver  was  crushed  I 
the  Shafts  ngninst  the  Comer  House  in  such  a  Man&<9 
that  he  dietl  in  half  an  hour  nfterworda." 

Turk  Street  (t^  continue  our  survey  miind  tl 

fjoundarks  of  the  town)  was  built  uj>on  for  moi 

than  half  its  length,  and  a  new  meeting  hoti 

had  been  erected  by  one  of  the  sections  of 

*  Tlie  \aX*i  Kvv.  Jolin  Artgrll  Jmncji 


Bi^  raiiiatioB,  ill  Freemftn  Street,  between 

Pii:„  ,  jjid  Moor  Street* 

Pi?©ctly  behind  the  Baptist  meeting  house,  in 
tli€  prints  the  reader  will  observo  the  New  Meeting 
ol  Uie  Presbyterians,  which  was  commenced  about 
1725,  (aft4?r  their  ejection  from  the  Lower  Meeting 
Hot^to  in  Diglieth,  as  the  n^^ult  of  the  Sacheverell 
t  opened  on  the   19th  of  April,  1732, 
gables  of  the  Old  M^eeting  Hoiise  may 
lie  eaen  btdtlnd,  and  a  little  to  the  right  of,  Bt 
Kartin's  Church.     In  the  left  corner  of  the  pic- 
Iqiv,  n  tho  old  Chapel  of  St  Jolin,  from  which 
liae  iiod  of  the  street,  over  the  old  narrow  bridge, 
which  t(|Miuned  the  Itea,  may  be  traced  through 
kiwn.     The  old  Market  Cross  is  shown  in  a 
%  line  above  the  boy  on  the  left  side  of  the 
►be,  and  the  Welsh  Cross  a  little  to  the  left 
Kew  Meeting.     The  bmldinga  in  the 
id  on  the  right  are  called  in  the  doscrip- 
iTe  key  •*Cooper*8  Mills  and  Houses"     In  a  direct 
Hue  above  these  may  be  seen  **  Carlesse's  Steel 
Hodse,"  and  the  old   cross,  at  the  junction  of 
I     CoJosliiD  Street  ami  Stafford  Street, 
H^    HeiumiDg  again  to  tho  left  of  the  **  Prosjieet," 
^B^  Riiditr  will  notice  the  ancient  moat,  on  the 
^^H  of    which,  ten  years  later,    a   manufactory, 
^ntlii   a  dwtiliing  house^    was   erected,   and   the 
V**]iiiOat"  itself  came  at  last  to  the  "base  use"  of 
Hlmiiing  %  ibnml  mill. 

H  A  littlo  above  it,  somewhat  to  the  right,  is  seen 
HUm  moated  residence  of  the  insctors  of  St 
P  Ifutia's^  die  two  moats  being  connected  by  a 
IMRDW  ditch  or  stream.  Close  to  the  rectory  is 
•in  the  enehjstire  containing  the  "  Cold  Bath " 
lad  •*  Thi3  Lady's  Well"  The  latter  was  **  a 
■fon^  of  clear,  soft,  and  pure  water,**  arising 
"fettm  tlie  Bjthaiistlesa  nndei^ground  river,  by 
whUi  the  numberless  pumps  of  fine  water  at  the 
binrrpArt  of  the  town  [in  the  neigbourhood  of  Ti\^- 
hrt,  pwf  iaosly  referred  to  in  these  pages,]  are  fed ; 
tkf  «-al«fir  hftre  ariatjA  to  the  surface,  and  appears  in 
&i  form  of  a  *rmall  eaclased  pool,  of  ancient  as- 
pKl,''*  uamtsd,  in  honour  of  tlie  Vii^in,Lady  WeJJ. 


•rtr. 


.)  Ftetorts)  OnJde  to  Blniiltigbaili,  p.  IdO. 


At  the  extreme  left  of  tho  Prospect,  in  the 
distance,  is  seen  the  old  Hall  an»l  Church  of 
Edgbaston,  to  which  more  particular  reference 
will  be  made  in  our  notices  of  the  suburbs. 

Of    open    spaces    (notwithstanding    the    sur- 
prising number  of  '* courts  and  alleys"  at  that 
period,)  there  were  several  in  the  to^vn.     The 
principal  of  these  was,  of  course,  the  Old  Square, 
which  is  shown  on  the  Plan  as  having  an  enclosed 
garden   in  the  centre*     There  would  appear  to 
have  been  at  least  a  footway  corresponding  to  tli© 
present  Union  Street  and  Cherry  Street,  between 
High    Street    and    Temple    Row,      About   half 
way  between  this  foot-way  and  New  Street  was 
situated  **C<irbet*8  Bowling  Gre-n/'  the  site  of 
which   is   now  crossed   by    Union   Passage.     A 
little  higher  up,  near  the  point  at  which  Cannon 
Street  now  terminates,  the  okl  foot-path  crossed 
*'  Walker*s   Cherry    Orchanl/*     Beyond  this,    at 
the  end  of  the  path,  was  the  large  and  pleasant 
chorchyard  of   St   Philip's,    around  which  was 
planted  a  double  row  of  young  trees,  and  across 
which  one  might  look  out  upon  the  open  country, 
having  come  to  the  end  of  the  domain  of  brick 
and  mortar,     Tem})le  Street,  and  the  thorough- 
fare now  known  as  Temple  Row  West,  marked 
the  end  of  tho  town  on  tho  north-western  side. 
Two  meadows  ocrupied  the  triangular  piece  of 
land  now  bounded  by  Ann  Street,  Bennett's  Hill, 
and  Kew  Street     The  site  of  the  new  Corporate 
Buildings  and  the  Town  Htill  w^as  also  meadow- 
land.     **GreL*n wood's  Cherry  Orchard  "  occupied 
the  other  triangle  formed  by  New  Street,  Pinfold 
Street,  and  Peck  Lane.     The  lakleys  (spelt  on 
the  Plan  **  Hinklys  " — a  fact  which  goes  against 
Hutton's  theory  of  its  etymology  *)  would  appear 
to  have  been  covered  with  gardens  at  that  time, 
bounded  on  the  side  nearest  Edgbaston  Street  by 
a  pathway  called    llinkly    Row,  running  from 
Dudley   Street  to    "Tunksea   Street"     To   this 


*  "Tlitt  tlueturu  uf  the  flinoky  tbopt^  with  &U  tbelr  Uttck  ^nti- 
fur«,  fur  wddim;  gun  Ijorroli,  whieb  Afterwards  ippcftred  on  thv 
bock  of  Sititlbroke  SU«tt.  might  oocftiiott  the  nrfghul  uacae  /nf;- 
£0^1  r  ink  if  wull  kDuWti ;  leys  U  of  Brtiijfcb  dirtvatioD,  ind  mMik* 
gTAilntf  ground  ;  lo  UiAt  Uie  «tjioulogy,  |ter]iAp4«  U  Btecfc  PoitMrt." 
--Qiitton,  sixth  «diUoo,  p.  93. 


68 


OLD    AND    NEW    BIRMINGHAM.      [APictareofBlrmin^i»m,i 


spot  the  rude  theatrical  entertainments,  which 
had  previously  been  held  on  the  site  of  Temple 
Street,  migrated  early  in  the  eighteenth  century, 
being  driven  from  their  old  home  by  the  rapid 
advance  of  the  more  respectable  part  of  the 
town  in  that  direction.  But  about  1730, 
Button  tells  us,  "the  amusements  of  the  stage 
rose  in  a  superior  style  of  elegance,  and  entered 
something  like  a  stable  in  Castle  Street,"  one  of 
the  narrow  lanes  which  had  been  found  necessary 
between  High  Street  and  Moor  Street.  "  Here," 
continues  our  quaint  historian,  "the  comedian 
strutted  in  painted  rags,  ornamented  with  tinsel. 
The  audience  raised  a  noisy  laugh,  half  real  and 
half  forced,  at  threepence  a  head." 

The  continuation  of  Edgbaston  Street,  beyond 
the  end  of  Dudley  Street,  was  now  called  Small- 
brook  Street,  perhaps  after  the  worthy  who  opposed 
Reverend  Slater,  and  is  said  to  have  been  one  of  the 
subjects  of  his  stupid  and  irreverent  punning  ser- 
mon, referred  to  in  a  previous  chapter.  Hill  Street 
was  unknown.  It  does  not  appear  from  the  Plan 
that  there  existed  even  a  foot-path  across  the  fields 
and  gardens  between  the  thoroughfare  now  called 
Paradise  Street  and  "  Tunkses  Street "  aforesaid. 
At  the  end  of  Peck  Lane,  in  Pinfold  Street,  stood 
the  Pinfold,  which  gave  the  name  to  the  street. 

Whichever  way  the  weary  artizan  took  after 
his  day's  toil,  from  the  centre  of  the  town,  he 
might  reach  the  pleasant  green  lanes,  meadows, 
and  gardens  by  walking  less  than  half  a  mile. 
From  the  for^^e  or  the  smithy  of  Deritend  he 
might  take  a  delightfully  rural  walk  along  the 
lane  which  skirted  the  southern  side  of  the  moat, 
to  the  distant  village  of  Edgbaston,  (by  way  of 
the  Parsonage  and  Lady  Well,)  from  the  steel- 
houses  of  White  Hall  Lane  (Steelhouse  Lane) 
and  Coleshill  Street,  across  the  fields  or  along  the 
highway  to  Aston,  from  Cooper's  mills  by  way 
of  Cary  Field  toward  the  Coventry  or  Stratford 
Road, — in  either  direction,  within  easy  distance 
of  his  home,  the  workman  might  find  a  pleasant 
raial  walk  where  the  smoke  of  the  town  was  yet 
uoknowiL 


Birmingham  was  still  without  a  mar 
where  all  the  articles  oflfered  for  sale  i 
concentrated  into  one  point ;  and  the  sell 
therefore  scattered  into  various  parts  of  t 
"Com   was   sold  by  sample  in  the  Bu 
the  eatable  productions  of  the  garden  in 
place.     Butchers'  stalls  occupied  Spiceal 
one  would  think  a  narrow  street  was  j 
that  no  customer  should  be  suffered  to 
Flowers,  shrubs,  &c,  at  the  ends  of  Phil 
and  Moor  Street ;  beds  of  earthenware  1 
middle  of  the  foot  ways  ;  and  a  double 
insignificant  stalls,  in  the  front  of  the  g 
choke  up  the  passage.      The  beast  ma 
kept  in  Dale  End;   that  for  pigs,  sh 
horses,  in  New  Street;  cheese  issued  3 
of  our  principal  inns,  and  afterwards 
open  yard  in  Dale  End ;  fruit,  fowl^,  an 
were  sold  at  the  Old  Cross ;  nay,  it  is  di 
mention  a  place  where  they  were  not."* 

The  Welsh  Cross  was  intended  as  a 
market,   as    the    increasing  population 
greater  accommoilation ;    yet,   although 
used  to  a  certain  extent  for  that  purpc 
people,"  says  Hutton,   "never  heartily 
the  measure." 

The  upper  chamber  of  this  Cross  (re 
in  the  last  chapter)  was  used  as  a  milita 
house.  At  the  end  of  the  first  "Tow 
is  an  entry  under  date  1 6th  December, 
follows : — 

"At  a  Genrall  Meeting  of  the  inhal 
the  Town  of  Birmingham,  it  is  agreed 
build  a  guard  house  in  some  convenic 
in  the  Towne  aforesaid,  as  shall  be 
agreed  upon,  it  appearing  to  be  very 
venient  to  the  Town  and  the  Inhabitant 
that  the  Guard  should  be  kept  at  eithi 
Markett  Crosses." 

"  But  this  old  order,"  says  Hutton,  "] 
of  the  new,  was  never  carried  into  e 
As  no  complaint  lies  against  the  cros 
time,  we  may  suppose  it  suitable  for 

*  Htttton,  aizth  •dition,  p.  879. 


70 


OLD  AND  NEW  BIRMINGHAM. 


A  P/ctar»  of  BirmlnghAiii«  tti  1730- 


pone;  and  I  know  nnm  hut  Us  prUontrtf  thiU 
prowvinced  wjaimt  it**  Iii  front  of  this  cnjss 
were  placed  those  ancient  barbarous  implemonta 
of  public  torture,  the  stocks  and  the  whipping- 
post. 

AHhoiigh  some  of  the  old  hiiildiiiga  had  dia- 
appeared  which  had  crowded  up  the  ntirrow  streets 
of  the  lowijr  town,  tho  Birniinghani  proper  of  ear- 
lier tiinQ:3,  thosu  streets  still  retained  much  of  tlieir 
picturesijue  disorder.    **  Could  any  cunning  writer" 
(says  a  contributor  to  the  old  Load  Noi§s  antl 
Qtierm,  in  the  Jounml^*)  ** succeed  in  conveying  to 
U9  a  correct  itlea  of  Digbeth  and  the  Bull  King  in 
those  days,  he  would  interest  his  reudera  in  no 
small  degree,     A  narrow,  winding,  gradu^iUy  ris- 
ing thorou^hface,  pressed  close  on  each  side,  with 
the  picturesque,  overhanging  and  pointed,  gabled, 
half-fcimbtred  erections  of  the  Tudor  period^  .  .  . 
ihui  B winging  signs,  trade  emblems,  tavern  posts, 
and  shop  wares  obtrudin;^  conspicuously  upon  the 
thoLoughfare  ;  the  broad,  badly-kept  gutters,  fre- 
quently Hushed  from  numernus  wells ;  the  foot- 
paths in  bad  repair,  bound  up  wi<ih  staves  and 
timber  ;    tlie  streets  teeming   with  large   round 
stones,  kid  in  with  gravel ;  scavengers  unknown ; 
conntables  f«w  ;  heaps  of  rubbish  pluntif  id  •  mil- 
Im-s    carts,    rumbling    teams,   and    noisy   stages 
every wlieve,  would  be  the  serene  through  which 
the  traveller  of  old  would,  on  his  entry  into  the 
town,  pass  on  his  way  to  the  Church  and  Market 
Place,  where  a  far  different  scene  would  meet  his 
eye  to  ttiat  presentiMl  at  the  present  day.     The 
Old  Church,  approached  by  two  liights  of  steps 
from  Digbeth  eorner  ;    tlie   sexton's  house,  mid- 
Wiiy  up  the  steps,  and  miscellaneous  shops  hem- 
ming in  the  Church  on  all  sides, t  (their  back  pre- 
mises being  in  th«  churchyard  itself) ;  Piercers, 
Drapers,    Ironmongers,     Saddlers,     Grocers,    and 
Uutfitters,   interspersed   here    find   there    with    a 
well  or  pump ;  the  Bull  Ring  built  up  with  shops 
and  stalls  approaching  to  mere  shatubles  as  the 

"*  In  ail  Interoating  articlfr  oa"Tlu}OM  Inui  Df  Ilintiinghjuti," 

if  Much  In  the  ume  way  an  thn^e  an  Lho  X«w  Street  tide  uf 
CliriAt  Cliurcji  at  the  present  time,— R,  K.  li  J 


Market  Cross  is  gjiined  ;  in  fact,  the  whole  spa 
occupied  with    these   stalls  or  standings, 
ground,*   'stallages,'   *  shamble^,'   or   any  otl 
names  such  erections  wei^  worth — and  the  grouc 
partially  covered  with  crocks,  the  wares  of  tb 
dealers,   and   the    spare    goods   of    shopkeep 
around,  who  held  tlie  stall  rights  " 

Wo  may  here  add  a  few  notes  as  to  varioi( 
improvements  made  in  certain  of  the  public  build 
ings  of  the  town  about  this  period 

A  new  clock  had  been  recently  placed  in 
Market  Cross,  as  appears  by  an  entry  at  the 
ginning  of  the  second  Town  Book,  as  follows : 

"14t  day  of  July  1727  a  note  that  the  neighbour*  t 
the  Markett  Cioas  have  bought  a  new  Clock  ftt  their  < 
exp&nsc  k  that  it  be  fixed  t  kept  in  good  ord«r  at  tli« 
tixpetisi}  of  the  Towu/* 

Further  on  in  the  same  book  is  the  following : — 

*'  Sept  2<l  1729    To  Jonfttlmn  Taylor  for  Pidnliug  aad 
Gilding  the  D^tll  Board  at  tho  Old  Cross,  4.  13.  0." 

At  the  mother  Church  tho  hands  of  improvcn 
were  still  busy,  sometimes  for  good,  but  more  fre^ 
quently  otherwise,  A  new  organ,  placed  in  the 
churdi  at  the  cost  of  the  parishioners,  (the  amount 
of  X300  being  i-aised  for  that  purpose  by  volun- 
tary subscriptiana;,)  was  among  the  more  com- 
mendable of  the  *  improvements  *  eflTected  at 
period.  If  the  church  had  hitherto  used  m 
organ  built  by  that  **  Bromicham  organ-maker' 
who  had  re-pealeti  the  organs  at  Halesowen  ill 
1 498,  it  was  certainly  none  too  soon  to  provid^ 
a  now  one  in  1726. 

The  tasteless  restoration  of  the  building  in  169 
was  probably  left  untouched  until  1733,  wheal 
another  **  improvement "  was  effected  ;  it  beingl 
*1  agreed"  at  a  Yestry  meeting  held  on  FridayJ 
August  3rd,  in  that  year,  "after  having  consult 
at  yo  time  aforesaid  the  proper  workmen,  andl 
considered  their  calculation  of  the  expense,  toj 
take  off  tlic  mot  of  the  ^litldle  Chancell  & 
raise  the  walls  thereof  about  Eight  or  Nine  feet 
at  most,  &  to  put  therein  on  each  side  a  coa^ 
venient  number  of  windows,  ^  to  lay  the 
roof   on  again,  in  ye  same  manner  it  then  Uy^ 


(The  tree  dramnuir  School. 


OLD  AND  NEW  BIRMINGHAM. 


71 


&  to  finish  all  ye  sayd  work  at  ye  Parish  charge 
in  a  Suhetantial  way." 

In  the  new  Church  of  St  Philip  it  was  ordered, 
June  13,  1727,  "that  a  fframe  of  good  Timber 
be  erected  &  fix'd  in  the  Steeple  ...  for 
Hanging  of  Eight  Bells,  &  that  the  two  Bells 
already  made  be  hung  there  with  all  convenient 
speed."  The  first  of  these  bells  had  already  been 
the  subject  of  a  resolution,  in  the  preceding  April, 
to  the  effect  that  one  Joseph  Smith  should  "  rc- 
ceeive  the  Mettle  from  Mr.  Bradbum "  in  order 
to  cast  the  said  beU.  Only  six  bolls  appear,  how- 
ever, at  that  time  to  have  been  provided,  it  being 
perhaps  thought  that  the  peal  of  the  new  church 
ought  not  to  excel  that  of  the  old,  which  then 
consisted  of  the  same  number. 


The  increase  of  the  town  from  1700  to  1731 
may  be  best  seen  from  the  following  statement, 
which  we  have  tabulated  from  tne  notice  at  the 

foot  of  AVestley's  Plan  : — 

„       -                                   1700.          17S1.     Increaac, 
Ao.  of  

Streets    30  55  25 

Courts  and  alleys   ...       100  150  50 

Houses    2,504        3,719      1,215 

Inhabitants    15,032      23,286      8,254 

These  figures  will  enable  our  readers  to  com- 
plete for  themselves  the  present  picture  of  the 
town,  and  we  may  proceed,  in  the  succeeding 
chapter,  to  trace  out  the  history  of  some  of  the 
newer  institutions  of  that  period,  which  were 
gradually  changing  the  gcnei*al  apj)earance  of  the 
town. 


CHAPTER      XI. 

THE     FREE     SCHOOLS     AND     CHARITIES     OF     BIRMINGHAM, 

In  the  sevenUenth  century. 

The  Free  Omnxnar  School— The  Blue  Coat  School— Maintenance  of  the  Poor— Erection  of  a  Workhouse— Leneh's  Trust— Other  charities. 


If  the  reader  will  turn  back  for  a  moment  to 
the  first  chapter  of  this  liistory,  he  will  find  a 
brief  reference  to  the  Gild  of  the  Holy  Cross, 
out  of  which  arose  our  Free  Grammar  School. 
At  the  time  of  the  dissolution  of  the  religious 
houses  in  the  reign  of  Henry  Vlll.,  the  posses- 
sions of  this  gild  were  valued  at  <£31  2s.  lOd. 
Certain  of  these  possessions  were,  in  the  fifth  year 
of  the  reign  of  Edward  Yl.  (at  the  humble  suit  of 
the  townsmen),  granted  by  that  monarch  to  the 
bailiffs  and  nineteen  other  inhabitants  of  Bir- 
mingham, and  their  successors,  for  the  support 
and  maintenance  of  a  Free  Grammar  School,  with 
one  head  and  one  under  master.  "  The  grantees  and 
their  successors  were  created  a  body  corporate  and 
politic  of  themselves,  in  perpetuity,  by  the  name  of 
the  GovemorSf  &c. — to  have  a  common  seal,  and  to 
fdead  and  to  be  impleaded  by  their  corporate 


name,  in  all  actions  and  suits  touching  the 
premises,  to  have  the  appointment  of  the  two 
masters,  and,  with  the  advice  of  the  bishop  of 
the  diocese,  to  make  fit  and  wholesome  statutes 
and  ordinances  concerning  the  government  of  the 
school,  &c."*  The  lands  thus  given  back  to  the 
people  were  then  valued  at  <£21,  the  choice  being 
offered  to  Birmingham  and  ilie  village  of  King's 
Norton,  between  that  amount  in  money,  and  the 
crown  lands  of  that  value.  King's  Norton,  with 
an  eye  to  present  good,  chose  the  money,  which 
remains  the  same  annual  income  to  the  present 
day;  whilst  Birmingham,  with  perhaps  a  dim 
prevision  of  its  future  growth  and  consequent 
increase  in  the  value  of  land,  made?  choice  of 
the  latter,  which  has  increased  in  value  with  the 
growth  of  the  town,  until  it  is  now  an  enormous 

*  [W.  Beteit :]    rictorial  Guide,  etc.    p.  106. 


OLD  AND  NEW  l^RMIXGHAM. 


rThe  Free  Gnunmar  8cbooL 


rcvriiiic,  and  i.s  likely  to  increase  still  further  in 
the  future  until  this  Institution  becomes  one  of 
the  most  riclily  endowed  of  any  in  the  country. 
"  There  is  scarcely  a  principal  street  that  more  or 
less  of  this  property  does  not  lie  in :  Xew  Street, 
High  Street,  Union  Street,  Eull  Street,  Dale 
End,  ^foor  Street,  Edgbaston  Street,  Spiceall 
Street,  lUili  Eing,  Digbeth,  Park  Street,  Chapel  i 
Sti-eet,  Colesliill  Street,  Broad  Street,  Summer 
Lane,  Pinfold  Street,  and  other  minor,  but  im- 
proving, situations."  * 

The  ancient  hall  of  the  gild,  which  then  stood 
at  some  dist^uico  from  tlie  town,  in  tlie  Hales 
Owen  and  Stourbridge  Road,  (now  calletl  Xew 
Street,)  was  first  used  as  a  scliool  room.  It  was  j 
built  of  wood  and  plaster,  like  most  of  the 
buildings  of  that  period.  In  one  of  tlie  windows 
was  blazoned  the  figure  of  Edmund  Lord  Ffn-crs, 


(who  ha<l  married  the  heiress  of  the  house  of 
i'MTmingham,  and  appears  to  have  been  a  bene- 
factor to  the  gild,)  with  his  arms  empaling  Dclk- 
mtpf  and  those  ui  Pvrrot  empaling  Bt/ru7iy  of 
Stafford  of  Grafton,  and  of  Birmingham. 

In  1707  tliis  buihling  had  become  woni-out, 
having  stood  about  thix^e  hundred  and  twenty 
years,  and  was  taken  down  to  make  wny  for  a 
more  pretending  edifice.  The  style  of  the  now 
building,  which  occupied  three  sides  of  a  i]\\:n\- 
ningle,  Wiis  somewhat  heavy,  on  account  of  the 
wings  being  ])rought  too  near  to  the  stn-ct.  In  the 
centre  of  the  building  was  a  tower  ornamentr-d 


lliiltiMi,  lixtli  chHUoii,  i>i>.   ::W-K. 


with  what  Hutton  calls  a  "sleeping  figure"  of 
Edward  the  Sixth,  and  containing  a  dock  and 
bell.  On  the  balustrade  was  placed,  in  1756,  a 
row  of  vases,  at  the  same  time  that  St.  Philip's 
Church  was  similarly  ornamented.  In  front  of 
the  building  were  erected  "  half  a  do7.en  dreadful 
pillars  .  .  .  which,  like  so  many  ovei^grown 
giants,  marshalled  in  battalia,  guarded  the  entrance 
that  the  boys  wished  to  shun ;  and  which,  being 
sufficiently  tarnished  with  Birmingham  smoke, 
might  have  become  dangerous  to  pregnancy."* 
T1m>s(^  "  frightful  monstrosities  "  were  afterwanle 
removed,  whether  from  such  fears  as  Hutton 
suggests,  we  cannot  tell. 

In  the  latter  part  of  the  i-cign  of  Charles  II, 
certain  dillenuices  occurred  among  the  governors, 
and  a  party  of  them  surrendered  the  charter  of  the 
school  into  the  hands  of  the  king,  and  n  new  one 
was  granted  by  rlame^  II,  on  the  twentieth  of 
I'Vbruary,  1 085.  Tin?  remainder  of  the  goveniers 
thus  ejected,  commenced  ))roceedings  in  Cliancery 
for  the  recovery  of  the  orhjinul  charter,  and,  six  years 
after,  ol>tainod  a  decree  reinstating  them  in  their 
functions,  annulling  the  new  charter,  and  restoring 
and  confirming  the  older  one.  In  1723  the  lx)nl 
('hancellor  issued  a  commission  to  inspect  the 
eon(Uu?t  of  the  govenioiv;  and,  as  the  latter  dis- 
puted the  validity  of  the  commission,  the  matter 
was  heaixl  in  Hilary  Term,  1725,  when  the  Court 
decided  against  the  governors.  The  original  seal 
was,  about  this  time,  discanlt'd,  and  that  of  the 
ahrnr/dted  ehartor  adopted.  The  old  one  was  lost 
but  has  since  been  discovered  in  the  jwsse^sion  of 
a  Mr.  15eale  of  Leicester,  and  wjis  ]»iuvhasod  by 
order  of  the  baililf,  »luly  4th,  1801,  for  tlio  rnnn 
of  two  guineas. 

In  1G82  th<!  eminent  AVilliam  AVolIaston, 
author  of  an  able,  work  entitled  **  The  Religion  of 
Natun?  l)<'Iineat(d  "  (published  in  1722),  hold  the 
«)fii(:e  of  Usher  in  this  school.  Ho  was  bom 
:\Iarch  2Gth,  1659,  and  dicnl  Octoljer  29th,  1724. 

*'  Amongst  the  oh  I  customs  of  the  school, 
UH^ntinu  maybe  made  of  the  'orationH'  which 

ItlltlOll. 


Joachin^ 

(IUJu<yd  infat^imikfrmn  the  mginal,  in  it*f  jHmtssrirm  of  John  Sujfuht,  Ki^q   J 


BIRMINGHAM 
STAGE-COACH, 

In  Two  Days  and  a  half;   begins  Mtfy  the 

24th,  1731. 

SETSout  from  the  Swan-Inn  in  Birmin^ham^ 
every  Mtftf^tf)^atfixaClockinthe  Morning, 
through  fi^arwick,  Banbwry  and  Aifihury^ 
to  the  Red  Lion  Inn  In  AlderfgaU  ftreeU  London^ 
every  Wednffday  Morning:  And  returns  from 
the  faid  Red  Hon  Inn  every  lburjd<tf  Morning 
at  five  a  CJook  the  fame  Way  to  the  Jw^ff-Z^^ 
in  Sirmingbam  every  Saturday ^  at  a  1  Shillings 
each  PafTcnger,  and  1 8  Shilhngs  from  W^  wVi, 
who  has  liberry  tocarry  14  Pounds  in  Weig^hr, 
and  all  above  to  pay  One  Fenvy  a  Pound. 
Perform  d  (if  God  permir) 

By  Nicholas  RothwelL 

The  Weekly  Wjgjpn  fes  out  every  T^fimj  fram  the  N^g^uHtcd  m 
Bmuu^ham.  tothc  Re6  Lion  fen  ajctt/^id,  every  Satwd^'jk  ^n^t  rttMrns 
fn^m  th€  jmd  im  cvc?y  MmJt^^ tf  ih  JiJagg^-JUcad m  J^rmin^ h^tm  cvf ijf 

Noce.  2fj  the  fdd  Nichols  RochwcU  (U  Wirw ick,  ad  Tcrfons  may  k  fnr^ 
m^^^/Oha  *£j  Coach,  Chmfft.  Chifu  ^Htqrfi^  'Mih  41  Mcurnmg  Chd4.h 
\^f^ d/eZ/^rfet,  ia^nj  Fart  9J  Cr^A  itruun^  n  ▼tfiwoiM^  R(^u\  .    A%1\ 


h 


OLD   ANr>  NEW  BIRMINGHAM. 


trUu  Cluirlties  oi  filnjtittgli4iiu| 


wr.re  foriuorly  dolivprefl  every  5tli  Xovemlicr,  at 
tbeHiM  CniHs/ a«  late  as  t ho  ymr  1700.  Thr 
t'UsUmi  of  *  barring  out '  ftl«o  pnivailml  in  the 
ScluxiJj  till  a  riot  of  tx  soriuus  natnn.^  occiirruU  in 
1667,  whfc?n  tlie  builtlinj;  waa  besiegcil  an<]  tit^rt'oJy 
defendod ;  this  led  to  the  al>wnilonnient  of  tho 
practice,  though  remnants  of  it  remained  for  many 
years.*** 

Tho  further  hi*§tory  of  this  institution  \nll  h^ 
told  in  a  future  chapter,  at  a  later  period  in  the 
I  Tuptory  of  the  town,  lUJ  we  are  anxifuis  to  avoid 
^ftutieipfttin<;  the  story  of  tho  growth  of  iV^e/vt  Bir- 
niinghaia  And  we  may  her©  observe,  tliat  we 
have  endeavoured  in  the  present  work,  to  allow 
the  liifltory  of  the  town  to  iinfohl  itself  gradually, 
in  the  eourse  of  a  consecutivii  narrative,  rather 
than  (as  is  usual  in  local  history  and  topography) 
to  break  it  up  into  a  series  of  disjointed  thapters 
and  descriptions  of  the  various  institutions  of  the 
town. 

In  the  year  1724  was  ereeted,  on  the  eastern 
eide  of  the  jjleasaut  cburchyanl  suntnmdin^  8t* 
Philip's,  the  Bhie  Coat  Charity  Kchfiol.  Tho 
object  of  this  excellent  institutifiu  was  t^  afford 
orphans,  mui  tho  children  of  thi-  prtor,  clotlifng, 
niMintenancc,  a  good  elementary  edncatiun,  ami 
religious  instruction  according  to  the  princijties 
of  the  (liui-ch  of  England,  ^Mien  tirst  ei^^cted, 
tis  will  l>e  seen  from  Westley  8  Prosi>cct  of  8t, 
Philip's^  it  was  Inii  a  small,  plain  and  unpwtend- 
inj^  building,  compai'ed  with  that  of  the  present 
day.  It  was  greatly  enlarged  and  imjiroved  in 
1794,  (at  an  expense  of  £2,800),  when  the  present 
Jton©  front  was  added,  but  the  northern  angle  did 
not  receive  its  present  stone  facing  until  a  later 
date.  Although  not  pretend injj  h*  any  groat 
degree  of  beauty,  the  building,  says  ^Ir.  Bates, 
"ia  remarkable  for  chasteness  of  sty  In  and  pro- 
priety of  arrangement ;  '*  and  when  seen  fmm  the 
churchyard,  with  an  intervening  screen  of  foliage, 
it  ia  by  no  means  out  of  hannony  \^ith  it^  present 
surroimdings.  The  only  ornaments  are  two  stone 
figures  placed  over  the  main  entrance,  of  a  boy 

*  MS,  Note  by  Ur.  W.  BaAm. 


and  girl,  **  habit^xl  in  tho  tpuiini  ct>stume  of  tl 
sclionl/'  These  ligures  were  executi^d  in  1770 
^Ir.  Edwaixl  Grubb,  (at  tlmt  time  a  I'esidcDt  i 
this  town*),  the  cost  Imiv^  defmyed  by  a  volii 
tary  suliscription.  (Jf  these  works  of  a  lo 
senlpttjr,  Hutton  says  '*  they  are  extscuted  with  I 
degree  of  excellence  that  a  Koman  stAtum^'  wotil 
not  have  blushed  to  own." 

**  This  artiiicial   family,*'   says  onr  historii 
**  consists  of  about  two  hundred  scholars  of  lin 
sexes,  over  which  pn^side  a  governor  and  govt 
ness,  both  single.     Behind  the  apartments  k  : 
!ai"ge  area,  appropriate  for  tlio  amusement  of  the 
infant  race,  ntvciissary  as  then*  food.     Great 
coruni  is  preserved  in  this  little  society,  who 
supported  by  annual  contribution,  ami  by  coll« 
tions  made  after  sermons  twicje  a  your. 

**  At  fouiieen,  the  children  are  remove<l  Uifco  I 
commnzvial  world,  and  often  actiuire  an  afHuend 
that  enables  tlaem  to  support  that  foimdation  whic 
formerly  sujiported  them.**  t 

The  children,  (as  indic^ited  liy  the  name  of  th 
institution),  are  clotheil  uniformly  in  blue  ; 
dress  of  the  boys  recalling  the  prevailmg  costniif 
of  a  century  ago ;  their  swallow -tailed  coats,  tuuH 
caps,  kneedii'^:'echi*-S  '^^^^^  ^^^'^^*5  stockings,  ph'j^imtiiij 
an   excewlingly  ijuaint,  old  world  tigtirc  in  tb 
tliri>nged  ^^tivet^  of  modem  Rirmitighmm.     AbfW 
twenty  of  llie  children  are  su|)ix)rted  by  a  btniue 
made  in   1690,  by  (Jeorge  Fenthaui,  a  ninrcer 
the  town*     lliese  are  distiugtushed  from  the 
by  being  clotlied  in  (/tf^m  iiistwid  of  bbie. 
present  lunuial  incouie  is  abotit  i:5,000, 

**  It  is  worthy  of  remark,**  says  Huttou,  *•  tha 
thos(^  institutions  which  are  immediately  upheJ4 
by  the  tcmporiu*y  hainl  of  tho  giver  fhiurish  i^ 
continual  spring,  and  l»econie  real  iK^nefits 
society ;  wliili?  those  which  enjoy  a  per[»etafl 
income,  niM  often  tinctured  with  supinone^s  and 
dwindle  into  obscurity.  The  first  usually  answeij 
the  purpose  of  the  living,  the  last  seldom  that 
the  dead." 


*  He  tli«*«l  at  Srmtford^n^ATon,  Ai»riJ,  Mid. 


Tb«  CliArltiM  of  Iltnalii|;hAUi.  j 


OLD   AND   NEW   BlKMIKGILl^^L 


70 


From  A  sunrey  of  our  two  fn5i*  school  a,  we 
KHij  perhaps  with  propriety  f^liince  m^xi  at  the 
|in>\igjun  amde  iii  byegone  days  for  tho  mrpport 
luid  maiut«imEiCL«  of  out  }>oon 

Plerioiia  to  the  dissoliitiuu  of  tlu^  juinifusitnu's, 
tin?  burjicTi  of  maiutJuniBg  the  poor  nhieMy 
lay  upoci  tho  reUgioiis  housed.  Thi)  greater  part 
of  the  riches  of  tho  t'ountry  were  in  tha  hands  of 
Uvt  monk,  and,  tilthough  it  is  eertam  that  the 
liability  di^peiuswl  hospitality  to  the  poor  moro 
libenlly  than  id  later  timed,  yet^  in  c-onse^iUiiuce 
of  the  ijfiuraiJDe^s  With  which  thoir  wstuhliMhitients 
wejv  stratiertfil,  and  tho  Bniallness  of  thoir  reveniu^s 
ill  iHnifpfiri»o»  with  thuHtt  of  the  eL-Ldeaiastic,  it 
wm  to  the  ktter,  rath<^r  than  Uy  tho  former,  that 
llit*  poor  looke^l  for  vvlmi  and  HUpjK»rt, 

•*W»en   ilie   Te%ioiia   hoiises,   and   all   thoir 

orty,  in  1536,  fell  a  saerifiee  to  the  vinfli<d.iv«' 

lb  of  Hpury  Ylih."    Button  tells  m,  'nlw 

.  |KKi»  lost  their  dependence,  and  as  want  knows 

I  no  Iait,  robbery  l»ecaine  frei^uentt  justice  called 

I  laodly  for  punisilunont,  and  the  hungry  for  bread  ; 

wbidi  fCf^ve  rise,  in  thti  rpign  of  (Jfuecn  Klizabftli, 

to    tliiit   most   wtfcllent   iuHtittition,  of  erecting 

( cvi  II    into    a    distint't    fraternity,    and 

loLij^.   ^       j!ii  to  support  thyir  own  members." 

With  ilm  admirable  system  of  parochial  relief, 

U*n   nocifflBity  for  the   affUctetl  poor   to   wander 

away    from    their    home*    to     seek    pity    and 

riiUef  elsewhere,   no   longer  existed;   "therefore 

ti  h  difficult  to  assign  a  reason,"  adds  Huttoii 

i,  •*  why   the    blind    should    go    abroad  to 

countries,  or  the  nmn   without  feei  to 

Bat  although  the  parochial  law  Wixs  institute<l 
tn  tbn  sixteenth  century,  workhoti^ts  did  not 
booomo  gimeml  until  tht^  seeund  decade  of  the 
ei^li&eeDih  ;  and  that  of  Birmingham  was  not 
encicd  imtil  1T«}3.  It  was  a  pkin  subatantiid 
hQskUng,  aituated  at  the  lower  end  of  Lichfield 
Stnoi,  (bciwisen  that  stret^t  and  Bteelhouse  lane), 
aid  WM  efoctad  at  a  cost  of  XI,  173  3s.  5d.  At 
a  later  pefiod  two  wing»  wrre  adtled  ;  the  /«//,  in 
liM^otH  cuit  of  XIOU,  iUK  an   infirmary;  and 


tho  rujhi,  in  1779,  at  a  cost  of  ii700,  as  a  place 
for  labour. 

Our  illustration  shown  the  huildinji^  with  buth 
these  wings  added,  as  given  in  the  first  edition  of 
Htitton's  llistory,  at  which  period,  says  that 
historian,  *'  tlie  stranger  wordd  rather  suppose 
[it J  was  the  residence  of  a  gentleumu  than  of 
six  hundred  paupoi-s." 

Uu  Westley's  Plan,  tlie  reader  will  see  marked, 
at  tho  lower  end  of  8teelhouse  Lane,  an  Alms- 
house. This  was  one  of  the  first  of  the  vulniible 
institutions  of  this  kind  endowed  out  of  the  fundt* 
pro  V  it  led  liy  the  Charity  kno\\Ti  w^  hitch' h  IViut, 

The  Charities  of  Lench  and  others,  com ui only 
allied  Lench 's  Trust,  **  stand  lirst  among  the 
Kinningham  churities,  being  both  the  most 
ancient^  ami  i\i  the  present  time  the  most  actively 
ti Ireful.  William  Lench,  by  a  deed  dateil  tlie 
11  th  i4  Mart'h,  In  the  17th  year  of  the  reign  of 
Henry  \'11L  (/.r.,  in  1526),  placed  various  pRv 
perties  in  llirmingham  and  the  immediate  neigli- 
Ijonrhood,  in  tlie  hands  of  a  certain  number  <>f 
fer>iTei's,  and  ordered  that  the  rent^  and  profits  uf 
the  premises  sliouhl  be  applied  '  for  the  repairing 
the  ruinous  ways  aii<l  bridges  in  aud  about  the 
said  town  of  Itirminghani,  wliere  it  should  want, 
and  for  default  of  such  uses  sliould  bestow  the 
rents  and  profits  of  the  premises  to  the  poor  living 
witVdn  the  Kiid  town,  whei^  there  should  ]»e  mo-^it 
need,  acconling  to  the  appointment  and  dispotiition 
of  the  said  feottees  for  the  time  !jeing,  or  to  the 
major  part  i^f  them,  or  to  other  pious  u^^es,  acconb 
ing  to  the  like  discretion  and  apjjouitment.*  " 

In  a  very  interesting  account  of  this  Cliarity,* 
Mr.  Touhuin  Smith  puints  out  that  it  is  in  reality 
a  GUd,  that  the  objecU  for  which  it  was  originally 
endowed  were  tho  same  as  those  sought  to  be 
accomplished  by  the  Giltls,  and  that  the  disguise 
under  wliich  it  was  concealed,  or,  in  otlier  words, 
the  fact  of  iU  not  being  adled  a  gild,  saved  it 
horn  sharing  the  fate  of  the  Gilds  and  other  more 
important  religious  endowments. 


ToruMfX  8vmi  :  '   ULrtitlimhniu  Mi»n   rtjul  N»mo»/' 


re 


OLD   ANI)   NEW    lURMIXGHAM. 


[Tlu'  I'linrltlB*  «r  Blriulagluini. 


Early  in  the  roign  of  Elirjibeth,  (Lench's 
Charity  having  then  l:>eeii  established  about  forty 
yoars,)  William  Colmore  gave  an  annuity  or 
yearly  rent-charge  of  10*.,  derivod  from  a  mes- 
iuage  in  Corn  Cheaping,  near  to  the  upper  comer 
of  Moor  Street  aliit^  Mole  Street,  to  the  feoffees 
of  Lench^s  land,  and  wiUexl  that  the  same  annuity 
ahould  be  disposed  of  **afi  the  lands  and 
tenement*  railed  lunch's  lantl ;  and  that  5/f.  of 
the  said  10^,  should  he  given  for  the  relief  of  the 
poor  of  Birniingbani,  yearly,  on  Good  Friday." 

In  the  latter  half  of  the  16th  ecntury  William 
Wiixam,  fnnncrly  rt^ctor  of  the  parish  elmnli, 
gave  a  tenement  in  Bpicer's  or  Mercer's  Street^  tbe 
rents  and  profits  of  which  weiv.  to  be  tlistributed 
among  the  poor  of  tlie  parish,  uecorditig  to  tlio 
disci-etion  of  the  feoffees. 

In  the  thiitl  year  of  the  reign  of  Charles  I.,  an 
inq^iiisifeion  was  taken  at  Binuinglmra  under  a 
commission  of  charitable  uses;  and  the  Coni- 
misioners  having  found  that  some  of  the  leasee  in 
Lenciris  trust  ha<l  heen  impn^vidently  grunted, 
dee  reed  that  they  shouid  1«e  void,  ami  that  they 
ahould  be  .surrendered  within  a  ct*rtain  time,  and 
that  new  lease.^  should  lie  iiiiule  f(»r  IcmjH  not  ex- 
ceeding 21  year}*.  Thi^y  further  lU-creed  that  the 
number  of  feollees  should  in  future  be  not  less 
than  14,  *'aud  tliose  of  the  most  honest  and  suf- 
ficient inhahirant8  of  thr-  said  town.*' 

( Mil  i»f  these  fumls  an  ahiishoutie  was  built  in 
iJigbetli,  j>robably  at  alx)Ut  the  same  period  as 
that  of  8ir  Thnmas  Holte,  at  AmI^ui.  This  was 
the  Jirat  of  Leneh's  Almshouses,  anil  stood  until 
1 765,  at  which  date  the  pi-eraises  were  let  on  a 
hu i] ding  lei\se.  I n  1 6  9 1 ,  t  h e  a  1  msh on se,  together 
with  the  lands  belonging  to  the  Trust, — a  croft 
called  the  Bellrope  Crijft,  (lying  between  the 
Binges  and  the  way  between  New  Street  and  the 
Fi^'e  Wayn)  ;  a  messuage  or  croft  in  Moor  Streot  ; 
and  another  croft  near  W^almer  Ltme,  (afterwards 
called  Lancaster  Street,) — were  conveyed  to  the 
new  trustees.  The  trusts  of  t]ie  Bellrope  Croft 
were  stiit-ed  to  be  **to  pay  or  to  permit  the 
churchwardens  of  St,  Martin's  Church  to  receiye 


all  the  rents  and  profits  thereof,  to  be  employe 
and  disposed  by  them  for  buying  belbropes  fd 
the  said  church,  and  keeping  the  same  in  or 
from  time  to  timeJ' 

The  i^ccond  block  of  Ahnshouse  waa  probah 
orex^tcd  immediately  after  this  transfer,   on 
"  croft    near  Wftlmer   Lane,  '*   then    pleasant 
situated   on   the  outskirts  of  tbe  town.     Ffi 
tbeir  doors  or  windows  the  inmates  could  enjo 
one  of  the  fairest  prospects  of  which  our  deligh 
fid  county  could  lK>ast,  even  in  those  early  dayi 
when  lilaek,  sniokiiig  chimneys  wi^re  fewer,  an 
tbe  limits  of  the  domain  of  Vjriek  and  mor 
nuich  more  confined  than  nowadays.     Away  on 
tbe  left  eould  be  seen  in  llie  distance  the  gent 
rising  eminenee  of  Jiarr-heacou,  and  the  pie 
hill  on  which  Oscoti  College  now  stands.   Kear 
and  rather  more  to  the  riglit,  would  be  stsen 
niimiret-cnjwned  towers  of  Aston  Hall,  and  tfc 
tall,  gmceful  spire  of  the  pretty  village  chur 
rising  from  t!ie  midst  of  a  grove  of  trees ;   si 
further  to  the  right,  (almost  In  the  middle  of  th*^ 
prosi>ect,)  the  village  of  Knlington,  crowning  the 
little  eminence  called  tiravelly  IliU,  and  behii 
it  the  well-woodtHl  park  of  Sutton  Cold^eld  ;  an 
away  to  the  right  migbl  thr^n  be  seen  tlio  heautifa 
spire  of  Coloshill  Church,     This  almshouse 
indeed  a  pleasant  harbour  of  refuge  for  tlie  age 
poor,   weary  and   worn  with  Uie  battle  of  Ufa 
where   they   might   end   their  days  in  peacef 
retirement*,  away  fmiii  the  biiay  hive  in  wl 
they  had  tniletl  durin;j;  their  earlier  yearsL 

liut  the  town  ganv,  and  ere  long  sunxmnde 
tbe  little  group  of  almshouses;  tlie  furnaces  of 
Kettle's  steebhouses  sent  forth  smoke  to  dou 
the  prospect,  and,    by  and  by,  rows  of  hou 
sprang   up   in   Walmer  Lane   to   block    it   ou 
altogether. 

The  later  history  of  this  important  chant}  wi 
be  given  in  a  future  chapter. 

In  1690  (by  a  will  dated  24th  of  AprU  in  Uw 
year)  George  Fentham  devised  a  considerable  poJ 
tion  of  his  y>ropertv,  out  of  the  procoe«U  of  wiiic 
ten  poor  widows  were  to  be  clothed,  and  a 


» OoclUw  ci  Blnnhigliftifi.  1 


OLD   AND   NEW   BIKMINGHAM. 


77 


mnnbor  of  poor  children  were  to  be  taught  to 
"know  their  letters,  spell,  ami  read  English," 

'*  The  seventeeth  century »'*  says  a  writer  on  the 
toed  cbariteSf  **seoiiis  to  have  been  most  prolific 
of  charitable  f oundationa ;  and  as  u  pruuf  that,  up 
to  that  tiiue,  and  for  a  good  while  after,  the 
chanties  of  Birmingham,  at  any  rate,  were  jutli- 
doualy  njanaged,  and  that  they  not  only  in  general 

•wt^ried  the  end  the  donors  had  in  view,  hut 
►  stimulaUxi  (>them  to  like  deeils  of  bem-volejici'. 


The  founder  of  this  valuable  chanty  was  a 
woollen  draper  of  this  town  ;  living  and  keeping 
his  sluip  (for  tliose  were  not  the  days  of  country 
residences  for  tradesmen)  in  a  passage  leading 
from  Corn  Cheap ing  to  J^pice^d  Street,  These 
buildings  have  long  since  been  cleared  away,  and 
have  given  pLice  to  the  fine  open  space  called  the 
Bull  King.  In  religion,  he  was  a  Unitarian,  or, 
to  speak  more  correctly,  a  Presbyterian ;  and 
ti><*k  an  active  part  nn  the  ^ide  \d  tlio  non-juring 


%<^^^ 


wwww 


SJi  m:  ^mM 


»Jl    may   be  mentioned  that  most  of  thuse  who 
fottnded  cliarities  at  that  time  were  conci^nud  in 
one  way  or  other  in  the  ninnageruejit  of  the  charities 
H    previously  existing."     In  1697  Creorge  Jackson^ 
(who  IukI  previously  held  tlie  j^iosition  of  trustee 
of  Kykuppe*ft  Gift,)  died,  and  by  his  will,  pro- 
fldad  **  for  the  aetting  and  putting  forth  Appren- 
tw?i*  yearwlrv  two  ot  more  (si  the  male  children  of 
the  poore-^  sivrt  of  the  housekeepers  and 
\k\A  liveing  within  the  Towne  parisli  and 
Xofilithip  of  Birminghas  is  doe  not 

i**ifiv«»  coUcsciun  of  or  from  tn*'  said  Towne  or 


TiiK  r>Ln  woaKUorHK. 


ministers  who  wi  i*h  eji-cted  in  the  reign  of 
Charles  H.  lie  was  one  of  i\\v  oripjinal  trustees 
of  the  Old  Meeting  House  {the  services  at  which 
he  regidarly  attemled),  and  las  remains  were 
interred  in  the  burial-ground  attached  to  that 
place  of  worship. 

The  following  extract  from  lus  will  ex[ilaLna 
the  object  of  the  charity  : — 

ITEM  I  givfl  and  di?vi«tj  All  my  houses  tenemts  and 
lifre<htamt8  with  the  o|tptuiiLvs  «cttuatc  in  Deritend  in 
the  piLiifi^h  oi  A»toD  JTixta  Birminghftin  in  the  snid 
Coiititye  of  Warwick  with  dl  the  oiithoitst^s  Mifiws  bxillil- 
inp«  ynrds  ^rrU-iiHi  hprrflitimit^  nnil  j»pfiitiHit.'**}<  lht*n»iiriti> 
beloDgiag  untu  Kichard  Scott  the  elder  of  fiinainghuri 


78 


OLD   AND  NTAV   BIRMINGHAM. 


ITbe  ChKiitirt  <%t  fiimiinghftm. 


Linnen  Dmj>er  Ambrose  Foxall  of  Birmingliiim  aforeaaiil 
I'litler  Willinm  (tii+^'^t  of  BinniiTglmm  aforeHfliil  MHltat<»T 
William  Collins  of  Biriuiu^hRm  aforesaid  Mercer  Jolin 
Eogiera  of  PiinuinghaTii  aforisuid  Mei-oer  Georj^o  "Wills  of 
Biniiinghflin  nforesaid  Siidler  John  Bak*?r  of  Binuinjiifhmii 
nforesftid  Tall  owe  fhandlv^r  Jolm  Foxnll  of  Rirminglmm 
.  afon^Kaid   Ironinonf^er  Tlioiim.«  Warren   of   Hirmingknm 
^  aforesayd  Sailler  Jnmes   liOwis  of  Bimiingliam  afore.mid 
Boddvf^.s  Maker  Joliii  Gtslxirne  of  Birmingham  ufore.iairl 
Met'cer  Kicbard  Seott  tbe  younger  of  Birnuni^hiini  afore- 
said Linnen  Di-aper  and  Abraham  Fnxall  of  Binningbum 
ttfoiewiid  Ironmonger  and  nnto  tbfir  he'un  ami  Arwigtiea 
for  ever  NEVEFiTHELKSSE  upon  special  Trnst  and  con- 
fidence in  them  resposed  that  tbey  the  said  Kit  banl  Scott 
tbe  elder  Ambrose  Foiall,  William  Guest  William  Collins, 
John   Rogers    George  Wills,   John  Baker,   ,lohn  Foxall 
Thomas  Warren  James  Lewis  John  GinlKinie  Riebiird 
Scott  the  younger  k  Abraham  Foxall  tbeir  b^ires  a^jd 
(msignes  and  every  of  them  shall  and  will  at  all  times 
for  ever  hereafter  manage  and  improve  the  said  hou8«s 
and  ^M^mises  to  the   beat  ml  vantage   tb^y  can  and  receive 
tbfl  rents  and  proflits  as  the  sameshall  become  due  and  |>ay- 
flbl e   A  n  <  1  sb  o  11  a  n d  wi  U  y earey k And  e very  yeare  i m  pi  oy  an d 
dispost*  of  the  same  to  Kneh  uses  and  in  snrb  manner  as  is 
hereafter  inenconud  tliat  is  to  say  that  theythefwiiLl  Hitbnrrl 
Scott  the  ebler  Ambrose  Foxall  Willian^  Gurht  William 
Collins  John    Kogenj  Gei»rge   Wills  John    BaktT   .b>hn 
Foxall    ThomaH    Wiirreu    James   Lewis  John  (tUbom*? 
Kiebanl  Scott  the  younger  and  Abniham  Foxhall  their 
h^iri^s   k   fljwignes   and   every   of    tbeni   shall   und   will 
yearelye  and  even*  yeAre  for  ever  hereafter  apply  order 
and  disiKtse  of  all  and  every  tbe  clear  yearelye  rents  and 
proJIitts  of  all  tbe  said  bouiies  or  tenemts  ami  pemisea 
with  the  ttppturic'e«  (taxes  nt'cessarye  repairs   expensea 
and  other  contingent  charges  in  managcing  this  Tnini 
being  lii^t  ]>ftyd  and  ib-^lncted)  To  and  for  tbe  setting 
and  putting  forth  Apprentice  yeareley  two  or  more  of  the 
male  children  of  such  ol  the  poorest  sort  of  the  honse- 
keepijrs  and  iuhabitanta  liveing  within  the  Towne  parish 
and  l.ordabip  of  Birmingham  aforesaid  as  doe  not  receive 
collection    of    or    from    the   said   Towne   or   parish    of 
Birmingham   aforesaid   AND  my  Will  in  that  for  the 
l^Hter    pontinneance    of    the    Haid   tenemta    with    the 
iipptnncea   in   jitrsona  titt    to  manage  and    dis[KiHe   of 
the  same  to  and  for  the  intents  and  purix)ses  aforesaid 
That  whenever  it  shall  happen  that  the  grcrtter  nirmhi-r 
of    them    the   said    Richard   H^^ott   the.    ebler    Amhrose 
Foxall    William    GiieKt    Williams   Collins   John    Rogers 
George  Wils  John   H:ikvv  John   Foxall  Tlionms  Warren 
James  Lrwis  John  tJisbome  Richard  Seott  the  younger 
and  Abrabam   Foxall  dye  or  de[nirt  out  of  the   Town<' 
and  Pari  Kb  of  Birmingham  aforesayd  soe  that  there  ah  nil 
not  be  above  the  number  of  three  at  an/  time  lividng 
That  then  such  three  suniveing  Trustees  shall  within 
tbri'c  monlhes  next  after  they  ^ball  be  redmed  to  tlnit 
numlw'r  as  aforesaid  -.onvey  setle   anil   aiwure  tbe  said 
tenements  and  pemises  njion  themselves  and  tenue  more 
KUbstanliai  and  honest  Inhabitants  in  Binniiigham  afore- 
said and  soe  from  time  to  tirat'  for  ever  In^reafter  as  oft 
M  the  cas<  soe  happens. 


Tbe  premises  thiM  ili^vised  were  ori|?inally  oi 
tlie  value  of  £10  2*^.  per  aiiimju,  iit  which  tbo| 
remainod  until  tbe  year  1718,  wbmi  the  propert| 
iHfcame  very  dilapirfatefl.  From  im  item  in  Uu 
accounts  of  tliis  j^riod,  of  128.  2d  *' \m\u 
labourers  for  drink,"  it  would  apjM»ar  that  the 
repaid  dune  to  them  were  somewhat  i^xteiisiri 
and  that  the  Inbonrers  were  numer«5nt*. 

The  frdlowinj4  iteras  in  the  yearns  mM^onnt^  wil 

probably  inten^«t  our  readers  : — 

£  J. 

Bd.  Mr.  llooke  for  copieing  the  will  ......  0  6 

Pii.  for  a  book  to  keep  tb<*  luvompt   — .  0  3 
KM,  for  a  commou  fienl  for  ye  netting  out 

of  boys    . ,-.0  4 

Fd.  Patt  furnpairs  ,..                             .  u  1 

Pd.  itt  a  meeting   ..,.», ..  0  1 

18th  July.     Pd,    to    Hubert    Banner  with  hift 

rtpprentiso... ....,, ....,..,,. 2  10 

ff        ,,       IM.  Mr.  Hooko  for  indcnturefi ......  0  6 

,,         y,       Expences  lit  binding ,.  0  S 

Mr.  Chrii^topher  Hiwke»  w))ade  name  ocrura  twifl 

in  the  above  entry,  was  solicitor  to  the  chanty  fro| 

ita  foundation  to  IT4G.     The   it^mi  of  **exiH'in' 

at  binding"  refers  dotibtless  to  tbat  thii'st  whic] 

the  formularies  attending  the  binding  of  appren- 

tices  seem  id  way  a  to  have  engendertnl,  renderin 

it  necessary   for  that  important  bu&ine^s  to 

trauBacted   at   the   tavern   rathur    thmi    in    thu 

lawyer's   ollice.     It   may  be   inlereiiting   ki 

readers  to  knctw  tlte  names  of  tbe  youths  wj 

first  benefited  by  the  iirovisions  of  the  worthy  Kt 

conformist's  charity.    Some  of  tlio  trades  to  wl 

they  were  appreuticed  have  disappeared  altogethJ 

from  aniongat  us.    The  names  and  other  |>arlicuL 

are  given  in  tbe  acconntsuf  the  charity  as  follows  H 

John  Hunt,    lile   entt«r»  apprenticed  to  Kicliartl  ]^nr 


Samuel  Bentley,  whitesmith, 
Humphrey  Wyrley,  weaver, 
Benjamin  FieM,  tow  dresser 

Joseph  Warren,  knife  cutler 
Michael  Hope,  knife  cutler 
George  Bagnalli  brickmakfr 
Thonms  Cooiwr,  smith 
Wnu,  ftou  of  Eobert  ,  , 

Gilbert,    of    Per-     r^''"-^'n 


ington  (the  old 
spelling  of  r>erit- 
emi),  Idaid  forger 


lind 
nipper  mnktr 


Robert  Banm 
John  Hay  wo 
William  Sb<^ 

l»anl,  of  Kia 

Norton. 
Win.    nreM\t 
Wm,  Bannijsti 
Thomas  Knol| 
Wm,  EeciU. 


Wm.  Hunt, 
of  Derin 


^wlloliiMonltiBinnmgKciiii.1  OLH    ANT*     XKW     B1KMIN<tHAM. 


7^ 


*\%r  bouse  lit  which  the  "  hiii<lirig'  look  place 
ia  the  earlier  ymr^  of  the  charity  appears  from 
llie  acccmnti  to  have  been  that  kept  by  Charles 
Freutli,  calW  ''The  Bell,"  in  Philip  Street, 
bifllfa:  known,  howcveTt  to  the  tow  unpeople  as 
•^Frteth'a  Coffc©  Uouse/*  lliis  Charles  Freeth 
WHS  the  father  of  tlio  quaint  old  verse-maker  who 
ityJed  himself,  and  was  known  to  uthors  as, 
*•  Pijci  Frw-th,"  of  whom  we  shall  have  more  to 
my  hereiiftcr,  *'  Charles  Fi*eeth,"  says  tlie  wnter 
of  tlie  artieleu  on  the  chanties  referred  to  abi>%^e^ 
•*ucvrT  lost  an  opportunity  of  summoning  the 
tntJiteea,  and  the  tnistcea  on  the  other  hand 
nerer  lo«i  an  opportunity  of  repairing  to  the 
hofiidry  of  the   father  of  lite   funiuU8  puhlican 


poijt.  Tliey  seem  to  hare  been  meny  meetings 
those  at  the  *  Bell/  We  wonder  if  Boskerville, 
who  at  that  time  taiif^ht  writing  in  the  Bull 
Bing  dose  by,  and  who,  as  we  learn  from  Hntton, 
was  *  aaiti  to  liiive  written  an  excellent  luind,* 
was  erer  of  the  party." 

lint  apan  from  the  meny-making  aspect  of  this 
chttiity,  it  would  appear  tu  have  proved  exceed- 
ingly useful  in  the  town,  and  no  doubt  has,  from 
time  to  time,  been  inatmmental  in  teaching  an 
occupation  hy  which  they  might  benefit  the  town 
in  which  they  have  lived,  to  many  who  might 
otherwise  have  become  a  burtien  to  the  town, 
and  possibly  even  worse  than  a  burden^ — a  curse 
iiii^t'«?ad  of  a  blessing  to  their  fellow-men. 


CHAPTKK     Xll. 
SAMLTKb    JOHNSON     IN     BIKMIXOHAM. 

K|U^  ▼ii'lt  t*»  E<1itmiul  H<*clor^Carlyl<'  tm  Juhumin— «Jtjlifi>ion's  eajilfst  eniiajH— Hiti  tFatiJ^Liilioii  i>r  Lt>bo\  yotfai/t  to  Abj/asinia — 
Y*  JWfc»i«tdmcc^Tj-ii«"f4i  of  '•  Jt>lirjttitie*ii*'  In  Ute  Pn'ftuc— Jolinmon'ii  ^^euinl  visit  t*j>  tilniiLu^liatii. 


f 5f  the*  year  1733,  Samuel  Johnscm,  having  f oiuid 
ibek  drtKlgt'ry  of  an  ushership  at  Market  Bosworth 
too  irksome  for  him  t^i  bear,  accepted  an  invila- 
tif»o  ffora  his  friend,  Kdmund  Hector,  a  ^uigeon, 
**io  imsfl  sotnc  time  with  him  at  Birmingham,  as 
his  guei^t,  at  the  hoiitte  of  ^^fr.  Warren,  vvitli  wlitjm 
Mr,  Hectur  hxlged  and  huiuded.''*  Whether 
Johns(»n  liftd  ever  visited  Bii-mingham  pi'evioUHly 
wtj  do  not  knnw.  It  it*  probublc,  however — judg- 
ing frotu  the  Uttoxeter  episode,  related  by  Jolm- 
tn  HeiiT)'  Whitet — that  ho  had  occaaionalJy 
ic<ioins{Mtiie%i  his  father  on  his  journeys  t>o  Bir- 
ntn  market  A  portrait  of  him  at  this 
U  thus  given  by  Carlyle  : — *'  Boyhood  is 
;,f  ihi*  ferula  of  i)edagogue  waves  harm 
*lhe  fUgittiice  :  Samuel  has  stmggled  up  to 
itncQuili  bnlk  and  yuuthhnijtl,  wrestling  with 
iTiwioo  and  FoTorty  nil  the  way  ;  which  two  con- 
tame  dtll  hk  companinnB.     »     »    .     A  rugged 

*  H44wfcLl.  .  \Af(t  uf  Joliuiun. 


wild  man  of  llie  desert,  awakened  to  the  feeling 
of  himself ;  proud  fis  the  proudest,  poor  as  the 
poort^st ;  slfiieally  shut  up,  silently  enduring  the 
incimihle :  what  a  wuild  of  blackest  gluom,  witli 
8Uli-glcams  iitid  pale,  leurful  moongleams,  and 
llickerinys  of  a  eele^jtial  and  an  infernal  splendour, 
was  this  that  now  opened  for  hiui  !  But  the 
weather  is  wintry  ;  and  the  toes  of  the  m;ut  ai-e 
looking  thnaigh  liis  shoes.  His  muddy  features 
gi*ow  t/f  ji  purple  Mud  sea-green  colour ;  a  Hood  of 
bbick  indignation  nnmtling  beneath.  A  trucu- 
lent, raw-boned  ligure  I  Meat  he  hae  probably 
little ;  hope  he  has  le.^s  :  his  feet,  as  we  gaid, 
have  come  into  broth erboi>d  with  the  cobl  mire,"* 
Mr.  W^atTen,  lulmund  Hector's  lantliord,  was 
thi?  lirst  establishe<l  bookseller  in  Birmingham, 
and  tiJiding  imder  the  rough  exterior  of  the  ex- 
usher  such  literary  culture  and  true  genius  as 
promised  to  be  of  great  use  to  him  (Warren  being 

•CAiLYti :  Crltl«nJ  and  MU»m11jui«oiui  EiMtjrs  IPopulAT  EdtttonJ. 
Vol.  it  1072.     Essay  on  Bo9^*tl't  li/t  oif  Joktkao^t  yp.  94^. 


at  that  time,  acconling  to  Boswell,  the  propiietor 
of  a  newspaper),  bpcatne  very  attentive  to  John- 
son. Mr.  Warren's  newspaper  wotikl  bo  the  first 
ever  published  in  Birmingham  (Bome  years  in 
Btlvaiice  of  AriA*ts  G<tzdie)^  and  wiw  tlio  oUl  Bir- 
mlnghnm  Journal^  of  which  a  copy  of  one  nnmber 
ipi  still  prcsi^rved  at  the  oilice  of  the  Dalljf  Po^t 
In  the  pi^jjea  of  this  little  Jnunml  appcni'ed  the 
periodical  essays  of  Samuel  Johnson  ]  the  pre- 
decessors of  tin*  Rttmhhr  and  Idler  essays,  which 
have,  perhtips,  tiiken  the  most  distingnished  place 
in  literature  of  all  his  writings.  Having  hut  slen- 
der means  of  subsistence,  and  at  present  scarcely 
any  settled  p!an  uf  life,  Johnson  determined  to 
stay  in  BirniinghaTn  for  some  considerable  time, 
and,  after  six  months'  sojourn  with  Mr*  Hector, 
he  hired  lodgings  in  another  part  of  the  town,  at 
the  house  of  a  person  named  Jarvis^ — probably  a 
relation  of  Mrs.  Porter,  whom  he  afterwanls  mar- 
ried. Here  he  became  Mt<  plain  ted  with  Mr.  Porter, 
a  mercer  {hiifibsind  of  I  he  Mrs.  Porter,  above  re- 
feiTed  to),  and  with  Mr.  Taylor, of  wli08*i  inventions 
and  later  life  wo  .shall  have  to  speak  hereafter. 
There  can  l>c  httlu  doubt,  however,  that  the  chief 
attraction  which  Birmingham  had  for  bim  was, 
as  Kossvell  suggestis  that  of  being  tho  b<ime  of 
Mr.  Hector,  his  old  sclmolfellow  and  his  deai^'st 
friend.  Tlie  interest  which  Mr.  Warren,  tho  book- 
seller, took  in  Joliiison,  led  him  to  join  with  Mr. 
Hector  in  iir;.;ing  upon  the  3'ontjg  strholar  and 
essayist  the  rlesirabibty  of  uiidrrtaking  the 
ti-anslation  and  abridgment  of  a  **  Voyage  Ui 
A  by  ss  i  n  i  a, "  w  ri  1 1  ei i  by  Lobo ,  a  Portugn cse  J esuib 
which  Johnidon  mentioned  as  having  read  In  the 
Flinch  with  jdeasure  while  at  Pembroke  College. 
He  agreed  t<*  <  ommencc  the  work,  and  as  no 
copy  of  the  work  could  he  procuivd  in  Birming- 
ham, he  was  compelled  to  borrow  from  the 
College  Library  the  copy  from  wliich  lio  had 
first  read  the  naniitive.  For  a  while  all  went 
on  well,  and  a  portion  of  the  work  was  soon 
in  type,  being  printed  by  one  Oaborn,  who  was 
Warren's  printer,  but  **his  constitutional  ind*> 
lence    soon    prevailed,"  says    iJnswell,  and    the 


work  flagged.  Mr.  Hector,  anxious  for  hii 
friend's  credit  in  the  world  of  letters,  urge 
him  to  proceed  with  the  work,  and,  knowing  hij 
gentle  nature  whenever  the  well- being  of  a  follow-^ 
creature  was  in  question,  represented  to  him  that 
the  printer  coidd  have  no  other  employroeu 
until  this  book  wiis  finished,  and  that  the 
man  antl  his  family  were  suffering.  This  pie 
liad  its  desired  eflbct^  and  Johnson,  althouj^ 
feeble  and  relaxed  in  body,  exerted  tho  powen 
of  his  mind  in  the  task  of  completing  the  work 
He  lay  in  bed  with  the  heavy  quarto  lief  on 
him,  and  dictated  the  translation  to  Hector,  whil^ 
the  latter  wrote  it  down.  The  picture  of 
busy  surgeon  sitting  patiently  writing  at  John 
8on*8  bedside,  in  the  intervals  of  his  profession 
duties,  is  one  of  the  most  touching  in  all  tli 
records  of  human  friendship. 

With  tho  kind  assistance  of  Hoctor,  the 
was  stton  completed,  and  was  puldished  in  1733 
but  in  those  ilays  a  book  bearing  a  provLncii 
imprint   stood   hut  a  slender  chance   of 
favotirahly  received,  it  boit;  on  the  title  page  no 
evidence  whatever  of  its  Birmingham  origin,  bu 
went  forth  with  a  London  imprint,  a  device  ver 
common  in  those  days.    This  was  tlio  first  liter 
Work  of  the  author  who  afterwards  became  tht 
clvief  figure  in  the  literary  history  of  the  eigliteent 
centtu'y.     Boswell  fliil  not  discover  in  tliis  wot! 
any  traces  of  the  style  which,  he  says  ** marks  \ 
subsequent  writings  with  such  peculiar  excellence^ 
with  so  happy  an  union  of  force,  vivacity, 
jiei^picuity/*     But  in  the  preface  we  deti'ct,  bei 
and  there^  the  familiar  mil  of  the  Johnsonion"^ 
dialect,  and  though,  observes  his  biogmjjher  "  use 
iiad  not  yet  taught  his  wing  a  permanent  and 
equable  flight,  there  are  parts  of  it  which  exhibit 
his  best  manner  in  full  vigour.'*    Years  afterwardai 
Boswell  tells  ns,   Edmund  Burke  expressed 
luni  the  great  consideniblo  delight   with  whic 
he  hrst  read  several  passages  in  this  first  examplel 
of  the  art  of  %vriting  noble  prefaces,  of  which 
Johnson  was  so  great  a  master.     It  is  more  than 
probable  that    the   recidleclion  of   thi»  W(»rk  of 


BMliolil)*ollillBir1ilil^£Umo       OLD  AKD   NEW  BIEMmGHAM. 


81 


tnnslating    Lobo'a   narrative   first    suggested   to 
Joboion   tbe  scene   of    the   charmmg  story   of 

H  Early  in  1734,  Johnson  returned  to  Lichfield, 
^ni^jte  appears  (from  a  letter  addressed  by  him 
|HMiH  Edward  Cave,  the  publisher  of  the  now 
v^oenble  GenUeman*s  Magazine)  to  have  again 
▼irited  Birmingham  in  the  autumn  of  the  same 
j«ar.  He  reiiuests  Cave  to  direct  his  reply  "  to 
8l  Smitht  to  be  left  at  the  Castle,  in  Birmingham, 


convulsive  starts  and  odd  gesticulations,  which 
tended  to  excite  at  once  surprise  and  ridicule.** 
But  with  all  these  natural  defects  and  external 
disadvantages,  he  possessed  many  rare  qualities 
which  weighed  in  his  favour  where  personal 
appearance  would  have  counted  as  nothing,  Mrs. 
Porter  appears  to  have  been  a  woman  of  consider- 
able sensibOity,  possessing,  says  Bos  well,  **  a 
superiority  of  understanding  and  talents ;  *'  and 
tho   charm    of  Johnson's  conversational  powers, 


THE    ULL  K    LUAl     ^CU0UL. 


"^IVWwtckshire,"  It  was  diuing  lliis  second  visit 
thai  the  acquaintance  with  Mrs.  Porter  ripened 
into  affection.  Miss  Port4)r  told  Boswell  that, 
whtn  •Tohnson  was  first  introduced  to  her  mother, 
I  *^  his  jip|ii3iranc<?  was  very  forbidding."  He  was 
f  *'  I«m  ajid  huik,  so  that  hia  immense  structure  of 
\i€mm  was  hideously  striking  to  the  eye,  and  the 
i«tts  ol  the  scrofula  were  deeply  visible.  He  als^j 
wme  fate  btfir,  wlilcit  was  stmight  and  «ti(r,  and 
i^ftmicft  behind  ;  mid  he  often  hail,  seemingly, 
II 


combined  with  bis  real  goodness  of  heaii,  won 
her  esteem  and  a  flection.  According  to  Garnck, 
she  herseK  possessed  few  personal  attractions,  but 
his  judgment  was  probably  a  superficial  one ; 
certainly  she  must  have  had  considerable  intel- 
lectual endowmente,  and  these  were  as  great 
attractions  for  the  scholarly  suitor  as  Ms  own 
wei"e  for  her.  A  story  Is  told  concerning  hia 
courtship  which  well  exliibita  his  disregard  for 
mere  sentimental  objections.     The  lady,  it  ia  eaid^ 


OLD   AND    KEW   BIRMINGHAM.        tSMuuei Johnnon  m  Bimmgiuiin 


refused  all  his  offers  of  marriage  for  a  while,  at 
the  sainti  time  declining  tu  give  any  rea-^oii  for  86 
doing.  At  ltt«t,  yielding  to  liis  urgent  rei^ui^st  to 
tell  him  why  she  still  refmed,  she  said  **an  uncle 
of  hers  bad  been  hung,  and  ihe  did  not  wish  to 
bring  disgrace  on  him.*'  **  Is  that  all/'  said 
Johnson  ;  "  Wliy,  though  I  have  never  had  an 
uncle  hiaif/y  I  have  two  or  three  unides  wLo 
dr^rrird  it^ — bo  let^R  get  married,  and  say  no 
more  about  that." 

Her    objections    having    been    removed,    and 
she  having  signified    her   wiliingne-^s   to  aecept 


C>n  the  ninth  of  July,  1735,  the  couple 
out  on  horseback  for  I)erby,  at  which  place  thoj 
were  to  be  married.  Although  they  were,  accord 
ing  to  J  oh  Uf' on  9  own  statement,  lovers  m  tt 
truest  sense  of  the  word,  tlieir  conduct  towa 
each  other,  during  this  ante-nuptial  tide,  mu 
have  appeariMl,  to  the  casual  observer,  anything 
but  affectionat-e.  "  Sir,"  said  Johnson  to  Bosu'*?l] 
in  speaking  of  thia  ride  niiuiy  yeai^s  afterwa 
**she  had  read  the  old  romances,  and  had 
into  l)cr  head  the  fantastical  notion  that  a  woma 
of  spirit  should  use  her  lover  like  a  dog.     So,  sir,J 


^\t 


DH.    J0HN8ON. 


of  luB  haud,  he  went  to  Lichfield  to  obtain  hh 
mother's  consent  to  the  marriage,  which,  says 
Boswcllj  he  could  not  but  be  conaciouB  was  a  very 
impmdent  scheme,  both  on  account  of  their 
disparity  of  years,*  and  her  want  of  fortnne. 
But,  adds  his  biographer,  Mrs.  Johnson  know 
too  well  the  ardour  of  her  son^s  temper,  and  was 
too  tender  a  parent  to  oppose  his  inclinations. 
"Sir,"  said  the  doctor,  years  afterwar<l5,  to 
Tophnm  Beauclerc,  **it  was  a  love  maniage  on 
both  sidea." 


*  At  ilie  Mute  of  UU  tiianiagu  Juhoson  wkm  twenty '«»voii  ycura  of 
ig«  ;  Mm.  Porti'f  had  JnaL  coinfjlfte4  h«r  forty-«1glith  jenr 


at  first  she  told  me  that  I  rode  too  fast,  and  sba 
coidd  not  keep  up  with  me  :  and  when  I  rode 
little  slower,  she  passed  me,  and  complained  tha 
I  lagged  behindt     I  was  not  to  be  made  the  elav<i 
of  cai*rice  ;  and  I  resolved  to  l>egin  as  I  meant  tq 
end.     I  therefore  pushed  on  briskly,  till  I  wa 
fairly  out  of  her  sight.     The  ix)ad  lay  hotweeu 
two  hedges,  so  I  w«is  sure  she  could  not  miss  it  j 
and  I  contrived  that  she  should  soon  coujo  u( 
with  me.     When  she  did,  I  observed  her  to  he  in 
tears,*' 

We  must  agree  with  Boswell  tliat  this  wa»  **  i 
singular  beginning  of  connubial  felicity,**  but  lli 


Alii  •  eirmUaglMin  0«jiett«.J 


OLD   AND  NEW    BniMlNGHAM. 


83 


isqael  proved  tliat  it  is  not  always  the  conipHant 
lorer  whu  bocomes  the  most  affectionate  husband, 
uid  it  may  be  supposed  that  Mrs,  Johnson  found 
in  the  manly  tiBsolute  bridegroom  a  faithful  and 
losing  partner,  and,  in  the  distinguished  position 
which  her  husband  afterwards*  adiieved,  met  with 

I  that  rich  reward  which  her  wise  choice  so  well 

'  mt^nted. 

Of  JohnjBon's  future  career  it  is  not  necessary 
that  we  should  speak  hc^re.  Boswell's  inimitable 
biography  is  now  within  the  reach  of  the  hum  bio  Bt 
lover  of  otir  literature ;   and  if  the  reader  would 

I  know    more    of   the    struggling    young   scliolar 

I  who  became  the  greatest  literary  celebrity  of  the 
bieenih   century,    he   cannot   do   better  than 


malce  the  early  acquaintance  of  that  enchant- 
ing book,  which  will  enable  him  to  enter  the 
circle  of  John8on*8  most  intimate  friends,  to 
listen  to  his  match] ess  conversations,  and  to 
join  the  innnmemble  host  of  ardent  admimrs  of 
the  great  lexicographer,  critic,  essayist,  poet, 
and  conversationalist,  of  whom  it  may  aa  truly 
be  said,  as  he  himself  said  of  Oliver  Gold- 
smith, *^  he  left  scarcely  any  style  of  writing 
tmtouched,  and  touched  nothing  tlml  be  did 
not  adorn." 

Johnson  visited  Birmingham  again,  after  he 
had  became  famous,  but  of  that  visit  we  shall 
have  more  to  say  in  itn  proper  chronologica!  place 
in  our  naiTative, 


CHAPTER      XIII. 
♦ABIS'S    BIRMINGHAM    GAZETTE,"    AND    THE    APPEARANCE    OF    THE    TOWN,    1741-1750, 

JTm  fi*Ufttt  futd  It*  fival— Incoipomtiuji  uf  Ihr  two  Journjih— ExpenJtes  of  JoimiAllflLti  in  174S— Appwimnt'e  of  the  Town,  from  1 7-11  to 
17W) — Lojral  Cek*brmtioti»— AtnuiM!metit4i  of  the  Pi'uplt*— Coi'k-ngbtiiig  nt  lJutldi+Hton  Hall—TlieatriKftl  EnterUluu^ents— M^'objinifal 
ud  otU^  ExJiibitioiu. 


At  the  commencement  of  the  fifth  decade  of 
the  seventeenth  century,  Birmingham  appears  to 
huve  been  without  a  newspaper,  Warren's  Bir- 
nungham  Journal  had  ceased  to  exist  j  and  no 
new  adventure  had^  as  yet,  taken  its  place.  In 
Um  month  of  May,  1741,  Mr.  Thomas  Aria,  of 
X^ndoD,  came  to  liirmingham  in  order  to  settle 
^the  town  as  a  printer,  and  to  establish  a  weekly 
aal  ;  and  for  that  purpose  took  a  house  in 
High  Street,  but,  aa  it  was  then  inhabited,  and 
he  could  not  conveniently  enter  until  Michaelmas, 
lie  i«tumcd  to  London.  During  the  interval  be- 
tween bia  tlxtt  visit  and  his  settlement  in  the 
town^  a  Mr.  Walker,  having  obtained  informaliou 
of  Mr.  Arises  intention,  anticipated  the  publica- 
tioa  of  the  Otueitct  as  will  be  seen  by  the  follow- 
ing addreaa,  printed  by  Mr.  Aris  in  tlie  first 
I  titimb^r  of  his  new  journal :  he  says, 

»t  the  public  ma^  not  look  on  me  as  an 
\ta  Hf.  WaUier,  as  by  the  insinuation  in 


his  paper  lie  would  have  me  supposed,  1  will  beg 
leave  tu  state  the  case. 

**  In  the  month  of  May  la.'+t,  I  cuiue  to  Bir 
mingham  in  order  to  settle  there  as  a  Printer  and 
Bookseller,  aml^  with  the  advice  of  my  friends, 
took  the  house  I  now  live  in,  but  it  being  then 
inhabited,  I  could  not  conveniently  enter  tOl 
Michaelmas  last,  so  went  back  again  to  London  ; 
during  which  time  ilr.  Walker,  having  got  infor- 
mation i)f  my  intention,  came  hei-e  and  printed 
a  Newspaper  before  I  left  London  ;  tlierefoi^,  1 
appeal  to  the  public,  to  whom  he  has  made  his 
address  in  all  the  papers  ho  has  yet  published,  to 
detenuine  who  is  the  fjpposer*  And  those  gentle- 
men who  are  pleased  to  encourage  me,  may  be 
assuretl  that  no  pains  shall  be  spai-ed  to  make  the 
paper  agreeable,  luiving  settled  the  best  corre- 
spondent I  possibly  coidd  in  London  for  that 
purpose.  T.  Aris/* 

The  first  number  of  Arises  new  venture  wa^ 


OLD  AKD  NEW  BIRMINGHAM, 


iAxiM'%  BlnuUitfiiaiB  OMctto. 


pubJislied  on  the  I6th  of  Xovomber,  1741,  imdor 
tJie  title  of  Tht  Binningham  Gtizetief  or  the 
General  Correspondent^  at  the  price  of  three-half- 
pence, and  hearing  a  government  stamp  of  one 
halfpenny.  Like  Cow  per 's  favourite  evening 
companion,  it  was  a  "  folio  of  four  pages,"  very 
small  pages  indeed,  the  whole  sheet  being  no 
larger  than  a  single  page  of  the  Birmingham 
newspapers  of  to-day.  There  was  very  little  of 
local  news  in  it,  its  four  pages  being  fiUod  chiefly 
with  the  paragraphs  of  the  London  correspondent 
referred  to  in  tlie  propnetor's  address,  and  adver- 
tisemente. 

The  two  papers,  Walker's  and  Aiis^s,  were  car- 
ried on  in  opposition  for  nearly  two  yeart?,  until 
July,  1743,  when,  as  will  he  seen  from  the  sub- 
joined address,  a  compromise  took  place  between 
the  rival  pubHshers  ;  Walker's  journal  was  incor- 
porat^jd  with  its  more  successfid  rival,  which 
appeared  at  that  date  for  the  first  time  under  the 
distinctive  title  of  Arh'$  Bh-Diingham  Gazette^ 
and  was  raised  in  price  to  two-pence  \  the  increase 
being  explained  by  the  proprietor  in  an  address 
*♦  To  the  Rmders  of  this  Paj>er,"  aa  follows  : 

**  Gentlemen,  — I  am  very  sensible  that  to  raise 
the  price  of  any  commodity  is  always  both  un- 
popular and  hazardous ;  and  oven  was  it  tuit  so, 
the  obligation  you  have  laid  me  under,  by  your 
generous  encouragement  of  this  paper^  would  he 
sufficient  to  deter  me  from  any  attempt  to  advance 
the  price  of  it,  was  it  in  my  power,  consistent 
with  my  own  preservation,  to  act  otherwise. 

**  But  when  I  assure  you  it  is  not  so,  and  that  I 
have  already  lost  a  considerable  sum  by  selling 
it  at  three  half-pence,  I  flatter  myself  that  no 
gentleman  would  take  it  amiss  if  I  can't  continue 
it  at  a  price  which,  instead  of  serving,  can  only 
injure  me. 

**That  a  great  deal  of  money  may  be  sunk  in  a  very 
little  time  by  a  publication  of  this  nature  cannot 
seem  strange  to  any  one  who  considers  tbat  out  of 
every  paper  one  half-penny  goes  to  the  stamp 
office,  and  another  to  the  person  who  sells  it; 
that  the  paper  it  is  printed  on  costs  a  farthing ; 


and  that  consequently  no  more  than  a  farthing 
remains  to  defray  the  charges  of  composing, 
printing,  London  newspapers,  ajid  meeting,  as 
far  as  Daventry,  the  Post,  which  last  article 
very  expensive,  not  to  mention  the  expence 
our  London  correspondence*  The  truth  is,  1 
no  design  originally  of  attempting  the  printing  i 
Newspaper  for  tliree  halfpence;  but  anothi 
paper  being  published  at  that  price  by  Mr.  Walke 
obliged  me  to  submit  to  the  same  terms,  thoug^ 
now  we  are  both  sufl^ciently  convinced  that 
were  in  the  wrong,  and  think  it  high  time  to  ( 
the  opposition,  and  unite  both  papers  in  oni 
Tlierefore,  for  the  future,  there  will  be  but  thS 
paper  printed,  which  will  he  iu  conjunction ;  an 
as  the  above  is  a  true  state  of  the  case,  I  hop 
that  those  gentlemen  who  have  hitherto  honour 
me  with  their  favours,  for  wliich  I  take  this  oppo 
t unity  of  returning  my  thanks,  will  not  think  th 
advance  of  one  half-penny  unreasonahltx  But  i 
order  to  make  some  amends  for  the  addltionil 
half -penny,  I  shall,  for  the  future,  enlarge  ttl 
pages  in  such  a  manner  as  to  contain  a  great 
quantity  of  news  than  at  present ;  and  the  publS 
may  depend  tliat  no  pains  or  expence  shall 
spared  to  render  this  paper  as  usefid  and  ente 
tainingas  possible/^ 

The  Gazette  continued  in  the  hands  of  its  ong 
nator  until  hia  death,  which  occurred  in   176| 
and  t^mained  in  the  possession  of  various  me 
bers  of  his  family  until  1789,  when  it  became  til 
property  of  Mr.  Thomas  Pearson.     The  fur 
history  of  this  journal  remains  to  be  told  at 
later  period  in  the  history  of  our  local  literatup 

A  complete  file  of  this  venerable  newapap 
from  1741,  the  year  of  its  birth,  to  the  pr^ 
time,  is  preserved  at  the  publishing  ofHco,  and 
thus,  for  nearly  a  century  and  a  half,  we  havo 
complete  a  record  as  can  be  obtained  from  tH 
columns  of  a  newspaper  of  the  growth  and  ap- 
pearance of  the  town,  and  of  the  life  and  doii 
of  the  people*  From  this  remarkable  filov 
which  few  parallels  exist  in  the  country,  our  abla_ 
townsman,  Dr.  J,  A.  Langford  (who  for  aou 


i..^«ftti.Tawtt-im4760.)     OLD    AND   NEW   BIRMINGHAM, 


U 


apiod  the  position  of  local  editor  of  that 
hoB  brought  together  such  a  coUection 
at  ctxrione  and  interesting  extracts  respecting 
die  tubitd,  customs,  amusements,  and  life  of  our 
iiioafton,  and  the  changes  which  the  town  has  un- 
dergone during  the  long  period  of  the  Gazette's 
•xist€Dce«  as  cannot  fail  to  he  of  the  utmost  value 
to  llie  student  of  our  local  hiBtory,  and  will  enable 
UB  m  theee  pages  to  give  a  much  fuUer  picture  of 


Temple  Street,  as  we  have  seen  in  our  last 
survey  of  the  town,  was  already  built  upon ; 
but  there  were  stiU  houses  in  it  which  might 
be  considered  as  pleasantly  rural  The  follow- 
ing might  at  any  rate  be  envied  nowadays, 
even  by  the  dwellers  in  our  most  picturesque 
suburbs.  The  date  of  the  nlvertisoment  is  Decem- 
ber 5,  1743  : 

'*To  be  Sold  and  tmU'red  upou   at  Lady-day  next,  a 


i£'  jN^n 


ll'iiri'tii 
I  ill 


tr— 


w. 


oiMniHiiininitn  ' 


I   -I.  i  1 


■- 


T^fli'^'i 


I 


f*f',v^* 


THE  OLD  SQUAas.      (Fr(mtkt priiilh^  W.  Hwl/ry,  ^"**  > 


an*l  Ms  people  in  the  eighteenth  century 

aid  have  been  possible  without  the  assist- 

I  of  these  invaluable  records. 

From  the  ertracta  given  by  Dr.  L-angford  from 

tl»  llfil  (en  years'  issues  of  the  Gazette  we  will 

endeavoitr  to  obtain  a  glimpse  at  the  doings  of 

H  otif  aneestois  at  the  date  of  the  conunencement 

^M^Utt  paper ;  and  perhaps  it  will  be  well  to  look 

^^B^  ftt  th«  bouses  they  lived  in,  and  their  sur- 

nMUtdin^ 


Lfti>ge  Mestaage  or  Dwelling  Hoii»e,  situate  id  Teniplt*- 
Street,  BinuiiighaiTi,  in  the  Pofisessioii  of  Mr.  Clmrks 
Mngenis,  confining  twelve  Yards  in  the  Fronti  foiir 
Rooms  oil  a  Floor,  wialied  and  fronted  both  to  the  str«et 
afid  Garden,  good  Ctllariug  and  Vaults^  Brow-houw!  aiul 
Stable  with  an  entire  Garden  walled,  and  the  walla  coTcred 
with  Fruit  Trefs,  the  Garden  12  Yards  wide,  and  60  Yards 
lon^  from  the  Front  of  the  Honge,  and  extending  22  Yards 
wide  for  26  Yards  further^  together  with  a  pleasant  Terrace 
Wttlkj  and  Summer- House  with  Sashed  Windows  and 
Saah'd  Doors,  adjoining  to  the  open  Fitdds,  and  ooinmand* 
ing  a  ?ros|tect  of  four  Miles  Distance,  and  all  D^oaaaary 
convanieDCcs.  Likewise  another  House  in  the  same  Strott 
in  the  tenure  of  Mr,  George  Ortoa,  with  largo  Shopa, 


se 


OLD  AND  N^EW   BIRMINGHAM.     iAi.(,».i>«ortb.T»ini.iT«i.irM 


1 


Qai^Q4,  and  Summer- Houso,  pleflaantly  Biiuntcd,  com- 
maiidiug  a  go<jd  Prospect ;  and  set  at  nm«  Poitnds  and  ten 
fihilHfigs  per  auDum. 

**  Enquire  of  Charles  Meg^nis  in  Tomplc-S tract  afofe- 
luiid." 

The  late  Mr.  Toulmin  Smith  {to  whose  valuaTile 

research efi  respecting  the  early  history  of  the  town 
we  have  previously  rt^femjd)  snya  :  **  I  myself 
remember  Temple  Street  in  mtieh  this  state.  My 
grandfather  (Edward  Smith)  lived  in  a  house 
there,  the  description  of  whicii  prt^cisely  cor- 
responds as  to  house  and  garden  with  this 
advertisement  I  well  remember  the  'Terrace 
Walk/  "* 

From,  another  advertisement,  in  the  ihizcHe 
uf  December  14,  1741,  we  learn  that  even  in  a 
coiiiparatively  old  thoroughfare  like  High  Street 
I  here  was  an  inn  (the  original  Hen  and  Chickens) 
with  "  a  very  good  Bowling  Green  joining  U\  it" 
Such  an  appendage  to  a  house  so  situated  proves 
that  notwithstanding  the  number  of  courts  and 
fdleys  mentioned  in  the  statement  at  the  foot  of 
Wt'stluy's  Map^  there  was  as  yet  little  of  the 
overcrowding  from  which  Birmingham,  in  common 
with  all  other  large  towns^  Rufferis  at  the  prenent 
iluy. 

The  next  extract  refers  to  a  house  in  Lichfield 

Street,  H  spot  in   the  very  hoart  of  the  8<|Unlid 

dii^tiicl  frnm   which  it  is  now  pro]msed  ttj  clear 

all  the  present  buildings,     Yet^  at  that  time,  ae 

Dr.  Langford  observes,  *'  the  houses  for  the  most 

jiart  had  gardens,  and  were  the  dwelling-places 

uf  people  whase  descendants  bave  now  to  seek  at 

Edgbaaton,  Hands  worth,  or  Erdington,  for  *the 

sweet  place  of  tlowers/  as  a  poet  calls  a  garden*" 

*'To  be  Sold,  the  Rcvenion  of  a  Fre<!ljold  Messuage, 
with  Shops,  Backside,  and  Garden,  in  Liclifietd  Street, 
ai»r  the  Square,  Birmingham,  the  Teuaut  for  Mfe  being 
Dear  ninety  years  olil,*' 

Even  Dcritend  and  Edgbaaton  Street,  although 
in  the  older  part  of  the  town,  coidd,  in  1746, 
boast  of  bouses  with  gardens.  On  the  20th  of 
October  in  that  year,  the  local  newspaper  con- 
tained an  advertisement  of  **a  large  House  with 
a  Brew-house,  Shop,  and  a  Pent-house  for  Shoeing 

•  A  C«atnfT  of  Blrraliagbaca  IM%,  (Flnt  Sditkm.)  Uet. 
Vol  1,  p.  H 


Horses  under,  and  a  large  Gard^n,^'  situated  in 
the  upper  part  of  Deritend ;  and  in  the  same 
year  was  offered  "  a  Good  House  in  Edgbajston 
Street,"  with  a  good  stable,  garden,  and  othe 
conveniences ;  candidates  for  the  occupation 
this  desirable  residence  being  referred  to  **  Mr 
Sarah  Lloyd,  at  the  Slitting  Mill,"  which  ihd 
reader  will  find,  on  looking  at  Westley's  ilap 
was  situated  at  the  back  of  Digboth,  botweex 
tlie  Upper  and  Lower  Mill  Lanes. 

New  Street  was  at  that  time  quite  ruml,  anr^ 
as  Dr.  Langford  observes,  •* abounded  in  gardena,1 
The  present  writer  knew  a  gentleman,  only 
cently  deceased,  who  in  his  youth  bad  gleane 
in  a  cornfield  adjoining   the   ui>per  part  of  i^ 
and  the  editor  of  the  **  Century  of  Birminghan 
Life*'  tells   of  another  gentleman,   then   livin 
I  who  had  gathered  blackberries  in  this  part 
the  town.      It  would  not,  therefore,  appear 
'  strange  to  either  of  those  gentlemen  na  to 
I  majority  of  Birmingham  men  and  women  noi 
I  living,  to  read  in  the  Gazette  of  ^fay   18,  1747^ 
!  of  a  house  to  let  in  that  shreeti    '*  with  pro[ier 
Out-building,  Gartlening,  and  other  conveniences 
thereto  belonging." 

The  banks  of  the  Ilea,  near  Deritend  Bridge, 
would  seem  to  have  been  at  that  time  a  plea&mt 
retreat  One  is  inclined  to  envy  the  posseseor  of 
so  dehglitlul  a  town  residt^nce  as  waa  advertised 
to  be  let  on  the  16th  of  November,  1747,  It  fji 
described  as  **  a  very  good  new-built  House,  four 
Rooms  on  a  Floor,  with  a  Brew-botise  and  Stable, 
and  other  conveniences,  a  very  good  Garden^ 
walled  in^  and  a  Fuh  Pond  in  it,  mtnate  very 
pleamni  hj  the  Water  8ide^  near  the  Bridge,  in 
Birminghum." 

Retuniing  into  the  upper  part  of  the  town,  \\v 
come  to  the  Old  Square,  which  at  that  time  wa*» 
known  simply  ae  the  Square,  This  was  the  sit*? 
of  the  ancient  Priory  of  St  Thomas  the  Aj»o*tl*s, 
of  the  foundations  of  which  some  small  remaint^ 
were  still  visible  in  the  cellars  on  the  south- 
eastern side  of  the  Square,  even  as  lat^j  as  17«<0^ 
when  Hutton  wrote  his  hi«tory  of  tbi»  town.    Krw 


.Towa.iTui7W),      OLD    AND    NEW   BIRMINGHAM. 


87 


this  pleasantly  situateil  spot  might  at  that  timo 
\m  diaoemed  the  Rowley  Hills,  the  villages  of 
Oldburyi  Smethwick,  HandawoHh,  Sutton  Cold- 
field,  Eniington,  and  8aUle\%  as  well  as  most  of  the 
fcbuxhs  on  the  southern  Bide  of  the  town*  From 
the  little  print  by  AVestley,  engraved  on  the 
corner  of  the  "  St  Philip's "  plate,  it  appears 
tlut  a  uniform  range  of  houses  had  been  built 
on  the  four  sidea  of  t)je  EMjuaie,  the  centre 
being  enclosed  and  adorned  with  treca  and  dhnihs. 
Many  of  these  houses  still  remain,  although 
'  lot  the  moit  part  altered  and  moderni^d.  Some 
bsTe  been  pWtered  and  painted  over,  others 
hare  an  additional  storey,  othcn?  have  merely 
been  newroofed  with  elates.  The  following 
adreitidement  will  give  us  some  idea  m  to  the 
■lipearance  of  these  hoimes  in  1748  ; 

To  be  Sold,  two  tijindsomc  MeasuageSf  v^ith  &  School 

Room,    Warehouse,  iin«l  other  Back-buildingSj    in  good 

Btffwir^  urith  gom\  Gardena,  and  a  large  Piece  of  I^iid 

lytaig  btbliid  the  ^aid  Mesauagcs,  &iitmtod  in  the  Sqnun^ 

Lin   BSnniaghiim,  in  the    Holding    of    >fr.   Siiuyrr  Kud 

[Mr.    Bwhlolcy.  —  Enqmne  of  Mr.    Kisher,   Attorney,  in 

iMiifi|giitw  •  or  of  Mr  Cnlcutt,  Attornn\  tn  DAventry. 

Oilier  advertisements  might  bo  <|UQted  if  space 
'  wifuld  [ienmt»    to  show   bow   many  pleasantly 
I  tritnated  bouses  might  at  that  time  be  found  in 
ill©  very  heart  of  the  town ;  as,  fur  instance,  one 
l^ih  a  gai'dmi  walVd  round  and  other  corwamtmceg 
in  Moor  Street  \  another,  with  Brew-hoiige^  Gar- 
ffUtu,  Stabien^  and  all  other  Conoeaiences  for   a 
Family^  in  Hij^fh  Street  ;    an  Inn  in  Lichtield 
I  Strcei,  triih  a  ipot  of  G-round  near  adjoinifuj  for 
k  a  BoM^itig-Grmn  ;    and  many  others  of    a  like 
chancier  might  be  mentioned,   if  necessary,  to 
wb0m  the  pleaimntly  rural  situation  of  the  town 
at   that  time.      Perhajis  the  bent   idea  of    its 
apfinanmcG,  with  gardens  and  outhousea  adjoin- 
ing many  of  the  houses  in  the  principal  street^ 
may  be  obtained  by  a  journey  through  one  of 
rthe  amaUer  towns  in  the  neighbourhood,  such  as 
f  Cormtiy,  Tamwortli,  and  Evesham,  where  houses 
•tmilarly  nituated  may  be  found  at  the  present 
day* 

hm  to  the  local  eventa  chronicled  in  the  old 
sambefB  of  the  Gazette,  they  are  but  few  and 


far  between,  and  we  are  compelled  to  believe, 
with  Dr,  Langford,  that  there  were  scarcely  any 
events  of  a  public  nature  worth  recording.  **  No 
police  reportd^  no  public  meotings,  no  charitable 
appeals,  no  hterature,  no  popular  educ^^tional 
inatitntiona,  no  popular  lectures,  no  libraries,  no 
news  rooms,  no  penny  readings,  no  Board  of 
Guardians,  no  Town  Council,  no  debates  of  Iwal 
senatt-s,  no  orations  of  local  senators  to  read,  no 
leading  articles,  for  there  were  no  local  events 
about  which  to  write.  All  seems  to  have  been  a 
dull,  dead  level  of  monotonous  existence,  varied 
by  occasional  cock-fights  and  other  brutal  sports." 
The  only  item  of  loi?al  news  containod  in  the 
lin^t  number  (Nov,  16,  1741)  relates  to  the  cele- 
bration of  the  birth-day  of  Admiral  Vernon  in 
Bii-mingham,  November  14,  **with  all  the  Tokens 
of  Regard  due  to  that  worthy  Man."  The  morn- 
ing, we  are  told,  was  ushered  in  with  the  Clam- 
ming  of  the  Bells,*  and  the  day  concluded  with 
bonfires  and  drinking    success  to  his  Majesty's 

Loyal  celebrations  seem  lo  Lave  been  tlie  prin- 
cipal events  in  oui-  public  life.  The  1 1th  of  June, 
1742,  (the  first  June  after  the  establishment  of 
the  Guzttte^)  the  aniiiversary  of  the  Accession  of 
George  Ih  to  the  throne  was  "  observed  with  the 
Ringing  of  Bells,  and  other  Demonstrations  of 
Joy,"  and  the  evening  was  concluded  with  **  Bon- 
tires,  and  drinking  to  the  Healths  of  liis  Majeaty 
and  Royal  Family,  Success  to  his  Majesty's 
Arms,  and  to  the  Healths  of  those  Gentlemen 
who  have  appeared  conspicuous  in  the  Interest  of 
their  country," 

Our  townsmen,  as  befitted  the  makers  of  imple- 
ments  of  warfare,  seem  to  have  manifested  great 
interest  in  all  events  pertaining  to  our  armies  and 
their  movements.  The  success  of  the  allied  forces 
against  the  French  at  Dettingon,  in  1743,  was 
celebrated  in  Birmingham  with  every  token  of 
jubilation;  "the  Bells  of  both  our  Churches," 
says  the  GuzHte  of  that  date,  **  were  set  to  Ring- 
ing, at  Noon  there  were  several  Discharges  of  Fire 


*i,€,t  rtiigliiff  tht  whole  peft]  wlintiltiuimnulj. 


sa 


OLD   AND   FEW   BIEMINGHAM. 


[Publio  SventB,  ITAl  1T»«J 


from  the  Soldiers,  and  the  Evoning  was  concluded 
with  Bonfires,  niumitiation  of  Wintlows,  and 
drinking  Success  to  his  Majesty's  Anna."  Tho 
retreat  of  the  Pretender  Charles  Edward  Stuart, 
and  his  forces,  before  the  Duke  of  Cumberland, 
in  1745,  (after  they  had  taken  Carlisle,  and  were 
marching  on  towards  the  heart  of  England)  was 
also  didj  celebrated  in  a  similar  manner  in  Bir- 
mingham, the  evening  on  which  the  news  arrived 
being  **  spent  with  the  highest  Demonstrations  of 
Joy,  as  Bonfires,  Illumination  of  Windows,  giving 
Ale  to  the  Populace,  &c/*  On  tho  16th  of  AprO^ 
1746,  the  famous  battle  of  Culloden  was  fought, 
and  the  rebellion  finally  cmslied.  On  receiving 
the  news,  we  read,  **  in  every  Face  here  appeared 
the  greatest  joy  and  loyalty,  which  were  demon- 
strated by  the  Ringing  of  Bells,  several  Firing 
from  the  Companies  of  the  Right  Hf>n.  the  Lord 
Grower's  Begimeut,  and  in  the  Evening  by  Bon- 
fires, Fireworks,  giving  great  Quantities  of  Ale  to 
the  Populace,  and  an  Illumination  of  Windows 
tliroughout  the  whole  Town.  The  ninth  of 
October,  in  the  same  year,  was  appointed  as  a  day 
of  general  thanksgiving,  **  for  the  suppression  of 
the  late  unnatural  KeWlion  by  tlie  Defeat  of  tho 
Kebelft  by  Hid  Royal  Highness  the  Duke  of  Cum- 
Ijerland,  at  the  Battle  of  Culloden,"  and  was 
kept  in  Birmingham  with  a  similar  eirusion  of 
loyalty ;  the  moniiiig  being  "  usher'd  in  by  the 
Ringing  of  Bells,  which  was  continued  till  the 
Time  of  Divine  Service ;  **  in  the  evening  the 
ilKiminatioB  of  windows  is  said  to  have  "  far 
exceeded  what  was  ever  known  here  before,  the 
Windows  of  those  Houses  in  the  most  remote 
Parts  of  the  Town  being  filled  with  Candle  ; " 
and  the  night  was  **  concluded  with  Bonfires  (at 
several  of  which  great  Quantities  of  Ale  were 
given  to  the  Populace),  Fii^e works,  and  all  other 
Demonstration  of  Joy." 

The  day  of  thanksgiving  on  account  of  the 
Peace  of  1749  (April  25,)  was  observed  here 
with  more  outward  tokens  of  joy  than  had  chamc- 
terized  any  previous  celebration  of  the  kind.  The 
usual  bell-ringing,  illuminations,  and  boniiree  were 


supplemented  by  displays,  at  two  different  pi 
of  **  tho  grandest  Fireworks  ever  seen  here,  ooH 
slating  of  a  great  number  of  Lime  and  common 
Rockets,  Wheels,  Stars,  Suns,  <Sja,  and  at 
Conclusion  of  those  at  one  of  the  Places,  waa  i 
Explosion   of    near  200  Rocketn    at  the 
Time;"  and  there  was  "  an  elegant  Entertainme 
provided,  at  which  were  present  a  great  niiml 
of  Gentlemen.     The  reporter  adJs,  that  **  during 
the  whole  Time  of  the  Fireworks,  we  don't  hear 
of  any  Misfortune  that  happen'd." 

From  the  advertisement  pages  of  the 
numbers  of  the  Gazette  we  may  gather  also  a  ; 
notes  as  to  th^e  amusmients  of  our  ancestors, 
subject  cannot,  however,  bo  contemplated  no 
days  without  a  feeling  of  loathing  and  di^;u8t  at 
the  cruelty  and  brutality  which  seems  to  hare 
pervaded  most  of  the  popular  sporta  of  that 
period*  This  aspect  of  the  national  pastimes  do 
not  seem  to  have  troubled  either  the  authoriti 
or  the  leaders  of  public  opinion  in  the  least. 
wi*athf  ul  **  leaders  "  commenting  on  the  cruelty  ^ 
cock-fightiug,  bull'baiting,  and  dog-fighting  are  1 
be  found  in  the  columns  of  these  old  newspapere^-^ 
no  letters  from  cori^spondents  burning  %vith  ri|^ 
teous  indignation, — such  events  wei-e  as  it?gidar 
advertised  as  other  amusements,  and  as  ealu 
reported  as  wo  now  report  a  cricket  or  football 
match.  A  few  of  theee  advertisements  will 
suffice.  It  will  be  noticed  that  the  place  rao^t 
famous  for  these  brutal  exhibitions  in  thia  lo 
was  Duddeston  Hall.  The  date  of  the 
advertisement  is  June,  1746. 

ThiB  13  to  give  Notice,  —That  there  will  be  a  Mi 
Cocks  fought  at   Duddeston    Hull,   near    Bimimghaii 
betwuct  the  Gentlemen  of  Warwickshire  and  Worcester- 
shire, for  Four  Guineas  a  Battle,  and  Forty  Quiaeas 
Main.     To  weigh  on  Monday,  the  9th  of  Jane,  and 
the  two  following  Days, 

Birmingham  Cock  Match,  1747.— -On  Whit«an  Mond^ 
the  8th  of  June,  will  be  shewn  at  Duddeston  Hall»  ua 
Birmingham,  in  Warwickahire,  Forty -one  Cocks  on 
Side,  for  a  Mat^h  to  be  fooght  the  three  following  Day 
betwixt  the  Gentlemen  of  Warwickshire,  Worceatcrshiii 
and  Shropshire,  for  Ten  Guineas  a  Bnttle,  and  T^ 
Hundred  the  Odd  Battle  ;  and  also  Twenty-oue  Cocks  < 
each  Side  for  bye  Battles,  which  Bye  Battles  are  Ut 
fonght  for  Two  Guineas  each  Batib* 


The  next  announcement  appears  nearly  two 
months  in  advance  of  the  event,  viz.,  on  February 
29.  1748, 

On  Monday,  the  Hth  of  April,  174S,  being  Easter 
Monday,  will  l>a  a  Match  of  Cwks  weigh M  to  fight  the 
three  following  Di%j^  at  Duddeston  Hall,  near  Binning- 
htm,  e*ch  Party  to  weigh  Forty-one  Conks,  for  ten 
GtuaeAa  A  Battle,  and  two  Hundred  the  Mftin  ;  and  tiach 
Pifr^to'Jprcigh  Twenty  Cocks  for  Bye  Battles,  for  Five 


Many  other  advertisements  and  notices  of  a 
similar  character  appear  throughout  the  earlier 
years  of  the  Gazette's  existence. 

It  is  far  more  plefiaantj  however,  to  turn  from 
the  contemplation  of  pastimes  of  this  character 
to  the  more  elevating  and  refining  pleasures  of 
the  drama*  Our  last  notice  of  the  stage  in 
Birmingham  brought  us  to  Castle  Street,  where 


ST.    J(>UK*a  CllAPEl^    DBUlTESiS    A.8    HEBriLT    IN   1735. 


«  'tftttle*  eiirh  Cock  to  give  and  take  Half  an 
Tliie  Gentlemen  of  Worcester  and  HerefonLjhtre 

ikm  Gentlemen  of  Warwickahire  and  StalTordshire, 
match  is  thus  reported  in  the  OazetU  of 

IS: 
On  Timday,  W«4T!*§dAy,  and  Thursday  last  waa  fought 


■ft  Dnddeaton 
mm  <vf  Wor 
CmIci  tar  Ur 
HMiio,  and  tL 
BttUci  won  c 
Oddi  to  ihe  1 
Bkn  «if  Warwkk*btr*« 


this  Town,  between  the  CJeutle- 
mtl  Wurwicksliire,  a  match  of 
I  Battle,  and  two  Hundred  the 
!  !*:3  at  Five  Gulneaa  each.     The 

were  c(iual  on  each  aide,  nnd  the 
wi»T«  two  in  ^aronr  nf  the  r»«ntle- 


theatrical  performances  were  wont  to  be  given  m 
a  stable,  at  the  low  charge  of  thrisupenco  for 
admissiom  In  1740,  however,  a  theatre  was 
erected  in  Moor  Street,  which  gave  a  more  re- 
spectable appearance  to  dramatic  entertainments, 
although,  if  Mutton's  account  of  the  mode  of 
advertising  them  be  correct,  the  theatre  was  still 
far  below  those  of  other  towns  in  importance  and 
social  status,  "  In  the  day-time,"  says  oup 
veracious  historian,   "the  comedian  h^at  up  for 


Tolunteeis  lor  the  night,  delivered  Hiii  biUs  of  f icre, 
and  roared  out  an  encomium  on  the  excellcnco  of 
the  entertainment,  which  had  not  always  the 
dasired  effect/' 

Theatrical  nmugements  would  seem^  however, 
to  have  he  come  more  papular  during  the  ten 
ymim  which  inten'ened  between  the  above  date 
and  the  period  to  which  this  chapter  more  particu- 
larly  refers.  "We  read,"  saysDr,  Langford,  **of 
no  less  than  three  places  at  which  phiys  were 
acted.  There  was  a  tJieatre  in  New  Street,  a  new 
theatre  in  Smallhrook  Street,  and  another  now 
theatre  in  Moor  Street  The  two  latter,  however, 
were  not  licensed  for  dramatic  jierformanceg,  and 
their  managers  resortt^d  to  the  practice  of  the  maii 
in  the  streets  who  sells  you  a  straw  and  givea  you 
a  book.  A  concert  was  performed,  for  admission 
to  which  a  charge  was  made,  and  then  the  play 
and  afterpiece  were  given  gratis.** 

The  earliest  notice  relating  to  the  New  Street 
theatre  appeared  in  the  Gazette  of  January'  31, 
1743,  announcing  a  performance  for  the  benefit 
of  Mr.  MiUer  and  his  wife,  the  former  being,  it 
appears,  a  member  of  the  "Antient  Society  of 
Free  and  Accepted  Masons,"  for  the  entertain- 
ment of  which  ancient  society  was  spoken  a  Pro- 
logue and  Epilogue  made  in  Honour  of  them  ; 
several  "  Brotherly  Songs "  were  also  announced 
to  be  sung  on  the  occasion.  The  piece  performed 
was  Congreve's  *<  Mourning  Bride." 

During  the  period  which  had  elapsed  since  the 
perfonnances  in  the  Castle  Street  stable,  the 
tastes  and  requirements  of  the  play-going  public 
of  Birmingham  had  advanced ;  and  the  **  rags  and 
tinsel "  of  those  days  no  longer  satisfied  them. 
As  all  who  are  familiar  with  the  history  of  the 
stage  know,  David  Garrick  had  by  this  time  l>egun 
to  effect  great  reforms  in  the  matter  of  costume, 
and  although  the  period  of  the  drama  was  not 
sufficiently  taken  into  account,  the  naiimt.aUty  of 
the  dramatis  pm*8onm  was,  and  foi*eign  characters 
were  no  longer  impersonated  in  English  dresses, 
at  any  rate  in  the  principal  theatres.  So  that  we 
are  not  surprised  to  hear  that  a  company  of  players 


who  had  regard  to  aocttfacy  of  costume  occasion- 
ally favoured  Birmingham  with   their   preBenoftl 
On  the  18th  of  May,  1747,  the  following  editor 
notice  appeared : 

We  are  informed  from  Wiabeeh,   thnt  &lr.    Herbert*!  _ 
Conipnny  of  Comedians  will  be  here,  and  op**n  tho  Theutr 
in  Jloor  Street»  on  Monday  the  First  of  June,  with 
TrngedVi   call'd    the    Siege  of    Daiuoscns,   with    prop 
Dresses  to  every  Chamcter,  and  Scones  and  Decoration 
proper  to  the  Play, 

i)n  the  day  of  the  arrival  of   ilr«   IIerhert*sl 
company,  a  more  detailed  announcement  of  tha| 
piece  appeared  in  the  Gazette,  in  which  it  ia  said 
to  have  been   **  wrote  by  Mr.  Johfi  HuyhfSy  who\ 
died  far  Joy  on  its  eucce^g  after  the  thd  N%gfd'§ 
Performance.'*     It  is  prohable  that  the  anxiety 
for  the  fate  of  the  piece,  which  was  the  authored  ] 
first  attempt,  ate^Ierated  his  death,  as  he  was,  all 
the  period  of  its  production,  in  a  state  of  utterl 
prostration,  from  that  most   fatal   malady,  con* 
sumption.     He  had  heen  the  beloved  and  trostetll 
friend  of  Joseph  Addison  and  Richard  StoelfrJ 
both  of  whom  professed  groat  admiration  for  hi«1 
dramatic  abilitiw.      The  *'  Si^ige  of  DamtMOua  "* 
is  printed  in  the  tenth  volume  of  Mrs,  Inchhald*5 
British  Theatre,      •*  lie  choae  this  Story,"  con- 
tinues the  writer  of  the    Ocvxtts   notice,    " 
convince  Mankind    (as  he  often  dechir'd)    tliat 
amongst  Turks   the  Principlea   of   Honour  and 
Morality  were  not  unknown,  and  by  the  oharacfc 
of  Phocyas,  that  he,  the  invincible  else,  waa  to  1 
mibdued  by  Love."     The  notice  further  state 
that  **  This  play  has  been  constantly  hunour'd 
in   London  by   the  most    Brilliant    Audietnoe&l 
Tis    therefore    to    be     hopM     what    has    been 
encouragM    there,    will    at    least    be    look'd    at 
here  hy  all  Lovers  of  Learning  and  Taate,     AH 
the  Characters  in  this -Play  will  f/c  dre^ed  i% 
the  proper  Habits,  cr*  the  Turk'4  and  Greeks  \ 
appearnV* 

The  same  number  of  the  Gazette  contained 
report  of  a  perfoimanoe  at  the  New  Theatre 
Smallhrook  Street  on  the  previous  Friday,  of  "  \ 
Play  of  *The  Eari  of  Esaex,'  and  the  celehmto 
Entertaiuuient    of     *  Harlfx|ain*«     Vagarie«^ 


¥ 


Bur^omo^ter  Trick'd '  .  .  .  to  a  crowded 
kce,  with  uhiversal  Applauao,"  and  states 
Qmi  *'1>y  porticui&r  Desire,  the  sfitue  Entertain- 
ment,  with  tbc  Comedy  of  Love  for  Love,  written 
by  Mr.  Congreve,  (and  several  Ent«?rlainineiits  of 
Singmj;  smd  Dancing  K'tween  the  Acts)  are  to  Xte 
perfotmed  Tliere  this  Evening," 

In  ordpr  U*  show  the  TnauBcr  in  which  the  tin- 
licenced  pbyers  ftunounced  their  perfoniiances, 
Dr*  t,angford  quotes  the  fullowing,  from  the 
Gasem  of  August  4,  1746  : 

At   tlie   New  TJiCfttru,  in   Moor  Strwt,  This  present 

Ersnin^,  will  be  jx^rformM  A  Coijc«tt  of  Vocal  and  In* 

I  »tTunj#?ntiil  Muttick.     Boxi',%  2.?.  6ff.    Pit,  2i.     First  f»aL, 

[Ui.     Upper  (InX.f  (W/.      Ik*l^eeii   lUa   two   ParU  of  i\w 

rri  irill  be  prL'iiei4t4.'d  (tiiatis)  a  CoDiedy,  called  *'  The 

Tlie  Piirt  of  Ltnegold  the  Miser  by  Mr.  Breeze, 

Fnsaerick   by   Mr,    8niitb,    Clerimont    by    Mr.    Slaiter, 

Bam 3 1 1'  ly  Mr.  Wigiicll,  Jiunes  by  Mr,  Mlii taker,  Decoj- 

by    '  liift  ihtp  Tnylar  by  Mr.  Waber,  Mftriana  by 

ilam*'t  by  >trH.   \Vi(^neIl,  Jlrs.   Wisely  by 

Child,    Wheedle  by    .Mrs,  Smith,  and  the  Part  of 

*ft  by  Mr*,  Whitaker.     To  which  will  be  added  an 

[Ojicn,   caird    **Thc  Mock  Doctor;  or  the  Dumb  Lady 

I  rttr*d.**     Tlie  jwut  of  the  Doctor  by  Mr,  Wlii taker,  Dorcas 

1  l*y  Mr.  Slttiter,  Ijcander  by  Mr.  Child,  Sir  JasiHiT  l>y  Mr, 

I  l)r«tfe,  Dunib  Lady  by  Mrj*.  Whitaker,     To  begin  exactly 

I  Seven  UVlock. 

Bat  it  inn«t  not  bo  snppoacfi  frnni  the  preced- 
'  ing  announce  men ts  that  Shakespeiire  was  ignored 
in  Birmingham.  On  the  15th  July,  1747,  ''A 
Tragedy  mtltd  *  Hamhi  Prima  of  Defimark*** 
Bed  at  the  Ikfoor  Street  Theatre,  and 
I  evening  wns  produced,  at  the  rival 
hoiifle  in  Smallbrook  Street,  -*A  Celebrated 
Tngedy,  eall*d  Othello,  the  Moor  of  Venice, 
wntUrn  by  the  famous  Shake§ij)eare," 

Whm    theatrical   entertainnient«   palled,    tl»e 
I  $©eker    a/ler    anju.sement   might   turn   to   other 
[  cxbibitiona  of  vanoiis  kinds,  among  which  men- 
tion may  be  mmh  of  a  "curious  and  nnparallerd 
Mniiad    Clock,    made    by    David    Ivockwotid," 
[whidi  wtm  exhibited  at  the  sign  of  the  Wheat 
^BbfOil  in  ibo  Bull  Eing,   "  for  the  entertaining 
•fimaeniMit  ol  tha  Quality,  Gentry,  and  others/' 
TUi  carious  piece  of  mechanism  is  described  in 
a  im^giliy  adverthietnent,  in  irhich  it  is  stated  to 
W  **  ft  Machine,  inoompanihle  in  its  Kind,  aa  well 


for  the  Beauty  uf  it^  Structtue  as  the  Nicety  and 
Perfection  of  its  Performance.  It^  compoaitioni 
are  admirable^  and  far  more  elegant  than  any  yet 
extant,  being  the  choieeat  airs  taken  out  of  the 
best  Operaa,  with  graces  ingeniously  intermixed. 
Together  witli  French  Horn  Pieces  upon  the 
Organ,  German  and  Common  Flute,  Flagolett, 
&c.,  to  the  great  satisfaction  of  the  most  eminent 
Masters  and  Judges,  as  Sonatas,  Concertos, 
Marchefl,  Minuets,  Jigs  and  Scotch  Airs,  compos'd 
by  Corelli,  Aiberoni,  Mr.  Handel,  Dr.  Bradley, 
and  other  eminent  Masters."  The  note  subjoined 
by  the  advertiser  hm  an  eye  to  the  disposal  of 
this  curious  piece  of  Mechanism.  We  wonder  if 
it  found  a  purchaser  in  the  **  world's  toyshop." 

NoTtt. — The  above  Clock  plays  a  Pici^  of  MubIc  every 
Four  Hours  of  itself,  and  of  Pleaaure  ;  is  wound  up  once  in 
Eight  Days,  and  it*  now  to  be  sold  by  Edmund  Ribing, 
the  CH^ner,  This  Piece  waa  never  here  before,  nor  the  like 
seen.  Any  Persona  that  are  curioua,  and  desire  to  we 
the  iuaide  Work,  shall  be  welcome.  Our  ntay  in  thii 
town  will  be  very  »hort. 

From  ^*  Fleet  Street,  uear  Temple  Bar,"  came 
one  of  the  predecessors  of  good  Madame  Tuasaud 
and  Artemus  War<l,  with  a  collection  of  **wax 
works,"  which  were  exhibited  in  the  Chamber 
over  the  Old  Criss  in  June,  1746,  comprising 
figures  "representing  the  Royal  Family  of  Great 
Britain,  ricldy  dreas'd,  and  in  full  Proportion,  as 
they  appe-ar  on  the  King*8  Birthday  Day,  the 
late  Queen  Caroline  being  dress'd  in  a  Suit  of 
her  own  Cloaths."  They  are  said  to  have  been 
"  esteeni'd  by  all  who  have  seen  them,  the  most 
beautiful  work  that  has  ever  been  seen  in  the 
Kingdom,  being  valued  at  Five  Hundred  Pounds, 
and  have  been  shewn  to  most  of  the  Kobility  of 
the  Kingdom  with  great  satisfaction."  Yisitors 
were  entertained  with  **  a  variety  of  Music, 
Vocal  and  Instrumental;  the  latter  performed 
on  a  Chamber  Orgsm,  with  two  8eU  of  Keys; 
the  full  Organ,  with  the  Stops  aa  follow :  Stop 
Diapason,  the  Trumpet  Stop,  the  Principal  Stop, 
the  Coroned  and  Fifteenth,  the  Chair  Orgun  and 
Flute  Stojis.'* 

Following  the  wax  worke,  came  an  exhibition 


M 


OLD    AKD     NEW    BIEMIKGHAM.      lTlieSU*ryof»Bim*w.yAwtt««itlce 


simikf  to  that  of  the  clock  previously  described, 
with  the  addition  of  various  feats  of  legerdemain 
and  other  marvels,  in  May,  1749,  thus  described 
by  the  exhibitor  : 

TMs  is  to  ticquaint  the  Curious,  that  at  the  Bl&ck  Boy 
Ib  Edgbaston  Street,  Binuingbam,  thia  and  every  Eveuing 
during  his  Stay  in  Town,  Mr.  Yeiitcs^  from  London,  will 
exhibit  a  Grand,  Curious  and  Splendid  Representation  of 
the  Temple  of  Apollo,  at  Delphos,  in  Greece.  Being  the 
Temple  to  which  Alexander  the  Great  went  to  inquire  who 
wa8  bia  Father  ;  whether  he  had  reveng'd  bis  Deatli  on  all 
hia  Enemies  ;  and  where  the  Heatheus  of  Old  repaired  in 
Tiraes  of  private  Distress,  or  public  danger.  Tliis  ad- 
mirable Piece  of  Art  is  atJom'd  with  everj'  Thing  that  can 
render  it  pleasing  to  the  Spectator,  having  curious  Pillars 
nf  Lapis  LajEuli,  and  embelliiih'd  with  Painting  in  an  elegant 
Manner.  Phai'too  ia  rcprt'sented  petitioning  Apollo  to  let 
him  drive  the  Chariot  of  the  Sun,  which  being  granted 
occasions  the  Fall  of  Phaeton,  who  wanting,  judgment  ti> 
conduct  the  Chariot  of  the  Sun  thro'  the  Mid  Air,  had 
like,  thro'  this  Misconduct,  to  have  the  World  on  Fii-e ; 
but  was  destroy 'd  by  a  Thunderbolt  Irom  Jupiter,  and 
thrown  headlong  into  the  Eivcr  Padus  in  Italy,  otherwise 
called  Eriilanus.  Likewise  the  Triumphs  of  th«  Baechus 
and  Ariadne,  represented  in  a  grand  and  mnginticent 
nmuner,  and  adorned  with  aU  the  Ornaments  and  Decora- 
tions which  can  fill  the  Mind  with  pleasing  Ideals  and 
ehann  a  judiciouj*  and  curious  SjHsetalor.  Likewise  a 
curious  OrgaUi  which  performs  several  select  Pieces  of 
Musick,  composed  by  the  best  Masters. 

N*B.  The  Machine  is  in  Height  twelve  Feet,  in 
Breadth  nine,  and  in  Depth  seven,  and  not  seen  through 
any  Glass.  In  order  to  afford  the  Vertuoai  an  agreeable 
Amuteinent,  Mr,  Yeates  will  perform  hia  imimitable  Dex- 


terity of  Hands  ;  Who,  for  hi«  Cards,  at»d  the  dean  con^ 
veyance  of  his  Outlandish  Birds,  that  Talk  very  agreeably 
at  the  Word  of  i*ommand,  together  with  his  sudden  and 
surprising  production  of  an  Applc-Treo,  which  bo  causes 
to  Grow,  Blossom,  and  bejir  Ri|»e  Fniit  fit  for  any  Person 
to  Eat  of  it  in  less  than  three  Minutes*  Time  ;  and  stveral 
other  siir|)ri3iug  Tricks,  is  allowed,  by  the  curious,  to  excel 
all  other  Performers.  Pit  U.  Upper  Seats  6^/.  The  Doaim_ 
to  be  open  at  Six  o'Clock,  and  begin  at  Seven,  Gent 
men  or  Ladies  may  have  a  private  Performance,  giv 
two  Hours'  Notice* 

The  village   of  Aston  even  at   tlmt  date 
pleasure  gardens,  which  would  seem  to  have  been^ 
almost  08  attractive  as  those  which  at  the  preses 
day  draw  their  thousands  of  pleaeure-seekere  from" 
all  pai'ts  of  the  midland  coiinties* 

In  an  early  number  of  the  Gazette  u  announc 
the  postponement,  on  account  of  the  indenaencj 
of  the  weather,  of  a  **  Performance  of  Music  and 
Fire- Wf irks,  at  Bridgnmn  s  Gardens,  at  the  Apollo 
at  Aston,  near  Birmingham*  In  connection  with 
this  f^te  wm  announced  the  perfomiance  by  MrJ 
Bridgman  and  others  of  **a  grand  Trio  of  Mi 
Handeira  out  of  Acis  and  Gabitea,  and  tha 
favourite  Duet  of  Mr.  Ame*8  called  Damon  and 
Chloe," 

With  this  notice  of  an  old  Aeton  f^te  we  con- 
clude onr  notes  from  the  Urat  decada  of  Aria's 
Birmingham  Gazette, 


CHAPTER    XTY. 
THE    STORY     OF    A     RUNAWAY     APPRENTICE, 

Tl»  Early  Llfa  of  WWlAai  Huttoa— An  idle  week  atid  tti  cons<;quonec9— Hntton  In  tiiigmcw— Deternihwa  to  run  ftway— JLrrllfl 
Derby— A  night  la  lb«  ot^'U  «lr— LI thO eld— Further  mi* fortunes— A  wcnr>  trump  to  WtUill— First  imprtwiont  of  Btnnin^hAlii| 
iU  Pftoplff— Good  SazuaritaDi  ftt  tlie  Old  Cross— Jouniey  Ihrougb  tlie  Stocking  District-  The  retura  home,  and  enU  of  *ji  evcatfuJ  1  ' 


The  year  1741 — the  birth-year  of  Ariss  Gazette 
— ia  interesting  also  as  the  one  in  which  William 
Hutton  first  visited  Birmingham. 

He  was  born  at  Derby,  on  the  30th  of  Septem- 
ber, 1723.  In  173S,  after  having  endured  many 
hardships,  he  entered  the  aervice  of  an  uncle,  at 
l^ottingham,  as  an  apprentice  to  the  trade  of 
stocking-weaving.  Here  he  appears  to  have  been 
pretty  comfortable,  until  an  unfortunate  circum> 


stance,  which  occurred  during  the  week  of  No^ 
tingham  races,  in  the  month  of  June,  174L 

**  Tlio  week  of  the  races,"  he  says,  **  b  an  id 
one  among  the  stocldngers  at  Nottingham.  It 
was  so  with  me.  Five  days  had  elapsed,  and  I 
had  done  little  more  than  the  work  of  four, 

"My   uncle,   who  always   judged    from    the' 
present  moment,  supposed  I  should  never  retu 
to  industry*— though  1  had  lately  purchased  a  suil 


rof.Rui^wajAppr«itie^i.j    OLD  AOT>  NEW   BIRMINGHAM. 


93 


of  clothes  with  my  over-work — was  augry  at  my 
neglect,  and  observed,  on  Saturday  morning,  that 
if  I  did  not  perfonn  my  task  that  day,  he  would 
thmsh  me  at  night." 

Tiie  threat  thus  held  over  the  young  stockingor 
did  not  deter  him  from  tinisbuig  the  week  in 
KMDethmg  like  the  idle  manner  which  had  thus 
fiir  cluinictemed  it*  **  Idleness,''  he  says,  **  that 
.  hoTeied  over  me  five  days,  «lid  not  choose  to 
I  me  the  aixtL"  Not  that  he  entirely  wasted 
the  day  ;  from  his  own  account  it  aeoms  he  wanted 


**  Could  you  have  done  it  ? "  he  repeated  again. 

WiJlium  Hutton  was  of  too  noble  a  nature  to 
take  refuge  in  deceit.  "  As  I  ever  detested  lying," 
he  says,  *'I  could  not  think  of  covering  myself, 
oven  from  a  rising  storm,  by  so  mean  a  subterfuge; 
for  we  both  knew  I  had  done  near  twice  aa 
much-     I  therefore  answered  in  a  low  meek  voice, 

*  /  cculd.^     This  fatal  word,  innocent  in  itself, 
and  founded  upon  truth,  proved  my  destruction, 

*  Then,*  says  he,  *  ITl  make  you/    He  immediately 
brought  a  birch-beeaom-steal  *  of  white  hazel,  and, 


i» 


-*f«^5S^ 


THE   NEW   MEETINn    HOFSK. 


but  one  hour's  work  to  complete  the  task  which 
bad  been  set  him.  He  fondly  Loped,  however, 
that  his  unifonnly  good  conduct  during  the  past 
tlave  years  would  atone  for  present  delinquencies, 
and  did  Doi  suppose  lus  uncle  would  carry  out  his 
hanb  threat  But  his  hopes  were  doomed  to  dis- 
appobtment  Night  came,  and  his  uncle  foimd 
the  task  unlinidhed. 

•*  Yoa  liav©  not  done  the  task  I  ordered  I "  he 

!T  :ttun  was  silent. 

\lj  it  in  your  power  to  have  done  it  1 " 
Na  rtply. 


holding  it  by  the  small  end,  repeated  his  blows 
till  I  thought  he  would  have  broken  me  to  pieces. 
The  windows  were  open,  the  evening  calm,  the 
sky  serene,  and  everything  mild  but  my  uncle. 
The  sound  of  the  roar  and  of  the  stick  penetrated 
the  air  to  a  great  distance." 

Smarting  tis  he  was  with  bodily  pain,  he  felt 
even  more  deeply  the  wound  his  pride  had  received 
by  this  semi-public  chastisement. 

'*  I  was  drawing  near  eighteen,'*  he  says,  "held 
some  rank  among  my  acquaintance,  and  made  a 

•  All  Mldlftnden  know  th€  common  be»om,  or  broom,  intdc  of 
hMtt),  wiih  iU  "«t«»l"  or  *■  «tale,*'  <lti«  bundle,}  tttUAlijr  niAda  of 


M 


OLD   AND   NEW   BmMINGHA^l,      itu«  story  «f*Rtm»wiyApi««tt«i 


small  figure  in  dress;  therefore,  though  I  was 
greatly  hurt  in  body,  I  was  much  more  hurt  in 
mind  by  this  flogging.  The  ne^t  day,  July  12, 
1741,  I  went  to  meeting  in  the  morning  as  UBual 
My  uncle  seemed  sorry  for  what  had  passed,  and 
inclined  to  make  matters  up.  At  noon  lie  sent 
me  for  some  fruity  and  asked  me  to  parUke  of  it. 
I  thanked  him  witli  a  sullen  *  No,'  My  wounds 
were  too  deep  to  he  healed  with  cherries," 

The  same  day  a  female  acquaintance  linished 
the  work  of  humiliation  by  jeering  him  about 
the  beating  he  had  received  the  night  before. 
This  stung  him  to  the  quick.  *'I  woxild  rather," 
he  said,  **  she  had  broken  my  head." 

The  idea  of  running  away  hi^l  been  suggested 
to  him  on  former  occjisions  by  an  ill -doling  fellow- 
apprentice  n^mied  I\oper;  and  the  humiliation 
and  disgrace  he  bad  now  undergone  led  Mm  to 
ndopt  this  course*  Ho  felt  that  he  could  not 
jigain  show  hiniBelf  among  his  friends  and 
acquaintances  without  becoming  the  object  of 
tlieir  ridi('u]<i  and  scorn,  and  resolved  to  leave 
tliL^  town  that  very  day. 

Putliiig  on  Ms  hat,  as  if  going  to  Meeting,  he 
privately  slipped  up- stairs,  early  In  the  afternoon, 
until  the  famOy  had  departed.  As  soon  aa  he  was 
alone,  he  began  to  pack  up  hia  few  posae-ssions, 
clothes^  and  a  little  food.  He  found  ten  shillings 
belonging  to  his  uncle,  but  his  scrupulous  in- 
tegrity would  not  permit  him  to  take  more  than 
the  actual  necessities  of  hia  journey  required. 
He,  therefore,  kept  but  two  shillings,  and  left  the 
other  ttight. 

The  next  diflicuity  was  how  to  escape  from  the 
house.  Tlicre  waa  but  one  door,  and  that  was 
locked,  and  they  had  taken  the  key.  Contriving, 
however,  to  get  his  encumbrances  to  the  top  of 
a  wall  about  eight  feet  high,  in  a  back  yard,  he 
next  climbed  up  himself,  dropped  them  on  the 
other  side,  and  jumped  down  after  them.  Es- 
caping unobserved,  save  by  an  acquaintance  easily 
enjoined  to  secrecy,  he  started  on  his  jouroey. 

**  Figure    to    yourself,'*   he    says,    **  a   lad   of 

onteen,  not  elegantly  dressed,  nearly  Eve  feet 


Mgh,  rather  Dutch  build,  with  a  long  aairow^ 
bag  oi  brown  leather,  that  would  hold  about 
strike,  in  which  was  neatly  packed  up  a  new 
suit  of  clothes,  also  a  wMte  linen  bag  which 
would  hold  about  half  as  mnch»  containing 
sixpenny  loaf  of  blencon  ♦  bi-cad,  a  bit  of  butt 
wrapped  in  the  leaves  of  an  old  copy*boi)k, 
new  Bible  value  three  shillings,  one  shirt,  a  pa 
of  stockings,  a  sim-dial,  my  best  wig,  carefuU| 
folded  and  laid  at  top,  that,  by  lying  in  tha 
hollow  of  the  bag,  it  might  not  bo  eraabed.  The 
ends  of  the  two  bags  being  tied  together,  I  slung 
them  over  my  left  shoulcler,  rather  in  the  style  o£ 
a  cockhghter*  My  best  hat,  not  being  properlj 
calctdated  for  a  bag,  I  hung  to  iho  button  of 
my  coat.  I  had  only  two  shillings  in  my  pocket  j 
a  spacious  world  l>6f  ore  me,  and  no  plan  of  op 
tiona," 

Such  was  the  quaint  figure  cut  by  the  runaway 
appfcntic©  as  be  left  Nottingham,  casting  **mftnjj 
a  melancholy  look"  behind  him  as  **evoTy 
set  Mm  at  a  greater  distance"  from  home  amtl 
friends  j  and  took  as  he  thought  an  everlasting 
farewell  of  all  that  was  so   dear  to  him.      '' 
carried,"  he  says,    *' neither  a  light  heart  nor 
light  loftd ;   nay,  there  was  nothing  light  about^ 
me  except  tlie  sun  in  the  heavens  and  tl»e  money 
in  my  pocket."    He  did  not  re^ch  Derby  until 
ten   o'clock   at    nighty    where    the    inhabitants,! 
retiring  to  bed,  seemed,  to  the  weary  outcast,  tal 
be  retreating  from  liis  society. 

He  made  Ms  way  to  his  father's  housei,  (suf 
posing  the  inmates  had  by  this  time  retired  tc 
rest,)  in  oilier  that  he  might  take  a  fond  look 
at  the  only  homely  object  which  his  weaiy  trtuuj 
would  aflbrd  him;  but  as  he  came  near  he 
coived  the  door  open,  and  heard  Ms  fathered  food 
not  three  yards  from  him,  and  retreated  precipiJ 
tately.  "How  ill  calculated  are  we  to  judg6 
of  events,"  he  adds;  **  I  was  running  from  tha 
last  hand  that  could  have  saved  me  1  '* 

He  took  up  his  abode  for  the  night  on  tb« 


*  Bloncoi}«  cir  Bleiiroru— i.r,f  mi'tidH''Oni,  1 
oom,  ryeAAd  wh«Rl,— Jsvrnr. 


•€iai7«ftBuiu^7AFpfiiiu»]    OLB   AND   NEW   BIBMTNGHAM- 


95 


damp  gtnsB,  in  a  cloee  outeido  the  town  called 
Abbey  Banid,  with  tlie  sky  overlieiid  and  hia  bags 
by  bis  side.  But  there  was  little  repose  for  him, 
in  his  agitated  mental  condition,  ami  the  place 
W46  full  of  cattle,  their  hc&yy  breathing,  together 
with  tht  danlcing  of  the  chains  at  the  feet  of 
,  the  borsuSv  were  of  themselves  sufficient  to  keep 
him  awake.  He  rose  at  four,  6tar\^ed,  sore, 
and  stiff;  left  his  bags  under  a  tree,  first 
corering  them  with  leaves,  and  waited  on  St 
Werburgh's  Bridge  for  his  brother  Sam,  whom 
ba  knew  would  pass  that  way  to  the  silk-mill 
at  five  o'clock. 

*•  I  told  him/*  says  Hutton,  *'  I  had  differed 
with  my  uncle,  had  left  him ;  intended  for 
Ireland ;  that  he  must  remember  me  to  my 
father,  whom  I  should  probably  see  no  more, 
I  had  all  the  discourse  to  myself,  for  he  did  not 
speak  one  word." 

He  then  proceeded  on  his  journey,  and  arrived 
at  Burton-on-Trent  the  same  morning,  having 
ttiareUad  twenty-eight  mile.%  without  spending 
a  penny,  "  I  was  an  economist  from  my  birth/' 
he  lays,  *'  and  the  character  nevei*  forsook  me," 

Continuing  his  narrative,  he  says  : 

**  1  ever  had  an  inclination  to  examine  towns 
and  plaees.  Leaving  my  bags  at  a  public  house, 
I  took  a  \*iew  of  the  place,  and,  breaking  into  my 
first  shilling,  spent  one  penny  as  a  recompense  for 
I  llidr  care, 

**  Arriving  the  same  evening  within  the  pre* 
dDcta  of  Lichfield,  I  approached  a  bam  where 
I  intended  to  lodge ;  but,  Ending  the  door  shut^ 
opaoid  my  parcels  in  tlie  field,  dressed,  hid  my 
l^^  under  a  hedge,  and  took  a  view  of  the  city 
for  about  two  hour%  though  very  foot-sora 

*•  Returning  to  the  spot  about  nine,  I  undressed, 
hg^  tsp  my  things  in  decent  order,  and  pre- 
pasni  for  rest ;  but  alas  J  I  had  a  bed  to  seek. 
Abooi  a  stone's  cast  from  the  place  stood  another 
ban,  whidi,  perhaps^  might  furnish  me  with 
lodgbi^  I  thought  it  needless  to  take  the  bags 
(wldla  I  azamined  the  place)  as  my  stay  would 
fai  viiy  »boat. 


**  The  second  bam  yielding  no  relief,  I  returned 
in  about  ten  minutes.  But  what  waa  my  surprise 
when  I  perceived  the  bags  were  gone !  Terror  seized 
me,  I  roared  after  the  rascal,  but  might  as  well 
have  been  silenti  for  thieves  seldom  come  at  a 
caU.  Running,  raving,  and  lamenting,  about  the 
fields  and  roads,  employed  some  time.  I  was  too 
much  immersed  in  distress  to  find  relief  in  tears. 
They  refused  to  flow.  I  described  the  bags,  and 
told  the  afifair  to  all  I  met.  I  found  pity,  or 
seeming  pity,  from  all,  but  redress  from  none.  I 
saw  my  hearara  dwindle  with  the  twilight  ;  and, 
by  eleven  o'clock  found  myself  left  in  the  open 
street,  to  tell  my  mournful  tale  to  the  silent  night 

*'  It  is  not  easy  to  place  a  human  being  in  a 
more  distressed  situation.  My  finances  were 
nothing.  A  stranger  to  the  world,  and  the  world 
to  me.  No  employ,  nor  likely  to  procure  any.  No 
food  to  eat,  or  place  to  rest.  All  the  little  pro^ 
perty  I  had  upon  earth  taken  from  me  :  nay, 
even  hope,  that  last  and  constant  friend  of  the 
unfortunate,  forsook  me.  I  was  in  a  more  ^vretched 
condition  tljan  he  who  has  nothing  to  lose.  An 
eye  may  roll  over  these  lines  when  the  hand  that 
writes  them  shall  be  still-  May  that  eye  move 
virithout  a  tear  1  I  sought  repose  in  the  street, 
upon  a  butcher's  block." 

He  arose  early  the  next  morning  from  hia  hard 
couch,  and  renewed  his  eiii^uirie^  after  his  missing 
bags,  but  all  to  no  purpose.  Among  others  he 
accosted  **  a  gontlenian  in  a  wrought  nightcap, 
pliiid  gown,  and  morocco  slippers,^*  and  told  him 
his  tale  of  distress,  lliis  gentleman  appears  to 
have  been  one  of  that  claas  of  philanthropists 
still  very  common  in  the  w^orld,  who  feel  for  the 
sorrows  of  humanity,  everywhere  —  except  in 
their  pockets.  lie  was  touched  with  compassion 
at  the  yoimg  wanderers  pitiful  tale,  **I  found," 
says  Hutton,  **  it  was  easy  to  penetrate  his  heartp 
but  not  his  pocket." 

*Mt  is  market-day  at  Walsall,"  said  the  would 
be  philanthropist  "Yonder  people  are  going 
there;  your  attention  on  them  may  be  success- 
ful."    Ha  acted  upon  this  advice^  and  joined  the 


96 


OLD  AND   NEW   BIRMINGHAM. 


rWtUilm  Hatton  in  Birmfnglum 


little  company,  who  were  on  their  way  to  that 
place,  the  one  party  with  a  waggon-load  of 
carrots,  and  the  other  with  a  hoise-load  of 
cherries*  They  continued  together  until  the  end 
of  the  journey ;  *'  but,"  says  he,  '*  I  think 
neither  pity  nor  gucceas  wero  of  our  party.** 

Hia  feet  were  bliBt^rcd,  being  unused  to  travel- 
ling ;  but  when  he  arrived  at  Walsall  he  begged 
a  little  common  beef-fat  from  a  good-natured 
butcher  in  that  town,  and  with  this  he  rubbed 
his  feet,  and  found  instant  relief.  He  then  cast 
about  him  to  Und  employment,  but,  on  applic-a- 
tion  to  a  man  who  sold  stockings  in  the  market, 
he  learned  that  there  were  no  frames  in  Walsall, 
but  many  in  Birmingham,  in  which  place  the 
stocking-vendor  had  an  acquaintance  in  the  trade, 
to  whom  he  kindly  gave  the  young  stockinger  a 
recommendation. 

After  resting  awhile^  therefore,  he  resumed  his 
journey  in  the  direction  of  Birmingham,  and,  on 
his  way  thither,  saw  what  to  him  was  a  curious 
sight ;  the  female  nail-makers  of  the  Black 
Country, 

**  I  wondered,"  he  says,  **  in  my  way  from  Wal- 
sall to  BirmiDgham,  to  see  so  many  blacksmiths' 
shops ;  in  many  of  them  one,  and  in  some  two, 
ladies  at  work  ;  all  with  smutty  faces,  thundering 
at  the  anvil.  Struck  with  the  novelty,  I  asked 
if  the  ladies  in  this  country  shod  horses  \  but  was 
answered,  *  They  are  nailers/' " 

Arriving  on  Handsworth  Health  he  saw,  for  the 
first  timep  the  great  town  which  was  to  berorae 
his  future  home,  and  which  shoidd,  to  use  his 
own  phrase,  draw  not  only  his  person,  but  his 
esteem  from  the  place  of  Ms  nativity,  and  fix  it 
upon  herself.  The  first  object  to  attract  his 
attention  was  St  Philip's  Church,  which  was 
then  "uncrowded  with  houses  (for  there  were 
none  to  the  Nortli  except  New  Hall),  untarnished 
with  smoke,  and  illuminated  with  a  western 
sun/*  **  I  was  charmed,"  he  says,  **  with  its 
beauty,  and  thought  it  then,  as  I  do  now,  iho 
credit  of  the  place." 

In  his  History  of  Birmingham,  kt  wcords  his 


tirst  impressions  of  the  town  and  its  people 
follows : 

"  The  environs  of  all  1  had  seen  were  com- 
posed  of    wretched  dwellings,  replete  with 
and  poverty ;   but  the  buildings  in  the  exteriq 
of    Birmingham    rose    in    a  style  of    elegano 
Thatch,  so  plentiful  in  other  towns,  was  not  to' 
be  met  with  in  this.     I  was  much  surprised  at 
the  place,  but  more  at  the  people.      They  were 
a  species  I  had   never  seen  ;    they  possessed  a 
vivacity  I  had  never  beheld  ;   I  had  been  among 
dreamers,   but   now   I   saw  men   awake  :    their 
very  step  along  the  street  shewed  alacrity, 
had  been  taught  to  consider  the  whole  twenty^ 
four  hours  as  appropriated  for  sleep,  but  I  found ^ 
a  people  satisfied  with  only  half  that  number." 
He   tells  us,   in  hie   History,  of  one  Obrian,  a 
pavier,    who   was    journeying  from    London   to 
Dublin,  and  had  intended  to  stay  in  Birming- 
ham but  one  night,  on  his  way ;   but  instead 
pursuing    his    journey    the    next    morning, 
determined  to  stay  in  the  town,  and  had  con 
tinned  a  resident  here  thirty-five  years  ;    **  and 
though,"    adds  Hutton  quaintly,    **  fortune  ha^ 
never  elevated   him   above   the  pebbles  of  th 
street,   he  had  never  repented  his  stay." 

**  My  intended  stay,"  says  our  hero, 
Ohrian's,  was  one  night  ;  but,  struck  with  thi^ 
place,  I  was  unwilling  t^  leave  it,  1  could  no 
avoid  remarking,  that  if  the  people  of  Bii 
ham  did  not  suffer  themselves  to  sh^i^  in  tlti 
iitreettff  they  did  not  suffer  othei-s  In  sleep 
their  beds  ;  for  1  was,  each  morning  by 
o'clock,  saluted  with  a  circle  of  hammete.  Eve 
man  seemed  to  know  and  prosecute  his  ov 
affaix'8  :  the  town  was  large,  and  full  of  inhabitant 
and  those  inhabitants  full  of  induEtiy.  I  had 
seen  faces  elsewhere  tinctured  with  an  id 
gloom  void  of  meaning,  but  here,  with  a  pie 
alertness.  Their  appearance  was  strongly  marked] 
with  the  modes  of  civil  life  :  I  mixed  with  a 
variety  of  company,  chiefly  of  the  lower  ranks^ 
and  rather  as  a  silent  spectator.  I  was  treated 
with  an  easy  freedom  by  all,  and  with  marks 


iaiifcUmiiiBfTmtogiuua.1        OLD   AND   NEW  BERMINGHA^t 


W 


1^   tra 

k 
I 


f&voar  by  some.      Hospitality  seemed  to  claim 
this  hAppy  people  for  her  own," 

The  weather  waa  exceedingly  fine  dxiring  his 
brief  stay  in  the  town,  and  this,  he  says,  gave  a 
lostp©  to  the  whola  •*  The  people/'  be  says, 
*^  seemed  happy,  and  I,  the  only  animal  out 
of  use." 

Impressed  by  the  example  of  the  busy  people 
Birmingham^  he  immediately  cast  about 
to  find  employment.  There  appeared  to  be 
three  stocking-weavers  in  Birmingham  ;  Evans,  a 
Quaker,  Holmes^  in  Dale  End,  and  Fi-ancis  Grace, 
at  the  Gate-way  in  New  Street,  the  latter  being  a 
native  of  Derby.  Hutton  went  first  to  Evans» 
iriio  was  the  oldest  and  principal  member  of  the 
tfBdein  the  town,  and  asked  him  for  employment. 
You  are  a  'prentice." 

*•  Sir,"  said  Hutton,  '*  I  am  not,  but  am  como 

ith  the  recommendation  of  yoiir  friend  Mr.  Such- 
a-one,  of  WalsalL" 

*'  Go  about  your  business,  I  tell  you,  you  are  a 
runaway  "prentice,"  said  Evans  angrily. 

Thus  repulsed,  the  young  stockinger  retreated, 
•'sincerely  wishing,"  he  adds,  "  I  had  business  to 
go  about." 

He  next  called  upon  Holmes,  but  he  was  at 
that  moment  engaged  in  waiting  upon  a  customer, 
and  gave  the  weary  seeker  after  employment  a 
penny  to  be  rid  of  him. 

He  then  turned  towards  New  Street,  to  seek 
Mr<  Grace,  who  had  known  the  Hutton  family, 
bflingy  as  already  stated,  a  native  of  the  same  towm 

"Fourteen  years  after,**  says  Hutton,  **he  pro- 
cared  for  me  a  valuable  wife,  his  niece  I  and 
8txtc«D  yeais  after,  he  died,  leaving  me  in  pos- 
MKion  of  hii  premisee  and  fortune,  paying  some 


I 


'*  I  moved  the  same  question  to  him  I  hnd  done 
to  otlie»y  and  with  the  same  efiect.  He  asked 
liter  Iris  brother  at  Derby.  I  answered  readily, 
a«  if  I  knew.  One  He  often  produces  a  second. 
He  examined  toB  closely ;  and^  though  a  man  of 
no  shining  talenU,  quickly  set  mo  foHt.  I  was 
obliged  to  tell  three  or  four  lies  to  patch  up  a 
13 


lame   tale»  which  I   plainly  saw   would   hardly 
pass, 

**  I  appeared  a  trembling  stranger  in  that  house, 
over  wliich,  sixteen  years  after,  I  should  preside, 
and  that  for  nineteen  more.  I  st^od,  as  a  culprit, 
by  that  counter,  upon  wliicb,  thirty-eight  years 
after,  I  should  record  the  memory.  I  thought, 
though  his  name  was  Grace,  his  heart  was  stony  ; 
and  I  left  the  shop  with  this  severe  reflection, 
that  1  had  told  several  lies,  and  that  without  the 
least  advantage.  I  am  sorry  to  digress,  but  must 
beg  leave  to  break  the  thread  of  my  narrative 
while  I  make  two  short  remarks. 

**  I  at-quiiied  a  high  character  for  honesty,  by 
stealing  two  sliilliags  !  Not  altogether  becauBo 
I  took  two  out  of  ton,  but  because  I  left  the  other 
eight  A  thief  is  seldom  known  to  leave  part  of 
his  booty  if  he  has  power  over  the  whole.  If  I 
had  had  money,  I  should  not  have  taken  any  ; 
and  if  I  had  found  none,  I  should  not  have  run 
away.  The  reader  will  also  think  with  me  that 
two  shillings  was  a  very  modest  sum  to  carry  mo 
to  Ireland. 

**  The  other  is  whether  lying  is  not  laudable  i 
If  I  could  have  consented  to  tell  one  lie  to  my 
imcle,  I  should  not  only  have  saved  my  back,  my 
character,  and  my  property,  but  abo  prevented 
about  ten  lies  wliich  I  was  obliged  to  tell  in  the 
course  of  the  following  week.  But  that  Vast 
InteUigence  who  directs  immensity,  whether  he 
judges  with  an  angry  eye,  according  to  some 
Christians,  or  with  a  benign  one,  according  to 
others,  will  ever  distinguish  between  an  act  of 
necessity  and  an  act  of  choice." 

Turning  slowly  away,  his  lust  opportunity  of 
finding  employment  gone,  he  walked  in  the 
dire^^tion  of  the  Bull  King.  It  was  about  seven 
o'clock  in  the  evening  of  Tuesday,  the  third  day 
of  his  wanderings.  **  I  sat  to  rest,"  ho  says,  **  on 
the  north  side  of  the  Old  Cross,  near  Phihp 
Street ;  the  poorest  of  all  the  poor  belonging  to 
that  great  parish,  of  which,  twenty-seven  years 
after,  1  should  be  overseer.  I  sat  under  that 
roof,  a  silent,  depressed  objecti  where  thirty-on« 


years  after,  I  should  sit  oe  a  judge.  When  pro- 
perty shoidd  be  iu  my  decision,  I  should  have  the 
pleasure  of  terminating  dilferences  between  man 
and  man,  and  the  good  fortune  to  leave,  even  the 
loser,  satisfieiL  Why  did  not  some  kind  agent 
comfort  me  with  the  distant  prospect  1 

**  About  ten  yards  from  me,  near  the  corner  of 
Pliilxp  Street,  I  perceived  two  men  in  aprons  eye 
me  with  some  attention.  They  approached  near. 
*  You  seem/  says  one,  *  by  your  melancholy  situa- 
tion, and  dusty  shoes,  a  forlorn  traveller,  without 
money  and  without  friends/*  I  assured  him  it 
was  exactly  my  case,  *  If  you  chooso  to  accept 
&  pint,  it  is  at  your  aenice.  I  know  what  it  is 
myself  to  be  distressed/  *I  shull  receive  any 
favomr/  says  I,  *with  thankfulness.* 

"They  took  me  tc»  the  Bell  in  Fliilip  Street, 
and  gave  me  what  drink  and  bread  and  cheese 
I  chose.  They  also  procured  a  lodging  in  the 
neighbourhood,  where  I  slept  for  three  half-pence, 

"I  did  not  meet  with  this  treatment  in  1770 
[twenty-nine  years  after]  at  Market  Bosworth, 
though  I  appeared  in  the  style  of  a  gentleman. 
The  inhabitants  set  their  dogs  at  me  merely  be- 
cause  I  was  a  stranger.  Surrounded  by  impassable 
roads,  no  intercourse  with  man  to  humanize  the 
mind,  no  commerce  to  smooth  their  rugged  man- 
ners, they  are  the  boors  of  nature.  We  are 
taught  to  wish  good  for  eviL  May  the  grass 
grow  in  their  stxeeta  !  *' 

The  kind  treatment  which  he  received  from 
the  **  good  Samaritans  "  of  Birmingham  made  it 
difficult  to  him  to  leave  that  "seat  of  civility," 
as  he  styled  the  town,  and  he  determined  to 
endeavour,  for  one  day,  to  forget  grim  care  in 
the  gratification  of  liia  previously  expressed  in- 
clination to  **  examine  towns  and  places^"— a 
pleasure  for  which  he  had  already  had  to  pay 
dearly  at  Lichfield, — and  so  on  the  morning  of 
the  following  day  (Wednesday)  made  a  more 
minute  survey  of  the  toivn.  It  may  interest  tho 
reader  to  know  tbe  extreme  boundary  of  the 
town  as  perambulated  by  Button  at  that  date. 
From  Ms  History  we  learn  that,  commencing  at 


tbe  t^p  of  8now  Hill,  along  Bull  Lane  (the  Xow  j 
Hail  Lane  of  1731),  the  town  was  still  confined 
to  the  left  of  the  traveller^  the  land  on  the  right  J 
being  still  unbuilt  upon.     Through  Bull  Lane  he  1 
would  proceed  to  Temple  Street ;  thence,  down  J 
Peck  Lane,  to  the  top  of  Pinfold  Street     Along] 
Dudley  Street,  across  the  Old  Inkleys,  to  th«| 
top  of    Smallbrook  Street ;   and  back,  through 
Edgbaston  Street  and  Bigbeth  to  the  upper  end  I 
of  Deritend.     Returning  to  the  top  of  Digbeth, 
he  would  pass  along  Park  Street,  up  Mass-house  i 
Lane,  passing  the  northern  end  of  Pal©  End,  | 
along  Staffonl  Street,  and  up  Steelhouae  Lane^  i 
to  the  place  from  whence  he  startetL     We  seel 
from  this  survey  that  the  town  had  not  as  yet ' 
extended  greatly  beyond  the  lines  of  1731,  but 
many  of  the  streets  then  formed  were  now  much^ 
better  filled  up  with  houses* 

On   Thursday,— the    16th   of   July,— be    left! 
Birmingham  for  Coventry   and  arrived   at  thatj 
city  early  in  the  day.      Still »  however,  be  saw  no  I 
opportunity  of  emplo^Tuent,  and  cgain  gratifiedJ 
his  desire  for  seeing  strange  places.      But  thel 
venerable  city  does  not  appear  to  have  impressed] 
him  favourably,     "  The  streets,"  he  soys,  "  seemed  1 
nan'ow,  ill-paved,  and  the  place  populous,"     The] 
Cross  he  pronounce  "  a  beautiful  little  piece  ol| 
architecture,  but  composed  of  wretched  materials^" 
The  quaint  old  houses,  with  their  projtscting  upper  J 
stories,  seemed  to  him  to  wear  a  gloomy  aspect ;  ] 
he  humoionsly  conjectures  that  the  idea  oi  the 
architect  in  designing  the  npper  projection  was 
**  that  of  shooting  off  the  wet,  and  shaking  hands  ] 
out  of  the  garret  windows,"     He  slept  that  niglit 
at  the  Star  Inn  in  that  city,  "  not  "  he  adds,  •*  aa  ' 
a  chamber  guest  but  as  a  hay -chamber  one." 

The  next  day  he  walked  to  Nuneaton,  and 
found  tlmt  he  "  had  again  entered  the  dominions 
of  sleep."      The  inhabitants  seemed  to  him  to  < 
creep  along  as  if  afiaid  their  streeta  should  lie  eeeuj 
empty.     **  However,"  he  says,  "  they  had  sen 
enough  to  ling  the  word  '  'prtniice '  in  my  ean^  ' 
which  I  not  only  denied,  but  used  every  %Qiel 
in  rhetoric  I  waa  master  of  to  establish  my  aigii- 


tliurelir«  tnd  BpcU,  17201760  ) 


OLD  Am)  NEW   BIRMINCxHAM. 


99 


inent;  y«t  wiw  not  nhh  to  perftiiade  thera  out  of 
penetratioiL"  Hia  great  crime  was  that  he 
aod  to  be  only  a  hot/.  **  I  thought  it  hard,"  he 
»ya,**to  perish  because  I  could  not  convince  p€oplo 
I  was  a  man,"  Ue  left  the  town  earij  m  the  day, 
^without  a  smile,  and  without  a  diniK^r,"  and 
liod  Hinckley  about  four  o'clock  in  tlie  after- 
Here,  a  native  of  Derby,  named  MOlward, 
'  him  some  little  employment,  at  which, 
during  the  two  hours  which  were  still  left 
of  the  day,  he  eiirned  tieopence.  After  wnrk, 
MElward  put  the  nsnal  questions,  and  charj^'ed 
him  with  being  a  runaway  apprentice,  and  this 
tiiiifi,  utterly  broken  down^  the  poor  wanderer 
odnutted  with  t^ara  tlie  truth  of  the  indict- 
iDent,  and  told  the  story  of  his  uncle's  harah- 
uid  his  sulwoquent  adventures.  The  story 
his  wanderings  arotisod  ^lillward's  suspicions, 
and  led  him  to  enquire  if  he  (llntton)  had 
any  money.  **  Enough,"  he  replied,  to  carry  me 
home  ;  **  adding  that  be  might  rest  satisfied  as  to 
his  honest>%  a^  he  had  brought  two  shillin^js  from 
home  with  him. 

TliiJ*  <»nJy  cojifirmed  Mill  ward's  suspicions.  Two 
5hUlings»  to  carry  a  lad  through  a  whole  week  of 
wandering,  in  which  lie  had  travelled  near  upon  a 
haiidi^ed  milee  !  The  thing  was  absurd  to  a  man 
atomed  to  take  things  easily,  to  whom  absti- 
ywas  probably  unknown.     "  My  reader  will 


ask,"  siiys  Htitturr,  **  how  T  livf»d1  I  answer,  as 
ho  could  not.  A  turnip-field  has  supplied  the 
place  of  a  cook's  shop  ;  a  spring,  that  of  a  public- 
house ;  and,  while  at  Birmingham,  I  knew  by 
repeatM  experience,  that  cherries  were  a  half-penny 
a  pound/'  He  stayed  with  Millwaj-d  until  the 
nrxt  morning,  and  then  started  off,  after 
thanking  him  for  his  kindness;  ** receiving,'* 
he  says,  '*  nothing  for  my  work,  nor  he  for  his 
civility." 

He  passed  through  Ashby-deda-Zouch  at  noon, 
and  arrived  at  Derby  at  nine  o*clock  in  the  evening, 
hia  week  of  wandering  ended,  and  he  onc^  more 
found  himself  under  his  father's  welcome  roof, 
where  he  was  gladly  received,  with  tears  for  his 
misfortunes,  and  an  opportunity  of  reconciliation 
with  his  uncle,  who  willingly  agreed  to  make  up 
half  the  loss  the  wanderer  had  sustained  at  Lich- 
field, his  father  consenting  to  make  up  the  other. 

**But  I  am  sorry  to  observ©,"  adds  Hutton, 
"  that  it  waa  thought  of  no  more,  I  thought  it 
pectdiarly  hard  that  the  promise  to  punish  me 
was  remembered,  and  the  promise  to  reward  m© 
forgot/' 

Thus  ended  this  eventful  episode  in  the  early 
life  of  the  first  historian  of  Birmingham,  whom 
we  must  now  leave,  until  the  period  at  which  he 
again  visited  Birmingham  to  take  hia  place  aa  one 
of  her  worthiest  citizens. 


CHAPTEK     XV. 


THE     CHITKCHES     AND     SECTS      OF     BIRMINGHAM,      1720-1760. 

Bttir  <'f  Hit.  Joltu'4  C1ui««t.  rierit«j]d— ^t.  Marttu'4— ltkcrc«Be  of  the  Pealu  of  Bi<Ua  dt  St.  Mjutln'c  imd  St.  FbUip'»— 8t  Bikrtholoiiietr'« 
c  New  Me«tlAg  Htjua*— EracUuti  of  a  D*{>tJai  tf««Uug-lii>u»t!i  in  Cjiaaun  Streot'-Ccnttroveniy  between  Bamisel  Botim  ftod 
-•*T'*  LaiiB  CliJ4j>cl— M«tlithli«o  in  Blniantfham— ViaiU  of  John  Wealey— TUe  PpotwUnt  Dlueatiqg  Charity  School. 


Wk  liavci  in  pivTioas  chaptaiB,  brought  down 
Ih^  hkiory  of  the  tliurchoa  and  aecta  of  Birming- 
\mm  m  for  m  tlie  year  1720,  or  thereabouts.  Up 
to  tllflt  period,  fts  we  have  seen,  there  were  throe 
Chofehes  in  the  town  belonging  to  the  Est&b- 
liriiai0Dlp  Tie*;  ib»  Mother  Church  of  St  Martin's, 


St.  Philip*s,  and  the  old  Chapel  of  St  John  the 
Baptist,  Deritend.  In  the  year  1786  the  latter, 
which  had  stood  more  than  three  hundred  and 
tlfty  yeaiB,  had  fallen  into  a  ^bate  of  complete 
dilapidation,  and  was  taken  down,  and  the  pT««ent 
chapel,  of  brick,  with  stone  casings  to  the  doora 


100 


OLD   AND    NEW   BIRMINGHAM. 


(ChurchaB  «tia  Sftcta.  1790-lTOO 


and  windowg,  was  erected.  In  1762  the  tower 
was  added,  thus  completing  one  of  the  most 
unlovely  examples  of  ecclesiastical  aichitectur© 
ever  perpetrated  The  rigorous  adherence  of  the 
architect  to  the  custom  of  phwiiiig  the  chancel  due 
east  has  thrust  that  end  of  the  church  beyond  the 
line  of  the  street,  thus  adding  to  the  irregular 
appearance  of  this^the  oldest  and  most  crooked 
street  in  the  town-  In  1777  eight  very  musical 
bellfi  and  a  clock  were  placed  in  the  tower.  The 
church  is  said  by  Hut  ton  to  be  capable  of  accom- 
modating about  seven  hundred  persons. 

During  the  period  covered  by  the  present 
chapter,  from  1720  or  thereabouts  to  1760,  the 
alterations  at  the  two  larger  chun^hea  were  not 
considerable.  The  work  of  disfigurement  con- 
tinued unchecked  at  St  Martin's*  Windows 
were  blocked  up  here,  and  new  and  ugly  ones 
opened  there,  large  unsightly  pews  were  erected 
**  where  no  ^jew  should  be,"  and  so  the  huildiug 
increased  in  ugliness,  and  no  voice  was  heard  to 
protest  against  the  sins  against  taste  which  were 
thus  committed,  chieily  by  churchwardens.  In 
1761  the  pe^il  of  bells  at  St.  Philip's  were  in- 
creased from  six  to  ten,  and  as  St*  Martin's  at 
that  time  had  only  eight,  and  **  could  not  bear 
to  be  out- numbered  by  a  junior  though  of 
superior  excellence,*  "  the  older  peal  was  increased 
to  twelve,  *'  but,"  says  Hutton,  '*  as  room  was  in- 
sufficient for  the  admission  of  hells  by  tlie  dozen, 
means  were  fouiul  tu  hoist  them  tier  over  tier." 
The  probable  reason  for  the  increase  to  twelve 
was  that  there  might  be  sufficient  to  afford  scope 
for  the  cliiniing  of  various  airs  thereon  ;  for»  as 
Mutton  remarks,  **  only  a  few  tunes  can  he  played 
on  the  octave,  whilst  the  dozen  will  compass 
nearly  all.*' 

An  Industrial  School  was  established  in  con- 
nection with  St,  Philip's  Church,  and  erected  in 
the  churchyard  in  1734.  During  the  present 
century  (in  1846)  the  school  was  removed  to  more 
commodious  premises  in  Lichfield  Street,  capable 
of  accommodating  170  children,  boya  and  girls. 

•Huttoa, 


The  increasing  population  of  the  town  c^ed 
for  additional  church  accommodation.  The  town 
was  rapidly  extending  eastward^  and  it  was  nii 
cessary  that  some  provision  should  be  made  fof 
the  inhabitimts  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Stafford 
Street,  Dale  End,  and  the  eastern  end  of  Park 
Street  and  Moor  Street.  To  supply  this  ne^d, 
land  was  given  for  the  erection  of  a  church  in 
this  locality,  by  John  Jenninga,  Esq. ;  and  his 
lady  contributed  j£  1,000  towards  the  building 
fund.  In  1749,  therefore,  Binningham  was 
provided  with  a  fourth  Church,  dedicated  to  St 
Bartliolomew,  which  is  one  of  the  few  local 
churches  provided  with  a  large  burial-grountl 
The  building  is  of  brick,  very  unpretending 
its  appearance,  and  is  surmounted  by  what 
Hutton  terms  an  "infant  steeple, — very  small 
but  beautiiul"  The  architect  very  wisely  re^, 
jected  the  superstition  as  to  the  eastward  position 
and  so  enabled  the  building  to  range  with  thd 
lines  of  the  surrounding  streets.  **  Whether  thfl 
projectc>r  committed  an  error,"  says  Hutton, 
leave  to  the  critics.  It  was  the  general  p  tactic 
of  the  Pagan  church  to  fix  their  altar,  upoml 
which  they  sacrificed,  in  the  east,  towards  thej 
rising  sun,  the  object  of  worship.  The  Christ 
church,  in  the  time  of  the  Romans,  immediatclj 
succeeded  the  Pagan,  and  scrupulously  adopted 
the  same  methoil;  which  has  been  strictly  aA 
hered  to.  By  what  obligation  the  Christian 
bound  to  follow  the  Pagan,  or  wherein  a  church 
would  bo  injured  by  being  directed  to  any  of  the 
thirty-two  points  of  the  compass,  is  doubtful* 
Certain  it  b,  if  the  chancel  of  St.  Bartholomew'^ 
had  tended  due  east,  the  eye  would  have 
considerably  hurt,  and  the  builder  would 
raised  an  object  of  ridicule  for  ages.  The  ground 
will  admit  of  no  situation  but  that  in  which  theg 
church  now  stands.  But  the  inconsiderate  arcl] 
tect  of  Deritend  Chapel,  anxious  to  catch 
eastern  pointy  lost  the  line  of  the  street ;  we  mayjj 
therefore,  justly  pronounca,  **  A<?  mcrificed 
ihe  east:'* 

*  Hl«tot7  of  Blnnli^glma,  dsih  tdlttoa,  y.  90f . 


102 


OLD  AND  NEW  BIRMINGHAM, 


LCIiurcJkes  hnd  fSt^etn,  17S0  I7«0.' 


ipparatns  ftnd  themselves  "  to  a  room  at  the  hack 
of  No-  38,  High  Street;  and,  in  1738,  were 
enabled  to  build  fo?  themselves  a  meeting  house 
in  Cannon  8tT€43t,  on  part  of  the  site  of  Gue^^t  s 
cherry-orchard.  To  this  prosperous  little  church 
the  older  community  of  Freeman  Street  joined 
themselves,  and  abandoned  their  original  home, 
in  the  year  1752. 

On  the  opening  of  the  Cannon  Street  Meeting 
House,  a  pamphlet  was  published  by  the  Bev, 
Samuel  Bouru,  minister  of  the  New  Meeting, 
entitled  *'  A  Dialogue  between  a  Baptist  and  a 
Churchman,  occasioned  by  the  Baptist!  opening  a 
new  fleeting  House  for  reviving  old  Calvinistical 
doctrines,  and  spreading  Antinomianiam  and  other 
errors,  at  Birmingham,  in  Warwkkshke.  Part  L 
By  a  consistent  Christian;"  Thit  pamphlet 
called  forth  a  crushing  reply  from  the  celebrated 
Dr.  Gill,  one  of  the  most  eminent  and  learned 
divines  of  the  Baptist  community.  A  second 
part  subsequently  appearetl,  which  met  with  a 
^inulur  fate  at  the  hands  of  that  di^dne. 

The  early  part  of  the  eighteenth  century  has 
ever  stood  forth  in  the  religious  history  of  this 
country  as  an  age  of  indinerence  and  un- 
belief. Tho  clergy  of  the  Established  Church, 
arui  the  desceudanta  of  the  puritan  Nonconform- 
ists who  ha<l  sulTered  for  their  religious  opinions 
in  the  spventtienth  century,  joined  in  throwing 
over  as  useless  all  the  d^igmatic  theology  for 
which  their  fathers  had  struggled.  In  this  period 
of  loose  creeds  the  doctrine  of  Arianism  gained 
gixjund,  and  the  few  among  the  nonconformists 
who  held  fast  by  the  theology  of  their  fathers, 
seceded  from  the  various  congrt^gations  and  formed 
themselves  into  Independent  churches.  In  Bir- 
mingham the  seceders  built  a  meeting-house  in 
Carres  Lane,  which  was  commenced  in  1747  and 
opened  in  1748.  It  was  capable  of  hulding  about 
450  peffaons,  and  this  remained  the  only  accom- 
modatioti  for  the  Independent  or  Congregational 
Church  in  Birmingham  until  the  end  of  the 
eighteenth  century.  It  has  since  been  twice 
te-buiit    and    several    timea    enlarged,    but    of 


these  changes  we  shall  have  more  to  say 
after. 

While   the   "faithful  few*'  of  nonconformity 
thuH  protested  ajj^ainst  the  errors  which  had  crej 
into  their  churches,  there  was  not  wanting  in  th 
EstahUshed  Church  of  tho  reahn  a  little  hand- 
ful of  her  ministers  ready,  as  our  great  satiJ 
has  finely  said,  "  to  quit  the  insulted  temple 
pray  on  the  hill-sida''*      Among    the  first 
stand  forth  and  protest  against  the  indifference 
and  corruption  of  tho  time  were  the  founders 
Methodism,  John  and  Charles  Wesley,  and  Geo^ 
Whitefield.     It  is  not  necessary  that  we  ahou 
in   these   pages,   enlarge  upon    the    persecution 
which  these  men  endured  throughout  the  country 
during   the   earlier  years  of  their   labours.      In 
Birmingham,  whither  John  Wealey  came  in  174J 
<*  the  stones  flow  on  every  side  ;"  and  throughoij 
the   district   known   as   the    Black   Country 
salfered  similar — and   often   worse — persecutio 
**  I   look   with  reverencse,"   says   Thackeray, 
these  men  at  that  time.     Which  is  the  sublime 
spectacle — the  good  John  Wesley,  surrounded 
his  congregation  of  minors  at  the  pit's  mouth, 
the  Queen's  chaplains   mumbling   through  thei^ 
morning   otHce   in    their   anteroom,   under    the 
picture  of  the  great  Venus,  with  the  door  openl 
into  the  adjoining  chamber  where  the  Queen 
dressing,    talking   scandal   to    Lord    Hervey,   or 
nttering  sneers  at  Lady  Suffolk,  who  is  kneeliii 
with  the  basin  at  her  mistress's  side."t 

**The   artillery   of   vengeance,"   says   Kuttoij 
"was  pointeil  at  Methodism  for  thirty  year 
but,   fixed  as  a  rock,  it  could  never  be   beate 
down,  and  its  professors  now  enjoy  their  senti 
ments  in  (|uiet"      For  some   considerable  tin 
after  the  planting  of  the  sect  in  Birmingham 
adherents  were  "  covered  by  the  heavens,  equa 
exposed  to  the  rain  and  the  rabble."  I     Aft 
ward  s  they  held  their  various  meetings  in  a 
in  SteeDiouse  Lane,  in  the  occupation  of  a 


*  W.  M.  THJicKKRAT  :  Lnctarei  on  Utd  ionar  Q«airv«t,-^orlBi^ 

popQUr  edition^  toI.  x,  p-  Slfll] 
t  ib.  p.  SIS.  X  HaUon. 


Btfir  Ota  AaemtAn  Tm veiled.] 


OLD    AKB    NEW    BlfLMINGHAM. 


lOS 


ker,  atid  fiubsei^uoutly  they  obtained  the  us« 
be  okl  play-houae,  in  Moor  Street,  at  the  open- 
ing  of    wkioh   John    Wesley  himself  preached, 
,on  the  21st  of  M/irch,   1764.     William  Hutton 
aptly  sums  up  the  career  of  thk  eminent 
devoted  Christian,  *' whoso  extensive  know- 
'ledgo  and  nnhlemished  manners^"  he  says,  "give 
ns  a  tolerable  picture  of  apostolic  purity,  who  be- 
I  lUvtdy  as  if  he  were  to  be  saved  by  faith,  and 
Jaboured  as  if  he  were  to  be  saved  by 

Tba  origina]  meeting-house  in  Birmingham  of 
ti)9  Bocisty  of  Friends,  oommonly  called  Quakers, 
is  aaid  to  have  been  in  Moumouth  Street,  where 
there  exiiUd,  before  the  making  of  the  Great 
Western  Railway,  indications  of  au  old  burial- 
\  ground.  Between  1 702  and  1 705,  a  meeting-house 
ed  in  Bull  iStreet,  which,  although  very 
Bred,  and  twice  enlarged,  u  sUil  in  exiist- 
I  eiiG6,  and  remains  the  i>nly  abmle  of  the  society  in 
Birmingham. 

btich  were  the  Chna^hes  and  Beets  of  Bimiing' 

Itam  daring  i\\%  first  half  of  the  eighteenth  century. 

[  A9  yet  the  Roman  Catholics  hail  ftoJeil  to  make 

I  any  progress  in  the  town  since  ttie  destruction  of 

I  Uic  Chujuh  of  St  Marie  Magdalen,  in  1688,     The 

litUa  ehapd  at  Edghaston  was  still  the  only  place 

(if  worship  belonging  to  tlmt  oomm unity  in  this 


neighboui'hood  If  we  except  the  Unitarians  we 
may  consider  Dissent  as  yet  only  in  its  infancy  in 
th«  townj  but  these  little  churches,  which  we 
have  seen  arising  in  the  weakness  of  infancy, 
were  dtistined  in  the  future  to  bear  no  unim- 
portant part  in  the  work  of  enlightening  the 
people  around  them,  in  dispelling  the  clouds  of 
ignorance  and  immorality,  in  co-f>perating  in  deeds 
of  love  anfl  mercy,  in  endeavouring  to  make  the 
world  better  and  the  lot  of  suffering  humanity 
easier — to  prove  a  blessing  to  thousands  of  the 
toiling  sons  of  Birmingham  yet  unborn. 

About  the  year  1 760  the  Unitarians  of  |liir- 
mingham  established  a  Free  School  on  nearly  the 
same  plan  as  the  Blue  Coat  School ;  the  fuundation 
being  Intended  to  support  and  educate  about 
eighteen  boya  imd  eight  girls,  who  were  to  be 
employed  in  various  kinds  of  work  diu'ing  a 
portion  of  their  time,  in  such  a  manner  as  would 
best  fit  them  for  future  usefulness.  In  1701  a 
building  was  purchased  by  the  society  in  Park 
Street,  and  about  £1,200  expended  on  its  im- 
provement. In  this  the  number  of  hoys  wia 
increased  to  36  and  givh  to  18,  but  in  later  years 
the  benefits  of  this  excellent  institution  have  been 
confined  exclusively  to  girls.  Tlic  newer  building, 
in  Graliam  Streetj  will  be  described  in  our  notices 
of  Birmingham  in  tlie  nineteenth  teulury. 


CHAPTER     XVI, 


HOW     OUK     ANCESTORS     TKAVKLLKD. 

4iititt»u  -I  ^'ui^"  Coftthea  into  Englanil— Coach  P*f»i«  HoraeTtiaolc- OinjKiftHiun  cnctiuntereJ  by  the  tarly  Coachca — A  Binnfnghftiii 
» Cumch  to  l«ri»— Infliieiicc  of  tnvelltng  o»  Uie  Progmia  qf  tiie  T<jrwu— The  OM  Iniu  of  BiiminghAiQ— Rothirell'a  CoACb,  1781. 


Ii  may  be  interesting  to  our  readers  to  pause  for 
a  lew  miuQtea  in  the  history  of  our  town^  in  order 
Ui  take  a  glimpse  at  our  ancestors  of  the  eighteenth 
€etitur%'  on  their  travek  j  and  to  make  a  few  notes 

I  the  old  Birmingham  coachea. 

Jtitougb  the  intrtJil  action  of  stage  coaches  into 
Engkeid  took  place  as  early  as  the  middle  of  the 
atveiitee&th  century,  they  di^l  not  become  popular 


for  many  years ;  and  those  who  could  afford  to  do 
so  performed  their  journeys  on  horseback  ;  as  did 
Samuel  Johnson  and  his  bride  on  their  wedding 
journey  to  Derby  ;  and  many  otheirs,  looking  back 
on  the  pleasures  of  riding  through  shady  country 
lanes,  or  along  the  bard  hnn  roads  during  frosty 
weather,  regarded  Uie  innovation  for  many  years 
with  disf&Tour.    The  writer  of  one  of  the  tracts  re- 


104 


OLD  AND  NEW  BIRMINGHAM. 


(How  ttm  AtiuBttoft' 


printed  in  tlic  Harlcian  Miscellany*  pronounces 
**  those  coaches  and  caravans  "  to  be  "  one  of  the 
greatest  mischiefs  that  have  happened  of  late 
years  to  the  kingdom,  mischieTous  to  the  public, 
destructive  to  trade,  and  prejudicial  to  lands." 
He  charges  them  fiiBt  with  "destroying  the  breed 
of  good  horses,  the  strength  of  the  nation,  and 
making  men  careless  of  attending  to  good  horse- 
manship ; "  secondly!  with  **  hindering  the  breed 


Sir  William  Dugdales  Diarj*  we  le 
early  as  1679  there  was  a  Birmingh 
London.  Under  date  July  16,  II 
**  I  came  out  of  London  by  the  stage 
Bermkham  to  Banbury/*  Who  was  t] 
prising  originator  of  thii  old  "  Bermiclma 
we  cannot  now  ascertain.  ^M 

The  facilities  thus  early  offeped  for  fll 
people  to  travel,  doubtless*  exercised  aa  j 


r-fil 


jH^'SI^, 


1M£  OLD  PRISON,    PECK  LAHB. 


of  watermen^  who  are  the  nursery  for  seamen  ;  '* 
and  thirdly  with  **leftsemiig  his  majesty's  revenue,*' 
But  notwithstanding  the  opposition,  with  which 
every  innovation  has  to  contend,  the  stage  coach 
held  its  own,  and  became  the  recognised  mode  of 
travelling  for  more  than  two  hundred  ye-ars,  in 
various  forros,  and  the  new  convenience  was  not 
long  in  finiling  iU  way  into  the  Midlands.      In 


*  Hm  Qrvul  Caocani  of  BagUnd.'* 


on  the  town,  as  regards  local  im] 
well  as  in  enabling  the  workmen 
visit  the  metropolis,  and  to  pick  up' 
*♦  Home-keeping  youth,"  eays  our  gtea^ 
**have  ever  homely  witflj,"  and  it 
almost  impossible,  without  the  means 
with  other  great  centres  of  industry an< 
for  a  community  isolated  as  Binning] 
other  latge  towns  to  have  made  such 


Bftw  ottr  Ancr«t«rs  TrivclleO  1 


OLD   AND  XEW  BmMIXGEAM, 


105 


the  mdustrial  arts,  and  in  othitr  way  a, 
historj"  of  the  town,  from  the  mid^Ue 
to  the  end  of  the  seventeenth  century,  gives 
eridence  of. 

The  next  Birminghmn  Coach  of  which  we  haye 
any  it»i;oTii  is  that  of  Nathaniel  Roth  well,  ninning 
l>etwecn  Birmingham  and  London,  the  journey 
being  "performed  (if  G<jd  permit)  in  two  daya 
and  a  half/' 

The  contract  hoth  in  appearance  and  conve- 
nience between  these  old  coaches  of  the  first  half 
of  the  eighteenth  century  and  the  coache.s  of  the 
period  which  immediately  preceded  the  introduc- 
tion of  milways,  is  weU  depicted  in  a  scarce  little 
collection  of  Talttf  of  an  Aidtqumry^  published 
about  iif  ty  years  ago. 

**  In  my  own  young  di^a>"  says  the  writer  of 
these  To/^,  "they  [the  st^e-coaches]  were  not 
formed  of  that  glossy  material  which  now  reflects 
the  ever-changing  acenes  as  they  whirl  lightly  and 
rapidly  along>  but  were  constructed  principally 
of  A  dull  black  leather,  thickly  studded,  by  way 
of  oniamenti  with  black  broad-headed  nails  tracing 
oot  the  pttneld ;  in  the  upper  tier  of  which  were 
four  oval  windows^  \nth  heavy  red  wooden 
f  ramefl)  and  green  stulf  or  Icathor  curtain^i.  Upon 
the  doora,  also,  there  appeared  but  little  of  that 
guy  blazonry  which  shines  upon  the  qundrlngw 
of  the  present  time  ;  but  there  were  displayed  in 
large  characters  the  names  of  the  places  whence  the 
oofich  started,  and  whither  it  went,  stated  in 
quaint  and  antique  language.  The  vehicles  them- 
selves varied  in  shape.  Sometimes  they  were  like 
A  distiUer's  vatp  somewhat  flattened,  and  hung 
equally  bt\lanced  between  the  immense  front  and 
hack  springs ;  in  other  iuBtances  they  resembled 
A  vioUncello-caae,  which  was  past  all  compaiiaon 
the  mofit  fashionable  form  ;  and  then  they  hung 
m  A  more  genteel  posture,  namely,  inclining  on  to 
the  back  Bpriiigs,  and  giving  to  tliose  who  sat 
whhin  the  appearance  of  a  stiff  Guy  Faux,  un- 
CAitlj  seated.  ,     .     The  coachman,  and  the 

IQAtd,  who  always  held  his  carabine  ready  bent, 
or  At  ire  now  say,  eocked,  upon  his  knee«  then  sat 


togetlier;  not  as  at  present,  upon  a  close,  com- 
pact, varnished  seat,  but  over  a  very  long  and 
narrow  boot,  which  passed  under  a  large  spread- 
ing hammer  cloth,  hanging  down  on  all  sides,  and 
finished  with  a  flowing  and  most  luxuriant  fringe. 
Ik^hind  the  coach  was  the  immense  basket, 
stretching  far  and  wide  beyond  the  body,  to 
which  it  was  attached  by  Irtng  iron  bars  or  sup- 
ports passing  beneath  it;  though  even  these 
seemed  scarcely  equal  to  the  enormous  weight  with 
which  they  were  freqaenlly  loaded.  .... 
The  wheels  of  these  old  carriages  were  large, 
massive,  ill-formed,  and  usually  of  a  red  colour ; 
and  the  three  horses  that  were  affixed  to  the 
whole  machine — the  foremost  of  which  was  helped 
onward  by  carrying  a  huge  long-legged  elf  of  a 
postillion,  dr^sed  in  a  cocked  hat,  with  a  large 
green  and  gold  riding  coat — were  all  so  far  parted 
from  it  by  tlie  great  length  of  their  traces,  that 
it  was  with  tw  little  difficulty  that  tho  poor 
animals  tlragged  their  unwieldly  burthen  along 
the  road.  It  groaned,  and  creaked,  and  lumbered* 
at  every  fresh  tug  which  they  gave  it,  as  a  ship, 
rocking  or  beating  up  tli rough  a  heavy  sea,  strains 
all  her  timbers  with  a  low  moaiiing  sound,  as  she 
drives  over  the  contending  waves." 

Of  such  a  coach  the  reader  will  see  a  rough 
delineation  in  the  facsimile  of  the  rude  woodcut 
at  the  head  of  I^othwell's  handbUlj  which  we  give 
on  another  page.  In  later  years,  the  Birming- 
ham coaches,  at  any  rate,  presented  a  somewhat 
different,  and  less  sombre  exterior,  wliich 
Thomas  De  Quincey  has  very  graphically  de- 
flcrihed.  '*Oace/*  he  says,  "I  remember  being 
on  the  box  of  the  Holyhead  Mail,  between 
Shrewsbury  and  Oswestiy,  when  a  tawdry 
thing  from  Birmingham,  sume  '  Tallyho '  or 
*  High-flyer,*  all  flamiting  with  green  and  gold, 
came  up  alongside  of  us.  Wliat  a  contrast  to  our 
royal  simplicity  of  form  and  colour  in  tliis  plebeian 
wretch  I  The  single  ornament  on  our  dark  ground 
of  chocolate  colour  was  the  mighty  shield  of  the 
imperial  arms,  but  emblazoned  in  proportions  as 
modest  as  a  signet  rinf?  beare  to  a  seal  of  office. 


14 


10« 


ni.T>   AXD   XEW   BIRMrNGHAM. 


[Hov  our  Anoeston  TmvetlvdL 


Even  this  was  displayed  only  on  a  single  pannel, 
whispering,  rather  than  proclaiming,  our  rcktions 
to  the  mighty  atate;  whilst  the  beast  from 
Birmingham,  otii  green-and-gold  friend  from  false, 
fleeting,  perjured  Brummagem^  had  as  much 
ivriting  and  painting  on  its  sprawling  flanks  aa 
would  have  puzzled  a  decipherer  from  the  tombs 
of  Luxor."* 


not  long  before  a  considerable  improvement  wa 
effected  in  the  spe^d  of  the  Binmngham  coachea. 
The  first  ** Flying  Coach'*  in  England  of  which 
any  rof^ord  can  be  foimd  was  that  running  between 
Birmintjham  and  London,  It  is  announced  in 
Walkers  Birmingham  Paper,  of  April  12th, 
1742,  (Ko  26),  as  follows:— "The  Litchfield  and 
Birmingham  Stag©  Coach  sets  out  this  mnrning 


r* 


M 


^T^'i 


'i-ri- 


-}%■■ 


M: 


mtT^^ 


BT.    BARTHOLOMEW  fi  CHURCH. 


Tlie  slow  rate  at  which  these  lumbering  old 
coaches  travelled, — about  three  miles  an  hour, — 
grew  in  time  to  be  a  source  of  great  dissatisfaction, 
and  to  none  more  so  than  to  the  busy,  restless 
people  of  Binningham^  Discontent  has  ever 
been  the  precurser  of  improvement,  and  it  was 


*  TaoiiAa  Di  QcnxcxT :    The  EngUab  HaO  Co*«h 


rWorki  : 


(Monday)  from  the  *Rose  Inn*  at  IIoibouTn  Bridge, 
London,  and  will  be  at  the  House  of  Mr.  Francis . 
Cox,  ih€  Angd  and  Hen  and  Chickens,  in  the  High  \ 
Toumf  Birmingham^  on  Wednestlay  next  to  dinner,  i 
and  goes  the  same  afternoon  to  Litchfield,  and 
returns  to  Birmingham  on  Thursday  morning  to 
breakfast,  and  gets  to  London  on  Saturday  night,  i 
and  so  will  continue  every  week  regularly  with  a 


Bow  our  Asciaaton  TraTelled  ) 


OLD  AND  N1CW  BIRMINGHAM. 


107 


Igood  ooaeh  and  able  horses,"  To  perfonu  tb© 
Fjoomey  from  London  to  Birmmgham  lu  two  days 
and  a  half  does  not  sound  at  all  like  "  flying  "  to 
modam  ears,  accustomed  to  travelling  the  same 
distance  in  a  few  horns ;  but  to  the  people  of 
1742,  it  was  a  startling  innovation,  they  never 
haviiig  conceived  of  a  greater  speed  than  three 
or  four  miles  an  honr. 

The  merchants  of  Manchester  and  Liverpool 
were  far  behind  Birmingham  in  the  matter  of 
trmTelling^  It  was  not  until  1754  that  the  former 
stilted  a  "  Flying  Coach,"  of  which  it  was  an- 
•miouneed  that  "  incredible  as  it  may  appear,  this 
coach  wiD  actually  (barring  accidents)  arrive  in 
London  in  four  days  and  a  half  after  leaving  Man- 
chester."  Three  years  later  Liverpool  eclipsed  her 
rival  by  mnning  a  coach  (^called  a  **  flying  machinit 
cm  steel  gprings^*')  which  occupied  only  three  days  in 
the  journey  between  that  city  and  the  metropolis. 
Still  Birmingham  seemed  determined  to  lead 
the  van  in  improvements  in  this  as  in  other 
matters.     The  Annual  Register  for  the  year  1758 

ti]p«i<ribes  an  improved  Birmingham  coach,  which 
^presented  as  going  without  using  coomb,  or 
oily,  unctuous^  or  other  liquid  matter  what- 
to  the  wheels  or  axles;  its  construction  being 
such  as  to  render  all  such  helps  useless.     The  in- 
ventor had  engraved,  on  the  boxes  of  the  wheels, 
^  the  words  **  Frkthn  Annihihted^  and  it  was  as- 
H^ sorted  tliat  the  carriage  would  go  as  long  and  as 
^■Mgr*  ^  ^ot  longer  and  easier,  without  greasingi 
^*l6m  any  of  the  ordinary  stage  carriages  will  do 
with    greasing.     **  If    this   answers   in   common 
practice/*  adds  the  writer  in  the  Annual  Register^ 
^'ii  is   perhaps   the   most   useful    invention   in 
mechanics  that  tliia  age  has  produced.^'    Whether 
the  invention  realised  the  expectations  of  its 
B  originator  or  not  we  cannot  say ;  but  as  we  do 
"    not  hoar  of  it  in  connection  with  modem  coach 
building,  it  is  probable  that  the  **  friction  anni- 
B  hilatof  "  liaa  passed  into  the  limbo  of  ingenious, 
H  hut  tm|imctkabl6  inventions,  of  which  the  vast 
H  Ebtary    of     patent     specifications    could    afford 
thoitaaoda  of  example.<i. 


The  discomfort  of  the  jolting,  rolling,  lumber- 
ing coach  was  not  the  only  drawback  to  the 
traveller's  enjoyment.  The  wretched  condition 
of  the  roads,  and  the  difficidty  of  proceeding  at 
anything  like  a  good  speed,  afforded  great  facilities 
for  the  successors  of  those  "minions  of  the 
moon  "  who  plied  their  calling  so  successfully  at 
Gad's  Hill,  It  was  by  no  means  an  infrequent 
occurrence  for  the  passengers  to  alight  at  their 
destination  mimis  money  and  all  other  valuables 
they  had  incautiously  carried  with  them  ;  unable 
to  pay  for  the  accommodation  of  the  inn,  or  even 
for  a  necessary  supply  of  food*  The  early  numbers 
of  the  Gazette  bear  frequent  testimony  to  the 
dangers  of  the  road,  and  the  wisdom  of  that  custom 
at  which  we  of  the  nineteenth  century  are  prone  to 
smile,  viz.,  of  the  traveller  making  his  will  before 
proceeding  on  bis  journey.  The  earliest  notice 
in  that  journal  of  an  adventure  of  this  sort  refers 
not  to  the  traveller  by  stage-coach,  but  to  one  who 
preferred  the  older  and  pleasanter  mode  of  travel- 
ling — on  horseback,  **  An  eminent  tea  merchant, 
in  Cornhill,"  one  Frederick  BuU,  was  journeying 
from  Wolverlmmpton  to  London,  in  October,  1742, 
and  "  was  overtaken  on  the  road  by  a  single  Man 
on  Horseback,  whom  he  took  for  a  GentJemwt ; 
hut  after  they  had  rode  three  or  four  miles  to- 
gether, he  then  ordtretl  him  to  dtiliver,  trhkh 
Mr,  Bull  took  to  bt  in  J  tat;  hat  he  told  him  that 
he  was  in  Earned^  and  accordiugly  robh'd  him  of 
about  four  Guineas  and  his  Watch,  and  after- 
wards rode  with  him  thri-e  miles,  till  they 
came  near  a  Town,  when  the  Highwayman  rode 
off." 

A  few  months  later  the  Gazette  chronicled  an 
attack  on  the  Coach.  On  the  18th  May,  we 
read,  **  the  Birmingham  Stage  Coach  was  robb*d 
about  two  Miles  from  Banbury,  and  about  an 
hour  after  the  Robber}^  was  committed,  the  noted 
Sanshury  and  Ids  Accomplice,  who  have  infested 
these  Roads,  were  taken,  being  drunk,  and  asleep 
among  the  Standing  Cora"  The  "noted  Sans- 
hury "  was  executed  shortly  afterwai'ils. 

The  highwayman  of  that  period|  as  we  are 


loe 


OLD  AND  NEW  BIRMINGHAir. 


fHoir  our  AncBtfam  TmvtUed. 


continuftlly  reminded  in  romances  of  the  **  Eoolc- 
wood  "  and  **  Paid  Clifford  "  school,  was  often  a 
cbivalrone  and  high-minded  gentleman,  of  whom 
the  famous  Claude  Duval  was  a  notable  example. 
They  wore  favoured  occasionally  with  a  visit 
from  one  of  these  high-minded  gentry  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  Birmingham.  On  October 
let,  1750,  tho  Gazetie  reported  an  incident 
of  the  kind  bo  frequently  referred  to  hy  the 
admirers  of  the  old  **  knights  of  the  road."  On 
the  previous  Wednesday  Mr.  Henry  Hunt,  of 
this  town,  ^'  was  stopped  on  Sutton  Coldfield,  in 
the  Chester  Road,  by  two  Highwaymen^  wbo 
robb'd  him  of  his  Watch  and  Money;  but  on  Mr. 
Hani  askmg  him  to  give  him  ha/:k  f^ome  silver^  the 
Highwaymen  rdnm^d  him  six  shlUinga^  and  imme- 
diately rode  across  the  Coldfield,  and  robVd  another 
gentleman  in  sight  of  him,  and  then  Kjde  quite  off/' 
There  is,  however,  one  other  adventure  on  the 
road  chronicled  which  eclipses  this  of  Satton 
Coldfieldj  both  for  cool  impudence  and  gentle- 
manly bearing  on  the  part  of  the  "Collector." 
On  Tuesday  April  30th,  1751,  the  **  Shrewsbury 
Ctirravan,"  wo  are  told,  was  stopped  between  the 
Four  Crosses  and  the  Welch  Ilarp  by  a  single 
Highwayman,  **  who  behaved  very  civill}^  to  the 
Passengers,  told  them  that  he  was  a  Tradesman 
in  Distress,  and  hoped  that  they  would  contribute 
to  hia  assistance."  The  bat  thus  iinceremoniously 
passed  round,  was  liberally  received,  for  we  are 
told  "each  Passenger  gave  him  something,"  so 
that  the  whole  contribution  amounted  to  about 
four  i^ouuda,  *'  with  which  be  was  mighty  weU 
satisfied.*'  But  although  a  "  tradesman  in  dis- 
tress," he  had  evidently  —  unlike  hia  brothtjr 
tradesmen — a  soid  above  coppers ;  for  we  read 
that  he  **  retmm*d  some  Halfpence  to  one  of  (hem, 
mf/itig  he  never  took  Copper.'*  He  then  told 
them  **  there  were  two  other  CoUeciors  on  the 
Road,  but  he  would  see  them  out  of  Danger, 
which  he  accordingly  did."  This  gentlemanly 
thief  may  have  heard  at  tho  theatre,  or  read  in  the 
play  itself,  of  the  scruples  of  Ancient  PistoM  on  the 
score  of  the  uglier  words  **  rob  **  and  "  steals"  but 


his  ingenuity  provided  him  with  even  a  l)ett< 
name  than  **  conveyancer,"  He  evidently  fel^ 
however,  that  the  officers  of  justieo  had  fooHsli 
prejudices  against  even  the  innocent  pursuits  of  i 
**  collector,"  for  as  he  left  the  company  whom  hi 
had  80  generously  escorted  out  of  danger, 
read,  he  "  begged  that  they  would  not  at  their 
next  Inn  mention  the  Robbery  nor  appear  against 
him  if  he  should  be  taken  up  hereafter." 

Before  leaving  the  subject  of  travelling  for  the 
present,  we  may  glance  for  a  moment  at  the  old 
inns  of  Birmingham,     A  writer  on  the  Birming»j 
bam  inns  of  the  16th  century,*  enmneratea  xdn<i 
taverns  at  that  period  ;  7%^  Cock  and  The  Ba 
Lijon  in  Digbeth  ;  The  Talbot  and  The  Dogq 
Spiceal  Street ;   The  Dolphin^  in  Cora  C heaping! 
The  Horse  Shoe,  in  St  ^lartin's  Lane,  (said  to  hav 
takon  iU  Jiame  from  the  arms  of  the  Ferrers  family)  I 
The  Swan ;    The  GiirUnd ;  and  The  Starr,  in  th 
High  Town.     Later,  the  White  Hart  (wbere  tbd 
fatal    basket  of    clothes    arrived,   carrying    th^ 
dreaded  plagne  with  tlieni)  was  establishetl ;  als 
the  Fhrnr-de-LiSf  in  Moor  Street.     It  was  at  Th 
Dog  that  John  Cooper  lived,  about  tlie  year  1500, 
who  gave  a  croft  near  Steelhouse  Lane  to  make 
"I^venlays*'    for   the   people   of    Birmingham  j 
from   whence    the    unlovely  street   which  noi 
crosses  the  said  croft  takes  its  name.      The  dona 
of  this  first  recreation  ground  to  the  town  wa 
pennitted  to  bait  a  bull  in  tho  Bull  King  once  a 
year. 

The  most  interesting  of  the  inns  named  above 
is  the  Stcan^  wkicli,  during  the  earlier  days 
coaching,  was  ffie  Hostelry  and  Coaching  House 
of  BirminghanL  It  was  from  this  house  thatt 
Eothwell'S  eotches  ran,  and  to  which  they 
turned^  as  will  be  seen  from  his  handbill ;  and 
throughout  the  coaching  era  The  fiiffaw  figur 
prominently  in  many  of  the  Gazette  adverti 
ments  of  Coaches  to  and  from  Birmingham  and 
various  parts  of  tho  country. 

Besides  the  Swan,  an  inn  in  Bull  Street,  called 
r/w?  Saracen's  Hm,     and  The  Ca$ile  (in   High 

*  QoolAd  on  pftve  of  TO  Ihla  work. 


ltoaidrmm..ifBu.«ti.iji«,i.i        ULB  AND    NEW   BIEMIKGIIAM. 


10^ 


3tiect)  were  also  well-known  Coaching  Houses, 
l2yt£    Ai^fel    and    Ben    and    Chkkem  m    High 
Slreei,   (or  "the   Hi^h  Town,"  as  it  waa  then 
'  called,)  was  oko  rapidly  rising  into  prominence  as 
mCoacbin^  House.     It  wad  from  this  house,  a^  we 
kavB  Men,  that  the  hi-dt  ^^  flying  coach''  started; 
and  from  the  date  of  the  commencenjent  of  Artis 
Gazdie  to  the  end  of  the  coacliing  ikys  this  re- 
iiiajni»d  one  of  the  principal  houses  "on  the  i-oad/' 
[in  the  earliest  notice  of  the  house  (quoted  in  our 
IchapUur  on  ArU'g  Gazette,  *)  it  is  simply  styled 
M*  The  Hen  and  Chickens."     The  names  of  the 
Liiecupieis,   previouB   to  1770,  were  ujiknown  to 
[the  rocent  historian  of  the  house,  but  from  the 
announcement  of  the  **flpng  coach"  in  1742,  it 
a]ip*3Ar»  to  have  been  at  that  time  in  the  occupa- 
tion of  Mr.  Francis  Cox;  as  it  seems  also  to  have 
bf^en  in   the  next  year,   from  an  advertisement 
^  which  appeared  in  the  Gazette  of  Deceiuher  12, 
1743,  announcing  the  sale, — "to  the  best  Bidder, 
[tjn  Monday,  the  19th  of  December  instant,  at  the 
Dwelling-House  of  Francis  Cox,  tht  Angel  and 
lien  and  Chickens^'' — of  **a  messuage  now  known 
hj  the  sign  of  the  Red  Lion,"  in  Borde^ley.     The 
[ition  to  the  sign  of  **  the  Angel  **  was  probably 
by  the  new  occupier  of   the  liuuse,  who 
limt«rDd  upon  it  at  or  after  Christmas,  1741, — in 
liUJ  probability  Mr.  Fmucis  Cox  himself^     To  this 
inn.  Of  rather  to  its  auceessor  the  Is'ew  Sttvct 


*' hotel,"  in  later  years,  came  many  of  the  moat 
eminent  men  of  their  time,  of  whose  visits — as  also 
of  the  later  history  of  this  celebrated  hotel  itself — 
we  shall  have  to  speak  in  future  chapters. 

To  whichever  of  the^e  old  inns  the  traveller 
ref^aii-ed,  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  like  Shenstone  he 
**  found  the  wannest  welcome,*'  diiferent  indeed 
from  the  culd  and  formal  reception  accortled  to 
the  traveller  by  raO  at  the  huge  hotel  of  the 
present  day.  How  different  in  these  old  days,  at 
the  Swan  or  the  Hen  and  ChlckeiUi  (the  modern 
hotels  have  risen  above  the  vidgarity  of  a  "sign*') 
or  other  of  the  cosy  old  hostehies  to  be  found  in 
every  tc»wn  through  which  a  coach  passed, 

"  What  cosy  old  parlours  in  those  days,"  says 
Dti  Quincey,  "  k»w-roofod,  glowing  with  auiple 
fir^,  and  fenced  from  the  blast  of  the  doors  by 
screens,  whose  folding  doors  were,  or  seemed  to 
be^  infinite !  What  raotherl}^  laudladios !  won,  how 
readily,  to  kindness  the  mnst  hivish,  by  the  mere 
attractions  of  siiujiliuity  and  youthful  innocent-^, 
and  finding  so  much  interest  in  the  bare  circum- 
stance of  being  a  traveller  at  a  childish  age  !  Then 
what  Idooming  young  handmaidens ;  how  diflerent 
from  the  knowing  and  TvorLlly  demireps  of  modem 
high  roads  I  And  sometime.^  grey-headed  faithful 
waiters,  how  sincei'e  and  how  attentive  by  com- 
parison with  their  flippant  successurs,  the  eternal 
'Coming,  sir,  coming/  of  our  improved  generation," 


CHAPTEK     XVII. 
THE     OLD     PRI80N     OF     BIRMINGHAM. 
ry  nf  Cfimo  In  Blnoiugltajn-ltUeiicM  and  ilUiluUig-Thi.-  Pri«uu4ioit«  yf  tarliei^  tliuea— ♦*  Bria«wcll  Hoiiao  "— Eulftj^iciDcnt 


Feoii  the  records  of  the  old  coaching  days, 
with  their  pleasant  associations  of  shady  roatls 
\m^  with  blosssuming  hedgemws,  of  breezy 
i:<imiiignti,  and  of  snug  country  hoetehries,  to 
tht<  history  of  damp  and  mouldy  prison-houses 
ami    their   inmates,   is  a  sorry  change  indeed ; 


but  it  becomes  the  duty  of  a  faithful  his- 
torian to  show  the  gloomy  side  of  the  picture 
as  well  as  the  bright,  and,  however  unweb 
come  the  interruption  may  be,  it  is  a  ueccssary 
part  of  our  story. 

"  It  is  easy,"  says  Button,  "  to  point  out  some 
plar^^s  only  on'S-thii'd  the  magnitude  of  Birming- 


no 


OLD   AND   NT.W   IlIBmNGHA^L 


[The  Old  Ptmoci  of  mn 


ham,  whose  frequent  breaches  of  the  law,  and 
quarrela  among  themselves,  find  employment  for 
balf-a-dozen  magistrates,  and  four  timea  that  num* 
ber  of  constables;  whilst  the  business  of  this 
was  for  many  years  conducted  by  a  single  justice.'' 
He  ascribes  this  law-abiding  characteristic  of  the 
people  of  Birmingham  to  the  industry  of  the 
people;  the  hand  employed  in  business  having, 
he  says,  "less  time,  and  less  temptation,  to  be 
employed  in  mischief.*'  To  the  absence  of  "  idle 
hands  "  in  the  town,  therefore,  may  be  attributed 
the  smallne^s  of  the  gaol  accommodatiuu  necessary 
previous  to  the  year  1733. 

Id  earlier  times  the  lord  of  the  manor  hold  a 
tribunal  on  liis  own  premises,  and  probably,  as 
was  usual  in  such  cases,  a  rude  prison  in  some  sort 
would  be  annexed  thereto,  with  such  implements 
for  punisliing  as  were  then  in  use ;  as,  the  stocks 
and  the  whipping-poat,  which,  as  we  have  seen, 
were  afterwards  removed  to  the  Welsh  Cross*  After 
the  fall  of  the  Bermingham  family,  one  of  the 
lower  rooms  of  the  Leather  Hall  in  Nev7  Street 
was  used  as  a  prison;  *' but,* 'says  Hut  ton,  "about 
the  year  1728,  tchtk  tnen  slept  an  enemy  came^  a 
private  agent  to  the  lonl  of  the  manor,  and  erased 
the  Leather  Hall  and  the  Dungeon,  erected  three 
houses  on  the  spot,  and  received  their  rentt^  tiU 
1776,  when  the  ti>wn  purchased  them  for  £500, 
lo  open  the  way/*  Up  to  this  time  the  only 
entrance  to  New  Street  from  the  High  Town  had 
been  through  a  narrow  passage,  similar  to  that  at 
the  entrance  to  Castle  Street.  In  tlie  day?<i  of 
the  Leather  Hall  it  acquired  (from  the  use  to 
which  the  basement  had  been  put)  the  name  of 
the  BuvfjfOii  Entry,  and  tliis  name  remained  fox 
many  years  afler  the  building  of  the  houses  in 
place  of  the  old  hall. 

From  1728  to  1733,  the  town  had  no  other 
place  of  detention  for  offenders,  except  a  dry 
cellai',  belonging  to  a  house  opposite  the  site  of  the 
demolished  Leather  Hall.  On  the  9th  of  Sep- 
tember in  the  latter  year,  however,  a  meeting  of 


the  inhabitants  was  held  in  the  chamber  over  tha 
Cro^  at  which  it  was  ''unanimously  agreed  upon 
that  aDungeon  be  forthwith  erected  at  the  Publick 
expense  of  the  said  Parish,  at  the  place  commonly 
called  Bridewell  House,  near  Pinfold   Street ;" 
This  was,  according  to  Hutton,  "of  all  bad  pL 
the  %vorst ;  .   •   *   dark,  narrow,  and  unwholesor 
within;   crowded  with  dwellings,  iUth,  and  du 
tress  without,  the  circidation  of  air  is  prevented." 
Its  gloomy,  forbidding  aspect  without  is  well 
picted  in  the  engraving  on  page  104,  wliich  is" 
taken  from  the  lithographic  print  by  Mr*  Under- 
wood, contained  in  his  aeries  of  views  of  *'Th» 
Buildings  of  Birmingham,  Past  and  Presenti'' fl 
work  which  is  now  becoming  scarce,  " 

This  old  ** Bridewell"  was  like  moat  of  th© 
provincial  town  gaols  of  that  period;  and  what 
they  were  the  reader  may  learn,  if  he  can  endure 
the  recital  of  the  sickening  details,  from  the 
journals  of  visita  paid  to  these  wretched  dens  in 
1773-5,  by  that  noble-minded  philanthropist, 
John  Howard. 

WHietber  the  exemplary  morality  attributed  by 
Hutton  to  the  people  of  Birmingham  suffered  a 
relapse  after  the  building  of  the  new  dungeon, 
we  cannot  tell;  but  it  woidd  certainly  appear 
that  the  gaol  soon  became  too  small  to  accommo- 
date its  numemus  prisoners;  for,  in  1757,  it  wa^ 
found  neceiisary  **to  take  down  the  Three  Houses 
fronting  Peck  Lane,  in  order  to  enlarge  the  Prison ;" 
whiv:h  proceetling  was  decided  upon  at  a  mooting 
held  on  the  thirteenth  of  September  in  that  year* 
This  building  remained  the  only  local  prison  until 
the  erection  of  the  building  in  Moor  Street,  in 
1 795;  ami  was  nut  destroyed  until  1806,  when  tbe 
building  materials  were  sold  for  £250*  It 
been  immortidised  in  a  sarcastic  triplet  relating  1 
one  of  the  latest  wakes  and  *  bull  baitings,'  ^ 
the  authorities  of  the  day 

*  Spoiled  the  wake, 

And  stole  the  stAke, 

And  took  the  btUl  to  the  Daui^eon.'  *' 


CHAPTER     XVI  ft. 


LOCAL     MANUFACTITBES     IN     THK     EIGHTEENTH     CENTtJRV. 

I  SuoT^f  of  Lcu^i  TruilM  fttikl  \tft»ufiwinrt'it--ExpuriniBTiU  In  CottuQ  S|>tiintnK— 4oUn  Wymlt— TI»b  Weighing  Mmnhln^— <Sftlxnrv  nf 
pit  In  1744— Tbp  Gun  Trnflf^-Bucklcs-Uutl^jua— "  Toy*.'* 


now  Uikt!  a  sk^coiiiI  i^knce  at  the  Trades 
of  Binniiigham.     It  wilJ  he  temomh^ied  tliat  our 

f  KiUT^nr  ^ronght  ns  to  the  close  of  tlie  seven- 

tith  cpntnrv,  at  which  j>eriod  the  *Hransition  " 
wn»  completed,  and  Itirmiiigham  had  ceased  to  he 
known  merely  for  her  works  in  iron,  and  had  bo- 
ctitne  famous  for  those  inmimerable  luanufacttires, 
both  useful  and  beautiluJ,  by  which  she  earned 
the  title  of  "the  toy  shop  of  the  world." 
f  It  will  be  a  matter  of  surprise  to  those  who  ai-e 
luainted  with  Mr,  Tininiins*a  interestmg 
rolume,  referred  to  in  our  ftrst  notice,  to  I  earn 
thai  the  trade  w*hich  is  now  centred  in  the  south 
nf  LnncoBhire,  and»  indei^d,  has  become  the  staple 
Imde  of  that  district,  was  born  in  Limiingbam. 

•*I^ng  before  fiiclmrd  ArkwTight  bad  com- 
mMmM  the  Oirecr  which  ended  in  a  colossal 
f*>rtunc^'  aays  Mr,  Titnmind,  *Hlie  process  of 
'tfpintiing  by  roDers '  was  fii-at  trittd  in  Birmiug- 
Tbe    first    thread    of    cotton    spun    by 

chinisry,  •*  witliout  the  aid  of  human  fingers," 
WMB  produced  in  the  year  1700,  at  Sutton  Cold- 
fidJ^  by  John  Wyatt.  by  an  ananginnent  of 
foikrvin  a  small  mod*-],  •♦without  a  single  witness 
io  the  work,  tlie  inventor  (to  use  bis  own  words) 
boang  'ail  the  time  in  a  pleading  but  trembEng 
•nspejase/  ^  The  invention  was  put  into  practical 
op«mtion  in  BirmiDgbam,  an  engine  being  fixed 
III  *••  large  warehouse  near  The  Well,  in  the 
Upper  l*riory,"  and  "  turned  by  two  aaaes  walking 
roQod  an  axis."  The  process  was  continued  on 
them  praoiiMB  (called  the  '^Cotton  Spinning 
Mill  **)  for  ec»me  time,  the  inventor,  Wyatt,  being 
jotood  by  Lewi«  PauL  to  whom  the  invention  has 
•ocnfitimea  errooeously  ]M?en  nttributod — and,  at  a 
bter  pniod,  by  Thomas  Warren,  the  bookseller, 
who  publtjd^ed  Johnson  *  translation  of  Lobo*s 
AhjfmmOf  and   with    whom,   as   we   have  seen, 

Edmiuid  Hector  had  lodged   during  the   eai'lier 
IB 


years  of  his  professional  career  in  Biruungham. 
The  three  cotton-spinnere,  however,  were  unsuc- 
cessful ;  Warren  had  sunk  n  thousand  pounds  in 
the  8]}eculntion,  and  in  February,  1740,  became  a 
banknipt.  Misfortune  followed  the  expertmtut 
throughout  its  career,  the  mill  and  machinery 
being  offered  for  sale  several  times,  and  eventually 
the  little  trade  died  out.  St  HI  the  fact  remains, 
that  **  the  first  trials  of  the  process  of  *  spinning 
by  rollers' — the  key-stone  of  the  great  cotton 
trade  of  England — were  made  in  our  own  town 
long  before  Arkwrigbt  had  studied  and  perfected 
the  machinery  on  which  his  fortune  was  based  ;'*♦ 
and  it  is  more  than  probable,  that,  bad  a  Matthew 
Boulton  been  at  the  back  of  the  inventor,  to  do 
for  Wyatt  and  his  cotton^sp inning  ^machinery 
what  he  did  for  Watt  and  the  steam  engine,  Bir 
niiiigluuu  might  have  become  the  centi'e  of  that 
great  industry,  and  the  sound  of  the  loom  and  the 
shuttle  might  never  liave  been  heard  in  the  groat 
cities  of  the  north. 

John  Wyatt  may  be  said  also  to  be  the  in- 
ventor of  the  weighing  machine  for  carriages, 
carts,  and  wagons,  which  has  undergone  scarcely 
any  alteration  since  be  originated  it.  But  even 
this  invention  was  not  put  into  practical  opera- 
tion until  1767,  after  Wyatt'a  death,  which 
occurred  in  1706,  He  was  followed  to  the  grave 
by  ilatthew  Boulton  and  John  Baskerville^  the 
latter  having,  says  ^Ir,  Tim  m  ins,  "anuytd  him- 
self on  the  occasion,  in  a  rich  suit,  decorated 
with  gold  lace/ 

The  Jacobite  rebellion  of  1745,  and  the  alarm 
excited  by  it,  gave  considerable  stimidas  to  the 
local  tnule  in  implements  of  warfan},  especially 
swords.  It  will  be  remembered  that  during  the 
Civil  War  the  Birmingham  sword  blade  manufac- 
turer, Kichard  PoHer,  refused  to  supply  a  single 

'  E.  Hmuttlos. 


weapon  to  tlie  BoyiJists,  althongli  they  offered  t^ 
pay  him  Jibe  rally  if  he  wouJlI  do  so  j  but  the 
sword-makers  of  the  eighteenth  century  woiiJd 
appear  eithor  to  havo  become  better  allected 
toward  Ihc!  House  of  Stuart,  or  eke  to  have 
possessed  fewer  scniples  on  the  score  of  political 
morality  ;  for  they  willingly  executed  large  ortlers 
for  tlie  army  of  **  bounic  Prince  Charlie.*' 

Occasionally  tliese  coiisignmeuts  of  arms  for 
the  reljels  were  intercepted  by  the  Govemineni 
In  1744  a  large  chest  of  bask et-hil ted  «wonl?, 
8eut  from  TSirmingham  to  the  Belle  Sauvage,  on 
Ludgate  Hill,  London,  was  seized  ^nd  taken  to 
the  Tower ;  and  in  October  of  the  »ame  year  a 
seizure  was  made  of  two  thotisand  Bintjinghaiii 
cutlasse^H,  which  had  lieen  sent  to  the  Saracen^B 
Head.  No  swords  were  ordered  from  Birmingham 
by  the  Government,  so  far  as  is  known,  until 
ueitrly  tlie  end  of  the  eighteenth  centur}^ 

The  gun  trade — which  had  been  introduced,  or 
at  any  rate  greatly  stimulated,  under  the  circum- 
stances detsuled  in  our  former  chapter  on  the  local 
trade*,  would  probably  be  influenced  by  the 
rebellion  to  even  a  greater  extent  than  sword- 
niaking.  After  the  peace  of  1714,  when  the 
demand  for  military  guns  hatl  hi  all  probability 
ceased,  the  manufacturers  wotdd  lie  in  a  position 
t-i^  tnrn  the  new  trade  to  account  in  the  production 
uf  fowling-pieces  and  other  guns  required  for  the 
trade.  The  Jacobite  rebellion,  however,  could 
seiTe  to  stimulate  the  manufacture  of  guns  to  be 
urted  in  warfare,  and  the  too  frequent  necei^ity  for 
new  supplies  of  these  instruments  of  death, 
during  the  ktter  half  of  the  century,  effectually 
prevented  this  branch  of  the  trade  from  falling 
into  decay. 

One  of  the  principal  fancy  tmdc^^  which  had 
arisen  in  Birminglmm  iluring  the  *'  transition 
period "  was  that  of  manufacturing  Buckle, 
William  Hutton  observes  that  the  **  Kevolution 
was  remarkable  for  the  introduction  of  William, 
Liberty,  and  tlie  Buckle;**  but  this  statement  is 
incorrect  as  far  as  the  buckle  is  concerned.  They 
had  been  worn  as  early  as  the  fifteenth  century, 


but  had  fallen  into  disus<%  and  had  been  onlj 
revived  at  the  period  of  the  Eevolution  ;  and  th| 
resucitated  fashion  reigned  for  nearly  a  century, 
lliey  were  first  made  at  Bilston,  but  the  facilitte 
for  making  them  at  Birmingham  gradually  dreK 
the  trade  entirely  away  from  the  former  plsr^ 
They  were  generally  made  from  a  metal  calle 
Tutania,  a  name  said  to  have  been  derived  froTi 
that  of  its  inventor,  one  Tutin  ]  but  many  infcrio 
materials  were  also  used,  —  pinchbeck,  **  silvefl 
plate/'  and  an  inferior  kind  of  white  metal  ciille 
by  the  workmen  "  soft  tonuny."  A  stoiy  wa 
told  by  the  late  IMatthew  Davenport 
Becorder  of  Birmingham,  in  an  address  deliver 
before  the  membei's  of  the  Birmingham  and 
Midland  Institute,  of  a  workman,  who,  whil^ 
engaged  in  making  buckles  of  this  latter  mat 
was  overheitvd  by  his  master  cursing  the  wea 
most  vehemently.  **  Why  do  you  curse  th 
wearerl"  asked  tlie  astonished  master."  ^*  Becau 
replied  the  buckle-maker,  *'  I  know  when 
wears  these  buckles  he  will  curse  the  makei; 
and  I  thought  I  would  l)e  befc^re-haml  witl 
him?" 

Buckles  were  made  in  various  forma  and  sir 
frum  the  small  buckle  on  the  bantl  of  the  hat 
tlie  knee  to  the  huge  shoe-buckle  which  near) 
covered  the  foot ;    and  were  sold  at  from   oB 
shilling   to   hve   and  even   ten   guineas   a 
When  the  fashion  was  at  its  height  it  waa  almo 
universal,  and  Birmingham  supplied  the  great 
number  of  these  articles  for  America   and 
whole  Continent     Ala9»  however,  for  the  mnt 
bility  of  human  fashions!    In  1790  the  buck 
was  detluoned,  ajid  the  **  elTeminate  shoe-string! 
took    its    place.      In    vain   did    the    imfortun 
buckle-makers  endeavour  to  arrest  the  cliangio 
fashion ;  it  was  **  void  of  feeling^   and  deaf 
argument,"   as  tljeir  petition  truly  expressed 
They  appealed  to  the  Prince  of  Wales  in  1791» 
to  assist  in  giving  employment  to   **  more  tl 
20,000  persons"  who,  in  consequence  of   "tl 
prevalence  of   shoe-strings  and  slippers** 
in  great  distress  ;  and  both  he  and  the  Duke  i 


Loi^lUimfkettti«.inUiel8lhC«fitury.}  OLD    A^D    KEW    BIRMINGHAM. 


113 


Vork  onleKul  their  geutkiaen  aiul  servants  to 
iliticiuij  shoe-atriJigft  nnd  return  to  tbe  lmclvles». 
U  WHS,  however,  all  in  vain.  Another  petition 
was  fonvardetl  the  next  year  to  tbe  Uuko  and 
Dti*^h«a^  of  York  ;  bttt  tho  fashion  was  dead,  and 
no  attomxit  to  galvanize  it  into  life  again  could 
liope  to  succeody  and  eo  one  of  the  grejit  staple 
Indes  of  Bimilngham  died  out  befoi-w  the  dosa 
i4  tbe  eightct-ntlj  ceiitur3\ 

Another  of  the  trades  dependent  upon  the 
fickle  1:0*1  des8  Fashion  wm  that  of  Button-makinji^, 
During  tlie  latter  part  of  the  seventeenth  and  the 
fiTBtl  half  of  the  eighteenth  centiir}%  the  buttons 
worn  were  for  the  mr>st  piirt  made  with  the  needle, 
and  thia  branch  of  industry  was  encouraged  and 
|»rittei:t«d  by  various  Acts  of  Parliauieut  in  the 
ftftgn  of  Wilhani  and  Mary,  to  prevent  the 
inip*>rtation  of  all  forc^ign  htittons  made  with 
hnir,  as  well  aa  to  prevent  the  nianufacture  of 
I  cowered  buttons,  leaving  a  haioi  substance  under- 
nrtiith  the  hair  or  silk  exterior.  Prints  of  that 
piTiod  exhibit  the  costumes  as  being  covered  wilh 
)mtt«)ns  to  an  extravagant  and  ridiculous  exteut, 
wherever  a  button  muld  possibly  be  nffixetl  to 
ihi*  garment ;  a  fjishion  whieh  is  thus  satirized  in 
ono  of  the  come^liea  of  the  jieriod  : 

*  Next,  then,  the  slouching  tle^ve,  aad  uar  krgt*  buttoas, 
"  Aod  now  our  coats,  fiauk  brond,  like  shoidder-inuttoa ; 
••Fmctfd  wnih  fine  c«1o«t» — aimrk't,  green*  and  ikyi 

**  With  sleeves  so  liifge,  ibey'll  give  ua  wing*  to  fly. 

*  KtfJtt  yc*r  1  hope  they'll  cover  aaiU  and  all, 
^And  every  button  like  ti  teuaLs  ball." 

But  about  the  middle  of  the  eighteenth  centiury, 
the  laaMon  in  buttons  changed,  and  those  of 
iDobair  and  satin  gave  place  to  othera  of  metal, 
inostlj  gilt.  Tliis  was  .a  department  of  trade  in 
which  Birmingham  could  i^xcel,  and  button 
inaldog  speedily  became  one  of  the  staple  trades 
of  the  town.  Gilt  buttons  were  soon  in  great 
I  demand.  According  to  contemporary  prints  and 
d«9aript]0»a»  the  krge  cloth  coata  were  loaded 
witli  them,  almost  a^  extravagantly  as  those  of 
their  fathen  had  been  with  buttons  of  other 
iiiAt4snmK      A  writer  in  the  St,  James  s  Chronicle 


of  1763,  referring  to  the  display  of  tradesnieti 
aping  their  bettei'^i  speaks  of  **the  myriads  of  gold 
buttons"  which  they  wore,  aiSl  makes  sjjecial 
mention  of  a  smith  with  whom  he  had  couie  in 
cuntact,  wearing  "a  coat  loadeil  with  innumerable 
gilt  buttons."  The  much -admired  butt-ons  in- 
creased in  favour  rather  than  diminished,  and 
wore  adopted  by  many  ladies  in  preference  to 
woven  ones,  and  so  the  button  makers  ticduished. 
It  was  truly,  as  it  has  been  happily  de- 
scribed,  the  Augustan  age  of  button  making  in 
Birmingham. 

Aiid  while  buckles,  and  buttons,  aud  we^ipons 
of  warfai-e  were  in  steady  demand,  there  wiis  also 
a  large  miscellaneous  trade  growing  up  in  the 
light  steel  tfn'8  which  were  tlien  comiug  into  use. 
**  Toys  "  bits  t.00  often  been  a  misused  and  niis- 
undirstLHid  term,  as  regards  the  products  of 
iJirmiiigluim.  Our  toim  has  never,  like  Hollnnd, 
taken  **  pleasure  in  making  what  the  children  of 
England  take  pleasure  in  breaking ;"  cliildren's 
toys  have  never  been  a  part  of  the  manufactures 
of  Birmingham.  A  ceutiiry  ago,  before  the  dis- 
covery of  gold  and  silver  in  large  quantities  in 
the  far  west  of  North  America,  an<l  before  the 
gold  of  Australia  ha<l  been  dreamt  of,  those 
precious  metals  were  of  course  very  much  scarcer 
and  dearer,  aud  the  steel  toy  trade  of  that  period 
corresponded  to  a  great  extent  with  the  jewellery 
trade  of  modern  times.  Brooches,  studs,  bracelets, 
watch-chains,  chitteJaines,  sword-hilts,  and  scores 
of  other  light  ornaments  and  trifles  of  various 
kinds,  wei-e  then  made  of  ^^teel  aud  were  very 
fashionable ;  and  it  was  in  the  manufacture  of 
these  that  Birminj^ham  earned  tlie  title  given  by 
Edmund  Burke,  which  has  remained  to  the 
present  day,  of  **the  Toy  shop  of  the  World." 

In  the  manufacture  of  nearly  all  these  lighter 
articles,  gi-eat  excellence  was  shown  by  Matthew 
Boulton,  but  the  story  of  his  great  enterprise  is 
one  which  will  require  a  chapter  of  itself ;  we 
therefore  leave  the  survey  of  our  local  trades 
for  thf*  prpseni  with  the  simple  mi-ntiMn  of  hj^ 
name. 


114 


OLDAXD   NEW   BIRMIXaHAM. 


tJoUn  Biultervlll* 


CHAPTKH     XIX, 
JOHN    baski:k  VI  i-r.E. 

Bnrl^r  I31rminghaiii  riiutw*— Pfti*Xoivllle'ft  purly  life— lib  residencimt  ilnay  IJill— "  The  paitern-card  of  hii  trade"— Product konn  ^r  Mm 
f  rfr^»— Sale  of  his  i>lAi>t  -  II  is  will,  bU\ 


The  history  of  the  art  of  PriuliDg,  as  practised 
in  BirjiTiiighani,  does  tint  carry  us  very  far  back 
into  antiquity.  The  earliest  book  wliieh  has  yet 
been  diseovered  with  a  local  imprint  is  dated 
1717,  and  bears  the  following  lengthy  title  : 

A  Lovftl  Oration,  givinjf  a  abort  Aeoount  of  soveral 
Plots,  some  purely  Popish,  othei-s  mixt ;  the  former 
nontrivM  and  carry M  on  b}^  Pflpists,  the  latter  both  by 
Piipista  and  alBO  lYotestauts  of  the  liigh-Chiinh  Party, 
united  together  against  our  Church  and  State  :  As  also  of 
the  many  Delivemnces  which  Almighty  God  has  ?oueh- 
saf'd  to  us  since  tht^  RefonnatioiL  Composed  by  Jawie* 
Parkinson,  formerly  FeUov\*  of  Linuohi  College,  in  (^xfonl, 
now  Chief  Master  of  the  Frte  Hchool  of  Birrain^hani,  in 
Warwickshire,  and  spoke  by  hiii  Son,  on  the  10th  day  of 
Dccemlver,  1710.  And  now  Publish M  at  the  Request  of 
Captain  Tbetford,  Captain  Shiigborou^h,  and  »everal  other 
Otrieera  of  the  Pritieea  Own  Eoyal  Itt'ijinieiit  of  Welsh 
Fusileers^  and  other  Loyal  Centlenieu.  To  which  is 
iinnex^d  by  way  of  Poatcript,  thn  Author's  Letter  to  the 
Reverend  Mr.  Higgs,  Rector  of  St.  Philip**  Church,  in 
Lirmiugliam,  who  upon  hearing  thia  Loyal  Six^eoh,  wbb 
so  difipleas'd  and  iiettVd  with  it,  and  particularly  with 
that  Passage  in  it  that  rehttes  to  bidding;  Prayers  which 
iie  constantly  uses,  that  on  the  Sunday  following  ho  could 
not  forbear  reviling  the  Author  in  hia  Sermon,  oalltnjt;  the 
Speech  a  scurrilous  Discourse,  and  the  Composer  thert^of  a 
Shmderer  and  Calumniator.  Birmingham  ;  Printed  and 
Sold  by  Matthew  Unwins,  near  St.  Martin's  Church. 
1717. 

Ill  all  probability,  theI^^fu^e,  Matthew  Unwina 
wns  the  first  printer  estubliBhed  in  the  town ;  and 
that  he  bad  not  long  iiit!oduced  the  enlightening 
art  into  Birmingham  at  the  date  of  the  "  Loyal 
lUution  "  naay  be  assnmed  from  the  fact  that  the 
author  of  that  tract  had  publisbed  another,  two 
years  previously,  which  he  had  been  obliged  to 
have  printed  in  Londinn  It  is  just  possible, 
however,  that  another  fjrinter  may  have  preceded 
Unwins  by  a  year  or  so,  us  there  exists  (in  the 
possession  of  Cbarlea  H,  Bayley,  Esq.,  of  West 
Brumwich)  a  uni<:iue  copy  of  a  little  duo- 
decimo of  sixty-four  pages  entitled  **  A  Help 
agiunst  Sin,  in  our  ordinary  discourse.  ,  .  . 
Published    by    the    author   It    H.    [Amersley], 


ChyrurgeoD  in  Walsall,  .StalTordshire,  1719. 
Binninpfnim,  Prlnhd  hij  II.  B,,  in  New  Street** 
In  this  work  the  author  refers  to  **a  little  book 
called  *Adviee  to  Sunday  Barbers/"  which  ''some 
years  past"  he  had  •*put  out/'  of  which,  he  says, 
there  were  but  few  printed.  If,  tlierefore,  this 
**Ad\Tcc^*  was  printed  in  Birmingham,  it  would 
be  earlier  than  the  **  Loyal  Oration,"  although 
the  fact  of  I  he  earlier  tract  by  the  author  of  the 
latter  being  printed  in  London  goes  agabisvt  the 
supposition  that  **  H.  K**  was  the  first  Birmilig- 
bam  Printer,  or  that  Matthew  Fnwms  printed 
the  *'  Adnce  to  Sunday  Barbers," 

But  the  earlier  productions  of  the  local  press 
were,  like  those  of  most  other  provincial  towns, 
very  poorly  printctl,  the  paper,  ink,  and  letter- 
cutting  being  of  the  commonest  possible  ipiahty. 
Beauty  was  a  thing  not  to  he  tlioaght  of,  so  long 
as  the  printing  served  its  primary  purpose  of 
being  legible.  The  wretchedness  of  the  work- 
mansliip  in  these  e^rly  books  and  pamphlet^  and 
the  desirability  of  producing  books  which  should 
be  beautifid  as  well  as  ustful,  appears  to  have 
been  inij^rcs^ed  upnn  the  mind  of  Jolm  Basker- 
ville,  a  young  writing-master,  who  taught  a  school 
in  thc!  BuU  King  in  1737.  He  was  a  native  of 
Wolverley,  in  Worcesterslure,  but,  like  many 
other  young  men  of  genius  or  ability,  was 
attracted  early  in  life  to  the  busy  and  rapidly - 
increasing  town  which  had  arisen  on  the  boniers 
of  his  native  county.  Here  he  started  in  life  as  a 
cutter  of  *' grave-stones  in  any  of  the  hands," 
at  his  house  in  Moor  iStreet — **  his  window  shite/ 
says  Mr.  Timmins,  "  being  still  in  existence,  ami 
allowing,  in  a  marvellous  manner,  the  form  and 
style  of  the  *  letter'  he  afterwards  delighted  to 
produce/* 

As  a  teacher  of  writing,  the  beauty  of  his  pen- 
manship   was    celebrated;     he    possessed    **an 


Jo.111}  tla»1cerTiUe  ] 


OLD  AND  NEW  BIRMINGHAM, 


exqokito  tasta  far  ornament  and  proportion 
g€!tit?niUy/' •  anti  this  caused  him  to  excel  in  all 
bis  various  putsuits.  From  stone  cutting  and 
penmanship,  he  turned  his  attention,  in  1740,  to 
^f^anning.  Ik-ing  fond  of  painting,  **  he  either 
iutnvlticed,  or  cifectcd  an  entire  revolution  in,  the 
maotifaetur^  of  japanned  articles,"  t  and  rendered 
r^  his  productions  in  this  department  admirable 
\  Mporka  of  art  In  1745  he  took,  on  a  building 
leiaey  a  pleafiant  Uttio  estate  of  eight  acres,  (on 
the  site  of  whit^h  Broad  Street  and  Easy  Row 


Land  in  high  condition,  Part  of  which  is  laid  out 
ill  Shady  Walks,  adorned  with  Shrubberies,  Fish 
Ponds,  and  Grotto ;  the  whole  in  a  Ring-Fenoe, 
great  part  of  it  enclosed  by  a  Brick- Wall." 

Ifere  he  continued  his  business  as  a  japamier, 
and,  with  the  eccentricity  of  "which  we  have 
idready  given  an  example  in  the  case  of  John 
Wyatt  8  funeral,  set  up  a  carriage,  every  panel  of 
which  was  a  distinct  picture,  accurately  and 
beautifully  paintodj — which  Hutton  aptly  des- 
eribes  ns  **  Ih^  paUerti-oard  of  his  trade" — which 


<v 


Nv 


K.Jut»^ 


JOIIJ*   BASKERVrLLE. 


now  stand,)  to  which  he  gave  the  name  of  Easy 
Hill,  and  erected  for  hiniBeif  a  house  in  the  centre 
of  the  grounds,  out  of  the  din  and  bustle  of  the 
busy  town,  and  yet  within  easy  access  of  it;  '*but 
the  town,"  says  Hutton,  **a3  if  coascioua  of  his 
rit,  followed  his  retreat  and  surrounded  it  with 

In  the  advertisement  of  the  sale  of  the  house 
and  its  mirroundinga,  in  1788,  the  estate  is  said 
to  eomiat  of  -'  about  seven  Acres  of  rich  Pasture 


*  fUwiuai  fistrm  '  OirratnghAm  im«l  Itn  vi<>tn1ty,  part  S,  f ^  1t>. 


was  drawn  by  a  handsome  pair  of  cream-coloui^ 
horses.  But  while  thus  busily  engaged  in  making 
a  fortune  out  of  the  trade  of  japanning — "sup- 
plying the  common  and  material  wants  of 
mankind  ''^•*  the  love  of  art,  and  the  aspiration 
for  something  higher,"  says  Mr.  Timmins,  "found 
full  expression,  and  produced  unparalleled  results/* 
John  BaskervUle's  love  of  letters,  and  his  dissatis- 
f  jiction  with  the  existing  state  of  typography,  led 
him,  in  1750,  to  turn  his  attention  toward  the 
subject  of  producing  such  examples  of  the  art  of 
printing,  as  should   do  honour   to   the   noblest  i 


116 


OLD  Am>  KEW   BIRMINGHAM. 


iJcitui  i!i#kervtU» 


worlds  of  the  ancient  ckssies  and  of  the  inodt 
emiriout  jiuthura  of  our  own  country,  SevonJ 
ycara  wen*  speat  iji  experiments,  and  upwards  of 
six  hundred  pouuds  were  sunk  l*efure  he  could 
produce  a  single  letter  to  ploase  his  fa.'^tii  lions 
taste,  **  luid  some  thousands,"  adds  Huttou^  **  be- 
fore the  shallow  fittream  of  pro  tit  bej^niu  to  flow/' 
In  1757  ho  published  his  first  work,  a  magnifi- 
i'fut  edition  of  Viigil,  sold  at  one  guinea,  for 
which  Matthew  Boultoa  was  one  of  th«  ftjiit  sul)- 
scrib<3ra  ;  and  thia  was  foUowt^d  in  1 758,  by  a 
haudBouio  octavo  edition  in  two  volumes,  of  the 
Poems  of  John  Milton^  and  a  quarto,  entitled, 
"Avon,  a  Poem,"  written  by  the  Rev.  John 
Iluckelh  In  1761  followed  a  »piarto  edition,  in 
f(jur  volumes,  of  the  works  of  Joseph  AddLsou, 
and  an  octavo,  in  three  volumes,  of  the  Dramatic 
l}^^Jrk8  of    Congreve.     The  fame  year  saw    the 

ue  of  the  second  volume  of  his  splendid  quarto 
series  of  the  classics,  Juvenal  and  Persius, 
whiidi  was  followed,  at  inter vais,  by  Horace, 
Lucretius,  Catullus,  Tibidlus,  and  Propertiu8, 
Kallust  and  Florus,  and  Terence,  In  17t53  he 
iFsued  the  magnificent  Cambridge  Edition  of  the 
Bible,  an  immense  folio  which  has  been  pro- 
nounced to  be  the  finest  example  of  typography 
ever  produced ;  another  (smaller)  folio  Bible  bears 
his  imiirint,  but  this  is  said  to  be  spurious.  Bo- 
sides  these  greater  works  he  also  publisihed  an 
edition  of  the  Book  of  Comuiuii  Prayer,  a  quarto 
edition  of  Barclay's  famous  **  Apology  *'  for  the 
Quakers,  an  edition  in  four  volumes  of  Ariosto, 
a  Greek  Testament,  a  duodecimo  eeriea  of  the 
classics^  and  several  contemjxiray  works  of  inferior 
importance,  among  which  was  one,  a  mere  quarto 
tract  of  a  few  pages,  which  from  some  cause  or 
other  is  the  rarest  of  aU  his  famous  productions, 
— **  An  Ode  tu  the  Vakh  [mcj  which  conveyed 
the  Princess  Charlotte  to  England. "  Possibly  the 
curious  misprint  in  the  titio-page  may  have  somo> 
thing  to  do  with  its  rarity. 

These  works,  which,  as  Macaulay  says,  *•  went 
forth  to  astonish  all  the  librarians  of  Europe,"  are 
still  highly   prized  for  the  excellence  of  form, 


elegance*  and  sharpness  of  the  lottera,  the  bril- ' 
liauey  of  the  ink,  and  the  beautiful   whitoQ»^sg  i 
of  the  paper,  as  compaix*d  with  that  of  other  liooki  j 
of  the  perio^l,  and  have  become  famous  not  merely 
among   the  librarian!^    and    litoniti    of    Europe, , 
but  throughout  the  world,   among   book-lover»| 
everywhere,  by  all  who  am  appredate  be^iutiful  | 
typogmphy,  whether  as  professors  ol  the  art  or  a§  - 
lovers  of    literature  generally.     **  Wherever  the 
art  of  printing  is  adminnl,  and  its  choicest  works 
are  collected^  tb<ire  the  liirmingham  printetl  work* 
of  Jidrn  Baskerville  tind  a  liigh  and  honourable  i 
place.     Not   only   did  lie   dedign   and   cast  lm\ 
imrivalleil   tyjje,    but   he   made   liis   own  jmjM'r, 
prc^pared  his  own  ink,   worked  his  own  presses, 
and  probably  bound  some  of  his  own  books.* 

In  1765  he  made  advances,  through  his  friend 
Benjamin  Frankliu,  then  in  Paris^  to  the  literati 
of  France,  with  a  view  t<j  the  disposal  of  his ' 
types  in  that  capital,  but  the  French  were  at  that 
time  80  reduced  by  the  war  of  1756  that  **  so  for 
from  pursuing  schemes  of  taste,  .  .  ,  thoy 
were  unable  to  reptur  their  public  builcUngs,  but 
suffered  the  scaffolding  to  rot  befoi^  them*'*  f 

Being  unable  to  effect  a  side  of  his  printing 
business,  ho  continued  to  make  use  of  the  valuable 
materials  for  producing  beautiful  and  readable 
editions  of  various  standard  works  until  Ids 
death,  which  occurred  on  the  8th  of  Januar>% 
1775.  He  died  childless,  and  the  splendid  appli- 
ances for  the  art  of  printings  which  had  cost  him 
years  of  labour  and  many  thousands  of  pounds, 
failed  to  find  a  purchaser  in  this  country,  and  to 
OUT  lasting  disgrace,  were  allowed,  after  lying  a 
dead  weight  four  years,  to  go  out  of  the  country 
which  prides  itself  on  its  noble  Uteratua*,  and 
were  purchased  by  a  literary  society  of  Paris  (or 
£3  JOG,  and  ufed  to  print  a  splendid  edition  of 
tlic  works  of  A^oltiure. 

**  Invention/*  says  Hutton,  *^  seldom  pays  the 
inventor.  If  you  ask,  what  fortune  BaskcrviUe 
ought  to  have  been  rewarded  with  t  *  The  moei 
which  can  be  comprised  in  five  figures.*    If  you 


'  6.  Timmiiu, 


t  Qatton. 


Jokit  BMJkenrlUeL] 


(ILD   Amy  KKW   BIltMINGHAM. 


117 


furthf^r  a«k,  wimt  he  po&^essed  I  *Tho  />^^/;  but 
none  of  it  squeezed  from  the  press, '  What  will 
th6  fibade  of  this  great  nmn  think,  if  capable  of 
tivinking,  that  be  liftR  spent  a  fortune  of  opulence, 
|Jifp  of  genius,  in  carrj^iiag  to  jK'Tfef*tion  the 
of  alt  hvnnan  inventions;  and  his  protluc- 
tioDff  filigUted  by  his  country,  were  hawked  over 
Ell  rope  in  quest  of  a  bidder  t" 

His  character  and  appearance  are  well  deacribod 
hy  Huttou,  who  knew  him  during  the  latter  part 
of  his  life ;  he  says :  **  In  private  life  he  was  a 
humourist;  idle  in  the  extreme;  but  his  inven- 
tion was  of  the  true  Birmingham  model,  active. 
He  coiihl  well  deaigw,  but  procured  others  to 
cxocuto  ;  wherever  he  found  merit,  lie  careBsed  it 
He  was  remarkably  polite  to  the  stranger,  fond  of 
ahow  ;  a  %ure  mther  of  the  smaller  eize,  and 
cidighted  to  adorn  that  figure  with  gold  lace* 
l>uring  the  twenty -five  years  I  knew  him,  though 
in  the  detdine  of  life,  he  retained  the  singular 
traces  of  a  handsome  mam  If  he  exliibited  a 
peevish  temper,  we  may  consider,  good  nature  and 
intense  thinking  an?  not  always  found  together. 
Ta»te  accompanied  him  tlirough  the  dillerent 
walks  of  agrioulture,  architecture,  and  the  finer 
arts.  Whatever  parsed  through  his  fingera  bore 
the  lively  marks  uf  John  Baskerrille/'  His 
aversion  to  Christiiuiity,  in  which  he  expres^d 
a  di»l)c]iirf,  in  his  will^  leil  him  to  prepare  for 
himself  a  mausoleum  in  his  own  ganlen,  that 
he  might  not  lie  among  ChristianSj'and  directed, 
in  the  same  document,  thai  his  remains  isbuuld  be 
plor^d  tlu'rein.  This  interesting  but  ^'0Ulewhat 
painful  docaiment — painful  in  it«  abnegation  of 
that  faith  which  alone  can  lighten  the  gloom  of 
the  grave — nuis  as  follows  : 

'*Mtnionirn1um»  That  I,  John  Btiskerville,  of  Binning- 
Iwiiii,  ill  the  '!OUjity  of  Warwick,  on  the  6tli  day  of  January, 
17X3,  do  ro»kc  this  my  Inst  Will  and  Testament,  aa 
IbQovB  I— Firit.  I  give,  htHjueiithf,  and  devise  unto  my 
#I#cittori  bervaft*  r  iniinod,  the  snm  of  £2000  in  trust,  to 
dk^hug*  a  jtettlnmrnt  mftde  before  Tny  marriftge  to  my 
viTe  Sarmli*  1  obio  givo  to  my  executors  the  lea^e  of  my 
hoDM  fttid  J«ind  hHd  uud««r  the  lati:^  John  Riiaton,  in  trust, 
fw  tJii*  •tvU  nw  nnd  b^nf'fil  of  Samh  my  wife,  during  the 
term  of  hrr  nAturml  life,  md  after  her  deceaie  to  the  uses 


mentioned  below.  And  my  fniiher  Will  is»  that  the  sum 
of  £2000  shall  hp  raise*!  and  pnid  to  my  wife  out  of  my 
book  dvhU,  stock  in  trndc,  and  household  furniture,  plate* 
ttivd  china.  (N,  R.  The  use  of  my  furniture,  plate,  and 
china,  I  hare  already  given  by  deed  to  my  wife  for  the 
tiTni  of  her  naturnl  life,  hut  this  will  makes  it  entirely 
lu!r  own.)  I  Appoint  and  desire  my  executors  to  make 
an  inventory  and  appraisement  of  all  my  offects  whatso- 
ever,  within  six  weeks  after  my  decease,  I  nlsn  give  to 
my  executors  hereinafter  named,  the  sum  of  £100  in  tnist, 
to  the  sole  use  and  benefit  of  my  nephew  John  Townsend, 
to  whom  I  aUo  give  my  gold  watch,  as  a  keopsake,  I 
further  give  to  my  executors,  in  like  trust,  the  Kum  of 
£100,  for  the  sole  use  and  benefit  of  my  niece  Rebecca, 
the  wife  of  Thomas  Westley,  as  an  acknowledgement  of 
relationship,  I  have  heretofore  given  by  will,  to  each  of 
the  last  named  relations,  a  more  considerable  sum  :  but  as 
I  have  observed,  with  pleasure,  that  providence  has  blessed 
their  endeavours  with  success,  in  acquiring  a  greater 
fortune  than  they  ever  will  expend  the  income  of  ;  and  as 
they  have  no  child  or  chick  to  inherit  what  they  leave 
behind  them,  I  have  Htayod  my  hand,  and  have  thereby 
reserved  a  power  to  assist  any  branch  of  my  family  thiit 
may  »tand  in  need  of  it,  I  have  the  greatest  esteem  and 
resjMJCt  for  each  of  the  above  parties,  I  also  give  to  my 
executoiTi,  in  like  trust,  the  sum  of  £150,  for  the  use  of  my 
nephew,  Richard  Tovvnsend,  butcher.  I  further  give  to 
my  executors  the  sum  of  £300,  to  be  disposed  of  as 
fnlh>w8  :— To  Joseph,  Thomas,  and  Jacob,  sons  of  Thomas 
Marston,  by  hU  wife  Sarah,  my  niece,  £100  each,  a:*  they 
shall  Bcvcrally  attidn  the  age  of  21  years.  But  should  any 
of  them  die  berorc  they  come  to  that  age,  then  such 
hundred  pound  shall  be  divided,  share  and  share  alike, 
among  the  survivors.  I  also  give  to  Isaac,  the  son  of 
Thomas  Mnrston,  the  sum  often  pounds  for  pocket  money  ; 
and  my  iH^i>iAon  is,  being  patronized  by  his  worthy  uncle, 
Mr.  Thonnis  Westley,  who,  if  he  behaves  well,  will  put 
liim  in  the  way  to  acquire  »u  eaJty  fortune.  But  1  must 
not  forget  my  littk  favotuite  ;  I,  therefore,  give  to  my 
cxecutom,  in  trust,  the  sum  of  £fiOO,  fiPr  the  sole  use  and 
benefit  of  8andi,  the  daughter  of  Ferdinatnl  and  S,irah 
r>e  SlieiTc  (my  wife's  daughter)  to  be  paid  her  when  she 
attains  the  age  of  21  yeaii*  ;  but  should  she  happen  to  die 
before  that  iirc*,  my  pleasure  is,  that  my  wife  shall  have 
the  ilisposal  of  the  sidd  £r»fu/  at  her  plcasuiie,  signified  in 
her  lost  \V'ill.  I  also  give  to  my  executors  the  further 
sum  of  £1400,  in  tnist,  to  the  following  uses,  riz,  :— to 
ReWccA  Westley,  John  Townsend,  Richard  Townsend, 
and  to  the  four  sons  of  Thomas  Marston,  by  his  wife 
Sarah,  my  niece,  the  sum  of  £200  each,  to  become  due 
and  payable  (only)  on  the  day  of  my  wife's  futtire 
marriage,  which,  if  she  c buses,  1  wish  her  happy  equal 
to  her  merit ;  but  if  she  eoutinues  a  widow,  the  lo-^t 
mentioned  legacies  ore  entirely  void,  I  further  give  te 
my  executors,  in  trust,  all  my  goods  and  chattels,  house- 
hold furniture,  p]at«,  and  china,  not  disposed  of  as  above, 
to  the  following  uses  :  first,  for  the  payment  of  my 
several  legacies  and  debts  (if  any)  nud  all  the  residue  and 
remnindcT  (except  the  sale  of  my  lea««  as  below)  to  the 
8ol«  xvm  and  benefit  of  my  wife  Sarah.     I  further  five  to 


lis 


OLD   AXD   NEW   BIRMINGHAM. 


fJiiUti  UiiJikcrrtU* 


my  executors,  in  tmst,  the  rt^%'ersion  of  the  lea**e  of  my 
bouse  and  l.md,  hold  under  my  good  friend  the  late 
Jonathan  Raston,  together  with  fixtures  in  the  honse 
(particularly  the  fire  place,  including  the  grate,  lender^ 
kc,  together  with  three  leaden  figures)  all  plantationti  of 
trees  and  ahrubs  of  every  kind,  including  my  grotto,  and 
whatever  contributes  to  beautify  the  place  :  That  the 
whole  shall  be  sold  by  public  auction,  after  being  properly 
advertised  in  some  of  the  London  and  neighbouring  cnuuty 
papers.  The  money  arising  from  such  srtte,  I  give  to  tUi^ 
following  u»ea  ;  (viz.)  first,  £500  to  the  «iinmittc<j,  for 
the  time  being,  of  the  Protestant  Dissenting  Charity 
School  of    Birmingham,    in   trust,    towards    ertreting    a 


Sarah «  by  her  laat  will.  As  I  doubt  not  the  eh  lid  tea  of 
my  late  worthy  friend  will  cndenvour  to  tradnce  my 
memory,  as  they  have  already  done  my  character,  in 
having  my  lease  on  too  easy  terms,  I  therefore  think 
projwr  to  declare,  that  at  the  time  T  took  the  afon^^id 
leaiie,  I  paid  the  full  value  of  it,  and  hare  laid  out  Utile 
hm  than  ilfJOOO  upon  the  premiss.  But  as  the  increaa^^ 
of  the  town  has  since  enhanced  it»  valun,  I  have  maije  an 
acknowledgment  nn  above,  which  I  always  proposed  to  the 
3on»  of  my  most  valued  friend,  and  which  >vould  have 
been  much  more  considerable  if  they  lia<l  rffrained  fh>m 
in^iuriously  abuting  mc.  I  liad  even  given,  by  will,  the 
ruveraiou  of  my  Icaaea  to  Martha  Kyland,  ujion  the  death 


THE   rSENEiaL   YlQ^VlTAh  T    AH   IT   ORiaiSALLV   Ari'FAIlEXJ, 
Fnm  thf  rn^mrtng  i'«  thf  (ff*f  nUikm  Q/HutUmt  37SL 


comniwlioUH  building  for  the  use  of  the  said  charity  ; 
£700  more,  arising  from  the  aaid  sab',  I  give  and 
livqutath  as  follows  i  £iO(»  to  be  shared  equally  bet  wet*  n 
the  aons  of  Thomas  MarstOTt,  by  Im  wife  Samh  ;  to 
Jiinathan,  John,  and  Richanl  TonuHenil,  my  nephews, 
£100  each  ;  to  Rebec i!a  Wewtb-y,  my  neice,  £100,  and 
my  will  is.  that  thi«  and  the  al>ove-nientio«cd  sum  of 
£100  shall  t»e  entirely  at  her  own  dispo^l,  and  not 
subject  to  the  coutroul  and  intermeddling  of  her  husband. 
And  yet  her  n-ceipt  alone  «lml]  be  a  snfiicient  discharge 
to  my  executors  :  £800  more  arising  from  the  said  sale,  I 
give  to  the  three  sons  of  Jonathan  Runton,  in  even  and 
equal  shares,  viz,  :— John,  Daniel,  and  Jo«i&h  Huston, 
What  further  sum  of  money  may  arise  from  the  sale  of 
^^the  above  lease,   I  give  to  the  sole  disposal  of  my  wife 


of  my  wife***  eldest  son,  and  my  intended  sue<!easor^  Iml 
her  unprovoked  [wtilant  maUce,  and  Hpl*'ea»  and  abusiv 
treatment   of  me  without   cause,   convinced   tur  of  hi 
rancour  of  heart,    and   determined  me   as  above.     M 
farther  will  and    pleasure  i$,   and  I   do  hertdiy  declare, 
thai  the  deviae  of  my  goods  and  chattids,  aa  above, 
ui»on  this  exjiress  condition,   that  my  wife,   ifi   ctmcr^ 
with  my  executors,  do  cauw  my  body  to  l>e  buried  in 
conical  building  in  my  own  premises,  hervtofort*  usc^d 
a  mill,  which  1  have  lately  raised  higher  and  pain 
iind  in  a  vault   which   I   have  prepared  for  it, 
doubtleaa,   to  many,  will  appear  a  whim  ;  perh<ip«  it 
so,  but  It  is  a  whim  for  many  years  resolved  upon, 
I  have  a  hearty  contempt  for  all  sujieratition.     .     * 
J  expect  some  shrewd  remark*  will  be  made  on  Uiti  «; 


t«d«| 
ThtaiJ 


r  dedimtioa,  by  the  ignoruit  and  the  bigoted,  who  cannot 
I  dkttDgiiUh  betiveea  religion   and   iuperstition,    and   arc 
tBOfffat  to  belieTe  that  morality  (by  which,  I  understAnd, 
ill  the  duties  a  man  owct  to  God  and  his  fellow  creatures) 
is  not  iuScient  to  entitle  him  to  divine  favour.*  ,     .     , 
This  morality  alone  I  profess  to  be  my  religion,  and  the 
L  nil«  of  hjj  actions,  to  which  I  appeal  how  far  iny  pro- 
>aa  aud  practice  ha^  been  consistent.      Lastly,  I  do 
b«reby  appoint  my  worthy  friends,  Mr.  Edwani  Palmer, 
lad  JoAiah  Roston,  niy  wife's  brother,  joint  executors  of 
this  my  will,  in  mo«t  prfect  confidence  (as  I  know  the 
integrity  of  tliCT  hetirta)    that  they   will,  jointly  and 
eotdially,  execute  thl^  my    most  important  trusty  com- 
mitted to  them  with  integrity  and  candour,  to  each  of 
wlioan  I  l<?mTc  six  guineas,  to  buy  a  ring,  which  I  hope 
thty  will  consider  as  a  keepsake." 
Ill  wttn«M,  Ac,  Sarah  Stuart,  Joseph  Bridgowater,  John 

fiafikerviUe's  house,  which  became  the  property 
of  Mr  Ryland,  was  partially  destroyed  in  the 
RiotA  of  1791,  of  which  we  shall  have  to 
speak  hensafter,  but  much  of  the  fa^^e  of  the 


house  may  still  be  aeen  nmid  the  huddled  mass  of 
buildings  at  the  lower  end  of  Broad  Street  j  it 
being  now  used  as  a  manufactory.  When  the 
land  was  laid  out  for  wharves,  in  1821,  the  cofBn 
was  taken  up,  and  was  found,  together  with  the 
contents,  to  be  in  perfect  condition,  and  was 
finally  rednterred  in  one  of  the  catacombs  under 
Christ  Church. 

**  Great  as  the  triumphs  of  the  art  of  printing 
have  been,  and  numerous  as  are  the  laurels  which 
Birmingham  has  won,  there  are  few  nobler 
chapters  in  our  local  story  than  those  which 
record  how,  a  century  ago,  in  a  material  and 
commercial  age,  John  Baskerville  made  our 
town  famous  throughout  the  civilised  world  for 
the  production  of  the  best  and  greatest  works 
of  man,  in  a  style  which  has  rarely  been  equalled, 
and  even  now,  has  never  been  surpassed.*^  ♦ 


CHAPTER     XX. 


BIRMINGHAM      IN     1760, 


ColSflve  Bow  ami  Aon  8t«et— "  Coajirree  SUle  Close  "—"  FcrTflt*8  FoUy'*— OosU  Gttoji— Grm^lh  of  Ui€>  town  In  the  dir^ction  of  Kt, 
HtfX'A^^ld  VanxhaU— HatUicw  fioolioa  on  Bnow  HOJ— '"TTw  BaluUtion  "—Footpath  through  New  Hall  grquii<la^roellwi  I 
flwulpfaoiia  of  Blnninghun. 


I  Ocn  la«i  general  survey  of  the  town  was  taken 
'  from  the  interesting  prints  by  W.  Westley  in 
1730-31.  We  have  since  taken  note  of  the 
grorwtb  and  appearance  of  Birmingham  only  in 
oocMsional  details,  and  with  refertnce  to  particular 
loGiUtaes.  It  win  assist  us  in  gathering  together 
the  aep«mite  threads  of  our  narrative  if  we  now, 
taking  our  stand  in  the  gallery  above  the  dome  of 
S4*  Philip's,  in  the  year  1760,  once  more  survey 
the  town  as  a  whole,  and  take  note  of  the  extended 
baiind&ry,  and  the  new  objects  of  interest  in  the 
picture. 

Looking  first  to  the  north,  at  our  feet,  we  notice 
a  few  houses  arising  in  wduit  we  have  hitherto 
known  only  as  New  Hall  Lane,  but  is  henceforth. 


iO 


T  BAxk^rviUpl  will  Wf  hivt  fvUovKHl  the  uiuaJ 
jw  [KirtiobJi  irhich  refer  to  Clirlftlinlty . 


(as  a  building  lease  dating  from  1745  states,)  to 
be  called  Colmore  Row,  thereby  perpetuating  the 
name  of  the  owner  of  the  New  HaJl  Estate ;  aa 
the  continuation  of  the  lane,  **  called  Bull  Lane, 
but  then  speedily  to  be  made  into  a  street,  and  to 
be  called  Ann  Street,"  was  to  keep  in  memory 
the  christian  name  of  the  gronter  of  the  lease, 
Ann  Cohnore*  Congrcve  Street  was  a  mere  foot- 
path through  a  piece  of  land  called  Conygree  Stilo 
Close,  probably  from  its  having  been  a  rabbit^ 
warren  ;  hence  came  the  name  Coney-grove  Street, 
which  in  time  became  corrupted  to  Congreve 
Street. 

New  Hall  is  still  standing,  with  a  portion  of 
the    surrounding   grounds,    but    the    town    has 


■B.  TUnmlna 


1  '20 


OLD   AND    NKW   lUltMlNcaiA^L 


(tlintilnglmtu  Ui  ITtMl 


advanced  sonifiwlnit  thwart! s  it  On  the  we^tfcrn 
side  of  tbe  town  tho  buildings  are  beginning  to 
eiiiTound  the  pleasantly-situated  little  estate  of 
John  Baskci^ille,  called  Easy  Hill,  Rising  in 
the  distance,  beyond  Easy  ITill,  may  l>e  discerned 
a  tall  tower,  which  foniis  an  entirely  new  feature 
in  the  prospect,  ha'ring  been  bniJt  only  about 
two  years  prenous  to  Ihu  date  of  our  present 
Burvey, — in  1758 — by  John  Porrot.  This  tower, 
which  is  seven  stories  high,  was  probably  oii^n* 
ally  intended  for  an  observatory,  although  it  lias 
been  said— on  what  authority  'we  cannot  t^ll — 
that  its  builder,  being  a  keen  lover  of  the  sport 
of  coursing, — erected  it  in  order  to  onalde  him, 
when  old  age  prevented  him  from  taking  part  in 
such  sports,  to  watch  others  engaged  in  it,  from 
tho  upper  stories  of  the  tower,  It  has  been  called 
*'Perrot's  Folly,"  but  is  now  more  generally 
known  as  "  The  Monument,"  and  from  this  naiue 
is  derived  that  of  Monument  Lane,  or,  as  it  is 
now  called,  Monument  Road.* 

New  Street,  we  notice,  is  filling  up  mom  closely. 
The  are  not  now  so  many  fields  and  gardens  as 
before,  and  between  St.  Philip's  and  that  street 
many  new  buihlings  have  arisen.  The  Baptist 
Meeting- house  now  stands  on  part  of  Guest's 
Cherry  Orchard;  Temple  Street  is  built  upon 
along  its  entire  length.  Beyond  New  Street  the 
dismal-looking  prison  may  be  discerned,  at  the 
junction  of  Peck  Lane  and  Pinfold  Street,  op- 
posits  the  end  of  Dudley  Street, 

The  Leather  Hall  Las  disappeared  from  tho  end 
of  New  Street,  as  already  stated,  and  in  its  place 
the  end  of  that  thoroughfare  is  blocked  (with  the 
exception  of  a  narrow  gateway,)  by  a  row  of 
houses.  The  beast  market  is  still  hcbl  in  lUgli 
Street,  but  it  is  not  destined  to  remain  there  long; 
an  act  being  passed  in  1769  to  remove  it  to  Bale 
End,  and  tho  sheep  and  pig  market  to  New  Street, 

•  In  a  recflDtly  published  work  th«  view  frum  thi»  toirer,  MrhjfM 
flrtt  biiilt^  is  reprcjiont'  '  ng  the  U.>wcr  ind  domr  of  St, 

Philip's  Churchy  in  on  i  r,  stirroiind«d  by  tcarfTdUlitif^ 

loaking  "  like  ah  huge  u  .rwork,"    Tl^ia  l«»  Jiowei'er,  en* 

tirely  iucorrcct,  at  it  wouid  tiaro  been  ]NC»ail>te^  tiXita  the  jif ntJAtd 
towur  and  dome  of  St.  Diilipa,  to  have  iw^en,  fr3Di  tho  diatanee* 
the  HfalTnld  «urrftnndliig  Pcnof*  Folly*  or  oven  to  toliave  Wfttchod 
thct  conmtenciMtnt  of  the  buihiiiig  of  Uiat  tower» 


(tlio  pudding-bag  end),  between  Worcester 
and  Peck   Lane,  exactly  opposite  the  Gramr 
School,  ^vhere  the  bleating,  gninting,  and  arj^iiealiB 
of  the  animals  exposed  for  sale  would  not  condud 
very  much  to  the  scholastic  i^uiet  generally  su^ 
posed  to  reign  in  such  quarters. 

Turning  towards  Si  Martin's  we  find  scaffoltlii] 
erected  at  the  east  end  of  tho  building.  The 
clmrchwardens  liave  ordered  "  the  plan  drawn  by 
Mr.  Hyrons,  for  building  a  vestry  "  to  be  ^arriQ 
into  execution  ;  and  that  ugly  excresence  on  th^T 
south  side  of  the  chancel  is  in  cours*  of  erection 
Looking  out  along  the  crooked  lino  of  'Hhe  sir 
called  Birtey  "  we  notice  the  new  chapel  of 
John  the  Baptist,  which  has  taken  the  place  of  tlj 
worn-out  building  of  the  fourteenth  century^ ;  l>i| 
afi  yet  the  square  tower  is  not  completed,  Alon 
the  whole  of  this  street,  beyond  tho  chapel  an3 
**  Tlie  Old  Crown,"  bouses  have  been  built,  as  far 
as  Camp  Hill ;  but  nearly  all  have  gardens,  and 
those  near  the  river  have  private  walks  down  to 
the  bimks  of  what  is  yet  a  bright  ripplir 
stream,  from  which  the  disciples  of  In 
Walton  may  enjoy  the  gentle  sport  with  pie 
sure  and  profit ;  and  at  the  upper  end 
the  street  portions  of  the  old  deer  park  at 
remain. 

Turning  towards  tho  south-east  the  obje 
which  first  attmcts  our  attention  is  the  n^ 
church  of  St.  Bartholomew,  surrounded  by  | 
pleasant  churchyard,  **  Wherever  a  chapel 
erected,"  oljsorvcs  Hutton,  **  the  houses  imn 
diately,  as  if  touched  by  the  wand  of  mag^ 
spring  into  existence."  This  is  the  case  arou 
St.  Bartholomew's,  and  the  churchyard  is  rapid 
becoming  the  only  green  spot  in  the  vicinit 
Cole^hill  Street  and  Stafford  Street  are  !>uilt 
upon,  as  is  also  the  road  to  Aston  as  far  as  Gosta 
(or  Goaty)  Green,  which  does  not  yet  entirely 
belie  its  name.  About  the  origin  of  tho  word 
/*,Oo$ta'V,|b  gtK)d  deal  ^f  spccuktion  has  been 
indulged  in.  Hutton  fancifully  conjectures  it 
to  have  been  Goose  Stead,  "once  a  track  of 
commons,  eircumscribod  by  the  Sltiffortl  Boad] 


Bfrmtii^^btin  to  irofv,] 


oij)  AKT>  m^w  iinnnNanA:^L 


otliors  Imve  supposed  it  to  bo  a  cormption  of 
*•  ga«tj'/* — from  its  exposed  situation ;  it  is, 
baworer,  far  more  probsible  that  tlio  name  k 
fioiiTiM]  from  the  prevalence  of  ^jornf.  and  ling 
ID  tlml  locality,  as  the  phrase  **  gosty  land "  ia 
siiH  occasionaUy  used  to  denote  land  on  which 
gOTse  grows  too  profusely, 

ITie  growth  of  the  town  in  thia  direction  ba^ 
not  yet  efluced  the  country  altogether.  There  are 
at  least  five  acres  of  pasture  land  still  remaining 
in  Walmer  Lane,  as  I^ncaster  Street  is  called, 
which  were,  in  1759,  "let  to  the  highest  bidder,*' 
at  Chnrle^  Freeth'a  Coffee  House,  The  same  year 
U  remarkfible  for  the  impetus  given  to  the  build- 
ing traile,  from  what  cause  it  is  now  difficult  to 
say — so  that,  according  to  the  Gazette^  **  tljere  are 
now  more  new  buildings  carrj'ing  on  in  this  Town 
ave  been  for  many  years  past,  and  more  are 
for,  that  oidy  wait  for  hands  to  execute, 
which  at  this  time  are  very  much  wanted/'  This 
rapid  ext^^nsion  of  building  probably  showed  itself 
in  the  district  to  which  we  have  now  turned  ;  vlz^^ 
Steelisottsc  Lane  and  Lichfield  Street,  and  the 
hind  lying  between  the  first-named  thoroughfare 
and  the  site  of  the  General  IIoFpital,  the  building 
of  which  Lad  not  as  yet,  however,  commenced.   The 

I  tncr^ised  number  of  houses  in  this  locality  is 
evidenced  by  the  necessity  for  a  new  church,  (St. 
Mary's,)  which  was  built  a  few  years  after  the  date 
of  our  present  sun'ey. 

Between  Gosta  Green  and  the  place  from  which 
wo  take  our  survey  of  the  town  lies  the  workhouse, 

I  sitoated  at  tlw  lower  end  of  Lich^eld  Street,  at 
pnaieiit  without  either  of  the  wings  depicted  in  our 

I  engmving  on  page  77*    At  our  feet,  on  the  eastern 

k«ide  of  SL  Philip's  church-yard,  is  the  Blue  Coat 
ckool  \  not  aa  it  appears  in  the  nineteenth  century, 

r'but  in  it6  original  form,  as  shown  in  Westley's 
Froftfiect.  In  the  distance  wo  catch  a  glimpse  of 
Duddestan  Hall,  which  has  now  become  the 
**Vattxhall"  of  Birmingham,  **a  large  gcntt^el 
pUMcre-garden,  neatly  laid  out  and  planted,  with 
h  laige  Bowling-Green,"  a  place  **  greatly  resorted 

I  k»  \$j  Ihe  Inhabitants  of  Birmingham,  as  well  as 


from  other  phicos."*  As  our  i^eaders  are  already 
aware  it  was  too  fi^equontly  the  scene  of  the 
brutal  exhibition  of  cock-fighting.  J  itat  beyond 
lUill  Sticct  we  notice  the  trimly- kept  Squaw?,  and 
tho  Friends'  Meeting  House ;  and  turning  north- 
eastward we  reach  the  end  of  our  survey  at  Snow 
Hill,  where  Matthew  Boultorf  is  steadily  working 
his  way  as  a  manufacturer  of  Birmingham  **  toys," 
producing  such  sterling  wMrk  as  should  overthrow 
the  vulgar  prejudice— which  even  thus  early 
insisted  on  the  local  wares  being  stamped  "  Lon- 
don made,"  f — ami  convince  the  world  that  such 
contempt  for  the  productions  of  *'  Brumraayem  " 
was  uiKleserved,  Little  does  he  think,  as  ho  toils 
in  his  Snow  Hill  factory^  that  in  a  few  years' 
time  he  will  be  engaged  in  selling  **  what  all  the 
world  desires  to  have, — Power,"  at  the  great  manu- 
factory which  is  to  make  the  name  of  Soho 
famous  all  over  the  world;  himself  being — as 
Boswell  happily  terms  him — **au  iron  chieftain^ 
a  father  to  his  tribe.'* 

At  the  bottom  of  Snow  Hill  is  an  inn  of  the 
old-fashioned,  comfortable  sort,  called  "  The  Salu- 
tation,*' having  good  gardens,  and  two  bowling 
greens,  where  the  tired  tradesman  and  artisan 
may,  after  tlie  busincRS  of  the  day  is  over,  enjoy 
the  pleasures  of  the  country  within  easy  reach  of 
the  town,  never  dreaming  of  the  time  when  the 
green  sward  elndl  have  become  a  grimy  coal 
wharf,  and  the  air,  which  is  now  so  sweet  and 
refreshing,  shall  be  laden  with  poisonous  smoke 
and  odours  by  no  means  enjoyable. 

Glancing  a;^ain  at  the  still  charming  grounds 
surrounding  Kew  Hall,  we  notice  a  foot-way 
running  through  the  same,  and  envy  the  people 
who  have  such  a  delightful  walk  almost  within 
the  very  town  itself.  But  it  is  not  destined  to 
remain  long  for  the  public  benefit  By  one  of 
those  selfish  acts  which  are  in  the  nineteenth 
century  depriving  the  public  of  so  many  charm- 

•  AH/$  Gaitttt,  M»y  iS,  1763. 

f  "  Thia  it  to  giv«  Kotloe  ThAt  &t  the  Pin  Wanobou^e  la  Corbetfi 
Alloy,  in  the  High  Street,  Biroilnghiim,  are  to  bo  •old,  J&Hpk 
Altcn'i  Ust  London  PinM,  ns  good  at  an  procurwd  by  any  ^  Ik*  Jroit, 
and  Of  cheap  at  Ot  L<mifo»t  l»y  John  AUen,  Peruke  Maker.** 

—Arit'n  Gftftttf,  17&2. 


122 


0LI3  AXD   iraW  BIEMINGIUM, 


[BinntnghAtn  la  1T60. 


ing  !»y-i>ath  walks,  the  owuer  of  the  estate, 
Charles  Colmnre,  Esq.,  fttt<?Tnpted  in  1764  to 
close  the  gate  of  the  Kew  Hall  walk  against  the 
people  of  Birniiugham,  with  the  exception  of  a 
few  "geutlonien  and  ladies  who  may  wish  to 
have  keys  for  their  convenience," — which  keys 
Mr,  Hollo  way,  the  steward,  "has  orders  to  de- 
liver for  their  service.'*  But  the  people  were 
unwilling  to  lose  bo  pleasant  a  walk  without  a 
struggle.  The  matter  was  brought  to  a  trial  at 
Warwick  Assijies,  in  1764,  between  George  Hol- 
loway  and  the  inhabitants  of  Birmingham,  and  a 
veniict  was  given  for  the  fonner,  who^  on  the 
19th  of  May  in  that  year  erected  -a  gate  to 
obstruct  passing  over  the  road  in  question,  but, 
we  are  informed  by  the  OazcttCy  the  said  gate 
"was  broke  down  by  a  great  number  of  rude 
people."  It  was  not,  however,  by  brute  force 
that  the  inhabitants  who  had  tried  the  question 
at  law  wished  to  retiiin  the  privilege,  ond  accor- 
dingly, on  the  Monday  after  this  petty  riot,  they 
offered^  in  the  columns  uf  the  Gu:eUi\  '*  a  reward  of 
live  guineas  to  any  one  who  should  discover  the 
person  or  persona  that  encouraged  and  promoted 
the  breaking  the  said  gate  in  so  riotous  a  manner, 
being  determined  to  suppress  any  such  illegal 
proceedings'";  and  fuithenaore  wrote  and  sent  a 
letter  to  Mr.  Hollo  way,  as  follows  : 

**BiniiingliaTu,  May  l&th,  17G4, 
**  Mr.  George  Hollowny, 

**3ir, — Wo  nre  very  much  concerned  at  the  riotous 
Proce^fdings  of  this  Day  ;  aud  have  such  ao  AbhorrKuee  to 
Pmcticea  of  tliig  kind,  that  wo  will  gladly  join  you  in  dis- 
covering and  punisbing  the  Oirenders  in  this  or  any  future 
illegal  Outrage  tliat  concerns  the  lioad  in  Question," 

As  we  muse  over  the  struggle  for  this  old  right 
of  way,  we  are  brought  back  Imm  our  imaginary 
survey  in  1760,  to  the  time  in  which  we  live, 
w  hen  the  old  footpath  is  gone,  and  the  grounds 
are  gone  also,  as  well  as  the  people  who  obstructed 
and  those  who  resisted  the  obstruction— all  have 
passed  away,  and  no  one  questions  the  **  riglit  of 
way  "  now  over  the  New  Ibxll  estate, — and  now 
that  pleasant  foot-path  has  become  a  noiay  street, 
which  does  not  invite  the  rambler  in  search  of 


natural  beauty  and  peaceful  retirement,  for  none 
pass  along  it  unless  called  thither  by  business  i 
other  necessity. 

We  cannot  do  better  than  conclude  this  chapt0 
with  two  poet  kill  descriptions  of  the  town,  whicB 
appeared  in  the  Gazette  in  the  year  175L  The 
first  is  wrttten  in  the  manner  of  Spenser,  and  1 
evidence  of  thought  and  refinement  on  the  part  ( 

the  writer.     The  Mr.  B to  whom  the  \ 

is  inscribed  was  the  famous  printer  of  whom  we 
have  recently  spoken,  John  Baskerville  : — 

INDUSTRY  AND  GENIUS; 

on,   THJt 

ORIGIN   OF   BIRMINGHAM, 

A   PABLB 

Alttmpt^d  in  th^  Manner  of  Spencer, 
Inacnbcd  to  Mr,  B — 


O  B !  in  whom,  tho'  rare,  unite 

The  Spirit  of  Industrie  and  eke  the  Ray 

<  *f  bright  inventive  Genius ;  wliile  I  writo 

Do  Thou  with  Candour  liaten  to  the  Lay 

Wliich  to  fair  Birminghiim  th«  Muso  slmU  pay, 

Iklarking,  beneath  a  Fable's  thin  Di<sgnisef 

The  Virtues  its  Iiilmbitanta  display  ; 

Tliose  Virtues,  wh<jiiee  tJiuir  Fume,  Their  Kichi»a  rise. 

Their  nic«  mechanic  Arts,  theii'  various  Mercbandije, 

% 

On  Avon's  winding  Bank^  with  Flowers  besprent, 
Whilom  y-dwf^It  a  thrifty,  sober  Swaine^ 
On  Care  and  Labour  aye  waa  he  intent, 
And  lowing  Herds,  and  Flocka  upon  the  Plaine, 
And  plenteous  Crops,  rewarded  well  his  Pain  : 
Clioap  his  Attire,  and  fnigal  wore  his  Meals  ; 
His  Bags  were  swell'd  with  no  dishoDest  Gain, 
A  hard  rough  Haud  the  Source  of  Wealth  rt veals, 
Ne  idle  Hour  be  knows,  ne  Weariness  he  feels. 


High  Industrie  was  he,  of  Parents  poor, 
But  soon  by  Labour,  he  removen  had 
Their  !'o?erty  ;  and  from  his  well -got  store 
Their  aged  Linihs  with  Decency  y-clad  ; 
But  now,  alas  I  their  Bosoms  waxen  aad, 
That  he,  their  only  Child,  ne  Wife  essays, 
Ne  little  Graadlings  brought  their  Heart5  to  | 
With  idle  Pariance,  and  with  childish  Plays 
To  cheer,  and  lengthen  out  the  Evening  of  thftr 
Days, 

4. 

But  near  at  Hnnd,  In  Eowor  of  Jeasamy 
And  Roscfl,  niixt  with  mre  and  curious  Ar 
A  Miiiden  dwelt,  so  fair,  that  only  she 


OLD    AND    NEW   BIRMINGHAM. 


[fiAnningbmin  tn  IT 


Wit  Theme  of  ewrv  Tongiie  and  every  Heart, 

Tet  few  to  claim  her  Love  might  boast  DetMjrt. 

Sith  to  her  Beauty  joined,  was  elcArly  aoon 

A  Wit  so  bright,  a  Mind  with  every  Part 

Of  SciotUMs  io  adorned*  that  well  I  wocn 

Her  Bae«d  in  aatiunt  Qreeee  had  boon  the  Muses 

QtK611. 

All  in  the  clear  Conception  of  her  Mind^ 
The  ikirost  Forms  of  Thingi  deijuint^id  wore, 
And  the  least  Shade  of  Difforence  she  would  find 
'Twixt  every  object  brought  into  compare, 
Graco  atill  dUtingiiish'd  her  Fi-odm  tluus  rare 
From  tho^e  of  common  Artisti :  Hm  m&i  Hand 
Obedient  wru  to  eiet'ote,  with  t'am 
And  Klcgunce,  her  Fancy's  least  Command  : 
Getiisa  y-clep*d  she  was,  admii-«d  by  all  the  Lund. 

It  chanc'd  as  on  a  Day  the  careful  Wight 
On  Hill  and  Dale,  lu  Field  ttn<l  Meadow  sought 
A  wandering  Ewe,  strayM  from  bia  Flock  by  Nightj 
That  Fortune  to  her  I\ower  hia  Footsteiw  brought ; 
He  gax'd,  admir'd,  ant[  soon  her  Beauty  wrought 
LHU  Heart  to  Love,     He  wouM  the  pferleia  Maid, 
f  And  long  with  bumble  Zeal  her  smile  besought ; 
[  The  Blush  of  yit  Idin^  Mmlesty  be  tray 'd 
At  length  her  vantiuiah'd  Heart  and  mutual  Loye 
dijplay*d. 

7. 
This  happy  Union  soon  [iro4luc*d  a  Ra(H» 
*  Of  dot-ile  Soiisif  iu  whom  the  Mothers  Mind 
J  Her  Ingenuity  aad  matchless  Grace 
■  Shone  with  tlie  Father*8  Persevenmce  joiird, 
I  And  now  to  social  Amity  inclined 
\A  Town  tbey  builden  straight,  high  Birmingljam, 
'  ^VJiere  still  lliuir  nuiuerouii  <  UTspring  dwell  eombin*d, 
Wiofio  UHefiil  Thewes,  and  curioua  Arts  proclaim 
To  all  tb'  ii<^lmiring  World|  from  what  rare  Stock 

they  came. 
This  very  ingenious  porforniancti  \faa  published 
in  the  Gazette  of  January  28j  iu  the  above-named 
year.  The  following,  purporting  to  1)€  a  ktt^r 
from  a  Birmini^diam  Mechanic  to  a  frienJ  at 
Warwick,  had  heeti  writttsn  as  eurly  1733,  but  tbo 
modesty  of  the  author  had  kept  him  from  piintiug 
it^  until  the  nppeaiance  of  the  Spenserian  Fable 
suggeated  its  publication  in  the  local  journal : — 

A  Letter  from  a  Mflchamck  iu  the  busy  Towii  of  Bir- 
mingham,   to    Mr.    Stayner,   a   CairvtT,    Statuary,    and 
Architect,  in  the  sleepy  Corporation  of  Warwick. 
Dear  Friend 
If  you  can  leave  your  Borough,  atill  and  fair, 
To  brwtho  awhile  in  more  aulphureoiu  Air ; 
Can  leave  the  Place  where  Heroes  first  drew  hnMith, 
And,  worn  with  toils,  retttm'd  and  courted  death  j 


^ 


The  Place  for  Cradles,  or  for  Tombs  §o  fit, 
Where  Morphou$,  umlisturb'd,  can  nodding  ait 
With  ease  aai  aileat  slumbers  bear  the  away, 
And  influence  you  all  both  Night  and  Day  ; 
Then  raise  your  Hca*J,  and  rub  each  heavy  Eyei, 
And  to  your  Nostrils  Hellebore  apply  ; 
When  broad  awake,  for  Vulcan's  Province  steer 
Each  Cyclop  will  rejoice,  to  see  famed  Stayner  hete^ 
Nor  fancy  Semnoa'  Caves  with  Forges  found, 
Or  ponderotis  Hammers  there  on  Anvils  bound. 
If  full  Xorth  West,  twice  seven  miles  you  go 
You'll  see  the  cloud  above,  the  thund'ring  Town 

below, 
Boldly  advance,  nor  Salamanders  fear, 
You'll  be  couvinc'd  that  Vulean^a  Forg«  ia  here; 
Tliat  Jineas"  Shield  diviito  was  made. 
Achilles*  Armour,  Hector's  drfjailful  Uhule  ; 
Hero  Guns  and  8warils  Cyclopean  Hands  divide, 
And  here  with  glittering  Anna  the  World  is  alill 

sup  ply  \L 
Here  Iiuplemcnts  and  Toya  for  ilistant  Parts, 
Uf  various  Metals,  by  mechanic  Arts, 
Are  finely  wrought,  and  by  the  Artists  aoUl, 
Whose  touch  turuR  every  Metal  into  Gold ; 
But  'tis  in  vain,  ahos !  we  boast  our  Skill  ; 
Wanting  thy  Arts,  we  are  deficient  stilL 
Oh  !  oomc  and  join  us,  teach  ua  to  excel 
In  Casting,  Carving,  and  in  Building  well ; 
Vet  here  delightful  Fabrieks*  you'll  behold 
Of  Iron,  Brass,  and  artificial  Gold; 
In  these  great  Mulcibor's  chief  Faetora  dwell 
Whilst  he  rctjr'd  to  bis  awful  Cell ; 
Beneath  Old  Wedgb-ry'sf  iturning  Banks  it  lina, 
\Miere  Thousands  of  his  Slaves,  with  glaring  Kyes, 
Around  him  wait,  or  near  him  do  rewde 
In  Suberterraneous  Caverns,  deep  and  wide  ; 
Whore,  by  their  Chiefs  Command  they  sap  Bko 

Moles, 
Supplying  every  Smithy  Hearth  with  Coals  ; 
There  let  thirm  delve,  whilst  iu  the  growing  Town 
In  jolly  Bacchanals  our  Cares  we  drown. 
Come,  Stayner,  come,  then  shall  the  circling  glaas 
From  Friend  to  Fiieud,  in  s[>arkling  Brimmers  pass; 
To  Arts  and  Science  every  Bowl  shall  How, 
*TiU  we  as  greiit  as  the  old  Grecians  grow, 
'Till  then  farewell,  thou  Son  of  famous  Angeto. 

Nor  were  these  the  only  effusions  of  IocaI  poet? 
in  praise  of  their  native  towiL  III  tho  laat  ntontl 
of  the  preceding  yeat — a  few  wtseka  bofora  ih< 
publication  of  the  above — Mn  Brodin  dcdivered  « 
prologue  at  the  Tlieatrc,  as  follows  : 

A  Paoivocure  {s}>oke  at  the  Theatre  in  Birminghan 
in  praise  of  the  town,  by  Mr,  Brodin) : — 
Athene,  in  Days  of  Yore,  for  Arts  was  fam'd, 
And  Rome's  immortal  Glory  stands  proclaim'd. 


*  The  Moniiy  that  built  them  was  got  bf  these  metals, 

f  Wsdaesburr,  famous  for  Ooil  Minns,  uid  subtarraucoua  Flim. 


TliD  Geti^nil  1Iom]i»UI  } 


OLD  AKD  NEW  BIHIVIIXGHAM. 


125 


A  ThOTne  of  no  leas  Honour  cljiiTns  our  Praise, 

Too  gremt,  too  copious,  for  my  scnuty  Fliraae, 

A  Town  wliicb  Virgil's  self  might  iiobly  own  ; 

Id  itn  Description  he  atrhiev'd  Renown. 

Here  Clink  of  Hammers,  and  repeating  Blows 

Of  w&rlike  Sledges,  terrify  ita  Foes. 

T©  you  fr»m  Norway,  Swtjden,  and  from  Spain 

Toceasmt  sails  do  plough  the  boistrous  Main. 

From  different  Climea  they  steer  each  well-fraught  Keel 

Of  pUted  Iron,  or  nu polish 'd  Steel, 

Which  wronght  and  bumishod  by  the  Artist's  File, 

They  won^dring  guze,  nor  know  their  Native  Soil, 

To  trace  the  various  Branchtss  of  each  Art, 

Tmnscfnds  my  Skill,  altho'  how  fain  my  Heart. 

Some  Bard  endowed  with  more  poetiG  Fire 


Mn»t  finish  that  to  which  I  can't  aspire. 

A  nobler  Subject  Poet  never  cbose, 

A  Maze  wherein  bis  Ffincy  he  may  lose, 

Plere  Kajthacl  or  Da  Vinci  may  divide 

"With  Brother  Artiste  too  the  Peucirs  Pride. 

No  more  let  Semnos  boaflt,  her  Artist  God 

In  Birmiugliam  has  fix'd  his  best  Abode  j 

Venus  attends  Mm  with  a  Look  serene, 

And  Papbo?  mourns  to  lose  her  Cyprian  Queen. 

Thufl  blest  with  every  Grace  the  Powers  can  give, 

May  Binniugham  long  flourish  and  e*er  live. 

With  thia  prayer,  which  every  man  and  woman 

of  Birmingham  should  echo  tchday,  we  close  the 

present  survey  of  the  town. 


CHAPTER     XXL 


THE     GENERAL      HOSPITAL. 

*■  tor  m  Bff|)lt«)— An  Ot^ection  anawerod^Tbe  buildla«  decided  upon— First  BuhttcHbeni— Mualn  uml  Churily— Nameu  of  tlie 
»  of  the  biiUtlliM*^— Det*}rii^--Ho»int&l  t\  The&tns— Tlie  biiUcUng  oompletod— ^Surly  History  of  the  losiiitution* 


Wbe:^  the  year  1765  was  drawing  to  a  close, 

and  the  first  touch  of  the  coming  winter  led  men 

to  think  of  the  poor,  and  ©specially  of  the  sick 

poor,  hy  whom  the  icy  hand  of  winter  is  always 

most  keenly  felt,  an  advertisement  ap>peared  in 

Ari^s  Birminffhatn    Gazette,  K^ov.   4,    1765,   as 

foUows : — 

*•  A  GENERAL  HOSPITAL,  for  the  Relief  of  the  Sick 
and  Lame,  (dtnat^d  near  the  Town  of  Birmingham,  ia 
pncTOtiied  would  Ik  greatly  beneficial  to  tlie  populous 
CVvuntry  about  it,  as  well  aa  that  place.  A  Meeting 
therefore  of  the  Nobility  and  Gentry  of  the  Neighbouring 
Country,  and  of  the  Inhabitants  of  this  Town,  is  requested 
on  Thursday  the  21st  Instant,  at  the  Swan  Inn,  at  Eleven 
ia  lhf>  Forenoon,  to  consider  of  proper  Steps  to  render 
rfleeiiuil  ao  mefal  an  undertaking/' 

This  advertisement  was  drawn  up  by  Dt,  John 
Aih,  an  eminent  physiciAH  of  this  to\vn,  who 
prae&ed  during  a  considerable  portion  of  the  last 
cenltny,  and  resided  in  the  neighbourhood  of 
Baddeston,  now  called  (after  the  doctor  himself) 
Afthi€d, 

Til©  rapid  increase  of  the  population  of  Bir- 
mingham, and  the  danger  attat:hed  to  many  of 
the  occupations  which  they  followed,  rendered  it 
that  some  provision  should  he  made  to 


s^'Pply,  in  case  of  sicknes*?  and  bodily  injuries, 
competent  medical  assit^ance,  which  the  majority 
were  too  poor  to  provide  for  themselves.  There 
were  those,  however,  as  there  always  have  been, 
w^henever  any  useful  measure  is  projected,  ready 
to  cast  a  wet  blanket  on  the  eaithusiasm  of  the 
projectors  of  the  hospital,  and— like  their  proto- 
type, Ebenezer  Scrooge— reminded  the  philan- 
thropic doctor  that  there  existed  a  workhouat^  to 
which  was  also  attached  an  infirmary ^  and  what 
more  could  the  sick  poor  needl  To  this  Dr.  Ash 
replied  in  the  following  announcement,  which 
appeared  in  the  Gazdie  of  November  IS: — 

"  It  having  been  objected,  to  the  Usefulness  of  the 
above-mentioned  design,  that  the  present  InQmiaiy 
eKtablished  at  the  Workhouse,  will  answer  all  the 
Purposes  of  it,  it  may  be  necessary  here  to  observe  that 
more  than  half  the  ilauufacturers  in  the  Town  of 
Birmingham  are  not  Parishioners  of  it,  and  cannot  be 
entitled  to  any  Pkelicf  from  the  present  Infirmary  :  Many 
of  them  are  Foreigners,  but  the  greatest  Part  belong  to 
the  Parishes  of  the  neighbouring  Country." 

At  the  meeting  called  by  Dr*  Ash,  which  was 
held  on  the  date  announced,  and  was  well 
attended,  it  was  resolved  that  **a  Building  for 
the  reception  of  proper  objects,  be  erected  within 


126 


OLD  AITD  NEW  BmMINGHAM. 


[The  Qeaeal  nospltd. 


a  measured  mile  of  the  Town  of  Birmmghatn, 
with  all  convenient  speed,  and  that  the  Society 
for  the  conduct  and  support  of  this  Hospital  be 
known  and  distinguished  hy  the  name  of  *niie 
Trustees  of  the  General  Ilospital  at  Birmingham, 
in  the  County  of  Warwick,  for  the  relief  of  the 
Sick  and  lame/*  Furthermore,  a  provisional  set 
of  rules  for  the  gnvcrnmeiit  of  the  proposed 
Hospitfll  was  adopteiJ,  and  a  BubscnpLion  com- 
menced which,  in  a  few  days,  amounted  to 
a  thousand  pounds,  besides  upwards  of  two 
hundred  pounds  aimual  subscriptions  which  were 
promised  at  the  same  tima  Amongst  the  princi- 
pal don<^ir8  were  the  Earl  of  Aylesford,  (£W) ; 
the  Counteas  of  Aylcsford,  (XIQ  10s.) ;  the  Earl 
and  Countess  of  Dartmouth,  {£31  10s,  aiid  £21 
respectively) ;  Lord  Willoughby  do  Broke,  (£31 
lOa);  Sir  Lister  Holte,  liart.,  of  Aston  Hall, 
(£21);  Lady  Ilolte,  (£10  10s.);  Sir  Charles 
Mordaunt,  (£31  lOs.) ;  Sir  Henry  Bridgman, 
Bart,,  the  ancestor  of  the  present  Earl  of 
Bradford,  (£21);  La^iy  Bridgman,  {£10  10a.); 
.Sir  Roger  Newdigate,  (£31  10a.) ;  Sir  Henry 
Gough,  Bart,  (£21);  Udj  Gougti,  (£10  10s,); 
Ciiarlea  Addcrley,  Esq.,  of  Hams  Hall,  ancestor 
of  the  present  Lord  Norton,  (£52  10s,);  Charles 
Jeimens,  Esq,,  who  is  known  as  the  editor  of 
several  of  the  plays  of  Shakespeare,  (£50) ; 
William  Dilke,  Esq.,  of  Packwood,  (£15  158.); 
Mrs.  Dilke,  (£10  lOs.)  ;  and  many  of  the 
principal  inhabitants  of  Birmingham,  including 
Dr,  Ash,  the  promoter  of  the  scheme,  Messrs. 
Boulton  and  Fothergill,  (Matthew  Boultm^  of 
Sohu),  Mr.  John  Taylor,  ^Icssra  Sampson  Lloyd 
and  Sampson  Lloyd,  junr.  (founders  of  the  Bank 
of  Taylor  and  Lloyds,  still  in  esdstence  as  Lloyds* 
Banking  Company,  Limited),  John  Baskerville, 
and  naany  families  still  well  known  in  Birming- 
ham. Among  other  donations  is  one  of  ten 
guine^as  from  **the  Muf»ical  Society  of  Sambroke's, 
in  Bull  Street,"  who  also  became  annual  bu1> 
scrihcrs  of  two  guineas;  and  thus  was  commenced 
that  alliance  between  Music  ami  Charity  which 
has  ever  marked  the  history  of  this  noble  institu- 


tion, and  which  has  reflected  as  much  honour  oHj 
the  disciples  of  that  refining  and  ennobling  art  \ 
it  has  conferred  benefit  upon  the  institutioa 
itself;  and,  a^  Mr.  Bunco  observes,  "from  the 
humble  asaocitition  above  named  we  may  possibly 
trace  the  germ  of  those  great  Eestivala  from 
which  the  Hospital  has  derived  such  essential 
assistance,"* 

From  £1,000  the  donations  to  this  great 
undertaking  soon  swelled  to  £2,000,  and  the 
annual  aubscriptions  to  £600,  and  the  promoters, 
feeling  themselves  justified  in  commencing  active _ 
operations,  hold  another  meeting  on  Christn 
eve,  when  the  provisional  rules  were  confirme 
and  a  committee  appointed.  The  mimes  of 
first  committee,  the  founders  of  one  of  the  noblest 
institutions  of  which  Birmingham  can  boast, 
were  as  follows  : — 

THE  EARL  OF  DARTMOirXH 

THE  EARL  OF  AYLESFORD 

SIR  CHARLES  MORDAUNT,   Bart. 

SIR  LISTER  HOLTE,  Baht, 

SIR  ROGER  NEWDIGATE^  Bart. 

SIR  HENRY  BRIDGMAN,  Bart. 

SIR  HENRY  GOUGH,  Babt. 

WILLIAM  BROMLEY,  Esq. 

STMON  LUTTRELL,  Ekq. 

CHARLES  COLMORE,   Esq. 

JERVOISE  CLARKE,  Esq. 

BENJAMIN,  PALMER,  E*«q, 

KICHARD  GEx\ST,  F^sq. 

WILLIAM  DILKE,  F^Q. 

ABRAHAM  SPOONER,  Esq, 

JOHN  TAYLOR,   Esq. 

HENRY  CARVER,  Esq. 

SAMUEL  GARBErr.  Esq. 

DR.  JOHN  ASH 

DR.  WILLIAM  SMALL 

MR.  JOHN  KB:TTLE 

MR.  MATTHEW  BOtJLTON 

MR.  SAMPSON  LLOYD 

MR.  JOSEPH  SMITH 

MR.  8AMLJEL  G ALTON 

MR.  JOHN  TURNER 

MR.  THOMAS  ABNEY 

MR.  JOSEPH  CARLES,  ATTORJfEY 

MR.  FRANCIS  PARROTT,  SuROEOif 

MR.  WILLIAM  JOHN  BANNER 


•  "  Hifttory  of  the  Blrmlnghain  Oonoml  lIotHtAl  B.i»(l  tti«  Mkuiei 
F«inUv)|Iji,"  |>.  S,  to  which  wo  itrQ  ifidvtiU^d  for  Uit  ihtKiVfi  liit  VkA\ 
itthur  ioUroDtitiif   detvili   respecthis   tlin   (JtrJj    htBlory  of 


BciajiiUl  1 


OLD  AKI>  NEW   BIEMIKGHAM. 


127 


The  next  business  was  to  select  a  sit€  for  the 
proposed  building,  and  this  important  duty  was 
entrusted  to  the  projector  of  the  scheme,  l>r.  Aah, 
who  selected  the  laud  in  Sumraer  Lftno  on  wkich 
the  Hospital  now  stands,  then  in  the  possession 
of   Mrs*    Dolphin^   from   whom    the   committee 


or  part  thereof  unto  a  hue  called  Walinore 
Lane/'*  Upon  this  site — which  Hiitton  charac- 
teriiea  as  "  very  iinsm table,'*  being  "  in  a  narrow 
dirty  lane,  with  an  aspect  directing  up  tlie  hill^ 
which  should  ever  be  avoided/'^ — the  biiOiling 
was  speedily  commenced^  a  plan  having  been 


V^ 


J  4] 


InVjl 


rr"^~*  g^4iitttfiii»mii^illlilIilH^ 


Hp(ircbAfM?d,  lit  £120  per  acre,  **ail  those  four 
^H^H^Kpieoes,  or  pai-cels  of  Land^  Meadow,  or 
^^IHHGrcnmd,  situate,  lying,  and  being  together 
Dear  a  place  cidied  the  Salutation,  in  Birmingham 
aforesaid,  containing,  by  estimation^  eight  Acres 
or  tliareaboutSj  be  the  same  more  or  less,  adjoin- 
Lug  at  ilia  uppat  end  or  part  thereof  into  a  Lane 
ihvn  cttlkd  Summer  Lane^  and  at  the  lower  end 
17 


THE   HOUSE    \H  THE  OLD  SQUAEE, 
.....  SdmUfiii  TJrrtor  ica.\  tlir  Imsf  and  Stiiiutd  Johttmn  UtC  ffOUi*** 


obtained  from  a  Mr.  Vyae.  It  was  deaignod  to 
accommodate  one  hundred  patients,  and  estimated 
to  cost  about  three  thousand  pounds.  The  Com- 
mittee conducted  the  work  of  erection  themselves, 
engaging  Messrs.  B.  and  W*  Wyatt  to  act  as 
superLiitendents  or  clerks  of  the  works,  at  a 
remuneration  of   £150*     Matters  went  on  well 


*  Waiin«r  Laim  :  afterwunlii  caUmI  Luxtmmi^t  Stnset 


12B 


OLD   AlCD  NEW   BIRMINGHAM. 


fThe  General  Hoipitnl. 


during  the  year  1766,  mi  til  November,  wben,  the 
funds  being  almost  exhausted,  it  was  considered 
exp^ient  to  suspend  operations  for  the  winter. 
In  the  following:  M^^Jt  (1<'^7),  an  attempt  was 
made  to  revive  the  interest  of  the  inliiibitant^s  of 
the  town  and  neighbourhood  in  the  progress  of 
the  hospital,  by  appealing  again  for  subscriptions; 
but  it  was  all  in  vain.  All  the  interest  of  the 
wealthier  inhabitants  was  just  then  centred  in  the 
proposed  Birmingham  Canal,  which  promised  to 
prove  a  profitable  spec uhd ion  ;  and  so,  ivhile  the 
funds  of  the  hospital  languished,  it  was  necessary 
to  limit  the  number  of  shares  which  a  single 
person  should  be  permitted  to  take  in  the  canal 
speculation,  so  great  was  the  anxiety  to  subscribe 
towards  an  object  which  promised  golden  rot  urns. 

Unto  February,  1768,  no  further  note  of  pro- 
gress appears  since  the  last  recorded  meeting  of 

the  lioard,  and  the  finances  were  in  a  worse 
condition,  if  possible,  than  before, — inasmuch 
that  the  secretary's  salary,  only  £10  a  year,  had 
not  been  paid.  Another  appeal  for  help  was 
made  in  April,  stating  that  the  building  was 
covered  in,  and  that  the  rooms  for  patients  were 
being  fitted  up.  At  a  meeting  held  on  the  3rd  of 
May,  the  Board  resolved  that  "a  Mtisical  Enter- 
tainment should  be  establL^hed,"  and  appointed  a 
committee  to  conduct  the  undertaking,  consisting 
of  the  following  gentlemen  ; — Mr.  John  Taylor, 
Mi.  Isaac  Spooner,  Mr.  John  Taylor,  jim.,  Dr.  Ash, 
Dr.  Small,  Mr.  Henry  Carver,  juu.,  and  Mr. 
Brooke  Smith, 

This  first  "musical  festival "^ — the  forerunner 
of  the  famous  series  of  tricmiial  festivals  which 
commenced  ten  years  afterwards — is  thus  an- 
nounced  in  the  Qazeite  :■ — 

^'On  Wednesday,  Thursday,  and  Friday,  the  7th,  8th, 
and  Sth  of  Septemlier,  the  Oratorios  of  L'ALLEGRO,  &c., 
ALEXANDER'S  FEAST,  and  the  MESSIAH  wiU  bo  per- 
formed here. 

''  L'ALLEGRO  ED  IL  PENSEROSO, 

**  Will  be  at  the  Theatre  in  King- Street,  on  Wednesday 

Evening,  the  7th  in«t. 

•*And   ALEXANDER'S   FEAST 

'*0n  Thursday  Evening,  the  8th, 

'  Between  the  wveral  parts  of  which  Mr.  Pinto  will  play 


a  Solo ;  and  Concertos  will  be  introduced  by  the  otbef  j 
Perforniera,  on  their  seyeral  Inatramenta. 

' '  On  Thursday  Moroing  will  be  performed  in  St  Philip*^ 
Clmrcb,  at  Ten  o'Clock,  Mr.  Handel's  Grand  IE  DEITI 
and  JUBILATE,  with  an  Anthom  of  Dr.  Boycea,  suitabk 
to  the  Occasion,  and  Mr.  Handel's  celebrated  CORONA-j 
TIG N  ANTHEM; 

**  And  the  MESSIAH,  or  Sacred  Oratobio, 

'*  At  the  same  Plaoc,  on  Friday  Morning,  tbe  9th. 

**Oii  the  Wednesday  a!id  Thnriiday  Evenings,  after  the 

Oratorios,  will  be  u  Bill  I,  at  Mrs.  Sawyer's  in  the  Square 

**The  prindpal  Voojtl  Pstrt^  will  Iw  performed  by  Mriul 
PiNTo,  Mr.  Nuunis,  Mr.  MAntiEWH,  Mr.  Prick,  k<yA 
Inatmmental  by  Mesai^a.  Pi>'TO,  Millau,  Aik'<h'K,| 
Jknkinh,  Parke,  Latks,  Honiw,  Clakjc,  Chew^  &c.,  Itc 

*'The  Oratorios  will  be  oondncted  by  Mr.  Cai*sl  Buki1|J 
of  Coventry. 

*'The  Music  at  the  ChuR^h  on  Tliursday  Morning  is  tai| 
be  opened  with  a  Trumtet  Cokceiito  by  Mr.  Bond,' 

The  historian  of  the  Festivals  infoi-ms  us  thai  J 
Mr.  Pinto,  the  prinei|>al  instrumentalist  in  the 
above  concerts,  was  a  famous  violinist,  and  ^*'a§ 
for  several  years  leader  of  the  hand  at  Brury  ^ 
Lane  Theatre ;  his  wife,  who  was  the  prinei[Mi 
vocalist,  was  wel]-lfnown  under  her  maiden  namo] 
(Drcnt)  as  a  singer,  and  a  favourite  pupil  of  Dr. 
Ame,  who  wrote  expressly  for  her  the  part  of 
Mandanc,  in  **Artaxerxes."  ^fr,  Norris  was  a 
Bachelor  of  Music,  settled  at  Oxfonl,  and  well- 
known  both  there  and  in  the  metropolis. 

The  performances  were  atteadod  with  consider- 
able success,  being  attended  by  **  brilliant  and 
crowded  audiences,"  and  on  Thursday  morning  i 
the   Countesses   of    Dartmouth    and    Aylesft>rd| 
"very  obligingly  atocwl  to  receive  at  the  Church! 
door." 

The  gross  receipts  at  these  entortMnmentdl 
amounted  to  £800,  of  wliich  the  committee  were] 
enabled  to  pay  over  £299  7s,  id,  to  the  funds  of* 
the  hospital  **  It  is  gratifying  to  observe,"  saya  j 
Mr,  Bimce,  "  that  from  the  first  the  Festivals  havoi 
been  marked  by  the  selection  of  music  of  thai 
highest  class.  Notwithstanding  that  even  at  thej 
remote  period  of  which  we  are  writing  Birming^j 
ham  was  decidedly  a  musical  town,  it  still  must 
have  been  a  bold  experiment  to  have  offered  to  1 
the  public  a  series  of  performance!  including  the! 
*  Messiah'  and  other  works  then  scarcely  appreciatodj 


even  by  i»ereons  of  cultivated  taste,  and  certiiinly 
distasteful  to  many,  if  not  to  most,  of  the  amateurs 
If  bo  had  acquired  a  relish  for  inferior  and  frivolous 
musLc^  against  Hie  popularity  of  which  Handel 
found  it  80  difficult  to  contend." 

Xot  with  standing  the  success  of  these  ent^rtain- 
mentfi,  the  interest  in  the  progress  of  the  Taluable 
institaiioQ  for  whose  benefit  they  were  undertaken, 
still  flagged,  and  that  to  so  great  a  degree  that  in 
^[ay,  1769,  it  was  necessary,  in  annonncing  a 
meeting,  to  intimate  that  dinner  would  be  pro- 
vided, in  order  to  ensure  a  sufficient  attendance. 
The  funds  had  fallen  to  such  an  extent  that  the 
boildin^  could  not  be  completed;  and  it  was, 
tUerefore,  rt^olved  that  the  remaining  (unuseil) 
building  materials  should  be  sold  and  the  im- 
(Inisbed  structure  insured,  all  further  eflbrts  being 
deferred  until  more  hopeful  tiraea.  From  this 
periixl  until  1776  there  is  but  one  reference  to 
the  existciice  of  the  institution — a  notice  in  the 
Gazette  of  Jlay  8, 1769,  (the  month  which  saw  the 
temporary  abandonment  of  the  hospital)  threaten- 
ing to  punish  certain  ** disorderly  persons"  who  had 
**done  considemble  damage"  to  the  neglected 
building,  by  **  frequenting  there  to  play  ball,  tS:c," 

The  listlessness  with  which  the  inhabitants  saw 
this  noble  institution — to  which  doubtless  many 
a  poor  »ufferer  bad  looked  hopefully,  but  in  vain, 
— lying  in  an  imJiniahe*!  state,  and  probably  fall- 
ifig  somewhat  inf^  decay,  contrasted  with  the 
eii^ifmuss  with  which  they  took  up  the  scheme  of 
re-building  the  theatre,  immediately  after  its 
destruction  by  fire,  in  1774,  roused  the  indigna- 
tion of  a  young  clerk  in  a  meix:antile  houso  in  the 
town,  who  was  also  a  member  of  tlie  Baptist 
Church  in  Cannon  Street,  namt^d  Maik  Wilks, — 
afterwards  a  famous  minister  of  Lady  Hunting- 
doD*s  Chapel  at  13"orwich.  Determined  to  arrest 
the  attention  of  the  public  to  the  disgraceful  con- 
trnsty  he  published  the  following  poetical  dialogue: 
"POETICAL  DREAM, 
SHn^  a  Dialogiie  btiuxm  th^  JIufjHtal  and  Xar 
Fhtjh^usi,  at  Birmimjhum, 

At  elow  of  diy,  within  a  nuid  borer, 

I  Mi  me  down*  to  muse  away  m  hour  ; 


But  nightly  silence,  so  profoundly  deep, 

Soon  luird  me  into  calm  and  quiet  sleep  ; 

Ami  aa  1  slept,  1  thought  1  heard  ft  noiae, 

Then  looked  around,  and  to  my  great  surprise, 

I  saw  the  Hospital  and  Playhouse  near, 

Both  in  profound  discourse,  which  you  shall  hear : 

HotpUaL 

Hail,  Playhouse,  hail !  thee  1  congratulate, 
Whilst  I  bemoan  mine  own  buwildered  atato ; 
Near  seven  years  were  niy  fotindations  laid, 
Ere  thine  were  dug,  or  onglit  about  thee  said, 
Yet  Tve  been  long  abandon'd  human  thought, 
Whilst  thou,  iij  ha^U',  are  to  perfection  brought- 

FiayhoMM. 

Cease,  Hospital,  why  ahould'st  thou  thus  repine  t 

Though  thou  art  neglected,  *tis  no  fault  of  mine  ; 

Thy  use  is  hospitality,  1  know, 

Or  thou'dat  been  finijihcd  many  ye-ars  ago  : 

My  use  thou  know*st  is  diircrent  from  thine  : 

In  me  the  rich  and  opulent  shall  shine  ; 

But  halt,  and  kme,  aud  blind  must  be  thy  gu«st, 

And  such  oa  are  by  aickneas  sore  oppreas'd. 

*Ti3  true  mhie  is  au  hoipitahlo  door» 
And  should  stand  open  to  receive  the  ixior : 
The  rich  from  me  can  no  advantage  gain, 
Which  causes  me  in  sackcloth  to  remain, 

PtayhouM. 

Well,  sto]>  awhile,  VW.  now  demand  of  thee, 
Hhow  me  the  ninn  who  e'er  got  ought  bj  me  ; 
No  good  or  iirofit  can  in  me  be  founi], 
My  entertainments  with  expense  abound. 

Hospital. 

Oh,  epicureans  value  not  exiwnse, 
When  buying  trifles  to  amuse  lli^ir  sense  ; 
But  though  1  loudly  their  aHsliitance  crave, 
Yet  I J  aJas  !  con  no  sbsaistance  hare. 

Flayhottae, 

It  must  bo  wrong,  1  do  in  conscience  own, 
That  such  nnkimlness  should  to  thee  be  shown, 
That  thou  by  Chris tianti  thus  should  slighted  be, 
Whilst  I'm  caressed,  and  crown 'd  with  dignity. 

ffoaintal. 

Oh,  Theatre,  it  is  indeed  a  shame. 
That  they  should  e'er  be  honoured  with  the  name  ; 
Could  Chriatiaui  in  a  Playhouse  take  such  pride, 
MiTiilat  I  in  dormancy  so  long  abide  T 

Playhmtae. 

Yes,  Chrisdaua  can  ;  pray  do  not  go  so  far  ; 
T  hope  you  do  not  think  they  heath t?n  are. 


130 


OLD  AND  KEW  BIBMIKGHAM. 


[Tlie  Oeoerfcl  HoipttoL 


MospUaL 

Indeed,  they  are  no  better  in  my  view, 
Or  else  they  never  could  delight  in  yoii. 

Playhouse. 

All,  that  is  certainly  a  grand  mistalce  ; 

The  hest  of  Cliristiaiis  slioiild  their  pleasure  take. 

MoipUnl 

And  sa  they  do,  hat  thou  hnst  none  to  gi?e ; 
Their  pleasure  is  the  netdy  to  reliove. 

Flayhou^. 
If  that's  the  ease,  then  Christians  are  hut  few. 

Hospital. 

Indeed,  Theatre,  that  I  think  is  true, 
Sure  J  this  gloomy  aspect  shoold  not  wear, 
ir  all  were  Christians  who  the  name  now  bear. 

FlayhouK* 

Well,  be  it  80  ;  I  will  no  more  preteud 

To  take  their  fmrt — let  this  contention  end; 

Each  plQMB  mind  our  gentry  justly  bhime. 

So  I  awoke,  and  lo,  it  was  a  dream." 

But  tliia  dialogue  did  not  succeed  at  ouce  in 
arousing  tho  public  to  fimsb  the  hospital.  It  wae 
not  until  the  close  of  1776  that  any  further  steps 
were  taken  to  obtain  pi^cuniary  assistance  to 
cnalde  the  comniitteo  to  complete  the  work  On 
the  16th  of  August  in  that  year  a  meeting  was 
held,  and  a  report  on  the  eontlition  of  the  build- 
ing and  of  the  funds  was  laid  lief  ore  them.  It 
was  ultimately  deciiJed  to  call  a  public  me<?tingof 
the  inhabitants  of  the  town  and  neighbourhood, 
and  the  following  notice  was  issued  :■ — 

**  Many  Gentlemen  of  fhis  Town  and  N^-ighbourhood, 
having  taken  into  Consideration  the  impro|K!r  State  in 
which  tbti  Building  of  the  lTt>neml  IlospiUl  at  present 
stands,  and  being  veiy  desirous  to  se^  it  answer  tho  laud- 
ablo  Intention  for  which  it  wiis  began,  do  hereby  Request 
a  General  Meeting  of  the  Nobilitj  and  Gentry,  aa  well  as 
of  the  Inh>d>itant^  of  the  Town,  at  the  Hotel,  in  Birming- 
ham, on  Friday  the  20th  of  thiii  instant  at  Ten  o'clock  in 
the  Forenoon,  to  concert  the  moat  eHectiuil  ileasuroa  to 
Proseeate  the  Undertaking,  and  speedily  to  render  thli 
charitable  Design  useful  to  the  Public.'* 

Tlie  meeting  was  hold,  as  aunouneed,  on  the 
20th  of  September,  at  the  **  Birmingham  Hotel'* — 
afterwards  called  the  "  Royal,"  which  was  then  a 
new  institution,  having  been  erected  by  subscrip- 


iion  in  the  year  1772,  in  Temple  V.ow^ — and  in 
the  next  week's  issue  of  the  Gtizeite  an  announce- 
ment was  published,  stating  : 

£     I.   4] 

"  That  the  Money  expended  on  the  Building, 

contingent  Expences,  &c.,  (iDcluding  the 

purchase  of  Land,  £942,  and  interest  paid 

tbitreon  to  Christmas  last,  £359  3a.  8d.), 

amounted  to ,, .^ ...6,85313    1 

**That  the  Money  already  received  for 
Benefactions,  SubscriptionBt  &c.,  amounted 
to ..,.3,970  10    i' 

* '  So  that  a  Debt  has  been  iocn rrpd  of £2, 888    2 

**  This  does  not  include  any  Charge  for  loteresti  ftxce| 
that  for  the  Land  as  above,  and  one  Year's  Intcfeat 
£200.  Messrs,  Taylor,  Lloyd,  and  Co..  who  are  Ih 
principal  Creditors,  will  be  content  with  8  per  Cent 
Ann.  for  what  they  paid  in  advance. 

"The  Building  is  well  executed  on  a  large  extensiv 
Plan,  and  capable  of  rei-eiving  upwards  of  100  PatieatJ* 
tlie  most  commodioufi  Miinncr. — The  Eittioifttea  of 
different  Buildors  were  laid  before  the  Meeting,  by  whid 
it  appeared  that  it  would  coat  between  £1,000  and  £1,10 
to  compleat  the  Building,  fxclusivo  of  the  FuniitureJ 

The  sum  of  X740  was  aubaenbed  at  the  meet- 
ing, and  a  canvass  of  the  prineipal  residents 
the  town  and  neighbourhood  decided  upon;  bti 
this  resolution  was  not  put  into  pmcticc  unt 
Fehnmry,   1777,     As  a  result  of  Ihii  appeals 
number  of  the  frienda  of  the  institution  incn 
their  auhecriptions. 

Tho  prospecta  of  th^  hospital   began   now 
revive,  and  the  building  pixigros'^ed  fii  1 

and  in  June,  1778,  another  Music ul  P<  1 1 
was  resolved  upon,  to  take  |*laco  in  the  follow 
September.  Tliis  was  the  first  of  the  triennij 
festivals,  which  have  been  reguhirly  htOd,  (witl 
two  exceptions,)  up  to  the  present  time  ;  bnt 
we  purpose  devoting  several  chapters  to  tlf 
hist^Diy  of  this  institution,  it  wijl  not  bo  nee 
to  make  further  reference  here  to  the  Festival 
1778  except  to  state  that  it  produced  naat^ 
£800,  of  which  £170  went  to  the  funds  u!  th 
Elospita),  the  pr«>fits  being  shared  betweeji  thi 
institution  and  the  fund  for  the  erection  of 
Paul'3  Chapel,  of  wliicU  wo  shall  have  to  speak  il 
a  future  chapter. 

By  the  end  of  July,  1779,  tho  arran^^menb 
were  completed  for  the  reception  of  patieuia,  i 


I  BoaiilUL  ] 


OLD   AND   NEW  BIRMINGHAM. 


131 


on  the  4th  of  Aiiguat  a  meetbig  was  held,  at  which 
Lard  Craven  was  appointed  president,  and  the 
^VeaLbers  al  the  County  (Sir  Charles  Holt,  Bait, 
and  Sir  T,  O.  SVipwith^  Bart.,)  vice-presidenta. 
It  wofi  rej^orted  that  the  phj8iciaua  of  the  town 


Heorge  Kennedy,  John  Freer,  jim*,  and  Jeremiah 
Vaux. 

The  Hospital  was  formally  opened  on  the  ^Oth 
of  the  same  month,— ^ncarly  fourteen  years  after 
the   first    nieetinfj  which  had  been   held   on   its 


s^-^ 


^1 


l^*Jita^^ 


81%    MAUYS   tTll'RCH* 


ofTered  tlieir  services  as  medical  officers 
gratuitously,  and  surgeons  who  were  desirous  of 
eonnection  with  the  institution  were  rcqiicj^ted  to 
nend  in  applications.  On  the  13th  of  tSeptemher 
the  Djedical  staff  of  the  institution  was  elected, 
thcj  first  phyj^icians  being  Dr.  Asli,  Dr.  Smith, 
Dr.  Withi^rin^,  and  Dr  I!dward  Johnslone ; 
an  dib«   fot   surgeons    Mea^B.    Kobert    Ward, 


behalf,  lliero  were  at  the  ojtening  of  the  institu- 
tution  only  forty  bods,^efis  than  half  the  number 
originally  proposed  Puriug  tlie  first  week  ten  in- 
patients were  admitted,  and  four  nurses  were  ap- 
pointed, at  fotir  guineas  per  annum^  with  a  promise 
of  fin  additional  guinea  "  if  they  behave  well  ;*'  a 
barl>er  was  also  a]>pointod  to  shave  the  patients 
twice  n  week,  al  a  siiiary  of  10a.  6d.  per  c^uart^. 


132 


OLD  AND  NEW  BIRMINGHAM. 


rWillifttn  Hut  ton  in  BSnoinghtm. 


Haviug  now  reached  tlie  period  at  whicli  the 
hospital  was  opened, — fiom  which  we  shall  be 
ohliged  to  retrace  our  steps  in  the  ensuing 
chapters,— we   may   leave    the   history   of    this 


noble     institution    for    the    present,    until    ,,_ 
have  brought  theother  portions  our  Btory  down 
to  the  date  at  which    we    close    the    pr 
chapter. 


CHAPTER     XXII. 
^VILL!A^[      HI'TTON      IN     BIRMINGHAM. 

Ili»  nveow}  vliiH  to  the  town—Settlea  ^  a  >Hio1ui«ller  Iii  Btilt  Strei't-  ai*movejf  to  Higti  Slrtiat^Hiii  ootirUlilp  nud  tn«rriAge— S}>nMiUtJa 
— Tlie  Transit  vt  Vemis — Loenl  lionotirs— The  Court  of  Requests,  etc. 


In  the  February  of  1750,  William  Button  paid 
hiB  second  visit  to  Birminghum, — ihiii  time  with 
a  view  to  a  pennanent  settlement  in  the  town. 
Since  his  memorable  week's  journey  in  1741»  he 
had  seen  many  clianges.  In  174G  his  uncle  hatl 
died,  and  the  young  journeyman,  finding  the 
stocking  tmde  distasteful,  had  turned  his  atten- 
tion to  bookbinding.  He  had  attempted  to 
establLdi  a  connection  as  a  bookseUirr  and  book- 
hinder  at  Southwell,  in  Nottinghamshire,  which 
he  characterises  as  being  **as  despicaWe  as  the 
road  to  it."  At  the  date  above  mentioned^  he 
turned  his  thoughts  toward  the  town  which  had 
so  favourably  impressed  him  ten  years  before,  anrl 
journeyed  here  **  to  pass  a  judgment  on  the  pro- 
bability of  future  success."  Here  be  found 
**  three  eminent  booksellers  for  monLil  improve- 
ment, Aris,  WarreUj  and  WoolJjiston/*  Con- 
sidering, however,  tiiat  "  the  town  was  large,  and 
crowded  with  inhabitants,"  and  that  he  might, 
perhaps,  *'  mingle  in  that  crowd  unnoticed  by  the 
three  great  men  "—for,  be  quaintly  adds,  "an  ant 
is  not  worth  destroying," — he  determined  to  try 
his  fortimc  its  a  bookseller  here.  On  the  lOtb  of 
April,  ill  the  same  year,  therefore,  he  entered  Bir- 
mingham for  the  third  time,  and,  after  traversing 
the  town  a  whole  day  in  order  to  lind  a  suitable 
shop,  agreed  with  a  Miss  Dix  for  the  lesser  half 
of  hers,  at  No.  6.  Bull  Street,  for  one  shilling  a 
week.  It  will  interest  those  who  are  in  the  habit 
of  noticing  coincidences,  to  know  that  the  same 


year  which  saw   William  Mutton's  iirst  seriou 
attempt  as  a  bookseller,  (for  the  Southwell  venty 
was  scarcely   worth    mentioning),   was   thai 
which  Baskerville  made  his  first  attempt  at  printi 
ing.     He  entered  upon  his  new  establishment  < 
the  2oth  of  May,  and,  for  the  first  year— a  ye 
of  hartlsbip  and  of  the  most  rigid  frugality— 
lived  ahnost  alone,  without  making  a  single 
quaintanca     Ho  **had  entered  a  new  world, 
which  he  lived  a  melancholy  life ;  a  Ufe  of  silena 
and   tears."     In  1751  be  found  two  friends  iri 
Mr.  Dowler,  a  surgeon,  who  lived  opposite  to  him 
in  Bull  Street,  and  Mr.  Grace,  a  hosier,  (up 
whom,  as  the  reader  will  doubtless  remember, 
called,  when  seeking  employment  in  1741)»  wlii 
occupied  one  of  the  hotiaes  which  blocked  up  tli 
High  Street  end  of  New  Street*     "Great  cons 
qiience^,"   he  observes,  "often  arise  from  litt 
tilings.     The  house  adjoining  that  of  Jklr.  Graee'd 
in  the  High  Sti-eet,  was  to  be  let.    Botli  [Mr.  Gracse 
and  Mr.  Dowler]  urged  me  to  take  iU     I  wn 
frightened  at  eight  pounds  rent.     However,  hot 
persuaded;  one  drew  and  the  other  pushed 
they   placed  me   there,"     Here   he   pursued  hii" 
business  **  in  a  more  elevated  style,  and  with  ] 
success." 

He  soon  had  "a  smiling  trade,"  and  in  addilio 
to  ^dlhuj  and  Unding  books,  he  also  comniene 
lending  them  j  and  so  may  be  said  to  have  eatatj 
lishe<l  the  first  circulating  library  in  the  io^ 
In  his  amusing  autobiogt^aphy,  he  relates 


WiUi»mnnttnwiiiBinmngb*m,]  OLD   AND  NEW  BIRMINGHAM. 


133 


WivemI  fixiXTieTices  when  in  Beairh  of  n  wife 
at  this  i^jricxL  He  liml  been  very  much  troubled 
in  the  management  of  his  household  affairs.  One 
houfiekeiiper,  in  his  absence^  sold  liis  hooks  for  what 
they  would  bring,  left  the  shop,  and  got  drunk 
with  the  rooney.  Another  came  well  recommended 
by  a  Nonconformist  Minister,  who  assured  him 
that  she  would  not  cheat  him  as  she  fe^ired  the 
Loni  "  He  might  be  right/'  atlds  Hutton,  **  but 
che  cheate^i  my  dumiilings  one  Sunday  by  setting 
them  t»i  b<»il  without  water.  When  we  returned 
from  Meeting  they  were  burned  to  a  cimJor."  It 
waa  ilieErefore  ne^easaxy  that  he  should  fuid  a 
housekeeper  who  shotdd  also  be  a  **  partner  for 
life."  His  sister  had  visited  him  in  1751,  bring- 
ing with  her  an  intended  wife.  The  latter,  he 
tells  us^  was  **  tolerably  handsome,  and  appeared 
able,"  But  love,  as  he  qunintly  remarks, 
a  delicate?  and  shy  birtl,  not  always  caught 
j  at  fet  sight ;  besides,  evej-y thing  formal  operates 
j  against  it."  The  pre-arran-^'ed  match  fell  through ; 
*we  behaved,*'  he  says,  **\Tith  civility,  but  neither 
I  ol  us  taking  fire,  the  matter  died  away." 

In   his  new  occupation   of    librarian   he  en- 

toantercd  many  of  the  gentler  sex,  and  some  of 

them  he  found  **  so  obliging  as  to  show  an  incli- 

liuition  to  share  with  Mm  the  troubles  of    the 

Id  ;"  but  the  inclination  would  appear  to  have 

all  on  one  side,  and  he  still  remained  alone. 

[la  the  November  of  1753,  however,  he  met  for 

i  time  the  lady  who  was  destined  to  become 

V — a  niece  of  Mr.  Grace,  Misa  Sarah  Cock^ 

I  it  ia  spelt  in  the  register  of  the  marriage, 

Crw),  of  Aston-on-Trent,  near  Derby,  whom  that 

gentleman  had  taken  as  his  hotisekeoper.     Hutton 

dined  with  Mr*  Grace,  as  he  had  at  that  time  no 

liooiiekeeper ;  and  so  the  aci]ualntan€6  with  Miss 

pened  into   affection.     On  the   23rd   of 

1755,  they  were  married  at  St   Philip's 

'  Clmitli,  in  the  presence  of  Mr.  Graee  and  Mr. 

WOliam  Eylandj  who  had  become  one  of  Hutton's 

finoeet  friends.     Many  yeais  afterwards,  when 

I  Uie  parinendiip  had  been  dissolved  by  death,  he 

I  mote  cuDi.*eixi]ng  his  wife  aa  follows :  ^'  I  found 


in  her  mure  than  ever  1  expected  id  woman, 
tlust  in  proportion  as  1  loved  her,  I  must  lament 
her  loss.  If  mj  father,  with  whom  I  lived  only 
fourteen  years,  who  loved  me  less  and  has  been 
gone  forty,  never  is  one  day  out  of  my  thoughts, 
what  must  be  those  thoughts  towards  her  who 
loved  me  as  herself,  and  mth  whom  I  re^sided 
an  age  1 " 

The  next  year  (1756)  saw  the  birth  of  his 
daughter  Catherine,  who  became  the  constant, 
aiV^'ctiouate,  and  soli«jitous  companion  of  her 
father  to  the  day  of  his  death,  and  remained  un- 
married during  a  life  of  upwards  of  ninety  years' 
duration. 

During  the  same  year  he  was  induced  by  his 
intimate  friend,  Robert  Bage,  to  embark  in  the 
stationery  enterprise,  purchasing  of  him  two  hun- 
dred pounrls*  worth  of  paper,  and  bung  out  a  sign, 
The  Paj/er  Wurehomey  the  first  in  Birmingham. 
This  department  of  his  business  he  subsequently 
developed  by  manufacturing  the  paper  himself, 
erectiug  a  mill  for  that  purpose  on  Handsworth 
Heath  ;  but  this  speculation  proved  disastrous,  as 
he  knew  but  little  of  the  process  of  paper-making, 
and  was  consequently  obliged  to  trust  almost 
entirely  to  his  men. 

Ill  1761  he  writes,  "I  still  pursued  the  mill 
scheme,  till  lost  in  a  labyrinth.  The  workmen 
saw  my  i^iomnce,  and  bit  me  at  pleasure.  *  Let 
us  fleece  Hutton ;  he  hiva  money.'  I  discharged 
them  all,  let  the  work  stand,  and  left  myself  at 
rest.**  But  the  millwrights  would  not  suffer  him 
to  rest  while  the  property  lasted.  One  of  them 
endeavoured  to  persuade  him  **  at  what  a  small 
expense  it  might  be  converted  into  a  com  mill, 
and  what  amazing  profit  would  attend  it;"  and 
into  this  trap  he  fell  an  easy  prey.  But  in  the 
next  year  he  makes  an  entry  in  his  autobiography : 
"  I  found,  as  a  miller,  I  was  cheated  on  all  sides, 
which  induced  me  again  to  discharge  the  people, 
and  suffer  the  mill  again  to  stand,  with  a  deter- 
mination never  to  move  it  again.  I  also  sold  my 
horse  for  four  guineas,  resolving  to  keep  no  more*" 
He  ultimately  sold  the  mill  for  eighty  guineas,  to 


in 


OLI)  ANP   NTJW  BrnMINGIIAJf. 


[Willljuu  Hutioo  tn  BlnuinKhsnu  ' 


n  Mr.  Honeyborn,  to  be  used  sn  polisliiiig  biasa 
nails;  and,  on  examining  his  accounts,  and  taking 
into  consideration  the  hindrance  to  hijs  ordinary 
business,  resulting  from  his  paiier-making  and 
corn-grinding  oxperinients,  he  c^tiinat^d  that  he 
had  lost,  in  these  two  schemes,  nearly  a  thousund 
pounds. 

In  the  year  1761  ho  makes  an  entry  concenung 
the  transit  of  Venus,  which  occurred  in  that  year, 
which  will  inttsrest  our  readers  at  the  preaent 
time : — 

"I  saw  the  iTansit  of  Venn*  over  tho  sun's  iil«k.  She 
Rpp<>ftred  a  BmiUI  Klnck  spot  moving  over  the  fa^'e  of  the 
Sim,  tlie  size  of  a  Inrge  fly  or  )^e.  I  think  it  was  the  liftli 
of  Jane." 

In  ITGiJ  he  again  refers  to  the  prosperous  stato 
of  his  business,  and  the  absence  of  rivals  in  the 
trade;  remarking,  llmt  ho  began  to  doubt  whothor 
thf.  mill  hftil  been  any  loss,  for,  he  adds,  the  dis- 
appointment had  raised  that  coiutnercial  spirit, 
which  would  not  have  been  raised  without  it 

"  When  life  glides  amootldy  along/*  he  writes, 
in  1765,  **  incident  ia  not  to  be  expected*  The 
man  who  sleeps  in  peace,  baa  no  tale  to  toll/* 
This  was  the  case  with  hmiself  for  many  years 
after  the  abuve  date,  and  his  histoiy  is  simply  that 
of  increased  prosperity,  occasional  journeys  into 
Derbysbire  and  Nottinghamshire,  and  municipal 
— or  rather  parochial — honours  at  home.  His 
liirmingham  life»  in  fact,  became  principally 
devoted  to  the  service  of  his  fellow  townsmen. 
His  first  step  towards  public  life  was  that  of  being 
Buromoncd  upon  the  Low  Bailitfs  Jury,  in  1765  j 
in  1768  he  wjis  t:hosen  Overseer  of  the  Poor,  and 
**  thotight  himself  elevated  beyond  his  ancestors ; 
fur  none,  within  the  reach  of  tradition,  had 
efpialled  it"  He  mivdp  ndda  :  **  Perhaps  I  was 
the  first  overseer  in  Birmingham  that  ever  rejoiced 
at  the  ofhce.  When,  in  the  evening,  I  met  my 
five  new  bretlircn  at  the  CastJe,  they  were  all 
affectod ;  some  provoked,  and  some  cast  down, 
while  I  kept  \ip  the  joke,  and  brought  them  to  a 
smile.  Some  of  them  afterwards  acknowk*dged 
I  did  them  a  service,"  Hia  opposition,  in  this 
capacity,  to  the  Lamp  Act — ^the  ^*  improvement 


scheme**  of  1768 — will  be  referred  to  more  pa 
ticularly  in  our  next  chapter* 

The  next  year  he  purcltasod  half  an  acre  of  land 
at  Bennett^a  Hill,  Sidtley,  naar  Wnshwood  Heatb 
and  built  a  house  for  himself,  whcro  he 
until  his  deatk 

In  1772  he  was  chosen  a  Commissioner  of  tls 
Court  of  Keijuests,  which  was  instituted  by  A 
of  Parliament,  in  the  year  17t*)2»  for  the  mo 
easy  and  speedy  recovery  of  debt«,  under  iOs., 
within  the  town  of  Pinningliam  and  the  liamlelj 
of  Deri  tend.     The  court  was  originally  held  iq 
the  chamlior  over  the  Old  Cross, — an  tbts  staps  t 
which   Hutton   sat   to  n-^t,   a  sdont,   depr 
object,  dusty  and  tmvobstained,  without  mono 
and  without  friends,  on  that  memorable  fourteenti 
of  July,  1741,  on  which  he  made  Ids  first  apfK>a 
ance  in  the  town  of  wliieh  ho  was  dostiue*! 
become  so  distinguished  a  citizen. 

The  court  was  subsequently  removed  to  a  houel 
iu  a  reeess  at  the  back  of  High  Street,  nmA^ 
opposite   New   Street,    which   had    been  knnn 
formerly  aa  Mati^lVs  Tm  Warehouse,  and  is 
the  i^reiient  time,  we   believe,  called    "^« 
CQurt  Tta  Warehomcy 

The  cases  which  Hutton  decided  as  Coa 
sioner  of  this  court  formed  the  basis  of  one  of 
most  remarkable  of  all  his  works,  wdiicli  bears  i 
its  title  the  name  of  the  court     The  humour  an 
shrewd  common  sense  which  characteriaes  all  his 
writings  is,  perhaps,  better  exemplifieil  in  man 
of  these  decisions^  than  in  any  other  of  his  na 
merous  volumes,     As  tho  subject  is  one  of  lo 
interest,  we  cannot  refrain  from  quoting  a  feU 
examples, 

Tlie  following  is  a  graphic  descriptiofi  of 

beadle  of  the  Court  as  he  existed  in  HuttonH 

time : — 

*'  When  I  first  3&t  in  thb  Coort  thederksimd  tho  I 
were  under  a  private  contnujt ;  the  b«iuile  was  diargciihlo 
with  every  exr>cns«,  wna  to  pay  the  e:lerkfl  an  annual  stipeutl, 
and  ttpproprinte  the  residue  of  the  profits  to  himself. 
This  gvniiLS  of  tho  Court  wu  William  Bridgvna  Bartoiii 
nominutcHl  Gentleman  in  all  decda  of  loas«  and  relMio^ 
who,  though  posues&cd  of  about  ten  thousand  poondfl^ 
was  aaldom  master  of  a  shilling,  but  frt<iueutly  iKirro^red 


portion,  Alwap  WArded  olTthe  blow.     Thougli  ht  daily 
gjis  credit,  he  keiit  no  private  hooks  of  account 

JiiA  iiotnsd?  Wflu  his  roemorj,  which  woa  rery  re- 

>liv*^,  Lat  when  he  died  it  waa  locked  up,  with  its 
tM,  for  ever.  He  wa»  landlord  to  a  farm  near 
tvpotj  j"rjini  wilbont  over  rcccivinfif  a  shilling  rent, 
Al«nip  in  a  hnny  without  making  progress,  he  despatched 
tHKtliing  quick,  but  tho  tankitrd.  Expedition  never  dis- 
enrcTT'l  lUrM  h):i  in  trotting  drunk,  in  which  he  becjinie 
•o  i  e  thiit  he  could  accomplish  it  in 

tec  own  him  drive  a  yiodt-ehaiic  to 

WMWukiot  iliHior  as  he  could  turn  into  Ui» 

THmL     It  Wki  ut  to  him  whether  he  slept  in  « 

btd,  vpon  tin*  bcarth  of  in  nlehousc.  or  under  a  mangnr, 
18 


**  The  money  bdonging  to  the  suitors  must  of  course 
pass  through  the  htmda  of  this  |^od-naturcd  sloven,  or 
mtlier  jmss  into  them^  for  it  seldom  came  out.  The 
result  was  the  Court  dwindled,  the  suitors  complftined,  the 
Benrli  remonstrated,  he  pmrniscd,  the  evil  grow,  imd  the 
clerks  were  obliged  to  take  their  department  into  their 
own  hand.i,  since  which  time  it  has  been  conducted  with 
prudence. 

'*All  sides  were  pleased  and  tlie  current  of  property 
wma  now  to  run  in  its  right  channel.  Still  by  the  Uwi  of 
his  office  the  money  arising  from  exccntions  most  {submit 
to  the  touch  of  lu3  fingers,  and  we  were  again  obstructed. 
*  Of  whit  u»e  is  the  Conrt,*  says  the  suitor,  *  if  w«  cannot 
hive  justice.     We  had  better  loae  our  money  by  th« 


186 


OLD  AND  NEW  BIEMINGHAM. 


rni«  Ooart  of  B«quMt«. 


debtors  thuii  be  defr&uded  at  anotber  expeoac  bj  tbe 
bcAtlle.' 

**Tb!s  Commiaaioners  entertained  serious  tbougbts  of 
dwell tirgin^  him  ;  and  porhapa  three  months  would  have 
finiftbed  their  pvirpoa*?,  if  in  tbe  interim  the  strength  luid 
qnnntity  of  his  liquor  hftd  not  sent  him  into  another 
world.  There  he  could  not  conduct  matters  much  worec 
thoB  he  bad  done  in  this. " 

A  very  just  decision  is  recortled  with  respect  to 

tlie  propriety  of  each  individual  bearing  hia  share 

of  tho  expense  of  any  public  improvement  from 

which  he   derives    benefit ;     which   the  author 

quaintly  entitles 

"  THE  PUMP. 

**  Ih/enddiit. — I  have  never  pnid  anything,  neither 
hflTe  I  a  right  to  pay*  1  gave  no  orders  to  ha?e  it  done. 
I  never  promised  i>aymeut,  neither  baa  auy  man  a  right 
to  lay  ont  my  roont'y. 

*' Cmnmiwicmn'. — Should  you  think  it  fair  if  all  tbe 
neighbours  went  free  atid  the  whole  expeuiio  was  saddled 
upon  yon  ?  ' 

* '  ComtniMioner. ^Theii  what  reason  is  there  that  you 
should  go  free  and  your  neighbours  bear  the  whole  f  Hiid 
they  been  all  of  your  mind,  they  would  have  been  de- 
prived of  one  of  the  greatest  ble^ings  wo  know,  or  rntlier, 
like  you,  would  wish  to  enjoy  it  at  the  eipcnse  of  another. 
If  you  have  never  paid  to  former  rejiairs,  they  have 
granted  you  a  favour  you  do  not  deserve.  Aa  they  bavo 
all  an  equal  right  to  the  pump,  they  have  all  an  equal 
right  to  pay,  H  you  gave  no  orders  it  was  not  becAUse 
orders  were  uot  ucfessary  or  tbe  water  not  wanted,  but 
that  another,  more  spirited  tlmn  yourself,  might  step 
fonvard  and  funii-nh  you  with  a  pretext.  If  you  had 
proniiaed  pnynictit  you  would  hnve  stood  in  a  more  hon* 
cturable  light.  He  biys  out  his  money  himself  who  pays 
for  a  nccesfiary  article  whifh  cannot  be  bad  without ;  but 
if  you  take  that  article  at  the  expense  of  your  neighbour, 
you  do  bira  an  injustice,  so  shall  we  if  we  do  not  order 
payment," 

In  another  decision  he  enforces  tbe  oft-forgotten 
rule  that  the  finding  of  lost  property  does  not 
give  the  tinder  the  right  to  keep  it 

**A  PICTUttE  OF  A  MAX  FROM  THE  LIFE. 

**  A  woman  lost  her  needle-book ,  contjiining  5s.  6d.,  all 
she  had  in  the  world,  in  consequence  of  which  her  cJiil- 
dren  were  aturving  for  bread.  The  man  who  had  found  it 
refused  to  return  it,  and  boldly  supported  his  claim  to  the 
property.  He  had  fairly  found  it,  and  everj'thing  a  man 
finds  is  his  own. 

*'  CourL — And  so  you  apprehend  the  street  gives  a  title 
to  whatever  lies  upon  it.  You  forget  that  property  can- 
not change  its  owner  without  an  act  of  that  owner.  Yon 
can  inherit  no  title  but  from  her,  and  she  has  given  you 
none.  If  you  accidentally  find  a  person's  title-deeds,  will 
it  give  you  a  right  to  the  estate  I    Should  a  man  take  up 


yotir  watch,  should  you  think  be  bad  a  right  to  keep  it  f 
or  rather  would  not  you  hold  forth  in  a  different  atyU, 
and  proelaim  that  power  of  right  which  obliged  hjm  to 
restore  it  ?  It  may  be  generous  to  reward  the  finder,  but 
be  can  demand  notbiog;  neither  has  tbe  person  who 
wishes  to  conceal,  or  rd'uses  to  return  what  he  finda,  a 
right  to  expect  a  gratuity.  We  are  sorry  that  half  this  is 
your  case,  A  gentleman  some  ye&ra  back  was  travelliog 
in  Nottinghamshire  with  a  servant  who  carried  a  portman- 
teau in  which  was  £2,000  to  pay  for  an  estate.  By  some 
accident  it  slipped  uuperceived  off  the  borse.  When  the 
loss  was  discovered  the  servant  posted  back.  An  old 
woman,  with  the  portmanteau  on  her  bead,  whom  they 
hatl  lately  passed,  exclaimed,  *'  1  know  what  you  are  gal- 
loping after ;  here  is  tbe  treasure  you  lost ;  take  it  and 
welcome,**  She  was  afterwards  introduced  to  the  master, 
who  gave  her  hve  guineas.  Both  parties  were  pletised, 
and  whenever  bis  a  [fairs  led  him  to  Nottingham,  he  sent 
for  the  old  woman,  and  always  gave  her  n  kiss  and  a 
guinea  ;  each  had  a  different  relish,  but  iiotb  were  very 
acceptable.  We  shall  allow  ^ou  what  you  do  not  deserve — 
one  shilling;  make  an  order  against  you  for  the  rest,  ttnd 
leave  you  to  reflect  how  you  stand  with  the  world  and  bow 
you  might  have  stootl.  Had  you  sought  out  the  loser, 
freely  returned  the  property  without  a  fee,  for  she  wanted 
and  you  did  not,  you  would  have  stood  o|>on  bonouiiahle 
ground.  Yuu  may  farther  reflect  that  your  honesty  wiU 
never  bo  called  in  question,  for  of  this  you  have  publicly 
made  ship\»Teck  ;  your  capacity  may,  for  as  every  loser  ol 
a  canae  pays  the  fees,  you  have  for  twelve  paltry  pftuco 
bartered  away  seventeen  and  a  character." 

^lany  others  might  be  quoted  from  among  the 
numerous  cases  recorded  in  this  most  intereflting 
volume,  showing  how  mother-wit,  joined  to  sound 
conimon-senst?,  enabled  Huttoii  to  adjudicato 
wisely,  even  in  the  most  involved  and  difficult 
caaes,  and  gave  to  Birmingham  one  of  tbe  most 
equitable  of  judges,  who  has  mado  her  Court 
of  Requests  famous  throughout  the  co  tin  try, 
"  Hutton,*'  says  his  biographer,  Llewellyn  Jewilt, 
^'abhorred  chicanery,  and  hold  in  ntttv  detesta- 
tion aU  attempts  at  cheating,  extortion,  lying, 
deceit,  and  oppression,  and  his  judgments  never 
failed  to  carry  with  them  a  sting  to  those  who 
were  guilty  of  any  of  these  practices.*' 

The  Lamp  Act,  which  he  had  opposed  so  strenu- 
ously, was  obtamed  in  1769,  and  an  amendment 
of  tho  Act  for  lighting  and  cleaning  the  streets, 
removing  obstructions,  etc.,  was  passed  in  1773; 
and  in  the  latter  year  Hutton  was  chosen  a  Com- 
miaioner  for  the  carrying  out  of  the  provisions  of 
these  Acts.     How  necossaiy  tliese  i^onns  W9n 


TUt  t4xv|i  Act.] 


OLD  AND  NEW  BIRMrNGHAM. 


137 


I 


I 


may  bo  gathered  from  his  Hkiory  of  Birmingham, 
The  builders  of  the  houses  on  the  various  streets 
had  each  proctseded  liceording  to  his  own  inter^t  or 
Ikncy,  without  regard  to  the  public  convenience. 
^  There  ia,"  says  our  worthy  Commissioner,  "  no 
njAn  to  preserve  ordcr»  or  proscril>e  bounds ;  hence 
Aiis^  evilfi  without  a  cure :  such  as  a  narrownoas, 
wbieh  scarcely  admits  light,  cleanliness,  pleasure, 
health,  or  use  ;  unnecessary  hills,  like  that  in  Bull 
Street ;  sudden  falls,  owing  to  the  floor  of  one 
bouae  being  laid  three  feet  lower  than  the  next,  as 
in  Coleahill  Street;  one  side  of  a  street  like  the 
deck  of  a  ship,  gunnel  >o,  several  feet  higher  than 
the  atbeTi  aa  in  Snow  Ilill,  New  Street,  Friday 
Street,  Paradise  Row,  [afterwords  called  Paradise 
Sti©et»]  Lionel  Street,  SufFolk  Street^  Biick  Kiln 
Lane,  and  Great  Charles  Street.  Hence  also  that 
crowd  of  enormous  hulk  sashes ;  steps,  pro- 
jecting from  the  houses  and  the  cellars;  build- 
inga  which,  like  men  at  a  dog-fight,  seem 
rudely  to  crowd  before  each  other ;  pent-houses, 
nulB^  palisades,  vtc.»  whit-h  have  long  called  for 
reilreas."* 

Preriouji  to  the  passing  of  the  Lamp  Act^  in 
1 76^,  the  only  persK>ns  who  had  power  to  reform 
theae  abuses  wore  the  Lord  of  the  Manor  and  the 
freeholders.  These,  so  far  from  interfering,  were 
ajnong  the  worat  offenders,  especially  the  fonner. 
**  Othiira,"*  says  Huttun,  "  trespassed  like  little 
rcigae%  but  he  like  a  lord.  In  1 728,  he  seized  a 
public  building,  called  the  Leather  Hall,  and  con- 
Terted  it  to  his  private  use.  George  Davis,  the 
constable,  summoned  the  inhabitants  to  viudicate 
tlieir  right;  but  none  appearing,  the  Lord  smiled 
at  their  supincnesa,  and  kept  the  property.  Li 
about  1745»  he  took  possession  of  the  Bull  Ring, 
tlieir  little  market*place,  and  began  to  build  it  up; 


but  although  the  people  did  not  bring  their  action, 
they  did  not  sleep  as  before,  for  they  undid  in  the 
night  what  he  did  in  the  day.  In  1758.  when 
tlie  houses  at  No.  3  were  erected,  in  that  extreme 
narrow  part  of  Uull  Street,  near  the  Welch  Crosa, 
the  proprietor,  emboldened  by  repeated  neglects, 
chose  to  project  half  a  yard  beyond  his  bounds. 
But  a  private  inhabitant,  who  was  an  attorney,  a 
bully,  and  a  freeholder,  with  his  own  hands,  and 
a  few  hearty  curses,  demolished  the  building,  and 
reduced  the  builder  to  order.  But  though  the 
freeholders  have  power  over  all  encroachments 
within  memory,  yet  this  is  the  only  instance  upon 
record  of  the  exertion  of  that  power." 

All  these  encroachments  gave  Hut  ton,  as  one 
of  the  Commissioners,  **  a  fine  opening  to  reduce 
things  to  order."  His  plan,  he  tells  ua  in  his 
autobiography,  was  to  execute  the  Act  with  firm- 
ness and  mildness,  obliging  all  ttj  conform.  But 
the  conscientious  determination  of  the  one  was 
over-nded  by  the  voice  of  the  many,  "  There 
were/*  he  says,  **  clashing  interests  among  the 
Commissioners.  Some  would  retain  their  own 
encroachments,  or  serve  their  friends;  then  how 
could  they  vote  down  others  1  A  rich  man  met 
with  more  favour  than  a  poor  one.  The  blame  of 
some  removals  fell  upon  me,  being  strenuous,  a 
speaker,  and  not  backed  by  the  Board,  I  lost 
some  friends;  as  they  did  not  act  in  a  body,  nor 
consistent,  I  declined  attendance." 

The  story  of  Hutton's  life  from  this  period  to 
the  riots  of  1791  is  somewliat  imeveutful,  and,  as 
we  shall  have  to  refer  particularly  to  his  expe- 
riences in  our  narrative  of  that  disgraceful  episode 
in  the  history  of  our  town,  we  will  for  the  present 
take  our  leave  of  hkn. 

*  HUtoqr  of  Blnntnghatn*  atxUi  diUtloo.  p.  91. 


138 


OLD  AND    NEW   BIRMINGHAM. 


[Tht  Uarf  of  Sohe. 


CHAPTER     XXIII. 


THE    STORY    OF    SOHO. 


The  Snow  Hill  MantifnctolT-^CIlilieUr  of  Mntthew  BovUon— His  removal  to  8(iho— Joined  by  Mr.  FotbUgBI    Hny  Ofl 
ttMun  engine— JaniM  Wktt'n  traproveineitto— Hii  diuftct«r— 8ohu  in  ITTi— The  S<:tlio  Mini— Bouhoij'*  tfoini^^B— Eginton's  ] 
i'opytng  oll"iviintittg»— TIi«  Copylti*  Press, 


A  HISTORY  of  local  enterprise,  from  whicli  the 
atory  of  tho  famous  Solio  factory  was  omitted, 
would  bear  some  reseniblance  to  the  oft^juoted 
perform  once  of  the  tragedy  of  Hamht^  with  the 
part  of  the  niclanrholy  Dane  left  out*  That  story, 
as  Mr.  Timmins  well  suys,  "  is  not  only  one  of  the 
brightest  chapters  in  the  annals  of  our  town,  but 
is  one  of  the  greatest  mcidente  in  the  iiidusti-ml 
history  of  uur  land." 

Matthew  Boulton — who  waa  a  native  of  Bir- 
mingham, having  heen  bom  her©  on  the  3rd  of 
September,  1728 — had,  as  already  stated  in  our 
chapter  on  *'Bimiingham  in  1760,"  previous 
to  1762,  establishml  hinifiolf  on  Snow  HiU  aa  a 
manufacturer  of  "  toys,*'— buckles,  dasps,  chains, 
and  other  tnnketSj — which  exhiblt^'d  good  work- 
manship joined  to  artistic  design,  worked  out  by 
the  best  men  he  could  procure.  It  baa  been  said 
of  him  thtit  he  '*  would  buy  any  man's  brainsi," 
and  in  this  lay  his  great  secret  of  success.  **  He 
did  not  expect  perfection.  He  patiently  trained 
them  to  their  work  if  they  were  inexperienced 
before.  He  was  a  keen  judge  of  character,  a 
clear-headed,  catholic-minded  man — u  very  •  chief- 
tain of  labour,*  who  knew  how  to  put  every  man 
in  his  proper  place,  and  to  make  tho  most  of  all 
His  pleasant  manners,  his  genial  temper,  his  un- 
flinching justice,  made  him  honoured,  loved,  and 
feared.  While  he  was  generous,  ho  was  jimt ; 
and  in  the  difficult  art  of  managing  men  he  hue 
never  been  surpassed.  He  exacted  the  best  of 
everything^ — the  best  of  material— the  bebt  of 
work— the  best  powars  of  men — and  h«  reap&d 
his  rewani."* 


•8.  Tlmmln*;  Dlnittnghamand  MMUnd  HwUwiini  Dlntrtr^  p.  818, 


In  the  beginning  of  the  year  1 757,  Handswor 
Heath  was  precisely  what  it  was  when  WUliau 
Hutton  first  passed  over  it,  in  1 74 1,  a  barren  heath,! 
occupied  only  as  a  rabbit-warren,  the  only  house 
being  that  of  the  warrener.  But  in  that  year,  Joli 
Wyrley,  Lord  of    the   ilanor  of    Hondswor 
granted  a  lease  for  ninety-nine  years,  to  Me 
Huston  and  Evans,  with  liberty  to  divert  HockJa 
Brook  and  to  form  a  pool  for  tho  requiremcnta  ( 
a  water-mill  for  rolling  metah     In  17G2,  tho  le 
was  purchased  by  Matthew  Boulton,  w*ho  rcbu 
and  enlarged  the  mill,  and  transplanted  thither  hi 
Snow  Hill  "  phint.'*    This  was,  however,  very  sooj 
found  to  be  insufficient  to  enable  him  to  carry  on 
his  great  projects;  and,  in  1764,  the  foundation 
were  laid  of  tho  great  factory  which  becamo  tb 
scene  of   so    many  noble  triumphs.     The  nci 
building  was  completed  in  1765»  and  consisted  i 
four  squares,  with   connecting  ranges   of   work 
shops,    capable   of     accommodating   a   thoij 
workmen,  the  cost  being  about  X9,000. 

He  was  now  joined  by  a  Mr.  Fothergill— 4fae 
reader  will  remember  the  joint  names  of  the  firm 
in  the  first  list  of  subscribers  to  the  General 
Hospital — ^and  the  two  men  instituted  a  corres- 
pondence in  all  the  cliief  cities  of  Euitipe,  seeking 
for  talented  workmen,  in  order  to  establish  a 
school  of  artists  for  designing  and  modcllingi 
the  result  was  that  such  a  degree  of  perfection 
was  attained,  in  the  design  and  manniacturo 
metal  ornaments,  in  imitation  of  ormolu^ — va 
candelabra,  tripods,  etc.,  as  had  not  hitherto  bce^ 
kno^vn  in  England*  The  manufacture  of  silve 
and  phited  wares  was  also  introduced,  and  1 
so  important  a  branch  of  trade  that  it  becau 


TtoltofTofSohoI 


OLD  AKD  NEW  BIEMIKGHAM. 


139 


f,  m  17^3,  to  estaUiah  an  Assay  0(Ece  m 
BinninghAiiL 

Matthew  Boulton's  many  projecta^ — all  of  which 
bad  proved  «ucc^sful^ — led  him  to  seek  for 
idditional  power  to  carry  them  into  execution, 
the  wttter  power  being  whoUy  insufficient  to  meet 
the  requirements  of  the  manufactory,  and  in  1767 


five  years.  **  Great  as  the  genius  and  invaluable 
aa  the  inventions  of  James  Wiitt  were/'  remark* 
Mr.  Timniins,  **  they  would  have  been  wasted  but 
for  the  indomitable  energy,  the  untiring  hopeful- 
ness, and  the  commercial  genius  of  Matthew 
Boulton.  Where  the  timid  and  iuvalid  inventor 
would  have  failed,  and  have  left  his  great  dis- 


'^i 


) 


S^^*r^ 


^PHHned  a  steam  engine,  on  the  plan  of  Savery. 

F  Tliis  was  unaatiafactory,  and  the  enquiries  whiuh 
tta  failure  elicited,  led  to  an  scquaintanco  with 
James  Watt,  then  a  mechanic  iu  Ghisgow,  who 
bad  already  perfected  certain  valuable  improve- 
mmU  in  the  steam  engine.  Watt  shortly  aftor- 
WHida  obtained  a  patent  for  these  improvements, 
(Jan.,  1769),  and  subsequently,  in  the  same  year, 
duae  to  Soho,  where  he  erected  one  of  his  im* 
pfovcd  engifies,  and  after  demonstmting  ita 
piaedicabiJity  and  utiJity,  obtained,  in  1775^  an 
nttomkra  of  the  tfrxn  of  hia  patent  for  twenty 


-mm 


^^'. 


ij^-i^f'  ;r^rr 


WATTS  HOUSE,    IL4RPEB  S   HILL. 


coveries  to  bo  revived  when  he  had  long  departed, 
Matthew  Boulton  gave  exactly  the  element  of 
commercial  success.  His  refined  taste,  his  un- 
liounded  energy,  his  almost  reckless  profusion, 
had  made  Soho  famous  even  for  its  minor  manu- 
factures, but  when  the  steam  engine  was  added, 
ite  success  was  complete.  After  endless  troubles, 
wearying  delays,  disasters  of  all  kinds,  persever- 
ance had  ita  reward,  and  Boidton  and  Watt  have 
a  united  and  immortal  name.  While  Watt  was  a 
quiet,  patient^  plodding  inventor,  rotiiing  in 
manners,  and  nervously  anxious,  Boulton  waa  a 


liO 


OLD   AM)  NEW  BIKMINGHAM. 


(Hit  8tor7  (tf  8«ibo. 


man  of  tlie  world,  ready  in  resource,  sanguine  in 
temperament,  never  diatieartened  by  the  most 
threatening  disasters,  and  never  'bating  one  jot  of 
heart  or  hope/  " 

A  contemporary  account  of  the  greiit  Soho 
factory,  from  a  very  rare  little  Birmingham 
Diwactory,  (Swinney's),  published  in  1774,  a  copy 
of  which  is  in  the  possession  of  Mr.  Tiramins, — 
as  indeed  what  that  relates  to  old  Birmingham  is 
not  ? — may  interest  our  readers  : — 

**Thia  place  ia  situated  in  the  Parish  of  Handiworth, 
in  tho  County  of  StafFoixl,  two  Miles  distant  from  Bir- 
miiigham.  The  building  consists  of  four  Sqaares,  with 
Shops,  WarehouHiJS,  Ate,  for  a  Thonsnnd  Workmen,  who, 
in  a  great  variety  of  Bmnches,  excel  in  thoir  several 
Departments ;  not  only  in  the  fabrication  of  Buttoni, 
Buckles,  Boxes,  Triukets,  kc^  in  Gold,  Silver,  and  » 
variety  of  Compositions ;  but  in  many  other  Arts,  long 
prtttUiiniuant  iu  France,  which  loso  their  Beputation  on  a 
CoraiMiriison  with  the  product  ot  this  Place  :  And  it  is  by 
the  Natives  hereof,  or  of  the  parts  adjacent,  (whose  cmulo- 
tion  and  ta?jte  the  Proprietora  have  spared  no  Care  or 
Expense  to  excite  and  improve),  that  it  is  brought  to  its 
preseut  flourishing  State.  The  number  of  ingenioua 
mechanical  Contrivances  they  avail  themselves  of,  by  the 
means  of  Water  Mills,  much  facilitates  their  Work^  and 
saves  a  gr^^al  portion  of  Time  and  Labour  The  Plated- 
Work  has  an  ftpiK-arancc  of  solid  Silver,  more  especially 
when  compaivd  with  that  of  any  other  Mauufactory^ 
Their  e3tcelleut  oinaincntttl  Pieces,  in  Or-Moulu,  have 
iM'ca  admired  by  thi*  Nobility  an  I  Gentry,  not  only  of  this 
Kiugdom,  but  of  all  Europe  ;  and  are  allowed  to  surpass 
anything  of  the  kind  made  abroad;  And  some  Articles 
lately  executed  in  Silver- Plato,  show  thiit  Taste  and 
Elogance  of  Design  preiriiil  here  in  a  superior  De>*ree,  aud 
are,  with  MechauiHin  and  Chymystry,  happily  united. 
The  environs  of  this  Building  wai  Seven  Yeara  ago,  a 
barren,  uncultivated  Hi^ath ;  tho*  it  now  coutaina  many 
Houses,  and  wears  the  appearance  of  a  populous  Country  : 
And  notwithstanding  the  number  of  People  in  that  Pariah 
is  double  what  they  were  a  few  Years  since,  yet  the  Poor's 
Rates  are  diminished,  which  is  a  very  striking  inst^iuce  of 
the  good  etfects  of  Industry," 

Among  the  many  manufactures  to  which  the 
steam  engine  was  lound  applicable  was  that  of 
eoinin^,  for  which  purpose  a  mill  was  erected,  in 
1778,  at  which,  by  the  aid  of  a  few  boys,  eight 
machines  were  worked,  each  capable  of  striking 
from  seventy  to  eigbty-fuur  pieces  a  minute.  The 
process  of  manufacture  was  thtia  described  by 
one  of  Boulton'd  intimate  friendsi  Dr«  Erasmus 


Darwin,  author  of  the  Botanic  Garden^  and  other 
poetry  of  a  like  mecbanical  order  : — 

**  Kow  his  hard  hands  ou  Mona'9  rifted  crsst, 
BosomM  in  rocks,  hor  axnre  robes  arrest ; 
With  iron  lips  his  rapid  roUere  seize, 
The  len^then'd  bars  in  their  expansive  squeeze  ; 
Descending  screws  with  ponderous  fly^wheols  wound 
The  tawny  plates,  the  new  medallions  round; 
Hard  dies  of  steel  the  cupreous  circles  cramp, 
And  with  quick  fall  his  massy  hammers  stamp. 
The  harp,  the  lily,  and  the  hon  join, 
Aad  George  and  Britain  guard  the  spleadid  coin,** 

Boulton's  mint  machinery,  as  finally  impPOV«d 
by  himself,  was  so  perfect  that  it  baa  been  used, 
with  very  few  alterations,  up  to  the  present  time. 
His  design  was  to  produce  a  coin  which  should  be 
**inimitiible,"  hut  in  this  he  did  not  succeed,  as 
his  splendid  coinage  was  imitated  by  lead  pennies, 
faced  with  capper,  almost  as  soon  as  it  appeared* 
What  Boulton  did,  however,  in  that  direction, 
served  as  a  simple  and  useful  test  of  the  genuine- 
ness of  the  copper  money  of  that  period.  He 
made  his  twopenny  pieces  of  exactly  2oz.  weight, 
and  eight  of  them  measured  a  foot ;  the  pennies 
weighed  loz,,  and  seventeen  measured  two  feet; 
the  half-pennies  weighed  Joz.,  and  ten  measured  a 
foot ;  and  of  the  farthings  (Joz.)  twelve  measured 
a  foot.  Of  the  genuine  pence,  sixteen  weighed  a  j 
pound,  while  the  counterfeits  were  often  eighty- 
four  to  the  pound.  Twenty  tons  of  copper, 
making  716,800  peimies,  were  struck  every  week, 
lor  many  months*  In  addition  to  copper  money, 
silver  was  also  coined,  for  some  of  the  colonies  j 
and  many  fine  and  valuable  medals  were  alsa. 
struck  from  time  to  time  at  the  Soho  mint. 

In  1779  an  invention  of  a  very  dilFeioiit 
character  from  anything  which  had  previously 
seen  the  light  at  Soho  astonished  the  art  world  of 
that  day.  Francis  £ginton,^-of  whom  we  shall 
have  more  to  say  in  a  future  chapter, — practised 
at  this  great  home  of  the  arts,  an  ingenious  pro* 
oeas  for  copying  oil-paintings — the  productions  I 
being  very  much  like  the  modem  *'  oleographs*" 
It  has  been  conjectured  by  some  that  in  this  pro- 
cess the  art  of  photography  was  called  into  use, , 
but  of  this  there  is  no  evidence.     ^VTiatever  the 


Ilif^  iBd  Brefftli.  ITflO'lTTS.) 


OLD  AOT)  NEW  BIRH^nXGHAM. 


141 


exact  "  procesa  **  was  cannot  now  be  ascertained, 
tlid  production  havinj^  been  Sfitppressed,  in  the 
interests  of  art.  Two  large  pictures,  apparently 
bj  Loutherbour^,  hare  been  preserved  in  Bir- 
min^basSf  which  have  been  mistaken  for  original 
oil-paintings,  but  have  proved,  on  examination, 
to  hare  been  produced  by  mechanical  means, — 
probably  by  the  means  invented  by  Francis 
Eginton. 

But  of  the  many  other  ingenious  and  artistic 
luctions  of  the  great  Soho  factory,  during  the 

fwrr  period  of  its  exiatence, — ^nnd  they  included, 
among  other,  now  common  articles  of  daily,  use  the 


'*  copying-press,''  which  Boulton  himself  per- 
fected, to  the  terror  of  certain  M.P.'s,  who  feared 
that  it  would  produce  forged  banlc  notes — we 
have  not  space  at  our  command  to  tell ;  and  as 
the  lat^^r  history  of  this  establishment, — begin- 
ning with  the  manufacture  of  steam-engines, 
would  take  us  farther  on  into  the  history  of  our 
town  than  we  have  yet  reached  in  the  other  parts 
of  our  narrative,  we  must  postpone  the  remainder 
of  the  story  until  we  have  brought  other  portions 
of  the  history  of  Birraingham  down  to  the  same 
date,  when  we  wifl  once  more  take  up  the  thread 
of  *'  the  Story  of  Soho." 


CHAPTER     XXIY. 
PUBLIC     LIFE     i.ND     EVENTS,     1760-1775. 

'Bl«3faietty*  SemnU"— The  King  Street  Tliefcbio— Palpit  v,  Btast^"  An  Totj  Llkft  It"— "Kinf  John  —Mrs.  W*rd  ind  MuUr 
J£0IM4y^T3i«  &bakc«p«aro  Jubtlee  1750— T)i«  Tbtatre  Eojml  y«w  Street  -Bradford'a  PIul— *'Thc  Canal  Freniy  "— Suzmel  Jobnson 
IB  Bt?m!ngli>iii  aealQ->Dr.  Ajth  And  Aflhted* 


It  will  be  remembered  that  in  the  chapter  on  i 
the  establishment  of  JnVs  Birmirifjhnm  Gazette^ 
took  the  opportunity  to  illustrate  from  the 
of  that  journal,  (assisted  by  the  volumes 
of  I>r-  Langford's  **  Century  of  Birmingham 
Life**),  the  public  life  of  our  town  during  the 
fiisi  decade  of  the  Gazttte'8  existence.  We  now 
purpose  taking  up  the  thread  of  the  narrative  at 
the  year  175Q,  and  to  inflict  upon  our  readers 
another misceUaneous  chapter — not  altogether  fi-om 
the  GasxtU^  however,  this  time^— as  the  events  we 
have  to  record^  during  the  period  indicated  at  the 
haad  of  this  chapter,  aii^  too  numerous,  and  at 
Ui0  fl&me  time  of  scarcely  sufiicient  importance,  to 
occupy  separate  chapter§  of  themselves* 

Wc  take  up  fii^t  tint  history  of  the  stage,  At 
ike  point  at  which  we  last  took  notice  of  it,  the 
town  bo<asted  three  temples  dedicated  to  Thespis^ 
but  only  one  of  them  of  any  importance,  viz., 
that  in  Moor  Street,  erected  in  1740,  The  New 
Sti^t  and  Smallbiook  Street  houses  would  appear 
td  hAT«  died  out  as  quietly  as  they  came  into 


existence.  In  1751,  Hutton  tella  us,  a  company 
arrived  who  announced  themselves  "His  Majesty's 
Servants,  from  the  Theatres  Eoyal,  in  London ; 
and  hoped  the  public  would  excuse  the  ceremony 
of  the  drum,  as  beneath  the  dignity  of  a  London 
company,**  This  novel  announcement,  he  says, 
**  had  a  surprising  effect  ;  the  performed  had 
merit,  the  house  was  continually  crowded,  the 
general  conversation  tunied  upon  theatrical  ex- 
hibition, and  tho  to^vn  was  converted  into  one 
vast  theatre." 

The  growth  of  the  public  appetite  for  the  dmma 
k'd  to  the  erection,  in  1 752,  of  a  second  permanent 
theatre,  in  King  Street,  and  two  London  com- 
panies deliglitcd  the  town*  "  The  pulpits  took 
the  alarm/'  says  Hutton,  "  and  in  turn  roared 
after  their  customers ;  but  the  pious  teachers 
forgot  it  was  only  the  fervour  of  a  day,  which 
would  cool  of  itself ;  that  the  fiercer  the  fire  hums, 
the  sooner  it  will  burn  out  This  declaration  of 
war  fortunately  happening  at  the  latter  end  of  the 
summer,  the  campetgn  was  over,  and  the  company 


142 


OLD   AXI)   NEW   DIUMINliHAM. 


I  PabUe  Ufe  aad  BviaBti,  17«-irL  i 


retired  into  winter  quarters  without  Imstilitios." 

Whrn    the   anpotite    fur   tlie   ilrania   lia-l   again 

declined  it  became  evident  that  two  theatres  ccndd 

not  find  support  in  the  town  as  yet,  and  the 

Moor  Street  house  was  very  soon  cl«;sed,    and 

subsequently  lut  to  the  Methodists,  as  a  mooting 

houMie. 

It  may  be  interesting  to  the  lovi-rs  <•£  the  drama 

to  know  something  of  the  kind  of  plays  selected 

for  representatiun  in  the  town,  afer  the  establi.-h- 

ment  of  the  more  legitimate  theatres.     A  poetical 

critique  in  the  Gazette,  July,   1761,   gives  the 

names  of  two  well-known  pieces  : 

•*  When  Salop's  Sons  from  Labour  rest 
And  riia'bns  jounifys  down  the  Wt-st, 
Theatric-Bills  invite  : 
'  I  gOf  v:\\\\  Diany  liiui'lri'ds  more, 
And  drop  two-Shillings  :it  tiie  Door, 
To  see  'em  every  Night. 

I  went  to  see  the  Jtahms  Wife, 
And  what  coii'd  more  ri'si-mhle  LitV*. 

Or  tou«h  the  human  Hu:irt  * 
0  —  CuTTFR  with  his  C'omii'-Son^', 
Delighted  tho  attfutivr  Thmng, 

And  each  one  topp'd  I  lair  Pari. 

Wliat  need  I  thm  eshil-it  Names, 
Since  purrsl  Critii-s  sounil  Aoilaims  ? 

And  8ny  —'their  Ilival  Queens 
'  Had  those  who  ncted  ln'U'  hcfore 
Lt-eu  present  ji*— tlicvM  I'lay  no  mun", 

*  But  sell  their  C'loaths  and  ScvnL>."' 

In  17G4,  the  local  journal  informed  its  ri-adns, 
on  Jidy,  2ruh,  that  *' the  Kngli:sh  opera  of  Lor,' 
in  a  Vi'lht'j''  will  certainly  be  i»erform\l  at  the 
Theatre  in  King  Street  on  Friday  next :  And 
that  the  ^lasque  of  Cunufi,  written  by  Miltcai,  is 
now  in  Ilehearsal,  and  will  be  sj)eedily  perfnrm'd 
at  tho  same  Theatre,  with  new  l)ri  sses  and 
Decorations."  The  same  year  Shakespi-areV  "As 
You  Like  it "  was  presentetl  at  the  King  Street 
theatre, — the  (»nly  one  then  n'maining,  as  the 
ruflder  will  n/mend»er,~and  tin-  framcr  i»f  the 
announcement  ventured  uixai  a  bit  tjf  tlramatic 
criticism  which  will  amuse  our  readers.  After 
announcing  the  performance  of  the  ctnnedy.  In- 
particular  desire,  for  the  benefit  of  Miss  AVanl, 
ho  says : 
*'  This  Comedy,  tho*  one  of  the  first  Productiuns  of  that 


immoiial  Oenias,  has  liren  allowed  by  all  the 
Wiit'-rs  to  he  at  least  equal,  if  not  excel,  any  o4 
IN-rformanrrs.     The  established  Repatation  it 
and  still  cnntinnes  to  hold,  with  all  Judges  of  Ul 
and   Frequenters  of  the  Theatre,   both  for 
<  'haracter  and  Incident,  True  Humour,  and  Ui 
Morals,  speaks  louder  in  its  Favour  than  all  that 
s»uid  in  I*raisc  of  its  Merit.'* 


^«ri^ 


■       8hakes])earft  held  his  own  on  the  local  i 
During  the  next  year  "King  John"  was  i 
with  the  performance  of  which  one  i 
60  delighted  that  he  rushed  into  print  withi 
gushing  piece  of  criticism,  which,  as  local  dzan 
criticism  was  at  that  time  an  uncommon 

j  we  quote  entire  : 

I 

To  the  Printers  of  the  Birmingham  ffeaeUi, 
I  hare  in  the  course  of  this  Snmmer,  when  the  We 

]  could  i>rrmit,  attt-nded  the  Play-Houae  in  this  Town, 
have  been  sometimes  pK*ased  with  the  Per 
partiv-uhirlv  with  the  Maid  of  the  Mill,  King  John, 
and  now  I  mention  King  John,  I  must  take  notice  of  1 
very  ex>-eUcnt  Pcrformuncc  of  two  characteri  played 
Mrs.  AVartl  and  Muster  Kennedy;  there  waa  not  a 
eye  in  tlio  House;  Mrs.  Ward's  great  Feeling 
mnstcrly  manner  of  conveying  her  Grief,  made 
Person  pn-^cnt  ft'id  as  mueli  as  if  they  were  in  tki^ 
Circumstances  :  and  the  Pleadings  by  Master  Kennedy  ti' 
IlnKrt,  when*  he  is  about  to  lose  his  eyes,  astonished  tk 
Audienre,  tliat  a  Bny  so  yonn^  conld  be  so  Natnrsl,  sal 
yt't  so  fonible  as  to  omit  nothing  that  the  oldest  Aetot 
i>n  the  Sin;:e  wouhl  liuvi*  made  Use  of  to  gain  the  ApplsBM 
of  the  Auliemc.  I  think  'tis  Pity  that  Merit  is  not  nun 
fncourajrtd  ln-re.  MastiT  Kennedy,  I  am  told,  ph^ 
thL*  diameter  of  Prince  Arthur  twiee  before  his  Migell|i 
and  that  tlit-  Duke  of  York,  and  the  present  PrineeM  of 
Brunswick,  took  grrat  Xntiee  of  him,  and  paid  him  tBKaj 
Comidiments  when  the  Play  was  over. — I  hopeheviQ 
moft  witli  Eneouragi^ment,  as  1  hear  he  is  to  have  Fkxt  of 
a  Benefit  ;  ami  as  he  cannot  be  supposed  to  hafB 
Ai'iiu.iiiitsuu'e,  being  too  young  to  Keep  CompanT,  til 
hoiH-d  the  Knoonmp;ers  of  Merit,  particularly  the  Late 
will  make  a  Point  of  bending  for  his  Tickets^  and  kt'tki 
Town  Nee  it  is  not  always  oiling  to  keeping  a  desl  of 
(.'omimny,  or  an  Overgrown  Interest,  that  always  makcit 
great  Benefit.  I  am  your  Constant  Reader, 

BENETOUa. 

In  September  17G0,  David  Ganick  designed  and 
curried  out  a  Jubilee  at  Stratford-on-Avon  in 
'  hniiour  of  Sliakespeare, — and  of  David  Ganick. 
It  will  not  be  necessary  to  describe  in  these 
pages  tho  doings  at  Stratford,  the  dinnen^  btlh 
pageants,    fireworks,    illuminationsi    and    other 


jl^     ;   M^^fKWWV^^TlWCj 


4.  A^r«v.  fJivec-L^IAofrri 


1  li 


f>Ll>  AX1>    XKW  BIKMIXGHAM. 


{T)i«  Tltmlfv. 


festivities,* — in  which,  probaljly,  many  of  the 
inhabiUnis  of  Birnungham  took  part, — hut  it 
may  interest  good  Shakespeareans  whu  remember 
the  noble  manner  in  which  Biraiingham  txmi- 
memomtc<l  the  tercentenary  of  the  ihx4's  bijlb, 
ill  1864,— by  estabJishiui^  a  Shakespeare  Memorial 
Lilirary, — ta  know  tbat  the  Jabike  of  17C9  was 
not  allowcnl  to  pa^^s  niirocogiiistrd  in  the  town. 
An  e«btion  of  the  great  dramatlnt^s  writings  had 
been  printed  l»y  Kohcrt  Martin,  with  l]askerv^ille'» 
ty|:>e.>?,  at  tlie  snggestion  of  tJarnck,  and  was  sold 
at  8tmtfortl  during  the  Jubiloa  A  few  days 
Ix'fore  t!ie  celehrtjtion  the  following  advertise- 
ment appeareil  in  the  iwuzette : 

Ha  Moinliiy  mxt  [Aug.  80]  «ill  1«*  |mWi5h*»d,  — A 
Mt'dal  of  the  iJiimiUible  8hakt'i5iK'arc,  stnick  either  in 
Sih^er  or  tYipjKr,  tloiie  fioru  tbnt  iiileudtjd  to  be  worn  by 
Mr.  C!arrick,  at  the  approuoliiug  Jubilee,  wbit'h  is  an 
impvovtal  Likeness  of  that  Gre»it  Man.  Ladies  uiij 
lieiitleinon  nmy  have  tliem  either  in  LV-«is  for  tbe  Pixket, 
iM-  wilh  Pendant**  fur  ihe  Boaoui,  at  Mr.  Westwood's, 
liiij^ruvifi',  in  NewbalUWalk  ;  or  at  the  Toy-Shops,  in 
Hirniin^bjini  ;  tbry  may  likewise  be  b«iil  at  Mr.  Payton'n, 
Ht  tbt'  Wintf-Lioitr  in  Htnitlbhl,  and  the  Toy -Shops  lb  ere. 

,*»  Liilie^  and  Gt^ntleuieii  may  Inive  them  atmck  la 
Gold  on  t}ie  ahoi  te^il  Notice. 

Oil  the  25th  of  September  the  same  journal 
annonnced  a  nuiHical  performance,  which  was  to 
take  place  un  Thursday ,  (btoljer  5th,  at  the 
Theatre  m  Kin-^^  Street,  connislhig  of  **all  the 
Hungs,  tfleea,  Cutchen,  and  iJiumdelavH  1/tiely  jwr- 
b^rmed  at  tlie  8tmtfurd  Jubik'e,'*  tlie  vocal  inti^ic 
being  assigned  to  **  Mr.  Parrions  ami  others,"  aud 
the  instmniental  parts  contributed  by  *'  the  bt^st 
Performera  of  tbis  town,  and  from  t Gloucester, 
Worcester,  and  Lichficdd,  kn'^  <jarricks  famouij 
1  Jde  was  also  **  humbly  atU-nipted  by  a  Gentleman 
of  thid  Tf>wn  ; "   **  a  New  Occasional  Prologue  " 


*  Foot*  aireiuftioaUy  kXc^tWviA  It,  in  hf»  **  /Vrif  om  Two  m^ik*C* 
A4  foJlowi  t  **  A  jiiblk«,  ^.1  \x  hath  Jtitely  ipiMiAred*  Is  a  \^^M\^* 
invitation^  cLirnliitcd  und  urgitl  by  jxiWrig,  to  go  jmHt  witlioul 
liunMN,  liJ  an  obacare  Iw^roiigh  wlthuut  rfjTe*tutntlv<?)i,  gi)veniwj 
by  R  mayur  and  tldenuea  who  .nre  no  magistrate*,  to  t?t!i4.«bmt# 
a  Greftt  Poet,  wlios*e  own  work«  liave  maflu  hi  in  Imiitortal,  by  an 
odo  without  iioctr>',  inUBic  without  luelocty.  dlnntfw  withuui 
victual*,  ujjcj  lotJ-lugii  without  beds ;  a  nia&qucntd*;  whcjn  half  the 
pooj>l«  npiKSurcd  b-ire-frtced.  a  honcnice  up  to  the  kiiee^  tu  water, 
nit" works  «]itingni«iU*if1  as  noon  an  they  wcm  Hgbt«d,  and  a  glnffpr- 
hr«i4  iHinhllht'Ati^,  which,  llkt'  a  hoiwe  of  eard*.  ti»nt>lcd  to 

f»ic<  (►*  iif,  a^jtin  «*  H  Vnts  fi«l*hiNi/' 


ia   also    ivnnounctHl,    being,   in   all    jirobabilit^ 
**  humbly  attempted  "  by  the  reciter  of  the  Ode 

WhOe  on  tbc  subject  of  music,  wo  quote  foi^ 
our  readers*  araimement,  a  curious  addendum 
an  nnnouuccment  in  tlie  local  journal  of 
exhibition  of  a  collection  of  sculptures  on  viefl 
**  at  the  Seven  Stars,  in  the  High-Street,"  to  th4 
ellect  tlmt  * '  ti  soU'i'  h*mM  Mnu^  that  can  biou 
a  French  Horn  or  I'mmpt't  trdl^  may  hear 
En ron  nujcm en /. ' *  The  old  abo w-m an  who  peane 
the  al>ove  must  ha\*e  been  an  ancestor  of  Artemu 
Ward ;  we  cannot  help  being  reminded  of 
Artemns's  **  experienced  moonist  of  good  paren- 
tage," wliom  he  was  so  anxious  to  meet  with. 

Tbe  year  1774  was  one    of  activity  in  matten 
theatrical  in  BirmingiiaiiL     In  that  year  the  Kii 
Street  theatre  was  enlarged  and  htmntified,  and 
many  improvements  wiae  eftected  to  minister  i 
the  comfort   of    visitors;    so  that,  accoitiing 
Button,    **it   had   few   equds."      In   the   sam^ 
year  a  new  theatre  was  erected  in  New  St 
probably   on   or  near  the  sit^  of  the   miscrablj 
structiire  which  had  done  duty  as  a  theatre  son 
years  previously, — referre<.l  to  in  our  last  notio 
of  the  sbige.      It  was  the  proposed   buildin-^ 
this  new  house  which  prompted  Murk  Wilks  to 
write  the  **  Poetical  I>ream/'  ciuoted  in  Chtt]»ter 
XXI ;  but  the  piiblication  of  that  |>oem,  while  it. 
may  have  aroused  public  feeling  in  favour  of  con 
pletiug  the  Hospital,  did  nut  j>r0vent  the  erection 
of  tlie  Theatre.     The  coal  of  the  latter,  which  wj> 
on  '*an  extensive  plan,  aud  richly  ornament 
[witli]  paintings  and  scenery,^'  was  £5,660. 
1780  a   liandiiome    portiito  was   added,   (sxiid 
have  been  designed  by  Uarrtson,  of  Chester,)  coi! 
sisting  of  a  massive  piazza,  surmounted  by  a  ligi^ 
and  graceful  balcony,  suj>ported  by  two  pairs  < 
Ionic  columns,  with  wings  at  either  end,  on  tb 
front  of  which,  in  the  U]*per  compartments,  an 
two  medallion  busts,  of  excellent  workmanship 
representing  respectively,  Slmkespeure  and  Gn 
ricL     This    handsome  addition  to   the   buildiii 
caused  our  old  historian  to  prr»nouiice  it  "one  < 
the  first  thcsitiies  in  Europe."     It  was,  dtiriag  H 


ttU  Pinn.  ir:.i  1 


OLD    AXn    NKW    l;n;MIXGIlAM. 


eacUer  years,  under  the  managcmeDt  of  Mr.  Yatea, 
the  cclebratod  comedian. 

Before  leaving  for  the  present  the  histoiy  of 
the  local  theatres,  we  may  quote,  for  our  readers' 
amusement^  Poet  Frceth's  vcmes  on  the  conversion 
of  the  Moor  Street  Theatre  into  a  meetiog  house 
for  the  Weeleyans : 

On  m  PLAY-HOirSE  Wnjc  turned  into  a  MKTHODIST 
MEETING  MOUSE. 
I  sitig  Dot  of  battles,  nor  sing  of  the  itAtc, 
But  4  fttr&nge  metamori>hoaf9  that  happen 'il  of  late, 
Whiicli  if  the  C43iiie4taii>(  of  Lonilon  Hhou]<l  hear, 
Who  kuowa — it  may  pnt  the  whole  bo<ly  in  ftftir. 

Deiry  Uowu,  ^^c. 

W)icn«  lUncing  auJ  lumbliiig  have  nmny  tirnt'S  be<'ii. 
And  plnys  of  all  kimU  hy  lurj^ir  audiences  hceij  , 
Th»»Htt  virickiMl  diven*ioij8  nic  not  to  be  more, 
Poor  Shakespeare  iii  bulftitted  out  of  the  door. 

The  story  la  true,  the  tale  it  is  strange, 

And  people  might  wt?ll  be  nkmiM  tit  the  chi^iigu  ; 

Instead  of  a  Drydc^n,  a  Johnson,  or  Lee, 

Von  nothing  but  puroi»t  de  vol  ton  ran  see. 

BehoM,  where  thtj  »on»  of  good  humour  appear*df 
The  Actfne*  are  thrown  down,  and  a  pnlpit  13  rear'd  ; 
The  boxes  on  e^ich  side  converted  to  pews, 
And  the!  pit  all  around  nought  but  gravity  shews. 

The  muaic's  sweet  sound,  which  enlivened  the  mind, 

la  tum'd  into  that  of  a  diflVrtint  kiad  ; 

Ko  eornic  burletta  or  French  rigadoon, 

But  all  join  together,  and  chant  a  (jsalni  lufiL*. 

When  told  that  fara'd  W — 1 — y*  appear'd  on  tlie  stage, 

The  grave  ones  began  to  rellect  on  the  age  ; 

But  thoae  in  the  liecret  appro v'd  of  tho  eaiie, 

For  *twa«  done  to  drive  8a tan  away  from  the  ph*cc. 

If  through  the  land  this  example  should  tak**, 
A  ftmnge  reformation  it  surely  would  make  ; 
All  writings  tlj-atuatic  would  certainly  cease, 
If  Cci\  tisT  and  DnuiiY  ahouid  catch  the  diiieaae. 

Deny  down,  Jfccs 

ill  Lhu  year  1750,  Samuel  Bradford  made  a 
'  mirrey  of  the  town,  with  a  view  to  the  publica- 
tion of  ft  Btsw  plan,  none  having  appeared,  so  far 
ad  we  know»  since  that  of  Westley,  in  1731. 

It  would  seem,  from  the  following  advertise- 

aeiit,  wliich  «pi>eare<l  in  the  Gazette^  -\«i^'uat  6, 

1750,   that    ooni'idemble  delay  occurred    in   its 

pnUioition. 

"To  t!i'    .ut.s.TibvTA  for  the  Pkns  of  Birmingham,  &c» 
Tli'  '  u  greatly  retarded  by  th<e  illuesA 

jf  L  u,  in  engraving  the  plan  of  Bir- 


Uii  W»«lv7  ;  «M  iiMir,  0.  irf 


miughani  and  map  of  the  rouiitj^  and  by  ibat  means  ia 
rendered  incapable  of  publishing  according  tohia  promise; 
he  assures  them  that  the  work  is  now  eontiuued  in  great 
forwojdness,  and  will  be  ready  to  deliver  to  ihe  anl^scii' 
bera  aomc  time  in  Uctober ,  and  that  hub^iiptions  are 
taken  in  oa  u*5Ual  by  ^tr.  Bradford  ;  A[r.  Jeffcrys,  in 
Digbeth  ;  Mr,  Jackson^  printscdler,  in  Binningbani  ;  and 
by  the  booksellera  of  Birmingbam,  Coventry,  and  towns 

Notwithstanding  this  promise,  the  year  1750 
ended  without  the  plan  having  appeared,  and 
nearly  four  months  of  the  new  year  Lad  elapsed 
t>efore  the  long-expected  print  was  piiDlished,  In 
the  month  of  April,  1751,  an  advertisement 
appeared,  however,  in  the  Gozvfif\  announc^iug 
"  that  the  Plan  of  Birminghaiu  (if  desired)  is  to 
be  tlelivered  to  the  Suhseribei^  ui  xt  Week."  <hi 
the  29th  of  the  same  mtnilli  tht*  pliiu  wtus  is6ivn:'d  ; 
being,  aa  stated  on  the  imprint,  **  Publisjhed 
according  to  the  Act  of  rarliameut,  by  Thos. 
Jeffreyai,  at  the  corner  of  8t  ilartins  Lane, 
Charing  Cix)8s,  London^  April  29,  1751."  Some 
years  ago  Mr.  John  Hahune  threw  out  the  auggcs- 
tion  in  the  **  Local  Xutea  and  Cjjueries  "  uf  the 
Binnhnjluim  Jourwil^  that  the  **  Thos.  Jetlerys, 
of  St  Martin's  Lojie,  London/'  the  engraver  and 
publisher  of  the  plan,  and  tlie  Mr.  Jeill-rys,  in 
Digbeth,  "  by  wliom,  as  set  forth  in  the  ailvcr- 
tijsement  quoted  above,  subscriptions  for  the  plan 
were  received,  were  one  and  the  same  person ; 
adding,  that  if  thia  fact  could  be  proved,  it  would 
"  add  another  name  to  the  roll  of  Birmingham 
worthiea,  who,  whatever  their  hajuls  found  to  do, 
did  it  well  and  thoroughly,  and  thus  laid  down 
an  ever-speaking  protest  agaiiisit  the  *well  eimugh* 
methods  so  much  lU  vogue  in  the  present  day/* 

As  the  plan  ia  rare,  it  will  interest  our  reailera 
to  see  the  descriptive  letter-press  whicli  is  engraved 
thereon,  which  is  as  follows  ; 

•*  IMrmingham  ia  a  Maiket  Town,  situated  in  the  North 
West  part  of  the  County  of  Wanvick.  f*2".33  Nr>rth 
Ltititiide,  distant  from  London  88  fouiputed  &  116 
measured  Alilca  :  the  present  number  of  Houiies  arc  4170, 
and  Jnhabitauts  236Sb. 

*'This  Town  has  been  wuppog'd  to  tlerive  ita  name  from 
one  Binning,  who£>e  dweUiug-homte  formerly  Hloi»d  here, 
ye  termination  Ham  in  ye  Saxon  language  tiiguiHm  home 
or  dwelling  [djue.     In  ye  U'igu  of  VA\\\[.  ihr  Confr*M4U'  it 


146 


OLD  AND   NEW  BIRMINGHAM 


tOfUfir'mr*  Man.  ITH. 


WM  the  Frceliold  of  one  \luume,  nnd  in  that  of  WUliatn 
tho  Conqueror  waa  in  possession  of  William  Fits  Auscnlf, 
who  then  resided  at  Dudley  raHtl«?-  Hen.  III.  by  a 
Grant  allow'd  them  to  hold  a  Mmket  every  Thursday  in 
ye  Year.  In  ye  35th  of  Hen.  III.  a  Charter  was  given  for 
two  Fiiirs  to  be  kept  annual ly,  one  to  Ijegin  on  ye  Eve  of 
Holy  Thursday,  and  the  other  on  the  Eve  of  St.  John  the 
Baptist 

*'K.  Edwd,  VI.,  in  the  5th  Year  of  hie  reign,  erected 
a  Free  Grammar  School  for  Boys,  wliich  is  little  inferior 
to  any  School  in  England  as  to  its  Fievenues, 

St.  Philip's  Church  was  erected  in  the  Kdgn  of  King 
Georg<s  I.,  who  gave  X600  towards  the  finishing  of  it.  St. 
Bartholomew's  Chappel  was  lately  built  and  consccmted 
in  the  Year  1750.  Thia  Town*  Iho'  very  large  and 
populous,  has  only  two  Churches  and  two  Chappels,  vije,, 
St.  Martm's  and  St  Philips  Cluirche4.  St.  Bartholomews 
Chappel,  which  beluugs  to  .St,  Mnrtin  s  Parish,  itud  St. 
John's  Chappel  in  Dcritrnd,  k'longing  to  the  Parish  «f 
Aston,  but  there  are  several  Meeting  Houses  for  Dissenter* 
of  almost  all  denominations,  a  Charity  School  fur  Boys 
and  Girls  and  a  largo  hanilsome  Workliouse, 

"  This  Place  has  been  for  a  long  series  of  years  increas- 
ing in  its  buildings,  and  is  superior  to  moat  Towns  in  ye 
Kingdom  for  its  tdegance  and  reguldrity,  as  well  am 
Kumber  and  Wealth  of  the  Inhabitants  ;  its  prosjx'rity  is 
owing  greatly  to  ye  Indvustry  of  ye  People,  who  have  for 
many  Yeara  carried  on  an  extensive  Trade  in  Iron  and 
other  Wurea,  eapecially  in  the  Toy  I3usini!ss,  which  has 
gain'd  the  Pkcc  a  wamo  and  a  great  esteem  all  over 
Eurojie/' 

There  is  also  sin  **  Alphaljcticid  List  of  the 
Streets  and  Lanes,  with  the  Numbers  of  Houses 
and  Inhabitants  in  eauh,"  which  is  also  worth 
quoting  here : 


HOQM. 

tiihab. 

Aaton  Street  and 

Upper     Gojjty 

Green 

64,. 

294 

Ikll  Street    .,..,. 

30.. 

.     179 

Ik wdley  Street,. 

14.. 

63 

Tiordcaley 

83.. 

,     405 

Buckle  Row,,.,.. 

5., 

.       1» 

Bull  Street  

140., 

.     819 

Bull  Lane. 

14„ 

.       80 

Button  Alley  ... 

4.. 

.      18 

Butts  Lane  

1.. 

S 

Cannon  St.   and 

Needless  Alley 

C4,. 

.     568 

Carr's  Lane  

36.. 

,     207 

Castle  Street    ... 

25,. 

.     162 

Chjipel  Row,...., 

7.. 

,       33 

Chapel  Street  „. 

43.. 

.     205 

Charles  Street ... 

8.. 

31 

Cherry  Street  and 

Crooked  Lane. 

28.. 

,     100 

Church  Street  ... 

2,. 

0 

ColeshUl  Street.* 

37,. 

,     100 

Colmore  Row  „. 

36., 

.     2C8 

HoXUMi, 

colmore  Street  68.. 
Coop«r*»    Alill 

Lane ..     7.. 

Corbett's Alley  ..  4,. 
ComCheaping,.,  20.. 

Cross  Street 1,. 

Dak  End 18L. 

Deritend 108.. 

Digbeth  ...,, ,308., 

Dock  Alley  13.. 

Duddcaton  Street  — ., 
Dudley  Stretit  ,,.104  . 
EdgbastonStrtetlSl.. 
Farmer  Street  ...  7.. 
Freeman  Street,.   16.. 

Fmggxiry  25.. 

St.  Bartholomew 

Street  ,.,„,.,  — .. 
H an ds's  Square..  26.. 
Harlow  Street  ,„  — .. 
High  Town  .,,...247.. 
Hill  Street  .,..,  3., 
Hinkleys   ........  87, 


ItlllAll 

350 

25 

10 

162 

4 

032 

1,006 

1,646 

51 

602 
870 
27 
137 
147 


140 

1,665 

Z6 
275 


Houses  lahsb.  i 

Jen ning  Street...     1.,.  5 

John  Street  ......  60...  348 

King  Street 86,..  217 

Leek  Street — ...  — 

Lease  Lane  ......  23...  148 

Lichfield  Street.  104...  841 

Livery  Street  ...  — ...  — 

Lower  Minories..  11,..  68 

Lower  Priory   „.  17.,.  00 

St  Martin's  Lane  11  ..  40 

MaaahonsG  Lane.  16...  77 

Mill  Lane..,,..  „  16.,.  114 

Moor  Street 105,. ,1,076 

Mout  Lane   43...  252 

New  Street  105...  649 

New  Meeting  St.  21..,  149 
Newport  Street. ,     1 . . , 

Newton  Street...  54...  312 

Old  Meeting  St..  34...  231 

Park  Street  156,,.  044 

Peck  I^ne    86„.  is: 

Philip  Stt^ct    ...  38...  218 

Pinfold  Street  .„  07...  632 
Pitt  Street    ..,.,.  — .,. 
Porter  Street    »»,  — ,,, 

Queen's  Alley  ...  10...  45 
Shut   Lane    and 

Wdl  Court    ..    7.,.  55 


HooM.  litlka^ 

Sand  Street  ,...,.     1.,.  i 

Slaney  Street  ...  60...  SOS 

Smallbrook  St... 101...  706 

Snow  HiU 84,..  471 

Spicer  Street    ...  41...  249 

S^^uare  16...  129 

Stafford      Street 

and  Ditch 85,..  408 

Steelhouse  Lane.  122...  645 

Swinford  Street. .     5 . . ,  10 

Temple  Alloy  ...     3,..  10 

Temple  Row 17...  120 

Temple  Street  ..  53,.  316 

Thomas  Street.,,  62„.  316 

Tonka  Street    ...  18...  67 

Ui'per  Mhiorit»a.,     4,..  4 

UpiKT  Priory   ...  28,..  166 

Walnior  Lane  ...     2..,  9 

W  earn  an  Street,.  78...  486 

\Vt3stley  Street...  68...  402 

Wooil  Street 35.,,  204 

Worcester  Street  66...  340 

Houses     lnhahi> 

ted    ...4,058.., 23,688 

Not  Inhabited   112...  — 


Total     4,170.. ,23.688 


i 


It  will  he  interesting^  with  the  assistance  of  tlie 
fac-eirailo,  to  compare  this  plan  of  tlic  town  m 
1750,  with  the  survey  made  by  Weatley,  in  1731 
The  reader  will,  of  course,  notice,  in  the 
pilaee,  the  gn-at  difference  in  the  area  covered 
the  town ;  and  in  looking  at  the  two  pi 
side  by  side,  it  will  be  necessary  lor  him  to  con- 
sider tlio  top  of  Westley's  to  be  that  of  tho  upprr 
cihje  of  the  hjok^  («.e,,  the  hfl  side  of  the  engraving 
as  originally  issued,)^ — to  look  at  the  two  plans, 
ill  fact,  in  the  same  j>o«ition  in  relation  to  tbe 
letter-press, — m  he  will  then  see  them  as  nearly 
as  possible  from  the  same  jioiut  of  view  as 
the  position  of  the  various  streets. 

Beginning  at  the  north- western  comer  o: 
map,  wo  notice  that  Snow  HiU  is  now  built  u 
(on  tho  opposite  side  from  the  Now  Hiill  eatal 
beyond  tho  stream  which  riuis  between  that 
thoroughfare  and  the  Great  Pool;  the  hist  house 
marked  being  the  Salutation  Inn,  with  ita 
Bowling  Green.  Behind  8now  Hill,  parallel 
with  Steelhouse  Lane,  tho  buihlii 
extend,  for  a  short  distance,  .^s 
Street;  but  as  we  get  further  down  StcoUioi 


I 


I 

I 


JLane^  the  buildings  on  tLe  north-weatem  side 
become  fewer,  until,  after  pasaing  Newton  Stteet, 
the  tbomugbfare  is  on  that  aide  open  to  ihb 
country. 

The  first  Metliodist  Meeting  Honse  (referred  to 
in  chapter  XV.)  will  be  found  on  Bradford's  plan 
in  the  place  occupied  by  Kettle's  Steelhooaes  on 
WesUey  8.  Further  along,  between  Steelhouse 
Ltne  and  Lichfield  Street,  wiH  he  soen  the  Work* 
holism 

On  the  eastern  side  of  StafTord  Street,  the  old 
name  of  that  thoroughfare  will  be  found  com- 
memoiated  in  **  Butts  Lane,"  (now  calltd  Tauter 
8treet,}  and  from  that  point  to  the  corner  of 
Aston  Street  the  land  is  marked  "for  hxiiUling," 
Lower  down,  the  reader  will  notice  several  new 
features  in  Bradford's  plan,  "  St  Bartholomew's 
Chappell,"  and  the  block  of  houses  eastwanl 
h«yond  :Moor  Street.  The  '*  land  for  building  " 
shown  on  Westley's  plan  between  that  street  and 
Park  Street  is  entirely  built  upon  ;  a  portion  of 
it  Iwing  occupied  with  the  "jday -house,"  in  whicli 
"the  famed  Wesley  appear'd  on  the  stage;" 
standing  hack  from  the  street,  being  approacbed 
by  means  of  a  narrow  passage  between  two  houses. 
In  Dent«nd|  the  Kew  St  John's  Chapel  is  shoivn, 
without  the  tower,  which  was  not  added  until 
1762.  Health  Mill  Lnne  is  called  **  Cooper's  Mill 
Lane  ** — ^Icading  to  the  mill  wliich  foruis  so  ]»ro- 
mmmt  a  feature  of  Wcstleya  Prospect — and 
Floodgate  Street  heai»  the  name  of  <<  Water 
8tivt5t,"  although,  as  shown  on  the  plan,  the 
ilood-gat^'S  were  then  in  existence.  Another 
Interesting  feature  of  tliis  rare  plan  is  that  it  has 
all  the  principal  iJins  marked ;  the  Ca-^tf*'  and 
F(^m  imd  the  Whitr  //or^inDigbeth,  th*^  former 
nearly  opposite  ^lill  Lane,  and  the  latter;  on  the 
same  side,  a  little  below  Park  Street ;  the  Dolphm 
in  tlw  Com  Cheaping,  (Bull  Iting,)  and  the  Anchor^ 
ftbnost  oppoeitev  in  Spiccr  or  Spiccal  Street ;  the 
Bmrn^  in  High  Street,  below  New  Street ;  the  W-n 
and  Chtck^iJ^^  on  the  other  aide  of  the  same  street, 
tm  the  sit<5  now  t^ccupied  by  Scotland  Passage ; 
th«  B*Ut*  IIlhuI,  near  the  Welsh  Cross  j  and  the 


Sniittiitwfi^  at  tlie  bottom  of  Snow  Hill.  The 
vjirious  mt?e ting-houses  are  marked,  including 
tliose  which  had  arisen  since  the  publication  of 
Westley^s  plan,  but  it  is  curious  to  notice  that 
while  that  in  Con's  Lane  is  caDed  **  PrcMt^rian^*' 
that  belonging  to  the  Baptists',  in  Cannon  Street, 
is  styled  an  **  Indt^pendmU  Meeting  Hoime.** 
CKhor  IcML-al  institutions  of  the  period  ore  also 
ehov^^n  on  the  plan :  the  various  markfsts,  as 
described  in  a  previous  chapter ;  the  Moat^  which 
still  existed,  although  a  manufactor)^  now  occupied 
the  site  of  the  ancient  castle  of  the  lords  of  the 
manor ;  *  the  moated  Parsonage,  tlie  two  Crosses, 
(the  oKl  cross  at  the  end  of  Stafford  Street  Imving 
apparently  been  removed ;)  the  Post  Oftiec, 
opposite  the  Grammai-  School,  in  New  Street ;  the 
Blue  Coat  School ;  the  Pound,  at  the  end  of  Pin- 
fold Strft't  and  Peck  Lane;  the  weighing  machine, 
at  the  top  of  Bull  Street  and  Snow  HiU ;  the 
houses  surrounding  St  Martin's  Cliurch  are  also 
slyjwn. 

Turning  to  the  pletmant  park  surrtjtmding  New 
Hall,  we  find  the  upper  ontl,  nearest  Colmore  Eow, 
cut  up  into  stn^et.9,  and  partly  built  upon.  Livery 
Street  and  Church  Street  appear,  the  former 
extending  l>eyon*l  the  groat  Pool,  the  latter  to  the 
point  at  which  it  is  now  intersected  by  Bread 
Street, -^which  did  not  then,  however,  exist 
Little  Charles  Slrcet,  (which  in  1870  became  a 
part  of  }sew  Edmund  Street,)  bears  two  naniee, 
on  Bradford*s  plan ;  from  Newliidl  Street  (called 
on  the  plan  "  Newport  Street,")  to  Church  Strtjet 
it  is  **  Charles  Street,"  and  from  thence  into  Livery 
Street  it  bears  the  name  of  **IIill  Street," — the 
present  street  of  that  name  being  unknown  at  that 

■  An  AflrertiscmoDt  In  Uie  GamtU  of  Jim.  iiht  1708,  Uiiift  ilMeribM 
It:- 

'*  To  bo  L>t»  «od  entered  on  «t  Lndy-Day  next^  fur  Uie  Ttsna  oT 
21  Years,  or  longer  if  i^quirrul,  aU  UiAt  McJkiiiNKe  lu*  Tenemcsit, 
ronmioulj  called  iho  Munt  Huuao,  coi^UlubiK  four  Rcmmim  oa  a 
VXnoTt  and  twlxtg  three  moj(oa  hi^b,  with  a  liu:go  back  KItchea 
Uiereio  a4JoLtiijig,  and  convrnlt^nt  WarehoUMf^  Shoptifn^,  and  otiker 
BuUdlngt  contiguoua  Uiart'to,  Katiato  U\  tlus  Moat- Yard,  in  BLnnliij^ 
ham,  and  Utc  in  th*  OecuimUott  uf  Mr  Tliomjui  Aljtic>\  Tl»o 
Prvmiaea  ans  moated,  aU  muiMl  "  i  „..  .f^  tw  ..mi  . .. t,vi»,tjent 
for  can7tng  on  a  Urge  Matiufu  ivh, 

at  a  nnaU  Expvnce,  may  bo  r mIc  of 

©niploymg  800  Workme^n,  For  jiarUitukit*  ciiijuux;  wl  Mr.  J*i*tspli 
Web«tar^  lu  Digbtth,  BiniUAKliarn." 


148 


OLD    AND    NEW     BIRMINGHAM.         (Biminsluiia  wid  Caasl  Xtvlg.tlm», 


late,  and  its  site  covered  by  a  grove  of  trees  and 
everal  meadows.  Our  \qc4\1  authorities  appear  to 
have  been  anticipftted  by  their  ancestors,  in  their 
idea  of  beautifying  our  public  thoroughfares  by 
planting  trees  therein,  m  the  plan  before  us  shows 
a  line  of  trees  on  either  side  of  New  Street,  on  the 
western  side  of  Temple  Street,  along  Colmore 
Row,  and  in  the  Old  Square.  Among  the  streets 
shown  on  the  plan  wliich  have  since  changed 
their  names,  may  be  mentioned  Bewdley  Street, 
(Ann  Street,)  Hull  Lane,  (^Vlrmmuuth  Sti-eet,) 
Harkw  Street,  (Edmund  Stieet,)  Swinford  Street, 
(the  upper  portion  of  New  Street,)  Corbett'a  iUley, 
(Union  Street,)  and  Swan  Alley,  (Lhe  upper  por- 
tion of  Worcester  Street,)  as  wull  as  thost^  already 
referred  to  on  the  Colmore  Estate, 

With  these  few  notes  on  the  special  features  of 
this  very  rare  and  interesting  old  plan,  we  leave 
the  facsimile  of  the  print  itself  in  the  reader's 
hands,  trusting  that  he  may  find  some  amusement 
in  tracing  out  other  particulars  of  the  old  town, 
as  surveyed  by  Samuel  Bradford,  in  1750. 

The  seventh  docade  of  the  eighteenth  century 
is  memorable  in  the  historj'^  of  iJirmingham,  as 
having  seen  the  introduction  of  canul  navigation 
into  this  locality.  The  inland  situation  of  the 
town,  and  the  difficulty  of  transplanting  the 
lieavy  goods  manufactured  here,  caused  the  move- 
ment to  be  taken  up  with  energy,  ollering,  as  it 
did,  a  cheaper  and  more  expeditious  mode  of 
transit,  and  one  far  more  nuited  Uj  the  require- 
ments of  the  local  trade. 

The  first  English  canal  (which  was  made  by 
dee^tcning  and  widening  the  ancient  Eoman  **Fos3 
Dyke,"  from  Lincoln  to  the  liiver  Trent,)  was 
undertaken  by  Henry  I.,  in  n'21 ;  but  for  more 
than  five  hundred  years  no  further  progress  was 
made  in  inland  navigation  until  1608,  when  the 
New  Kiver  Canal  was  begun.  But  the  first 
mudeni  canal,  {ue,^  of  the  ettjhieenth  centuiy,)  was 
the  Sunkey  Brook  Canal,  in  Lancashire,  wluch 
was  begun  in  1755,  and  which  proved  exceed  iiigly 
pi-osperous  and  useful  to  the  district,  and  remains 
a  valuable  property  to  the  present  limu ;  and  from 


that  date  the  **  canal  frenzy,"  as  Hutton  in  bis 
autobiography  terms  it,  grew  with  a  n\pidity  only 
equalled  by  that  which  chara^^terised  the  railway  I 
projects  in  the  nineteenth  century*  Tlie  *'  silent! 
highways,"  as  the  canals  have  been  termed,  wexs  I 
as  great  a  change  to  the  people  of  the  eighteenlti] 
century,  accustomed  as  they  had  been  to  the  j 
clumsy,  tedious,  and  uncertain  waggons,  and  th^l 
slow  and  equally  uncertain  pack-horses,  on  I  he  old,  I 
ill-kept  roods,  as  the  rnilwaya  wore  to  the  |)eoplii1 
of  the  fii-st  half  of  the  nineteenth  century. 

Binjiingham  was  not  alow  to  avail  hei-self  of  | 
the  new  mode  of  transit.  On  the  26th  of  January^^ 
1767,  an  advertisement  appeared  in  the  Gazttti'A 
calling  a  meeting  to  take  into  consideration 
scheme  for  cutting  a  canal  through  the  South,! 
Staffordshii^  coal-JieW,  to  join  the  W^olverhamptoa j 
Cano!.  The  meeting  was  held  on  Wednesday,^ 
January  28,  at  the  **  Swan  Inn,'*  at  which 
great  number  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  Towii"^J 
were  present,  and  it  was  unanimously  agreed 
liave  the  line  of  the  proposed  canal  survey e<l ;  thi 
celebrated  engineer,  Brindley,  being  applied  to  foe 
that  puq>ose.  On  the  Bth  of  June,  the  Gazeiti 
contained  the  following  repcrfc  of  a  meeting 
which  Brindley  submitted  his  plans : 

BiaMl^'GHAM   KAVtOATIOK. 

Swctii  !mi,  June  4th.  17<J7.^At  a  nuuierous  Mcrtiii 
held  this  day,  Jlr  UiiniUey  jiroduccd  u  I'lAnand  Ktitiumti 
ot   making  a   navigable   Caaal  froui   the   Towu   to   th 
Stuftbnlshire   and    Worcesttrshire    Canal,    through    til 
principal  Coal  Works,  by  two  ditrereut  Tmcta,  and  gav 
it  as  Ids  Opinion  that  the  hvsX  was  from  near  New- Ha 
over  Biniiinghani  Heathy  to  or  near  the  following  Place»|  ' 
viz,|   Sinc'thwick,   Oldbuiy,  Tipton  Gretn,    Bilstou^  and 
from  tlience  to  the  SlxUTurdahirc  and  Wore t&terah ire  Cimal, 
with   Branches    to   diHennt   Coal   Works    b^lwi^fu    the 
reapcctivt;  place, 

Af!  the  Undertaking  stictUJi  of  grout  Iraporfcajjcr,  it 
ngret^l  that  there  he  a  Meeting  appointed  at  this  place,  on 
Friday  nt^xt  the  12th  In^it.,  at  Four  o'clock  in  the  After- 
noon of  the  same  Day,  in  order  to  o[wn  a  8ubs(:di»titrti  to 
raise  a  fund  lor  the  Expence  of  obtiiing  ft  Law,  aiid  com- 
pleting the  Work,  which  it  is  .supposed  will  not  cxc^ 
the  Sum  of  Jt:3O,000  inclu«lin^'  tdl  Ex|»enrL'S-  lu  th»?  me 
time  Mr.  Brindley *«  Tlau,  Ejiliuuito,  ivnd  Opluion,  an 
bouie  Calculations  of  the  Coal  likely  to  ptwrf,  luny  be  seii 
at  Mr.  Meredith's,  Attorney  ut  1-aw, 

It  in  expected  that  ft  Coromittc«  for  the  Conditrt  of  th 
Undertaking  will  be  chuso  at  the  Miid  M«etiuj^. 


I  can*!  N«Ti6auu?i.)       OLD   AKD   NEW   HniMINGHA^l 


149 


We  pejid  further,  in  the  Gazette  of  July  IStli^ 

Btnninglmm  K»vig»tion,  July  lOih,  IT 66. —"Whereas 
•rrer&l  nnnierous  public  ikftiuga  have  been  held  at  the 
Fwan  Inu,  to  consider  of  a  Plnn  for  making  n  narjgable 
f 'wmi  thfongh  the  principaj  Coal  Fields  in  this  Xeij^h- 
l»cnirhood  by  Sniethwick^  Oldbury,  Tipton  Hrpcn,  and 
BiUton,  ID  the  Coiintiei  of  Salop  iind  Suffordj  to  join  the 
Cansl  now  making  between  the  Trent  nnd  Severn,  at 
^4ddfraly,  nto^  Wolverhampton,  Mr,  J.imes  Brin*lley 
hftving  niid*  &  Survey  of  it,  cstiniatcfl  that  the  Expence 
would  not  ficecd  the  Snm  of  £50,000  und  on  the  Friday 
the  12th  Day  of  Juno  hist,  in  Pursuance  of  an  AdvertiBC- 
mcnt  for  that  Purjiose,  a  Subscription  was  opened  to 
»pply  t«  Pjirllanicnt  for  Powera  to  make  such  Canal,  and 
fur  compleating  the  same.  There  is  already  £35,000  Bub- 
Brribed  ;  the  Subscription  Deeds  will  rontinue  of>en  at 
Btr  Meredith's^  Attorney  at  Law,  fSirrningham,  until  the 
2fitJi  of  July  Inst,  unless  the  whole  sura  of  £50,000  be 
•oourr  subscribed.  At  the  same  Place  the  proceedings  of 
the  Committee  ip|)ointed  for  the  Conduct  of  the  applica- 
tiati  may  be  refrrred  Ut,     By  Order  of  tho  Coirmittt^e. 

JoriN  Mkuedith,  S<)lidtor» 

By  this  time  upwards  of  ^35,000  was  alivady 
subscribed  towards  carrying  uiit  this  project.  A 
bill  **  for  ijiaking  a  Xavigalile  Caual  from  Bir- 
mingham to  Wolvorhamplon  "  wm  introduced  m 

riiament  during  the  next  session,  (1768,)  and 

Bived  the  roayal  assent  on  the  26th  of  July  in 
ihut  year.  On  the  "  agreeable  news "  reaching 
Bimiinghain,  *Hhe  hells  were  set  to  ringing, 
which  were  conti lined  the  whole  day." 

The  length  of  tho  canal  was  abont  twenty-two 
miloa,  and  the  expenj^  of  juaking  it  about 
je70,000,  divided  into  sliarea  of  £140  eacli,  of 
vhich  nu  one  was  (dlowe<l  to  purchase  mo  113  than 
lOL^  From  **  A  List  of  the  l^ropiietoi-s  of  the 
BirminghATu  Can^d  Navigation,"  {issued  March  30, 
1770,)  we  find  that  these  shares  were  live  hundred 
m  naiober,  and  that  the  full  number  of  ten  were 
tidcl  by  UiH  fallowing  gentlemen  :  Tho*,  Anson, 
KwIm  of  Shuckbru* ;  Ann  Colmore  j  Jer.  Chirke, 
E§q,,  of  Westbromwich  ;  Peter  Capper,  EcdJand; 
Henry  Cwrcr,  Esq.  j  tho  Earl  of  Dartmouth ; 
Jamm  Farquharson ;  John  Frauncis ;  Samuel 
Gillt4m ;  Jolm  Gaiton,  Bristol ;  the  Earl  of  Hert- 
(onl;  Sir  Lister  Holte,  Bart,  of  Aston  Hull; 
John   Keltia ;  John  Lane,  juu.  ;    Tliomas  Lee ; 


Henry  Yenour  ;  Joseph  Wilkinson  ;  and  William 
Welsh.  John  Ash,  M,D.,  (founder  of  the  General 
Hospital,)  held  five  shares,  as  abo  did  Eichard 
Rabone,  John  and  Edward  Sneyd,  (rt^sj>ectively,) 
Dr,  Wm.  Small,  Thomas  Westlcy,  and  utlicis 
whose  names  are  well  known  and  (In  many  casee,) 
honourably  represented  by  their  descendants^  in 
Birmingham  to-day.  »Stninge  to  say,  the  Father 
of  Soho  held  only  three  aharoi*.  Amoug  other 
shareholders  niay  be  mentioned,  Poet  Frecth, 
(who  held  one  aharc,)  Joseph  Guest,  Samuel  Aria, 
Jaraes  Brindley,  (the  engineer,)  Jo,seidj  Carles, 
fbdin  (.irew,  ^lichael  La  kin,  Samuel  Pemberton, 
juu.,  iJaniel  and  Josiah  Uustun,  etc. 

**Thi9  ginnd  work,'*  says  liulton,  **  like  other 
productions  of    Bimiingham   biith,    was  rather 
ha^ty ;    the   managers,    not   being   able   to   find 
patience  to  worm   round  the  hlU  at  Hmethwick, 
or  cut  through  it,  wisely  travelled  over  it,  by  the 
help  of  twelve  locks, — with  six  tliey  mount  the 
summit,  and  with  si.^  more  d<iscend  to  tho  former 
level;  forgetting  the  great  waste  uf  water,  and  the 
sinoU  supply  from  the  rivulets,  in  climbing  this 
curious  bidder,  cout^isting  of  twelve  liquid  sLepn/'  ♦ 
The  summit  of  this  watery  ladder  is  said  to 
have  been  460  feet  above  the  level  of  the  sea;  but 
the  inconvonienec  of  the  numerous  locks  being 
a  souree  of   continued  complaint,   the  company 
eventually  called  in  the  aid  of  Telfoixl  to  remove 
them;  hills  were  cut  through  to  u  perpondiiular 
depth  of  mure  than  seventy  feet,  and  other  im|>rove- 
ment^  efrected,  so  that  **the  aspect  of  this  caual," 
says  Mr.  Bates,  writing  in  1849,  "  is  not  surpassed 
ill  stupendous  magnificence  by  any  similar  work 
in  the  world." 

The  first  boal^load  of  coals  was  brought  to 
Birmingham  by  tliis  canal  Nov.  7th,  1760,  the 
year  of  tho  Stratford  Jubdee;  and  the  two  events 
were  commemorated  by  tho  loc^d  poet,  John 
Freeth,  (of  whom  we  shall  have  more  to  say  in 
our  next  chapter,)  in  an  ode  wldch  is  printed  at 
the  commencement  of  his  Pitliikal  Simffatf.r,  of 
which  a  few  stamuis  may  interest  our  nuidcrs : 

*  HinUyry  uf  i&irituii^liiitJi,  aUUi  t'Uilioil,  |>  4311*. 


150 


OLD   AKD   NEW  BIRMINGHAM.     tBiniimghAiii  «id  cka*i  Navifi^Uan.] 


INLAND    NAVIGATION: 

ODE, 

For  ancient  deeda  let  History  unfold 
The  p[i^p  where  wonder's  are  enroll'd* 
And  tell  how  jAf40N%  from  the  CoiMun  ihorr, 
Till?  goMi'ii  fleece  in  triumph  bore, 

A  nobltT  tli4!ine  the  Mimi  inspires, 

And  every  sldfiil  Artist  fires 
With  heart -felt  joy  ft  work  to  see 
Cut  out  far  graod  utility  ; 
A  project  formed,  by  whifih,  "tia  plaiu, 
That  thousauda  must  advantage  gain  ; 
An4l  jture  that  pl&n  muBt  b«  of  noble  u^% 
Which  tends  in  price  provision  to  i-educv. 
lik'st  Nnvigfttion  I  soorco  of  golden  dny^ 
Which  Commeroe  findsi  and  bri^hteas  all  ita  w^ys. 

Sons  of  Comtticrf4  haste  to  pleasitr^, 

For  the  joy  belongs  to  you  ; 
Itay  you  live  to  rea[>  the  treiusiin* 

Thftt  must  hjippily  ensue. 
Trensui"*^,  from  ^talfordian  plains, 

Kiclier  than  Peruvian  mines. 
And  by  whsit  ttie  Artist  gains 

AU  his  principid  de^igus. 

CMOUUS, 

Not  a  Son  of  limping  Vi  ixan 
But  must  truly  joyoun  be  ; 

Knvv  from  the  bjin<jupt  skulking, 
'Tis  the  Artist  s  Jubilee*. 
80  (|uick  in  jMnfonning  tlua  weighty  atfair, 
So  great  was  the  iuduytry,  prndeui-e,  luid  can?, 

Eighteen  months  have  scarce  run, 

Since  the  work  was  begun  ; 

How  pleading  the  sight  I 

Wbat  a  scene  of  delight ! 
As  the  burgea  come  floating  along  : 

Then  cease  from  your  toil, 
Nor  hammer  nor  file 
Be  handled  to-day. 
All  care  shall  away, 
Whilst  boniiroa  are  blazing, 
(What  can  be  more  pleasing  ?) 
All  fret -cost  to  gladden  the  throng. 

Could  our  Forefathers  from  the  shades  but  trace 
Thy  noble  pkn 
Thdr  Sons  began, 
To  what  anuizement  would  the  work  apjicar  J 
A  train  of  Vessels  floating  by  the  place, 

Wliore  sprightly  8tee<.U,  at  trumpet  sound. 
In  contest  wing'd  along  the  ground, 
And  thouiiands  to  the  pleasures  would  repair. 

But,  what  were  tlioae  days, 
Compared  to  these  1 
Eftch  day  at  the  licuih  is  a  fair  ; 

"The  first  Boat  lojul  of  Coals  w&a  bruugbt  to  Town  Xuveiubor  Uiv 
OUj,  ITOU,  tho  year  af  tli«  BinUford  Jubilee 


To  see  Bridges  and  Locks, 

And  Boats  on  the  Stocks, 

Are  numbers  continually  there* 

Every  breast,  elate  with  joy, 

Gladly  views  the  happy  day  ; 
Cease  dissension, 
Lamp  contention, 

From  these  regions  haat«  away. 
We  alone  on  Trade  depend  ; 
Be  in  thai  our  ernnlation, 
'Twill  support  our  Narigaliou, 
And  the  liquid  trai^t  extend. 
But  for  this  good  care  ami  trouble. 

Whiiih  has  nobly  been  displayM. 
For  our  Coals,  this  ins  ton  t,  double 

What  we  give^  we  must  have  paid. 

Griping  souls,  that  live  by  fleecing, 

Ami  ujwm  their  teams  depf  u»i. 
To  ttll  niuks  of  life  how  pleading, 

That  their  day  is  at  an  end, 

Long  their  tricks  were  overbearing, 

Now  the  vile  oppressors  may 
Sell  their  nags  and  bunt  their  gcering, 

For  the  roads  'twill  better  b«. 

ciionus. 

Not  a  Sou  of  limping  VuuiA!f 

But  shall  joyous  be  to-tlay  ; 
Envy  from  the  baui|uet  skulking, 

'Tis  the  Artist*a  Jubilee. 
•  •  •  »  • 

What  mortals  so  happy  as  Bmningkum  Boys  f 
Wiiat  people  fo  fltishM  with  the  sweetest  of  joys  f 
All  hearts  fraught  with  mil  th  at  the  Wharf  shall  appm 

Their  aspects  proclaim  it  the  Jubilee  yewr. 
And  bu  full  as  gay  in  their  frolickdom«  pmoka. 
As  lh<%y  who  were  dancing  on  Avofi*a  green  banks. 

Thf  re  never  in  war  was  lor  victory  won, 
A  cause  that  deserv'd  such  respect  from  the  Town ; 
Tlieii  revel  in  gladness,  let  harmony  flow, 
From  the  district  of  Bordslaj  to  Paradine-Row  ; 
For  true  feeling  joy  on  each  breast  must  be  wit>ught, 
When  Coals  under  Five-pence  j»er  hundred  are  iKJught,  , 
«  •  «  •  • 

Mnningham,  for  arts  renown 'd 
O'er  the  globe  sh.all  foremost  stand  : 
Nor  its  vast  increase  be  found 
To  be  equaird  in  the  land. 
If  the  will  of  fancy  ranges 
From  the  Ttigus  to  the  Omi^^ 
Or  from  Lapland  Clifls  extend 
To  the  Paiagonian  Strand, 
For  mechanic  skill  and  powV, 
In  what  kingdom,  on  what  shore. 
Lies  i\w  place  that  can  supply. 
The  world  with  such  variety  f 


OLD  AND  KEW  BIRl^rmGHAM, 


I 


StiU  mty  onr  YemcU,  o*er  the  briny  df  ep, 
Ta  fondry  ports  their  rArioftn  course*  ke«p  : 
May  NiTigiilion,  Liberty's  dear  friend, 
Her  wont^tl  fiimQ  to  greater  Itngths  extend  ; 
Optfn  her  slaices  juid  throngh  tnotint&in  forc«i» 
To  distant  Lond^  kin  t^tuy  tntercoune  : 
And  Birminghnrnt  for  every  curioua  art 
Her  Sons  inr«?nt,  bo  Europi*§  fre&teit  roart  ; 
In  eTAiy  Euigdoia  srer  •l*nd  eiiroird» 
Th«  grand  Mtehuiie  Wartboose  of  the  World  t 


Half  Htindrods,  or  less ;  ind,  indeed,  there  ii  great 
Benson  to  believe,  that  the  Price  of  Coal  will  come  (after 
the  present  wiuter)  cheaper  than  Four-pence  Halfpenny 
per  Hundred ;  and  that  the  Gentlemen  who  hare  the 
condtictiitg  of  this  important  Affair,  will  uae  all  possible 
Hoani  to  pre?eiit  Impositions  of  every  kind," 

An  office  for  the  transaction  of  the  company's 

business  was  erected  at  the  western  end  of  Paradise 

Street,   (then  called  Paradise  Eow,)  which  still 


iT-  r 


^6-:: 


^3k 


'^M7 


TEl  CAXkL  OFFICB. 


■The  fact  which  our  local  poet  celebrated  in  his 
Tene,  (^*  Coals  under  fire  pence  per  hnndrod  ate 
beQgfatv'7  ^  ^^  ^^  ^^^^  ^  ^  ™^^  prosaic 
nazmer  in  the  local  journal  of  Nov.  6 : — 

**ll  is  with  Pltasnre  we  eongratulate  the  Public  on 
the  pmbahility  of  Coal  being  brought  by  Water  near  this 
Town  in  a  faw  Dttys ;  and  that  the  Canal  Company  have 
tMl  only  rasolved  to  sell  the  same  tlus  Winter  at  their 
Wharf  for  yoarp«nce  Half-penny  per  Hundred,  long 
Wiiglil  of  1201b.,  but  to  fix  the  Price  of  thair  Delivery  in 
tftty  Q$9mt  thereof :  sad  in  order  for  the  better  aeoom- 
laodatioti  of  the  Poor,  they  have  determined  to  establish 
Cod^Yanbi  in  different  Parts  of  the  Town,  as  soon  as 
jlMftii,  irh«f«  U  «riU  W  told  in  Qnaotitios  lo  small  «a 
20 


remains,  and  from  the  steps  of  which,  It  is  said, 
John  Wesley  preached  during  one  of  his  visits  to 
the  town.  The  proprietors  of  the  canal  obtained 
from  Sir  T.  Gooch  a  perpetual  lecm  of  six  acres  of 
land  for  the  construction  of  their  wharves,  on  the 
south  mde  of  Broad  Street,  at  a  rental  of  Ml  per 
annum. 

The  last  year  of  the  period  marked  out  for  us 
in  the  present  chapter — 1775 — is  interesting  as 
having  seen  Samuel  Johnson  once  more  in  Bir- 
mingham,— not  as  on  the  occasion  of  his  first  visit, 
in  1733,  a  poor  schoUr,  seeking  tmployment  and 


152 


OLD    AND    NEW    BIEMINGHASL         [Sunoftl  JohnKm  m  Binnlogltaiu. 


glad  to  undertake  the  meanest  literary  drudgery, 
—but  full  of  bonoura,  (having  recently  received 
hifi  diploma  as  Doctor  of  Laws,  from  the  University 
of  Oxford,)  having  talcen  his  place,  as  Thackeray 
afterwards  said  of  Dickens, at  the  head  of  the  whole 
tribe  of  men  of  letters  of  his  lime,  as  poet,  essayist, 
lexicographer,  biographer,  and  critic, — he  would 
scarcely  he  recognised  as  the  young  translator  of 
Lobo's  Abyssinia ^  and  ivriter  of  the  essays  for 
Warren's  Bii'mingham  Journal,  But  he  has  not, 
in  his  days  of  prosperity,  forgotten  the  friend  of 
hm  youth,  and  we  tind  him  on  the  10th  of  June 
in  the  year  named,  taking  a  post^hase, — driving 
was  his  favourite  exercise, — from  Oxford  to  Bir- 
mingham, intending  to  have  passed  a  day  or  two 
with  Edmimd  Hector,  but  he  tiiids  his  friend's 
house  abeady  occupied  with  company,  and  bo 
drives  on  to  Licliiield,  A  few  weeks  later 
(August  27th)  he  writes,  **  1  have  passed  one  day 
at  Birmingham,  with  my  old  friend  Hector, — 
there^s  a  w«me/— and  his  sister,  an  old  love,  My 
mistress  is  grown  much  older  than  my  friend." 
Quoting  Horace  (Od.  iv.  13),  he  adda,  in  reference 
to  this  lady  : — 

'* What  of  her,  of  her  is  left, 


Who,  brenthing  Lovo*s  own  air, 
Mcof  myself  h«reftf'* 

His  love,  however,  appears,  from  a  conversation 
with  Bo  swell  during  his  next  Tisit  to  Birmingham, 
to  have  been  of  a  quiet^  unromantic  character. 
Unlike  many  whose  early  love  has  been  doomed 
to  disappointment,  he  did  not  feel  that  for  him 
the  world  contained  no  other  woman  whom  he 
could  make  his  wife.  His  loquacious  biognipher 
had  probed  him  on  this  occasion  with  the  ques- 
tion, "  Pray,  Bir,  do  you  not  suppose  that  there 
are  fifty  women  in  the  world,  with  any  one  of 
whom  a  man  may  l)e  as  happy  as  with  any  one 
woman  in  particular?"  **Ay,  Sir,"  said  Johnson, 
"  fifty  thousand,"  "  Then,  Sir,  you  are  not  of 
opinion  "vvith  some  who  imagine  that  certain  men 
and  certain  women  are  made  for  each  other,  and 
that  they  cannot  be  happy  if  they  miss  their 
counterparts,"     "  To  be  sure  not,  Sir,"  returned 


the  doctor,  **  I  belieTG  marriages  would  in  general 
be  as  happy,  and  often  more  so,  if  they  were  oil 
made  by  the  Lord  Chancellor,  npon  a  duo  coa- 
Hideration  of  the  character  and  circmnatanoe^^H 
without  the  parties  having  any  choice  in  tho^B 
matter."  We  hope  there  are  not  many  to  be 
found  to  day,  who  would  endorse  the  worfchl 
doctor's  opinion  on  this  subject. 

The  next  year — 1776 — we  find  the  doctor « 
in  Birmingham,  being  this  time  accompanied  ' 
his  fl(h/^  Achrttr^^  James  BoswelL  They  had ' 
travelled  from  Oxford,  calling  at  Stratford-on- 
Avon  and  Henley-in-Arden.  From  the  lattei^H 
place  they  set  out  early  on  Friday,  March  22nd,  ^ 
and  arrived  in  Birmingham  about  nine  o'clock. _^ 
After  breakfast^  they  called  on  Edmund  Hector^^f 
in  the  Old  Square,  (for  he  had  also,  like  hia 
friend,  risen  to  a  position  of  ease  and  prosperity,)  , 
**but,"  says  Boswell,  **a  very  stupid  maid,  who 
opened  the  door,  told  us  that  *  her  master  was  gon 
out ;  ho  was  gone  to  the  country ;  she  could  nolj 
tell  when  he  would  return.*  In  short  she  gave  i 
a  very  miserable  reception."  Johnson  observe 
that  **  she  would  have  behaved  no  better  to  pooplfli 
who  wanted  him  in  the  way  of  his  profession,** 
Addressing  the  girl  again,  he  said,  **  My  name  i 
Johnson ;  tell  him  I  called.  Will  you  remember 
the  name  1 "  The  poor  maid  was  probably  con-^ 
fused  at  the  doctor's  rough  manner  and  ponderou 
style  of  speech,  and  replied  agam,  (**  with  rustii 
simplicity,  in  the  Warwickshire  dialect,"  Bos- ' 
well  tells  us,)  'M  don't  understand  you,  Sir/' 
**  Blockhead;*  said  the  doctor,  "  I'll  write."  He, 
however,  attempted  once  more  to  make  her  unde 
stand  him,  and  roared  loudly  in  her  ear,  '^JoJuison^^ 
"and  then,"  says  Boswell,  **she  catcbed  ib 
sound." 

The   two   visitors   then   left   the  Square  au<| 
called  on  Mr.  Lloyd,  a  quaker,  and  one  of 
founders  of  the  bank  which  still  bears  the  name 
of    one  of  the  most  honoured  families  of  Bij 
muigham  ;   but  here  again  they  were  doomed 
disappointment,     Mr,  Lloyd  was  not  at  hoB 
but  Mrs.  Lloyd  was,  and  received  them  courteously 


temnel  Jobaaou  1b  BtrmingbunJ 


OLD  AND  NEW  BIRMINGHAM. 


163 


anil  invited  them  to  dmner,  Johnson  remarked 
to  Boswell  tliat  "after  the  uncertamty  of  all  human 
things  at  Hector's,  this  invitation  came  very  well" 
They  next  took  a  walk  through  the  town,  and 
JokoBon  expressed  his  pleasure  at  its  growth. 
Since  his  sojourn  and  couilfihip  in  the  town  it 
had  indeed  altered  it  appearance*  When  he  left 
it  on  the  morning  of  that  memorable  ride  to 
Derby  he  had  reached  the  open  countiy  by  the 
time  he  passed  the  house  in  which  Hector  now 
lived.  Had  he  wished  to  be  married  in  Eir- 
minghani,  he  had  choice  of  but  two  churchea, 
St  Iklnrtin's  and  St,  Philip's,  beside  the  little 
chapel  in  Deri  tend.  Now  there  were  four,  and 
the  old  Chapel  of  Si  John  the  Baptist  had  given 
place  to  a  larger,  and — according  to  the  taste  of  the 
timeft^handsomer  building,  capable  of  holding 
more  than  seven  hundred  peraons.  Hi  en  the 
only  dramatic  performances  in  the  town  were  to 
be  witnessed  in  the  fields  near  Temple  Street, 
now  there  were  two  liandsome  theatres.  When 
he  translated  Lobo^s  Ahymnia  there  was  but  a 
single  bookseller's  shop  in  the  town,  and  only  the 
rudest  appliances  for  the  production  of  the  book ; 
BOW  the  booksellers  were  somewhat  numerous, 
find  he  might  have  purchased  a^  fine  a  library  of 
booka,  and  as  gqod  a  collection  of  prints,  at  the 
shop  of  William  Hutton,  as  anywhere  in  the 
kingdom ;  while  for  printing,  John  Baskerville 
had  made  the  town  famous  throughout  the 
civilized  world. 

.Jbl  they  walked  about  they  met  both  of  the 
lpwi.lmii6T>  they  were  in  search  of ;  ilrst  Mr.  Lloyd, 
and  afterwards  ** friend  Hedor^  as  Mr*  Lloyd 
CfiUed  him,"  Johnson  and  his  friend  Hector 
wonM  appear  to  have  soon  forgotten  tlie  presence 
of  the  other  two,  in  their  joy  at  meeting  each 
other  once  again  ;  and,  says  Boswell,  '*  Mr.  Lloyd 
find  I  left  them  together,  while  he  obligingly 
iltowad  me  some  of  the  manufactures  of  this 
rery  curious  assemblage  of  artificers."  They  all 
net  at  dinner  at  Mr.  Lloyd's^  and  were  enter- 
tained  with  great  hospitahty, 

Tho  qttiet  timplidty  of  maimers,  as  well  as 


the  spiritual -m  in dedn ess  of  this  d^uaker  family 
charmed  both  Boswell  and  Johnson,  insomuch 
that  the  latter,  tory  and  churchman  that  he  was, 
felt  bound  to  admit  that  **  he  liked  individuals 
among  the  quakers,  but  not  the  sect"  Boswell 
evidently  felt  that  it  would  not  be  safe  to 
intrcMlucc,  in  Johnson^s  presence,  at  Mr.  Lloyd's, 
any  questions  concerning  the  peculiarities  of  their 
faith.  His  love  of  books,  however,  frustrated  his 
good  intentions,  and,  asking  to  look  at  Baskeir- 
ville's  fine  quarto  edition  of  **  Barclay's  Apology," 
it  happened  to  open  at  the  chapter  on  baptism, 
and  Johnson's  controversial  spirit  was  let  loose. 
He  entered  into  an  argument  on  the  subject,  in  a 
manner  which  Boswell  liimself  admits  was  by  no 
means  gentle,  and,  taking  up  a  false  position  to 
begin  with,  he  soon  became  entangled  in  the 
meshes  of  the  controversy,  and  big  quiet  and 
gentle  quaker  opponents  had  the  advantage  of 
hiuu  It  was  certainly  a  most  ill-timed,  as  well  as 
unfair  attack  upon  the  religious  opinions  of  the 
people  who  had  received  him  as  a  guest  in  so 
hospitable  a  manner,  and  probably  no  one  regretted 
it  after  calm  consideration  more  than  the  worthy 
doctor  himself. 

Mr.  Hector  accompanied  Boswell  on  a  visit  to 
the  faiiious  manufactory  of  Matthew  Boulton,  at 
Soho,  which,  he  tells  us,  the  ingenious  proprietor 
showed  him  himself  to  the  best  advantage. 
"  I  wished,"  says  Boswell,  "Johnson  had  been  with 
us  \  for  it  was  a  scene  which  I  should  have  been 
glad  to  contemplate  by  his  light.  The  vaatness 
and  the  contrivance  of  some  of  the  machinery 
would  have  '  matched  his  mighty  mind.*  I  shall 
never  forget  Mr.  Boulton's  expression  to  me,  *  I 
sell  here,  Sir,  what  all  the  world  desires  to  have 
— Power.  He  had  about  seven  hundred  people 
at  work.  I  contemplated  him  as  an  (ran  chieftain ^ 
and  he  seemed  to  be  a  father  to  his  tribe."  The 
lo<iuacious  biographer  of  Johnson  tells  further  a 
story  of  Boulton's  relations  with  his  workpeople. 
"One  of  them,"  he  says,  "came  to  hini  com- 
plaining greviously  of  his  landlord,  for  having 
distr^ned  his  goods,     *  Your  landlord  is  in  the 


OLD  AND  KEW  BIR^nNGHAM,        [StmttdJoUtkmioBirmiDgiifta, 


right,  Smith,  (said  Boulton).  But  I'll  tell  you 
what  1  find  you  a  friend  who  will  hij  down  one 
hall  of  your  rent,  and  TU  lay  down  the  other; 
and  you  shall  have  your  goods  again/  " 

Ketuming  from  Soho,  Boswell  found  Johnson 
"sitting  placidly  at  tea,  with  his  first  lave, 
[Mrs.  Careless],  who,  though  now  advanced  in 
years^  was  a  genteel  woman*  Teiy  agreeable  and 
weU-bred" 


state  of  deatL'*     To  him  tha  quiet  seclusion 
the    *  city  of  the  dead '    seemed  to  possess  fa 
more  life  than  the  busy  bustling  town  they  had  left 
two  hours  before.     And  so  passes  the  figure  of 
**  the  hero  as  man  of  letters  **  from  the  hiatoij, 
of  Birmingham  for  ever. 

If  the  reader  will  turn  again  for  a  moment  to 
the  facsimile  of  Bradford's  Plan,  he  will  see  that 
in   1750  the  town  ended,  in   the  dirsction  of 


^  %■ 


i3M 


^^^ 


THE  MOAT,     Uttp.  UT.) 
Trom  a  Pmt  and  Ink  Sktteh^  W,  Eamptr)  fn  thtjoumiw  of  T.  Aurn^  S»^, 


Boswell  wished  to  have  remained  longer  in  the 
town,  but  his  companion,  (for  whom  Birmingham 
does  not  appear  to  have  had  many  channs, 
notwithstanding  the  number  of  friends  he  had  in 
the  place,)  was  anxious  to  get  on  to  his  native 
city,  Lichfield^  to  which  place  they  journeyed  in 
the  dark,  and  when  Johnson  saw  the  lamps  of 
the  city,^he  said,    **  Now  we  are  getting  ^out  of_a 


Coleshill  Street,  a  little  beyond  Stafford  Street 
Further  on  he  will  notice  the  land  marked  **  fo 
building,'^  but   that  for  only  hidf  the  disti 
along  Coleshill  Street ;  beyond  tliut,  it  is  openJ 
country,  under  cultivation.     **  I  well  remember/ 
aays  Hutton,  **  eeventy-one  years  ago,  July  15th,1 
1741,  standing  with  my  face  towards  the  east^ 
against  Pritehetf s  timber  yard^  now  the  carii^a 


Dr.  Aih  Bad  Aihted.] 


OLD  AND  NEW  BIRMINGHAM. 


155 


warehouse,  Dale  End,  when  all  the  lands  before 
me,  to  the  garrison,  were  meadows,  and  on  my 
left  not  a  house  was  erected.'' 

Towards  the  end  of  the  third  quarter  of 
the  century,  however,  a  change  came  over  the 
prospect.  Dr.  Ash,  of  whom  we  have  already 
heard,  in  connection  with  the  General  Hospital, 
obtained  from  Sir  Lister  Holte  a  lease,  for 
ninety-nine  years,  of  a  large  plot  of  land 
adjoining  the  Coleshill  Eoad,  and  there  he 
erected  what  Hutton  calls  "a  sumptuous  house." 
In  addition  to  his  connection  with  the  General 
Hospital,  he  had  great  claims  upon  the  respect 
and  esteem  of  his  fellow-townamen,  both  as  an 
eminently  skilful  physician,  and  an  active  and 
worthy  citizen.  He  was,  as  we  shall  see  in  our 
next  chapter,  one  of  the  first  commissioners  ap- 
pointed to  carry  out  the  provisions  of  the  Light- 
ing and  Street  Improvement  Act,  (generally 
known  as  the  "  Lamp  Act) ; "  he  was  one  of  the 
shareholders  or  proprietors  of  the  Birmingham 
Canal ;  the  originator,  as  we  have  seen,  of  the 
Grenend  Hospital,  and  one  of  its  first  physicians  ; 
and  in  every  way  seems  to  have  identified  him- 
self with  the  public  life  and  improvement  of  the 
town  in  which  he  lived.  In  1783  he  saved 
Hntton's  life,  as  the  historian  himself  tells  us.  In 
our  historian's  autobiography  he  gives  a  more  de- 
tafled  account  of  his  illness.  Death  from  an  infiani- 
mation  was  hourly  expected.  When  the  first 
sympton  of  improvement  appeared,  the  doctor, 
Hutton  tells  us,  with  quaint  circumstantiality, 
"  holding  the  curtain  in  his  hand  said,  *  You  are 


as  safe  as  a  bug  in  a  rug.' "  It  is  impossible  to 
repress  a  smile — looking  at  the  stately  and 
dignified  portrait  of  the  worthy  physician, 
by  Sir  Joshua  Keynolds — when  we  recall  this 
droll  announcement  of  his  patient's  recovery 
from  what  seemed  likely  to  have  proved  a  fatal 
illness. 

Dr.  Ash's  practice  began  to  decline,  and  this, 
says  Hutton,  "  hurt  his  spirits,  and  he  told  me 
he  had  built  on  ehouse  too  much."  He  disposed 
of  the  lease  in  1789  to  Mr.  John  Brooke,  an 
attorney,  left  the  town,  and  spent  the  remainder 
of  his  days  in  London.  He  was  threatened,  in 
his  old  age,  with  mental  alienation,  and  devised  a 
curious  method  of  curing  it,  by  sedulously  apply- 
ing himself  to  the  study  of  botany  and  mathe- 
matics, which  he  continued  until  hia  mental 
faculties  had  regained  their  equilibrium.  A  mag- 
nificent portrait  of  him  by  Sir  Joshua  Keynolds, 
(already  referred  to),  was  placed  in  the  Board- 
room of  the  General  Hospital,  and  is  generally 
considered  to  be  one  of  that  great  master's  finest 
works.  An  engraving  of  it,  (from  a  drawing  by 
Mr.  G.  H.  Bernasconi,  of  this  town,)  appears  on 
pap:e  143. 

The  estate  was  soon  covered  by  streets,  and 
became  one  of  the  most  populous  outskirts 
of  the  town,  taking  the  name  of  Ashted, 
from  its  first  resident.  But  the  history  of 
the  rise  and  growth  of  this  old  suburb,  and  of 
the  breaking  up  of  the  other  old  estates  in  the 
immediate  vicinity  of  the  town,  must  be  reserved 
for  a  future  chapter. 


156 


OLD  Am)  NEW  BIE^rrN-GHAM. 


[The  Lftiap  Act. 


CHAPTEK    XXV. 


THE      LAMP      ACT, 


The  prrilramary  meeting,  Fob.,  17fi6— Action  ix^tpcmed— Meeting  of  tbfl  InbiMt&atfl  in  Deoember,  1768— Additional  CUnw*— Propcuwd 
Street  ImprovementJi— OpptwUion— WtUUm  Hutton'i  reaioni  tor  oppoaSng  the  meaanr©— Opiwaitian  maetlngB  and  canT»»— The  cmm 
clearlj stated— A  ciirioiiB  argument— Hutton'a  defence  of  tli«  impr07emtat«— EpigrtLm  by  "  PcwtlPrccth '*— Tbe  Ael:  paased--Tlte  flrtt 
Commistloncrs— VarioQs  clatuee— The  eecond  Act. 


It  now  becomes^oui  pleasant  duty  to  tell  tlie 
story  of  the  first  Bimiingliam  improvement 
scheme,  Wc  have  already  referred  to  this 
suhjcct  in  our  second  notice  of  William 
Hutton,  *  but  it  will  be  necessary  here  to  give 
a  more  detailed  account  of  that  movement  by 
which  the  town  for  the  first  time  in  her  history 
acquired  something  like  rc^l  control  over  the 
encroachments  of  her  citizens  upon  the  public 
ways,  and  inaugurated  that  long  series  of  local 
improvements  which  have  raised  her  from  the 
position  of  a  vast  straggling  village  to  that  of  a 
noble  city,  and  have  culminated  in  the  great 
scheme  which  is  now  in  active  operation,  for 
clearing  a  large  area  of  those  wretched  dwellings 
with  which  our  ancestors,  in  their  ignorance  or 
neglect  of  sanitary  laws,  and  in  their  anxiety  to 
occupy  every  available  foot  of  building  land, 
covered  the  finest  situation  in  the  town. 

On  the  7th  of  February,  1766,  a  meeting  of 
the  inhabitants  was  held  "at  the  House  of  Joseph 
Cooke,  Victualler,  in  the  Cherry  Orchard,"  to  con* 
aider  the  desirability  of  obtaining  an  Act  of  Par- 
liament for  **  repairing,  cleansing,  and  enlightening 
the  Streets  of  this  Town," — that  desirable  reform 
being  likely  to  **  tend  to  the  Suppression  of  many 
Disorders  therein,  and  to  the  Preservation  of  the 
Persons  and  Properties  of  the  Inhabitants."  The 
foUowing  pbn  of  the  intended  Bill  was  submitted 
to  the  consideration  of  the  meeting  : — 

*'  That  every  Inhabitantj  witMn  the  Town,  who  shall 
be  seized  of  a  real  Estate  of  such  Yearly  Value,  or  pos- 
aeased  of  a  Fer^oud  Estate  alone,  or  real  aud  Personal 
^tate  together^  to  such  Amoujst  ad  shall  be  tbeu  agreed 

-jip.  iW-7. 


upon,  sbaD  be  Trustees  for  patting  the  said  Act  inti 
Eieciition>  who,  or  the  major  Part  of  them,  being  not  less 
in  Number  than  seven,  shall  have  fall  power  to  Piircha*e 
Lampa,  and  to  appoint  Scavengers,  Rakers,  Lanip-Iighters, 
and  other  |iroper  Officers,  (with  reasonable  Salaries,)  and 
to  remove  them  at  Pleasure,  and  to  issue  out  Orders,  from 
Tims  to  Time,  for  the  Hepairhig,  Cleaning,  and  Lighting 
the  said  Streets  ;  and  at  their  annual  or  other  Meetings  to 
appoint  Assessors,  who  shall  have  Powir  to  Assess  upon 
evtrj  person  holding  or  occupying  any  Messnage,  House, 
Mfilthoua«,  or  any  other  Building,  or  Garden  Ground, 
within  the  said  Town,  (in  the  same  manner  as  the  Rates 
for  the  Poor  arc  usually  assessed,  or  as  near  thereto  as  can 
be,)  any  Sum,  not  cjtceeding  one  Shilling  in  the  Poond, 
to  be  collected  yearly  or  oftener,  as  the  Trustees  shall 
direct ;  with  Power  to  appoint  yearly  so  many  Collectors 
as  shall  be  thought  necessary,  who  are  to  take  upon  them 
the  Office  under  a  certain  Penalty  to  be  agreed  upon,  but 
not  to  be  obliged  to  serve  more  tlian  once  in  seven  years, 
with  Proper  and  necessary  Powers  in  the  said  Tmstees  to 
compel  the  assessing,  coUacting,  paying,  and  applying  the 
said  Money  for  the  Purposes  aforesaid,  and  for  settUng  f 
determining  any  disputes  relating  to  the  said  Act,  or  1 
Execution  thereof.'* 

The  intended  application  to  Parliament,  how-' 
ever,  had  to  be  postponed,  "  on  account  of  the 
shortness  of  time  allowed  by  the  Hon.  House  of 
Commons  for  receiWng  Bills,"  the  16th  of 
February  being  the  last  day ;  and  the  subject  fell 
into  abeyance  until  the  end  of  1768,  J 

In  the  December  of  that  year,  however,  the" 
matter  was  re\^ived  in  earnest     The  first  note  of 
the  revival  is  to  be  found  in  the  OoMUe 
December  10,  as  follows  i — 

*'A    Meeting    of    the   Inhabitants  la  desired  at 
Chamber  over  tlie  Cross,  on  Tuesday  next,   at  Eleivai 
o'clock  in  the  Forenoon,  to  consider  of  a  Petition  to  P* 
If  anient  for  Lighting  and  Cleaning  the  Streets  of 
Town,  &c." 

At  this  meeting  the  inhabitants  unanimously^ 
agreed  to  petition  ParliazDent  for  an  Act  to 


TIm  Lamp  JLdl 


OLD   AXB   KEW   BHaimGHAM. 


157 


and  clean  the  streets,  and  likewise  to  insert  in  the 
said  Act  the  following  clauses  : — 

"  To  Purchase  and  take  down  the  Hoose  in  the  Boll 
Ring  in  the  Foaeession  of  Francis  Moles»  the  upper  Raand- 
•boat  House,  and  the  Houses  at  the  end  of  Kew-Strect, 
belonging  to  Sir  Thomaa  Gooch  and  Henry  Carver,  Esq.  ; 
to  TCimore  l^nisances  in  the  Streets,  and  for  the  removal 
of  the  Beast- Market  to  Dal«  End ;  the  Monry  for  the 
sboTc  PnrpoMS  to  be  raised  by  a  Rate  upon  the  Inhaf  utants, 
not  to  exceed  £ight*pence  in  the  Fonnd  per  Annum," 

The  house  in  the  possession  of  Francis  Moles 
was  one  of  those  which,  as  we  hare  said  in  a  pre- 
▼iotis  chapter,  surrounded  St*  Martin's  Church 
much  in  the  same  way  as  those  on  the  south  side 
of  Christ  Chuich,  in  New  Street  Dr.  Langford 
saja  of  Moles*  house,  **  Mrs,  Price,  ray  mother- 
m-kw,  remembers  it  quite  well  The  bed  rooms 
were  over  the  gate  and  part  of  the  walk  by  which 
the  people  went  to  church." 

Some  idea  of  the  choked-up  appearance  of  the 
church  maybe  obtained  from  the  annexed  facsimile 
of  that  portion  of  Bradford's  Plan. 


tmu 


L2Mit 


^  ..^••kimiira***^^ 


toiiMii 


S«jBTRTlVi^. 


v^ 


Tiic  Upper  Eound-about  House  was  in  the  Bull 
Bing,  which  was  still  blocked  up  with  buildings^ 
ia  shown  in  both  Westlay's  and  Bradford's  plans. 

We  have  already*  described  the  appearance 
and  poaition  of  the  houses  which  blocked  up  the 
end  of  J^ew  Street,  but  the  reader  wiU  be  better 
alsia  to  understand  the  wretched  appearance  of  the 


'P»i«TO- 


entrance  to  what  has  become  the  principal  street 
of  the  town,  before  the  Lamp  Act  came  into 
operation,  from  the  small  section  of  Bradford's 
plan  given  below ;  showing  the  end  of  New 
Street  in  which  the  swine  market  was  then  held. 

m 


HIGH 


STRre;. 


Like  all  projects,  however  beneficial,  which 
involve  the  expenditure  of  public  money,  the 
Lamp  Act  met  with  opponition  from  unreasoning 
economists,  **  who  seemed  to  prefer  continuing  in 
darkness  and  mire  without  tax,  to  cleanliness, 
light,  and  wider  streets  with  eightpence  in  the 
pound  to  pay."*  One  expressed  himself  in  the 
local  journal  in  favour  of  a  voluntary  subscript 
tion,  rather  than  a  compulsoiy  rate,  (hoping,  no 
doubt,  by  that  means  to  enjoy  the  benefits  of  the 
local  improvements  without  being  called  upon  to 
contribute  to  their  cost>)  and  stated  that  "  a 
majority  appeared  greatly  dissatisfied  with  that 
part  of  the  scheme  of  enforcing  a  law  to  compel, 
when  numbers  were  ready  to  subscribe  to  remove 
nuisances,"  But  perhaps  the  greatest  opposition 
was  encountered  amongst  the  local  governing 
bodies  themselves.  William  Hutton,  who  was  an 
overseer  of  the  Poor,  admits  in  his  autobiography 
that  the  opposition  arose  ''more  by  his  means 
than  any  other  person's,"  and  adds  "  an  obvious 
reason."  The  historian  occupied  two  of  the 
houses  which  blocked  up  the  end  of  New  Street| 


*  Jawnr:  life  of  WiUiam  Hunon,  p.  lU, 


158 


OLD   AXD   NEW   BIEIVnNGHAM. 


Vtbtl 


and,  R8  they  suited  him,  he  was  disinclined 
to  give  them  up  for  the  iuiproveiaent  of  the 
street. 

"All  the  terms  the  opposition  could  obtain, 
and  which  were  all  I  wanted,"  ho  says,  **  after 
many  hundred  pounds  had  been  spent,  were  that 
the  buildings  should  not  come  down,  nor  he 
included  in  the  Act/' 

With  the  new  year  we  find  the  opposition  to 
the  proposed  improvements  increasing,  a  meeting 
of  the  opponents  lieing  held  at  the  **  Seven  Stars,*^ 
on  tbo  16th  of  Januarj^  1760,  at  which  it  was 
determined  "  that  a  fair  Enquiry  shouhl  be  made 
of  every  Inhabitant  thro'  the  six  Districts  or 
Quai'ters  of  the  Tov:n,  who  pay  the  Parochial 
Dues,  whether  they  chuse  or  disapprove  the  said 
Act."  The  residt  of  this  enquiry  was  that  237 
inhabitants  declared  themselves  in  favour  of  the 
improvements,  while  the  objectors  numbered 
1,236.  In  announcing  the  result  of  the  poD,  in 
the  GiJiwtht  the  opponents  of  the  said  Act  added 
that,  as  "the  general  Voice  of  the  People  is  against 
the  Act,  it  was  thought  advisable  to  open  a  Sub- 
scription to  prevent  such  Act  parsing  into  a  Law, 
wliich  was  accordingly  done,  and  very  Hberally 
subscribeil  to,  an  Example  that  'tis  hoped  will  be 
followed  by  all  who  are  inclinable  to  defeat  so 
oppressive  and  ill-judged  a  Scheme." 

In  the  same  issue  of  the  local  newspaper  which 
contained  the  announcement  of  the  result  of  the 
canvas,  appeared  a  letter  signed  "T.  F.,"  showing 
how  the  votes  against  the  scheme  were  obtained. 
"  The  enquiry,"  says  the  writer,  **  was  very  unfair, 
[the  inliabitants]  being  only  asked  if  they  were 
for  a  perpetual  tax  of  oightpence  in  the  pound, 
not  specifying  the  Advantages  to  be  received ;  and 
a  great  many  names  were  put  down  conta^ry  to 
the  inclinations  and  express  orders  of  the  diflerent 
persons ;  and  at  the  same  time  the  true  state  of 
the  case  was  not  known  to  a  great  many  to  whom 
the  above  application  was  made.*'  This  corrreB* 
pondent^  in  continuing  his  letter,  takes  the  oppor- 
tunity of  setting  the  case  in  a  clear  and  concise 
view,  and  aa  Ma  statement  embodies,  in  a  few 


brief  sentences,  the  ca.rly  history  and  objects  of 
the  movement,  it  is  worth  quoting  here  in  full : — 

**A  Meeting  was  desired,  by  pubUc  K<rtice  in  tH 
Cliupclioa  upon  the  2Sth  of  August,  to  be  held  upon  1 
Thiirsdjiy  following,  wheu  it  wiia  the  uuaiumoui  Voice  < 
the  Persona  Present,  that  the  Present  intended  AppUia 
tion  should  be  made  ;  and  a  further  Mseting  adver 
and  wfts  ordered  agreeable  to  their  Deairo.  A  great  many ' 
PerioDs  met  in  oonaequeijce  of  the  said  Notice,  and  it  was 
their  uDanimous  Opinions  that  a  Subacription  should 
immediately  set  fonvartU,  and  those  present  subscrib 
each  a  Guiiieii,  to  the  amount  of  Fifty,  and  several  Persoo 
went  about  the  Town  for  a  further  Subscription,  wh 
met  with  the  greatest  Encouragement ;  another  Meeting 
was  afterwards  appointed,  when  about  four  or  five  Persona 
appeared  against  the  -intended  Bill ;  but  ao  great  a 
Number  being  for  it,  a  Committee  waa  appointed  of  the 
most  rcspcctal>lo  Pereona  in  Town,  to  consider  whati 
be  applied  for,  and  the  intended  Application  wi 
to  the  undermentioned  Particulars  ;  that  Power  be  petj 
tioned  for  a  Rate  upon  the  Inhabitants  not  to  exee 
Eight-pcDce  in  the  Pound  per  Annum,  Two-pence 
which  ia  to  be  appropriated  towards  the  remoral 
Nuisances,  and  Sixpence  for  Lighting  the  Streets  :  th 
above  Two-pence  will  be  entirely  dropt,  when  the  ioWoK 
ing  Buildings  are  remoTed,  which  will  not  exceed 
Years,  and  may  be  very  resaouftbly  expected  to  be  pu 
chased  in  four  Yearsi ;  the  Buildings  to  be  remoTed 
the  Old  House  in  the  BuU-Eing,  leading  to  the  Chure 
Yard,  the  up[K;r  Round-about  House,  and  to  open 
Way  into  New -Street. 

*'  To  remove  the  Nuisances  that  remain  in  the  Street, 
such  as,  lately,  that  Wforc  Mr.  Luke  Bell's  Etoor,  which 
lay  Six  Months  in  the  principal  Street,  and  entirely 
obstructed  the  Foot  Way.  A  small  Fine  to  be  levied 
after  Notice  upon  Continuance. 

**To  oblige  the  Drivers  of  all  Water-Carta*  and  otbeo 
carrying  for  Hire,  to  have  a  Halter  to  the  Head  of  the 
Shaft  Horse,  by  which  he  shall  be  led  when  passing 
through  the  Streets  of  the  Town  ;  to  have  the  Houses  in 
each  Street  Numbered  and  Pain  ted,  upon  the  Door, 
Door  Posts ;  and  to  have  the  Be^ist  Market  removed  fro^ 
the  High.strcct  to  Dale-End  ;  th«»e  are  the  Clan 
intended  to  be  introduced  into  the  Bill ;  and  though  I 
Power  may  be  obtained,  that  dd.  in  the  Pound  may 
lovid,  it  is  expected,  that  not  above  Four-peace  in  the 
Pound  will  be  wanted,  for  Lighting  the  Streets  ;  and  no 
impartial  Person  can  imagine,  that  any  one  that  rents  a 
House  ot  Eight  Pounds  a  Y'car,  can  think  it  a  great 
Burden  to  pay  Four  Shillings  per  Annum,  if  the  Whole  ii 
collected,  and  if  Four-pence  in  the  Pound  will  be  sufficienlj 
no  more  than  Two  Shillinga  and  Eight-pence  per  Annu 
will  be  required,  and  all  other  Houses  in  Proportion  ; 
the  Public  Advantage  of  having  lighted  and  claan  Street^ 
will  more  than  comi^ensato  for  the  Pdymeat/' 

Still,  notwithstanding    this  calm    and  lue 


*  Employed  la  MlUog  water  ftn-  ^iimltlfiu  yiarrKJMi'*,  ah 
I    ftom  tiu  Digbtth  and  Lady  Willi. 


7h«  lABip^ifli.] 


OLD  AND  NEW  BOIMIKGHAM. 


159 


statement  of  the  case,  prejudice  yet  existed,  and 
ocoafiionally  shows  iteelf  in  the  Gazette's  corres- 
pondence column  in  a  very  droll  character ;  as  in 
the  case  of  the  simple  individual  who  ar^ied  that 
the  comparatively  few  robberies  and  accidents 
having  occurred  in  the  town  *'may  perhaps  be  in 
part  ascribed  to  its  want  of  Lamps  1"     **Oppor- 


Ale-honses  in  dark  Nights"  might  lead  to  an 
increase  of  tippling  and  other  vices,  and  gravely 
suggeBted  that  instead  of  rating  the  inhabitanU 
for  town  improvements,  **a  temporary  Duty  of 
3d  in  the  Pound  "  should  be  levied,  "  to  purchase 
two  large  Pieces  of  Ground  for  burying  the  Dead> 
and  erecting  two  stately  Edifices,  to  the  Honour 


'F0£T  FKUTQ* 


tunity/'  says  this  wiseacre,  '*  makes  a  Thief,  so 
lAmpa  frequently  give  a  Yillain  an  Opportunity 
of  perpetrating  Mischief,  which  is  prevented  by 
Darkness,  and  his  fear  of  being  observed  prowhng 
About  the  Streets  with  a  Light ;  and  this  seems 
lo  bo  Terified  by  the  City  of  London,  which  is 
vilehfid  and  lighted  at  a  very  great  £xpence»  yet, 
|iev«rihe]f!ss  Robbery  and  Mischief  is  very  frequent 
Iberci  for  the  truth  of  wbich  X  appeal  to  the  daily 
^peift-**  He  also  feared  that  the  '*  lighting  the 
AHneat  m  £xtmvftgaiit  Home  from  Taverns  and 
31 


and  Glory  of  God,  the  Ornament  of  the  Town, 
and  the  eternal  felicity  of  Thousands  unhom/' 

Ever  the  same.  Fanatical  opponents  of  neces- 
sary reforms,  and  especially  sanitary  reforms, 
would  have  the  money  cast  into  the  treasury, 
or  "given  to  the  poor/*  rather  than  waded  in 
obtaUxing  that  virtue  which  a  great  religious 
reformer  has  placed  next  to  Godline^  itself. 

It  is  gratifying  to  know  that  Huttoa's  opposition 
to  the  scheme  did  not  extend  to  the  lighting  or 
other  improvements  in  the  direction  of  cleanliness 


160 


OLD   AND   NEW  BIKMIKGHAM. 


[TiM  LAiap  A«L 


and  comfort,  but  had  leferenoe  solely  to  the 
removal  of  bis  premises, 

**  It  was  justly  obsarved,"  he  say  a,  **  that 
robheiy  was  a  work  of  darlcnesa,  therefore  to 
introduce  light  would,  in  some  measure^  protect 
property.  That  in  a  town  like  Birminghamj  full 
of  commerce  and  inhabitants,  where  necessity 
leads  to  continual  action,  no  part  ol  the  twenty- 
four  hours  ought  to  be  dark.  That,  to  avoid 
darkaess,  is  sometimes  to  avoid  insult ;  and  that 
by  the  light  of  700  lamps,  many  mifortimate 
accidents  would  be  prevented.  It  was  also 
obsejTVed,  that  in  course  of  time,  the  buildings  in 
tome  of  the  ancient  streets  had  encroached  upon 
the  path  four  or  five  feet  on  each  aide ;  which 
caused  an  irregular  line,  and  made  those  streets 
eight  or  ten  feet  narrower,  that  are  now  used  by 
70,000  people^  than  they  were  when  used  only  by 
a  tenth  part  of  that  number  ;  and,  that  their  con- 
fined width  rendered  the  passage  dangerous  to 
children,  women,  and  feeble  age,  particularly  on 
the  market  day  and  Saturday  evening.  That  if 
former  encroachments  could  not  be  recovered, 
future  ought  to  be  prevented  ;  And  that  necessity 
pleads  for  a  wider  street  now  than  heretofore, 
not  only  because  the  inhabitants,  being  more 
numerous,  require  more  room,  but  the  buildings, 
being  more  elevated,  obstruct  the  light,  the  sun, 
and  the  air,  which  obstructions  tend  to^^eickneas 
and  inconveniency. 

"Narrow  streets,  with  modem  buildings,  are 
generally  dirty,  for  want  of  these  natural  helps ; 
as  Bigbeth,  St.  Martin's  Lane,  Swan  Alley,* 
Carr'a-lane,  &c.  The  narrower  the  street,  the  less 
B  can  be  influenced  by  the  sun  and  wind,  conse- 
quently the  more  the  dirt  will  abound ;  and  by 
experimental  observations  on  stagnate  water  in 
the  street,  it  is  found  extremely  prejudicial  to 
health*  And  also,  the  laiger  the  number  of 
people,  the  more  the  necessity  to  watch  over  their 
mterest  with  a  guardian's  eye."  + 


•  ThlB,  u  wUl  ba  M«n  from  Bfiulfoid'a  PLm.  fonaed  th«  upper 
portfon  of  WorcctUr  BtrMt.  (rrotn  New  Stiwt  to  Philip  Str^^t.) 

t  HiitoTT  of  Blrmlitgh&m,  tklM  idltiom,  ITBA ;  pp.  l»T-i. 


In  March  "Poet  Pfeeth"  contributed  to  the 
discussion  an  Epigram  **0n  the  Bill  for  depend- 
ing for  removing  Public  Nuisancea" 

EPIGRAM. 
Wonder  not  that  this  Contention, 

Feudfl  and  Jealonsiea  create  ; 
Envy,  Discord  and  DissenMon, 

Arc  true  Copies  of  the  State 

The  greatest  Nmsancea  we  want 

Fairly  from  the  Land  to  sbore, 
And  worse  than  any  Town  Complaint, 

And  eT'ry  Day  ar«  aeen  aboTe. 

J.  F 

It  is  pleasant  to  be  able  to  record  that  thfl^l 
opposition  was  unsuccessful     On   the  24th   ofH 
April  the  Qazetie  announced  that  the  Act  had 
been  passed  by  the  House  of  Commons  on  the 
previous  Friday  (April  2l5t)  with  only  one  vote 
ID  the  negative,  and  on  the  first  of  May  the  same 
journal  contained  the  welcome  news  that  it  had 
received  the  assent  of  the  upper  house  on  Thursday™ 
AprO  27,  and  awaited  only  the  Royal  Assent  t^H 
give  effect  to  its  provisions*     This  final  stage  was 
reached  early  in  Jlay,  and  the  first  act  of  parlia- 
ment for  the  improvement  of  the  town  became^— 
law,  *'  and  thus,  after  a  sharp  fights  the  foundatiosH 
was  laid  of  regular  local  government  in  Birming- 
ham."*    It  was  entitled : 

"  An 'Act  for 'laying  open  and  widening  certain  wiy» 
and  paasagefl  ^within  the  Town  of  Binningham,  and  for 
cleanaing  and  lighting  the  streets,  ways,  lanes,  and 
passages  there^  and  for  removing  and  preventing  nuisances 
and  obstructions  therein,"  ^^ 

The  preamble  of  the  Act  is  as  follows :  ^^k 

^*  Whereas  the  Tewn  of  Birmingham,  in  the  County  of 
Warwick,  is  a  large^  populous,  and  trading  Town.  And 
whereas  certain  ways  and  passages  within  the  said  Town 
are  too  narrow  for  the  commodious  issuing  and  repassing 
of  passcngers/waggons,  and  other  carriages,  to  the  great 
danger^  end  inconvenience  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  said 
Town^  and  of  per^ns  resorting  thereto.  And  whereas  it 
would  greatly  tend  to  the  convenience  of  the  said  Town 
if  a  certiun  ancient  building  siutate  near  the  Market  Place, 
called  the'Upper  Roundabout  House^  was  taken  down,  and 
the  ground  upon  which  the  same  now  stands  was  laid  open. 
And  whereas  it  would  add  greatly  to  the  safety  and  advan- 
tage of  the  said  Town  if  the  streets,  hines,  ways,  and_ 
passages  thereof  were  kept  clean  and  properly  lighted,  i 
kept  free  from  nuisances,  obstructions,  and  annoyance^J 


*  J.  T«  Bunee  :  Hlatoiy  ef  thi  CorpOKattoo,  t,  T^ 


Fifty  Commissioners  were  appointed,  who,  ac- 
cording to  the  Act^  were  to  be  in  habitants  of  the 
town^  mted  to  the  poor  at  not  Ic^s  than  X 1 5  a  year, 
or  poseessed  of  real  or  personal  estate  of  the  value 
of  £100*  Our  readers  will  doubtleBS  be  interested 
in  learning  the  names  of  our  first  local  legislators, 
who  were  named  in  the  Act,  as  follows : 


John  Aah,  M.  D. 
WilliAm  John  Banner 
John  Baskemlle 
Samuel  Bmdbourne 
ThomftS  Bingham 
Jftmes  Butler 
Simtiel  Balcer 
Henry  Carver 
Francis  Coalea 
Thomas  CamlMa 
John  Cope 

Thomaa  Falconhridgv 
John  Freer 
Samutfl  Freeth 
John  Ford 

Samuel  Garbett,  Eiq, 
Samuel  Galton 
Ki chard  Goolden 
John  Gold 
Samuel  Harrey 
Gregory  Hicks 
James  Jackson 
John  Kettle 
Sampson  Lloyd^  sen. 
Sampson  Lloyd,  jun. 


Michael  Lakin 
Thomaa  Lutwyche 
Thomas  Lawrence 
William  May 
Benjamin  Mansell 
Jolin  iloody 
John  Oseknd 
Thomaa  Pemherton 
William  Russell 
John  Kylaad 
Thomas  Russell 
Richard  Eabone 
John  Rogers 
WilUamSmaH,  M.D. 
Joseph  Smith 
John  Taylor,  Esq. 
Joseph  Thomaa 
John  Turner,  sen, 
John  Tamer,  jun. 
Joseph  Wilkinson 
William  WaUingham 
WiUiam  Welch 
EMas  Wallin 
Joseph  Webster 
Thomas  Wcatley 


,  It  will  not  be  necessary  here  to  repeat  in  ftill 
provisions  of  the  Act,  most  of  which  have 
already  been  mentioned  in  the  preEminary  dis- 
cosiion  and  the  "  statement  of  facts  "  on  page  168. 
A  few  cniioujs  notes  therefrom,  may,  however, 
amuse  and  interest  the  reader  The  inbuhitants, 
for  instance,  were  (for  the  convenience  of  the 
acavengers)  to  sweep  the  streets  and  ways  for  a 
space  of  twelve  feet  from  the  front  of  their 
premises,  "  every  Friday,  between  the  hours  of  six 
in  the  morning  and  two  in  the  afternoon/'  and 
were  also  to  **  collect  and  put  together  the  dirt 
md  ton  in  the  said  streets,  lanes,  ways,  and 
paaaageSf  with  the  least  obstruction  to  the  way, 
toadi  and  passage  therein  respectively  that  may 
be^  to  the  end  the  same  may  be  ready  for  the 
•eavenger  to  carry  away."  The  space  in  front  of 
voir!  houaea.  riearl  walls,   waste  land,   **  churches^ 


churchyards,  chapels,  meeting-houses,  the  school 
called  the  Free  School,  and  other  public  buildings,'* 
was  to  be  cleansed  by  the  town  scavengers,  and 
the  scavengers  were  to  ring  a  belt  to  give  notice 
to  the  inhabitants  that  they  might  bring  out  ashes 
and  other  refuse  from  tlieir  houses  for  removal* 
Private  sweepings  might  be  undertaken  by  the 
Commissioners,  on  an  annual  payment  being  made 
by  the  householder  for  that  purpose. 

The  market  **  for  the  sale  of  neat  cattle  within 
the  said  town,"  which  had  **  usually  been  held 
in  the  principal  street  and  greatest  thoroughfare, 
called  the  High  Street,  to  the  great  danger  and 
ineonvenience  of  all  persons  living  and  resorting 
there,*'  is  to  be  removed  to  **  that  part  of  the 
street  called  Dale  End,  which  is  between  the 
house  now  in  the  occupation  of  Clement  Satter- 
thwaite  and  the  end  of  Chapel  Street."  The 
buildings  scheduled  for  purchase  are  named  as 
follows:  (1)  "At  the  entrance  into  New  Street; 
four  Tenements  fronting  the  High  Street ;  two  of 
them  in  the  occupation  of  W.  Hutton,  one  of 
Jn.  Greaves,  and  one  of  Th.  Bn^K>n  with  five 
tenements  backwards"  or  in  the  rear  of  those 
mentioned  ;  **  the  front  towards  the  High  Street 
{including  the  present  Passage  about  12  feet) 
being  about  64  feet;  the  front  towards  New- 
street  about  70  feet"  (2)  "The  Upper  Kound- 
about  House  in  the  occupation  of  Samuel  Willets 
or  his  Under  Tenants,"  about  twenty-eight  feet  by 
nineteen  feet  (3)  **  The  house  fronting  the  Com 
Market,  in  the  occupation  of  Francis  Moles ;  [one 
of  those  surrounding  St  Martin's  Church,]  the 
front  towards  the  Corn  Market  about  fifteen  feet ; 
on  the  side  towards  the  Passage  leading  into  St, 
Martin's  Church- Yard,  about  thirty  feet;  and  the 
back  part  thereof,  towards  the  said  Church- Yard^ 
about  fifteen  feet/'  Mutton's  houses,  as  we  shall 
see,  did  not  come  down  imtil  an  Extension  of  the 
Act  had  been  pa&sed,  in  1773. 

The  new  Commiasioners  met  for  the  first  time 
on  the  22  nd  of  May,  at  the  Castle  Inn,  and 
reeolved  (1)  "  That^  in  oider  no  one  may 
plead  Ignorance  of  the  Law,  the  following  Adver- 


OLD  Am)  NEW  BfBMIKOHA^l 


[Tbt  LAiap  Axfl 


tiaement  [an  Abstract  of  the  Act]  8lio\3ld  be  in- 
aerted/*  (2)  "That  the  Regulation  as  to  the 
removal  of  the  cattle  miirlcet  to  Dale  Eud  bo 
dispensed  witK  Hill  Thursday  the  25th  inst.,  and 
that  the  Town  Cryera  do  publish  the  same  by  Bell 
on  the  Fair  Day,  and  the  two  fallowing  Tliurs- 
days,  and  tbat  tlie  Beadles  do  attend  in  the  High 


inclined  to  fix  Names  at  the  ends  of  ih^  ^^i^Ma, 
and  Number  the  Housips/' 

The  ^cond  act,  for  the  extension  of  the  Com- 
misioners'  powers,  as  well  as  of  their  number,  was 
pussed  in  1 773,  and  immediately  afterwards  they 
announced  their  intention  of  proceeding  with  the 
negocifttions  for  the  pa^ehaae  of  the  houses  at  the 


Street  on  the  25th  inst,  and  the  Ist  of  June,  to 
prevent  Country  People  incurring  the  Penalty 
through  mistake,*'  (3)  "That  unless  Annoyances 
are  removed  as  the  Act  of  Parliament  directs,  the 
Offenders  will  be  immediately  proceeded  against." 
(4)  **Tkst  the  Commissioners  do  meet  at  the 
Castle  Inn  on  Tuesday  next  the  23rd  inst,  at  four 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  when  they  will  be  ready 
to  receive  proposals  from  any  person  or  persons 


end  of  New  Street  Onr  readera  will  douh 
remember  Hutton'a  ground  of  opposition  to  tbe' 
first  Act,  in  1766,  and  it  will  be  interesting  to  i 
his  reasons  for  complying  with  its  provisions  in 
1773.  Under  date  177^,  in  hia  autobiography,. 
he  says  : — "  By  an  amendment  of  the  Lamp  Act^i 
my  houses  must  come  down.  It  happened  thiKt  | 
the  old  house  where  I  now  reside,  [in  High  Street, 
opposite  the  end  of  New  Street,]  was  upon  aals^ 


'f^fmih'^&tt,^Bo^km^^\      OLD   AND   NEW  BIRMINGHAM. 


163 


I  duret  not  Jet  the  opportunity  slip,  but  con- 
Bidered  it  a  tool  by  Tvbich  I  must  carry  on  trade. 
I  puTcbiised  it  for  ei^ht  hundred  and  thirty- 
five  guiDoaa  It  was  then  under  a  mortgage  for 
£400.  I  was  obliged  to  pay  the  residue ;  and  as 
the  premises  would  open  to  New  Street  were  my 
two  houses  removed,  I  now  wished  them  down." 
The  new  Act  provided  that  twenty -nine  persona 
should  be  added  to  the  fifty  Commissioners 
previously  appointed ;  viz.,  Eichard  Anderton, 
Samuel  Aris,  Matthew  Barker,  William  Capper, 
John  Francis,  Sampson  Freetb,  WilUam  HuHon, 
William  Hodgkins,  Joseph  Jultes,  Edmund  Wace 
Patteson,  Edward  Palmer,  Samuel  PembertoUj 
jun.,  Samuel  Bay,  William  Kyland,  Josiah 
Bogers,  Samuel  Steward,  Timothy  Smith,  John 
Taylor,  jam,  John  Ward,  Thomas  Wight,  (grocer,) 
Daniel  Bond,  Thomas  Colemore,  of    Edgbaston 


Street;  WillJam  Button;  William  Holden,  of 
New  Street ;  John  Harris,  of  Cannon  Street ; 
Luke  Bell,  Walter  Oakley,  Thomas  Gisboume, 
and  Joseph  Thoraason. 

Of  William  Ilutton's  appointment  as  a  Com- 
missioner our  readers  have  already  heard,*  as 
well  as  of  his  action  thereon,  and  the  way  in 
which  bis  zeal  for  the  carrying  out  of  the  pro- 
visions of  the  Act  was  chocked  by  the  self-interest 
of  hia  broths  Commissioners;  we  oan^not,  how- 
ever, help  remarking  her©  that  his  indignation  at 
the  manner  in  which  they  sought  to  bene  lit  them- 
selves and  their  friends  rather  than  to  carry  ont 
the  act  in  its  integrity,  seems  somewhat  incon- 
gruous by  the  side  of  his  own  action  in  the  matter 
of  the  High  Street  premises. 

We  shall  have  to  speak  of  the  appearance  of  the 
town  under  the  Commissioners  in  a  future  chapter. 


CHAPTER     XXVI 
*'POKT     FRKETH"     AND     THE     BIRMINGHAM     BOOK     CLUB. 

h%  CoJXbe  fioUM— Tb«  Book  Clab— PoetlCAl  iDTltation  cArdt-  "  Puddin^-timft ''— "  Our  good  friendt  At  Bottom  ud  thote  it  Snw 
»tk  "— Banktr  •  Hill- "  J.  Frea  "^BMkenrtlle**  Priiitlug— Hdrd  TliiiM    Taxation— Birmingham  StmatB-  EaclwUttkal  NA\ri«'&torf 
^FopnlAjr  AmiiitmentB— End  of  tbe  WorJd^'*  Banbtu^  t^umpi  ""LoDging  for  Feace. 


Isr  onr  notice  of  the  old  charities  of  Birmingham* 
it  Waa  mentioned  that  the  meetings  in  connec- 
tion with  one  of  those  foundations  (Jackson's 
chanty)  were  held  at  Charles  Freeth's  Coffee 
Ronjie,  in  Bell  Street  This  house  became 
noteworthy,  both  for  the  quality  of  the  enter- 
tainmenti  and  the  genial  character  of  its  host. 
Amongst  the  lovers  of  good-fellowship  who 
gathered^  after  their  daily  labour  was  ended,  for 
the  evening  gosaip,  around  the  Preside  of  this 
mug  old-fashioned  hostelry,  would  be  seen  the 
merry,  good-humoured  face  of  mine  host's  pro- 
'  miaing  son  ;  a  lad  much  given  to  making  verses^ 
and  fitting  them  to  the  popular  airs  of  the  day. 
By-and-by  the  son  took  his  father's  place,  and 
the  coffee-house  kept  by  "  Poet  Freeth  "  became 
the  favourite  reaort  of  all  daaoea. 


*  Ote^itriL,^.  79. 


About  the  middle  of  the  eighteenth  century, 
a  few  book-lovers  of  the  town  formed  themselves 
into  a  society  for  the  purpose  of  purchasing  and 
circulating  among  themselves  such  hooks  as  they 
desired  to  read ;  and  from  this  little  society 
arose  the  Birmingham  Book  Club,  which  has 
now  flourished  for  more  than  a  century  and  a 
quarter,  and  **  still  exists  in  a  green,  vigorous, 
and  flourishing  old  ^e."t  The  early  meetings  of 
this  society  were  held  at  the  house  of  "Poet 
Freeth,"  who  was  one  of  its  most  active  members, 
by  whom  the  invitations  to  their  annual  dinners 
were  sent  out,  written  in  verse,  as  became  one 
who  was  reputed  for  his  '*  poetical "  talents* 
These  invitation-versea  contain  many  references  to 
passing  events,  and  uanally  conclude  by  giving  the 


•Cliftp.  JPdl.;  pa«elST. 
f  J.  A.  Uagford.  LL.D* 


184 


OLD  Amy  NEW   BTEMTNGHAM.      t- Po.t  Fwrth  *- and  ui#  Book  oiav 


toaat  of   tho  evening.      Frotn  a  yery  complete 
collection  of  these  tickets,  in  the  possession  of 
W.  Frnnks^Bealc^  Esq.,  of  Chester  Eoad,  Erding- 
ton,  we  are  enabled  to  give  our  readers  a  few 
ezamplet  of    Freeth's  versifying  abilities.     The 
earliest  is  dated  Kov.  29,  1770.     The  host  says, 
in  inviting  his  friends  to  the  annual  feast : — 
SIR, 
In  this  wrangUng  flQctuatiug  SUte-jng^ling  Age, 
When  we  neither  have  Peace,  nor  m  War  doro  ongnge  ; 
(Tbo*  they  t«ll  us  to  Day  that  Jamaica  ia  lost^ 
It  may  be  contradicted  the  very  next  Post.) 
I  beg  yoQ*d  for  once,  as  'twill  drown  Care  and  Sorrow, 
Eeverse  the  old  Phrase,  and  take  Thought  for  to-morrow : 
In  Mirth  (giving  Sentiment,  Stoiy,  or  Song, 
Ne  er  fear  but  tbe  Hours  will  pasa  chearful  along  ; 
There's  nothing  I  know  of  can  slacken  the  Cheer, 
For  I  cannot  expect  n  King's  Messenger  here  ; 
And  the  Talons  of  Law,  Truth,  and  Reason  repelii 
For  Chief  Justice  MansJUM  haa  lost  all  hia  Nails. 
So  beg  you'd  attend,  and  see  what's  to  be  done, 
'Tis  extet  Pudding-Time  when  St.  J/artiw'5  strikes  One. 
Nor.  25,  1770.  J.  Fasbtb* 

The  phrase  **  pudding-tiino,"  which  occtirs  in 
several  of  these  earlier  invitations,  seems  to  indi- 
cate that  at  Poet  Fneth's  the  old-fashioned 
custom  of  "  pudding  first "  was  respected. 

The  annual  dinner  of  1771  was  held  on  the 
date  of  the  invitation  of  the  previous  year,  con- 
sequently the  card  of  invitation  ia  dated  Kov.  28, 
It  is  the  smallest  in  the  collection,  and  would 
seem  to  indicate  that  card-board  was  somewhat 
acarce,  as  it  is  printed  on  tite  half  of  a  playing- 
card  :— 

SIB, 

Ht  that  would  taste  of  noble  Fare, 

Lat  Lim  To-morrow  here  repair  ; 

For  by  Parnassus  'tis  my  Pride, 

To  have  my  Table  well  «upply*d. 

No  Bard  good  Living  e'er  refuses, 

For  Roast  Meat  never  sours  the  Mnaea  : 

And  feaatiog  Days  in  this  good  Town 

Where  ne'er  I  trow  more  freqnent  grown. 

At  Pudding-Time  bid  Care  begone, 

Twenty  may  dine  as  well  as  one. 
Nov.  28,  1771.  J.  Friith* 

Our  freedom-loving  fathers,  in  their  enjoyment 
(at  a  very  early  season  of  the  year)  of  **  young 
ducks  and  green  peas/'  did  not  forget  their 
cousins  across  the  Atlantic,  who,  in  1775,  were 
£ghting  for  national  independence.     Accordingly, 


we  find  them  remembered  at  the  meeting  on  tl 
16th  of  June  in  that  year : — 

SIR. 
As  few  when  the  Seaaon  its  kindness  displsya. 
But  love  to  partake  of  young  Ducks  and  green 
And  aa  in  the  Town  there  is  known  to  be  plenty. 
To-morrow  I  purpose  to  cater  for  twenty. 
Padding  time  is  at  One —to  the  Custom  adhere. 
For  the  summons  must  please  that  invites  to  good  Chi 
In  the  TOASTS  of  the  Day  as  a  friend  to  the  Und, 
And  foremost  for  FREEDOM  may  EFFINGHAM  stam 
Not  forgetting  Lord  GKANBY  a  SAVILLE  and  BUR 
Onr  good  friends  at  BOSTON  and  those  at  NEW  YO! 

J-    FREE. 
Birmingham  ;  June^  1 5th  1775* 

The  same  sentiment  is  expressed  in  the  invi 

tion-verses  issued  ^ov.  21st  in  the  same  year 

SIR. 

Whilst  some  to  the  Throne  are  ADDRESSES  oonvtying^ 
For  Slaughter  and  Slavery  servilely  praying, 
And  false  as  their  Language  is  fulsome  pretend, 
They'll  hazard  their  Lives,  and  their  Fortunes  they  11  spend ; 
Accept  from  a  Lover  of  peace  this  PETITION, 
To  festive  enjoyment  the  Card  of  admission  : 
Nert  FRIDAY  I  purpose  to  garnish  my  Boatd, 
For  Feasting  I  always  to  fighting  preferr*d< 
As  friends  to  Conciliat'ry  Measures  are  those, 
Who  wish  well  to  COMMERCE  and  FREEDOM  espouse, 
May  those  who  oppose  'em  and  more  Blood  would  spill, 
Be  forc'd  into  Service,  and  mount  BUNKER's  HILL. 

J,    FREE. 
November  21st,  1776. 

It  will  be  noticed  that  in  the  two  preceding 
invitations  the  poet  adopts  the  signature  ol 
"J.  Free,''  which  appears  on  aU  the  cards  ^m 
this  date  to  1786. 

In  June,  1776,  the  poet  appears  to  have  lacked 
either  inspiration  or  theme,  for  he  contents  hixih 
self  with  the  following  brief  not#  : — 

"Sir, 

*»  FRIDAY  next  being  FEAST  DAY,  tho  Favour  of 
your  Company  is  humbly  requested  to  DINE  at  J. 
FREE'S,  at  ONE  o'Clock. 

**  Juno  12.  1776." 

The  invitation  card  of  1778  beats  evidence-— ill 
the  appearance  of  the  type  and  the  genend  neat" 
neas  which  renders  it  a  contrast  to  every  ot})er  in 
the  [series — of  its  having  been  printed  with  the 
types  of  John  Baskenrille,  The  next  card  of 
interest  is  that  of  Jun6|  1782  : — 

Sir, 
As  a  Glass  of  good  Port  for  the  te^gning  Diaeaaa, 
Is  the  only  Spedfie  that  best  Mems  to  pUsaa ; 


1; 

I 


•  Po€t  fr^th  -  mod  ihe  Book  Club,]      OLD   AlTD  NEW   BIRMmOHAM, 


165 


By  Wmj  of  proventive,  in  making  a  Tnal, 

I  trust  to  a  Bottle  youll  hare  no  dci^ial ; 

On  Friday  iny  best  I  intend  to  uncork, 

And  to  those  who  can  brandish  a  good  Knife  and  Fork^ 

1  laean  as  a  Eelish  to  throw  in  their  Way. 

Young  Dock.  Ham,  and  Chicken,  but  not  a  ^een  Pea  : 

{A  Bumper  to  Rodxhy,  the  Subject  will  bear  it, 

I  d  toaat  him  in  Water,  but  rather  in  Claret ;) 

Then  pleoae  to  attend  and  fee  what's  to  be  done, 

Time  of  Action  commences  at  Half  after  One. 

June  11,  1782.  J.  FKEE. 

In  the  next  we  find  the  publican-poet   com- 
plaining sadly  of  the  times  : — 

SIB, 
On  Friday  observe,  Beef  and  Ptidding*a  the  Text, 
111  live  well  this  Year,  if  a  Bonkrapt  the  ncxtt 
And  that,  or  sing  Ballads,  will  sure  be  my  Lot, 
For  the  Profits  on  Ale-selling  scarce  boil  the  Pot  ; 
Though  heavy  Complaints  in  the  Land  have  arose 
Respecting  the  Times — you'll  my  Freodom  excuse, 
For  thos«  in  Distress,  recent  Actions  have  shewn, 
The  Colliers  have  Feelings,  but  Maltsters  have  none  ; 
And  Riots  are  certain  to  sadden  the  Year, 
When  Six-penny  Loaves  but  Three -pounders  appear. 
.  Bat  Mormnring  cease,  'tis  a  Folly  to  grieve, 

|Time  and  Patience  will  all  our  Misfortunes  relieve, 
et  a  Bumper  go  round,  since  a  Peace  is  at  Hand, 
To  ELIOTT  the  brave,  and  bis  Veteran  Band. 

BlUMiNOEAM,  Nov.  27,       82.  J.    FREE, 

Taxation,  '*  the  blessed  Effects  of  the  American 
War,"  has  begun  to  fall  heavily  upon  the  much- 
•nduTing  Biitish  public,  and  the  first  note  of  it— 
A  note  which  is  seldom  absent  again  from  Freeth's 
rhymed  invitations — appears  in  1783  : — 


SIR, 


STAMP    DUTIES. 


For  FminAY  prepare,  the  Enjoyment  embraoe, 
Of  Feasting  before  the  fresh  Duties  take  Place  ; 
For  Tax  upon  Tax  may  he  carried  too  far, 
The  hUsatd  Effects  of  the  Amerkan  W^ar; 
Which,  again  to  pursue,  let  Lord  North  have  the  lead, 
And  hell  tax  every  Tooth  a  Man  has  in  his  Head  : 
The  Burthens,  tho'  hard,  we  are  still  to  have  more. 
And  TKADR's  to  be  Bogg'd,  without  hurting  the  Poor  ; 
Jof  a  Tax  on  EECEIFIS,  amongst  other  such  Jokes, 
Cs  one  of  Charles  Fox's  luxurious  Strokes, 
That  slipt  the  Old  Budget—  a  Beauty  not  known, 
Tin  CUAKLES  and  his  BLrE-Ri8B0N'i>  Lobdship 

mode  one  ; 
A  fftn^ral  Reform  has  been  fought  for  in  vain,^ — 
There  ia  but  one  Method  Eedresa  to  obtain  ; 
Many  Plana  may  be  formed— yet  thcre*«  nothing  so 

Am  tha  TOWEB-HILL  STAMP  public  ETik  to  cnra. 
BiaMjjcoiAM*  Juna  19,  1718.  J.  FREE. 


The  card  issued  1784,  bears  the  name  of 
Swinney  as  printer,  who  succeeded  Baskerville  in 
the  business  of  type-founding.  In  the  verses 
contained  thereon  Freeth  refers  to  **  Birmingham 
streets, — always  needing  repair,"— but  this  was 
before  the  days  of  wood  pavement ;  what  would 
the  old  poet  say  if  he  could  see  them  in  1 878 1 

SOCIETY  FEAST. 
Sim, 

FRIDAY  next,  if  youVe  nothing  material  on  Hand, 
Let  the  plentiful  Board  your  Attention  command  ; 
The  Limb  of  a  Goose,  on  a  Plate  of  Green  Peas, 
1  make  not  a  Doubt,  will  the  Appetite  please  : 
Look  sharp  for  a  ^Yhile,  and,  if  one  will  not  do. 
Disdain  to  be  sparing — make  certain  of  two. 

As  to  Matters  of  State,  strange  as  may  be  tho  Rout ! 
Not  much  doe^  it  matter  who's  in  or  who's  oirr  : 
As  GovEByMENT  Wheels  I  can  only  compare 

To  Birmingham  Streets always  wanting  Repair  ; 

For  when  Levies  run  high,  and  are  chcariully  paid. 
Ducks  and  Drakes  of  the  Cash,  are  too  frequently  made. 

May  the  Youth  at  the  Helm,  whom  the  People  admire, 
Inherit  those  Virtues  which  dwelt  in  his  Sire  ! 
And  a  Bumper  be  given— That  Wrangling  may  cease, 
Leas  Taxes,  more  Trade — and  with  all  the  World  Peace  ♦ 

Birmingfutm,  June  9th  17 Si.  J.    FREE. 

In  the  next  Freeth  changes  his  metre,  but 
increased  taxation  is  still  the  burden  of  his  song  : 

SOCIETY    FEAST. 
SIR, 

On  the  t^nth  day  of  June 

Should  my  Voice  be  in  tune, 
To  sing  (though  my  powers  art  small). 

About  those  who  Trade, 

The  State-pack-uoese  have  made, 
I'll  endeavour  to  honour  your  call. 

But  over  stout  Ale, 

As  a  Song  or  a  Tale, 
Not  the  mind  altogether  will  auit ; 

1  therefore  to  please, 

Shall  have  Geese  and  GR£EK*FSia, 
With  Beee  and  Plumb-puudino  to  boot. 

Tho*  Pitt  loses  ground, 

I  hope  'twill  be  found, 
That  the  TOtiTH  one  good  action  has  done. 

By  clapping  a  Tax, 

Upon  Bacheloe's  backs, 
And  letting  the  Females  alone. 
BiRHINGHAV,  J.   FREE. 

Juw  8, 1785, 

In  his  next  year's  rhyme,  be  has  a  sly  hit  at 
the  "  canal  frenzy,"  to  which  wa  have  referred  in 
a  pravious  chaptar  : — 


166 


OLD  Am>  NEW  BIRMINGHAM. 


V*  Poet  FrMtb  "  utd  ^e  Book  CUttKl 


SIR, 


SOCIETY  FEAST. 


My  regular  Snmmoni  I  tnist  yotiMl  obey, 

Tbc  sixUcnth  of  June  ia  for  Feastinji  the  Day  j 

AdJ  in  a  Bbort  Time  though  much  Work  may  b«  done, 

I  "beg  you'd  be  seated  by  Half  after  One. 

The  Seasons  arp  kind,  Pi**nty  covers  the  Ground, 

Yet  the  KoAST  Beef  of  England  briuga  Six-pence  per 

Pound  I 
Tis  a  CATCH  as  can  World,  some  for  this,  some  for  thiitj 
The  Stocks  si  ill  advance,  Navioatton  is  flat ; 
Ktiny  minda  in  a  Contest  were  lately  concorn'd, 
And  the  Heads  of  the  Church  Navigators  are  turn'd  I 
Providing  a  War  very  soon  should  take  Place, 
Our  Monarch,  1  hope,  will  consider  the  Case  ; 
Think,  think  gracious  Geouoe,  of  the  Bishops,  I  pray, 
One  Half  keep  at  home— let  the  Rest  go  to  Sea. 

J.    FKEETH. 

BIESIIXOHAM,  June  13,  1786. 

Our  next  card  has  reference  to  several  poplar 

amusements  in  the  town  at  that  peaiod.     The 

"Dancing  Bogs*'  liad  made  their  first  appearance 

here  in  1785,  from  Sadler's  Wells  Theatre,  aod 

were  announced   to   "exhibit  their  astonishing 

performances    .     ,     .    at  the  New  Street  Theatre, 

after  tbo  entertainments  of  ropo  and  wire4ancing, 

tumbling,  and  other  feats  of  activity  hij  the  famous 

Little  Devil  and  the  rest  of  the  company  from 

Sadler's  Wells."    That  '*  the  famous  Little  Devil  *' 

was  in  Birmingham  at  the  date  of  Freeth*s  card, 

(Novemher,    1787)   is   shown    by  the  following 

paragraph  from  the  Gazette  of  the  5th  of  that 

month  :— 

*'The  Little  Devil  and  La  Belb  Espagfiola,  who  art 
confessedly  unrivaird  in  their  profession,  were  near  making 
their  exit  in  a  very  disagreeable  way,  on  Friday  Evening, 
at  the  Theatre  in  this  Town,  Some  evil -minded  person  in 
the  pit  having  diabolically  cut  the  tight-rope  in  several 
places,  which  eertdnly  endangered  the  limbs  (if  not  the 
lives  of  the  periormtrs).  It  was,  however,  happily  ptr- 
ceived  time  enough  to  prevent  any  misfortune,  though  it 
deiJiived  the  anditnce  for  that  night  of  some  part  of  the 
agiecnbk  and  wondeiful  inrroiniance.  We  hope  the 
manapers  will,  in  future,  appoint  some  faithful  person  to 
detect  the  perpetrator  of  Bueh  cmelly  wanton  acta,  &ad 
spflie  no  expence  in  punithiug  them." 

It  ia  time  now  to  return  to  the  verses  which 

refer  to  these  performances : 

SOCIETY  FEAST. 
Dinner  tscactly  at  Halfpaii  Om. 
Bnt, 
ON  Friday  next,  St.  Am»BEW*ii  Day, 
1  beg  my  Summons  you'll  obey, 
For  thro*h«  Kingdom,  Reason  lays, 


NovicifBEE's  short  and  gloomy  Days, 
Require,  from  hence  dull  Care  to  chace, 
With  Liuron  which  the  Nerves  will  brace. 
The  Hoiu-t  that's  sound  will  Friendship  prize, 
Wliat's  Life  without  convivial  Joys  f 
Bail  as  Trade  is,  or  imd  niay  keep, 
TuMBLEKS  Q  g]onous  Harvest  reap  ; 
And  Dancing  Dogs  and  DitriLs  twanp^ 
With  nntick  Feats  the  Town  to  charm  ; 
— But  when  tlic  Appetite  is  keen, 
In  choiMst  Fare— as  Charms  are  seen — 
Honour  the  Call,  good  Cheer  yott*ll  find. 
And  Relaxation  give  the  mind. 
Nov.  2Sth,  7787.  J.  FREETH. 

The  townsfolk  seem  to  have  been  troubled,  in 

1 788,  by  a  prophecy  of  the  approaching  end  of 

the  world ;  and  to  this,  as  well  as  to  the  trial  of 

Warren  Hastings,  which  had  commenoed  on  the 

1 3th  of  February  in  that  year,  reference  was  made 

by  the  local  poet  in  his  invitation  to  the  usual 

Society  Feast  on  the  10th  of  June  :— 

SOCIETY  FEAST. 
SIR, 
I  have  not  a  doubt  but  young  Gec«£  and  green  Peas, 
Next  Friday,  well  cook'd,  will  the  Appetite  please  ; 
Your  Attendance  I  beg — well  assnr'd  that  my  Board 
Will  plenty  of  other  good  Dishes  afford— 
Such  as  CDrcKE>-3  and  Ham,  as  the  Season  may  suit, 
The  finest  of  Beef  and  PttTMB-PirnDiJio  to  boot ; 
Besides,  after  playing  a  good  KxtFB  and  FoECf 
Pre  Ale  stout  and  bright— and  I  mean  to  uncork, 
Of  Port,  a  few  Bottles,  by  way  of  fair  trial, 
And  long  as  it  lasts  you  will  have  no  denial 
AU  this  to  accomplish  1  find  myself  able, 
Better  Fare  PETER  PINDAR  had  ne'er  on  his  Table 
The  Promise  is  handsome — what  Poet  can  beat  it  T 
Nor  care  I  a  Button  how  oft  I  repeat  it — 
For  if  OD  the  Words  of  a  Sage  we  depend, 
The  World  will  in  fcriy-tight  Yean  have  an  end ; 
So  whether  or  not  Wareen  Hastings  gets  by, 
There  scarce  will  be  Time  Sir  Elijah  to  tiy — 
Then  a  Bumper  give  roond,  when  the  Heart  is  at  ease, 
*'  That  our  Children  may  ro&ke  the  beat  Uie  of  their 

Days." 
Birmingham,  June  10,  1783,  J.  FREETH. 

It  would  appear,  from  the  "Society**  kureatel 

verses  of  November  1789,  that  pugiilam  was  at 

that  time  a  favourite  pastime  in  the  town.     **  Ban-       : 

bury  tliumps  "  doubtless  bad  reference  to  a  hero. 

of  *  the  ring '  of  that  name  : — 

SOCIETY  FEAST— on  FaiBAT  next 
Dinner  ai  Half -past  One, 
Sia, 
My  CoKTBST,  which  ftdl  thirty  minntea  wiU  hM, 
I  heipe,  to  attend  yen  will  feel  younaU  bold  : 


168 


OLD  AKD  NEW  BIRMINGHAM.         rPoetFrMth'*»d  the  Book  ChiV. 


"May  the  Olive  Beanch  gladden  the  Year  Ninety- 

Four, 
"  Fkeb  Teadb  and  good  Fellowship  all  the  World  o'er." 

J.  FBBETH. 
BiBMiNOHAM,  Noyember  27,  1793. 

In  1794  the  invitation  took  the  form  of  a  note, 
from  "  Smith,  Son,  &  Smith,"  followed  by  eight 
lines  of  verse  in  a  more  hopeful  strain  than  many 
of  that  decade : — 
SIR, 

The  Favour  of  your  Company  to  Sup  at  J. 
Freeth*8t  on  Friday  next,  will  much  oblige, 

Youre, 
December  £,  1794-  Smith,  Son,  tk  Smith. 


A  JOCULAR  hour,  with  a  good-natur'd  Friend, 
What  mortal  can  have  an  objection  to  spend  f 
And  since  to  be  happy,  united,  and  free, 
The  beauty  of  life  is — as  all  will  agree  ; 
Good  will  to  promote,  and  true  friendship  to  nourish. 
That  England— Old  England  for  ever  may  flourish, 
My  ToABT  is- -"To  Commerce  a  i|>eedy  increase," 
"And  all  the  world  over,  a  Permanent  Peace." 

J.  F. 

Green  peas  were  later  in  the  following  year, 
and  the  feast  was  perforce  lacking  in  that  cus- 
tomary item : — 

Society  Fecut, 
ON  FRIDAY  KBXT, 
Dinner  exactly  at  Two  o'Cloek, 
SIR, 
THE  Stomach,  if  rightly  in  tune. 

Young  Geese  will  undoubtedly  please  ; 
But  though  near  the  middle  of  June, 
I  fear  we  shall  lack  of  Gbeen  Peas. 

My  Liquor  is  brilliant  and  stout, 

If  short  in  the  eatable  Score, 
Then  make  the  Deficiency  out. 

By  drinking  a  Bottle  the  more. 

The  Black  Feather'd  Eagle  of  Prutrick, 

Our  Ministry  nicely  cajoles  ; 
The  over-grown  She-Bear  of  Jiuana, 

Has  shamefully  pluck'd  the  poor  Poles. 


But  now  for  the  Toast  of  the  Day  : — 

"  May  Peace  quickly  gladden  the  Shore, 
"  Humanity  ev'ry  State  sway, 
"And  Harmony  all  the  World  o'er." 

J.  FREETH. 
Birmingham,  June  10,  1795. 

If  space  would  permit,  we  might  continue  our 
quotations  from  these  genial  invitations  of  the 
mirth-loving  host  of  the  **  Leicester  Arms,"  but 
to  do  this  would  carry  us  further  into  the  history 
of  our  town  than  we  are  prepared  at  present  to 
advance,  and  would  occupy  a  greater  proportion  of 
this  history  than  their  actual  importance  warrants ; 
but  as  we  shall  have  occasion  again  to  refer  to  the 
writinga  of  Freeth,  at  a  later  date,  we  may  perhaps 
then  find  space  for  a  few  more  of  these  sprightly 
misaivea. 

While  on  the  subject  of  the  entertainment  pro- 
vided 9X_  an  old-fashioned  inn,  our  readers  may  be 
inteneil^d  in  knowing  something  of  the  cost  of 
good  living  in  those  day&  An  old  tavern  bill  is 
before  us,  dated  December  28, 1797,  for  entertain- 
ment received  at  Charles  Wilday's,  Shakespear 
Tavern,  New  Street,  as  follows  : — 


£    8.   d. 

Dinners 

—  12    0 

Tea  and  Coflfee    - 

—    40 

1  Red  Port    - 

—    8     6 

2  Sheny  .... 

—    90 

Witness  eating 

—    10 

Ale          -            -           -            - 

—    70 

Rum 

—    10 

Paper      -           -           -           . 

—          6 

Porter 
Ale 

—    2    6 

Yxvlt       -           -           -           . 

—    4    6 

2    6    0 

Servant 

8    6 

Coach  Hire 

6    0 

2  18    6 


THE     CHURCHES     AND     SECTS     OF     BIRMINGHAM,      1760-1780. 

PnpOMdB  for  baltdlii^  two  new  cborcbeft— The  Act  |niim4— MqaIc&I  iCaterUimtcteDU  io  aid  of  Ui«  buUdltig  af  8t  tftrj't— DeiCiiptton  of 
fit.  Mary's— The  butldii^  of  St.  Pual'a— The  Fe«tiviil  of  \7T&-~Thb  BgSQtoti  Window— Tlie  New  tfMtiHf  tnd  Dr.  Prleitlej— Cftnnon 
BtTMt  lleetlng  houwe— Methodlim— Ciut'*  Lah*— Scott't  Tnt^t,  etc. 


I 
* 


Wb  now  once  more  take  up  the  story  of  the 
chtirchos  and  sects  in  Birmmgham^  at  the  date  at 
which  our  laat  notice  closed,  viz.,  1760. 

As  we  have  already  seen,  in  our  survey  of  the 
town  in  17G0,  the  church  accommodation  was 
already  becoming  inadequate  to  the  needs  of  the 
npidly  growing  population  and  greatly  extended 
area  coyered  by  the  town,  especially  in  the 
direction  of  Kew  HaU  and  the  district  lying 
between  the  General  Hospital  and  Steelhouse 
Lane.  To  meet  this  want  an  association  was 
formed  to  raise  the  necessary  funds  for  building 
two  churches  in  the  localities  mentioned,  and  a 
statement  was  laid  before  the  inhabitants,  in  the 
columns  of  An/if  Gazettt"^  March  2,  1772^  ns 
foUowi  : 

Th«  gM'At  Want  of  Public  Plai^M  of  Divine  Worsliip  in 
thii  Town,  Imving  induced  Numbers  of  the  Inhabitants 
to  take  into  Consideratioo  the  Expediency  of  building  one 
or  mon>  additional  Churches,  several  public  Meetings 
hare  be^n  held  for  that  Purpose  ;  when  it  hns  b«en  unani- 
motialy  resolired  that  at  least  two  additional  Churches  were 
mmtcd  for  tlie  Accommodation  of  the  lohabitauta,  the 
present  not  being  capable  of  conlaiuiug  One  Tenth  Part 
of  tliove  profesaiug  the  Doctrine  of  the  Chorch  of  England : 
To  take  olT  m  great  a  Reproach  from  Civil  Society,  and 
rtmoro  even  the  Appearance  of  Contempt  for  Holy 
Religion,  it  waa  determined,  if  possible,  to  obtain  m 
piout  and  raloable  an  acquisition ,  and  to  that  End 
AppUcalion  wms  made  to  the  Several  Proprietors  of  Land 
C^tJgiioaa  to  the  Town,  requesting  Land  for  so  good  a 
Porpoae,  without  Regard  to  Partiality  of  Situation,  two 
of  whom  (viz.),  Mis*  Wearoan,  and  Charles  Colemore, 
Eiq.»  not  only  consented  to  give  the  necessary  Land«  but 
SutmcHbed  liberally  towards  perfecting  the  Business. 

ddoceM  liaving  attended  the  flatter  tbui  far,  Subscrip- 
Itei  wtr^  ml  on  Foot  for  Monies  to  apply  to  Parliament, 
tad  a  pQiitiQii  agreeably  thereto  has  been  presented  for 
L»iTa  to  bring  in  a  BUI  for  buMing  two  Churches,  one  of 


which  is  intended  to  be  built  near  to  Cat}ierino>Street,  * 
and  the  other  near  to  New  Hall. 

The  following  Plan  for  which  has  been  adopted  : — 

Ist. — That  separate  Subscriptions  be  opened  to  raise 
Money  for  building  the  Churchet,  with  Houses  for  the 
Residence  of  the  officiating  Clcrgymeu  ;  such  Subscrip- 
tions to  l>e  paid  by  Four  equal  instalments,  giving  six 
Months'  public  Notice  of  the  Days  of  Payment. 

2dly, — That  the  Gentlemen  iii  the  Neigbbouibood  and 
every  Subscriber  of  Twenty  Pouuds  be  appointed  Trustees 
for  the  Conduct  and  Direction  of  the  Business. 

3dly*  —  That  tha  Salary  to  each  Oficiating  Clergyman  be 
fixed  by  Parliament,  at  not  more  than  Two  H  undred  Pounds, 
nor  less  than  One  Hundred  and  Fifty  Pounds,  per  Annum, 
to  arise  from  the  Kneel ings. 

4thly.— That  the  rents  of  the  Kneelings  between  the 
two  extremes  be  fixed  by  the  Trustees. 

5thly> — That  the  Surplice  Fees  be  fixed  by  Parliament. 

Stilly. — That  no  Diminution  be  made  in  the  Fees  of  the 
Incumbents  of  Saint  ilortin's ;  on  the  contrary,  that  they 
receive  their  full  fees  for  all  Offices  performed  at  tbo  new 
Intended  Churches. 

7thly.— That  certain  Districts  be  marked  out  for  the 
Officiating  Clergymen,  to  have  the  Cure  of  Souls,  >isit  the 
Siclt,  and  do  the  neceAsary  Duties  ;  but  that  such  Dis- 
tricts be  not  deemed  separate  Parishes,  or  be  subject  to 
separate  Assessments,  but  the  Butldinp  to  be  kept  in 
Repair  by  the  General  Levy  of  the  Towu. 

Stilly. — That  two  Wardens  he  api>ointed  to  each  of  ths 
Churches,  who  shall  take  a  proportionable  Part  of  the 
Town  in  collecting  the  Lev)^ 

9thly. — That  the  Pews  and  Kneelings  be  disiH>sed  of  to 
the  Subscribers  by  Ballot,  according  to  their  respective 
Subscriptions,  with  such  other  Clauses  and  Regulations 
as  are  usual,  or  as  Parliament  may  think  proper  to  adopt. 

The  Persons  who  have  hitherto  prompted  this  Business 

will,  in  a  few  ^Days,  begin  to  collect  Subscriptions,  but 

thought  it  necessary,  prenously  thereto,  to  advertise  ths 

I  Inhabitants  of  their  Intentions,   at  the  same  Time   to 

I  disavow  every  Degree  of  PurtiaUty  in  the  Choice  of  th^ 

I  Spots  of  Land  identified,  and  to  assure  the  Inhabitants 

that  they  have  been  actuated  only  by  Dispositions  to 

render  the  ObjecU  in  View  as  extensively  useful  as  might 

be. 


•  Now  Wbtttall  BtfMt, 


ITO 


OLD  AND  KEW   BIB^nNGHA^t 


lClnircb««  and  aeeu.  1100*1780. 


S<?parate  Deeds  of  Sabscriptions  will  be  handed  about, 
80  that  every  Individual  will  make  which  Clmrch  he 
pleases  the  object,  no  Persuasions  being  intended  to  be 
aaed ;  hut  they  hope,  and  have  no  Doubt,  that  the 
Ne<'*ssity  of  the  Case  will  plead  for  itself,  and  that  every 
Individual  will  cheerfully  contribute  his  Quota,  influenced 
only  by  a  Deaire  to  promote  so  pions  and  necessary  a 
Work, 

The  appeal  for  subscriptions  was  liberally 
respond cmI  to,  and  before  the  close  of  the  mouth 
•*a  bill  was  ordered  to  bo  brought  into  Parliament 
for  one  or  more  Churches  in  thlij  Town"]  the  Act 
was  obtained  during  the  same  session  for  buikling 
two  Chaj>els,  as  proposed  by  the  asBociation*  On 
the  2JJth  of  July  a  meeting  of  the  trustees  was 
held,  at  which  it  was  decided  to  call  upon  all 
those  who  had  prombed  subscriptions  **  towards 
erecting^  iinishing,  and  completing  one  of  the  said 
Chapels,  upon  the  land  of  ^lary  Weaman,  and  in 
the  said  Act  distinguished  by  the  name  of  the 
Chapcd  of  St.  Mary,"  to  pay  into  the  hands  of 
Mr.  John  Cottrell,  of  Walmer  Lane,  the  collator 
appointed  by  the  triL^teea,  twenty-five  per  cent,  of 
the  amount  promised. 

In  December,  an  advertisement  was  inserted  in 
the  local  newspaper  requesting  "  any  Architect  or 
Builder  capable  of  such  an  Undertaking,  to  send 
or  deliver  in  l*lans,  Elevations,  and  Estimates, 
sealed  up,"  to  Mr.  John  Cottrell;  and  further 
added  a  brief  description  of  the  intended  chapel 
as  follows  I  "The  said  Chapel  to  be  buUt  in  an 
Octagon  or  any  other  Form  as  the  said  Architects 
shall  think  proper,  and  to  contain  1,000  Bitlings. 
The  Breadth  of  the  Seats  to  be  two  Feet  eleven 
Inches,  the  Middle  Isle  eight  Feet,  and  the  out- 
side Isles  to  be  four  Feet  wide." 

A  series  of  musical  performances,  similar  to  the 
festivals  of  later  years,  were  given  in  the  Septem- 
ber of  1774  in  aid  of  the  funds  fur  the  completion 
of  the  chapeL  The  Gazette  of  September  12th 
contained  the  following  notice  of  these  per- 
fonnancea : 

On  Wedneadny  last  the  Mnaical  Entertainments  b^gau 
here,  when  Handel's  Grand  Dettingen  Tc  Deuni,  Jubilate, 
and  Coronation  Anthem,  were  performed  in  St.  Philip's 
Church  to  A  crowded  and  respectable  Audience,  ajid  in  the 


Evening  at  the  New  Theatre,  Alexander's  Fesst  was  ex- 
hibited with  great  Applanse.^^>n  Thursday  Morning,  at 
St.  Philip  s  Church,  the  Oratorio  of  Judas  Maecabaeua;  and 
in  the  Eveniug,  at  the  Theatre,  a  Grand  MiseelUneotu 
Concert,  was  performed  to  a  very  brilliant  and  numer< 
Company,  with  reiterated  Plaudits,  in  which  the  Vc 
Pcrfonncra,  j»artirularly  Mifts  Davis,  and  Mrs.  Wright 
disco vcre<l  very  capital  Powers ;  and  the  InstrumeDti 
Performance  in  ^>neral  gave  the  highest  satisfaction,-* 
And  on  Friday  Morning  the  Sacred  Oratorio  of  Messiah 
waa  performed  at  the  Chim^h. — The  Produce  of  the 
different  Entertainments  is  supposed  to  amount  to  about 
800/.,  wliich  sum  is  to  be  applied  towards  the  Completio! 
of  St  Jlary's  ChapeL— The  Balls  on  Wedneaday 
Thursday  Evenings  were  uncommonly  splendid,  and  i 
honoured  with  the  Presence  of  many  Persons  of  the  fin 
Rank  and  Distinrtion  in  this  Kingdom. 

The  land  for  the  building  was  given  by  Dorothy" 
and  Mary  Weaman ;  the  latter  also  gave  largely_ 
towards  the  fund  for  its  orectioni  and  in  her  wflj 
vested  the  right  of  presentation ;  her  memoi; 
being  perpetuated  in  the  name  of  the  saint 
whom  the  chapel  was  dedicated.  The  build 
was  (as  described  in  the  instructions  to  architectajj 
of  an  octagonal  form,  and  was  built  of  bricli 
**  not  overcharged,"  says  Button,  **  with  light  \ 
strength,"  having  a  neat,  but  small,  stone  steeple 
on  the  western  side,  containing  one  bell,  and  a 
clock.  The  latter,  in  Ilutton's  day,  **  was  seldom 
seen  to  go  .right ;  but,*'  he  adds,  **  the  wonder 
ceases  if  there  are  xo  works  within." 
interior  is  spacious,  but  somewhat  gloomy,  froij 
the  amallness  of  the  windows ;  it  contains  nav 
chancel,  side  aisle,  and  gallety,  and  will  accon 
modate  nearly  1700  persons. 

In  the  case  of  the  numerous  churches 
Birmingham  it  will  be  difficult  to  observe 
usutil  rule  as  to  strict  chronology,  as  the  evenG 
in  their  history,  subsequent  to  their  foimdation, 
are  gcneially  too  unimportant  to  form  the 
subject  of  a  second  notice.  We  propose, 
therefore,  to  anticipate,  in  these  cases, 
general  history  of  the  town,  by  completii 
the  history  and  description  of  each  chtuch 
a  single  notice. 

The  Chapel  of  St  Mary  was,  in  1841,  made  a 
district  church,  and  a  population  of  8500  aools 
assigned  to  it.     The  living  (which  was  first  held 


Ukuiivlie«tii4  Sect*,  1700*1780  1 


OLD  Am>   NEW   EIElVnNGHAM. 


171 


by  the  Rer.  John  Kylaud)  -was  onginally  worth 
aliout  X20Q  per  auniiiii,  is  now  ahuut  i;250. 

The  lai^  and  pleasant  cburcbyard  was,  about 
1830»  planted  with  troos,  and  contains  several 
intensstirig  momoriiilB,  incliiding  one  of  the  pious 
Hester  Aim  Kogers. 

In  1776  the  preliminary  steps  were  taken  for 
the  erection  of  the  second  church  authorised  by 
the  Act  of  1772.  On  the  18th  of  March  the  fol- 
lowing iuinouncement  appeared  in  the  Gazette : 

Binuinfjbam,  March  14,  1776. — Religion, — At  a 
Meeting  held  tliis  Da)%  of  the  Trustees  appointed  by  Act 
of  Parliament,  for  BuUding  two  Chapels  m  this  Town,  it 
was  resolved  to  begin  St.  PatTLs,  as  soon  as  a  sufficient 
Sttin  fthall  be  Bubsctibod  for  that  PurpOrje  ;  and  they  intend 
waiting  on  the  Pnblic  to  solicit  their  generous  Contiibu* 
Hooa  for  so  necessary  an  ondartaldng. 

Gkorge  Holloway, 

N.B. — Subscription  Books  are  also  left  with  Pearson 
and  BoUason,  Printers  of  this  Paf>er. 

The  building  waa  not,    however,   commenced 

until  the  next  year^  the  first  stone  being  laid  on 

the    29th   of    May.      A   brief   account   of    the 

eewmony  appeared  in  the  loc^l  journM  of  June 

2nJ,  as  follows  :— 

On  Thuisday  last,  the  first  Stone  of  St.  PaQls  Chapel 
was  laid  by  one  of  the  Trustees,  and  under  the  stone  was 

■  placed  a  Medal,  with  an  Inscription  in  Commemoration 
thereof. — As  it  is  intended  to  exccuto  the  Building  not 
only  with  as  much  Expedition  aa  possible^  but  with  that 
Pcnnanency  and  Taste  which  may  do  credit  to  the  Town, 
It  is  therefore  hoped  that  e?ery  necessary  Encouragement 

►will  be  given  to  the  Undertaking. 
The  land  for  the  building  was  given  by  Charles 
fioliuore,  Esq, ;  and  the  design  was  furnished  by 
Mr.  Francis  Goodwyn-  The  Gazette  annomiced, 
in  December,  that  the  Chapel  would  be  ready  for 
consecration  by  the  first  of  March,  1779,  but^ 
•carding  to  a  MS.  note,  by  William  Hamper,  in 
a  copy  of  the  third  edition  of  Hutton's  History  of 
Biimingham,^  it  was  not  consecrated  until  1780. 
It  is  most  substantially  built  of  atone^  but  was 
crriginally  exceedingly  heavy  in  appearance,  owing 
to  the  absence  of  a  spire,  having  only  a  low, 
sqtMire  tower,  (a^  will  be  seen  from  our  engraving 
oa  page  162) ;  the  tower,  although  forming  part 
of  the  original  design,  remaining  unbuilt  for  more 

*  la  tiM  poasauioa  of  3fr.  iiiUnaaa  Avery. 


than  forty  yean.*  When  added,  however,  (in 
1823,)  it  relieved,  by  its  light  ami  elegant 
appearance,  the  otherwise  excoeeding  ugliness  of 
the  building  itself. 

In  the  year  1778,  us  mentioned  in  our  chapter 
on  the  early  history  of  the  General  Hospital,  the 
second  Musical  Festival  took  pjlace.  The  hospital 
was  not,  as  yet,  opened,  snd,^Iike  the  Chapel  in 
course  of  erection, — stood  greatly  in  need  of  an 
addition  to  its  funds.  The  Committee  which  had 
been  formed  for  tlie  building  of  the  Chapel 
requested  the  Hospital  Board  to  unite  with  them 
in  <*  giving  an  Oratorio  "  for  the  joint  benefit  of 
the  Chapel  and  the  Hospital  This  suggestion 
met  with  the  approval  of  the  Hospital  Board, 
and  the  performances  were  fixed  for  the  2nd,  3rd, 
ajid  4th  of  September.  The  programme  was  as 
follows  : 

On  WEDNESDAY  Morning  next,  the  2d  of  September, 
at  St.  Pin  lip's  Chuhch,  will  be  performed,  in  the  Courae 
of  the  Service  (which  will  begin  at  Half-past  Ten  precisely) 
The  Overture  of  ESTHER  ;  HANDEL'S  Grand  DET- 
TINGEK  TE  DEUM  and  JUBILATE;  an  ORGAN 
CONCERTO  by  Mr.  HAKRIS;  Dr.  BOYCE'S  ANTHEM; 
the  OLD  HUNDREDTH  PSALil  accompanied;  and, 
after  a  Sermon  to  be  preached  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  YOUNG, 
HANDELVS  Grand  CORONATION  ANTHEM.  In  the 
Evening,  at  the  Tueatre,  in  New  Street,  a  GRAND 
MISCELLANEOUS  CONCERT  consisting  of  select  Vocal 
and  Instrumental  Pieces,  by  the  priucipol  Performers. 

On  Thursday  Morning  the  3rd.  at  St.  PHILIPS,  the 
Oratorio  of  JUDAS  MACCABEUS,  and  between  the 
Acts  an  ORGAN  CONCERTO  by  Mr.  CLARK.  In  the 
Evening  at  the  Theatre,  the  iSereuata  of  ACIS  and 
GALATEA  ;  between  the  parts  of  which  wilt  be  iatro* 
ducod  some  favourite  Pieces,  and  an  ODE  to  MAY 
composed  by  Mr.  HAERIS. 

On  Friday  Morning  the  4th,  at  St  Philips,  thi  atcwd 
Oratoiuo  of  MKSfttAH.  lij  the  Evening  at  the  Tiieatbje, 
a  GRAND  MLSCELLANEOUS  CONCERT,  consisting  of 
several  capital  Pieoea,  by  the  principal  Performers, 

Principal  Voca!  Performers,  Misa  MAHON,  Miss 
SALMON.  Messrg.  N0RRI3,  MATTHEWS,  PRICE, 
SALMON,  kc,  kc. 

Principal  Instrumental  Performers,  Mr.  CRANMER 
(First  YioUn  at  the  Opera  House,  Londooh  Messrs. 
CARVETTO.  PARK,  ASHLEY,  STORACCl.  JENKINS, 
MAHON,  kc,  kc.    The  other  ParU  of  the  Band,  which 


'*  Ifr.  W.  Bat^a.  In  a  MS,  note  to  bia  adzniiablc  Guide,  layi, 
*'  The  foUowing  lines  will  be  remembered  bj  many  as  having  beta 
ehalked  on  the  walls  ibout  the  town  ;-- 

*  A  Urge  town,  a  proud  people, 
A  fiae  church,  and  no  eteepls. ' " 


ITS 


OLD   AKD  NEW  BIEMmGHAH 


[Cbnrebti  uid  E 


,  I7e0-IT«0. 


will  bo  TCry  fall,  by  the  moat  approTied  Perform era^  tnd 
the  celebrated  WOMEN  CHORUS  SINGERS  from 
Lao  cash  ire. 

N.B.— Then  will  be  a  BALL  each  Evening  at  the 
HOTEL. 

The   gross   rec^pts   from   these   performances 

amounted  nearly  to  X800,  of  which  ;tlTO  fell 

to  the  share  of  the  Hospital,  and  an  equal  sum 

to  the  building  fund  of  St.  Paul's  Chapel. 

In  1791,  a  beautiful  stained  glass  window, 
designed  by  West,  was  placed  over  the  Comraunion 
Tahle,  It  was  executed  by  Francis  Eginton,  (of 
whom  we  shall  have  mow  to  say  in  our  second 
notice  of  Soho,)  and  is  divided  into  three  coin- 
paitments,  the  central  one  representing  the 
Conversion  of  Saint  Paul,  and  those  on  the  sides 
the  Descent  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  the  Death  of 
Ananias,  Nicholls,  in  his  Aneedoie$  of  the 
Literature  of  the  Eighteenth  Century^  remarks  of 
thia  window,  **  that  it  would  be  unjust  to  Mr. 
Eginton,  of  Birmingham,  not  to  add  that  the 
whole  is  a  most  brilliant  ornament,  and  admirably 
executed." 

If  they  be  happy  who  have  no  history,  then 
we  may  assume  that  the  period  covered  by  the 
present  chapter  must  have  been  one  of  continued 
happiness  and  prosperity  in  the  two  Unitarian 
Societies  of  the  town.  Ko  event  of  interest  has 
to  be  chronicled  concerjiing  this  denomination, 
until  we  i-each  the  year  17 SO, — the  last  of  oiir 
present  period, — when,  "Mr.  Hawkes  declining 
the  pastoral  care  "  at  th<5  New  Meeting,  "  the 
congregation  judiciously  turned  their  thoughts 
towards  the  celebrated  Doctor  Priestley,  F.E.S., 
one  of  the  first  philosophers  of  the  age,  whose 
merit  seems  obvious  to  every  eye  but  his  owil/'* 

Joseph  Priestley ,^ — "a  man  no  less  distinguished 
by  social  and  Christian  virtues,  than  scientific  and 
literary  attainments," t — was  the  son  of  Jonas 
Priestley,  a  clothnlresser,  living  at  Fie  Id  head, 
In  the  parish  of  Birstall,  near  Leeds ;  and  was 
born  March  13,  1733. 

The   birthplace  of  the  great  philosopher  has 


•Button. 

t  W.  Butif^  BvA. 


shared  the  fate  of  his  last  home  in  Birmingham, 
having  been  pulled  down  some  years  ago.  It  was 
"  a  little  house  of  three  small  rooms,  built  of  stone 
and  Blated  with  flags/'  *  Hia  mother  died  when 
he  was  only  seven  years  old,  and  he  was  taken 
charge  of  by  an  aunt,  a  Mrs.  Keighly,  a  piotts 
woman,  who,  he  tells  us,  "  knew  no  other  use  of 
wealth,  or  of  talents  of  any  kind,  than  to  do 
good ;  '*  and  at  her  expense  he  received  an 
ediication  to  fit  him  for  the  Christian  ministry,  | 
the  efforts  of  his  teachers  being  greatly 
aided  by  the  young  scholars  intense  love  of  j 
learning. 

His  aunt  encouraged  him  in  his  fondness  for  ] 
books,  and  as  her  house  was  the  resort  of  many 
dissenting  ministers — chiefly,  it  would  appear,  of 
the  lets  orthodox  type,  albeit  she  herself  was  of 
the   Calvinistic  persuasion, — the  young  student 
was  brought  in  contact   with    men   of    culture,  | 
whose  conversation    doubtless    exercised  an  in- 
fluence   upon    his    own    religious    convictions,  i 
As  soon  as  his  health   would  pennit,   he  was  i 
sent  to   the  Dissenting  Academy  at  Daventry,] 
which  was    under  the   direction  of  Mr,    (after- 1 
wards   Dr.)    Rush  worth,   successor   to    the   emi- 
nently pious  and  learned  Dr.  Doddridge.      He  I 
found   here    that    freedom  of    opinion   in    the! 
discussion  of   religious  auhjtjcts  which  was  mott 
congenial  to  him,  and,  while   at   the   Academy, 
came  to  "embrace   what    is   called   the  hetero- 
dox side  of  every  question."     His  fii^t  charge, 
after    leaving     Daventry,     was     at     Keedham 
Market,  in  Surrey;  and  here  the  congregation 
soon  began  to  express  their  diahke,  both  of  I 
young  pastor's  stammering  mode  of  utterance,  and 
of    the    "  uncertain   sound "     which   he   **  gavel 
forth"  concerning  the  doctrine  of  the  Divinity 
of  Jesus   Christy    and  they    "foil   off   apace.** 
Finding  himself  unpopular  and  almost  de 
by  his  congregation,  and  consequently  reduced  i 
worldly   circumstances,    he    issued    proposals 
leach  classics  and  mathematics  for  half-a-guinea  i 


*LeetBn  oa  **  Joteph  PneiUer :  bit  LtCe  end  Chemioal  Woilt/ 


lAQdBioU,  1760-178<».] 


OLD  AND  NEW   BIRMINGHA]^. 


17S 


quarter,  and  to  board  pupils  for  twelve  giiiiieaa  a 
year.  Thifl  project,  however,  was  unsuccessful, 
atid  he  commenced  a  series  of  twelve  lectures  on 
**  The  use  of  the  Globea,"  but  the  attendance  did 
not  even  pay  for  the  necessary  globes. 

From  Needhara  he  went,  in  1758,  to  Nantwich, 
m  Cheshire,  and  there  again  combined  the  duties 
ol  pastor  and  schoolmaster  He  had  now  re- 
nounced all  the  doctrines  of  **  orthodoxy,'*  and 
while  at  this  place  he  published  his  Erst  theo- 
logical work,  on  "The  Scripture  Doctrine  of 
Remissioii^^*  in  which  he  endeavoured  to  refute  the 
doctrine  of  the  Atonement  In  1761  he  wm 
invited  to  Warrington,  to  succeed  Dr.  Aikin  as 
tutor  in  the  languages  and  belles  httresy  in  the 
Diasenting  Academy  of  that  town ;  and  now  his 
literary  life  began  in  earnest.  In  addition  to 
teaching  Latin,  Greek,  Hebrew,  French,  and 
Italian,  he  delivered  courses  of  lectures  on  Oratory 
and  Criticism,  on  Elocution,  on  Logic,  on  History 
end  General  PoHcy,  and  many  other  subjects. 
He  became  acquainted  with  Benjamin  Franklin, 
too^  about  this  time,  and  formed  a  friendship 
which  iniluenoed  aU  his  future  career,  and  gave  that 
atimulus  which  was  neceasaij  to  induce  him  to 
enter  in  le^  earnest  on  the  study  of  natural 
philoflophy.  At  Franklin's  suggestion  he  under- 
toolt  to  write  his  **  History  and  Present  State  of 
Electric  Science,"  his  friend  having  ako  furniflhed 
hiiD  with  booka  for  the  purpose.  In  1765  the 
University  of  Edinburgh  conferred  upon  him  the 
honorary  title  of  LLD.  While  at  Warrington 
he  married  the  daughter  of  a  wealthy  ironmaster 
of  Wales,  with  whom  he  lived  happily ;  but  as 
income  from  the  chair  of  languages  and 
•lettre^  was  insu3icient  for  the  maintenance 
of  «  family,  he  accepted  an  invitation  to  become 
paiior  of  the  dissenting  congregation  worshipping 
ai  Mill-hill  Chapel,  Leeds,  and  removed  thither 
in  1767.  He  had  now  sufficient  leisure  to  enable 
him  to  devote  greater  attention  to  experimental 
pluloBophyi  and  here  he  **  commenced  that 
briUiant  series  of  discoveriea  by  which  other 
haada  uid  other  brains  than  his  accomplished 


the  destructiun  of  one  of  the  biggest  stumbling 
blocks  to  human  knowledge  of  which  hiatory 
has  any  record,"^ 

In  1773  Lord  Shelbume»  desiring  a  librarian 
and  literary  companion,  applied  to  Dr.  Price  for 
a^istance  in  obtaining  a  suitable  person  for  the 
post,  and  the  latter  recommended  Dr,  Priestley, 
who  was  at  once  appointed  at  a  salary  of  X250 
a  year  and  a  separate  house.  He  travelled  with 
Lord  Shelburne  on  the  continent,  and  made  the 
acquaintance  of  the  principal  men  of  science  in 
the  French  capital ;  and  when  in  England  enjoyed 
sufficient  leisure  to  enable  him  to  continue  his 
scientific  researches.  He  remained  with  Lord 
Shelburne  seyen  years,  and  in  1780,  for  reasons 
into  which  it  is  unnecessary  that  we  should 
inquire,  he  left  his  lordship's  service ;  and 
immediately  afterwards  received  the  in\dtation 
to  which  we  have  already  referred,  to  become 
the  pastor  of  the  New  Meeting,  in  Birmingham. 
Catherine  Hutton,  the  daughter  of  our  first 
historian,  writing  to  a  friend,  December  25th, 
iu  this  year,  says  :  **  The  celebrated  Dr.  Priestley 
has  taken  up  his  residence  among  us  for  the  sake 
of  facOitating  his  pldlosophical  experiments,  and 
Mr.  Hawkes,  one  of  the  preachers  at  the  New 
Meeting,  having  resigned  his  place,  it  has  been 
olTfired  to  the  Dr.,  and  it  is  generally  believed 
ho  will  accept  it  If  he  do,  you  may  expect  to 
hear  of  my  becoming  a  convert  to  his  religion, 
for  I  am  weary  of  Calvinistic  monotony  and 
nonsense,  "t 

As  our  present  period  does  not  extend  beyond 
the  date  of  Dr.  Priestley's  arrival  in  the  town,  we 
must  leave  for  a  future  chapter  any  reference  to 
his  life  and  labours  in  Bimiingham,  and  the  events 
which  followed  his  ministry  at  the  New  Meeting. 

The  changes  at  the  New  Meeting  were  not  the 
only  events  in  the  histor}^  of  the  Birmingham 
Nonconformists  during  the  year  1780.  In  that 
year,  the  Baptists,  finding  their  meeting-house  in 


•  FroftaaoT  Thorpe. 

t  Sb«  had  hitherto  atttnd«d  (with  Kir  Oitht r  and  mother)  the 
Imdependent  Meetinc  Hooae  1»  C«ir  e  Laae. 


»T.   JAMSSS   CHAPEL,   ASHTED. 


Bcom,  Qimkers," — otherwise  tbo  Society  of  Friends, 
— would  appear  to  have  been  iinjiroved^  and 
p<irliap3  enlarged,  during  the  Jatter  part  of  the 
eighteeBth  centtuyi  and  is  described  by  HuttoD, 
in  1781,  as  "a  large  and  convenient  place,  and 
notwithstanding  the  plainness  of  the  profession, 
rather  elegant.''  It  was  doubtless  at  the  expense 
of  one  or  more  of  the  wealthier  members  of  this 
oatimable  society  that  BaskcrviHo   printed  the 


and  described  it  as  *^a  barren,  dry,  imcomf  oiiable 
place.  Most  of  the  seed,"  he  writes,  "  which  has 
been  sown  for  so  many  yeaiS|  the  '  wild  boafs ' 
have  rooted  up ;  the  fierta,  uncleani  brutish, 
bhisphemous  antinomiaaK  have  uiterly  duistroyed 
it  And  the  mystic  foxes  have  taken  true  pains 
to  spoil  what  remained,  with  their  new  gospel  '*  • 
In  1760  he  found  here  a  society  of  little  mors 
than  fifty  persons ;  and  in  the  next  year,  when  he 


UM mA  %lme%0£  Jolia  WinUx,  |L, IW. 


OitoelM  ittd  Seeti,  ITOO-irw.] 


OLD  AKD  KEW    BERMIKGHAM. 


175 


proacbed  in  the  town,  the  room  vms  far  too  sisall 
for  the  congi-egation*  In  1764  he  pr^aebed  again 
in  the  town,  in  the  old  !Moor-Street  theatre,  which 
the  Methodist*  had  obtained,  as  we  have  previously 
rice,  the  mob  gathered,  and  threw 
kt  people  going  out 


The  only  events  to  be  recorded,  in  the  period 
imder  notice,  in  the  history  of  the  Carr's  Ijine 
Jleeting,  have  reference  to  its  financial  prosperity. 
In  1771  the  interest  of  £800  was  bequeathed  to 
the  society  by  the  will  of  John  England  ;  and  in 
1779  Joseph  Scott  assigned  **  certain  oieBanagea 


J*^ 


«^ 


TKi;  GEXIttAL  HOSPITAL  :    SHOWIKO  THE  TWO   WINOfl   ADDBX>  CC  1790. 


Bat,  as  the  time  of  which  we  now  write  passed 
i  mk^  Ifao  humble  sect  began  to  enjoy  rest  from  per- 
aoHi  and  soon  became  a  ilounshing  society. 
WritiBg  in  1768,  Wedey  remarks  that  the 
icimiUtA  of  00  many  years  continuance,  were 
**  oow  wholly  suppressed  by  a  resolute  magistrate.'' 
Here  he  met  **  with  a  venerable  monument  of 
•ittiquity,  George  Bridgins,  in  the  one  hundred 
•ad  MTonth  year  of  his  age,  still  able  to  walk  to 
pifaehtDg,  and  retiuning  his  senses  and  under- 
iljaidiiig  tolenUy  well" 
9S 


and  lands  in  and  near  Wolmer  Lane,  in 
Birniinghani,''  producing  a  rental  of  X40  18s., 
'*  part  of  the  said  prumisea  to  be  appropriate 
for  the  interment  of  Protestant  dissenters; 
part  of  the  profits  to  be  applied  to  the  use 
of  a  religious  society  in  Carr's  Lane,  at  the 
discitjtion  of  the  trust,  and  the  remainder  for 
the  institution  of  a  school  to  teach  the  mother 
tongue/' 

Altogether,  as  regards  the  less  importont  deno- 
minations of  Bimiinghami  this  period  cannot  be 


176 


OLD    AND   NEW    BIRMINGHAM.  [TheTHeimialXaBiciatatMa. 


said  to  have  been  one  pf  prosperity.  The  Roman 
Catholics  were  yet  without  a  place  of  worship  in 
the  town,  and  had  to  journey  two  miles  to  the 
nearest  chapel,  that  of  Edgbaston.  The  Jews 
had  a  small  synagogue  in  the  Froggary,  in  which 
they  still  preserved  "  the  faint  semblance  of  the 
ancient  worship ; "  but  "  their  whole  apparatus  " 
seemed  to  Button  "  no  more  than  the  drooping 
ensigns  of  poverty."  Several  of  the  newer  sects 
— the  disciples  of  Swedenborg,  and  the  Countess 
of  Huntingdon's  Connection,  for  instance — were 
not  yet  represented  in  the  town  at  all.  But  in 
the  next  period  we  shall  see  the  various  commu- 
nities of  dissenters  in  great  prosperity,  growing 
and  increasing  on  every  hand.     We  shall  find 


newer  societies  flourishing  side  by  side  with  those 
previously  established  in  the  town  ;  but  it  will  be 
our  unpleasant  duty  to  close  that  record  of 
prosperity  by  a  narrative  of  events  in  which  those 
who  ventured  to  differ  in  their  religious  opinions 
and  form  of  church  government  from  the  Church 
of  the  State,  were  called  upon  to  suffer  persecu- 
tion and  peril,  as  well  as  great  temporal  losses,  at 
the  hands  of  the  ignorant  and  the  lawless. 
Therefore,  although  we  must  dose  this  chapter 
without  recording  great  prosperity  among  the 
churches  of  nonconformity,  it  is  satisfactoiy  to 
be  able  also  to  leave  it  for  the  present  free  from 
the  stain  which  darkens  the  next  period  in  the 
history  of  religion  in  Birmingham. 


CHAPTER     XXVIII. 


THE     BIRMINGHAM     TRIENNIAL     MUSICAL     FESTIVALS: 
First  Period,  from  1768  to  1799, 

The  early  Festivals- Service  on  behalf  of  the  Hospital,  1781— Commencement  of  tlieTriennialTe8tival8-—"Goliah  "—Handel  CelebratioDS' 
Anonymous  Donation  of  £600  to  the  Hospital— Poem  by  Freeth  thereon— the  Festival  of  1787— Mr.  Yates  and  the  Festival 
Committee— Mrs.  Billington— Repetition  of  the  "  Messiah  "—The  Festival  of  1790— Madame  Mara— Enlargement  of  the  Hospital— A 
disastrous  year— Postponement  of  the  Festival— The  Fe.stival  of  1706— Poems  on  Mrs.  Second,  by  Collins— Backles  vemu  Shoe-strings 
—The  Festival  of  1799— Receipts  and  profits  of  each  meeting. 


The  history  of  the  Birmingham  JMusical  Festivals 
is  divided  hy  Mr.  Bunce  into  three  periods, — the 
performances  given  during  the  last  century ;  those 
which  took  place  in  the  period  between  the  com- 
mencement of  the  present  century  and  the  opening 
of  the  Town  Hall  in  1834  ;  and  those  which  have 
been  given  since  that  event  We  cannot  do  better, 
therefore,  than  adopt  the  same  division ;  and  shall 
anticipate,  by  a  few  years,  the  general  history  of 
the  town,  in  our  first  chapter  on  "those  great 
Musical  Celebrations  which  have  done  so  much  to 
make  the  name  of  Birmingham  famous  throughout 
Europe,  as  the  cultivator  and  promoter  of  the 
musical  art  in  its  highest  developments.''^ 

The  first  of  these  celebrations  took  place  in 
1768,   and  has  been  already  noticed  in   these 

*  J.  T.  Bonos :  History  of  the  Musical  Festivals,  p.  «8. 


pages  ;*  it  will  be  unnecessary,  therefore,  further 
to  refer  to  it  in  the  present  chapter.  Ten  years 
afterwards, — in  September  1778, — it  was  resolved 
to  give  another  series  of  musical  performances, 
for  the  joint  benefit  of  the  Hospital  and  St  Paul's 
Chapel,  and  this  also  has  already  been  recorded 
in  our  notice  of  the  chapel,  t 

The  sum  of  £140  is  frequently  set  down  in 
lists  of  the  Musical  Festivals,  as  the  net  produce 
of  a  musical  celebration  in  the  year  1781 ;  but 
strictly  speaking,  no  musical  performance  took 
place  in  that  year.  On  Monday,  the  23rd  of 
July,  however,  a  sermon  was  preached  at  St 
Philip's,  on  behalf  of  the  Hospital,  by  the  Bishop 
of  Chester,  after  which  a  collection  was  made, 
amounting  to  £128  6s.  Id. ;  and  thia  buhl  (with, 

«  Chap.  zzL,  p.  1S8.  t  Ouq^  nnriL,  pi  171. 


I  TMcDnlAl  M  niic&l  FettlYak.] 


OLD   AND   NEW   EIEMINGHAM, 


177 


perhaps,  soTeral  donations  immediately  afterwards, 
BmoUTiting  in  all  to  about  £liO)  has  usually  been 
set  down  in  the  lists  as  the  produce  of  a  Festival, 
probably  in  order  to  connect  the  triennial  festivals 
Tiitb  that  of  1778, 

But  the  triennial  series  did  not  properly  com- 
mence until  1784,  In  the  March  of  that  year, 
the  Hospital  Board  resolved  **  That  some  Musical 
Performances  be  thought  of,  for  the  benefit  of  the 
Charity,  to  take  pkce  after  the  meeting  of  the 
Three  Choirs  in  the  Autumn.**  During  that  year 
there  were  mus"cal  gatherings  at  Salisbury  and 
Liverpool,  aa  well  as  at  Gloucester,  and  there  was 
consequently  some  difficulty  in  selecting  a  suitable 
lime  for  the  Birmingham  meeting;  but  it  was 
ultimately  decided  to  hold  it  on  the  22nd,  23rd 
and  24th  of  September,  The  steward  of  that  year, 
Viscount  Dudley  and  War<i,  having  offered  to  place 
nt  Uie  disposal  of  the  comnuttee  a  new  oratorio 
entitled  **  Goliah,"  by  Atterbury,  it  was  decided 
that  it  should  take  the  place  of  the  usual  Thursday 
evening  concert ;  and  the  composer  generously 
deToted  to  the  Hospital  the  profits  arising  from 
the  sale  of  the  work. 

Tlie  famous  Handel  commemoration  at  West- 
minster Abbey,  which  had  been  commanded  by  the 
King,  in  the  same  year — the  supposed  centenary 
of  HandeFs  birth, — suggested  to  the  Birmingham 
committee  Uie  idea  of  making  their  Festival  of 
1784  a  commemoration  of  the  great  master  of 
liannony.  The  first  day's  [jerfonoance,  at  St 
Philip's,  comprised  the  Occasional  Overture, 
Pitfcell's  To  Deum  and  Jubil  ^te,  Handera 
Anthfikm,  **  O  come  let  us  sing/*  and  hia  Corona- 
tion Anthem.  On  Wednesday  evening,  at  the 
Theatre,  Novr  Street,  the  concert  included  "the 
favourite  pieces  performed  at  the  PantheoHi  by 
commimd  of  his  Majesty,  in  commemoration  of 
Mr*  Handel,"  On  Tliuraday  morning,  at  St 
pyiip'fl,  the  service  consisted  entirely  of  a 
selection   from  Htindel's  works,  being  the  same 

that  performed   at   the   Westminster  Abbey 

ebration  on  the  3rd  of  June ;  and  included  the 
Dettingen  Te  D«um^  the  Overtures  to  **  Esther  " 


and  "Tamerlane,"  the  Dead  March  in  **Saul," 
several  anthems,  and  the  Double  Chorus  from 
"Israel  in  Egypt  "^ — *^  The  Lord  shall  reign." 
Thursday  evening,  as  we  have  already  said,  was 
devoted  to  IMr.  Atterbury's  "  Goliah,"  and  on 
Friday  morning  the  Handel  commemoration  was 
brought  to  a  close  with  the  performance  of  his 
di\dne  masterpiece,  "The  Messiah."  In  the 
evening  the  Festival  itself  was  brought  to  a 
conclusion  with  a  miscellaneous  concert  at  the 
tlieatre,  "consisting  of  select  pieces  by  the  most 
capital  performers."  The  principal  vocalists  at 
this  Festival  were  the  Misses  Abrams  and  Master 
Bartleman ;  and  the  chief  instrumentalists  were 
^lessrs.  Wilson,  Ashley,  Gariboldi,  and  Clarke. 
The  Imnd  was  supported  by  the  large  double 
drums  usetl  in  the  celebration  at  Westminster 
Abbey ;  and  both  band  and  chonis  are  described 
aa  having  been  very  full  Among  the  many 
distiagiiished  visitors  who  honoured  the  Festival 
with  their  presence  on  this  occasion,  were  Lord 
and  Lady  Plymouth,  Lord  and  Lady  Ferrers, 
Lady  Windsor,  Sir  Robert  and  Lady  Lawley, 
and  Sir  Edward  Littleton,  The  gross  amount 
produced  by  these  performances  was  -£1,325,  and 
the  profits  £703. 

Shortly  after  the  Festival  in  this  year,  a  "  lady 
unknown "  gave  £500  to  the  funds  of  the 
Hospital  ]  upon  wliich  our  local  poet  Freeth 
wrote  the  following  lines  : — 

**Noveiid>erl5th,  1784. 
**0u  a  Benefaction  of  Five   Hundred   Pounds  being 
presented  to  the  General  Hospital,  by  a  Lady  unknown. 

**  Of  Russell,  thongb  much  has  been  aaid, 

And  the  maidens  the  flowers  httve  atrewM^ 
To  say,  '*  the  cunuudgeoii  b  dead/' 

The  epitajili — who  can  thitik  rude  ? 
With  benevolence  known  to  abound, 

The  virtue  must  be  that  excels  ; 
Wiiere  no  ostentation  is  fouud, 

The  tsaence  of  chftrity  dwells. F." 

From  this  time,  with  but  two  exceptions,  the 
Musical  Festivals  were  held  trienniallv,  and 
rapiiUy  grew  in  importance.  Greater  intei^t 
was  aroused  among  the  clergy  of  the  town,  as 
w6U  as  among  the  nobility  of  the  sttrroundiog 


178 


OLD  AND  NEW  Bm^riNGKAM. 


[Die  TKennUl  IfaxlcAl  FfstlrdiL 


neighbourhood.  The  Rev.  Charles  Curtis,  rector 
of  St.  Martin's,  the  Eev.  T,  Young,  of  St.  TauVs, 
and  the  Eev.  J*  Darwall,  of  St  John*s,  Deritcnd, 
were  on  the  committee.  At  the  next  celebration, 
in  1787,  the  Earl  of  Aylesford  was  elected 
President,  and  the  Earl  of  Pljnjouth,  VUcount 
Dudley  and  Ward,  and  Sir  George  Shuckburgh, 
Bart.,  acted  as  stewards,  A  quarrel,  however, 
between  the  committee  and  Mr.  Yates,  the 
manager  of  the  Theatre,  seemed  likely  to  mar 
the  prospects  of  the  Festival.  The  latter,  con- 
isideiing  the  remunoration  offered  him  for  the 
use  of  the  theatre  to  be  inadequate,  announced 
a  performance  for  the  evening  before  the  com- 
mencenient  of  the  Festival,  notwithstanding 
that  the  theatre  was  indispensably  required  by 
tho  committee  for  a  rehearsal  on  that  evening. 
In  vain  the  committee  remenstrated, — the  manager 
was  determined,  and  probably  would  not  have 
yielded,  had  they  not  threatened  to  take  legal 
proceedings  to  close  the  theatre  for  the  remainder 
of  the  season.  This,  however,  biought  liim  to 
Ma  sense?,  and  ho  consented  to  forego  the 
promised  pprformanca  But  stvon  afterwards 
another  cause  of  offence  would  appear  to  have 
arisen,  and  again  the  manager  announced  his 
intention  to  play  on  the  day  required  for  rehearsal, 
Tuesday,  August  2l8t.  The  committee  met  on 
Wednesday,  the  16th,  (less  than  one  week  from 
the  commencement  of  the  Festival,)  and  appointed 
a  deputation  of  five  persons  to  wait  upon  Mr, 
Yates,  and  endeavour  to  persuade  him  "  to  give 
up  the  idea  tif  playing."  This  he  once  more  agreed 
to  do,  but  again  his  obfitinate  spirit  obtidned  the 
masteiy,  and  the  deputation  had  scarcely  rejoined 
their  committee  when  a  messenger  arrived  from 
Mr.  Yates  demanding  tjompensation,  and  threat- 
ening that  if  not  liberally  dealt  with  he  would 
play,  not  only  on  Tuesday,  but  on  Friday  also. 
Another  meeting  of  the  committee  was  convened 
for  the  next  morning,  and  a  letter  sent  to  the 
vacillating  manager  demanding  a  final  answer. 
According  to  the  minutes  of  the  committee  the 
only  reply  vouchsafed  by  Mr#  Yates  was  "a  verbal 


mmituage  "  to  the  effect  that  he  *'  would  do  as  lie 
pleased/^     Fpon   this,   the  committee  returned 
word  that  they  would  not  use  bis  theatre  at  all, 
and  that  they  were  deterniined  to  prevent  Ida 
theatrical  performances  immed  iately ,    Accord  ingl j 
they  engaged  Mr.  Swann's  amphitheatre,  in  liver 
Street,  for  the  evening  concerts  ;  and  notice  "W 
given  to  Mr.  Yates's  actors  that  they  would 
prosecuted  if  they  *'  should  attempt  to  speak  < 
the  stage  hereafter  under  Mr,   Yates's  manag 
ment ; "  several  persons  being  hired  ta  att4?nd 
the  theatre  in  order  to  have  proofs  against  sucl 
as  ventured  on  playing.     The  manager  now  saw 
that  to  continue  opposition  to  the  wishes  of  the 
committee  would  be  to  court  ruin,  and  on  Sunday,^ 
the  19tli,  he  sent  a  humble  apology,  offering  th 
use  of  the  theatre  for  the  whole  week.      Th 
new  aspect  of  affairs  rendered  it  necessary  that  ft^ 
meeting  of  the  committee  should  \n  held  at  once, 
Sunday  though  it  was,  and,  strange  to  say, 
the  clerical  members  were  present ;   and  it  ws 
resolved  to  accept  Mr.  Yates's  offer,  but,  in  order ^ 
to   punish  him   for   his  obstinacy,   it   was  also 
determined  that  not  one  farthing  should  be  paid 
to  him  for  the  use  of  either  the  theatre  or  the 
orchestra.    And  thus  the  dispute  ended  ;  and  not 
matters  looked  more  promising  as  to  the  sue 
of  the  Festival,  which  was  opened  on  WednesdajJ 
August  22nd,  with  a  Monung  Service  at  SI 
Philip's,  in  the  course  of  which  a  selection  i 
the  works  of  Handel,   Puroell,  and  Boyce,  wa 
given.      Miscellaneous  Concerts  at  the  Theafe 
occupied  each  evening ;    on  Thursday  morning 
the  majestic   harmonies  of   "  Israel  in  Egypt ' 
(called  by   Dr.    Mocfarren    **  Handera    might 
masterpiece")  wcro  for  the  first  time  heard 
Birmingliam.       On    Friday   Moniing  the  eve 
glorious     '*  Messiah  **    was    so    enthusiasticaltj 
received,   (partly  owing  to   the   *' eactraordi 
ability  and  the  singular  gracefulness  of  style  I 
of  the  celebrated  Mrs,  liillington,  who,  accordi 
to  a  contemporary  record,   **  sang  with  the  mo 
powerful  sensibility,   and  failed  not  to   axdij 
usual  admiration,'')  that  a  second  perfonuanoe 


Ite  tHc&iOal  Mttiitiat  FtttlnU  ] 


OLD  AKD   NEW   BHiMINGHAI^l 


179 


I 


that  oratorio  was  demanded,  and  was  given,  on 
the  Saturday^  to  an  over  flowing  audience. 

The  total  receipts  of  the  Festival  amounted  to 
neatly  £2000,  the  profit  accruing  to  the  Hospital 
beiog  £d64. 

At  the  Festival  of  1790,  which  was  held  Anguat 
25th,  2$th,  and  27th,  the  only  oratorio  performed 
was  the  "  Messiah/'  the  remainder  of  the  music, 
both  at  the  church  and  the  theatre,  being  selected 
from  the  English  and  Italian  composers,  but 
chiefly  from  HandeL  This  year  was  signalized 
by  the  appearance  of  the  celebrated  Madame 
^fara^ — her  appearance  here  being  owing,  says 
the  historian  of  the  Festivals,  to  Lord  Dudley, 
(by  whom  she  was  much  esteemed,  and  whose 
house  at  Himley  she  was  visiting)  who  probably 
paid  the  expense  of  her  engagement,  as  the  com- 
mittee return  his  lordship  a  vote  of  thanks  **  for 
his  generous  offer  of  the  services  of  Madame 
Mara  and  her  husband/* 

The  otlier  lady  vocalists  were  Miss  Mabon  and 
the  Iklisses  Ahiams ;  and  among  the  iuBtrumental 
performers  was  Mr.  Charles  Knyvett,  whose 
brother, — the  bettor  known  William  Knyvett — 
was  in  later  years  the  Conductor  of  the  Festivals, 
The  proceeds  amounted  to  £1,965  18s»,  and  the 
profiU  1*958  14s.  8d. 

l>uriivg  this  year,  the  Hospital  was  enlarged  b}' 
the  addition  of  Uvo  wings  ;  which  added  con- 
siderably to  its  completeness  and  convenience,  as 
well  OS  to  its  external  appearance,  as  represented 
in  our  engraving  on  page  175/' 

In  1793  the  triennial  sequence  of  the  Festivals 
hiid  once  more  to  be  brokea  The  state  of  trade, 
and  the  oppressive  taxation,  which  formed  the 
bufden  of  many  of  Poet  Freeth's  verses  during 
theee  yean,  (as  quoted  in  a  previous  chapter,) 
I  w  liaps,  worse  in  1793  than  in  any  year  of 

fti  de,  until  1800;  and  these,  added  to  a 

load  calamity,  (the  burning  of  the  theatre,  August 
7^  1792.)  which  deprived  the  committee  of  the 
only  suitable  concert-room,  together  with  the  fact 
that  "  the  public  mmd  was  directed  rather 
toward*  t]ie  stern  aiarms  of  war,  than  attuned  to 


the  cultivation  of  the  harmonic  art/*  rendered  it 
highly  nil  desirable  J  as  well  as  a  most  hazardous 
speculation,  to  attempt  to  hold  the  usual  triennial 
Festival  in  tliat  year. 

It  was  at  first  proposed  to  postpone  the  Festival 
for  one  year  only,  but  it  was  ultimately  decided 
to  allow  the  three  years  to  pass  without  the  usual 
musical  celebration,  and  to  resume  the  series  in 
1 796.  The  next  meeting,  therefore,  was  held  in 
the  August  of  that  year,  the  Earl  of  Ayleaford 
acting  as  Steward.  The  "Messiah"  was  again 
the  only  oratorio  performed,  and  the  evening 
concerts  are  described  as  comprising  **  the  most 
favonrite  airs,  duets,  trios,  overtures,  and  concertos, 
by  the  first  masters/*  The  principal  vocalists 
were,  Madame  Mara,  Mrs,  Second,  the  Misses 
Fletcher,  and  Messrs.  ^ield,  Kelly,  and  Bartle- 
man.  Among  the  instrumental  performances 
were  Hobert,  John,  and  Charles  Lindley,  and  F. 
Cramer. 

The  singing  of  Mrs,  Second  on  this  occasion 

so  favourably  impressed  a  local  poet,  Collins, — 

the    well-known    author    of    **  To-Morrow,"    of 

whom  we  shall  have  more  to  say  in  a  future 

chapter, — that  be  wrote  the  following  impromptu 

verses  : 

**0n  hearing  tho  youtig  k  beautiful  Mrs.  SECOND 
sing  at  the  Musical  Festival,  in  BirmiDghani,  for  the 
Benefit  of  the  General  Hospital  there. 

*'  When  the  great  Cognoficenti,  full  ripo  from  the  Schools, 
Liko  Aristiirch,  fluBird  with  dogmfitiod  ruks  ; 
Famous  weathercock  veering,  found  ways  how  to  fix  it, 
And  managed  the  vane  with  a  mecr  Ips<'  Dixit ; 
They  of  Mara  pronounc'd,  and  dispute  it  who  durst, 
That,  of  all  vocal  Prodigies,  SHR  was  the  First  f 
Bat,  as  QowerB  in  Autumn  will  fade  and  decay, 
And  leavca  shrink  and  dry  till  they  drop  from  the  spray ; 
So  the  Vet'ran  in  fame,  past  her  heyday  and  prime, 
MiiBt  like  time* beating  Stephen,*  be  beaten  by  Tim©. 
And  though  not  convinc'd  while  with  thousands  im- 

bnra'd, 
That  '  The  First  may  be  Last,  aod  the  Lo^  may  b« 

Finrt;* 
Yet,  if  Fate  seconds  Fortune^  that  doughty  old  dame, 
The  next  Idol  to  rear  on  the  topstone  of  Fame  ; 
Who  with  thrLlliug  leniationa  enraptures  the  throng, 

*Aii  atliLtlon  t*>  th«  ireU-knowti  And  oft-qaotcd  «piUpli  on  a 
mnjdcian, 

**  fiteplwa  tuitl  Tii»«  arc  dqw  U^ih  eren, 
mipbm  hm  tittu,  aad  Tim*  Imi  StAplm.*' 


180 


OLD  AND  NEW  BIRMINGHAM.        rni*Tri««iUiMa«i(*i  F^tjt^. 


While  the  I«ovo8  and  the  Graces  add  chAfms  to  her 

Though  Marn,   'mong  warblers,   the  First  ia  now 

reckoned, 
The  Time  will  yet  come  when   the   First  will  l>e 

SECOND!" 

When  the  poet  again  heard  Mrs,  Second, 
her  name, — which  must  have  Bubjecied  her  to 
persecution  from  every  wretched  punster  in  the 
hrnd, — once  more  inspired  liira  to  sing  her 
praises  in  pimning  verses  ; 

"  To  Mrs.  Second  ; 
On  hearing  her  sing  a  second  time. 
*'  Blest  with  those  Powr's  the  First  Applause  to  cIaiiii, 
How  strangely  paradoxical  thy  Name  1 
First  of  the  vocal  Tratu,  by  all  confess'd, 
Yet  Sbcond  call'd,  and  so  by  all  address'd  ! 
A  strange  Misnomer,  which  provokes  a  Pun, 
Since  thou,  sweet  "Warbler,  Second  art  to  none  ! 
For  who  points  oat,  or  would  correct  ihy  Faults, 
But  must  correct  himself,  on  Second  Though  ta! 
And  yet,  could  1,  with  llimic  Force  command 
A  Voice,  to  echo  thine  at  Second  hand, 
With  such  a  Gift  of  Imitiition  blest, 
Of  Songsters  I  should  prove  the  Second  best  t 
But  I  to  Fame  shall  never  take  that  Fli^dit 
1  see,  without  the  Gift  of  Second  Si^ht. 
Yet,  since  thy  Fiftsx-RATE  Melody  impartl 
A  FiiLST-ttATR  Charm,  to  captivate  our  Hearts, 
As  all,  from  First  to  Last,  throughout  the  Throng, 
Secoud  with  Plaudits  thy  cnclianting  Song  ; 
And  with  Om  Voice  assert,  as  they  opine, 
*A  Syren's  Voice  woidd  Second  be  to  Thine,* 
Second,  in  Name  alone,  shall  Second  be. 
While,  in  thy  Praise,  the  World  will  Second  Me  ! " 

At  this  Festival,  a  most  ingenious  ruse  was 
adopted  by  the  numeroiua  pickpockets  who, 
according  to  tlie  local  newspapers,  appear  to  have 
come  down  from  London  specially  for  the  occasion. 
Taking  advantage  of  the  local  feeling  against  the 
reaction  in  favour  of  shoe-strings  versus  buckles, 
at  that  period,  the  thieves  bustled  the  locally 
unpopular  wearers  of  shoe-strings,  denouncing 
them  as  unpatriotic  despisers  of  fine  old  English 
customs,  and  in  the  tumidt  which  ensued,  plied 
their  calling  vigourou^ly,  and  managed  to  reap  a 
good  harvest.  The  proceeds  of  the  Festival* 
amounted  to  £2,043  ISs,,  and  the  profits  ^897. 

'^  Tho  prices  of  ftdmlMian  ranged  from  h&lf-a-crowiiL  to  half-a- 
gainea  ia  the  morning,  and  from  thnse  to  six  ihlllingt  iu  the 
evening ;  and  Uie  ticket*  to  iL9  balls,  (of  wbloJi  tbere  were  thre«} 
wore  cbai^d  five  lUlUngB  aiul  ttUcp«Dc«. 


The  last  Festival  of  the  eighteenth  century  was 
held  in  September,    1799.     **  Great  efforts  had 
been   made,"   says  Mr.   Bonce,    **  to   enlist  th^ 
support  of  the  principal  residents  in  the  countyJ 
as   well   as   those   in   the   town*      The  Earl  of 
Warwick  undertook  the  post  of  Director,  and  the  | 
list  of  patrons  was  enlarged  by  the  addition  of 
the  names  of  Lords  Hertford,  Dartmouth,  Aylcs- 
ford,   Dudley,    WiUoughby    de   Broke,    Craven  J 
Middleton,  Brooke,  and  others.     The  result  was 
that  the  attendance  of  countiy  gentlemen  was  j 
materially  increased    By  strengthening  the  band  j 
and  choTiis,  as  well  as  by  engaging  a  largo  number  j 
of  principal  performers,  the  Committee  laid  the] 
foundation  of  the  eminence  the  Festivals  have  I 
since  attained,  and  thus  paved  the  way  for  that] 
new  and  greater  epoch  wliich  commenced  with  th0 
advent  of  the  present  century/**    The  **  Messiah** 
was  again  the  chief  attraction,  and  the  rest  of 
the  programme  comprised  selections  from  Handel, 
Corelli,  Geminiani,  and  other  composers.    Madame  . 
^lara  occupied,  for  the  third  time,  tlic  position  < 
principal  vocalist,   and  was  supported  by 
Poole,  Messrs.   Plarrison,  William  Knyvett,  and" 
Boi'tleman,      Again  the  three  famous  LinJleys- 
wcre  among  the  instrumentalists,  together  wit! 
Holmes,  Cantclo,  Erksine,  the  Leandeis,  Crameril 
{leader    of  the   band,)    Harris,    (organist,)    and! 
others.     As  this  was  the  most  influential  musical  J 
gathering  held  in  Birmingham,  during  the  la 
century,   so  it  appears  also   to  have  been  th 
greatest    hnancial    success,    the    receipts    bein 
£2,550,  and  the  proHts  £1,470. 

It  will  bo  interesting  to  show  at  a  glance,  the 
growth  of  this  noble  institution  during  the  lost . 
century,  by  a  tabulated  statement  of  the  receipU] 
and  profits  of  each  meeting  : — 


VRAB, 

OBOSS   RECEIPTS. 

PROFITS. 

^      a.    d. 

£      s.    d. 

1768. 

aoo   0   0 

299     7     i 

1778. 

800    0    0 

170    0    Of 

•  HlKtoTT  of  the  Fwtit^U,  pp,  76  C. 

i  TItii  amount  repnuwiti  only  halt  th«  ptotU  of  the  Fentlrsl,  w 
they  wers  ftqaAUy  dlvidfti  botvssu  the  HuspltAl  tud  ibe  -<tt  PxuY* 
Cbspel  BiitMlAg  Fund. 


Tben«tHutoJ7ofBtoiiujg!uin]        OLD   AKD   NEW   BIEMDrGHAM, 


181 


17»1. 

GP.OSS   RCCEIPTS, 

J  KoFestiraL  ServiceatSt.  J 
1         Philip*a.  July  23         ( 

1325    U    0 

1980    0    0 

1066  18    0 

No  Festival 

mOFITS. 

128    6 

703    0 
964    0 
958  11 

1 

0 
0 
8 

TEAR,                OHOSa  BECIEIPTS, 

1796.                  2043  18    0 
1799.                  2650    0    0 

PROFITS. 

897     0    0 

1470    0    0 

1784. 
1787. 
17&a. 
1798. 

Total  to  1799    £11,464  16     0              £6,590     8     1 

With  these  facte  and  figures  we  close  the  first 
j>eHod  of  the  history  of  Birmingham  Festivals. 

CHAPTEE     XXIX. 
THE     FIRST     HISTORY     OF     BIKMIKGHAH. 

Tlie   ftnit  uinoancmKnit— The  fj}gravi»g»— Tlie  price  to  be  niacd  to  non-tobfleHben— Tlie  tutlicir'a  profits — Optmionft  on  the  work — 
FnrUicr  dd«yft— Tke  ■utbor'a  preface—Deacriptioa  of  the  Tolniae— The  ftecoad  edttion-^Sfowth  of  the  town— Uutton'i  JaTeoile 


We  have  now  to  notice  hne&y  au  event  which 
ought  to  interest  every  inhabitant  of  Bimiingham 
— vii  :  the  publication  of  the  first  history  of  the 
town — **  a  history  which  notwithstanding  its 
ebortconiings,  its  errors  of  omission  and  com- 
mission, is  still  a  book  to  which  we  all  tuna  with 
delight^  and  ought  to  speak  of  with  respect/'* 
It  was  first  announced  as  "  by  a  Gentleman , 
an  Inhabitant/*  in  the  preliminary  advertisement 
in  the  Gazette  of  ^larch  5th,  1781,  wliich  ran  as 
follows : — 

PmpCiMls  for  pnbliahing  by  SubscriptioTi,  In  Odv  Vol- 
ume, Oetovo,  Price  7s.  6d,,  The  Hiatory  of  BinaiDgbsiu, 
From  the  earliest  Account*  dowu  to  the  present  time*. 
Wliich  will  be  curiched  l^itli  24  Copper- Plates,  rtpresciit- 
ing  the  PubHc  Buildings,  a  view  and  Plan  oi  the  Town, 
kc,  LCt  by  a  Gcntleniiui^  an  Inhabitant. 

llie  next  week's  issue  of  the  paper  contained 
tlio  Bfune  announcement,  but  with  the  addition  of 
the  name  of  William  Hutton  as  the  author.  On 
the  29th  of  Octobei*,  anuther  advertisement  ap- 
[jettFedf  announcing  that  in  consequence  of  the 
deUy  attending  the  pi-oduction  of  the  plates,  the 
principal  of  which  **  ore  engraving  by  that  eminent 
Artini  Mr.  Walker  of  London,*'  the  work  cannot 
be  finiahed  until  the  beginning  of  December  j 
ag,  aUOy  that  **  the  great  expense  incurred  by 
1  nuMbej-  of  Copper  Plates  given  in  the  work, 
will  anavoidiibly  oblige  the  Author  to  advance 


the  price  to  non-subscribers."  The  price  to  sub- 
scribers remained  the  same  ;  viz. :  eeven  shillings 
and  sixpence;  and  the  volume  was  to  ccntaui 
**  seventeen  Copper  Plates,  some  of  which  will  be 
well  worth  Ss.  6d.  each," 

This  was  Hutton's  first  literary  work^  and  ho 
had  begun  to  collect  materials  for  it  as  early  as 
1775,  but  in  that  year,  "a  circumstance  of  a 
private  nature  occurring,"  led  him  to  abandon  his 
project  In  1780,  however,  he  once  more  turned 
his  attention  to  the  history  of  the  town  he  loved 
so  well ;  and  the  first  nine  months  of  the  year 
Tvere  employed  in  this  labour  of  love.  **  Fearing 
luy  ability,**  he  says,  **  I  wrote  with  dread. 
ILollason,  the  Printer,  was  pleased  with  it,  and 
showed  it  to  Dr.  Withering,  who  pronounced  it 
*  the  best  topographical  history  he  had  ever  seen.' 
I  had  for  it  seventy-live  copies,  the  profit  upon 
whicli  amounted  to  al»out  forty  pounds.  To 
venture  into  the  world  as  an  author,  without 
having  had  a  previous  education,  was  a  daring 
attempt.  It  was  setting  my  knowledge  against 
that  of  the  Public  :  the  balance  was  very  uneven. 
This  was  afterwards  considered  the  be&t  book  I 
ever  wrote.  I  considered  it  in  a  leas  favourable 
light." 

Under   date    1781   in  his  autobiography,   ho 
writes : 

'*!  supped  January  31st»  with  a  larga  company 


182 


OLD  AND  NEW  BIRMINGHAM. 


[Thft  nnt  History  of  BlnnlngliaaL 


at  the  Bull  and  Gate.  Eollason,  my  printer,  was 
there  ;  spoke  highly  of  the  History,  and  made  no 
doubt  but  those  printed  upon  large  paper  would, 
in  twenty  years,  sell  for  a  guinea." 

Although  announced  for  publication  in  Decem- 
ber, and  bearing  the  date  of  1781  on  its  title  page, 
it  did  not  actually  appear,  according  to  Button's 
own  statement  in  his  autobiography,  until  March 
22,  1782.  It  was  entitled,  "An  History  of 
Birmingham,  to  the  End  of  the  Year  1780.     By 


historian,  which  give  birth  to  thought,  and  it  is  easy  to 
clothe  that  thought  in  words.  But  in  a  preface,  an  author 
is  oblij2^d  to  forge  from  the  brain,  where  he  is  sometimes 
kuown  to  forfi;e  without  fire.  In  one,  he  only  reduces  a 
substance  into  form ;  but  iu  the  other,  he  must  create  that 
substance. 

As  I  am  not  an  author  by  profession,  it  is  no  wonder  if 
I  am  unacquainted  with  the  modes  of  authorship ;  but  I 
apprehend  the  usual  method  of  conducting  a  pen  is  to 
polish  up  a  sounding  title-page,  dignified  with  scraps  of 
Latin,  and  then  to  hammer  up  a  work  to  fit  it,  as  nearly 
as  genius,  or  want  of  genius,  will  allow. 

We  next  turn  oyer  a  new  leaf,  and  open  upon  a  pom- 


^  ^a/r 


cc€^-^<L^     /^2^7-^ir'  "<C3te>e.    ct 


2) 

J     cCe^ayw      *^     Ccr>^<xJl.    o^^9^i€     -/^lUL^    ;^b^ 

Facsimile  of  a  letter  ioritUn  hy  JVilliam  HutUmj  at  the  mje  of  seven.,  to  Iris  hrotJier. 


rr^ 


W.  Hutton.  Birmingham :  Printed  by  and  for 
Pearson  and  KoUason ;  and  sold  by  R  Baldwin, 
Paternoster  Row;  B.  White,  Fleet  Street ;  J.Rob- 
son,  New  Bond  Street ;  S.  Hayes,  Oxford  Street ; 
and  J.  and  J.  Fletcher,  Oxford.  MDCCLXXXI." 
The  Preface  is  so  characteristic  of  the  author, 
in  its  quaint,  witty  apology  for  his  unprofessional 
style,  and  its  odd  mixture  of  modesty  and  egotism, 
that  notwithstanding  its  length,  we  cannot  forbear 
quoting  it  entire  : — 

A  PREFACE  rather  induces  a  roan  to  speak  of  himself, 
which  is  deemed  the  worst  subject  upon  which  he  can 
speak.  In  a  history  we  become  acquainted  with  things, 
but  in  a  preface  with  the  author,  and,  for  a  man  to  treat 
of  himself,  may  be  the  most  difficult  task  of  the  two ;  for 
in  Ustoiy,  facts  are  pxodnoed  ready  to  the  hand  of  the 


pons  Dedication,  which  answers  many  laudable  purposes  ; 
it  becomes  a  pair  of  stilts,  which  advances  an  author 
something  higher. 

As  a  horse-shoe,  nailed  upon  the  threshold  of  a  cottage, 
prevents  the  influence  of  the  witch,  so  a  first-rate  name,  at 
the  head  of  a  Dedication  is  a  total  bar  against  the  critic ; 
but  his  great  name,  Uke  a  great  officer,  sometimes  unfor- 
tunately stands  at  the  head  of  wretched  troops. 

When  an  author  is  too  heavy  to  swim  of  himself,  it 
flterves  as  a  pair  of  bladders,  to  prevent  his  sinking. 

It  is  farther  productive  qf  a  solid  advantage,  that  of  a 
present  from  the  patron,  more  valuable  than  that  from  the 
bookseller,  which  prevents  lus  sinking  under  the  pressure 
of  famine. 

But,  being  wholly  unknown  to  the  great  names  of 
literary  consequence,  I  shall  not  attempt  a  Dedication, 
therefore  must  lose  the  benefit  of  the  stilt,  the  Uadcter, 
and  the  horse-shoe. 

Were  I  to  enter  upon  a  dedication,  I  ihoiild  certainly 
address  myself,  "  To  the  InhaMtanti  of  Hinningham ;" 


n*n»ttMoiTofBinuiii8b»i).|       OLD  ASD  NEW  BIRMIN'GHAM. 


183 


for  to  them  I  not  only  owe  much,  bat  aH^  and  I  think 
among  that  congregated  mass,  there  la  not  one  periion  to 
whom  I  wiah  UL  I  have  tiie  pleaanre  of  calling  many  of 
those  inhabit&ota  friends,  and  some  of  them  share  my 
warm  affectiona  equally  with  myself.  Birmingham,  like 
a  oumpaasionate  nurse,  not  only  draws  our  persons,  but 
our  €Ateem,  from  the  place  of  our  nativity,  and  fixes  it 
upon  hcinelf :  I  might  add,  ^'  1  was  hungr)*,  and  fibe  fed 
e  ;  thirBty,  and  she  gave  mo  drink  ;  a  stranger,  and  she 


cobbled  ft  shoe  ?  or  will  it  be  a  recommendation «  that  it 
issues  forth  in  gilt  binding  ?  The  judicious  world  will 
not  be  deceived  by  the  tinaelled  purse,  but  will  examine 
whether  the  contents  are  sterling. 

Will  it  augment  the  value  of  this  history,  or  cover  ita 
blunders,  to  say,  that  1  have  never  seen  Oxford  1  Tlrnt 
the  thick  fogs  of  penury  prevented  the  sun  of  science 
from  beaming  upon  the  mind  T  That  necessity  obliged 
rae  to  lay  down  tho  iMlil^dorr,  bfiforo  T  was  master  of  the 


-     -  >       / ^v 


^  w— 


m 


nm^- 


0L1>   BUll4l>lXQ   CALLEU    *VHOrKLET   AOnET, 


me  In."  I  approached  her  with  reluctance,  because 
1  did  net  know  her ;  I  shall  leave  her  with  reluctance, 
becsnse  I  do. 

Whether  it  ia  perfectly  consistent  in  an  author,  to  solicit 
the  Indulgence  of  the  public,  though  it  may  stand  first  in 
hit  wiahea,  admits  a  doubt ;  for,  if  his  productions  will 
not  bear  the  light,  it  may  be  said,  why  does  he  publish  ? 
hut,  if  tb»y  will,  there  is  no  need  to  ask  a  favour  ;  the 
-■'^  one  from  liim.  Will  not  a  piece  everlost- 
gj  by  its  merit  ?  Shall  we  esteem  it  the  higher 

aiUMi  it  wait  written  at  the  age  of  thirteen  ?  becuQiie  it 
I  the  ofTort  of  a  week  ?  delivered  extempore  t  hatched 
wkik  Uif  aathor  etood  upon  one  leg  ?  or  cobbled  while  he 

d4 


letters  f  And  that,  instead  of  handling  systems  of  know* 
ledge,  my  hands  at  the  early  i)eriod  of  seven,  became 
callous  with  labour. 

But,  though  a  whole  group  of  pretences  will  have  no 
effect  with  the  impartial  eye,  yet  one  reason  pleads  strongly 
in  my  favour — no  such  thing  ever  appeared  as  A  History 
of  Birmingham.  It  is  remarkable,  that  one  of  the  most 
singular  places  in  the  universe  is  without  an  historian : 
that  she  never  manufactured  an  history  of  herself,  who 
has  manufactured  almost  every  thing  elae.  If  such  a 
production  had  ever  seen  the  light,  mine  most  certainly 
would  never  have  been  written*  A  temporary  bridge^ 
thenfore,  may  satisfy  the  impatient  traveller,  till  m  more 


skilful  architect  shall  a^cofnmoilsite  him  viith  a  complete 
production  of  clrgance,  of  use,  and  of  dumtion* 

Although  works  of  genius  ou^ht  to  come  out  of  the 
mint  dctibly  refined,  yet  history  admits  of  a  munh  greater 
latitude  to  the  author.  The  hfst  upon  the  subject,  though 
dt'ft^ctive,  may  mrtt  with  regard. 

It  has  long  been  a  complaint,  that  local  history  is  much 
wanted.  This  will  appear  ohvioua,  if  we  examine  the 
places  we  know,  with  the  histories  that  treat  of  them. 
Many  an  author  has  become  n  cripple,  by  historically 
travelling  through  all  England,  who  might  have  made  a 
tolf  ruble  figure  had  he  staid  at  home.  The  subject  is  tc>o 
copious  for  one  performance,  or  even  tlic  life  of  one  man* 
The  design  of  history  is  knowledge ^  but,  if  simply  to  t4?ll 
a  tale  be  all  the  duty  of  an  historian,  he  has  no  irksome 
task  before  him,  for  there  is  nothing  more  easy  than  to 
relate  a  fact,  but,  perhaps,  nothing  more  difficult  than  to 
I'elate  it  well. 

Having,  many  years  ago  entertsined  an  idea  of  this 
undertaking,  1  made  some  trilling  preparations,  but,  in 
1775>  a  circmQBt?nice  of  a  private  nature  occurring,  which 
engaged  my  attention  for  several  years,  I  reliuquifihed  the 
design,  destroyed  the  materials,  and  meant  to  give  up  the 
thought  for  ever,  but  the  intention  revived  in  1780,  and 
the  work  follow ed» 

I  may  be  accused  of  quitting  the  regular  trammels  of 
history,  and  wandering  in  the  fields  of  dissertation  ;  but, 
although  our  habitation  justly  stands  chief  in  our  esteem^ 
in  return  for  rest,  content,  and  protection,  does  it  follow 
that  we  should  never  stray  Irom  it  ?  If  I  happen  td  vier 
a  moment  from  the  poTar  point  of  Birmingham,  I  shall 
certainly  vibrate  again  to  the  centre.  Every  author  has  a 
manner  peculiar  to  himself,  nor  can  he  well  forsake  it,  I 
ahould  be  exceedingly  hurt  to  omit  a  necessary  part  of 
intelligence,  but  more  so  to  offend  a  reader. 

If  grandeur  should  censure  me  for  recording  the  men  of 
mean  life,  let  me  ask,  which  ts  preferable,— he  who 
thunders  at  the  anvil,  or  in  the  senate  ? 

The  man  who  earnestly  wishes  the  significant  letters 
¥.s(\,  spliced  to  the  end  of  his  name,  will  despise  the  ques- 
tion ;  but  the  philosopher  will  answer,  "They  arc  e<iual.*' 

Lucrative  views  have  no  part  in  this  production  j  I  can- 
not solicit  a  kind  people  to  grant  what  they  have  already 
granted  ;  but  if  another  finds  that  pleasure  in  reading, 
which  I  have  done  in  T^Titing,  I  am  paid. 

As  no  history  is  extant,  to  inform  ms  of  this  famous 
nursery  of  the  arts,  perfection  in  mine  muat  not  be  ex- 
j»ected.  Though  I  have  eudeavoured  to  pursue  the  road 
to  truth  ;  yet,  having  no  light  to  guide,  or  hand  to  direct 
me,  it  is  no  wonder  if  I  mistake  it  j  but  we  do  not  con- 
demn so  much  as  pity,  the  man  for  losing  his  way,  who 
first  travels  an  unbea^ten  road, 

Birmingham  J  for  want  of  the  recording  hand,  may  he 
said  to  live  but  on«  generation  ;  the  transactions  of  the 
last  age  die  in  this  ;  memory  is  the  sole  historian,  which, 
being  defective,  I  embalm  the  present  generation,  for  the 
inspection  of  the  future. 

It  ia  unu«ceasary  to  attempt  a  general  character,  for  if 
the  attentive  reader  is  himself  of  Birmingham,  he  is 
*quilly  ap^»rizcd  of  that  character  ;  and,  if  a  stranger,  h« 


will  find  a  variety  of   touches    scattered    through 
piece,  which,   taken  in  a  collective  view,  form  a  picts 
of  that   generous  people,    who    merit    Ids   esteem,   and 
possess  mine. 

ITie  volume  consisted   of   two   hundred   and. 
nmcty4wo  pages    (xil,    280),    and    is  a  very 
creditable    example   of    local   book-work.      The 
iUustjntions  (of  which  we  have  availed  ourselves^ 
in  ilhistrating  the  appearance  of  old  Birmingham 
in  this  work),  were  engraved  by  R.  Hancock,  a 
very  celebrated   engraver  at   that   period,   fronij 
drawings  by  Pickering.     No  plates  bearing   thtii 
name  of  Walker  (the  engraver  named   in   the 
advertisement)  appear  in  the  volume.     The  list 
of  eubscribers  contains  the  names  of  Dr.  John 
Ash,   Matthew   Boulton,    Francis   Eginton,   Br. 
rriestloy,  Br.  Withering,  and  many  other  well 
known  local  worthies ;  also  ^lark  Noble,  F.S.A.,  | 
the  biographer  of  Oliver  Cromwell,  the  celebrated 
Dr.  Dianey,  F.S.  A-,  Bichard  Gough,  the  antiquary,  ' 
and  othei's. 

The  second  edition  of  Hutton*9  History  was 
issued,  in  numbers,  in  the  beginning  of  1783.     It 
was  advertised  in  the  Gazette,  January  27th  ;  and  I 
in  that  advertisement  Hiitton  gives  a  very  graphic 
account  of  the  rapid  growth  of  the  town,     *'  If/'  j 
he  says,  **  on  acquaintance  with  our  Country  is  j 
necessary,  an  acquaintance  with  a  principal  Port  I 
is  peculiarly  so.     BiKMiNGaAM  in  many  Points  of  1 
View  may  be  considered  in  that  Light ;  her  Name 
m  echoed  tlirough  the  Commercial  World ;  thero 
is  not  a  Village  without  her  Manufactures :  This 
Seat  of  Invention  furnishes  Ornament  and  Use.  I 
Her  astonishing    Increase  is   beyond  Example* 
The  Traveller  who  visits  her  once  in  six  Months,  j 
supposes  himself  well  acquainted  with  her  ;  bat  J 
he  may  chance  to  find  a  Street  of  Housee  in  the 
Autunm,  where  he  saw  his  horse  at  Grafs  in  thdl 
Spring,     A   pitiful  Market  Town,  in  an  Inland! 
County,  by  pimj  Industry,  in  a  few  years,  aurpndsos  ^ 
most  of  our  Cities,  Thus  singularly  ciix^umstanced, 
she  naturally  caUs  for  a  History^  and  invites  a  ^ 
Header/* 

In  this    edition  appeared    several    additions,] 
among  others  the  series  of  notices  of  surrQimdirgl 


PiibiieLiiwiiodEv.titM775.i:on]     OLD   AND    NEW   BIRMINGIIAM. 


1^5 


places  of  interest,  the  notes  for  wbJch  were 
gathered  daring  the  summer  of  1782  ;  in  walking 
excursions  to  places  of  antiquity  within  fifteen 
miles  of  his  home. 

Seven  editions  of  the  work  have  appeared,  in 
all,  the  latest  having  been  issued  in  weekly 
nombera  only  twelve  months  ago. 

It  may  perhaps  interest  out  readers  to  possess 
lacaimile  of  a  quaint  little  letter,  written  by  the 

ttorian  to  his  brother  John, — or,  as  be  caHs 
him,  on  the  saperscription,  **  Jacky  " — at  the  age 
of  seven  years.  The  original  of  this  exceedingly 
interesting  and  amusing  document  is  in  the  pos- 
deaaion  of  W.  Franks-Beale,  Esq.,  of  Chester 
Koad,  Erdington ;  to  whose  kindness  we  are  in- 
debted for  permission  to  make  the  facsimile  which 
appears  on  page  182. 


We  cannot  close  this  brief  notice  of  the  first 
history  of  our  town  without  expressing  surprise 
that,  in  honouriDg  so  many  of  her  worthy 
citizens  in  enduring  brass  and  marble  and  on 
canvas,  Birmingham  has  utterly  forgotten  or 
ignored  her  first  historian,  who  %vas  also  one  of 
the  most  indefatigable  of  her  citizens,  prominent 
in  every  movement  for  the  welfare  of  the  town  of 
his  adoption ;  eager  to  serve  her  in  every  public 
capacity :  a  judge  in  her  court  of  conscience,  a 
member  of  the  commission  for  carrying  out  the 
provisions  of  the  Improvement  Act,  a  guardian 
of  the  poor,™and  last,  but  not  least,  one  of 
those  who  bravely  suffered  in  the  cause  of  civil 
and  religious  liberty  in  the  local  reign  of  terror 
in  1791  ; — ought  not  thiti  man  to  hav^e  a  statue 
or  other  memorial  in  our  midst  I 


CHAPTER     XXX. 


PUBLIC     LIFE     AND     EVENTS.      1775—170  0, 

Jolm  fiownnl't  Tiiit  to  Ui*  Birmingham  Prtaon— PropoMl  to  bnlM  a  new  Prison  on  the  site  of  Cliriftt  Chureb— Tlic  oM  ritmgttoii  In 
BordAflley— ^nuntorfeit  hfttf-peoce— Volunteera  for  the  Aumrktan  Wclt— UAUAon'*  rian  of  BlrmlngliAUi— Pltiuorti  tiud  llmiiruorKt^Tlte 
"Cuial  Frruxy  "  Agaiji— MaiLi  to  BirtninghAin—Comineni oration  of  tlio  American  Il*volutit>n— Tlumkjtgivlug  for  tlic  King  a  recovery. 


Ws  now  take  up  once  more  the  chronicle  of  local 
events. 

In  the  eightli  decade  of  the  eighteenth  century 
a  country  gentleman  who  had  happened  to  be 
appointed  High  Sheriff  of  the  County  of  Bedford, 
wag  led  to  inquire  into  the  treatment  of  prisoners, 
and  the  candition  'of  the  prisons,  in  hia  county. 
Oite  of  these  latter  was  the  famous  "Den"  in 
which  was  dreamed  that  glorious  "Dream'*  of 
the  tinker  of  Elstow ;  a  damp,  noisome  place, 
whose  foundations  wei-e  in  the  slimy  bed  of 
tha  river  Ouse.  The  wretched  state  of  aflairs 
rercsled  to  the  High  Sheriff  during  his  visitation 
throaghout  the  county  stirred  his  generous  spirit 
to  iU  Tery  depths,  and  he  resolved  to  undertake 
a  eroBade  against  these  filthy,  disgusting  dens, 
and  against  the  cruel  treatment  to  which  the 
priaooen  were  too  often  subjected.     In  order  to 


fit  himself  for  the  work  he  resolved  to  visit  t!ie 
gaols  throughout  the  whole  of  England ;  and 
soon  the  name  of  John  Howard,  the  prison 
philanthropist  J  was  known  and  blessed  by 
suffering  prisoners  all  over  the  country. 

Tlie  condition  in  which  ho  found  the 
BiiTuingham  prison  will  be  best  told  in  his 
own  words : 

"The  gaol  for  this  large,  populous  towr,  is 
called  the  Dungeon.  The  court  is  only  about 
25  feet  square.  Keeper's  House  in  front;  and 
under  it  two  cells  down  seven  steps  :  the  straw 
is  on  bedsteads.  On  one  side  of  the  couri  two 
night-rooms  for  women,  8  feet  by  5  feet  9  inches; 
and  some  rooms  over  them ;  on  the  other  side 
is  the  gaoler's  stable,  and  one  small  day-room  for 
men  and  women  *,  no  window  :  above  is  a  free 
ward  for  court  of  conscience  debtors,  who  ara 


186 


OLD   AKD  NEW   BIRMINGHAii       iPiibWc  ure  »d  ETOt..  ittvitw 


cleared  in  forty  days  :  this  is  a  sizeable  room, 
but  has  only  one  window  18  inches  square. 
Over  it  is  another  room,  or  two. 

"In  this  small  eourt,  besides  the  litter  from 
the  stable,  theire  was  a  stagnant  puddle  near  the 
sink,  for  the  gaoler's  ducks,  (Gaoler's  poultry  is 
a  veiy  common  nuisance ;  but  in  so  scanty  a 
court  it  is  intolerabla)  The  whole  prison  is  very 
oflTensiTd.  At  some  particular  times  here  are 
great  numbers  confined.  Once  in  the  winter 
of  1775  there  were  above  150,  who  by  the  car©  of 
the  magistrates  had  a  supply  of  proper  food, 
broth,  &c. 

**  license  for  beer  ;  fees  29,  No  table.  Neither 
clauses  against  spirituous  liquors,  nor  Act  for 
preserving  the  health  of  prisoners,  are  hung  up. 

**  1774,  Nov.  10.     Debtors  7.     Offenders  2. 
1776,  Sep.   11.  „       7.  „         5. 

1779,  Aug.  23.  „      0,  „         8."* 

The  humane  inquirer  again  visited  the  gaol 
in  1788,  and  gives  the  following  additional 
particulars  : 

**  The  court  is  now  paved  with  broad  stones, 
but  dirty  with  fowls.  There  is  only  one  day 
room  for  both  sexes,  over  the  door  of  which 
there  is  impudently  painted.  Universal  Actjuiemi/.j 

**  Neither  the  Act  for  preserving  the  health  of 
prisoners,  nor  clauses  against  spirituous  liquors, 
hung  up.  The  gaoler  has  no  salary,  but  has  still 
a  license  for  beer. 

"1788,  Feb.  14.— Prisoners,  13.*' 

Of  the  Debtors'  Prison  he  ipmtes  : 

**No  alteration.  Clauses  againat  spirituous 
liquors  not  hung  up.  Court  of  conscience  debtors 
for  sumB  under  208.  are  now  discharged  in  20 
days.  As  liquors  are  introduced  by  visitors,  and 
through  the  windows,  which  are  towards  the 
street,  most  of  these  prisoners  think  their 
confinement  little  or  no  punishment. 

'  John  Howard :  Skttt  ^f  ih*  PrUona  in  En{iland  and  IPokf. 
173i).    p.  2«», 

t  "  Thftra  bttag  do  proper  pljtce  for  tii«  coiiflla«meiit  of  Id]*  uid 
ditioluU  appreDilcu,  either  here  or  in  the  coastj  Bridewell  ftt 
Wiirwlck.  Uie  puniahment  for  iiaAll  ofTencoa  ii  often  omitted  tUI 
unhAppy  yonthfl  are  ruined,  Boae  nuth  young  Greatiine  I  eaw  In 
the  countj  gaoj :  and  lomfl  of  tli«a«  Iwyi  1  again  met  with  on 
U«rd  the  hulka." 


"  1788,  Feb.  13.— Prisoners,  7."» 

Writing  of  this  vile  dungeon  in  1 780,  Hutton 
makes  the  following  suggestion,  which  we  are 
happy  to  say  was  not  carried  into  practice,  albeit 
the  site  is  disfigured  by  as  ugly  an  example  of 
church  arcliitecture  as  ever  man  designed.  He 
says  : 

"  As  a  growing  taste  for  public  buildings  has 
for  some  time  appeared  among  us,  we  mighty  Id 
the  construction  of  a  prison,  unite  elegance  and 
use;  and  the  west  angle  of  that  land  betwean 
New  Street  and  Mount  Pleasant  [Ann  Street], 
might  be  suitable  for  the  purpose  j  an  airy  spot 
in  the  junction  of  six  streets.  The  piopriatorj 
of  the  land^  from  his  known  attachment  to 
Birmingham,  would,  I  doubt  not,  be  much  | 
inclined  to  grant  a  favour." 

The  prison  philanthropist  also  visited  the  old  | 
gaol  of  the  parish  of  Aston,  situated   in  High 
Street,  Borde«ley.     Here  he  found  "Two  damp 
dungeons  down  ten  steps,  and  two  rooms  overj 
them.     Court  not  secure.     No  water.     Gaoler  no  I 
salary :  he  keeps  an  ale-house,  "t     There  were, 
on  the  occasion  of  Howard's  visit,  five  prisonere.  | 
An  old  friend  to  whom  we  showed  these  notices  i 
perfectly  remembers  this  old  dungeon,     "It  was/' 
he  says,  "an  old-fashioned  public-house  with  a  I 
bulk-window,  and,  I  think,  bore  the  sign  of  the 
*  Brown  Lion.'     Over  the  window,  on  thd  front  of 
the  house,  was  fastened  up  a  set  of  manacles,  such 
as  used  to  be  put  upon  highwaymen, — ^there  they  | 
hung  as  a  terror  to  evil-doera, 

"About  the  year  1830  the  house  was  kept] 
by  Jemima  Brownell,  and  the  prison^keeper 
W,  D,  Browneli      The  prison  was  known  as 
*Brownell*8  Hole,'  and  there  all  pnsonen  had 
to  be  taken  for  Aston,  Ddritend,  Bordealey,  ^c. 

"  The  place  was  far  from  secure ;  and  I  have 
heard  of  cases  where,  while  the  fun  was  fast  and 
furious,  and  the  ale  was  being  drunk  in  the  fore  ' 
part  of  the  house,  prisoners  have  bsen  helped 
out  and  smuggled  across  the  fields  which  then 


p.  ijy9. 


ITM. 


Public  uto tad  Bv«at>.m&iTW.)       OLD  AND  ^EW  BIRMINGHAM. 


187 


extended    from    Bordealey    over    the    Garrison 
Grounds  and  away  to  Saltley  and  Aaton," 

In  this  period  of  iiis  interesting  cliToniclo 
Dr.  Langford  quotes  several  paragraphs  froiB  the 
Gazette^  relating  to  the  unusual  pievalence  of 
counterfeit  half-p^ce*  A  letter  appeared  in  that 
journal  on  the  2^th  of  January,  1776,  from  "An 


Xeighbourhood.  If  all  honest  Persons  would  ab- 
solutely refuse  to  take  such  as  are  obviously 
Counterfeits,  the  Growth  of  this  Evil  woiild  be 
checked,  and  a  few  Informations  (wliich  I  have 
B^ason  to  believe  will  soon  be  laid  against 
both  Vendors  and  Purchasers),  would  perhaps 
totally  eradicate  it»'*    The  injustice  of  this  system 


C^. 


^"\. 


$^A 


.-^..-  vfciri 


at^^ 


OLD  WINDMILL  IK  HOLLOW  AY  HEAD. 


Enemy  to  Imposition,**  directing  attention  to  the 

I  aoandalous  practice  of  purchasing  bad  half-pence 

'  *•  at  naar  20   per  cent,   cheaper  than  the  Mint 

coin,**  and  compeUing  those  who  require  change 

for  gold  io  take  a  considerable  portion  of  the 

amount  in  copper,  much  of  which  was  ao  bad  that 

i(  could  not  be  circulated  elsewhere  than  in  this 

[  toim  of   base  coinage,     **  It  is  too   notorious,^' 

continues  this  correspondent,  **  that  Mr.  T , 

in  London,  formerly  an  Inhabitant  of  this  Town, 
haai  sold  considorable  Quantities  here  and  in  the 


is  very  sensibly  pointed  out  by  the  writer :  "  An 
industrious  Nailor,  for  instance,  who  labours  hard 
all  the  week  for  four  or  five  Shillings,  receives  a 
part  even  of  this  small  pittance  in  such  base,  un- 
lawful coin,  which  he  takes  with  him  into  the 
country,  and  offers  for  the  necessaries  of  life ;  but 
there  the  tradesman  refuses  them  :  they  them  either 
remain  on  the  poor  man's  hands,  or  are  more 
injuriously  employed  at  the  ale-house,  to  the 
manifest  destruction  of  his  health,  and  (»erhaps 
tho  ruiu  of  bis  family/'     These  being,  as  he  says, 


188 


OLD  AND    NEW   BIRMIKGHAM.     [Public  of*  mki  »vent«.  mw7w 


no  mere  suppogitions^  but  facts,  which  occurred 
eveiy  day,  **  the  necessity  of  puttiDg  a  stop  to 
this  evil  cannot  but  be  obvious  to  every  man ; " 
and  it  is  not  to  be  wondered  at  that,  after  so 
Incid  a  statement  of  the  facts  of  the  case,  a  public 
maeting  of  the  principal  inhabitants  of  the  town 
was  held  three  weeks  later,  in  **  the  Chamber 
over  the  Old  Cross/'  **  at  which  it  was  resolved  to 
offer  a  Keward  of  Twenty  Pounds,  to  such  Per- 
sons whose  Evidence  shall  convict  any  Offenders 
herein,"  To  the  announcement  of  this  decision, 
in  the  Gazeitp^  was  appended  the  statement  that 
**  the  real  Value  of  2s.  6d.  worth  of  Counterfeit 
Half  pence  is  not  more  than  3d."  Intending  sub- 
scribers to  the  necessary  fund  for  carrying  out 
this  much-needed  crusade  against  so  scandalous  a 
practice  were  requested  **  as  soon  as  may  be,  to 
send  their  Names,  with  the  Mention  of  what  Sum 
tliey  intend  to  subscnbe,  either  to  some  of  the 
above  said  Officers  of  the  Town,  or  to  Pearson 
and  RolJason,  Printers,  or  M,  Swinney," 

The  contrast  between  the  tradesmen  of  Birming- 
ham, wilfully  encouraging  the  circulation  of  base 
coinage,  of  which  half  a  crown's  worth  (if  the 
word  **  worth  "  can  be  used  at  all  of  such  stuff) 
was  in  reality  only  worth  threepence,  —  and 
Matthew  Boulton,  honestly  producing  at  Soho, 
coinaga  of  the  most  genuine  character,  and  at  the 
same  time  imrivalled  as  to  excellence  of  workman- 
ship,—must  strike  every  reader  of  the  history  of 
our  town,  as  it  did  our  worthy  poet  Collins  ;  who 
wrote  respecting  the  latter  the  following 

EXTEMFOUAKY  STANZAS, 
On  seeing  the  inimitable  Copper  Coin  of  Mr,  Bovlton's 

MirUf  at  Soho, 
WHEN  Bacchus  to  Midas  a  patent  bequeath'd 

(For  80  by  tho  Poeta  we^i'e  told,) 
For  tuming,  as  long  us  on  earth  here  he  breathed, 

WhAtaoeYer  he  touched,  into  gold  ; 

No  license  he  gave  to  the  Pbrygiaii  Did  Drone, 

On  the  bnllion  a  Stamp  to  beatow  ; 
But  the  hoard  a  dead  heap  to  the  muckworm  wa*  grown, 

As  no  doit  of  it  curiient  would  go. 

But  had  Bacchus  to  BoL'lton  imparted  the  power. 

To  'ply  the  philosopher's  stone  ; 
That  grant,  though  confiu'd  to  the  lapse  of  nn  hoor, 

Had  honor*d  hk  Thyreua  and  Throne  I 


For  the  bright  rosy  God  had  been  blazon*d  in  gold. 

In  STich  rare  combination  and  form, 
And  his  brethren  above  might  with  envy  behold, 

And  with  jealous  emotions  grow  warm* 

Each  exclaiming^**  Who  darea  thus  our  UkenesseM  ip«^ 
"  In  such  guise  as  may  copies  be  TPckon'd, 

"  And  Gods  thus  epitomize,  ou^ht  not  to  'scape, 
**  But  be  deem'd  a  Prometheus  the  Si^coiid  !  *' 

And  yet  if  desert  should  be  paid  in  due  Coix  ; 

Modem  works,  which  the  ancients  surpass, 
The  Gods,  in  full  synod,  should  hb'raUy  join, 

To  upplaud,  though  on  Copper  or  Bras^. 

And  when,  likb  Celestials,  with  justice  they  aim, 

To  diBcharge  debts  of  honor  below  ;^ 
To  give  merit,  but  cttftRKNT  and  stkrhno,  its  claim, 

*'  Twine  a  wreath  for  the  Man  of  Soho." 

The  inEuence  of  the  disastrous  war  with  Amerio 

during  the  eighth  decade  of  the  century,  was  fa 

in  Birmingham  as  well  as  elsewhere.     The  pr 

gang — the  system  which  wrought  almost  as  mua 

suftcring  in  England  as  did  the   slave-timle 

other  lands — was  rife  everywhere.      On  Augui 

25,  1777,  the  following  paragraph  in  the  lo 

Gazette  must  have  caused    conaiderahle    ter 

and  excitement  in  many  an  artizan*8  home 

Birmingham  : 

The  Press  is  now  very  warm  here  tind  in  the  Neig 
bourhood.  We  hear  a  Gang  is  stationed  at  GlouoestK 
but  they  procure  so  few  Afeu  that  the  Expense  of  each  j 
esteerntHi  nt  no  h>s*s  than  Fifty  Pounds  a  Man  to  t  lOvc 
meat. 

At  the  comniuncement  of  1778  certain  of  th 
inhabitants  of  Birmingham  met,  at  the  CofT^jj 
llouse  in  the  Cherry  Orchard,  Jan-  18th,  to  i 
into  consideration  the  situation  of  public  aCfaifl 
the  emharrassment  of  the  GoYemment  conseque 
on  the  defeat  of  the  British  forces  under  Gone 
Burgoyne,  and  the  necessity  for  a  pubUc  anl 
tion  in  the  town  in  support  of  the  Goverumen 
Upwards  of  XI 200,  according  to  the  Gazette 
Jan.  2lBt  in  that  year,  was  "instantly  and  mo 
cheerfully  subscribed ;  **  and  another  meetid 
appointed  to  be  held  at  the  Hotel  on 
following  Monday  afternoon,  Jan.  3Ut^  th« 
amount  raised  by  that  date  being  over  two 
thousand  pounds.  A  county  regiment  of 
volunteers  for  the  King's  service  was  imme- 
diately raised }  and  the  following  announcemeut 


PuUle  Life  amd  Eventi,  I7r5>l  790.1 


OLD  AND    XEW    BIRMINGHAM. 


189 


was  made  respecting  the  movement  in  the  Gazette 
of  the  foUowing  week : 

BimtlQgluun,  Jftnoaiy  26th.— We  hear  that  m  Express 
irrirwl  at  Warwiclc  on  Thursday  List,  from  the  Enrl  of 
Warwitk,  with  In  forma  tiou,  that  hia  Majesty  highly 
approves  of  the  Plan  his  LonUhip  laid  before  the  County 
of  Warwick,  oa  the  14th  Instant,  for  raking  a  Regiment 
for  the  Service  of  Govemjnejit,  From  another  Corres- 
pondrnt  we  arc  assured,  that  when  hb  Slajeaty  signified 
Koyal  Approbation  of  the  Zeal  and  Affection  mani- 
t)y  the  County  of  Warwick,  in  their  Intentions  of 
fduing  a  Regiment  for  the  Public  Service,  ho  was  graciously 
pUaaed  to  inform  Lord  Warwick  :— that  the  Men  which 
the  County  may  raise  sliall  be  formed  into  a  Regiment 
and  agreeably  to  their  own  Request,  be  called  The 
Warwioktthirc  Regiment.  The  Choice  to  be  left  to  the 
County  of  either  the  14th  or  tSth  Regiment,  and  that  the 
men  shall  cither  be  entirely  drafted,  in  order  to  leave  the 
wholi*  of  one  of  those  Regirneuta  entirely  vacant  for  the 
Warwickshire  Levies,  or  that  some  Men  ahall  be  sent 
tlown  with  the  Officers  of  the  Regiment  they  chuse,  as 
ahall  b«  most  agreeable  to  th«  County. 

The  next  week  further  particulars  were  given  : 

Fcbmary  2nd,  1?78. — We  have  the  Pleasnre  to  inform 
our  Readers  that  the  Subscription  set  on  Foot  in  this 
Place  to  raise  Men  for  the  support  of  Government  will 
now  Itpo  prosecuted  with  the  utmost  Vigour,  his  Majesty 
having  most  graciotndy  accepted  the  offer  of  a  Regiment, 
which  is  to  take  the  name  of  the  Warwickshire  Regiment, 
msiA  the  several  companies  raised  here  to  t^ke  ihe  Name 
of  the  Birmingham  Companies  \  for  which  Purfiase  the 
OfRoArs  of  the  Sixth  Regiment  will  b«  ordered  to  march 
into  the  County  to  I'ccruit  and  receive  the  Men.  And  we 
Iteve  Ih*'  lurther  Pleasure  to  aasurc  our  Readers,  that  a 
MettiDg  of  the  County  will  soon  be  called  by  the  Lord 
Liealenant,  to  promote  this  laudable  meoAtire  ;  of  course^ 
the  Report  so  mdustrioudy  propagated,  that  his  Lordship 
diaa,p|ifored  of  it,  was  totally  without  foundation. 

Objection  i^as  taken  by  Lord  Abingdon,  in  the 
Hoiifie  of  Lords,  to  this  method  of  raising  troops 
AS  nni!onstitutional  and  illegal,  but  his  motion  to 
that  eHect  was  rejected^  and  "the  work  went 
oav**  says  Dr,  Lan^ford,  **  with  increaaed  enthu- 
l"     On  the  23rd  of  February  the  Gasetie 

iilained  the  following  welcome  statement : 

Wo  hATe  nnquestioiuble  Authority  to  auert,  that  the 
Lord  Lio'utenant  of  the  County  of  Warwick  has  subscribed 
th«  Sum  of  Five  Humlred  Pounds,  toward  the  Warwick- 
Regiment  ;    and   in    a    few   Days  Places   will  be 
oint«<l  where  Books  will  be  lodged  in  this  Town,  for 
^tiling  a  Fund  to  enlist  Men  into  the  said  Regiment,  who 
aw  to  be  formed  into  Compamea,  and  called  the  Birming- 


The  volunteer  movement  was  now  most  popular 
in  the  town;  and  "Poet  Freeth"  encouraged 
the  work  of  recruiting  with  a  song  entitled 

The  VOLUNTEER'S  ROUSE,  on  the  call  for  arming. 

Turn — Hark  the  echoing  Horn. 
HARK  to  liberty's  call^how  it  echoes  around, 

To  arms  ye  bold  Britons  with  speed  ; 
With  coui-age  unitedly  cherish  the  sound, 

To  EXEECisE  quickly  proceed  : 
Your  much  injured  kingdom  calls  loudly  for  aid, 

Surrounded  by  numerous  foes  ; 
When  danger  is  near,  be  the  Summous  obey*d, 

A  sin  'twere  a  moment  to  lose. 

With  heart  and  with  hand  in  the  cause  well  unite, 

Britannia  afiplauds  the  design  ; 
We've  long  been  oppressed,  and  to  do  ourselves  rtght 

Together  must  freely  combine  : 
Tis  liberty^s  call — can  o  Britain  refrain, 

His  geueroua  assistance  to  lend  ; 
Our  country  commands,  and  our  utmost  well  sti^in, 

So  glorious  a  cause  to  defend. 

With  en^noua  distinction— of  party  away. 

And  all  be  united  and  free ; 
Than  who  should  seem  foremost  his  zeal  to  display, 

Let  no  other  strife  ever  be  i 
The  Sons  of  Hibebkia  to  danger  awake, 

Redress  by  surh  moans  did  insure  ; 
Pursue  the  example,  ye  BitiTONs,  and  mak« 

Your  liberties  ever  secure. 

CHORL'S— Turte,  The  Bdlo  Isle  March, 

Then  quickly  away, 

Manly  zeal  to  display, 
Haste,  haste,  where  the  standard  of  Freedom  apx)ears  ; 

In  defence  of  your  land 

Join  the  free  martial  hand, 
Tis  an  honoui  to  rank  with  the  brave  Volunteers. 

The  last  paragraphs  relating  to  this  subject,  in 
the  Gazette^  toll  how  on  Saturday,  the  Hth  of 
]March,  a  party  of  the  6  th  Kegiiucnt  on  Foot, 
into  which  the  Warwickshire  Levies  are  to  be 
incorporated,  arrived  in  Eirminghani ;  and  that, 
"when  compleated  that  Corps  is  to  be  called 
the  Warwickshire  Kegimcnt,  in  Honoui  of  the 
Loyalty  and  Zeal  manifested  by  the  Cotinty  in 
Support  of  Government,  at  this  critical  and 
important  Junction  of  public  Allairs."  And 
that  during  the  week  ending  April  25,  "  the 
Officers  of  the  6th  Kegiment,  into  which  the 
Warwickshire  Levies  are  to  be  incorporated,  at 
the  Head  of  the  Division  of  that  Corps  stationed 
here,   made  a   public    Procession    through    the 


190 


OLD  AKD  ITEW  BIRMIKGHAM.       [PnWic  Ltf«  «d  Et«iI..  irr»^i7«. 


Town,  to  encoTirage  Yolunteazs  to  enlist.  They 
were  preceded  by  a  blue  Flag,  a  Band  of  martial 
Music,  a  large  Piece  of  Roast  Beef,  several 
-  Loaves  of  Bread,  and  a  Barrel  of  Beer,  and  were 
attended  by  a  great  Concourse  of  Peopl«»  In 
the  Course  of  the  Week,  we  are  told,  many 
promising  young  Fellows  oftered  themselves  and 
were  enlisted.** 

Prom  records  of  wars,  and  of  the  gallant 
patriotism  of  our  townswen,  we  must  turn  now 
to  other  and  less  honourable  doings  cf  certain 
of  the  "  Sons  of  Mara.**  For,  among  the  events 
of  this  period,  it  is  our  duty  to  chronicle  the 
first  known  commission  of  the  dreadful  crime 
of  murder  in  the  town.  Several  recruiting 
parties  of  soldiers  were  in  the  town  in  [Novem- 
ber, 1780 ;  and  among  them  a  young  man 
named  Thomaa  Pitmore,  a  native  of  Cheshire, 
who,  having  recklessly  squandered  a  small  fortune 
of  about  £700,  lia<l  enlisted  in  the  2nJ  regiment 
of  foot,  and  was  at  Ihat  time  a  corporal.  There 
was  also,  belonging  to  the  36  th  regiment,  a  young 
drummer,  John  Hammond,  an  American  by  birth. 
An  acquaintance  had  sprung  up  between  these 
two  daring  spirits,  and,  having  procured  a  brace 
of  pistols^  they  endeavoured  to  while  away  the 
tedium  of  their  enforced  sojourn  in  the  town  by 
playing  at  highway  robbery.  During  one  of  these 
moonlight  expeditions  on  the  Coleshill  road,  about 
four  miiea  out  of  town,  they  met  tliree  Birming- 
ham butcher?,— Scholc  field,  Ear  wick,  and  Kose, 
— who  were  returning  from  Kugby  Fair,  and  rode 
closely  behind  each  other.  One  of  the  robbers 
attempted  to  seize  the  bridle  of  the  first,  but  the 
horse,  being  young,  started  out  of  the  road,  and 
ran  away.  Hamjnond  then  attacked  the  second, 
Wilfred  Barwick,  crying,  **  Stop  your  horse,''  and 
at  the  same  time,  "  through  the  agitation  of  a 
timorous  mind,"  says  Hutton— diacharged  a  pistol 
at  the  unfortunate  Barwick,  who  immediately  fell 
dead.  Both  the  robbers  then  retreated  ;  the 
younger,  who  had  fired  the  fatal  shot,  hid  in 
Ward  End  field,  and  was  soon  afterwards  captured 
by  a  f  oui'th  butcher  of  the  company,  named  Rann, 


and  taken  to  Binmngham.     The  culprit  at  once 

impeached  his  elder  companioii^  and  both  weie 

lo<%ed  that  night  in  the  dungeon.     They  wero 

tried  March  31,   1781 ;  and,  on  the  second  of 

April,   wexe  executed  and   hung    in    chains  at 

Washwood  Heath.     Effigies  of  the  two  men  i 

still  to  bo  seen  on  either  end  of  Ward  End  Hou 

the  old  residence  of  William  Hutton, 

The  growth  of    the  town  since  1761— when 

Bradford's  Plan  was  published — ^^had  been  ao  rapid 

and  extensive  that  it  became  desirable  to  provide 

a  new  map.     The  only  modem  one  in  exiaten^ 

knew  no   buildings,   save    the  house   of    John" 

Baskerville,    west   of    **  Swinford    Street"   and 

*'Bewdley    Street"     It  knew    not    "Powdise 

Bow,"   exoept  as  the  road   to  Stourbridge  and 

Bewdley.     Where,  at  the  period  referred  to  in  the 

present  chapter,  the  grimy,  heavily-laden  barge 

yielded  up  ita  freight  of  "  black  diamonds," 

known  only  on  Samuel   Bradford's  Plan  as  th 

**  Old  Brickiln  Close."     It  was  therefore  nece 

that  a  new  map  should  be  prepared  with  all  sp 

The  projectors  of  that  much  needed  publicatio 

seem,  however,  while  desirous  of  presenting 

correct  map,  unwilling  to  incur  the  trouble 

expense  of  a  new  survey.     Hence  the  foUowin 

curious  advertisement  \- — 

''August  31,  1770.— Any  Person  well  acqawntftd  will 
the  Additional  new  Buildings  erected  in  thia  Town  mn 
the  year  1761,  and  capable  of  insertiiig  them  into  the  Pii 
of  Birmingham,   are  ddsirod  to  send  their  Terms 
in  a  Letter  directed  to  T,  J.  to  the  Printer  of  this  P»p 
where  may  be  seen  a  Specimen  of  Fort  of  the  Pku  air 
done,** 

We  cannot  teD  whether  this  proposal  to  ame 

Bradford's  Plan  really  emanated  from  the  put 

lishers  of  the  next  plan  of  the  town  which  mad 

its  appearance,  but  certainly  "  The  Plan  of 

miugham,  survey'd  by  Thos.  Hanson,  1778," 

every  appearance  of  having  been  taken,  in  part  i 

least,  from  its  predecessor.     It  was  "  Publishe 

according  to  Act  of  Parliament  by  P©arst»n  and 

Kollason,"    in    the  above   year,  and    mensui^ 

43m.  by  31  in.     As  the  changee  in  the  appear* 

ance  and  extent  of  the  town,  and  in  the  names 

of  the  8tr#et5,  as  marked  on  this  old  map^  are 


PtaiiUrtitetii«BTeiitf,i77Mmi      OLD  AKD  NEW  BIRMINGHAM. 


191 


nuroi^ri>up,  iv  Tirk-f  dencription  may  not  be  nn* 
interesting.  If  the  reader  will  refer  for  a  few 
moments  to  the  far^imile  of  Bradford X  lie  will  Imj 
the  bett^^rftble  to  mnrk  the  poiiits  of  difference. 

B*iginning  with  the  New  Hall  estate,  we  notice 
tluit  the  town  has  now  thoroughly  surrounded  tlie 
hou06  itself,  and  atreets  are  cut  across  the  land 


Paradise  Street)  paf^Bes  thron^'h  an  area  now 
thickly  covered  with  buildings.  On  the  pleasant 
close  which,  in  1751,  ekiii^d  that  thoroughfare, 
03  well  as  "Meredith's  Bowling  Green/'  (how 
our  ancestors  enjoyed  the  healtliful  sport  of 
bowling — there  were  bowling-greens  everywhere  I) 
there  is  now  quite  a  new  settlement     From  the 


r%^ 


.^!^ 


H'l     i  ^  - 


jJU-^tk'UU-'i: 


■i&ttm 


Liii 


lllptt^ 


illliiiaiij; 


!S.:j\ 


C>:. 


-s^^^^-^^C.-^ 


"^w^^ 


BIRMINGHAM   OLD   LIBUAltY,    CNIOK   STRKfiT. 


is  every  direction.  Great  Charlea  Street  crosses 
about  twenty  or  thirty  yards  in  front  of  the 
house ;  and  parallel  with  it  run  other  and  shorter 
•tr^ts;  Tiz,,  Bread  Street,  [Little]  Charles  Street, 
Edmund  Street,  (called  on  Bradford's  Plan  Harlow 
Strtiet^)  tind  Lionel  Street  Between  Great  Charloa 
SlDoet  and  Bread  Street,  (on  the  site  of  the 
{ite«iit  New  Market  Street,)  is  an  open  square 
eidled  tlie  "  New  Hiill  Market"  Cme^reve  Sited 
ta  BOW  marked  where  the  "  C<>nygree-9tile-close  " 
tam»Aj  ato<kd«  '^Paradiae  Kow'*  (the  present 
25 


Charles  Street  and  "  Harlow  Street "  of  the  old 
map,  down  to  Smallbrook  Street,  there  is  a  broad 
fringe  of  new  buildings  and  streets  ;  Hill  Street 
and  SuflTolk  Street  are  now  both  made  and  built 
upon,  along  their  entire  length,  as  well  as  the 
several  short  streets  l>"ing  between  the  two,  to 
wit,  Swallow  Street,  Navigation  Street,  (the 
"  canal  frenzy  *■  has  to  answer  for  that  name,)  and 
Princes  Street,  now  called  Cross  Street  There 
are  now  *VNew  Hinkleys"  and  "Old  Hinkleys;** 
and  the  road  leading  out  from  Smallbrook  Street 


19^ 


OLD  AND  KEW  BIEMLNGHAM,      iPttwic  uf« »i«i  Rreni^  mMToa 


to  Bromsgrovo  and  Worcester  Ijoars  the  nanaea  of 
Exetor  Eow  and  Holltiway  Head**  Closo  by  tbe 
latter  thomughfare  the  old  wind-mill  (which 
most  of  our  readers  doubtless  reni ember), 
Appears  on  the  map  for  llio  first  time.  An  en- 
graving of  this  old  landmark,  from  a  drawing 
in  the  possession  of  the  publishers,  appears  on 
page  187. 

In  the  south-eastern  corner  of  the  Plan, 
we  notice  that  a  portion  of  Bradford  Street 
is  formed,  and  partly  budt  upon.  It  com- 
moncea  at  the  hanks  of  the  IJca,  and  runs 
fjulward  from  the  town,  in  tbe  dii-^etion  of 
Camp  IlilL 

Coming  to  the  centre  of  tbe  town,  we  notice 
with  regret  that  Kew  Street  and  Temple  Street 
have  lost  their  pleasant  rows  of  trees.  As  we 
have  already  said,  "  Bewdley  Street"  and 
**  Swinfoni  Street  "  are  now  no  more  ;  the  former 
has  taken  the  nume  of  **  Ann  Street »  or  Mount 
Pleasjiut,''  and  the  httlt^r  is  mt^rged  into  Xew 
Street.  The  names  of  "High  Street"  and  the 
*  Bull  King "  now  appear  on  the  map  lor  the 
first  time,  and  Walmer  Lane  has  now  the  name 
of  "  Lancaster  Street  "  appended  The  two  new 
Kpi^::upal  Cluipels  appear,  St,  Mary's,  homided  by 
Catherine  Street,  (WhittaU  Street,)  St.  Mary's 
Ivow,  Loveday  Street^  and  Weaman  Kow ;  and 
St.  Paurs,  out  in  the  fields,  away  from  the 
town,  but  bearing  evidence  in  the  outlined 
streets  that  it  is  not  destined  long  to  remain  in 
solitude. 

On  the  right  liand  eide  of  the  plan  are  tlm 
engravings  of  Si  Martin's  and  St  Philip's,  exactly 
as  in  Bradford's,  but  the  adornments  on  the  left 


♦  Hntton'i  explanntioti  of  lliis  ntunt  in  u  follows  .— 

"  Wliort  any  of  tbcsc  roadi  (that  proceed  from  BimiingbAtii]  leAd 
up  an  emUienre,  \licj  were  worn  by  the  long  practice  of  ageJi  Into 
hollo  ways,  iiorae  of  t]i<?ra  twttlvf  or  fourU'cn  ytrds  below  the  gor- 
face  of  the  baoka,  with  which  Uic^y  were  once  evctt^  uid  eo  haitow 
M  to  admit  only  of  one  Tias»enger. 

••  Though  modern  Industry,  luiiisted  by  v»rfotu  tumplke  neU, 
hMS  wiflenetl  \hr  iipjiier  pnrt«,  aud  filled  tip  tht  lower,  yet  they  wc« 
mU  risible  in  the  days  of  our  fathent,  and  ore  even  tmceiible  In 
oun.     .    .     , 

♦'  Owe  of  tlieac  atibt^rranean  paj^ageji,  in  part  filled  up,  will  con- 
▼ey  Ita  nom#  ki  posterity  m  tlmt  of  a  etre«t  eallcd  Nolhwau  Hwd.'* 
•--Iliiilory  »r  DirniliiKhAiu,  afstth  ttt^  ]ijiu  Sl—S. 


materially  differ  from  those  of  the  older  plan.  The 
title  is  surrounded  by  emblems  of  manufstctures 
and  commerce, — machinery,  shipping,  merchan- 
dise, etc  The  upper  half  of  the  left  horder  is 
occupied  with  a  description  of  the  town  simUar 
to  that  which  we  have  previously  quoted  froii 
J^»rac1  ford's ;  the  lower  part  contains  views  of  thg 
chapels  of  St.  Mary,  St.  Paul,  St  BartholomewJ 
and  8t  John  the  Baptist,  Deritend,  the  Work^ 
liouse,  *the  Hospital,  the  Blue  Coat  School,  the 
Hotel,    (Temple  Row,)   the   Xcw  Meeting, 


PI'ff 


^^ 


*'  j\fr  Greenes  House,**    The  latler  will  bo  temeni*! 
bered  by  most  of  our  ruadeis  as  the  Old  Inla 
Ke venue  Office,  which  was  demolished,  with  i 
Post  Office,  in  1874*     In  the  small  engraving  on 
Hanson's  Plan,  which  we  copy  here,  it  is  repn 
sen  ted  as  having  two  small  wings,  or  outof!ice8^  | 
each  connected  with  the  main  building  by  a  loTrJ 
wall.     A   plea,«ant  garden  appears  to  have  su 
rounded   this    desirable   residence,   rendering 
almost  equal  to  a  country  house,  although  in  th 
middle  of  a  busy  manufacturing  town.     A  pot 
tion  of  the  house  is  visible  in  the  old  print  of  1 
Theatre  Koyal,  of  which  an  engraving  is  given  on 
page  123. 

In  1782  a  pi-oject  was  set  on  foot  for  making  a 
second  canal,  **  from  the  collieries  of  Wednesbu 
to  the  lower  part  of  the  Town  of  Birmingham.' 
The  growing  profits  of  the  older  undcrt-aliiii^ 
and  the  greatly  increased  value  of  the  shn 
(which  had  risen,  Hutton  tells  us,  from  £140  I 
£400,)  induced  the  projectors  to  take  up  the  nen 
scheme  for  establishing  a  rival  company,  in 
hope  of  making  an  equally  profitahhs  specuhitio 


pabiicLUte.i»d  Evenly  iTTfl-iTfoi       OLD   AND   NEW   BIRMINGHAM. 


193 


Accordingly,  a  meeting  was  called,  at  the  Swan 
Iwi,  for  the  8tK  of  January  1782,  of  thoso 
"Gentlemen  and  Tradesmen  of  the  Town  of 
Birmingham  and  its  Environs,  who  are  desirous 
of  encouraging  the  Scheme  now  in  Agitation  " 
for  the  purpose  above  stated^  "  where  thi>  Plan  of 
a  late  and  improved  survey  will  be  produced  for 
their  approbation."  On  the  4th  of  February  the 
GaseiU  announced  that  "A  Petition  was   pre- 

lited  on  Monday  last  for  Leave  to  bring  in  a 
to  make  and  maintain  a  Navigable  Shaft  or 
Canal  from  Wedneshury  to  Birmingham,  and 
from  thence  to  join  the  Coventry  Canal  at 
Fazeley  ;  **  and  further  that  "  since  the  sub- 
on  for  carrying  the  same  into  execution 
ed,  sums  to  a  very  large  amount  have 
been  offered."  "  The  new  company,"  says 
Hutton,  **  urged  *  the  necessity  of  another  canal, 
lest  the  old  should  not  perform  the  hiisincss  of 
the  town ;  tliat  twenty  per  cent,  are  unreasonable 
returns;  that  they  could  afford  coals  under  the 
present  price ;  that  the  south  country  teams 
would  procure  a  readier  supply  from  Digbeth, 
than  from  the  present  wharf,  and  not  passing 
tiirough  the  streets,  would  be  prevented  from 
injuring  the  pavement ;  and  that  the  goods  from 
the  Trent  would  come  to  their  wharf  by  a  run  of 
ighteen  miles  nearer  than  the  other.'" 

**  The  old  company,"  he  continues^ — "  idledged 
*  that  they  ventured  their  property  iii  an  uncertain 
pursuit,  which,  had  it  not  succeeded,  would  have 

aed  many  individuals;  therefore  the  present 

as  were  only  a  recompense  for  former  hazard  ; 
thai  this  property  was  expended  upon  the  faith 
of  Parliament,  who  were  obb'ged  in  honour  to 
protect  it,  otherwise  no  man  would  risk  his 
fortune  upon  a  public  undertaking ;  for  should 
allow  a  second  canal,  why  not  a   third; 

lich  would  become  a  wanton  destruction  of 
light)  without  benefit ;  that  although  the  profit 
of  the  original  subscribers  might  seem  large,  those 
are  but  few;  many  have  bought  at 
tui  price,  which  barely  pays  cimimon 
tntermt,  «nd  this  \s  all  their  s  therefore  a 


reduction  would  be  barbarous  on  one  side,  and 
sensibly  felt  on  the  other  j  and,  ns  the  present 
canal  amply  supplies  the  town  and  country,  it 
would  be  ridiculous  to  cut  away  good  land  to 
make  another,  which  would  ruin  both."  * 

The  battle  would  appear  to  have  been  waged 
fiercely  on  both  sides.  "  Both  parties,"  continues 
our  witty  historian,  **  beat  up  for  volunteers  in 
the  town,  to  strengthen  their  forces  ;  from  words 
of  acrimony,  they  came  to  those  of  violence  ;  then 
the  powerful  batteries  of  hand  bills  and  nevv^s- 
papers  were  opened  ;  every  town  within  fifty 
miles,  int<>rested  on  either  side,  was  moved  to 
petition,  and  both  prepared  for  a  grand  attack, 
confident  of  victor}%  .  .  .  Each  party  possessed 
that  activity  of  spirit  for  wldi-h  IJirminghum  is 
famous,  and  seemed  to  divide  between  them  the 
legislative  strength  of  the  nation  ;  every  corner 
of  the  two  houses  was  ransacked  for  a  vote  ;  the 
throne  was  the  only  power  unsolicited.  Perhnps 
at  the  reading,  when  both  parties  luul  mar- 
shalled their  forces,  their  was  the  fiiUost  House 
of  Commons  ever  remembeied  on  a  privato 
biU."  t 

Taking  into  consideration  the  fact  tlmt  the 
existing  company  had  been  fii*st  in  the  field,  and 
had  adventured  their  capital  in  a  new  and  some- 
what hazardous  speculation,  the  House  **  gave 
them  the  option  to  perform  this  Herculean  labour," 
and  this  they  accepted.  **  Thes,"  concludes 
Hutton,  **  the  new  proprietors,  by  losing,  will 
save  X50,000,  and  the  old,  by  winning,  become 
sufferers." 

In  1791,  a  new  canal  project  was  started;  a 
meetirtg  being  held  in  February,  to  consider  the 
desimbility  of  constructing  a  Canal  from  Bir- 
mingham to  Worcester.  It  was  considered,  as 
pointed  out  by  a  correspondent  in  the  GaztHe^ 
that  this  underlaking  **  would  give  the  Town 
almost  every  advantage  of  a  Sea-Port,  and  pour 
into  it  the  Produce  of  all  Countries,  at  the  easiest 
and  cheapest  Kate  ;  aud  at  the  same  Time  take 

t  lb.  jin.  |tl*Hi- 


194 


OLD   AJSTD   NEW   BIEMINGHAM, 


IFttbUc  Uh  itid  EtTftiU^  irTA-lTW. 


off  ittf  Manufactured  Produce  by  the  readiest  and 
cheapest  Conveyance,"  The  bill  received  tiie 
sanction  of  both  Houses  of  Parliament  during 
lie  session  of  1791;  it  would  tippear  however, 
^from  a  Bong  priutetl  in  Froeth^a  Political  Songsi^.tf 
entitled  "  The  Bishops  turned  Navigators,"  that 
it  met  with  considerable  opposition  from  the 
?piscopal  bench,  in  the  House  of  Peers.  Several 
lines  will  be  recognised  as  having  appeared  in  one 
of  the  old  ballad-writer*8  invitation  verses  : 

NAVIGATION'S  n  lottery  frequently  lind, 
And  some  it  makes  eheaiiul  and  some  it  makws  sad  ; 
Stourport  and  IIamctos  rejoicing  have  Wen, 
Whilst  others  elsewhere  have  been  deeply  took  In  ; 
Canalh  pay  so  well^  caii  it  wonder  excite, 
Why  some  to  get  freah  ones  so  fondly  nnite  P 
For  why,  tell  me  why  !  should  a  lew  [u ivate  elves 
Engross  the  good  iltings  of  the  world  to  tUeuiselres  ? 

That  PiT-coAL*s  a  blessing  will  not  be  denyM, 

For  ever  with  as  may  that  bleasiiig  abide, 

Dut  whilst  we  h«v©  plenty,  and  plenty  to  ttpftre. 

Is  it  right  that  our  neighbours  should  not  Imvi'  n  share  If* 

But  think  with  what  strange  apprehensions  it  tills, 

The  owners  of  lands  and  the  owners  of  mi  11  a  1 

Whose  anger  was  raised  to  a  very  }iigh  pitch| 

At  what  many  said  would  have  b&en  a  Dby  DiTcn. 

Delays  on  the  Severn  for  commerce  make  bad, 
There  should,  and  there  must  be  a  rt'giilar  trade, 
But  if  Vm  not  gR'atly  deet^ived  in  my  fthn^ 
Thfe  Marquis  of  Staffonliilnrc  ]»layetl  a  sly  game  ; 
Spec'tatars  might  well  with  ainnzciafDr  he  tilled. 
When  heaps  of  lawn  sleeves  in  the  House  they  beheld  ; 
The  scene  was  alarming,  for  all  of  us  know, 
The  lumber  troop  always  with  ministry  go» 

A  contest  so  great  on  a  mere  private  hill, 

With  wonder  must  many  undoubtedly  fill  j 

A  dozen  Rionx  Rrv'rexob  ohjet't  to  the  plan, 

And  strong  Naviqatoil'*  conimenic  to  a  man  ; 

Providing  a  war  very  soon  should  take  place, 

Our  moniR'h  I  hoi^e  will  consider  the  case, 

Think,  think  Gracious  GEonoE  of  the  liiSHors  I  pray, 

One  half  keep  at  home — let  the  rest  go  to  Sea. 

Lanhaff's  learned  prelate,  as  public  prints  tell. 
In  chyraies  and  nautics  but  few  can  f  xrcl, 
Instead  of  the  Mitue— of  many  the  je>t, 
Let  the  Axchor  or  Compass  appear  for  his  Crest  ; 
But  think  not  the  Cloth  I  would  wLsh  to  disgrace, 
Kot  one  should  have  less  than  a  CoMMonouR'tf  place, 
And  why  not,  to  figure  in  KErrEL'i*  next  mike, 
The  Primatb  of  York  a  Vice-Admiral  make. 

•  One  of  the  principal  objections  urged  agiiln^t  the  projeet  was 
that  by  giring  Increased  fecllitica  for  the  coarejnuire  of  eotil  to 
WortMter  aad  ths  district,  the  supply  would  speedily  be  exhausted* 


Int'reat  the  bill  through  the  lower  Honse  bearm. 

And  intVest  'tis  said  threw  it  out  of  the  Peers  ; 

Our  hopes  tho'  once  Imffied  again  shall  revive, 

A  fig  for  the  calls,  keep  the  spirit  aUve  ; 

House,  rouse  !  ye  Committee  Mes  every  one, 

Fear  not  in  the  end  but  the  work  will  be  done. 

And  if  yon  com  plea  tly  would  manage  affairs, 

Take  care  that  tho  Brsilop«  are  fumiahed  with  Shahkb. 

We  have  extended  the  history  of  inland  navi- 
gation in  this  neighbourhood  somewhat  bayond'^ 
tho  period  covered  by  the  present   chapter  j  and 
must  now  return  to  tho  yea?  1785,  in  which  a 
change  was  made  in  the  mode  of  conveying  tho  J 
mails  to  Birmingham,  which  indicates  the  growi 
importance  of  the  town.     Previous  to  1784  the 
maOs  of  the  whole  country  had  been  conveyed  hy 
post  bags    on  horse    back,   at   an  average    mtCij 
including  etoppagos,  of  from  thrtso  to  four  miJis 
an  hour ;   but  in  that  year  one  of  the  greatoAt 
mtonus  ever  made  in  the  Post  Office  wtxs  effectcil 
by  the  introiluction  of  the  plan  of  Jolm  Palmer, 
— the  nuinager  of  the  theatres  of  Biistol  and  Bath 
and  an  intimate  friend  of  our  local  poet  Collins, 
— by    which    these   important    despatches   wer 
conveyed  by  stage-coaches,  which  were  bencefor 
designated    mait'Coachcs.       ^Ir.    Palmer,    in    hil 
scheme  submitted  to  Mr.  Pitt  in  1783,  describe 
the  then  existing  system  as  follows ,  "  The  Postj 
at  present,  instead  of  being  the  swiftest,  ia  aliuo 
the   slowest   conveyance    in    the   country ;   au(| 
though,  from  the  great  improvement  in  our  road^ 
other  carriers  have  proportionably  mended  iheii 
speed,  the  post  is  as  slow  as  even      It  is  like 
very   unsafe,   as   the    frequent   robberies   of 
testify  ;  and  to  avoid  a  loss  of  this  nature  peopl 
generally  cut  bank  bills  or  bills  at  sight  in  twfl 
and  send  the  bills  by  different  posts.      The 
are  generally  entrusted  to  some  idle  boy,  withoti 
character,  on  a  worn-out  hack,  and  who,  so  far 
from  being  able  to  defend  himself  or  escape  fivn 
a  robber,  ia  much  more  likely  to  be  in  li^ague  wit] 
him,"  And  the  observant  manager  had  f  tjrthertnon 
noticed  that,  when  tradesmen  of  the  city  of  Bat^ 
wiabed  to  have  a  letter  conveyed  with  speed 
safety,  they  wore  in  the  habit  of  wrapping  it  i 
brown  paper,  as  a  parcel,  and  semllng  it  by  the 


i^iic  Life  and  Bvittrti.iTr»-imj       OLD  AND  NEW  BIRMIKGHAM. 


195 


ch,  although  at  greater  expens**  thftti  by 

But  the  new  mode  was  not  adopted  for 

I  conveying  the  Birmingham  mails  until  August, 

17S5.      The  Oazeite  of  July  4tbj  announced  the 

proposed  reform  in  the  following  paragraph  : 

W#  h^»r  iKat  the  new  regulations  for  conveying  more 
fixpeditioaily  the  mmU  will  begin  the  Utter  end  of  this 


hifl  friend  Palmer's  project  fnr  the  conveyance  of 
the  mails,  in  the  fuHowing  verses : 

MAIL    COACHES. 

IT  was  ever  the  Case,  ere  Desert  cou'd  take  Pkce, 

That  Envy  threw  Rubs  in  its  Way  ; 
Yet  the  Day-light  we  prize,  tho'  we  know  that  week  Eyei 

Feel  pain  at  bright  Fhccbus's  Hay. 


sK 


i[M  'k^ 


im 


OLD  SAinHY   AND  Of  EN   FOUOK   IK  PtaB^TH. 
Taken  itoien  tarly  in  tki  NintfUtiJh  i^ntu*Tf. 


ht  or  beginiiiiig  of  n«it,  and  that  mail  camJige«  are 

fMptnng  to  oenrey  tlie  mails  from  Loudon  through 
Oxford,  5irmtnghain«  Wolrorhampton]  Shrewsbury,  and 
along  the  new  ro*4  tlirougb  Oswestr^',  LlaDgoUeu,  Cor- 
wen,  and  Llaurw^t,  to  Holyhead ;  which  road,  by 
a?ul4iiig  the  d^hy  and  danger  of  Con  way  Feiry,  and 
b«ic^  Ihe  shortcait  and  beat,  will  enable  the  prnprittora 
of   '  9  to  deliver  the  niuil   at   Ilol^phead  with 

grrn  ution  and  more  c<artainty,  than  can  be  done 

'  OB  MMj  otiiar  road^ 

Jolm  (or  Thomas)  CoDina— fur  the  conjectures 
10  to  our  Unest  lociil  poet's  christian  name  are  by 
fm  HMtfuifl  nnanimotia — celebrated  the  adoption  of 


When  Noah  in  Ark,  with  Ida  Sons  did  embark^ 

Prediluvians,  uplifted  and  pompous, 
Deem'd  his  nautical  Scheme  a  fantastical  Droun, 

And  pronounc'd  the  Projector  n&n  carnpoa. 

And  Columbus  the  bold,  when  the  World  wo  call  old, 

He  first  quitted  in  Search  of  the  new ; 
In  the  wide  ewellbg  Ocean,  found  far  leal  Commotion, 

Thau  'midst  hia  own  murmuring  Crew. 

HUtorians  well  know,  that  some  Ages  ago, 
The  Horse  drew  the  Plough  with  his  Tail  ; 

And  the  Grain,  there's  no  Doubt,  from  the  Chaff  was  irod 
out, 
Long  before  we  made  use  of  a  Flail, 


i0e 


OLD  AND   NEW   BtRMra^GHAM.      (Pawie  Ltft  tnd  Bvtnu,  irT».i7«o, 


Time's  Parta  to  divide,  and  to  shew  Kow  they  glid^i 

Hen  invented  the  Sand-Glass  and  Dial ; 
And  WM  thought  nothing  moj^cou'd  he  done  on  that  Scow, 

Till  a  Clock'Mttker  veDtnr*d  the  Trial 

liS'Tio  strikes  out  new  Lights,  fell  Derision  excites, 

If  not  Persecution  to  boot ; 
Gflllileo  so  found,  when  he  prov'd  the  World  round^ 

And  thftt  Men  walked  upright^  UNDfin-rooT. 

•Twas  lit  first  thought  a  Bull,  but  a  Pontir»  thick  Scull, 

AYlio  wou'd  suffer  no  Bulla  but  his  own, 
Hurl'd  Vatican  Thunder  at  Heretic  B hinder, 

And  prov'd  an  old  Wife,  like  Pofte  Joau. 

Thus  the  Coijclavc  of  Fools,  Tony  Todd  and  his  Tools, 

Th?ir  Anathemas  de^l  at  Mail  Conclies  ; 
And  like  Zealots  of  Yore,  trump  tip  Lies  by  the  Score, 

Which  their  Proselytes  swallow  like  Loaches, 

Here  a  Wheel  lost  a  Spoke,  there  an  Axle  Tree  broke, 

At  fi  third  Place  the  PiTch  suapt  iu  two  ; 
One  Man  lost  an  eye,  a  poor  Girl  smash 'd  her  Thigh, 

And  the  rest  were  all  be^t  black  and  blue. 

Then  the  Horses  one  night,  with  hard  Driving  took  fright, 

And  ran  down  a  Hill,  Helter  Skelter, 
Wln?ii  thr  Posscngicrs  all,  were  thrown  out  great  and  small, 

And  left  in  Duck's  Puddle  to  welter. 

Yet,  wond'roua  to  tell,  after  all  that  hefel, 

Old  Time,  that  developing  Smoaker, 
Has  proved  all  thojie  Flams  are  but  Hngbears  and  Bams, 

Like  Wilding  8  **  Cat,  Pistol,  and    oker."^ 

And  the  Lies  Envy  broaches,  to  run  down  Mnil  Coaches, 
(Though  fraught  with  Miachouce  and  Dijuaster) 

Like  the  Gnase  on  each  Axis,  their  speed  not  relaxes, 
But  only  just  niaJLea  tham  run  faster. 

For  Life  to  secure,  and  Life's  Means  to  ensure, 

In  ft  Land  where  Freebooter's  abound, 
Must  engage  ev'ry  Mind,  to  its  Interest  not  blind, 

And  the  Plan  with  Success  must  be  crown'd. 

Nay,  each  hungry  Cur,  that  now  makes  such  ft  Stir, 

To  bis  Yelping  wou'd  soon  put  a  Stop, 
And  be  one  of  the  Host^  that  Mail  Coaches  now  tonst. 

If  be  bad  hut  a  Share  of  the  Sop. 

Then  Palmer,  whoso  Brain  can  alone  guide  the  Eain, 

Like  Apollo,  thy  Course  daily  run  ; 
And  never  let  Fear  slack  thy  noble  Career, 

Till  the  Dog  Star  eclipses  the  Sun  J 

The  first  maila  were  conveyed  to  Btnningham 
by  the  new  mode  on  the  23rd  of  August,  1785. 

In  the  beginning  of  Kovember,  1788,  we  find 
our  townsmen  preparing  to  celebrate,  with  every 


KMi  Foot«'«  Faroe  of  Thib  Ltar. 


token  of  rejoicing,  the  centenary  of  the  glorion 
revolution  of   1688.     The  principal  inhabiUu 
were  to  dine  together  at  the  Hotel  \  and  illumina- 
tions, bonfires,  and  other  popular  manifestatioc 
of  joy  were  intended.     But  on  the  day  prenoa 
to   the  celebration  a  notice  was  issued  by 
officers  of  the  town,  in  which  they  **  respectf u 
inform  the  Public  that  no  Illuminations,  BonfiitMi^ 
or  Fireworks  will  take  place  on  the  Celebration  of 
the  above   Bays,  [the   Revolution  Jubilee 
Gunpowder  Plot,]  on  Tuesday  and  WednesdaJ 
Next,  [Nov.  4th  and  5th,]  and  hereby  give  Notid 
that  proper  People  will  be  stationed  in  diSeren 
Parts  of  the  Town  to  apprehend  all  Persons  lettia 
oiT  Serpents,  Rockets,  *fec. ;  and  such  as  are  foun 
offending  wiU  be  prosecuted  to  the  utmost  Eigon 
of  the  Law," 

Notwithstanding,  however,  tlie  "proper  peopW 
and  the  threat-ened  rigorous  prosecutions, 
read  in  the  very  interesting  account  of  tU 
celRbration,  quoted  by  Dr,  Langford,  from  th 
Gazeite^  that  **  At  night  the  principd  streets 
the  town  were  illuminated  ;  and  that  "  the 
parencie^  and  ornamental  lights  at  the  Hotel  wcr^ 
very  beautiful ;  over  the  door  was  a  transpai 
Portrait  of  King  William  ;  **  in  the  windows 
either  side  were  large  transparencies  inscribed 
the  Immortal  Memory  of  the  Great  and  Glorioil 
King  William  III.  ; "  also  that  on  the  Wednesday 
night  there  were  fireworks,  and  that  "  there  waa 
not  the  least  rioting  in  the  streets,  or  accident  of 
any  consequence  "  therefrom.  The  bells  rang  out 
a  merry  peal;  the  assembly  at  the  Hotel  was 
'*  more  numerous  and  respectable  than  any  eT 
known  in  the  town/'  and  the  majority  of 
guests  were  appropriately  '^dressed  in  bin 
coats,  with  orange  capes,  having  on  beaut 
emblematical  buttons,**  and  wore  idso  eleg 
fiilver  medals,  suspended  by  orange  ribbons ; 
large  quantity  of  medals  of  the  same  defii^ 
but  in  inferior  metal,  were  distributed  among  th 
populace;  an  appropriate  ode,  set  to  music 
Mr.  Clark,  was  performed  at  the  dinner ;  and  1 
entire  celebration  appears  to  have  beoQ 


liteaiy.l 


OLD  AND  NEW  BIRMINGHAM. 


W 


►  in  a  spirited  manner,  and  to  baTO  passed  sue- 
fully  and  harmoniou&l}'. 
lie  next  year  saw  the  town  rejoicing  over  the 
happy  recovery  of  the  King  from  that  Ulness 
ich  threatened  to  incapacitate  him  from  takbig 
fiirtiier  part  in  tlie  afitiirs  of  the  realm. 
'  a  proposal  had  been  made  to  transfer  the 
crecirtJve  Government  to  the  Prince  of  "Wales, 
and  Birmingham  had  loyally  expressed  her  ad- 
herence to  the  Regf^nt  elect ;  but  by  the  end  of 
February  more  hopeful  news  came  of  the  state  of 
XiDg*d  health,  and  as  soon  as  certain  Intel- 
ttoe  arrived  as  to  his  Majesty 'a  Message  to  that 
effect  having  been  delivered  to  the  Houses  of  Tar- 
Iwment,  *'  tlie  inhabitants  were  assiduously  occu- 
pied in  furnishing  their  windows  with  lights/'  the 
bellrf  in  all  the  churches  were  rung,"  and  with  the 
evening  a  more  general  and  brilliant  illumination 
commenced  than  was  ever  known  in  this  place," 
The  streets  were  thronged,  (notwithstanding  the 
inclemency  of  the  weather,)  brilliant  trans- 
ijncies  and  emblematical  devices  app<5ar6d  on 
Bt  of  tiie  pubHc  buildings.  A  huge  honliro,  at 
which  three  tone  of  coals  were  consumed,  was 
kindled  in  front  of  the  Navigation  Ofiice,  fire- 
works were  displayed  in  various  parts  of 
the  town,  and  at  Soho  the  manufactory,  house, 
mud  grounds  of  Mr.  Eoulton  w  ere  *^  completely 


and  grandly  illuminated  with  many  thousand 
lamps  of  various  colours,  most  judiciously  dis- 
played- 

Again,  on  the  appointed  Day  of  public  Thanks- 
giving for  the  King^s  recovery,  a  similar  display 
took  place,  and  in  addition  to  the  usual  illumi- 
nations, bonfires,  and  fireworks,  a  townsman  who 
had  thus  early  boen  smitten  with  the  balloon 
mania,  "gratified  the  populace  by  letting  off, 
from  St.  Patd*s  Square,  a  Mongolticr  balloon  of 
50  feet  in  circumference,  which  from  the  favour- 
able direction  of  the  wind  glided  over  the  town 
in  a  very  majestic  and  pleasing  manner/'  Our 
second  local  laureate,  CJollins,  celebrated  the 
event  in  a  pootii  ;  services  were  held  in  nearly  all 
the  places  of  woi-ship ;  a  special  form  of  prayer 
and  psalms  composed  for  the  occasion,  were  read 
and  sung  at  the  Jews'  synagogue  ;  and  everybody, 
both  rich  and  poor,  joined  in  expressing,  each  in 
hia  own  particular  way,  the  universal  joy  that 
the  good  and  kindhearted  "  Farmer  George  "  was 
once  more  enabled  to  take  the  reigns  of  Govern- 
ment, and  to  preside  over  a  happy  and,  on  the 
whole,  contented  people. 

And  with  this  public  expression  of  loyalty  and 
gratitude  wo  closw  the  present  i-ecord  of  the  life 
and  doings  of  our  townsmen  during  the  ninth 
decade  of  the  eighteenth  century. 


CHAPTER     XXXi 


THE     BIRMINGHAM     LIBRARY 


i  ftlilBT^-SitiaU  fi«giiu«iug»— Aims  and  OVijccU  of  tb«  founden— Increased  Subacripiion— Hkioiy  of  Uie  LIbtvy, 


**  Books,**  eays  ililton, — in  his  noble  defence  of 
the  liberty  of  the  press, — •*  are  not  absolutdy  dead 
thingSy  but  do  contain  a  potency  of  life  in  them, 
to  Iki  iM  active  as  that  soul  was  whose  progeny 
they  are  ;  nay^  they  do  presei-vo,  as  in  a  vial,  the 
ptirebt  efficacy  and  t^xtrat^tion  of  that  living  in* 
Ullact  that  bred  them.    ...  A  good  book,"  he 


continues,  "  is  the  precious  life-blood  of  a  master- 
spirit, embalmed  and  treiisured  up  on  purpose  to 
a  life  beyond  life."  And  if,  as  John  Kuskin  has 
said,  for  the  individual  to  be  without  books  of 
his  own  be  **  the  abyss  of  penury,"  how  much 
more  so  must  it  ho,  for  the  commiuiity  to  bo 
without  t^puUic  library  ^  and  we  art  not  surprised 


198 


OLD  AND   NEW   BIBI^nNGHAM, 


[Th»  8Innine;lu.iii  Litewjr. 


to  find  that  our  townsmen,  as  early  as  the  year 
1779,  resolved  that  thej  would  no  longer  endure 
su€h  "penury/*  In  that  year  the  Bimiinghara 
Lihrary — after^vards  nnd  still  known  as  "the 
Old  Library  "—was  founded.  It  is  unfortunately 
impossible,  at  Uie  present  time,  to  discover  the 
toatnee  of  the  founders  of  this  excellent  iBBtitu- 
tion,  as  its  early  records  are  now  lost.  The  first 
home  of  the  library  was  in  Snow  Hill,  where 
it  was  open  mily  one  hour  tfOcA  mortiing,  for  the 
delivery  and  return  of  books.  Hiitton  tells  us 
simply  that  **  it  originated  in  1779,  and,  like 
many  important  things,  from  exceedingly  minute 
beginnings*"  that  "each  member  paid  a  guinea 
entrance,  and  six  shillings  per  annum  ;**  and  that 
"  their  number  was  so  small,  that  they  covdd 
scarcely  liave  quarrelled  had  they  been  inclined, 
and  their  whole  stock  might  have  been  hiid  in  a 
handkerchief.*'  The  present  librarian,  ^Ir,  Scai-se, 
has  very  courteously  informed  us  that  the  entire 
collection  of  books  was  origiriBlIy  kept  in  a  small 
old-fashioned  "corner-cupboard,"  which  is  still 
in  existence. 

The  only  notice  of  the  new  institution  in  the 
Gazetiey  diuring  1780,  is  an  announcement  of  the 
general  meetiug  of  the  Subscribers  to  be  held 
at  the  Hotel,  June  13tb;  and  this  is  dgned 
"J,  L.,  Steward,"  i.e.^  John  Lee,  jud.,  "steward" 
or  librarian. 

The  first  statement  as  to  the  library  and  the  aims 
and  objects  of  its  proprietors,  so  far  as  can  be  dis 
covered,  appeared  in  the  Gazette  of  June  1  Ith,  1781, 
in  an  announcement  of  the  general  meeting  : — 

"  Btrmincbam  LinnAHY.— a  general  meetiug  of  the 
subBcrilierB  to  this  institution  is  appointed  to  be  held  on 
Wednesday,  the  ISth  of  June,  at  the  Castle  Inn,  in  Hi|^h 
Street,  at  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  whtin  ercry 
suV>8criber  is  desired  to  attend,  to  consider  of  some  laws 
relative  to  the  government  of  the  society.  This  Library 
is  formed  upon  tlie  plan  of  one  that  was  first  es-ttiblished 
at  Liverpool,  and  whidi  has  been  adopted  at  Manchester^ 
Leeds,  and  many  other  considerable  towns  in  this  kingiiom. 
The  books  are  never  to  be  sold  or  distributed  ;  and,  from 
the  nature  of  the  institution,  the  Library  must  increase 
till  it  contains  aJl  the  most  valuable  publications  in  the 
EngUah  language  ;  and,  from  the  easy  terma  of  sdmisaion 
(ns!,,  one  guinea  for  entrance,  and  six  shillings  annually), 
\  wHl  be  a  treaaare  of  knowledge  both  to  the  present  and 


SQCceedtng  apes.  As  all  books  are  bought  by  a  commit 
of  persons  annunlly  cliosen  by  a  mnjority  of  the  jsuLicnb 
and  every  vote  is  by  ballot,  this  inAtilution  can  nr 
answer  the  purpose  of  nny  pnrty,  dvil  or  religiouM, 
on  the  contrary^  may  be  expected  to  ptomoie  a  ipirit  \ 
liberality  and  friendship  among  all  classics  of  men  withq 
distinction^  The  library  in  this  town  in  at  pre*kent  in  I 
very  infancy,  but  it  already  contain*  a  valuable  eoUecti 
of  books,  catalogncs  of  which  may  always  be  seen 
Messrs.  Pearson  and  Hollason's  \  and  when  the  Libn 
Room  (which  is  already  engaged  in  the  njost  ceiitnd  ] 
of  the  town)  shall  be  opened  for  the  reception  cf  it,  and 
the  constant  accommodation  of  all  the  bubacnbers,  the 
advantages  arising  from  the  institution  will  be  gr«atj|_ 
increased." 

On  December  12th  the  annual  meeting 
held  at  the  Castle  Inn,  at  which  officers  were 
be  elected  for  the  ensuing  year.  Each  person  ' 
**  desired  to  bring  a  list  of  20  namtis,  conaisting  i 
those  whom  ho  would  recommend  to  be  o! 
committee  for  the  year  ensuing,  as  they  are  to  1 
chosen  by  ballot ;  and  as  it  will  take  some  tin 
to  settle  this  list,  the  members  are  requested  I 
attend  and  deliver  theni^  as  early  as  possible ; 
no  list  can  be  received  after  half-past  thp 
o'clock."  It  was  also  announced  that  **  in  co 
sequence  of  the  additional  expense  in  which  i 
society  will  be  involved,  it  will  bo  proper 
propose  some  addition  to  the  annual  sub6eri| 
tion ;  "  but  that  **  the  subscribers  may  rely  on 
propOBition  never  exceeding  the  sum  of  10&, 
which  is  the  limit  prescribed  by  those  who 
fonned  the  society,  and  for  which  they  pie 
themselves/'  It  ^is  hoped,  however,  '*  that,  no 
withstanding  the  additional  expense,  the  annual 
subscription  of  7s.  6d.  or  8a.  may  suffice." 

The  annual  subscription  was  ultimately  fixed 
at  eight  shillings ;  and  "  a  Librarian  entered  the 
ser\^ico  at  10/.  per  Annum." 

The  next  announcement  tells  us  the  whereabouto_ 
of  the  new  library  premiacs  : — 

Januar>^  20,  1782,— BiBMlNOllAM  LlBIULET,— Tlw I 
acriber*  to  the  Birmingham  Library  ai»  limby  1 
that  the  Library  Koom,  adjgining  to  11es»ra.   PtiaraonV 
and  RoUaaon  tt  House,  in  the  S^an  Vard«  iiill  Ite  op 
on  Thursday  Next :   and  that  the  librarian  will  atti 
there  to  deliver  the   Books,  &c.,   every   Day   (Su 
excepted)  from  Two  o*CJock  in  tho  Altemoon  to  Tt^ 
Within  thoae  Hours  any  Subscriber  may  see  thr  1 
readj  and  make  Extracts,  kt.  at  hie  PleaMxn.    A  Firt  i 


200 


OLD  AKD   NEW  BIRMINGHAM. 


(Th«  BlmilBgliftiB  Ubmrr. 


or  more  ;  but  ho  is  to  observe  not  to  keep  them 
longer  than  the  Tune  allowed  for  On©  only, 
Tinder  the  Penalty  of  forfeiting  for  each  Volimme 
separately," 

We  next  find  the  suhscribers  considering  **a 
proposal  of  some  of  the  Members  to  foim  them- 
Belvee  into  a  separate  Society,  for  the  Ptuchafla  of 
Books  of  Science,  and  especially  Foreign  Publica- 
tions of  that  Class,  to  be  under  the  same  Kegula- 
tiona  with  those  of  the  present  Library,  and  to  be. 
accessible  to  all  the  Subscribers  to  it,  but  not 
to  be  taken  out  of  the  Library  except  by  the 
new  Subscribers."  It  is  added  that  **  if  this  pro- 
posal be  approved,  a  Number  of  Persona  intend 
to  make  a  Deposit  of  a  considerable  Collection  of 
scientifical  Books,  in  order  to  begin  the  Eatablish. 
ment  to  more  Advantage," 

On  the  1 4tli  of  June  we  learn,  from  an  Rnnounce- 
ment  in  the  Gazette,  that 

The  Subacrib^ra  to  tbo  BtxmiDghain  Library  having, 
at  a  Special  Aleeting,  held  thifl  Day,  given  LeaTe  to 
any  of  their  Body  to  form  themselvea  into  a  f^porato 
Society  for  the  Purchase  of  Books  of  Scii'ace,  and  espe- 
cially foreign  Publications  of  that  Class,  and  having 
granted  them  tho  L'ac  of  their  Room  and  their  Libra- 
rian ;  a  Number  of  them  have  thought  proper  to 
propoao  an  Annual  Subscription  of  One  Guinea  for  that 
Purpose  :  And  Notice  if»  hereby  given,  that  a  Lbt  of  the 
new  Suhscribera  h  in  the  Library  Room,  and  will  continno 
there,  in  order  to  receive  the  Kames  of  more  Subacribera 
till  Monday  the  21st  Instant,  when  all  the  new  SuWribera 
are  desired  to  meet  in  the  Library  Room,  at  five  o'Clcjck 
in  the  Evening,  to  make  proper  Regulations  for  the  Ex- 
ecution of  their  Plan, 

By  1786  the  library  had  grown  from  **  near 
500  ^'  to  1,600  volumes,  and  the  annual  subscrip- 
tion had  more  than  kept  pace  with  the  growth  of 
the  library,  being  now  a  gxiinea  and  a  half. 

The  librarian  in  1 78C,  was,  as  appears  from  the 
advertisement  announcing  the  increased  rate  of 
subscription,  "William  Home,  wlio,  "in  conse- 
quence of  an  Advance  in  Salary/*  now  "  attends 
to  the  Btieiiiess  of*  the  Library  an  additional 
Hour  in  the  Day,  viz.  :  from  Ten  to  Eleven 
o'clock  in  the  morning."  The  growth  of  the 
library  make*  it  necessary  for  thfi  committee  to 
remind  subscriberB,  at  the  bame  time,  **th«t  tli© 


room  which  they  rent  at  present  will  very 
be  too  Bmall  to  answer  the  purpose  for  which ; 
wajB  taken." 

In  1787  there  arose  a  fierce  and  bitter  dispiit 
aa  to  the  non-admission  of  works  on  theologies 
controversy.  A  motion  for  their  expulsion  beiu 
made  by  Mr.  Charles  Cooke,  Dr.  Priestley  replie 
in  a  pamphlet,  the  profits  of  which  were  to  be  give 
to  the  funds  of  the  Library.  On  the  3rd  of  Sep 
tember  another  pamphlet  was  announced  to  be 
issued  the  next  day,  "by  a  Subsciiber,"  wh 
expresses  his  apprehension  lest  the  appcawince  < 
opposition  sunong  the  subscribers  should  doter  I 
outsiders  from  availing  themselves  of  the  man^ 
advantages  offered  by  that  excellent  instltutioB 
He  is  persua»ied  that  **  thi^joint  efforts  of 
Priestley  and  himself"  will  contribute  to  promoti 
peace  and  to  dispel  the  bitter  strife  in  which  thejj 
are  engaged.  Following  the  doctor's  examplq 
"he  also  intends  applying  whatever  gain  majj 
arise  from  the  sale  of  this  Address,  to  the  Fund 
of  the  Library." 

The  peaceable  endeavours  of  the  two  pamph 
leteere,  were,  hoqrever,  unsuccessful,  and  a  month 
later  a  pamphlet   appeared   on   the  other  sid^ 
written  by  an  outsider,  who  was  in  no  way  con 
ceimed  in  the  discussion,  and  who  proposed 
devote  the  profits  of  his  venomous  little  public 
tion — ^ which  has  been  styled  "one  of  the  mo 
uncharitable  and  uncliristian  tracts  ever  written  1 
— *'  to  the  Funds  of  the  Sunday  Schools." 
object  of  the  author  in  joining  in  tlie  controvor 
was  obviously  that  of  bespattering  Dr.  Priestle 
with  his  virulent  abuse.     The  readisr  will  no 
care  to  know  more  of  this  pamphlet  thaa  its  titi 
which  was  as  follows  : — 

A  Letter  to  Dr.  Joseph  Priestley,   occaaioaed  by 
lata  Addrass  to    the   Subscribers  to  the    Bin 
Library. 

By  Somebody,  M.S. 

*'  Thon  com'st  in  such  a  queationable  shape  that  I  wHl 
apeak  to  thee/* — Shakejpeare, 

**Gloriam,  honorcm,  imperium.  konub,  rGA'Aurs,  fcqu* 
aibi  axoptaut ;  aed  ilie,  vera  vii  tuUlur,  HfC  quia  BOVM 
art^i  deaunt,  Doua  atqua  FALiAOtit  oemtandit  **— AsflM. 


Mr  Cooke's  TOasons  for  his  proposal  were 
given  in  the  OasmUe  of  Daeember  10th,  as 
foUowB : — 

December  10,  1787. 

To   TUB  SUBSCRlBERa   OF  THE   BlEMlXOHAM   LiBRABT. 

Gektlemek, — My  Motion  for  h  Lsw  to  exclude  Books 
reUling  merely  to  controversial  Divimty,  baring  occft- 
Aioned  some  Ptrty  Animosity,  imd  the  Motire  b«ii]g  greatly 
ml«aiiidef3tood»  I  beg  Leare,  before  the  General  Meeting, 
in  asst^rv  the  Subscribers  the  Motion  was  brought  forward 
solely  Trith  a  tIcw  to  eitingtiish,  and  in  future  proven t, 
uneasincfi*  occasioned  by  the  late  Mode  of  introducing 
them.  Dr.  Priestley,  in  his  Address  to  the  Subscribers 
iqion  my  Motion,  declnrcB  that  he  had  always  opjiosed 
their  Admisaion  ;  and  I  have  often  in  conrersation  heard 
several  of  the  Dr/a  Friends  mention  their  own  ideas  of  the 
Impropriety  of  their  Introduction  ;  and  it  was  from  one 
of  these  Gentlemen  1  learned  these  Words,  **  after  the 
present  moment,  mere  Lumber."  I  have  heard  Books 
relating  to  the  two  learned  Professions  objected  to  in  the 
Committe*,  merely  because  they  were  professional,  I  mean 
Law  and  Physic,  but  never  heard  the  same  objection  to 
thosA  of  Theology.  The  principal  end  of  all  public 
libraries  should  be,  to  collect  a  Fund  of  Literature,  both 
entertainiDg  and  UiTeful,  not  only  for  the  advantage  of 
present,  but  future  generations,  but  more  esipecially  for 
the  jmrohase  of  the  books  of  Histor}%  Science  and  Pro- 
fenion,  whose  Prices  arc  in  general  too  high  for  the 
Majority  of  Private  parse*,  as  the  Philosophical  Transac- 
tlimv  iforeri's  Dictionary,  Grose's  Antiquities,  &c.,  kc. 
Tbe  proposal  which  I  wished  to  bring  forward  of  a 
•(vpArate  Subscription,  on  the  Plan  of  the  Scientifici  for 
the  Purttuiee  of  Books  appertaining  to  the  three  aiUter 
Profesaions,  sets  aside  every  possible  idea  of  my  Fears  or 
Alarms  relating  to  controversy.  I  have  been  told  re- 
p^tolly,  and  with  Warmth  and  Acrimony,  that  my 
Motion  Wis  originally  intended  as  a  personal  attack  on 
Dr.  Priesll*?y»  and  that  the  Subscribers  who  are  of  the 
eatablbhail  Church  were  angry  because  the  Dissenters  in 
general  were  better  read,  and  conseqnently  more  liberal 
thau  them.  I  am  sure  that  the  Doctor  will  Laugh  at  the 
former  idea,  and  as  for  tlie  Utter,  I  think  every  one  should 
Lamgh  at  it.  The  Society  are  under  many  and  great 
Obligations  to  th«  learned  Doctor  ;  it  waa  him  who 
altered  itsj  original  Plan,  and  put  it  on  a  more  extensive 
Kmle  ;  he  amended  and  enlargiiicd  the  Laws,  and  has  paid 
a  great  Attention  to  its  Welt'rtre  and  growing  Interests  ; 
it  is  now  becoming  a  very  valuable  and  oseful  Library, 
and  promised  fair  to  be  a  most  capital  one.  Considering 
tha  future  Consequence  this  Institution  is  Hkcly  to  bo  of 
to  thia  Neighbourhood,  it  wore  to  be  wished  that  any 
Motle  likely  to  create  ilisunderstanding  amongst  its 
Memben  was  exploded  ;  it  was  therefore  my  Motion  was 
put  up,  afid  not  only  with  the  Approbation^  but  at  the 
Es<iur.^t  nf  many  Respectable  Su>»»cribers,  with  the  pros- 
pect of  preventing  in  future  the  Bickerings  occasioned  by 
the  Intrtsduction  of  these  controversial  Books,  and  at  the 
MUM  tUBi  to  ea^abliah  Unanimity  and  Concord  in  the 


Society,  and  to  explode  the  idea  of  Party  influenee, — I  am 
Geiitlemen,  Your  most  obedient  and  most  humble  Servant, 

Chahles  Cooke. 
Hagley  Eoad,  Birmingham,  Dec,  1787. 

This  motion  waa  carried,  and  controversial 
divinity  was  excluded  from  the  Library,  At  the 
same  meeting  (held  December  12th,  1787)  it  was 
resolYed  unanimously  **that  those  Subscribers 
who  live  One  Mile  from  the  Town  be  allowed 
one  Day  extra  for  the  return  of  a  Book,  and  those 
-who  live  at  the  distance  of  Two  5/Iiles  be  allowed 
two  days  ex^."  It  was  also  resolved  that  the 
hours  of  the  librarian's  attendance  be  from  three 
o*clock  to  six  in  the  afternoon  between  the  first 
of  September  and  the  first  of  ^lay,  and  from 
throe  to  eight  between  the  first  of  May  and  the 
first  of  September,  Again  there  arose  difficulties 
as  to  the  library  accommodation ;  the  latter  room 
was  all  too  small,  and  although  the  munificent 
sum  of  jC25  per  annum  had  been  oflTered  for  a 
suitable  room,  with  a  promise  to  expend  £50  in 
improvements,  the  subscribers  were  stDl  unable  to 
find  a  FDom  which  would  meet  their  requirements. 
It  was  the  day  of  Tontines  ;  almost  every  under- 
taking was  carried  out  on  the  Tontine  principle  ; 
and  the  friends  of  the  Library  decided  upon 
using  this  popular  method  of  raising  sufficient 
money  to  erect  a  suitable  building  for  themselves, 
aa  will  be  seen  from  the  following  announce- 
ment : — 

Birmingham  LiBaAiiT. — A  Subscription  is  open  in 
the  Library  for  two  hundred  nameSt  to  raise  one  thousand 
guineas  for  the  purpose  of  building  a  new  and  complete 
Library,  to  be  let  to  the  Society  at  £25.  per  annum,  on  a 
Tontine  pUu.  Those  gentlemen  who  wish  to  subscribe 
for  one  or  more  shares,  not  exceeding  ten,  are  desired  to 
aeud  thuir  names  to  the  Librarian  immediately.  Any 
person  having  a  freehold  spot  of  land  in  a  centrical 
situation  to  dispose  of,  is  requested  to  send  his  terms,  in 
writing,  to  Mr,  Home,  at  the  Library  : — And  any 
builder  wishing  to  undertake  the  building,  may  send 
their  plan  and  estimate  to  the  same.  The  land  must  be 
at  least  two  hondred,  and  from  that  to  three  hundred 
square  yards.*' 

Meanwhile  it  was  still  necessary  to  obtain  a 

larger  room  pending  the  erection  of  the  tontine 

building,  (the  Library  having  now  increased  to 

3^400  volumes) ;  and  teraponiry  premises  wore 


I  Hi  1790  J 


OLD  AND  NEW  BIEMmGHAM, 


205 


tlie  town),  which  had  previously  been  known  as 
"  Corbett's  Bowling  Green,"  adjoining  tho  pleasant 
Cherry-Orchard,  and  Wonting  "a  certain  PaBsage 
theit>,  called  Corbett's  Alloy,"  now  better  known 
aa  Union  Street.  The  Tontine-Deed  is  dated 
March  25th,  1798,  and  sets  forth  the  several  par- 
ticulars vm  to  the  exact  position  of  the  land, 
which  was  obtained  on  a  lease  from  the  celebrated 
Dr.  Withering,  whose  house  adjoined  the  said 
proper^  on  the  north-west  side  thereof.  The 
lease  was  granted  for  120  years,  datinpj  from  June 
24,  170t,  at  a  ground-rent  of  £11  15r.  per 
annum-  The  older  portion  of  the  present  library 
building  was  erected  thereon,  at  a  cost  of  £906, 
which  sum  was  advanced  by  the  several  parties 
included  in  the  tontine  trust,  (comprising,'  181 
peraoDBy  yarying  in  ages  from  five  months  to 
twenty-one  years),  equally  in  proportion  to  the 
number  of  shares  of  the  value  of  X5  each.  The 
im>prietoi8  of  the  Birmingham  Library'  were  to 
|jay  an  annual  rent  of  £22  12s.  6d.,  subject  in 
gUgdition  to  the  ground-rent  of    XI 1   ISs.     The 


building  was  completed  in  1797,  being  erected  of 
stone,  from  designs  by  ilr.  WiUiani  Hollins ;  the 
exterior  consisted  of  the  present  covered  portico, 
supported  by  two  pairs  of  coupled  Doric  columns, 
surmounted  by  an  Ionic  story  of  the  same  form, 
with  one  window  only  on  either  side  of  the 
entmnce  in  each  story.  This  latter  particular  will 
enable  the  reader,  from  the  engraving  given  on 
page  191,  to  form  an  idea  of  the  size  of  the 
original  building,  aa  well  as  of  the  later  exten- 
sion. Over  the  entrance  is  the  following  inscrip- 
tion, from  the  pen  of  the  celebrated  Dr.  Samuel 
Parr:— 

''Ad  mercatamm  bonamm  artium  profisctas,  et  tibi  tt 
omnibus  ditesces,*' 

which  has  been  thus  translated  : — 

**  Resorting  to  the  Alart  of  the  Sciences,  you  wDl  grow 
rich  both  for  yourself  and  others/' 

And  thug,  the  library  being  firmly  established 
in  a  permanent  building  suited  to  the  refiuire- 
Hi cuts  of  its  members,  its  history  cornea  to  an  cud, 
for  the  present. 


CHAPTEE    XXXII. 


APPEARANCE     OF     BIRMINGHAM     IN     1790. 


atl-Brltl^et  oTCT  the  R<m— OM  hoiiM*  to  Dlgbctb—8t  Martin 'aCb arch— Tlio  Dull  Rlig— Th«  Old  Crow— WUUwn  Huttoa— AaibtM— 
JC«w  HaU  — **  UockXvf  Abbey"  iiod  lt»  founder— Tbo  Creftccnt— Ptiot-path  to  Lho  Piv«*Wftyg. 


TitoaiB  who  have  withVxemplary  patience  followed 
the  course  of  our  story  thus  far,  may  perhaps  be 
lictsirous  of  learning  something  of  the  appearance 
of  the  town  after  the  provisions  of  the  several 
ijnpit>Yement  acts,  which  we  have  duly  chronicled, 
had  boen  carried  into  effect,  as  well  as  the  other 
private  improvements  of  which  we  have  taken 
nolo  in  the  foregoing  chapters. 

Ill  surveying  the  town  once  more,  therefore, 
to  not^  the  improvements  of  the  last  twenty 
yeaiS|  we  will  suppose  our  readers  to  start  with 
OS  from  Camp  Hill,  as  in  the  seventeenth 
coniorj. 


As  we  pass  the  end  of  Coventry  Eoad,  we 
enter  the  domain  of  brick  and  timber.  The  old 
gaol  of  the  parish  of  Aston  firet  attracts  our 
notice,  with  its  grim-looking  irons  hanging  outaid© 
and  the  old-fashioned,  bulk-windowed  alehouse 
in  front,  kept  by  the  gaoler.  The  half -timbered 
houses  are  now  becoming  fewer^  but  there  are 
still  a  few  remaining  to  give  pictureaquenesa  to 
the  old  "street  called  Dirtey,"  The  chapel  of 
St.  John  the  Baptist,  with  its  square  heavy  tower, 
does  not  harmonise  ill  with  the  quaint  surround- 
ings, now  that  the  newness  of  its  red  brick  lias 
been  toned  down  by  the  amoke ;  and  the  entrance 


to  the  towB  of  Binnmgham  may  still  be  said  to 
be  through  a  **  pretty  strete." 

Beaoking  the  bonks  of  the  Eea,  in  Deritend, 
wo  cofmo  to  the  first  noticeable  improvement,  in 
the  erection  of  a  new  bridge  over  that  stream* 
Id  early  times,  before  the  water  was  dammed  up 
to  supply  Cooper's  Mill,  which  was  about  four 
hundred  yards  below  the  present  bridge,  Button 
i^  of  opinion  that  the  stream  must  have  been  so 
shallow  as  to  admit  of  its  being  crossed,  between 
Deritend  and  Digbeth,  with  the  aid  of  a  few 
stepping  stones.  But  wlien  it  became  necessary 
to  dam  up  the  water,  several  **  paltry  bridgea  " 
were  erected  in  succession,  chiefly  of  timber,  to 
connect  the  two  streets ;  the  cost  of  making  and 
maintaining  the  said  bridges  being  provided  for 
out  of  the  property  bequeathed  for  such  good 
works  by  that  worthy  townsman,  William  Lencli, 
the  pious  founder  of  **  the  Gild  called  'Lench's 
Trust'"  These  old  bridges  were  barred,  and 
kept  chained  and  locked,  and  had  an  attendant 
bar-keeper.  In  the  seventeenth  century,  these 
Hide  wooden  bridges — which  were  so  easily  washed 
away  by  the  winter  floods — gave  place  to  one 
of  stone,  as  shown  in  Westley'a  Prospect, 
with  recesses  in  which  foot  passengers  might 
take  refuge  during  the  passage  of  large  and 
heavy  vehicles  over  the  bridge.  This  was 
removed  in  1750,  and  another  erected  by 
Henry  Bradford  and  John  Collins,  (oveiseers 
of  the  highway,)  consisting  of  iive  arches ; 
"  but  the  homely  style,  the  steep  ascent,  and 
the  circumscribed  width,  prevented  encomium/** 
Tins  was  also  demolislied  in  1789,  to  make 
way  for  the  present  bridge,  the  first  stone  of 
which  was  laid  by  Mr.  James  Yates,  August 
5th,  1789.  This  was  not,  however,  completed 
until  1813,  the  Act  under  wliich  it  was  erected 
having  expired  before  the  work  was  accomplished, 
and  the  trustees  being  opposed  by  the  inhabitants 
and  frustrated  in  their  attempt  to  obtain  an 
extension  of  the  term.  The  works,  therefore, 
remained    incomplete    until    a    new    Act    was 


obtained^r   in    ISIS^    enabling    the    tnietoea    ta 
complete  the  improTement& 

As  we  past  along  Digbeth  we  notice  thai  the 

spirit  of    improvement  has    influenced    private 
inhabitants,  as  well  as  public  commiasioners,  and 
that  many  of  the  old  gabled,  half-timbered  house*  j 
have  given  place  to  newer  buildings ;  the  mu 
of  the  anvil  has  departed   from   the  street 
^'manie  smithes,"  along  with   their  quaint  old 
shops,  half  open  to  the  street,  of  which  only  onq 
yet   remains  (1700);    where   dwells  a  hale  and 
hearty  old  blacksmith,  John  Hoberts  by  name^] 
whose  health  the  smoke  of  the  town  and  tbe  lack 
of  an  "improved  dwelling"  has  failed  to  i^juroJ 
and  who  lived  to  the  good  old  age  of  a  bundredl 
and  three  years.*     Of   this  old  smithy  we  arei 
enabled  to  give  an  illustration  from  a  small  pen 
and  ink  drawing  by  W.  Hamper,  on  page  105.  f 

Another  of  the  quaint  and  picturesque  old 
houses  which  has  escaped  the  ravages  of  time  and 
of  modern  improvements,  is  that  now  (I878)j 
known  as  *'The  Old  Bigbeth  Tripe  House." 

At  8t  Martin's  Church  considerable  alteration 
have  been  made  since  our  last  notice  of  it     Id 
1781  the  spire  was  found  to  be  in  a  decayed  and 
exceedingly  unsafe  condition.     From   the  Pariah 
Books  we  learn  that  a  Vestry  Meeting  was  held 
February  5th,  and  it  was  agreed  by  the  inhabitantal 
present,  *'  that  John  Chessldre  J  be  employed  loJ 
raise  acaflbldlng  to  examine  more  minutely  the  Coa<l 
dition  the  said  Spire  is  now  in,  and  that  he  shall 
be  allowed  Ten  Pounds  for  raising  such  scaffold'^ 
ing  if  he  shall  not  be  employed  in  repairing  thial 
Spu*e,     If  he  is  employed  the  expense  for  raising] 
it  is  to  be  looked  upon  as  iuclnded  in  the  astimati 


*  lu  the  Univtrait  Mit^ftulne,  \792,  U  the  foDowliig  t«nigll|»llj 
mpeotlo);  Urn  old  BirmitigUam  ecu  ten  aria  n  ^-.- 

*' AiioirsT  4. — lAlalj  died  iu  Di^l^th  ntat  BirmingKnm^  In  tiia] 

lO^fd  JBAT  Ot  hU  Ag«,  JohQ  ItobortB,  WtkO  r«TAlll«(l    UU  fACbllfM  1 

tho  \aaU  ftnd  followed  hit  «xaploym«nt  within  a  fevr  weolus  of  hial 
death,    ThiA  Gitraordinary  old  toftn  lonrrted  three  wirtt,  by  vboo  1 
iM  bod  Its  children  ;  he  wm  nuulf  S9  wHea  he  nuuriAd  lU*  Uct 
ADd  hid  lix  of  the  children  by  htr" 
The  old  tnaithy  nwt  Uken  down  lit  XpHl  1S(H, 
t  In  hli  ioterle*vud  cf>py  of  Htitsoti't  History  of  Btrmln^tm 
now  in  the  postfttsloD  Ml 

t  Jobn  diMvhf f«  wriA  rchtleel,  k  %mUr 

of  0?csr-Wbit»«.^re,    Sf*      .t„ ,„im,  ■.    .m„^,^^i,c,''   IT-^^"*    -■-* 


Btrmingliun  tn  ITWX 1 


OLD   Amy   NEW   BIRMrNGHAM. 


205 


haa  delivered  to  the  Chturch wardens.  l^.B, 
The  Ladders  to  be  the  property  of  Mr.  Chesshire 
when  the  repairs  are  conaplete."*  On  the  thir- 
teentb  of  the  eaine  month  another  meeting  was 
held,  at  which  it  was  decided  to  give  the  work 
to  Mr.  Chesshire,  Thirty-three  feet  of  the 
spire  were  to  be  taken  down,  and  the  remainder 
kI  ;  an  iron  spindle  of  105  feet  long  was  to 

i  brought  through  its  centre,  and  secured  to  the 
nde  walla  every  ten  feet  by  braces ;  the  material 
to  be  naed  in  the  repairs  to  be  Attleborongh  stone. 
It  waa  subsequently  found  necessary  to  rebuild  on 
additional  eeven  feet,  making  forty  feet  in  all ; 
tbe  entire  cost  of  the  repairs  being  £166  9s, 

The  portion  of  the  churchyard  which  was  now 
opened  to  the  street  (by  the  demolition  of  the 
house  of  Francis  Moles,)  at  the  gateway  opposite 
Moor  Street,  was  now  ["fenced  in  with  *'  iron 
palisadoes.*'  In  the  interior  of  the  church  great 
ii]t6|fttioQ8  had  been  made.  '^The  seats,"  says 
Hutton,  **  would  have  disgraced  a  meaner  parish 
than  that  of  BirmiDgham ;  one  would  be  tempted  to 
think  they  were  the  first  ever  erected  on  the  spot, 
without  taste  or  order;  the  timber  ws-s  become  hard 
with  age,  and  to  the  honour  of  the  inhabitants, 
bright  with  use.  Each  sitting  was  a  private  free- 
hold,  and  was  further  disgraced,  like  the  coffin  of 
a  pauper,  with  the  paltry  initials  of  the  owner*s 
name  These  divine  abodes  were  secured  with 
tliA  coaiBe  padlocks  of  a  field  gate.  .  .  .  Aa 
^16  town  incieaaed,  gallery  after  gallery  wob 
incted|  till  no  conveniency  was  found  for  more» 
Invdntion  was  afterwards  exerted  to  augment  the 
nnmbar  of  sittinga;  every  leoeas  capable  only 
of  admitting  the  body  of  an  infant^  was  converted 
into  a  seat.'^ 

To  feniedy  this  undesirable  state  of  affairs  it 
was  reeolved  by  th«  Vestry,  in  December,  1784, 
that  application  should  be  made  to  the  Chancellor 
of  the  Diocese,  for  a  faculty  to  empower  them  to 
f  down  **  all  and  singular  the  pews,  Seats,  and 
ag  Places,  together  with  the  l*ulpit  and 
raiding  Desk,  and  the  several  galleries  within  the 

*  J  T  %ac9  r  HittCTT  of  Old  St.  Hanin  •,  f .  40. 


parish  Church  of  St.  Martin  in  Birmingham,  and 
totally  to  remove  the  same,  ^nd  re-erect  new 
Seats,  Pews,  and  Sitting  Places,  with  a  pulpit  and 
residing  desk  upon  the  ground  floor  of  the  said 
parish  Church  together  with  large  and  spacious 
galleries  with  seats,  pews,  and  sitting  Places 
therein,"  according  to  certain  plans  furnished  by 
Mr.  Richard  Dick  en,  **  the  surveyor  of  the 
arcliitect  intended  to  be  employed  in  the  altera- 
tion of  the  Church," 

Here  was  an  opporlunity  for  the  churchwardens 
to  redeem  all  the  follies  and  blunders  of  their 
predecessors,  and  to  restore  the  interior  of  the 
eburch  to  something  like  its  original  appearance. 
But  alas  for  tho  want  of  taste  which  characterised 
tliat  period  in  our  history,  the  new  "  Pews,  aeatfi, 
and  sitting  Places,"  which  t!ie  restorer  designed 
**  to  remaiQ  for  ever  hereafter  ■*  were  quite  as  bad 
aa,  if  not  even  worse  than,  those  which  they 
superseded.  Happily,  however,  the  **  for  ever 
hereafter"  came  to  an  end  earlier  than  the 
perpetrators  of  the  restoration  intended,  being 
doomed  to  destruction,  with  the  old  building, 
in  1872. 

During  the  alterations  in  1785-6,  (which  in- 
cluded not  merely  the  erection  of  new  pews  and 
sittings,  but  also  the  new  roofing  of  "the  north 
and  south  side,^'  an  'improvement*  which  entirely 
hid  from  view  the  clerestory  windows),  the  amount 
of  damage  done  to  the  interior  of  the  chnrch  can 
scarcely  be  estimated,  **The  vast  number  of 
grave-stones,  which  nearly  covered  the  fioor,"  says 
Hutton,  **and  the  names  of  the  defunct,  with 
their  concise  funeral  memoirs,  were  committed  to 
the  same  oblivion  as  themselvea.  The  arms, 
monuments,  pews,  pulpit,  roof,  and  charities,*  fell 
in  one  general  ruia.  Nothing  was  left  of  this 
venerable  edifice  but  part  of  the  walls.  Even 
the  fine  old  monuments  of  the  ancient  lords,  the 
pride  of  the  church,  coidd  barely  find  a  place 
above  ground,   and    that   in   the  last  stage   of 


*  ▲  lUI  of  Uw  ei»rtti«t  of  tht  town  la  frequftDtlj  to  be  met  with 
ta  old  pAhih  dmrcbM,  pAlnted  on  «  bo&rd,  which  u  i«t  up  to  toa* 
«9n»pieaoui  pUw.  Hodan  **iMtorvi  "  havi,  la  too  mtaxj  te* 
■UAOAt,  uuMd  thM«  IsttrMttBg  nmurlAli  to  bt  nn^Tid. 


206 


OLD  AND  NEW  BUtMINGHAM. 


[Blnningii>m  ta  IT9Q. 


existence,  the  stair-hole.  With  all  my  powers  I 
pleaded  for  the  lorda  and  their  arms;  but  although 
I  pleaded  without  a  fee,  I  was  no  more  regarded 
than  some  who  plead  with  one."* 

The  following  entry  in  the  town  accounts, 
under  date  Oct  18,  1786,  probably  has  reference 
to  the  sale  uf  some  of  theae  venerable  remains  : — 


*'  reed,  for  Old  Lead 
*'do.  Old  Materia 


246     11     lOi 
17      8      4" 


The  entrance  to  the  churchyard  is  now  open, 
the  house  at  the  gateway  opposite  Moor  Street 
having  been  cleAred  away*  But  there  stUl  remain 
certain  of  the  old  houses  crowding  around  the 
sacred  edifice,  as  did  the  mercenary  traders  around 
the  temple  of  old ;  the  Commissioners  have  still 
much  to  do,  for  the  shambles  and  the  Eoundabout 
Houses  still  crowd  up  the  market-pkce,  notwith- 
standing the  acts  of  1769  and  1773.  The  Old 
Market  Cross  has  gone,  however,  having  been 
demolished  in  August,  1784.  The  materials  were 
sold  by  auction  by  T»  Sketchley,  August  7th,  for 
£60,  and  the  clock  and  bell  for  £10 ;  that  course 
having  been  eanctioned  by  a  Town's  Meeting  held 
at  the  Puhlic  Office  in  Dnlo  End,  July  2l8t,  to 
consider  the  niinous  state  of  that  vonerable  struc- 
ture. The  event  called  forth  from  some  local 
versifier  the  following  epigram,  which  appeared 
in  the  Gazette,  August  16 th  : — 

**  EPIGRAM. 
On  the  Salt  of  Birmingham  Old  Crass, 
**CoDscien(!o's  Court  by  auction  i^ea, 
Bidders,  though  few,  tbo  hummer  dOM 

The  business  io  a  trice  ; 
At  sixty  poo n da  the  "blow  is  struck. 
Ten  more  knocks  down  the  bell  and  clock  j 
Commiarioners — bo  price." 

Passing  a  little  further  up  the  High  Street  we 
notice  the  most  improvement  yet  eSectcd  under 
the  Lamp  Acts,  viz.,  the  opening  of  the  end  of 
l^tw  Street.  The  old  houses  blocking  up  the  end 
of  the  street  which  is  in  future  years  to  become 
the  principal  thorouglifare  of  Birmingham,  are  now 
removed,  and  wo  no  longer  pass  under  a  narrow 
gateway  to  reach  it     llie  old  houses  of  William 


Button  have  passed  away,  and  now  we  behold 
our  friend's  newer  place  of  business  on  the  other_ 
side  of  the  street,  opposite  the  end  of  Nen 
Street,  Little  does  he  think»  as  he  stands  i 
his  %^aluable  collection  of  books  and  printSi 
chats  with  a  friendlj  customer  over  his  ne 
literary  undertakings,  his  History^  his  Court 
Requests^  and  Battle  of  Bogworih  Fidd^  hj 
Jourti&fj  to  Londofif  and  Desmptwfi  of  BU 
poolf' — srnOing  to  think  of  his  having  ent 
upon  a  busy  literary  career  at  the  age  when  most' 
men  leave  off, — of  the  evil  days  which  are  so  near 
at  hand.  As  he  receives  the  friendly  word  and 
the  nod  of  recognition  from  the  many  townsme 
who  have  learned  to  respect  and  admire  the  oil 
bookseller  who  has  proved  himself  so  worthy 
citizen,  he  dreams  not  of  the  surging  mob  of 
enemies,  eager  to  destroy  his  home  and  his  pt 
perty,  and  ready  even  to  take  his  life,  if  he  shou 
fall  in  their  way, — ^yet  the  hour  of  terror  is  not 
far  distant  1 

But  we  must  pass  on  our  way.  The  Wolah_ 
Cross  still  stands,  and  the  Beast  Market 
hinders  the  traffic  in  Dale  End  The  horse-fa 
has  been  removed  to  what  has  hitherto  beeo^ 
known  as  Brickiln  Lane,  near  the  end  of  Small- 
brook  Street,  but  which  is  hereafter  to  bear  the 
new  name  of  the  Horse  Fair.  As  we  pass  along 
Coleshill  Street  we  come  upon  an  entirely  new 
suburb.  The  fair  estate  of  Dr,  Ash  has  already 
begun  to  be  built  upon,  and  is  cut  up  into  broad, 
well-made  streets.  The  doctor's  house  is  imde 
going  considerable  internal  alteration,  and 
buUding  will  be  ready  for  opening  as  a  Chapel  \ 
the  Establishment  before  the  end  of  1791. 
first  announcement  of  the  break-up  of  the  est 
appeared  in  the  Oazetie  of  October  29th,  17Sl| 
the  house  and  land  having  been  previously  offer 
for  sale  as  a  single  lot  without  succeea*  On  i 
13th  of  February,  1788,  a  more  detailed  annoonoe- 
ment  appeared  as  follows :- — 

Building  Land  in  tho  pariah  of  Aston,  near  Bli 
ham,  latfl  the  estate  of  Dr.  Ash,  to  be  Let  in  parvtK  1 
the  residue  of  a  term  of  mnuty-niiie  yeans,  about  cightj 
e^t  of  wMch  are  ontxpired.     Thia  mUXt^  m  pecuhajrly 


208 


OLD   ANI»    XEW   BIRMINGHAM. 


[DirrolnghJitn  In   l^ 


eligible  in  it«  vicinity  to  the  town,  and  not  lilcely  to  »>«» 
suTToanded  with  baildings,  having  lately  been  laid  out 
into  strt'pts  well  adapted  to  secure  the  benefit  of  a  free  and 
houlthful  air,  bos  Hufficiently  proved  the  desirableness  of 
it*  situation,  as  well  as  the  easential  advantages  arising  to 
the  tenant?  who  have  already  been  fortunate  euoogh  to 
tak*"  part  of  it  for  building.  Tlie  quantity  now  let  and 
thfi  preparations  making,  promise  a  rapid  progress  in  the 
buildings  intended  to  form  the  Hamlet  of  Ashtodf  whirh 
ia  planned  with  more  regularity  and  unifonnity  than  has 
usually  been  attended  to  In  laying  out  Land  for  building 
in  BiniiinghanL  To  render  the  streets  spacious  they  are 
uijide  from  sixteen  to  upwards  of  twenty  yards  wide,  and 
levels  are  taken  to  make  piroper  falls  for  carrying  off  the 
the  water,  to  prevent  similar  inconveniences  to  those  which 
liiive  been  so  generally  experienced  from  the  want  of 
altenlion  to  so  necesBaiy  a  precaution. 

The  valuable  articles  of  clay  and  sand  upon  the  prc- 
misea  afford  a  Tery  beneMftl  Mcommodation  to  the 
tenants  ;  to  which  may  be  added,  the  convenience  of 
plentiful  springs  of  fine  soft  water,  and  a  considerable 
Baving  in  parm- hiai  ^aynienta  ;  the  levies  being  two -thirds 
less  in  the  pari^ih  «f  Asttcm  than  in  Birmingham. 

As  the  season  for  bmlding  is  approaching^  it  iji  hoped 
that  those  who  are  indined  to  secure  a  situation  «o  replete 
with  advantageous  inducements,  will  not  lose  the  present 
opportunity  of  aviAing  themselves  of  it. 

A  plan  of  the  etftote  may  be  seen,  and  every  other  infor- 
mation and  Hatisffaction  that  can  possibly  be  required 
respecting  the  Mme,  may  be  had  hy  applying  to  Mr. 
Brooke,  attorney.  Temple  How ;  or  to  Mn  Kempson,. 
surveyor,  Bath -street,  Bimiingham. 

K.  B.  A  quantity  of  Thorns,  growing  Quick,  a.nd 
young  Trees  of  various  sorts  upon  the  above  estate,  to  he 
disjiosed  of, 

A  diflSculty  appears  to  have  been  placed  m.  the 

way  of  inti^iiding  speculators,  by  statemeiita  to 

the  effect  that  Sir  Chai^les  Holte  had  not  fewer 

to  grant  leases  foT  the  tenn  of  ninety -nine  years  ; 

these     Btatemenfcs     called     forth    the    following 

annonnceraent  from  the  lessee  of  the  land  ; — 

Mr.  Brooke  having  discovered  tliat  a  number  of  persons 
are  prevented  taking  the  land  for  building  which  he 
bought  Lif  Dr.  Ash,  in  coiiKequence  of  a  re[X)rt  being 
circukted  that  Sir  Charlea  Holte  had  not  power  to  grant 
leases  for  the  term  of  ninety  nine  years,  and  of  other 
futile  insinuations  ;  respectfully  aasures  the  public,  that 
he  UJiuie  the  purchase  wifh  the  ccneurrenee  of  Mr,  Lcgge 
and  Mr.  Pujbif^  and  took  the  title  under  the  directioa  of 
Ctiuuacl,  which  is  perfectly  clear,  and  may  be  perused  by 
applying  to  him. 

Whether  envy  of  tha  succcaa  which  haa  attended  the 
purchase,  or  tself^interest  has  utiiTcd  up  the  vicious  minda 
of  the  authors  of  a  report  equally  false  as  malidous,  Mr. 
Brooke  tl  at  tens  himself  they  will  not  remain  long  undis- 
covered^ that  he  may  have  an  opportunity  of  seeking 
redrest  for  the  unwarrantable  ttijaiy  lie  kmt  austeinedi  and 


hereby  gives  notice,  that  if  any  peraou  in  ftitura  i 
filandcr  his  title  to  the  above-mentioned  estate,  an 
will  be  commenced  against  them. 

Thus  did  the  estate  of  Dr.  Ash  suffer  invade 
hy  the  busy  town  ;  the  cattle  being  *'  turned  o\i 
of  their  pasture,  to  make  room  for  man  ;  and  the 
arts  planted  where  the  daisy  grew,"  *  And  wl: 
this  great  change  was  taking  place  on  the  on©! 
side  of  the  town,  the  Itist  vestii^es  were  being 
remoTed  of  an  old  estate  un  the  other.  On 
the  2nd  of  July,  1787,  we  read  in  the  Gazette  on 
annoimcement  of  the  sale  by  auction,  '^upon 
the  premises,  in  Bimiingham,"  on  Tuesday,  July 
'24th,  ''if  not  sooner  disposed  of  by  private 
contract,*' of  **that  well-known  Mansion,  called 
New  HftU,  with  all  the  Offices  and  Out-buiiding% 
except  the  Bam/*  The  whole  of  this  old  Bi] 
mingham  homestead  is  to  be  cleared  away  wii 
a  month  from  the  time  of  sale.  And  so 
away,  to  become  one  of  the  grimiest  districts  i 
the  grimy  town,  the  pWsant,  park-like  estate  of 
the  Colmore  fasifly,  and  New  Hall  is  known  no 
more  save  in  the  names  of  two  of  the  streets  into 
which  the  land  has  been  cut.  We  cross  the 
estate,  and  reach  the  foot  of  Snow  Hill,  but  the 
town  has  now  grown  beyond  the  "  Salutation," 
and  it  is  not  until  wc  have  reached  the  crest  of 
the  MD  beyond  that  we  leave  the  buildings  behind 
na,  and  obtain  a  delightf  id  view  over  the  valley  at 
our  feet, — across  to  the  right  towards  Aston, 
where,  behind  the  lofty  trees  in  the  park,  we  dis- 
cern the  graceful  spire  of  the  church,  and  the 
minarets  of  the  old  hall  of  the  Holtes;  and 
beyond  these  we  get  a  view  of  Barr-beacon  an 
the  adjacent  country.  In  the  valley,  to  the  lef 
we  notice  a  curious  and  picturesque  rulii  of  sotq 
apparently  very  ancient  monastic  building; 
old  as  it  seems,  it  wjts  not  in  existence  wbn 
Boulton  founded  liis  great  manufactory  at  8oh 
As  we  approach  nearer  to  it  the  mystery 
to  increase.  What  is  ^e  material  of  which  it  1 
built ;  how  came  it  here,  and  who  was  tfa 
builder?  are   the  questions  we  are  immediate 


BtimJiichus  is  ITfOJ 


OLD   AND  KEW   BIKMLNGHAil. 


209 


I  prompted  to  ask  respecting  this  strange  ruin. 
The  Btory  is  as  follows :  An  ingemous  mechanic, 
Richard  Ford  hy  name^  noticing  the  waatefal 
oxpendiitUB  of  hie  companions  at  the  alehouse, 
concei?ed  the  idea  of  laying  aside  two  shillings  a 
day  in  order  to  build  for  himself  a  picturesc|ue 
and  appaxently  ruiuoiia  dwelling  on  a  piece  of 
waste,  boggy  land  at  Hockley,  the  material  to  be 
used  in  the  deception  being  th^  large  masses  of 
ecoriae,  usually  termed  slag  or  droes,  that  lay  round 
about  the  Aston  furnace,  not  far  away,  in  great 
abundance*  When  his  horse  and  cart  (which  his 
small  business  re<|uired  him  to  keep)  were  at 
^^  leisure!  ^®  ^^^^  them  over  to  the  furnace,  to  bring 
;  away  the  scoriae  to  be  used  in  his  **  ruined  abbey," 
until  he  had  collected  a  sullicient  quantity,  and 
then  began  to  erect  the  bmlding  to  represent  ruins. 
In  front  of  the  house,  to  add  to  the  deception,  is 
the  date  1473,  in  small  pebble  stones;  but  the 
real  data  of  the  building  is  probably  about 
1780,  WTien  overgrown  with  ivy  it  presented  a 
picturesque  appearance,  as  may  be  seen  from  our 
illustration  on  page  183,  which  is  taken  from  a 
little  sketch  in  Bisset'a  **  Jtlagnificent  Directory/' 
The  builder,  Bichard  Ford,  is  said  by  Pye  to  have 
invented  a  "one-wheel  carriage,'*  constructed 
entirely  of  iron,  and  to  have  received  a  gold  medal 
Cram  the  Society  of  Arts  for  the  invention, 

Ketoming  to  the  town  we  risit  next  the 
channing  breezy  site  of  the  intended  Crescent, 
commanding  a  view  of  the  pleasant  diBtrict  sur- 
rounding 8t  Paul's,  a  i>art  of  the  New  Hall 
estate,  wliich  is,  as  yet,  little  built  upon.  Away 
to  Uie  left  lies  the  north*western  portion  of 
Sdgbattcdk,  with  PerroVs  tower  rising  in  the 
dialance,  and  directly  before  us  a  view  aver 
fialds  and  gutxlens  to  the  Bummer  Hill  estate, 
the  prospect  being  bounded  by  the  Icknield 
Street^  lined  on  either  side  by  a  row  of  pleasant 
shady  trees ;  truly  a  charming  prospect,  and  one 
of  which  we  fain  would  hope  the  projector's 
'  t  be  veriiied,  namely,  that  it  *'  can- 
I  Tuptcd/^  Alas  for  human  hopes  1 
Lei  Uie  reader  stand  tOKla^i  in  the  year  of  grace 


I 


I        shady  t 
^^  of  wiiii 


eighteen  hundred  and  seventy -eight,  on  the  plateau 
in  front  of  tlie  Citsscent  and  mark  the  contrast  1 
But  certainly  in  1788,  when  the  project  was  first 
kid  before  the  readers  of  the  Birmmgham  Gazdie^ 
no  bettor  site  could  possibly  have  been  chosen 
witiiin  anything  like  the  same  distance  from  the 
town,  and  it  is  not  a  matter  of  surprise  to  find  that 
the  proposed  Crescent  was  looked  upon  with  great 
favour.  It  is  frequently  mentioned  during  1788 
and  1789  in  the  journal  referred  to  ;  the  "exten- 
sive prospect  that  cannot  ever  be  interrupted  by 
other  buildings,"  being  more  than  once  held  out 
as  an  inducement  to  subscribers,  and  the  "elegant" 
and  "handsome"  design  continually  meeting  with 
the  highest  commendation.  Perhaps  the  most 
interesting  of  these  notices  are  the  following : — 

"  Kovcmber,  17,  1788. — A  Correspondent  who  has  Boeu 
the  design  for  thi>  elegant  Credcent  mtendeil  to  he  built  in 
this  town,  remarka,  that  the  liotist\s  will  be  very  con* 
veuient,  and  the  sitnation  excellent  in  every  n'SpGct^  either 
for  a  winter  or  anmmer  reaideuee,  as  the  hons**fl  will  have 
lioth  a  southerly  and  northerly  aspect.  A  reservoir  will 
be  formed  in  order  to  aupj>ly  them  with  good  water, 
without  the  trouble  and  danger  of  wells  or  pumps.  And 
it  u  an  additional  recommgndaiiaji  of  (he  plan  in  thii 
growing  (own,  thai  there  is  not  (he  host  probabiliiy  of  any 
fiUurt  buildings  ever  eacclnding  (he  inhabUanta  of  the 
cresemt  from  a  most  a^reeabfe  prosptd  of  th^  eountry.  The 
range  of  buildings  undoubtedly  will  l>e  the  greatest 
ornament  to  the  town,  and  pay  the  subscribers  a  good 
interest  for  their  money." 

' '  We  are  happy  to  hoar  that  the  Governors  of  the  Free 
Gram  mar  School  of  King  Edward  the  Sixth,  in  thia  To^ii, 
have  let  on  Lease,  to  Mr.  ChArles  Norton,  a  large  Plot  of 
ground  behind  Mr.  Ryland^s  house  and  garden,  facing 
Slimmer- hill,  whereufKin  he  has  engaged  to  build  the 
handsome  CVtiScent  that  we  have  before  spokeu  of,  and 
which  will  be  a  great  ornament  to  the  town.  The  prospeet 
it  will  couimand  will  be  most  exteaaivo  and  delightful/' 

Paseing  from  the  pleasant  site  of  the  Creaceat, 
we  come  to  the  road  leading  to  the  Five-Ways, 
which  afterwards  became  **  Broad  Streetj"  hut 
was  at  that  time  merely  a  foot-way,  (marked  on 
Hatison's  Plan,  1778),  along  which  lliere  were 
scarcely  half-a-dozen  houses.  At  the  Five-M^aya 
a  little  village  had  sprung  up ;  and  so  the  liand- 
some  modeju  thoroughfare  leading  to  Birming- 
ham's most  beautiful  suburb  was  commenced  at 
the  end  farthest  from  the  town.    About  half-way 


210 


OLD  ANB   ISXW   BTKMINGHAM. 


(Old  Btnnlnghui  WonthtM. 


between  the  Five- Ways  and  tlie  town  was  an 
enclosed  piece  of  land  nsed  aa  the  Jews'  Burial 
Groimd. 

The  following  advartisement,  which  appeared 
in  tlie  Gazette  in  December,  1783,  will,  however, 
give  the  reader  a  better  idea  of  the  rural  appear- 
ance of  thifl  part  of  the  town  at  that  period  than 
any  mere  description  i — 

**  December  22, 1783.— Land  neir  Birmitigham.—To  be 
Let  three  T«ry  convement  and  deairable  Inclofturei,  well 


sup[tH»»d  with  water,  and  generally  known  by  iAe  Nati 
of  Farmer  Smith*8  LantU,  whereon  are  two  Tenement! 
itihubited,  aod  a  third  erecting  and  nearly  comple 
situate  b^  the  Foot  Way  from  Pin/old  Street  to  the  F\4 
Ways^  at  a  very  Little  Distance  from  the  Navi^i^ 
Hlmr/j  and  tme  Part  of  wkieK  Ixmd  it  wntigumut  to  tk 
Jttc'a  Burial  Ground, — For  ParticaJars  and  to  riew  ti 
Premisea  enquire  of  John  Phillips,  either  at  No. 
Queen-Streety  or  of  him  at  the  Boll's  Head,  in  Da 
End," 

With  this  extract  we  close  our  notice  of  the 
appearance  of  Birmiiigham  in  1790* 


CHAPTER     XXXriL 


A     FEW     OLD     BIRMINGHAM      WORTHIES, 

John  Practh  and  hh  Fiiend*— "  Tlie  Twelve  Apoitle*"— A  warm  reception— Biograjib  leal  NotcA  on  tb^  Frecth  €iwle— Fi*«tht  P«*?li*^ 
Wntingt— More  InvtUtion  ver»c«— lAtw  Publlcationi— Dcftth— Joha  Tiylor— H<!rtiry  Clay— Dr.  WltUeriag,  etc, 


The  history  of  our  town  seems  naturally  to  divide 
itself  into  four  periods :  that  of  its  infancy, 
which  ends  at  the  time  of  the  Restoration ;  the 
period  of  transition,  from  the  village  to  the  large 
manufacturing  town,  which  is  temporarily  checked 
ill  its  further  growth  by  the  riots  of  1791  and 
tlie  dismal  and  disastrous  decade  'which  closed  the 
eighteenth  century  j  the  third  period  is  one  of  man- 
ful struggle  for  political  freedom  and  better  local 
government,  and  may  be  considered  as  closing,  as 
the  fourth  period  commenceB,  with  the  incorpora- 
tion of  the  to^vn. 

We  have  now  brought  the  history  of  the 
second  period  to  the  calamitous  event  with  which 
it  doses,  (with  the  exception  of  a  brief  chapter  on 
the  religious  history  of  the  few  years  which  pre- 
ceded that  event),  and  may,  perhaps,  be  excused 
for  pausing  in  our  story  in  order  to  recall  a  few 
of  the  local  worthies  of  that  time. 

As  we  have  already  made  mention  of  John 
Frocth,  in  our  chapter  on  his  invitation  cards, 
it  will  be  well  for  us  to  place  him  first  in  our 
chapter  of  worthies,  in  order  to  complete  our 
former  notice,  A  a  we  then  stated,  he  was  the 
son  of  Charles  Freeth,  who  kept  the  Leiceatrer 


Arms,  in  Bell  Street^  and  after  the  death  of  his 
father,  succeeded  to  the  position  and  duty 
host    of   that   establishment      The   exercise 
his  poetical  faculties  was   not  confined   to  th 
inditing  of    invitation-verses    to  simdry    feasti 
and  social  gatherings,  as  our  readers  are  douhtle 
aware,   from   the   examples   of    his    songs    and 
ballads  already  quoted.     In   1780  he  collect 
his  earlier  effusions  into  a  small  volume,  whicl( 
be  entitled,   Tfie  WarwickMre  Medley,  or  Co 
mvial  Songster.     By  John  Free.     His  next  pui 
lication  was  entitled,  A  Touch  on  the  Tim$s^  i 
the   Modern    Songster.     By   John   Free,      Th 
volume  was  published  in  1783.     In  his  preface      . 
he  says :  ^M 

"It  is  a  very  common,  and  not  an  untrue 
saying,  that  every  man  has  liia  hobby-horse, 
Sometimes  indeed  it  is  a  profitable  one ;  mon 
frequently  it  is  otherwise.  My  hobby*hotse  and" 
practice  for  thirty  years  past  have  been 
write  songs  upon  the  occurrence  of  remarkahli 
events,  and  nature  having  supplied  me  witli 
voice  somewhat  suitable  to  my  stile  of  coinpcw 
tion,  to  sing  them  also,  while  their  subjects  wen 
fresh   upon    every   man's   mind ;    and   being  a 


^DhMTrnXh.} 


OLD  AKD  KEW  BIHMmGHAM. 


211 


pTibljcan,  this  faculty,  or  rather  knack  of  mnging 
mj  own  aangs,  has  been  profitable  to  me ;  it  has 
in  an  evening  crowded  my  house  with  customers, 
aod  led  me  to  fidendships  which  I  might  not 
otherwise  have  experienced  Success  naturally 
encouraged  m©  to  pursue   the   trade  of  baUad^ 


the  party  I  had  espoused.  During  the  American 
war,  it  wiU  be  perceived,  I  was  no  well-wisher 
to  the  Ministry  that  conducted  it  When  the 
Coalition  took  place,  I  went  with  the  popular 
tide,  and  joined  in  sentiment  with  those  who  repro- 
bated that  extraordinary  measure  (for  measures, 


JOSEPH    PlllEHTLEY,    LL.  D. 
Ffpm  an,  tngmttd  parlmit  aftrr  F\imU,  in  the  postaesaioa  of  W.  Btttes,  Esq.,  B.  A 


dn{f^  for  without  it»  it  is  not  probable  I  should 
fe  written  a  tenth  part  of  what  this  volume 
I  contains, 

**  My  songs  are  principally  adapted  to  the  par- 

I  ticular  times  in  which  they  were  written,     I  now 

I  lament  I  did  not  go  more  upon  general  topics ; 

but  ongagetl  in  many  contested  elections,  I  was 

I  obliged  to  turn  them  upon  such  temporary  and 

subjects,  as  might  best  serve  the  cause  of 


not  men,  have  always  claimed  my  principal  atten- 
tion). Since  that  period  1  have  viewed  with  a 
smile  and  indifference,  political  wmnglings,  being 
fully  convinced  that  the  content  of  moat  politicians 
is  only  for  power  and  for  favours, 

**  The  present  minister  came  idoli2ed  into  ofBce ; 
and  I  have  made  songs  in  his  praise,  though  I 
cannot  but  allow,  that  many  of  his  taxes  bear  too 
hard  upon  the  commercial  interests  of  the  king- 


212! 


OIJ>  AJTD  NEW  BmiriNGHAM. 


[Tba  '^TwAlTa  Apostle*." 


dom,  and  that  his  extension  of  the  Excise  Lawa 
haa  justly  robbed  Mm  of  much  of  liiB  popularity* 

**  K  I  had  no  other  motives,  the  requests  of 
travellers  in  the  mercantile  lino  from  every 
county,  who  pay  me  such  frequent  and  friondly 
visits,  for  copies  of  my  songs,  wouid  be  a  sufficient 
reason  for  the  publication  of  this  three  SfiiUifig 
and  Six-penny  Yolume,  I  cannot  expect  it  will 
please  all  parties;  but  I  mean  ofl'ence  to  none, 
and  liberal  minds  will  not  be  angry  with  me  for 
fre^ily  expressing  my  sentimente." 

Among  the  friends  whom  the  genial  good- 
natured  host  gathered  around  him  were  eleven 
of  his  townsmen,  who,  with  himself»  constituted 
themselves  into  a  social  club  or  convivial  party ; 
and  it  has  been  well  said  that  **  the  nightly 
debates  and  clever  productions  of  theM  worthies 
gave  birth  to  and  assisted  in  diflusing  those  great 
and  glorious  principles  which  in  after  yean 
resulted  in  the  paasdng  of  the  Reform  Bill,  the 
Catholic  Emancipation  Bill,  together  with  other 
l^rogrcsaive  measures,  and  mainly  contributed 
towards  ditFusiug  into  the  hearts  of  '  the  people  * 
those  sentiments  of  liberalism  and  loyalty  whicli 
experience  has  proved  to  havtd  been  productive  of 
highly  beneficial  effect?." 

By  their  political  opponents  they  were  nick- 
named **  the  Twelve  Apostles,"  and  ^th«  Jacobin 
Club,*'  and  a  rival  society  was  farmed,  whicli  met 
at  ^*  Joe  Lindon's,"  ^  Peck  Lane ;  and  over  the 
fireplace  of  the  room  in  which  they  assembled 
was  printed,  **  No  Jaeobin  admitted  hare/*  Plarty 
feeling  ran  high,  and  on  one  occasion,  when  one 
of  the  twelve — the  well-known  James  Bissei,  of 
Museum  and  **  Magnificient  Directory  "  fame — 
called  in  at  the  Tory  ho  use,  one  of  the  company 
puffed  a  volume  of  smoke  into  hifl  face.  Bisset 
had  already  suffered  many  petty  annoyances  and 
insolent  i-e marks  aimed  at  him,  but  this  direct 
and  gross  insult  roused  his  indignatioD,  and  with 
one  blow  ho  felled  the  offender  to  the  gromid. 
There  then  ensued  a  genera!  mdMct  in  which  most 
of  the  jugs  and  glasses  came  to  grief,  and  Bisset 
was  forcibly  ejected  from  the  house ;  the  unluckj 


**  apostle  *'  was  sued  in  the  Court  of  Eetiuests  for 
breakages, — aniountiiig  to  nearly  -£5, — and  doubt- 
less Ifijuuod  by  bitter  experience  to  abstain  froi 
putting  in  an  appeajrance  at  "  Jo©  lindon's  '*  in 
future. 

The  society  at  Poet  Freeth's  consiBted,  as  W8 
have  said,  of  twelve  members,  including  the  hosi 
A  picture  of  the  group  engaged  in  debate  aroun< 
the  board  at  f  reeth's  tavern,  was  painted  by  Jol 
Eckfitein  in  1T92,  and  paid  for  by  subscripti^ 
an  the  popdEV  Tontine  principle^  the  pictu 
haooming  ^nt/tjamlly  the  property  of  the 
survivor  ol  Ihe  twelve,  who  proved  to  be 
otlijir  thttn  (h»  hero  of  the  episode  of  *^Joe 
Lmdo«X'*'-^«««  Biamt  A  few  biographical^ 
notes  as  to  ttkft  otlief  inambttrs  of  the  club  may 
inteiest  om  irad^ra.  Ttimiog  to  our  engraving 
of  the  Tonliaa  Fioiixia^  Ube  &9t  portmit  (beginning 
bom  the  Ml  haad  akb)  ta  that  of  Mr.  Jamt^ 
Murray,  a  tiiieii  and  wooUea  draper,  who  resh 
in  Moor  Street,  and  was  known  by  the  title  o3 
"  Cheap  John/*  Ha  was  a  member  of  the  Anti- 
c^ujtriau  Society  ol  Scotfaindt  and  ultimately 
emigrated  to  AMwrka  Akova  him,  in  a  cock 
hat,  ia  Mr,  John  WUkes,  a  cheese-factor,  who  ha J^ 
a  shop  at  the  comer  of  Carr's  Lane  and  liig! 
Street  lie  subsaqiM&tly  held  a  commission  aaj 
Captain  in  tbs  MiUti^  Iba  third  portrait  ia  tin 
of  tha  worllqf  koat  kuaaall^  and  immediate!; 
above  Urn  ia  that  ol  JUr.  Richard  Webster^ 
brass-founiler,  in  Moor  Street,  Kext  to  him, 
snuff'box  in  hand,  is  the  inveterate  snufTtaker 
Mr.  Jeremia  Vaux,  a  surgeon  who  reaided  in  Mooi 
Street,  and  held  a  very  high  position  in  the  town 
as  a  professional  man,  being  both  clever  an* 
experienced  Mr,  John  Colkrd  ia  the  next 
the  group  j  a  hatter  and  tailor  in  High  Streed 
and  a  very  able  logician.  He  wrote  and  publishi 
treatises  on  the  '* Essentials  of  Logic,'*  **  Praxis 
Logic,"  and  other  kindred  subjects*  The  next 
portrait,  at  the  further  end  of  the  table,  is  that  of 
Mr.  John  Miles,  patent  lamp  manufacturer,  ol 
Edgbaston  Street,  The  next  is  that  of  Mr. 
Samuel  Toy,  Kewhall  Street,  in  earlier  jmih  a 


^ 


Joiiti  Vr«€l3&.] 


OUD  AKD  OTSW  BIEMIKGniJL 


213 


'  «t€el  toy  "  manufactiireT  ;  btit  in  affror  life,  being 
I        reduced  in  circrnnstances,  he  became  landlord  of 
B    the  Mitre  Iim,  where  be  died,  after  a  brief  illness. 
The  next  figure,  rearing  a  tall  bat  of  the  mo8t 
^    approved  ahape,  is  that  of  our  friend  James  Bisset, 
f    of  whom  we  purpose  giving  a  more  detaOed  notice 
in  a  future  chapter.     Below  Mm  is  Mr,  Joseph 
Fearoiv  a  tin-inercbant,  in  Bigbetb,  who  was  for 
many  yeara  constable  of  the  to^vn.     He  was  con- 
Bideted  the  ablest  and  most  fluent  orator  of  the 
club,  and  is  represented  by  the  artist  in  the  act  of 
addressing  his  confreres.  Behind  him,  in  the  back- 
ground, IB  Mr.  James  Sketchley,  an  auctioneer^ 
of  Moor  Street^  who  was  for  several  years  the 
ior  member  of  the  club.     Tlie   last   of  the 
Ive,  in  the  right  hand  comer  of  the  picture,  is 
Mr.  Joseph  Blunt,  brazier,  of  High  Street* 

We  now  return  to  **  Poet  Freeth."  He  re- 
published his  second  volume  of  ballatk  and 
ecmgs^  with  his  full  name,  under  the  title  of 
**The  Political  Songster,  or  a  Touch  on  the 
_  Timee"  in  1790,  and  called  it  tfw  sixth  edttimi^ 
f  mih  additions^  though,  it  must  bo  confessed,  the 
intenremng  editions  between  1783  and  1790 
haye  never  seen  the  light  of  modern  days,  and,  it 

Iifl  to  be  feared,  were  even  unknown  in  Freeth's 
own.     We  have  already  quoted  several  of  these 
songSj  many  of  which, — says  "Este," — '*  possess 
the  merit  and  sterling  animus  peculiar  to  Dibdin's 
popular  songs,  whose  style  they  closely  resemble." 
A  congenial  subject  for  Freeth's  muse  was  that  of 
the 
BIBMINGHAM  ALE-TASTERS. 
Tune— How  hflppy  a  State  doea  a  Miller  posaeaa, 
Of  &U  ciril  officers  annually  chose, 
Then;  a  none  in  the  Kingdom  are  equal  to  those, 
Wlioie  duty  requin^s  little  more  thim  to  rove, 
And  Uate  at  their  pleasure,  ^hat  ENOLtsniiRM  Utvt, 

From  BtuiD^sLET  to  Hockley  our  Pkovince  extenda, 
1  wiali  wci  had  lime  to  addrf  8«  all  our  friends  ; 
Of  houaea  all  free-coftt,  to  visit,  'tis  clear, 
Tius  noinber  is  more  than  are  days  in  the  year* 

Wa  cany  no  TurycHEo^fs  our  power  to  (thevr, 
Wi^  Gofcfimiaat  msatten  have  noitaittg^  to  do  ; 

*Wi  af*  Indebted  for  tbe^  pu-ticiilar»,  to  the  Mote*  of  "  Este  " 
In  «*lli  BtlMla^  of  BtTPtaghagi,  ftat  and  ProMnt.** 


We  drink  with  the  common,  yet  rank  with  the  best. 
And  like  Aldermen  live  at  a  Low  Bailiff's  Fead. 

Our  good  Brother  Officers  strangers  must  bo, 
When  heating  our  rounds  to  the  pleasures  we  see ; 
From  Office  of  Constahle  trouhles  cnaue. 
But  that  of  a  Taster  is  joy  the  year  through* 

For  when  upon  duty,  as  oustom  has  taught, 
We  caU  for  a  Takkard,  'tw  instantly  hroughtj 
And  how  pleading  it  x%  for  a  Landlord  to  sny, 
'*  You^ro  welcome  kind  Sir— there  is  nothiiig  to  pay." 

We  visit  the  Markets  and  traverse  the  Streets^ 
Our  Chief  to  assist  in  adjusting  the  weights ; 
And  wish  'twere  the  practice  in  all  kind  of  Salca, 
To  down  with  the  Steelyards  and  up  with  the  Scales. 

Tlie  BrrcHERS  may  throw  out  their  Maiirow^bone  apite, 
But  reason  informs  us  *tis  nothing  hut  right ; 
For  Justice  relying  on  Teuth  as  her  guide. 
When  piutur'd  has  always  the  Scales  by  her  side. 

Fill  Q  Bumper  to  Trade,  *tis  the  Tasters  request, 
With  plenty  may  Britain,  for  ever  be  blest ; 
Where  DiacoBD  ahounds  may  true  friendship  commence, 
And  Birmingham  "  flom-iah  a  thousand  years  hence." 

We  have  alre^idy  alhided  to  the  duliglit  our 
ancestors  took  in  the  healthful  sport  of  bowling  ; 
here  is  a  poem  hy  Freeth  on  this  pastime  ; — 

THE  BOWLING-GEEEN  FESTIVAL, 
rune— The  General  Election. 
Is  Ufe's  merry  round— with  hearts  that  are  sound, 

When  subject  to  no  innovations  ; 
A  Bowling-green  fcast^is  aurely  tha  best. 

And  finest  of  all  recreations  ; 
On  WoRcKsTEasHiRE  plains— where  harmony  reigns, 

If  truly  inviting  the  weiitber, 
For  mirth  all  inclined— yonll  frequently  find, 

Good  soul*s,  a  round  hundred  together. 

On  ven'son  that's  fine— how  glorious  to  dine, 

Will  Shakespeare  would  thieve  it^  tliey  tell  ua ; 
And  doubtless  the  Ba HP— paid  a  B|>eciRl  regard, 

To  feasting  with  hearty  good  fellows  j 
Let  niggards  hum-drum — keep  glfiuting  at  home, 

Themselves  and  their  families  bUrviiig, 
Whilst  open  and  free— iht-  lovers  of  glee, 

The  good  thing*  of  nature  are  carving. 

Pleasure  in  hor8c*mcing  often  is  found, 

None  will  deny  the  assertion  ; 
To  see  the  bold  Rockingham  sweep  oW  tlie  ground, 

To  many  gives  noble  diversion  ; 
But  when  on  the  green— a  party  ia  aeeu, 

To  festiire  enjoyments  invited, 
Thn'  rubs  will  ensue— when  bowling's  in  view, 

All— nil  with  the  sport  arc  delighted. 

Come,  throw  off  the  Jack— nor  of  playing  b«  alack, 
Aad  mark  wall  its  diflarent  traoaa ; 


214 


OLD   AKD   NEW   BIEMINGHA^L 


fioba  FlnMtk. 


FUe.JUe,  and  Uware—nib^  nibj  ^nd/of^ar, 

Arc  bowliug-grepn  jocular  phraaes  ; 
LF.tOH  SiNTON'a  the  village,  where  every  year, 

Wo  meet  to  be  friendly  and  joyonfl, 
From  feasting,  my  worthies,  there's  nothing  to  fear, 

So  the  Head'ji  not  too  mach  on  the  Bias. 

Tho'  strange  it  may  seem,  not  to  look  at  the  cost, 

In  Wor'ster  'tis  roundly  asserted  ; 
To  a  poor  Widow's  grief,  that  a  bowling-green  must, 

To  ft  Vinegar-yard  be  converted  : 
The  Dean  in  his  mind — tho'  worldly  inclined, 

In  ft  spiritual  light  may  review  it. 
But  a  Vinegar  Saint— what  language  t-^nn  paint, 

Twould  puzzle  a  Bishop  to  do  iL 

When  the  heart's  blithe  and  gay— old  sages  will  sAy, 

Time's  precious— let  no  one  misuse  it, 
And  as  freedom's  our  boast— I'lJ  offer  a  Toast, 

And  I  think  not  a  soul  will  refuse  it ; 
*'  To  those  hearty  cheer — for  each  other  each  year, 

"  Whose  friendship  grows  wanner  and  warmer, 
**  And  a  good  roll-ftbout- in  a  tub  of  sour  crout, 

*'To  every  notorious  Informer." 

Leaving  the  Ballads  for  a  few  niomentSj  we 
return  to  tlie  invitation  verses,  of  which,  being  so 
Boldom  seen,  our  readers  will  doubtless  be  glad  to 
possess  a  few  more  exam  pi  es* 

The  "  hard  times  "  appear  to  have  borne  hardly 

on  the  poet  ]  m  the  preface  to  one  of  his  volumes 

he  defends   its    publication   on   the   ground   of 

necessity  i 

"In  fact,  each  day,  when  children  nine, 
In  perfect  health  sit  down  to  dine 
Think  not  the  whole  can  be  maintain 'd, 
By  what  Is  from  the  ale -score  gained  ; 
Profiia  on  beer  and  ballads  too, 
In  these  hard  tiroes  will  barely  do." 

Still  he  bravely  kept  up  hc?art,  notwithstanding 
the  commercial  gloom,  as  appears  from  the 
foDowing  invitation  : 

IN  theae  hard  tim^s,  some  people  say, 
Mum  is  the  order  of  the  day  ; 
Yet  shamefully  cls  things  appear, 
Before  we  close  this  pinching  yuar, 
If  hearty  cheer — which  I  presume, 
Will  chftce  away  Novf!uiber*s  gloom. 
Obey  the  summons,  and  maku  free, 
Beyond  a  doubt  you'll  happy  he  ; 
CJome  and  a  cheering  glass  partake, 
My  rooms  are  not  yet  hung  witli  black. 

A  good  large  Loaf  for  Sixpence  will 
Pleivso  better  than  P — t's  Treason  Bill  : 
Much  may  be  aaid,  but  words  are  vain, 
When  jjore  oppreaa'd.  Men  wiU  eomplaiu  ; 


Pbacr  it  my  wish — ^but  this  111  aay, 
In  spite  of  ministerial  sway, 
No  rigid  laws  !  can  conscience  bind» 
No  padlock  cramp  the  liberal  mind. 
Btrmungham,  Nov,  S5,  179S,  J.  FREB 

Again  **  hard  times'*  are  the  burden  of  hia  i 
in  the  beginning  1796  : 

HOWEVER  hard  the  Timci  may  be, 

Lovers  of  Jocularity, 

Will  some  few  Moments  set  apart, 

With  wholesome  Cheer  to  glad  the  Heart ; 

Then  mark  the  Summons,  come  away, 

And  make  the  most  of  Pakcakb  Day, 

The  Meadows,  as  in  Spring,  look  green, 
And  ShrovE'Tide  without  Snow  is  seen  jj 
For  tho'  old  Ocean  Boreas  shakes, 
Stern  Winter  no  Appearance  makes  ; 
The  Wind  sticks  closely  to  one  Point, 
The  Seasons  are  got  out  of  Joint ; 
Tho  TiinosTLE  has  his  Nest  erected, 
Next  Month  the  Cuckoo  is  expected, 
Whose  Voice  will  doubly  glad  the  Spring, 
If  Peace  comeii  seated  on  his  Wing, 
mrmin^ham,  Feb.  S,  17^6,  J-   FREE 

In  the  glorious  montb  of  June,  in  the 

year,  he  aeems  for  a  while  to  have  forgotten  j 

troubles  : — 

GEESE  and  Green  Peas — luxurion*  Fare, 
Always  in  Juno  in  Season  are  ; 
Come  to  til e  IJoard  where  plenty  roigna. 
My  Vault  tho  best  of  Ale  contains, 
And  Drinking' 8  seen  in  high  Perfection, 
At  every  General  Election, 

How^e'er  the  busy  Scene  may  close, 
But  few  warm  Contests  have  arose. 
And  when  the  hurly-burly's  o*er ! 
What  better  than  we  w  ere  before  t 

From  Germany  for  New  a  we  look 
And  thuugli  no  Blow  has  yet  been  struck, 
I  TAT  Y ','5  gone,  beyond  all  hope 
Unless  WG  Subsidize  the  Pope. 

At  Carlton-IIolse  — old  Tricks  renewing, 
Whatever  mischief  has  been  brewing  i 
If  Tales  of  Women  and  of  Men» 
Full  Credit  gain,  not  one  in  ten, 

Would  to  the  P e  shew  auy  mercy, 

If  Caroline  had  cmnh'd  his  Jersey  ; 
But  Discord  drown^may  F'lenty  smilo, 
And  Peace  make  happy  BarrAiK's  IsLS. 
Birmingham,  June  S,  17!^,  J. 

In   1798  hie  song  is   blithe  nnd  cliet?rful,  ^ 

befitted  the  "  plentiful  time  "  in  which  he 

'TIS  a  plentilul  time  all  allow, 
Ajad  SB  there  is  mothii^  to  fetr ; 


If  at  home  jottVe  but  little  to  do, 
Come  away,  and  eiyoy  bearty  cheer. 

To-morrow  he  what  will  the  text, 
I  wish — Foreign  Trade  to  incrense, 

The  Thanksgiving  Day  that's  kept  next, 
May  be  for  a  general  Peace. 

One  Toast  let  me  otfer  whilst  wetting 

Our  PirBs  in  our  snug  ijttlk  Ir^k, 
'*  All  true  British  Hearts— not  ffirgetting 
"  Urave  NELsriN,  the  Lord  of  the  Nrt.R." 
Birmingham,  Nov.  25,  I79i.  J.  FHEETH, 

He  closes  the  eighteenth  century  witli  a  doleful 
catalogue  of  ilia,  brightened  at  the  end  like  the 
ailyer  lining  of  a  black  and  threatening  cloud, 
with  a  hopeful  anticipation  for  the  coming  year  : 

I  AIUCH  the  Wor<l  ScnrcUy  hate, 

An<l  long  aa  1  find  rayself  able, 
Mor«  Coat  tho*  hard  Times  must  create, 

1  Plenty  will  ha  ye  on  my  Table, 

Againjit  the  fond  Wishes  of  some, 

Though  Peack  for  a  while  is  snsrjiended ; 

Depend  on't  that  Blk-ssino  will  come. 
Before  the  jmxt  CsNTrRYi*  ended. 

The  greatest  of  Ills  to  remove, 

Away  with  that  Munhteu— (^<<»rtw^»dw; 

For  Thouaaijils  caii/cdiufjly  prove. 
They  too  luut  h  ajv  plugu'il  with  Taxation, 

My  Wish  corre«JiK)nd  will  with  many, 

That  aoon  through  the  Laiiil  may  be  fonnd 
•*  Twelve  Ounces  of  Bre^wl  for  one  Penuy, 
"  And  good  Beef  at  Four*i>cnce  ppr  Pound." 
Birinijigham,  Nov,  S4,  iSOO.  J.  FREETH. 

War  with  the  French,  on  the  banks  of  the 
Nile,  contrasted  with  the  happy  prospect  of  a  rich 
harvest  at  home,  forma  his  tlieme  at  the  com- 
mencenient  of  the  preheat  century  : 

IN  Egypt  the  French  whilst  the  English  are  Imnging, 
Of  Grain  through  the  Land  a  fine  Prospect  we  view  ; 

But  the  Bulk  of  the  People  say  nothing  but  hanging, 
To  lower  the  Price  of  Provision  will  do. 

in  the  Mem*ry  of  Man,  a  more  beaatifuJ  Sea^on^ 
By  all  'twin  be  granted  did  never  appear; 

gpECULATOEa  are  puzzled  to  give  any  Reason, 
Why  idl  Tldnga  ahonld  atili  be  enormously  dear. 

As  Changea  the  World  ever  ringing  will  ha, 
Distrew  to  away  with,  and  Misery  ilrown  ; 

Let  the  Toast  be — that  aoon  happy  Days  we  may  jsee, 
And  Peace  be  at  Hand,  a  rich  Harvest  to  crown. 

BirmiTVfhamj  JulySJ,  180L  J.  FKEETIL 

We  return  now  once  raoro  to  his  published 
work:*.     The    ''  skth   e  lition  '*   of    the  Political 


SoH'jder  was    followed«    in    I793j   by  a    lit 
pamphlet  of  eighteen  pagea,  entitled,  A  Colledu 
of  New  S(mg(t  on  ike  Prrseni  Tim^^t,  AdaphA 
Cammon  Tunes^  printed  by  T,  Chapman,  in  Bu 
Street,  and  sold  at  threepence.     The   princij 
enbjects  of    the  songs  are,  the    •*  Canal  Feve 
Paper  CrocU\  (**Lesis   Paper  Credit,   and   tncJ 
Tower    Guineaa,")    Blue    and    Orange    Unit 
Xational  Convention,  Lord  Macartney's  Emli 
to  China,  and  the  disturbances  on  the  CoutineD 
Two   stanzas  of   the  song  on  Lord  ^lacartney 
Embassy  are  prophetic  as  to  the  opening  up 
that  vast  empire  to  British  Commerce,  and  haf 
a  local  interest : 

**  Wliat  pleasure  here  ranst  tradesmen  feel, 

For  toil  how  'twill  requite  'em, 
When  calb*  for  goods  of  brass  and  steel, 

Are  brought  ad  infinituvi  ; 
With  fancy  buttons,  soft  or  hard, 

Oilt,  silvered,  or  pl&tina, 
'Twill  take  an  age  to  pattern-eard 

The  vast  empire  of  China* 

**  Should  building  ten  more  centuries 

Keep  rapidly  incre4ising, 
The  land  be  blest  with  tranquil  joys 

And  commerce  never  ceasing ; 
The  town  of  Birmingham  will  ruach 

The  banks  of  fair  Sabrina, 
And  larger  then  thnu  Pekin  be. 

The  capital  of  China.'* 

Most  of    these    songs  reappeared   in    his    tie 
publication,     The    Annufsl  Pfditical  Sowjsirr, 
pamphlet  of  48  pagers,  printed  by  Thomas  Pearson 
in   1794,  which  consisted  chiefly  of  old  piec 
selected   from    the    several   volumes    previoiish 
published.      A   copy   of    this   pamphlet  in  tk 
possession  of  Mr.  John  Bragg  is  inscribed,  in  th 
autograph  of  the  old  poet  himself,  **  th«  gift 
Poet   Freeth   to   J.   Clarke,   by   the    Hands 
J.  Pool,  April  6th,  1794." 

In  18Q3  came  a  new  volume  bearing  the  i 
leading  title  as  his  second  published  work 
Touch  on  the  Time^ ;  a  CoUfidion  of  Netc  S&ng 
'YhiB  was  foUowedi  two  years  later,  by  his 
pamphlet,  the  New  Ballads  to  Old  Familiar  Tun 
printed  for  the  author  at  Knott  and  Lloyd's  offic 
High   Street      This  is  entirely  of  a    polife 


John  Kinetli.} 


OLD  Amy   NEW   BTinriNGHAM. 


2Vi 


jdiailieier,  arid  the  aongs  am  nov^,  as  described, 

F  vnth  one  axception,  vk» :  **  Whipcord,  or,  The 

Walking  Stationers,"  which,  being  *'  appropriato 

to   the  present  Times,"  is    **  now  printed,"  the 

author  tells  us,  *'  by  particular  request." 

He  died,  September  2*)th,  1808,  in  the  78th 

year  of  his  age ;  his  death  was  recorded  in  the 

Gazette  m  fallows : — 

Oct  3,  1808.— On  Thursday  in  the  78th  year  of  his 
Age,  Mr.  John  Frceth,  of  this  town,  commoiily  calked 
Poet  Frp«?th,  a  fAC«tion»  bard  of  n  attire,  forty -eight  years 
I»ro|trietor  of  Freeth'«  Coffee-Hous«,  BkII  Strrtet^  a  htjii«e 
luach.  freiiut'Dted  by  strangera  as  well  a§  the  iiilmbiUnts, 
whcTB  the  Poet  ij«ed  every  evening  to  delight  n  largo 
cat»t|)any  with  original  songs,  composed  from  sul>je<'ta  of 
A  |>ablic  nAture,  repU'te  with  wit  and  humour— 

**  \V1io  when  good  newa  in  brought  to  town, 

im mediately  to  work  sits  down, 
And  busineaa  fairly  to  go  through, 

Writea  aongs,  finds  tunes,  and  siuga  them  too." 

Uii  mofats  wore  unsullied,  and  hia  manner  uoafTected. 
Formtd  to  enliven  the  social  cindo,  possejssingwit  without 
acrimony,  and  independence  of  mind  without  pride,  he 
WHS  Ijeloved  by  his  fiieuds,  L^ourtwl  by  strangt-ra,  and 
rcHpcL'ted  by  all.  The  honoless,  yet  i>oiritcHl  «dlii*s  of  his 
itiujw*,  will  b<?  remembered  with  ple^ising  pnin  by  thousands 
wbo  tulniired  his  talents  and  revere  his  virtues. 

lie  was  buried  in  the  Old  Meeting  House  Imrial 

griiund,  and  nn  hia  tombatone  are  iiiscrilied   the 

following  lines:— 

*'  Free  and  easy  through  life  *twaa  hi  a  vvhih  to  proceed, 
iJood  men  he  revered,  bo  whatever  thuir  creed  ; 
His  pride  was  a  sociable  evening  to  spends 
For  no  man  loved  better  his  pipe  and  hia  friend/* 

There  are  several  portmita  of  the  jovial  rdd 

ballad-maker     extanL      One    appeared    as    the 

frontispiece  to  the  PoUtiml  Sorufffter,  and  from 

this  our  engra%ing  on  i>age  159  is  taken;  another^ 

in  aO,  ia  in  tlie  Corporation  Art  Gallery ;  a  third 

ia  in  the  possession  of  Mr.  Timmins  j  another, 

•oofirding  to   Dr.  Langford,  represents  him  as  a 

I  compaiatively  young  man ;  and  a  hfth  is  included 

tn  Eckstein's  group,  which  is  copied  on  page  207 

.  IbLs  Tolume. 

be  name  of  John  Freeth  will  probably  never 

^in  the  roll  of  Engliah  poets ;  he  knew 

anything,  of  the  "divine  nfHatus,"  nnd 

bti  affusionB  are  hardly  of  tliat  order  which  the 

iworld    will  not  williiigly   let   dio;— but  neither 


were  those  of  the  poet-laureate  r>f  hia  day, — 
Ilonry  Jamea  Pyc,— **  a  man  eminently  respect- 
able," saya  Lord  Byron,  **  in  everything  but  his 
poetry."  Freeth's  muse  was  of  the  mechanical 
order,  and  needed  not  the  **  fine  frenzy  "  of  the 
poet ;  it  could  work  to  order,  whenever  the  events 
of  the  time  required  a  stirring  ballad,  fitted  to  a 
popular  tune,  whicli  the  people  could  sing.  And 
perhaps,  in  the  times  in  wliicb  they  appeared, 
these  homely  songs  and  baUads,  albeit  not  *'  Hue 
poetr}%"  may  have  done  more  to  foster  a  love  of 
fmedom  and  toleration  among  Birmingham  men, 
and  were  productive  of  more  iniiocent  enjoy  Uient, 
than  even  infinitely  nobler  productions,  leas 
**  imderstanded  of  the  people.'* 

As  illustrative  of  our  loe^il  history,  and  of  the 
manners  and  customs  of  the  people,  Freeth'a  little 
volumes  will  ever  be  treasured  by  tlie  Birmingham 
antiquary,  and  for  his  servicoa  in  the  cauise  of 
freedom  the  name  of  their  author  will  be  had 
in  loving  rememl>ranco  among  generations  of 
Birmingham  men  and  women  yet  iiuborn. 

From  the  merry  circle  at  the  tavern^  and  it8 
ballad-m along  host,  we  turn  now  to  the  worthies 
of  trade  and  commerce.  First  among  these  (after 
those  to  whom  we  have  devoted  special  chapters) 
stands  John  Taylor.  He  was  born  in  the  early 
part  of  the  eighteenth  century,  and  com  minced 
life  as  an  operative^ — a  cabinet-maker,  we  believe. 
"  He  possessed,"  says  Hutton,  "  the  singular 
powers  of  i)erceiving  things  as  they  reaUy  were," 
and  did  not  long  remain  in  the  ranks  of  the 
artiaam  **To  thia  uuct^minon  genius,"  continues 
OUT  bisknian,  "we  owe  the  gUt  button,  the 
japanned  and  gilt  Biiuff-boxea,  with  the  iiumertms 
race  of  enamels.  From  the  same  fountain  issued 
the  painted  snuff-box,  at  which  one  servant  earned 
three  pountls  ten  shillings  per  week,  by  painting 
them  at  a  farthing  e^ch."  PI  is  improvements  in 
these  various  branches  of  tratle  procured  for  him 
a  more  than  local  fame.  He  became  acquainted 
with  Dr.  Samuel  Joluison  during  the  latter*s  first 
sojourn  with  Pximund  Hector,  in  1731,  and  thus 
seeun*d  for  him^telf  a   nic!ie  in  that  gallury  oi 


218 


OLD  AND  NEW  BIEMINGHAM. 


[John  Tiylor  and  Benrf  ClAf. 


eighteenth-ceTitury  worthiest,  the  peerless  Lf/e  of 
JohtuoHj  by  Bos  well.  **  On  one  occaaion,"  Hution 
tells  us,  a  noble  visitor,  **  exftinining  the  works, 
with  the  master,  purchased  some  of  the  articles  j 
among  others,  a  toy  of  eighty  guineas  value,  and, 
while  paying  for  them,  observed,  with  a  smile,  *  he 
plainly  saw  he  could  not  reside  in  Birmingham 
for  less  than  two  hundred  pounds  per  day/" 
"There  waa  in  his  inventions,"  sayB  Mr.  W. 
Hawkea  Smith,  "  a  decisive  elegance,  and  an  ob- 
vious indication  of  good  taste,  that  ensured  a  quick 
sale  and  large  profits."  It  is  said  that  the  value  of 
the  weekly  production  of  buttons  alone  (exclusive 
of  other  valuable  productions)  at  hia  works  was 
not  less  than  £800  a  week*  He  is  styled  by 
Hutton  **th6  Shakespear  or  the  Newton  of  his 
day ; "  rising,  '*  from  minute  beginnings,  to  shine 
in  the  commercial  hemisphere,  as  they  in  the 
poetical  and  philosophical ;  *'  and  our  historian 
justly  estimates  that  no  inconsiderable  portion  of 
the  riches,  extension,  and  importance  of  Birming- 
ham in  the  eighteenth  century »  are  owing  to  the 
industry  and  ingenuity  of  John  Taylor.  IJis 
share  in  the  establishment  of  the  first  Birmingham 
Bank  will  he  noticed  in  our  chapter  oo  those 
institutions*  He  died  in  1775,  at  the  com- 
paratively early  ^e  of  sixty-four,  leaving  behind 
him  a  fortune  of  not  less  than  £200,000: 

Another  of  the  heroes  of  the  workshop  was 
Henry  Clay,  to  whom  we  owe  the  invention  of 
papier- mAcht?.  He  was  in  early  life  an  apprentice 
to  John  Baskerville,  who  was  at  that  time  engaged 
in  tb©  japanning  trade,  A  species  of  papier-mach<!» 
had  been  made  long  previous  t-o  Clay*8  invention, 
by  reducing  paper  to  pulp,  and  ]>ressing  it  into  dies. 
Clay*8  patent  is  dated  November  20,  177*2,  and 
sets  forth  the  uses  of  the  new  material,  in  **  making 
high  varnished  panneb  or  roofs  for  ooaehe%  and 
all  sorts  of  wheel  carriages  and  sedan  chairs, 
panneh  for  rooms,  doors,  and  cabins  of  ships, 
cabinets,  book-cases,  screens,  chimney-pieces, 
tables,  tea-trays,  and  waiters ; "  the  material  being 
produced  **  by  pasting  several  papers  upon  boards 
or  plates  of  regular  thicknesses  on  each  side  the 


same*'  until  the  requisite  thickness  is  attained; 
the  edges  are  then  cut  oflF  or  planed  "  until  th 
board  or  plate  appears,"  and  the  paper*  taken  ( 
such  boards  or  plates  are  screwed  or  fastened  on 
boards  or  plates,  and  rendered  inflexible  by  dryin^H 
on  a  hot  stove,  while  at  the  same  time  they  ar^| 
rubbed  with  or  dipped  in  oil  or  vamiah,  which 
"  drenches  into  them,  and  secures  them  from 
damp/'*  The  inventor  claimed  for  the  new 
material  that  it  could  be  sawn,  planed  or  turned 
like  wood,  and  that  after  being  japanned  it  would 
be  brought  up  to  the  highest  polish  by  friction 
with  the  human  hand. 

In  1778  he  took  out  a  patent  for  manufactu 
buttons  in  tliis  material ;  and  afterwards  obtaine 
an  extension  of  the  patent,  on  the  ground  of 
having  invented  a  new  method  ctf  securing  the 
shanks.     He  also  manufactured  buttons  of 
on  a  large  scale. 

He  amassed  a  princely  fortune  by  bis  manufai 

tures,  and  was  elevated  in  the  year  1790  to  th 

office  of  High  Sheriff  of  Warwickshire,     Like  1 

master,  Ba^skerville,  he  seems  to  have  been  fon 

of  display,  as  will  be  seen  from  the  folio wi 

extract  from  the  Gazette  of  ^farch  29,  1790:— 

"On  Mondftylast  Henry  Clay,  E^q,,  the  Higb  She 
of  this  County,  proceeded  from  hi^  house  in  New  ili 
Street  in  this  town,  to  attend  the  Judge,  Mr, 
Thompson,  during  the  Assize  at  Warwick,  the  comuiissidi 
for  which  was  opened  on  Tuesday,  JVw  gentlemen  hAl\ 
made  so  brilliant  an  appear&noe,  or  been  so  numeroud 
attended  in  the  hi^h  office  which  he  holds,  as  Mr,  Of, 
He  was  accompanied  by  the  Magistrate^  neighboari 
Gentry,  and  principal  inhabitauti  of  the  town,  in  thei 
carriages,  and  on  horseback.  His  javelin  mvtt  anJ 
aervauta  were  nuraerouB,  and  were  clothed  in  rich  lirericf 
of  white  faced  with  red,  silver  epauletea,  buttona  ted 
capes  r  his  postiUions  were  in  jackets  of  scarlet  and  uilrer, 
with  black  caps  and  silver  tajBsels.  The  whole  fonofd  « 
most  splendid  train  of  ncArly  half  a  mile  in  length  ;  (uid 
we  may  venture  to  say,  from  the  concourse  from  all  part*, 
that  the  procession  was  beheld  and  cheered  by  upwardji  of 
forty  thousand  spcctatora.  We  have  been  faToured  by  i 
friend  with  the  following  lines  on  tlic  day  : 

The  day  was  delightful  and  brilliant  the  tmn^ 

And  tbotisands  went  tripping  aw«y  ; 
Twas  harmony  all,  and  may  hannony  mgn. 

Nor  Discord  her  Banners  display. 


*  AbridgeTQimU  of  Etefcant  e^aeUkaUatia 
Papier  MAgLA,  p.  S. 


Piiptr«Pwla^«i4i 


Pr.  WlUm^^g.} 


OLD  AOTDNEW  BIKMrNGHAM. 


219 


» 


In  Europe*8  Grand  Toyshop,  with  lovera  of  trade, 
Tbe  sc«ne  wHut  great  pleasurtj  must  crown, 

Doserred  reepect  to  the  Arts  hti^  heen  puid, 
Asd  honour  it  does  to  the  Town. 

The  Aged  and  Yonng— fondly  mix'd  in  the  throng, 

And  gas'd  with  anxi^'ty  keen  ; 
*Twis  A  crowded  Spring  Fair  —and  like  mercantile  ware, 

All  8ort«  and  ftU  Sizes  were  seen. " 

Clay  also  effected  an  improvement  in  the  con- 
struction of  Canal  Locks  ;  his  elegantly  designed 
address  card  in  Bisset*s  "  Magnificent  Directory  " 
liAS  a  small  Yignette  Illustration  of  this  invention. 
Our  next  and  last  "worthy"  of  the  present 
chapter  is  the  well-known  botanist  and  physician, 
William  Withering,     Ho  was  bom  at  Wellington, 
Shropshire,  March  17,  1741,  and  was  educated  by 
the  Bev.  Henry  Wood,  of  Ercall ;  he  matricnlatcd 
at  Edinburgh  in  1762,  pa\nng  special  attention  to 
thfi  study   of    anatomy   and   chemistry.      After 
iMkfi^g  attained  many  distinctions^  he  finished  his 
fWOiSanical  course  in  1766,  and  shortly  afterwards 
proceeded  to  Paris.     We  find  him  in  1769  at  the 
famous  Shakespeare  Jubilee  at  Stratford-on-Avon, 
being  a  great  lover  of  the  drama.     He  had,  two 
yeam  previously,   settled   at  Stafford,  where  he 
commenced  those  botanical  researches  from  which 
he  gathered  the  material  for  his  great  work  on 
that  subject     On  the  12th  of  September,  1772, 
he    married    Helena,   daughter   of    Mr.    George 
Cookeg,  and  remained  at  StalFord,  until  the  spring 
of  1775^  gaining  considerable  reputation   in  his 
profession,  so  that,  on  the  death  of   I>r.  Wra, 
Small  in  that  year,  he  was  invited  by  Dn  Ash 
to  come  to  BiTmingham,  an  invitation  to  which 
he  speedily  responded,  and  settled  down  in  this 
town,  talking  possession  of  the  house  and  practice 
of  Dr.  Small,    The  next  year  his  Botany  appeared, 
m  two  volumes,  and  he  translated  Bergman  on 
the  Analysis  of  Waters,  giving  special  analyses 
of   the   celebrated  local  springs.      In    1778   he 
publiiihed  his  Accoutit  of  Scarlet  Ftvtr  and  Sore 
Thro<U^  then  very  prevalent  in  the  town.     On 
the  completion  of  the  General  Hospital,  in  1779, 
(in   the   eatalilishment  of   which   had   Uboured 
ttlf  diuing  hia  leddence  among  us,  as  had 


his  predecessor  Dr.  Small,)  he  was  elected  one  of 
the  first  phpicians,  and  was  connected  with  that 
institution  about  thirteen  years.  He  passed 
several  months  of  the  year  1784  at  Soho  House, 
as  the  guest  of  Matthew  Boulton,  and  was 
admitted  a  member  of  the  famous  Lunar  Society, 
which  comprised  nearly  every  eminent  scientific 
man  of  that  period.  In  1785  he  published 
his  valuable  treatise  on  the  Medical  Uses  of 
the  Foxglove,  and  it  is  to  this  work  that 
we  owe  the  introduction  of  that  powerful  medicine 
iuto  practice;  it  was  greatly  valued  and  praised 
by  the  profession,  and  its  discoverer  elected  a 
Fellow  of  the  lioyal  Society.  In  the  April  of 
the  following  year  he  went  to  live  at  Edghaston 
Hall,  which  Sir  Henry  Gough  had  just  left ;  and 
there  prepared  the  second  edition  of  his  Botamj, 
He  sufibred  in  the  riots  of  1791,— although  a 
churchman  himself — for  receiving  and  sheltering 
one  of  the  persecutcnl  families  ;  being  threatened, 
forced  to  leave  hig  house,  and  to  carry  away  or 
hide  his  goods,  as  well  as  hi^  most  valuable  books 
and  specimens.  His  residence  was  only  saved  by 
the  timely  arrival  of  the  military,  otherwise 
Edgbaston  Hall  would  have  become,  like  many 
other  houses  of  which  we  shall  have  to  speak  in  the 
next  and  succeeding  chapters,  a  mere  hejip  of 
charred  ruins.  From  that  time  his  health  began 
steadily  to  decline,  and  although  ho  tried  a  brief 
sojourn  in  a  warmer  climate,  every  year  left  less 
of  hope,  and  on  the  6th  of  October  1799,  he  died, 
at  the  age  of  b^,  and  was  buried  at  Edgba^stou, 
in  a  vault  beneath  the  church,  on  the  10th  of 
the  same  month.  He  was  borne  to  the  grave  by 
six  peasants  who  had  been  employed  by  him  at 
the  Hall,  and  followed  and  mourned  by  all  the 
most  famous  local  worthies  of  that  day,  I'here 
is  a  very  good  monument,  with  a  bust  of  him,  in 
the  Church. 

We  shall  have  to  speak  of  other  local  worthies, 
including  our  two  poeta,  Lloyd  and  Collins,  in  a 
future  chapter,  inasmuch  as  they  Ijelong  more 
particularly  to  the  early  part  of  the  nineteenth 
oeatoty,  mther  than  tg  the  cigbteeiitk. 


OLD  AND  NEW  BffiMINGHAM. 


[Clturcheft  and  8ecU.  ITfiaTdl. 


CHAPTER     XXXIV, 


WHAT      LED     TO     THE     RIOTS     OF     1791. 


fot  tbe  CUxirchos  and  B^pitt,  17S1-17!*1— Dr  PHoHtley  and  Cttthcriuc  Hnttou— Growth  of  Dl!uieDi--Tlie  TIeit  Aeto^Dr.  1 
'.i&d  hU  opponcmtft— Wiiru)  tniacuuNtniutioii— SytupatUx  with  tlie  French  Revolution— Glllray '4  Ctu-Utoii :   **  A  Biruiiligluuii  Tu«st  "-^  J 
An  inftummatory  tiiuid-bUl  Aod  iti  nwu.ltii-'AimoufirumenL  uf  l.li«  Mt»titlli{(uf  July  14. 


Is  entering  upon  the  roligioua  and  political 
hifitory  of  the  few  years  which  preceded  that 
event  which  darkens  our  local  history,  with  aa 
indLdibhf  stain,  and  which  serioiualy  retarded  tho 
progress,  civil,  inteUectual,  and  religious,  of  our 
toAvn,  we  would  endeavour  to  the  utmost  of  our 
uhility  to  free  ourselves  from  all  bias  against,  or 
ifi  favour  of  any  party  whatever,  to  narrate  the 
facts  with  truth  and  simplicity,  to  extenuate 
nothing,  nor  eet  down  aught  in  malice. 

The  decade  which  preceded  the  riots  was  one 
of  great  prosperity  for  the  dissenters  in  lUrniing- 
hara.  In  1781  the  Methodists,  who  had  hitherto 
used  the  casU>ff  theatre  in  Moor  Street,  hegan  for 
the  Hrst  time  to  huild  for  themselves,  and  C4im- 
pleted  the  old  meeting  house  in  Cherry  Street, 
(which  was  t^iken  down  in  1823,)  ready  for 
opening  on  the  7th  of  JiUy  1782,  the  cost  of  its 
erection  Ijeing  about  <£  1,200.  The  venerable 
founder  of  the  society  visited  Birmingham  on 
several  occasions  during  the  last  few  years  of  his 
life.  He  preached  at  the  opening  of  the  above- 
named  meeting  house;  again  in  March  1783, 
although  "dangerously  il),*^  he  preached,  under 
considerable  temporary  excitement^  being  **  electri- 
fied, [not  literally,  we  presume,]  during  the 
service,"  and  ventured  to  preach  three  quarters  of 
an  burn-.  In  1786  he  spent  more  than  a  week 
in  Birmingham;  he  again  administered  the  sac- 
mment  to  nearly  seven  hundred  persons  in  1787. 
In  the  same  year  he  met  with  more  than  one  un- 
pleasant adventure  during  a  stage-coach  journey 
from  Manchester  to  this  town.  He  had  secured, 
eaya  his  hitest  hiographeri   Mr.   Tyerman,   the 


wliole  of  the  coach  that  ran  between  Mancbeste 
and  Birmingham  for  himself  and  friends,     **Six^ 
packed   themselves  within,  and  eight  arranged 
themselves  without,  and  off  they  all  set  at  mid- 
night;  but  even   the  presence  of  fonrtce-n   Me 
thmlist  preachers  was  not  an  insurance  againstj 
accident     No  doubt,  many  a  hynin  was  sung  1 
tliey  whisked  away  through  beautiful   Chesbii"*} 
scenery,  the  stars  shining  approvingly,  and  the 
fields  all  around  wrapped  in  solemn  silence  ;  but, 
a    little    before    three    in   the    morning,    when] 
approaching  Congleton,  the  coach  broke  beneath  j 
its   unwonted    burden,  and    had    to    be    ab 
doned  for  another.     In  about  an  hour^  immlierl 
two    was    crippled    like    number    one ;     while  \ 
one  of  the  horses  was  so  knocked  up  as  Ui  be  I 
scarcely  able  to  move  at   all     This   Methodist  ] 
monopoly  of  the  Birmingham  stage  coach  isstied, 
not  an  a  moonlight  pleasure  trip,  but  in  a  series  | 
of  disasters  wliich  men  so  pious  and  so  good  hadJ 
not  expected.     The  distance  was  not  great ;  btU 
nineteen   hours   were  spent  in  getting  over  itJ 
The  party  arrived  in  Birmingham   at   7   p.m. ;  i 
Weah'y,  found  a  congregation  waiting;  he  stepped  1 
out   of  the  coach   into  the  chapel,  and    begaaj 
preaching  witliout  delay.     *And  such,'  says  he,! 
*  was  the  goodness  of   God,  that  I  found  no  mor 
weariness  when  I  had  done  than  if  I  ha*!  rested  1 
all  the  day.'  *' 

In  1789  Wesley  was  present  at  the  opening  of  I 
the  second  chapel  of  Methodism  in  Birmingboni, 
in  Braiiford  Street. 

Tlie  Baptists  and  Independents  also  extended] 
theii*  sphere  of  labour  in  Birmingham,  iho  foiniar  I 


Ckw^MB  ftii4l  Heett.  1T81'17(»11 


OLD   AND   KEW   BIKMrKGHAM. 


221 


by  the  erection  of  a  second  meeting-houa©  in 
Bond  Street,  which  was  opened  November  15th, 
1T86  J  and  the  Ifttier  by  the  erection  of  a  small 
meeting-houae  in  Paradifie  Street,  opened  on  Whit- 
Sanday,  17S7. 

The  mcrobet?  of  the  Countess  of  H^intingdoii's 
oolinciction,  few  thongh  they  were  in  number,  bad 
during  this  decade  erected  a  small  chapel  in  Pock 
Lane^  and  probably  another  in  Bartholomew 
Street^  but  tlm  latter  may  have  been  erected 
suljeeqtient  to  the  riots ;  it  is  included  in  Hutton's 
Iwt  in  1795. 

In  1789  the  Roman  Catholics  found  a  home 
once  more  within  the  borders  of  the  town  from 
whence  they  had  been  baniBhed  just  a  century. 
A  p]ac€  of  worship  was  erected  (chiefly  owing  to 
exertions  of  the  Rev.  Jobn  Nutt,  the  first 
ir)  on  the  borders  of  the  Easy  Hill  estate, 
and  dedicated  to  St.  Peter. 

The  Jews,  doubtless  having  grown  a- weary 
the  miflerable  surroundings  of  their  little 
>gue  in  the  Froggary,  with  its  **  drooping 
eoagofi  of  poverty,"  erected  a  new  and  and  larger 
ajnagogue  in  Severn  Street,  which  was  thon 
pleMAntly  situated  on  the  outskirts  of  the  town, 
with  an  almost  uninterrupted  view  of  the  country 
away  as  far  as  E^Igbaston.  The  new  building 
was  dedicated  September  23rd,  1791  ;  the  cere- 
mony being  performed  by  Mr.  Phillips,  Mr. 
Yates,  and  Mr.  Levy,  who,  says  the  Gazette  of 
that  date,  "sung  the  appointed  psalms  and  songs 
in  the  sacred  language  \nth  great  judgment  and 
melody." 

le  hitest  of  the  new  sects  to  eiect  a  place  of 
ip  in  the  town  was  that  of  the  Sweden- 
hoTgtans.  According  to  an  interesting  ncroimt 
of  the  early  Swedenborgians  in  Bimiiiigham, 
contnbnle*!  by  Mr.  John  Rabone  t*3  the  Cmturfj 
of  BirmivQlmvi  Lijt;^  the  first  building  ever 
erected  for  this  sect  in  England,  or  indeed  in  any 
part  of  the  world,  was  in  Birmingliam,  vi^.,  the 
chapel  in  Newhall  Street  now  known  as  Zion 
Chapel ;  which  was  consecrated  and  opened  June 


19th,  1794 — only  a  few  weeks  before  the  out- 
break of  the  riots*  The  officiatinp;  ministers  were 
the  Revds.  Robert  Hindmarsh  and  Joseph  Proud  ; 
and  among  those  present  at  the  opening  servicea, 
were  seveml  prominent  members  of  the  New 
Meeting  congregation,  with  their  pastor,  Dr. 
Priestley. 

In  our  last  notice  of  the  churches  and  sects  we 
referred  to  Catherine  Button's  proposed  m^igration 
to  the  *  Old  Meeting  *  in  the  event  of  Dr. 
Priestley's  becoming  pastor  of  that  congregation. 
That  migration  took  place  veiy  soon  after  the 
doctor's  acceptance  of  the  charge,  and  in  a  letter 
to  a  friend  at  Leicester,  during  1781,  Miss  Button 
speaks  in  glowing  terms  of  the  new  pastor,  "  I 
have  much  to  say  to  you,"  she  writes,  **  on  tho 
subject  of  Dr.  Priestley.  I  look  upon  Ids 
character  as  a  pre-acher  to  be  as  amiable,  as  hia 
character  as  a  philosopher  is  great.  In  the  pulpit 
he  is  mild,  persuasive,  and  unaffected,  as  his 
sermons  are  full  of  sound  reasoning  and  good 
sense.  He  is  not  what  is  called  an  orator;  he 
uses  no  action,  no  declamation  j  but  his  voice 
and  manner  are  those  of  one  friend  speaking  to 
another.  If  you  will  come  to  Birmingliam,  I 
will  promise  that  you  shaD  hear  him  preach ;  for 
my  brother  and  I  have  formally  become  a  part 
of  his  cijngregation,  I  cannot  promise  to  intro- 
duce you  to  him,  as  at  present  I  have  not  the 
honor  of  his  acquaintance  ;  but  I  shall  lose  no 
opportunity  of  procuring  it."*" 

This  honour  Miss  Hutton  was  not  long  in 
procuring,  as  will  be  seen  from  the  following 
extract  from  another  letter  to  the  same  lady, 
dated  July  16th,  1783:  "Your  letter  contains 
the  second  proof  I  have  that  I  am  spoken  liand- 
somely  of  by  Dr.  Priestley;  the  first  was  so 
much  in  my  favour  that  1  dare  not  repeat  it. 
You  may  be  assured  it  gives  me  pleastire  to  be 
praised  by  him  whom  all  men  praise ;  but  I  can- 
not help  confessing  that  not  more  praise  is  due 


*  MS.  eopie*  of  MUa  Hutton *d  lettan  in  the  poMeMioii  of  Ifm^ 
W.  Fnak>  Be^le  \  the  wbole  of  wUch  l»Te  boea  klad^f  plaoni  at 
our  dljpo«&l.  mA  f^om  whieli  iatciraitlQg  estrseta  wfU  b«  nude 
from  tUiie  bo  time. 


to  mj  talents  than  to  the  Doctor's  penetration  in 
finding  them  out ;  for  I  have  not  been  in  Mb 
company  more  than  thi'ee  times,  and  during  them 
all  I  was  awed  by  the  consciotisnese  of  my  own 
great  inferiority.*' 

While  all  the  dissenting  sects  were  thus  making 
consideralile  progress,  nut  a  single  new  place  of 
worship  was  erected  in  connection  with  the 
Established  Church ^ — although  a  small  chapel, 
"converted"  from  a  private  residence,  was  opened 
a  few  months  subsequent  to  the  riots — and  this 
rapid  growth  of  dissent  may  possibly  have 
alarmed  the  Church  party  ;  as  in  those  days, 
when  toleration  was  almost  unknown,  all  dis- 
senters were  looked  upun  as  dangerous  to  the 
welfare  of  the  State — especially  as  there  had 
been  during  tlie  same  period  repeated  endeavouTs 
on  the  part  of  the  latter  to  obtain  a  repeal  of  the 
Corporation  and  Testa  Acts.  In  these  endeavours 
the  name  of  Dr.  Priestley  was  at  aU  times 
prominent.  Nor  was  he  silent  on  local  matters, 
as  we  have  already  seen  in  the  question  of  the 
introduction  of  controversial  theology  into  the 
Birmingham  Library,  lie  fearlessly  proclaimed 
to  the  world,  in  his  innumerable  books  and 
tracts,  his  religions  and  politiral  convictions; 
and  perhaps  in  this  he  was  unwisely  over- 
zealous,  as  even  so  ardent  an  admirer  as 
Catherine  Hutton,  adiidts.  "A  circiimstanco," 
she  says,  *'wliicb  particularly  rendered  Bir- 
mingham a  likLdy  theatre  for  mischief  was  the 
zeal  of  I)r,  Priestley — fervent,  though  not  intem- 
perate. Having  fully  assured  himself  of  the  truth 
in  religion,  he  conceived  it  his  duty  to  go  abroad 
into  the  world  and  endeavour  to  persuade  ail 
mojials  to  embrace  it,  an  idea  which  has  done 
more  mischief  than  any  which  ever  entered  the 
ernnj^  mind  of  man.  He  sometimes,  too,  in  bis 
sermons,  ghnced  at  politics — a  subject  that  should 
never  be  mingled  with  religion — and  this  treasured 
up  wrath  for  bim  against  the  day  of  wrath,  I 
look  upon  Dr.  Priestley  as  a  good  man,  attiiched 
to  bis  King  and  country,  and  meaning  well  to 
every  creature  ;  but,  though  unintentionally,  and 


himself  the  first  suffV^rer,  he  was,  I  think,  one  < 

the  primary  causes  of  the  riota  in  Birminghan 

by  rousing   the  spirit   of  bigotry  &nd   all  un- 

charitablcncss  in  others.      He   was  him&clf 

unconscious  of  having  done  wrong,  nay.  he  wa 

so  certain  of  having  done  only  right,  that 

friends  took  him  almost  by  force  from  his  hou 

and  savc«l  him  from  the  vengeance  of  a  mob  \v4i 

would  have  torn  him  to  piecea." 

He  held  a  controversy  vdih  the  Revds;  S,  Mnda 

and  E.  Bum — two  of  the  Episcopalian  clergy  ( 

the  town — and  the  paper  warfare  on  both  sid^ 

waged  hotly.     **To  dispute  with  the  Do 

says   Hutton   drily,  "was   deemed   the  road 

preferment.     He  had  already  made  two  bishoji 

and  there  were  still  several  heads  which  want 

mitres,  and  others  who  cast  a  more  humble  cyf 

upon  tithes  and  glebe  lands."      Several  of  th 

clergy  did  not  he>sitate  to  stoop  to  a  wilful,  ; 

it  is  to  be  feared,  malignant  misconstruction 

his  words.     In  one  of  his  pamphlets  the  Do 

bad  instituted  a  comparison  between  the  prog 

of  free  inquiry  and  the  action  of  gunpowder ; 

writ-es  : 

**The  present  silent  propagation  of  truth  mAy  ^?en 
compared  to  those  causes  in  nature  which  lie  donn«nt  1 
tt  time,  but  which  in  proper  circumstanceka  act  with 
greatest  violence.     We  are,  iis  it  were,  laying  gtmp<iw(i«l 
grain    by  grain,   under  the   old   huiMing   of  error 
sujrtiratition,  which  o  single  spark  mfty  hereafter  inllarnd 
so  04  to  produce  an   instantuueous  tixi^loniou  ;    in 
sequence  of  which,  that  edific<i,  the  erection  of  whieh  1 
been  the  work  of  agca,  may  be  overtunied  to  a 
jtnd  so  clfectUftUy,  ii8  that  the  same  foQiniatlon  •-*«  iiri 
be  built  upon  again," 

This  obviously  figuriitivo  expression  was  ac 
laid  hold  of  by  the  clergy  as  a  covert  threa 
netc    Gunpowder  Plot,  fur   hhwin*^   up   oB 
churi'h^ji  oj  the  EdaUUhTmnt  f  *^  It  was  in  yaiU 
that  the  Doctor  expostulated  against  such  mt» 
interpretation  of  his  words,  and  explained 
he   referred    merely   to    the   powerful    loroe 

*  Tills  piuisag(<  is  referred  to  f D  tn  old  poem  •Btitl«d  **  Top*?- 
Turvy,"  publishefi  In  ^{►s  r^ 

*•  EVn  .  ^       '        ^  ^ 

^1 

Whki... .  .:...,:_...-.;  ..-i, 

Tli«  red  night-cap  take  piaee  of  the  Mltrt. " 


aryaymnt;  it  "waa  in  vuin  that  he  pointed  out 
the  blamelessoeaa  of  his  life  among  them;  tho 
ignorant  masses — and^  aLis  1  how  ignorant  those 
maseea  were,  how  blindly  they  were  led  by  their 
spiriting  pastors  and  masters,  we  of  the  present 
age  can  never  fnlly  realize — believed  the  libellous 
charges,  and  hated  Priestley  and  all  **  Socinians  " 
(or  **  Priestley  ami"  as  they  were  beginning  to  be 
styled),  as  became  good  Churchmen  and  loyal 
subj#)ct8  of  King  George,  Eight  or  wrong,  tlie 
parsons  were  against  this  "formidable  Heresiaich," 
as  he  had  been  dubbed,  and  as  they  had  the 
consciences  of  the  masses  in  their  keeping,  it 
behoved  the  latter  to  follc^w  their  leaders  without 
question;  and  **D — n  Priestley"  was  the  loyal 
and  patriotic  sentiment  chalked  up  on  every 
blank  wall  in  Birmingham* 

But  by  far  the  ^-eatest  crime  of  all  which  I)r. 
Priestley  and  the  "  Sociniane  ^'  had  committed, 
was  that  of  sympathising  with  the  lovers  of 
freedom  who  had  just  succeeded  in  overturning 
the  throne  of  Louis  XVI,  in  France.  TMs 
sympathy  Gilliay,  the  caricaturist,  turned  to 
account  in  a  bitterly  hostile  and  infamously 
libellous  print — on  the  occasion  of  the  memorable 
dinner  to  which  we  shall  refer  presently — repre- 
senting the  leading  **  Jacobins "  of  the  day 
drinking  **j1  BirmiDgham  Toast,'*  proposed  by 
Dr.  Priestley,  "  The  — ^  Head  here  /  "  ie,,  in  a 
Communion  salver  which  he  holds  aloft,  himself 
drinking  the  toast  from  a  chalica  The  Jacobins 
are  represented  as  eagerly  welcoming  this  toast  \ 
Sheridan,  pouring  out  a  fresh  glass  of  sheny,  of 
which  he  has  already  emptied  several  bottles,  is 
made  to  say  (in  one  of  those  iDartistic  "  balloon  " 
inscriptions  which  disfigure  all  the  older  carica- 
tures), **  I'll  pledge  you  that  toa^t,"  his  remark 
being  further  garnished  with  choice  flowers  of 
speech  which  we  need  not  quote  here  j  Sir  Cecil 
Wray,  fmgaUy  drinking  small-beer,  exclaims, 
"O  heavens  I  why  I  would  empty  a  Chelsea 
Pensioner'^  small^bet^r  barrel  in  such  a  cause;" 
Fox,  WA  dminuaxiy  with  puneh-bowl  before  him, 
cries,  "  My  soul  and  body,  both  upon  the  toast !" 


Homo    T<»oke,   who    sits    next    him, 
•*  Hollands  "  says,  **  I  have  not  drank  so  glorion 
a  toast  since  I  was  Parson  of  Brentford ;"  while  i 
the  comer,  opposite  Dr.  Priestley,  lua  co*Feligiox3 
Dr.  Theophilus  Lindsey  cries  ''Amen  I  Amen !  * 
as  he  drinks  the  toast  in  brandy.     In  the  hack*^ 
ground  are  several   cadaverous-looking  pietists, 
supposed  to  repre-sent  Br.  Priestley's  congregar 
tion.    The  print  is  exceedingly  vigorous  in  design 
and  execution^  hut  sjs  full  of  venom  as  an  etching 
from   Gillray's   needle   could    possibly  be.       A 
carefully  engraved  copy  of  this  plate,  diif 
of  the  balloon-like  scrolls  containing  the  inacrii 
tions,  appears  on  page  215. 

But  Gillray  was  not  alone  in  thus  taking 
advantage  of  Priestley's  sympathy  with  the 
Revolutionists  of  France,  An  inflammatory 
hand-biU,  purporting  to  come  from  the  Doctor; 
was  fabricated  in  London,  brought  to  Birming4 
ham,  and  a  few  copies  privately  scattered  unde 
the  table  at  an  inn.     It  ran  as  follows  ; 

*'  My  Countrymea — The  aecond  yoax  of  Gallic  Liber 
is  nearly  expired.  At  the  commences  en  t  of  the  thir 
on  the  14th  of  thia  monthi  it  ia  devoutly  to  he  wuhe< 
that  every  enemy  to  civil  and  religions  despotism  iroutd 
give  hia  SAUclian  to  the  majtstic  comnum  catiae  hy  a  {iuliU( 
celebration  of  the  anniversary.  Remember  that  on  thai 
14th  of  July,  the  Boatilk,  that  *  high  altar  and  ca.ft1e  of 
dL*spotism/  fell.  Remember  the  cnthti^asm  peculiar  Id 
the  cause  of  liberty,  with  which  it  was  attacked.  Rcmcni' 
ber  that  generous  humanity  that  taught  the  oppressed, 
groaning  under  the  weight  of  insulted  righta,  to  save  the 
lives  of  oppressors !  Extinguiah  the  mean  prejadioei  of 
natiouH  1  and  let  your  numbers  be  collected  and  sent  u  a 
free-will  oflering  to  tho  National  Asaembly. 

"  But  is  it  possible  to  forget  that  our  own  Parliament 
is  venal  \  your  Minister  hypocritical  f  your  clergy  legal 
oppressors  \  the  Reigning  Family  extraTagant  ?  the  crowa 
of  a  certain  great  personn^G  becoming  every  day  too 
weighty  for  the  head  that  wears  it  T  Too  weighty  for  the 
people  who  gave  it  \  Your  Uixts  partial  and  excessive  t 
Your  Heprescntation  a  cruel  insntU  upon  the  Sacred 
Rights  of  Property,  Religion,  and  Freedom  f 

*^  But  on  the  14th  of  this  month,  prove  to  the  f>oliticj 
sycophants  of   the  day  that   you  revert^noe   the   OUvi 
Branch;   that  you  will  sacrifice  to  public  tTaa<imlity» 
till  the  majority  akall  exclaim,  Th^  Ptaee  of  Slantry  i 
vxrrse  than  the  War  qf  Freedom,     Of  that  moment 
tyrants  beware  I " 

Thi^  seditious  Land-bill,  as  may  be  imagine 
added  fuol  to  the  fire  of  hatred  wluch  burned  in 


ini.ti»9tou»e«inimi^ii»iiitouonT0i]  QLD  AlH}  ^^EW    BIHMINGHAM. 


2:25 


tlio  hearts  of  the  masses  against  the  dissenters. 
The  latter  immediately  offered  a  reword  of  one 
hundred  guineas  for  the  discovery  of  the  writer, 
printer,  publisher,  or  distributor  of  the  inflam- 
matory address,  and  disclaimed  all  complicity  in 
the  matter,  or  concurrence  in  the  sentiments  of 
the  writer  thereoL*  But  this  was  all  in  vainj  the 
incensed  muHitude  refused  to  belieye  in  the 
mnownce  or  loyalty  of  the  dissenters,  and  watched 
their  opportunity  to  punish  the  supposed  traitors. 
This  was  soon  afifoided,  by  the  announcement  of 
a  meeting  to  take  place  at  the  Hotel  in  Temple 
Bow,  on  the  14th  of  July,  1791,  U>  celohrate  the 
uiniveisary  of  the  destruction  of  the  BastOle* 
Dj.  Priestley  and  his  followers  were  at  once  iden- 
tified with  this  celebration,  by  the  masses  of  the 
people,  (who  were  opposed  to  the  ^French  Bevolu- 
ticm,)  inasmuch  as  the  worthy  doctor  had  been 
nominated  ns  a  citizen  of  the  new  Republic,  in 
recognition  of  hia  able  reply  to  Burke's  Refledwm 
on  ihs  Frmch  Mevolution.  The  meeting  was 
announced  in  the  Gctz^te^  (in  an  advertisement 
dated  "Hotel,  Birmingham*  July  7,"  a  week 
previous  to  the  date  fixed  lor  the  celebration,) 
and  immediately  under  it  appeared  another  adver- 
tisement to  the  effect  that  a  list  of  the  gentlemen 
who  were  present  at  the  meeting  should  be 
published  on  the  following  day.  This  kttcr  an- 
nouncement was  evidently  intended  to  intimidate 
the  projectois  of  the  meeting,  and  to  alarm  the 
inhabitants. 

In  a  most  interesting  narrative  of  the  sufferings 


*  AnoilMr  reward  of  a  boDdied  fftaoeu  wu  aIjo  olTend  by  tlie 
IomI  sotikOfiUfli,  and  a  Vbtad  lkii&dT«d  by  the  Go? eraniBSit. 


of  tlie  Hutton  family  durmg  the  lUols,  written 
by  the  historian's  daughter,  Catherine,  she  says ; 

**Dr,  Priestley  admired  my  father,  and  fre- 
quently took  tea  with  ua,  without  caremony.  On 
Wednesday,  the  6th,  he  drank  tea  with  ub,  and 
asked  my  father  to  join  the  party  at  the  dinner. 
*I  wish  well  to  liberty  everywhere,'  replied  my 
father,  'but  public  dinneTs  are  out  of  my  way.* 
The  doctor  then  asked  Mr*  Berington,  the  author 
of  Lives  of  Hmry  the  Secmidy  and  of  Abdanl 
and  Heloise,  who  was  also  with  us,  if  he  would 
dine,  'No,'  said  Mr.  Berington,  'we  Catholics 
stand  better  with  government  than  you  Dissentera, 
and  we  will  not  make  comnion  cause  with  you/ 
On  Monday,  the  11th,  the  advertisement  reapect- 
kig  the  dinner  appeared  again  in  the  Birmingham 
newspaper,  and  immediately  under  it  was  another 
informing  the  public  that  the  names  of  the 
gentlemen  who  should  dine  at  the  hotel  on 
Thursday  would  be  published,  price  one  half- 
penny*  This  seemed  a  signal  for  mischief ;  but 
mischief  was  unknown  in  Birmingham,  and  no 
one  regarded  it. 

**0n  Tuesday,  the  12th,  I  went  to  Bennett's 
Hill  [Waahwood  Heath],  to  pass  a  few  days  with 
my  mother.  In  the  evening  my  brother  [Thomas 
Hutton]  came,  and  told  us  that  a  riot  was  expec* 
ted  on  Thursday }  but  so  little  was  I  interested 
by  the  intelligeuce,  that  it  loft  no  impression  on 
my  mind.  The  word  r/of,  since  so  dreadful,  con- 
veyed no  other  idea  than  that  of  verbal  abuse." 

The  Huttoiis  were  not  alone  in  disregarding 
the  rumours  of  a  disturbance,  as  we  shall  see  in 
our  next  chaptert 


296 


OLD  AND  NEW  BERMINGHAM. 


[Tkt  *'  IUToliitleiUT7  DinsK," 


CHAPTER     XXXV. 


THE     FOURTEENTH     OF     JULY,     AND     ITS     EVENTS, 

A  C«neUlktorT  Annooneement^Pnipoi^d  postponement  of  the  dinner— The  Idea  of  postponement  abandoned — The  Dinner  and  tlMi 
ToaaU— Aji  Opposition  Meeting— Commencement  of  Hostilitiua—AttAcik  on  the  Hotel— The  N^ew  Meeting  Hanae— The  Old  Meetin 
Hoiiae— Narrow  Ea«apei — **To  Dr.  Prleatlej'a  t  "—Mr.  Roaaell'a  attempt  to  aare  the  hoiiae— Tb«  botute  deatroyed— C«ndu£t 
Dr.  Prieatlej, 


The  momentouft  fourteenth  of  July  at  length 
arrived,  and  feara  of  a  disturbance  were  rife  on 
every  hand»  The  peace-loving  dissenters,  anxioua 
to  allay  the  fears  of  the  populace  as  to  thoir  in- 
tentions, published,  in  the  Birmingham  Chronicle^ 
on  th«  morning  of  the  litb,  the  following 
address  : 

BmHlNQlfllt    COUMRIKOIIATION    OF    TilS    FUE^'On 
R«VOLUTIOS\ 

Several  hand-bills  h&ring  b-oeii  circuluted  m  tho  town^ 
which  can  only  be  iiitt'nd(?ii  to  create  distrust  cDmcoming 
the  intention  of  the  raeetiog,  to  distarb  its  harmony,  iind 
inflanie  the  luinda  of  the  people,  the  gentlemen,  who 
proposed  it,  think  it  necessary  to  declare  their  entire 
diaapprobation  of  all  aucb  band-bills,  and  their  ignorance 
of  the  authors.  Sensible  themselv^js  of  the  Advantages  of 
a  free  goveminent»  they  rejoice  In  the  extension  of  liberty 
to  their  Beighbonrs ;  at  the  same  time  avowing^  tn  the 
most  explicit  manner,  their  firm  attachment  to  Iho  eon- 
■titution  of  their  own  country, 'aa  vested  in  the  three 
eitatea  of  King,  Lords,  and  Commons.  Surely  no  free- 
born  Englishman  can  refrain  from  exulting  in  thb  addition 
to  the  general  masa  of  human  happiness.  It  is  the  cause 
of  humanity  !  It  is  the  cause  of  the  poople  ! 
Birmin^haTJij  Jithj  13,  1791. 

This,  however,  failed  to  reassure  the  people, — 
or,  more  probably,  the  movers  of  the  projected 
attack  on  the  dissenters, — and  the  disturbing 
rumours  increased  as  the  day  advanced;  the 
friends  of  the  proposed  celebration,  therefore, 
agreed  to  postpone  the  matter  until  a  more  peace- 
able feeling  should  prevail,  and  to  this  end,  prepared 
a  hand-bill  as  follows  : 

LVTKWOBD    C01fMEM0H,A.Tl0N    OF    THE     FrENJH 

Revolution'. 
The  friends  of  the  intended  festivity  finding  that  their 
viewfl  and  intentionB,  in  eonsequence  of  being  miacon- 
ceived  by  some,  and  misrepresented  by  others,  have  created 
aa  alarm  in  the  minds  of  the  majority  of  the  town,  and,  it  is 
thought,  endangered  its  tranquillity,  inform  their  no igh- 


bottrs  that  they  ralue  the  peace  of  the  town  far  beyoOid_ 
the  gratification  of  a  festival,  and  therefore  hare  det 
mined  to  give  up  their  intentions  of  dining  at  the  hoti 
upon  this  occasion ;  and  they  very  gladly  improve  tb 
renewed  opportunity  of  declaring  that  they  are  to  th 
hour  ignorant  of  the  author,  printer,  or  publisher  of  the 
inflammatory'  hand-bill  circulated  on  Monday. 

This  notice  of  postponement  was  actually  pQ 
into  the  hands  of  the  printer,  but  before  it  was 
sot  up,  Mr.  Dadley,  the  proprietor  of  the  hot 
attended,  in  consequence  of  hie  having  receive 
an   order  countermanding  the   dinner,   and  le- 
presented  that  there  was  no  ground  for  fear,  an 
no  danger  of  any  serious  disturbance ;  he  the 
fore  recommended  that  the  idea  of  postpone 
should  be  abandoned,  hut  that,  in  order  to  prev 
the  possibility  of  danger,  **  the  gentlemen  shou 
take  care  to  break  up  early.*'     This  advice  wi 
listened  to,  and  orders  were  given  for  the  suppn 
sion  of  the  bill  announcing   the   postponeme 
The  meeting  was  most  orderly, — far  more  so  i 
many  a  vestry  meeting  where  "Church and 
are   duJy  honoured, — and  the  toasts   were  of  i 
loyal  and  patriotic  character ;  and,  as  much  ' 
said   as   to   the   revolutionary   tendency  of   til 
sentiments  expressed  therein,  we  append  a  list  ( 
them,  aa  furnished  by  Mr,  William  Russell,  (on 
of  the   sufferers),  in   answer  to  the  calumnion 
misstatements    of    certain    newspapers    of 
opposite  party.     The  toasts  were  as  follows : 

1.  The  King  and  Constitution. 

2.  The  National  Assembly  and  Patriots  of  Fnwioe,whfl»| 
virtue  and  wisdom  have  raised  twenty-six  millioai  I 
the  mean  condition  of  subjects  of  despotism,  to 
dignity  and  happiness  of  free  men. 

8.  The  Majesty  of  the  People. 
4,  May  the  New  Constitution  of  France  be  rcod 
perfect  and  perpetual. 


5(.  Mmj  GfOAt  Britain,  IrelAod,  and  France,  unite  in 
perpetual  &ietidslLip ;  and  may  Xhtii  only  riTalahip  be  ! 
tl»  extension  of  peace  and  liberty,  wisdom  and  virtne. 

9.  The  Bighta  of  }Sjlbl.  May  aU  nations  hare  the 
wisdom  to  nndentand,  and  the  conrage  to  assert  and 
defend  tliem. 

7«  Th«  tnid  Frienda  of  the  CauilltQ tioa  of  this  Country, 
wbo  with  to  preaerre  its  apirit,  by  correcting  its  abnsea. 

8,  May  the  people  of  England  neT«r  cease  to  remon- 
itjfftte,  till  their  Farliameut  becomes  a  true  National 
Bepratentation, 

^.  The  Prince  of  Wales. 

10.  The  United  States  of  America.  May  they  for  ever 
efijoy  the  liberty  which  they  have  so  honourably  ac^uired^ 

11.  May  the  late  Revolution  in  Poland  prove  the  har- 
binger of  a  more  perfect  tyst^n  of  liberty  extending  to 
that  great  kingdom. 

12.  May  the  Nations  of  Enrope  become  ao  enlightened 
as  never  more  to  be  deluded  into  savftge  wars,  by  the  mad 
ambition  of  their  nilers. 

13.  May  the  sword  be  never  unsheathed,  btit  for  the 
defence  and  liberty  of  our  country  ;  and  then  may  every 
man  cast  away  the  scabbard  untii  the  people  are  safe  and 
free. 

1 4.  To  the  glorious  memory  of  Hampden  and  Sydney, 
and  other  heroes  of  all  ages  and  nations,  who  have  fought 
and  bled  for  liberty, 

15.  To  the  memory  of  Dr.  Price,  and  of  all  those  illus- 
trious sageii  who  have  enlightened  mankind  on  Uie  true 
prindplea  of  civil  society. 

1«.  Peace  and  good-will  to  all  mankind. 
.  Prosperity  to  the  town  of  Birroingham. 
A  happy  Meeting  to  all  the  Friends  of  Liberty  on 
fhe  14th  of  July,  1792. 

About  eighty  gentlemen  sat  do^\ii  to  dinner, 
at  three  o'clock.  The  room  waa  appropriately 
decorated^  "  with  three  elegimt  emblematiciol 
pieces  of  sculptuie,  mixed  with  painting,  in  a 
new  style  of  composition."  The  centre-piece  was 
a  **  finely-executed  portrait  of  His  Majesty,  en- 
drded  with  a  glory,"  and  on  either  side  was  an 
alabaster  obelisk, — the  one  representing  Gallic 
liberty  breaking  the  bands  of  despotism,  and 
the  other  British  liberty  in  its  present  enjoy- 
ment 

Meanwhile,  their  opponents — the  Aeti-Jaco- 
|>ina^ — were  holding  a  by  no  means  orderly  meetn 
tng  at  an  inn  not  far  from  Badley's  Hotel,*  and 
tlrinking  confusion  (and  something  worse)  to 
Pdeatlejr  and  his  f ollowe»  ;  keeping  up  a  con- 


*  Affecnnrl«,  snd  more   cummonlf  knoiru  u 
t.- tiMyla  How. 


'  Dte*!  Boys) 


tinual  cry  of  **  Church  and  King  for  ever,*** 
This  was  to  bo  the  war  cry  of  tho  rabble, 
**  people,"  says  Hutton,  **  who  would  have  sold 
their  King  for  a  jug  of  ale,  and  demolished  the 
Church  for  a  bottle  of  gin.** 

A  spy  had  obtained  admission  to  the  hotol, 
and  brought  word  (referring  no  doubt  to  the 
central  ornament  already  mentioned,)  **  thni  thmj 
had  cut  off  tJie  Kin^9  h^d  and  set  it  on  the 
table/  Whether  this  was  a  mere  pleasantry,  or 
intended  to  work  upon  the  feelings  of  the  igno* 
rant  mob,  we  cannot  say ;  but  if  tho  latter,  it 
was  speedily  successful.  The  crowd  had  hissed 
and  hustled  the  gentlemen  as  they  went  into  the 
hotel,  and,  when  the  meeting  hrdke  up,  at  about 
five  o'clock,  those  who  had  attended  it  found 
greater  difficulty  in  returning  to  their  homes. 
The  mob  re-asaemblcd  in  larger  numbers  at  about 
eight  o'clock,  and  at  once  commenced  an  attack 
upon  the  hotel,  breaking  all  tho  windows  and 
damaging  most  of  the  furniture  in  the  room  in 
which  the  meeting  had  been  held.  They  had 
watched  the  house  dnring  the  whole  of  tho 
evening,  to  see  if  Dr.  Priestley  came  out^  and 
probably  their  chief  object  in  attacking  the  Hotel 
.was  to  fiud  him.  liut  he  had  not  been  present 
at  the  dinner  at  oil ;  **  public  assemblages  of  a 
political  or  convivial  nature,**  says  Mr.  Hawkes 
Smith,  **were  not  the  chosen  recreation  of  the 
philosopher  and  theologian,**  And  so  they 
wreaked  their  vengeance  upon  the  building  in 
wliich  the  Dissenters  had  met ;  it  was  in  vain 
that  the  better-disposed  among  them  cried  out 
"  Don't  break  Dadley's  windows  !  he's  a  Church- 
man 1  '*  They  had  determined  upon  creating  a 
disturbance,  and  proving  their  loyal  attachment 
to  the  Church  and  King. 

Disappointed  and  foiled  in  their  endeavours 
to    find   Dr.    Priestley,   they   proceeded   to  the 


*  At  ft  Municipal  dtnnfif  Nhorllx  tfter  Uie  RtoU,  it  whtch  Dr. 
Soitiucl  PiuT  was  present^  the  toftiit  **  Church  tiid  Klnij^ "  Having 
been  propotedr  tho  doctor  ImiDediatolf  fOM  to  hin  feet  aud  loudly 
prooltlfflMl  hi»  dlMwitt  **  No,  tlr  I "  Mid  b«,  **I  irlll  not  dHnk 
tliAt  tout.  It  wu  tba  BTJ  of  jMobltM ;  It  If  th«  cry  of  lootti. 
dUrtat,  11  mum  «  Cburob  without  Um  Oovptl,  and  «  King  abo?* 
tba  Uv  1 " 


building  in  which  he  miniatered, — tbo  New 
Meeting  House,  in  Moor  Street.  The  gates  aod 
doois  were  aooB  burst  open,  the  pews  demolished, 
the  cushions  and  other  fittings  taken  and  burnt  in 
the  open  space  in  front,  and  they  then  commenceil 
to  demonstrate  their  **  burning  love  "  upon  the 
bnildin^  itsell,  and  in  a  very  short  period  left 
nothing  but  the  four  blackened  outside  walls, 
which  were  of  such  thickness  and  solidity  as  to 
resist  the  action  of  the  flames.  A  valmible  library 
of  theological  books,  (in  the  vestry,)  belonging 
to  tho  society,  was  also  destroyed. 

While  this  scene  was  taking  place  in  Moor 
Street,  a  second  party  of  rioters  were  attacking 
the  Old  Meeting  House ;  they  tori^  down,  with 
crowbars  and  other  implements,  the  pulpit,  pews, 
galleries^  etc.,  and  set  fire  to  them  in  the  burial 
ground.  Then,  after  demolishing  portions  of  the 
bailding,  they  sot  hre  to  it^  walls,  and  razed  it  to 
the  ground,  so  that  not  a  vestige  remained  Their 
systematic  mode  of  conducting  these  disgraceful 
proceedings  is  shown  in  the  fact  that  they  exerted 
themselvea  to  the  utmost  to  prevent  injury  to  the 
surrounding  houses,  being  determined  that  only 
the  dissenters  should  suffer^  also,  that  they  had 
prepared  a  list  of  the  various  houses  which 
they  had  detemiined  to  attack,  and  included 
those  of  every  known  dissenter  in  the  neigh- 
bourhood* 

Another  party  had  meanwhile  proceeded  to 
Newhall  Street,  and  surrounded  the  newly 
erected  Church  of  the  Swedenborgians,  with  the 
intention  of  dei^troying  it,  but  were  diverted  from 
their  purpose  by  the  presence  of  mind  of  the 
minister,  the  Rev.  Joseph  Proud,  who  lived  at  the 
house  adjoining,  A  collection  had  been  made  in 
the  church  on  tho  preceding  day,  and  the  minister, 
standing  on  tho  elevated  steps  in  front  of  his 
house,  scattered  the  money  among  tho  throng  of 
would-be  incendiaries,  telling  them  that  his  con- 
gregation were  not  Unitarians,  but  that  they 
were  loyal  to  the  Throne  and  the  Government 
A  shout  of  "  tho  New  Jerusalem  for  ever  "  was 
immediately  raised,  and  tho  crowd  passed  on  with- 


out injuring  either  the  church  or  its  eourageoos 
minister. 

A  similar  incident  occurred  at  the  meet^ 
house  of  Lady  Huntingdon's  Connexion,  in 
Street.    Tlie  mob  had  gathered  round  the  bu 
in  order  to  destroy  it,  when  someone  amofng  i 
cried  out,  '*  Don't  bum  it,  they're  good  *  Chi] 
and  King*  men." 

Alean while,  among  those  who  had  de 
the  two  Meeting'Houses  of  the  Unitarians,  tlj 
cry  was  "  To  Dr.  Prieiilei/^f* 

In  a  vivid   and  picturesque  narrative  of 
riota,   written    by    iliss   Russell,    (daughter 
WiUiam  Hussell,  Esq.,  of    Showell  Green,) 
read  that  her  father  **  went  first,"  on  hearing  i 
the   riots,    **  to   iJx.  Priestley's  house,  where 
found   William  Priestley,  whom   he 
to  begin  and  move  all  the  Doctor's  manuscrip 
he    thought  most    likely    to    be    valuable, 
means  of    persons  in  the  neighbourhood  who 
my  father  had  brought  for  that  purpose,  and  \ 
whom  ho  could  rely,  to  a  jjlaco  in  the  vicinity  1 
had  fixed  upon  as  secret  and  secure.     This 
urged  him  to  do  as  expeditiously  and  qui*!tly 
possible,  and  to  continue  this  employ,  inclndu 
also  any  other  valuables  he  recollected,  till 
father  should  send  him  word  to  stop,  not  attend 
to  any  reports  that  might  be  brought  him. 

*'  My  father,"  continues  Sliss  Kussell,  "  th 
rode  on  to  town  as  far  as  Digbeth,  and  the 
meeting  tho  mob,  he  tri6d  in  vain  to  pn 
He  met  many  of  his  friends,  all  of  whom 
requested  him  to  return,  telling  lum  he  did 
not  hear  the  threats  that  were  uttered  against 
him.     At  length,  one  of  them,  I  believe  Mr.  J 

F ,  suddenly  turned  his  horse,  and,  giving 

him  a  cut  with  his  whip,  the  press  was  so  greati 
and  the  spirit  of  the  horse  so  rouisedp  my  fail 
found  himself  obliged  in  a  manner  to 
Arriving  at  Dr.  Priestley's  gate  before  the 
he  stationed  himself  within-side  till  the  mob 
came  up  and  then  addressed  them,  endearou 
to  induce  them,  by  fair  words  and  money, 
desist  and  return  home.     At  first  they  seemed  ( 


Dr*  PnwU^'fi  noaae.] 


OLD  A:^D   new   BIBl^roiGRilM. 


229 


little  pacified  and  inclined  to  listen,  till  one  more 
^  load  than  the  rest^  and  who  had  the  appearance 
H  of  a  lingleader,  cried  out,  *  Bon^t  ttike  a  sixpence 
H  of  his  tnonex ;  ill  the  riots  of  '80  in  London,  a 
^Lfi|lo  was  hanged  for  only  taking  sixpence/  The^^ 
^0B  then  vociferated,    ^  Stone  him,  stone  him  1 ' 

jind  began  to  fling  stonea  My  father  then, 
K  finding  it  rashness  to  brave  two  or  three 
H  thousand  men,  turned  his  horse  and  rode  up 
H  to  the  house,  telling  W.  P.  that  he  must  desist, 
W  ajid  take  as  much  care  of  the  house  as  he  could, 

■  and  advising  Mm  to  make  all  the  doors  and 
wiiidows  aft  secure  as  possibia  He  then  rode 
off  home^^ 

The  mob  then  commenced  their  attack  upon 
the  house,  **  with  the  most  incredible  fury,"  says 
the  Qazdie.  They  began  by  breaking  down 
the  doors  and  windows,  and  throwing  out  the 
fomituiB  from  every  part  of  the  house  ;  tearing 
and  burning  all  the  books  and  manuscripts  in  the 

(doctor's  librar}%  ineluding,  among  the  latter,  the 
resnlte   of    many   years   of    patient   research   in 
natural    philosophy,    such    as    could    never    be 
reitosed  or  recovei-ed.     As  they  went  from  room 
to   room  throughout  the  house,  in  the   hope  of 
1       finding  Dr,  Priestley,  (who  with  Mrs.  Priestley 
B  aod  Mr.  3.  Ryland  had  escaped  to  the  residence 
'      of  Mr.   Eussell,  at  Showell  Green,  an  hour  or 
more  previously,)  they  vented  their   disappoint- 
,      meat  in  curses  and   imprecations   on  him,   and 
B  Tedonbled  their  fiendish    energies   in   the  total 

■  daciolition    of    his    house    and   property*      His 
P    valuable  library  was  scattered  to  the  winds,  so 

thatf  according  to  an  eye-witness,  "  the  highroads 
for  full  half  a  mile  of  the  house  were  strewed 
with  books,  and  that  on  entering  the  library  there 
was  not  a  dozen  volunaes  on  the  shelves,  while 

H  the  floor  waa  covered  several  inches  deep  with  the 

B  torn  manuBcnpts." 

P  The  shrubs,  treee,  etc,  in  the  garden  were  all 
trampleri  down  or  torn  up,  and  the  desolate 
appeojnnce  of  the  place  was  thus  rendered 
complete;  but  there  waa  still  a  gleam  of  hope  that 
the  Uboratoty,   with   aU   the   doctor's  valuable 


apparatus,  would  escape  tminjured,  as  the  mob, 
having  entered  the  cellars,  had  become  so 
intoxicated  as  to  be,  in  most  cases,  almost  sens^ 
less,  whilst  the  remainder  had  been  rendered  so 
quarrelsome,  by  the  plentiful  draughts  of  wine 
and  ale,  that,  according  to  the  Gozette  report,  no 
less  tlian  nine  or  ten  different  battles  among 
themselves  were  at  one  time  being  fought  in  the 
adjoining  field.  But,  after  they  had  spent  their 
vinous  strength  on  the  inglorious  battle-fickl, 
they  returned  once  more  to  the  scene  of  destruc- 
tion, broke  into  tbo  laboratory,  and  dL-stroyed  the 
whole  of  the  philosophical  inatrumonts,  which, 
according  to  the  doctor's  declaration,  were  the 
most  valuable  that  any  individual  in  this  or  any 
other  country  was  ever  possessed  of.  They  then 
set  fire  to  the  whole  building;  and  in  a  few  hours 
nothing  remained  of  the  house,  oflices,  etc.,  but 
the  bare  walls.  One  man  was  killed  on  the  spot 
by  the  falling  of  a  cornice  pole.  This  brought 
Thursday's  proceedings  to  a  close ;  and  most  of 
the  rioters  remained,  sleeping,  or  in  a  state  of 
helpless  into3Lieation,  in  the  fields  around  the 
house  until  morning. 

We  return  for  a  few  moments  to  Miss  Russell's 
narrative.  After  Mr.  Russell  had  returned  home 
from  Ms  interview  with  the  rioters,  at  Fair  Hill, 
he,  with  his  own  family  and  the  refugees,  walked 
on  to  Mr,  Hawkes's.  **  Here,'*  says  Miss  Russell, 
"we  found  the  famUy  up,  and  under  great 
apprehension  j  and  here  we  soon  heard  the 
shouts  of  the  mob  at  Br,  Priestley's  liouae 
(and  I  shall  never  forget  what  dreadful  and 
hideous  shouts  they  were),  intermingled  with 
a  loud  noise  of  battering  against  the  walls, 
and  such  a  confusion  of  cries,  huzzas^  i^^c, 
as  cannot  be  imagined.  Soon  the  flamea 
burst  forth,  and  then  all  seemed  quiet  What 
were  the  emotions  of  our  mind  at  this  moment 
no  one  can  imagine,  unless  they  had  beheld 
our  countenances  and  heard  the  broken,  short 
sentences  that  formed  all  the  conversation  which 
passed  amongst  us :  yet  the  extreme  agitation  of 
OUT  minda  did  not  prevent  us  from  admiring  the 


250 


OLD  AKD  NEW  BIRMINGHAM, 


[End  of  TboniUy'tt  f 


divine  appeamnce  of  the  excellent  Dr.  Priestley. 
No  human  being  could^  in  my  opinion,  appear 
in  any  trial  more-  Kke  divine,  or  show  a  nearer 
resemblance  to  our  Saviour,  Ihan  he  did  then. 
Undaunted  he  he^ird  the  blows  which  were 
destroying  the  house  and  laboratory  that  con- 
tained all  his  valiiahl©  and  rare  apparatus  and 
their  eflfects,  which  it  had  been  tho  business  of 
his  life  to  collect  and  use.  All  this  apparatus, 
together  with  the  uses  he  hu:d  made  of  thern^  the 
laborious  exertions  of  hia  whole  life,  were  being 
destroyed  by  a  set  of  merciless,  ignorant,  lawless 
banditti,  whilst  he,  tranquil  and  serene,  walked 
up  and  down  the  road  with  a  firm  yet  gentle 
pace  that  evinced  his  entire  self-possession,  and  a 
complete  self-satisfaction  and  consciousness  which 
rendered  him  thus  firm  and  resigned  under  the 
unjust  and  cruel  persecution  of  his  enemies ;  and 
with  a  countenance  expressing  the  highest  devo- 
tion, turned  as  it  were  from  this  scene,  and 
fixed  with  pure  and  calm  resignation  on 
Him  who  suffered  the  administration  of  this 
bitter  cup.  Not  one  hasty  or  impatient  expres- 
sion, not  one  look  expressive  of  mnrmur  or 
complaint,  not  one  tear  or  sigh  escaped  him  ; 
resignation  and  a  conscious  innocence  and 
virtue  seemed  to  subdue  all  these  feelings  of 
humanity. 

**  Al>out  four  o'clock  my  father  returned  and 
informed  us  that  the  fire  had  consumed  the 
Doctor's  house,  the  mob  were  nearly  dispersed, 
half  dnink,  having  been  up  to  their  ankles  in 
wine  in  hia  cellar,  where  they  had  broke  the 
necks  off  all  the  bottles,  and  inundated  the 
cellar  with  that  portion  of  their  contents  they 
could  not  drink — that  the  fields  round  were 
now  covered  with  these  fiends  sleeping  from 
drunkenness  and  fatigue,  and  that,  as  day  was 
now  come^  he  thought  it  most  likely  they  would 


disperse  entirely,  and  that  consequently  we  migt 
return  home  again.  Accordingly  we  set  off,  an4 
never  shall  I  forget  tho  joy  with  which  I  entered'^ 
our  own  gates  once  more.  That  our  house  was 
spared  I  was  grateful  beyond  measure ;  it  seemed 
BB  an  old  dear  friend  restored  to  life  from  ft 
dangerous  disor^^ler.  I  rejoiced  also  because  it 
enal>led  us  to  afford  an  asylum  to  our  eocemplarr 
lellow-autferer." 

A  hurried  letter  waa  despatched  from  the  town, 
apparently  in  the  morning  of  each  day,  to  London j 
and^  although,  from  their  having  been  writt 
in  the  heat  of  the  strife,  they  are  necossar 
imperfect    and   inaccurate,   they  are   brief    bu 
exceedingly  graphic   journals   of  the   events 
each  day  J    we  cannot  therefore  do  better  tha 
summarise  each    day's  proceedings   by  quot 
these  letters;  taking  care,  as  far  as  possible, 
correct   their  erroni.     Un   Friday   morning   tl 
correspondent  wrote  of  the  doings  on  Thursday 
as  follows : — 

**  Ten  o'clock  in  the  Morning. — The  meeting  lit 
hotel  yestordfty,  to  celtjlirute  the  French  Rerolution, 
not  so  mimcroasly  attended  as  the  friends  to  it  c3C]keotc^ 
Eighty  gentlemen  only  dined  »t  the  hotel,  all  of  who 
departed  soon  after  five  o'clock.  The  inob,  that 
began  to  assenible  before,  now  commenced  hoatilities,  1 
breaking  all  tbo  windows  of  the  hotel  ;  and  from  th*'no 
they  paraded  to  Dr.  Priestley's  Meeting  House,  whic 
they  set  fire  to-  Another  party,  at  the  same  time,  set  1 
to  the  Old  Meeting  House;  luid  both  these  places  wert 
80011  burnt  to  the  ground.  [The  oubfide  walls  only 
the  New  Meeting  were  left  standing.]  Some  adjoinia 
houses  took  fire  by  accident,  and  were  also  consume 
[All  other  accounts  Rtate  that  the  rioters  permitted 
occupiers  of  all  the  adjoining  houses  to  extinguish  the ' 
fkmeSj  and  so  saved  tliem  from  serious  ii^ury,] 

* '  The  mob  then  went  to  Dr,  Priestley's  dwellii^ 
house,  at  Fair  Hill,  about  a  mile  and  a  half  on  this  sid 
Hirmingham,  which  they  completely  gutted,  burnt  til 
inside,  all  his  furniture,  books,  manuscripts,  and  phitd 
sQphical  apparatus,  and  drank  out  all  his  wines,  kc  They 
are  at  this  minute  pulling  the  next  house  down. 

**  The   mob   now   get  valiant,    and  swear   that  e^ajj 
Priestley *s  man  here   must  emnc  down.     In  ahort, 
whole  place  ia  in  the  utmotst  confuaiotu" 


232 


OLD  AKD  NEW   BIRMmc.IIAM, 


tTk«  •MMmd  iUy  of  tlM  iMa.| 


CHAPTKE     XXXVI, 


THE     SECOND     DAY     OF     THE     RIOTS. 


Theroign  of  terror —Wdliam  Hnttoii*a  iidTlca — AttAok  oo  BaskisTTUta  Hous»— Bpoclal  CoiuiUblrs  tworu^Coitflici  with  tlte  i 
Attick  on  Bordeaky  Hall-^WiUiitm  Bution'i  place  of  biuliieM  uckod— End  Of  FriiUy^fi  |*nH»piUu|sv. 


On  Friday  morning,  as  they  recovered  from  the 
fatigue  and  intoxication  of  the  previous  night,  dil- 
foi-ent  pajlies  of  the  rioters  returned  into  the  town, 
to  the  great  consternation  of  all  the  Inbabitnuts. 
Busme&8  was  totally  suspended,  and  all  the  shops 
closed  ;  Tivhile  on  alniogt  eveiy  door  was  I'ljalked 
the  Shibholeth  of  the  attacking  party,  "  Church 
and  King," — a  taiisman  which  failed  not  to 
secure  fur  tlie  inhabitants  au  immunity  from 
destruction  or  injury. 

The  doora  of  the  Bridewell  and  other  places  of 
continement  were  thrown  open,  and  the  moli, 
joined  by  this  reinforcement  from  tlie  dangeroxts 
clajsses,  paraded  the  streets  armed  with  bludgeons, 
ahonting  "  Church  and  King  1 " 

The  ailrighted  inhabitants  ran  hither  and 
thither  for  advice,  but  as  yet  no  active  8tei>8  had 
been  taken  to  quell  the  riot.  In  their  terror, 
many  sought  advice  of  William  Hutton,  who  was 
esteemed  for  bis  sound  wbdom  by  every  right- 
thinlting  man,  "  Aa  the  danger  admitted  of  no 
delay,"  aays  Ilutton,  "  I  gave  this  short  answer, 
— *  Apply  to  the  magistrates,  and  request  four 
things :  to  swear  in  as  many  special  constables 
as  are  willing,  and  arm  them ;  to  ai>ply  to  the 
commanding  oflicer  of  the  recruiting  parties  for 
his  assistance;  to  apply  to  Lord  Beauchamp  to 
call  out  the  militia  in  the  neighbourhood  ;  and  to 
write  to  the  Secretary -at- War  for  a  military  force.' 
What  became  of  my  four  hints  is  uncertain,  but 
the  result  proved  that  they  were  lost.'' 

In  the  course  of  the  morning  the  Earl  of 
Aylesford  arrived  at  Fail'  Hill,  (the  residence  of 
Dr,  Priestley,)  and  harrangued  what  remained  of 
the  mob  there.     He  then  brought  them  into  the 


town,  and    endeavouiHi>d    to  persuade    them 
disperse,  and  i-eturn  to  their  homes  and  occuj] 
tions ;  but  it  was  all  in  vaim     like  the  wi 
betist   who   has    tasted  blood,   they    were    na 
insiUiable.     It  was  in  vain  that  they  were  told 
thfit  having  destroyed  the  meeting  house  and  ti 
home  of  Dr.   PriesUey,    "they  had  time  don 
enough  1 "     It  was  in  vain  that  the  mag 
and  other  principfd  inhabitants  liarrangued  tlio 
in  St  Philip's  Churchyard,  beseeching  them 
desist   from  violence;   they  were   now  mad  fq 
rapine  and  plunder,  free  from  the  law,  (for  as  tli 
author  of  John  Haiiftix  says,  in  the  naiTative 
the  bread  riot  at  Norton  Bury  Mill*  the  Ian 
would  not,  at  that  time,  readily  int-erfere  on  beb 
of  dissenters,)  and  tliey  had  still  a  long  Ust 
houses  which  needed  to  be  burnt  in  houour 
**  Church  and  King/* 

At    two    o'clock    they    attacked    Daskervillii 
Houses  the  residence  of  J,  Kyland,  Esq.     Thij 
was  still  a  pleasantly  situated  mansion  ;  it  sL 
**  in  the  midst  of  a  luxuriant  meatlow/*  and  ' 
approached  by  a  lino  avenue  of  trees.    Other  tr 
surrounded  it  on  every  side;  and,  although 
near  as  to  lie  almost  wlthtn   the  town,  it  mu 
have  been  at  that  time  as  fair  a  residence  m  anjf 
on  which  the  mod  fury  of  the  rioters  fell* 

The  house  which  John  Baskerville  had  eret^t 
for  himself,  and  which  was  oven  in  its  originai 
state  a  most  commodious  dwelling,  it  was  now  macli 
more  spacious  and  elegant,  having  been  enlaigcni 
and  improved  by  Mr.  By  land,  and  was  actuallji 
"receiving  its  last  improvements,  fi'om  the  haiidl 
of  its  unoiiendiiig  possessor/'  when  it  was 
attacked  by  the  rioteiH.     They  wore  sevftful  timw 


repulsed,  aiwi,  in  one  mstiiuiMs,  the  hoxise  was 
entirely  clearwd  of  them,  by  the  mmsBisted  arm  of 
a  single  individimL  And  it  must  bo  reiuetabered 
thftt  even  the  defence  of  their  own  property  by 
the  dissenters  waa  hedged  about  with  legal 
dlSculties.  One  gentleman  asked  "  if  he  might 
arm  his  dependents  ? "  The  answer  was,  **  The 
haxttid  will  be  yours."  Again,  "Whether  he 
might  cany  a  braee  of  pistols  in  his  owu 
defence V'  **  If  you  kiH  a  man," — ^was  the  reply 
— **  you  must  be  responsible."  And  so  the  attack 
continued.  The  rioters  were  strengthened  by  a 
reinforcement,  bringing  their  number  up  to  nearly 
a  thousand ;  every  room  was  entered,  and  in  the 
cellar,  (where  were  stored  wines  to  the  value  of 
three  hundred  pounds,)  they  remained,  drinking, 
long  after  the  building  was  fired, — some  even  until 
the  roof  fell  in.  Such  a  eight,  perhaps,  has 
seldom  been  witnessed ;  the  furious  nibble, 
maddened  and  inflamed  with  drink,  cursing, 
yelling,  dying,  amid  the  blazing  ruins ;  the  scene, 
a  few  honva.  previous  so  fair  to  look  upon,  now 
blackened  and  disfigured  in  every  direction, — a 
aodne  of  desolation  without,  a  pandemonium 
within  the  housa  Seven  persons  were  burnt  to 
death  in  the  cellar,  and  when  dug  out  of  the  ruins 
were  so  mutOated  as  scarcely  to  be  recognised. 
One  poor  wretch  was  buried  in  one  of  the 
vaults,  and  was  unable  to  get  out  until  the 
foUowing  Monday,  when  he  expired,  soon  after 
hi*  release,  on  the  grass  in  front  of  the  house* 
Many  were  terribly  scorched  and  bruised,  and 
were  carried  away  to  the  hospital 

Meanwhile  the  magistrates  had  summoned  (by 
the  town  crier,)  the  more  peaceable  inhabitants  to 
jneet  in  St  Philip's  Churchyard,  and  commenced 
to  twear  tn  as  many  of  them  as  were  willing,  as 
qiecial  constables.  A  large  body  of  tliese  were 
immediately  despatched  to  BaskerviUo  House, 
wbefe  a  fierce  struggle  ensued,  the  rioters 
attacking  them  with  bludgeons  and  stones, 
and  eoou  caosed  them  to  beat  a  retreat.  One 
of  ili0  gentlemen  who  acted  as  a  special  con- 
fltabla  (Mr.  Thomas  Ashwin)   waa  so   severely 


wouniled  in  this  fight,  that  he  died  shortly 
aftt^r  wards. 

At  the  same  time,  information  having  been 
received  that  another  party  of  rioters  had  com- 
menced an  attack  on  the  house  of  Mr.  John 
Taylor,^  (Bordesley  Hall,)  a  second  detachment 
of  conatablea,  headed  by  Captain  C^arver,  repaired 
to  the  place,  and  succeeded  in  driving  out  the 
rioters,  whom  they  found  in  the  cellar,  from  the 
premises.  Having  got  possession  of  the  house, 
they  kept  the  lawless  mob  at  bay  whtle  the  title 
deeds,  writings,  etc.,  belonging  to  Isit.  Taylor, 
were  removed,  together  with  a  portion  of  the 
furniture.  But  as  evening  drew  near,  the 
attacking  party  were  joined  by  those  who  Lad  just 
left  the  ruins  of  Baskerville  House,  with  others, 
and  so  were  enabled  to  overpower  the  constables 
by  force  of  numbers.  As  a  last  resource,  Captain 
Carver  offered  the  mob  the  immediate  payment  of 
one  hundred  guineas,  but  waa  at  once  met  with 
the  cry  of  **  N'o  bnberi//'*  He  immediately  threw 
himself  int<>  the  mkht  of  them,  and  narrowly 
escaped  their  fm'y.  As  the  night  advanced,  the 
flames  appeared  through  the  roof,  and  this  fine 
mansion  waa  in  a  short  time  entirely  gutted. 

Friday's  work  of  destruction  was  brought  to  a 
close  by  an  attack  on  the  house  of  business  of 
William  Hiitton,  in  High  Sti'eet.  It  had  been 
attempted   several  times   during   the  afternoon » 

**  About  noon,"  says  Hutton,  **8ome  of  my 
friends  advised  me  *  to  Uike  care  of  my  good  a, 
for  my  house  must  come  do\\Ti.*  I  treated  the 
advice  as  ridiculous,  and  replied,  *  That  was 
their  duty,  and  the  duty  of  every  inhabitant,  fur 
my  case  was  theirs ;  I  had  only  the  power  of  an 
individuaL  Besides,  fifty  wagons  coidd  not 
have  carried  oflF  my  stock  in  trade,  exclusive  of 
the  furniture  of  my  house  ;  and  if  they  could, 
where  must  I  deposit  itT  I  sent,  however,  a 
small  quantity  of  paper  to  a  neighbour,  who 
returned  it,  and  the  whole  afterwards  fell  a  prey 
to  rapine.*' 


*  SoQ  of  the  John  l^ylor  memtioaed  tn  our  dupter  of  Btrmlng- 
liuii  Wortliin. 


234 


OLD  AND  NEW  BIBMINGHA3VI. 


[End  (it  Ftid9f\  I 


It  may  be  asked,  why  the  property  of  William 
Hntton,  a  man  honoured  and  esteemed  by  hia 
feDow-townamen,  moderate  in  hk  opinions  on  all 
subjects,  and  not  a  Unitanan^  (for  as  we  have 
previously  said,  he  attended  the  Independent 
Meeting  House  in  Carr's  J>ne,)  sliould  have  been 
singled  out  for  attack  1  Not  for  his  religious  or 
political  opinions,  certainly,  but  for  the  part  lie 
took  as  a  Commissioner  of  the  Court  of  Eequeste, 
or,  as  it  was  popularly  called,  the  C-ourt  of 
Conscience,  He  says,  in  hia  narrative,  **  Some 
gentlemen  advised  the  insurgents  assembled  in 
New  Street  to  disperse ;  when  one,  whom  I  well 
knew,  said,  *  Do  not  disperse,  they  want  to  sell 
us.  If  you  will  pull  down  Hui ton's  house,  I 
will  give  you  two  guineas  to  drink,  for  it  was 
owing  to  him  I  lost  a  cause  in  the  Court/  The 
bargain  was  struck,  and  my  building  fcIL" 

The  mob  attacked  the  house  three  or  fotir 
times,  and  were  brought  off  repeatedly,  by  William 
Hutton  him.HL'lf  first,  and  afterwards  by  his  son 
Thomas.  On  the  fourth  attack,  however,  they 
refused  all  attempts  at  conciliation.  They  entered 
the  building,  and  stripped  it  of  its  contents ;  the 
different  pieces  of  furniture  were  hoisted  to  the 
upper  windows,  and  tlien  allowed  to  fall  into  the 
street,  Ln  order  to  complete  their  destruction ;  and 
those  which  survived  the  fall  were  smashed  to 
pieces  with  bludgeons,  by  three  strong  men  who 
were  stationed  below  for  that  purpose.  As  they 
went  about  their  work  of  destruction,  they  shouted, 
'*  Dowi  with  the  Court  of  Conscience  !  "  **  No 
more  ale-scores  to  be  paid  !  *'  Church  and  King 
were  forgotten  bow  by  the  dishonest  rogues  who 
saw  in  the  riots  a  grand  opportunity  of  taking 
vengeance  upon  the  man  who  had  compelled 
them  to  pay  their  Just  debts. 

The  rioters  completed  their  work  of  destruc- 
tion at  this  house  just  before  daylight^  having 
destroyed  or  carried  away  all  the  furniture, 
the  large  stock  of  paper,  and  a  library  of 
valuable  hooks  belonging  to  Hutton's  son  Thomas. 
They  left  the  house  stripped  of  its  roof,  doors, 
chimney-pieces,  windows,   and   window   framen, 


and  were  only  deterred  from  setting  ^e  t*! 
building   itself  by   the    fear   of  injuring   th* 
adjoining  it 

The  work  of  Friday,  which  was  bpottgbt  to  a 
close  with  this  act  of  vandalL^m^  is  thus 
marised  by  the  correspondent  quoted  at  the 
of  the  last  chapter  : — 


tuA 


**FrUiaif,  July  15. — TAr^^  o'clock-  in  th^  Afternoon.-^ 
Since  mjlast,  the  foUo\iing houses  hftve  been  ptdled  dofm, 
and  the  fumitare  removed   iwd   burnt ;    riz.  :    Me«sn. 
Ryland's,  (late  Baakenrille'a,)  Humphreys',  and  Taylor*! 
All  these  gentlemen  arc  dissenters,  and  men  of  great  pn 
perty.     The  house  of  Mr.  Hamphreys,  which  i«  near  J 
Priestley 'Sf  was  admired  as  an  elegant  atructorc,  bat  no 
La  a  heap  of  ruina.  [This  is  an  error ;    Mr,  Humpkrt\ 
hous9  WOB  not  destroi/ed  until  Saturday,] 

**  Lard  Aylesford  come  into  town  this  morning,  i 
hurrangued  the  mob.     What  his  Lordship  said  app 
at  first  to  have  a  good  effect,  and  they  promised  Mm 
the  ma^trates  they  would  disperse  peaceably.     They  » 
not,  however,  keep  their  words;,  but  inereiLsed  in  nuiub 
mid  bt^came  more  riotons.     We  dread  the  night,  \ 
have  no  military  with  us. 

**  This  jnatont  a  large  party  of  gentlemen,  on  horseback, 
are  going  to  endeavour  to  save  Mr.  Eylaud'i  house,  or  Ids 
furniture  ;  but  it  is  now  known  they  are  too  late. 

**  Six  o^clock  in  the  Eveniivj,— The  rioters  being  divided 
into  two  parties,  and  mi?ditatiug  the  ileatniction  of  several 
other  houses,  about  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  coq 
stemation  and  alarm  seemed  to  have  suspersded  all  oihei 
sensations  in  the  minds  of  the  inhabitants  ;  busiuess 
given  over^  and  the  shops  were  all  shut  up.  The  inhnh 
tanta  were  traversing  the  streets  in  crowds,  not  knowin 
what  to  do,  and  horror  was  visible  in  evei-y  coiuite nance. 

"  About  half- past  three  the  inhabitanti*  were  summutie 
by  the  bell -man  to  assemble  in  the  New  Church  Yi 
[SL  Philip's].  Two  magistrates  attended  in  an  aAlja 
room,  [/A/t  Siean  Inn^  in  Bull  Strrd]  and  swore  in  itTeT\ 
hundred  constables,  composed  of  every  deacriptjon 
in  habitants,  who  marched  away  to  disperse  the  noten 
who  were  beginning  to  attack  the  house  of  Mr.  Huttoivl 
paper  merchant,  in  the  High  Street.  This  was  eaffOyl 
effected,  there  being  not  more  than  half-a-doacii  drtiAkoir| 
iKTetches  then  a«semhted  on  the  apot« 

"From  thenc*  they  proceeded  to  disperse  the  granj 
body,  who  were  employed  in  the  destniction  of  MaI 
Ky land's  house.  On  entering  the  walls  which  mrfonndl 
the  house,  then  aD  in  a  bl&xe,  a  most  dreadful  oonfliot-J 
took  place,  in  which  it  is  impossible  to  asoertain  Ui9| 
number  of  the  wounded.  The  constables  were  attacker 
with  such  a  shower  of  stones  and  brickbats  as  it  was 
possible  to  resist.  The  rioters  then  possessing  thems^lvei 
of  bludgeons,  the  constables  wore  entirely  defeated,  man/ J 
of  thsm  being  much  wounded.  One  person  was  killedrf 
but  of  which  party  it  is  not  yet  known. 

**  Eleven  o'clock  at  Night. — ^The  mob  being  now  vio»^ 
torioos,  and  heated  witli  liquor,  everything  was  dttrnM* 


&1  attempts  were  made  to  Aiuuse  them,  but  in  vain. 
'  exiicted  money  from  the  inhabitants  ;  and  at  ten 
o'clock  at  night,  they  began  and  soon  effected  the  dcstruc* 
tioD  of  Mr.  Hutton's  house,  in  the  High  Street,  plun- 
deriJig  it  of  all  ita  property, 

'•Fit)m  thecce  they  proceeded  to  the  wcAt  of  John 
Taylor,  Esq^,  baiiker,    [Th^sc  iwo  events  are  transpoaedj 


tftr  Jwti37  (f/  Mr,  Tftyhr  wa3  aUaeked  and  tUHroi/tti  before 
thai  a/  Mr.  HutUrn,]  Tliere  fire  hundred  pounda  \oXl 
other  account 5  say  one  huftdrcd]  were  ofifered  them  to 
desist,  bat  to  no  purpose,  for  they  immediately  set  fire  to 
that  beautiful  mansion,  which,  together  with  it«  superb 
furniture,  stables,  offices,  greenhouse,  hot-house,  &c.,  are 
reduced  to  a  heap  of  mins*" 


CHAPTER     XXXVII, 


THE     THIRD     DAY     OF     THE     RIOTS. 


Atteck  on  Hntt<in'i  Houm  at  Wasbwood  He*th— Cmtlierlne  Hntton*i  iwaratiTe— The  Magiatmtef  at  length  aroused-- An  eairaordUury 
ft^eal — Mr.  Humphrey's  Hease  attaekad— Miu  RuMaU's  tuUTatire—Other  ereots  of  EinturtUf. 


AfTKR  the  mob  had  sxifficiently  wieaked  their 
Tengeance  on  Mr.  Hutton's  place  of  business, 
tbey  set  off  at  early  dawn  on  Saturday  morning, 
to  his  country  residence,  at  Bennett's  Hill, 
Waabwood  Heath.  The  story  of  the  attack  on 
this  house  has  been  so  well  told  by  the  historian's 
daughter,  Catherine,  that  we  cannot  do  better 
than  give  her  narrative  entire^  —  the  more 
eapdciaJiy  aa  it  has  hitherto  been  known  only  to 
the  members  of  the  family  and  the  select  circle 
to  whom  Mra  Franks- Beiile's  private  reprint  of 
the  narrative*  has  found  its  way. 

The  first  newa  of  the  proposed  attack  on 
Mr*  Hutton'a  house  reached  hia  family  on  the 
previous  morning :  Miaa  Hutton  says  ; — 

"  On  Friday  morningt  at  seven  o'clock,  when  I 
no  more  expected  mischief  than  if  I  had  been  in 
heaven,  my  mother  came  into  my  room  and  told 
me  that  the  Old  and  Kew  Meeting  Houses  and 
Th,  Prieatley'a  houae  were  burnt  to  the  ground 
I  h«a2d  it  with  grief  and  astonishment,  but  with- 
oitt  any  alarm  for  ourselves,  who,  I  believed,  had 
ii^axed  no  one.  My  mother  added,  *  Kow  they 
a%  going  to  attack  the  houses  of  the  Dissenters,' 
I  «iw  in  a  moment  which  way  her  fears  pointed, 

*  A  K«n«iive  of  the  RkoU  Ln  BLrmingti&tii^  July.  1791.  Biriuui^- 
Wm  ;  (**  rnatrtJ  for  |inviite  cintukticm  AUioug  the  doaceodAQti  of 
ia«t*  wbe  iiiff«ie(i  izt  ihou  iron  bloui  IUdbb  . "]    S.d . 


and  I  said,  '  They  cannot  injure  us.  My  father 
was  not  at  the  dinner ;  and  though  a  Dissenter, 
he  is  a  very  moderate  man.'  *  Ah  I  *  said  my 
mother,  *  you  forget  the  Court  of  Conscience  I ' 

**My  mother  was  much  alarmed,  and  I  not 
l.>erfectly  at  ease,  though  I  endeavoured  to  comfort 
her,  tin  eleven  o'clock,  when  two  men,  atrangers 
to  us,  came  to  tell  us  that  Mr.  Ryland'a  house 
was  then  on  lire,  that  our  house  was  to  be  the 
next,  and  that  if  we  pleased,  they  would  assist  in 
removing  the  furniture  to  a  place  of  safety.  It 
was  now  time  to  act  I  employed  them  to  take 
down  valences,  and  take  to  pieces  bedsteadsi 
under  the  superintendence  of  my  mother;  I  sent 
my  keys  to  Birmingham  by  our  coachman,  with 
orders  to  the  maids  there  to  secure  the  plate, 
linen,  and  clothes,  and  I  went  myself  to  the 
houses  of  three  different  farmers  in  the  neigh- 
bourhood to  request  them  to  receive  our  goods* 
The  first  replied,  '  Ko,  Tve  no  room  here.'  The 
second  said,  *Aye,  yo  may  send  'em/  But  a 
third  joining  us,  and  saying,  ♦But  don't  you 
think  you  bayn't  in  no  danger  yourself  if  you 
take  'em  in?'  the  friendly  neighbour  said,  'Why, 
aye,  I  dayn*t  think  o'  that;  yu  moan't  send  *em,' 
It  then  ^rst  occurred  to  me  that  I  was  a  humble 
suppliant    Till  now,  I  had  imagined  that  anyotii 


236 


OLD    AND    N£W    BIRMINGHAM.      [Hatton-^  HonBe  at  Washwood  H«ith. 


who  was  not  of  the  mob  himself,  would  cheer- 
fully assist  us  to  escape  the  depredations  of  the 
mob.  The  next  man  to  whom  I  applied  allowed 
me  to  fill  his  house  and  bam. 

"We  now  repaired  each  to  his  post.  My 
mother  sent  different  aiticles  of  furniture;  Ann 

C ,  our  maid  servant,  and  our  two  assistants 

carried  them,  and  I  received  them,  till  our  neigh- 
bour would  take  no  more,  and  I  returned  home. 
I  now  packed  up  china  as  fast  as  two  persons 
could  give  me  the  different  pieces,  and  pieces  of 
paper  to  put  between  them.  My  mother's  sister, 
my  uncle's  wife,  and  a  female  neighbour,  having 
heard  of  the  misfortune  which  hung  over  our 
heads,  came  to  tender  their  services,  and  the 
latter  took  some  of  our  property,  so  that  when 
our  coachman  returned,  and  I  ordered  him  to 
drive  the  carriage  to  the  inn  at  Castle  Bromwich, 
there  was  nothing  left  to  put  in  it  except  a  carpet 
and  some  tins  and  coppers. 

**  A  farmer's  wife,  who  lived  at  the  distance  of 
a  mile  and  a  half,  dressed  herself  in  her  holiday 
clothes,  and  came  in  her  dung  cart,  with  a  party 
of  her  friends,  to  enjoy  the  spectacle  of  a  hous>5 
in  a  blaze,  and  appeared  in  some  confusion  when 
she  found  we  were  yet  in  possession  of  it,  and  she 
was  obliged  to  explain  the  motive  of  her  visit. 

"A  sudden  panic  now  seized  our  neighbour, 
and  he  insisted  upon  our  furniture  being  taken 
out  of  his  house.  My  father,  finding  liimself 
unable  to  secure  our  house  at  Birmingham,  came 
to  us  accompanied  by  ten  men,  determined  to 
defend  this,  and  the  first  service  they  were 
employed  in  was  to  bring  back  the  goods.  Ex- 
hausted by  fatigue,  disappointment,  and  fasting, 
we  sat  down  in  despair,  and  consigned  our  furni- 
ture to  the  fate  of  our  house. 

"  A  hackney  coach,  which  had  been  sent  for, 
now  stood  at  our  gate ;  my  mother  and  my  aunt 
got  into  it ;  I  spread  a  sheet  on  the  floor,  and 
having  thrown  into  it  such  of  my  mother's  clothes 
at  were  next  me,  I  carried  it  in  my  hand  and  * 
followed.  Our  maid  and  a  woman  who  had  two 
days'  employment  at  our  house  every  week,  both 


exceedingly  drunk,  attended  at  the  coach  door, 
with  a  hypocritical  whine.  The  maid  returned 
like  the  dog,  to  her  vomit ;  the  woman  to  plunder. 
A  search  warrant  has  since  found  our  new  carpet 
hidden  under  her  bed,  and  some  earthenware  and 
kettles  in  her  cottage.  I  might  here  add  that  our 
coachman,  by  whom  I  had  sent  the  keys  to  Bir- 
mingham, never  delivered  them,  and  stood  by 
while  the  maids  there  broke  open  the  drawers, 
though  he  had  the  keys  in  his  pocket 

"  Our  day  had  not  been  distinguished  by  the 
common  divisions  of  dinner-time  and  tea-tim& 
We  had  known  no  hour ;  we  had  tasted  no  food ; 
I  was  suri)rised  when  I  saw  the  sun  near  its 
setting,  and  it  was  nine  o'clock  when  we  arrived 
at  the  house  of  my  aunt's  son,  with  whom  she 
lives.     There  we  tried  to  eat,  and  could  not 

"  From  hence  we  despatched  a  messenger  into 
High  Street,  to  bring  us  tidings  of  the  state  of 
our  house.  These  were  that  the  doors  were  fast, 
the  windows  were  broken,  and  a  mob  was  assem- 
bled before  it,  who  said  that  they  would  not  bum 
the  house  on  account  of  the  adjoining  houses. 
Our  next  intelligence  was,  that  a  panel  of  the 
door  was  broken ;  and  the  next  that  the  mob  had 
entered ;  paper  was  being  thrown  out  of  the 
drawing-room  windows ;  and  women  were  carry- 
ing out  aprons'  full  of  our  property.  This  was  a 
dreadful  moment  indeed.  I  thought  I  should 
sink  upon  the  floor ;  but  I  recollected  that  I  had 
a  mother,  and,  instead  of  giving  way  to  despair, 
I  ran  to  comfort  her. 

"  At  one  o'clock  in  the  morning  we  were  joined 
by  my  father  and  my  brother.  My  father's  men 
had  become  intoxicated  and  refractory,  and  he 
had  been  obliged  to  abandon  the  house  at 
Bennett's  Hill.  Between  three  and  four  o'clock 
we  all  retired  to  bed,  but  not  to  sleep.  Between 
five  and  six  my  aunt  came  into  the  room  in  which 
my  mother  and  I  were  lying,  and  told  us  that  she 
had  been  in  High  Street,  where  the  mob  were 
still  employed;  that  drawers,  waTdrobee,  and 
clothes  were  being  thrown  out  of  the  windows^ 
and  (prints  being  trampled  in  the  Btreet     She 


9  of  Bttttu&'t  Pam%.) 


OLD   AKD    KEW   BUailNGHAM. 


237 


tliat  my  father's  life  was  thi-oatonod,  I 
instantly  and  went  intii  hk  room,  when  I 
»ancl  him  dressed  and  ait  ting  on  a  cliair.  I  told 
im  what  T  had  he^rd,  and  begged  he  would  let 
Se  order  a  post  chaise  to  take  us  to  Sutton,  a 
Diall  town  about  sevon  niile^i  distant,  for  I  had 
iow  only  one  object  in  view,  which  was  to  save 
Biy  fatlien  With  great  difficulty  he  consented, 
id  at  seven  o^cknik,  Le,  my  mother,  and  myself, 
seated  in  the  diaise.  We  placed  ouiselvea 
much  as  possible  before  my  father,  and  en- 
voured  to  hide  him  m  if  he  were  flying  from 
ice,  while  he  wa«  most  indignant.  *Whatj* 
id  he,  *  have  I  been  giving  my  time  and  my  best 
ices  to  the  town,  without  fee  or  reward,  to 
tilk  from  it  like  a  malefactor  I     Let  me  go  and 

le  mob,  and  aet  them  at  defiance  I  * 

'^Our  prayers  and  entreaties,  in  some  measure, 

limed    my  father,  and  we   breakfasted  at  the 

tree  Tuns,  at  Sutton,  not  having  eaten  anything 

face  break  fa.<t  the  day  before.     After  breakfast  I 

it   out  lodging   bunting,  and  I  engaged,   at  a 

Htchers,  a  parlour,  just  decent,  and  a  bedroom 

tr  from  it — being  open  to  the  stairs  and  rc»of, 

id    containing   two   tattered,   moth-eaten  stufl' 

Is,     I    then   went   to   purchsiae  musHu   for  a 

UUcap,  otherwiae  my  pocket  handkerchief  muat 

boon  the  substitute,  as  it  had  been  the  night 

I  now  seated  myself  with  my  father  and 

ither,  and  we  reflected  more  at  leisure  on  our 

^fortimes. 

In  the  early  part  of  the  evening  my  brother 

seen  a  mob  advancing  to  attack  our  house  in 

ingham,  and  he  had  gone  out  to  meet  them, 

en  a  bludgeon  was  raised  to  knock  him  down, 

4  he  woidd  probably  have  been  killed  had  not 

Imtcher  arrested  the  uplifted  arm,  and  cried, 

n  you,  don't  you  know  he's  Church  and 

iigf   I  went  to  school  with  him  !'  My  brother 

m  ttprrjscnted  to  the  people  that  they  niight  he 

icli  more  worthily  employed  in  rescuing  the 

Dperty  of  Mr.  Taylor,  of  Bordcslcy,  whose  house 

then  beset  by  another  fwuty  of  rioters,  than 

dettTtiyingJthe  hou£i»  belonging  to  him 


never  ofl'ended  them.  Mob  as  they  were,  for  a 
moment  they  listened  to  reastju,  and  from  their 
intended  victim,  vaj  brother  became  their  hero. 
They  placed  him  at  their  head,  and  with  a  fiddle 
playing  before  him,  they  marched  to  Bordcsley; 
but  the  moment  they  saw  their  ftllow-mob 
engaged  in  the  fascinating  work  of  destruc- 
tion, they  deserted  their  leader,  and  Joined  the 
destroyers, 

"  My  brother  employed  and  assisted  some  spec- 
tators of  a  better  sort  to  deposit  Mr*  Taylor's 
property  in  the  neighbouring  houses,  till  they 
would  take  no  more ;  he  then  i-e turned,  alone, 
towards  our  house  in  Birmingham.  In  a  short 
time  he  saw  Hying  feather's,  but  whetlier  from  our 
beds  he  knew  not ;  in  iJigbeth  ho  saw  one  of  our 
drawing-room  chairs,  which  put  the  matter  out  of 
doubt.  At  the  door  of  Mr.  CarlcRS,  a  respectable 
druggist,  who  lives  near  our  house,  he  saw  a 
bundle  of  wTiting  paper,  worth  about  five  pounds, 
standing  in  the  street.  He  took  it  up,  and  re- 
quested Mr.  Carlesa  to  allow  him  to  deposit  it  in 
his  bouse,  Tliis  ^Ir.  Carless  refused ;  and  the 
paper  was  left  in  the  street  and  destroyed.  Ex- 
hausted with  fatigutj  and  thirst,  my  brother  heggc«i 
for  a  draught  of  water,  and  this  Mr.  Carless  also 
refused.  My  brother's  last  refjuest— and  I  wonder 
how  he  had  the  courage  to  make  it — ^was  for  leave 
to  pass  through  Mr,  Carless*s  house,  in  order  to 
avoid  the  rioters  assembled  before  ours ;  this  was, 
of  course,  refused,  and  my  brother  happily  made 
his  way  through  the  mob  undiscovered,  while 
they  were  throwing  furniture  from  the  windows 
into  the  street  He  now  joined  us,  at  twelve 
oV'lock,  at  Sutton,  Ho  told  us  that  the  destruc- 
tion of  our  house  at  Birnvingham  was  completed, 
hut  that  the  neighbours  had  prevented  its  being 
set  on  fire,  for  fear  of  injury  to  themselves ;  that 
a  party  of  rioters  had  attacked  the  house  at 
Bennett's  Hill  at  four  o^clock  in  the  morning,  and 
my  unde  had  prevailed  upon  them  to  desist,  by 
giving  them  ale  at  the  village ;  that  another  party 
had  a}>peai*ed  at  seven  o'clock,  and  had  reduced 
the  whole  of  the  buildingfl  to  ashes.     He  added 


2,^8 


OLD  AND  NEW   BIRMmGHAM.     mmm^kmrt'miAi 


a*t  0A 


that  it  was  uo  longer  safe  for  Mm  to  remain  m 
Binningliam. 

"  The  mischief  was  now  completed,  and  we  en- 
couraged each  other  to  bear  it.  I  had  lost  all  I 
had  collected,  all  that  I  had  possessed  ;  but  1 
looked  round  me  and  saw  my  father^  mother,  and 
brother,  and  I  was  linK  I  had  been  drlveJi  from 
two  good  homes ;  but  I  saw,  in  imagination,  my 
mother  and  myself  settled  in  our  humble  lodg- 
ings, my  father  visiting  iie  every  week,  my  brother 
occasionally,  and  I  was  content" 

Another  party,  later  in  the  morning,  attficked 
the  house  of  Mr.  George  Humphreys^  at  Spark- 
brook,  where  the  riotenj  were  kept  off  for  some 
time,  but  they  at  length  entered  and  ransacked  it, 
but  did  not  bum  it. 

Meanwhile  the  magistrates,  brought  at  length 
to  see  the  danger  to  the  town  in  general  of  the 
riots  continuing  any  longer,  isaued,  on  Saturday 
morning,  the  following  address  : — 

Binningham,  Jtijy  16th.  1791.— JVi>w/i«  and  Fdlmf}- 
Connfrffmen^ — It  is  earnestly  requested  that  every  True 
Friend  to  the  Church  of  England,  mid  to  the  Lawa  of  hia 
Country,  will  rt'flf?ct  how  mu«  h  a  continuance  of  the 
Present  Procceding§  roast  injure  that  f'hnreh  and  that 
King  they  are  intended  to  au|iiK>rt  ;  and  how  highly 
Tnlawful  it  ie  to  destroy  the  Rights  and  ProjMjrty  of  uny 
of  our  Noighbonrs.  And  all  True  Friendg  to  the  Town 
■ad  Trade  of  Birmingham,  in  particuar,  arc  In  treated 
to  Forbear  immediately  from  all  Riotous  and  Violent 
Proceedings  ;  dispemng  and  returning  peaceably  to  their 
Trnd<?s  and  Callings,  as  the  only  Way  to  do  Credit  to 
themselves  and  their  Cause,  and  to  promote  the  Peace* 
Happineiiar  and  Prosperity  of  this  Great  and  Flourishing 
Town. 

The  "  Tme  Frienda  to  the  Church  of  England 
and  to  the  Laws  of  their  Countr}^ "  did  not, 
howeverj  regard  this  extraordinary  entreaty  to 
"  do  credit  to  themselves"  by  "  letuming  peace- 
ably to  their  trades  and  callings,"  but  proceeded 
at  once  from  ^Ir.  Iluiiiplireys*  to  Sbowell  Green, 
the  residence  of  Mr,  William  KusselL 

The  newB  of  the  intended  attack  upon  their 
house  had  reached  the  Ruseell  family  on  the  first 
night  of  the  riota.  "On  that  evening/' — says 
Miflfl  Russell,  in  the  narrative  previoualy  refeiTod 
tO| — "we  walked  up   and  down   the  foot-road 


leading  to  town  in  a  dreadful  fltat^  of  &usp 
and  appreljension,  clcurly  discerning  the  Erie  ] 
the  two  Meeting-houses,  and  diBtincUy  hearing 
the  abouts  of  the  mob.     At  1*  ^  dftter  and 

I  (our  fears  every  minute  sti  .„:  .      ng)  alj|i 
awajt  and,  hastily  [Hitting  all  our  plate  intol 
trunk  without  even  lucking  the  trunk,  beeatliiej 
our  haste  we  could  not  tind  the  key,  aeai  il  | 
two  of  our  servants  to  a  neighbours.'* 

We  have  already  told^  (from  Miaa  fiu&sell's 
narrative)  how  they  watched  the  burning  of 
Dr.  Prie&tley^s  house,  and  how,  when  that  was 
over,  and  the  rioters  were  believed  to  have 
diepereed,  they  returned  to  their  homi^  rejoic 
that  it  was  spared,  and  that  they  were 
enabled  to  oiler  a  shelter  to  Dr.  and  Mna.  Friestl^ 

**0n    entering  that  house,*'    continues 
Russell,    **  thas    so   inexi>re8§ibly   and  strong 
endeared  to  us,  we  l>egan  to  think  of  rest 
room  was  prepared  for  the  Doctor  and  Mn. 
We   all   lonke<l  nnd    felt  all  gratitude ;  but 
Doctor  appeared  the  happiest  amongst  us.     Jn 
as   he  was   going  to  rest,  expreBstng  his  tha 
fulness  in  being  permitted  to  he  down  again  ; 
peace  and  comfort,  my  father  retimed  from  ¥d 
Hill,  and  brought  the  sad  intelligence  that  th^ 
were   collecting   again,  and   their  tliteata  wei 
more  violent  than  ever — that  they  swore  t^  find  ] 
P»    and    take    his   life.      The   chaise    was    noH 
ordered    with    all    speed,   and    instead   of   th« 
much-desired  rest,  the  Doctor  and  Mrai  P.  vert 
obliged  to  dress  again  and  get  into  it,  scarecljj 

knowing  wMther  to  go,      Mr*  R [RyL 

accompanied   them,   and   it   was   thought    mo*t 
advisable   to   take   a   by-road   to    Heath,   whafl 
Mi^,   Finch,   the  Doctor*s  daughter,   lived,  nu^ 
Dudley.      Thus  suddenly   were    our    piofpoclj 
changed  t    We   now  set  to  packing  our  bodi 
furniture  of  all  sorts,  and  clotheBi  d:c.     Th 
neighbourhood    had    by    thia    tuna  become 
alarmed   for  ua,   and   our   poor  neighbours  for" 
miles  round  were  coming  ail  th^:mgh  the  daf« 
requesting  to  assist  us  in  packiog,  and  to  cmf 
some  of  our  things  to  their  cottages^  in  order  to 


i>40 


(*LD   AND   NEW    lilKMlJSGUAM. 


{Ulm  RiiMttll'ft  Xftfniti«t. 


flecTire  them  for  U3»  Our  house  was  lilletl  witli 
people  from  top  to  bottom,  some  packing  one 
thing,  some  another;  aorae  hiding  things  about 
our  own  promises,  others  taking  them  to  a  bam 
fixed  upon  as  a  place  of  eafoty  and  secresy, 
and  others  again  to  their  own  ho  ma**,  and  thus 
endangering  theniselTes  by  ft  risk  of  their  being 
«lis<  overed,  an<l  sulferingj  in  c!on^quence,  from  tlie 
blind  fury  nf  the  mob.  These  honest  cretttures 
bemdled  our  haixl  and  undeserved  lot  much 
more  than  wo  did  ourselves,  tliough  they  did 
nut  fiL*cil  it  80  mueh ;  and  all  of  them  voluntarily 
laboured  and  exerted  themselves  as  much  as  if 
their  own  lives  dejiended  upon  the  saving  our 
goods.  By  ten  o'clock  our  house  was  nearly 
stripped,   and  its  furuituro    scattered   about  the 

co^intry.      AVe  now  ran  ovar  to  Mrs,  B % 

there  took  brmth  a  little,  and  at  her  rt?qtiest 
some  refreshment,  and  her  affectionate  solicitude 
Ciiused  us  the  relief  and  luxuiy  of  shedding  te^rs, 
wbich  agitation,  hurry,  and  fatigue  had  hitherto 
prevented.  Soon,  however,  did  we  return  home, 
desirous  to  remain  there  as  long  as  posssible. 
Parties  of  the  mob  were  constantly  coming  to 
the  gates,  but  persons  were  stationed  there  to 
appea.'se  and  send  them  awa}^  We  now  heard 
timt  they  were  gone  through  the  town  to  Mr. 

J R^ 's   [Ryland,   Easy    Hill],  and   this 

again  gave  us  hope  that  our  house  j night  be 
spared ;  but  my  father  much  urged  my  brother, 
sister,  and  me  to  leave,  and  recommended  our 
going  to  a  neighbours,  who  lived  in  a  retired 
spot  about  half  a  mile  olll  He  wished  himself 
to  remain  at  the  house  as  long  as  possible. 
Accordingly,  wo  loaded  ourselves  with  cold 
meat,  pies,  &c.,  and  set  off,  intending  to  take 
up  our  quarters  there  till  all  was  over,  thinking 
we  Hhould  bo  near  to  hear  how  tilings  went,  and 
could  profit  by  circumstances  as  they  arosa  As 
we  passed  across  the  fields  we  were  alarmed  by 
parties  of  men  in  their  shirt  sleeves,  without 
hats,  all  half  drunk ;  they  were  breaking  tlie 
boughs  from  the  trees  and  hedges,  shouting, 
laughing,   swearing,   and   singing   in   a    manner 


that  seemed  hideous  beyond  expression.     jUterl 
much    alarm    and    frequently    hiding    ourselves j 
behind  the  hedges  and  trees,  we  at  lengUi  amv 
at  the  place  of  our  destination.     We  found  otif| 

good  neighbour  Mrs.  G, very  ready  to  receivg 

ns^  though  we    haii    never  boen  upon  anytli 
of  a  sociable  footing  with  her.     Her  houf^o  was  &1 
superior  sort  nf  cottage,  and  here  we  hoped  to  findj 
an  asylum  till  the  storm   was  overblown.     Myl 
father  came  and  dined  with  tia;  he  seemed  full  of 
hope  that  our  house  woidd  escape,  but  was  morl 
dL* tressed  at  not  being  able  to  get  any  comuiUniJ 
cation  with  his  friends  at  Binninghura..     Hn  had 
sent  several  notes  lo  my  uncle  ami  other  frienda 
as  well  as  to  the  magistrates,  but  could  get  nd 
answer.     After  dinner  he  went  to  town  himscifj 
having  left  the  necessary  directions  for  protecting 
the  houss ;    in  the  evening  he  rcturne*!  to  ua,"^ 
mtich  hurt  at  the  behaviour  of  the  magistrate 
and  told  m  he  could  no  longer  think  us  saf^ 
there,  but  wished  ua  to  go  to  the  house  of  B- 

C [B.  Cox,  at  Warstock],  an  old  servant^ 

who  lived  about  five  miles  off,  situate  in  a  very 
obscure  place ;  and  as  no  time  was  to  be  lost|  hd 
requested  we  would  sot  out  on  foot,  whilst  bfl{ 
went  home  and  sent  the  coach  after  us ;  for  tljen 
aU  our  servants  remained  lo  take  what  care  the^ 
could  of  what  was  left.  Now  the  f emalea  j&U  le 
it,  the  cook  excepted,  who  remained  to  the  ! 
and  showed  a  degree  of  courage  and  spirit 
astonished  all  who   saw   it.      Walking   up  tb 

common,   wo  passed    Mr-    A 's,    [And«rtoQ 

Moaeiey  Wake  Green],  n  neighbour  with  whoa 
we  had  been  upon  friendly  terms,  but  who  was  < 
the  Church-and-King  party,  and  had  refused  1 
shelter  a  wagondoad  of  our  goods  in  his  ban 
saying,  he  did  not  choose  to  risk  his  bam  to  sav 
them ;  thus  letting  his  poor  illiterate  neigbbou 
outdo  him  in  re^  friendship  itnd  charity.  As  w< 
passed,  he,  with  Mrs.  A.,  &a»  woro  on  Uie  lawq 
and  they  had  the  assurance  to  accont  tts 
express  sorrow  for  our  trouble.  We  receivtid  thel 
compliment  with  coolness,  and  pursued  our  wa| 
The  carriage  overtook  us  when  we  hod  pr 


I  RtiM«ll*a  srirrvtlre  | 


OLD   AND   NEW   BlIUIINGHAM. 


241 


ftbout  two  milee,  and  my  father  with  it     The 
erening  was  far  advanced  when'  we  arrived  at 

K  C. 'a,  and  on  alighting  we  found  even  tliis 

obsctim  farm-hotiae  had  been  threatened,  because 
iiwm  had  been  throtigh  the  summer  scmietliing  of 
H  Han«iay  evening*a  lecture  held  there»  and  alsu 
becanstj  it  was  reported  some  of  our  goods  were 
eoUectetl  here.  It  was  true,  that  two  wagon 
Ioad«  liad  been  sent*  but  they  had  been  removi'd 
further  up  tbe  country.  The  carriage  was  left 
here ;  tbe  eoaehmau  returned  on  one  of  the  horses, 
B.  C.  on  the  other — the  former  to  strengtlM^n 
guard  at  our  hounei  the  latt**r  to  return  in  ii 
short  time  and  bring  ua  information  of  the  state 
of  things.  Mrs.  C,  formerly  a  servant  iu  our 
family,  as  well  as  her  husband,  wa3  sincerely 
rejoiced  to  see  ud,  and  to  have  her  house  afford  u^ 
an  asylum.  We  took  possedsion  of  an  inner 
jiarlour,  and  minint  to  remain  there  concealed 
from  any  ticjgb hours  who  might  enter.  A  faithful 
iJtilL*  dog,  who  liad  accompanied  us  almost  with- 
out our  kn<iwledg<\  se<^mod  to  bo  sensible  of  our 
plan,  for  ht^  fiUitionod  himself  at  tins  parlour  duor 
abnoAt  lu  soon  ns  we  entered  it,  and  when  any 
jierson  ctimu  near  barked  most  violently  j  he  soon 
got  familiar  with  the  different  members  of  the 
family,  and  would  suffer  them  to  pass  and  repa^v-j 
qiuetly,  but  was  really  furious  if  any  stranger 
entered  the  house  and  approached  at  all  near  the 
door;  and  this  he  continued  all  the  time  we 
nsmained  here.  At  one  o'clock  in  the  morning 
B,  C  returned,  but  the  account  he  brought  only 
increased  our  fears;  the  natter  seemed  to  be 
without  tsnd,  Mr,  Ry laud's  house  was  guttal  and 
set  (ire  t#j ;  also  Mr  Button's  [historian  of  BiF- 
mingham],  and  the  mob  were  then  at  Mr.  Taylor's 
[Bordesley  Hall],  where  they  were  committing 
thc>  most  inliuman  deptedatioiis.  ^fy  father  now 
tllQQgbi  it  right  to  go  again  himself  and  try  if  the 
mgistrmlea  oould  not  by  some  means  be  persuaded 
to  set  We  did  what  we  could  to  dissuade  him 
frfwn  it,  not  now  fearing  for  anything  so  much  as 
bis  sailnty,  azid  ns  there  is  na  answering  for  %hp. 
fmj  of  m  Biobv  and  some  envious,  malicious  spirits 


had,  we  knew,  spared  no  pains  to  inflame  them 
against  my  father,  our  apprehensions  for  him 
when  absent  from  us  were  cruel,  for  we  were  well 
aware  that  his  active  and  bold  daring  spirit  might 
lefi<l  him  into  danger  before  he  was  sensible  of  it 
This  wo  represented  to  him,  and  urged  liinj  as 
much  fls  we  could  to  remain  in  safety  with  us,  but 
all  iu  vain  ;  go  he  wouhl,  promising  to  return 
soon.  We  did  not  think  of  going  to  bed,  or  even 
taking  off  our  clothes,  through  the  night,  tlkiugh 
this  was  the  second  we  had  passed  in  this  stale. 
To  think  of  sleep  or  quiet  was  impossible  in  oUr 
state  of  mind,  and  all  about  us  in  the  same  state 
of  agitation  with  ourselves.  Things  had  gone  so 
far,  and  werfT  come  to  such  a  heigh t^  that  the 
gonoral  security  seemed  in  danger,  pillage  appeared 
the  onler  of  the  day,  and  all  parties  now  most 
likely  would  be  involved*  There  was  continual 
coming  and  going  to  this  house,  and  we  were 
tf>rmented  by  a  thousand  reports,  all  mid,  all 
distressing;  which  of  them  to  believe  we  could 
not  divine,  and  therefore  suffei^d  more  or  less 
from  them  all. 

"The  next  morning,  Saturday,  about  ten  oVloek, 

our  friend  and  neighbour  Sarah  8 [Mnk  John 

Kyland]  came  on  foot  and  alune  ;  she  had  left  her 
brother  and  sister  with  their  cliildren  at  a  house 
on  the  common,  and  strolleil  hither  hei-self  for 
want  of  accommodation  there.  Mr.  H*  had  left 
his  house,  having  lieard  it  was  on  the  list  of  those 
to  be  pulled  down.  From  8,  S.  [S.  Smith]  we 
heanl  many  sad  reports;  the  town  and  country 
was  all  under  the  greatest  alarm,  and  all  onler 
and  subonlination  seemed  at  an  end.  We  receive*! 
every  now  and  then  accounts  that  parties  of  ttte 
mob  were  on  the  road  ;  sometimes  they  were  said 
to  be  very  near,  coming  to  demolish  the  house  we 
were  in ;  at  others  they  were  going  to  Kings  wood 
Meeting-house,  about  two  miles  from  us*  About 
twelve  o'clock  in  ths  day  poor  Mrs,  H,  [Hobsonl 
came^  such  a  picture  of  fatigue  and  distress  as  I 
never  saw  before — a  delicate  little  woman,  without 
hat  or  doak,  in  her  nightcap,  with  a  child  on  one 
arm  and  a  large  bundle  under  the  other ;  she  came 


242 


OLD   AND   NEW   BIRMINGHAM. 


miM  Hiiswir»  NftmUv*. 


in  almost  breathless,  threvir  bersBlf  on  a  cliair  and 
nearly  famtod.  It  wiis  a  long  time  before  she 
could  speak ;  at  length  we  loanied  from  her  that 
Mr.  IL  [Kov.  Mr.  Hobson,  niinbter  of  Kingswond 
Mecting'housc]  had  gone  off  in  disguise,  and  that 
she  hurried  from  her  house,  having  had  infor- 
mation that  the  mob  were  very  near.  It  waa  now 
near  twelve  hours  since  my  father  had  left  us. 
This  was,  sure,  the  longest  morning  I  ever  knew  ; 
we  were  strolling  about  the  fields,  listening  to 
every  sound  that  rose  upon  our  ears,  and  with  all 
the  anxiety  imaginable  eyeing  every  person  who 
appeared ;  and  every  noise  wo  heard,  every 
creature  wo  saw,  gave  rise  to  a  thousand  thoughts 
and  surmises.  About  one  o'clock  Mr.  T^  L — *8 
[T.  Le^,  attorney]  family  arrived  ;  they  fled  here 
for  siifety,  and  brought,  like  nil  others,  the 
most  alamiing  accountii. 

**  About  two  o'clock,  to  our  in  expressible  joy,  my 
father  returned,  but  so  changed  by  fatigue  and  alarm 
that  bis  countenance  was  not  at  all  like  the  same, 
lie  had  been  at  Birmingliam,  trying  to  rouse  the 
magistrates  to  exertion,  and  had  met  with  such 
indilTerence  from  t bom  as  in  tlie  present  state  of 
thinga  seemed  almost  iiicrodible  and  quite  un- 
natural. His  friends  wore  all  dispemed,  he 
could  find  none  of  them^  a  general  panic  had 
scattered  tliem,  and  nothing  was  to  be  dune  but 
to  submit  Having  been  thus  disap pointed  at 
Birmingham,  and  finding  it  was  impossible  for 
him  alone  to  do  any  things  he  had  returned  home 
again,  and  remained  there  defending  the  house 
against  parties  of  the  mob  who  were  continually 
coming  to  assault  it,  till,  after  liaving  long  d  is- 
regarded  the  urgent  entreaties  of  the  servants  and 
the  friends  there  to  leave,  from  their  lively  appi^- 
hemions  for  hi*^  safety,  he  waa  obliged  to  yield 
to  them  on  receiving  a  message  from  a  very 
respectable  gentleman  of  the  other  party,  who 
sent  a  friend  privately  to  request  of  my  father,  if 
he  valued  his  life,  to  quit  his  house  and  secrete 
himself,  for  the  fury  of  the  mob  had  become  quite 
ungovernable.  Ho  now,  therefore,  thought  it  his 
duty  to  resign  his  premises  to  their  fate,  and  save 


himself.     About  seven  o'cloik  m  nie  evening,  we  i 
perceived  a  cdoud  of  smoke  arise  from  that  quarter  I 
which  almost  amounted  to  a  certainty  with  us 
be  our  house  in   flamea     Henc6f    we  snppoeevl 
sprung  the  reason  of  the  coachman's  delAV.    NowJ 
a  sort  of  melancholy  filled  our  bosoms,  hithorto| 
torn  by  lively  and  different  apprehension*.     To 
contemplate  the  awful  cfdumns  of  smoke  ascendJ 
ing   from   that   beloved  mansion   whore    1   ImiJ 
passed   all   my   days   in  a  calm,  vircuoiiis  and 
happy  tranquillity,  where  all  my  pleasure  seeme^ 
to  centre,  and  where  alone  I  felt  as  if  happinta 
could  be  tasted,   pierced  me   to    the  aoal ; 
seemed  as  if  a  dear  friend  was  expiring  before  m« 
in  whom  my  happiness  centred.     My  whole  souli 
was  moved  and  distreesocj,   but   the  luxury 
tears  was  denied  :  spent  and  exhausted,  my  fi^ 
ings,  though  not  violent,  were  acute  and  quiet 

In  this  state  we  continued,  hioking  towa 
the  smoke,  and  wandering  up  and  down  th 
garden,  till  tea  o'clock,  till  all  of  a  sudden  tli 
drfvidfid  shouts  of  the  mob  assailed  our  eara,  and 
almost  at  the  same  instant  two  women  camij 
running  as  if  for  their  lives,  and  quite  out  o(| 
breath  ;  they  begged  us  for  C)od*s  sake  to 
away,  for  that  the  mob  were  coming,  they  would 
be  there  immediately,  and  their  fury  was 
governable.  Svich  a  scene  of  confusion  noi! 
followeri  as  cannot  be  told ;  all  ran  about  a;* 
not  knowing  what  to  do  or  where  to  go ;  thefl 
were  seven  or  eight  young  children  [among  whoB 
one  waa  T.  Eyre  Lee,  attorney,  Birmingham]  int 
house  ;  some  were  wrui»ped  up  in  blankeis,  otheu 
taken  from  tlieir  boda  as  they  were  ;  all  ran  OQ 
of  the  house,  but  knew  not  whither  to  turn  the 
steps. 

•*  We  arrived  safe  at  Mr.  G 's  [Gmivee] 

and  lie  not  being  arrived  with  the  chaise,  wi>  tool 
some  refreshment  offered  us  by  the  good  ladj 
and  at  her  earnest  re^^uest  went  up  stairs  to  gel  i 
little  repose,  Hvr^  a  curious  scents  pri!S«il< 
itself :  we  three  Wlies  were  shown  into  a  nwij 
with  four  beds  in  all,  and  all  but  one,  whet! 
occupied  by  men  or  women  we  did  not  know ; 


(rlaf«r*«lMt<Aelej,l 


OLD   AJO)   NEW  BIRMLNGHA^^L 


243 


mt  thti  loud  nnaal  concert,  an*\  the  different  notes 

t  which  it  was  cotupodo<l,  seeme«l  to  indicate 

lotit     We  woro  amused  at  our  situation,  and 

islt  sufficiently  at  ease  to  laugh  at  it.     We  lay 

[own  upon  tlio  bed,  and  our  faithful  little  dog 

ly  the  *ide  ;  but  the  room  was  suflfocatingly  hot, 

,nd  the  number  of  persons  in  it  made  the  air 

ery  oppressive  ;  this,   together  with  the  mu^io 

hat   assailed   our  ears^   anil   a   nitx^t   numerous 

twarm  of  fleHs,  which  attackc^i  us  all,  kepi  rest 

il  even  nuiet  at  a  distance/' 

From  the  huuBe  of  Mr.   William  KilsscU  tlie 

ii»tt*r8  went  to  those  of  ^Ir.  Thomas  Uussell  and 

Ir.   H«wke-»,  at    ^[oeeley  Wake  Gr«en.     Theae 

ipy  attacked  and  plundered,   but  did  not  Inirn 

hem.     They  next  repatreil  to  Moselej  Hidi,  the 

iroptsrty  of  Mr.  John  Taylor,  where  resided  the 

blind  and  inHrni  Ludy  Carliampton,  th»^  mother 

Hf  the  Duchess  of  Cumberland.     One  would  have 

mpposud  that  even  the  hard  hearts  of  the  lawless 

nob  would  have  been  softend  in  the  presence  of 

In  inlirm  and  aged  lady,  allied  moreover  to  the 

Ihrone  th<Ly  profe^ed  to  honour;  but  slie  lived 

a  a  house  belonging  to  a  Dissenter,  and,  thore- 

fore,  blind  and   enfeebled  with  age   though  she 

ira«,  8h<i  mui*t  at  once  leave  the  place,  to  escape 

Ibntestntion,     Tho  only  favour  shown  to  her  by 

Jift   rioter*  wa«  to  permit  her  furniture   to  be 

removed  from  t)»e  house  previous  to  their  attack  ; 

|lid»   wh^n    this  was    done,   (Lady  Carhampton 

bring  boen  conveyed  by  l^ir  Robert  Lawley  to 

Cfinvvcll)  the  hall  wns  sot  fire  to,  together  with 

l«  orticej*,  dtables^  and  hay -stacks.     At  the  same 

hne  ftttAcks  weitJ  niatle  upon  tlie  hoose  of  Mr. 

J^rwood,  not   very  far  distant,  and  that  of  the 

lev.  Mn  HolisoH,  a  Dissenting  minister,  on  the 

itcMiefey  Roa<l,  and   the  thi-ee  bvtiidings  were  all 

dozing  at  tlie  same  time. 

"  The  terrtjr  and  distress,"  sa)'8  the  Oazeffe, 
'wtiteh  ptrvadfd  the  whole  town  on  Saturday, 
rliiio  ihejsrt  drendful  secues  were  acting,  will  be 
Btt<?r  ccmceived  than  doicribed.  The  magistrates 
led  every  means  of  jjersuasion,  to  no  effect  j 
tills  were  stuc^k  up,  retj^uesting  all  persons 


to  return  to  their  respective  homos,  to  no  purpose. 
Nothing  certain  was  known  respecting  the 
approach  of  the  military,  ami  numbers  of  tlie 
rioters,  now  joined  by  thieves  and  drunken  pros- 
titutes, from  evcTj  (quarter,  were,  with  blue 
cockades  in  their  huts,  in  all  parts  of  the  town, 
and  in  small  bodies,  levying  contributions  on  the 
inhabitants.  There  was  scarcely  a  housekeeper 
that  dared  refuse  them  meat,  drink,  money,  or 
whatever  they  demanded.  The  sliops  were  mostly 
shut,  busineiis  nearly  at  a  stand,  and  everybody 
employed  in  secreting  or  nsmoving  their  valuables. 
Very  hapi>ily,  however,  the  body  of  the  rioter>, 
overcome  with  litjuor  and  fntigup,  lay  fill  the  night 
in  the  fields,  rnuiid  their  confliignitions  in  \hi* 
country,  and  did  not  come  into  the  town.** 

We  conclude  the  narrative  of  this  day's 
proceeding:^,  as  in  pitjvious  cases,  with  the  old 
correspond  lent 'a  siunmar}*  :-- 

**/?i>»i»«{^A-rfm,  SfUurdaift  July  10, — In  tho  forenoon, 
the  following  h:ind»bill  w«8  difitributt'd  :  [The  hand-bill 
oireenly  ^pioti^d  on  fui^^r!  238.] 

'*  Tw'*hr  o'c/(M*k  al  Xoon. — The  hnmldiill  Ims  not  pro- 
liwred  tlie  .salutary  tsllVcU  wlnrh  were  nisli<*tl. 

"This  moment  Mi\  Hntton's  <'ouiitry  lion&p,  about  t\v(v 
mih'j*  iVom  Biruiingliaiii,  is  on  fire,  rruvtmrtl  di^spoml- 
cncy  haa  lukeii  iibice,  l^ef»]»ltf  of  all  prort'sskms  are 
moving  tlieir  goods,  »ome  to  places  of  priv-ate  secnritVt 
otbera  into  the  country.  Plander  is  now  the  motive  of 
the  riot  era-  No  inilUary /oree  is  nearer  than  Derby,  biuI 
nothing  bat  military  f&rce  can  now  anppn?ss  them, 

**^ Eight  o'clock  in  (h€  £f^ning.—Thci  rioters  iirc  now 
demolishing  the  l>t:autiful  house  of  Mr.  George  Hanijib- 
reys,  and  thnt  of  William  Ru«sell,  Enq.,  a  litth*  ftirthor 
on  in  the  Oxford  mad.  The  shops  are  still  ke^t  .sJiut  irp, 
and  no  inilitnty  are  yet  arrived.  Dreotlfdl  deprcflatiom 
are  expected  in  the  course  of  this  night!  The  renirtiri^ 
of  several  i^onr  wretches*  who  had  got  drnnk»  and  wvrt^ 
burnt  to  d^ath  in  Mr.  Ry land's  cellar,  have  been  i\u>^ 
out ;  one  **o  aineh  burnt,  that  h**  was  recognized  only  by 
the  buckle  in  one  of  hia  shoes.  What  could  be  collect^ rl 
of  his  remains  have  been  just  taken  away  in  a  ba«ker. 
Another  has  been  biom^ht  fi-om  tlie  niina  of  Dr.  Priestley** 
house,  who  is  supiios^d  to  have  Iteeu  kdled  by  a  fall  of 
home  of  the  buildings. 

•*The  people  who  demoltMlied  Mr.  Humphrt^v's  house, 
laboured,  iu  as  cool  and  orderly  a  manner  as  if  they  IiimI 
been  employed  by  the  owner  at  so  much  per  day." 

Writinjjf  on  Sunday  morning,  he  thug  concludes 
the  summary  of  Saturday's  proceedings : 
**  Last  night  the  people  of  Birraiugham  were  tTemlUng 


244 


OLD  AND  NEW   BIRMINGHAM. 


[The  fourth  day  of  the  xioti. 


spectators  of  the  tremendous  conflagration  of  Mosley  Hall, 
the  property  of  John  Taylor,  Esq.,  but  in  the  occupation 
of  Lady  Carhampton. 

"Fortunately  Lady  Carhampton,  who  is  blind,  was 
removed  to  a  place  of  safety,  by  Sir  Robert  Lawky,  who 
took  her  in  his  own  carriage  to  Canwell. 

"  About  two  this  morning  a  most  awful  scene  presented 
itself !  Four  dreadful  fires  within  a  mile  of  each  other  ! 
It  is  certain  that  the  house  of  William  Russell,  Esq.,  and 
that  of  Mr.  Hawks  of  Mosley,  have  shar'd  the  fate  of 
Mosley  HaU." 

Another  account  of  the  state  of  the  town  at 
eight  o'clock  on  Friday  evening  says  : 

**  A  gentleman  who  left  Birmingham  at  the  above  hour, 
for  the  purpose  of  coming  to  town,  mentioned,  tliat  the 
mob  was  increasing  every  hour ;  and  that  all  the  houses 
above-mentioned  were  entii-ely  destroyed.     Many  of  the 


mob  had  fallen  a  sacrifice  to  their  own  misconduct ;  near 
twenty  of  them,  quite  drunk,  were  buried  under  the  ruins 
of  a  house  by  the  walls  falling  in.  One  poor  wretch  was 
found  with  his  legs  burnt  off,  and  a  bottle  of  spirits  or 
wine  in  each  pocket. 

**  A  great  number  of  the  mob  were  lying  in  a  state  of 
the  most  insensible  drunkenness  on  the  green,  and  in 
other  places  near  where  they  committed  their  depredations. 

**  Several  houses  were  at  this  time  marked  out  for 
destruction ;  no  opposition  whatever  was  made  to  these 
riots.  The  town's  people  seemed  to  be  so  panick-struck, 
as  to  be  capable  of  no  exertion.  An  officer  in  Bir- 
mingham, offered  to  lead  any  number  of  the  inhabitants, 
and  endeavour  to  repel  the  mob,  but  could  not  prevail 
upon  them  to  make  the  attempt. 

"  No  troops  had  arrived.  The  mob  detained  the  mail- 
coach  a  full  hour,  but  permitted  it  then  to  depart  un- 
molested. Such  was  the  state  of  Birmingham  at  that 
time." 


CHAPTEE     XXXVIII. 


THE     END     OF     THE    RIOTS. 


William  Hutton'i  return  to  Birmingham-  -Drunken  rioters— La<ly  Carhampton's  furniture— Ruins  at  Bennefs  Hill— Second  Ad«ire«  from 
the  Magistrates— Kingswoo^l  Meetinjf-Uouse  «lestroyed— Mr.  Cox's  house  at  Wharstock  -Edgbastou  Hall  — Arrival  of  the  Military- 
End  of  the  Riot«. 


Thb  narrative  of  the  Ilutton  family,  quoted  iu 
our  last  chapter,  left  the  refugees  at  Sutton 
Coldfield,  on  the  third  day  of  the  riots,  Satur- 
day. It  was  not  long,  however,  before  the  panic 
i-cached  the  little  town,  and  once  more  the 
Iluttons  were  looked  upon  with  distrust ;  so 
that  it  was  thought  desirable  to  continue  theu* 
flight.  Night  found  them,  however,  resting 
(piietly  at  the  Castle  Inn,  Tamworth,  where, 
although  they  fared  frugally,  they  were  unable 
to  discharge  their  bill. 

"On  Sunday  morning,"  Miss  Hutton  writes, 
"  my  father  was  become  quite  ungoverna])le. 
He  said  it  was  madness  to  be  at  such  a  distance 
from  the  wreck  of  his  property,  while  we  thought 
it  little  less  that  he  should  expose  his  person ; 
but,  as  we  could  not  detain  him,  we  resolved 
to  go  with  him.  We  crossed  the  country  to 
Castle  Bromwich,  by  a  road  which  never  chaise 
went  before^  and  of  which  we  walked  nearly  a 


mile,  and  the  first  object  that  met  our  eye5  was 
our  coachman  lolling  at  the  door  of  the  iim,  and 
exhibiting,  by  his  livery,  a  sign  that  either  we 
or  soiiietliing  belonging  to  us  was  sheltered  there. 

"  Here  we  dined  in  a  bed  room,  and  spoke  in 
whisi)ers.  When  wu  had  dined,  no  argmnents 
or  entreaties  could  deter  my  father  from  going  to 
see  tlie  remains  of  his  house  at  1  Bennett's  Hill, 
which  was  little  more  than  three  miles  distant, 
and  on  the  road  to  Birmingham,  and  my  brother, 
seeing  him  determined,  accompanied  him." 

What  Mr.  Ilutton  saw  during  this  journey 
into  town  may  be  best  descrilnMi  in  his  own 
words  : 

*' As  the  storm  in  Birmingham,"  he  says,  "was 
too  violent  to  last,  it  seemed  prudent  to  be  near 
the  place,  that  I  might  embrace  the  first  oppor 
tunity  of  protecting  the  wreck  of  a  shattered 
fortune.     We  moved  to  Castle  Bromwich. 

"  Banting,  roaring,  drinking,  bamin^  is  a  Ufo 


mtttm  to  BiruUiiKhaiu.] 


ULD   ^VND   NEW   BTEMINGEAM. 


245 


[of  loo  rotich  rapidity  for  the  huiuaD  fnime   to 

aupport*     Our  black  sovereigns  hiid  now  he  14  it 

ne^rij  tlu'ee  day^  tmtl  niglits,  when  nature  called 

for  re»tj  and  the  bright  morning  displayed  the 

fields,  roadsi  and  hed^e^,  liiiiid  with  fHfmfh  and 

UfTotht^r    Chnrchinen   dead   drunk.      Thei^e   were, 

[however,  enongh  awake  In  kindle  new  fires.  .  ,  . 

**  I  could  not  nefriiin  from  j^^nng  to  take  a  view 

[of  my  houso  at  lipnnett's  Hill,  flliovr  tlirec  miles 

Idktnnt  from  Castle  llroniwivh.    Ui>on  \Vnahwo^M^ 

[H**ath    I  met  four  wagonii,   loaded    with    l^dy 

Carhamplun':*  furniture,  attended   by  a  body  uf 

motel's,  with  their  UBUal  arms,  as  prc^tectors.*     I 

kI  through  the  midst  of  them,  was  known^ 

ftikd  inaulted,   but  kept  a  suit  en   silence.      The 

stupid  duucea  vociff-ratedj   *  No  popery  I     Down 

1  with  the  pope  ! "    forgetting   that   Presbyterians 

I  were  never  remarkable  for  favouring  the  religion 

[of  that  potentate.       In  this  instance,   bowover, 

llL«y  were  ignumntlj  right;  for  1  consider  myself 

ttrue  friimrl  to  the  Roman  Catholic,  and  to  every 

jtefi^eafjle   profession,   hut    not   to   the    f<piritual 

I  power  of  any ;  for  this,  iuHteud  of  bumunizing 

I  the  mind,  and  drawing  the  aifections  of  one  man 

[towards  another,  has  bound  the  world  in  fetters, 

land  set  at  voriance  those  who  were  friends. 

**  I  saw  the  ruins  yet  burning  of  that  once- 
happy  spot,  which  for  many  years  been  my  calm 
llHi^at — the  scene  of  cont-emplntion,  of  (bmiestic 
|lelicity — the  source  of  health  and  contentment. 
fevfi  I  had  consulted  the  dead,  and  attempted  to 
j^aaiafte  the  liWng.  Hero  1  had  exchanged  the 
I  world  for  my  httle  family. 

'  Perhapji  fifty  people  were  enjoying  themselves 

upon  those  ruins  wbet'e  I  had  potssessed  an  exchi- 

Ifiive  riglit,  but  I  was  now  newed  as  an  intniden 

lllie   prt^judiced  vulgar,  who  never  inquire  into 

»  and  effects,  or  the  true  state  of  things,  fix 

t  idea  of  criminality  upon  the  man  who  is  borne 

by  the  crowd,  and  every  foot  is  elevated  to 


pfrti 


-  "'    '  '"  '      * 'r  wn^oni  with  Uie  goods, 

.  furmeJ  an  encort,  •U'l 
!i      They  wwu  now  np- 


kick  hira.  My  premises,  laid  open  by  ferocious 
authority,  were  free  to  every  trespasser,  and  I  was 
the  only  person  who  did  not  rejoice  in  the  ruins. 
It  was  not  possible  to  retreat  from  that  favourite 
place  without  a  gloom  upon  tlie  mind,  whicJi  was 
the  result  of  ill-treatment  by  power  without 
right." 

We  now  enter  upon  the  events  of  Sunday 
morning.  Another  handbill  was  issued  early  in 
the  day,  signed  by  all  the  magisti-ates  of  the 
neighbonrhot)d,  as  follows : 

"IMPORTANT     INFORMATION    TO    THE   FRIBNDS    UF     lllK 
CHURCH    AND    KINO, 

**  Hirminghftm,  Sutulayt  17ih  July,  1701. 
**  Fnenda  and  Fellow  Churchmen, 

**  Being  t'onyiaced  you  are  UDacquAiatcil  that  the  grcnt 
loiiacs,  which  mx*  sustained  by  your  btirnijigund  «ii-6tioying 
of  tJjB  houses  of  so  mnny  mdividuaU,  will  evi'iitiinlly  full 
upon  the  coontry  at  large,  and  not  upon  the  iJci.soiia  to 
whom  thoy  bchmg,  we  feci  it  our  liuty  to  ioJoiui  you, 
that  the  tiamayes  ahx'Hily  done,  upon  Iht?  beat  toinpnta- 
tion  that  Ciiii  be  made,  will  amount  to  upwai^ls  ot  Une 
Hundred  Thousand  Pounds  ;  the  wjiole  of  whiih  t-noiniouB 
siuii  will  be  charged  upon  the  rcspeetive  pariahea^  and 
paid  out  of  the  rates* 

**  We,  therifoie,  as  your  friends,  conjure  you  iniinedi- 
Ately  to  desist  Iroin  the  destruction  of  any  mon'  litmuses ; 
otlierwiite  the  very  prooeedingn  wliieh  your  /eul  (or  shew- 
ing yotir  attachment  to  the  Church  and  King  have  ex- 
eitt^d,  will  inevitably  be  the  means  of  most  tieriouBly  in- 
juring iiinunierable  families^  who  are  hearty  sup|torter»  of 
Government  ;  and  must  bring  on  an  addition  of  Ta^ca, 
which  yourALdvea,  and  the  re^t  of  the  Friends  of  the 
thureh,  will  for  yean*  feel  a  very  grievous  harden. 

*'This  we  assure  yon  was  the  case  in  London,  when 
there  were  bo  many  hon^es  &nd  public  buildings  burnt  and 
doatroyed  in  the  year  1780  ;  and,  you  may  rely  upon  it» 
will  be  so  hivn*  on  Ibu  present  occasion. 

'*Andwe  must  observe  to  you,  that  any  further  vio- 
lent proecedings  will  njore  ottend  your  King  and  Country, 
tlian  serve  the  cauiie  of  Him  and  L'hurch, 

**  FcUovo  Churehuun, 
*•  Am  you  love  your  King,  regtu-d  his  Laws,  and  rcstoro 
Pet«c, 

**6od  ^ve  the  King! 

E.  Fituh,  JL  SpemtT^ 

Robert  Lawhff,  Henry  Grt-swold  Lewit^ 

HobcH  tawlty^  juti.  Charles  Cuttis^ 

R,  Morl&iidf  Spenter  Madan^, 

H^,  IHghy,  Edimrd  Palmer, 

Edward  Carver ^  ]V.   VUUn^ 

J0hn  Bra&H,  W,   H'Mit  MtmiL'* 


Tills  is  probiibly  the  most  extmorjiiiary  notice 
ever  issued  by  a  body  of  nwgi^imi^.—jft^tfcr^  of 
tfis  peace^ — to  a  mob  of  lawless  i)ei'son8  who  had 
bnnit  aiid  destroyed  property  belonging  to  hanii- 
less  and  peaceable  inclividnaJs,  lo  the  value  of 
nearly  a  hundred  thousand  juiunds*.  The^e  worthy 
magifitrates  are  **  convinced "  that  the  riotew,  in 
rhuir  holy  zeal  for  CIhutIi  and  Khv^,  arc  *Min- 
acquainted  that  tlie  great  los?s  .  .  *  will 
eventually  fall  upon  the  coiuitr)'  at  Iiirge,  and 
not  uprm  tfie  pcrmmg  in  whom  thf'y  [/>.,  th£  hou^sei^ 
miff  other  )mti)f*rfiejt]  helong  "  I  Obviously,  the 
inference  io  be  drawn  from  this  statement  is,  tliat 
if  the  I<ts8M8  huf  been  curtain  to  fall  upon  the 
jH'rsuiis  atlvii'keil,  tlic  riotera  might  have  gone  on 
[  tiTilil  clisi^cnters  were  utterly  exterminated  from 
the  toMrri.  But  as  the  burden  is  likely  to  fall 
upon  the  tax -payers  athirge,  **thevenjj'rorf'etH/t(jH 
which  If  our  Zf'nl  fiw  Hhewing  ijour  aftftchmettt  to 
thf  Church  and  King  have  t*xfited^**  (laudable  antJ 
praiseworthy  as  those  proceinlinga  doubtlefls  were  in 
thenjselvefi,)  had  better  now  come  to  a  close,  "  as 
you  love  your  King,  regard  his  Laws,  and  rentore 
Peace  "  ! 

But  even  this  loving  adilrc'^s  failed  to  restore 
peace.  The  lovers  of  the  king,  with  due  regard 
for  his  Jaws,  no  doubt,  proceeded  on  Sunday 
morning  to  pull  ilown  ami  burn  the  Meeting 
House  at  Kingswood»*  and  in  a  i^bori  time 
reduced  it  to  ashes.  They  had  previously  visited 
(ill  their  hatred  of  ''  false  doctrine,  heresy,  ajid 
schism,")  the  house  of  !Mr.  Cox,  at  Wharstock, 
which,  having  been  used  as  a  house  of  prayer  by 
the  Dissenters,  must  o^me  down  ;  and  so,  after 
emptying  the  cellar  of  its  con  ten  U — they  do  not 
seem  even  to  have  entertained  the  aiigbtost 
scruple  against  nonconformists'  wine—  tl toy  left  it 
a  heap  of  smoking  ruins. 

The  next  place  which  required  pulling  down 
in    the    interests    of     Church    and    King    wag 


•  ♦*  Tbia  ftolltAiy  pUee  hid  fallen  by  the  hjuid  of  violBoed  In  the 

beginciiig  of  George  the  First,  for  whicb  a  penoji  of  the  name  of 

roUftS  wa«  execute,!,  and  from  hliu  ft  aoviired  the  naine  of  St, 

J  DolJox,  wbirh  it  iitiU  btan.     He  wia  tha  first  paiBOit  who  snlTervd 

L  Aflir  paa«Lug  the  Riot  Act."— ^tiK^ii't  ifarmUvt  (tf  m«  EU/tt, 


Ed;:  bast  on  Hall,  the  refiidencc  of  Dr.  Witheriti 
—''who,"  say .s  Button,  ** perhaps  never  heairlj 
Presbj'tui'ian   eennon^  and  yet   u   slb   amiable  I 
character  ns  he  who  haa,** — but,  as  we  liave  alren 
said  in  our  notice*  of  this  most  estimalde  man,  ] 
had   committed   thf  enormity  of  roc'ei%nng  aq 
ihdtcring  one  of  the  persecuted  fauiilios ;  aa 
Imd,  moreover,    a   welhst^ired   cellar,    and    mail 
other  valuables,  rendering  his  house  a  proIiiJil4 
one  to  nttaek,     l*he  alarm  reached  Kim  in  time  I 
secure  and  cnny  ofl"  his  nm^t  vahiahle  liooka 
specimens,   also   nuK-h   «jf    the    fumitum ;    ha 
hapi>ily,  the  house  was  spared,  fur  no  sooner  1 
the   rioters   I'tvaclied   th'?  place,  unil  commenc 
their    attack  u[>on   the  crllar,  than   **  the  won 
ti'ifht  horn**  sounded  in  their  cats ;  when  tliia  fii 
midable  banditti  nn^uldered  away,  no  mml  kntJ 
how,  and  not  a  shadow  of  it  could  be  fouu »!-**•  j 

It  may  be  easily  imagined  with  what  rcjoicim 
the  townspeople  i^Kieived  tlie  welcome  newn 
the  approach  of  the  military.     It  was  but  a  bQia 
troop,— about  sixty-four  in  all,— but  they  weij 
sufticient  to  scare  the  Hotel's  from  tlitiir  work 
destruction,      Aa   they  marched  into  the  Ion 
they  were  met  by  a  large  multitutle  itf  the  mo 
peaceable  citizens,  the  houses  in  all  the  princip 
streets  were  illuminated,  and  every  token  of ; 
was  immifeslcd  at  their  happy  delivery  twm 
rule  of  King  Mob.     For  now  that  the  riuti;]^  ] 
wreaked  their  vengeance  upon  the  dij^«enter%  i 
wei^e   still   insatiable^   other   iiihabitiint^,   who 
loyalty  was  above  suspicion,  lio^'an   to   fear  foi 
their  jjroperty.     Tiie  bankers  h«d  been  compelkii 
to  lodge  their  cash  and  notes  (n  mh  Iddin 
places,  lest  it  should  oci  ur  to  the  rioters  to 
for  gold  ;    the  carriage  traHi«'  in  the  8tit*ets 
stopped  unless  the  drivers  wore  bhie  cockade*  j 
even  the  mail-coaches  had  bcru  8to[»|>ed  ouce  ( 
twice  ;  so  that  the  whole  populace  hml  ciiuf*  I 
rejoice  that  at  last  this  reign  of  ierxot  was  orer. 

On  Monday  morning,  however,  a  (ibbJi  cod- 
tingent  of  would-be  rioters  reached  the  town,  ^ 
a  large  body  of  colliers  from  tlie  Black  C<>untrt;j 
*  Hutton'a  Namtivt 


AAotbcRiota] 


OLD  AND  NEW  BIRMINGHAM. 


347 


"who  had  heard  of  the  glorioug  doings  of  the 
Binuingham  mob  and  longed  to  join  in  the  fray. 
But  the  military  also  roceired  a  re-iMorcement  at 
|he  fiame  time,  another  party  of  light  horse,  from 
f^ichfield,  so  that  the  grimy  contingent  found  it 
^riaeat  to  retire,  with  as  good  grace  as  might  be, 
to  their  awn  regions. 


Before  the  day  was  over  something  like  order 
was  restored  and  buslnesa  was  resumed,  fmd 
although  disturbing  rumours  of  a  fresh  out- 
break were  current  for  some  time,  it  was 
evident  that  peace  was  at  last  fully  restored. 
And  thus  ended  the  memorable  riots  of  July, 
1791. 


CHAPTER     XXXIX. 


AFTER      THE      RIOTS, 

of  MlM  Etisa«l]'a  Xarnitivfr— Dr.  Pric$tlfy*8  sddreaa— ^  ri***  GmttU  and  thii  RiotA— AtWertiwrnciits^Coiiclmlatt  of  Miu 
attnu'tf  JsarnitiTft— The  Court  of  Conuirienf*— TriAla  of  the  Rioters— WtUiiini  Cowpcr  on  the  Riot»-ClB.ini8  of  the  Suffercra — 
mtivo  of  the  TriAli^The  Dnion  Meeting-UoaM— Rebuilding  of  Uid  Old  and  New  M«etlng-HouaM. 


[t  is  not  to  be  supposed  that,  when  once  peace  and 
had  been  restored,  the  subject  of  the  riots 
ily  forgottcai.  On  the  contrary,  there 
mediately  ensued  a  paper  warfare  almost  as 
fierce  as  the  actual  strife  which  had  just  ceased, 
letters,  Addresses,  and  Pamphlets  were  poured 
upon  the  inhabitants  from  all  quarters  ;  from 
Bhuicbmen,  sufibrers,  and  outsiders,  from  all  who 
lad,  or  imagined  they  had,  a  personal  interetst  in 
the  matter,  and  many  who  had  not,  came  augmcn- 
ktions  of  the  deluge  of  riot  literature,  until  it 
ould  haTe  been  almost  useless  to  attempt  even  a 
>jiiplete  catalogue  of  the  various  publications. 
>iit  it  ia  not  with  these  that  we  have  to  do,  so 
as  with  the  actual  events  which  followed 
emoiBble  disturbances  of  the  four  days 
ding  July  17th;  and,  first,  as  to  the  fortunes  of 
e  Bufferei-s  themselves. 

The  EoBsell  family  at  length  reached  Lon- 

m  in  safety,   and  lepairod   to  Bates's  Hotel, 

the  Adelphi     **Mr.  Bates,"  says  Miss  Eub- 

Uf  **  waa   not  up,   but  soon    rodo    and    came 

meet  UB  with  tears  in  his  eyes,  so   happy 

Le  to  meet  ua;    he  had   heard   reports   of 

iiaturbanoes,  and  was  truly  relieved  to  see 

nfo.     On  sitting  down  here,  for  th^^  first 

sinc*»  Thur^lay  had  we  thought  ourselves 

32 


safe  or  at  rest.  Now  we  found  both,  and  the 
greatest  refreshment  from  washing  off  the  dust 
and  filth  from  our  skins,  and  in  changing  our 
clothes.  My  father  soon  waited  upon  ^Ir.  Pitt, 
and  very  soon  after  arriving  we  learned  that  Dr. 

P,  was  in  town,  as  well  as  Mr,  J,  E 's  family, 

and  many  other  of  our  Birmingham  friends*  This 
evening  we  went  to  bed  very  early,  and  enjoyed 
it  in  such  a  manner  as  cannot  be  imagined.  Soon 
after  getting  to  sleep  we  were  awakened  by  what 
we  thought  most  terrible  shouting  j  we  jumped 
up,  crying  out  the  mob  had  followed  us ;  we  rose 
up  and  in  great  alarm  slipped  on  our  cloaka,  and 
went  out  to  see  how  matters  were  j  we  found  the 
servants,  who,  in  turns,  sat  up  through  the  night; 
they  informed  us  that  it  was  as  quiet  as  usual, 
and  we  need  not  be  at  all  alarmed,  for  the  noiae 
we  had  heard  was  only  the  gardeners  coming  to 
Covertt  Garden  Markst*  Thus  happU^  relieved, 
and  smiling  at  our  awn  fearsi,  we  returned  to 
comfortable  rest. 

"  After  staying  a  few  days  in  London,  we 
returned  to  Birmingham,  my  father,  sister,  and 
self  5  Thomas  remained  there  at  school.  Nothing 
material  occurred  up  the  journey,  but  the  senti- 
ments I  felt  on  approaching  dear  Showell  Green 
and  first  beholding  the  niin  nf  our  much-loved 


248 


OLD   ANB    ^EW   BTiniTNGHAM. 


r Aftf^r  tbft  Rtoto. 


mansion,  I  shall  not  forgei  At  a  distanco  of  two 
or  thr«6  miles  wo  discerned  the  spot,  and  on  a 
nearer  approach  descried  a  part  of  the  shell  of  the 
building  rearing  its  head,  blackened  hy  smolce, 
despoiled  of  its  windows,  and  so  defaced  and 
demolished  as  scarce  to  leave  a  trace  of  its  original 
foroL  The  fine  tfill  elms  that  grew  at  the  hack 
of  the  house^  which  shaded  our  nursery  windows, 
and  which  I  loved  almost  as  if  they  w*ere  my 
aisters^  still  stood ;  they  reared  their  venerable 
h^mds  above  these  melancholy  rtiins,  but  had  par- 
taken in  their  fate^ — their  fine  foliage  was  all 
burnt  on  the  side  next  the  house,  and  their  stems 
blackened  by  smoke.  What  dUmal  feelings  filled 
my  soul  on  contemplating  this  sad  spectacle  1  It 
seemed  as  if  I  viewed  the  distorted  and  mangled 
corpse  of  a  dear  friend,  a  parent  to  whom  I  was 
indebted  for  much  of  my  past  happiness,  and  who 
couLl  never  again  be  restored  to  me.  Passing  on, 
we  beheld  Mr,  G.  Humphreys's  house  [now  J, 
BatemEiri*s,  Sparkhrook],  the  shell  complete,  but 
despoiled  of  all  its  windows,  Dn  P/s  was  as 
melancholy  a  piece  of  ruin  as  otir  own.  Arriving 
at  New  Hall  Btreet  [G.  Russell*^],  wo  mot  a 
hearty  welcome  from  our  friends  there,  and  took 
up  our  residence  under  tiie  hospitable  roof  of  my 
good  uncle,  till  mj  father  could  procure  a  house 
for  us.  Ml  I  saw»  felt,  and  observed  seemed  like 
a  dream»  and  it  was  a  long  time  before  I  could 
realize  what  had  passed."* 

Dr»  Priestley,  immediately  on  his  arrival  in 
London,  penned  the  following  address,  wMch 
appeared  in  At'ltf's  Blrmmijliam  Gazeiie  of 
July  25th: 

To  the  Inhabitants  of  the 
TOWN    OF    BIRMINGHAM, 
Mt/  late  ToicnsDien  and  Ntighbours^ 

AFTEK  living  with  you  cIctcu  years,  in  rluch  yoq  had 
ntiilorm  cxpcrifiicc  of  my  j»<3accful  behaviour^  in  ray 
atientian  to  the  quiet  sttiiiies  of  iny  profeHJsioo,  and  those 
of  philo*iOpb>\  I  w.iFj  far  from  i-xpa-cting  Ihe  injuries  whii  h 
I  and  my  friends  hiiv«  latt^ly  received  from  you.  But  yo« 
have  becQ  misled.  By  hearing  the  DiHwuters,  and  piir- 
titjujarly  the  Uaitmrkn  I)i««ent«rB,  continually  railed  at, 


^  W6  Are  indebted  to  Mr.  CouncLUor  H.  P.  M&rt{nt;«n,  for  Uie  ust 
of  &  privafcfl  r«pdi)t  of  9li«$  Bu»iwU's  most  interesting  n<rnttive. 


Hi  enemies  to  the  present  Government,  in  Church  and 
State,  you  have  been  led  to  consider  any  injury  done  to  m 
(IS  &  meritorious  thing ;    and  not   haring  been   brti  ~ 
informetl,  the  metina  were  not  attended  to.     When  tl 
ohj'ect  was  right,  you  thought  the  ifu^m^  could  not 
wrong.     By  the  discourses  of  your  teach ct*,   and 
exclamations  of  your  superiors  in  generol,  drinking  cobI 
sion  and  damnation  to  us  (which  is  well  known  to 
been  their  frequent  practice)  your  bigotry  has  been  exdli 
to  the  highest  pitch,  and  nothing  having  been  said  to 
to  moderate  your  passions^   but  ©Terj^thing  to  infla! 
them  ;  hence,  without  any  consideration  on  your  part^ 
on  theirs,  who  ought  to  hare  known,  and  taught 
better — yon  were  prcjjared  for  every  species  of  outra 
thinking  that  whatever  you  could  do  to  spite  and  iiyi 
us,  was  for  the  support  of  Government,  and  especially 
Church*     In  destroying  its,  you  have  been  led  to  thinl 
ifou  did   Ood  and  your  country  the   most  aabatan 
§en>ice. 

Happily,  the  minds  of  Kngliahmen  have  a  horwir  «f 
murder,  and  therefore  yon  did  not,  I  hope,  think  of  tkai ; 
though,  by  yonr  elamorous  demanding  of  wi/  at  tlie  Hoi 
it  is  probable,  that  at  that  time,  some  of  you  intended 
some  personal  injury.     But  what  is  the  value  of  life,  wh< 
every  thing  is  done  to  make  it  wretched  1    In   ntj 
cases,   there  would  be  greater  mercy  in  dispatching 
inhabitants,  than  in  burning  their  houses.     However, 
infinitely  prefer  what  I  feel  from  the  spoiling  of  my 
to  the  disposition  of  those  who  have  misled  yon. 

You  have  destroyed  the  most  truly  valuable  and  useful 
ap[iaralua  of  philosophical  instruments  that  perhaps  any 
individual,  in  this  or  any  otlier  countiy,  was  ever  po»- 
sesed  of;  in  my  use  of  which  I  annually  spent  lar^  sums, 
with  no  pecuniary  view  whatever,  but  only  in 
advancement  of  science,  for  the  benefit  of  my  country 
of  mankind.  You  have  destroyed  a  library  correspoD( 
to  that  apparatus,  which  no  money  con  re^purch 
except  in  a  long  course  of  time.  But  what  I  feet  far  more, 
you  have  destroyed  ntanitJteripis,  which  have  been  Uie 
result  of  the  laborious  study  of  many  yeara^  and  which  I 
shall  never  be  able  to  recomposc  ;  and  this  has  been  d<XM 
to  one  who  never  did,  or  imagined  you  any  harnu 

I  know  nothing  more  of  the  hand-biUf  which  is  said  to 
have  enraged  you  so  much,  than  any  of  yourselves,  and 
disapprove  of  it  as  much  ;  though  it  has  been  made 
ostensible  handle  of  doing  infinitely  more  mntchief 
any  thing  of  that  nature  could  possibly  have  done*  ll 
the  cdobration  of  the  French  Kcvolution,  at  which  1 
net  attend,  the  company  assembled  on  the  occasion,  ooll 
expressed  their  joy  in  the  emancipation  of  a  neighbouring 
nation  from  tyranny,  without  intimating  a  desirt  of  any, 
thing  more  than  such  an  improvement  of  our  own  Coi 
tution,  as  all  sober  citizens,  of  every  persojision,  have  loi 
wisbed  for.  And  tliough,  in  answer  to  the  gross 
unprovoked  calnmniesof  Mr.  Madan,  and  others,  I  pnbliel 
vindicated  my  principles  as  a  Dissenter»  it  was  only  wit] 
plain  and  sober  argument,  and  with  perfect  good  hutuoi 
We  are  better  instructed  in  the  mild  and  forbearing 
of  Christianity  I  than  ever  to  think  of  havin|;  recouiw 
violence ;  and  can  you  think  snch  conduct  at  ynani  tni 


po»- 
idin^^H 


reooinnieiiiUtioii  of  jour  rdigiouB  principles  in  preft:reuc# 
to  oonl 

Yon  are  still  more  niiataken,  if  you  imagine  that  thia 
(Hmdoct  of  yours  lias  any  tendency  to  aenrc  your  causv^  or 
to  prvjndice  ours.  It  is  nothing  but  reason  and  ar^meni 
that  can  ever  support  any  system  of  religion.  Answer 
our  arguments,  and  your  business  ia  done ;  but  your 
having  recourse  to  viahn^e,  ia  only  a  proof  that  you  hnve 
nothing  bettor  to  produce.  Should  you  destroy  mysulf, 
aa  wrll  as  my  house,  library,  and  apparatus,  ten  more 
jicrsons,  of  equal  or  superior  spirit  and  ability,  would 
instantly  rise  op.  If  thoac  ten  were  destroyed,  an  hundred 
would  appear  j  and  belie tc  me,  that  the  Church  •f 
England,  which  you  now  think  you  are  supporting,  has 
r«^eiFcd  a  greater  blow  by  this  conduct  of  youra,  than  I 
and  all  my  friends  hare  erer  aimed  at  it. 

Besides,  to  abuse  those  who  have  no  power  of  making 
real  stance,  is  equally  cowardly  and  brutal,  peculiarly 
anwortliT  of  Englishmen,  to  say  nothing  of  Chriatiauity, 
which  teaches  us  to  do  as  we  would  be  done  by.  In  this 
bosinoss  wa  are  the  sheep,  and  you  the  wolves.  We  will 
preoerve  our  charaet«?r,  and  hope  you  will  change  yours. 
At  all  events,  we  return  you  blessings  for  curseB ;  and 
pray  that  you  may  soon  return  to  that  industry,  and 
those  wtier  manners,  for  which  the  inhabitants  af 
Bimi Ingham  were  formerly  distingui^lied. 

I  tun  your  since ri!  wcH -wisher, 

J.  PRIESTLEY. 
London,  Julu  if>,  1791* 

P.S.  The  account  of  the  f^rst  Toast  at  thr  Revolution 
Dinner  in  Tfu  Tim^4  of  this  morning,  can  bu  nothing 
less  than  a  miUcious  lie.  To  provo  this,  a  list  of  the 
Toasts,  i%ith  an  ao*.'ouat  of  all  the  proceedings  of  the  day, 
will  soon  be  published.  The  first  of  them  was.  The  King 
and  the  Ctmntttittwrt,  and  they  were  all  such  as  the  friends 
of  Liberty,  and  the  tmo  pinciples  of  the  Constitution, 
would  approve. 

The  same  issue  of  that  journal  contained  a  full 
account  uf  the  riots  to  which  we  are  indebted  for 

I  some  of  the  particulars.  The  account  opens  with 
the  amusing  statement  that  **  In  cmnplumee  with 
tiie  icUhes  of  the  Magiitirates,  W€  forbore  to  detail 
in  anr  lad  the  vidmt  ^proceedings,**  &q,  I  Lot  the 
n^ader  iniagine,  if  he  can,  the  withholding  by  any 
tiewBpapor  to-day  of  such  startling  news  as  that 
witliheld  by  Ari/§  Gazette  for  more  than  a  week, 

I  In  deference  to  the  wishes  of  a  local  authority. 
The  Gazette  of  July  25th,  however,  made  up 

liar  the  reticence  of  the  previous  week;  by  far 

I  iIm?  greater  portion  of  the  number  was  taken  up 
with  news  and  advertisements  relating  t<>  the 
riot*,  beaides  which  the  proprietors  also  issued  a 
0Oppleinent«    consisting    wholly    of     letters    bf 


Mr,  James  Keir,  in  reference  to  the  memomble 
dinner,  giving  a  list  of  the  toasts,  and  other 
information  exonerating  the  dissenters  from  th© 
charges  of  disloyalty  which  had  Keen  repeated 
so  frc<iuently  in  the  accounts  which  appeared  in 
the  London  newspapers. 

Among  the  advertisements  ia  the  following 
address  from  the  dissenters  : — 

THE  DISSENTERS  of  BIRMINGHAM  deMre  to 
rtturn  their  grateful  AdmoieUdgmiuts  to  all  them 
Members  of  the  established  Church,  who  in  any  Mannir 
exerted  t/iemselves  during  the  lat4  Ili^ts,  in  Ihfcmt  of  their 
Persons  and  Froj^erty  ;  more  partieularhj  to  those  wfto  in 
the  true  Spirit  of  Christianity  received  into  their  Uou^eg, 
and  nttderth^ir  Protection ^  many  fctmilies  of  Disstnirrs 
who  ipere  oblitjfd  to  leave  their  own  HabiUUions  ;  and  also 
to  oil  those  who  recHwd  and  protected  their  Goods.  Tfie^f 
trftM  that  good  3fen  of  every  iMnonwuttion,  will  consider 
this  Protection  as  highly  hmiourabU  to  the  Humanity  of 
th^ioe  who  gftve  it,  and  they  Ikink  it  to  be  the  more 
ineritoriauSy  «s  these  generous  Protectors  did  thereby  exjioae 
tkemselees  to  Dnnger  from  a  Iftteiess  Moh^  \cho  tranted 
only  Pretence  for  rkj'rcdfttion, 

Anotlier  is  iuRevled  by  Mr.  John  Taylor ; 
JOHN  TAYLOR,  Esq. 
ALL  PersonB  who  have  in  their  Possession  any  Booka, 
Writirigs,  PnperR,  &c.,  &c.,  belonging  to  John  Tiiylor, 
Ksq.,  of  Bordesley,  aro  particularly  ititrcated  to  bring 
them  to  CharleM  Tftylor'a,  E*].  in  thi;  High-street,  or  to 
the  Bftnk^  in  Dale  End,  where  any  Intt'IIigeoce  reapeot- 
ing  the  saiHR  will  be  thankfvilly  received, 

Birraingham,  July  23,  17t*l. 

Under  this  is  an  address  from  William  Hntton, 
as  follows : — 

Birmingham,  Jnly  25,  179L 
IT  is  a  material  RHief  to  that  ( 'ulamity  oiuler  which  I 
la^wur,  to  fiml^  since  my  Return,  every  Man  my 
Friend^  exc4?pt  the  People  who  composed  the  Mob  ©f 
Plundcrera,  or  wished  to  join  them.  I  shall  ever  expn*si<i 
an  Obligation  to  those  who  i>rcserved  any  at  my  Pitipfrty 
from  Destruction  ;  but  it  gives  me  greut  ConctTi^  that 
much  of  it  has  been  destroyed  through  a  Fear  of  rej*toring 
it,  when  I  have  already  declared  to  the  Woiltl,  tlint  I 
wonhi  receive  it  with  Gratitude. — My  Friends  will  udd  to 
the  Obligation  nnder  which  they  have  laid  me,  by 
restoring  the  lost  Property  as  little  damaged  as  possible, 
particnlarly  the  PE1NTJ5  and  BOOKS,  the  Value  of 
which  is  npwartls  of  a  Thousand  Pounds.  Many  of  the 
Books  are  scarce,  and  in  Sets,  the  Loss  of  one,  dimiuishea 
the  Value  of  the  Remainder,  and  is  an  Injury  which 
Time,  Assiduity,  or  Money,  can  never  repair.  There  i^ 
also  loat,  Plate,  a  Gold  Watch,  beaded  Chain,  with  Gold 
Trinkets,  and  Jewels  to  a  considerable  Amount,  eicluaiTe 
of  Stock  in  Trade,  Furniture.  Apparel,  HouaohoTd  Linen 
ibe.     Should  any  suspected  Articlet  be  olforod  to  Salt; 


Aflof  ttie  RtotA.) 


OLD  AKD  NEW  BIEMIXGHAM. 


251 


>  poit  diaisa  of  the  ion  the  moment  it  came  home. 
Before  that  arrived  we  disco vei^d  that  the  alarm 
waa  unfounded, 

**  On  Tuesday  afternoon  my  atmt  came  in  our 
to  take  U8  to  her  house  in  Birmiugham, 
,  been  our  first  asylum.  Our  coachman 
bad  his  stable  hat,  instead  of  a  laced  one,  a  dirty 
silk  handkerchief  round  his  neck,  instead  of  a 
white  one,  a  weekV.  begird  on  \m  face,  worsted 
fitockings  on  his  legs,  dirty  shoes  on  hia  feet,  and 
was  excessively  drunk.  After  he  had  refreshed 
himself  with  some  more  liquor,  I  went  to  him 
and  saidj  *  John,  we  have  changed  our  minds,  we 
shall  not  go  to  BLmiingham  till  to-morrow 
morning/  *B«t  you  must  go  now/  he  replied, 
*  for  my  master  ordered  me  to  bring  you/  *  ^"^o 
matter  for  that/  I  said,  *  we  shall  not  go  till 
to-morrow.'  *I  suppose  you  think  I'm  not 
capable   of  driving  you,*  said  the  man,  *  and  if 

that^s  the  case,  there's  my  wliip,  and  d ^ii  me 

if  ever  I  mount  the  box  again.'  My  blood  boiled, 
but  the  riots  had  loosened  every  tic  of  subordina- 
tion, and  the  greatest  blackguanl  was  the  master ; 
1  therefore  only  replied,  *  I  know  you  are  a  good 
driver,  but  we  shall  not  go  to-day,*  reserving  to 
myself,  however,  the  right  of  making  him  keep 
bis  word  about  mounting  the  box,  at  least  after 
he  had  once  set  us  down  in  Birmingham,  I  had 
soon  the  satisfaction  of  seeing  him  fast  asleep  in 
the  stable, 

**On  Wednesday  morning  our  coachman  was 
surly,  but  silent,  and  took  us  iu  safety  to  the 
liouse  of  my  aunt  aud  cousin,  where  we  now  ara 
He  is  alre^idy  paid  and  discharged.  We  are  now 
0eekiDg  0  home.  Many  of  our  friends  have  given 
un  invitations,  and,  among  the  rest,  your  brother  ; 
but  we  have  declined  them  aU,  for  my  mother's 
state  of  health  is  such  that  she  must  have  some 
little  place  that  she  u^in  call  her  o^rti, 

"  For  some  days  I  liad  notliing  in  the  world 
but  the  clothes  I  wore ;  the  rest  of  my  apparel, 
my  money,  my  lettei-s,  my  papers,  my  prints,  aud 
my  music  were  gone.  Odd  things  are  now  coming 
in  ereiy  ^^^\  such  as  have  been  preserved  by 


our  friends  and  the  servants  at  Birmingham,  or 
such  as  plunderers  dare  no  longer  keep.  Among 
the  former  is  my  guitar,  which  somo  imp  of  mis- 
chief was  carrying  off  in  its  case,  when  a  neigh- 
bour bought  it  for  sixpence.  My  poor  *  Bash  * 
was  taken  home  by  a  servant  who  had  lived  with 
us,  and  married,  and  has  also  been  restored  to  me, 
and  our  cat,  with  her  whiskers  burnt  off  and  her 
feet  scorched,  was  found  among  the  ruins  by 
another,  and  is  now  anointed  with  oil,  and  fed 
with  a  tea-spoon." 

A  few  days  aftei'wards,  having  settled  down 
temporarily  at  the  inn  attached  to  Vauxhall 
Gardens,  Miss  Hutton  concluded  her  narrative  in 
a  second  It^tter  to  the  laJy  to  whom  the  previous 
portion  had  been  addressed,— Mrs,  Andr6,  of 
Enfield,  near  London.     She  says  : — 

"  The  place  from  whence  I  date  this  tolls  you 
our  home,  and  a  most  delightful  one  it  is;  but 
I  need  not  describe  it,  for  1  think  you  have  been 
here,  LTpon  second  thoughts,  I  think  you  have 
not^  so  I  will  tell  you  that  it  is  a  kind  of  t^ivern, 
with  a  buwhug  green,  orchestra,  woods,  and 
walks,  and  that  during  the  summer  there  is  a 
public  niglit  once  a  week,  on  which  there  ar<^ 
musical  perfon nances,  as  at  your  Yiuixh all,  except 
that  they,  as  wtdl  as  the  company  which  frequent 
them,  are  upon  a  smaller  scale,  and  in  a  lower 
style.  Hero  we  board  and  lodge,  that  is,  my 
mother  and  myself,  for  a  guinea  and  a  half  a 
week  the  two.  My  father  sups  and  sleeps  here^ 
paying  for  his  supper.  We  have  a  spaeiuiis 
dining  room,  which  we  are  obliged  to  quit  on 
public  nights,  when  we  sit  in  my  mother's  bed- 
room. We  choose  to  eat  alone,  but  do  not  require 
a  dinner  to  be  provided  for  us.  Upon  the  whole, 
we  are  as  comfortably  situated  as  people  L-an 
expect  to  be  who  have  lost  two  good  houses. 

**  The  rioters  demolished  all  the  door^,  windows, 
chimneyq>ieces,  wainscots,  skirting  boards,  and 
banisters,  together  with  the  roof  of  the  house. 
They  then  b*?gan  upon  the  sUirs  and  tore  up 
aboul  six;  but  they  found  this  work  far  more 
laborious,  and  less  amusing,  than  setting  a  house 


252 


OLD   AND   NEW   BIRMINGHAM. 


[After  the  Riots. 


in  a  blaze,  and  they  desisted.  To  have  fired  the 
whole  would  have  produced  a  glorious  scene  had 
not  the  neighbours  prevented  it,  in  consideration 
of  themselves;  but  the  carrying  off  paper,  and 
tearing  to  pieces  the  inside  of  a  house,  proved  a 
tedious  and  fatiguing  business,  and  they  gave  it 
up  for  better  sport. 

"On  Tuesday,  the  19th  July,  my  father  got 
boards  nailed  together  for  outer  doors,  old  glazed 
windows  put  up  in  front,  and  again  appeared  in 
the  shop,  though  in  the  most  lamentable  situation 
imaginable.  In  the  course  of  a  week  he  had  new 
doors,  windows,  and  grate  put  up  in  the  kitchen, 
new  furnished  it  entirely,  and  it  became  the  sole 
eating  room  for  him  and  my  brother  and  the  cook 
and  the  housemaid.  In  about  another  week  thoy 
had  got  two  old  bedsteads,  and  my  brother  and 
the  servants  slept  in  the  house,  whicli  thoy 
continue  to  do  still.  If  I  were  to  de8cri])e  the 
furniture  of  their  apartments,  you  would  for  a 
moment  cease  to  lament  the  occasion  of  it  to 
laugh  at  its  oddity.  Curtains  are  a  luxury  my 
brother  does  not  know,  except  to  his  windows, 
and  one  of  these  is  blue  and  the  other  yellow.  A 
piece  of  oil-cloth  hung  up  serves  for  a  door,  and, 
but  for  this,  the  room  would  be  open  to  the  court, 
for  there  is  no  outer  door  below. 

"  The  Court  of  Requests,  which  had  occasioned 
the  destruction  of  so  much  of  my  father's 
property,  furnished  the  means  of  saving  a  part. 
The  beadle  of  the  Court,  who  was  also  a  sheriffs 
officer,  shared  the  plunder  of  the  house  at 
Birmingham,  and  whatever  he  and  his  man  could 
seize  was  reserved  for  us  in  a  chamber  in  his 
house.  I  went  there,  and  among  broken  chairs 
and  sofas,  I  found  some  welcome  bundles  of  linen 
— most  welcome  to  me,  for  no  part  of  my  apparel 
had  been  changed  during  our  troubles.  Every- 
thing was  marked  with  dirt  or  blood,  the  tokens 
of  the  danger  it  had  escaped." 

In  another  letter  to  the  same  lady  she 
writes  (October  23,  1791)  :  "Our  spirits,  except 
my  mother's,  have  risen  superior  to  our  Iq^es; 
my  father    has  begun    to    rebuild    and    repair 


his  houses;  my  brother  to  purchase  books  and 
prints;  and  I  to  collect  costumes,  and  write 
journals :  my  mother  alone  has  sunk  under 
terror  and  anxiety,  operating  on  a  frame  already 
diseased."  It  was  shortly  afterwards  found 
necessary,  on  account  of  Mrs.  Button's  ill- 
health,  to  remove  to  the  Hotwells,  Bristol; 
and  to  this  place  came  many  cheery  letters 
from  the  brave  old  bookseller  to  his  family, 
detailing  the  events  in  Birmingham  during  the 
remaindftr  of  the  year.  In  reply  to  one  of 
these,  his  daughter  writes : 

"  We  intreat  you  never  to  go  again  to  the 
Court  of  Conscience ;  it  is  a  duty  you  owe  to 
yourself  and  to  us.  You  have  devoted  every 
Friday  of  your  life  to  it  during  nineteen  years, 
and  much  of  your  other  time  ;  you  have  heard  a 
clamour  that  would  have  deafened,  and  breatheii 
un  atmosphere  that  would  have  poisoned  a  horse ; 
and  your  sole  reward  has  been  insult  and  the 
destruction  of  your  property." 

To  this  he  replies :  "  Do  not  distress  thyself 
about  my  resuming  the  direction  of  the  Court  of 
Conscience ;  I  am  as  likely  to  distribute  justice 
while  sitting  on  a  bench  in  the  moon."  .... 
"  Archer,  my  successor,  told  me  to-day  that  he 
was  not  able  to  conduct  the  Court,  but  would 
give  it  up.  He  wished  I  would  take  the  reins. 
Another  man  observed,  that  the  Commissioners 
did  not  know  what  they  were  doing ;  that  they 
could  not  understand  the  cases;  and  that  if  I 
did  not  return  the  Court  would  not  last  a  year." 
Hutton  modestly  adds,  however,  "  This  is  not 
true."  Among  the  other  items  of  news  he  has 
to  tell  his  family  is,  that  "Dr.  Priestley  comes 
no  more.  He  has  taken  a  house  near  London  for 
twenty-one  years,  2>rovide(l  he  lives  and  the  house 
stands  so  long"  A  project  had  been  set  on 
foot  by  the  suff(;rers  in  the  riots  to  prosecute 
the  magistrates,  but  Hutton  wisely  reasons 
against  this.  He  says :  **  I  supped  with 
William  Humphreys  a  few  nights  ago.  We 
were  a  select  company  of  only  seven  persons, 
[all  sufferers    in    the    riots,]    and   I  estimated 


I   JUtertHalUoUl 


OLD  ANB  NEW  BIEMINGHAiVL 


353 


our  joint  property  at  ^400,000.  The  design 
Was  to  prosecute  the  superior  powers.  Jolin 
EyLmd  and  I  carried  it  in  tlie  negative,  wliicb 
fcurt  poor  William  RusseU,  who  is  rtaliy  a 
good  man,  so  much,  that  he  will  resign  the 
direction.'* 

'  The  trials  of  the  rioters  themselves,  however, 
Baine  on  before  those  for  carapensation  of  the 
kufferers,  at  the  Warwick  Assizes,  on  August 
Snd,  in  the  same  year.  Only  twelve  pei-sons 
WtUB  arraigned,  and  even  of  thei*e  only  four 
prere  convicted.  Against  one  of  the  prisoners, 
jiamed  Joseph  Careless,  it  was  pro  veil,  by  two 
iritnessea,  that  he  appeared  to  be  the  ring-leader 
in  demolishing  Baskervillo  House ;  they  saw  him 
prilh  an  oak  rail,  about  two  yards  long,  knocking 
^own  the  brick-work  of  a  bow-window ;  and  he 
pros  also  seen  driving  away  the  pigs.  Against 
Shifl^  however,  it  was  sworn  by  his  sister-in-law, 
EJiziibeth  Grice,  that  **ho  came  there  not  as  a 
rioter,  but  to  suppresa  the  riot ;  inasmuch  as  ho 
let  out  two  pigs,  from  an  outhouse,  whi<di  was 
loon  after  burnt  down."  lliis  evidence,  together 
irith  hifl  good  character, — all  the  rioters  seem  t(/ 
lave  borne,  or  procured,  a  good  character, — 
ibtained  for  him  his  acquittal.  Four  of  the 
iioters  were  found  guilty  and  received  sentence 
^f  death,  viz.  :  Francis  Field,  John  Green, 
lomew  Fisher,  and  William  Hamls.     All 

ethers  wore  acquitted ;  and  even  of  the  four 
lio  were  sentenced  only  two  suffered  the  penalty 

death.     The  leniency   of  the  Court  towards 

violent  supporters  of  "  Church  and  King  " 

into  a  proverb.     On  one  occasion,  not  long 

r  the  trial,  a  gentleman  who  was  liunting  with 
r.  Corbett's  fox-hounds,  was  so  sure  of  kiOing 

fox  that  he  cried,  ** Nothing  but  a  Bmningham 
Tury  can  save  him  ! " 

On  the  day  of  the  trial  the  poet  Cowper  wrote 
rom  Weston,  to  a  clcrgj^man  in  the  neighbour- 
Kood,  the  Rev.  W.  Bagot :  **  You  live,  I  think, 
El  the  neighbourhood  of  Birmingham, — what  must 
^  have  felt  on  the  late  alarming  occasion  ?  You, 
suppooo,  could  see  the  fires  from  your  windows, 


We,  who  only  heard  the  news  of  them,  have 
trembled.  Never,  sure,  was  religious  zeal  more 
detestably  manifested,  or  more  to  the  prejudice  of 
its  own  cause," 

The  claims  of  the  sufferers  were  heard  at  the 
Spring  Assizes  at  ^Yarwick,  in  1792.  The  total 
bill  of  costs  amounted  to  £35,095  13s.  6d.  Hero, 
as  at  the  trial  of  the  rioters,  the  whole  weight  of 
authority  was  against  the  dissenters.  No  claim 
was  allowed  on  behalf  of  the  New  Meetbg  House, 
because  the  Trustees  had  lost  their  License ; 
ultimately,  however,  a  grant  of  £2,000  was  made 
from  the  Treasury,  upon  the  application  of  ^Ir. 
Russell. 

A  very  interesting  sketch  of  the  proceedings 
at  this  trial  is  given  in  several  letters  from  a 
Bimiingham  tradesman,  Mr.  Thomas  Richards,  of 
82,  High  Street,  (of  whose  establishment  a  full- 
page  engraving  is  given  in  Bi? set's  *'  Magnificent 
Directory,'' )  addi-essed  to  his  daughters  at  school 
As  these  contain  the  only  accurate  account  of  this 
event,  so  far  as  we  know,  we  make  no  apology 
for  printing  them  entire. 

'* Birmingham,  April  tst^  170i.—-l  dare  say  you  will 
be  anxious  to  hear  some  ne^s  from  Warwick  assizes,  as  we 
are  all  m  much  interested  in  the  trials  there.  They  began 
on  Wednesday^  the  28th  Marih  ;  in  getu^ral  they  hare 
finished  in  t^vo  or  tliree  d&ys,  but  they  are  not  yet  ovpr, 
oor  likely  to  be  for  several  days.  Our  friend  Dr,  Prieutley 
13  there,  and  as  I  found  Iw  did  not  intend  cojjdng  to  Bir- 
iningbain,  Mr.  Hamh  Rylaoti,  Sen,,  Mr.  Benton,  and 
mj^self,  wont  on  Thursday  last  to  pay  our  ni'speets  to  bim. 
We  were  so  fortunate  as  to  cull  upon  him  at  a  liuic  when 
he  was  disengaged,  and  spent  ao  hour  with  him  by  our- 
8<?l\^ea  ;  be  looks  very  well,  and  enjoys  his  tisual  and  equal 
Oow  of  spirita.  It  ia  evident  he  ia  not  situated  bo  much 
to  his  own  wish  as  he  woa  at  Birmingham,  but  he  aeems 
to  feel  and  uniformly  expresses  himaelf  like  a  truly  Chria- 
tiftii  Pbilosopber.  We  found  by  our  newspaper,  that  he 
had  received  some  insults  at  Warwick,  and  we  asked  bim 
about  it,  hut  be  made  very  light  of  it ;  and  eaid,  he  wa« 
90  u«ed  to  ill-treatment  from  the  ignorant  part  of  mankind, 
that  ho  considered  it  as  nothing,  but  looked  upon  the  kind 
attention  of  hia  friends  as  clear  gain.  He  was  evidently 
pleased  to  sec  ua,  and  pressed  us  to  stay,  till  we  were  ia- 
ternipted  by  other  company.  Many  of  his  congregation 
have  followed  our  example,  and  have  gone  over  on  purpose 
to  see  him,  and  came  back  the  same  day.  We  stayed  all 
night,  and  Mr.  Benton  and  1  were  obhged  to  ilcep  in  one 
bed,  for  which  we  paid  the  extravagant  price  of  half  a 
guiu^,  though  I  wan  in  the  court  till  after  two  o'clock  on 


254 


OLD   AND  NEW  EIBMTNGHAM. 


[Aftar  the  OioU.. 


Friday  morning,  hearing  Mr.  Hyland'a  trial,  which  lasted 
about  6ft€fn  houra,  I  was  there  from  seven  o'clock  till 
two,  aud  got  ft  very  good  place  amongst  the  CoanseL  I 
mut'L  wished  to  Ijave  gone  again  to-morrow  to  hear  the 
Dr/s  trial,  but  Mr.  Richards  ia  just  »et  off  with  Mr. 
Whntcly,  the  attorney,  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Ijawrence,  who 
is  siipjioened  as  a  witness  on  the  Pr-*s  tri»^h  I  expect  he 
will  cut  a  poor  figure.  The  Dr.  told  me  they  had  got  an 
excellent  set  of  qiiefttionij  to  ask  him,  drawn  up  by  a  person 
well  qiialified  to  do  it.     I  think  the  disaentcra  have  missed 


him,  if  possible,  but  it  is  an  nncertainty  whotheir  tb«y  can 
have  him,  as  the  court*  are  open  in  London,  and  I  fear  h« 
may  be  engaged.  The  only  two  trials  that  hare 
place  yet,  are  Mr.  Ryland*8  and  Mr,  Taylor'a.  They  ] 
taken  off  from  the  former  more  than  £700,  and  from  ] 
Tnylor,  about  £2.600  ;  it  is  expected  they  will  take  < 
more  from  the  Dr.  and  Mr.  flutton.  I  am  truly  sorry  for^ 
Mr.  Hutton's  family,  tbey  have  been  used  in  the  moat 
Bliameful  manner  ;  tliey  have  been  inaulted  in  the  Btreeta  ; 
ludicrous  and  scandalous  prints  have  been  published  and 


'v 


mwu- 


^ 


'-i^^^  *^"*'^  -^itUi^  Hmt<^ 


P^ 


Js*"»§*"-*4JJ'"»^: 


I  D  3 


LI  VERT  STEfiET  (UKIOK)   MSETIKO   HOITSE. 


OLD   MJCETrNQ   HOUdE. 

it  very  much  in  not  having  an  eminent  couiiftel  to  reply  to 
a  famous  <»ne  that  the  opposite  party  have  brought  up  on 
the  occasion.  He  is  the  most  violent,  impudent  fellow 
1  ever  heard  in  any  court  ;  he  spoke  two  hours  upon 
Mr.  Ky land's  trial,  and  began  to  Uirow  out  such  invec- 
tives and  falsehoods  against  the  di8«eiitera»  that  the  judge 
fitopi>ed  him,  but  such  was  hia  effrontry  that  he  told  the 
Judge  that  if  he  sent  him  to  Newgate  he  would  say  what 
he  bad  to  aay.  I  found  the  Judge  told  him  afterwards 
that  his  speech  had  a  very  bad  tendency,  hut  he  is  well 
puid,  and  seems  to  be  detenu iued  to  say  anything  that 
will  please  his  employers.  The  dissenters  haveuow  sent  for 
Mr.  Erftkinc,  the  most  eminent  counsel  in  the  kingdom — I  am 
aniioUB  to  know  whether  they  have  brought  him»  Three 
ntleinen  set  off  on  Sunday  night,  on  purpose  to  procure 


KEW  XBBTiHO  H0U8E. 

sold  in  the  most  imblic  manner ;  in  short,  exactly" 
same  spirit  seems  to  have  actuated  both  the  great  and 
little  mob  of  late,  as  produced  and  carried  on  the  riotf  in 
July.  When  this  wicked  spirit  will  subside  I  know  not, 
but  there  is  no  danger  of  its  shewing  itself  iu  the  aame 
manner  as  it  has  done  before. 

"  The  insult  that  waa  offered  to  the  Dr.  was   by 
attorney  in  Warwick.     It  seems  he  followed  him,  eithe 
in  the  hall  or  the  street,   and  cursed  him  and  used 
most  ftuda(.ious  language,  but  the  Dr.  took  no  notice  ( 
him,  but  Mr.  Edwards  saw  him  in  the  street  last  Sunday^ 
and  went  up  to  him  and  ftxed  his  piercing  eyes  upon  hiu 
with  all  the  energy  he  was  capable  of,  said  to  him  *  ore 
you  the  fellow  that  dapad  to  damn  Dr.  Priestley  I '    Hf_ 
walked  off  Hk«  a  coward,  and  made  no  r^ply/* 


▲li«rlW  IUoii.1 


OLD  AND  NEW  BIRMINGHAM. 


255 


ing  seen  one  of  tlie  gentlemen  who  went  to  LonOon  for 
Erskine^  and  have  the  mortification  to  hear  that  he  coiild 
not  potaibVy  come,  but  the  Chief  B&ron  Eyre  is  come  to 
relieve  the  other  Judg«,  and  I  have  no  doubt  will  be  a 
rhsttk  npott  the  coanael  that  haa  distinguiahcd  himself  so 


diutid  with  Ail.  Juo,   KyWd  und  bou^  aifter  tWiii-  fiery 
trial. 

Taoa.  KtcuAUM.'* 

**  Birmiti^tam,  Afril  Siht  179i€^^}n  my  last,  I  gave 

yoit  9nme  account  of  Warwick  Asaizes,  which  were  not 

hui^heil  till  l<*itday  night.     Dr.  Priestley's  trial  c^iine  on 


:^v\ 


TELE  0U>    "CUUKT  OF   REQUKiJTS, 
Ftqm  a  DmtoU^g  in  tlu  PenhouM  CfilUeticn,  BirtAinffKam  Old  Lihrarn, 


i  by  bisjcoaiwipt  of  IIm ^nrt.  ^EcskiDeaajB  if  Baroa 
E^yre  had  been  in  court  when  Harding  behaved  lo  ill.  he 
certainly  would  have  committed  him  to  prison, 

••  I  mrpfmt  the  trials  will  all  be  over  by  tc>-night,  bnt  as 

I  think  you  will  be  anxious  to  hear  what  has  been  doing, 

I  believe  I  shall  send  this  by  post  to-day,  and  probably 

write  again  on  Sunday.     We  called  at  Rowiujcton  when  we 

I  went  to  Warwick^  spent  a  short  time  with  your  mama, 

.  hcrr  very  well,  did  not  call  as  wu  came  back*  as 

^Indocod  to  come  throagh   Kuowlo,  where   we 

da 


on  Thursday,  and  though  they  madt^  very  large  deductiaua 
from  his  claim,  I  am  persuaded  they  did  not  make  any 
from  his  happiiess,  for  1  suppose  theflw  w«r  waa  a  trial 
in  that  court  where  «o  reapecUble  a  set  of  evidftUce  ware 
collected  together  in  favour  of  any  nian,  much  leaa  of  a 
man  who  had  by  hia  enemies  been  treated  as  the  worst  of 
criminals.  Three  of  the  moat  distiuguiahed  of  the  wit- 
nesses were  the  Rev.  Augustus  Johnson,  of  Keoilworth,  a 
gentleman  of  the  eatabliahroant,  a  philosophical  friend  of 
the  Dr/st  *^  >  tnaa  of  most  amiahk  character  and  tnan> 


256 


ULIJ   AND  KEW  BIRMIJNGHAM. 


Utter  tbe  I 


netn,  and  respected  by  ttio  whole  coujsty  round,  and  of 
large  property ;  the  Rev,  Mr.  Berrington,  a  Roman 
CBtholic  prie«t,  and  an  aullior,  who  haa  distinguished  him- 
self by  several  very  valuable  and  ingenious  publicfttiotis,  and 
added  to  that,  a  man  of  moBt  respectable  character,  and 
esteemed  by  all  the  litem  I  i  oT  thu  present  time ;  Mr.  Gal  ton 
Jun,,  of  this  town,  «  qtuiker,  whom  yott  know,  who 
is  universally  resjiected  by  all  imrties  for  his  abilities^  his 
generosity,  hia  candour,  his  pulilic  usefolness,  and  every 
private  virtue  which  can  a^lorn  the  gentlemnn  and  the 
scholar.  The  appearance  of  such  characters  aB  these, 
would  have  done  honour  to  royalty  itself,  and  their  testi* 
mony  woiiJd  have  been  decisive  in  any  case.  Several 
other  persons,  of  high  reputation,  were  ready  to  have 
appeared  if  it  had  been  necessary,  and  wo^ild  have  been 
proud  to  have  had  ati  opportUDity  of  shewing  the  world 
that  they  were  the  friends  of  Dr.  Priestley,  but  there  were 
many  that  were  not  called  upon ,  The  Dr.  's  two  sons  under- 
went  long  examinations,  and  were  complimented  by  both 
the  Judge  and  Counsel.  1  have  no  doubt  but  the  Dr. 
experienced  much  more  »atiafjn;tion  from  the  aptieanuiee 
of  these,  his  friends,  and  the  behariour  of  hts  sons,  than  he 
would  have  done  If  the  jury  had  given  him  every  shilling 
he  claimed." 

Tlie  amounts  claimed  by  the  various  sufierers, 
togeUier  with  the  araounta  allowed  by  the  Courts 
are  g:iveii  in  the  following  table,  prepared  by 
William  Button  : — 


Name. 

Claim. 

Allowed 

John  Taylor,  Esq.       . 
Thomas  Rossel,  Esq. 

.  £12,670    0 
285  U 

2  .. 
7  , 

.  £9902    2 
160     0 

0 
0 

William  Piddock  .     . 

556  15 

7  ., 

300     0 

0 

Jolm  llarwood .     .     . 

143  12 

6  . 

60     0 

0 

Thomas  Hawkes   .     . 

304     3 

8  . 

DO  15 

6 

B.  C.  Cox     .... 

336  13 

7  . 

.       254     0 

0 

Parsonage  House  .     . 
St.  Dollax    .... 

267  U  11   .. 
IDS     8    9  , 

.       200     0 
.       139  17 

0 
6 

William  Rufisel,  Esq. 

.        1971     8 

6  . 

.      1600     0 

0 

John  Ryland,  Esq.     . 

3240    8 

4   .. 

.     2495  11 

6 

Old  Meeting     ....        1983  1^ 
Geo.  Humphreys,  Esq.   .        2152  13 
Dr.  Priestley    ....        3628     8 
Thorn  aft  llntton  (my  son)        61  ft    2 
Wm.  Huttont myself)    .        6736    3 

3  ., 

1  .. 
9  ., 

2  .. 
8  ., 

,      1390     7 
.      1855  11 
.     2502  18 

.     ei8   2 

.    ^m  17 

5 

0 
0 
2 
0 

£35,095  13  e  £26,961  2  8 
These  amounts,  small  as  they  were  in  pro- 
portion to  the  claims,  were  paid  gradgingly,  and, 
says  Hutton,  "with  bs  much  reluctance  as  if  the 
sufferers  had  destroyed  their  own  property/'  The 
mere  costs  of  the  trial,  borne  by  the  dissenters 
amounted  to  thirtot?n  thotiaaiid  pounds. 


The  congregations  of  the  two  Meeting  Houses, 
depiived  fur  a  time  of  their  accustomed  places  of 
worship,  obtained  the  temporary  uae  of  part  of 
a  building  called  the  Amphitheatre,  in  Livi 
Street,  which  waa  opened,  under  the  name  of 
Union  Meeting  House,  on  the  13lh  Xovem' 
1791,  Mr.  Thoroaa  Richards^  several  of  whose 
letters  we  have  already  quoted,  wrote  on  that  day 
to  his  daughtei's : 

"Our  new  jilace  of  worship,  formerly  the  Amphitheatre,  in 
Livery  Street,  is  made  very  commodious  for  our  purpose^ 
and  was  opened  this  morning  by  Mr.  Coated,  who  preai^ed 
an  excellent  aennon  upon  the  occasion,  from  the  4th  Jobu. 
23-24  verses.  It  was  very  well  ailed,  both  parti  of  the  daj, 
1  believe  not  less  than  a  thousand  people  in  the  morning, 
and  I  :iup[K>se  1,200  this  afternoon  ;  and  he  seemed  to  be 
beard  by  everybody  present.  1  tis  a  much  more  con veuu 
and  comfortable  place  than  the  generaHtyof  the  peo] 
expected,  and  I  think  will  do  very  well  till  our  owu  pli 
are  rebuilt  ;  we  have  tnken  it  for  three  years.  Dr.  Pricslli 
offered  to  come  to  be  with  us  for  a  few  Sundays,  but  many 
of  the  congregation  thought  it  better  to  deprive  ounelm 
of  the  pleasure  of  his  company,  than  expose  him  to  the 
riak  of  insult  from  our  Birmingham  savagos.  It  was  Isit 
week  determined  by  the  congregation  of  the  late  Dr.  Pri( 
to  invite  him  as  his  successor,  and  I  suppose  he  will  ncce] 
their  invitation." 


of 

I 


The  congregation  of  the  Old  fleeting  House 
commenced  to  rebuOd  hi  June,  1792,  on  the  6ite_ 
of  the  old  building  destroyed  by  ihe  rioteiaj 
but  did  not  complete  it  imtil  1796.  It  wjw 
built  sufficiently  strong  to  stand  a  siege  almo6t ; 
the  basement,  which  is  of  stone,  forma  * 
piazza;  above,  the  building  is  of  brick,  and 
has  but  few  pretentions  to  architectural  beauty. 
It  is  capable  of  accommodating  about  1,100 
hearers. 

The  New  Jtleeting  House,  in  Moor  Street^  wa* 
not  opened  until  July  22,  1802,  It  was  similar 
in  appearance  to  the  Old  Meeting ;  the  interior 
measured  76  feet  by  40  feet,  and  will  accom- 
modate  about  1,200  persona.  Views  of  botli 
buildings,  together  with  the  temporary  home  of 
the  two  Societies  in  Livery  Street,  appear  on 
page  254. 


use  " 

iteii 


CHAPTER     XL. 


THE     THEATRE     IN     BIRMINGHAM, 
Frtmi  1775  to  the  huming  of  the  New  Street  Theaire  in  I79JS, 

kHa  fn  BlTminghtkm—f\ni  attempt  to  obtain  a  Li  eons*  for  lli^  Tlicatrc— The  bill— The  dobat*  on  the  first  rwkctitig~Mr.  Burke*! 
Vpceeh—Defeftt  of  the  bilJ  on  the  iccond  reaflln^— Beiieflts— The  Li  very  Strcut  Aiuj«liitbratm— John  Cctllln*'*  Enteruiniuont,  "  The 
Bniah  ^— fiurniog  of  the  New  Stroei  Tlieatre — 3a«tt'8  Wij;— Act>ra'  Beaeflu  at  the  Aiaphithoiitrc, 


%  last  notice  of  mtttlers  theatrical  brought  the 
Ujry  of  local  theatres  down  to  the  year  1775.* 
that  date,  the  i-eader  will  remember,  the  town 
flted  of  two  newly-built  theatres, ^thoau  of 
w  Street  and  King  SiKjet.  The  opening  of 
Be  two  houses  marked  the  beginning  of  a  new 

in  the  history  of  the  stage  in  Birmingliam. 
lierto  the  dramatic  entertain  mients  given   in 

town  hardly  et^ualled  those  of  the  strolling 
jrera  "  under  canvas,"  and  even  these  had  fre- 
infely  to  give  way  before  the  less  legitimate 
formatices  of  rope  and  wir©  dancers,  conjurors, 
^eaters,  and  other  **  entertainers  "  of  a  iniscel- 
BOH«  character  ;  iidw»  a  better  clasi*  of  enter- 
uneots  was  promised  :  '*  Stars ''  from  the 
tropolitan  theatres  occasionally  visited  the 
d  housed.  Ou  the  r2th  of  July,  at  the  King 
Bet  Theatre,  MackJin — 

•  - -**  the  Jew 

Thjit  dhakedp^are'draw  " — 

ie!iT©<l  in  the  character  in  which  he  eclipsed  all 

er  actors  of  bia  time,  that  of  Shtjlock ;   and 

Hiat  of  Sir* Arch f/  Maemrcaftmn  in  the  farce  of 

^h  la  Mode;  other  welMcnown  actors  also 

|Kd  during   the   same  year.      But  the   old 

ng  for  miscellaneous  performances  of  a  lower 

Br  still  remained,  and  we  read  in  the  very  ad- 

iisemcnt  announcing  Macklin's  performances, 

the   uncommon  applause  given   to   Signor 

1*8  Imitation  of  Birds,  &c.,  on  Friday 

the    above    Theatre,   has   induced   Mt, 

engage  him  for  a  few  nights  after  the 

of  hifi  present  agreement  at   Sadler's 


taldie  Life  And  ErenLi  (OiAptfT  xxir.,  pp.  141^.) 


Wells,  which  wiU  be  some  time  in  the  next 
month,  when  he  will  certainly  return  here,  and 
entertain  the  publick  with  several  new  Perform- 
ances." 

Up  to  this  time  all  theatrical  performances  in 
Birmingham  had  been,  strickly  speaking,  under 
the  baa  of  the  law,  none  of  the  theatres  which 
had  arisen  from  time  to  time  having  been  licensed. 
As  far  as  Birmingham  was  concerned,  therefore, 
the  old  law  was  still  in  force  regarding  all  actors 
as  rogues  and  vagabonds,  who  were  pliable,  as  a 
locid  notice  pointed  out,  for  ^*  the  acting  of  Plays, 
Interludes,  Comedies,  Tragedies,  Operas,  Farces, 
and  other  Entertainments  of  the  Stage,  without 
legal  Authority,  to  condign  Punishment."  Thi;^ 
anomalous  position  was  not  one  in  which  the 
theatre-loving  people  of  Birmingham  were  inclined 
to  remain  contented  any  longer ;  and  eo  we  read 
in  the  Gazctie^  of  February  17,  1777,  that  "On 
Monday  last  Mr.  Yates  presented  a  Petition  to 
the  House  of  Commons  for  leave  to  bring  in  a 
Bill  to  license  the  Theatre  in  New-Street,  in  this 
Town  ;  another  Petition  was  also  presented  at  the 
same  Time,  signed  by  several  Gentlemen  and 
respectable  Tradesmen,  in  support  of  Mr.  Yates*s 
Petition:  both  of  which  were  then  read,  and 
referred  to  a  Com  rait  bee  appointed  to  consider 
the  same,  with  a  Power  to  send  for  Persons, 
Papers,  and  Keconla." 

In  order  to  strengthen  his  position,  Mr.  Yates 
inserted  in  the  same  issue  of  that  journal,  an 
advertisement  as  follows  :— 

*'To  the  GeatUraen,  Manufacturera,  Trad^oaiuen,  Itc, » 
of  tlu5  Tt»m  of  Btniiiiighftm,  and  its  Environs.    WUci^ojui 


a  Petition  la  now  depending  in  the  Honour&ble  House  of 
Commons,  for  a  Royal  Tueatee  in  the  Town  of  Bir- 
mingham ;  and  it  having  been  suggested  to  several 
Gentlemen  of  the  said  Town,  that  a  bad  Use  might  be 
made  of  the  Power  intended  to  be  rested  in  the  Person 
to  whom  it  may  be  granted ;  the  following  Comlitionf* 
arc  submitted  to  their  Consideration  : 

"First,  That  no  public  Dirersions,  such  aa  Rope- 
Dancing;  Tumbling,  Puppet-shows,  fcc,  which  haye 
been  lately  exhibited,  and  ore  so  greatly  complaioenl  of, 
shall  ever  he  prmitted  at  the  New-Street  Theiitre. 

**  Secondly,  That  the  Time  for  performing  Flap  shall 
be  limited  to  four  Montlia  ;  and  if  any  Attempt  shall  be 
made  to  exceed  that  Time,  the  Magistrates  for  the  Time 
hftng  shall  have  the  same  full  Power  in  every  Hespect  to 
restrain  them,  as  if  no  such  Authority  had  beeo  granted 
for  a  Eoyal  Theatre. 

"On  the  above  Condition*  (which  have  alreatly  bet^n 
offered  to  several  respectable  Gentlemen)  it  is  presumed 
that  a  Royal  Theatre  would  be  very  acceptable  and 
agreeahlo,  ai  it  is  certain  nine  Parts  in  ten  of  the  Town 
are  convinced  that  two  Play-houses  are  greatly  injurious. 
Thefefere,  whether  a  Theatre  flo  regulated  would  not  bo 
preferable  to  those  on  the  present  plan  Is  a  Question 
siihraitted  to  the  candid  Public/* 

A  copy  of  the  bill  for  licensing  the  theatre, 
was  printed  m  the  Gazette  of  ^larclx  10th,  1877. 
It  runs  AS  foEows  i — 

"A  Bill  for  auibHng  his  Majesi^  to  liaeTue  a  Play- 
house in  the  Town  of  Birmitiffiam,  in  the  Couni^  of 
Jf^etrwufk,  f Of  font  months  tmrf  yenr, 

*'  Where«a  it  may  be  proper  that  a  Play-bonse  should 
be  Licenaad  in  the  Town  of  Birmingham,  in  the  County 
of  Warwick  for  four  months  every  year  ; 

**MaY  IT  THBRKFoaK  PLEAr^E  Tom  Majestt,  That  it 
may  be  enacted.  And  he  it  enacted,  by  the  King's  Most 
Exoellent  Majesty,  by  and  with  the  Coiifcent  oJ  the  J^rds 
Spiritual  and  Temporal,  and  Commons,  in  this  present 
FarUament  assembled^  and  by  the  Authority  of  the  saaie, 
That  so  much  of  an  Act  of  Parliament,  which  passed  in 
the  tenth  Year  of  his  late  Majeaty's  Reign,  intituled, 
'  An  Act  to  explain  and  Amend  so  much  of  an  Act  made 

*  in  the  twelfth  Year  of  the  Reign  of  Queen  Anno,  liiti- 

*  tuled  an  Act  for  reducing  the  Laws  relating  to  Rogues, 
'  Vagabonds,  Sturdy  Beggars,  and  Vagrants,  and  sending 
^  them  whither  they  ought  to  be  sent,'  as  diseharget  all 
Persons  from  representing  any  Entertainment  on  the 
Stage  whatever,  in  Virtue  of  Letters  Patent  from  his 
Majesty,  or  by  Licence  from  the  Lonl  Chamberlain  of 
his  Majesty's  Household,  for  the  Time  being,  except 
within  the  Liberties  of  Westminster,  or  where  Iiis  Majosty 
is  rcaiding  for  the  Time  being,  be,  and  is  hereby* 


•  with  respect  to  the  said  Town  of  Birmingham, 
daring  the  Months  of  June,  July,  August^  and  September 
in  every  Year  ;  and  that  it  shalJ  and  may  be  lawful  for 
his  Majesty,  his  Heirs,  and  Successors,  to  grant  Letters 


*  If  kli«  Bill  r««MM.  this  Bliink  will  b«  niled  up  ^i^li  th«  word 
RmrtALKD 


Patent  for  eatablishing  a  Theatre  or  Playhouse, 
the  said  Town  of  Binninghara,  for  the  Performanet « 
Entertainments  of  the  Stage  during  the  Months  of  Jtiae, 
July,  August  and  September,  in  every  Year  \  which  Theatre 
or  Playhouse  ^during  the  Time  before -mentioned)  shall  be 
entitled  to  all  the  Privilegea  and  aubjocted  to  all  tb 
licgulations  to  which  any  Theatre  or  Play-houae  in  Giett 
Britain  ia  entitled  and  subjected. '* 

The  bill  waa  read  for  the  first  tixne  in  tht 
Hotise  of  Commons  on  the  '2&th  of  March,  audi 
was  during  tho  short  debate  which  eosned 
Burke  niadts  the  now  famous  reforence  to  Uii 
ingbam  as  **  the  gT«at  Toy-shop  of  Europe^ **  If 
speech  on  this  occasion  was  reported  in  t!i 
Gazette^  apparently  in  full,  (an  nnusnal  circn 
stance  in  those  days,)  aa  follows  : — 

**I  am  sure,  Mr.  Sj>eaker,  that  if  the  Playhouse  in 
Question  produces  Pieces  with  half  as  much  Wit  in  tbej 
as  the  honouraUis  Gentlemen  has  eKcittd  agpunat 
Bill»  in  what  I  may  call  the  Prologue  to  the  Play,  th 
Town  of  Btrminghani  will  he  most  admirably  entertainr^ 
— hut,  Sir,  the  Honourable  Member' a  Wit  stop*  filun 
even  of  the  Iknmumieut  of  this  Piece : — >Let  us  s»e  £ouia 
thing  more  of  it  :  let  us  hear  the  Piece  l>efore  we  dcckrl 
against  it.  He  has  brought  ancient  History  to  t^U  y*«a 
the  Circnmatftiices  of  the  City  where  Iron  and  St«el  wet* 
first  wrought :  hut  I  wiU  likewise  teU  Iiim  thai  we  an* 
indebted  to  the  ^ni«  Dfity  for  Amusement  and  thfMitttcal 
Representation,  consequently  what  he  said  is  an  Aigiimetit 
for  the  BilL— But,  Hir,  to  be  mor*  sortons :  I  do  not 
know  that  Theatres  are  Schools  of  Virtue  :— I  wouU 
rather  call  them  Nurseries  of  Idleness  ;  hut  then,  Sir,  ol 
the  Tarious  Means  which  Idleness  will  take  for  its  amnM"- 
ment,  in  Tnith  1  holieve  the  Theatre  is  the  rnoct  inao* 
cent :— The  Question  is  not,  Whether  a  Man  had  l»f  tt«r 
be  at  Work  than  go  to  the  Play? — it  ia  simply  tlrt*  — 
Being  idle; — shall  he  go  to  the  Play  or  some  Blacksun  Is 
Entertainment  I— Why  I  shall  bo  free  to  say,  I  think  the 
Play  will  bo  the  boat  Plaice  that  it  ia  probable  a  Black* 
smith's  idle  momenta  will  carry  him  to.  The  Hon. 
Gentleman  informs  the  House,  that  great  IneoDTeoi«iiosa 
hare  been  found  from  the  licensi^  Hoiuai  ai  Urctpool 
and  Manchestvr.  The  Case  is  not  parallel  betwoen  ihom 
Towns  and  Birmingham,— They  have  a  Qenend  Li  ^ 
— Birmingham  asks  for  a  Ft^ur  MimUiM*  Uktmoi  t^ 
their  Theatres  are  under  tha  d inaction  of  tl^  aaiu« 
Strolling  Aliinager,  who  when  he  once  enter*  the  Town. 
never  quits  it,  whilst  by  any  Arts  he  can  force  Coinpmy 
to  hia  Theatre, — Birmingham  Tlieatre  wtU  be  under  xhv 
Direction  of  a  Man  very  eminent  in  hia  Profofision  aa  a 
Comedian ;  who  in  London  conducts  the  moat  elegssnt 
Enteriaioment  in  Europe,  and  who  never  has  baeii,  or 
wishes  to  be  there,  hut  daring  i\m  TlrnM  ili#  Thi»UMof 
Drury-Lane  and  Covcnt*Ganien  ar«  shut  up  in  ti* 
Summer.  I  look  upoji  Birmingham  to  he  tfic  ^rtmi 
Sh&p  a/  Eurajjtt^  and  suhaui  il  to> JUlt.  ttHK&Wo  of 


TH*  TItMtiv  in  1 


,im^im.i  OLD   AND   NEW   BIKMINGHA^I. 


259 


Hon,  Ildnae,  to  consider  if  Birmingham  an  that  Accountf 
ia  not  the  iiw$t  proper  Pla^t  in  England  to  have  a  Heensed 
Theattr.  The  Qaestion  before  us  turns  upon  this  Point 
— there  are  already  two  Playhouses  unlicensed  ;  now  the 
Bill  proposes  that  instead  of  two  in  Ditfiaticu  of  Law,  the 
People  of  Bfrmingham  shall  have  o»«  according  to  Late— 
therefore,  let  115  prf>coed  and  st*nd  the  Bill  to  a  Com- 
mittr^,  when  wc  shall  hear  the  Evidence  of  Inhtibitnnts 
af  the  first  Koputation  ;  and  if  they  can  prove,  that  one 
hgal  PlatfkotiM  m)X  check  Industry,  promote  Idleness, 
and  do  other  Mischiefs  to  Trade,  which  two  ThetUrc^ 
c&nitury  to  Ltnw  do  not, — then  it  will  be  Time  to  throw 
oot  the  Bill" 


Hie  imlicensed  theatre  remamed  an  institution 
in  Birniingham  for  thirty  years  after  the  defeat 
of  1777 ;  Beveml  miftuccessfiil  attempta  were 
made  bj  Mr.  Yatea,  of  tho  New  Street  Tlieatr©, 
and  by  the  manager  of  tliat  in  Kin^  Street,  to 
obtain  a  licence  for  the  lucal  theatre,  and  it  was 
not  nntil  1807  that  the  Act  of  Parliament  was 
obtained  which  gave  to  Birmingham  a  **  Theati-e 
Royal," 

Most  of  the  thea'j'ical  notices  in  the  old  local 


iofts  coLUXH,  Atrruon  of  "  itie  brvsh," 


The  division  on  the  first  reading  of  the  bill 
showed  a  majority  of  twenty  in  favour  of  iU 
being  read  a  second  time,  there  being  48  votes  in 
itd  favour  and  28  against  it.  The  second  reading 
waa  Exi^  for  the  22nd  of  ApriJ^  and  the  local 
interest  in  the  fortimea  of  the  bill  wat  intense,  as 
^jnanifested  in  the  lengthy  report  of  the  debates 
t'ikflt  occattOiL^ — so  copious  indued  as  to  drive 
out  manj  of  the  advertisements.  On  the  second 
rftading  the  bill  waa  defeated  by  a  majority  of 
51,  thftiw  being  only  eighteen  votes  for  and  sixty- 
aiDe  agiainst  it 


journals  refer  to  benefits,  often  of  actors  whoso 
very  names  are  now  almost  forgotten.  The  names 
of  Mrs,  Robinson,  ^Ixs.  Whitfield,  ilr.  Powell, 
and  u  the  re,  which  occur  in  the  Gazette  during  the 
period  imder  notice,  will,  doubtless,  be  unfamiliar 
to  the  reacier,  even  though  he  may  be  no  stranger 
to  the  history  of  the  English  Stage.  One  or  two 
examples  of  these  benefit  notices,  which  sound 
somewliat  cnrious  in  modem  ears,  may  be  given 
here.  The  first-named  lady,  ^Irs.  Robinson,  was 
favoured  with  a  second  benefit  during  the  eeaaon 
of  17^3|  in  conAer^tience  of  the  w»nt  of  success 


360 


OLD  AND   NEW   BIKMIKGHAM.  ixht  Tiicat«  m  Bimiin^btti,  iT?*-im.] 


on  the  occasion  of  her  first  appeal  to  the  public. 
The  second  would  appear  to  have  been  better 
received,  from  the  following  advertisement,  in 
which  the  henefidem  thanks  hor  patrons : — 

**Mrs.  RoBiysoN  preacnta  her  humble  Res|iects  to 
that  unemmnonly  brill iint  and  crowded  Audienc*?,  whoee 
Appearance  on  Monday  Kight  in  her  Favour  must  ever 
be  n^garded  by  her  as  a  ^lark  of  the  most  flattering 
Approbation,  and  as  a  Proof  of  the  moat  exalted 
Bjknevolence, 

'*To  thoie  many — very  many  Friends,  whose  kind 
Intentionji  wert  frustrated  by  their  being,  unfortiinatelyi 
too  late  to  aecure  Pkces  in  the  Theatre,  her  warmest 
Acknowledgments  are  also  due* 

**Toth6  Politeness  and  Liberality  of  the  Manaoers 
she  considers  herself  as  peiuliarly  indebted.  The  only 
Allay  to  such  heart^felt  Satiafaction  is — the  Consciousness 
that  no  Language  which  she  can  adopt— and,  indeed,  no 
Language  in  the  World — can  do  Justice  to  her  Feelinga 
on  this  Occasion  ;  but  she  hopes  that,  when  she  has  the 
Honour  and  Felicity  of  Rppeariiig  €Lgain  before  her  indul- 
gent and  ever- to-be- revered  Patrons,  the  stiO  linppier 
Exertions  of  maturer  Judgment  may  afford  more  nuhstan- 
tial  Evidence  of  her  Gratitude  for  such  unmerited  Good- 
ness than  it  ia  in  the  Power  of  Prafestiom  to  aiTord, 
however  ardent  or  however  sincere.*' 

Few  of  our  readers  woidd  be  willing,  probably, 
to  credit  the  fact  that  Birmingham,  a  century  ago, 
actually  possessed  an  opera-house,  Wc  bad  no 
trustworthy  evidence  of  the  existence  of  such  an 
institution,  yet  such  there  undoul>tedly  w^, 
although  under  the  more  modest  title  of  the 
**  Concert  Booth,"  a  wooden  play-houae,  erected 
on  the  Moseley  Road  early  in  1778.  An  an- 
nouncement of  the  performances  thereat  appears 
in  the  Gatdie  of  June  8th  in  that  year,  as 
follows  :— 

'*  This  present  Mohpay,  June  8th,  At  the  New  Coi»- 
CEKT  B<»uTH,  near  the  Plough -and -Harrow,  Moaeley 
Road,  will  be  p«  rformed  a  Concert  of  Vocal  and  Instru* 
mental  Mrsn:. — The  Yoeal  Parts  by  Mr,  Butler,  and 
Mrs.  Smith  (late  Mrs,  Woodman,)  from  the  Theatre 
Royal  Covent  Garden.  Between  the  several  Parts  of  the 
Concert  will  be  presented  (gratia)  a  Tragedy  called  The 
London  Merchant  ;  Or  the  History  of  Gi^orge  Bam-well. 
To  which  will  be  added,  a  Farce,  called  the  King  and  the 
Miller  of  Mansfield.  Before  the  Play  will  be  B|>oken  an 
occasional  Pkolooue. 

**  The  Proprietors  having  been  at  a  great  expense  in 
fitting  np  the  above  Booth  in  a  commodious  mauoer,  and 
being  determined  to  use  their  utmost  Efforts  in  getting 
np  all  the  New  Pieces  jie rformed  at  the  Theatres  Royal 
in  London  last  Winter ;  hope  to  meet  with  the  Encourage- 


ment of  the  Ladies  and  Gentlenirn,  4e.,  of  Biniiingh»ni1 
and  its  Environs.— Boxe*  8s. — Pit  28, — Gals..  Is, 

"  The  Doors  to  be  opened  at  Six,  and  to  begin  exact!/ 
at  Seven  o'clock,     Suhscrit>tion  Ticketa  to  be  bad  of  Str,l 
Graham,  at  Mr.  Heath's  in  Cross-Street ;  of  Mr  Cpo», 
at  Mrs.   Gaatrill's,    Upper  Quoen-Stroct ;    and  of  Mrs. 
Collins. — No  Persona  to  be  admitted  behind  the  Scenes 

**N.B.  The  Days  of  perfonning  this  Week,  are 
Monday,  Tucstiay,  Wednesday,  and  FriiUy  ;  *nd  tor  the 
future,  Mondays,  Wednesdays,  and  Friday  only.' 

Thia  building  had  but  a  brief  exiBtence, 

fell  a  prey  to  the  malice  of  some  incendii 

wretch,  and  vf%&  burnt  to  the  ground,  with  all' 

the  scenery,  the  greater  part  of  the  Company'B 

dresses,  and  other  properties,   on   the    13th 

August  in  the  same  year.     The  building 

of  timber,  all  efforts  to  extinguish  the  flames  ^ 

fruitlei^s.     The  melancholy  situation  of  the  poor 

btinitnut  players,  and  the  kindly  sympathy  and 

aj^ii^tance  accorded  to  them  by  the  inhabitantB^J 

are   well   de^ril^ed   by  a  correspondent   of  thfl^ 

Gnzettt^    who  signs   himself    **No    Player,"  itf 

follows : — 

*"To  the  PrinttTs  of  the  Birmingham  OasetU, — Bir- 
Tninglmnu  August  24th,  1778. — It  is  with  the  sanccn 
P]t'Hj<ure   that   1    congratulate   th*>    Fnbaldtauts  of 
Town,  on   the  singular   honour  tbey  have   done  the! 
lluiiianity  in  contributing  to  the  Relief  of  the  unhapfif 
sutfei'ers  by  the  late  Fire.     The  situation  of  the  Aoto; 
was  indeed  deplorable  ;  after  having  taken  inBnite  Pa: 
during  the  last  Months,— after  having  done  all  in  tha 
jxiwcr  to  alleviate  the  Distresiscs  of  some  Individuals  id 
this  Town,  by  giving  them  Benefits,  while  the  miaerahl 
Pittance  aUowed  to  Themselves  afforded  them  only  a  1 
subsistence — just   aa   they  wore  in   Expectation  of 
Approach  of  their  own  Bene&ts,  when  they  might  halt 
shared   a   few   Guineas  to   discharge  their  nuaroidah 
Debts  ; — at  such  a  critical  juncture,  to  have  their  fou 
hopt's  blasted  at  once,  by  a  Calamity  as  shocking  aa  th 
Authors  of  it  were  wicked,  must  deeply  affect  every  Uh 
not  totally  lost  to  every  humane  feeling.     But  the  nob 
Generosity  displayed  by  all  Ranks  of  People  npon 
occasion,  transcends  all  praise  !    Though  obvioos  i 
had  prevented  their  encoumgement  of  the  Theatre 
Moaeley,  yet  now  every  other  consiileration  gave  way  I 
the  generous  impulse  of  Benevolence,  and  the  !' 
of  both   Houses  evinced   the   strongest   In   i 
render  Service  to  the  unfortunate  Players.     Tb-  J  i 
too,  to  their  immortal  Honour,  did  not  discountenanol 
the  undertaking ;  and  tw^o  Plays  have  been  represent 
nt  the  New-street  Theatre*  with  uncommon  applause | 

'They  Fcrfonnad  Stiertdaa's  Opera  of  "Tlie  Duftana.*'  «UI(4 
hmd  been  pUy«d  (Ire  tiniea  preriooily*  at  the  Conotrt  Booth ;  i 
the  Par^e  of  "  AJl  Uie  Wurl>rt  a  Sugo," 


i  whether  the  Tioknt  claps  whidi  shook  the  Housti 
loeedfid  from  a  s^use  of  the  Perform er'a  merit,  or  com- 
^^  for  their  difttreaa  is  diSicalt  to  detemuue  ;  but 
^Hy  «?ach  of  these  motives  had  its  shar«  in  producing 
^oeet.  Thoiijjfh  the  Profits  of  the  nights  were  not 
ite  eqttfti  to  tlu)  Eitigencias  of  the  Company,  yet  they 
re  considerable,  and  went  a  great  way  towards  eitri- 
mg  them  from  their  liiflicultieB ;  but  if  a  further 
plicatioD  waa  to  be  made  to  the  worthy  Magistrates, 
1  leaTe  obtatned  for  one  or  two  plays  more,  at  the 
Rg-ftreet  Theatre  (the  Proprietors  having  with  great 
Hi-nature  made  an  offt?r  of  their  House),  there  is  no 
ubt  but  every  Creditor  would  be  satisfied,  and  the  no 
ger  unfortunate  Actors  might  leave  the  Town  with 
mfort  And  Reputation. 

*'  I  am,  Your  most  obedient  Serrant,  No  Player." 

The  "  worthy  magistrates  "  granted  permbsion 
the  proprietors  of  the  King  Street  Theatre  for 

additional    performance,   which    was    given 
ring  the  following  week,  on   behalf  of    Mr, 
•dso,  "the  biiilder  and  sole  proprietor  of  the 
>eeley  theatre." 
Thoae  were  the  days  in  which  ao  actoi  w^as 

reality  the  humble  servant  of  the  public,  and 

old  custom  still  lingered  in  the  profession  of 
Jing  at  the  houses  of  their  friends  and  patronSj 

order  to  sell  tickets  for  benefits.  In  this 
mner  the  great  Mra  Siddons,  when  a  member 

a  country  company  of  which  her  father,  Eoger 
imbie,  was  manager,  might  have  be^n  seen,  as 
Bcnbod  bj  an  eye-witness,  **  walking  up  and 
wn  both  sides  of  a  street  in  a  provincial  town, 
dmed  in  a  red  woollen  cloak,  such  as  was 
rmerly  worn  by  menial  seirants,  and  knocking 

0Sich  door  to  deliver  the  play-bill  of  her 
nefit."  In  the  same  spirit  of  almost  senility, 
rs.  Whitfield  announces  her  beneEt  in  the 
mite,  of  July  26,  1784  :— 

'•  Mrt,  Whitfield  prescnta  her  humble  respects  to  the 
lies  and  gentlemen  of  Birmingham,  having  had  the 
Hour  of  appraring  Ijefoie  them  for  four  years,  and  never 
ring  before  troubled  them,  she  hop«a  it  will  not  h* 
mght  preaumptiie  in  her  soliciting  their  patronage  on 
rine^flay  next,  which  is  appointed  for  her  benefit ;  and 
^^Uttfi  upon  varioua  occa&ions  experienced  their  itidul- 
^ftnd  nrhanity,  ahe  now  hopes  for  an  opportunity  to 
tiibwledgc  their  sfupport.  Mrs.  Whitfield  thinks  it 
nmbent  on  her  to  declare  she  would  not  have  thought 
obtruding  her  name  on  the  puhlic  for  a  nighty  hut 
|iP  wi»«  in  poia««aion  of  two  new  pieces  which  she 
produce,  hat  Mr.  Caiman  hjia  positively  refuied 


to  let  them  be  done  ;  this  Eihe  was  not  aware  of  till  it  was 
too  late  to  give  up  her  night.  She  begs  leave  to  inform 
the 01  tha  play  of  Oroonoko,  as  it  now  stands  corrected 
and  pruned  of  every  exceptionable  passagei  by  David 
Garriak,  Esq^.,  U  one  of  the  most  affecting  and  moral 
dramatic  pieces  on  the  stage. 

*'  Mr.  Southern,  by  every  critic  of  taate  and  judgment, 
was  declared  the  most  pathetic  writer  of  his  time ;  hia 
play  of  Isabella,  in  which  Mrs,  Siddons  haa  made  so  great 
u  ligure,  is  an  extant  and  convincing  proof  of  his  genius  ; 
yet,  notwithstanding  his  intimney  with  thfi  Tragic  Muse, 
his  pt>wers  in  Comedy  were  equally  commanding,  which, 
according  to  the  fashion  of  that  day,  he  has  most  happily 
blended  in  the  present  play  ;  the  story  is  founded  on  a 
well  known  fact.  The  Farce  of  The  Devil  to  Pay, 
written  by  the  late  Henry  Fielding,  of  facetious  memory, 
author  of  Tom  Jones,  &c.,  Ice,  is  too  well  known  to  need 
tt  comment.*' 

In  ihe  same  year  Dr.  Langford  quotes  an 
advert iaeiHent  of  an  ''Annual  Night  for  Orna- 
menting the  Theatre  "  t^ 

**  Annual  Night  for  Ornamenting  the  Theatre 

(By  their  Majesties'  Servants). 

At  the  Tbbatue  in  Kew  Street, 

BlRMINOHJLM. 

This   Present    Monday,   June    28,    1784, 

Will  be  preasuted,  a  Comedy  called 

"THE  MISER/^ 

Lovegold  (the  Miser)  by  Mr.   YATES 

(Being  his  First   Appearance   this   Season)." 

In  August,  1787,  the  New  Street  Theatre  seems 
to  have  heen  the  scene  of  sometliing  like  a  play- 
house riot ;  "  bottles,  plates,  apples,  &c/'  having 
been  thrown  at  the  actors  by  the  turbulent 
**  gods  "  of  the  gallery.  A  reward  was  offered  by 
the  manager  for  the  detection  and  apprehension 
of  the  offenders,  but  no  further  light  is  thrown 
upon  the  circumstance  in  the  local  journals. 

The  Livery  Street  Amphitheatre,  to  which  we 
have  already  made  reference  in  our  notice  of  the 
riots  of  1791,  waa  occasionally  used  fox  dramatic 
performances,  2>rincipally  by  amateurs ;  and  even 
after  the  burnt-out  congregations  of  the  two 
meeting-houses  had  taJien  a  portion  of  the  building, 
the  remainder  was  still  used  under  the  name  of 
**the  Gentleman's  Private  Theatre*"  A  somewhat 
apocryphal  story  is  told  respecting  the  occasional 
annoyances  suffered  by  the  worshippers,  owing  to 
the  partition,  which  divided  their  portion  of  the 
building  from  that  of  the  sons  of  The««pi»,  not 


iieftching  to  the  roof ;  the  fitor}'  says  that  '*  while 
one  of  the  huskin  was  bellowing,  *  Thoti'rt  all  a 
li^^  and  false  m  helV  the  pious  assembly  on  the 
Otlier  side  of  the  wall  were  alxnost  n^nding  the  air 
with  *  Hallelujah,  Hallelujah!"*  This  njight 
have  been  said,  perhaps,  had  the  worshippers 
been  Methodists,  but  a  Unitarian  congregation  is 
scarcely  in  the  habit  of  **  almost  rending  the  air,*' 
either  with  **  Hallelujah  **  or  any  other  exclama- 
tion, in  their  devotional  exeicise^.  Giving  tliis 
anecdote,  however,  for  what  it  is  worth,  the  fact 
remains,  tViat  for  some  time  after  the  riuta  the 
building  was  tenanted  by  the  players  as  well  as 
the  worshippers,  as  will  be  seen  by  the  following 
advertisement,  from  the  Gazette  of  January  14, 
1793  :— 

FOB  TWO  OR  THREE  KIGHTS  AT  MOST. 

"Sport  that  wrinkled  Cure  dcridca. 

And  Laujflitfr,  Lokliug  both  his  sides." 

At  the  G en tlotn all's  Private  T heft t re,  in  Livery  Street^  on 

"Wedueedajj  January  16,  1793,  will  be  prwcnt^d  for  the 

first  time  lo  Binningham, 

€oLLiNs's  Kew   Embellished 

EVENING   BRUSH, 

For  nibbing  off  The  Rust  of  Cate, 

As  exhibited  Fifty-two  Nights  lost  Winter,  at  the  Ly^'eum, 

in  London,  to  overQowiug  Ho  uses,  niter  One  Hundred 

ind  Ninety- four  Repetitions  of  the  Brnsh  in  its  original 

8tat^,  at  the  Royalty  Theatre,  ^nd  the  Lyceum  before, 

By    the    AtJTHOR    HlXiSELF- 

The  whole  interspersed  with  tbe  following  New  and 
Original  Ronp  :  The  Brush,  Tlie  Kin;*,  The  Stiige  Coach, 
The  Glorious  Ninety-three,  John  Bull,  Prospect  of  To* 
Diorrow,  Giuiblet-eyed  Eitty,  England  a  Alarm,  Uodney  a 
Dirge,  Tragic'comic  Murder,  Von  Two  Tree  Leetel  Vorda 
a  la  Francoise,  and  the  History  of  England  through  Two 

and  Thirty  Reigns,  a  copious  Subject  short  in  Detail  ! 

Hoora  open  at  Half  after  Six ;  Begin  exactly  at  Seircn 

Admittance  Two  Shillings. 

The  House  will  be  completely  aired,  aa  two  large  Stovea 
will  be  kept  constantly  burning  every  Day,  and  have 
been  BO  for  several  Days  pikst. 

N.B,— Convenient  Lights  placed  in  the  Court  Yard 
ki4lng  to  the  Theatre. 

The  author  of  **Tiie  Brush  '^  was,  as  our  readers 
will  have  noticed,  from  the  songs  introduced 
therein,  no  other  than  our  worthy  local  poet,  John 
Collins.  We  do  not  purpose  entering  into  a 
biography  of  the  writer  here,  as  that  will  come  in 
due  course  in  our  next  chapter  of  local  worthies ; 
but  by  tht  kindniss  of  Mr.  Sam  :  Timmina  (who 


i?s  the  author's  originAl  MS.  of  TJteBmth^) 
enabled  to  give  an  outline  of  the  eoSor- 
tainment  itself. 

The  author's  purpose  in  this  lecture,  was^ 
off  some  of  **  tlie  fuUie^,  vices,  and  absurditie 
the  age,"  as  '^performed  off  and  on  the  stf^" 
"We  beat  the  bushes,"  he  says,  **for  no  betler 
game  than  what  may  be  sprung  within  tJie 
of  a  Theatre,  but  though  our  object  is  to  potat  oa 
and  expose,  stnge  imposters,  yet  not  one  illib 
idea  against  tbe  true  professors  of  it,   provid 
they  will   move   in   a  sphere   adapted  to  th« 
abUities.     For,  to  all  be  it  known,  (ptonotmce  j 
a  pun  if  you  please,)  I  honour  the  pillars. <d  X\ 
stage,  altho'  I  think  it  no  ciime  tut  expose 
Caterpillars  of  it/'     Then  foUowa  a  ptoioguc^  ] 
verse,  the  last  stanza  of  which  is  as  follows  j 

**  You've  ftU  heard  the  story,  no  doubt,  of  poor  &m 
Who  one  morning  was  found  laid  out  dead  on  the  mififw^  \ 
Enouing  no  honest  way  how  from  starving  to  keep, 
His  brush  being  lost,  and  his  living  nbo  ; 
Then  put  uie  in  his  plaoe,  and  the  very  aamotsftse. 
Must  be  mine,  if  ray  Ulioura  the  Crittca  should  crush  i 
Then  for  charity  spare,  lest  his  fate  I  should  share. 
For  like  poor  little  aweep,  Tveno  breed  but  my  Brmkf 

Talking  pleasantly  of  amateur  actors^  tho 
lecturer  teUs  an  amusing  story  of  a  stage-strud 
taOor  who  called  upon  Garrick  with  the  reque 
that  he  might  be  permitted  to  play  the  part  of  1 
hero  in  **  Bomo  and  Juliet/*  The  actor^  hay 
refeiTed  the  would-be  **Romo"  to  the  descrij] 
of  the  huge  Colossus  bestriding  the  kzy  pacin 
clouds,  said,  "Pray  tell  me,  air,  when  this  ha 
Colossus  was  bestriding  thoae  clouds,  which  wafl 
would  you  go,  (now  supposing  his  stride  to  havn 
been  much  upon  a  par  with  a  middling-^iied 
rainbow),  I  say,  sir,  which  way  would  you 
about  to  measure  him  for  a  pair  of  .btiaficliear^ 
" Make  a  pnir  of  br©ocbe&  for  a  rainbow  V^t 
the  astonished  snip,  "why  I  don*t  believe 
taylois  in  London  ever  did  4UAh  »  thiag  jn  I 
lives,  and  I'm  sure  I  eotdd  asiioon  -mAt  *ftptir' 
for  thp  Man  in  the  Moon  !*'— "Thenjuiyf,  jir, 
how  came  you  to  think  of  nnddttdksng  mj 
business,  when  you  are  not  master  of  your  own  f 
Collins  then  adds  a  droll  parody  of  Macbeth't 


the  ghost  of  Baii«iuo,  altered  to  suit 
litened  tailor,  who  **  went  off  in  a  tangent, 
Sfly  cuied  of  his  passion  for  the  stage,  and 
■ed  for  the  future  to  stick  to  his  shop-board," 
iries  of  stage-alips,  absurd  alterations  of  text, 
ifulnese,  and  other  amusing  incidents  of 
ictd  life  render  the  lecture  more  tba»  a  mete 
[|g*t  entertainment.  Only  a  few  of  these, 
reft  can  be  quoted  here.  The  fii^t  tells  how 
of  these  imperfect  gentlemen"  had  to 
the  lines — 

I  Now  future  fiime  posterity  shall  tell 
f  Ko  couple  lived  ao  happy,  died  ao  well,'* 

yd^a  Ail  for  Love  (an  alteration  of 
are's  Antcmij  and  Chopatra),  Instead 
however,  **he  came  forward,  hitching 
s  small  clothe-s,  and  wiping  his  nose  on  the 
of  his  hand,  and  in  his  usual  manner  said, 


Now  fame  shall  tell  pocterity  that — 
Poiitflrity  shall  tell  Fame — no — 
Fame  shall  tell  Posterity— «wi. 


^    No 

BFai 

niopped  the  curtain  and  there  was  an  ei^d 
e  play." 

fhe  very  same  gentleman,'*  adds  Collins, 
srwards  in  the  Norwich  Theatre,  came 
uxl  to  give  out  the  play  for  the  next  night, 
ing,  bj  particular  desire,  for  the  benefit  of 
ox-keeper,  and  the  last  night  of  performing 
season,  which  he  gave  out  literally  in  the 
ring  manner  :— Ladies  and  Gentlemen — 
ftmnd  below^ — ^to-morrow  evening  will  be 
Bted  the  celebrated  Comedy  of — of — the 
sdy  of — of — no — Opera  of— of — the  play 
if — the  play-bills  to-morrow  will  tell  you  all 
i  it     To  which  will  be  added  tho  farce  of 

fe  pantomine  of — the   entertEdnment — of 
to  be  done  after  the  play,  it  being  by 
mlnr  deaire  of  the  Box-keeper  and  for  the 
\Qi  the  last  night  of  the  season  ! " 
'  aeveial  droll  stories  touching  the  mutter 
Qciation  and  ptinctuation, — both  on  and 
\  atage, — the  author  again  returns  to  the 
of  memory  on  the  part  of  actors, 
ghter-moying  anecdote  of  the  early 


days  of  Foote,  when  **the  English  Aristophanes*' 
played  Hamlet  on  his  own  benefit  night,  at  BatL 
"He  limped  tolerably  well  through  the  play  in 
his  own  way  till  he  came  to  the  scene  of  the 
quarrel  in  the  laat  act,  with  Laertes,  and  in 
repeating  the  lines  : 

*  WJmt  is  the  reason  that  you  use  me  thua  I 
1  lov'd  thee — hut  'tis  no  matter- 
Let  Hercules  himself  do  whAt  he  may, 

The  cat  will  mew,  the  dog  will  have  hii  day.* 

loBtead  of  which,  in  his  usual  way,  he  says  : 

*  Wbftt  is  the  reason  that  you  use  me  thus  I 
I  lov'd  thpe — but  'tis  no  matter — 

Let  Hercides  himself  do  what  he  may, 
Tlie  dog  will  mew — eh  \  no,  that's  wrong — ' 
'The  cat  will  bark^  Bark!  no,  that's  th#  dog,— the 
dog  will  b^rk — eh  f  no,  that^s  the  dog  again — the  ca-t — 
the  dog — the  cat —  Pshaw  1  d — u  the  dog,  and  the  cat 
too —  Ladi«8  and  gentlemeu,  it  is  something  about 
harking  and  CHttenrauling^  hut,  as  I  ho|)e  to  be  saved,  1 
know  nothing  about  the  matter. '  ** 

The  author  t|uaintly  concludes  his  characteriatic 
entertainment  with  the  following  anecdote  : — 
"There  was  one  of  the  Norwich  company,  a 
very  eccentric  character,  who  was  a  tolerable 
clasaical  scholar,  and  took  no  small  pains  in 
flashiug  his  leaming,  but  to  his  eham^e  be  it 
spoken,  was  never  known  to  be  perfect  in  hia 
part  This  gentleman  had  formerly  been  a 
bombardier  in  the  train  of  Artillery,  and  his 
common  expression  on  all  occaftiona,  whenever 
he  was  gravellM  for  lack  of  matter,  was — *  Blow 
me  out  of  the  world.*  One  evening,  walking  ou 
for  the  part  of  Richmond »  with  all  hie  followers 
at  lii.**  heels,  when  he  should  have  begun : 

*  Thus  far  into  the  bowels  of  the*  land 
Flare  we  march' d  on  without  impediment  * — 

and  so  on  to  the  end  of  the  chapter  aa  he  shoidd 

have  done,  he  says : 

'  Thus  for  into  the  bowels  of  the  earth  *— 

Earth  instead  of  land,  but  that  is  much  the  same 

you*U  say — 

*Thus  far  into  the  bowols  of  the  earth, — 
I  day— I  have  got  thua  for  into  the 
Bowels  of  the  earth— and— and'— 
*  Blow  me  out  of  the  world  if  I  can  marcn  a  foot  further  1' 


264 


OLD  AND  NEW  BIEMINGHAM*    tTh«  Ttmtre  i«  butou 


annii 


In  like  manner  I  find  it  a  diffitult  matter  to 
carry  a  recital  of  these  fuibles  any  further,  and 
shall  therefore  beg  leave  to  difimias  my  audience 
with  the  sequel  to  *  Queen  Bess's  Golden  Days — 
or,  the  Golden  Days  wc  now  possess.' " 

And  with  this  song  out  old  poet  and  enter- 
tainer closes  his  most  amusing  monologue,  and 
doubtless  never  failed  to  send  his  audience  home 
wishing  it  were  longer.  *Some  of  the  songs  he 
introduces  we  shall  quote  in  our  notice  of  his 
life  and  writings. 

And  now  to  return  to  the  theatre.  The  last 
event  of  note  of  which  we  purj^ose  making 
mention  in  the  present  cliapter  is  one  which 
for  a  time  cast  a  gloom  over  theatrical 
entertainments  in  the  town  for  many  months, 
viz.,  the  burning  of  the  New  Street  The- 
atiew  According  to  tlie  Gnzdie,  there  had 
already  been  several  ineil'ectual  attempts  to  set 
fire  to  the  building,  but  at  length  the  villainous 
plot  met  with  success,  and  a  little  after  one 
o'clock  on  the  morning  of  Friday,  August  17, 
1792,  the  theatre  was  in  Mames,  which  **  issued 
from  the  front  and  every  part  of  the  building, 
and  illimiinatcd  the  whole  town/*  All  attempts 
to  save  it  were  fruitless  ;  in  about  foui'  hoars 
there  remained  nothing  whatever  of  the  principal 
theatre  in  the  town  except  the  blackened  walls. 

**  That  the  Theatre  was  malicioualy  act  on  fire,**  &aya 
the  Gasette,  of  Aug.  20,  **  there  cannot  be  tk  doubt. 
Those  wbo  had  the  coumgo  to  enter  it  found  door*  open 
which  were  locked  when  the  house  was  left  hy  the  nervauta 
the  precoding  cvoning,  and  they  observed  the  fire  htid 
been  lighted,  and  was  burning  with  equal  fury,  in  three 
different  poits  of  the  premises,  widely  distant  from,  and 
withont  any  conimunictttioii  with,  each  other;  but  what 
could  be  the  motive  of  the  perpetrators  of  this  horrid  net 
cannot  be  conceived.  With  u  view,  however,  of  dis- 
covering the  vilUinons  nnthors  of  ao  iniquitous  a  dced» 
the  PropriL^tora  have  offered  a  reward  of  200  guineas, 
which  wo  truat  will  bring  them  to  light,  and  to  the 
punisliment  tbey  so  justly  merit.'* 

The  poor  players  were,  of  course,  great  BufTerers 
in  this  calamity,  by  the  loss  of  their  wardrobes. 
The  Gazette  report  says,  **  the  dresses  of  all  of 
them  were  entirely  burnt,  except  Mr.  Marshall  a, 


mesL.      n 


BfiiT™ 


who  had  the  intrepidity  to  enter   the  diwiiiig- 

room,  and  rescue  his  clothes  from  tlie  flamet*^ 

Amongst  other  sufferers  in  this  respect  was 

famous  comedian  Suett,  who  was  a  great 

collector,  and  bad  assumed,  in  one  of  his 

formonces  at  the  theatre,  a  large  black  x^^k^ 

with  flowing  curJs,  that  had  once  been  the  prcn 

perty  of  Charles  IL     **He  had  purchased  thi* 

curious   relic,"  says  Mr.  Dutton  Cook,  **at  thfi 

sale   of  a   Mr,    Eawle,  ^accoutrement    maker  tfl 

George  IIL     WTien  the  wig  wa3  submitt^  for 

sale,  Suctt  took  possession  of  it,  and,  putting  it^ 

on  hiB  head,  began  to  bid  for  it  with  a  graTJt; 

that    the    hy-standers   found   to   be   irre&istiblj 

comical.     It  was  at  once  declared  that  the  irif^ 

should  become  the  actor's  property  upon  hi*  own 

terms,  and   it  was  forthwith  knocked  down  t6 

liim  by  the  auctioneer."     It  need  scarcely  be  md 

that  tlie  lo6s  of  a  relic  so  highly -jirized  was  a 

matter  of  considerable  griof  to  the  actor.     Wltlfl 

a  mournful  expression  of  eoimte nance  he  wonltl 

say  to  e very-one  he  met,  **  My  wig*s  gone  1 " 

possessed  one  of  the  most  valuable  stock  of 

in  the  profession. 

In   the   same  issue   of   the    Gazette   in   whid 

appeared  the  account  of  the  fire,  was  inserted  tM 

following  annotmcement : 

August  20,  1792.     The  late  dromiful^fini  in  New  i?li 
having  deprived  severnl   Perronners   of  the  aceiiston 
Advanti^es  arising  from  their  re.sf>ective   Benefit^,— tl 
Gentlemen  of  the  Private  Theatre  in  Livery  Street,  bAf( 
generously  stepiwd  forward  in  this  Hour  of  Diatrtrs,  i 
have  liberally  offered  to  the  Company  the  Use  of  tlid 
Theatre  for  the  above  purpose.     The  public  i^,  lh«rwfai 
reapectJully  iufonncd  that  the  said  Theatre,  after  harin 
been  accorately  surveyed,  is  undergoing  Alterations  wbjch 
will  make  it  capable  of  contiiining  near  500  Persons ;  kit 
that  those  Ladies  and  Geutlemon  who  wish  to  piitionttt 
this  Undertaking  may  meet  with  every  posaible   coa^ 
vcnience,  Tickets  for  iOO  only  will  be  issued. 

It  will  perhaps  be  appropriate  here  to  allow- 

curtain  to  fall  for  the  present  on  the  higtoiy 

tlie  local  stages,  so  that  the  next  chapter  on 

subject  may  open  naturally  with  the  rebuild 

of  the  principal  theatre. 

*  d  SookitftJu  Fkiy,  by  nntton  ComK.  vol  a  p.  5d, 


■^ 


rorSoho] 


OLD  AKD   NEW   BIEMINGHAM. 


265 


CHAPTER      XLI. 

THE      B  T  0  R  Y      OF      S  0  H  O  . 
PJLET   IL 

tawUfH  v(  WatU'*  tmUmi  to  180«>— The  flrat  engino^^ohn  Wllldnion— DlfflruUiei  with  Uia  Soho  Workmen— The  "  Waggon  and 
H(WM*"— WilliAtn  Munlooh  utd  hii  "tlmmfr**  b«t— His  lo<:omotivc  onglcc— DUeovery  of  Oin-llghtlng— niamtnjitlona  at  Soho— 
BtMit'M  Dtscriptiob  of  Boho— Thd  Now  Foundry— Duntii  of  Boalt>n— His  Funeral— Dcnth  of  Watt—Chjuitrny*  Statue  In  Handa- 
vtirth  Churclk 


Wk  now  rettirn  tu  Solio, 

*• Where  Genius  wid  the  Arts  preside, 

Eoropft's  wonder,  and  Britannia's  prido/'  ^ 

Our  first  instalment  of  the  story  of  this  great 
©nUirpmo  t  loft  off  at  the  dute  of  the  first  attempts 
on  lite  part  of  Messrs.  Boulton  and  Watt  to 
manufactiire  steam  engine.^  for  sole. 

The  Act  for  extending  Watt's  patent,  vRsting 
In  him  '*the  sole  use  and  property  of  certain 
sttsam-eiuginos,  commonly  calM  fire-engines,  of 
hi*  invention,"  for  twenty -five  years,  was  obtained 
in  1775  ;  and  now  tlio  founder  of  Soho  fL4t  that 
he  could  proceed  with  confidence  in  the  raann- 
f«W!tnre  of  **  power/'  PreWous  to  the  passing  of 
the  Act,  he  had  told  Watt  "he  was  afraid  to 
sink  many  more  thousands,  in  case  a  hetter'engine 
appears,  and  then  what  becomes  of  all  tlie  fabric 
we  have  raised  and  of  the  visionary  profitsi" 
To  have  launched  into  the  neceBsarOy  heavy 
expenditure  involved  in  the  manufactme  of  the 
eiearo  engine,  wiUtout  dut*  protaction^  would  have 
been  niinon*,  but  now  Lhut  the  Act  was  ob- 
tained, Boulton  writee  to  his  partner,  **I  have 
made  up  my  mind  to  make  from  twelve  to  fifteen 
redprocating  engines,  and  fifty  rotative^engines, 
per  anniun.  If  we  liad  100  wheels  ready,  and  100 
I  imaJl  engines  like  Bow  (Liptrup*s),  we  could 
^  leadily  dispose  of  them  ;  tberefore»  *  let  us  make 
I  hay  while  the  sun  shines/  and  before  the  dark 
dotad  id  age  lowers  upon  na,  and  before  any  more 
Tabal  Caina,  or  Doctor  Fauata,  or  Gainsboro^s 

•  BlaM»t'ii  Poetit?  Surrejr  ratuid  OlnaUmHaai, 


arise,  with  serpents  lik*3  Jloses^  that  destroy  all 
others." 

When  it  became  known  that  the  8oho  finn 
were  prepared  to  supply  Watt's  *'  fire  engine," 
orders  came  in  from  all  quarters,  and  "before 
long,"  says  Mr.  Smiles,  "the  works  at  Soho 
were  rebounding  with  the  clang  of  hammers  an^l 
machinery,  employed  in  manufacturing  steam 
engines  for  all  parts  of  the  civilised  world/' 
The  iirst  engine  made  at  Soho  was  one  onlered 
by  John  Wilkinson,  to  blow  the  bellows  of  Ins 
ironworks  at  Broseley.  This  engine  was,  of 
course,  the  subject  of  special  interest,  both  to 
mnsttrs  and  workmen,  as  all  concerned  felt  that 
ranch  of  the  future  success  of  the  Soho  foimdry 
would  depend  upon  the  manner  in  which  their 
first  engine  was  turned  out  fUhers,  too,  were 
anxiously  looking  forward  to  see  what  Boulton 
and  Watt's  engine  could  do, — the  neighbouring 
iron  manufacturers,  who  were  contemplating  the 
erection  of  Newcomen  engines,  waited  with  eager 
interest  until  the  new  engine  had  been  erected  at 
John  Wilkinson's  works. 

"  When  the  materials  were  all  ready  at  Soho," 
says  Mr.  Smiles,  "  they  were  packed  up  and  sent 
on  to  Broseley.  AVatt  accompanied  them,  to 
superintend  their  erection.  He  had  as  yet  no 
assistant  to  whom  he  could  entrust  such  work, — 
on  the  results  of  which  so  much  depended.  The 
engine  was  erected  and  ready  for  use  about  tbe 
beginning  of  1776.  As  it  approached  completion, 
Watt  became  increasingly  anxious  to  make  a  trial 
of  its  powers.     But  Boulton  wrote  to  him  not  to 


266 


OLD   AND   NEW    BrR>nNOHAM 


[Tbif  Story  al6ftte 


huTxy — not  to  let  the  engine  make  a  stroke  until 
every  possible  hindrance  to  ita  eiiccesafiil  action 
had  been  removed;  *  and  then/  said  he,  *  in 
the  name  of  God,  fall  to  and  do  your  best/  The 
result  of  the  extreme  care  taken  with  the  con- 
stniction  and  erection  of  the  engine  was  entirely 
satisfactory.     It  worked  to  the  admiration  of  all 


In    Augnet,    1776,   Watt    removed  with 
family  to  Begent's  Place,   HaqDcr's  Hill,  wi 
was  then  the  nearest  house  to  Sobo  on  that  sid 
of  Birmingham  ;  an  engraving  of  it  appean 
page  139, 

Wliile  Watt   was    at    Broseley,  Boulton 
pushing  on  with  the  new  buildings  at  Soho,  i 


MJt  r 


N^i 


MATTHEW   BOUJ.TUN; 


who  saw  it,  and  the  ftrnie  of  lioultoii  and  Watt 
became  great  in  the  Midland  Coimti«^s." 

John  Wilkinaon's  name  is  worthy  of  honourable 
mention  in  the  history  of  Soho,  for  the  valnahle 
fierviceft  rendered  by  him  to  Eoulton  and  Watt^  at 
a  time  when  they  were  compelled  to  sink  large 
snms  of  money— nmoimting  to  nearly  ^47,000 
in  all — in  perfecting  and  introducing  the  steam- 
engine.  During  this  period  of  hea\^^  expenditure 
be  supplied  them  with  all  the  necessary  castings 
for  the  work  to  an  unlimited  extent,  waiving  all 
payment  until  the  success  of  the  Boulton  and 
Watt  engine  was  established. 


which  to  carry  on  the  miinufacture  of  **  power. 
Writing   to   liis   partner,    he    soya^    **Tbe  new 
forging-sbop  looks  very  farmidable ;  the  roof 
nearly  put    on,  and  the  hearths  are  both  bu 
,     ,     .     ,     Pray  tell    Mr.    Wilkinson   to  got 
do2on  cylinders  cast  and  bored,  from  12  to 
inches    diameter,  and    as    many  condenser^ 
suitable  sizes.     The  latter  must  Ik)  sent  here,  I 
we  will  keep  them  ready  fitted  up^  and  then  i 
engine  can  be  turned  out  of  band  in  two  or  1 
weeks,     I  have  fixed  my  mind  upon  making  i 
twelve  to  fifteen  reciprocating  and  fifty  rotati^ 
engines  per  annum.     /  astfitn  yua  (Jtat  i^  oU  ^| 


TbvBtorfaf  ioliiD.] 


OLD   AND   KEW   BIKMINGHAM. 


267 


Uyys  aftd  trinkets  tchich  we  manufaeiure  td  86ha^ 
mme  *kall  take  the  place  of  fire-mgines  in  retpeei 

In  the  words  italicised  Boulton  seema  to  have 
giTfin  his  partner  a  glimpse  at  the  dreams  in 
which  he  doubtless  indulged — ^dreains  which  were 
dntmed  to  have  a  glorious  ful^hnent — of  the 


obtained  them.  The  first  difficulty  thty  overcame 
by  con  lining  the  men  to  special  classes  of  work, 
carrying  the  division  of  labour  to  the  farthest 
possible  point ;  \i^  continued  practice  in  the  same 
narrow  groove,  the  men  acquired  considerable 
proficiency  in  their  special  department  of  work. 
The  second  difficulty,  however,  was  one  which 


JAW  EH   WATT. 


brilliant  future  in  store  for  the  Soho  Foundry  \ 
when  the  two  men,— the  noble,  enthusiastic,  and 
enteprising  manufacturer,  and  the  quiet,  nervous, 
modast  inventor, — should  really  be  investeil  with 
llaa  authority  of  kingship,  dispensing  the  means 
of  eflecting  a  complete  conquest  of  the  world  of 
xuiture  and  science. 

For  a  time  one  of  the  greatest  difficulties 
experienced  by  the  Soho  Firm  in  their  new  under- 
taking was  that  of  obtaining  skilled  workmen ; 
another  was  that  of  keeping  them  when  they  had 

*8oalt0a  ItSa.  quot«(l  tn  SmlUV  iac#  0/  BoufCan  ond   WaU^ 
(i»ilj«rtdlti(i]v  p.p.  l»-a;) 


required  all  the  tact  and  spirit  of  Matthew  Boulton 
to  cope  with  it  There  were  tempters  from 
abroad,  continually  lurking  about  Soho,  offering 
heavy  bribes  to  obtain  access  to  the  works ;  and 
still  heavier  to  lure  away  skilled  workmen.  The 
**  Waggon  and  Horses  *'  Inn,  at  Hands  worth,  was 
the  scene  of  many  a  temptation  on  the  part  of  the 
**  intelligent  foreigner,"  sent  out  by  his  Govern* 
ment  to  worm  out  the  secrets  of  Soho  ;  and  more 
than  once  of  a  defeat  for  the  Soho  firm.  It  was 
here  Pickard  picked  up  the  idea  of  the  crank  steam 
engine,  and  thus  forestalled  Watt  in  the  use  of 
that  improvement.     But  it  it  satLsfactory  to  find 


268 


OLD   AND   KEW   BmMTNGHAM 


rDi9e«DrT«iJlift& 


that  the  imscrupiilouB  picker  and  stealer  of  other 
men's  brains  made  but  little  of  bus  patent,  while 
the  fame  of  Boultou  and  Watt,  and  the  demand 
for  their  engines,  increasetl  year  by  year. 
**  While,"  say**  Mr.  Tinimins,  **the  nervDUft, 
anxious  Watt  dreaded  every  new  order  that  came, 
— ^hoped  some  limit  would  be  placed »  wanted  to 
sell  his  interest  in  the  patent  fur  the  bare  coat  of 
time  and  labour;  the  energetic,  feurless,  bnive 
Boulton  grappled  with  every  difficulty,  and  finally 
surmounted  aD.  .  .  .  In  every  relation  of 
their  long  connection,  the  cool,  clear  he^d  and 
sagacious  skill  of  Boulton  were  the  mainstay 
of  his  delicate  and  norvo^is  friend.  The  two 
partners  were  over  on  the  very  best  of  terms, 
although  Boul ton's  patience  muat  sometimes  have 
been  severely  tried.  His  bold  and  vigorous 
policy  always  prevailet! ;  aud  whatever  the  modest 
genius  of  Watt  devised^  the  enterprise  nnd  ener^^ 
of  Matthew  Boulton  brought  thoroughly  before 
tlie  world," 

In  the  midet  mT  Iuh  difhcultie^  in  tlie  matter  of 
his  workmen,  Boultou  was  fortunate  enough  to 
meet  with  oue  who  gave  promise  of  becoming  n 
thoroughly  trustworthy  workman,  and  a  ujost 
valuable  helper,  a  young  Scotsman,  William 
Jturdoch,  (or  Murdock,)  who  had,  like  many  of 
his  fellow-conntrymen,  travelled  to  England  in 
search  of  employment.  His  manner  of  introduc- 
tion to  the  father  of  Soho  is  thus  related  by  Mr. 
SmUee: 

"When  Miudock  calleti  at  Soho  in  the  year 
1777,  to  ask  for  a  job,  Watt  was  from  homo,  but 
he  saw  Boulton,  who  was  usually  accessible  to 
callers  of  every  rank.  In  answer  to  Murdock's 
inquiry  whether  he  could  have  a  job,  Boidton 
replied  that  work  was  slack  with  them,  and  that 
everj^  place  was  filled  up*  During  the  brief  con- 
versation that  ensued,  the  blate  young  Scotchman, 
like  most  country  lads  in  the  presence  of  strangarsy 
had  some  diflficulty  in  knowing  what  to  do  with 
his  hands,  and  unconsciously  kept  twirling  hia 
hat  with  them,  Boulton's  attention  was  directed 
to  the  twirling  hat,  which  seemed  to  be  of   a 


peculiar  make.  It  was  not  a  felt  hat,  nor  a  Mk 
hat,  nor  a  glazed  hat ;  but  it  seemed  to  be  painted^ 
and  composed  of  some  unusual  material  *  That 
seems  to  be  a  curious  sort  of  hat,'  said  Boidti 
looking  at  it  more  closely;  *  why,  what  is  it  ma 
of?"     'Timmer,   sir,'  said   Murdock,    mode 

•  Timmer !  Do  you  mean  to  say  that  it  is 
of  wood? '    *  Yes,  sir.*    *  Pray,  h^^tr  was  it  made! 

*  I  turned  it  myseV,  sir,  in  a  bit  lathoy  of  my  oti 
making/  Boulton  looked  at  the  young  man  aga 
Re  had  risen  a  hundred  degrees  in  his  eatimatia 
He    wtis    tall,    good-looking,    and    of    open 
ingenuous  countenance  j  and  that  he  had  beenal) 
to  timi  a  wooden  hat  for  himself  in  a  lathe  of  1 
own  making  was  proof  enough  that  be  was  i 
mechanic  of  nomean  skilL    *  You  may  call  j 
my  man/  said  Boulton.     '  Thank  you,  sir/ 
Murdock,  giving  a  final  twirl  to  his  hat*' 

When  next  the  young  Scotsman  called  he  waii 
at  once  put  upon  a  trial  job,  which,  proving  satis- 
factory, gained  for  him  a*  permanent  situation,  i 
fifteen  shillings  per  week. 

Mitnloch  soou  proved  himself  worthy  of  * 
fide  nee,  and  was  despatched  to  Cornwall,  wii 
many  Boulton  engines  were  at  work  in  dramu 
the  mines,  aud  had  hitherto  required  the  alma 
constant  presence  of  Jame«  Watt.  While  livii^ 
in  Cornwall,  as  resident  engineer,  Murdoch  turnei 
his  attention  to  the  subject  of  the  locomotif 
engine,  and  actually  brought  the  idea  to  a  ( 
degree  of  perfection,  as  was  evidenced  by  a  modd 
which,  as  soon  aa  he  had  finished,  he  tried  wit] 
success,  in  the  long  avenue  leading  to  Kedrtitl 
Church;  **and  in  doing  so,"  says  Mr.  Sb 
•'nearly  frightened  out  of  his  wits  the  villa 
pastor,  who  encountered  the  hissing,  fiery,  htd 
machine^  while  enjnying  his  evening  walk/' 
Murtiuch  had  not  the  qualities  of  Bo' 
was  rather  of  Watt's  modest,  retiring  lir  ^ 
— and  oonseciuenUy  the  locomotive  fell 
oblivion  until  ( Jeorge  Stephenson  took  it  in 
and  carried  the  project  to  a  successful  issue. 

W^hen    Mm*doch   returned   to   Soho,  he   wa« 
invested  with  the  general  supervision  and  manage- 


raoho] 


OLD  AND   NEW   EIRMINGHAM. 


269 


le  mechanical  department,  and  in  this 

\B  was  enabled  to  further  justif}^   the 

and  esteem  in  which  he  was  held  by 

le  introduced  8everal  valuable  improvo- 

tbe  manufacture  of  the  st^am -engine, 

embodied  in  a  patent  taken  out  by 

a* 

invention   by  wliich  his   name  will 

perpetuated  waB  that  of  lighting  by  gas, 

ble  qualities  of  coal  gas  had  long 

,  but  it  was  left  for  William  Murdoch 

le  knowledge  to  practical  uses.    During 

Winter  evenings  at  Eedruth,  he  tinned 

lion  to  this  subject,  and  dreamed  of  the 

prtificial  light  of  the  future — which  now 

itined  to  be  eclipsed  in  its  turn  by  one 

brilliant. 

m- 1808,  Murdoch  says  ; — 

nearly  sixteen  years  since  (1792), 

trso  of  experiments  I  was  making  at 

in  Cornwall,  Upon  the  quantities  and 

I  the  gas  produced  by  distillation  from 

laineral  and  vegetable  aubstances,  that  I 

leed  by  some  observations  I   had  pie- 

iiade  upon  the  burning  of  coal,  to  try 

ibie  property  of  the  gases  produred 

well  as  from  peat,  wood,  and  other 

Ae  substances;  and,  being  struck  with 

quantities  of  gas  which  they  afforded, 

the  brilliancy  of   the  light,  and  the 

ite  production,  I  instituted  several 

its  with  a  view  of  ascertaining  the  cost 

might  \m  obtained,  compared  with  that 

quantities  of  light  yielded  by  oils  and 

My  apparatus  consisted  of  an  iron  ret^jrt, 

iron  and  copper  tubes,  through  which 

m&  conducteil  to  a  considerable  distance ; 

I  aa  well  as  at  intermediate  points,  was 

rough   apertures   of  various  forms   and 

The  experiments  were  'made  upon 

t  qualities,  which  I  procured  from 

of  the  kingdom  for  the  purpose  of 

which  would  give  the  most  economical 


•pMflSl  Ko,  1940,  Aug.  ».  ITM. 


r^ults.     The  gas  was  also  washed  with   water, 
and  other  means  were  employed  to  purify  it." 

He  was  not  long  in  putting  his  discovery  to  a 
practical  use,  by  lighting  with  gas  his  offices  and 
house  at  Redruth ;  and  also,  in  same  homely  spirit 
of  contrivance  which  prompted  him  to  make  for 
himself  a  "  timmer  hat,"  constructed  a  portable 
gns  lantern,  wliifli  he  supplied  witli  gas  from  a 
bladder  feed  imderneath*  With  this  he  lighted 
himself  home  at  night,  across  the  moors  to 
Kedruth.  When  he  returned  to  Boho,  in  1798, 
he  continued  his  investigations,  and  on  the 
occasion  of  the  celebration  of  the  Peace  of 
Amiens,  in  1802,  the  front  of  the  manufactofy 
was  brilliantly  illuminated  with  gas,  to  the 
astonishment  and  deliglit  of  the  inhabitants.  The 
Gazette  gives  the  following  description  of  the 

iLLtTMINATlOKS   AT  SOHO, 

which  for  elegance  uiid  boldness  of  deaigu,  grandeur  of 
effect,  and  prompt nesa  of  execntioDj  mil  remain  uiiequiilksl 
aniODgst  tlie  numerous  testimonies  of  joy  tUsployed  on  the 
liappy  occasion  of  returniog  peace.  The  well  known  taste 
tmd  abilities  of  the  liberal  proprietors  of  those  premises 
had  given  the  public  every  reason  to  anticipate  a  very 
jiuperb  and  brilliant  exhibition  ;  acconiingly,  early  in  the 
afternoon,  the  road  from  thi^  town  was  crowded  with 
passengers.  The  gates  of  the  gardens  were  thrown  open 
and  gavu  iidtnittancc  to  many  thousands  of  spectatora,  of 
whom,  it  is  bat  jnatico  to  observe^  that  Huch  was  their 
orderly  behaviour,  that  tbt'y  departed  almost  without 
breaking  either  ahnib  or  tree,  or  doing  any  damage.  The 
house  was  adorned  on  the  summit  of  the  roof  by  a  mag- 
nificentjbtar,  composed  of  variegated  lamps,  and  the  centre 
window  was  embellished  by  a  beautiful  transparency,  in 
gloss,  of  a  female  figure,  in  the  attitude  uf  offering  a 
thanksgiving  for  tho  returo  of  peace.  The  manufactory 
was  illuminated  throughout  its  spacious  front  with 
upwanis  of  2,600  coloured  lamps,  disposed  into  the  forms 
of  G,B.,  with  the  word  **  Peace,"  above  which  was  placed 
the  crown,  ■wiih  a  star  of  exquisite  brilliancy.  In  the 
centre  of  the  front,  a  transparency  represented  a  dove, 
the  emblem  of  peace,  descending  on  the  globe }  on  the 
left  wing,  another  repr«fiented  the  Caduceus  of  Alercury 
between  two  Cornucopias;  and  on  the  right,  a  l>eehiv© 
decorated  with  flowers.  In  addition  to  the  above,  three 
very  splendid  Mongol fier  balloons  ascended  in  succeBsion 
from  the  courtyard  within  the  manufactory  at  proper 
intervals,  on  a  signal  from  the  discharge  of  cannon. 
Numbers  of  sky-rockets  also  tended  to  enrich  the  scene. 
The  whole  gave  the  greatest  satisfaction,  and  produced, 
in  the  minds  of  the  spectators,  tokens  of  admiration  and 
sentiments  of  respect  for  the  muni£cent  projector. 
Every  house  in  the  neighbourhood  wbm  also  splendidly 


OltiminLitcd ;     and    all   the   worktueu   belonging  to   th« 
mwnafactory  were  regaled  at  public  housea. 

We  have  alrcsody  mentioned  Boulton'a  copper 
coinage^  in  the  preyious  chapter  of  the  «tory  of 
Soho;  it  will  not  he  necessary,  therefore,  for  ns 
to  make  further  reference  to  this  department  of 
the  busy  "  toyshop  "  of  Soho,  except  to  quote 
the  opinion  of  Boulton'a  illustrious  partner  on 
thi«  matter.  He  says,  "  If  Mr.  Boulton  had 
done  nothing  more  in  the  world  than  he  has 
accomplialied  in  improving  the  coinage,  bis  name 
would  deserre  to  he  immortalized;  and  if  it  be 
considered  that  this  was  done  in  the  midst  of 
various  other  important  avocations,  and  at  an 
enormous  expense — for  which  at  the  time  he 
could  have  no  certainty  of  an  adequate  return— 
we  shall  he  at  a  loea  whether  more  to  admire  his 
ingenuity,  his  perseverance,  or  hia  munificence. 
He  has  conducted  the  whole  more  like  a  sovereign 
than  a  private  manufacturer;  and  the  love  of  fame 
has  always  been  to  him  a  greater  stimulus  than 
the  love  of  gain." 

It  were  almost  imposdihle  heR\  in  this  brief 
sketch  of  the  greatest  enterprise  over  conducted 
by  a  private  firm,  to  deal  fully  with  the  many 
and  varied  products  of  what  has  been  aptly  termed 
**  the  world  of  Soho ;  ^'  but  in  order  to  give  the 
leader  a  faint  idea  of  the  extent  and  variety  of 
tlie  Soho  manufactory,  we  give  from  Bisset*8 
'*  Magniticout  Directory "  a  list  of  the  several 
distinct  **  interests  "  concerned  therein : — 

**M.  BouUon  a  fid  Button  Co.— Buttons  in  General. 
Bmdttm  and  Smiths. — Buckles^  Latchet's,  iIt. 
M,  BouHon  and  Plate  Co. — Silver   and   Plated 

Goods. 
M.  Boulton  —  -Mint  for  Govemmt,  Coin. 
M.  B^ultarL — Medalsj  Roll'd  Metals,  Ac. 
aM.  BouUoiu — Mercantile  Trade    iu  BirmiEghanL 
Bouiton,  Wattf  4t  Soni, — Iron  Foundry,  &  Steam 

Engines. 
J,  Wait  ^  Co* — Letter  Copying  Machines.** 

In  the  **  Poetic  Survey"  appended  to  this 
I>ire<itory,  (of  which  we  shall  have  more  to  say  in 


OOP  next  chapter^)  the  author  thus  deacribsA  tin 

residence  of  Matthew  Boulton,  at  Soho  : 

**  On  yonder  gentle  dope,  wJucli  ihrab*  »doni, 

Wher«  grew  of  kte,  '  rank  we^de,'  gorae,  Hag,  and  ihAm 

Now  pendant  woods,  *nd  shady  groToa  are  »een, 

And  nature  there  assumes  a  nobler  mien. 

There  verdant  lawnt,  cool  grots,  and  pe»cefii]  bcwH 

Luxuriant,  now,  are  atrew'd  with  aweeteit  flow'm, 

Reflected  by  the  lake,  which  spreads  bdow, 

All  Nature  smiles  around— there  stitndfi  So  no  !  " 

From    die   contemplation  of    this    seemingjy 

charming  abode,  he  turns  to  the  manufactciy ; 

"Soho— Where  GEMirs  and  the  Arts  preside, 

EraopA'a  wonder  and  Britanwu'r  pride  ; 

Thy  matchlett  works  haye  raised  Old  EngUiid*!  ^*m^ 

And  future  ages  will  record  tby  name  ; 

Each  n'val  Nation  absll  to  tbee  resign 

The  Palm  of  Taste,  and  own— 'tis  justly  thine  j 

Whilst  Commerce  shall  to  thee  an  altar  nise, 

And  infant  Genius  learn  to  hsp  thy  praise  : 

Whilst  Art  and  Science  reign,  they'll  still  proclaim 

Trine  •  ever  blended,  with  a  BouLTON'a  name." 

Following  the  "Poetic  Survey/'  m  the  si 
Yolmne,  is  an  allegory  in  Tsrse^  entitled  **Tbi 
Ramble  of  the  Gods  through  Birminghium,"'  which 
contains  another,  and  more  interesting,  notice  of 
Soho.  The  Gods  having  visited  Henry  Clay'i 
establishment, 

** They  next  resolv'd  with  speed  to  go, 

To  nsit  Boulton's,  at  the  great  So  ho, 

The  wonders  of  that  magic  plikce  explore, 

And  with  attention,  view  its  beauties  o'er. 

They  went— but  Here  description  faHs,  I  ween. 

To  tell  you  half  the  curious  worka  there  seen. 

Suffice  it  then,  such  sceneii  were  there  displayed. 

The  Gods,  with  rapture  fraught,  the  whole  sim-ey'd: 

Their  Names  they  wrote,  and  saw,  with  great  siifim. 

Fal"  Similes  that  moment,  strikes  their  eyes ; 

Whikt  at  the  Mint,  th'  invention  of  the  MtLL, 

Seemed  as  if  Coin  wss  form'd  by  maglo  akilL 

But  when  the  ponderoua  Engines  wsrs  survey *d— 

They  ev'ry  tribute  due  to  merit  paid  j 

Then,  with  reluctance,  forc'd  themselves  awaVi 

Eesolv'd  to  see  all  that  they  could  by  day/* 

The  great  demand  for  the  "ponderous  engines" 
rendered  it  necessary  to  provide  a  8Cpa»t« 
building  in  which  to  manufacture  them,  and  oo 
the  28th  of  January,  1796,  the  Soho  Fotm^iry 
was  **  dedicated  *'  with  considerable  oeomnony,  ^ 
will  be  seen  from  the  following  report,  which 
appeared  in  the  Gastetie  of  Janmary  30ih  tn  tliat 
year: — 


I  SOITO   FtHT.VDUT. 

pdity  Ust  the  Rcariijj*  Feast  of  the  new  Foundn-, 
I  by  Messrs.  liotilton,  Wntt,  nnd  Sons,  iit 
t,  wns  given  to  tht<  engine-smiths,  and  fdi  Iho 
anen  emploved  in  tlie  erection. 
ihepp(the  first  fruit*  of  th^  newly-cidtivated 
bo>  were  sacrificed  stt  tbu  Altar  of  Vtxlcan,  and 
ie  Cyclops  in  the  Grtat  Hftll  of  the  Teniidc, 
f  feet  wide  and  100  feet  long.  These  two  great 
iiihed  with  nimps  and  rounds  of  beef, 
id  gammons  of  bacon,  with  innumerable 
Bid  idum  puddings,  accoropanied  \rith  a  gpod 
tmttial  nuisie*  When  dinner  was  over,  the 
f  Boho  entered  and  consecmtcd  this  new  bmnch 
crinkling  the  walls  with  wine,  and  then,  in  the 
tlcan,  and  all  the  Gods  and  GoddesHes  of  Fire  and 
lltounced  the  name  of  it  Soho  Fouiidr)%  and  all 
I  cried  Amen.  A  benediction  vftm  then  pro- 
y  him  nfwn  the  undertaking,  and  a  thanks- 
h»d  for  the  protection  and  presenation  of  the 
limhA  of  the  workmen  during  the  erection, 
tnonies  being  ended,  six  cannon  were  discharged 
knd  of  Muaic  stnick  up  God  Save  the  King, 

sung  in  full  chorus  by  two  hundred  loyal 
After  this,  many  toasts  were  given  suitable  to 
^t  by  the  President  of  the  Feiisit,  Mr.  M. 
BoultoQf  whicli  was  conducted  by  him  witli 
t  ivod  hilarity  ;  each  toast  was  accompanied 
joyont  huzzas  and  a  discharge  of  cannon.  A 
tea,  was  given  in  the  evening  to  Venus  and  the 
lich  ended  about  ten  o  clock,  when  the  con- 
ns were  fired,  and  all  departed  in  good  humour, 
iresB  of  Mr.  Boulton,  Sen.,  upon  entering  the 
maa  conceived  in  the  following  terms  : — After 
I  excuB^  to  the  company  for  not  dining  with 
Md,  '*  1  could  not  deny  myself  the  satisfaction 
yoQ  a  happy  and  joyouiu  day,  and  expressing 

for  all  good,  honest,  and  faithful  workmen, 
W^  alwaya  considered  as  classed  with  my  best 

now  as  the  Father  of  Soho,  to  consecrate  this 
le  of  its  branches  ;  I  also  come  to  give  it  a  name 
Dediotion* 

therefor©  proceed  to  purify  the  walla  of  it,  by 
[ing  of  wine,  and  in  the  name  of  Vulcan  and  all 
md  Goddesses  of  Fire  and  Water,  I  pronounce 
of  it  Soho  Foundry,  May  that  name  endure 
td  ever,  and  let  all  the  people  say  Amen,  Amen. 
Pomple  now  having  a  name,  I  i*il!  propose  that 
ahftll  fill  hh  pitcher,  and  drink  success  to  Soho 

hen  proc<*eded  to  give  the  Elstablishraent  his 
I  i — ^"May  this  Establishment,"  said  he,  ^'  be 
proiis,  may  no  misfortune  ever  happen  to  it, 
fo  birth  to  many  useful  arts  and  inventions, 
&VC  beneficial  to  mankind,  and  yield  comfort 
less  to  all  who  may  be  employed  in  it. 
0  2i%mith  cannot  do  without  hi*  Striker,  so 
i  tba  Master  do  without  his  M'orkman.     Let 

6 


eJich  perform  bis  jmrt  welU  'md  do  their  duty  in  that 
state  to  which  it  hath  pleased  God  to  call  them,  and  this 
th^y  will  find  to  b<j  true  rational  ground  of  equality* 

**  Que  serious  word  more,  and  then  I  have  done.  I 
cannot  let  pass  this  day  of  festivity,  without  observing 
that  these  large  i>iks  of  building  have  beeu  erected  in  « 
short  time,  in  the  moat  inclement  season  of  the  year, 
without  the  loss  of  one  life,  or  any  material  accident. 
Therefore  let  as  olTt^x  up  our  grateful  thanka  to  the  Divine 
Protector  of  all  things,  without  whose  permission  not  a 
sparrow  fatletb  to  the  ground.  Let  us  Chaunt  Hallelujnhs 
in  our  hearts  for  these  blessings,  and  with  oar  voices,  like 
loyal  subjects,  sing  God  Save  Great  George  our  King!" — 
Which  was  done  in  full  chorus,  and  amidst  the  discharge  of 
the  cannon." 

Our  story  of  the  Soho  enterprise  may  fitly  close 
with  the  eighteenth  contiiry  itself,  at  which  date, 
the  patent  on  the  engine  expiring,  the  partnersliip 
hetwcon  the  two  great  master-minds  of  the  firm 
was  dissolved,  and  the  business  formally  passed 
into  the  hands  of  the  younger  members  of  the 
two  families.  But  the  **  Iron  Chieftain  "  and  the 
patient,  thoughtful  inventor  still  continued  to 
take  an  interest  in  the  concerns  of  the  nmnu- 
fact^ry,  preferring  to  ^*  ruh "  rather  than  to 
"  rust  "  out.  Matthew  Eoiilton  died,  at  the  ripe 
age  of  eighty-one,  on  the  17th  of  August,  1809  j 
he  was  buried  in  Handsworth  Church,  on  the 
24th  of  the  same  month.  The  funeral  was 
attended  by  upwards  of  700  persons,  and  included 
500  workmen  and  sixty  women  employed  in  the 
manufactoiy.  A  curious  old  pampldet  describing 
the  ceremony  was  issued  by  the  undertaker, 
Mr,  George  Lander,  in  order  to  vindicate  himself 
from  certain  charges  of  extortion  and  of  supplying 
inferior  materials,  made  against  him  by  Matthew 
Robinson  B<Julton,  the  son  of  the  Founder  of 
Soho. 

With  the  quarrel  we  have  nothing  to  do  now ; 
it  is  wtdl  forgotten,  and  all  who  were  oonceined 
therein  liavo  gone  the  way  of  him  over  whose  last 
obsequies  they  quarrelled* 

From  the  pamphlet  we  learn  that  a  special 
medal  wm  struck  in  commemonition  of  the 
illustrious  founder,  and  was  given  to  every  percon 
who  was  present  at  the  funeraL 

James  Watt  survived  bia  friend  and  partner 


just  ten  years,  dying  on  the  25111  of  August,  1819, 
at  the  ago  of  eighty-three*  IIo  was  burietl  near 
Boulton,  in  Uandsworlh  Church,  and  a  noble 
raonuHient  marks  Ms  resting  place,  erected  to  his 
mcmoiy  by  the  filial  piety  of  his  son,  James  Watt. 
"  This  fine  work,"  says  Mr,  W,  Bates,  **  is  the 
ma«ter-piece  of  the  greatest  of  British  sculptors 
— Chantxey,  and  consists  of  an  appropnate  grey 
niarblij  pedestal,  on  wliich,  in  a  sitting  posture, 
and  ordinary  costume,  is  the  statue  of  Watt,  in 
fine  white  marble.  The  attitude  is  unconstramed  ^ 
the  right  hand  holds  a  compass ;  the  left,  a  sheet 
of  paper,  on  which  the  face — a  very  personification 
of  abstract  thought — is  intently  fixed  :  and  gazing 
at  it,  as  we  have  done,  in  the  mystery  of  twilight, 
and  the  solemn  stillness  of  its  shrine,  one 
may  well  imagine  that  the  cold  fonn,  Hke  the 
wondrous  statue  of  Pygmalion,  is  gradually 
becoming  instinct  with  the  hues  of  life  and 
intelligence,  and  that  it  is  Watt  himself  in  the 
act  of  eliminating  the  sublime  conception  that 
immorUUizes  his  name, — 

"The  mortiil  luid  the  marble  arc  at  strife, 
And  timidly^  expanding  into  life, " 


A  statue,  almost,  if  not  quite,  as  noble  as^ 
Chantrey'sj  has  since  been  raised  to  the  mestcny 
of  the  great  engineer,  in  the  town  iB  whoso 
history  the  story  of  Soho  is  one  of  the  most  J 
glorious  episodes ;  but  of  this  we  shall  liave  tol 
speak  further  at  the  date  of  its  erection.  We  may  j 
here  add,  however,  that  in  thus  honouring 
memory  of  James  Watt,  we  do  ill  to  foi^ 
altogether  tlie  brave,  fearless,  and  enterprisi] 
Captain  of  Industry,  without  whose  aid,  in  all 
probability,  the  work  of  the  nervous,  modest 
inventor  might  never  have  been  accomplished: 
we  do  only  partial  honour  to  the  genius  of  Soho 
in  perpetuating  in  enduring  marble  the 
of  one  of  the  partners  in  that  great  enterprise,- 
a  partiality  which  would  have  grieved  none  ] 
deeply  than  James  Watt  himself. 

The  story  of  the  Soho  manufactory,  after ' 
death  of  its  illustrious  founders,  may  best  be  ■ 
in  connection  with  the  history  of  Birmingham 
manufactures  of  the  nineteenth  century  in  general 
Of  Gregory  Watt  and  Francis  Eginton,  and  of  tlie 
famous  Lunar  Society,  we  shall  have  to  speak  in 
our  next  chapter. 


CHAPTEE      XLII. 


A     SECOND     C3IAPTER     OF     LOCAL     WORTHIES. 


John  CoHliu— Hla  Saripterx^nkiffia—MiE  llfa  in  Irftluid-'Poemji  antl  Bahgs— Cluulos  Uoyd— Ibe  LlwAr  Sooitit9>— Omgoir  Wfttt— ftaiMlt 
i;gintoii--Jtm«iB  Blstet  and  hk  **  Mjigiii(icent  Dli%ctoT7  "--Allfta's  Mtuoum,  etc. 


Okcb  more  we  pause  in  the  Instory  of  the  town, 
to  continue  our  catalogue  of  local  worthies. 

Fir^t  among  these  comes  our  old  friend  of 
**  r/w?  Brush"  John  Collins,  who,  by  his  exquisite 
poem,  **  To-morrow  "  stands  at  the  head  of  all 
local  poets. 

In  one  of  the  best  popular  colleetions  of  songs 
and  lyrics  with  which  we  are  acquainted, — the 
Golden  'Treasury,  edited  by  Mr,  Francis  Turner 
Palgrave, — the  editor  re-introduced  to  modern 
readers  of  poetry  that  delightful  poem,  as  "by 


-Collins."     In  a  note  at  the  end  of 


volume  >Ir.  Palgrave  says  of  its  author ;  **  Nothing^ 
except  liis  enmame  appears  recoverable  with 
gard  to  the  author  of  this  truly  noble  poem, 
shotdd  be  noted  as  exhibiting  a  rare  excellenoi^-'^ 
the  climax  of  simple  sublimity.'* 

The  statement  that  "  notliing  except  the  8n^ 
name    appears  recoverable"    respecting 
caDod  forth  several  interesting  notes  from  well 
known  contribntoi-a  to  Notes  and  Qaeri^ii,  and  ilj 
is  to  these  that  we  are  chie%  indebted  for  tfai 


Jdhn  CoUSju.] 


OLD   AND   KEW    BIKMINGHAM. 


273 


present  notice.  The  song  by  which  he  is  best 
remembenid  appeared  id  a  rare  little  volume  of 
songs,  publishod  iii  1804,  with  the  following 
quaint  title,  which  we  copy  entire  : — 

ScRrpacRAPOLOGiA  ; 

or, 

CoLLiJia's 

DOOQKREL 

DibH  OF  ALL  Sorts. 

CONStSTINO  OF 

SoNGa 

Adapted  to  familmr  Tunes, 

And  which  may  bt  tang  Tsithout  the  Caunterpipe  of  an 

Italian  Warhlor,  or  the  raWshing  Accompftnimenta  of 

Tweedle-diim  or  Tvvcfdle*dcf?. 
rarticuki'ly  tlioso  which  have  been  most  applauded 
In  the  Author*s  ouce  popular  Ptrformauce, 
~  raird 

TDK    BKUbH, 

The  Gallimaufry  garnished  with  a  variety  of 
Comic  Talbs» 
Quaint  Epigrams, 
Whimsical  Epitaph*!, 
&c.,  kc, 
A  Kickshaw  Treat,  which  compreheudu 
Odd  Bits  and  Scraps,  and  Orta  and  Ends,— 
Men>  nickcack  namby-pamby  Pickings, 
Like  Fricaaeea  of  Froga  or  Chickens  i 
A  Mess  with  Grub-street  Giblets  fniaghr., 
And  here  and  there  a  Merry  Thouoht  ; 
In  frothy  Bra  if  Sauce  trimly  drest, 
But  wanting  Saoe  for  perfect  zest. 
Yet  if  we  countervail  that  Fault, 
With  some  few  Grains  of  Attic  Salt, 
Sag«  Critics  may  withhold  their  Frown, 
And  kindly  let  the  Traeb  go  tiown. 

PtJULlSHED   BY 

Thk  Author  Himself, 

And 

Prixtxd  bt  M.  Swiknbt,  Birmingham. 

1S04. 

Facing  the  title-page,  is  a  portrait  of  the  author ; 
but  few  copies  of  this  rare  little  book  still  cOntaiQ 
Uiai  embellishment.  As  on  the  title-page,  so  at 
the  foot  of  the  portrait,  the  author  rigidly  sup- 
pressed  his  christian  name ;  the  pkte  being  simply 
iuBClibed,  "Collins.  Scrijiacrapologiaj  Scriptor." 
It  is  from  this  engmviiig  that  the  portrait  on  page 
259  of  this  work  ia  copied. 

Wc  lukve  already  given  some  account  of  The 
Brushy  which  although  popular  in  the  last  decade 
of  the  eighteenth  century,  would  seem,  according 
to  the  phroae  ^^m^4j  popidar"  on  the  title-page 


of  Scripscmpdogta  to  have  declined  in  favour  at 
the  beginning  of  the  nineteenth  century.  TJie 
Brush  itself  was  prubably  never  published ;  the 
original  MS,  from  its  appearance — ^ scored  here  and 
there  with  corrections  and  alterations,  directions, 
(such  Qs^^^  imitatintj  Smith's  tone  and  monotony 
in  the  above  lines/*)  bohlly  written  side-headings 
to  each  anecdote  or  incident,  for  the  direction  of 
the  reader,  and  other  marks  indicating  that  it  was 
for  personal  penisal  only — seems  to  have  been  the 
identical  copy  used  by  the  lecturer  in  his  enter- 
tainment j  it  is  exceedingly  dirty  in  appearaiicoj 
thumbed,  and  freely  besprinkled  with  lamp-oil, 
and  would  be  takcn»  at  first  sight,  for  the  prompts 
copy  of  a  play.  It  is  now  in  the  possession  of 
Mr,  Sam  :  Timmins,  and  has  hook-plates  in  it 
indicating  that  among  its  former  €»wner8  have 
been  two  well-known  antiquaries,  Tlmmas  liell 
and  William  Pinkerton. 

Of  the  life  of  the  author  very  little  hideed 
ia  known.  He  was  bom  at  Bath,  {vute  *•  Scrip- 
scrapologia,"  p*  168,)  and  was  the  son  of  a 
tailor,  as  the  verses  entitled  *'  A  Frank  Con- 
fession" indicate.  A  report,  it  seems,  had  hwn 
circulated  in  that  city  with  a  view  to  injure 
him  in  the  fashionable  world,  '*  which  report  was 
nothing  more  nor  less  than  his  being  the  son  of  a 
man  who  supplied  bis  employers  with  raiment  for 
the  body  while  he  [t.e.^  the  author  of  The  Ilntsh] 
was  furnishing  the  puhlie  with  amusement  for 
the  mind.*'  In  the  verses  mentioned,  which  were 
inserted  in  answer  to  this  report  in  the  Bafh 
Chronicle^  he  says : 

"This  blot  on  my  'ncutcheon,  I  never  yot  tried 
To  conceal,  to  erase,  or  to  alter ; 
But  suppose  mo,  by  birth,  to  a  hangman  alHod, 
Must  /  wear  the  pritit  of  the  haltor  ? 

•  •  •  • 

And  since  *tis  a  truth  Pvo  acknowledged  throngli  lift», 

And  never  yet  laboor'd  to  smother, 
That  *  a  taylor  before  I  was  bom  took  a  wife, 

And  that  taylor's  wife  was  my  mother.' 

•  •  •  • 

YeU  while  IVe  a  heart  which  not  envy  nor  pride, 
With  their  venom-tipp'd  arrows  can  sting, 

Not  a  drty  of  my  life  could  more  glad*oracly  glide. 
Were  it  pror'd— Fm  the  son  of  a  King !  " 


274 


OLD   AND  KEW  BIEMIKGnAM, 


According  to  Paa<iiiiu*6  Authentic  Hutorij  of  the 
Pro/edsars of  Fainiiwjt  Sadptnve  and  Architectui'e^ 
Collins  was  a  **  miniatiiro  painter  in  profile,"  and 
"pursued  this  diraii^utivo  branch  of  the  arts"  in 
Ireland,  entertaininjy:  the  public  in  tho  evening 
with  "  the  ain using  Iticture  ciiUod  Collinses 
Brush**     It  would  not  appear,  however,  that  the 


The  Et^neiitif  of  Mudetm  Oratort/,  was  ev 
the  same,  gubstantially,  as  Thf  Brujih^  as  mtj  bft^ 
gathered  from  tho  following  thoroughly  Coltinsioa 
aclvertisoment,   which   appeared  in   the   BdffJi 
Newsletter  of  January  19,  177G  ; 

**An  Attic  £vtruing*B  EntertainineoU 
At  Mr  M'KiiTie's  As^mbly  Koom*"  in  Ballast, 


.^^M^r^rj:^*^  ^*^^j^j^i&^^ 


DINQLEY^ 
Tht  tittUlefitt  of 

lecture  was  known  in  Irisland  by  the  name  of 
Th'  Bniish^  hut  rather  as  Ths  Elements  of  Modem 
Oratory:  find  its  author  was  known  also  as  an 
actor  as  well  as  a  pnblir  f?ntertainer.  He  went  to 
Ireland  in  1764,  and  "  proved  a  very  respectable 
addition  to  the  Iinsh  stage*  ^' — appearing  as  Ymmg 
Mif'tdipJ  in  *'  The  Inanijdtfnt"  Jajtitftr  Woiidcock, 
Dkk  in  '*  The  Cinffederaci/"  Ptachum^  Sir 
Frfittri»  Wrowjheml^  BtUftard  in  ^^  Kmci  Lmr^* 
Major  O'Flnhettfj  in  *'  The  West  Indian^'  &c.,  &c. 
The  entertainment  which  he  at  that  time  called 


'  Uitchcodi :  HUiorlatU  Viem  qf  tk*  Stag*, 


On  Saturday  Ev^^ning,  Jan.  20tli,  1776,  will  be  prescuta 
for  the  iirst  Time 

A  llumoaroas,  8atyrical,  Critical,  k  Mimi«*3il 
KxiuBiTEON,  call'il  Tlie  Elements  ot 
Modern  Ohatuuv, 
In  whieh  will  be  lii^pla^'ed, 
The  most  forcible  k  striking  Etaraplra  whtcli  tbii 
pi^UAc  age  affords  of  Ibt* 
Gnat  U«F.  At  Alius E  of  Sj'KR*^llt 
PivnicuUrly  in  the  following  Cbnratiter^  tlw 
St'liooliunsttTj       Bcllower^        Moutbtir, 
SL-liooltioy,  Growler,         Stammerer, 

Public  Header,      RauttT,  Liitpor, 

rnblic  Speaker,    >\1uui'r,  Snurtkr, 

Monotoniat,  Dronf»r,  Pendant, 

Jingler,  S«juoakef,       Scotch  Omtor^ 


Jobn  Collliu.1 


OLD   AXD   NEW   BIRMINGHA^L 


275 


Welch  Orator,      And  And  Southern 

Iriali  Orator,        The  Northern   English  Provincials, 
The  whole  interspersed  with  original  strictures  on 
the  Modulation,  YfLrifltion  k  InfWtion  of 
The  Voice  in  Reading  and  in  Speaking  ! 
The  ludicrous  and  risible  Effects  of  false  Accent, 
Emphasis,  and  Pronunciation  ! 
The  IMstortion,  Reverston,  Maiming,  ilnngling,  and 
Misapplyinjk?  of  WouDs  ! 
The  gent^ral  Abuise  of  the  English  Language  ! 
And  the  preseDt  state  of  Oratory-  contnisted  in  the  three 
Departments  of  the  Pulpit,  the  Bar,  and  the  Stage. 
By  the  Author,  J.  Collins. 
,      **  Whose  Stay  cannot  possibly  exceed  a  Night  or  two, 
as  he  is  on  his  Journey  from  London  to  Dublin,  where  he 
is  under  Engagements  to  open  by  the  first  of  February. 

**To  begin  exactly  at  seven,  and  the  Doors  to  be  opened 
at  lax  o'clock. ^Admittance  two  Shillings,  English. 

"  Tickets  to  be  hod  at  the  Donegall  Anus,  and  at  the 
Printer  »  ht?reof. 

'**^  As  this  Exhibition  was  repeated  forty'two  suc- 
tessive  niglit%  in  London,  and  also  seFeral  Times  with 
ef|ual  success  at  the  Uuivcrsitit'S  of  Oxford  anil  Cutn- 
bridgt*,  Uie  Author  declines  the  falaomu  (tho*tot>  commoTi) 
Practice  of  9«lf  Encomium  ;  chasing  much  rather  to  sub- 
mil  the  Decision  of  its  Merita  to  the  well-known  Cniidour 
and  Judgment  of  an  Irish  Audience." 

pdlius  probably  came  to  Birmingham  as  early 
as  1793;  we  have  already  quoted,  iri  our  chapter 
on  the  Musical  Festival-*,  his  improiiiptii  on  hear- 
ing Mjs.  Second  sing  at  the  Festival  in  that  year, 
III  tho  liirnungham  iJircctory  for  1797  the  name 
of  *'Joliii  Collins,  Grtat  Brook  Street,"  appears; 
and  it  was  in  that  street,  nearly  opposite  St, 
JameB'B  Church,  that  our  author  is  known  to  have 
livt5d.  At  that  time  he  was  editor  and  part  pro- 
piietor  of  the  Binaingham  Chronide^  whieb  was 
published  by  the  firm  of  **Swinney  and  Colluia," 

And  now  we  return  to  his  poetry,  as  contained 
in  his  only  published  volume,  the  Scrijafcrajwhrfia. 
Fiad  among  these  comes  the  famous  song — 

T0*MORROW\ 

In  the  downhill  of  life,  when  1  find  Tm  deelimng, 

May  my  fate  no  less  fortunate  be 
Ulan  a  snug  elbow-chaii*  am  all'ord  tor  reclining, 
1  a  cot  tliat  o'erlooka  the  wide  sea  ; 

1th  an  amhling  pad-pony  to  pace  o^r  the  lawn, 

Vrliile  I  carol  away  idle  sorrow, 
And  hiithe  as  the  lark  that  each  day  hails  the  dawn^ 

Look  forward  with  hope  for  to-morrow. 

With  a  {torch  at  my  door,  both  for  shelter  and  shade  too, 

As  the  sauahlne  or  rain  may  prevail ; 
And  a  small  spot  of  ground  for  the  uae  of  the  spade  too, 

With  a  bam  for  the  use  of  the  flail  i 


A  oow  for  my  dairy,  a  dog  for  my  game, 
And  a  purse  when  a  friend  wants  to  borrow  ; 

m  envy  no  nabob  his  riches  or  fame, 
Nor  what  honours  may  wait  him  to-morrow. 

From  the  bleak  northern  blast  may  my  cot  be  completely 

Secured  by  a  neighbouring  hill  - 
And  at  night  may  reposL^  steal  upon  me  more  sweetly, 

By  the  sound  of  a  murmuring  rill ; 
Autl  while  peace  aud  plenty  1  find  at  my  board, 

With  a  heart  free  from  sickness  and  sorrow, 
With  luy  frieutls  let  mc  share  what  tonlay  may  aflbttl, 

And  lot  them  spread  the  table  to-morrow, 

Aud  when  I  at  last  must  throw  off  this  frail  covering, 

Which  I've  worn  for  threescore  ye^irs  and  ten, 
On  the  brink  of  thu  grave  111  not  seek  to  keep  hovering, 

Nor  my  thread  wish  to  spin  o'er  again  : 
But  tuy  face  in  the  glass  I'll  serenely  survey, 

And  with  smilca  count  each  wrinkle  and  furrow  ; 
Aa  this  old  worn-out  stutT,  which  is  threadbare  to-day, 

May  become  everlasting  to-morrow. 

Thia  charming  production  needs  no  comment ; 
we  therefore  leave  it  to  iidd  it.^  ovni  way  to  the 
heart  of  the  readear — if  indeed  he  be  not  aJreudy 
well  acquainted  with  it  Another  poem  in  the 
same  volume,  which  fomis  an  admirable  pendant 
to  **  To-morrow/*  is  leas  known :  it  ia  entitled, 

How  TO  BE  Happy. 
In  a  cottage  1  live,  and  the  cot  of  content. 

Where  a  few  littlt-  rotftna^  for  ambition  too  low. 
Arc  furainhM  as  plain  as  a  patriarch's  tent^ 

With  all  for  convenience,  but  nothing  for  fshow  : 
LIkt:  Robinson  Ousoe's,  both  peaceful  and  pleasant. 

By  industry  feter'd,  like  the  hive  of  a  bee  ; 
And  the  peer  who  looks  down  with  contempt  on  aiMjasant^ 

Can  ne'er  be  look'd  up  to  with  envy  by  me. 

And  when  from  the  brow  of  a  neighbouring  hill, 

(_>n  the  mansions  of  Pride,  1  with  pity  look  down. 
While  the  murmuring  stream  nud  the  clack  of  the  mill, 

1  prt'fer  to  the  murmurs  and  clack  of  the  town, 
As  blythe  as  in  youth,  when  1  danc'd  on  the  green, 

I  tiisdain  to  repine  at  my  locks  growing  grey  : 
Tlitts  the  autumn  of  hfe,  like  the  apringtido  serene, 

Makes  approaching  December  as  cheerful  as  May, 

I  He  down  with  the  lamb,  aud  I  rise  with  the  lark, 

So  1  keep  both  di«case  and  the  doctor  at  bay ; 
And  1  feel  on  my  jiillow  no  thorns  in  the  dark, 

Which  reflection  might  raise  from  the  deeds  of  the  day  j 
For  with  neither  myself  nor  my  neighbour  at  strife. 

Though  the  sand  in  my  glass  may  not  long  have  to  rtin, 
I'm  determin'd  to  live  all  the  days  of  my  life, 

With  ooDtent  in  a  cottage  and  envy  to  none  t 

Yet  let  mo  not  selfishly  boast  of  my  lot. 

Nor  to  self  let  tlie  comforts  of  life  be  con6ii'd  ; 

For  how  sordid  the  pleasures  must  be  of  that  sol^ 
Who  to  share  them  with  others  no  pleasure  can  find  : 


For  my  friend  IVe  a  board,  IVe  a  bottle  and  bed, 

Ay,  and  ten  times  more  wdcome  that  Mend  if  he's  poor; 

And  for  all  that  are  poor  if  I  could  but  find  bread, 
Not  a  pauper  without  it  should  budge  from  my  door. 

Thus  while  a  mad  world  ia  involvM  in  mad  broils, 

For  a  few  leagues  of  land  or  an  arm  of  the  sea  ; 
And  Ambition  climbg  high  and  pale  Pennry  toils, 

For  what  but  appears  a  mere  phantom  to  me  ; 
Through  life  let  me  steer  with  an  even  clean  hand, 

And  ft  heart  nncormpted  by  grandeur  or  gold  ; 
And,  at  last^  quit  my  berth,  when  this  life's  at  a  stand, 

For  a  berth  which  can  neither  be  bonght  nor  be  sold. 

Another  short  poein,  which  aptpears  in  the  MS. 
of  TJi^  Bnt^h^  is  considered  by  Mr.  Pilikertisn  to 
be  **much  siiperior  to  the  song  of  To-matrofp" 
It  consists  of  fivii  verses,  and  is  a  paraphrase  of 
Hamlet's  famous  Soliloquy  on  Death, 
TO  BE  OR  NOT  TO  BE. 
A  Vocal  Panphfam  on  HunloVs  Sollloquv, 

In  Shakflpere*3  oIl-enHght'ning  achoolj 

Wliere  wit  and  wisdom  eq\ial  ahine, 
Wht-re  genius  spurns  at  fettering  mle, 

And,  tow'ring,  soars  to  heights  divine  ; 
The  Royal  Hamlet,  wrapt  in  thought, 

On  freedom's  pow*r,  and  fat«'a  decree, 
The  Question,  with  importance  fraught, 

lie  iitates,  *  To  be,  or  not  U*  be.*' 

Now  pondVing  if  the  nobk  mind* 

Shou'd  tamely  suiTer  fortune's  frown, 
Or  treat  her  as  a  mistress  kind, 

Who»  imiles  our  tend'rest  wishes  crown  ; 
Oti  when  in  dire  and  troublous  siege, 

Strong  ills  assail,  like  hostile  foos, 
Twero  boat  to  take  up  arma  in  rage, 

Her  aliiiga  and  arrows  to  oppose. 

Revolying  then,  What  'tis  to  die, 

He  says,  'to  sleep/  and  nothing  more ; 
And  if  from  tears  it  clears  each  eye, 

And  eases  hearts  that  ach'd  before  ; 
Ending  at  once  each  <:a]ikVitig  gnef, 

To  which  devoted  lleah  is  heir, 
Thtit  filet! p  which  brings  such  swoet  relief, 

Will  soon  be  yours,  ye  sons  of  care  ! 

To  sleep  ; — But  then,  perchance,  to  dream  j 

*  Ay,  there's  the  mb,'  dark  doubt  replies ; 
For  whips,  and  atinga,  and  lire,  and  flame, 

Auil  widows*  moiuis,  and  ojplians'  cries, 
Oppression's  yoke,  pride 'a  rankling  gall, 

Lo\'e'a  panga  deapis'd,  and  law's  delay, 
A  bodkin^s  point  might  end  them  all, 

But  for  that  Dream,  which  hum  the  way  I 

Then,  till  wo  quit  this  mortal  coil, 
To  reach  that  undiscoTcr'd  bourne, 


Where  terminates  all  human  toil. 
And  whence  no  trav'ller  can  return  ; 

I^t  smiling  hope  expand  the  breast, 
And  all  from  doubt  and  dread  be  free ; 

Since  Jove  has  order* d  for  i)tv  best, 
Whate'er's  To  Be  or  Not  To  Be 

How  many  school-boys — who  went  to 
before  tlie  days  of  School  Boards — are  there  who 
have  not  learnt  **  by  heart "  the  quaint  mnemonkal 
verses  on  the  Kings  of  England?  There 
many,  wo  imagine^  who  are  familiar  with  the 
who  do  not  know  that  they  were  written  by  Job 
Collins.  They  wem  deUven*d»  as  the  advertis<v' 
ment  quoted  on  page  262  intimates,  in  the 
author's  entertainment.  We  print  these  reisos 
not  only  as  an  admii-able  illustration  of  CoUinall 
quaintly  humoroua  stylo,  but  as  the  best  set 
verses  to  enable  the  student  to  keep  in  memoT| 
the  order  of  the  English  Sovereigns  : 

* '  The  Romans  in  £n^and  awhile  did  sway ; 
The  Saxons  long  after  them  led  the  way, 
Who  tnggM  with  the  Dane  till  an  overtlirow 
They  met  with  at  last  from  the  Norman  bow ! 
Yet,  barring  all  pother,  the  one  and  the  other 
Were  all  of  tliem  Kings  in  their  turn. 

**  Bold  Willie  the  Conqueror  long  did  reign. 
But  Rnfiis,  his  son,  by  an  arrow  was  slain  ; 
And  Harry  the  first  was  a  scholar  bright, 
And  Stephy  was  forced  for  his  crown  to  fight ; 
Yot,  barring  all  pother,  the  one  and  the  other,  He. 

"Sooond  Henry  Flantagenet's  name  did  bear. 
And  CoBur-de-Lion  was  his  son  and  heir  ; 
But  Magna  Charta  was  gain*d  from  John, 
Which  Hairy  the  thir<l  jint  his  seal  upon. 

Yea,  barring  all  pother,  the  one  and  the  othsr^  *<»| 

*'  There  wss  Teddy  the  first  like  a  tyger  bold. 
Though  the  second  by  rebels  was  bought  and  told; 
And  Teddy  the  third  was  hia  subjects'  pride, 
Though  bis  grandson,  Dicky,  was  poppM  usidc. 
Yet,  barring  all  pother,  the  one  and  the  oth«T,  J 

"There  was  Harry  the  fourth,  a  warlike  wight. 

And  Harry  the  fifth  like  a  cock  would  fight ; 

Though  Henry  hia  son  like  a  chick  did  i>out. 

When  Teddy  his  cousin  had  kick'd  him  onL 

Yet,  barring  all  pother,  the  one  and  tlie  other,  J 

"  Poor  Teddy  the  fiftli  he  was  kilFd  in  be^l, 
By  butchering  Dick  who  was  knocked  on  the  head  ; 
Then  Henry  the  seventh  in  fomo  grew  big, 
And  Hsrry  the  eight  was  as  fat  as  a  pig, 
Yet,  barring  all  pother,  the  one  and  the  othtr»  Jto 


'  With  Teddj  tlie  sixth  wo  had  tTaiic|Tiil  daye, 
lluiiigh  Miuy  made  firo  and  faggot  blaieo ; 
But  good  Queen  Beas  was  a  ^lorioTifi  dame, 
And  bonny  King  Jdmj  from  Scotknd  came, 
Yet»  biUTtng  all  pother,  the  one  and  the  other,  Ilc. 

*  Poor  Charley  the  first  wa«  *  martyr  miide, 
Bat  Charley  hia  son  was  a  comical  blade  j 
And  Jemmy  the  second,  when  hotly  BpniT*d, 
Ban  away,  do  yon  see  me,  from  WUly  the  third* 
Yet,  barring  all  pot  her,  the  one  and  the  other,  &c. 

'  Qneen  Ann  was  victorioua  by  land  and  sea, 
And  Geoi^  the  first  did  with  glory  sway, 
And  m  Georgy  the  second  has  long  been  dead, 
Long  lifo  to  the  Gcorgy  we  have  in  his  stead, 

And,  may  his  son's  sons  to  the  end  of  the  chapter. 

All  oome  to  be  Kings  in  their  turn. 

The  la«t  stanza  of  this  rhymed  chronicle  hiiA 
feen  altered,  and  a  new  one  added,  in  order  to 
ning  the  story  down  to  the  present  reign, — by 
horn  we  do  not  know ;  but  as  our  readers  may 
je  glad  to  have  the  story  completed,  we  give  the 
iwo  additiona]  stanzas  ns  wc  ouiaelves  received  , 
iLem  in  the  happy  days  gone  by  : 

**  Queen  Ann  was  Tictorious  by  land  and  sea, 
And  Georgy  the  first  did  with  glory  sway  ; 
Sid  O^offfjf  ifu  aecond  U^a  favQUT  did  gain 
Than  Hnd  Farmer  George^  wUk  kii  vtfff  lon^  reiffn^ 
Yet  saving  all  potlifr,  tie, 

•*  y^jU  j/«y  Gcortfe  the  Fourth^  hng  Jiegent  $urnatn*dj 
f^as/olhwd  h\f  ff'iUiam  the  SoU&r  Duk^  fam*d  ; 
And  b€cauie  the  Ihtke  of  Kent  wa9  dtad, 
Victoria  r€ujn*d  (m  iht  ihrone  inskad,** 

And  may  the  time  be  far  distant  wben  any 
further  alteration  of  the  old  rhj^nes  shall  be 
Heeded  to  complete  the  history  I 

Space  forbids  our  quoting  more  than  (m^  other 
Bxample  of  Collins's  poetry  ;  and  it  is  one  in  which 
;he  pathos  of  onr  author  is  hnely  excmpMed.  It  is 
entitled, 

DATE  OBOLUM  BELTSAEIO. 

)  t  Forttmey  how  strangely  thy  gifts  arc  awarded  ! 
low  mnch  to  thy  shsimc  thy  caprice  is  recorded  f 

Wise,  Bra¥e,  and  Good  of  thy  frowns  seldom  'scape 

I  brave  BelisarioB,  who  beg*d  for  a  half^^enny  1 
•*  Date  Obolnm,  Date  Obolum, 

'*  Date  Obolum  Belisario/' 

hove  fame  from  hia  valour  and  victories  arose, — Sir^ 
I  COtmtiy  the  ahield  and  the  acooige  of  her  foes, — Sir, 


By  his  poor  faithful  dog^  blind  and  aged  was  led, — Sir, 
With  one  foot  in  the  grave,  thus  to  beg  for  his  bread, — Sir  I 
**  Date  Obolum,"— &0. 

When  a  young  Roman  Knight  in  the  street  passing  by,  Sir, 
The  vet'ran  survey 'd  with  a  ht'art-rcuding  sigh,  Sir, 
And  a  purse'in  hia  helmet  he  ilrop^d,  with  a  tear,  Sir, 
While  the  soldier's  sod  tale  thus  attracted  his  ear,  Sir  ; 
'*  Date  Obolum," — &c* 

**I  have  fought,  I  have  bled,  I  have  couquer'd  for  Rome,  Sir, 
*'  1  have  crown 'd  her  with  laurels,  for  ages  to  bloom,  Sir, 
**  I've  augmented  her  wealth,  swell'd  her  pride  and  her 

power.  Sir  : 
**  I  espoused  her  for  life,  and  disgrace  is  my  dower.  Sir  1 
**  Date  Obolum," — kc. 

**  Yet  blood  never  wantonly  wasted  at  random^ 

"  Losing  thousands  their  lives  with  a  Nil  despgrandum  i 

**  But  each  conq^uest  I  gain'd,  I  mudo  both  friend  and  foe 

know, 
**  That  my  soul's  only  aim  was  Pro  publico  bofW, 
"  Date  Obolum,"— Ac 

**  Nor  yet  for  my  friends,  for  my  kindred  or  self,  Sir, 
"  Hm  my  gloij  been  staiuM  with  the  base  views  of  |)elf,  Sir, 
**Bttt  for  all,  near  or  dear,  Tve  bo  far  been  from  catving, 
**  Old  and  blind,  Wa  no  choice  but  of  begging  or  starving  ! 
**  Date  Obolum,"— &c. 

"  Let  the  brave   then    when  hurl'd  from  their  bright 

elevation, 

**  Loam  and  smile,  though  redac'd  to  a  skve*8  degradation, 

**And  of  eye-sight  bereft,  they,  like  roe,  grofHs  their  way.  Sir. 

"  The  bright  sutirheams  ^f  virtue  will  iurn  niffhi  to  Jay,  JSir^ 

*•  DaU  Obolum,"— &0. 

**  For  though  to  diatrees  and  to  darkness  innr*d, — Sir, 
•*  In  iMa  vile  crust  of  clay  when  no  longer  immured,— Sir, 
**  From  the  lorn  vale  of  tears  they  triumphant  shall  rise,  Sir, 
'*  And  see  all  earthly  glory  eelipa'd  in  the  skies,— Sir. 
"  Date  Obolum,  Date  Obolam, 

"  Date  Obolum  Belisario." 

"  We  oi-G  free  to  confess,"  the  author  adds,  in 
a  note,  **  that  the  word  '  air '  has  an  awkward 
appemunce  at  the  end  of  so  many  hues  in  this 
song;  but  the  plain  truth  is,  that  the  Tune 
requires  it ;  and,  as  we  cannot  fill  up  its  measum 
without  it,  we  must  acknowledge  that,  like  blaster 
Stephen's  Appeal  to  St.  Peter,  it  is  introduced 
merely  *  to  make  up  thb  metre.*  " 

In  an  interesting  notice  of  Collins,  in  Noies 
and  Querie^f  written  hy  Mr.  W.  Bates,  the  author 
of  The  Brush  is  thus  described  : — 

'^  He    was    a    big,    ponderous   man,   of    the 


278 


OLD  Airo   NEW   BIRMINGHAM. 


CJnbQ  CoUlM 


Jolinsonian  type,  and  duly  impressed  with  a 
conviction  ol  his  varied  talents.  Men  of  this 
manner  are  apt  to  become  unwieldy  with  age ; 
and  80  it  was,  I  am  led  to  believe,  mth  our  friend 
Collins — whose  Brmh  probably  ceased  to  attract 
the  public,  with  his  growing  inability  to  8  us  tain 
the  labours  of  a  sprightly  monologue.  Even  in 
1804,  the  date  of  his  book,  he  speaks  of  it  as  his 


These  may  seem  but  meagre  detaib  of  the  lUe 
of  a  man  gifted  as  Collins  undoubtedly  was,  yet 
tliey  a.re  all  that  can  be  learned  of  him.  Th^w 
exist  traditions  as  to  the  excellence  of  his  singing: 
it  is  stated  in  Dr.  Hirfer^s  Nouvclle  Biagraphk 
G^n^rahf  that  "  he  sang  with  a  rare  perfectioa^ 
the  Romances  and  other  poMes  of  his  comp 
tion."     This   testimony   is  corroborated  by  Ui«' 


^ 


rh.i 


VUAliLhfi    UA*\iK 


*  once  popular  performance,*  and  he  seems  then  to 
have  retired  into  private  life.  He  continued  to 
reside  at  Great  Brook  Street,  Ashted,  ^vith  a 
niece,  Miss  Brent.  This  lady,  to  whose  putvntage 
Bomo  degree  of  mystery  was  attached,  was 
possessed  of  a  fortune,  and  kept  some  kind  of 
carriage.  The  uncle  may  not  have  been  entirely 
devoid  of  means,  but,  I  fancy,  was  somewhat 
dependent' on  his  niece  for  the  comforts  of  age, 
He  died  suddenly,  a  few  years  later,  [in  1808^] 
and  Misa  Brent  returned  to  Bath/* 


Eev.  J,  Woodfall  Ebsworth,  M. A., —editor  of 

several  choice  volumes  of   old  ballad-Uterature, 
— whose    father    heard  CoIlitLS  sing  on    manj^ 
occasions.      It    is    scarcely   probable,    howcT 
that  Dr.  Hoefer's  statenient?  as  to  the  ^^  ffran 
fortune  "  amassed  by  the  autjior  of  Tlte  Brv*h 
a  rt'sult  of  the  performance   of   that   **  aiip 
facMimx*^ 

Contemporary   with    Jolin    Collins,   flourish 
another   local   poet,  whose   writings   were  «i 
totally  different   character  from    the   fre** 


I  tloydj 


OLD   AND  NEW  BtRMINGIIAM. 


279 


«Bfly  veftses  of  the  atitbor  of  Scnj^icnqxtloffia^ 
— bearing  traces  of  ripe  classicul  schalarship, 
stAtelkf,  Wt  none  tlie  less  true  poetry,  albeit  not 
opiilar  fie  "  To-morrow,"  and  otlier  songs  of 
^  ColJuid, 

Clmrlisa    Doyd,^the    friend    of    Lamb    and 
Coleridge,— was  the  el(]ctst  son  of  Charles  Lloyd, 
the  iHinker,  a  member  of  the  honoured  firm  who 
established  the  first  Birmingham  bank,  Messrs, 
Tftjlor  and  Lloyds,    The  elder  Charles  Lloyd  was 
ft  man  of  refined  tustcs  and  no  little  ability,  and 
waa  hinisolf  occasionaUy  guilty  of  flirtation  with 
the  muscs»  of  which  he  gave  eridence  in  his  tnrnslo- 
of  the  KinMk^  of  Hornce^  (privately  priut^iJ, 
ll2),  and  uf  the  Odi/i^rtj  and  p.irt  of  the   liiad 
of  Homer,   the   24th  book   of   which   was  also 
privattdy    prinled.       This  Charles    Lloyd    (the 
elder)  wad  bom  September  22nd,  1748  ;  married, 
in   1774,  to  Mary,  the  only  daughter  of  Janie^ 
yarmi^r^  K«|,   of   Ijjicester;    and   by  her  had 
Mt^ttU  cliildren,  six  of  whom  survived  him.    The 
eldest  of  these  was  our  author,  who  wrote,  on  the 
82nd  of  February,  1822,  some  "  Lines  on  tlio 
Death  of  Mary  Lloyd,"  his  mothtT,  from  M'hich 
we  may  quote  the  following  fine  passage,  worthy 
almost  of  being  placeil  side  by  side  with  Cowpet's 
on  a  similar  occasion  : — 
Mv  ileart^at  Mother.  coiiUl  a  lay  of  mme 
RcBcrvie  tliy  mcmor)*  from  oblivion's  gloom, 
How  gliiitly  woul«i  njy  Ptforts  try  to  build 
Th'  imiierinhaMc  virs*  ;  for  thou  wert  one 
Deserving  well  tlio  love  of  thoEw  that  lcii»w  tbee, 
rioti(»  thou  wert,  sinceru,  and  elevnt* 
Above  all  vulgnr  thought :  thy  heArt,  the  seat 
l)r«r«sry  finer  Bonaibihty, 
Wa«  not  for  lhi»  worM'si  wayn*     Mow  well  do  I 
Rrm«mb«r,  when  1  yet  wm  bnt  a  boy» 
Jiiid  only  knew  of  death  by  imme  :  in>*cr  yet 
Ilikd  fflt  the  n<'jin*ftt  iiiti-iests  of  iny  heart 
Rent  t>y  it*  cold  inexorable  hand  ; 
How  well  do  I  itilJ  nirolk^ct  the  baam 
Tbjil  brightened  in  thine  eye,  nnd  o'er  thy  fttCfl 
Spread  like  a  glory,  wlien  sonn?  lovely  jwv^ue 
Of  natnrv  ml  led  mt  thee  to  gdste  ;  or  when 
In  fvmk  which  thoti  pem$i4-dst  thovi  did  meet 
\\  it,  from  slTftin 

\  lis  or  devout. 

I*  ,  '  I  r*nu  njUi   \ihen  on  evu 

i  I  ,  thou  dld^t  sit,  Mn\  wiiteh  the  9an*A 

Iji^i  i.i';4Aiji!«y  watoh  tlio  AUit)dv  lundttc^po  ««eu 
3*3 


From  nether  windows  of  thy  then  abode, 

With  houses  otherwise  encompassed,  how 

Do  I  remember  what  seruuity, 

Bespeaking  solemn  and  une&rthly  thotights, 

Brooded  on  all  thy  jwrson  !     How  thou  lookedst 

Still  1  recall  to  mind,  and  too  recall 

How  oft  such  hour  by  some  appropriate  strain 

Fruni  the  Si^asoos*  barii,  and  him  of  flight  more  lofty. 

The  Poet  who  did  tunc  hi  a  sacred  harp 

To  tell  of  nian*s  firat  innocence,  hiH  fall, 

And  restomtion, — hoiv  such  hour  was  filled 

By  some  appropriate  strnin  from  these  with  taste 

Selected  ;— thy  enunciation  gi'aced 

Each  apt  quotation  ;  for  thy  conn  teuance, 

Each  gesture,  tone  of  voice,  an  earnest  gave, 

Tliou  lentest  more  of  feeding  to  the  strain 

By  thee  recited,  than  thou  drow'st  from  thenoo. 

Thou  wert  meet  Prieatress  for  an  hour  like  this  \ 

Thine  was  a  breast  tuned  to  each  holier  thought  \ 

Thine  was  a  voice  which  e*en  an  ange!  might 

Have  made  its  organ,  in  discourse  with  man 

Rendering  thee  his  interpretress  !  so  free 

From  aught  of  vulgar,  sordid,  mean,  or  low, 

^Ve^;  all  thy  feelings,  that  not  only  thou 

Didat  never  to  a  moo<i  which  these  inspire 

iiivc  utterance,  but  also  in  thy  breast 

Instinct  connatural  to  such  impulses 

Could  not  be  found  I 

Charles  Lloyd  (the  elder)  died,  January  16th, 
1828,  at  Bingley  House,  in  his  80th  year. 
His  portrait  appears  on  page  278, 

An  interesting  skekh  of  the  Lloyd  family  is 
given  by  Robert,  brother  of  Charles,  in  a  letter  to 
Charles  Lamb,  The  latter,  writing  to  Coleridge, 
says :— "  Robert  Lloyd  has  written  me  a  masterly 
letter,  containing  a  cbaractcT  of  his  father,  Beo 
how  different  from  Charles  he  views  the  old  manl 
f Literatim):  *  My  father  sm ok ea,  repeats  Homer 
in  Greek,  and  Virgil,  and  is  leaniiiig,  when  from 
buainesa,  with  all  the  vigour  of  a  young  man, 
Italian.  He  is,  really,  a  wonderful  man*  He 
mixes  public  and  private  buf^inoss,  the  intricacies 
of  disordering  life  with  hia  religion  and  devotion. 
No  one  more  rationally  enjoys  the  romantic  scenes 
of  Nature,  and  the  chit-chat  and  little  vagaries  of 
his  children;  and,  though  surrounded  with  an 
ocean  of  nlFairs,  the  very  neatness  of  his  most 
obscure  cupboaril  in  the  house  passes  not  un- 
noticed. I  never  knew  any  one  view  with  such 
clearness,  nor  so  well  ealisfied  with  things  as  they 
are,  und  make  such  allowance  for  tilings  which 


280 


OLD   A^T)  NEW  BIKMINGHAM. 


(ChstlMtio^ 


muBt  appear  perft^ct  Syriac  to  him,'  By  the  last 
he  means  the  Lloydisnis  of  the  younger  branches. 
His  portiait  of  Charles  (exact  as  fax  aa  he  has  had 
opportunities  of  noting  him)  is  most  exquisite ; — 
*  Charles  is  become  steady  as  a  church,  and  as 
stmightforwaixi  as  a  Boman  road.  It  would 
distract  him  to  mention  anything  that  was  not 
as  plain  as  sense  j  he  seems  to  have  run  the  whole 
scenery  of  life,  and  now  rests  as  the  formal  pre- 
cision of  non-€xi8tence/  " 

Bingley  Iltiuse,  the  home  of  the  Lloyd  family, 
was  pleajwmtly  situated  on  the  road  to  the 
Five  Ways,- — now  known  as  Broad  Street, — 
on  the  site  of  the  modem  Bingley  Hall ;  horo 
the  younger  Charles  Lloyd,  our  author,  was 
born,  in  177»^  oi  thereabout.  As  he  grew  up  he 
manifested  the  greatest  disinclination  for  business 
pursuits,  and  preferred  the  seijhision  of  the 
library  to  thts  dull  routine  of  the  hank.  During 
a  abort  visit  of  Samuel  Taylor  Coleridge  to  Bir- 
minghfimj  an  accident  brought  him  into  the 
society  of  Charles  Lloyd,  and  the  latter  was  so 
fa3cinat^3d  by  the  conversation  of  the  great 
talker  that  he  evi'utually  resolved  to  remove 
to  Bristol  where  Coleridge  then  lived,  in  order 
to  enjoy  the  advantage  of  a  closer  intimacy 
with  liis  newly-found  **  guide,  philosopher,  and 
friend." 

Arriving  at  Bristol,  he  sought  out  Coleridge, 
and  endeavoured  to  iujpruve  his  acquaintance 
V.  ith  him,  "  To  enjoy  the  envialde  privilege  of 
Mr,  Coleridge^s  conversation/'  says  Cuttle,  in  his 
Beminiscencce,  **  Mr.  Lloyd  proposed  even  to 
domesticate  with  Lim  ;  and  made  hiru  such  a 
pecuniary  offer  lliat  Mr.  C.  immediately  acceded 
to  the  proposal ;  and  to  effect  this,  as  rni  essential 
preliminary,  removed  from  Bod cl iff  Hill  to  a 
house  on  Kingsdown."  While  residing  with 
Coleridge,  Lloyd  became  subject  to  fits ;  writing 
in  1790,  the  former  says  ;  "  I  write  under  great 
agony  of  mind,  Charles  Lloyd  b^3ing  very  ill 
He  has  been  seized  with  his  fits  three  times  in 
the  space  of  seven  days ;  and  just  as  I  was  in 
hdd  last  night,  I  was  called  up  again,  ai  d  from 


twelve  at  night  to  five  this  njoniing,  he  reniiiiietl' 

in  one  continued  state  of  agonized  deliriunL** 

It  waB  in  the  same  year  thai  liuyd  published 
his  first  volume  of  verae,  entitled  "  Poenw  on 
Various  Subjects,"  also  a  thin  qunrto  **  Poem  on 
the  Death  of  his  Grandmother,  PriscOla  Farmer, 
the  wife  of  the  James  Farmer,  of  Leicester,  befoi 
mentioned.     Some  of  these  poems  were  riiiicali 
by  Coleridge,  (together  with  his  own  and  thoee 
of  Charles  Lamb,)  in  certain  "  Mock  Sonnet^,' 
which  C.  publislicd  in  the  **  Monthly  Magazmt%' 
1797,   under  the   nom-de-plume  of    "Neheminhj 
Higginhotham."     Not  long  after  this  a  qi 
seems  to  have  arisen  between  Lloyd  and  Col 
ridge,   and  early  in   1798   they  separated ;  b 
about    twelve     mont<hs    before    the 
Coleridge   had  introduced  his  friend  to  CharJ 
Lamb. 

Lloyd's  first  visit  to  Lamb  is  thua  refenwl 
by  the  latter  in  a  letter  to  Coleridge,  in  Jam 
1797: — *'You  have  learned  by  this  time, 
surprise,  no  doubt,  that  Lloyd   is   with  me  ii 
town.     The  emotions  I  felt  on  his   coming  so 
unlooked    for,    ore   not    ill   ex]>ressed   in 
follows,  and  what  (if  you  do  not  object  to  tl 
as  too  personal,  and  to  the  world  obecttre^ 
otherwise  wanting  in  worth,)  I  should  wiah 
make  a  part  of  our  httlo  volume. 

TO 

CHARLES  LLOYD,  AN  UNEXPECTED  TISITOR.  | 
Alone,  obscure,  without  n  friend, 

A  diperlos!^,  solitaTy  thing 
Why  seek*  my  Lloyd  the  simuger  out  ? 

What  olTering  can  the  jjirntiger  brmg 

or  sociiil  srciics,  honie»bred  delights. 
That  him  in  aught  eonipensat**  miiy 

For  Stowcy's  pleasniit  Winter  nighta, 
For  loves  und  fri??niishi|>8  far  away ! 

In  lirief  oldiv^ion  to  fort*go 

Frieiidg,  such  M  thin«\  so  justly  tli%ir. 

And  l>e  nvvhilt?  with  me  oositiiiit 
To  stay,  a  kindly  loiterer,  here  T 

For  this  n  glcnm  of  r<md«»m  joy 

ILith  flujihM  my  nimcciigt^  1 
And,  with  an  oViolmrged  hiu 

I  fc<il  the  thanks  I  cannot  situMJ. 
Oh  I  sweet  an-  jil)  the  Muse's  InyF, 

And  Bwcct  the  charm  of  runtin  htnl  s 


1 


Oisrlea  Lloyd  ] 


OLD   AND   NEW   BUIMIXGHAM, 


Twr.i  long  since  those  estraii^pd  ears 

The  sweeter  voice  of  friend  hud  heurd. 
The  voice  bath  spoke  :  the  pleasant  soands 

in  meraory'a  ear  in  alter  time 
Shall  live,  to  aomotitnes  rouse  a  tear^ 

And  aometimea  prompt  an  honest  rhyme. 
For  when  the  transient  charm  is  fled, 

And  when  the  little  week  is  o'er, 
To  cheerless,  frieuilless  solitude 

When  I  return  as  heretofore^ 
Long,  long  within  my  aching  heart 

The  grateful  sense  shall  cherish 'd  be  : 
I'll  think  leas  nioanly  of  my»elf, 

That  Lloyd  wUl  sometimes  think  on  me* 

,  in  April  ol  tlie  same  year,  Lamb  writes : 
**  Lloyd  tella  me  he  has  been  very  ill,  and  was  on 
the  point  of  leaving  you.  I  addressed  a  letter  to 
him  at  liirmtngbam :  perhaps  be  got  it  not,  and 
id  still  with  you.  I  hope  his  ill-health  lias  not 
prevented  Lis  attending  to  &  request  I  made  in  it, 
that  he  would  write  agnin  very  soon  to  lot  me 
know  how  be  was.  I  hope  to  God  poor  Lloyd  is 
not  very  bad,  or  in  a  very  bad  way.  Pray  satisfy 
me  about  these  things." 

A  week  later,  (April  15th),  after  receiving  a 
letter  from   Lloyd,   (who  seems  to  have  been 
^bjipgring  for  a  time  in  Birmingham,)  Lamb  writes 
Vllain  to  Coleridge  : — "  Poor  dear  Lloyd  !  I  had  a 
letter  from  him  yesterday ;  bis  state  of  mind  is  tndy 
alanoing.     He  has,  by  his  own  confession,  kept  a 
letter  of  mine  unoptmed  three  weeks ;  afraid,  he  says, 
to  open  it,  lest  I  should  speak  upbraidingly  to  Mm ; 
and  yet  this  very  letter  of  mine  was  in  answer  to 
one,  wherein  he  informed  rae  that  an  alarming 
illness  had  alone  prevented  him  from  writing. 
•  Yon  will  pray  with  me,  I  know,  for  his  recovery  ; 
for  surely,  Ccleridge,  an  exquisiteness  of  feeling 
like  this  must  border  on  derangement     But  I 
love  him  more  and  more,  and  will  not  give  up 
this  hope  of  his  speedy  recovery,  ns  be  tells  me 
Darwin's  regimen."  * 


3c^d  I  Tltetii  Rpiin»l]enafuiii  were  sadly  jreftlliisi 
DfllUitObl  Of  *  13ii«t  trjoLinrhoIy  kfnd  Ihii-keDnl  over  liii  ktter 
dtfv  '  y*t  l<'fl  triH  flKlndraUo  intellect  free  for  Uie  llinsst  pfooeeiwii 
oi  At  A  time  wliftii,  like  Cowfj<?r,  he  LeUeved 

fcti  MjUJrt'i  of  Dirine  wnith.  he  uoulii  heat  hi» 

'I'    'U«4inliiiti'jiU  on  qucsliont  of  religion, 
^l»o  ntct^t  ttecurncy  of  p©rcr»ntloii  and 
>ur;  HDit,  AtUiT  ftii  ar^tncui  of  bonra, 
fftUt  A  UUxt  Htiiik,  to  lii(«  own  tleeiNilr/'— £Ji/or :  Xamh&'j 


.The  friendship  between  Lloyd  and  Lamb,  who 
were  to  a  certain  extent  similarly  afflicted,  re- 
mained firm  and  steadfast  until  severed  by  death. 
It  is  Lloyd  who  records  that  tragical  scene,  often 
told  and  always  remembered,  of  Charles  and 
Mary  Lamb  taking  their  melancholy  way  to  the 
asylum,  strait-waistcoat  under  arm  J 

During  the  year  1798,  the  two  friends  pub- 
lialied  jointly  a  thin  duodecimo  volume,  entitled 
**  Blank  Verse,"  in  which  also  appeared  one  or 
two  stanzas  from  the  pen  of  Coleridge.  Thia 
was  the  "  little  volume  "  referred  to  by  Lamb  in 
the  letter  to  Coleridge,  dated  Janiiar)%  1797, 
from  which  we  have  already  quoted. 

The  same  yearr  Lloyd  wrote  and  published  a 
novel  in  two  volumes,  entitled  **  Edmiuid  Oliver/' 
In  1799  he  wrote  a  "  Letter  to  the  Anti-Jacobin 
reviewers/'  which  brought  upon  him  the  abuse  of 
that  party,  and  procured  him  a  place  in  the 
poetical  pillory  side  by  side  with  Lamb,  (generally 
spelt  by  the  An ti- Jacobin  versifiers  Lambe),  Cole- 
ridge, Southeyj  and  others.  In  one  of  these 
versea  he  is  referred  to  as  follows  : — 

**  And  ye,  five  other  wandering  bards  that  move 
In  sweet  accord  of  harmony  and  love, 
C — dge,  and  S — th — y,  L— il*,  and  L — be,  and  Co. 
Tune  all  your  luyatic  harjis  to  praise  licpaux  I 
Pr— tl — y  and  W^f^d,  humble,  holy  men, 
Give  praises  to  his  name  with  tongue  and  jxsn  I  '* 

A  note  adds  : — ***  Mr.  Lloyd  was  originally  of 
that  fraternity  which  delights  in  '  ^Meetings  for 
Suierings.'  He  is  descended  from  an  opulent 
banker,  and  connected  witVi  the  first  families  of 
Ftiendff*  Like  his  relation  at  Xorwirh,  be  has 
adopted  the  original  principles  of  George  Fox,  the 
rounder,  relative  to  Priests  and  Kings.  .  .  , 
Mr.  Lloyd  continues  estranged  from  the  Thou*9 
and  Utee's  .  .  .  for  he  has  not  sufficient 
hypocrisy  for  the  profession.*^ 

Lloyd  was  also  pilloried  with  his  friends  in 
Byron*8  English  Bards  and  Scotch  Eeviewers : — 
'*  Yet  let  them  not  to  vulgar  Wordsworth  stoop, 
The  meanest  object  of  the  lowly  group, 
Whose  vcrae,  of  all  but  childish  prattle  void, 
Seerns  bleased  harmony  to  Lambe  antl  Lloyd." 

*  8m  B^mtUi  nfthi  AntUfaeobin  Ktamintr,  ITW),  p.  JKM. 


S8S 


OLD  AND  NEW  BmMlNGHAAI. 


COuirtct  Uhf 


In  a  note  the  two  friends  are  Btigmatieed  as 
•*  the  most  ignoble  followers  of  Southey  and  Co. ;" 
and  in  a  letter  to  tlie  Rev.  William  Harness, 
(editor  of  Shakespeare^)  the  noble  author  inter- 
polates the  question : — 

"  Whnt  uewa,  what  news  ?  Queen  Ore&ca, 
What  newii  of  Acribbkra  five  f 

S ,  W ,  C— .  L d»  ind  L u. 

All  d d,  though  yet  alive." 


and  distinguishiDg, — ^carried  to  a  pitch  almost  < 
painfulneBS, — Lloyd  has  scarcely  been  eq nailed^ 
and  his  poems,  though  rugged  in  point  of  Tem&'  ^ 
cation,  will  be  found  by  those  who  will  read 
them  with  the  calm  attention  they  require,  rGpIieto 
with  critical  and  moral  suggestions  of  the 
value," 

This  opinion  was  severely  criticised  by  a 


&^X 


-♦^J 


.^ 


0 


WATi's    HOrsE,    HliATHKIELD, 


Space  will  not  permit  of  more  than  an 
enumeration  of  his  other  writings,  the  principal 
and  most  esteemed  of  which  is  a  translation  of 
Alfieri;  besides  this  may  he  mentioned  Nuf^ 
dmonT-,  a  little  Tolrmie  of  poems,  published  by 
lieilby  and  Knott,  1823,  and  his  Df^^nUory 
Thoughts  in  Lofuiorh 

**  Ilia  mind,"  says  Talfourd,  *'  was  chiefly 
remarkable  for  the  fine  power  of  analysis  which 
distinguishes  \m  lAmthm^  and  other  of  his  later 
compositions.     In  this  power  of    discriminating 


in  BlackiDooiVit  Magatbrnf  August,  1S49»  wh 
pronounced  the  London  to  be  **  one  stream 
mud;"  adding  that,  **  there  is  no  trace  of  T€i«vJ 
and  the  style  is  an  outlandish  garb  such  «s  nol 
man  has  ever  seen  elsewhere,  either  in  verse  orl 
prose."  The  critic  further  adds:  "Poor  Lloydj 
was  a  lunatic  patient !  On  him  no  one  would  ImiI 
severe;  but  why  should  an  miolligent  aergeaut,] 
unless  prompted  by  a  sly  malice  against  aUi 
mankind,  persuade  us  to  read  \m  execrable  stult**] 
Charles  Lloyd  outlived  his  fri<aid  Latnb  snmaj 


five  years.  After  the  quarrel  with  Coleridge  he 
hhd  returned  to  Birmingham,  where  Lamb  visited 
liim  and  stayed  a  fortnight  in  the  town.  Suhse- 
<jueiitly  Lloyd  removed  to  **  a  pleasant  settlement 
on  the  picturesque  Brathay,  near  Ambleside/' 
where  he  continued  his  intimacy  with  Hartley 
Coleridge*  whom  be  had  known  as  a  cliild ;  and 
£li&Uy  settled  at  Versailles,  where  his  mind  com- 
pletely broke  up,  and  he  died  in  1839. 

There  may  be  carping  critics,  like  the  writer  of 

the  article  in  Blttckioood*i  Magazinef  from  which 

w^  have  quoted,  who  may  be  disposed  to  disparage 

Lloyd's  poetry,  and  to  regard  the  man  himself 

merely  as  an  amiable  lunatic ;  but  whatever  the 

quality  of  his  writings  may  be— and  for  ourselves 

they  have  a  peculiar  charm— we  cannot  but  regard 

Charles  Lloyd  as  one  of  the  noblest  type  of  hero 

worshippers — content  to  leave  the  task  of  heaping 

up  riches  to  others,  (although,  a«  Cottle  observes, 

he  might  have  gratified  to  the  utmost  the  desire 

to  accumulate  wedth,)  content  to  give  up  position, 

and  everytlung  which  the  world  counts  desinible, 

in  onier  that  he  might  enjoy  the  higher  life,  in 

the  world  of  thought  and  philosophy,  in  company 

ith  thp  noblest  minds  of  his  age. 

*Wo  now  tome  upon  a  group  of  worthies, — 

most    of   whose   names    are    "familiar   in    our 

months  as  household  words  "—whose  connection 

with  the  famous   Lunar  Society   sheds  a  lustre 

upon    the    history    of    Birmingham,    while    it 

considerably  the  reverence  which  every 

S"T!mningham  man  has  for  the  name  of  So  ho. 

^Matthew  Eoulton/*  says  Mr.   SmUes^  "was 

A  man  of  a  thoroughly  social  disposition,  and 

made   friends   wherever  he   went.      He   was   a 

fAVOurit<i  alike  with  children  and  philosophprs, 

with  princely  visitors  at  Soho,  and  with  quiet 

►  Qu&kera  in  Cornwall     When  at  home,  he  took 

pleasure    in    gathering    almut    him    persons    of 

kindred  tastes  and  pursuits,  in  oi-der  at  the  same 

f  lim<e  to  enjoy  their  society,  and  to  cidtivate  kis 

ijiAtixre  by  intercourse  with  minds  of  the  highest 


*  JTid*  llftrti^y  Coloftdgfl^i  BaeollMfloBi. 


culture.  Hence  the  friendships  which  bo  early 
formed  for  Benjamin  Franklin,  Dr.  Small,  Dr. 
Darwin,  Josioh  Wedgwood,  Thomas  Dayt 
Lovell  Edgeworth,  and  others  equaUy  eminent ; 
out  of  which  eventually  grew  the  famous  Lunar 
Society." 

The  necessity  for  such  intercouse  with  kindred 
spirits  had  called  into  existence  several  of  these 
literary  and  scientific  clubs  or  coteries,  in  various 
parts  of  the  kingdom,  such  as  that  of  which 
Samuel  Johnson  and  Sir  Joshua  Reynolds  were 
the  centres,  in  the  metro]xilis, — Roscoe,  at  Liver- 
pool, — Sir  Humphrey  Davy  and  Dr.  Beddoes, 
at  Bristol,  —  the  Taylors  and  Martineaus,  at 
Xorwich^^ — and  others  ekewhere.  None  of  these, 
however,  (if  we  except  the  metropolitan  coterie,) 
seem  to  have  numbered  among  their  members  so 
many  briDtant  and  distinguished  men  as  were 
gathered  at  rhotel  de  ramitid  sur  Htunhicorth 
Heathy  as  Boulton,  pleasantly  called  his  hospitable 
abode,  and  at  the  houses  of  other  memliers  of  the 
society  in  Birmingham, 

The  members  met  once  a  month,  by  turns  at 
each  other's  houses,  always  at  the  full  of  the 
moon,  in  order  that  distant  meml>ers  might  drive 
homo  by  moonlight  j  hence  the  name  of  the 
Society.  At  th«Be  delightful  meetings  the 
members  exchanged  views  upon  all  subjects 
relating  to  literature,  science,  and  art  Here 
Afurdocb,  and  Darwin,  and  Lovell  Edgeworth 
talked  over  their  pet  project  of  steam  locomotion ; 
here  Dr.  Priestley  told  of  his  marvellous  dis- 
coveries in  chemistry,  kindling  an  enthusiasm 
in  the  minds  of  Boulton  and  Watt  for  the  study 
of  that  science  which  they  never  suffered  to  abate, 
and  which  bore  fruit  in  certain  of  the  ingenious 
productions  of  Soho  \  and  Josiah  Wedgwood, 
listening  ^vith  Qdmiration,  speedily  catches  the 
enthusiasm  for  the  same  fascinating  science.  It 
was  a  marvellous  gathering  of  fine  intellects,  and 
one  can  understand  Dr.  Darwin,*  detained  by  his 
patients  at  Lichfield,  **  imprisoned  in  a  postchai0e» 


*  Tha  weU-knowQ   auUiar  of 


tba    Botanic  (kmUn^  Ewmomitnt 


joggled^  and  jodtled,  aiid  bumped,  and  bmi»ed 
along  the  King's  high-roud,  to  make  war  upon  a 
atomacli-achts  ur  a  fever/*  chaling  and  repiniiig 
over  his  loss,  and  trying  Ut  call  to  mind  •*  wbat 
wit,  what  rbetoric,  TDetafihysical,  mechanical,  and 
pyroteclmical,  will  Lo  on  the  wing,  bandied  like 
a  ehuttleeock  "  from  one  to  another  of  the  **  troop 
of  pliilosophcrsi  "  gathei-ed  at  Soho.*  "^Tiethcr  the 
meetings  wero  held  at  P hotel  de  VamiiU^  — ^  at 
Watt's  houBe  at  Harper's  Hill, — at  Keir's,  orMiir- 
doch'B  or  Galton's,  or  Dr.  Withering's, — whether 
"the  talk  Wixs  of  Pneumatic  Chemistry,  the  "  Pneftt- 
levan  water-tub  "or  "  mercurial  tub/'t  8  team 
Locomotion,  or  other  subject  of  special  intert^t,— 
these  social  gatherings  were  never  miattractive, 
and  absence  therefrom  was  always  sorely  lamented 
by  the  unfortunate  **  Lunatic  "  thoa  detained. 

Each  member  was  at  liberty  to  bring  a  friend 
with  him,  and  amongst  the  visitors  thus  intro- 
duced on  various  occasions  were  Sir  William 
Herschd,  Sir  Joseph  Banka,  De  Luc,  Dr,  Camper, 
Dr.  Solander,  Dr.  Samuel  Parr,  Smeaton,  the 
engineer,  and  many  other  diistinguished  men  of 
flcience.  Among  these  a  Frenchman,  M.  Faujaa- 
Saint-Fand,  has  preserved  to  ua  an  interesting 
description  of  the  bouse  of  Dr.  Priestley,  which, 
as  translated  by  Mr.  Smiles,  our  readers  will 
thank  us  for  f|uotiug  here  : 

**  It  is,"  he  ^ays,  *  a  chLirming  residence,  with  a 
fin©  meadow  on  one  side,  and  a  beaut  if  td  garden 
on  the  other.  There  was  an  air  of  perfect  neat- 
ness about  tlie  place  within  and  without.'  He 
describes  the  Doctor's  laboratory,  in  which  he 
conducted  his  experiments,  as  'situated  at  the 
extremity  of  a  court,  and  detached  from  the 
house  to  avoid  the  danger  of  fire/ 

**  *  It  conBists  of  several  apartments  on  the 
ground  floor.  On  entering  it,  I  waa  struck  with 
the  sight  of  a  siinple  and  ingenious  apparatus  for 
making  experiments  on  intlamniable  gas  extracted 
from  iron  and  wat#r  reduced  to  vapour.     It  con- 


8isti*d  of  II  tube,  tolerably  long  and  thick«  i 
out  uf  one  piece  of  copper  to  avoid  sold 
I'he  part  exposed  to  the  tire  was  thicker  i 
rt^t.     He  introduced  into  the  tube  cattil 
filings  of  iron,  and  instead  of  letting  tlie  walfi^ 
fall  into  it  drop  by  drop,  he  preferred  introdociz] 
it  as  vapour.     The  fumaco  was  fired  hy  ooli 
instead  of  coal,  this  being  the   heat  of 
tibles  for  intensity  and  ei^^uality  of  beat 
Dr»  Priestley  kirully  allowed  me  to  mske  a  diuM 
of  his  apparattja  for  the  purpose  of  eommn 
ting  it  to  the  French  chemists  wbo  are  engaged  i 
the  same  investigations  as  himself. 
Doctor  has  embellished  his  rural  i^treat  with  I 
philosophical  cabinet,  containing  all   the  insi 
ments  uece^ary  for  his  scientific  labours  ;  as  ' 
as   A  library,   containing  a  stot^  of  the 
valuable   books,      He   employs    bis   lime   in 
variety  of  studies.     Historj%  moml  philosoph 
and  religion,  occupy  his  attention  by  turns* 
active,  intelligent  mind,  and  a  natural  avidity  J 
knowledge,    draws    him     towards    the    phjfiii 
sciences  ;  but  a  soft  and  impressible  heart 
leads  him  to  religious  and  phiiaji  thro  pic  iniiuir 
.     .     I  had  indeed  the  greatest   plcaa^ure 
seeing  tins  amiable  servant  in  the  midst  uf 
books,  his  furnaces,  and  bis  phQosophical  infitfl 
ments ;  at  his  side  an  educated  wife,  a  lev  J 
daughter,  and  in  a  charming  residence,   wbed 
everything  bespoke   industry,   peace,  and  happ 
nesR."  *♦ 

Six  years  lH?fore  this  de^jcnption  a[^|  i  nvl 
print,  the  home  of  Dr.  Priestley,  and  the  m  ii-  iJ^ 
collection   of  philosophical   apparatus   which 
delighted  the  French  mvanty   fell  a  prey  to 
ruthless  mob,  and  the  gentle  philosopher  hiu 
was  driven  forth  homeless  from  the  town  up 
which  his  name  has  conferred  such  houour* 

We  may  hero  appropriately  conclude  our  notMSS 
of  Dr.  Priestley,  wh«>m  we  left  at  his  setllomuftl^ 
in  London.      Soon  after  his  arrival  in  the  l 


•  VuU  letter  froiu  Dr.  Uiirwin  t«  ikmlloii,  A^iril  6»  1778,  tmoUA 
b^  iJiMl/w.  itt  ••  BouUon  mid  Watt,'  p.  SUS,  mailer  atm^oft. 

t  luvcnU'd  by  Dr.  Priei^tk-}'  for  th<  parpoio  of  coUectmg  fJid 


•  **  VoyH^  en  AngbUtr^v,  «tt  Bcowe,  el  tni  l\m  R«l«ruJ 
Par  B.  FftuJai»-$»lut-Ff*tia,  t  Vfib.    I^irl»i  17V7     i^w^mi  by  !f 


Qm^arj  Wait] 


OLD  AKB   NEW  BIRMINGHAM. 


285 


I 


polis  he  was  chosen  successor  to  Dr.  Price,  at 
Hackney,  where  he  rera^ed,  however,  only  a 
«hort  period;  and  in  1794,  Ending  the  intense 
prejudice  «tiU  cherished  against  him  by  many  of 
Ilk  countrymen  too  ^evons  to  be  borne,  he  bade 
farewell  to  his  native  land  and  settled  at  North- 
umberland, in  Pennsylvania,  for  the  remainder 
4>f  his  days.  From  1801  to  1803  he  suffered 
gjieatly  from  indigestion  and  a  difficulty  of 
BwaUowing,  and  on  the  6th  February,  1804,  he 
died,  in  the  seventy-first  year  of  his  age.  In 
1817  his  whole  works,  including  his  autobio- 
giwphy  and  corres|)ondenc6^  were  published  in 
twenty-five  volumes,  at  Hackney,  edited  by  Mr, 
John  Towill  Rutk 

And  now  to  retum  for  a  moment  to  the 
Society.  **  The  Lunar  Society/'  says  Mr,  Smiles, 
"continued  to  exist  for  some  years  longer.  But 
on©  by  one  the  mem  hex's  dropped  off.  Dr. 
Pricfitley  em^igrated  to  America ;  Dr.  Withering, 
Jodah  Wedgwood,  and  Dr,  Darwin,  died 
before  the  close  of  the  century  ;  and,  without 
ihemi  a  meeting  of  the  Lunar  Society  was 
no  longer  what  it  used  to  be.  Instead  of  an 
aasembly  of  active,  inquiring  men^  it  was  more  like 
a  meeting  of  spectres  with  a  Death's  head  in  the 
chair.  The  associations  connected  with  the  meet- 
ing— reminding  the  few  lingering  survivors  of  the 
lofisea  of  friends  —  became  of  too  painful  a 
character  to  bo  kept  alive ;  and  the  Lunar  Society, 
like  the  members  of  which  it  was  composed, 
gradually  expired." 

In  the  famous  group  of  Soho  worthies  was  one 
who  must  have  taken  great  delight  in  attending, 
whenever  it  was  possible,  the  deUberations  of  the 
Lunar  Society,  who,  although  but  a  youth,  gave 
pl^omiae  of  becoming  as  worthy  a  representative 
of  ilie  gcniTiB  of  Soho  in  the  future  as  the  heads 
of  the  firm  were  then ;  we  refer  to  Gregory  Watt, 
gauinilly  called  the  "  favourite  son  "  of  the  great 
Inventor.  He  wfis  born  at  Harper's  Hill,  Bir- 
mingham, (a  view  of  which  is  given  on  page  139) 
in  the  year  1777,  a  period  when  Soho  waa  ap- 
pfosebijig  its  greatast  fame,  and  his  father  and 


Matthew  Boulton  w^ere  entering  upon  their  long 
struggles  and  contests  in  defence  of  their  patent 
rights.    Of  the  influence  of  James  Watt  upon  the 
training  of  his  son,  (whoso  eiirly  de^ith  was  the 
great  trial  of  the  old  man's  declining  years,)  but 
little  is  known,  yet  abundant  testimony  exists  to 
show  tliat  his  was  a  character  which  would  itself 
have  carved  a  name.     He  was  impetuous,  self- 
aisserting,  of    quick   observation,  origiijal   ideas, 
bold  in  language,  and  with  a  love  for  science  and 
literature  shewn  in  few  men  at  his   early  age. 
Many  of  his  school  letters  from  Glasgow  exist, 
where,   as   the    fellow   and    friend    of    Thomas 
Campbell,  the  poet,  he  discovers  to  us  that  he 
liimgelf  was  a  poet  and  a  twmslator  of  considerable 
merit    His  distinguishing  characteristic,  however, 
was   practical  geology,  and   his   letters  abound 
with   the  result  of   his  obsei'vations  frequently 
illusti-ated   With  well  executed   drawings    of  his 
specimens;  in  fact,   he  seems  to  have   had  a 
craze    for    illustrating   his   epistles  wherein  the 
comic   element  is  very  prominent.     In  1792  he 
made  a  tour   of    observation  to   Shipston  and 
Stratford,  the   next   year   to    Malvern,  and  hk 
descriptions  and  illiistrations  in  pen  and  ink  or 
water-colour,   as   in   Ids  joxirneja   to   and    from 
Glasgow  and  the  Scotch  Coast,  as  well  as  allusions 
to  more  complete  drawings  and  sketches,   show 
his   zeal   as   a   travelling   obsei'vcn      Whilst  he 
would  indulge  his  poetical  fancy  by  composing  a 
number  of  lines  between  each  stage,  and  writing 
them  down  at  each  stopping,  thus,  in  turn,  the 
comic — the    descriptive— the    tragic,     and    the 
personal  are  varied  by  an  ode  to  the  mountains,  or 
lakes,   or   passes.     At  one  time  he  is  "  solitary, 
melancholy,   and  cursed    by   ill-nature,"  at  tlie 
absence  of  Tom  Campbell,  whose  **  eccentricities 
were  always  a  source  of  amusement/'  but  who  was 
away   **at  some  out-landish  place  in  the  High- 
lands, whose  name  would  defy  all   England  to 
pronounce,"  whilst  in  another  he  will  fill  pages, 
descriptive  of  his  studies^  hh  occupations,  and 
his  hopes.     In  1794  ho  is  at  Ileathficld,  writing 
of  the  illness  of  his  poor  sister  Jessy,  making 


OLD  AND   NEW   BIR^nNGHAM. 


tOniEnrT  Vilf 


TQi86fi  and  sketches  on  her  pet  lap  dog.  Poor 
Jeaey  Watfs  death  was  felt  acutely  by  her 
father  and  mother  ;  she  died  in  their  arms  on  the 
6th  June^  1 794,  when  Gregory  was  but  1 7.  About 
this  time  he  formed  a  literary  partnership  with 
aome  friends,  and  their  contributiona  and  inter- 
change of  ideas  were  kept  up  mainly  by  corres- 
pondence J  but  although  reference  to  publishing 
is  often  made  ^Wth  the  names  of  Swinney  and 
Pearson,  we  know  of  no  productions  remaining 
in  print. 

In  1797  ho  shows  symptoms  of  consumption, 
and  ia  sent  to  winter  in  Penzance ;  he  travels 
there  from  Heathfield  on  horsebock,  and  passes 
his  timo  mainly  with  *'  the  immense  Colony  of 
the  Wedgwoods,**  staying  there  at  the  same  time. 
In  1799  he  is  in  London,  spendtug  X15  ISs.  on 
fossils — ^so  **  can't  buy  a  new  coat  to  go  to  the 
Theatre."  There  he  becomes  aci^uainted  with 
•*  all  tlte  mineralogieta  about  Town ; "  also  **  the 
Savants  of  the  Koyal  Society,  with  Horno  Tooke 
and  Erskine/'  He  can  walk  to  Croydon,  ten 
miles,  in  two  hours  Eve  minutes,  whtas  poetry 
as  fast  as  ever,  and  constantly  refers  to  his 
Birmingham  printer,  Swinney,  as  **the  swine" ;  in 
1800  he  is  at  Soho,  awakening  the  silent  houra  of 
the  night,  on  returmng  home  late  with  his  friends, 
by  reciting  aloud  the  last  new  poem  of  Tom 
CampbelJ,  eon  unwre ;  or,  instead  of  gouig  to 
bed,  beginning  to  write  at  half  post  eleven  and 
finishing  fifty*two  lines  by  the  grey  dawn.  On 
the  Ist  October,  he  starts  at  five  o'clock  in  the 
morning,  over  the  Wilds  of  Sutton  Coldtield,  for 
Derbyshire,  reaches  Lichlield  iii  two  hours,  and 
Derby — forty-five  miles — at  half-past  four,  in  a 
drenching  rain ;  thence  to  Matlock,  Stoke,  and 
Ironl>ridge,  where  he  and  Joe.  tSpode  demolished 
four  bottles  of  *^old  8poi't,'*and  *Hhe  heretic  Josiah 
roared  a  song  with  energy  al  two  in  the  moriiing." 
In  May,  1801,  he  journeys  with  Murdock  on 
horaeback  to  Scotland,  and  reports  the  whole 
journey  in  verse,  of  wliich  the  following  lines 
are  a  sample,  after  passing  through  York  and 
Durham,  and  meeting  at  Newcastle  l>r.  BudgBon, 


I  incof^^ 


And  yeatcrdny  wc.  by  tliia  tjlcc  r-      ^^  *r.?te^ 
Walked  full  30  inilc«,  as  oar  bii>  uA* 

To-tUy  wc  rode  40,  on  Hu^kus,  a  Jmr  i  n;U 
or  thoir  powers  of  persuoiiton,  and  ottrs  <d  deaU 
For  lliey,  pious  creatures,  to  praying  dioposKd, 
Would  hftvo  knelt  nt  each  atono,  if  wc  hm\  not  t 
Bnt  'tis  late—on  that  Sopha  I  long  to  recline. 
And  combat  fatigue  with  omni potent  wine  ; 
There  Murdock,  hU  muscular  litnlis  haj  dtjipostNl, 
In  transient  slumber  his  eyelids  are  rlowd  ; 
For  Sleep,  gentle  bailiff^  arrested  his  h^nds, 
Aa  he  felt  for  the  Buni{>er  that  clct$o  hy  him  ^taiids. 

The  winter  of  1801  he  left  for  the  Continent  i 
hia  health,— and  was  ill  of  fever  for  a  fortoij 
in  Paris^ — on  through  Nice  to  Vienna,  Turi 
Geneva,  Florence,  and  Eome,  sometimea  with 
escort  of  soldiers ;  mixing  his  descriptions  with 
fond  alluBions  to  smoky  Bin  *  >,  his  gio* 
logical  pursuits,  a  dinner  witii  i  Soull,  or 

some  other  great  man,  and  Continental  palltica. 
Ho  reached  England  in  October,  1802,  de 
ing  at  his  complaint  which  then  ttpj>eAnoil 
ble,  but  wrote  always  with  grim  humotir.     Ha 
holds  np  till  the  Spring  of  1804,  when  in 
alarming   stale  of  health  he  is  taken  to  Ritl 
He  still  writes  and  prints ;   hii  lafit  letter,  An 
20,  acknowledges  the  printed  copied   at  •*! 
wonderful   concoction   of   ^visilouj    which   T 
gendered  hust  bpring."*     His  father  writes  la 
and   hopeful  letters,   even   down   to    lun«, 
gnulually  the  end  comes.     He  is  removetl  to 
sea  at  Sid  mouth,  thence  to  the  neighbourhood 
Exeter,  where  he  lived  only  a  few  days,  aod  i 
at  noon,  on  Tuesday,  the  16th  October,  1804 

He  was  buried  in  the  famous  cornt>r  of  Hands- 
worth  Church,  In  person  he  wa^  described  4» 
tall,  with  a  fine  Homau  he^id,  his  writing  uras 
flupnt,  and  his  ideas  always  easily  and  harmo- 
niously expi*?s&t^d,  and,  considering  the  ho&t  o^ 
friends  he  made  in  London,  in  Birmingham,  i 
in  iScotlanil,  it  appears  strange  that  his  memo!] 
receives  ao  little  attention  from  his  townsmen. 

This  chopter  of  worthies  would  be  incorapl^ti 
without  some  mention  of   Fnujcia  Eginton, 
whose  neglected  biography  wo  would  wcommr 


lifter  oa  Dai«U 


flwioli  GKintoD. 


OLD   AND  NEW   BIKMINGHAM. 


th©  attention  of  the  historian  of  industry,  Mr. 
Samuel  Siuiled. 

Very  little  is  known  of  Eginton'a  early  life ; 
Ids  grandfather  was  rector  of  Eckington,  in 
Woroestei^hirp, — and  this  is  the  only  fact 
recoverable  respecting  his  relatives.  The  youog 
artist  received  his  early  training  at  Bilston, 
where  the  art  of  enamelling  was  at  that  time 


"  Eginton  was,  it  appears,  the  inventor  {about 
the  year  1773  it  is  said)  of  that  curious  procesB 
by  which  pictures  were  mechanically  repmduced 
at  the  close  of  last  century,  and  which  has  of 
late  made  so  much  noise  in  the  scientific  world. 
The  proce^ss  is  said  to  be  closely  alHud  to  photo- 
graphy, and  examples  having  been  discovered 
among  the  old  papers  at  Soho,  Birmingham,  and 


,7^! 


»i4' 


•%'   ^V 


2l 


'^^■ 


^  ^.-^z  ^-^->^^>^J 


i^a^cs^^ 


THJ£  OLD   POST  OFFICE. 


extensively  pnictised.  He  was  speedily  dis- 
covered by  Matthew  Boulton,  whose  keen  insight 
as  to  the  adaptability  of  his  workmen  led  him 
to  employ  Eginton  as  a  japanner.  He  was  also 
employed  by  Houlton  in  taking  copies  and  casts 
of  Tajses,  8titUL4te6,  etc.,  for  reproduction. 

We  harts  already  (p,  140)  referred  briefly  to 
EginlOD^s  reproductions  of  oil-paintings;  we  may 
be  excosed,  however,  for  giving  tlm  following 
furlhor  paiiiculars  from  Mr,  Lh^wellyn  Jcwitt^s 
inter^iing  Lifr.  oj  Jowiuh  WiMigwooil : 
87 


placed  in  the  Museum  of  Patents^  at  South 
Kensington,  have  been  brought  under  the  notice 
of  the  Photographic  Society,  and  produced  much 
discussion  at  its  meeting.  What  the  process 
adopted  by  Eginton,  who  was  in  tlie  employ 
of  Matthew  Boulton,  of  the  Soho  Works,  was, 
is  at  present  a  mystery;  the  book«  which  he 
left,  and  which  conUiined  his  recipes,  <fcc.,  having 
been  abHtracted  from  the  family,  and  lost.  The 
procc^  was  called  *  Polygraph ic/  and  the  pictures 
were   said   to   be   produced   by   *Chymieal   and 


288 


OLD  AND   NEW  BIRMINGHAM. 


[Fnnda  EgiBtoB. 


Mechanical  process/  and  consisted  of  copies  of 

paintings  by  different  artists — West,  Kauffman, 

Keynolds,  Rubens,  &c.     The  following  copy  of 

an  invoice  from  Eginton  to  Boulton,  will  show 

the  kind   of  subjects   produced  by  this  process, 

whose  peculiarities  it  is  not  necessary  to  inquire 

into  here : 

*  Hiindsworth,  April  15th,  1791. 
*Mr.  Boulton, 

*  Bt  of  Fb.  Eginton,  for  Order,  S.  W.  L. 

£    5.  d, 
*  One  Square  Mecliauical  PaintiDg  from  West — 

Yenns  and  Adonis 15  0 

One  ditto  from  ditto — Gephalns  and  Procria  .16  0 
One  ditto,  from  Angelica  Kaufifman — Penelope.  110 
One  ditto  ditto  ditto— Calipso  .        .         .         .110 

16  oval  picluTM  in  fonn  of  Mtdaliotis^  viz. : — 

One  old  man  from  Sir  Joshua  Reynolds    .         .     0  15  0 

One  Eastern  Lady,  from  Bertalotzi  .        .         .     0  15  0 

One  Vestal,  from  ditto 0  10  6 

One  Patience,  from  Angelica  KaufTman    .        .     0  10  6 

One  Beligion,  from  ditto 0  12  0 

One  Hope,  from  Rubens 0  12  0 

One  Shakspear's  Tomb,  from  Angelica     .         .     0  12  0 

One  Flora 0    7  6 

One  Diana 0    7  6 

One  Dancing  N>  mph 0    7  6 

One  Ditto 0    7  6 

One  BacaTito 0    7  6 

One  ditto 0     7  6 

One  Ai)ollo 0    7  6 

One  Una,  from  Angelica 0     7  6 

One  Oliver  and  Orlanda 0     7  6 


£12     6     6 
'Finish  from  tlie  dead  Colour  and  retouching 
Tragedy  and  Comedy  Heads  and  Melpomony, 
158. ;  and  Thalia,  155.  Figures  4  in  all,  Is.  6rf.     1 


1     0 


•£13  7  6' 
**  Sir, — In  the  above  I  have  conform'd  to  the  Order  as 
near  as  the  very  low  prices  to  ^  hich  I  was  limeted  would 
permit.  Some  alVrations  I  have  been  obliged  to  make 
on  that  act,  particularly  in  the  four  historical  square 
ones,  which  should  have  been,  according  to  order,  from 
lbs,  to  20*.  ;  instead  of  which  you  will  find  one  pair  from 
West  at  25^.  ■  ich,  and  one  pair  from  Angelica  at  21*. 
each,  which  w.^e  the  lowest  Historical  Pictures  I  could 
bcnd.  The  16  Oval  or  Medalion  formed  Pictures  are  of 
different  sizes ;  and  altho'  some  of  them  are  something 
higher  priced  than  what  was  fixed,  others  are  lower,  so 
that  upon  the  average  they  will  be  neai-ly  the  price  at 
which  they  were  ordered. 

"  I  hope  they  will  meet  yr 

''approbation,  and 

"am.  Sir, 
"  Your  ob^  Ser% 

"Fb,  Eointok." 


"  Josiah  Wedgwood,  the  friend  of  Boulton  and 
of  Eginton,  the  warm  patron  of  art,  and  the 
encourager  of  every  useful  invention,  purchased 
some  of  these  pictures,  as  will  be^  seen  by  the 
following  interesting  letter : 

'  W'hampton,  Septr.  22nd,  1781. 
*Mr.  Hodges. 

*  Sir, — After  considering  the  great  risk  you  ran, 
in  sending  the  picture  by  the  Coach,  with  the  uncertainty 
even  of  its  being  dry  against  the  time  fixed,  1  ccnclade  it  of 
much  less  consequence  that  1  should  bestow  a  few  days  moie 
in  rendering  the  Picture  1  am  now  at  work  on  equal  to  tlie 
original,  than  to  have  one  totally  sjioiled  in  the  carriage, 
and  the  intention  of  the  whole  order  frustrated  iherebr. 
I  have  therefore  sent  you  the  Original,  as  a  companion  to 
the  other  ;  and  you  may  depend  upon  having  the  remain? 
ing  picture  returned  to  you  equal  to  either  of  the  former^ 
and  1  shall  have  the  satisfaction  of  compleating  my  part 
of  the  order  in  due  time.  If  these  jHctures  are  not  sent 
away  till  Monday,  there  should  be  some  white  of  egg 
given  to  the  Time  and  Cupid,  as  it  is  scarcely  dry  enon^ 
to  bear  the  carriage. 

*  Please,  if  you  can,  to  return  by  the  bearer  the  Time 
and  Cupid  which  is  to  be  painted  for  Mr.  Boulton,  witb 
the  Circle  of  the  Graces  breaking  Cupid's  bow,  for  Mr. 
Wedgwood. 

*  I  am,  Sir,  Your  "bt.  St., 

•Josh.  Barxkt.' 
*Mr.  Jqn  IIodoes,  Soho.' 

"  Eginton's  process  was  so  successful,  and  was 
so  highly  approved  by  people  of  taste,  that 
interest  was  made  to  get  him  an  annual  pension 
from  Government  in  acknowledgment  of  his 
services.  Boulton,  however,  not  much  to  his 
credit,  put  a  veto  on  the  movement,  and  thus 
prevented  a  fitting  and  gratifying  recognition  of 
his  talents  from  being  made.  Thus  says  Mi*. 
Boulton  : 

*  Copy  of  a  Letter  to  the  Rifjht  HonmirahU  the 
Karl  of  Darhnouth. 

*  My  Lord, — A  few  days  ago  1  received  a  letter  from 
Sir  John  Dalrymple,  dated  Dublin,  May  27,  in  which  he 
surprises  me  by  saying,  *I  have  written  to  Sir  Gay 
Cooper  to  have  a  pension  of  £20  per  annum  for  Mr. 
Eginton  ;  so,  if  there  is  any  stop,  write  me  of  it  to 
Scotland,  and  1  will  get  it  set  to  rights,  as  I  know  nothing 
but  inattention  can  stop  it.' 

*  As  I  think  I  cannot  with  propriety  write  to  Sir  Gray 
Cooper  upon  this  matter,  not  having  the  Lonoor  of  being 
known  to  him,  and  as  I  have  never  mentiov  i  the  sabject 
to  him,  or  any  person  besides  your  Lor-lship,  I  hop« 
therefore  to  be  pardoned  for  thus  troubling  you  with  my 
sentiments  and  wishes. 


FtflAcb  KginionJ 


OLD  AND  NEW  BIKMINGHAM, 


289 


'  Jn  the  first  pkoo,  I  wish  to  hare  an  entire  stop  put 
the  poftiiun  ;  Iwounse  Mr.  Egiuton  hath  uo  claim  nor 
expectntions.  I  poy  him  by  the  y^ar ;  and,  consequeDtly^ 
hf  ii  nlremly  imid  by  rar  for  all  the  three  or  four  months 
spent  in  that  hu^ririoi^s  ;  and  as  to  an  overplus  reward  for 
Ida  8e<?r  y,  C  k  *aw  how  to  Jo  that  raore  etfectually,  and 
with  inor«  pm<Ienw,  than  giving  him  annually  £20,  which 
will  onlv  servft  to  keep  up  the  rumerabrance  of  that 
biisiruiss,  and  therefore  it  m  imp^liticah 

*  Bcsidi'j*,  it  might  ix^rhaps  I«e  injurious  to  me,  as  such 
«  jwnsion  would  tend  to  make  him  more  independent  of 

t|6  and  my  nmnufactar<.% 

k'His  attachment  to  me,  his  knowing  that  no  use  hath 
I  maile  of  the  things,  the  obligation  he  is  andcr  to  me, 
and  hia  own  natural  caution  and  prudence,  r<f'nders  me 
fimily  persuadinl  thut  the  scheme  will  die  away  in  his 
memory,  or  at  l*'act  will  never  be  mentioned^ 

*  If  anybody  is  eutiLkul  to  any  pecuniary  rewani  lu 
this  bimncis,  it  is  myself;  because  I  have  not  only 
lieAtowed  some  time  npon  it,  but  have  actually  expended 
beiween  one  and  two  hundred  pounds,  as  I  c«ii  readily 
coftvinrp  your  Lord.^.hip  wht  n  1  have  the  honour  of  seeing 
yoa  at  Soho  ;  and  although  I  wjia  induced  by  [  ] 
to  believe  that  I  waa  working  at  the  request  and  under 
the  authority  of  a  noble  Lord  (whose  wipudom  and  virtue 
I  rcvorc),  ye*^  I  never  intended  making  any  charge  to 
Oovennneni  of  my  expenses  or  for  my  trouble. 

*All  that  1  have  now  to  re<[Uest  of  your  lordship  is 
that  ft  negative  be  put  ujion  the  i)en«ion. 

Lohl,  yuur  LnnlKhip's  most  dutiful,  most  obliged, 
;  faithful  humble  Servant, 

In  our  notice  of  St.  PfiuFs  Chiipel  we  mtn- 
tioned  EgiiitoD^a  line  stained  window,  of  wliich 
im  engraving  appe;ira  on  page  202,  Mr.  Jewitt 
gtvr^  a  litst  of  his  principal  works  in  stained 
gla»9,  'Hhe  first  of  any  consequence  being 
executed  in  17S4."  He  enumemtes  them  ad 
follows : 

•'Arms  of  the  kni^lits  uf  the  Garter  on  the  windows  on 
the  stalls  in  8t,  fieoj  r*s  Llhaj»el,  Windsor;  some  fine 
windows  in  Wanstead  t'hurch,  Essex  ;  a  large  rf^pre^tentn- 
lioii  of  the  **CIockI  Samaritan '*  in  the  private  chajMT'l  of 
the  ArchbisJiop  of  Armagh,  and  another  in  the  chnpel  of 
llie  Bi«lio^  of  Perry  ;  a  r^mtirkahly  Jine  iciudow  in  St. 
Paul's  VhuTch^  Bitmintjliata  ;  memorial  and  other  win- 
dows in  Babworth  Church,  Nottinghamshire  ;  AsUm 
ChurrJit  "«»''  Birmhujhniii ;  Hatton,  Warwickshire; 
ShfiekhiTr|:1i  Church,  in  the  same  county ;  rep[)lcwick, 
Nottinghamshire  ;  Ban*  tind  Bromley  Regis,  Stalford- 
glijTV'  -ir  .,,rK>r,  Btjrkshire ;  Earthing  and  Llangollen, 
Di  .    Shrivenham  and  Frome,   Somersetshire  ; 

St.  J,1.M  M.T  (lutwieh,  London;  Tewkesbury  Abbey 
Cb»rr«h»  and  matiy  othrf  places.  Besides  thesi\  some  of 
FrwicU  Eginton'a  principal  works  were  the  large  window 
the  oltiw  of  SaliJihury  Cathedral,   teprefienling  the 


Hesurrection,  after  a  design  by  Sir  Jonhua  Reynolds,  but 
which  has  since  been  removed  to  make  room  for  memorial 
windows  to  Dean  Lear  ;  the  west  and  several  other  win- 
dows in  the  same  cathedral  j  the  east  and  other  windows 
of  Lichfield  Cathednd  (1795)  ;  the  windows  Merton 
CoUege  Chapel,  Oxford  (in  17t*4)j  windows  in  the 
Muuioleum  at  Brockleaby,  in  the  chapel  at  Wardour 
Cattle,  in  the  Chapel  at  Pain  a  Hill,  in  the  banqucting- 
room  and  other  rooms  at  Arundel  Cattle,  at  Sundorn 
Castle,  and  at  Fouthill,  the  charming  art -seat  of  William 
Beckford." 

We  csannot  speak  at  length  here  of  hia 
skill  aa  an  engraver ;  we  may,  however,  refer 
our  readers  to  the  two  fine  plates  of  Soho 
(the  manufactory  and  the  mansion),  in  Shaw's 
Stuffo^-dshire^  and  to  the  engravings  in  Biaaet's^ 
Directory,  and  Anstey^a  New  Bath  Guhh. 

Egiuton  resided,  during  the  latter  part  of  his 
life,  at  Prospect  Hill,  nearly  opposite  the  Soho 
factory.  lie  died  on  the  25th  of  Mat-cli,  I8Q5, 
in  the  sixty-ninth  year  of  his  age,  and  was 
buried  in  Hands  worth  CLui'ehyard, — in  worthy 
compauioTiship  with  the  founders  of  Boho. 

The  last  of  whom  we  propose  to  tako  note  in 
the  present  chapter  is  James  Bisset,  a  worthy  of 
whom  we  have  already  Bpoken  in  our  notice  of 
the  Frecth  Cluh,  and  in  the  Story  of  Soho.  His 
natne  occurs  in  the  Blrmimjham  Directory  of 
1785  as  **  Miniature  Painter,  Newmarket,**  (a 
place  on  the  site  of  Nt?w  Market  Street,  near 
Great  Charles  Street,)  and  again  in  1797,  as 
**  Fancy  Miniature  Painter,  New  Street";  the 
latter,  which  euhsequentlj  developed  into  the 
establishment  known  as  "Bisaet's  Museum," 
was  (as  appears  from  a  print  in  his  directory,)  a 
little  below  the  Theatre.  It  was  here  that  he 
published  hia  several  works  :  Ute  Orphan  Boy^ 
a  pathetic  little  poem  published  towards  the 
close  of  the  oighteentli  century  ;  FUijhts  of 
/ajiry,  (comprising  **  The  Philanthropist,"  **The 
**  Veteran*s  Song,"  and  *'  The  Clamester,  a 
parody  ") ;  and,  in  1800,  the  Poetic  Survey  round 
Birnnnfjham^  mcompanied  by  a  Matpujieent 
Diredary,  This  work,  (by  which  he  is  best 
known,)  was  designed  as  a  medium  for  the 
display     of    pictorial    advertisements    of    local 


290 


OLD   AKD   NEW  BIRMINGHAM. 


fmad1>\nt!lofy. 


trades,  engraved  on  copper ;  forming  a  very 
elegant  guide-book  to  the  manufactories  and 
public  buildings  of  the  town.  Tlie  plates  were 
engraved  by  Francis  Eginton  and  others,  in 
the  most  approved  style  of  the  time.  The 
frontispiece  to  the  volume  is  a  "  Plan  of 
Birmingham,"  drawn  by  *'  Jamea  Shemff,  of 
Oldswinfortlj  h\te  of  the  Ci-escent^  Birmingham/' 
and  engraved  by  Hancock.  At  first  sight  it 
seems  to  differ  but  little  from  the  older  plans, 
in  the  space  covered  by  the  town,  but  a  closer 
oxamination  and  comparison  reveals  to  us  some 
of  the  important  changes  which  were  then 
taking  place.  Many  of  the  old  landmarks  still 
remained,  but  this  was  almost  the  hist  map 
on  which  they  would  appear ;  the  Moat,  the 
Parsonage,  the  Baths,  near  I.ady  Well,  the 
open  coimtrj'  road  between  the  town  and  the 
Five  Ways, — these  wi^re  among  the  older  features 
which  had  distinguished  most  of  the  previous 
plans*  But  there  were  also  new  features  which 
had  been  noted  in  no  survey  of  the  town  hitherto 
pubU^hed — the  "  Steam  Mills,"  near  Duddeaton 
How,  the  open  space  in  front  of  St.  Martin's 
Church,  the  Barracks,  tht^  several  new  streets 
close  to  the  banks  of  the  no  longer  fiilvery  Rca  j 
the  clusters  of  new  buildings  on  the  road  leading 
to  Solio,  the  new  name  of  that  road, — **  Great 
Hamilton  Street,^' — these  were  for  thu  first  time 
shown  in  Bisset*s  Plan  of  Birmtogham. 

And  now  passing  from  the  frontispiece,  we 
proceed  to  the  work  itdelf.  After  the  title-page, 
(wMch  contains  a  beautiful  vignette  engraving 
of  a  bust  of  the  Prince  Regent),  is  a  list  of  the 
pliiteSi  and  an  address  to  the  Public,  from  which 
we  learn  that  the  charge  for  engraving  single 
Addresses  in  a  general  plate  in  the  Directory  was 
lOs.  Od,,  for  half  a  plate  five  guineas,  and  for  a 
whole  plate  ten  guineas ;  and  various  designs 
were  inserted  at  one  and  two  guineas  each. 
**  Thus/*  says  the  pviblisher,  **  every  gentlemen 
had  an  opportunity  of  having  his  address  inserted 
in  the  work  at  whatever  price  he  pleiised  ;  and 
by  paying  for  the  engraving  it  has  enabled  the 


Author  to   lay   a  magnificent  work  before  thl 
Public  for  only  Ss.,  which  otherwise  must  hart^ 
cost  nearly  fifty."     The  author's  prophecy  as  to 
the  success  and  result  of  his  publication  wiQ  at 
least  amuse  some  of  our  readers.     He  saji ; 

*This  UooIl,  jwrhnps,  mfty  8ood  its  way  explore^ 
And  find  n  welcome,  on  each  FoRfcioK  short  ; 
FerhHjis  thro*  Europe  miiy,  in  Xime  bo  spread. 
Or  by  the  tawny  African*  be  read  ; 
Its  novelty  may  strike,  perhaps  it  nuiy, 
In  time,  reach  Borseo,  Peking  or  Bombay  ; 
At  either  iNnrA,  may,  perhap,  be  found, 
Or  at  Kamschatka  seen,  or  Nootka  Soind. 

"Ev'n  KiNOfl  and  PniNCEs,  hem  mny  deign  ttthok. 
Or  smiles  of  BiiiTSH  Beauties  grtwe  the  book  : 
My  Leaiinei>  Countrymen*  and  Saoes  rare. 
The  whole  design,  perhaps,  may  m:nu  With  cat*: 
And  whilst  each  trophied  emblem  they  p'Tiise* 
May  feel  half  tempted  tp  forgive  tlie  Mus*\ 
Nay,  Foreign  Mkrchants,  when  they  On*  look  o'er, 
To  view  this  Place,  may  *i\iii  their  Native  Sh«re  : 
And  when  *  The  Toy  Shop  of  the  Worhl  *  tliey  see. 
May  own  (O  !  vain  surmise)  */trrr»  all  thro'  me  ! 

**  In  regions  yet  unkno\»*n,  or  bmds  remote, 
Tlie  Natives,  thus,  nuiy  hear  (if  Vdu^aj*  *  spot  : 
And  whikt,  witli  wonder,  they  tmh  print  smrcy, 
Some  information  of  the  ArU  convey  ; 
For  whilst,  with  mature  fmnght,  they  this  cJtplofe^ 
And  view  such  dghts  aa  ne'er  were  *een  heronr» 
Some  CfH<'PMNAViGAT<j|t.H  may,  erw  long^ 
H  ear  li  J  KM  1 N  «  H  AM  ex  tol  1" d  in  S  A  V  ACi  E  So xu  ;  _ 

And  when  some  progress  in  the  Aai-s  theyVe  rn^de, 
Can  tell  who  formed  the  Hoe,  thu  AxE»  ihu  SrAUi; 
Or  when  their  great  utility  they  feci, 
And  learn  the  use  of  Iron  and  of  Steel, 
In  extacy,  may  ciy%  enrapt  witli  wonder, 

*  De»e  English  make  de  GcNs  dat  foar  Uke  ttind 

*  De  8WORD,  de  Lanck,  de  Haichet  nnti  de  SpRAl, 

*  All  dat  be  grand,  and  BiR— Mtso— llAM,  hcdef«,* 

**  And  when,  in  mirrors,  they  themselves  UhoM, 
Drejss'd  out  with  amber  head?»,  with  ytearls  or  gold, 
With  varniish*d  cheeks,  of  ochre,  or  red  clay, 
Like  Chimney  Sweeps,  decked  otit  on  first  of  May, 
With  bracelets  for  their  Tnicus,  their  Arms,  their Tob 
Or  gaudy  pendants  for  their  EAUa  or  NosB  ; 
Eaeh  martial  <JiiiEr,  each  sable  colour'd  Squaw, 
Won't  cry,  in  hruktn  French  *  Mt  nottif-Um^  /«w,*t 
Bnt  cry,  in  broken  English,  '  0,  jVrmw/, 

*  Dal  Englan  be  grand  place^ntt  gfoansee'" 

Among    the  engravings    wero  views    of 
Warstone  Bi^weiy,  Hockley  Abbey,  New  Sta 
{showing  the  Tlieatre  and  Bisset's  Muaeum,)  l 
right  hand  side  of  High  Street,  (from  the  Swati  \ 

•"laScotta.** 

f  **A  Oorru|ttk)D  of  'J«  ii«  vOQi  enteodi  pu.*  C«.,  S  4oi 

nndantand  jo^** 


\  coiuer  of  PhUip  Street,  with  Hi.  Martinis  in 
tliiitajice,)  the  Crescent,  St.  Pliilip's  Chiirch, 
Deri  tend,  (sbowiDg  St  Jolm'a,)  the  Soho  factory, 
4li6  lien  and  Chickens,  and  other  toc^l  places  of 


who»^e  names  have  become  part  of  the  history  of 
Birmingham. 

Wo  have  not  space  here  to  quote  from  Bisset*8 
Poeii'r    Sttny*t/ ;    we    have    already    given    oui 


292 


OLD   AND   NEW   BIR^riNGHAM. 


[Allin's  "Ckbinet  oTCiirkMitiH.'' 


obtaining  commissions  for  thirty  plates,  of  which  | 
only  one  set  is  believed  to  exist,  viz.,  that  made 
up  for  the  author  himself,  now  in  the  pDssession  \ 
of  Mr.  W.  Bates.  A  few  of  the  plates  were  I 
inserted  in  some  copies  of  the  second  edition  of  i 
the  Birmingham  Magnificent  Directonj, 

Our  readers  will  remember  the  storj-  of  Bisset's 
visit  to  Joe  Lindou's  (the  "Minerva*')  and  its 
result,  mentioned  in  our  notice  of  the  Freeth  ' 
Club ;  wo  may  here  add  another  anecdote  of  the 
mad  freaks  X)f  the  **  Twelve  Apostles  :  "  One 
evening, — says  the  narrator,  ("Este")  —  whilst 
living  in  New  Street,  and  suffering  most  acutely 
from  an  attack  of  the  gout,  two  of  the  club, 
agreeable  to  a  preconcerted  plan,  entered  his 
sitting  room  disguised  as  highwaymen,  and  well- 
armed,  roughly  demanded  his  money,  and  as  was 
expected,  Mr.  Bisset  resisted,  and  forgetting  his 
gout,  actually  chased  the  supposed  robbers  to 
Freeth's  house  in  Bell  Street,  where  the  practical 
joke  became  at  once  apparent,  and,  strange  to  say, 
he  never  again  suffered  from  tl  ^  same  excruciating 
fX)mplaint,  to  which  he  had  .cr  a  long  time  pre- 
viously been  a  martyr." 

T^ter  in  life  Bisset  removed  to  Leamington, 
where  he  continued  to  publish  little  volumes  of 
verse,  and  also,  a  very  interesting  little  work  on 
"  tlio  Origin,  Rise,  and  Progress  of  Leamington 
Spa."  He  boasted  that  upwards  of  one  hundred 
thousand  copies  of  his  different  publications  had 
been  issued,  and  that  many  had  reached  the 
fifteenth  and  sixteenth  editions. 

He  died  at  the  ago  of  seventy-two,  Aug.  17, 
1832,  and  was  buried  at  Leamington  ;  his  friends 
erected  a  monument  "  in  token  of  their  respect 
to  his  memory,"  on  which  is  recorded  the 
previous  death  of  Dorothy,  his  wife,  Dec.  14, 
1825.  His  own  epitaph,  composed  a  few  years 
before,  does  not  appear  on  his  monument,  and 
may,  therefore,  claim  a  place  at  the  close  of  this 
notice : 

"  What  I  was  oncCj — my  Neighbours  know  full  well ; 
What  /  am — now, — there's  not  a  tongue  can  tell ! — 
(My  bones  lie  mould'ring  underneath  this  sod) 
Yf  hat  I  shall  be — is  only  known  to  God  !" 


We  may  appropriately  notice  here  an  instita- 
tion  similar  to  the  Museum  of  James  Bisset,— 
Allin's  "  Cabinet  of  Curiosities,  and  Mart  for  New 
and  Old  Cloaths,  Haymarket/"  as  it  is  described 
in  Bisset's  Directory,  The  building  may  be  re- 
membered by  a  few  in  its  original  form,  surmomited 
by  a  square  turret,  from  which  proudly  floated  the 
L^nion  Jack,  as  shown  in  our  plate ;  bnt  nearly  all 
our  readers  must  have  known  it  in  its  latest  fonn, 
minus  the  turret  and  flag-staff,  as  '^  Bryan's."  It 
was  removed,  in  1873,  to  make  way  for  the 
Municipal  Buildings.  But  to  return  to  its 
original  proprietor;  he  was,  like  Bisset^  of  a 
poetic  turn,  and  published  a  carious  little 
pamphlet,  in  verse,  describing  his  heterogeneous 
collection,  w^hich  is  now  very  rare.  The  title- 
page,  which  is  in  itself  quite  a  curiosity,  runs  as 
follows : 

A    L    L    I    N     , 

TAYLOR, 

Hatter,  Haberdasher,  Hosier,  Linen  and  Woollen 

Draper,  Grocer,  ^c, 

AT  HIS 
CHEAP   CLOTHES   AND    YORK    SHOE   WAREHOUSE, 

THE      FLAG, 

Opposite    the    TOP    of    NEW    STREET, 

Ipirminghiim : 

A         SHOP 

For  the  Accommodation  of  all  Sorts  of  Customers,  wh 
may  be  provided  with  every  Necessary  of  Life  ;  sytiUd 
from  Top  to  Bottom,  from  Inside  to  Outside,  from 
Right  Side  to  Left  Side,  yea,  and  on  ALL  S1DJS&, 
with  every  JVearable  and  TearabU,  from  the  Oiafi 
of  ten  Feet  high  to  the  Infant  just  popped  into  tks 
World:    Sold 

WHOLESALE   AND   RETAIL, 

At    little    more    than    HALF    their    VALUE, 

FOR 

READY    MONEY    ONLY." 
We   have   only   space  to  quote   the  authoi^s 
apology  for  his  work,  with  which  we  will  close 
the  present  lengthy  chapter. 

*  *  Ye  wits,  ye  critics,  I  love  something  new. 
Spare  then  your  censure  once,  I  pray  you,  do  ; 
IiidulRe  roe  now,  I  only  aim  at  pleasing, 
Not  for  applause  I  write,  then  be  not  teasing ; 
With  lenient  eye  pass  o'er  the  faults  you  find, 
And  still  to  mercy  ever  he  inclin'd." 


^iii,aByfnit..i7tH)^i8<K>.i      OLD   AND   NEW   lilltM INGHAM, 


293 


CHAPTER     XHII. 


PUBLIC     LIFE     AND     EVENTS,      1790-1800. 

r  SnuU  Houies— BajTaclt»  er«ct«d  Ui  Blrminjsb&iu^Local  Peimy  Poit  csUblished— "  Tli«  Littl©  Riot"—*'  Off  tg  tJlo  W»ri"— 
I  for  Uio  JIavy— •*  Tlie  Scudty  Riots  '*— The  New  Libmry— Birmlugluun  Yoluatoers— Cb&iiel  WaJt6. 


ctroaicle  of  PubUc  Events  concluded 
national  rejoicingg  on  account  of  tlie 
[of  his  Majesty  George  m.     We  now 
i*mi  "  tlie  story  of  our  lives  from  year 
land  puqiose  in  tlik  chapter  closing  up 
of  thu  town  to  the  end  of  the  18  th 

10  close  of  the  year  1790  the  peopde 
ngham  were  greatly  exercised  in  mind 
an  important  question  of  rating.     At 
nearly  thr^p-fourtba  of  the  houses  in 
Were  rented  at  Itss  than  JEIO  per  annum, 
mfleipicnce,  were  not  linble  to  the  pay- 
loor-iates.    An  attempt  was  made  in  the 
^mentioned  to  remedy  this  unsatigfac- 
lUjequal  mode  of  rating;  and  this  attempt 
8Qc]j  a  warfare  of  words  as  probably 
licen  experienced  before  in  the  town, 
not  diuce  the    first  attempt  to  obtain 
ting  and  Improvement  Act     The  first 
Iho  coming  strife  was  sounded  in  the 
I  Ans's  Oaz^Ut'  on  the  27th  of  S^jptem- 
»  fonn  of  an  announcement  of  a  general 
if  the  inhabitants,  to  be  held  "at  the 
li  at  the  Hotel,"  on  the  20th  of  October, 
mii^o  the  following  question,  viz. :  *  Shall 
\m  made,  in  the  next  S^'-^sion  of  Par- 
lor leave  to  bring  in  a  Bill  to  oblige  the 
toia   of  small   hoiL^es,   shops,  and   other 
g8y  to  pay  Parish  Bates  for  those  houses^ 
Ind   if   this   question   is   caniod   in   the 
iti*,   to    appoint    a    Committee    for  tho 
lent  o/  the  Busineas."     In  explanation 
ice  it  is  stati^d  that,  out  of  8|000  Uouaes 


built  within  the  previous  thirty  years,  not  more 
than  1,300  paid  the  parish  ratea. 

Of  course  all  the  owner-  of  property  of  this 
class  stoutly  opposed  the  pre^ position ,  and  none 
more  so  than  William  Hut  ton.  It  is  a  matter  of 
regret  to  us  thus  to  expose  the  **  seamy  side  '*  of 
our  brave  old  townsman's  character;  but  we 
should  have  produced  an  unfaithfid  portrait  of 
the  historian  if  we  had  omitted  lliia  fticl,  and 
that  of  his  Bellish  opposition  of  the  hgbting  and 
improvement  Acta.  It  is  not  necessary'  to  repro- 
duce here  all  the  arguments  he  adduced  against 
the  proposed  rating ;  they  resolved  themselves,  to 
a  great  extent,  into  w^hat  has  aptly  been  termed 
"  the  argumentum  ad  putketmn.^'  **  How  w^eLl  the 
landlords'  profits  will  bear  the  burden/'  he  says^ 
**  has  not  yet  been  proved.  They  can  best  solve 
this  question  who  count  it.  In  bo  me  instances,  I 
am  w^ell  informed,  it  does  not  exceed  5  per  cent. 
in  others  the  trouble  exceeds  the  profit  I  Ah 
I  am  possessed  of  only  fourteen  pounds  a  year 
of  this  moonshine  pruptrty,  mine  is  upon  too 
small  a  scale  to  decide;  nor  is  the  whole 
worth  a  contention.  Perhaps,  from  the  loss 
of  rent,  empty  houses,  and  repairs,  I  lose  about 
half.  But  whatever  be  these  monstrous  profits, 
which  injustice  marks  out  for  plunder,  and  envy 
longs  to  devour,  they  are  the  proprietor's  oimi^ 
and,  as  private  property,  they  are  sacred.  It 
is  a  dangerous  doctrine  to  take  a  man's  money  b^ 
cause  hp  is  rich."  In  the  course  of  his  letter  or 
address  on  this  subject,  Hutton  roferrcd  in  his 
usual  quaint,  shrewd  manner,  to  several  matter? 
reapecting  the  management  of  parish  afTaita ;  and 


294 


OLD     AND     NEW     BIRMINGHAM. 


[BiaiiigofaiitftUH«i 


these  may  be  picked  out  from  the  <lry  dtiat-heap 
of  this  disciission,  for  our  readers*  amusement. 
He  had  been  asked  some  time  previously,  by  one 
of  the  overseers  of  the  poor,  bis  opinion  concerning 
the  doctnno  of  the  Trinity,  the  "  parochial  "  dig- 
nitary adding  that  no  man  woidd  be  suffered  to 
transact  parochial  business  who  did  not  believe  in 
that  doctrine.  "  Unable  to  withbol  d  a  smile,"  says 
Hutton,  **  I  remarked  as  reli^on  bad  long  ceased 
to  meddle  in  the  vestry,  it  would  be  absurd  to 
Tefer  the  question  to  a  perfect  stranger;  that 
when  I  turneJ  Catholic  and  he  turned  Priest,  I 
would  make  my  confession.*'  In  concluding  his 
address,  Hutton  referred  to  the  recent  attempt  to 
introduce  at  the  workhouse  the  manufacture  of 
various  iiseful  articles  ;  he  says  :  **  The  fabrication 
of  shanks,  toys,  shirts,  quilts,  «fcc.,  were  solicited 
of  the  inbabitsmts,  and  established  as  a  manufac- 
tory in  the  Workhouse  whiidi  was  to  perform 
Tvonders.  But,  that  the  foundation  of  this 
promising  fnbiic  was  rotten,  ami  the  component 
parts  bundled  together  with  a  rope  of  sand,  the 
increase  of  the  levies  sufficiently  testified.  The 
profits  were  like  those  of  the  race-horse  who  won 
fifty,  but  cost  sixty  to  keep  him.  This  pliantom 
expiring,  the  rate  upon  sraall  hotscs  is  now  issued 
forth,  which,  like  a  tinkling  cynil)al,  is  to  din  the 
ear  and  stifle  complaint ;  or,  like  clKirity,  is  to  coyer 
a  multitude  of  sina  ;  or  a  Betty  Canning's  tale 
to  amuse  tbo  world  and  hide  the  errors  of 
goveniment ;  or  a  sop  to  silence  tlio  many-headed 
Cerberus,  while  the  benighted  olhcers  are  ferried 
out  of  danger/' 

To  these  points  in  Button's  address  **  Betty 
Canning"  replied  in  a  rather  fierce  attack  upon 
our  hiatorLm,  published  in  the  Gazette  of 
October  18th: 

Friend  Hutloti, 
Thk  Parisli  of  BinniughaTn  is  mucli  indebted  to  thu-e 
for  thy  quaiat  conceits,  droll  observations,  whlmfflCftl 
similitudes,  and  ttte  witty  old  wiyiiigs  of  Solomon,* 
inaerted  in  the  newspaper  of  last  week.  The  present,  as 
well  iM  all  former  overseers  of  the  i^oor,  cnaoot  but  t|»ank 

*  In  the  Pjircie  caaiwl  **  TJio  Quakt^r  " 


thee  for  thy   modest  and  frieudlf  ooinni«iilii  ou 
parochial  management. 

The  public  hare  much  to  expect  from  a  pentoni 
high  cbaractpr,  eminence^  lihenrlityt  and  exp 
takinf^  up  th<>  gauntlet.  Already  hast  thou  aitt^d  \ 
petual  high  chancellor  of  the  court  of  tender  con«ci« 
one  of  the  honourable  eommissioDeTf  of  lamps  and  Karen* 
gers,  twice  overseer  of  the  poor,  and  high  president  of  thfr 
kirk,  F.  A.S.,  all  which  offices  thou  did^  fill  with  a  dignity 
pecnUar  to  thyself.  If  the  iuteqded  scheme  of  inow^ 
porating  this  town  should  take  place,  we  may  presage  the 
happy  prospect  of  seeing  thee  and  thy  worthy  friend  fill 
the  magisterial  chair,  surrounded  by  the  guard  wiUi 
ragged  pikes,  and  the  imperial  arras  of  Birmingham  on 
thy  carnage  of  state.  Then,  no  doubt,  all  the  enonnilM 
thou  and  he  complains  of  will  be  rectified.  Whstji  pitf 
that  the  manag^ement  and  direction  of  all  the  pubHc  con- 
cerns are  not  vested  in  tJie  hands  of  two  such  SonoHOXi. 

But  *  Pride,  the  spring  of  actions,  doatroys  the  meit 
benefidal  systems,'  totally  preventing  ihce  and  thy 
worthy  friend  from  fingering  twelve  thousand  jioundi  of 
the  toi^n's  cash.  1  thought  thee  and  thy  worthy  frici 
were  more  sagacious  philosophers  than  to  suffer  the  ton 
to  see  your  uneaainesa  at  your  disappointment.  l\«m 
patience,  friend  William,  and  all  these  things  may  l« 
ailded  uuto  thee. 

I  think  thou  intimates  sometldng  in  thy  letter  about 
turning  catholic  priest :  prithee  don't  i  that  appcama 
won't  suit  thee  ;  a  jew  rabbi  would  be  more  in  cJiaracti 
for  thee.  I  wish  to  remind  thee  of  the  fable  of  th«  A«  i 
the  Lion's  skin,  who,  by  his  brsying  and  terrible  ap|ie&r> 
ance,  attempted  to  alarm  the  forest,  but  on  close  ini|)ee* 
tion  was  found  to  lie  nothing  but  an  Ass,  aad  derided 
accordingly. 

I  have  much  to  aay  to  thee,  but  as  thou  art  a  i 
economist,    may  be  tlion  wilt  blame  me  for  wastmg  ( 
Tnnch  time  on  thy  account.     1  shall,  therefore,  far  i 
present,  content  myself  with  the  hope  of  aeeing  i 
the  Town's  Meeting  on  Wednesday  next,  when  I  { 
telling  thee  more  of  my  mind.     Till  then,  foRivdl,  1 
remain  thy  old  friend, 

( I  fthovh!  mg^i  Bm  v  Caknino,  but  am)  A.l 

On   tho   20tb  of  the   ssnje   month,  n  puhl 

meeting  was  held,   at  Dadleys   Hotels   Temp 

Eow,  at  which  the  case  of    the  oTerseere 

preseDted.     The  facts  laid  before  the  meetiug  1 

the  overseers,  ns   reported    in    the   Guzetif^ 

interest    those    of     our    readers    who     care 

conipjire  the  old  rateable  value  of  the  houses  in 

Birtiiingham  with  that  of  the  present  time  : — 

The  Facta'themselvea,  it  is  presumed,  will  not  be  con- 
tporertcd.     Namely, 

1st.  That  the  Pariah  rotes  have  lately  iner«a««pd  in  i 
alarming  Degree,  and  are  now  become  t-N  '  rii**- 

aome  ;  the  Kat<«  for  the  U^ihef  of  the  J  i 

I  ing  annually  to  tho  timi  of  £13,000  and  up^;ud». 


Ung  tif  Hmatl  ll(i«ii«a  ] 


OLD  AND  NEW    lUKmXGIIAM, 


295 


taiL  Tluit  the   Bates,    under  the   prcLaent   System,  Are 

Tfry  ttttcquivlly  luseased,  thi^e  Parts  in  four  of  the  Houses 

of  which  the  Town  consiats,  nnd  which  are  cftlculatcd  to 

ttJnonDt  to  12,000  in  the  whoJe,  not  being  at  all  rated  ;  no 

i  that  the  whole  Burthen  U\h  upon,  and  ia  borne  hy,  the 

I  C^»}t]pii9rs  «f  the  remaining  fourth  Port,  which  Burthtu 

|li««  rery  heavy  on  those  who  rent  Hoases  between  £10 

J  And   £20   per  Year,   who   have    many    of   tht-m    great 

(X>ifficulty,    with   rtll  their   Industrj-    and    Economy,    to 

ort  thenuelves  and  their  familips  nndcr  it. 


of  unrated  Property  will  have  no  real  cause  of  Complaint, 
antl  that,  instead  of  opposing,  it  will  ht  their  Interent  to 
join  with  their  FeUow-townamen  in  tlie  ijitentli*d  Applica- 
tion to  Pariiiiniont  ;  for  it  uppearis  to  he  a  F'act  not  dis- 
puted, that  mwny  Proprietors  of  sniall  Houses  set  them  ftt 
higher  K«*nt9  bocauae  thoy  are  not  lutt'd,  so  that  the 
Oecnpjtjra  thereof,  virtually  ami  in  KlTeet,  contrihnte 
towards  the  Hateii,  though  the  same  goes  (instead  of 
benefitting  and  increasing  the  Fund  for  the  Maintenance 
of  the  Poor)  wholly  into  the  Pocket  of  the  Landlord.     If, 


'.-r*' 


u 


'.T  Al 


lUlUIUd 


^^'\ 


^Bl 


liiil 


^§ 


CHIUSl    CMtllCH,    NEW  UTItEET. 


If  thtiiuii  Premises  ar«  admitted,  it  sieems  exi»edient  that 

wyiBC  MethiMi  nhould  tw  ado|>ted  to  relieve  the  luhabitiinta 

that  are  now  nit*'d  from  their  present  oppre*>.Hire  Pny- 

montai  :  and  itiit  {rnbmitted  that  nothing  cnn  so  elTcctuatly 

antwer  thiii  Pur|ios«  as  the  Scheme,  now  nndtr  Considera- 

titin,    of  obliging  the  Prttprietors  of  small   llous«a  and 

I  f>fher  Htiildiiigi*,  under  the  nnnunl  Rent  of  £10,  to  ]^y  the 

I  |Ut€s  for  the  same,  by  which  Means  the  whole  Fropjty 

I  will  b«(aa  it  ought)  rated  equally,  according  to  its  Value. 

viUiont  an  IticrcAAe  to  the  Number  of  the  Poor,  whirh 

nttiat  be  the  Conjwqnence  of  rating  nnd  receiving  from  the 

MK-^  '  rA  though  it  mny  at  first   Sight  ftp[»eur  a 

[lltij  ide  that  the  Landlord  ahould  pay  a  rate, 

irhicfi  I'v  Hit:  general  l^w  ia  fixed  upon  the  Tvnnnt,  yet, 

tfpOD  «o  InTMtigntion,  it  ivfll  iipf>i<nr  th«l  the  Pioprieton» 

38 


therefore,  auch  Proprietors  are  comjielled  to  pay  the 
Rates,  it  surely  is  no  more  than  an  Art  of  Justice  and 
Propriety  ;  and  with  Respect  to  the  aniidlpr  Houses  which 
are  not  set  at  such  adva,n«'ed  I^ents,  a  Itemedy  will  be 
always  in  the  Hands  of  the  respective  Proprietors,  who 
may  raise  the  llenta  in  Proportion  to  «ueh  Rates. 

Although  the  Overseers,  willing  to  nnike  the  statement 
in  the  Advertisement  mther  under  than  over  the  mark, 
compute  the  nnatisessed  Houses  at  9, COO,  it  appears  from 
a  more  strict  investigation  that  then'  are  10,000,  and  that 
they  are  partly  in  the  following  proi»ortiona,  vix-  , — 
£       £   5,     d. 

500        fjom        9  to  i>  19    0  |>er  3'car. 

500  „  8  ,.   8  19     0 

2,000  .,  7  M    7  10     0 


296 


OLD  AND   KEW   BIEMmGHAM. 


(BAiitigors 


3.000  „  6  ».    «  19     0         „ 

2,000  ,.  5  „   5  19     0 

2^000  under  and  up  to  4  19    0       ,, 

10,000 

If,  therefore,  a  Levy  of  6il.  in  the  rmind  on  such 
Houses  as  pay  £8  per  year  niid  upwards  ;  of  4d.  on  siu-h 
fts  pay  from  £6  to  £7  198,  p<?r  year  ;  unJ  of  3d,  on  all 
under  £6  per  year,  v(m  collected  from  those  10,000 
Ho\ues,  which  do  not  now  pay,  each  Levy  from  them 
would  amount  to  £970  and  upwards,  heing  very  near  as 
much  as  18  produced  from  one  4>f  th*?  present  Levies  ;  ao, 
on  this  calculation,  tLe  present  payers  would  be  relieved 
from  nearly,  if  not  quite,  one  half  of  their  present 
Burthen  ;  an  argument  surely  of  great  Weight,  and  such 
as  should  induce  the  Proprietora  of  small  Mouses  to  con- 
aider  that  they  themseWes  will  be  thus  mate H ally  relieved 
by  the  Plan  propo,sed.  But  if  the  proposed  scheme  should 
not  take  effect,  there  seems  to  be  no  alteniative  save  that 
of  removing  »11  sucb  Persons  as  are  likely  to  become 
burthensome  ;  and  tlien  bnngitig  forward  a  general  Rate 
or  Assessment  of  Houses  and  Buildings  uf  every  Descrip- 
tion throughout  the  PariJa  ;  and  the  Gentlemen  who  are 
Proprietors  of  small  Houses,  and  who,  from  apparently 
interested  motives,  may  be  inclined  to  opi>o8c  the  present 
Plan,  will  do  well  to  consider  how  in  that  case  the  Town 
in  general,  and  themselTea  as  Individucib,  will  betilTected. 
In  the  first  Place,  it  miiBt  operate  in  Reduction  of  the 
Itents  of  unrated  Houses  and  Buildings,  most  of  which 
are  being  now  set  at  higher  Rents  because  they  are,  at 
pnaent,  exempt  ft-oin  the  Payment  of  Rates,  must,  it  is 
presumed,  when  rated,  sink  in  their  Rents  in  Proportion, 
or  nearly  to  the  Amount  of  the  Kates  which  shall  b*;  kid 
upon  them.  In  the  next  Place,  it  will  necesaanly  add  a 
great  Increase  to  the  Nombcr  of  Poor,  after  every 
endeavour  is  made  by  Kemoval  to  prevent  it,  who  will 
become  settled  in  the  Parish  by  Payment  of  Rates  (an 
evil,  which  in  the  proposed  Plsiu,  will  be  avoided)  and  the 
additional  Expenses  f>f  sueh  jncreasetl  Poor  (to  which  the 
Proprietors  of  small  unrated  Houses  who  aru  resident  in 
Birmiugham,  and  who  t^uustitute  by  far  the  greater  part 
of  such  I'roprietoTs,  will  bo  obliged  to  b«ir  their  part) 
will  be  productive  of  more  Disadvantage  to  sucb  Pro- 
prietors, by  an  increaAi^d  AsscsRrnent  upon  the  Property 
they  now  occupy  and  pay  the  liates  for,  than  they  can 
exix'rience  by  acquiesLing  in  the  proposed  plan,  as  they 
will  suflTer  every  hicouvemenee  aud  Loss  which  the  plan 
proposed  can  bring  ui>on  them  (without  reaping  the 
Advantages  which  it  is  ealculated  to  ]jroduce  to  them)  as 
Well  as  the  additiDtinl  Loss  occusioned  by  Kemovalof  their 
Tenants,  and  by  many  of  their  Houses  being  unoccupied. 

If  it  should  be  suggefitfd  that  the  Scheme  now  in  Con- 
templailon  savours  of  Hardship  to  the  Occupiers  of  the 
am n Her  Houses,  in  depriving  tlieni  of  the  Means  of  obtain- 
iug  A  Settltnjent  by  FaymenL  of  Rates,  though  they  will 
in  fjict  contribute  thereto  by  sn  Incr*'«se  in  their  Rents  ; 
it  is  submitted  that  this  is  not  an  Object  of  present  dis- 
cussion. This  will  by  propi-rly  left  to  the  Wisdom  and 
Justice  of  the  Legidlature,  wliich  will  jjroU'ct  the  Rights 
4>f  Individuals  as  far  as  is  Bttiug  aud  cxpcdieut.     It  may, 


however,  be  hopinl  that  thft  extensive  itanufaeturta  i 
Commerce  of  the  town  of  Birmingham  will  biy  a  | 
Claim,  under  the  present  cir*.'ain»tiniccs  to  the  Pivisctii^ 
and  Indulgence  of  the  Legislature  mors  than  aPlaetof 
lesm  consequence  hath  a  right  to  exiioet,  Aa  to  oUMt 
PariBhes,  it  i»  presumed,  they  can  hare  no  Cattae  of  Omm- 
plaint,  because  Birmingham  employs  bi  ita  Manolartnni 
a  great  Number  of  their  Poor,  whii^h  cannot  find  rmplttf* 
ment  at  Home  ;  many  of  whom*  as  well  aa  their  Cliildifii, 
gain  Settlements  there,  whilst  very  few  of  tlie  Inlt&bitutt 
of  Birmingham  leave  their  Situations  to  gain  Settlemaitt 
in  other  Parishes, 

It  may  upon  the  whole  be  concluded,  that  the  ^Kemt 
now  under  consideration  will  be  attended  with  gwat 
advantages  to  the  Town  in  general,  with  little,  or  perbspi 
no  Loaa  to  the  proprietors  of  the  ptiesent  4mali  OtUatcd 
Houses,  and  will  be  no  real  Hardship  to  the  OoCDpleisaf 
such  small  Houses.  It  is,  therefore,  hoped  tliat 
possessed  of  such  Property  will  meet  the  wisbca  ^^rf  1 
other  Inhabitants,  and,  instead  of  op]>osing,  unanimo 
concur  with  them  in  the  intended  Ap[dication  to 
ment,  or  (to  avoid  that  Expense),  that  they  will  volunli 
agree  to  pay  the  Rates  in  question  (cither  in  the  Prop 
tioos  above  st^ited,  or  such  h  all  appear  most  equilJ 
to  a  Committee  which  may  be  apjiointed  for  that  Pnr] 
as  the  Inhabitants  of  Liverpool,  Leeds,  and  Hancheatcr«^ 
under  atmilar  circumstances  have  lately  done,  aud  still 
continue  to  do. 

These  interesting  and  impurUmt  facts  seem  to 
have  impreasGd  the  meeting  with  the  necessity  of 
adopting  the  proposals  of  the  oversee-ra,  lor 
rend  that  a  resolution  was  passed  **l>y  a 
majority  "  to  make  application  at  the  next  st 
of  Parliament  **  for  leave  to  bring  in  a  BM 
oblige  the  Proprietors  of  gmaU  Houses, 
and  other   Buildings,   to   pay   Paiiah  Rat«  toi 
those  IIouseB," 

An  opposition  meeting  was  held  a  wr*r?lc 
at  the  iStiakespeare  Tavern,  in  New*  Street,  »t 
which  resolutions  were  passed  declaring  tiul 
the  meeting  at  the  hotel  wa^  neither  i^f 
nor  impartial, — in  other  words,  that  it  va*  s 
** packed''  meeting  of  supporters  of  tlie  rneai^un!,— 
that  thu  ^' Paper  of  fact«"  contained  "a 
fallacious  »Stateinent  of  the  liu&ineafi  n 
ought  to  have  buen  agitated  at  said  roef^ting^'*^ 
and,  (after  sundry  resolutions  touch ing 
tails,  tVrctj)  that  a  sum  of  money  Vu 
by  voluntary  subscription  of  the  owDeis 
the  threatened  Properties,  to  defray  tb©  exfenst* 
of  opposing  the  intended  application  to  Parliiiaw 


Tii«Btfrtek3-i.Dc»jpeuiiyPo8t,eiai       OXD   AND  KEW  BIRMmOHAM. 


997 


The  warfare  Wfts  waged  with  great  vigour  on 
Kilb  siiles ;  William  Hutton,  Joseph  Jukes,  and 
Teral  others  ra turned  again  and  again  to  the 
Bharge  on  behalf  of  the  opponents  of  the  measure' ; 
id  the  friends  of  the  overseci's  rcpliwl  with  equal 
ihility.  The  latter,  early  in  the  new  year,  1791, 
leetded  also  upon  endeavouring  to  obtain  leave  of 
Parliament  to  bring  in  a  Bill  to  amend  the  Guar- 
ian  Act^  V»y  including  several  clauses  of  the  Slxrews- 
miy  Act,  and  ul t i  mately  succeeded  in  obtaining  both 
ihe  rating  of  s^mall  tenements  and  a  New  Guardian 
ict ;  and  thus  one  more  step  vrm  taken  toward 
ihe  better  management  of  the  affairs  of  the  town. 
The  next  event  of  importance  in  the  annals 
pf  Birmingham  is  that  which  has  already  tlirown 
f|»  dark  shadow  over  our  narrative,  and  need  not 
further  be  referred  to  here:  the  "Church  and 
King"  riota  of  July,  1791. 

Towanls  the  end  of  the  year  1792  the  Govern- 
■Bill  (deaironfl  of  relieving  the  publicans  of  largo 
towns  from  the  inconvenience  caused  by  the 
[Iraq went  quartering  on  them  of  numbers  of 
ioldiers  passing  through  those  towns),  adopted 
the  plan  of  erecting  Barracks,  where  they  mi^ht 
be  lodged  and  provide  for  themselves.  "They 
Iiave  already  " — ^says  the  Birmingham  Gttzette^  of 
August  17th,  ill  that  year — **  begun  to  build 
fhetn  at  Manchester,  Sheffield,  and  Xottinghaui ; 
md  hist  week  Colonel  De  Lancey  agreetl  with 
Hr.  Brooke  for  four  acres  of  his  land,  at  Ashted, 
li>  erect  the  Barracks  upon,  near  this  town ;  tlje 
Ipoi  is  highly  approved  by  all  the  officers  who 
lATe  sttrreyed  it ;  and  the  adjacent  laod  will,  no 
loQbt,  soon  be  covered  with  other  buddings." 
first  stone  of  the  new  Barracks  was  laid 
28,  1792;  the  cost  of  erection  was, 
iltlitig  to  Hutton,  ^13,000,  and  the  annual 
rent  one  penny  per  square  yarrl.  The 
og  was  finished  in  t!io  summer  of  1793,  and 
intended  to  accommodate  one  hundred  and 
»two  men.  Hutton  makes  a  crdcuJatiou,  in 
itory,  of  the  cost  of  maintaining  this  insti- 
with  a  view  uf  showing  the  superiority  and 
ly  i>f  tb©  old  ^^^y^m.     He  says  : 


Aa  the  niAQ  who  loves  his  country  will  rejoice  at  evety 
saving  ayfitcm  to  lighten  the  load  of  three  hundred 
miUioaSi  1  shall  state  the  acei>aiit  with  precialon. 

Annual  Kent £100    0 

Iiit^reut  npon  £13,000 «50    0 

Loss  of  principnl  per  annam  on  the 

avcni^e  during  the  lease  of  80  ycnra     162  10 

Perhaps  there  will  not,  at  u  mediatn»  be  more  than  two- 
thirds  of  one  hundred  and  aixty-two  men,  or  one  hundred 
and  eight  accommodated. 

We  may  reaj^onaldy  suppose  £6,000  will  be  expended, 
at  least  during  the  term,  in  wear  and  tear  ot  furniture, 
alterations,  and  repairs  of  buildiiijDrs.  This  principal  also 
of  £0,tK>O,  and  hiilf  the  interest,  whieh  is  £150  per  annum, 
muist  be  Honk.  When  all  these  numbers  are  added 
together  it  will  appear  thnt  every  man*a  lodging  Btands 
the  conntry  in  about  eleven-pence  a  night,  or  six  shillinga 
and  fivf-p^nee  a  week.  Half  this  sum,  united  to  the 
slender  p.iy  of  the  privtite  soldier,  would  rt'cniit  the  array 
with  ffun  instead  of  old  age  ami  ehiMron,  an«l  that  with- 
out pressing  or  purchase ;  the  laiullord  would  then  wel- 
come the  soldier  with  a  Binile,  whom  he  now  receives  with 
a  frown. 

On  the  27th  of  August,  1793,  the  inhahitanta 
of  Einuinghani  would  read  with  pkasnre  an 
announcement  in  the  Gazette  of  the  intention  of 
the  Postmaster-General  to  establish  a  local  penny 
post  in  the  town.     The  notice  ran  as  follows : 

Post  Office,  Birmingham. 

Augnd  Jf7,  1795,— His  Msgesty's  Post  Master  General 
having  been  pleased  to  settle  and  establish  a  Penny  Post, 
forth©  Convenienee  of  thisTown*  the  Suburbs  thereof,  and 
Plates  adjacent — Notice  is  hereby  given,  that  Offices  are 
opened  for  the  Receipt  of  Letters  and  Packets,  (not  exceed- 
ing four  Ounces  in  Weight)  from  Seven  in  tlio  Moriiing 
till  Nine  oVlock  at  Night,  at  the  following  Plciees  : 
Mr.  Hewitt's,  Grocer,  No*  48,  Smallbrook  Street, 
Mr.   Steven's,   Grocer,   No.    72,  Digbeth,   near   Deritend 

Rnd(f;e, 
Mr.   ilun jutt*a,  Grocer,  Coleshill-utreet,  opposite  Jlarket- 

street. 
Mr.    Lntey*3,    Grocer,    Steelhouse   Lane^    the    Tomer  of 

Whittall-street. 
Mr.  Smith  8,  Grocer^  Church-street,  Lud^ate  IlilL 
From  winch  Phices  Letters  will  Lr  sent  to  the  principfd 

OITiee,  opjK^site  the  Theatre,  in  New  Street,  four  Times 

a  Bay,  ^iz. — 
At  Eight  oVJoek  in  the  Morning,  for  the  fir&t  Delivery, 

and  in  Time  to  bo  forwarded  by  the  North  Mail,  via 

Liehtield ; 
At  Twelve  oVItjek  at  Noon,  for  the  Second  Delivery,  and 

in  Time  fur  the  Mail  going  to  Slirewshury  ; 
At  a  Quarter  before  Two  in  the  Aftenioon,  foi  the  London 

Mail  ;  aod,  for  the  third  Delivery,  at  Hulf-pa^^t  ThTe« 

oVlwk  ; 
And  at  Four  o'clocjk  in  the  Aftprnoon   fat  tho  MaiJ  going 

to  Bristol  1 


298 


OLD  AND  NEW  BUIMINGHAM. 


r  The  Little  Blot- 


On  or  before  which  Times  Letters  should  be  pat  into  the 
above  OflSces,  in  order  to  be  sent  by  the  earliest  Con- 
yeyance ;  for  which  One  Penny  will  be  charged  in  the 
Town,  and  Twopence  for  the  Suburbs  and  Places  within 
the  Limits  of  the  Penny  Post,  to  be  paid  on  putting  in, 
or  on  Delivery,  at  the  option  of  the  Writers  ;  except 
Letters  intended  to  be  forwarded  by  the  London  and 
Cross  Road  Mails,  with  which  one  Penny  must  be 
paid  on  putting  into  the  above  mentioned  Receiving 
Offices. 

Letter  Carriers  will  be  dispatched  every  day  (except  Mon- 
day) with  the  Letters  to  and  from  Solihull,  Knowle, 
Sutton  Coldfield,  Hales  Owen,  Dudley,  West  Bromwich, 
Tipton,  Wednesbury,  Darlaston,  Willenhall,  Bilstone, 
and  to  the  intermediate  and  adjacent  Places. 

The  year  1793  was  marked  by  a  scene  of 
disorder  which,  to  the  inhabitants  of  Birmingham 
at  that  period,  must  have  caused  no  little  anxiety 
lest  it  should  lead  to  a  second  "  reign  of  terror  " 
Buch  as  they  had  experienced  in  July,  1791. 
The  disturbance  arose  out  of  that  of  1791  to 
a  certain  extent;  having  been  caused  by  the 
psfusal  of  certain  persons  to  pay  their  proportion 
of  the  levy  to  pay  the  riot  bilL  It  has  been 
styled  "  The  Little  Eiot." 

The  rate  had  been  levied  some  time  previous 
to  the  disturbance,  and  the  amount  unpaid  had 
been  advanced  by  the  local  governing  body  on 
behalf  of  the  inhabitants,  and  on  the  9  th  of 
September  in  that  year  a  pressing  call  was  made 
upon  the  ratepayers  to  pay  in  to  the  Constables 
their  respective  amounts.  One  Wood,  of  Lich- 
field Street,  refused  to  pay  his  proportion  of  the 
riot  rate,  and  it  became  necessary  to  distrain  his 
goods  for  the  amount.  This  was  done  on 
Monday  afternoon,  Oct.  21st,  but  the  defaulting 
ratepayer  resisted,  threatening  the  lives  of  the 
officers,  and  soon  succeeded  in  raising  a  mob, 
which,  in  the  evening  collected  in  St.  Philip's 
Churchyard,  and  attacked  the  house  of  ^Ir.  W. 
Barrs,  (one  of  the  Constables)  in  Temple  Row, 
breaking  the  windows  and  doing  considerable 
damage.  By  ten  o'clock  at  night  the  riot 
assumed  so  serious  a  character  that  Mr.  Joseph 
Carles,  (one  of  the  local  Magistrates),  with  the 
police  and  two  troops  of  horse  from  the  I^rracks, 
found  it  necessary  to  attend  to  restore  order. 


The  mob,  howerer,  showed  no  dispoeition  to 
desist  from  further  violence,  hoping,  perhaps,  to 
bring  about  a  state  of  afiEairs  such  as  had  existed  in 
July,  1791,  when  the  mob  for  awhile  had  reigned 
supreme.  Even  after  the  Eiot  Act  had  been  retd 
they  remained  deaf  to  the  peaceable  overtmeB  of 
the  representatives  of  law  and  order,  and  Mr. 
Carles  found  it  necessary  to  order  several  of  the 
ringleaders  into  custody,  and  to  instruct  the 
military  to  disperse  the  others.  Then  followed 
a  general  street  fight  between  the  military  and 
the  unruly  civilians,  and  in  a  brief  space  of  time 
twenty-six  of  the  latter  were  safely  lodged  in 
the  Dungeon,  and  several  others  were  conveyed 
to  the  Hospital.  The  military  paraded  the 
streets  during  the  rest  of  the  night,  and  quiet 
was  soon  restored.  But  with  the  dawn  of 
Tuesday  the  rabble  seem  to  have  regretted  the 
easy  victory  of  their  opponents ;  and  once  more 
they  rallied  on  their  old  battle-ground, — St 
Philip's  Churchyard, — in  front  of  the  obnoxious 
Constable's  house.  Again  the  magistrates  and 
the  military  appeared,  the  Riot  Act  wiis  once 
more  read,  and  in  the  course  of  the  day  two 
other  trooi)s  of  horse  arrived,  from  neighbouring 
towns,  and  the  clianipicms  of  the  defaulting 
ratepayers  were  routed. 

In  the  afternoon,  a  man  who  had  been  heard  to 
threaten,  in  a  public  house,  that  the  prison  should 
be  pulled  down  that  evening,  was  speedily  loili;i'd 
there  himself,  (in  order,  doubtless,  to  atford  him 
greater  facilities  for  carrying  his  threat  into 
execution)  ;  and  between  nine  and  ten  o'clock 
at  night  the  mob  assembled  round  the  building 
to  further  his  efforts,  and,  at  the  same  time, 
to  liberate  their  companions.  As  they  were 
attempting  to  force  the  door,  however,  the  gaolers 
fired  on  them,  and  two  were  severely  wounded ; 
the  others,  seeing  the  determined  resistance  made 
by  one  man  against  half  a  hundred,  ignominiouslj 
retreated,  leaving  their  wounded  companions  in 
arms,  (1)  as  well  as  those  who  were  lodged  in  the 
dungeon,  to  shift  for  themselves.  One  of  those 
who  were  wounded  was  a  man  named  Bichard 


"0«rtoUi«  Wmr*,*] 


OLD   AND   KEW   lilllMmGHA]^!. 


Porter  -wbo,  according  to  his  own  statement,  had 
not  joined  in  tlie  riot,  but  wa^  shot  just  as  he  had 
leachwi  the  mob,  and  was  enquiring  what  they 
bad  asdembled  for.  Wood,  who  was  the  cause  of 
the  disturbance,  absconded,  but  was  arrestod  a 
few  days  afterwards  at  Walsall  He  and  another 
of  the  rioters,  Joseph  Darby,  (the  pothouse 
I  desperado  who  bad  threatened  to  pull  down  the 
pnson^)  were  committed  to  Warwick  gaol. 


money,  winch  they  alleged  they  had  not  received.  Being 
cncaurdged  by  rnany  among  the  popolttce  to  continue  in 
their  demands^  and  several  of  them  being  much  intoxi- 
cated,  they  forced  themsolve?  into  their  officers*  room  at 
the  Swan  Ilott'l,  and  irwitcd  thorn  in  a  very  rude  and 
threatening  manner.  Our  Magistrates  tried  in  vain  to 
appease  them,  and  as  a  large  mob  began  to  collect,  and 
adti  to  the  turmilt,  they  were  obliged  to  requesst  Colonel 
Callow  to  bring  the  Third  Dragoons  from  the  Barracka, 
to  preserve  the  peace,  which  they  effect ually  did*  A  note 
was  then  given  to  nil  the  men  by  their  Lieu  ten  ant -Col  on  el 
(Montgomery)    promiisijig,   upon    ihoir  arrival    at   head 


CHRIST   CHTTFXn  I 

Jledal  commemorating  the  laying  of  the  first  stone.     [Showing  the  origiiud  desigfi/or  a  dome  and  cupola,] 


The  second  and  third  inetalmcnta  of  the  ob- 
noxious riot  levy  appear  to  have  been  collected 
without  serious  inconvenience  or  disturbance. 

We  now  come  upon  the  time  of  war,  with  all 
its  stirring  and  enlivening  scenes,  as  well  as  its 
Itorrors  and  sufferings,  ejcperienoed  alike  by  those 
who  fought  our  battles  abroad  and  those  who 
eoiditred  at  home  the  privations  wliich  a  costly 
war  always  entails  upon  a  nation.  In  the  GazeUe 
of  March  16th,  1795,  we  obtain  a  glance  at 
one  of  the  scenes  witnessed  at  home  during  the 
depaititro  of  a  regiment  for  "  the  wars  ^* : 

On  Monday  loirt  graat  confusion  and  some  alirm  was 
[  ercAted  in  this  town,  in  conaequence  of  a  party  of  the 
IllStli,  or  Fingal  Regiment,  which  ha<l  marched  in  from 
I  IrvlaJid  on  the  precedinj?  Saturday,  refusing  to  continne 
tihiiir  ronttt  until  they  had  btcn  paid  oil  thi^ir  bounty 


qnartei-s,  paynient  of  all  the  money  dne  to  theuj^  and 
sign^^d  also  by  our  Magi»tnitpfl,  who  tingaged  to  Mcud 
iiiunBdiately  to  tlie  War  Office,  and  see  that  every  man  in 
the  regiment  h.id  his  due.  This  satisfied  most  of  them  ; 
there  were  some^  howcT«r^  who  rejected  the  notes^  and 
iontinufd  in  a  very  mutinous  state  all  the  day  ;  but  the 
Miigi^tratea  having  directed  the  Constables  and  their 
Servants  to  go  at  midnight  to  all  the  public  houses  where 
the  men  were  billeted,  and  got  possession  of  their  firms 
(which  they  easily  did^  assisted  by  an  officer  and  a  pirty 
of  the  dragoons),  and  every  publican  being  forbidden  to 
give  ihum  spirits,  or  any  of  the  liqnor  shops  to  be  opened 
in  tlic  morning,  Colonel  Montgomery  waa  at  length 
enabled  on  Tuesday  to  march  out  with  the  greatest  j^ort 
of  the  corps,  and  the  others  gradnalty  followed,  or  were 
talcen  by  the  officers  who  sUycd  here  to  collect  them. 
The  Magistrates,  we  understand,  have  since  received  two 
letters  from  the  Secretary  at  War  ;  who,  in  the  first,  writes 
that  "orders  are  sent  to  the  Head  Quartern,  to  preyent 
any  difficulty  or  delay  in  executing  what  the  Magistraten 
have  engaged  for,  and  a  General  Officer  will  he  imme- 
diately sent,  by  his  Royal  Highness  the  Duke  of  York, 


300 


OLD  AND  NEW  BIRMINGHAM. 


[VoluntoCTS  flbr  Hut  TSmf, 


to  erjforre  tho«e  orders."  And,  in  a  second  letter,  the 
Right  Hon.  Secretary  informs  the  MA^^^Lstrates,  that, 
**  Lieatenant- General  Forbes  is  gone  to  reiiresa  gnevances, 
iind,  if  possible,  to  prevent  bucH  cauH<»»  of  alarm  for  the 
future. " 

Ail  Act  having  heen  passed  for  raiBing  a  certain 
iiiimHer  of  men  for  maimiiig  tlie  Navy,  from  tlie 
several  counties  of  England,  forty-four  men  were 
allotted  Ijy  the  general  Session  of  the  Peace  hi- Id 
at  Warwick,  as  the  number  to  be  raifiefl  by 
Birmingham.  Accordingly  a  meeting  of  the 
inhabitants  wae  held  March  Slst,  1795^  at  which 
**it  was  determined,  that  a  Levy,  at  the  rate  of 
ftixpence  in  the  pound,  should  be  immediately 
made,  to  defray  the  ex|ien8es  of  raising  the  forty- 
four  meu  for  the  tiavy,  the  quota  for  this  parish." 
The  work  of  enrolling  volunteers,  however,  does 
not  appear  to  have  proceeded  quite  so  fast  as 
the  raising  of  the  money  to  defray  expenses ; 
coni^equently  the  few  who  were  induced  to  enrol 
themselves  were  paraded  through  the  principal 
streets,  and  their  patriotism,  gallantry,  etc,  pro- 
claimed with  great  flourish  in  the  local  papers,  as 
witness  the  foil  owing  extracts  from  the  Onzftfe  : 

ApHl  fO,  1795.— The  patriotic  apin't  whicli  hm  ever 
been  evince<l  by  the  Inhabitants  of  this  place  to  oppose 
the  enemies  of  their  coantry,  will,  we  ure  persiimled,  at 
the  pr<>8Piit  moment,  when  Britanniii  calls  for  the  best 
energies  of  nil  her  *Son9^  be  tnoreard<*nt  than  ever  ;  and  we 
aaaure  ouimlves,  the  Town  qnota  of  Men  for  the  Service  of 
the  Navy  will  soon  be  raised .  Eighteen  gallant  fellown  were 
attest etl  on  Saturday,  and  numbci^  of  respectable  gentle- 
men, we  onderHtand,  purpose  this  week  to  accompany  the 
Church -Ward  ens  nud  Officers  of  the  Town  tli  rough  the 
principal  Streets  (as  the  chief  inhabitiints  of  Liverpool, 
Leed8,  and  Sheffield  did  at  their  respective  places,)  and 
to  give  every  possible  encoumgeiucnt  to  those  who  may  be 
desirous  of  the  glorious  appellation  of  Defenders  of  their 
country. 

Aprils?,  1796.  — On  Thursday  the  High  BailitT,  Parish 
Offiters,  and  many  of  the  principiil  Inhabitants,  pararled 
the  streets  of  tliis  town  with  nuisic  tmd  tla^,  to  receive 
and  encourage  those  brave  meu  that  Uiight  wish  to  become 
defenders  of  thtir  country  on  board  the  Koyol  Kavy,  and 
volunteers  upon  this  occasion  have  come  forward  in  such 
numbers,  that  on  Saturday  only  eight  men  were  wanted 
to  compleat  the  town  quota,  and  which,  from  the  patriotic 
spirit  now  abroad,  wc  doubt  not  will  Immediately  be 
foiind. 

The  town's  quota  of  naval  volunteera  waa  com- 
pleted by  the  beginning  of  May. 


And  now  we  turn  to  the  sombre  aide  oC  the 
picture,  and  note  the  effects  of  war—  joined  to  I 
calamity  of  a  bad  harvest — upon  the  Buller 
people  at  home, 

Tho  distress  of  the  country,^au8©d  partly 
oppressive  war  taxation,  and  partly  by  the  f^luf 
of  the  harvest  and  the  oonsequent  scarcity  an 
deamess  of  wheat, — drove  many  among  th 
poorer  classas  almost  to  distraction,  and  thtrir  dii 
content  found  vent  in  numerous  outbreaks  agai] 
the  miliars  and  fiirmers,  and  the  moneyed  classtti 
of  the  country,  Oiio  of  the^e  tumults  liroke  out 
in  Birmingham  in  June,  1795,  and  led  to  serious 
and  fatal  results,*  It  is  tlius  narratetl  in  the 
Gazfitte  of  June  29th,  in  that  year :  ^h 

"June  29th,  1795, — It  is  with  great  concen^^ 
we  state  that  a  misguided  populace,  too  prone  to 
hearken  to  the  suggestions  of  the  designing  ond 
evU-niinded,  has  again  broken  in  upon  the  peaot 
of  society,  and  committed  the  most  Gulpable  \ 
of  violence  and   outrage.      The  com   mill 
bakehouse  of  !Mr.  Pickard,  at  the  bottom  of  Suol 
Hill,   supplies    a    considerable    number    of 
inhabitants  of  this  town  with  flour  and  brca 
The  great  scarcity  of  grain  which  is  expericnc 
throughout  Europe  (but  in  no  country  so  littft*  \ 
our   own),  has  considerably  advanced   its  pric 
and  of  course  neither  the  same  quantity  of  flom^l 
nor  the  same  weight  of  bread,  can  be  afiforded  foj 
the  like  money,  aa  in  more  abundant  times, 
few  days  ago  a  poor  woman,  complaining  to  th^ 
maid  servant  of  Mr.  Pickard  that  tb©  loaf  ah«| 
purchased  was  less  than  nstial,  waa  anawt^ied  Uf  J 
the  maid,  that  she  was  sorry  for  it;    but 
wheat   was   so  dear  that  it   could  not   now 
afforded  of  a  larger  size  at  the  customary  price; 
to  which  she  added  a  just  remark,  that  we  aiEroly  j 
ought  to  be  contented  here,  and  not  complain, 
our  condition  was  so  much  better  than  in  s(jO 
other  countries;  for  she   undetstood  from 
papers  tlie  scarcity  was  so  great  in  France,  tl 
the  common  people  were  reduced  to  the  necessltyl 
of  eating  grains.     The  malicious,  it  seems,  sooQ 
perverted  and  tixeil  the  expression  on  her  mast«rJ 


,17tSJ 


OLD  AND  NEW  BIRMINGHAM. 


and  it  was  quickly  rumoured  that  Mr.  l^ickard 
iittd  aaiil,  be  would  make  the  poor  cui  gmins 
in  their  bread,  ^th  the  additional  calumnj, 
thai  he  had  buried  under  his  mill  a  large  ciuantity 
of  corn.  False  and  impr»jbable  as  were  such 
leporta,  they  too  suctiessfullj  answrered  the  ends  of 
their  vile  fabricators,  aud,  irritated  by  them,  a 
mob  (principally  composed  of  women)  assembled 
between  one  and  two  oclock  on  Monday  after- 
HOOD,  round  the  miJI,  and  began  to  break  the 
windows  of  it  Two  of  our  worthy  and  active 
]n^3tiat4?$  (W.  Viilera  and  W.  Hicks,  Ea^ra.), 
who  happened  to  be  then  in  town,  hastened  to 
the  fipot ;  but  it  was  to  no  purpose  that  they 
addi^Ofted  the  deluded  multitude  on  the  unlawful- 
tiem  and  impolicy  of  their  proceedings.  A  rabble, 
ur^ed  on  by  furiouB  women,  made  their  way  into 
a  part  of  the  promises,  and  the  perBons  of  the 
Magiiitrat^^s  were  endangered  by  the  stones  and 
Imck-ends  which  were  thrown  in  every  direction. 
It  liecame,  therefore,  necessary  to  adopt  the  most 
Tigorous  measures,  and  the  King's  own  regiment 
of  Dragoons  were  sent  for  from  the  Barnicks.'  It 
happened  that  the  men  were  at  this  hour  watering 
their  horses  out  of  the  town  ;  they  were,  however, 
with  the  utmost  expedition  collected  by  Colonel 
CttlloWp  who  appeared  at  the  head  of  a  troop  in 
time  to  save  the  mill  from  destruction ;  but  not 
before  the  mob  bad  broken  into  the  counting- 
houses  and  destroy od  many  of  Mr,  Pickard'a  books 
of  aecoont.  In  a  few  minutes  after  the  arrival  of 
Uie  Dragoons,  also  appeared,  headed  by  Captain 
Aideni  Mr.  Legge'a  Troop  of  Warwickshire 
Yeomanry  Cavalry,  whom  (being  at  exetciae  a 
ft)W  miles  from  the  town)  Captain  Arden,  upon 
receiving  intimation  of  the  disturbance,  imme- 
dintely  brought  to  our  assistance. 

"The  riot  act  was  now  read.  The  militiiry 
•peedily  cleared  the  premises  of  the  rioters,  and 
|>arading  through  the  adjoining  streets,  prevented 
fiirtlier  tumult  during  the  day.  As  night  came 
ott,  the  ^lagistrates  considering  peace  was  sufli- 
f  lagntljr  restored,  and  that  the  troops  on  horseback 
pnJy  to  draw  crowds  of  idle  people  to  look 


at  them,  directed  that  twenty  of  the  I)ra;^^oons 
should  be  tli^niounted,  and  sent  into  the  mill 
with  the  Peace  Officers ;  and  that  the  others,  with 
the  Yeomanry,  should  retire  to  the  Barracks, 
there  to  wait  in  readiness  for  f urt!ier  orders.  Not 
long,  however,  after  the  disappearance  of  the 
soldiers,  another  attack  was  made.  The  troops 
within  the  mill  came  out,  and  seized  some  of  tht* 
leading  rioters;  and  the  Constables  then  ordered 
them  to  load  their  pieces  before  the  mob,  at  the 
same  time  telling  the  people^  that  if  the  party 
that  was  goiug  to  convey  those  they  had  appre- 
hended to  the  dungeon  were  attacked,  they  hf*d 
orders  to  fire.  ^N'ot withstanding  these  precautii)iis, 
the  escort  had  not  proceeded  a  hundred  yards  wlh 
their  prisoners,  before  a  rescue  was  attempted. 
The  mub  beat,  pelted,  and  pressed  upon  the 
soldiera  on  every  side ;  it  was  in  vain  that,  by 
filiglitly  wounding  some  with  their  bayonets,  they 
endeavoured  to  keep  them  oH',  and  that  three  of 
them  discharged  their  pieces  over  the  people's 
heads.  Tlufs,  instead  of  intimidating,  seemed 
only  to  increase  their  violence ;  and  at  l6n;^lh,  so 
furious  was  the  attack,  that  to  preserve  hia  own 
life,  and  in  obe<lience  to  the  orders  he  had  received 
from  the  peace  officers,  one  of  the  Dragoons  tired 
upon  his  assailants,  A  young  man  of  the  name 
of  Allen  instantly  fell  dead,  and  the  biill,  whicli 
passed  thi-ough  Ids  heart  and  body,  loilged  deep 
in  the  chest  of  another  (Henry  Mason),  who,  after 
lingering  alive  until  Saturilay  morning,  expired  in 
onr  Hospital  Upon  these  sacriiicea  to  Uie 
offended  laws  of  our  country,  the  mob  instantly 
dispersed  in  every  direction ;  nor  has  the  peace  of 
the  town  been  since  interrupted ;  though,  wa  are 
sorry  to  say,  some  wicked  incendiary,  with  a  view 
of  renewing  the  tumult,  has  been  dropping  in  the 
streets,  at  midnight,  written  papeiij  of  the  most 
criminal  and  inilammatoiy  nature;  and  for  the 
discovery  of  the  author  of  which,  the  magistrates 
and  other  gentlemen  have  offered  a  reward  of  on« 
hundred  guineas. 

**  Mr*  Brooke,  the  Coroner,  has  held  an  inquH^t 
n[)on  the  bodies  of  the  dead  men,  and  the  Jury 


302 


OLD   AXD  NEW  EIEMINGHAlt 


HtjrKi^l 


huve  Tetiirned  thfiir  venlict  juiittfiahh  homitltle. 
Two  women  and  a  man,  Margaret  Bowlker,  Mary 
Mullena,  and  George  Hattory,  sworn  to  as  being 
most  active  in  the  riot,  are  fully  committed  by 
the  magistrates  to  Wurwit:k  gaol,  to  take  their 
trials  for  the  oflence,  of  which,  if  they  are  con- 
victed, the  punishment  of  the  law  is  death.  Let 
then  those  gnilty  spirits  who,  by  false  aspersions, 
have  been  exciting  piihlic  animosity  against  an 
individual,  reflect  upon  all  the  unhappy  conse- 
quences of  their  malignant  designs,  and  consider 
how  much  they  have  to  answer  for.  Anil  may 
iho  terrible  example  that  has  been  made,  and  the 
punishments  that  will  ensue,  he  a  lesson  to  all, 
never  to  he  forgotten,  that  the  disturber  of  public 
peace,  and  the  destroyer  of  private  property, 
cannot  escape  with  impunity. 

"  Some  apprehensions  of  a  riot  being  entcrtain<^d 
last  week,  by  the  inhabitants  in  the  neighbour- 
hood of  Dudley,  and  at  Bromsgrove,  detachments 
of  the  Dragoons  were  sent  from  our  Barracks  to 
each  of  those  places,  who  effectually  prevented 
any  breach  of  the  peace," 

Similar  riots  occurred,  as  we  learn  from  a  MS, 
note  by  Mr.  Hamper,  on  IlinrBday,  !May  1st, 
1800,  when  a  mob  assembled  m  the  evening  and 
proceeded  to  break  the  windows  of  aeveral  of 
the  principal  millers  and  bakers  in  the  town,  and 
to  commit  other  acts  of  violenca  By  the 
exertions  of  the  Volunteers,  (of  whom  more 
hereafter,)  together  with  some  of  the  neighbour- 
ing  Yeomanry,  (who  remained  under  arms  the 
gneateet  part  of  the  night,)  the  peace  of  the 
town  was  restored.  Precautions  were  also  taken 
on  the  two  following  days,  to  prevent  a  renewal 
of  turbulent  proceedings,  as  a  spirit  of  lawlessness 
continued  to  show  itself  ;  and  on  Friday,  thirty 
of  the  ringleaders,  who  had  gone  to  some  of  the 
farms  around  Edgbastcn  with  the  determination 
to  destroy  the  com  ricks,  etc.,  were  tnken  into 
custody    before  they  had  done  much  mischief. 

Again,  in  September  of  the  same  year,  further 
disturbances  occurred,  with  more  serious  results. 
On   Monday   morning,   September   9tb,  in   con- 


sequence of  the  high  price  of  flour  and  bread  h 
the  town,  great  excitement  prevailed  among  the 
people,  and  a  well-known  com-dealer  was  aswtdtdd 
by  a  crowd,  and  compelled  to  take  refuge  in  an 
inn  in  Bull  Street,  where  he  remained  for  sevetsl 
hours,  and  was  at  length  liberated  by  an  of&eer 
of  the  pence*  At  night  the  crowd  became  more 
unruly,  and  a  general  attack  was  made  upon  tbe 
shops  of  the  bakers  and  me^d-men  in  the  town ; 
the  mob  assumed  the  right  of  selling  Uie  bread  at 
reduced  j)rices,  and  largo  quantities  of  flour, 
bread,  and  other  provisions  were  stolen. 
military  force  at  that  time  quartered  at 
barracks  (the  1 7th  Light  Dragoons),  and  a 
of  the  Birmingham  Light  Horse  Yoliuiteenv^ 
were  called  out,  and  the  disturbance  waa  quaUMJ^ 
for  that  night  at  le^st. 

The  next  morning,  however,  the  mob 
their  attack  upon  the  steam  mill  of  Mr.  Pick 
in  Snow  Hill  (the  same  Mr.  Fickard  who 
dishonestly  obtained  from  a  workman  at 
Watt's  idea  of  the  rotary  crank,  and  fon 
the  inventor  in  obtaining  a  patent  for  the  im- 
provment) ;  here  the  proprietor  and  his  workineD, 
fearful  lest  the  rioters  should  break  into  the  mOlj 
fired  upon  them  and  wounded  four  persons,  on 
of  whom  died  a  few  days  afterwaid& 
magistrates  were  not  long  in  hastening  to  th 
spot  with  the  military  forc^  from  the 
under  the  command  of  Colonel  Grey,  and,  i 
the  Riot  Act  had  been  read,  the  military  epeedil] 
dispersed  the  crowd,  a  guard  was  placed  over  I 
premises,  and  the  magistrates  returned  to 
quarters  at  the  "Shakespeare*'  Tavern, 
Street,  and  **  immediately,"  to  quote  the  words  i 
the  Gazetie,  **  the  bugle  of  the  Loyal  Binning 
Light  Horse  Yohmteera  sounded,  and  the  drums 
of  the  Binningham  Loyal  Association  beat  *to 
arms,'  and  these  Corps,  with  Lieutenant  CoodnU 
and  Captain  Lycett  at  their  head,  were  very  soon 
at  head  i|uartera,"  By  and  by,  the  troops 
Yeomanry  Cavalry,  under  the  command  of 
Earl  of  Aylesford  and  Mr.  Legge,  r<>ached  tW 
town,  and  the  mngistnites,  having  divided  tlit 


loliffotti 


OLD  AND  KEW   BIRMINGHAM, 


303 


I 


lawn  into  eleven  diatricts,  and  stationed  patrols 
of  horae  and  foot  in  eaehj  oider  was  restored 
during  the  day.  SeToral  persons  were  apprehended 
and  panisbed  for  basing  been  concerned  in  the 
disturbances,  which,  after  the  arrival  of  the  mili- 
t^rj*  forced  on  the  Tuesday,  seem  to  have  entirely 
mbaided. 

On  this  occasion  we  meet  with  an  old  Birming- 
ham worthy  of  whom  we  have  not  as  yet  taken 
accountp  the  pamphleteer  who  styled  himself 
**Job  Nott."  Addressing  his  'Mear  brother 
ATii^cers,"  in  a  hand  bill  issued  during  the  riotsj 
he  aays : 

llj  AdWce  IB  DOW,  as  it  alirayB  has  been  upon  emah 
fiOcaKioiiA,  to  keep  out  of  Haj'm'a  Way. 

Kow  you  9ee  fievenl  Persons  have  been  shot  at  the 
MIIL  Many  say  they  were  wantooly  fired  upon ;  if  so, 
Mat  I^wa  of  the  Conutry  (which  protect  the  Poor  and 
Bieh  alike)  wiU  punish  the  otfendera.  At  the  same  Time 
we  all  know  that  a  Man's  Haase  is  his  Castle^  and  that 
every  man  haa  a  right  to  defend  himselt  if  attack'd. 
However,  let  na  soflpend  oar  Judgment  a  little  while ; 
for  at  preeent,  I  am  told  none  of  the  shot  Persons  are 
dead.  If  any  of  thtini  do  die^  a  Jury  and  the  Coroner 
will  rit  upon  the  Body,  and  w**  shall  hear  what  that  Jury 
says.  Let  as,  in  the  mean  Time,  pr»y  that  none  of 
them  may  die  ;  and  above  all,  let  ua  ke^p  every  one  in 
our  own  Ilcmnefl*  Yours  ever, 

September  9,  1800.  Job  Nott. 

Addressing  "the  Farmers  who  come  to  Bir- 
mingham Market/'  our  old  pamphleteer  says  : 

GontlenifU,  niy  Advice  to  you  is,  drop  the  Price  of 
Whrjfct  iiu mediately — that  my  Betty  and  her  Children, 
and  all  my  poor  &€iher  Artificen,  whoae  distreoaea  are 
grtat  indeed,  m^y  partake  of  the  Bounty  of  Providence. 

We  have  great  Cause  to  complain,  though  it  grievei  my 
Heart  that  Rioting  should  have  taken  place.  What's 
SijQfre,  if  you  should  not  fix  a  naoderato  Price  to  Day,  it 
may  lie  upon  your  Hands,  and  you  may  be  glad  to  take 
much  lass  for  it  in  a  Month  ;  for  the  Price  will  come 
dowTi,  that's  certain.  Don't  you  see  how  the  weather 
g^tttt  riati  I  and  don't  you  know  that  four  or  five  days 
will  get  all  in  } 

And  my  further  Advice  is  that  I  hope  you  wiH  sell  it 
to  our  Millers  and  Bakers,  and  such  as  won't  sell  it  again 
out  of  Town,  and  then  we  shall  have  Plenty  at  £^  moderate 
I*ri««*  Al  any  rate,  don't  sell  it  to  Badgers,  nor  let  them 
wkiapar  in  your  ears,  and  persuade  you  to  raise  the  market 
tost  thcdr  own  Advantage.  I  say,  hear  none  of  their  wicked 
A4vicfv  fur  tbe  D<rvil  is  at  the  Bottom  of  all  such  Advice; 
s«d  what  little  you  get  in  that  way  will  never  prosper. 
Qod  Almighty  won't  ble^^is  the  Land  of  that  man  who 
iio«i  any  tldiig  to  oppraaa  the  Poar,  but  aooner  or  later  it 
38 


will  come  home  to  him,  or  to  his  children  after  him  ;  for 
what*«  got  over  the  Devil's  Back  is  sure  to  be  spent  under 
hia  Belly  :  so  take  my  Advice,  and  he  good  Fellows,  and 
let  us  have  Plenty  and  Cheap.  So  no  more  at  present, 
from  your  humble  Servant, 

September  11th,  1800.  Job  Nott. 

A  few  words  respecting  "  Job  Nott "  may  not 
be  out  of  place  bore. 

Towards  the  end  of  the  last  contiiry,  when 
newspapers  were  msrely  what  their  name  implies, 
a  collection  of  the  news  of  the  day,  with  little  or 
no  comment  thereon,  when  editorial  '*  leaders  *^ 
were  unknown,  and  when  nearly  all  criticism  or 
eixpresalon  of  opinion  upon  stibjects  of  the  daj 
was  conveyed  through  the  medium  of  pamphlets, 
there  wore  issued  from  the  Birmingham  preaa  a 
conaiderable  number  of  pamphlets  on  local  and 
imperial  politics  by  a  writer  who  signed  himself 
**  Job  Nott " ;  so  numerous  and  varied  were 
these  pamphlets  that  no  complete  set  of  them  ia 
known.  The  moat  complete  Beriea  in  existence 
was  probably  that  in  the  Staunton  collection 
which  has  just  been  destroyed  in  the  disastrous 
fire  at  the  Beference  Library;  it  included  ako 
the  numerous  replies  under  the  sign at« res  of 
**John  Nott,'*  "Martha  Nott,"  and  other 
members  of  the  supposed  Nott  family.  The 
original  series  of  Job  Nott  pamphlets  were 
probably  written  by  Theodore  Price,  of  Harborne; 
but  their  authorship  is  somewhat  uncertain. 
"  Job  Nott "  was  supposed  to  be  a  Birmingham 
buckle-maker ;  in  a  weekly  paper  called  The 
B  natal  Job  Nott,  (commenced  immediately 
after  the  Bristol  riots,  in  1S31,}  the  author^ 
who  purports  to  be  the  son  of  the  original 
Job  Nott  of  Birmingham  J  says  : — "  Old  Job 
Nott,  I  have  already  told  you,  got  his  bread 
by  buckle-making ;  but  the  best  buckles 
he  ever  made  M^ere  his  famous  politicontorai 
buckles,  with  which  he  buckled  the  people 
together  in  one  bond  of  union,  in  spite  of  foes 
without  and  traitors  within.  .  »  ^ly  fatberj 
old  Job  Nott,  of  Birmingham,  lived  at  the  time 
of  the  former  French  Kevolution  ;  and  when  the 
principles  of  the  Kevolution ists  had  got  abroad 


7 


AND  NEW  BIKMINGHAM. 


CJuliSML 


yery  much  in  this  iiiilion,  and  there  was  n  grt^at 
ciy  about  ^^^  liberty  and  equal  it  i/,*'  unci  **27/<5  RighU 
vf  Man;'*  and  Tom  Painc*8  iiilidel  pnocipleB 
were  being  circulated  among  tht?  pcQi>le,  and  a 
great  many  other  bad  notions  had  got  abroad,  but 
when  old  Nott — (a  plain  honest  feDow  who  had 
sense  enough  to  think  for  himscilf,  and  courage 
enough  to  epeak  what  ho  thought),  sent  forth  hia 
little  publications  amongst  the  people,  presently 
hia  wholesome  principles  spread  through  the 
land,  {dtering  men's  mind  just  like  as  a  healing 
medicine  changeB  the  whole  mass  of  a  man's 
blood;  Jacobinism  was  purged  out,  infidelity 
skulked  into  its  native  darkness,  men  who  bad 
been  enemies  to  all  the  order  of  Society,  saw  the 
eiTora  of  their  way,  and  became  loyal  subjects 
imd  good  citizens.*'  By  this  extfact  it  will  be 
seen  that  Job  Nott  was  not  among  the  lo^'trs  of 
lilierty  and  progress,  but  rather  of  the  unreagoiiing 
opponents  of  all  reforms,  and  of  those  who  in 
Birmingham  ceased  to  exercise  any  gieat  influence 
among  the  jx»uple  substHjuent  to  the  clone  of  the 
eighteenth  century.  i\mong  his  various  publica- 
tions, (the  titles  of  which,  at  least  may  be  in- 
teresting to  our  rcaderB)  may  be  mentioned  the 
following,  which  were  in  the  Biimijigham  I£o- 
ference  Library  :  "  England  in  Danger  and 
Britons  Asleep,''  (171)4*),  **  A  Front  View  of  the 
Five- Headed  Monster,  with  Ten  Sides  of  hk 
Tongue,"  (1798),  "  A  Continuation  of  the  *»  Front 
View,"  etc,,  **  Birmingham  in  Danger,  of  which 
Job  Nott  gives  Fair  Warning,"  (17 99),  *'  Further 
H^imble  Ad\ice,"  (1800).  In  1803,  when  fears  of 
a  French  invojsion  were  entertainwl  by  all  classes, 
he  published  two  pamphlets  which  ran  tliroiigh 
several  editions  ;  partly,  perhaps,  on  account  of 
their  sensational  titles,  which,  printed  in  very 
large  type  at  the  head  of  the  tracts,  were  certain 
to  attract  attention.  The  first  watj  entitled  **  The 
Lion  Sleeps  I  "  and  shortly  afterwards  ho  issued 
the  scqijel,"  **  The  British  Lion^s  Eoua'd  I  and 
the  French  Tyrant  Trembles  !  "  lie  also  issued 
at  an  earlier  date  "  The  life  atxd  Adventures  of 
Job   Nott,   Buckle   Maker,    of  Birminghami  as 


written  by  Himseif,  whtdi  tnn   through  st  ]«af{ 
twelve  editions,  and  was   thus  adverti«:rd 

Job  Non's  Tinkn  Edition. 

February  11,  1793, — On  Wednesday  nioming  aeit  1 
be  published,  lYic©  3d*  ea?h,  or  cue  Guinea  a  Hundr 
The  Life  and  Adventures  of  Job  Nott,  tlie  Third  EilitJ 
In  which  Miss  Sjmnker  is  reproved  for  her  ill  minctfiT 
and  made  a  more  proper  Companion  for  the  fair  8*»x 

Brother  Englisbnien,  it  in  very  plenising  to  xn»  to  hai 
from  my  Bookseller  that  my  Life  is  goLiig  At  s.uch  ft  Halk: 
and  is  in  generul  so  Biuch  ftpproved.  A  grnt  and  good 
Man  has  said  that  *'  Nobody  can  read  it  without 
ing,  nor  IcAve  it  off  without  bting  more  Loyal 
Moral."  And,  therefore,  to  nil  Loyal  Masters i 
is,  give  your  Servants  one  a  piece.  To  all  Loyal  ( 
my  Advice  is,  give  your  brave  Recmita  one  a  pi«)ai  td 
Knapsack  Companjon.  And  to  my  Brother  Artifi 
and  the  amall  Fry,  my  Advice  is,  get  a  dob  of  orcr  ^ 
that  you  may  be  able  to  lay  out  Thrt^e-pence  in  a  ] 
wrote  entirely  for  your  Use,  Information,  and 
ment,  and  by  one  that  regardt  wad  neTer  will  dKtitf 
yoti.     Yours  to  Command,  J<jb  N« 

During  the   riot  of   Septemher,    1800, 
original  John  Nott  *'  isstied  a  pampldot,  cntiUd 
*'  A  Word  to  the   Wise  :  or  Jolm  Xott's  (tl 
original  John  Kott'a)  Opinion  of   tJio  Hiot 
Snow  Hill,  and  of  and  tihuut  the  Hand-Bill*  1 
was  laid  in  the  Streets  last  Night  to  Ensnan*  t 
Befool  lis," 

Among  the  minor  occurrences  of  this  e?eziii 
period  may  he   mentioned  an  earthquake  irl 
wliile     it    does     not    appear    to     hove 
any    damage,    must    at    least    biive    sominrJi 
terrilied    the    inhahitanta,      Mr.    Hamster   tlm 
describes  it  in  a  MS,  not^  Uy  Ilutton's  histoiy  I 
the  town; — '*0n   Wednesday  ni^ht^  KoveiDh 
18th,  1795,  a  little  before  11  o'clodc,  an 
quake  was  very  sensibly  felt  by  tlie  inbabit&ote^ 
this  town  and  in  all  the  adjoin  lug  cotmtioa. 
in   Ijed    folt   themselves   raised  up  in  the 
manner  as  if  a  person  hud  been  iiiulcrneatb  Ih 
and  a  shaking    of   the    bcdst(>ni!»   and    of 
other  furniture  in  the  room,  immediately 
Those  who   had  not  retired  to  their  l»ed«  wc 
tliaturbed  by  an  indistinct  rumbling  noise^  i 
ently  jiroceeding   from  the  cellars^  which 
followed  by  a  rocking  of  the  house, 

*  rrobaUy  iaferriuy  to  "Job  KoU'e  "  AddivM  **  |c»  Ma  ] 


rbidk 


MniainrhEii.  New  ybi»ry-ch.|«i  Wnke.]  OLD   AND   NEW   BIEMINGHAM. 


**  At  Kottiiigham  the  shock  was  more  severe. 
Several  Stacks  of  Chiinnies  were  thrown  down, 
and  the  Belis  sounded  from  all  the  Steeples/* 
In  1796  some  dkagreement  having  arisen 
amonj^  the  snbscrihers  to  the  Birmingham  Lihrar)', 
the  disaffected  members  withdrew  and  foi-med 
A  new  socletj  on  a  plan  similar  to  that  of  the 
pnrent  institution,  calkd  the  '*  Birmiugham  New 
Libmry."  The  room  used  by  the  new  society 
was  a  commodious  one  in  the  lower  part  of 
Caimon  Street,  where  the  library,  numbering 
about  three  thousand  volumes,  remained  until 
1821,  when  it  was  removed  to  a  new  building, 
cted  speciaJly  for  its  reception,  by  a  tontine 
"  ial>ecriptiun,  in  Temple  Row  West,  The  amount 
«»f  the  annual  eubscription  was  £1,  and  the 
number  of  members  about  250.  It  was  sub- 
|uently  incorporated  with  the  Old  Librarj^ 
comprised,  at  that  period  upwards  of  seven 
thousand  volumes. 

The  name  of  "  Chapel  Wake  "  carrier  with  it 
an  idea  of  rustic  felicity  and  simple  enjoyment 
such  as  WUkie  and  Collins  loved  to  depict;  and 
one  can  easily  call  up  ideas  of  the  village  festival, 
with  its  May-games,  and  other  innocent  merri- 
ment, and  its  accompaniments  in  the  shape  of 
a  plenteous   supply  of    **the  roast-beef  of  old 
England"  washed  down  with   copious  draughts 
►  of     **  nut-brown    ale.**      Alas  1    that   we    should 
I  rudely  ilisturb  such  a  charming  rustic  picture  by 
a  narrative  of  the  real   events  of  the  **  Chapel 
jWttke "   in  Binningham   in    1798.     This  «*ako 
Iwaa  a  festival   instituted   to   commemomte   lite 
[erection  of  St  Bartholomew's  Chapel,  but  how 
Uie  increase  of  church  accommodation  could  be 
l«uitiib]y  commemorated  by  such  scenes  as  that 
I  which  we  have  here  to  describe  it  is  ditficult  to 
imagine. 

The  more  brutal  among  the  inhabitants,  chielly 
t those    **lewd    fellows   of   the    baser  sort"    who 
iwere  more  frequently  to  be   found  at  the  ale- 
eh  than  at  the  work -bench — had  determined 
cdcbrate  this  wake  by  a  return  to  those  in- 
,  wjgrta  which  were  by  this  time  discouraged 


by  all  well  disposed  citizens;  and  proposed  to 
bait  a  bull,  in  a  field  behind  the  Salutation  Inn, 
Snow  Hill,  not  far  from  the  General  Hospital, 
On  the  day  appointed,  the  bull  was  brought 
forward  and  the  cruel  sport  commenced  ;  but  the 
more  respectable  inhabitants,  wishing  to  see  an 
end  of  all  such  pastimes,  induced  the  members  of 
the  Birmingham  Loyal  Association* — a  body  of 
Volunteer  Jf  iHtia  formed  by  the  trading  class — to 
undertakD  the  perilous  task  of  capturing  the  bull 
and  putting  to  flight  his  tormentors.  *^The 
Association  assembled  "^ — ^says  a  contributor  to 
the  Notes  and  Queries  of  Ana's  Gazette^  in  1856 
— "  in  the  Bull  King,  and  marched,  with  colours 
flying  and  drums  beating,  to  the  baiting  pThice  in 
Snow  HilL  On  arriving  there  they  found  that 
the  mob,  having  notice  of  the  attack,  had  trans- 
ferred themselves  and  the  bull  to  Birmingham 
HeatL  Although  tho  day  was  intolerably  hot, 
the  Association  gallantly  resumed  their  weary 
march,  and  after  a  due  amomit  of  toil  reaidied 
the  scene  of  action.  The  bull-baifcors  scampt^red 
off  in  all  directions,  taking  the  dogs  with 
them,  but  leaving  the  bull  tied  to  the  stake, 
and  the  Association  leisurely  proceeded  to  secure 
their  formidable  prize.  A  strong  cord  was  made 
fast  to  the  bull's  horns,  and  tied  round  his  fore- 
legs, the  chain  was  unloosed  from  tho  stake, 
guards  were  told  off,  who,  with  fixed  bayonets, 
reconducted  the  poor  animal  in  triumph  into  the 
town  ;  a  vast  crowd,  of  course,  *  assisting '  at  the 
novel  ceremony.  The  procession  passed  through 
the  principal  streets,  and  at  last  the  bull  was 
safely  lodged  in  the  yard  of  the  old  prison,  in 
Peck  Lane.  During  the  night  an  attempt  at 
rescue  was  made,  but  it  failed;  and  for  years 
afterwards  the  street  boys  iiavenged  themselves 
for  the  tlisturbance  of  the  sport  by  singing  a  song 
depicting  the  volunteers  in  uncomplimentary 
colours."  Our  readers  will  remember,  no  doubt, 
a  etanza  of  this  song,  which  we  quoted  in  our 
notice  of  the  old  prison. 


*  An  t'ngrflviti^  of  the  uiitfomii  of  mcmben  of  ibU  A»»<xrlilUnD 


wVV 


OtaS  ilfo  NEW   BmiUNGHAM.  tchtm-iitt  tad  s«ju.  im-itwi 


The  Volunteere  had  several  other  oppor- 
tumtiea  of  distinguishing  themselves,  as  in 
the  case  of  the  attnck  on  Pickard's  mill,  and 
it  was  only    right   that,  on  the   dissolution  of 


the     Aaaociation,    their     colonis,     which    had       'I 
seen    stxeh    valorous    aervicei   should    be   hcrng 
up  in  St   Martin's  Church.     T^Thera  are  ihey 
now! 


CHAPTER     XLIY. 
CHURCHES     AKD     SECTS     IN     BIEMINGHAM,     1791—1812. 

Bi,  Jatuftt'i  Chspel,  Aihted  —  Chriit  CtiUrcb  F\)uriatn  Alid  BenefiieLon— Dcscriiitton  of  the  BiUJdtfis— TtM  Otlgiilftl  ll«f^  Ibr  Hi 
Tawor— Bplgrain— CArr'i  lane  Mu«tlR^  Iloiiio— Faatoii*  of  the  New  MciJtinif  Society— CoUectldni  for  the  DlUraaiM  Pdtir. 


Odr  last  chapter  of  the  roligious  history  of 
Bimiingham  closed  with  the  melancholy  events 
of  July,  1791,  We  now  t^ike  up  the  story  again, 
and  enter  upon  a  happier  era,  in  which  we  shall 
find  the  churches  prosperous  and  undisturbed, 
growing  in  numbers  and  usefulness,  and  extend- 
ing their  sphere  of  Inbour  over  a  wider  area, 

CA>mmencing  with  the  clmrcheiJ  of  the  estab- 
lishment, we  have  to  chronicle — a  few  months 
after  the  riots — nn  addition  to  their  number. 
Our  readers  wUl  doubtless  remember  that  after 
the  removal  of  Dr.  Ash  to  London,  the  lease  of 
his  estatfi  at  Ash  ted  was  purchased  by  Mr.  Brookcj 
and  the  ground  laid  out  fur  building  ;  and  that 
very  soon  **  streets  covered  Jiis  fields,  and  Ashted 
became  a  hamlet  to  Birmingham." 

Dr.  Ash's  residence  was  converted  into  a  pro- 
prietaiy  chapel  of  the  Establishment,  dedicated 
to  St.  James,  and  was  opened  by  Dr.  Crofts,  on 
Sunday,  October  9th,  1791. 

The  next  tiddition  to  th<3  churches  of  Biiming- 
ham  was  commenced  in  1803,  In  December* 
1802,  a  communication  was  made  to  the  High 
EailiiT  of  Birniingluuii,  by  Isaac  Hawkins 
Browne,  Esq.,  to  the  effect  that  he  and  thi3  Kev. 
T.  Gifibome,  as  executors  uf  the  late  — — 
Hawkins,  Esq.,  of  Burton,  had  proposed  to  the 
Couit  of  Chancer}'  {and  that  the  Court  had 
fiignified  their  approval),  to  give  to  the  General 


nospital  the  sum  of  £2,000 ;  to  the  Blue  Co 
Charity  School,  £000^  and  £500  towards 
erection  of  a  Free  Church  in  Birndngham. 
proposal  to  build  such  a  church  met  with  '  '  '" 
approbation;  the  Bishop  of  Lichfield 
oflsist  the  promoters  by  annexing  a  Pn»bcnd 
the  Cathedral  Church  of  that  city  ;  ^fr,  W, 
Inge  offered  a  plot  of  land  as  a  site  for 
intended  church ;  subscriptions  flowed  in  rapid 
from  every  quarter, — His  M^yesty  George  IICJ 
himself  giving  £1,000,  and  offering  perHnmUj 
to  lay  the  first  stone.  An  Act  was  obtained 
the  session  of  1803,  for  building  the  new  churt'Ii, 
to  bo  called  Christ  Church,  the  Royal  Assent 
being  given,  by  commission,  on  the  11th  of  Juno 
in  the  same  year.  ITie  King  was  unable,  througli 
indisposition,  to  fulfil  his  pronuAe  as  to  the  Iftvtu^ 
of  the  lirat  stone,  and  the  Karl  of  DitrLmunth^ 
was  deputed  to  perform  the  ceremony  in 
stead ;  the  stone  %vas,  however,  actmdiy  laid 
Bichard  Pnitchett,  Esq.,  the  then  high  baiUJ 
The  building  was  not  ready  for  use  until  1813 
and  was  consecrated  on  the  6Ui  of  July  in  1 
year.  With  its  appearance  most  of  our  reade 
are  too  well  acquainted;  it  is  a  heiivy,  pL 
stone  structure,  with  a  projecting  roof,  mxi 
tetrastyle  Doric  portico  at  the  western  end, 
present  ugly  spire  was  not  erected  until  IdU 
and   was   a  deviation   from   the  original  ph 


ikniSe^fta^lTW^ma] 


OLD   AND  KEW  BiEMmGHAM. 


307 


a»  w!ll  be  seen  firom  the  medal  of  which 
an  engraving  is  given  on  page  299 ;  according 
to  wliich  it  appears  to  have  been  the  architect's 
intention  to  have  given  the  building  a  dome 
and  cupola^  in  hnmble  imitation  of  those  of 
8t>  Philip's,  and  far  more  in  keeping  with   the 


the  erection  of  this  church  amounted  to  £26,000, 
which  was  defrayed  with  much  difficulty.  At 
this  church  the  ancient  custom  was  observed  of 
placing  the  men  on  the  one  side,  and  the  women 
on  the  other ;  which  gave  rise  to  the  following 
epigram  : 


^^^ 


i    i  i 


IfiS 


^^ 


it: 


♦«    e 


E^j^ 


KKN    A\T»   ntlCKENH,    NKW   STHEET. 


ImUding  itaelf, — heavy  and  unsightly  as  it  wuuld 
even  then  have  been, — than  the  senseless  and 
toafteless  combination  of  a  spire  iuieuded  to  be 
Gothic,  (of  the  most  debased  order,)  with  a 
boflding  supposed  to  be  Clas^^ic.  The  Icjigth 
€f  the  buUding  is  about  140  feet,  and  the  widtb, 
fthoiit  70  feet,  and  tlie  interior  is  somewhat  more 
inviting  in  appearance  than  the  exterior.  In 
the  communion  recess  is  an  altar  piece  of  carved 
romltogany,  presented  by  Mr.  Stock,  of  Bristol ; 
and  there  is  a  (ine-toned  and  powerful  organ, 
lutilt  by  Ktiiutt,  of  London^     The  entire  cost  of 


Tbe  cLurdiea  lu  geueral  we  cvorywhere  End, 

Are  places  where  men  to  the  women  are  joined  ; 

But  at.  Chrt'M  Cfmreh,  it  aeemst,   they  nie  more  cru-.l- 

hearted, 
For  men  and  their  wives  are  brought  ht^re  to  be  parted.  • 

The  Independent  Church  niet4ing  iu  Carr's 
Lane  appears  to  have  grown  and  prospered 
considerably  during  the  last  decade  of  the 
eighteenth  century,  so  that,  in  1801,  it  waa 
found  necessary  to  take  down  the  original 
meeting'house,  wliich  was  cajmble  of  holding 
only   about   450  persons,    and  rebuild  it;    but 

*  Quotoi  la  Mr  BttfeM'a  FictorUd  Qvtikto  Binninffham,  p.  4^ 


308 


OLD  AND  NEW  BIRMINGHAM. 


C  Apponmee  of  th»  Ttown. 


the  new  edifice  was  almost  as  incapable  of 
containing  the  numerous  worshippers  as  its  prede- 
cessor, and  was  several  times  enlarged.  During 
the  period  covered  by  the  present  notice,  the 
Rev.  Edward  Williams,  D.D.,  officiated  as  pastor 
for  several  years.  His  writings  have,  within  the 
past  few  years,  been  republished  in  four  volumes 
octavo.  Our  next  notice  of  this  place  of  worship 
will  have  reference  to  the  pastorate  of  the  Rev. 
John  Angell  James. 

We  have  already  referred,  in  our  concluding 
notice  of  the  riots  of  1791,  to  the  rebuilding  of 
the  two  Meeting-Houses  of  the  Unitarians.  We 
may  here  add  that  the  Society  of  the  New 
Meeting,  on  the  completion  of  the  new  building, 
appointed  the  Rev.  John  Kentish  as  pastor,  and 
in  the  following  year,  appointed,  as  his  co-pastor, 
the  well-known  Joshua  Toulmin,  D.D.,  who 
remained  here  until  his  death,  which  took  place 
on  the  23rd  July,  1815. 

Perhaps  the  best  idea  of  the  number  and  general 
condition  of  the  religious  societies  in  Birmiiigliam 
in  the  year  1800,  is  conveyed  in  the  follc.win^'  list 


of  amounts  contributed  by  each  place  of  wonhip 
towards  the  relief  of  the  distressed  poor  in  Bizm- 
ingham  in  that  year : 


£    8.      d. 

St.  Martin's     - 

-       13  12    2i 

St.  Philip's  .... 

44  16  lU 

St  Mary's  Chapel    - 

-       45    0    0 

St.  Paul's     ditto 

13    4    H 

Deritend      ditto 

6    9    8 

Ashted         ditto 

18    2 

Friends'  Meeting,  Bull  Street 

-       40    4    2 

Union  Meeting  House* 

35    4    3| 

Old               ditto 

.       15    2    i{ 

Catholic  Chapel,  Broad  Street 

7    9    9h 

Carr's  Lane  Meeting 

-       14    4    3 

Bond  Street  ditto  [Baptist]  - 

8  14    0 

Cannon  Street  ditto  ditto 

4  15    7J 

Bartholomew  Street  ditto      - 

2    1    0 

Lady  WeU  Chapel    - 

1     8    7i 

Oxford  Street  Meeting . 

0    4    3 

Bartholomew's  Chapel 

3    6    51 

King  Street  Meeting    . 

3  17    6 

Para^lise  Street  ditto 

2    9    0 

Coleshill  Street  ditto  | 

Bradford  Street  ditto  I  [Wealeyan]  -        6  17    0 

Cherry  Street     ditto  j 

£270    9    6J 

CHAPTKU      XLV. 

APPEARANCE     OF    THE    TOWN, 
j-tt     the    coninmiaiiiait    of   thr    niinUnUh    century. 

Lower  end  of  N>w  Stm-t— Tlio  Hen  and  Chickfiis  -The  OldlPost  OtTH-e— BennetfH  Hill— "Pratcbetfs  Folly"— Uuusfs  nMUid  St  Mtrtta'i 
Church— M<Kit  I^ne— Tlie  Old  Parsonage,  etc. 


We  now  pause  again  in  the  course  of  our  story  to 
note  the  appearance  of  the  town,  and  the  fast 
receding  landmarks  of  Old  Binniiigham  at  the 
commencement  of  the  present  century.  We  have 
already  indicated  the  extent  of  the  town  at  this 
period,  as  we  turned  over  the  pages  of  lUsset^s 
Directory ;  we  shall,  therefore,  content  ourselves 
now  with  a  few  pictures  of  Birmingham  streets 
as  they  appeared  when  our  grandfathers  were  in 
their  prime;   when  lUrmingham — albeit  as  yet 


only  a  "village"  or  "lordship" — was  quietly 
taking  her  place  as  the  metropolis  of  the  midland 
counties,  and  began  to  think  of  public  adornment 
as  well  as  public  utility.  But  oven  at  this 
comparatively  modem  date,  how  strange  does 
New  Street  appear  to  the  younger  generation  of 
eighto«Mi  hundred  and  seventy-eight !  Look  at 
the  plate  showing  the  lower  end  of  New  Street, 
where  now  the  handsome  shops  in  the  Quadrant 

'^The  New  Meetinf  Boctet^  ^ 


OLD   AKD   NEW   BIRMINGHAM. 


SOd 


Had  at  the  opposite  comer  of  Worcester  Street 
Btanil ;  wb«ie  the  new  Aquarium  is  fast  obliterat- 
ing all  ibe  old  familiar  features  of  the  Hen  and 
Chickens  ;  and  the  new  Joint-Stock  Bank,  like  a 
pinched-up  palace,  hfis  taken  the  place  of  the  old 
and  well-remembered  house  which  few  could  help 
still  calling  **  Attwood^s  Bank."  The  hotel  was 
at  the  date  of  the  pictur<?^  a  new  building ;  the 
old  "  Hen  and  Chit-kens  "  in  the  High  Street  was 
vacated  by  its  hostess,  Mrs.  Sarah  Lloyd,  early  in 
1798,  for  "her  new  house  in  New  Street,"  which, 
her  advertisement  in  the  Gazette  tells  us,  was 
"built  according  to  the  plan  of  James  Wyett, 
£sq.,  of  London*"  The  building,  as  shown  in 
the  plate,  remaineti  almost  unaltered  (with  the 
exception  of  the  portico,  which  was  added  in 
I  ItfSO),  up  to  the  date  of  the  present  reconstruct 
'  tion,  and  forms  a  prominent  feature  in  nearly 
every  riew  of  the  principal  street  of  the  town 
^  tftken  during  the  present  century. 

From  our  plate  the  reader  will  ol>serve  that  the 
L^d  Free  School  was  stiU  standing,  the  only 
pSNieiTable  alteration  since  its  erection  being  the 
removal  of  the  hideous  pillars  shown  in  our  first 
engraving  of  the  building,  Bttw^een  it  and  the  hotel 
was  an  old-fashioned  little  house;  beyond,  the 
aid  "  Attwood's  Bank  "  looks  just  as  it  did  three 
or  four  years  ago,  when  it  was  removed  to  make 
way  for  the  present  structure. 

Coming  towards  the  upper  end  of  New  Street, 
we  notice  the  old  Post  Office ;  a  quiet  unpretend- 
ing looking  private  house,  with  a  small  one-storey 
Tooux  adjoining,  over  which  we  catch  a  glimpse  of 
St  Pliilip*8  Church,  pictinresquely  surroimded 
with  trees.  Here  came  daily  the  mail-coaches 
fpum  all  parts  of  the  country,  and  through  this 
oMce,  rustie  and  un>bnsines^like  as  it  appears, 
pasaed  all  the  correspondence  relatin£(  to  the 
I  oommerce  and  manufactures  of  one  of  the  busiest 
towns  in  the  kingdom. 

A  good  idea  of  the  appearance  of  the  upper 
of  New  Street  may  be  obtained  from  our 
ving  of  Christ  ChurcK     As  we  proceed  in 
Hie  diroeiioQ  of  the  site  of  that  unlovely  build- 


ing— which  at  the  time  of  our  survey,  existed  only 
on  the  architect's  plans — wt*  pass  the  plactj  where 
now  Bennett's  Hill  enters  New  Street,  but  which 
as  yet  was  unknown.  The  yellow  com  waved  in 
the  breeze  w^here  now  the  banks  and  insurance 
offices  stand,  and  in  the  glorious  autumn,  sun- 
browned  children — ^who  as  hoary-headed  patri- 
archs have  just  been  laid  to  rest — rompetl  and 
tore  their  clothes  as  they  gathered  the  ripe  black- 
berries where  now  nothiug  grows  save  interest 
and  lawyers'  bUls.  A  few  years  later,  Catherine 
Hutton,  writing  to  a  friend  in  London,  heads 
her  letter — '*  Bennett's  Hill,  near  Birmingham,*' 
and  adds  :  **  I  say  neiir^  because  an  upstart  of 
a  street  has  arisen  in  liinmngham,  which  has 
assumed  the  name  of  Bennetts  Hill." 

And  now  we  return  into  the  High  Street  to  note 
the  appearance  of  the  old  i>rincipal  street  of  the 
town.  We  have  seen  in  a  former  sur%^ey  the 
removal  of  the  old  Market  Cross ;  we  have  now 
to  witness  the  passing  away  of  the  last  of  these 
old  crosses,  the  **  Welsh  Cross"  at  the  junction 
of  Dale  End,  High  Street,  and  Bull  Street,  which 
was  taken  dow^n  in  March,  1803.  The  clock  and 
other  ornaments  (T)  had  probably  been  disposed 
of  during  the  previous  October,  as  they  had  been 
advertised  for  sale  during  that  mnnth  in  the 
Gazette^  as  follows : 

Town  Clock. 
Oct.  4,  1802, -To  be  Sold,  the  Clock  with  three  Diala, 
now  belonging  to  the  Welah  Crois,  Bimiinghaiu,  aLdo  thi 
weAther  Vaac,  Iron  Works,  niid  Ball  tbereto  btilongiijg. 
Apply  to  Mr,  Thomas  Greavea,  Clotk-iijakcr,  High  Street, 
or  Mr.  W.  Joaea,  Builder,  Saow  Hill,  Birmingham. 

Leaving  the  site  of  the  ^Velsh  Cross,  we 
proceed  towards  the  Bull  Eiug,  as  yet  ungraced 
with  Ijirniingham'a  first  statue,  that  of  the  Hfiro 
of  the  Nile ;  although  the  project  was  set  on  foot 
as  early  as  1805, — as  soon  as  the  tidings  of  his 
death  reached  the  town. 

Early  in  the  present  century  a  structure  was 
erected  in  the  Lull  King,  which  pi-ovoked  con- 
siderable criticism  and  ridicule, — the  Egj'ptian 
Conduit,  commonly  known  as  "  Pratchett's  Folly/' 
Thia,  which  was  supposed  to  be  a  considerable 


•  Pralohctra  Polly,*  J 


OLD   Am)   NEW    BIltMLN'GUAM. 


311 


itanfLs  ni  th»*  bark  of  Xh**  Coinlait,  I  conceived  it  might 
K*  |x»ssiblc  to  blend,  at  least  the  idea  of  tbo  Egyptian,  the 
ImTinn,  and  the  English  ai-chitecture.  The  pyrnmidical 
brin  hciu^,  among  the  E;;^y|jtians,  emblematical  of  the 
\hity,  I  consider  would  not  appear  to  he  improjicrly 
iiig  near  that  aiiciisd  Fane  Tht*  Egyptian  Pymniid 
ik«wis44  an  emblem  of  strength,  built  to  last,  to 
tuAte^  ami  to  hand  down  to  the  remotest  agea,  the 
ondiTfui  skill  of  the  Kgyptiun  huildera  of  an  unknown 
JAte,  erected  for  an  nnknowu  purpose,  and  whose  massive 
ktonc9  wert  brought  from  nn  unknown  pluce^  uecording  to 
►>nie  aothore,  nnd  a<^eordiiig  to  otherft,  3,297  years  hiive 
rolled  awjiy  ninee  the  erection  of  this  mighty  pik,  for  a 
llaURoIeum  or  Stpuh'hre,  to  receive  the  nshes  of  their 
depart*^!  kingw*  Itut  authors  of  more  telebrity  contend 
that  it  Wfta  erected  for  a  more  noble  purpose  ;  for  as  the 
prhole  of  the  Egyptian  theology  was  clothed  in  mystic 
^niblems  and  figures,  so  was  tin*  external  form  of  the 
^uildijig  H  reprcsi^nhition  of  their  God  Osiris,  or  the  Sun, 
fcs  being  in  the  form  of  the  Sua*a  ray  ;  and  that  the  Deity 
irhicii  was  typified  in  the  outward  fonn  woa  to  be 
pror»hiti|>ed  within.  It  contained  a  trough  of  granite 
Ikiarble,  as  a  reservoir  for  the  holy  water  used  in  their 
religious  ceremonies,  which,  by  means  of  a  well  in  the 
Pyramid,  was  drawn  out  of  the  Kile»  The  propriety  of 
inch  a  hiiilding  enclosing  a  well  of  water  for  public  use, 
I  trusty  will  not  be  diapnted.  I  hare  ornamented  it 
Irilh  a  reprenentntion  of  the  Papyrus,  grouped  in  form  cT 
|aarter  columns  at  each  angle,  with  Grecian  Honey- 
lucklea,  and  with  an  tJrn  at  the  top,  wldch  last  may  be 
((tnsidcrtid  nn  a  symbol  of  our  dejwirted  Hero's  ashes  ;  as 
(>foper  ftpl^cndwges,  the  Lion's  Head  is  significant  of  that 
Hcro*6  strength  and  prowess  in  battle,  and  of  Ida  noble 
BiH|»o^itiou  when  not  opposed  to  nn  enemy  ;  as  disgorging 
tht  water,  it  w  a  aymbol  of  the  element,  for  the  Egytdians 
believed  water  to  be  the  strength  an  i  principal  of  all 
tbiuga,  Beaidea^  the  Lion's  Head  is  a  very  ancient 
ornament  for  water  spouts,  nnd  was  used  in  all  GreiiHU 
TempleM.  Thp  iVramid  in  also  in  the  fonn  of  a  flame  of 
ire,  and  within  this  form  the  Grecian  and  Konnin 
ttatuaries  wrouglit  tho&e  sub^iute  anil  beautilid  groups  of 
ll^urea  which  have  bci-n  the  admiration  of  every  age. 
Fh^ae^  Gentlemen,  were  the  consideiations  which  induced 
pa«  to  adopt  such  a  fonn  for  a  building  which,  though  so 
hnall  in  hulk  that  t)ie  whole  expense  of  creeling  it  will 
lot»  probably,  eitceud  fifty  pounds,  is,  in  niy  opinion,  ao 

■M^  ill  signtficaneG  that  1  do  not  he^^itate   puMicIy  to 

^^H>w]edge  myself  us  the  architect. 

^^B  I  am,  Gentlemen,  yours,  kc,, 

^^B  William  Uoluks. 

^5  f 


few   days  Irit^r   an   excecdiugly   h timorous 
ttinoclc   wii«  publish e<l   in   tlie  Blrminghapi 
%mereial  Iltn^ohf,  as  follows  : 


*tnB  Hrunt  K  T'KTtTroK  or  tjir   rrwi*  jn  thk  Bull 

KtMa  it>  tui!  Inhabitants  of  BiiiMtMiHAM, 

tflfcwmtf — That  your  Petitioner  hath  Wen  a  rejiidcnt 

[I   tho  town  of  Birmingham   for  nmny   years,  and  bath 

Jiraytt   f-fn   accounted   a  good    ncighliour    and    useful 

40 


member  of  eociety.  That  your  FV  tilioner  hath  uniformly 
borne  a  good  character,  botli  in  morals  and  religion  ;  and 
in  all  the  changes  which  have  taken  place,  he  has  never 
forsaken  the  church,  as  he  can  prove  hy  credible 
witnesses,  Tliat  your  Petitioner,  being  by  nature 
unoHtentatious,  took  up  hi  a  abode  In  a  narrow  juissage 
below  the  Shambles,  where  be  <|uietly  lemaificd  un* 
noticed,  and  almost  unknown,  eacctpt  by  his  neighlHUirs. 
That  in  this  age  of  innovation,  your  Petitioner  hath 
found  himnelf  suddenly  thrust  into  notice  by  the  destruc- 
tion of  certain  buildings  bthind  which  he  had,  for  ik> 
many  yeai-s,  screened  himself,  and  tbat^  on  hjoking 
round,  your  Petitioner  could  scarcely  recognise  hia 
old  acqnaintance,  Moor  Street,  who,  like  your  Petitioner 
lived  in  a  very  retired  way,  and  who  was  noted  for 
bring  a  disagreeable,  close  old  fellow,  began  to  give 
himself  the  airs  of  a  young  man,  and  instead  of  the 
dirty  garments  he  formerly  wore,  shone  away  in  gaudy 
apparel  That  your  Prlilicner,  iu  kis  exposed  situation, 
grew  ashamed  of  his  old  ioat  nnd  bat,  and  hearing  that  a 
certuin  iogeniuus  clothier  had  supplied  Moor  Stnet  with 
his  splendid  liabiliments,  your  Petitioner  ordered  from 
him  the  new  garment,  which  he  now  wears,  and  which 
has  so  trunsmogrifit'd  him  that  he  is  scarcely  known  by 
his  best  friends,  Tliat  your  Petitioner  having  asked 
cnluily  why  he  suftjilicd  a  coat  of  such  an  outlauilish  cat, 
the  said  clothier  broke  out  into  such  an  iioohfrent 
rhapsody  about  Basilicas,  Lotuses,  Papyrus,  Pynunids, 
Fiix*,  Ashes  and  Water,  Egypt  and  Greece,  departed 
Heroes,  Urns,  Sta^tuea,  ^c,  that  your  Petitioner  verily 
concluded  that  "much  learning  had  made  him  mad." 
That  since  the  said  clothier  finished  your  Petitioner's 
coat,  lie  has  dubbed  liiin  with  the  uew  name  of  Conduit, 
whereas  the  fftutily  nanic  of  your  Petitioner  has  been 
from  time  immemorial  plain  Piimp,  whiih  he  hopes  may 
be  continued,  maugix^  the  said  clothier.  That,  although 
your  Petitioner  is  somewhat  stricken  iu  years,  he  rlisdaina 
the  imputation  of  having  brcoine  a  Driveller,  which  it  is 
cviilcnt  the  8?jid  clothier  has  attempted  to  cast  upon  him^ 
by  having  aflixed  to  him  a  slolibering  bib  as  part  of  hlfl 
upparel.  That  the  aforesaid  clothier  hiu*  passed  a  stentence 
of  ilcnntionalistation  against  your  Petitioner,  who  is  a  true- 
born  Englishman,  although  the  said  clothier  asscrtj*  that 
he  is  a  gipsy.  That  your  Petitioner  is  well  disposed  to 
live  jwaceably,  but  ho  fears  he  whall  he  involved  in  a 
disjaitc  with  his  opposite  neighbour,  the  statue,  in  con- 
setjuence  of  his  having  been  forced^  much  against  his  will, 
to  interfere  with  the  concerns  of  the  said  statue.  The 
trulh  of  tliese  premises  being  made  a[>pareut,  yotir 
Petitioner  praya  your  humaiie  interference  to  prevent  hia 
name  from  being  changed  from  **the  Pump  in  the  Bull 
King,"  to  that  of  "  Egyptian  Conduit  in  the  Forum,'*  as 
proposed  in  Aris*s  pajM-r,  imd  you  Petitioner  ^hall  ever 
piay. 

The  old  liouBcs  around  St.  Martin'ii  Clnirch  aw 
at  last  lemuvod, — it  was  l>y  tlieir  removal  that  the 
old  pump  was  left  so  promiiieutly  cinn*picuous, — 
and  tlte  patched  and  unBighily  hiiikliiig  itself  in 


left  bare  in  all  its  uylltiesa  A  description  of 
these  houses  as  they  last  stocHl  was  given  from 
the  personid  recoDections  of  an  old  lady,  in  tbo 
Birmingham  DaUy  GazcttCf  on  New  Year':*  I^^Jt 
1866,  **At  the  corner  opposite  Digbeth,*'  she 
says,  **  thei-t)  were  two  flights  of  steps,  and  at  the 
top  of  the  first  flight  was  a  house  occupied  by  the 
beaiUe  of  the  cliurch,  who  was  a  firework  makiir, 
named  Nealo,  and  used  to  make  the  fireworks  fur 
Old  Vauxhall,  which  was  then  a  fashionable  pkce 
of  resort  and  amusement.  Coming  to  the  bottom 
[of  the  steps]  again  towards  the  Bull  liing,  the 
first  shop  was  a  saddler's,  named  Basse tt ;  the 
next,  at  the  comer,  Taylor's,  a  grocer;  while 
Wright,  a  combmaker,  and  Probin,  an  auctioneer 
and  broker,  occupied  the  tw^o  next  shops.  The 
M  ell-known  printer  and  bookseller,  Iklcher,  lived 
at  the  next  house,  and  his  immediate  neighbour 
was  Ash  more,  who  kejjt  a  china  and  carthcnwai'e 
eh  op.  Taverner's  shop  was  the  next,  and  this 
was  followed  by  what  we  now  caE  a  slop  shop, 
1  remember  that  wagoners'  frocks  were  among  the 
principa!  articles  of  trade  at  that  time,  Kext  to 
this  shop  wtiB  Mr.  Hairs,  a  wat^;lmiHker,  while 
Cotton*a  whip  shop  completed  the  row  in  this 
direction,  liound  the  corfier  was  a  Jarge  general 
tiiilor^s  and  outfitter's  establishment,  kept  by  a 
man  named  Dcune, 

**  The  chuR'h  gates  were  at  that  time  the  same 
as  they  are  now,  and  situated  In  the  same  places. 
There  were  houses  from  the  other  side  of  the  gate 
down  Spieeat  Street  to  where  tlio  gate  at  the 
<;orner  is  now.  The  firat  of  these,  in  the  Bull 
King,  was  a  salt  shop,  kept  by  Mole,  then 
Craugbton*s  liquor  shop,  then  followed  a  few 
fihops,''  Froru  the  same  article  those  curious  in 
6ucb  matters  may  learn  the  names  of  most  of  the 
residents  in  this  lucidity,  (the  Bull  Bing.  Digbetb, 
•Spiceal  Street,  etc.,)  at  the  same  period,  from 
which  our  space  permils  only  of  the  following 
2>articulars  :  The  Ked  Lion,  an  old  inn  which 
had  stood  fiince  the  end  of  the  sixteenth  century, 
at  k^ast — was  still  in  existence ;  the  fiite  of  the 
present  **  Museum  Concert  Hall"  was  occupied  by 


an  inn  cidled  the  George,  and  two  doc»is  belot, 
in  the  cellar-house^  occupied  by  a  quack  doeiof, 
named  Poole,  was  the  putnp  from  which  th* 
famous  **  Digbeth  Water  "  was  taken,  and  hawktd 
round  the  town  in  carts,  for  sale.  Two  doon 
below  that  was  the  well  known  White  Hj 
Inn,  from  whence  the  Plague  started ;  Alliioii 
Street  was  at  that  time  called  **  Crooked  Lane. 
On  the  other  side  of  Digbeth,  almost  opposite  the 
house  which  contained  the  **  Digbeth  Water,' 
w*aa  another  equally  well  known  **  Cock  Fomp^' 
(a  relic  of  the  days  when  that  thoroughfare  w 
called  Cock  or  Well  Street) ;  and  the  writer 
the  '*  EecoUections  "  remembered  a  ballad  called 
**  The  Cock  Pump's  Compkint,'*  in  which 
neglected  pump  called  upon  the  authorities  •* 
put  him  in  repair  and  to  make  him  decent' 
Lower  down  on  the  same  side  of  the  street 
the  ecale-bc^im  shop  of  Mn  Balden,  the  grand- 
father of  Mr*  Alderman  Avery,  who  still  cartias 
on  the  same  manufactory  in  the  same  placei 
Lower  still  was  the  shop  of  Mr.  Zeckariah  Paike^ 
whose  family, — in  the  persons  of  Mr.  Jose] 
Parkes,  one  of  the  leading  spirits  in  the  PoUtii 
Union,  and  Miss  Bessie  Eaynex  Parkes,  an  a1 
and  discreet  advocate  of  woman's  rights — hare 
earned  the  honour  and  esteem  of  all  lovers  of 
liberty. 

The  half-timbered  house  which  for  so  long  i 
time  has  been  known  as  Assinder's  Ori^md  TA] 
Uou6e>  was  then  a  fruit  shop.  What  is  now 
called  Upper  MUl  Lane,  was  a  very  narrow  roii 
which  led  to  the  Moat,  The  Moat-house,  as  ci 
readers  are  ah'eady  aware,  was  at  that  time 
OS  a  Manufactory.  **  Bradford  Street^"  says 
author  of  the  BecoUections,  "now  one  of 
widest  streets  in  the  town,  was  very  narK»w 
that  time,  and  there  was  a  small  house  at  the 
nearly  round  in  shape.  You  went  into  it  do^ 
a  smidJ  flight  of  steps,  and  here  a  very  remarkahli 
looking  old  w^oman  used  to  live.  The  jieople 
she  was  double-jointed;  and  there  was  a  story  thi 
slie  had  suld  her  body  to  the  doctors,  so  that  th( 
might  disfect  her  when  she  was  dead.     She  sol 


mum 


tod 


Tbe  Olil  Fun 


OLD  Ain)  NEW  BIRMINGHAM, 


313 


sucka  and  sweets,  and  children  were  delighted  to 
spend  tlieir  money  there,  in  order  to  see  her," 
There  appeare  to  Lnve  heen  "  a  large  aheet  of 
water  *^  in  this  part  of  the  town,  called  Mill  Po< d, 
which  was  taken  from  the  Moat,  Jamaiu4i  I\uw 
was  then  cjilied  Black  15oy  Yard,  antl  the  puhlic- 
house  now  called  the  Woolpack  was  then  the 
Black  Boy,  Kot  far  from  tbia  spot  still  stood 
another  old  land-mark  upon  which  the  shadows  of 
decay  wer^  fast  falling, — the  old  Parsonage 
Honse,  with  which  our  readers  are  doubtless 
familiar,  fi-om  the  heautiful  drawing  by  David 
Cox,  c^Dpied  on  page  338  of  this  work.  This 
intereating  old  house  ia  thus  described  by  one 
who  knew  it : ♦  "At  the  bottom  of  Worcester 
Street,  where  Dean  Street,  rershore  Street,  and 
the  Bath  Passages  now  are,  stood  St.  Martin's  old 
Parsonage  House,  through  the  grounds  of  which 
ran  the  Lady  Well  waters ;  numbers  of  large 
willow-trees  gnsw  by  iu  litlle  stream.  Its  garden 
was  well  stocked  with  fruit  trees,  and  when 
broken  up,  I  well  remember  the  games  we  of  the 
Deriteud  Scboohs  had  there/'  The  same  ivriter  also 
pleasantly  describes  the  appearance  of  the  district 
below  St  Martin's.  "From  the  back  of  Dromsgrove 
Street^"  he  says,  "  there  was  nothing  but  beautiful 


and  fertile  gardens,  and  many  a  time  have  1  wandered 
through  tliem,  along  the  *  pudding  brook '  walk. 
This  little  stream  (pudding  brook)  was  a  curiosity, 
inasmuch  as  on  each  side  of  the  walk,  between 
the  gardens,  a  stream  of  water  ran,  east  on  one 
side  and  west  on  the  other,*  In  those  times  the 
old  Eiver  Rea  was  a  nice  clear  stream,  always  full 
of  water,  kept  so  by  tho  floodgates  below  Deritend 
Bridge,  A  little  higher  up  the  stream  than  th& 
floodgates  were  some  pleasant  tea  gardens,  caDed 
Spring  Gardens,  well  wooded  down  to  the  river's 
edge,  having  pretty  walks,  grottoes,  and  arbours. 
Here,  in  f*unimer  time,  I  have  often  seen  groups 
of  tea-parties  enjoying  this  rural  retreat,  Tho 
inn,  I  fancy,  is  still  standing  in  Floodgate  Street. 
There  used  to  be  pleasure  boats,  for  rowing 
parties  up  the  river,  nnder  Deritend  Bridge, — 
then  jupt  finished,  and  put  np  in  place  of  the  old 
pier  bridge.  Having  pai^sed  Bradford  Street  and 
Cheapside  bridges,  they  arrive  at  the  lovely 
eequeetered  and  elegant  gardens  of  tho  Apollo 
House,  in  Moseley  Street.  The  house  was 
originally  built  for  an  hotel  and  gardens,  like 
Vauxhall,  but  did  not  answer.  It  then  became  the 
residence  of  several  respectable  families,  among 
whom  was  the  talented  William  Hamper,  Esc|." 


CHAPTER     XL  VI, 


iJNTELLECTtTAL    AND    LlTKnARY    ACTIVITY    OF    THE    TOWN. 

OF     THE     EIGHTEENTH     CENTURY, 


AT    THE    CLOSE 


I  Bobln  Hood  Sod^tjr-A  new  Dct»tlii«  8oeiety  f.>mieri-The  Society  for  Free  Bebito-Tlw  Minemi-Lotal  Vewtimwrt    Th, 


UxviNa  endeavoured  to  obtain  some  idea  of  tho 
tppearftnce  of  our  town  at  the  beginning  of  the 
present  century,  we  trust  our  readers  will  pardon 
iM  if  we  panse  still  further  in  our  narrative  in 
[  order  to  notice  briefly  the  literary  and  intellectual 
life  of  Binnuigham  at  the   same  period.      We 


^  ai^  fkarr  Sljrtar.    S«e  BttfKinfkam  DaVy  Oettttu,  Jut.  33,  ISM. 


have  already  seen,  in  our  cliapters  of  local 
worthies,  that  our  town  was,  at  the  close  of  tho 
last  century,  an  important  centre  of  intellectual 

•  "  Near  Uie  pUkct  where  Uw  Bmall  rivulet  diaobarie*  itaelf  luto 
the  moat.  Another  of  the  saitie  ttize  wa«  carried  o?rr1t«aiid  pro- 
ctedM  from  the  town  a*  this  advanced  lowarda  it,  pn>dcicIog  « 
txiiimiij  •eldom  met  wltU  ;  one  river  running  ^outh,  and  the  othtr 
iMJrtli,  for  half  a  mfle,  yet  only  a  path  road  of  throe  feet  aaander; 
which  Mitrpriacd  Brindlef.  th«$  famoua  engliieer/'— J7w*to»*i  Huivrf 
<►/  JiinHiiighitm,  $Uth  inliUo\  |k  :iJ2. 


oa  well  as  eomiiiercial  activity  ;  that  she  boasted 
amoog  licr  mliabitantiJ  nut  a  few  who  were 
eminent  in  the  scientific  and  literary  world : 
and  philoaoph«jrs,  artists  and  inventors, 
rho  had  spent  a  I  tie  time  of  research  in  the 


tlieir  newspapei-s,  and  otbor  cuTrent  literat!ii% 
latlitir  than  of  tbo  greater  worthies  %vho  haii 
alreatly  figured  in  this  hiatary. 

On  the  first  of  April,  1774.  tht  first  meeting 
of  a  little  society  called  **The  Ii<^hin  ITood  Fri« 


OUU  iiOU8l£  tH    tHH  BULL   III  Ml. 
fOceupUd  by  the  hit  Mr,  Thowuu  W§t$onJ 


domains  of  nature  and  philosophy, — Withi^ring 
and  Darwin  in  butuny  ;  Priestley  in  eb*^  mis  try, 
eW-tricity,  and  pneumatics;  Watt  in  mecbanics; 
and  many  others  in  the  various  departments  of 
scientific  research ,  We  have  now,  however^  to 
speak  of  our  towusmen  in  general,  as  we  find 
them   in   their  literary   and   debating   societies. 


Debating  Society,*'  was  held  **  in  Sam  ^Vickins'l 
Long  Room,  at  the  Eed  Lion  Inn,"  (in  the  Bull 
Ring,  a  few  doors  above  Park  Stueet)  ;  and  the 
attendance  thereat  was  said  to  have  been  **  vetj 
numerous  and  respectable."  The  admission  wa« 
by  ticket,  price  sixpence,  **  to  be  had  at  the  bar  f 
but  kdies  (who  wore  allowed  to  take  part  in  the 


Tike  Local  I>elMti»g  SotiiHi^t.] 


OLD  AND  NEW   BIBIVIINGHA^L 


315 


debates,)  were  admitted  free,  on  procuring  tickets 
hxjtn  the  hoateas,  Mrs.  Wickins,  As  a  concise 
description  of  tlie  aims  and  objects  of  the  society, 
we  may  quote  one  of  its  own  advertisements  : 

Birminghflin,  August  8,  1774, 
Tho  Birmingbsm  Robin  Hood  Free  Deb«ting  Society 
■"  meet  in  Sam  Wk-kins'sj  Long  Room,  at  the  Rtid  lion 
I,  in  this  town,   to-morrow  (Tuesday)  evening.     The 
President  to  take  the  chair  exactly  at  eight  o'clock,  when 
the  following  subjects  will  be  debated,  via.  i — 
**  I.  Are  vice  and  vtrtne  ijjnrtte  or  ficquired  V* 
'*IL    Wbicli  merits  most  admiration— frugality  in  a 
conditic»n,  or  libemlity  in  a  bigb  station  of  life  ?" 
Ill,     Which  of   the    four   canliual    Tirtucs  h    the 

itr' 
IT,   Will  open  rpproof  or  private  admonition  tend 
moat  to  the  reformation  of  vice  ? " 

Two  que^itiona  only  were  debated  last  Tuesday  evening, 
H  the  first  quefition  took  up  nejir  two  hours.  The  Frcsi- 
i#&t  returns  his  sincere  thanks  to  the  gentlemen  who  &o 
ftbly  supported  the  debates.  It  ta  impossible  to  aay, 
JiawcTer,  that  the  question  was  determioeil,  as  the  speakers 
^lved  the  word  absurd^  as  stat*  d  in  the  question^  was 
not  njipljcable  either  to  Pytbngoras  or  Plato,  Resolved, 
the  man  of  knowhdge  is  happier  than  the  ignorant  man. 
An  occasional  address,  *'0n  the  Ihe  and  Abuse  of 
Debating  Societies,"  by  the  President,  on  Tues^lny  next. 
The  debates  to  begin  at  eight  o'clock,  and  end  at  half. 
post  ten, 
J  J.  Shatfokd,  Preaivlent. 

L  A  second  society  was  ft^rmed^ — pos.^ibly  in 
Hpuse^juenc^  of  eome  misunderstand  in  g  or  dispute 
among  the  members  of  the  first, — within  a  few 
weeks  of  the  e^itablishmeDt  of  the  Robin  Hood 
Society.  A  meeting  was  held  on  the  20th  of 
April,  "  to  consider  the  Propriety  and  Expediency 
of  establishiiig  a  Sf>ciety  in  this  Town,  for  the 
Eiicoumgement  of  free  and  candid  disimtation." 
At  this  meeting,  we  read,  **it  was  the  unanimous 
Hlpua  of  the  Company,  that  such  an  Institution 
"might,  if  conducted  with  Harmony  and  Decorum, 
be  generally  useftd  and  agreeable,"  If  the 
*•  company'*  comprised  members  of  the  older 
•odtoty,  it  must  be  inferred  from  this  reservation 
that  the  **LoDg  Koom  at  the  Red  Lion"  must 
have  been  the  scene  of  one  or  two  mther  noisy 
ings  during  the  month  of  April,  1774. 
e  new  society  was  established,  the  rules  ! 
adopted,  and  tbe  meetings  held  at  Mrs,  Ashton's 
Jiuom^  in  the  Cherry  Orchard,  (afterwards  | 


Little  Cherry  Street) ;  at  the  first  meeting,  which 
took  place  on  the  16th  of  May,  1774,  the  follow- 
ing subjocts  were  debated: — "L  Is  a  Drunkard 
the  greater  Enemy  to  himself  or  to  Society  t " 
**  IL  Wliich  is  most  detestable  in  itself,  or  most 
dangerous  to  Mankind,  Treachery  in  Friendship 
or  Hypocrisy  in  Religion  1"  *' IIL  Which  are 
the  greatest,  real  or  imaginary  evils  1 " 

The  otlier  questions  debated  by  this  and  the 
preceding  society  during  1774  were  advertised  in 
the  Gftzelte^  and  are  given  by  Dr,  Langford  in  his 
Ccnfiu't/  of  Birmffufham  Life ;  but  after  the  first 
year  neither  society  is  heard  of  again. 

The  next  society  of  which  we  find  any  record 
is  the  '-Society  for  Free  Debate,"*  which  met  in 
a  large  room  in  Needless  Alley,  (afterwards 
converted  into  a  dancing  room) ;  a  card  of 
admi!?.*i<»n  to  one  of  the  most  memorable  meetings 
of  til  is  i^ociety  is  preserved  in  the  Birmingham 
[Olil]  Library.  It  contains  the  following  in- 
scriptiou : 

**  In    rcri    imtdiffatione    ir.raamur. 

Sot'IKTY   FOR   FllEK   DKEATE. 

Instituttd   in  Bintungham^    17S0, 
"On  Monday  Evening,  October  15,  1792,  the  foUmtHng 

QiiJ'atioii   will    be  d^bakd—*  Was  Brutus  juitlijmbld    tn 

lilling  Cw^ar  f 

^*The  President  takes  yo  chdr  precisely  at  Half-post 

Seven  o'clock.     No  Mt-mber  to  introdut^e  more  than  two 

Ladies  or  one  Gcnlleniam" 

Coming  at  the  time  of  the  reign  of  terror  in 
France,  this  debate  so  excited  the  public  mind 
that  the  Magistrates  were  compelled  to  interfere 
to  prevent  the  further  discussion  of  the  subjecL 

We  have  already  referred  to  the  two  political 
clubs  which  met  at  Freeth's  CofTee-house  and  the 
^linerva  Tavern ;  the  latter,  which  waa  kept  by 
Joseph  Lindon,  (or  Lyndon,) — usually  known 
among  his  companions  as  **  Joe  Lindon," — was, 
perhaps,  one  of  the  most  respectable  and  noted, 
on  account  of  the  frequenters  of  its  smoke-room, 
in  the  midland  counties*  Among  these — ^all  of 
whom,  as  many  be  judged  from  former  notices, 
were  staunch  "  Church  and  King  "  men — was  the 
late  Mr»  William  Hodgetts,  one  of  the  last  of  the 
fine  old  race  of  Birmingham  Tories  who  flourished 


BmMIKGHAM, 


ttor«l  PtHodl<«il 


■ 


in  the  pro-mtmicii:»ai  era  of  our  history.  His 
family,  we  believe,  stiJl  pi-eserve  his  silver  pint 
tankard,  of  wluch  the  smoke-room  at  the  l^linerva 
boasted  no  lees  than  thirty -seven,  each  being 
numberoil,  and  some  of  them,  as  in  this  case, 
being  specially  appropriated  to  the  use  of  the 
most  jvgiilar  fref^uenters  of  the  room.  Besides, 
there  was  a  silver  tankard  which  held  tbrne 
pints,  called  the  **  Fine-dapper^'"  on  which  was 
engraved  the  Lyttelton  Arms,  in  compliment  to 
one  of  the  Lords  I.yttolton,  and  who  bad  on  one 
occasion  honoured  the  company  at  the  Minen-^a 
smoke-room  \nth  his  presence.  If  anyone  com- 
mitted a  breach  of  good  manners,  a  jndge  was 
elected,  the  case  was  tried,  and  the  plaintiff  or 
defendant  fined  a  shipper  of  ule,  (/,^.,  three  pints, 
hen  CO  the  nuineof  the  ^*  Fine-dappm^**)  according  to 
the  verdict  of  Iho  jury  which  was  composed  of 
the  company  present.  It  is  to  bo  hoped  that  the 
person  who  puffed  a  whiff  of  tobacco-smoke  in 
the  face  of  Juniea  ISisset,  on  ihc  occasion  of  that 
worthy ^8  visit  to  this  house,  was  fined  tho  naual 
filapper,  hut  the  violent  anti-Jacobin  temjier  of 
the  company  almost  forbids  the  Bupposition, 
For  many  yeara  no  member  of  the  Eadical 
or  Jacobin  party  as  it  was  then  called,  was 
permitted  to  enter  this  room,  and  more  than 
one  of  these  obnoxious  interlopers  who  had  the 
temerity  to  imitiite  the  author  of  tho  Poetical 
Surffet/f  was  compelled  to  take  "Bissett's  way 
out,"  (Le.f  through  the  window,)  in  order  to 
escape  from  his  tormentors.  Gradually,  however, 
the  company  became  more  tolerant,  and,  conse- 
quently, more  mixed  ;  but  not  so  much  so  as  to 
permit  the  Catholic  Emancipation  Act  to  pass 
without  offering  their  most  strenuous  opposition 
to  the  measure.  They  even  turned  the  portrait 
of  the  great  duke  with  its  face  to  the  wall,  as  a 
mark  of  their  displeasure  at  the  part  he  took  on 
that  occasion.  Borne  of  the  most  influential  men 
of  Staffordshire  visited  this  room  when  they 
came  to  Birmingham,  and  it  was  no  uncommon 
thing  to  see  two  or  three  magistrates  of  that 
county  there  at  one  time. 


The  number  of  local  newspnj)*  '    m  riodicaU 

was  as  yet  limited;  AnVs  Be  /^  G<uHi€ 

still  held  ita  own  as  the  representative  journal  of 
the  town;  there  was  also  the  Bimttn'j^vrm 
OiTonicle  published  by  8winney  and  Juha 
Collins,  and  the  Birnnngiiam  CammerM 
Herald,  by  E.  Jabet.  Several  little  periodicaUj 
had  been  attempteti,  but  all  came  to  a  spe^^ 
end.  The  first  of  these,  so  far  aa  we 
discover,  was  The  Birrnwffham  Re^der^ 
Enfertatnijifj  Mitmtmtf  **  Printed  by  and  for  X' 
Sketchley,  sworn  appraiser,  auctioneer,  and 
man,  in  the  High  Street"  It  wbs  cummei 
May  10,  1764,  and  extended  tfj  nlyoui  twenty-fi 
numbers,  expiring  in  April,  1765.  It  was  con-i 
ducted  on  the  model  of  the  Gentleman^s  MagosiMf 
its  contents  being  made  up  of  dry  moral  oii^jf^^ 
feebly  written  ;  political  extracts  from  the  N^yrfh 
Briton  ;  tnles  of  questionable  morality,  as  belittej 
tho  manner  of  the  times ;  ecraps  of  poetry  and 
lists  of  bankrupts,  the  price  of  corn,  and  a 
meagre  resumi^  of  national  iutelligeuce ;  with 
short  advertisements  for  "sprightly  youths* 
as  apprt^nticea,  of  "  emetic  drops,"  of  the  "  whol« 
art  of  swimming,"  the  **  secret  history  of  Betty 
Ireland,  and  her  gay  life;"  and,  aa  in  some 
of  the  obscure  States  of  Canada  and  the  bui 
vilkgi?s  of  the  Far  West,  HsIa  of  letters  lying 
tho  Birmingham  Post  OfiSce,  directed  to  persons 
unknown.  Such  werp  the  contents  of  our  linl 
local  magazine ;  yet,  poor  as  they  may  seem  to  us 
who  live  in  tho  days  of  high-class  monthly  reviewa 
and  magazines,  it  is  something  to  be  prond  of  tl 
Birmingham  possessed,  in  1764,  a  periodical  n( 
very  far  below  those  of  the  metropolis,  and  that 
it  was,  in  all  probability,  the  only  provincial  town 
in  the  kingdom  that  coidd  boast  of  such  a  aerial 

The  M*^dic4il  MwcdJantfy  which  only  extendad 
to   one   volume,    was   issued  about  nine   yeait. 
later;    a   second    edition,   "with    an    append] 
was  pnbliahed  by  S,  Aria  in  177i.     No  olb 
perioilical   seems  to   have   been   ventured  ujhj 
until  1817,  but  from  that  time  to  tho  present  m 
periodical  literature,  though  for  the  mo*t 


I 

I 


HI 


OLD  AKBKEW  BIEMIKGHAM. 


3ir 


id,  has  been  exceedingly  prolifio, — as 
sen  in  future  notices,  and  in  the  biblio- 
.  list  ivhicli  will  be  printed  at  the  end  of 
He. 

Binphlet  literature  of  the  period  under 
lis,  as  we  have  already  indicated,  very 
ible*  In  addition  to  the  nmnerous  tracts 
Nott  and  hia  many  imitators,  the  vast 
)f  Kiot  literature,  {including  pamphlets 
tley,  Madan,  Bum,  Clayton,  Dr.  8ainuel 
d  wards,  Foley,  and  many  anonymous 
and  the  poetical  paniphlete  of  Frecth, 
and  Bi&set,  mention  must  be  made  of 
t  Versed  mi  BtrminQham^  the  Theological 
iTo^ersial  Pamphlets  of  Dr.  Priestley,  of 
te  '*  Catalogue  of  Birmingham  Books  in 
^ence  Library "  mentions  thirty-three,^ 
loyed  in  the  diaaatrons  fire,)  and  ol  the 
eal  tracts  of  the  Rev.  J,  Prcmd,  in  defence 
>ctrine  of  the  New  JeruBulem  Church. 
ras  the  loeal  presa  less  prolific  of  lai^ger 
e  important  works  of  permanent  vabio 
leatb  The  I£ev.  Joseph  Beringtou,  a 
ible  clergyman  of  the  Ptoman 
Church,  and  an  intimate  friend  of  Dr, 
1^  gave  to  the  world,  through  the  medium 
ingham  pi'ess,  his  Huiorj/  of  the  Live^ 
'ard  mul  Hdoim^  (Swinney,  1788,  4to.), 
I  of  Hmrtj  //,,  Riahanl  /,,  and  John, 
,  1790,  4 to.),  and  his  Memoir.^-  of 
PamumL  (Swinney  and  Walker,  1793, 
DiiT  worthy  historian,  William  llut^on, 
aathorship  at  the  age  of  bS  with  the 
>f  his  own  town,  sent  forth  therefrom 
lorke  of  sterling  value,  and,  from  hia 
iomely  wit,  of  infinite  amusement  also, 
e  alrcatiy  given  our  readers  a  few 
I  of  his  style  in  our  notice  of  Ids  HUtorij 


of  the  Court  of  Requf^ts  \  besides  this,  mention 
may  be  made  of  his  DlsseriaUon  on  Jurtea^  (or 
the  "Ilundred  Court,^') — often  bound  up  with 
the  Court  of  RequegiSy  and  now  scarce  and 
diffictilt  to  meet  with ;  tlie  Uktury  of  the  Bat  tie 
of  Btjstcorth  Field f  the  Jminicy  from  Bmnhigham 
to  London^  the  Journeys  to  Coaltham  and  Black- 
pool, North  Wales,  the  Roman  Wall,  and  other 
places  of  interest ;  his  Hldortj  of  Derhtj,  and  his 
several  volumes  of  verse^  which,  if  they  were  not 
poetry,  were  certainly  racy  and  vigorous.  In 
1777-8  a  bookseller  named  Ear!,  in  Dale  End, 
published  a  Ht^onj  if  tht'  Bthle  in  Verse^  by  J. 
Fellowa,  tii  ftatr  vultiniD^  duodecimo,  and  a  Lfe 
of  Oliver  Crofftwelif  in  8to.  Among  local 
reprints  of  well-known  books  we  may  mention 
those  of  Robert  Duds  ley's  satirical  Chronicle  of 
the  Kingn  of  Emjhtnd^  h*j  Nathan  Ben  Sofldi, — 
a  racy  but  somewhat  irreverent  parody  of  the 
style  of  the  Chronicles  of  the  Old  Testament, — 
and  of  his  (Ecotiomtj  of  Human  Life^  supposed 
to  be  ■vriitten  by  an  ancient  Brahmin*;  Hcrvey^s 
McditiitiurtSj  (Martin  and  Hunter,  1808);  Hugo 
Grotiua  On  tfte  Truth  of  Christiimity^  (Piereey, 
1 797) ;  Mey rick's  New  Ftmnltj  Herbal,  (Pearson, 
1 802) ;  also  a  beautiful  reprint  of  Somervile^s 
ChamCf  by  R.  Jlariin,  with  Baskcrville's  types, 
in  1767.  The  Rev.  Mark  Noble's  Mmioirs  of 
the  Home  of  Cnmitctll  was  pul>lLshed  in  Bir- 
mingham hy  Pearson  and  Rollason,  (1784,  2 
vols.  8vo.);  David  Simpson's  Sacred  Literature^ 
a  work  in  four  volumes,  intended  to  show  the 
superiority  of  the  Holy  SrTiptures  over  the  most 
celebrated  Writings  of  Anli<iuity,  was  published 
her©  by  Mr.  Swinney  in  1784. 


•  A  Frt'iwli  tmnBklictii  of  DcKl8lt<y*iE  fKcfmrny  of  Huwnn  Life  WiA 
rIm>  puUishctt  in  HOQ*  hj  Vtia%<xti,  wttli  the  ruUawliig  titlt: 
Manwl   du    3\nu  ks  Agta,   <m   Economi*   de   la    Fit  Il^nuiine, 


318 


OLD  AND  NEW  BIRMINGHAM. 


[AmiueinMiU  of  the  Feepli. 


CHAPTER     XLVII. 

AMUSEMENTS     OF     THE     PEOPLE. 
(hicluding  the  History  of  the  Birmingham  Thealre,  1795-1810.^ 

Out-door  Sports— Guinea  Gardens— Old  Vauxhall— Re-bullding  of  the  Theatre— M'Cready  api>ointed  Manager— Anecdotes  of  M cX^readf- 
No  Music— Opening  of  the  New  Tlieatre— Description  of  the  Building— Notes  ft-om  the  play  bills,  1796-1810. 


Wb  now  turn  once  more  to  the  amusements  of 
the  people,  and  more  especially  to  the  history  of 
the  local  stage  during  the  first  decade  of  the 
nineteenth  century. 

The  light  of  advanced  civilization  was  rapidly 
eflfacing  the  rude,  boisterous,  and  cruel  sports  of 
earlier  days ;  but  there  still  lingered  one  or  two  old-* 
fashioned  pastimes  of  this  character  throughout  the 
decade,  now  under  notice.  Regular  cock-fights  were 
announced  as  entertainments  in  the  public  prints, — 
county  was  matched  against  county,  and  town 
against  town,  and  even  the  highest  classes  of 
society  countenanced  and  attended  these  degrad- 
ing exhibitions.  They  often  lasted  several  days 
and  excited  more  attention  and  interest  than 
did  the  deliberations  and  acts  of  the  national 
legislature.  Thus,  in  1809,  we  find  the  following 
announcement  in  the  local  newspapers  : — 

A  main  of  cocks  will  be  fought  in  the  new  pit  in 
Smallbrook  Street,  between  the  gentlemen  of  Warwick- 
shire and  Staffordshire,  for  £5  5s.  the  battle,  and  100 
guineas  the  main. 

The  "  new  pit  in  Smallbrook  Sti*eet,"  was  the 
favourite  scene  of  these  *'  si)orts,"  and  it  was  not 
closed  until  between  1825  and  1830.  It  is 
recorded  tliat  on  one  occasion  the  magistrates, 
endeavouring  to  suppress  an  "  institution "  so 
degrading  to  the  public  morals  and  damaging  to 
the  reputation  of  the  town,  seized  about  a  hundred 
of  the  principals  and  spectators,  and,  after 
tying  them  together,  marched  them  through  the 
principal  streets  as  an  example ;  but  this  happened 
at  a  somewhat  later  period  than  that  now  under 
notice.  Badger-drawing  and  bear-baiting  also 
still  survived,  but  in  a  less  degree.     These  animals 


were  kept  for  the  purpose,  and  one  great  black 
bear  in  particular,  called  "  Old  Nell,"  kept  by  a 
person  in  Coleshill  Street, — was  celebrated  on 
account  of  its  great  skill  in  defending  itself. 

The  Old  Vauxhall  Gardens  still  remained  the 
chief  popular  resort  of  those  who  sought  out^ 
door  recreations,  and  the  attractions  of  music 
and  dancing,  fireworks,  balloon  ascents,  vari^ated 
lamps,  etc.,  rendered  this  famous  old  place  of 
amusement  a  powerful  agent  in  drawing  pleAtoie 
seekers  from  the  biutal  "sports,"  previously 
referred  to. 

For  those  of  the  working  classes  who  cared  for 
the  quieter  and  more  healthful  pastime  of  garden- 
ing, there  were  little  allotments  called  **  guinea 
gardens,"  encircling  the  town  on  every  side,— 
little  plots  of  ground,  let  for  a  guinea  a  year,  laid 
out  with  flowei-s,  or  planted  with  vegetables, 
currant  and  gooseberry  bushes,  strawberries,  or 
other  useful  "  garden  stuff,"  according  to  the  taste 
of  the  owner.  Besides  finding  useful  and  healthy 
occupation  for  the  amateur  ganlener,  these  old- 
fasliioned  "  guinea  gardens  "  afforded  a  pleasant 
retreat,  wherein  the  weary  artisan  might  breathe 
tlie  pure  country  air  after  toiling  all  day,  amid 
the  close  surioundings  of  the  factory  or  the 
workshop.  Alas,  their  place  now  knows  them 
no  lunger.  The  continually  increasing  town  has 
spread  out  its  limbs  on  all  sides  like  a  huge  octopusi 
and  shabby  suburbs  have  long  since  covered  the 
pleasant  artisans'  gardens  of  seventy  years  ago. 

Among  in-door  amusements  the  theatre  has 
ever  claimed  the  first  place ;  and  the  first  decade 
of  the  nineteenth  century  saw  the  local  theatre  in 
great  and  increasing  prosperity  and  popularity. 


Th«  lf#w  Tli«*tr«4 


OLD  AND   ]^EW   BIEMLNailAM. 


319 


But  we  must  go  back  a  few  years  into  the  past 
century,  to  the  date  of  the  re-erectioo  of  the  New 
Street  Theatre. 

The  new  building,  which  was  commenced  early 
in  1793,  was  so  far  advanced  by  the  end  of  the 
following  year,  that  we  find  the  Proprietors  in 
December,  1704,  advertising  for  a  manager  j  **  to 
engage  and  manage  a  Company  for  the  Summer 
Seaaon ; "  announcing  at  tlie  same  time  **  that 
their  fheatre  will  be  roady  for  opening  the  latter 


the  liberal  Manager  appeArs  to  posswas  the  ability  and 
spirit  to  form  suitable  arrnngcmeuts  for  opening  such  a 
House. 

A  later  advertisement  inforraod  the  public 
that  **  the  bouse  would  be  iibimiua ted  with  wax," 
a  statement  which  we  frequently  moot  with  in  the 
local  playbills  of  that  period, 

Tlie  new  manager  was  the  father  of  that 
eminent  tragedian,  William  Charles  Macready, 
and    had     won     **  golden     opinions"     in     the 


SKCriON   OF   Or4)   MAF. 
i'^hrmdig  the  DMriti  n^nd  St,  ifarWft'f,  tU  Old  MiU  f'oot,  tie,) 


6T  the  month  of  ^lay,  1795,"  As  a  result 
of  their  advertisement  the  New  Sti-eet  Theatre 
passed  into  the  hands  of  one  whose  taste  and 
enterprise  gave  promise  of  better  things  than 
Bimiingham  playgaers  had  as  yet  enjoyed, — a 
promise  which  was  destined  to  have  a  rich 
luliilment.  The  engagement  of  the  new  manager 
was  thus  announced  in  the  Gazette  of  May,  25th» 
1795  :— 

Th B  THEATajc. — Our  new  Theatre  (which  for  the  present 
we  ahall  content  ourselFes  with  snying  will  be  superior  in 
elegance  and  graudear  to  any  provinciiil  one  whutevcr) 
a|iend  next  month.  The  Gentleman  with  whom  the 
Propri^tora  have  engaged  us  Manager  of  the  Coropany  ia 
Ml,  M'Cuady,  the  author  of  the  new  Comedy  called  the 
Bank  liuU,  now  performing  with  snch  appknse  ftnd 
raectoa  at  Corent  Garden.  The  Perform  era,  the  names  of 
•QUI*  of  whom  we  hope  to  gi?e  in  our  next,  aj%  selected 
imm  the  London  Honsea  ;  and  from  wh4t  we  ciin  learn, 
41 


metropolis,  (on  the  boards  of  Covent  Oartien 
Theatre),  hoth  as  an  actor  and  dramatic 
author  ;  and  having  also  acquired  a  small  fortune, 
seceded  from  the  Covent  Garden  company,  partly 
on  accoimt  of  a  misunderstanding  with  regard  to 
salaryi  and  came  down  to  Birmingham  to  assume 
the  management  of  the  theatre  as  already  stated. 
This  happened  about  three  years  after  the 
birth  of  his  son,  which  took  place  during  his 
residence  in  London.  The  elder  Macready  (or 
M'Ci'eady,  as  he  usually  wrote  Idinself,  and  was 
styled  by  others),  was  boni  at  Dublin  in  1755, 
He  made  his  first  appearance  on  the  stage  of  OQd 
of  the  Dublin  theatres  in  a  humble  capacity,  and 
at  the  humble  salary  of  fourteen  shillings  a 
week-  He  soon  tired,  however,  of  this  line  of 
business,  and  joined  a  strolling  company  in  a 


320 


OLD    AND    NEW    BIRMINGHAM 


[AzieettdUMi  otWCTmAf. 


tour  thrtjughout  the  country.  Ho  returaed  to 
Dublini  and  iii  the  bcginmng  of  1786  met  -witli 
his  first  8\icces8,  which  ultimately  carried  him 
into  fame  and  fortune.  It  happened  that 
MacMin  was  "starring  it"  for  the  last  time  in 
Dublin  in  flome  of  hoa  own  pieces,  and  among 
others,  "  The  Man  of  the  World,"  Of  course 
Macklin  was  cast  fur  Sir  Pt-rtinax  Mac^ycoplmnt^ 
and  Daly,  the  manager,  aa  Egertan.  At  the  first 
rehearsal  Macklin  was  peevish,  very  hard  to 
please,  excessively  ill-tempered ;  and  Daly,  being 
scarcely  so  careful  or  solicitous  to  please  the  great 
Btar  as  he  ought  to  have  bi.'en,  irntated  him 
beyond  measure.  ** Sir  I'*  roared  Macklin  in  a 
fury  from  the  wing,  which  he  nearly  buttered 
down  with  bis  stick,  **Sir!  what  do  you  take  the 
eharacter  for  ?  By  heavens,  sir,  as  Hamlet  has 
it,  Td  as  Jief  the  town  crier  spoke  mj  lines  1*** 
Tlie  injured  Daly  replied,  with  the  air  of  a  deeply- 
injured  tragedian,  "You  may  have  written  the 
play,  sir,  but  you  have  no  conception  of  tlie 
character."  "What  does  the' puppy  myV  roared 
Placid  in,  more  irate  than  ever,  rod  in  the  face, 
and  putting  his  band  to  bis  ear, — for  be  was 
very  deaf  ;  **  I  mean  to  say,"  said  Daly,  getting 
very  warm,  **that  youTe  a  conceited  old  fool;  aud 
more,  sir,  you  may  go  and  find  Hamlet  or  his 
father's  ghost,  if  you  like,  to  speak  your  trash." 
The  author  of  The  Man  of  the  World  found  an 
Eift^rimi  nearer  home  than  Daly  bad  directed  him, 
in  the  person  of  William  M*Cready,  w^ho  played 
thtt  part  so  well  that  Macklin  took  him  %u  Lf>ndon 
and  brought  him  Lt-fore  a  Covent  GaiHlen  audience, 
in  the  character  of  Flutter^  in  The  Bdlt^s 
Siratiftjern.  Tim  was  the  beginning  of  M*Oeady*s 
good  fortune,  and  by  the  time  his  son,  the  future 
tragedian,  was  born,  he  bad  established  himself 
in  public  favour. 

During  Macready's  engagement  at  the  Covent 
Garden  Theatre  a  curious  incident  *:H.'curred  which 
illustrdtes,  in  an  amusing  manner,  his  remajkable 
superstition.  He  would  not  enter  a  room  where 
there  were  three  candles  for  any  considcmtion  ; 
and  it  so  happened  that  he  had  to  appear,  on  one 


oc^asien,  in  a  piece  called  The  Rendtswuti^  in 
which  three  ladies  rush  on  the  stage  at  once^  ench 
carrying  a  lighted  candle  in  her  band,  '^Mac" 
solemnly  declared,  amid  the  laughter  of  the  entire 
company,  that  be  wouldn't  go  on  under  sucb 
circumstances.  The  manager  liecame  quite  ftirioufi, 
and  insisted  upon  his  going  out,  but  the  stifieKti- 
tioiis  player  was  obdurate.  **  He  wasn't  going  to 
lose  bis  luck  for  all  the  Covent  Ganlens  and 
managers  in  England.''  The  aifair  seemed  likely 
to  liecome  serious,  when  someone  happily  hit 
upon  the  suggestion  that  one  of  the  ladies  should 
carry  txco  candles,  so  as  to  make  four  in  all ;  by 
this  means  the  difficulty  was  overcome,  And 
MX 'ready  pacified.  When  he  became  manager 
of  the  Birmingham  Theatre,  his  super&titioa 
remained  as  stron^j  as  ever.  He  would  not  bring 
out  a  new  piece  on  a  Friday,  nor  any  new  actor, 
for  worlds.  **  Both,"  he  said,  **  would  be  certAin 
to  be  hissed/' 

He  had  very  eccentric  notions,  too,  on  the 
subject  of  music  On  one  occasion,  durix^  his 
management  of  the  Birmingham  ThGatnsi,  ha 
quarrelled  with  the  musicians,  and  the  iBstilt ' 
an  oi-chestral  strike.  When  the  curtains 
and  the  prompter  discovered  the  state  of  afl 
bo  rushed  in  fear  and  trembling  to  the  manage; 
room,  wdxerc  ifCready  rectsived  the  nrfws  will 
the  utmost  calmness*  **  Never  mind,  mj  boy- 
never  mind,"  he  replied, — "  it'll  be  all  right ' 
and  by,  just  ring  up,  my  jewel,  ring  up>"  and 
at  once  shuffled  on  to  the  stage.  Up  went  th 
curtain,  without  overture,  and  the  play  procee^W 
This  absence  of  musical  accompaniment  delights 
the  manager,  who  wandered  about  from  wiug 
wing  during  the  representation,  rubbing  his  hand 
and  chuckling  audibly,  "Och,  isn't  tins  bwmtiftt 
isn't  this  heavenly, — how  peaceful  and  quiet 
arc.  It's  noisy  devils  they  were,  fjddlin' 
Bcrapin'  their  catgut,  the  blackguards,  and  int 
rupting  the  performances.  Och,  and  bwir  h*>^ 
delacious  and  heavenly  it  is, — it's  mysell 
will  never  have  them  in  tha  house  again — hj  \ 
soul — for  a  lifetime.     Aye,  and  isn't  it  X15 


^uu«.»f  uio}ri.wTUi6«t4ts.j       OLD   AND  :N^EW  BIRMINGHAM. 


week  that  you've  saved,  loo — bedad  only  think 
of  that  'VVhat'a  that»  my  boy  1  The  act-drop 
down — then  ring  up  again,  my  jewel.  Dovil  the 
scrape  they'll  hai'e  at  all"  The  di*up  wont  np  for 
the  second  aiit  ^vithout  a  moment's  delay,  and  the 
whole  performance  was  gone  through  without  the 
tistanco  of  the  musicians.  This  went  on  for  a 
fiaonlh  or  more,  to  the  groat  satisfaction  of  the 
the  music-hating  *'  Mae,"  if  not  of  the  audience, 
when  an  event  happened  which  led  to  the  recall 
o^  the  disaffected  band.  Miss  Kitty  Stephens, 
(afterwards  Countess  of  Essex)  had  been  ©ngayed| 
and  stappiDg  forward  at  the  morning  rehearsal  to 
sing  her  first  song,  looked  to  the  orchestra, — but 
not  a  soul  coidd  she  discern  there,  Sho  looked 
to  the  wings,  but  not  a  mortal  fiddler  met  her 
gue ;  then  turning  to  the  manager,  she  exclaimed, 
**Dear  me,  where  is  the  band?"  "Heaven 
knows,  my  jewel,"  was  the  reply,  "  for  hedad  its 
myself  disdmrged  them  all  a  month  ago."  **  Well ; 
but  Mr-  M*Cready,  1  can*t  possibly  sing  without 
an  accompaniment"  "  Uch  I  an  accompaniment, 
d'ye  call  it  1 "  roared  he,  "  you  mane  a  parcel  of 
noisj  fitldlin'  devila  to  destroy  your  beautiful 
singing — to  murder  that  pretty  delacioua  voice  of 
your  own.  Ah  !  don't  think  of  it,^ — not  for  a 
moment"  Miss  Stephens  laughed  heartily  at  the 
old  man's  compliment  to  her  "  pretty  dekcious 
voice,"  hut  cuuld  not  sing  witliout  the  accompani- 
snent  nevertheless,  and  the  unhappy  manager 
found  himself  compelled  to  re-introduce  "the 
ecrapin'  blackguards,"  and,  much  against  his  will, 
to  retain  them. 

The  New  Theatre  was  opened  on  the  22nd  of 
June.  1795,  and  an  elaborate  description  of  ila 
apj^Mjarance  wiw  given  in  the  Gazf^tia  of  the  pre- 
ceding week,  whicli,  as  the  house  subsequently 
met  the  fate  of  its  predecessor,  wOl  be  of  interest 
to  our  readers  at  the  present  day. 

**  Upon  entering  the  House,  tho  eye  is  struck 

with  itfi  capaciousness,   elegance,   and  richness. 

Its  form,  for  the  audience  part  of  the  Theatre, 

18  aemi -circular  to  the  hox  on  either  aide  of  the 

I  stagey  which,  as  far  as  each  extends,  takes  the 


lino  of  a  circle  reversed.  Two  tiers  of  Sixteen 
Boxes  surrounded  the  House  ;  they  are  decorated 
with  many  whita  enamelled  Iron  Columns,  re- 
presenting a  Bundle  of  Reeds,  the  fillet  that 
encircles  and  binds  them,  and  the  vases  and 
capitals,  being  richly  gilt.  From  above  the 
columns  project  elegant  brackets,  which  suspend 
the  brilliant  glass  cut  chandeliers.  The  colour  of 
the  inside  of  the  Boxes  is  a  deep  pink,  tho  cover- 
ing of  tho  seats  crimson,  and  the  cushionB  apple 
green. 

**The  Pit  is  most  ample  and  commodious,  and 
hero  the  spectator  sees,  with  perhaps  better  effect, 
the  whole  decoration  of  the  House,  which,  in 
executing  from  the  Architect's  design,  does  so 
much  credit  to  Mr.  Dixon.  He  sees  as  ho  directs 
his  view,  the  elegant  ornaments  painted  on  the 
parapets  in  Front  of  the  Boxes,  the  magnificent 
Ceiling  in  the  form  of  a  Fan,  adurued  with 
anti«|ue  figurtjs  and  ornaments  corresponding 
with  the  decoration  of  the  Boxes,  and  the  costly 
piiiuted  Curtain,  through  which  appears,  in  au 
opeuijig  38  feet  wide,  the  Stage  with  the  vivid 
and  splendid  Scenery  of  Messrs.  GrcM^owood  and 
Dixon,  the  masterly  execution  of  which  will,  we 
doubt  not,  confirm  and,  if  possible,  increase  the 
celebrity  of  these  eminent  Artists. 

**The  Gallery  is^  perhaps,  the  Inrgest,  and,  wo 
may  venture  to  pro  no  once,  one  of  the  best  in 
Europe  ;  and  the  puhlic*a  safety  and  conveni- 
ence, in  coming  to  and  going  from  the  House, 
has  been  particularly  consulted.  Tlie  entrance  to 
Box,  Pit,  and  Gallery,  is  from  different  Streets  j 
and  there  is  not,  what  has  been  so  much  com- 
plained of  in  other  theatres,  any  step  or  descent 
whatever  in  the  entry  from  the  street  to  tho  Pit. 
A  handsome  Saloon  receives  the  company  before 
they  go  into  the  Boxes,  and  a  communication  is 
made  from  each  lobby  to  the  largo  ball-room  in 
front  of  the  house,  where  refreshments  will  be 
provided ;  and  whither  those  Ladies  and  Gentle- 
men who  may  \\h\\  to  relieve  themselves  between 
the  acts,  and  the  play  and  entetiainment,  may 
repair.     We  shall  now  only  add,  that  as  the  walla 


322 


OLD  AND  NEW   BIRMINGHAM. 


CKutss  ttom  tbe  old  Plqlrfnt. 


of  tLis  large  fabric  (which  enclose  a  space  in 
length  'of  one  hundred  and  nine  feet,  and  in 
width  of  eeventynine)  have  been  erected  nearly 
two  yearsy  no  apprehension  of  dampness  need  be 
entertained ;  and  observe,  that  as  the  Manager 
seems  to  vie  with  the  spirit  of  the  Proprietora, 
by  bringing  to  the  first  provincial  Theatre  a 
Company  of  Performers  superior  to  any  that 


beginning  of  his  career  in  Birmingham,  pruvidiujj 
a   magnificent  production    of    this    descriptioUi  1 
called    O^car    and  Maloini^    or     ths    Hall   o/l 
Fingal^  a  descriptive  notice  of  the  aceneiy  therd- 1 
in  occupied  the  whole  of  the  back  page  of  tha 
play -bill  (which  seems  in  those  days  to  have  beeo 
generally  utUified):  this  was  followed  in  1797  by 
a    "Grand    Serious    PantomimOi   entitled  D<m 


i 


I' 


f>^:^ 


Jn- 


lull 


^ifi 


L^l 


^|y=i*\ 


OLli    VJEW  OF  THE  BULL  RINO. 


ever  yet  left  the  metropolis,  wu  lu>p<j  the  exer- 
tions that  have  been  made,  and  the  great 
expenses  incurred  for  tlie  public's  accommoda- 
tion and  amusement,  will  not  be  unremune rated." 

A  few  not«8  from  the  unique  series  of  Bir- 
mingham playbills  in  the  posseiision  of  Mr.  Sitm  : 
Tiramins  will  give  our  readers  some  idea  of  the 
spirited  manner  in  which  Mr.  M*Cready  catered 
for  the  play-goers  of  three-quarters  of  a  century 
ago. 

Spectacular  display  being  as  popular  then  as  it 
ia  to-day,  we  find  the  new  manager,  at  the  very 


Juan''    But  the  manager  did  not  forget^  whi!6 
providing  these  spectacles,  to  cater  for  tihe  Uistofl  | 
of  the  more  intellectual  class  of  playgoers ;  and 
we  find  Mrs.  Siddons  in  July  of  the  same  ywtff  ^ 
on  the  boards  of  the  local  tbeatre,  playing  xfl 
Madteth,    Ocorgc  Barnwell^  Henry   VII L,  Kh 
Lear,  Tfie  Earl  of  Wnnclck^  and  Home'a  Dou^toj^^ 
The  principal  male  character  in  each  of  the 
pieces  was  sustained  by  Mr.  Holman. 

Pantomime  and  realism  followed  in  strong  f^rea^H 
during  the  same  season  ;  of  the  former  we  havdH 
Alonzo  and  Imotjene^  (with  the  famous  ballad  an 


I  the  old  FluyMlUJ 


OLD  Am>   NEW  BIBMmGHAM- 


323 


le  back  of  the  playbill,)  and  Robiiison  Crusoe, 
tbe  playbill  of  which  there  is  an  elaborate 
ption  of  the  scenery, — and  the  latter  is 
ireD  provided  in  one  of  these  same  pantomimes, 
in  tbe  shape  of  a  Anew  of  the  Sea,  which  changes 
lo  a  cornfield,  "with  plough  and  horsen,  us  natural 
life." 

Tbe  famons  "Dicky  Suett,*'  already  referred 
lo  in  these  pages,  wa£  in  Birmingham  at  tbe  close 
Df  tbe  same  season,  **  for  one  night  only/'  The 
iiimouncement  is  as  follows  : — 

Last     Evening**    Entertainment    this     Sca.soa. — Mr. 

'cCreody  had  hoped  Mr.  Suett*a  Eitgagements  wouH 
bave  allowed  him  to  have  performad  more  than  One  Night 
In  this  place  ;  but  he  is  sorry  to  find,  that  tho  GcntlcmAn 
bcdng  anaottnc^  to  pUy  at  Dniry  Lane  Theatre  ao 
rvpe^tedly  lids  week,  deprives  him  of  the  Power  of  falftll- 
ing  his  ijiteTjdtHi  engagement.  And  the  Public  are  there- 
fore reajjectfuUy  infonxied,  the  Theatre  will  finally  elo^ 
for  the  Seaaou,  with  the  EDtert4unments  anuoaneed  for 
this  evening.     [September  25,  1797.] 

On  tbe  occasion  of  Snett's  visit  the  Gn:^Ue 
makes  the  following  remarka  : — 

SepUmtm-  f5,  1707.— Ui.  M'Crcady,  our  Theatrical 
^rector,  seems  hetit  uj^on  it  to  make  his  exit 
with  an  uaiversal  grace.  To  say  nothing  of  what 
he  has  done,  we  cannot  but  look  with  an  admiring 
eye  upon  what  he  this  night  means  to  do.  BannistiT 
and  Suett's  attractions  combined,  in  such  favounto 
cliaracters  aa  the  Phllpots,  Lingo^  DaggerwooJ,  Fustian, 
Bcout,  and  Snarl,  arc  too  powerful  a  temptation  to 
I^^dst,  even  if  a  man  had  made  up  hb  mind,  oa  the  old 
Baying  is,  to  go  to  the  Play  no  more  this  season.  It  is 
Jiow  some  years  since  we  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  Suett 
on  the  Birmingham  boards ;  but  all  must  well  remember 
jtttat  he  was  the  idol  of  the  public  then  ;  and  as  improve- 
ment has  kept  equal  pace  with  his  absence,  we  may  expect 
U>  see  him  now  *'  in  all  the  jocand  vein  of  laugh-provo- 
dng  humour."  Bannister  haa  so  recently  delighted  us, 
9iat  hla  merits  want  no  mementOi  as  they  arc  registered, 
^  where  every  day  we  turn  the  leaf  to  read  them/  Nor 
lo  we  think  it  necessary  to  dwell  on  wbut  is  due  to  the 
kfanager,  whose  layiah  spirit  and  tuabating  ardour  to  give 
the  public  every  species  of  the  richest  entertainment  a 
tlkeatre  can  afford  throughout  the  season,  must  have 
mtailed  upon  hira  an  expense  enormous,  and,  indeed, 
mch  aa,  locally  con&idered,  is  totally  unprecedented  in  the 
dstory  of  the  Theatrical  World. 

DitriRg  the  next  season,  Birmingham  had  the 
pleaBore  of  seeing  both  Komble  and  Siddons  :  the 
grait  Johii  Phillip  appeared  June  28  and  29)  and 
July  %    in    HarfUet,    Bicf*ard    TIL,    and    Tf^ 


Stranger;  and  Mrs,  Siddons,  in  the  same 
characters  as  before,  dtiring  the  month  of  Angus! 
A  great  "revival"  of  Monk  Lewis's  Cwfile 
Spectre,  with  elaborate  scenery  and  startling 
effects,  is  the  only  other  event  of  note  during  tbe 
season  of  1798, 

In  1799  a  piece  of  some  local  interest  was  pro- 
duced, **a  New  Poetical  Sketch  called  Tonj; 
Lu7npkin*b*  Ramble  through  Birmingliam^  with 
occasional  Remarks  on  the  Theatre,  tlie  Squares, 
the  Charity  School,  Soho,  the  Stained  Glass 
Manufactory,  Clay's  Japan  Manufactory,  Allen's 
Print-shop,  the  Museum,  the  Hen  and  Chickens, 
Buckle-making,  Gill's  and  Wooliey's  Sword 
Manufactories,  &c,,  &c,"  On  the  22nd  of  Jtily, 
Kemblc  appeared,  in  **a  new  t raged g  called 
PizaairOf  by  R.  Bt  Sheridan,  Esq.," — also,  in 
OthdlOy  "after  which,  a  new  Paiitumime  Dance, 
in  which  Mr.  QuantrtU  will  leap  through  a 
Hogshead  of  Fire/*  Shade  of  the  "Divine 
William,"  Othdlo  followed  by  a  Pantomime  1 
In  September  of  the  same  year,  Munden  was  in 
Birmingham  lor  a  short  season,  and  sustained,  on 
the  occasion  of  his  benefit,  September  9tb,  tbe 
part  of  Antolgcu^j  in  the  Wiufer^a  Tale,  At  the 
close  of  the  season  of  I799t  ^  ^^^-  Eliiston 
appeared,  in  George  Brnwrnlly  and  other  pieces. 

The  Birmingham  Theatre  was,  as  our  readers 
arc  aware,  open  only  during  the  aiimraer  months, 
utid  usually  commenced  with  a  pantomime,  in 
J  una  To  us  this  may  seem  very  strange,  but  at 
that  time  the  reign  of  pantomime  was  not  confined 
to  the  three  months  between  Christmas  and 
Eaatefj  but  extended  (at  intervals)  throughout  the 
season.  Tbe  season  of  1800  was  opened  with 
one  of  these,  entitled  Harlequin  Emrywhere,  or 
Jetveh  tufw  sei^  preceded  on  the  first  night,  (as  in 
the  instADce  previously  referred  to,)  hj  OihelU, 
Other  pantomimes  followed  during  the  same 
season,  including  Harleqiun^s  Arrmd^  (introducing 
three  local  scenes;  viz.,  Birmingham  from  the 
Warwick  Canal,  Kew  Street,  and  Birmingham 
Heath,)  The  CJiUdren  in  the  Wood^  and  a  very 
carious   piece  entitled   Obi^  or  Three  Fingered 


224 


OLD   AND  KEW  BIRMINGHAM. 


fThe  Ydtng  Riii<-vti» 


Jnch\  fuiimled  on  a  real  incident  wliicli  oi^curred 
in  1780  ill  the  Inland  of  Jamaica,  and  which  is 
related  in  Mo8eley*a  Treat  m  an  Sit^ar^  ami 
Medical  Olmivatunts,  The  bill  announcing  this 
production  cuntaina  an  elaborate  notice  of  the 
fact  on  which  it  is  found i^d,  and  gives  copious 
notes  from  MoseJey^s  work,  quoting  which  the 
manager  says : — 

•*  The  lenraed  author  of  the  work  we  have  profited  by 

•  I  aaw  the  Obi  of  tho  famous  Negro  Robber,  Three 
Fingered  Jack,  the  Terror  of  Jturiaicu  iii  ITSO. 

*  It  consisted  of  a  Goat's  Hora^  tilled  ydih  a  Comiraimd 
of  Grave  Dirt,  Aahes,  tlie  Blood  of  a  Black  Cat,  aiuI 
Huiimn  Fi»t  all  m\x\l  into  a  kind  of  Vnate  ]  a  Cat's  Foot, 
a  dried  Toad,  a  Pig's  Tail,  a  Slip  of  Vii^fmal  Parchment 
of  Kid  SkiD,  with  Chanu^tera  marked  in  Blood  on  it,  were 
found  io  his  Obian  Bag,  These,  with  a  Keesn  Sabre, 
aud  two  Gun8,  wertj  all  his  Ohi,  with  which,  and  his 
Courage  in  descending  into  the  Plaius,  and  Plunderiog  to 
■apply  hia  wants,  and  bis  Skill  in  retreating  into  difficult 
Fostuess&s,  among  the  Mountaitts,  coiiiniuuding  the  only 
access  to  thom,  where  none  dared  to  follow  bini,  he 
temtied  the  Inhnbitants,  and  aei  the  CivU  Power  and  the 
neighbouring  Militia  of  the  Island  at  de^ance  far  nearly 
two  ymrs/" 

Better  things  were,  however,  also  provided ;  as 
we  find  noticea  of  the  engagement  of  Mrs. 
Siddons'  visit,  in  August,  for  six  nights,  when 
she  appeared  in  Fkarro^  The  Stmnfj€/\  and  other 
pieces  j  of  Mr,  and  Mrs,  Johnston,  in  Jlamltt^ 
Sjieetl  ih<  Plotujh^  etc. ;  and  of  Jlr.  and  Mrs. 
Pupe,  in  PizitrrOf  etc. 

In  June,  1801,  we  find  Mrs  Siddons  again  at 
the  Birmingham  Theatre,  appearing  in  Douglas, 
An  You  LUce  //,  Isahdlit^  or  ihn  Fahd  Marrkigi^ 
and  Manj  Qtwen  of  Se4)t8,  On  the  first  of  July, 
Mrs,  Second,  the  lady  whose  singing  called  forth 
tho  impromptu  verses  of  John  Collins — appeared, 
on  the  occasion  of  her  benefit,  in  tho  Befjga/e 
Ojtera. 

lit  1802, — August  3 l8t— Shakespeare's  finest 
historical  play,  Henry  VIIL  was  produced  **  by 
desire  of  the  Eight  Honourable  Lord  Nelson," 
A  new  comedy,  Follt/  an  li  Fiiea,  was  **  acted  for 
the  first  time,  for  M'Cre^dy's  Benefit,  on  the  19th 
of  the  same  month. 

The  theatrical  season  of  1804  was  perhaps  the 


most  successful   of  any  during  ^Ir.   MT*f«a.df 
management.        G.     F,    Cooke,     Dicky    ^ut% 
Harley,  Blanchard,  and   other  eminent  "i 
graced  the  boards  during  this  season ;  but  ^ 
greatest  success  was    achieved    by   the  Ton 
Eoscius,  Mr.  W,  H,  Betty,     In  the  eng 
of   this  youthful  prodigy  Mr,  AI*Cready*8  usual 
perceptive  faculties  somewhat  failed  him*  aq 
led   him  into    a    mistake    which    amtised 
Birmingham    play-goers    amazingly*       He 
heard  of  the  success  which  had  attended  Mastj 
Betty*s  i>erformance  in  Edinburgh,  and 
oiiering  nn  engagement  at  the  vnie  of  £101 
night,  which  vrns  immediately  accepted,  and  tbfl 
manager  felicitated  himself   upon  his  excelltt 
bai^ain.      But  when  the  little  actor  arrived 
Birmingham,   and   the  manager   found 
confronted  by  a  boy  of  thirteeni   for  each 
fonnance  of   whom  he  had  agreed  to  pay 
pounds,  his  apprehensions  got  the  better  of 
prudence.     **No,  no/*  said  he,  "that  won't 
we'H    play    to    empty    benches,       I    have 
objection    to    make   him    a   handsome    pn 
for  his  trouble,  but  we  must  cancel  the  a_ 
ment."     This  the  friends  of  the  boy  agreed 
and  it  was  finally  arranged  that,  after  deductin 
^60  for  expenses,  he  should  divide  the  profilj 
with  Betty* 

Kever  had  ho  made  a  greater  mistake. 
of  the  empty  benches  which  he  had  pictoi^  J 
his  imagination,  the  house  was  crammed — liten 
packed  witli  spectators  on  over}'  occasion.  Peep 
who  had  never  entered  a  theatre  in  their  lives 
before,  came  from  all  parts  of  the  district  to  soft 
and  hear  the  actor  who  had  barely  left 
wearing  pinafores ;  they  waited  at  the  doors  i 
the  theatre  from  mid-day  until  half-past 
o'clock  in  the  evening,  taking  their  meals 
thein  in  ouler  to  prevent  the  risk  of  losing 
places.  Instead  of  ten  pounds,  the  miinagfl 
foimd  himself  obliged,  by  hia  own  agreemi^ 
to  pay  the  young  ''star"  as  much  as  fifty 
sixty  pounds  for  every  performance.  Coo 
mencing  with  Young  Narval,  in  Home's  Ihugl^ 


Ncite*  ftt>ra  tJje  Plft]rbll]«  | 


OLD  AND  NEW  BIRMI^GHAAL 


325 


(Augiiat  13,  1804),  he  astonislied  old  playgoers 
►pearing  during  the  first  week  of  his 
lent  in  the  characters  of  RoUa^  ffamlei, 
and  Rit^Juird  the  Thint  Even  after  he  had  left 
the  town  his  performances  continued  to  excite 
consid*?rahle  interest  among  Birmingham  critics 
and  playgoers  J  Jarae^  Bisset  warmly  espoused 
bi«  cause^  and  published  a  pamphlet  defending 
hiixi  from  the  attacks  of  certain  critics  who 
probably  had  a  greater  respect  for  art  than  for 
dap-trap  sensationalism.  The  discussion  was 
carried  on  with  great  animation  until  some  new 
sansation  arose,  in  the  person  of  a  rival  "  infant 
phenomenon/*  younger,  and  with  even  more 
presumption  than  Betty, — a  Miss  IVfudie,  **  a 
child  only  seven  years  of  age."  As  Betty  had 
found  a  champion  in  our  old  friend  Bisset,  so 
did  the  new  example  of  precocious  childhood  in 
Mr,  Moifitt,  who  wrote  a  long  letter  to  the 
Gastfita  in  defence  of  Miss  Mudie,  couched  in 
language  whiclj  would  be  exaggeration  if  applied 
to  aome  of  the  greatest  artists  who  have  graced 
the  stage* 

We  note  also  a  performance  during  this  season, 
of  tlie  Mrrchant  of  FefiiV/',  on  the  9th  of  July, 
"by  desire  of  the  Tliree  Battalions  of  Loyal 
Birmingham  Volunteers," 

In  the  earlier  part  of  tlie  year  1806,  nothing 
was  talked  of  except  the  splendid  pageant  on  the 
occasion  of  Uie  public  funeral  of  the  Hero  of  the 
Nile  ;  and  consequently  we  find  one  of  the 
tjarliest  pieces  produced  on  the  local  stage  during 
that  season  was  "  an  exact  Representation,  by 
moving  figures,  of  the  Funeral  Honours,  Pro- 
cessions l»y  Land  and  Water,  etc.*  to  commemorate 
Lord  Vi^euunt  Nelson,"  of  which  the  play-liill 
givea  a  very  elaborate  description.  This  season 
WHS  remarkable^  as  having  witnessed  the  lii-st 
appearance  on  tJie  local  stage  of  Charles  Kemble, 
on  the  1 1th  of  August,  as  Hamlet^  and  subse- 
<|iiently  as  5A^/«cA\  Qeonje  BtDiifcelJ^Riehnnl  IIL, 
and  other  leading  characters.  An  old  favourite 
aUu   appealed,  B.  W.  Elliston,  in  Monk  Lewis's 


On  the  23rd  of  Jidy,  1307,  Mrs.  Siddons  made 

her  farewell  bow  to  the  Birmingham  playgoers 

previous  to  her  retirement  from  the  stage.     The 

following  notice  of  the  performance  appeared  in 

the  Gazette  : 

On  Thursday  evening,  the  celebrated  Mrs.  Sid  dona, 
who  is  now  taking  leave  of  her  provincial  friends  pre- 
paratory to  her  retiring  from  the  stage,  made  her 
nj'pi'anince  at  our  Theatre  in  the  chftraetcr  of  JsnMla, 
and  was  received  with  the  greate^^t  ajiplause.  A 
corresjKJijilent  hns  sent  us  the  following  remarks  on 
this  eminent  ftctress  : — "  The  snqiriaiu|»ly  transcendent 
taJeuta  of  Mrs.  Siihlons  have  been  so  long  and  ao 
universally  acknowIedgBd,  that  to  i>raiB«  her  wonld  bo 
to  descant  on  the  obvious  i^plendour  of  the  sun  ;  ytt 
something  we  must  say  to  gratify  the  ebullition  of 
Bd miration  her  sublime  performances  excited.  Perfection 
in  any  uft  is  so  rarely  arrived  at  that,  when  seen,  it 
delights  by  its  novrhy  as  mu<^h  as  it  does  by  its  excel- 
lence, ilrg.  Siddons^  in  the  histrionic  art,  has  reached 
the  utmost  bonndary  of  perfection  ;  so  compleat  are  her 
powers  of  assumption  that  natxire,  in  dl  her  own  native 
loveliness,  appeftrs  before  us.  Her  attraction  ean  nevei 
lose  its  force  ;  for  however  ahe  may  ceaiic  to  be  a  subject 
of  curiosity,  she  must  still  continue  to  the  classic  mind 
'an  ever  new  ilLdight."  We  nnderstand  that  this  is 
positively  her  \mt  visit  to  this  county/'  In  justice  to 
the  general  perfonnances  we  cannot  but  observe,  that  tho 
plays  on  Thursday  and  Friday  were  filled  in  a  manner 
that  did  great  credit  to  the  Theatre. 

The  year  1807  is  celebrated  in  the  annals  of 
the  local  stage  from  the  fact  tliat  therein  our 
first  pennanent  theatre,  worthy  of  the  name, 
received  the  ilesignation  of  "  The  Theatre  Knyal/' 
and  became  a  patent  honse.  On  the  26tli  of 
Febrnary  a  petition  was  presented  and  read 
in  the  House  of  Commons,  from  William 
Sharpe,  James  Woollcy,  Matthew  Bonlten,  and 
several  otiiei«,  **  being  proprielui^  of  the  Theatre 
or  Play-hon^o  in  the  said  town,  dotting  forth  that 
about  the  year  1792,  the  only  theatre  in  the  to^vn 
was  destroyed  by  hre ;  and  that  it  being  **  expe- 
dient to  provide  another  for  the  amusement  of  the 
inhabitants  of  the  said  Town,  and  thut  of  the 
Nobility  and  Gentry  of  the  neighbourhood,  some 
of  the  Petitioners  and  other  Inhabitants,  being 
the  Proprietors  of  the  old  Theatre,  erected  on  the 
site  thereof  a  new  and  more  commodious  Tlieatre 
ur  Play-house  in  the  aaid  Town."  The  petition 
was  referred  to  a  committee,  who  reported  on 


326 


OLD  AKD   NEW  BUiM  INGHAM. 


niuttyerwl  cfaaapt 


Uie  23rd  of  March,  that  they  had  exammed  the 
matter  and  leave  waa  forthwith  given  to  Sir 
Charles  Mordaunt  and  Mr.  Diigdale,  to  bring  in 
a  bill,  which,  being  read  for  the  first  time  on  the 
25th  of  the  same  month,  passed  the  Commons  on 
the  21st  of  April,  and  after  receiving  a  few 
amendments  in  the  House  of  Lords,  received  the 
Royal  Assent  on  the  lat  of  August,  and  the 
BirmiiT^ham  Theatre  became  tho  Theatre  Royal. 

In  November,  1808,  an  announcement  appeared 
in  ihe  Gazette  which  would  doubtltASs  be  welcome 
to  all  playgoers  ;  viz.,  that  the  Theatre  woxild  he 
open  during  the  ensuing  winter  season*  **The 
inhabitants  of  Binniiigham,"  says  the  manager, 
"  have  a  claim,  and  indeed  are  entitled  to  every 
gratification  that  can  be  suggested  towards  rational 
amuB«ment  Their  days  are  devoted  to  praise* 
worthy  exertions,  which  renders  the  town  one  of 
the  richest  boasts  of  BntaiB,  and  surely  it  may 
be  expected  that  a  good  play  (in  one  of  the 
handsomest  Theatres  anywhere)  will  l>e  relished 
on  winter  evenings,  provided  the  actors  be  res- 
pectable, and  the  whole  well -regulated."  The 
manager  further  announces  his  determination  **  to 
engage  the  very  best  perform nrs  thiit  can  be 
had";  and  adds  that  "Stoves  are  erecting  to 
render  the  lobbies,  etc.,  wai-m  and  comfortable,*' 
and  that  **  the  most  unremitting  assiduity  ahull 
be  exerted  on  every  occasion,  to  give  the  anmse- 
xnents  of  the  drama  in  a  correct  style,  so  as  to 
be  houonred  with  approbation,  and  uljUiri  the 
sanction  of  a  general  pu?dic," 

During  the  season  of  1809  the  lovers  of  mwaic 
were  liberally  catered  for  by  the  manager  of  the 
Theatre  Koyal ;  Master  Dourousset, — **  the  Young 
Musical  Roscius,*'  as  he  was  called, — Mi's,  Emery, 
Madama  Catalani,  (whose  singing  is  said  by  one 
of  the  local  journals  to  have  **  called  forth  the 
greatest  bursts  o^  applause  ever  wi*-neseed  in  the 
Theatre,")  and  Mr.  Brahum,  all  graced  the  homrds 
of  the  local  stage  during  that  year  ;  the  latter 
appeared  **  for  one  night  [only,"  (Oct.  2,)  on  the 
occasion  of  Mrs.  T.  Didbin's  benefit^  and  sang 
<*  Said  a  Smile  to  a  Tear,"  the  *'  Death  of  Abor- 


crombi,"  and  other  pieces.  During  the  Kim 
season  Stephen  Kemhle  appeared,  as  FaUUif^MsA 
Mr.  Cooke,  in  his  round  of  characteraL 

Daring  the  summer  of  1809  ^rCread/ 
upon  a  new  speculation,  that  of  the 
of  the  Theatre  in  Manchester,  It  was  nd  • 
success,  however,  and  he  retired  from  it  at  t 
end  of  the  year.  *'  Painful  as  it  is  to  assert^'* 
said,  in  his  closing  address  to  the  playgoeci  I 
Manchester,  "it  is  the  fact  that  my  efforts  hAf* 
not  here  been  attended  with  success.  Ind 
the  result  is  quite  the  reverse  of  success — ^'ti 
me  utier  ruin.  The  money  I  had  in  the  fuii<ia 
on  coming  here — which  was  not  inconsideraljle— 
is  entirely  exhausted  :  the  property  I  brought, 
the  fruits  of  my  early  industry,  is  at  this  moiDcnt 
und<?r  seizure  for  rent  j  and  for  the  liberty  which 
at  this  moment  gives  me  the  power  of  adti 
you,  I  am  obliged  to  two  friends.  Thus  situate 
I  despair  of  ever  having  the  honour  of  app 
before  you  after  this  night/* 

During  Mr*   M*Cready's  temporary  rotirwaei 
from  the  Birmingham  Theatre,  Mr*  J,  Ws 
became   the  lessee,   and   may   be   said  to  hsii 
lavishly  consulted  the  tastes — and  especially 
musical  tastes — of  the  Birmingham  public 
it  was  who  first  introduced  the  welcome 
tion  of  a  winter  theatrical  season  in  Birminghai 

For  the  services  of  Mai^lame  Catalani,  (after  t 
famous  **  U.F.  riots,"  at>d  the  consequent 
mcnt    uf  that  lady  from   the  boards  of  Corel 
Garden)  he  paid  no  less  a  »um  than  one  thoq 
pounds  for  six  nights*  performances. 

Mr.    M'Cready   returned   to  the    Bu 
Theatre  in  1610,    This  year  is  the  most  imf 
in  the  period  under  notice,  on  account  of  the  l 
appearance  of  William  Charles  Macready, — tl 
son  of  tlio  manager,— which  took  place  on  Thti 
day,  June  7th,  in  that  year.     This  inteitssti 
event  is  thus  recorded  in  Aria* it  Oazdte  ; — 

TnZATEE   E0TA.t- 

Jnne  11,  1810,— The  Ti-agedy  of  Komeo  nud  Jalift  «!•_ 
broiiglit  forward  at  our  Theatre  on  Thiin»day  [mi,  far  i 
pttq>oat>  of  iiiirodudng  »  young  candidate  not  1^  y^i*! 
age  (Mr*  William  M*CE«ady)  to  the  fttage,  ttom  mhm 


PubUe  Life  wiil  Kv«ntii.  ISOl-lSta  1 


OLD  Amy  ^*EW  juinimGiiAJvL 


327 


{MTtformaiice  we  have  no  lit'^iUtion  in  piedictiiig  hia  ful^ire 
feme  and  projqx^rity  ;  iotlcLHi  we  have  never  witnes^'d  a 
IvtteT  first  apiif^artiDee.  He  looked  the  ehnnictt'i  nrlinir- 
«bly  ;  tho  elegiiti<:e  of  his  tignri-,  tL*f  t-xiurssion  of  his 
eunnteoance,  Aud  the  vrry  gi^iit  ea^u  of  lus  ilt'j^ioi  tiiieitf, 
united  in  fonninga  ywrfcct  rriirebentJitiuu  (A'  what  Komeo 
should  exactly  iippenr.  He  rtfcfivotl  the  nio^st  cncniirngiiijL; 
Ji»d  flattering  applaiise  throngh  the  tir^it  four  at-ts,  and  ytt 
Ilia  dying  act-ne  there  wei-e  »»;v<fral  dislim't  pwils,  tebtilying 
BurpnM  and  tht  bij^he^jt  ndmimtion  of  itik'nts  wJiiih  luive 
liMii  seldom  t'qualled,  if  ever  surjwis&cd.  Mrs,  Vouiig 
seemed  much  intert^ftted,  aud  exerted  hei^If  with  the 
happiest  etfcct ;  we  have  never  seen  lier  to  moir  HdvHn- 
tuge.  The  whole  play  merited  iiiul  olitiiined  the  wiirniest 
plftilditA,  particularly  the  Friar,  MerruUo,  the  Piiiice, 
•ad  the  Nciifie,  It  is  to  be  repertted  tbia  evening,  with 
the  grand  Melodrama  of  Valentine  and  Oraon^  in  which 
Mr.  Conway  and  Mr.  Betlertou  perfonn. 


The  miscellftiiGOUs  entertairmients  of  this  period 
were  sucli  as  wtjre  common  in  all  great  towns ;  a 
panoniujji  in  Now  Street,  Waxworks  in  High 
Street,  **  the  invisiUle  hidy "  at  the  Hotel  in 
Tenipk'  Kow,  tbu  **  Panikvni  Band,"  and  "the 
Pata^unian  Sanipfion  '*  at  the  Shakej^peai^.  There 
wna  an  amphitlieatn:*,  at  tlio  Imck  of  the  Stork,  in 
1B02,  wherB  the  celebi'ated  Astley  used  to  pep- 
foitUi  and  other  amimemt^nts,  from  time  to  time, 
in  various  parts  of  the  tuwn» — so  that  our  old 
townsfolk  could  not  have  suffered  at  any  time 
during  tlni  first  decade  of  the  nio«teonth  century, 
for  lack  of  pleasuriis. 


CHAPTKU      XLVIIK 
IMinLH'      LIFE     AND      EVENTS,      1801-18  10. 

Y|aiit«  of  CalcbrntfHl  PtrmmB  l*>  Bimiingham— Xelanti— Prjni-u  Wbllbtrit  of  OUjuceHUT— Crtui6  in  BJriMUi^ltAm—EjtoPutlan  of  Philip 
If AitMU— Eight  mm  litiiiK'^'l  wt  Wiwliwoo.1  ll^tith— Riot*  at  Ki1ghA»t«;ij— Ni  w  Stnst-l  Acts — street  UbstrLU'Liori.-i— The  Peace  Rejojctii^ 
In  ISW— BlnniughAin  l.oy»i  VoIuiit^Hra  «ii'l  tlin  thrt'atfijid  niVrt!ri<ni— P^th  nf  F.  Bllrk^lhe  Publk'  Uftli  e— DeaUi  of  tielaoa^The 


We  now  ]m^  to  the  liiiitnry  proper  of  tlit  lirst 
decade  of  the  nineteentli  century.  In  entering 
upon  the  ehroniele  of  Ihe  public  lif<^  and  events 
of  this  period,  we  seem  to  have  passed  into  a  new 
sphere,  and  to  he  writing  of  a  new  race  of  meti ; 
hitherto  we  have  found  our  townsmen,  for  the 
at  part,  intere^^ttrl  only  in  the  aflaira  of  the 
B]tf  stirred  oidy  by  parochial  foelitij^',  dwelling; 

'  in  what  was  as  yet,  drxpite  it*  &i/e  and  itnport- 
ance,  only  an  un^^ainly  and  overgrown  vilhigt^. 
But  now,  as  we  have  8i*en  in  ibc  tlnee  |. receding 
chopU.*r?,  UKire  attention  wns  heginning  to  be 
paid  to  the  adornment  of  public  olbces  and 
private  dwellings,  as  well  h»  in  providing  for  the 
recreation  uf  the  jieople  ;  and  as  we  ahull  see  in 
the  ]jrt?*Mint  ehit»nide,  consideratiuiis  of  a  higher 

I  aod  nobler  clnirjicter  began  to  influence  the  public 
of   the    town.      Peojde    uf  hnU\   too,   were    now 

(Attracted  to  Ctrin Ingham  in  greater  numbers  than 
Itburtu;  traveller  frotii  abixiad,  desiring  to  see  | 
42 


the  chief  objects  of  interest  in  England,  seldom 
left  without  paying  a  visit  to  Birmingham, 
Among  the  most  distinguished  visitors  during 
this  period  was  Lord  Xeli^on,  On  Monday, 
August  30th,  1802,  tho  hero  of  tho  Nile,  accom- 
panied by  Sir  William  and  La*ly  Hamilton 
and  rdljers^  arrived  at  Sty  lei? 'a  (now  the 
Kuyab)  Hotel.  TliousamJa  of  the  inhabitants 
went  out  to  meet  him  in  the  afternoon,  and 
crowded  loiind  the  boleb  shouting  their  rough 
welcomes,  while  the  bells  clanged  peals,  and 
Nelson  stood  nt  the  windows  for  hours 
to  gratify  their  curiosity.  In  the  evening  the 
party  visited  the  Theatre,  TJie  hanly  Binning- 
hiitn  men  took  the  horses  from  the  heros  carriage, 
and  dragged  it  in  disoixlerly,  but  triumphant 
procession,  to  the  play.  T\iQ  whole  house  rose  at 
liim  as  he  entered,  and  offered  hiin  an  ovation 
wliich  it  has  fidlen  to  the  lot  of  few  men  to 
receive.     On  his  return  at  midnight,  men  with 


I 


to  relies  lined  the  streets  ;  and  in  tbe  torebligUt, 
and  with  hundreds  of  willing  hands  at  the  wkeeU, 
he  was  drawn  hack  along  New  Street  and  High 
Street,  up  Bull  Street,  to  his  hotel.  Next  day 
the  same  demons trationa  were  renewed.  He 
walked  to  the  manufactory  of  Mr,  Clay>  in  New- 
hall  Street ;  the  sword  manuiactory  of  Messrs. 
"Woolley  and  Deakin,  Edmund  Street ;  the  hutton 
establishment  of  Messrs.  Smith ;  the  buckle  and 
ring  manufactory  of  Messrs.  Simcox  and  Timmins, 
Livery  Street ;  and  the  patent  sa,-*)!  manufactory 
of  MeasTS.  Timmins  and  Jordan,  St.  Paul's  Square. 
He  wag  followed  by  thousands  as  he  went ;  and 
when  he  stopped  into  his  carriage  to  proceed  to 
the  famous  stained  glass  manufactory  of  Mr. 
EgLuton,  at  Handsworth,  the  horses  were  un- 
hameaaed  by  the  multitudes,  who  drew  him  thither 
with  their  hands,  and  where  he  was  received  by 
a  large  party  of  young  ladies,  who,  in  white 
lobes,  strewed  flowers  before  him  on  his  path. 
Soho  was  also  seen,  where  appropriate  medals 
were  struck,  and  where  an  interview  was  had  with 
Matthew  Boult^m  in  his  bed-room.  In  the 
evening  there  was  a  grand  banquet^  to  which 
Nelson  was  invited  by  the  High  and  Low  Bailiffs, 
as  the  chief  authorities  of  the  town.  And  there 
occurred  one  of  those  events  which  look  so  stiange 
and  odd  to  us  by  the  lapse  of  only  50  years.  We 
are  gravely  told  that  **  Lady  Hamilton  condcacend- 
i^gly  gratified  the  company  with  several  most 
appropriate  charming  songs,"  ^gaiu  there  was 
a  visit  to  the  Theatre,  a  torch-Hght  procession, 
crowds,  songs  in  his  laudation,  and  again  the 
populace  drew  him  to  tbe  hotel.  Next  day  there 
was  a  walking  party  to  Mr.  Raden burst's  whip 
manufactory,  the  toy  warehouse  <if  Mtsssrs. 
Kichards,  Mr.  Pbii>snn'a  pin  manufactory^  and 
the  Bhie  Coat  Scliool.  At  oneoVlock  the  gallant 
Admiral,  who  had  won  the  hearts  of  Llie  people 
by  his  frank  sailor-like  honesty  and  bearing,  left 
Birmingham  for  Warwick  Castle,  amidst  the 
acclamations  of  one-half  of  the  population,  never 
to  return. 

In  May,  1806,  we  had  among  us  a  royal  visitor, 


ILRH.  Prince  William  of  Gloucester.  When  it 
was  kiiowu,  on  Monday,  the  13th  of  that  month, 
that  the  Prince  intended  to  stop  here  on  his  way  to 
Liverpool,  on  the  foDowing  moniing,  every  arrange- 
ment was  made,  considering  the  shortness  of  the 
notice,  to  manifest  the  loyalty  of  Birmingham,  to 
the  House  of  Brunswick.  On  Tuesday  morning, 
the  Loyal  Birmingham  Volunteers,  preceded  by  n 
party  of  the  Boyal  Dragoons  from  the  Barracks, 
marched  to  Camp  Hill,  where  they  were  drawn 
up  in  line  to  receive  the  Prince,  who  arrived  aboat 
one  o^clock,  and  was  escorted  to  Styles'*8  Hotel, 
(afterwards  the  "Koyal,"  Temple  Row,)  whert 
the  Magidtmtes,  the  High  Bailiff,  and  other 
gentlemen  were  assembled  to  receive  him.  After 
the  military  left  the  hotel,  they  i»araded  in  New 
Street,  and  on  his  royal  highness  being  informed 
of  the  circumstance,  he  immediately  joined  them, 
walking  uncovered  along  the  whole  hne^  **he 
saluted  the  officers  as  he  passed,  and  thanked  them 
and  the  privates  for  their  polite  and  marktHl 
attention,  and  observed  that  he  had  never  seen  a 
liner  body  of  soldiers."  The  Prince  was  then 
conducted  to  the  principal  places  of  intercut 
in  the  town  :  the  Mint,  and  other  objects  nf 
curiosity  at  Soho,  Mr.  Eginton*s  exhibition  of 
stained  glass,  and  Mr.  Clay's  papier-m&ch^  mimih 
factory,  on  the  Tuesday ;  and  on  the  Wetlne^diiy 
morning  to  Woolcy's  sword  factory,  Simcox  ami 
Timmins's  brass- works,  and  Kichards*s  toy-shop, 
in  the  High  Street.  The  Gtizctte  rt'corda  with 
high  eulogium,  the  patriotism  of  the  Volunleen* 
on  this  cM;casion,  of  whom  the  greatest  part  «»1 
the  three  battalions,  **  when  the  drums  beat  to  nnm 
,  .  ,  assembled  at  head  quarters  in  little  murp 
than  half  an  hour,  fully  armed  and  (iccoulicd  fur 
the  field,  unknowing  for  what  service  they  were 
so  hastily  called  out,  hut  full  of  ardent  tm]  for 
the  cause  for  which  they  had  associated,  aud 
indifferent  in  their  choice  whether  to  pay  respect 
to  the  family  of  their  sovereign,  or  to  fight  tlie 
battles  of  their  country,"  The  Prince  left  ilie 
town  about  three  o'clock  on  Wednesday  afternoon, 
on  his  way  to  Liveipool. 


Cfitne  in  Blnningliaiu,  taOMSlO  ] 


OLD  AND  NEW  BIEMINGHAM. 


329 


('rime  inci*eajsei1,  and  nssiimed  its  woi'st  form — 
that  of  murder— during  tins  deciule,  and  we  have 
it»  record  in  the  present  clironicle  the  first  and 
nnly  public  execution  within  the  Ijonndarips  of 
the  toMTi.  A  watchman  nantcil  K'nhcrt  Twiford, 
pacing  Snnw  Hill  during  the  ni^^ht  of  July  18th, 
1806,  had  occasion  to  question  Bome  suspicions 
cliamcter  who  was  prowling  aht>ut  the  silent 
Mpeets;  while  the  guardian  of  the  peace  was 
4U0dtioning  him,  he  was  shot  hy  a  pistol  bullet, 
and  martally  wounded.  One  Philip  Matsell  was 
»iwpe<!t4>d  of  the  crime,  ai rested,  an«1,  being  tried 
at  Warwick^  was  found  guiJty,  and  condemneil  to 
he  hanged  on  the  spot  where  the  fonl  deed  was 
committed. 

On  the  morning  of  August  22nd,  a  strange 
grim  sight  was  witnessed  in  the  busy  streets  of 
Birmingham,  such  as  had  never  been  seen  in  tlie 
town  before.  A  gibbet  was  erected  near  the 
liottoni  of  Snow  Hill, — at  the  end  of  Great 
Cliarles  Street, — with  a  scaffold  below.  Large 
crowds  of  the  idle,  the  dissolute,  and  the  curious, 
turDed  out  to  see  the  unwonted  eight.  Many 
met  the  mourning  coach  containing  the  wretched 
eriminal  at  Camp  Hill,  (on  its  way  from  Warwick 
to  the  place  of  execution,  and  greeted  Matsell 
with  yelis,  groans,  and  hisses.  Here  he  was 
brought  out  in  the  midst  of  the  flense  multitude, 
pinioned  by  the  executioner  with  cords,  in  sight 
of  them  all,  placed  in  an  open  cart  covered  with 
black,  and  with  his  coffin  before  him,  the  hang- 
man on  one  side,  and  a  cJergynian  on  the  other, 
the  doleful  procession  passed  slowly  through 
Deritend  on  its  way  to  Snow  Hill.  On  reaching 
the  fatal  spot,  a  strange  spectacle  presented  itself 
ta  the  view.  Away  up  the  hills  an  three  si<les, — 
up  Great  Charles  Street,  up  the  hill  on  which 
Little  Hampton  Street  now  stands,  and  up  Snow 
1 1  illt  was  a  dense  throng  of  nearly  fifty  thousand 
persons ;  some  eobbing  hysterically  at  the  unusual 
Btglrt,  some  jeering  and  shouting,  and  some  curs- 
tug,  and,  as  it  seemed^  only  one  man  in  the  vast 
crowd  calm  and  coUectecl,  and  that  one  the 
culprit  himself.     With  the  reckless  spirit   of  a 


bravo,  spurning  all  spiritual  consolation*  casting 
one  glance  at  the  hideous  pamphemalia  of  death, 
he  refused  all  aid  in  mounting  the  ladder,  and 
clenching  his  hands  together,  bound  as  they  were, 
with  a  *'  Tlere  goes  ! "  he  leaped  in  the  air,  and, 
almost  before  the  shudder  which  had  passed 
through  the  va^^t  assembly  had  become  unfelt, 
the  scatrold  wns  instantly  removed,  and  the 
htipless  murderer  was  left  suspended  on  a  gibbet 
twenty  feet  high.  Tbis  was  the  first  and  last 
execution  Avithin  the  boundaries  of  Birmingham, 
and  the  last  in  the  neighboiuhood. 

Eobberies  and  burglaries  were  of  frequent 
occurrence  ;  "  scarcely  a  house,"  says  one  writer, 
"  was  unarnierl  away  from  the  centre  of  the 
town.  Every  mtm  bad  to  defend  his  own  pre- 
mises, as  the  authorities  could  not  do  it  for  Mm, 
Sometimes  houses  were  regidarly  attacked  ;  at 
short  intervals  tales  of  burglars  shot,  or  of 
inmates  wounded,  were  common.  Predatory 
bands  scoured  the  roads  in  every  direction,  and 
did  not  hesitate  to  attack  the  equipages  of  travel- 
lers, often  acconipHshing  by  stratagem  what  they 
could  not  effect  by  force."  The  old  newspapers  of 
this  period  alford  a  curiouR  insfight  into  the  condi- 
tion of  affiiirs  in  this  respect,  xmd  the  dangers  of 
the  road.  During  1805  wo  read  that  "  a  trunk 
was  cut  from  off  Lord  Derby *s  carriage  upon 
Hockley  Hill,"  and  that  **a  trunk  was  stolen 
from  the  caniago  of  Lord  Catbcart  in  Deritend  j'* 
and  many  other  instances  of  daring  robberies 
committed  in  open  daylight  might  be  gleaned 
from  the  Gazt^fh  and  Cfnwikk  of  that  time. 
On  the  18th  of  April,  1804,  we  read  of  the 
discovery  of  two  nests  of  coiners  in  the  town. 
**  At  one  place  in  Thomas  Street/'  says  the 
report,  "the  constables  were  obliged  to  shoot 
a  large  mastiff  before  they  could  approach  the 
house ;  but  this  act  so  intimidated  the  fellows 
that  they  gave  themselves  up,  throwing  some 
bags  of  base  metal  out  of  the  window,  to  prevent 
them  being  found  upon  the  jiremises."  The 
constables,  however,  **  discovered  as  many  imple- 
ments   as    filled    a   cart  ;    and   a  quantity   of 


I 


finished    coin    was    found    between    the    be<la 
and  tlie  s^^cking." 

Many  of  those  coiners,  burglars,  and  footpaik 
were  hanged.  A  most  Bickoniiig  siglit  waa  wit- 
nessed at  Wash  wood  Ileiith, — on  the  8i>ot  where 
Pitmore  and  Hammond  sutF'^red  in  1781, — on 
tlie  19th  of  Apiil,  iS02,  when  eight  men  wei-e 


100,000  fiersons,  it  was  computed,  iijjsembled  to 
witness  the  hist  sentence  of  the  law  carriixl  iati> 
execution.  The  cuJprita  left  Warwick  at  eight 
in  the  morning,  heavily  ironed,  and  manacled  lo 
the  transport  ciirriiige,  ftttcnded  by  peace  offittai 
and  a  s^imnlron  of  yeomanry  cavalry.  Thus  they 
slowly  advani:ed  until  they  reached  Castle  Unrn- 


executed  at  one  tiiiui ;  fi>ur  for  burgliiiy  and  four 
for  foi^ery.  The  forgers  were  all  Birmingham 
men,  the  eldest  of  them  being  forty-ninc  years  of 
age,  and  the  youngest  only  twenty -seven  ;  the 
names  c^f  these  were  Joseph  Hill,  Joseph  Carter, 
Benjamin  Baker,  find  Edward  Hill.  The  four 
borgkrs  \^ero  mere  yuuths, — three  of  tlieui  under 
twenty -five  years  of  age,— and  were  named  8aniuel 
Bryan,  Julm  Parked,  Francis  8winey,  and  Thomas 
Moore;  these  suOe red  for  otfences  cotLmitted  in 
the  county.  *'The  day  was  fine,*'  says  an  old 
account   of   this    uioumful    event,    **and   nearly 


wieJi.  Til  ere  tliey  ate,  and  drank  a  partixkg  finp 
of  ale,  iiud  llii-n  were  drawn  at  a  foot  pace  aid 
esetirtt'ii  by  .^evoial  troops  of  dragoons  to  the  ibopi 
Although  they  lutd  been  six  hours  on  the  journey, 
they  siioweil  no  signs  of  fatigue  when  tlieir  irons 
were  knocked  off,  and  they  were  pinioned  in 
sight  of  tlie  vast  concourse  nf  people.  They 
mounted  the  scaffold  one  by  one,  firm  and  un> 
shaken,  and  when  thuy  had  met  there,  Carter 
gave  out  a  psalm,  and  the  poor  criminals  Siing 
that  and  a  hymn.  Then  one  after  another  they 
spoke  to  the  people ;  a  few  moments  after,  died ; 


\  Etighumton.  ] 


OLD   AND  NEW  BIEMmGHAM. 


331 


» 


I 
I 


I 


% 


and  yet  n  little  while  longer,  when  they  were  cut 
down  and  delivered  to  their  friends." 

In  the  last  year  of  tins  decatle  the  town  was 
again  the  scene  of  a  riot,  which  began  from  an 
insignificant  eanae,  that  of  a  quarrel  between  two 
women  over  the  price  of  some  potatoes*  It 
commenced  in  the  market-place,  on  Monday,  May 
38,  1810  ;  the  dispute  naturally  enough  collected 
a  little  crowd  around  the  women,  and  before  long 
the  spectators  began  to  manifest  a  desire  to  take 
part  in  the  quarrel  A  riot  ensued,  but  very 
little  damage  was  caused^  in  consequence  of  tho 
prompt  action  of  the  authorities  in  quelling  the 
disturbance*  The  worse-disposed  among  the  crowd, 
disappointed  in  their  hope  of  seeing  another 
general  riot,  aUrted  off  to  the  little  village  of 
E4lgba8ton,  and  there  commenced  a  little  riot  on 
ihcir  own  account,  by  violently  entering  the  house 
of  a  respectable  farmer,  breaking  the  windows 
and  the  furnituiv,  iuid  leaving  the  interior  of  the 
house  almost  a  wreck,  A  troop  of  the  seventh 
di»goon  guards  soon  appeared  on  the  scene,  and 
captured  thirteen  of  the  mob,  (while  in  the  act 
of  plundering  and  destroying  the  farmer^a  property) 
bringing  them  tie<l  togother  with  a  rope,  into  the 
town,  where  they  were  safely  lodged  in  the  prison, 
in  Moor  Street*  On  Tuesday  morning  tho  mob 
again  assembled,  and  attacked  another  farm-house 
at  Edgbaston,  (that  of  Afn  AVliecdey,  in  AYTioeley'a 
Lane)  where  they  began  to  plunder,  but  were 
speedily  interrupted  by  the  arrival  of  a  troop  of 
the  Warwickshire  Y<?<:>manry,  which  had  mustered 
with  praiseworthy  speed,  and,  taking  ii\'e  of  the 
lioters  into  custody,  prevented  further  mischief. 
Tljerc  were  now,  altogether,  twenty  of  these  Jir«- 
brands,  wlio  wore  brought  before  the  magistrates, 
and  committed  to  take  their  trial  at  Warwick,  to 
which  plac«  they  were  conveyed  in  three  coaches, 
under  strimg  escort.  On  Tuesday  evening  a  third 
attempt  at  disorder  was  made  at  the  bottom  of 
Snow    Hill ;    but    the    Handsworth   Volunteer 

iJry  arrived  speedily  and  put  to   flight  the 
rbem  of  the  peace,  suffering  no  worse  injury 
tbUL  yfM  in4i«;Wd  bj  a  volley  of  stones  and  brick- 


batsi,  ITie  rioters  at  Kdgbaston  were  tried  in 
July,  and  sentencod  to  various  terms  of  imprison- 
ment. 

At  the  same  Sessions  a  case  was  heard  which 
should  interest  Birmingham  men,  inasmuch  as  it 
would  appear  to  have  been  one  of  the  first  in 
which  an  attempt  was  made  to  stifle  political 
opinion,  and  was  the  preciursor  of  those  persecu- 
tions which  have  rendered  the  struggle  for  political 
freedom  one  of  the  most  heroic  episodes  in  the 
annals  of  our  town, 

* 'A  decent  looking  man  "  name<l  Joseph  Fellows," 
was  indicted  for  having,  ou  the  30th  May  last,  un- 
lawfully endeavoured,  by  words  and  gestures,  to 
excite  divers  of  his  Majesty ^s  liege  subjects  to  riot 
against  the  Kiug^s  peace.  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Gordon  was  the  prosecutor.  He  stated  that  on 
the  30th  May,  about  ten  o'clock  at  night,  he  had 
seen  a  great  nmuher  of  ]ieoplc  collected  together  at 
the  corner  of  Temple  Street ;  that  he  heard  one 
man  haranguing  the  mob,  and  speaking  very  loud, 
who  proved  to  be  the  prisoner.  Fellows,  He  heard 
him  say,  **  T  can  earn  tive-and-twenty  sbillinga  a 
week,  and  that  is  not  suflficieut  to  support  me  "  ; 
and,  further  addressing  himself  to  the  people^ 
**  You  must  right  yourselves,  and  now  is  the 
time."  In  the  gallant  Culonel's  eyes  this  was 
seditious  ;  ho  pressed  through  the  mob,  and  seized 
Fellows  by  the  collar ;  the  people  rescued  liim, 
and  in  the  scuffle  the  Colonel  received  a  violent 
blow  on  the  head  from  a  large  stone  which  was 
thrown,  and  became  insensible.  Poor  Fellows, 
however,  was  re-arrested  and  thrown  into  prison  ; 
but  was  we  are  happy  to  say,  acquitted  by  the 
jury  at  the  Warwick  Sessions. 

During  the  Parliamentary  session  of  1801,  an 
Act  was  passed  to  amend  and  enlarge  the  previous 
Birmingham  Street  Acts  of  1769  and  1773.  The 
new  Act  began  by  adding  to  the  iniinh<>r  of  Com- 
missioners, and  among  those  inchided  in  the  list 
were  Samuel  Galton,  Richard  Tapper  Cadbury, 
George  Lander,  Thomas  Hutton,  (son  of  the  his- 
torian), John  Ryland,  and  other  well-known  and 
i£»apccted  citizens.    Tlie  improvements  which  had 


I 

i 


I 


been  projected  so  long,  and  which  we  have  already 
noticed  in  oar  smrey  of  the  town  during  this 
period  as  completed,  wore  again  included  in  the 
third  street  Act;  aitch  as  the  removal  of  the 
Wdlcb  Cross  and  four  houses,  for  the  purpoae  of 
widening  the  lower  end  of  Bull  Street;  the 
removal  of  the  houses  surrounding  8t.  Martin's 
Church,  the  Round-about  Houses,  and  the  remain- 
ing part  of  the  tShamljles.  Other  iniprovoments 
were  also  provided  for  by  this  Act;  viak,  the 
widening  of  Swan  Alley,  (upper  part  of  Worcester 
Street,)  also  the  lower  end  of  the  same  thorough- 
fare^— the  only  portion  which  then  l>ore  the 
latter  name  ;  and  the  wideiiing  of  the  lower  end 
of  Moor  Street,  {by  removing  eighteen  bouses.) 

By  a  further  amendment  Act  in  1812,  encroach- 
ments and  projections  are  forbidden ;  the  Com- 
raiiwioners  may  order  projecting  signs  to  be  fixed 
tlat  ui>on  the  fronts  of  the  houses,  and  if  this  h 
not  done  within  three  months,  they  may  "  cmtse 
such  signs,  emblems,  sign  poets,  sign  irons,  pent 
houses,  shew  boards,  stalls,  window  shuttei^  and 
flaps,  porches^  sheds,  butthers'  stalls,  bulks  and 
gallowses,  shambles,  blocks,  or  pieces  of  timber, 
chopping  blocks,  water  big  tubs  or  troughs,  posts, 
rails,  and  stumps,  and  all  other  encroachments, 
nuisances,  or  annoyances  whatsoever,  to  be  taken 
down  or  removed;"  This  list  of  encroachments 
affords  us  a  curious  picture  of  the  old  fashioned 
appearance  of  the  town^  even  as  late  as  the 
beginning  of  the  nineteenth  century.  The  old 
swinging  signs,  the  sign-poats  and  watering  troughs 
in  front  of  the  old-fashioned  inns,  the  open  shop 
ftonts,  with  projecting  show-boards,  the  quaint 
projecting  "bulk  windows/*  houses  with  outside 
window  shutters  and  flajjaj— all  these  are  the 
true  signs  of  a  quiet  old  country  town,  and  may 
be  seen  to-day  in  many  such  throughout  England. 

Ninety-nine  persons  were  named  in  this  amend- 
ment Act,  as  Commissioners,  and  power  was 
given  to  them  to  fill  up  vacancies  occiuring  in 
their  body,  it  being  provided  that  each  Com- 
missioner should  be  an  inhabitant,  mted  at  not 
lees  than  £15  per  annum  to  the  poor  rate,  and 


Ttally  and  bond-fide^  of  real  ot^ 
son&I  estate  to  the  value  of  £1,000. 

But  by  far  the  most  important  of  tlie  provisioM 
of  this  Act  of  1812  was  that  empowering  thi 
Commissioners  to  treat  with  the  Lord  of  Ikt 
Manor  for  the  lease  or  purchase  of  his  moxketBi 
fairs,  and  other  manorial  rights  and  to  buy  "i 
piece  of  land  with  the  buildings  thereon,  called 
the  Moat  and  >roat  House,"  to  enclose  the  same 
to  form  the  Smithfield  Market  But  oa  ihm 
changes  properly  belong  to  the  next  decade  of 
our  history,  we  shall  defer  the  more  parUctdir 
notice  of  them  until  Uie  next  chapter  of  our 
chronicle  of  events. 

The  signature  of  the  Amiens  Treaty  of  Peace  in 
1802  was  celebrated  in  Bimmigbam  with  greit 
rejoicing,  notwithstanding  the  fact  that  the  pici- 
perity  of  certain  local  trades  was  likely  to  sate 
therefrom.  "The  joyful  information/'  sap  the 
Gtadtey  **  was  first  brought  to  this  town  on  Tuca- 
day  morning,  (March  30th,)  before  three  o'clock, 
by  the  Balloon  Post  Coach,  which  came  from 
London  (110  miles)  in  ten  hours  and  forty  rainiite& 
The  streets  were  in  a  very  short  time  crowded 
with  trmusauds  of  people,  in  anxious  expectation 
of  the  Mail,  which  came  in  between  nine  and  tsn, 
drawn  by  six  horses,  and  decorated  with  flagi^ 
ribbons,  etc.  Immediately  on  its  arnvid  at  the 
Inn  the  populace  took  out  the  horsee,  and  dragged 
it  in  exultation  round  the  town  for  several  bona' 
Bonfires  and  a  general  illumination  concluded  the 
day*s  rejoicings,  and  the  next  morning  Uie  Uijtl 
Association  met  in  New  Street,  and  fired  n  feude 
joie^  and  in  the  evening  another  and  more  spleo- 
did  illumination  (on  which  occasion  the  Solo 
factory  was  illuminated  with  gas),  concluded  the 
celebrations.  At  Aston  the  fK)or  were  feasted  m 
honour  of  the  Peace,  on  the  second  of  April,  hi" 
the  owner  of  the  estates,  Mr.  Heneiige  Legge.  An 
ox  and  two  sheep  were  roasted,  and  these,  with  » 
liberal  supply  of  ale,  were  distributed  to  the  poorer 
inhabitants  of  the  village,  A  day  of  public  ilianb* 
giving  was  appointed,  (June  1st,)  and  sexrioai 
were  held  in  all  the  churches  and  oHapels  of  ths 


Tlimtancd  InTUion  of  Ensluid.]  OLD    AND    NEW    BIEMINGIIAM. 


33S 


£      8. 

d. 

13    6 

6i 

22  17 

8 

24  12 

8 

11     1 

0 

5  11 

7 

4     8 

4 

£81  12     9i 


Establiabment,  after  which  collections  were  made 
on  behalf  of  the  Sunday  Schools  of  the  town ; 
the  following  sums  were  received : — 

St.  Martm*s 

St  Philip-s 

St.  Marj's      

8t,  Paul*8 

BU  BAAthoIomew's    .. 

St  J<ime*s,  Asliteci 

p      The  peace  which  was  so  joyfully  celebrated  was 

of  short  duration.     Early  in  the  following  year 

be  country  was  threatened  with  invasion  by  that 

cond    "scourge  of  God,"  Napoleon  Bonaparte, 

ad  at  once,  as  in  the  days  of  good  Queen  Bess, 

tie  whole  nation,  fired  with  patriotic  zeal,  was 

"roused  to  amis  to  oppose  the  insolent  invader. 

In  Binningliam  suhscnptions  Howed  in  rapidly, 

Bikd   at   the   first  meeting,    which   was   held   at 

HBtjlen'B   Hotel   on  the  15th  of  August^   it  was 

Hmnounced  that  already  neitrly  X4,600  had  been 

^peceived   for  the   defence   of   the   country ;   the 

greatest  unanimity  prevailed  in  this  movement; 

"  even  those  persons  who  have  on  former  occ^isions 

60  widely  diflered  from  their  fellow-townsmen  on 

political  subjects,  now  declared  theii'  sentiments 

to  be  in  full  unison  with  the  rest  of  the  meeting, 

and  that  they  were  wiiling  to  come  fonvard  with 

their  last  shilling,  and  to  spend  the  last  drop  of 

■ftlxeir  blood  in  support  of  this  now  happy  country 

Bjgainst   the   threats   of   the   Corsican  Usurper." 

H    Nor  did  our  townsmen  remain  content  with  the 

offer    of   their  money  j    their   persons  and  their 

jperiy  were  also  to  be  at  the  King*s  service. 

bose  were  the  days  of  slow  travelling,  compared 

oor  own;   and,  odd  as  it  may  sound  to 

lern  ears,  it  was  an  offer  by  no  means  to  be 

laspiaed   which  Mr.   liohert   8,   Skey  made,  in 

eng^log  "  to  have  at  the  disposal  of  Government, 

io  ease  of  invasion^  ten  boats    (together  of  200 

tons   tonnage)   at  his   wharf  in  this  town,   and 

^tocn   boats    (of  300  tons)    at  Stourport,  with 

mieti  nod  boraes,  and  also  two  wa^gonR  and  horse?, 


with  drivers.*'  Mr.  Styles,  of  the  Hotel,  also 
uffered  "all  his  chaises  and  horses  to  convey  his 
Majesty's  troops,  free  of  expense,  to  the  extent  of 
one  stage,  at  any  time  in  case  of  invasion."  On© 
very  droll,  yet  truly  noble,  instance  of  patriotism 
among  the  working  classes  is  recorded  in  the 
Gazette ;  that  of  **  Wul  Jones,  a  jobbing  smith 
of  this  town,"  who  **  fearful  that  his  age  (73) 
would  preclude  him  from  serving  his  country, 
made  his  return  53,  at  the  same  time  offering 
himself  as  a  volunteer."  Another,  William 
Cooke,  a  holt-maker  of  this  town,  on  receiving  his 
bounty  to  serA^e  as  a  substitute  in  the  Warwick- 
shire Militia,  sent  five  guineas  of  the  same  to  the 
patriotic  fund  at  Lloyd's,  Truly  these  examples 
of  seK'dcvotion  and  patriotism  make  us  proud  of 
our  townamen,  and  glad  to  bo  able  to  say,  "  I, 
too,  am  a  Birmingham  man  ! " 

The  old  volunteer  movement  received  a  Ui^w 
impetus  from  this  threatened  invasion;  three 
l>attalions  were  formed,  and  both  cavalry  and 
infantry  were  put  upon  permanent  pay.  Tht^ 
ladies  %vere  appealed  to  for  a  supply  of  flannel 
jackets,  to  defend  the  brave  defenders  from  the 
severity  of  a  cold  and  wet  winter  campaign ;  and 
it  need  scarcely  be  said  that  they  responded 
nobly  to  the  appeal  Before  the  end  of  the  year 
more  than  five  thousand  dresses  were  promised, 
and  the  ladies  had  also  subscribed  more  than 
j£700  in  money.  Field-days  and  reviews  folio werl 
in  rapid  succession ;  and  a  curious  code  of  signals 
for  parade  was  published  in  the  Gazette^  as 
follows : — 

Loyal  BiRMiNoaAM  VoLrNTEEHs. 

Feb.  20,  1804.  The  following  signals  for  the  parade 
or  assemhly  of  the  battalions,  are  in  futim;  to  be  hoisted 
on  St.  PhUip*a  Church;-- 

First  Battalion       A  Ball. 

Second         , ,  A  Pendant- 
Third           Two  Peodante. 

First,  Second,  imd  Third  ...  A  Hall  over  two  Pendants. 

First  and  Second A  Ball  mid  a  Pendant. 

Firet  and  Third     A  Ball  between  two  Pendants. 

Second  and  Third  ...         ...  Two  Pendants  over  a  Ball. 

The  signals  to  be  continued  ontil  the  bnttalionis  are 
diHTniftsed,  nnd  to  be  withdrawn  if  any  cause  prerexit  their 
assembling. 


aai 


OLD  AND  NEW  BERMINGHAM. 


(Die  PubAlel 


This  elal>omte  cod» 
to  be  confuaing,  and  a 


IS  soon  found 
..  ^  issuetl : 


February  27,  1804.  The  signals  armuged  for  assembling 
the  Loyal  Birmingham  Voluuteei«  being  oonBidered  too 
complkatod,  the  roliowing  are  to  be  nudo  use  of  in  future^ 
•nd  diaplaywi  at  the  top  of  St  PlxiKp'a  Church  :  To  call 
oat  tlie 

First   Battalion A  Ball. 

Second  Battalion        A   Flag. 

Third  Battalion A  Pendant. 

On  the  29th  August,  a  large  and  enthusiastiii 
conconrso  of  the  inhabitants, — upwards  of  30,000 
in  ntunber,  asaeinbled  on  Moseley  Wake  Greeu  to 
witness  the  preaentation  of  colours  to  the  first 
and  third  battalions  of  the  Loyal  Volunteers^  (the 
Bocond  battalion  having  already  received  ita 
colours  from  the  Coantesa  of  Dartmouth  ;)  **  the 
Conimittee,"  says  the  Gazette^  **  had  made  the 
necessary  preparations  to  render  the  spectaele 
interesting,  while  at  the  same  time  every  pre- 
caution was  taken  to  avoid  every  eonfusiou  and 
accident.  ,  .  ,  Not  an  accident  of  the  least 
consequence  occurred  to  mar  the  brilliancy  of  the 
scene,  although  upwards  of  30,000  peracne  were 
present  from  the  adjacent  country.'*  With  this 
scene  we  take  oudeave  of  the  Birmingham 
Volunteers, 

We  quote  from  the  Gftzefk  of  June  IBth,  1804, 
a  notice  of  the  death  of  its  editor  {to  whom  all 
hiatorians  of  the  town  will  be  deeply  indebted),  as 
a  memorial  of  an  old  Iwal  journalist  as  well  as  of 
an  old  and  honoured  Warwitrkshiro  family,  that 
of  the  Kov.  Frsmcis  Bhck,  for  many  years  vicar 
of  Tarn  worth  : — 

**  III  the  perform  a  ii€o  of  a  piiinfiil  duty,  we  hftv<?  to  ndd 
to  the  catalogue  of  niortnlity  this  week,  thts  tiniiKj  of 
Mr.  Francis  Blick,  Kditor  uf  this  Gnzette,  ami  son  of  tlio 
Bev»  F.  Blirk,  of  Bonelnll,  near  Taiuworlh  :  lie  died  on 
Monday  morning  Ifiat,  after  a  few  days'  illness.  It  will 
not  bo  too  much  to  say  of  hii"*  character,  that  lie  waa  Ht 
once  a  patient  to  youth  and  the  delight  of  Jiis  friends. 
Endowed  with  a  peiivt rating  genius,  a  ruind  uf  ancouinion 
strength,  anil  a  judgment  reniarkaddy  acute,  this  imdable 
young  gentleman  had  lEort-  than  ei^nalled  all  the  warmest 
expectation  ft  of  a  fond  and  exulting  partnt.  At  the  age 
of  twenty- till ee  he  m*cui«  to  havtt  gninod,  and  worthily 
|iOB£e«sud,  every  honour  that  nioml  conduct  could  merit, 
every  prize  that  ^wlished  nmnnerj^*  and  sn|>erior  abilities, 
could  contend  for.      Btit,  ahiA  *  the  weakut-iki  of  hia  frnme 


owned  uo  kindred  to  the  energies  of  his  mind.  He  bad 
accumulated  upon  it  a  burthen  not  proportioned  to  i& 
powem,  and,  like  ill-sort eil  trarellera,  they  Tery  i 
parted.  He  has  been  torn  from  the  ODJoyuieuta  of  Hfej 
a  period  when  the  mellow  fiuit  of  study,  and  the 
prospect  of  indepandence,  beamed  fall  upon  him  ;  aod  i 
are  persuaded  there  is  not  a  single  individaid  in  tlw  «ii*> 
extended  circle  of  hia  acquaintance}  who  will  not  lo^  «lid 
sincerely  lament  bis  loss.  The  premature  disolotiM 
which  we  are  under  the  sad  neceasity  of  recording,  ilTaids 
a  striking  memoria]  of  the  uncertainty  of  life — an  swM 
admonitioa  to  be  at  all  tiroes  prepared  for  death,  and  for 
that  great  erent,  when  we  know  that  the  moral  condncti 
which  we  conimemonite,  sprung  from  faith  in  Chiut, 
early  iniplante<l  and  deeply  roote*i,  we  may  humbly  hope 
our  young  and  Tidued  friend  w&s  not  unprepared.' 

In  1B05»  an   important  and  necessaiy  pnh 

building   was  commenced,   the    need    of  whid 

since  tbo  removal  of  the  old  Market  Cross, 

been  sorely  felt.     It  is  thus  noticed  in  the  Gaz* 

of  September  23rd,  1805  :— 

*'  On  Wednesday  moniing,  the  first  at^ne  of  the  T*rit' 
offices  for  the  convenience  of  the  Magistrates,  the  acdjia- 
modatiou  of  the  town,  and  the  more  tranquil  and  pri^te 
conveyance  of  prisoners,  was  laid  by  the  High  BailitT^  aad 
this  ueces»ary  and  important  nndertakiug  was  hononml 
by  the  presence  of  the  Free  Madons  in  their  way  to  St 
Martin's  ( 'hurcb.  The  committee  for  erecting  the  edificeSi 
by  invitation  of  the  High  Bailiif,  partook  of  a  aocialiit_ 
entiirtainment  at  Mr.  Freetb's  Tavern,  in  Bell  StPeet** 

TJie  most  welromo  news  to  the  inhabit 
respecting  this  und*«rtaking  was  conveyed  in 
parjigraph  in  the  same  newspapeor  of  October  2$ti 
in  which  it  whs  aunoimced  **thttt  such  prudent 
arrangenients  have  been  made  by  tlio  GuafUiass 
and  Overseers  of  this  towUi  that  the  expeHMt 
incurrotl  in  erecting  the  New  Piiblic  O0ica  an 
Prison,  in  ^Mixir  Street^  wflt  be  de/traj^^d  tcith 
the  burden  of  an*/  addittoftal  levies  ftrttuj  tmdj 
the  inhabitantif  Jor  thai  jmiyottttj* 

That  part  of  the  new  building  which  compr 
the    Prison    House    and   Prison   was    complete 
within  twelve  months,  possession  being  taken  1 
the  keejier,  Mr,  Payn,  on  the  23th  of  Septemb 
1806.     The  Public   Oihce  was  not  ready 
October,  1807,  being  oj^ened  for  the  firat  tinitt  Id 
the  transaction  of  public  business  on  the  19tli  ( 
that  month.     It   was  erected   from   designs 
Mr.  William   Hollins.  at  an  expense  of 
-£11,000,  upon  land  held  under  lea^e  from 


DMtkofNelaon.] 


OLD   AND    NEW   BIRMINGHAM. 


335 


governors  of  King  Edwanl's  School  It  is  in  the 
Ionic  style  of  arcliitecture,  ami  consists  of  a 
massive  ru8tieat»>tl  liaseinent»  with  two  wide 
arched  entrances,  and  a  lofty  story  above;  there 
is  a  balcony  in  fronts  surmoimtcd  with  a  deep 
enttiblikturc,  which  is  supported  by  hvo  pairs  of 
Ionic  colunina.     **The  fine  forms  of  the  order/' 


by  congenial  spirits,  the  conquest  was  achieved. 
This  fell  discord  marretl  the  general  harmony  of 
opinion.  Every  man  smiled  at  the  great  news  of 
victory  ;  but  Avhen  the  price  was  told  the  ^rniile 
was  followed  by  a  kiV////'  The  rejoicings  were  of 
a  siibducti  character ;  no  illuminations, — ^no  feast* 
ings, — and  even  the  joyous  clangour  of  the  bella 


Zkfi 


•^r-^^ 


r^rr±^ 


V*.*:  jr*?=:^> 


oT.n  n<»r.<'E!4  kemovki)  Ti»  \iakk  wav  fou  tuk  j-tiiiji   orKif  ks. 


f^  Mr.  Ikites,  **are  disfigured  by  injudiciously 
;ed  omiiments  and  variations,  luid  the  general 
atyle  may  be  objected  to  as  little  consistent  with 
the  purposes  of  its  destination." 

The  "  glorious  news  "  uf  Nelsuu's  final  victory 

£^ned,  like  8amfl0M*s  tif  old,  with  t!*e  loss  of  his 

own  life,  was  received  in  Birnungbam,  as  eUe- 

whepe^  with  mingled  feelings  of  joy  and  grief ; — 

**  never,"  says  the   Gazeffe,  **  wtia  tlie  victonous 

banner  bo  darkened  and  discoh>ured  as  this  has 

been  by  the  death  of  the  glorious  and  intrepid 

Chief ♦  through  whose  skilftd  arrangements,  aided 
43 


was  ever  and  anon  softened  into  a  muHlud  cliime 
fi>r  tlie  hero  who  uas  no  more. 

Hut  the  people  of  Binningham  resolved  to 
honmir  the  memory  .>f  "the  ?*aviour  of  the  silver- 
coasted  L*le,"  and  to  commemorate  the  vtctoiy  of 
Trafalgar  in  a  worthier  and  more  enduring 
manner,  aa  they  were  debarred  by  grief  from  the 
usuid  boisterous  celebration  in  which  they  had 
hoped  to  indulge,  A  meeting  wjis  hehl  on  the 
23rd  of  November,  1805,  **  to  take  into  considera- 
tion some  plan  for  erecting  a  Monument,  Statue, 
or  Pillar,  U\  the  memory  of  the  late  gallant  hero, 


I 

t 


I 


Xonl    Nelson,"    whereat    it    was    iinaiumously 
lesolved   that   some   such   memorial    should    be 
l^iected  by  giibscription  on  or  near  the  site  of  the 
Pld  Cross ;  but  the  precise  form  it  should  take  was 
left  open  for  f utm-e  consideration.     The  subscrip- 
tions  flowed   in  rapidly,  and   then  ensued   the 
battle  of  the  monuments.     One  was  for  a  **yaval 
Pillar/'   whatever   that   may   be ;     another  sup- 
ported the  suggestion  of   a  pillar,  because  "our 
departed  hero,  who  was  composed  of  materials 
truly    British,   might   be  justly   compared   to   a 
stately  EngJish  oak,  that  has  long  undauntedly 
stood  the  ravages  of  storms  and  tempo6t8,**^and 
the  piUar  **  raising  its  elevated  bead,"  seemed  to 
him   to  typify  the   giant  of  the  forest      "Our 
ingenious  townsman/*  Mr,  HoUins,  was  for  com- 
bining the  pillar  (which  was  t-o  be  one  hundred 
feet  high),  with  a  Uisefol  structure,  by  utilising  the 
basement  as  "a  dlttjjt'n^art/  and  /^t^^Z-^^/fyv,  or  for 
other  public  business,"     A  third  suggestion  was 
that  a  bronze  statue  should  bo  erected ;  wliile 
another  con-espoudent  supported   Mr.   irolHns*a 
utilitarian  pillar,  but  suggested  that  it  might  also 
combine  all  the  other  features ;  a  niche  for  the 
bronze  statue,  sculptured  bas-reliefs  of  '*  tlie  most 
splendid  Nclsonic  victories/'  and  the  combined 
post    ofRce    and    dispensar)%     The    Commercial 
HetrthJ  favoured  the  idea  of   the  bronze  statue, 
giving  as  a  reason  tliat*' there  at  present  exists  no 
situation  in  Birmingham  in  ivhich  a  Pillar  can  be 
advantageeuftly  placed;"  and  this  speedily  called 
forth  a  rejoinder  in  the  Gazrite^  pointing  out  the   ' 
suitable  position  of  the  Old  S(£uare  as  a  site;  and 
that  "whatever  may   be  erected  in  the   centre 
J;hereof,  will  not  only  be  seen  from  the  Grand 
Avenues  of  the  Town,  but  at  the  greatest  distance 
fatm  the  place,  it  being  many  fed  more  elevated 
than  any  spot  where  such  a  building  can  with 
propriety   be   erected."    The   discussion   was   at 
length  set  at  rest  by  a  resolution  of    the  sub- 
Bcrihers,  at  a  meeting  held  June  13th,  1806,  that 
a  statue  should  be  erected  from  the  model  pre- 
sented by   Mr.   Wcbtmacott,  a  committee  being 
appointed  **to  carry  the  resolution  into  effect" 


The  work  was  at  once  proceeded  with,  and  w<lb 
rt^ported,  by  the  end  of  1807,  to  be  "in  great 
forwardness/*  A  ujeeting  of  the  committee  wat 
held  early  in  December,  at  which  Mr.  Westmaootl 
was  present^  and  it  was  resolved  "  that  the  most 
eligible  place  to  erect  a  statue,  when  Hnished,  will 
be  the  centre  of  the  Market  Place,  nearly  oppoake 
the  Dog  Inn,  subject,  however,  to  the  approval  of 
the  Commissioners  of  the  Street  Acta." 

The  Jubilee  Day  of  George  the  Thiid,  was 
appropriately  chosen  for  the  inauguration  of  iht 
Kelson  Statue,  The  scaffold  surrounding  Wiut 
taken  down  at  midnight  on  the  24th  of  Octolier, 
1809,  the  people  enthusiastically  assisting  the 
workmen  in  removing  it  On  the  following  day, 
amid  great  rejoicing,  the  statue  was  uncoveaxl ;  ami 
the  following  description  of  the  work,  from  the  ^^ 
of  the  sculptor,  was  distributed  to  the  spectatctrs ; 

Id  this  work,  inttitukd  to  p«q«itaate  the  grcatett 
example  of  naval  genius,  simplicity  has  been  the  chief 
object  in  tbe  armngement.  The  hero  ui  represented  in  » 
reposed  nnd  dignified  attitude,  his  left  ann  recliiuDg  oil 
nn  anchor;  he  aj^pears  m  the  costume  of  his  native 
country,  invented  with  the  insignia  of  those  honourtl^ 
wliith  his  aoTeroign  and  distant  princes  distinguished  him* 
To  the  right  of  the  atatnc  the  grand  symbol  of  the  naval 
profession  is  introduk^ed.  Victory,  the  constant  dttendout 
upon  her  favourite  hero,  embellishes  the  prow.  To  lh« 
left  is  dia[>os«d  a  sail,  which,  Ixjing  plac*d  behind  the 
statue^  gives  hreuilth  to  that  view  of  the  compoaitiott. 
Above  the  ship  is  a  facsimile  of  the  Flag  StJitr  Track  of 
L'Orieut,  which  was  fished  np  by  Sir  Samuel  Hood  th# 
day  following  the  battle  of  the  Nile,  and  pr^-sental  bf 
him  to  Lord  Nelson,  the  same  being  deposited  at  Mitford 
as  A  trophy  of  that  over  memorable  aijtion.  This  group 
is  mounted  upon  a  |iedestal  of  statuary  marble,  a  cirrular 
form  ha\nug  Iteen  selected  an  best  adapted  to  the  sitDAtiom 
To  personity  that  aflectionate  regard  which  caused  tiM 
present jjfttriotic  tribute  to  be  rftii»e<l,  the  town,  Biru 
is  repreaonted  in  a  dejected  attitude,  niunilly  cro« 
mourning  her  Joss  ;  she  lieing  accompanied  by  grott|Mi  of 
genii,  or  chihlren,  iu  ailuMion  to  the  dsing  gencmtiou, 
who  offer  consolation  to  her,  by  producing  the  tridsnt 
and  the  rudder. 

In  front  of  the  pedeaUd  is  the  following  insoriptioa  — 

This  Starve 

In    HoNoutt    OF 

Apmikal 

Lord      Nelson 

Was  EiiiXTKD 

BY   THE 

Inhabitants    o¥    BiftMKH<;iiAii. 

A.U,  M.DCCCIX. 


LooalTrtde*ftdComiiicitM7«^JaiO,J       OLD  AND  NEW    BIKMIXGIIAM. 


337 


^Tli^  whole  i*  enclosotl  by  iron  piLlisailoes,  in  the  form  of 

iling  pikeSj  connected  by  a  twisted  cable,  and  at  each 

of  the  four  corners  is  fixcii  a  e^innon  erect,  from  whioh 

>isiueM  ft  hinip  |K)st,  represcutiug  a  cluster  of  pikes 
•apiMirting  a  ship  lantern. 
A  curious  little  bequest  in  connootion  with  this 
Rstue  ought  to  be  mentioned  Lere  ;  Mr,  Joseph 
Farror,  an  auctioneer  living  in  High  Street, 
bequeathed  the  sura  of  sixpence  jier  week,  to  he 
L  p^d  for  ever  out  of  the  rent  of  a  house  in  Bradfoitl 
■  Street^  for  cleaning  the  statue  and  basement. 

For  nearly  fifty  yexirs  the   Nelson  statue  re- 

Imainad  the  only  monument  of  the  kind  in  the 
town.  On  the  13th  of  September,  1842,  the 
German  traveller,  J.  G.  Kohl,  visited  the  town, 
and  expressed  his  surprii?e  at  the  fact  that  we  had 
only  one  statue.  After  some  flippant  criticism 
ttsdpecting  the  armless  sleeve,  and  other  detaib, 
he  aaya  :  **  This  statue,  small  as  it  is,  is  the  only 
one,  literally  the  only  statue  that  Birmitighani  can 
boast  of  !  A  city  of  200,000  li\^ii^f  specimens  of 
humanity,  and  only  one  niarble  man  among  them  I 
la  liome  and  Athens  there  was  probably  a  statue 
or  a  monument  for  every  fifty  inhabitants  ;  hni 


oven  in  cities  of  more  modern  date,  as  T5erlin  or 
St  Peters hur^^,  there  will  scarcely  he  less 
than  a  statue  for  every  4,000  inhabitants.  It  may 
he  questioned  whether  in  the  whole  world 
another  town  of  equal  extent  and  importance 
could  be  found,  so  destitute  ot  public  monumenta 
as  Birmingham.  Kot  only  Liverpool,  Manchester 
and  ( Glasgow,  but  even  NcAvcastle,  llristol,  and 
Hull,  have  more  of  omhcllishment  to  boast  of,  to 
sny  nothing  of  such  magnificient  cities  as  Dublin 
and  Eilinhurgh*  Binnirigham  and  Leeds  appear 
to  me,  among  all  the  large  towns  of  Enghmd,  to 
be  the  two  most  destitute  of  taste,  ornament,  and 
enjoyment."  "We  have  now  *  reformed  that 
inditferontly,'  and  if  the  traveller  could  visit  the 
town  at  the  present  time  (18T9)  he  woukl  lind 
eight  men  of  bronze  and  marble  among  us,  besides 
buat^,  portraits,  an^l  other  memorials, — ^not  conn- 
ting  the  statue  of  George  Dawson,  now  in  progress ; 
he  would,  moreover,  on  closer  examination  of  th6 
Kelson,  find  that  at  the  period  of  his  visit,  we  had 
not  even   one   marUe  man,   hut    only    one    of 


CHAPTER      XLIX. 


LOCAL      TRADE     AKD      CO  M  M  E  RCE  — 1  7  65 -1  8  1  0. 


I  lu  Dlrmlflgbttiji— Ilutkin  on  Rich«s~FlT9t  Stoun  Engiaes— Wurkeni  In  Iron  and  Steel— The  Gun  Trtttle— btrord  Making— 
I  Work— TJewollcry— "  Golden  DiUitmcn  '*~<31«e8]iiAkfitg  and  other  tradei— Prlevs  of  vnrionn  articles. 


Vb  have  now  to  take  our  readers  hack  into  the 
eighteenth  century  for  a  while,  in  order  to  pick 
tip  the  threads  of  our  commercial  history  of  the 
town ;  and  wo  cannot  do  better  than  go  back  in 
Ibis  second  survey  of  local  enterprise,  to  the  date 
of  the  establishment  of  the  first  Birmingham 
Bank,  as  that  marks  the  beginning  of  a  now  era 
in  oar  commercial  hfe.  We  will,  therefore,  trace 
first  the  history  of  the  local  banks  during  the 
f  period  tinder  notice. 

"Perhaps,''  says  Hutton,  "  a  public  bank  is  as 


necessary  to  the  health  of  the  commercial  body, 
as  exercise  to  the  natural.  The  circulation  of  the 
blood  and  spirits  are  promoted  by  one,  as  are  cash 
and  bills  by  the  other.  Few  places  are  w^ithout ; 
yet  Birmingham,  famous  in  the  annals  of  traffic, 
could  boast  no  such  claim.  To  remedy  this 
defect,  about  every  tenth  trader  was  a  banker  or 
retailer  of  cash.  At  the  head  of  these  were 
marshalled  the  whole  train  of  drapers  jmd  grocers, 
tOl  the  year  1765,  when  a  regular  bank  was  con- 
stituted by  Messrs.  Taylor  and  Lloyd,  two  optdent 


OLD  AND   NEW    BIHMINGHAM.  (BtmimOw".!  inwiu  m  iw  i*ih  Ctotwy. 


trndesmen,  whose  credit  being  equal  to  that  of 
tlie  Eank  of  England,  qtiickly  collected  the 
feliining  rays  of  sterling  property  into  its  focus," 

Our  readers  have  alreiuiy  met  with  both  the 
founders  of  this,  the  oldest  Birmingham  Bank,  in 
the  course  of  our  narrative,  on  several  occasions. 
The  senior  partner  of  the  firm  was  tbts  celebrated 


bank,  and  the  transktor  of  Homer  and  ILoraoe, 
— is  preserved  in  the  HospitaL  The  hank  wai 
opened  June  3rd,  1765,  as  appears  &om  a  brief 
notice  in  AHit'g  Gauite^  of  June  10th,  in  that 
year, 

**  Success,*'   continues  Hutton,    •*  produced  a 
second  bank,  by  l^bert  Coales,  Esq,,  a  third  hy 


I 


John  Tayl(ir^  of  wliom  we  gave  a  short  notice  in 
our  first  chapter  of  liirmingham  worthies ;  the 
manufacturer  whoru  Iliitton  styled  'Hho  Shakes- 
pear  or  Kewton  of  his  day.'*  Mr,  Lloyd,  the 
junior  partner,  was  the  grandfather  of  Charlea 
Lloyd,  the  poet;  he  it  was  whom  Johnson 
visited,  accompanied  by  Hector  and  Boswell,  on 
the  occasion  of  the  Doctor's  brief  sojourn  in  the 
town  in  177G.  The  l>anking  firm  of  Taylor  and 
Lloyd  was  the  first  treasurer  to  the  General 
Hospital ;  and  a  line  bust,  by  W.  Hollins,  of 
Charles  Lloyd,  st^n.^  the  son  of  the  founder  of  the 


Fraucis  CJoodall,  Esq,,  and  Co.,  and  in  1791,  a 
fourth  by  Isaac  Spooner,  Eaq,,  and  Co/' 

The  year  1804  saw  two  additions  tcf  the  local 
banks  ;  the  first  wap  that  of  ilessrs,  Wilkinson, 
btartin,  and  Smith,  opened  on  New  Yoar*8  D&yt 
and  the  second  that  of  "  Messrs.  Samuel  Gallon, 
Joseph  Gibbins,  and  Samuel  Tertius  Galtou, 
at  the  hous«^  in  which  the  late  Saniuol  Galtcn, 
Esq.,  resided  in  this  town,"  opened  November 
19  th, 

Hutton  gives  in  one  of  tlie  eady  editions  of  his 
history  an  approximate  estimate  of  the  wealth 


i  or  BtrmiDglukDi.] 


OLD  AKB  NEW  BIEMINGHAM. 


339 


of  the  town  in  December,  1783.     He  says : — 
**  Perhaps  we  have 

8  who  possess  upwards  of  1(I0,(KH){.  eauch, 

7  of    50,oon?. 

S of    80,000^. 

17  —  of    20,0O0f, 

SO of    10,0(KJi. 

94  ^^ of      5,m0ir 

ThiB  gives  a  total^  exclusive  of  smaller  sums  in 
the  hands  of  tiatlesraen  and  petty  manuliicturera, 
of  two  millions  and  a  half,  aa  the  estimated 
wealth  of  the  town  at  that  date.  Our  old 
fltorian,  in  commeating  an  thiH  subject,  makes 
I  few  remarks  which,  however  irrevelont,  are 
worth  quoting  for  their  truth  aud  humour,  as  well 
as  for  the  picture  they  contain  of  tht*  old  sonial 
life  of  the  town.  '*  Richer,''  ho  says,  "  eiiaLles 
a  man  with  great  facility  to  shake  ofl"  an  old 
friend,  once  an  equal ;  and  forbid  necesa  to 
inferiors,  except  a  toad-eater.  iSome times  they 
add  to  his  name  the  pretty  appendage  of  Eight 
Honourable,  Bart.,  or  Esq.^  an  addition  much 
coveted,  which,  should  he  hapjieu  to  bifcome  an 
author,  is  an  easy  passport  through  the  gates  of 
fame.  His  very  features  seem  to  take  a  turn 
from  his  fortime,  and  a  curiuus  eye  may  eiusily 
rea«l  in  his  f<\ce  the  word  c/jn^equence,  Tliuy 
change  the  tone  of  his  voice  from  the  submissive 
to  the  comiuauding,  in  whirh  ho  well  knows  how 
to  throw  in  a  few  graces.  His  style  is  convincing. 
Money  is  of  singular  efficiency;  it  cleiirs  his 
head^  refines  his  sense,  points  his  joka  The 
weight  of  his  fortune  adds  weight  to  his 
aigument.  If,  my  dear  reader,  you  have  been 
a  silent  spectator  at  the  Slmkespeare  Tavern ;  a 
general  meeting  for  public  business ;  the  Low 
Bailiffs  feast;  at  Hobsou's,  or  at  Joneses,  you 
BUiy  have  observed  many  a  smurt  thing  said 
mUieeded,  by  the  man  without  money  ;  and  many 
a  paltry  one,  echoed  with  applause,  from  the  man 
with  it^  The  room,  in  sileit  attention,  he^irs  one, 
while  the  other  can  sea  re  el)'  liear  himself.  They 
direct  a  man  to  variou«  vvMys  of  being  carried 
with  great  ease,  who  is  too  idle  to  ctirry  himself ; 
jaAjf    they  invert   the  order  of    things,  for  we 


often  behold  two  men,  who  seem  hungry,  carry 
one  who  is  full  fed." 

Hutton  was  himself  an  honourable  example  of 
one  who  became  rich,  not  by  an  accident  of 
fortime,  but  by  long-con  tin  ued  industry  and 
prudence.  In  the  third  edition  of  his  history  he 
says  of  himself,  **  the  dejected  Bookseller,  [of 
Southwell,  during  his  etirly  days,]  scarcely  one 
step  higher  than  a  W*iUiing  Slnikmerf  lived  to 
acquire  a  fortune  of  20,000/."  In  the  historian's 
own  MS.  tliese  figures  are  altered  to  £40,000  ! 

Much  i>f  what  is  interesting  in  the  history  of 
local  mauufactui'es  during  this  period  has  already 
been  given,  incidentally,  in  our  notices  of  Boulton 
and  Watt,  Juhn  Taylor,  Henry  Clay,  Francis 
Eyint>on,  and  other  Birmingham  w^orthies  ;  but  it 
will  be  ustfful  to  ivca|»itulate  here  some  of  tb« 
saHent  lea tn res  in  the  wonderful  story  of  lund 
enterprise  during  the  latter  half  of  the  eighteenth 
century. 

There  exists  a  popubir  error  among  those  who 
know  onr  town  Ijul  imperfectly,—  and  an  error  of 
very  respectable  antiipiity, — picturbig  iUrming- 
ham  as  *'  grimy  witli  the  dense  smoke  of  fiimaees, 
eclioing  with  the  clangour  of  forge.-*,  gleaming 
with  great  lires,  and  bnsy  in  il*e  produetiMn  nf 
iron."  Xo  jiicture  of  tbe  town,  certainly,  coxdd 
ever  have  been  wider  of  the  mark.  Scarcely  a 
bar  or  a  pig  has  ever  been  smelted  withiji  its 
boundaries ;  but  there  was,  as  we  have  previously 
mentioned,  a  solit^y  furnace  at  Aston,  until 
towatds  the  end  of  the  eighteenth  century,  which 
had  existed  for  many  generations.  There  the 
blast  was  blown  by  a  water  wheel,  and  one  of  the 
first  steam  engines  in  this  neighbourhood  wiis 
erected  to  supply  its  place  j  one  of  Neweomen 
and  Cawley's  curious  atmospheric  engine,  which 
attracted  great  crowds  at  the  time  of  its  erection 
and  for  several  yeai's  afterwards,  who  used  to 
stare  and  wonder  at  what  was  then  commonly 
known  as  '*  the  fire  machine." 

The ^fird  local  **  fire  engine,"  however,  was  that 
erected  in  1760  on  the  premises  of  Mr.  Twigg, 
(afterwards  Munti's),  in  Water  Street,  which  waa 


^40 


OLD  AND  NEW  BIRM  INGHAM. 


(Local  MA&titlleltirai,  1?9S>tllft 


employed  to  drive  four  paiis  of  rolls,  anj  stones 
for  finding  swords  and  bayonets.  This  pioneer 
of  Birmingimm  steam  engines  was  dismantled  in 
1804.  Shortly  after  its  erection  several  others 
were  brought  into  UFe,  and  at  the  close  of  the 
century  there  wore  seven  engines  at  work  in  the 
town, — Mr.  Twigg's ;  Messrs.  Pickard's  at  the 
Snow  Hill  Flour  Mill,  (our  readers  have  already 
heard  more  tlian  enough  about  both  the  mill  and 
the  engine)  ;  ^lessrs.  Phipson  and  Son's,  Fazeley 
Street ;  Mr*  Cotterell'*),  Deritcnd  Mill ;  the  New 
Steam  Mill  Company  ;  tho  lifting  engino  at  Bor- 
ilesloy  ;  and  the  Old  Uniun  VAIL  But  none  of 
these  were  used  in  tlie  production  of  iron  ;  Aston 
Furnar-^  Itself  was  blown  ont  shortly  before  1795, 
and  fioni  that  period  the  iron-smelting  was 
driven  away  from  the  town  into  the  district 
popularly  known  as  *Uhe  Black  Country." 

Workt^ra  in  iron  there  wt^re  in  abundance  as 
well  as  those  who  prepared  the  iron  fur  the  manu- 
facturers' use*  Among  the  latter  wei^  Gibson's 
rtdliBg  and  slitting  miJl,  in  Mill  Lane,  Digheth, 
the  old  Park  Mill  at  Nechells,  Bromford  Forge 
and  Park  Mill,  long  under  the  direction  of  Mr. 
Fintli,  (Dr.  Priestley's  son-in-law,)  and  iiftL^rwards 
worked  bj  the  Spoon er  family.  Of  works  in 
iron  there  had  sprung  up  quite  a  host  of  branches ; 
grates, — rude  and  barbarous  in  ornamentation, ^ — 
sad-irons  and  furnace-bars,  pots  and  kettles, 
saucepans,  and  cart-wlu'Ld  boxes,  (the  Inttcr  turned 
out  in  great  quantities  at  the  Eagle  Foundry^  in 
Broad  Street)  ;  in  the  branches  mentioned  a  good 
bus  in  e8  8  was  also  done  by  Mr,  ^Villiam  Francis, 
of  Deritend,  the  Phujidx  Foundiy,  in  Henrietta 
Street,  Mr.  Fnmcis  at  the  Moat-hous^e,  and  Mr. 
Barnes  of  Bordesley  Street.  Fenders  and  iiic- 
irons  began  to  form  a  sejiarate  tjade ;  steel 
works,  which,  for  a  hundred  years  had  been  re- 
presented by  Kettle's  Steel-houses,  which  gave 
their  name  to  Steelhonse  Ijine,  were  now  to  he 
found  in  Broad  Street,  (AttwoodX)  Holt  Street, 
(Phmle^'s)  and  at  Bordesley;  and  heavy  and 
light  steel  toys  were  sent  by  the  Bimnngham 
manufacturer  of  eighty  years  ago  to  all  parte  of  the 


world.  The  implements  of  the  carpenter,  the  sboa- 
maker,  the  butcher,  the  glaner,  and  the  gardener, 
for  the  plumber,  mason,  and  farrier,  and  alm< 
every  other  workman  and  lahoaier  under  the  »ua ; 
the  thousand-and-one  requirements  of  erwy-daf 
life, — ^bodkins,  corkscrews,  tweezers,  sttg&r-toDgi 
and  nippers,  tobacco-dtappeis,  snufT-boXt  Ai^d  mauy 
similar  articles ;    chains   and   manacles   for  tl 
slaves  of  America,  tomahawki^  for  the  red  men 
the  we^t,  axes  for  the  settlers  in  the  liackwi 
bells  for  the  vast  herds  of  cattle  in  Australia, 
all  these,  as  well  as  buckles  for  the  shoes  of 
English    dtuidy, — dress-swords,    stilettos,   chal 
kin 68,  keys,  seals,  watcli -chains,  bracelets,  clas] 
brooches — aU   of   steel, — these    antl  many  otl 
proiluctions  in  the  then  fashionable  metal  w< 
supplied  lat^ely  from  the   work-shops   of 
mingham. 

The  American  War  in  1775  gave  a  considci 
able  stimulus  to  the  Birmingham  gun  tmdc^ 
bringing  in  a  snccession  of  large  orders,  and  thew 
hud  scarcely  been  completed  when  the  French 
War  comnicnced ;  the  total  supply  of  arras  U> 
the  Government  from  Birmingham  during  ihii 
period  has  been  estimated  at  not  less  than  half  a 
million.  It  was  the  practice  of  the  Government 
to  send  down  Inspectors  from  the  Tower  to 
ascertain  whether  the  arms  were  fit  for  nae  ;  and 
sometimes  the  barrels  were  sent  up  to  London 
to  be  proved,  or  were  proved  at  the  private  pi  oof- 
houses  of  the  manufacturers,  under  the  superin* 
tendenco  of  the  TuBiKjctor.  This  was  found  to 
be  exceedingly  inconvenient,  and  the  Board  of 
Ordnance,  about  the  year  1 798,  purchased  a  pie<» 
of  land  and  erected  a  proof-house  here,  where  the 
barrels  were  not  only  proved,  but  the  complete? 
fire-arm  was  inspected  befoi-e  being  accepte4  by 
the  contractors. 

Birmingham  also  su[iplied  fire-arms  to  the 
Irish  Ordnance  depnrimcnt,  for  use  by  tho 
military  fencibles  and  yeomanry,  called  into  eiia- 
tence  by  the  rebellion  ;  to  the  various  companies 
of  Loyal  Yolujiteers  throughout  England  and 
Scotland,  and  to  the  East  India  Company,  beasdei 


lO^^H 


txKAl  Maniiikclurai,  176S-181Q  J 


OLD   Amy  NEW  BIRMINGHAM, 


341 


I 


those  for  private  iise.  Altogether,  if  the  generally 
accepted  figures  he  accurate,  the  Birminghiiin  gun- 
makers  must  have  turned  out  at  leiiBt  three- 
quarters  of  ft  million  stand  of  arras  between  1775, 
and  the  close  of  the  eighteenth  century. 

Tho  mauufactiire  of  swords,  which  had  l:>een 
on  so  successfully  during  the  seventeenth 
century,  had  gradually  declined,  so  that  by  the 
year  1780,  or  thereabouts,  it  seemed  likely  to 
become  an  extinct  local  trade,  when  it  was 
suddenly  revived  by  a  somewhat  singular  occui- 
Iionce,  On  the  Ist  of  October,  1783,  tho  London 
sword-eellers  solicited  Government  permission 
to  import  sword-blades  duty-free  from  Germany, 
The  peculiar  character  of  the  application  attracted 
the  attention  of  the  Board  of  TraJe,  to  whom 
th«  petition  had  been  referred,  and  one  of  its 
ibers,— the  Earl  of  Surrey, — opened  a  com- 
jotinication  with  Mr,  Eyre,  a  well-known  cutler  of 
SliefBeld,  in  order  to  ascertain  the  accuracy  of  the 
alleged  facta  against  English  aword-bkdes,  but, 
as  the  Sheffield  manufacturers  had  never  engaged 
in  tho  fabrication  of  weapons  of  warfare,  his 
Lordship  was  referred  to  Mr.  Gill,  of  Mapshouse 
IjRne,  Birmingham.  The  outcome  of  the  enquiry 
was  Uiat  Mr.  Gill  prayed  the  Lords  of  the 
Treasury,  to  institute  a  comparison  between  his 
swords  and  those  of  the  German  manufacturers. 
Thiee  years,  however,  elapsed,  before  the  request 
was  granted,  and  then  it  was  only  by  an  accident 
The  East  b^dia  Company  gave  an  order  fur  10,000 
travaby  swords,  which  was  distributed  indiscrim- 
inaUly  among  the  English  and  German  makersi. 
Every  sword  sent  in  was  tested  by  a  machine  in- 
vented by  Mr,  Boulton^  and  the  r^ult  was  as 
followa  : 

Mr.  Gill  se.ni  ia  2,650,  of  which  4  were  rejected. 
Gcirnauy  aont  in  1»400,  of  wliich  28  were  rejected. 
Engliuli  iwakcrs  sent  in  3,784,  of   w^hith  1,0S4  were 
rrject«d. 

Thus  the  blades  sunt  in  by  the  German 
manufacturers  were  proportionately  defective  by 
thirtoen  to  one  tm  compared  with  those  of  Mr, 
Gil] ;  and  out  of  every  five  other  English  blades 


two  were  bad.  Some  of  Mr.  Gill's  blades  were 
BO  exquisitively  tempered  that  they  would  cut 
through  a  gun- barrel,  and  so  elastic  that  they 
would  twist  like  a  ribbon,  and  perfectly  recover 
their  original  straightness  again-  This  incident 
gave  Birmingham  a  high  reputation  for  swords, 
and,  together  with  the  troubles  in  France  during 
the  closing  years  of  the  eighteenth  centur)%  caused 
the  sword  trade  to  flourish  in  the  town.  Never- 
theless t^^ere  were  at  the  close  of  the  period  under 
notice,  only  four  large  sword-making  firms  among 
us  who  made  the  swords  completer ;  viz.,  Mr. 
John  Gill,  Masshonse  Lane;  Messrs.  IVooley  and 
l>Gakin,  Edmund  Street  ;  Messrs,  Beadel  and 
Bale,  Bank  Alley,  Dale  End  ;  and  IMesjim  Osbom 
and  Ganby,  Bordesley  Park.  All  these  had 
large  manufactories;  but  as  there  were  many 
operations  to  be  performed  in  tlie  fabrication  of 
a  single  sword,  there  were  hundreds  of  persons 
employed  in  the  town  in  the  various  brunches  of 
the  trade. 

The  workers  in  brass  still  kept  llic  famous  old 
brass- works  of  Tunier  fully  employed  in  su]>p]jiiig 
the  metal  for  Iheir  use.  It  was  estimated  that  in 
1781  not  less  thnn  1,000  tons  were  used  in  the 
Birmingham  manufactures  ;  hut  the  rapid  and 
capricious  rise  in  the  price  of  this  metal,  from 
£72  Ui  £B4  per  ton  caused  the  manufatturcsrs 
who  used  it  to  form  themselves  into  a  company, 
in  order  to  resists  the  demands  of  the  producers. 
The  name  of  Brassliouse  Passage,  in  Broad  Street, 
commemorates  the  spot  where  the  company's 
works  stood,  and  where,  through  competition,  the 
price  of  bmss  was  reduced  from  £84  to  £56  per 
ton. 

Jewellery  was  a  comparativt'ly  small  trade  in 
those  days.  The  jewellei"S  themselves  were  not 
very  numerous,  there  b^ing  not  quite  a  dozen 
establishments  in  the  town  ;  although  there  were 
a  number  of  **  small  masters,"  some  of  whom 
were  earning  for  Birmingham  that  unenviable 
reputation  which  has  rendered  the  outer  world 
sceptical  as  to  all  jewelleiy  which  is  tuniod 
out  of  the  midland  hardware  metropolis, — unlesi 


U2 


OLD   AND   KEW  BIRMINGHAM. 


ItuCAlMnnu 


it  |ja[»pen*j  to  be  ataroped  "  Loiidou "  made, 
Ileiicc  bus  arisen  tlie  old  saying,  "Give  a  Bir- 
luinghani  maker  a  guinea  and  a  copper  kettle, 
and  he'll  mak^|rou  a  hun tired  pounds  worth  of 
jewellery."  It  was  not  all  undeserved,  the  odium 
which  was  cast  upon  '*  Branonagem "  trinkets. 
We  read  of  one  ingenious  iinUviduul  who  cut  and 
pnii^hed  some  cinders  from  the  calx  of  Aston 
furnace,  set  them  in  the  rings  and  brooches,  and 
s<jld  tlierii  (IB  fragments  of  Poiiipey*ti  Pillar. 

The  profuse  use  of  gold  and  silver  in  various 
manufartTires,  in  ornamentation,  gilding,  etc., 
brought  into  existence  a  new  and  luerativo  occu- 
pution.  Previous  to  1768  the  sweepings  of 
workshops  (containing  miuute  fragments  of  these 
precious  metals),  were  thrown  into  the  stu^ete,  or 
carted  off  ns  an  incnmbmnce.  At  length,  how- 
ever, one  ninn  fntind  out  the  secret ;  and,  being 
kn->wn  at  the  various  maniifacti>rie8,  ingTatiating 
liiiiiBelf  with  the  workmeii,  was  peimittedtoe^irry 
off"  the  sweepings  from  the  floor,  and,  by  way  of 
recompense,  he  gave  the  artisans  a  sort  of  Christ- 
mas treat  IJy  and  by  a  second  **  golden  dust- 
man "  arose,  and  a  com|ietition  ensued  aa  to 
which  sbowld  give  the  most  sumptuous  treat  j 
quarrels  occurred  occasionally  among  the  work- 
men as  to  which  of  the  rivals  should  he 
favoured,  and  this  altrixcted  the  attention  of  the 
employers  tu  the  subject.  lliey  resolved  in 
future  to  keep  the  refuse  themselves,  and  found 
in  it  a  valuable  addition  to  their  profit.  Mr.  John 
Taylor  and  several  other  large  manufacturers 
realised  as  much  as  £1,000  a  year  fn:>m  this  source 
alone.  Thus  lx>gau  the  art  of  refining,  which 
was  for  many  years  practised  in  Birmingham 
alone,  the  manufacturers  in  other  towns  sending 
large  tj,  uantitjes  of  sweepings  for  amdysation  every 
year.  But  the  sweep iags  of  the  tarlmr  period,  to 
the  value  of  many  tliousaud  poumJs,  lie  buried 
benealh  the  streets  of  Binuingham,  some  of 
which,  as  an  older  writer  on  this  subject  has  re- 
marked, **  may  be  said  to  be  literally  paved  with 
gold  and  silver  "  ;  and  it  is  not  imjKJssiMe,  m  he 
says,    that  Macaulay's  New  Zealander,   who   in 


time  to  come  is  to  sketch  the  ruins  of  St 
from  a  broken  arch  of  London  Bridge,  "  may  1 
in  the  deserted  streets  of  Birraingham,  i 
El  Dorado  or  San  Francisco  *'  di^^ings.*' 

Ghiss  making  was  another  of  the  trades  intrih 
duced  into  Birmingham  during  this  period.  The 
first  bit  of  Birmingham  glass  was  manufactured 
by  Mr.  Hawker,  who  kept  a  glafls-warehouse  in 
Edgbaston  Street,  and  built  a  small  furnace  thew 
about  the  year  1 785.  His  son  afterwards  i^recled 
some  large  works  on  Bimiingbam  Heath,  aft( 
wards  occupied  by  Messrs,  Lloyd  and  Summcrfitt 
Mr.  Johnson,  with  ^Ir,  Shakes{>eAr,  followed,  \ 
in  1798,  commenced  working  a  furnace  in  Wain 
Lane,  (Lancaster  Street,)  from  which  they  <o 
af feerwarda  removed  to  tlio  neighbourhood  of  Sob 
and  built  extensive  works  there.  Previous 
Mr.  Hawker's  first  attempt  to  manufacture  gk 
in  r>irmingbam,  in  1785,  the  midland  c«5unti 
were  supplied  from  Stourbridge,  but  before  til 
end  of  the  century,  Birmingham  glass  waa  cod 
petiug  strongly  with  that  of  Stourbridge 
other  neighbouring  towns,  and  it^  monufadu 
was  lapitlly  becoming  an  import;\nt  local  industi 

Our  former  notice  of  the  manufacture  of  buckl^ 
buttons,  and  in  the  sketch  of  Henry  Clay-! 
papier-miiche,  carrie<l  the  biatory'of  those  indirt 
tries  to  the  end  of  the  present  period ;  w©  haV 
now,  therefoitJ,  glanced  briefly  at  tlie  coinnier( 
and  indnatrial  history,  of  the  period,  and 
only  refer  for  a  few  moments,  to  the  histoiy 
prices  during  that  lime. 

First  then  as  to  the  prices  of  one  of  the  prin 
cipal  materials  used  in  manufactiirea. 

The  following  table  shows  the  price  of  EngliJ 
iron  in  pigs,  from  17S2  to  1800% 


1782     ... 

From  £6  to  £7  10s. 

piT  ton. 

1783 

^ 

4  to    7  10a. 

?♦ 

1784  t«i  1786  -., 

— 

3  to    6  10b. 

M 

1787     

— 

3  to     6 

*» 

1787  to  1789  .,, 

— 

3  to    7 

•  * 

1790     ... 

— 

3  to    7  10a. 

•« 

1791  to  1793  .,, 

— 

5  to     7  108. 

n 

1794  to  1800  .,. 

— 

5  to     8 

It 

The  protluce  of  the  ooal-mines  of  South  Staffon 


Old  Prlcn.  1T£6-1«00,| 


OLD  AND  KEW  BIP^IIKGHAM. 


343 


Aire  advanced  in  a  corresponding  decree.  Plot, 
tlio  liifttorian,  writing  nearly  a  century  earlier, 
mentions  twelve  or  fourteen  collieries  in  tlie 
district,  each  of  tliem  yielding  from  2,000  to 
6,000  tons  ftnn«ally,^in  all,  about  45,000  tons 
per  annuin.  In  1798,  the  yield  of  the  South  Staf- 
ionlshire  coal-field  wos  about  16,200  tons  a  week, 


Acottagcftodgarden,  j  ^^f^ 


from 
VTheat,    per  boslielr 

Which  ester,     from 
Barley,  per  bushel  ,, 
Oata  n  », 

Sidt»  percwt  -      „ 
if  nh,  per  bushel    , , 


3  0 


1750, 

8.    d. 
to^SO  0 

4  0 


1800. 
s.  d.        «.  d. 

30  0   to   50    0 


.  IB  0 


23    0 


. ir--airAW/>, 


OI,I)   VIEW   or  TEMPLE   KOW   WKST,    FROM   COUtORE  ROW, 


or  a  total  for  the  year  of  842,400  tous  ;  su  that 
ihcs  old  annual  supply  woultl  not  have  been  e<pjal 
to  the  demand  for  three  weeks  at  the  end  of  the 
eighteenth  f^entury. 

liloro  intercstmg,  to  many  of  our  readers,  will 
to  the  old  prices  of  articles  gf  every-day  use  and 
consumption. 

Taking   fii'si  the  common   necessaries  of  life, 
we  ^GOte,  from  an  old  volume  of  the  GenilcmanU 
Maitmine^  (1802,)  a  statement  showing  the  prices 
of  ISOO  08  compared  with  those  of  1750  : 
44 


Common  Sugai 
lb.. 

from 

0  3 

0  4    ., 

.    09    „ 

1 

0 

Soap,  per  lb. 

♦  » 

0  4 

0  4i,. 

OS    „ 

0 

10 

Bed' 
pieces      - 

best 
from  ' 

0  2 

0  2i.. 

■    0  4i„ 

1 

0 

Pork,   per  lb. 

}i 

0  2 

0  2*.. 

0  4i  „ 

1 

0 

BncoTi       ,, 

fi 

0  4 

0  4i.. 

.    08    „ 

1 

2 

Mutton    ,. 

** 

0  2 

0  24  .. 

.    0  34.. 

0 

9 

Skiiimml  Milk 
gnllon     • 

from  S 

0  li 

0  2.. 

.03.. 

0 

PHir  of  Stout 
(Men's)  * 

Shoes  \ 
from  S 

3  4 

4  0    „ 

,    6  10,. 

7 

6 

Cliease,  per  lb. 

If 

0  2 

0S4„ 

.04., 

0 

7 

Butt*r     ,, 

>» 

0  3 

0  4i  .. 

.    08    „ 

1 

3 

344 


OLD  AND  NEW  BIRMINGHAM. 


(Mora  aboot  TrmToDiiig. 


1760. 


1800. 


8.  d. 
0  8 


8.  d. 
0  10. 


8.  d. 
1  2 


8.  d. 
1     6 


2  6 


3  6 


3  6 


4     0 


Stuflf  for  gowns,  per 

yard       -        from 
Men's  common  cloth,  ) 

per  yard  -        from  ( 

It  will  thus  be  seen  that  while  war  increased 
the  local  trade,  it  increased  considerably  the  prices 
of  the  necessary  articles  of  daQy  life,  although 
some  of  these  seem  cheap  even  at  the  advanced 
prices  to  us  of  the  present  day ;  a  few,  however, 
were  actually  very  much  higher  in  price  than 
they  now  are.  The  reader  will  not  fail  to  notice 
the  absence  from  the  above  list,  compiled  by  a 
contemporary  writer,  of  many  articles  which  are 
nowadays  classed  among  the  necessaries  of  life. 
Sugar,  it  is  true,  we  find  in  the  list,  but  at  prices 
which  must  have  rendered  it  more  of  a  luxury 
than  a  necessary ;  but  tea,  coffee,  and  cocoa  find 
no  place  among  the  cottager's  necessaries  seventy 
or  eighty  years  ago.  How  many  other  comforts, 
such  as  are  now  enjoyed  by  the  humblest,  are 
un-named  in  this  list :  hundreds  of  little  luxuries 
which  go  to  make  up  ordinary  comforts  now,  were 
altogether  unknown  then. 

Travelling  was,  of  course,  more  expensive,  as 
well  as  less  speedy,  in  those  days  of  stage-coaches, 
and,  in  consequence,  very  few  indeed  among  the 
artisan  and  labouring  classes  took  longer  journeys  I 


than  from  one  neighbouring  town  to  anotheL 
Not  many  Birmingham  men  of  these  classes  had 
seen  London,  or  knew  what  seas  and  mountains 
were  like,  except  from  the  travelling  panoramas 
or  other  pictorial  representations.  The  fare  to 
London,  on  the  outside  of  the  coach,  in  1800,  was 
sixteen  shillings,  and  thirty  shillings  inside.  A 
guinea  was  charged  for  an  inside  fare  to  Liverpool, 
Manchester,  or  Sheffield,  and  twelve  or  thirteen 
shillings  outside.  The  outside  fare  to  Bath  was 
nine  shillings;  the  outside  journey  to  Wolver- 
hampton even,  cost  the  traveller  eighteenpence. 
These  fares  do  not  perhaps  seem  extravagant  as 
compared  with  the  cost  of  railway  travelling,  bat 
think  of  the  inconvenience  and  discomfort  suffered 
by  the  economist  in  a  journey  on  the  outside  of  a 
coach,  in  bitter  wintry  weather !  Contrast  the 
journey  to  London  under  such  circumstances  with 
that  now  performed  by  a  third-class  passenger  by 
rail  for  little  more  than  half  the  money. 

In  our  next  chapter  on  this  subject  we  shall 
have  to  deal  with  new  industries  and  more  ex- 
tended commercial  transactions,  with  enterprises 
of  a  magnitude  undreamed  of  in  the  days  of 
which  we  have  been  writing.  For  the  present, 
however,  we  take  our  leave  of  the  commercial 
and  financial  history  of  our  town. 


CHAPTER   L. 
MORE  ABOUT   TRAVELLING. 

Number  of  Binninghani  Coaches,  1770  and  1S20— Speed— The  first  Royal  Mail— Appearance  of  the  English  Coaches  -Pleasures  of  the 
Road— George  Eliot's  duscription — The  shady  side— Thomas  De  Quincey  at  the  Hen  and  Chickens — Qladstono  in  Birmin^m— 
Dangers  of  the  Road— Local  Conveyances. 


The  consideration  of  the  cost  of  travelling,  in 
connection  with  the  subject  of  prices  generally, 
at  the  close  of  the  last  chapter,  brings  us  again  to 
the  history  of  the  stage  coach  and  other  modes 
of  travelling  at  the  period  to  which  we  have 
brought  the  narrative  of  local  Birmingham  events 
in  general. 


We  have  not  now  to  do  with  the  old  stage 
waggon  or  the  loitering  packhorse,  but  with  the 
mail  coaches  running  at  the  rate  of  ten  miles  an 
hour,  making  the  journey  to  London  in  a  single 
day, — the  mails,  starting  almost  every  hour,  witii 
their  prancing  horses,  bright  harness,  gaj  guaidsi 
armed  with  pistol  and  blunderbuss,  and  fumisl.ed 


Hurt  about  TrnvclJlug.) 


OLD   AND  KKW  BIKMIIS^GHAM. 


345 


I 


with  **  the  twanging  bom '' — at  their  rattling 
speed.  A  few  pictures  of  the  old  mode  of  travel- 
ling— ^so  soon  to  be  supi>lantc<l  by  the  "iron  horse", 
— will  help  to  complete  the  picttjrc  of  Binning- 
liam  life  during  the  first  quarter  of  the  nincleenth 
century. 

Our  foriuer  chaptt^r  of  the  hi^story  of  travL-lling 
brought  us  to  the  time  of  th**  introduction  of  the 
"  Flying  Coaches/*  which  performed  the  journey 
from  Birmingham  to  London  iji  two  days  and  a 
half;  we  mentioned  later,  in  the  chronicle  of 
local  events,  the  introduction  of  ^fr.  Palmer's 
Mail-C<>ach  reform,  and  the  consequent  improve- 
ment in  the  speed;  but  hy  the  end  of  the  eighteenth 
century  many  other  improvements  were  eflected, 
in  the  convenience  of  the  vehicles  themselves,  the 
greiii  increase  in  number,  tho  opening  of  new 
routes,  and  the  still  further  increased  speed 
at  which  they  travelled.  In  the  year  1770  or 
thereabouts,  there  were  probably  not  more  than 
half-a-dozen  coachea  running  from  Birmingham ; 
in  1820,  it  was  estimated  in  an  article  in  the 
Scot*  Magazine,  that  there  were  no  less  than 
ity-foiir  coaches  belonging  to  Birmingham,  of 
wliich  forty  were  daily.  At  the  same  time  Man- 
chester had  but  seventy,  and  Liverpool  only  sixty. 
Meanwhile,  the  improved  method  of  road-making 
introduced  about  this  time  by  Mr.  Macadam,  one© 
more  effected  an  appreciable  increase  in  the  speed, 
BO  that  the  older  eight-miles-an-honr  travelling 
advanced  to  up  wards  of  ten  miles ;  between  Bir- 
mingham, Liverpool,  and  Man  Chester,  it  was 
found  practicable  to  maintain  a  rate  of  ten  miles 
and  one  furlong,  and  between  this  town  and 
Sheffield,  Pontefract  and  Leeds,  London  and  Bath, 
and  on  other  roads,  ten  miles  an  hour  was  main- 
tained. Thia  was  perhaps  the  highest  average 
gpoed  ever  maintained  "  on  the  road/* 

I  The  first  Royal  MaiJ  from  Birmingham  to 
London  was  established  on  the  26th  of  May, 
1812.  The  event  was  celebrated  with  some 
degree  of  ceremony  and  rejoicing,  as  appears  from 
a  report  in  the  Guzcttey  of  June  lat,  in  that  year. 
At  two  o'clock  in  the  day,  "  the  coach,  attended 


I 


j  by  eight  mail-guards,  in  full  nnifonn,  adorned 
with  blue  ribbons,  paraded  the  streets,  under 
the  direction  of  Mr.  Hart>  stopped  at  the  resi- 
dences of  the  High  and  Low  Bailifla,  the  several 
banks,  and  many  of  the  principal  inhabitants ; 
tlic  procession  chased  after  it  had  remained  some 
time  at  the  house  of  Mr,  Pratchett,  High  Street, 
where,  ns  at  other  resting  places,  the  attendants 
were  liberally  supplied  with  wine,  biscuits, 
sandwiches,  etc.  The  coach  set  out  from  tho 
Swan  Hotel,  at  four  o'clock  in  the  aft^?rnoon; 
the  bells  of  St.  Martin's  Church  ringing, 
and  thousands  of  spectators,  assembled  on  this 
occasion,  greeting  it  as  it  passed  with  cheering 
shouts," 

With  respect  to  the  appearance  of  the  English 
coaches  of  the  later  period,  we  may  quote  the  des- 
cription given  by  Baron  d'Haiissez,  in  his  Great 
Brituin  in  186*3,  "  Tho  appointments  of  an 
English  coach,"  he  says,  **  are  no  less  elegant  than 
its  form.  A  portly  good-looking  coachman,  seated 
on  a  very  high  coach-box,  well-dressed,  wearing 
white  gloves,  a  nosegay  in  his  button-hole,  and 
his  chin  enveloped  in  an  enormous  cravat,  drives 
four  hoi'ses  perfectly  matched  and  harnessed,  and 
as  carefidly  groomed  as  when  they  excited  ad- 
miration in  the  carnages  of  Grosvenor  and  Berke- 
ley Sr|uares»  Such  is  the  manner  in  which 
English  horses  are  managed,  such  also  is  their 
docility,  the  effect  either  of  tomperaraent  or  train- 
ing,  that  you  do  not  remark  the  least  restivenesa 
iu  them.  Four-horse  coaches  are  to  be  seen 
rapidly  traversing  the  most  populous  streets  of 
London,  without  occasioning  tho  least  accident, 
without  being  at  all  inconvenienced  in  the  midst 
of  the  numerous  carriages,  which  hardly  leave  the 
necessary  space  to  pass.  The  swearing  of  ostlers 
is  never  heard  at  the  relays,  any  more  than  the 
neighing  of  horses ;  nor  arc  you  intenuptcd  on 
the  road  by  the  voice  of  the  coachman,  or  tho 
sound  of  his  whip,  which  differs  only  from  a 
cabriolet  whip  in  the  length  of  the  thong,  and 
serves  more  as  a  sort  of  appendage  than  a  meana 
of  correction  in  the  hand  which  carries  it" 


OLO  AND  NEW  BIBMLNGHA^L 


Tko  pleas  ores  of  the  rood,  the  delight  of  mttllug 
along  country  roads,  through  old-faahioned  ril- 
lagea  and  towns,  through  the  most  charming 
English  scenery;  the  feeling  of  importance 
induced  by  the  excitement  created  as  the  **  High- 
flyer/' the  •'Kockingham,"  or  the  **  Daylight/' 
passed  through  the  country  town  or  viUagtv  the 
Yonous  passengcriSf  the  coachman  and  guard,  with 


bar-maidS|  and  the  repartees  of  j«3€oee  osUefs ;  ihs 

mail  fitill  announced  itself  by  the  merry  notes  cf 
the  horn;  the  liedgecutter  or  the  rick-thatcher 
might  still  know  the  exact  hour  by  this  unfaiiing 
yet  otherwise  meteoric  apparition  of  the  paa-jjieen 
*Tally  ho'or  the  yellow  *rndi»pendent*;  and  dderly^ 
gentlemen  in  pony-chaises,  quartering  ncnrou 
to  make  way  for  the  rolling,  swinging  «« 


ST.  piiiup«  CHURCH. 

(From  an  old  view  tngravtd  about  1S90, 


their  droll  stories  and  daily  repeated  jokea^ — the 
eunny  sidci  in  fact  of  the  journey  by  coach, — 
have  not  the-se  things  been  described  and  reportetl 
over  and  over  again  1  We  cannot  resist  the 
temptation^  however,  to  quote  the  charming 
description  given  by  George  Eliot  in  Feliji 
Holt  :  *'  Five  and  thirty  years  ago,"  she  says, 
writing  in  1866,  "  the  glory  had  not  yet 
departed  from  the  old  coach  roads ;  the  great 
roatlBide  inns  were  still  brilliant  with  well- 
polished  tonkardti,  the  smiling  glances  of  pretty 


had  not  ceased  to  remark  that  timea  were  finely 
changed  nince  they  used  to  see  the  pack-hotiei 
and  hear  the  tinkling  of  thtsir  bells  on  this  Tcry 

highway The  elderly  man  has  hii 

enviublo  memories,  and  not  the  least  nf  thi«D  h 
the  memory  of  a  long  journey  in  mid 
autumn  on  llie  outside  of  a  stage-coach,  j 
may  be  shot,  like  a  bullet  through  a  tub«,  hj 
atmospheric  pressure,  from  Winchester  to  S^^- 
castle :  that  is  a  ilne  result  to  have  among  our 
hopes  ;  but  the  slow,  old-fashiuued  way  of  get^ 


Hon  •Loul  Tmvdtin^] 


OLD  AND  NEW  BIRMINGHAM. 


347 


from  one  e^od  of  our  country  to  the  other  is  the 
befcter  thing  to  hare  in  the  memory.  The  tube- 
Joozney  can  never  lend  iQuch  to  picture  and  narra- 
tive ;  it  is  as  barren  as  an  exclamatory  0  I  Whereas 
the  happy  outside  passenger  seated  on  the  box 
from  the  dawn  to  the  gloaming  gathered  enough 
stories  of  English  life,  enough  of  English  labours 
m  town  and  countiy,  enough  aspects  of  e^rth  and 
aky,  to  make  eapisodes  for  a  modern  Odyssey.** 

^  But  there  was  a  '* shady  side'*  to  this  picture 
Alaa     It  was  not  always  bright  sunshiue  op  clear 
&o«tyair;  there  were  deep  suows  and  perilous 
fogs  to   be  encountered,  and  driving   sleet   and 
dfeachiog  rain,  to  be  endured  by  the  outsiders 
with  what  patieuce  tbey  could  muster.  Then  there 
were  not  unfrt*queutly, — cspeeiidly    in   Eirming- 
ham,  tlic  half-way  house  of  Kngliiml, — necessary 
changes  at  uncomfortable  times  of  the  night,  and 
often  in  the  worst  of  weather.     Such   was  often 
Ihc  e3E|i€ricnce  of  Thomas  De  QuLiicey,  iJjc  **  Eng- 
liali  Opium  Eator,"  and  one  gf  the  most  brilliant 
of  the  Victorian  era,  wh<i  was  several 
guest    at    the   Hm   and    C/nckem,   in 
f^gjoonsy,  nuti^,  and  a*;  that  time  dirty  Birming_- 
tam,"— -sw  he  terms^it.     Speaking  of  hk^visitslo; 
thi^  town,  ijo   says:    "Th*jre   luu,    I  -c.in  well 
Lfiiuvc,  thuUBUutJfi  to  whom  iimaijighiia  is  tmother 
liMrue   for  domestic  peace,  and  for  a   reasonable 
sljiiTw  in  sunshine.     But  iu  my  ca^o,  who  have 
ja^ed  through  Blrmiugham  a  hundred^ times,  it 
always  happened  to  lain,  except  once ;  and  that 
once  the  Shrewsbury  mail  carried  me  so  rapidly 
away  that  I  had  not  time  to  examine  the  sun- 
ahine,  or  see  whether  it  might  not  be  some  gilt 
Birmingham  counterfeit;  for  you  know,  men  of 
Birmingham,  that  you  can  counterfeit — such   is 
your  cleverness — all  things  in  Heaven  and  eartli, 
Irom  Jove'a  thunderbolts  down  to  a  tailor's  bodldn. 
Therefore  the  gloom  is  to  be  charged  to  my  bad 
lack.     Then  as  to  the  noise,  never  did  I  sleep  at 
that  enormous  Hm  and  Chickem  to  which  usually 
aqr  destiny  brought  me,  but  I  had  reason  to  com- 
plain that  the  discreet  hen  did  not  gather  her 
?i^j;rant  flock  to  roost  at  less  variable  hours.     Till 


two  or  three  I  was  kept  waking  by  those  who 
were  retiring,  and  about  three  commenced  the 
morning  functions  of  the  Porter  or  *  Boots/  or  of 
'  Underboota,'  who  began  their  rounds  by  collect- 
ing the  several  freights  for  the  *High-flyer, '  or  the 
'  Tally-ho/  or  the  *  Bang-up,'  to  all  points  of  the 
compass,  and  too  often  (as  must  happen  in  such 
immense  establishments)  thundered  into  mi/  room 
with  that  appalling,  *  Now,  sir,  the  horses  are 
coming  out.*  So  that  niruly  indeed  have  1  hap- 
pened to  sleej)  in  Birmingham/' 

llie  flight  Hon.  W.  E.  Gladstone,  M.K.  dear 
cribcs,  in  a  letter  to  the  publishers  of  this  volume, 
hU  experiences  of  a  similar  character  on  seveiul 
occasions  during  liLs  journeys  by  coach  throui;h 
Birmingham.  He  Siiys  :  "  My  recollections  of  the 
casual  houi-3  in  Birmingham,  are  mueb  less  pleasant 
than  those  of  my  visit  last  year,*  The  coach  intua 
were  bad.  The  times  of  stopiJiiig  chosen  with  refer- 
enco  to  anything  rather  than  the  cumfort  of  the 
passengers.  I  have  repeatedly  been  turned  out  of 
the  Liverpool  coach,  tbe  *  Aurora,'  1  think,  at  four 
o'clock  oil  a  winter's  morumg,  aumetimes  iu  frost 
or  snow,  and  offered  breakfast,  fiir  which  this  was 
the  only  time  allowed ;  while  the  luggage  was 
charged  upon  a  barrtiw.  Behind  tliis  barrow  we 
mournfully  trudgiid  along  the  sticets  to  the  other 
hotel ;  Castle  or  Albion,  or  Hen  and  Chickens,  from 
which  the  sister  coach  was  to  start  for  the  south. 
Such  was  in  those  days  the  measure  of  comfort 
deemed  necessary  for  travellers.  And  we  must 
bear  in  mind  that  it  was  a  great  advance,  in  point  of 
regularity  and  dispatch,  upon  what  had  been  before, 
though  the  average  rate  of  coaches  during  my  boy- 
hood did  not  quite  touch  seven  miles  an  hour.*' 

These  were  not,  however,  the  only  miseries  of 
the  journey  by  stage-coach.  There  were,  even  in 
the  last  dec4ide  of  the  coaching  days,  not  nnfre- 
q^ueotlj  the  most  daring  robberies  committed ; 
and  not  merely  on  the  open  country  roads,  but 
even  within  the  boundaries  of  the  town,  as  the 
following  extract  from  a  Birmingham  newspaper 
of  the  period  will  show  :■ — 


34g 


OLD  AND  NEW  BIRMmGHAM. 


[||0II«  AtMtt1 1 


December  12,  1822.— Notes  to  the  amount  of  between 
£7,000  and  £8.000  in  two  pnrcels,  directed  to  Taylor  and 
Lloyd's,  and  GibbouB,  Smith,  and  Company,  of  Binning- 
liam,  were  stolen  from  the  box  of  the  Bulloon  coach  juat 
before  wtting  out  from  the  Swun-with-two-neckit,  Lad  t^ne. 

A  «imilar  robbery  is  recorded  two  months 
later: — 

B'cbmory  U,  1828.— A  paroel  containing  dOO  8oira.» 
directed  to  Messrs,  Attwood  ind  Spooner^  was  laat  week 
stolen  from  one  of  the  London  coachca,  on  its  wij  to 
Birmingham, 

There  is  little  to  add  here  respecting  tbo  Bir- 
miDgbam  ions  j  wo  have  recordcidj  in  an  earlier 
chapter^  the  eatablishment  of  the  Hen  and  Chickens 
Hotel  in  Kcw  Street,  and  have  already  given  two 
engravings  of  the  building.  The  only  other  house 
of  importance  not  mentioned  in  our  former 
chapter  on  the  stage-coach  is  "the  Hotel,"  in 
Temple  Row,  to  which  reference  has  been  made 
several  tinier  in  subsequent  chapters. 

Wo  may,  therefore,  close  this  brief  chapter 
with  a  few  notes  on  the  local  conveyances  within 
the  town, — the  hackney  coaches.  These  useful 
vehicles  did  not  find  their  way  into  Birmingham 
until  a  hundred  years  after  their  introduction 
into  the  metropolis, — and  then  only  in  the  singular 
number,  for  there  was  but  one  in  the  town  in 
1775.  But  by  the  year  1819  they  had  increased 
to  thirty  ;  and  at  tlic  same  period  one-horse  cars 
were  first  introduced,  and  an  attempt  was  made 
to  popularise  the  cab,  or  **  two-wbeeled  car,"  as  it 
was  then  called  ;  **  but,"  we  are  toldj  "  being  very 
unsafe,  they  were  speedily  abandoned."  Eleven 
years  later,  however,  there  were  about  sixty  of 
them,  and  the  old  two-horse  coaches,  having 
declined  in  favour,  were  falling  into  disuse. 

There  were  as  yet  many  hindrances  in  the  way 
of  traffic  of  this  kind  within  the  boundaries  of 
the  town ;  there  were  toll-gates  at  every  outlet 
towards  the  country ;  the  streets  were  ill-made, 
and  beset  with  dangers,  in  the  numerous  holes 
and  ruts  and  rubbish  heaps,  and  with  numerous 
obstructions  from  the  old-established  out-door 
markets  for  pigs,  cattle,  and  agricultural  produce ; 
and  there  was  scarcely  any  attempt  made  to 
observe  the  rule  of  the  road,  so  that  in  1806  the 


Commissioners  gave  notice  to  drivers  that  thej 
should  not,  by  negligence  or  otherwise,  **  do  any 
hurt  to  any  person  or  carriage  pasaing  thtm,  or 
at  all  prevent  the  free  passage  of  his  Majefity*8 
subjects."  They  added  also  "  that  carta  weiu  to 
give  place  to  coaches ; "  and  laid  down  the  rula 
of  the  road  as  wtdl  to  carriages  as  to  pedestriao^ 
(incorrectly,  however,  as  regards  tlie  latter,)  by 
quotii^  the  old  rhynne  : 

**  The  rule  of  the  road  is  a  pamlox  quitf 
Aft  you  drive,  ride,  or  walk  it  alang, 

If  yoo  go  to  the  U/t  you  are  sore  to  go  right, 
But  if  yovi  go  ri(fht  you  are  wro^.*** 

They  concluded  this  notice  by  proclaiming  tbat 
*'  no  person  was  to  ride  or  lead  a  horso^  or  wheel 
a  barrow,  on  the  footpaths ; "  a  drunken  driver 
to  be  fined  iive  shillings,  and  for  profane  eweariog^' 
one,  two,  or  five  shiUinga,  The  oonuniseionAn^ 
however,  omitted  to  make  provision  as  yet  for  OM 
of  the  worst  dangers  of  the  streets,  (arising  frcwa 
the  want  of  an  efficient  patrol,)  that  to  which  w* 
referred  in  our  recent  notice  of  crime  in  Bir- 
mingham, and  which  is  further  illustrated  in 
the  following  paragraphs  from  the  local  papen ; 

February  17,  1800.— On  Saturlny  evening  the  tnink  of 
the  Hon.  Captaixi  Macdonald,  who  wis  travelling  tbrougli 
the  town,  was  cut  off  by  some  vilUiii»  from  behind  hii 
carriage  and  carried  oif.  It  was  loit  between  Hockley  sad 
Birmingham. 

December  5»  1805.— On  Thursday  e^renlng  a  trunk  wi* 
cut  from  off  Lord  Derby's  carriage,  at  liockley  Hill,  near 
thia  town  ;  and  on  Saturday  evening  a  trunk  was  stolen- 
from  before  the  front  of  the  carriag<»  of  Lord  Cath^airt.  in 
Deri  tend, 

^Vith  these  notices  we  take  our  leave  for  the 

present   of    "the    road,"    its    dangers    and   ita 

pleasures.  When  next  we  take  up  the  story  it  wiH 
be  to  record  the  early  triumphs  of  steam  loco- 
motion ;  we  shall  view  the  town  under  a  better 
aspect,  with  a  better  system  of  local  govemmenti 
improved  through  fares,  and  largely  increaaftA 
facilities  fm  travelling,  not  only  from  it  to  other 
parts  of  the  kingdom,  but  also  through  the  streets 
within  its  boundaries, 

*  T\if  ntk  or  the  roa4  av  to  ^edaixiaxa  iuui  heca  e|kltatai«id  la  a 
lUn  pamdoiieftt  coiiplt^t : 

**  p«jis  u/t  to  i^  ibe  pftMiag  throng; 
l^xr  riffhi  to  right  1«  doubly  wrojkg/* 


I 


Poiiyc&i  BlstofT— 1811-idio.] 


OLD   A]ST)   NEW   BIR>riNGHAM. 


349 


CHAPTER     LL 


THE     FIRST     CAMPAIGN     IN     THE   -STRUGGLE     FOR     FREEDOM  — 1 81 1-1 8  20. 

But  iDdiA  Oompaiiy's  Clmrtor— The  Orders  In  Coanoil —Success  of  the  Birmingbftra  Oppoiltlon— Teatimonials  to  Meiisrs.  Brougli&m  aad 
Attwood— FonuAtlou  of  the  Hdinpdeu  Club — George  Edniotiii*— Disturbance  at  Mr.  Jabct's  Shop,  M<K>r  Streot — Intiir^Hiisitirtu  of  tbs 
Ifjigittr&tes^The  tint  meeting  on  Newball  Hill,  1817 -Tho  Pctitiona— The  Prince  Regent  insulte^i— The  Birmiugharu  Lo^'al 
Boqiiiaitioii— The  Loel£«cl-Dp  Heeting— The  Newhall  Hill  Meeting  of  JSISJ— The  Moaaacre  of  Pctt^rltKi— ProaecuUon  of  tbe  Birrninghaai 
BAdicftlft— Loyal  DemonetmtloDSi  etc. 


We  now  enter  njwn  tlio  first  campaign  in  tbfit 
great  battle  for  political  liberty  which  was  fought 
in  Birmingham  during  the  second,  tliird,  and 
fourth  decades  of  the  nineteenth  century^  and 
has  caused  Birmingham  ever  since  to  be  the  great 
centre  of  English  Radicalism.  We  have  chosen 
to  separate  the  story  of  this  struggle  from  the 
ordinary  chronicle  of  local  events^  inasmuch  as  it 
forms  the  centi-al  feature  in  the  history  of  our  town. 

The  united  political  action  of  the  people  of 
Birmingham  may  be  said  to  have  commenced  in 
1812,  and  originated  in  the  perils  of  their  trade, 
threatened,  in  the  first  instance,  by  the  renewal  of 
the  East  India  Company's  charter,  and  second 
by  the  promulgation  of  the  Orders  in  Council, 
letorting  upon  Napoleon  the  I^erlin  decrees, 
which  crippled  the  commerce  of  the  country. 
Twice  t)ie  people  of  Birmingham  protested,  in 
town's  meetings,  against  this  commercial  policy 
of  the  Government,  and  forwarded  petitions  and 
appointed  deputations  to  represent  their  case  to 
the  Secretary  of  State;  upwards  of  sixteen 
thousand  persons  signing  the  petition  against 
"John  Company's"  monopoly.  Among  those 
who  addressed  the  toivn's  meetings  on  these 
occasionB  were  two  young  men  whose  names  were 
destined,  in  the  oncoming  time,  to  be  engraven  in 
the  history  of  their  town.  In  these  meetings 
they  utude  their  first  appearance  as  public 
q>eaker9,  and  immediately  commanded  a  high 
ition  amongst  their  fellow-townsmem    Thomas 

twood  and  Richard  Sjwoner  were  at  once  chosen 
as  tho  most  suitable  men  to  represent  to  the 
Goverttfioent  the  position  in  which  the  manufac- 


turing industry  of  the  town  and  neighbourhood 
wtis  placed  by  tho  Orders  in  Council ;  and  they 
amply  justified  their  townsmen's  choice.  So 
forcibly  did  they  jilead,  and  so  energetically  were 
they  supported  by  Mr.  (afterwards  Lord)  Brougham 
and  others  in  the  House  of  Commons,  that  the 
Orders  were  speedily  revoked.  The  deputation 
returned  on  Wednesday,  July  1st,  1812,  and  made 
such  a  triumphant  entry  into  tho  town  as  they 
little  expected.  The  day  was  wet  and  stormy, 
but  there  were  nevertheless  many  thousands  of 
the  inhabitants  gathered  together  on  the  ont- 
sMrts  of  the  town  to  meet  Messrs.  Attwood  and 
Spooner,  and  as  soon  as  the  carriage  came  in  sight, 
the  men  went  forward,  and  having  removed  the 
horses,  harnessed  themselves  to  the  vehicle,  and 
drew  their  successful  fellow -towns  men  through 
the  muddy  streets  to  the  Shakespeare  Tavern  in 
New  Street,  amid  the  cheering  of  the  assembled 
multitude,  and  the  strains  **  of  tho  joint  bands 
of  tho  two  regiments  of  Warwickshire  MOitia." 
On  the  7th  of  the  same  month  a  public  meeting 
of  the  inhabitants  was  held,  at  which  it  was  re- 
solved to  present  a  service  of  plate  to  Mr. 
Brougham,  as  a  recognition  of  the  ability  and 
eloquence  which  he  had  manifested  on  their 
behalf*  This  handsome  present  was  manufac- 
tured at  Soho,  and  consisted  of  five  pieces,  of  the 
finest  workmanship,  bearing  the  following  in- 
scription : 

**  To  Henry  Brougham,  Esquire,  the  enlightcDed 
Advocate  of  the  manuracturiiig  and  commercial  interc'sU 
of  bis  country^  this  Memorial  of  Gratitude  was  tuiaui- 
mously  voted  at  a.  Public  Meeting  of  tho  Inhabitants  of 
Bimungham,  7th  July,  1812." 


Another  meeting  of  the  inhabitanU  was  held 
during  the  Biune  month,  at  which  it  was  reaolired 
to  present  to  Mr.  Attwoofl  a  silver  ciip  weighing 
128  ounces,  the  cost  of  the  same  being  subscribed 
in  six  pen  fc*. 

Mesars.  Attwood  and  Spooner,  having  been 
BUccesaful  in  obtaining  the  revocation  of  the 
Orders  in  Council,  were  not  disposed  to  retire  on 
their  laurela,  but  determined  now  to  take  up  the 
other  vexed  question,  tlmt  of  the  Charter  of  the 
East  India  Company.  So  energetical]  j  did  they 
throw  tljemwlvea  into  this  movement,  and  so 
well  were  they  seconded  by  their  townsmen,  that 
they  were  successful  in  breaking  into  the  Com- 
pany's monopoly  in  three  quarters  of  the  globe. 
Previous  to  this  movement,  strange  as  it  may 
aoimd  in  the  ears  of  the  present  generation,  no 
Englishman  was  allowed  to  double  the  Capo  of 
Good  Hope  or  Cape  Horn  without  the  license  of 
the  East  India  Company  ;  nor  was  he  allowed  to 
navigate  any  of  the  seas  comprehended  between 
thofe  limits,— including  the  whole  of  the  Pacific 
Ocean, — without  a  similar  license.  Thus  the 
numerous  islands  of  the  Pacific,  the  western 
shores  of  tlie  American  continent  (from  Behring's 
Straits  to  Capo  Iloni),  the  eastern  coast  of  Africa, 
Asia,  and  the  new  continent  of  Australia,  were 
practically  monoiiohsed  by  that  great  Corporation. 
It  13  to  the  opposition  originated  by  our  two 
worthy  tiiwusnien  that  Englishmen  tu-day  enjoy 
thy  privilege  of  nuvigntiiig  the  wliole  world  uf 
waters  free  of  any  toll  or  impost  whatever. 

These  proceeduigs  in  defence  of  their  industrial 
liberties  by  the  people  of  Birmingham,  led  to  the 
formation  of  the  first  political  organisation  in  the 
town.  Certain  of  tlie  artisan  members  of  tho 
eommitteo  appointed  to  carry  out  the  proposals 
respecting  the  testimonial  to  Jfr.  Attwood, 
resolved  tliemselves  into  a  society,  called  the 
Hiunptlen  Chib,  with  ^fr.  George  Edmonds  at 
their  bi.'ad.  Tbey  determined  to  struggle  for 
Parliamentary  He  form  ;  in  order  to  petition  for 
it,  effectual ly  find  ttystematifally,  they  formed 
tlicmselves  into  an  oi^anised  body,  and  formulated 


a  simple  teat  of  membersJiip,  in  the  foUawixi| 
series  of  questions,  submitted  to  each  candidate ; 
1,  **  Do  you  highly  venerate  the  constitution  of 
England,  as  vested  in  the  three  estates  uf  Kin^ 
Lords,  and  Commons  ? " — 2.  **  Do  you  acknoir- 
lldge  the  necessity  of  Parliamentxu-y  Itefonnt*— 
3.  **  Are  you  fully  convinced  of  the  obligation  to 
prosecute  this  great  object  by  legal  and  constitU' 
tionol  means  alone  1  '*  The  fact  that  the  society 
required  an  answer  in  the  aiBrmaltve  to  each  of 
these  questions  before  ao^pting  any  candidate fbr 
membership,  may  be  taken  as  an  lodjcation  of 
the  constitutional  methods  they  proposed  toadojl 
to  carry  out  their  object  Their  president,  Georgs 
Edmonds,  was  the  son  of  the  pastor  of  the  Bond 
Street  Baptist  Chapel  in  this  town,  and  kept 
school  near  his  father's  chapel ;  at  the  time 
the  formation  of  this  society  he  would  be  aboat 
twenty -six  years  of  age,  being  bora  in  1788L 

The  Hampden  Club  was  compelled,  during  i\ 
infiuicy,  to  meet  in  public  houses,  as  no  otber 
room  could  be  found.  They  met  first  at  the 
Saracen's  Head,  Snow  Hill ;  then  at  the  Nag'a 
Head,  Navigation  8treet ;  and  afterwards  at  the 
Roebuck  in  Cox  Street.  By  and  by,  howe?«r, 
they  obtained  the  use  of  a  private  house  in  Chorch 
Street,  and  Bubeequently  in  Peck  Lane,  They 
do  nttt  appear  to  have  remained  in  one  place  for 
any  length  of  time,  being  hunted  from  place 
place,  watched  with  suspicion  by  the  mngistrstii 
and  others  in  authority,  looked  upon  as  5e*htious 
and  dangerous, — so  that  no  host  felt  safe  in  har- 
bouring them  long,  Perlmps  they  had  good 
cause,  in  one  sense,  to  foar  this  little  society  of 
workn;  3n,  banded  to^etlier  to  agitate  against  their 
oppressed  condition  ; — perhaps  conscience  whis- 
pered to  the  **  resprc table  chisses,**  that  if  Uwae 
toiling,  suffering  artisacs,  in  a  timfi  of  dear  food 
and  cheap  labour,  and  of  oppn>ssiYe  taxj 
ui>on  the  necessaries  of  life,  did  not  becotn< 
ilesperate  and  violent,  ready  to  break  out  in  o[>ett 
rebellion,  they  would  exhibit  more  ttui  htunaii 
patience  and  submission.  But  the  Hampden 
Club   remained    loyiU    to    its   own  Conslituiio©, 


I 


352 


OLD    AND    NEW    BIRMINGHAM.        IDlsturUnoo  Ib  Moor  stmt.  I8I& 


The  distress,  however,  continued,  and  in  1816 
the  people  were  growing  more  and  more  dis- 
affected towards  the  persons  in  authority.  Soup 
was  distributed,  and  large  sums  wei-e  subscribed 
for  the  relief  of  the  poor ;  but  with  the  relief  was 
also  administered  advice,  couched  in  langiiage 
which,  however  well  meant,  was  calculated  to 
arouse  and  irritate,  rather  than  conciliate,  the 
disaffected  classes.  On  the  28th  of  October, 
1816,  Mr.  Jabet,  the  printer  of  the  Commercial 
Heraldy  and  of  the  first  guide  to  Birmingham, 
exhibited  in  his  window  in  Moor  Street,  a 
"patriotic  address"  to  the  working  classes, 
recommending  patience  during  the  depression  of 
trade,  etc.,  which,  by  a  misunderstanding,  created 
an  impression  among  the  people  that  the  printer 
had  stated  that  ''nine  shillings  a  week  were 
sufficient  for  the  support  of  a  man,  liis  wife,  and 
six  children."  A  great  crowd  collected,  in  conse- 
quence, around  the  window  containing  the 
obnoxious  address;  and  Mr.  Jabet's  premises 
were  in  imminent  danger  of  destruction.  The 
crowd  smashed  the  windows,  and,  as  usual,  soon 
became  an  ungovernable  mob.  ^Ir.  Ilamiwr,  who 
was  at  that  time  one  of  the  niagistititos,  imme- 
diately called  out  the  15th  Light  Dragoons  to  aid 
him  in  quelling  what  threatened  to  become  a 
serious  riot ;  and  soon  the  crowd  was  dis])ersed. 
The  next  morning  the  crowd  again  assembled, 
but  was  prevented  from  further  miscliief  by  the 
presence  of  the  Dragoons,  Yeomanry,  and  special 
constables ;  the  Kiot  Act,  however,  was  read,  and 
immediately  afterwards  the  following  bill  was 
posted  on  the  walls  throughout  the  town  : 

RIOT  ACT. 
The  Riot  Act  has  been  read  ! 
Military  Aid  has  been  called  in  ! 
The  public  peace  must  be  preserved  ! 
Beware  ! 

Proud  of  their  triumph  over  "  the  dangerous 
classes,"  as  they  loved  to  call  the  people,  the 
Magistrates  issued  a  proclamation,  the  like  of 
which  had  not  been  seen,  perhaps,  since  those  of 
July,  1791  : 

'*  Wb,  the  Magistrates  acting  for  the  Town  and  Neigh- 


bourhood of  Birmingham,  were  much  conoemed  to  find 
that  on  Monday  Evening  some  of  the  Inhabitants,  milled 
by  seditious  and  ill-disposed  Persona,  and  especiaUy  liy 
some  recent  Publications,  mischievonaly  circulated, 
showed  an  Inclination  to  Riot  and  Disturbance,  and 
proceeded  to  Acts  of  Violence  on  the  Shop  and  House  of 
Mr.  Jabbt,  a  very  loyal  and  respectable  Printer,  who, 
with  the  most  laudable  Views,  had  published  a  Letter 
written  by  a  Gentleman  in  Lancashire,  the  sole  Teodency 
of  which  was  to  preserve  Peace  and  Order  in  the  Einf- 
dom.  We  indeed  had  hoped  that  we  should  hare  to 
boast  of  the  peaceable  and  orderly  Conduct  of  all  the 
Inhabitants  of  this  Town  ;  and  having  by  prompt  £xe^ 
tions  quelled  the  Disturbances,  still  flatter  ourselves  that 
we  shall  not  have  again  to  lament  similar  Outrages.  We 
are  however  determined  on  all  occasions  to  put  the  Iiw 
strictly  in  force  against  every  Disturber  of  the  PaUk 
Peace,  and  intend  to  have  a  laige  body  of  Special  Coo- 
stables  (composed  of  the  principal  Inhabitants,  who  hare 
declared  their  Readiness  to  act,)  always  at  Hand  to  a«st 
us  ;  neither  will  we  neglect  the  Aid  of  the  Military,  who, 
under  the  control  of  the  Civil  Power,  are  strictly  legil 
Preservers  of  the  Peace. 

'*W.  HlCKa  "B.  SPENCER. 

'*W.  VILLERS.         "THEO.  PRICE. 

••  WM.  BEDFORD.    "  W.  WITHERINO.** 

'*WM.  HAMPER. 

Major  Cartwright  replied  to  this  manifesto, 
showing,  in  an  able  and  vigorous  manner,  that 
according  to  the  constitution,  the  military  are  not 
legal  preservers  of  the  peace.  The  reply  was, 
however,  disreganled,  and  a  troop  of  2,000 
soldiers  were  encani])ed  at  Sutton  Coldfield,  and 
remained  there  several  months,  ready  to  act  in 
case  of  sudden  emergency. 

From  this  time  the  members  of  the  pohtical 
clubs  were  marked  men,  throughout  the  comitiy. 
Spies  were  sent  by  the  "  persons  in  authority  "  to 
attend  meetings  of  the  various  Hampden  Clubs, 
and  to  "  report  thereon  \ "  the  Press,  the  magis- 
tracy, employers  of  labour,  and  the  respectable 
classes  generally,  set  themselves  against  the  new 
movement  on  the  part  of  the  working  classes  to 
assert  their  independence.  Places  of  public 
resort  were  closed  against  them ;  they  could  not 
meet  in  public  "  without  the  sanction  of  the 
High  Bailiff;"  and,  as  that  functionary  was 
antagonistic  to  the  political  dubs,  it  was  impos- 
sible, according  to  ail  precedent,  for  them  to  meet 
at  all  They  were,  however,  determined,  for  the 
first  time  in  the  annals  of  the  town,  to  create  a 


Tta4  ant  NewbaH  Hill  MMilug  J 


OLU   AND   KKW   BIHMmGHAM. 


353 


precedtjnt  for    holding  public  meetings  without 
ihii  sanction  of  t)ie  Higli  BailiE 

"The  importance  of  this  stcp/*^ — says  an 
historian  of  the  Political  Unions, — '*  trifling  as 
in  the  year  1850  it  may  seem,  was  vast  It 
DTertiirneil  in  a  day  all  the  trttditious,  customs, 
■ad  eacp€rience  of  live  hundred  years.  It  was 
opposed  to  all  pre-conceived  notions,  and  settled 
ideas  of  the  '  respectable  '  classes,  and  completely 
upset  all  former  experiences.  That  alone  was  no 
Blight  thing.  It  set  the  people  thinking  about 
matters  that  heretofore  had  not  been  questionod, 
and  suspicion  followed  upon  many  points  which 
>efore  they  had  not  dreamed  of  doubting.  That 
^point  gained/' 

iting  aside  the  authority  of  the  High 
iliff,  however,  they  endeavoured  to  proceed  in 
e  customary  manner,  by  a  retpiisition  to  that 
ionary,  to  call  an  early  meeting  under  his 
ion.  This  was  refused,  and  they  then 
Jeculed  to  dispense  with  him.  The  next  question 
where  should  they  me^'t  1  Applications  were 
le  to  owners  of  the  largest  rooms  in  the  town, 
mt  in  vain.  In  every  quarter  they  met  with 
denials,  reproaches,  and  insults ;  nobody  would 
harbour  the  men  who  seeraed  determined  to  turn 
the  world  upside  down.  There  was  but  one 
lefiource  left  to  them, — that  of  meeting  in  the 
open  air;  and  so,  out  of  these  adverse  circum- 
itances,  arose  the  Jirnt  ojini-nit'  political  detnon- 
tiraiioft,  A  copy  of  the  requisition  to  the  High 
Bailiff  was  prefixed  to  the  announcement  of  the 
Ineeting,  which  was  as  follows  : 

To  TUB  HicB  Batliff  of  BlRMiyOHAM. 

January  SO,  1817. — Sir,  —  We,  the  undersignfld 
lihubiUuts  of  Birmingham,  conceiving  it  to  bd  the 
bdi5i>iMa»able  daty  of  thw  t«wu  to  declare  to  the  Legiala- 
tlie  uaexftinpled  distress  in  which  the  pcojile  are 
Ev«d,  and  \o  petition  thai  every  practicable  Betreuoh- 
in  the  National  Expenditare  may  b«  made,  as  a 
\oAm  of  present  alleviation,  and  that  a  Reform  iu  the 
otue  of  Commona  be  inalitnted  withont  further  delay, 
ir  restoring  the  Constitution  to  iti  pristine  purity,  as  the 
jKOority  against  similar  cakmities  in  future,  do 
f<m  to  call  an  early  meeting  of  the  inhabitants, 
this  tabjeot  into  conalderation, 
which  were  afGxed  G3  res]^>ectable  signaturea.] 


The  High  Bailiff  having  refused  to  comply  with  tht 
above  requisition,  we,  the  undersigned  inhabitants  of 
Birmingham,  do  in\ite  our  fellow  townsmen  to  meet  on 
Wednesday  next,  January  22,  1817,  on  the  open  ground 
to  the  left  of  St.  Paul  a  Square,  called  Newhall  Hill,  to 
take  into  consideration  the  important  objects  of  tho 
requisition. 

The  chair  Mill  be  taken  at  twelve  o'clock. 
Joseph  Joues»  George  East,  S,  La  wren  oe, 

Joseph  Wareham,       John  Boglei  Jun.,  Joseph  Luckcock, 
E.  Thompson,  Edmond  Caatle,        Jiimes  Evans, 

W.  llnwkes  Smith,    John  Fellows,  Thomas  Hnrri son, 

W.  K.  Whitehouse,    Philip  Rnrrington,   Cbas.  Maddocks, 
J.  S-  Retchley,  A,  Simond,  Thos.  Clarke, 

John  FUiK^ks,  Thomas  Wright,      CJeorge  Barrs, 

William  Jennings      George  Cox,  "W,  Moore, 

Thomaa  Amphlett,     Jospeh  Benson,        G,  Edmonds, 
Ralph  Hea ton,  Jun,,  P,  Osborne,  George  Ragg, 

Edvsin  Hill,  Thomas  Cox,  C.  Whit^Forthi 

James  BelUii,  John  Burton,  W,  Bullock, 

Isaac  Smith,  Samuel  Eve,  Samuel  Burrell, 

Jamca  Luckcock,        William  Piobin,       Samuel  Bradley, 
J,  A»  Wilkes  James  Harcourt,       S,  Wainrigbt, 

Joseph  Willmorfv      >V.  H.  Wigiiall,       R.  Lovatt, 
and  a  great  number  of  other  respectable  signaturea. 

As  will  be  seen  from  the  above  amioimcenient, 
the  Heformera  fixed  upon  Newhall  Hill  as  their 
meeting-ground ,  and  therein  consecrated  it  to  the 
great  struggle  for  freedom,  as  the  amna  of  free 
debate,  a  spot  which  was  destined  during  the  fifteen 
yeaia'  war  of  right  against  might,  to  he  the  scene 
of  some  of  the  most  noteworthy  events  in  the 
history  of  the  nineteenth  century. 

Tho  meeting  was  held  on  the  day  appointed, 
and  set  at  naught  the  sneers  of  those  who 
described  the  new  movement  as  the  disaffection 
of  a  mere  handful  of  pothouse  politicians;  for 
there  were  gathered  together  on  Nowhall  Hill  not 
less  than  twenty- five  thousand  persons.  Such  a 
town's  meeting  had  never  been  heard  of  before. 
Accustomed  to  the  old-fashioned  meetings  of 
**  the  respectable  inhabitants**  in  "the  chamber 
over  the  Cross,"  they  had  com©  to  regard  the 
larger  gatherings  at  the  new  Public  Offices  in 
Moor  Street  in  the  light  of  really  representative 
town's  meetings;  but  thk  gathering  of  from 
twenty-five  to  thirty  thousand  people,  as  it  was 
variously  computed,  was  far  beyond  anything 
thoy  had  imagined.  Mr.  George  Edmonds  pre- 
sided,    and,    quoting    the    words    of    Thomas 


Attwood,  depicted  the  depressed  condition  of_,  the 
people,  the  poverty  of  the  working  daaaee, — 
*'  dnven  into  the  workhouse  or  the  grave,*' — the 
stagnation  of  commerce, — the  landlord  receiving 
no  rents,  and  the  farmer  no  profits ;  the  merchant 
exhausting  his  capital  and  industry  in  vain,  and 


tivity  by  night  j  the  excellence  of  whose  waib 
have  dazzled  and  delighted  all  the  nations  of  tbfl 
earth.  Alas,  sir,  what  is  she  now  ?  BeboM  ha 
once  valoahle  artisans  hungry  and  in  laga,  iikilig 
up  the  filth  of  her  streets,  with  many  of  those 
men  who  have  covered  themselves  with  ^oiy  ia 


{ 


OEOIUih:    EDMOKIX}. 


the   manufactuTcr    boholding    "his   hard-earned 
accumulations  gradually  p^issing  away/* 

Following  in  the  same  despondent  strain,  the 
next  speaker  (Mr.  Moore)  described  the  condition 
of  the  Birmingham  artisans,  "Look  around 
you^  sir,^'  he  said,  "  in  this  once  happy  Birming- 
ham I  this  seat  of  arts  and  arms ;  this  mine  of 
men  and  steel,  the  soldier  and  the  sword;  in 
*  whose  streets  the  busy  hum  of  prosperous  industry 
waa  ^heard  by  day,  and  the  voice  of  joy  and  fes- 


tho  strife  of  Kings,  even  with  the  badge  siA 
acknowledgment  of  their  prowess  on  thdr  breasti ; 
they  have  fought,  they  have  conquered,  and 
wretchedness  and  misery  is  their  rowaid  1*' 

The  burden  of  the  same  story  wae  taken 
by  all  the  speakers  in  turn ;  the  poverty  of 
people  and  the  depresaion  of  trade.  They 
not,  however,  overlook  the  causes  of  this  distMiB  j 
they  jiro tested  against  the  French  War  and  tti 
object, — that  of  **  restoiing  the  age  of  politic 


Tim  emt  K«wUfttl  HiU  MeeUng.} 


OLD   AND  NEW  BmMINGKAM. 


355 


tod  religious  darkness;"  they  asserted  their  claim 

to   parliamentary   representation,    and    protested 

igainst  the  corruption  of  the  House  of  Commons  ] 

Igainst  the  buying  and  selling  of   eeata,   like 

'*  at&Ils  in  the  market,"  by  which  *'  the  niinous 

ichemes  of  an  infatuated  Ministry  have  been  sub- 

Eoitted  to  b J  a  generous  but  misguided  people ; " 

l^ainat  the  Cora  Billj  "the  avowed  object  of 

irbich  was  to  protect  the  ll  to  rests  of  a  tenth  part 

of  the  community,  and  which  hy  its  effecta  has 

Bonsigned  the  remaining  nine^tenths  to  the  depths 

of  wtetchBdness  and  despair,  by  prohibiting  the 

mportation  of  food,  and  conaequentlj  preventing 

ibe  maniifacture  of  those  goods  which  might  have 

been  given  in  exchange ;  "  against  sinecures,  and 

pubUc  extravagance ; — and  in  favour  of  reciprocity 

(the  **  thin  end  of  the  wedge,"  and  perhaps  the 

rutmost  they  then  dreamed  of,  in  the  direction 

lof  free  trade,)  and  of  "such  a  reform    in    the 

iCommona  House  of   Parliament  as  will  restore 

•  frequent  elections  and  general  suffrage." 

I     A  petition  was  drawn  up  embodying  the  various 

roointa  above  mentioned ;  and,  in  conclusion,  the 

following  resolution  was  proposed  and  carried  ; 

Tliat  this  meeting  shall  be  adjourned  till  March  25, 
1817 ;  and  that  it  is  eameKtly  recom mended  to  all 
^»iitioDiDf7  bodies  throiighout  the  Unit4xl  Kingdom  to 
iolil  public  meetings  at  the  same  time  and  on  each  Btjc- 
coeding  quartcr'day,  till  the  grand  object  of  Parliamentary 
|fieform  b<^  obtained. 

J  Twenty-one  Uiousand  names  were  appended  to 
the  Birmingham  petition  in  a  few  weeks;  and 
throughout  the  whole  movement  tbere  was  not 
fthe  least  disposition  to  riot  observable,  although 
the  oonstabloa  and  a  special  detacliment  of 
pulitary  were  in  readiness  to  act  in  case  of  distur- 
^ance,  the  5  th  Dragoons  being  quartered  in  the 
S^entrL'  of  the  town. 

The  Gazette  would  have  taken  no  notico  whatr 
of  the  meeting,  but  that  the  proceedings  had 
Men  m  generally  made  public  "through  the 
Ekediitm  of  the  neighbouring  a  ad  London  prints,'' 
bat  it  became  "almost  necessary  to  allude  to 
As  in  similar  gsvtherings  of  later  years, 

\%  journal  treated  the  whole  affair  in  the  most 


disparaging  manner, — e-stunating  the  number  pre- 
sent at  little  more  than  10,000,  "among  whom 
were  a  great  proportion  of  women  and  children ;  " 
and  denying  the  statement  "that  troops  were 
brought  from  the  barracks  and  quartered  in  the 
centre  of  the  town,"  as  "  no  auch  measure  was 
considered  necessary/ 

*' The  speakers,"  says  the  CrOzeWc,  "consisting 
almost  wholly  of  the  members  and  supporters  of 
the  Hampden  Gluh  formed  in  this  town,  wero 
elevated  upon  scaffolding  at  the  bottom  of  the 
hill  near  the  Parade^  from  whence  they  addressed 
the  crowd.  A  Mr.  Edmojuhf  chairman  of  the 
(Uub  was  the  principal  speaker,  and  his  address 
embraced  the  various  topics  usually  discussed  at 
similar  meetings.  The  Petition  was  ordered  to 
be  presented  to  the  House  of  Commons  by  Peter 
Moore  and  Joseph  Butterworth,  Esqs.,  memlwra 
for  Coventry,  At  the  coiicloBion  of  the  meeting 
the  populace  quietly  dispersed  to  their  homes. '^ 

The  Birmingham  meeting  was  followed,  during 
the  week,  by  various  others  of  a  siuular  character 
througliout  the  country,  at  wLicli  the  same  re- 
solutions wei\-^  adopted,  Six  days  afterwards,  the 
Prince  Regent  opened  Parliament  with  a  speech 
from  the  throne,  denouncing  tbe^e  proceed- 
ings ;  and,  as  he  returned  from  tho  House, 
was  met  with  hisses  and  groans,  and  not  a  few 
missiles ;  it  is  said  that  one  of  the  crowd  even 
fired  at  him.  The  High  BaUifl*  of  Birmingham 
(Mr.  John  Turner)  immediately  convened  a  meet- 
ing of  the  inhabitants — "  tlie  Magistrates^  Gentry, 
Clergy,  ^Mer chants,  Manufacturers,  and  others," 
not  those  inhabitants  who  had  convened  the 
Newhall  Hiil  meeting  without  his  sanction,—"  to 
take  into  consideration  tlio  propriety  of  presenting 
a  dutiful  and  loyal  address  to  his  Koyal  HigbncBS 
the  Prince  Regent,  expressive  of  our  unalterable 
attachment  to  his  illustrious  house,  and  of  our 
utter  abhorrence  of  the  late  audacious  and  wicked 
assault  upon  hi^  Royal  Person,  whuj  exercising 
one  of  the  most  important  functions  of  the  Regal 
authority."  Yet  so  far,  the  reformers  of  Newhall 
HiU  would  have  loyally  joined  with  their  more 


356 


OLD  AND  NEW  BIRMINGHAM. 


[The  Newlun  Hffl  Maetiag  ofUU. 


respectable  neighbours ;  they  did  not  wish  to  see 
their  cause  sullied  by  an  attempt  at  regicide.  But 
the  requisition  did  not  end  with  this ;  they  were 
also  to  "  enter  into  some  Resolutions  that  may 
declare,  that  whilst  we  hold  the  right  of  Petition- 
ing to  be  the  undoubted  privilege  of  Englishmen, 
we  strongly  deprecate  any  exercise  of  that  right 
which  in  its  consequences  may  lead  to  scenes  of 
outrage  and  violence."  This  was  a  declaration 
which  they  were  not  prepared  to  endorse,  and 
they  determined  to  be  present  at  the  meeting  to 
oppose  it,  at  the  same  time,  however,  "  concurring 
fully  in  the  primary  object  for  which  it  was 
called."  They  succeeded  in  carrying  their  point, 
in  a  resolution  "  declaratory  of  their  right  and 
their  intention  to  petition  as  often  and  in  such  a 
manner  as  they  deemed  fitting  or  necessary." 
Thus  baffled  in  their  endeavours  to  pass  a  resolu- 
tion against  the  right  of  petitioning,  the  requisi- 
tionists  adjourned  to  the  Public  Office,  and  there, 
with  closed  doors,  passed  the  resolution  condemn- 
ing the  Reformers*  petitions ;  this  circumstance 
was  long  remembered  by  the  peoj)le  as  "the 
locked-up  meeting  in  ^loor  Street." 

The  apeech  of  the  Prince  Regent  was  not  with- 
out its  effect ;  reports  were  i)resented  to  the 
House  of  Commons  on  the  18th  and  19th  of 
February,  by  the  Secret  Committees,  (wlio  had 
employed  spies  to  attend  the  meetings  of  the 
Reformers  throughout  the  kingdom,)  allciging 
that  Birmingham  and  other  great  centres  of  in- 
dustry were  filled  with  revolutionists,  members 
of  the  various  Hampden  Club.  The  Ministry 
asked  for  the  suspension  of  the  Habeas  Corpus 
Act,  and  the  House  readily  acceded  to  the  request. 
This  measure  brought  to  a  close  the  career  of  the 
Hampden  Clubs,  including  that  of  Birmingham. 
Lord  Sidmouth,  the  Home  Secretary,  issued 
warrants  to  apprehend  disaffected  persons ;  and 
many  arrests  took  place  in  consequence  in  various 
parts  of  the  country.  Men  were  dragged  from 
their  homes,  and  were  thrown  into  prison  for 
periods  varying  from  six  to  eighteen  months,  and 
then  discharged  without  trial.     The  perpetrators 


of  these  acts  of  despotism,  committed  under  the 
direction  of  the  Home  Secretary,  were  indemnified 
by  the  faithful  Conmions,  by  the  passing  of  tn 
Act  of  Lidemnity  at  the  close  of  the  session  of 
1818. 

During  this  year  the  reformers  of  Binningbam, 
appear  to  have  remained  dormant, — ^paralysed,  it 
may  be,  by  the  high-handed  procedure  of  the 
Government.  But  in  the  July  of  the  following 
year,  1819,  they  once  more  took  the  field,  and 
boldly  asserted  their  right  to  pailiamentary  repres- 
entation. A  great  meeting  was  held  on  Newhall 
Hill,  on  Monday,  July  12th,  at  which  nearly  sixty 
thousand  persons  were  present.  On  this  occasion 
they  did  not  stop  short  at  any  mere  resolution, 
but  boldly  appointed  Sir  Charles  Wolseley,  as 
their  "  Legislatorial  Attorney  and  Representative," 
and  authorised  him  to  claim,  on  their  behalf, 
admission  to  the  House  of  Commons,  as  Member 
for  Birmingham.  As  one  London  newspaper  of 
the  period  expressed  it,  "  in  one  moment,  a  public 
meeting  invested  the  town  with  the  right  of 
sending  a  Member  to  Parliament ;  and  without 
waiting  for  the  Speaker's  writ,  or  any  other  old- 
fashioned  process,  nominated  and  elected  Sir 
Charles  Wolseley  to  that  honour."  Among  the 
persons  present  at  this  famous  gathering,  were 
Major  Cartwright,  T.  J.  Wooler,  George  Edmonds, 
and  many  of  the  members  of  the  old  Hampden 
Club ;  Sir  Charles  Wolseley  was  unable  to  attend 
in  consequence  of  the  recent  death  of  his  mother. 
The  proceedings  commenced  with  a  procession 
from  Major  Cartwright's  lodgings  to  the  place  of 
meeting,  and  on  their  arrival,  Mr,  Edmonds  was 
called  to  the  chair.  His  opening  address,  was 
followed  by  a  speech  from  Mr.  Maddocks,  a 
schoolmaster,  who,  according  to  the  Guzette,  had 
succeeded  to  the  school  recently  vacated  by  Mr. 
Edmonds.  A  letter  of  apology  for  non-attendance, 
from  Sir  Charles  Wolseley,  was  next  read,  and 
then  followed  the  various  resolutions,  and  the 
reading  of  the  '^  Complaint  and  Kemonstrance." 
This  was  succeeded  by  the  resolutions  of  the  day, 
touching  the  election  of  Sir  Charles  Wolseley  as 


Tiie»«wbiUiKmM«.Uo«ofi8mi       OLD   AND   NEW   rUBMINGHAM. 


357 


"  Legislate  rkl  Attorney  and  Bep  resents  tive," 
with  the  provision  that  **in  the  event  of  hi^ 
being  acknowlctlged  and  received  aa  their  repre- 
ative,  he  is  to  use  his  utmost  endeavours  to 
i  lo  them  an  annual  election  of  Legiaktorial 
atatives  hj  ballot,  and  to  move  for  the 
'  adoption  of  Jilajor  Cartwright's  *  Bill  of  Itights 
and  Liberties.'  '*  Major  Cartwright,  Mr»  Wouler, 
and  Mr,  Edmonds,  were  then  deputed  to  wait 
upon  the  newly  appointed  representative,  and  the 
meeting  was  brought  to  a  close  by  votea  of  thanks 
to  the  visitors,  Major  Cartwright  and  Mr.  Woolcr. 
The  M^or  is  described  by  the  Gazette,  as 
**  spectra] "  in  appearance,  and  is  said  by  that 
jonmal  to  have  **  remained  almost  motionless 
during  the  whole  of  the  proceedings,"  excepting 
that  after  the  vote  of  thanks,  "  he  rose  and  bowed 
his  thanks  to  the  crowd,  who  in  turn  testLGed 
their  respect  by  taking  otF  tlieir  hut«  while  he 
lemained  on  his  legs/' 

The  whole  proceedings  were  mightily  disi)araged 
hy  the  G<izetii\  and  treated  as  **  farcical  *' ;  the 
numbers  were  considerably  nnder-estimated,  and 
almost  in  the  same  sentence,  explained  away,  by 
the  statement  that  the  majority  of  the  persons 
ent  were  artisans  out  of  employment.  "  Xot 
ngle  individual,  resident  or  holding  a  respec- 
ble  situation  iu  society,"  says  the  detractor, 
**  took  a  prominent  share  in  the  day *s  proceedings  j 
and  this,  we  are  told,  excited  chagrin  and  dis- 
appointment to  the  old  Major,  who  had  considered 
things  here  to  be  upon  a  dilfcjrent  footing." 

Insignificant  as  these  proceedings  appeared  to 
the  Gazette,  however,  they  were  not  regarded  in 
the  BRsne  light  by  the  Goverument  A  cabinet 
council  was  held  immediatelyi  and  a  Proclamation 
st  seditious  assembliesj  with  special  reference 
"lo  the  Newhall  Hill  gathering,  was  issued, 
commanding  Magistrates  and  persons  in  authority 
la  tmike  the  most  diligent  inquiry,  **in  order  to 
to  punwhment  those  persons  who  have  been, 
^luay  be  guilty  of  offences  of  the  kind." 
Tlio  leaders  of  the  ^owhall  Hill  meeting, 
Ms^ot   Cartwright  and  Messrs.  T.   J.    Wooler, 


George  Etlmonds,  Charles  Maddocks,  and  Wm. 
Grcatheed  Lewis,  (of  Coventry),  were  indicted 
at  the  Warwickshire  Spring  Assizes,  *'  for  con- 
spiring to  elect  and  return,  without  lawful 
authority,  Sir  Chtirlea  WoLjek-y,  Bart.,  as  a 
member  to  represent  the  hdiabilants  of  Birming- 
ham in  the  Commons  House  of  Parliament.**  The 
indictment  was,  however,  removed  into  the  Court 
of  Kiug's  Bench  and  the  trial  was  postponed, 
the  defendiints  being  liberated  on  baO. 

During  the  same  year  occurred  the  famous 
**  Peterloo  Massacre  **  at  Manchester,  an  event 
which  led  the  Birndngham  Reformers  into  other 
grave  offences,  and  rendered  some  of  them  liable 
to  further  prosecutions.  Our  readers  are  doubt- 
less familiar  with  the  story  of  that  shameful  act, 
whereby  a  peaceable,  although  it  may  be  some- 
what noisy,  meeting  of  Eeformers  was  attacked 
by  the  Yeomanry,  several  persona  being  kiJled 
and  others  seriously  injured;  an  act  whieh 
aroused  tbe  indignation  of  all  right-minded 
Englishmen,  and  led  the  lieformers  of  Birming- 
ham to  meet  once  more  on  the  battle-ground  of 
freedom,  Newhall  Hill, 

This  gathering  took  place  on  Thursday,  Sept. 
16th,  1819.  Shortly  before  three  o'clock  in  the 
afternoon,  the  le-aders  of  the  party  proceeded  to 
the  place  of  meeting  in  a  mourning  coach ;  the 
platform  was  hung  with  hJack  cloth,  and  the  vast  ' 
crowd  evinced  every  token  of  sympathy  and 
compassion  for  their  martyred  bretbren.  As  on 
former  occasions,  l^Ir.  Edmonds  presided;  Sir 
Charles  Wolseley  had  been  requested  to  do  so, 
but  declined  from  prudential  motives,  having 
already  a  prosecution  hanging  over  his  head  as  a 
result  of  the  previous  meeting.  He,  however, 
followed  Mr.  Edmonds  in  addressing  the  assembled 
crowd,  concluding  by  exhibiting  a  drawing  of  a 
memorial  column  which  ho  proposed  to  erect  in 
his  park  at  Wolseley,  **  in  commemoration  of  the 
brave  Keformers  who  fell  on  the  ICth  of  August  f 
a  column  forty  feet  high,  wliich  should  ho  placed 
in  a  situation  overlooking  the  road  to  Manchester. 
In  an  account  of  the  meeting  contained  in  the 


358 


OLD  AJSD  l^EW  BTRMIXGHAM, 


[Latter  fttan  J« 


Lichfield  Mercury^  it  is  statyil  tliat  "  the  discharge 
i*f  ordnance  was  heard  at  a  distance,  and  the  roll 
of  a  drum,  which  agitated  the  outskirts  of  the 
people — supposed  to  be  a  trick  of  the  authorities 
—a  very  foolish  one — to  try  the  nerves  of  tho 
meeting.  '^  The  great  body/'  says  the  Merctirf/, 
"  stood  firm  on  the  defensive,  and  we  are  told 
that  not  le^s  than  from  six  to  eight  thousand  bad 
armed  themselves  with  pistols,  in  case  they  should 
be  attacked."  Tliis  re|K>rt  ia,  however,  contia- 
dicted  by  the  Binnmi/ham  Gtizette,  in  a  very 
disparaging  notice  of  the  meeting.  '*  It  is  tme," 
says  that  journal,  **  a  portion  of  the  crowd 
became  alarmed  at  some  noise  which  was  heard 
from  a  distance,  and  a  cvy  in  conse<[uence  that 
soldiers  were  approaching  caused  for  a  few 
momenta  considerable  confusion,  hut  it  soon  sub- 
sided. The  supposition  that  a  discharge  of 
ordnance  took  place  by  direction  of  the  Magis- 
tiatea  is  too  absurd  to  need  contradiction;  and  the 
report  that  a  large  body  of  the  crowd  were  armed 
with  pistols  we  have  no  hesitation  in  declaring  to 
be  a  gross  calumny,"  The  same  journal  states 
that  **  the  number  of  parsons  present  was 
certainly  far  below  any  fonner  assemblage  on  the 
same  spot,  notwithstanding  the  attendance  of  a 
numerous  concourse  from  all  parts  of  the  surround- 
ing country,  who,  it  being  market  day,  were  thus 
enabled  to  obtain  a  sight  of  Sir  Charles  Wolseley, 
an  important  personage  of  whom  they  bad  heard 
BO  much  of  late," 

In  reference  to  this  meeting  and  'is  objects, 
one  of  tho  conveners  of  the  first  Newhall  Hill 
meeting  wrote  as  follows  in  tho  Gazette  of  Sep- 
tember 27th,  the  issue  containing  the  account  of 
the  proceedings : — 

To  THE  PuBLrc. 
From  my  known  extreme  reliietanco  to  public  buamesi, 
and  more  csi>e€iany  to  that  deacription  of  it  m  well  under- 
stood by  the  term  PoHticul^  I  had  lioped  to  pass  unnoticed 
by  tbe  mcetiug  hcdd  lo^t  Thursday,  ou  New  hall  Hill  I 
had  no  hand  whatever  in  the  two  last  Town's  Meetings, 
not  having  seen  either  Sir  C,  Wolseley  or  Mr.  Wooler, 
duriug  the  whole  of  their  stay  in  town  ;  yet  has  an  appeal 
been  made  to  my  principles  by  the  unanimona  voico  of 
jny  fellow  townamen.   Let  me  not  be  upbraided  with  their 


being  the  **nff-rafir  and  acorn  of  society,"  Whotetcr  I 
see  a  human  being  I  recognize  the  image  of  God,  t&d 
howerer  meanly  he  may  be  dad*  be  baa  a  da 
good-will  and  fellowahip.  Let  bia  conduct  beJ 
and  I  stop  not  to  ask  what  caab  he  hat  in  bia* 
before  I  shall  know  if  he  be  entitled  to  drilitj  or  to  < 
tempt.  I  therefore  beg  leaye  to  atate^  that  I 
aympathise  with  the  lower  claas  in  their  priratioiis  ani 
mifiertngB.  A  vast  portion  of  the  great  maaa  of  oor  p0po> 
lation  i<  now  working  from  twelve  to  fifteen  boon  a  day 
for  the  miserable  pittance  of  one  abilling — I  appeal  to  oor 
Parliamentary  Reporta  for  tho  tmtb  of  the  alle^tioii' 
and  even  this  wret^^hed  earning  cannot  always 
obtained,  through  the  want  of  employTuent.  Is  thii,  { 
ia  it  not^  safhcient  caase  of  complaint !  And  if  1 
aomotimea  err  in  the  mode  of  seeking  redreas,  with  wh 
lies  the  repioach  ?  with  those  whose  waiita  drire  tbenj  i 
use  such  means  as  their  knowledge  affords — or  witb  th(m 
who,  pretending  to  know  better,  at  the  same  time  nfm 
their  assistance,  protection,  and  admire  ?  Wboerer 
them  that  their  distresses  on?  temporary,  and  that  it  | 
out  of  the  power  of  human  means  to  grant  prt^aent  i 
are  uttering  the  foulest  libel  on  the  boanty  wf  Proridea 
The  physical  resources  of  nature,  and  the  energies  of  roU 
if  properly  eaiployedj  might  convert  our  miserable  couutrjT 
into  a  comparativo  £den — but  alas  !  what  has  bi^a^ 
attempted  ? 

The  late  proceedings  at  Manchester  appear  to  me  « 
perfectly  atrocious,  anti-cbristioji — ao  outm^eons  to  en^ry 
feeling  of  honour  and  humanity — ^so  subversive  of  social! 
order,  and  of  every  moral  duty, — and  so  directly  oppowd 
to  every  principle  of  law  and  of  justicc^ — that  I  ^^ItouliJ 
think  it  culpable  to  withhold  my  humble  sanction  from 
the  Hubscription  proposed  on  behrtl*^  of  tho  surviving  stiN 
ferers.  If  my  name  will  be  of  service,  I  willingly  lend  i 
though  I  am  unable  to  use  that  exertion  in  the  cause  I 
which  I  think  it  so  well  entitled. 

Whatever  subscriptions  may  be  deposited  in  my  hand 
I  hoiKj  1  need  not  pledge  my  name  for  their  faithfl; 
appropiiation, 

St.  Paul's,  Sept.  23.  1619.  Jxmxb  LrcKoocx.  J 

It  ia  greatly  to  the  credit  of  tho  Gazette  that  ft 
letter  expressing  sentiments  so  decidedly  ontAgo- 
n  is  tic  to  the  pnnciplea  advocated  by  that  journal 
shoidd  have  found  a  pkee  in  its  columns  ;  th 
editor,   however,   in  the  same  issue,  entei«d  il 
polite  hut  firm  and  deeided  protest  againat  thP 
opinions  of  hk  correspondent. 

It  ta  not  to  be  supposed  that  during  th# 
political  events  of  1819  the  Tory  party  in  Bir- 
mingham remained  silent,  or  was  by  any  nie 
a  small  and  unimportant  section  of  the  cofmmuni^ 
Pamphlets,  si|uih8  in  prose  and  verse,  add 
sermons,  and  other  woitly  missiles  were  htitled  I 


360 


OLD   AND  NEW  BIRMINGHAM. 


IChnrdiM  and  Sects— ISlMftt. 


loyal  hearts  may  yet  be  found"  occurred  in  a 
play  produced  at  the  Theatre  Boyal;  and  the 
lines  had  scarcely  escaped  the  actor's  lips  when 
'"  the  walls  of  the  theatre  resounded  from  every 
part  with  one  of  the  most  astounding  and  long- 
continued  bursts  of  applause  ever  heard."  Another 
line  in  the  same  play,  "  we  would  reign  undis- 
turbed by  civil  war,"  met  with  a  similar  recep- 
tion. On  another  occasion  one  of  the  audience 
(said  to  have  been  in  the  gallery)  demanded 
"  Ood  Save  the  King^'  and  the  request,  says  the 
Gazette^ ''  occasioned  an  instantaneous  re-echo  from 
almost  every  voice."  The  interrupted  performers 
complied  with  the  request,  the  audience  standing, 
not  content  with  joining  in  the  chorus,  but 
''  actually  interposing  the  most  enthusiastic 
eheers,"  we  are  told,  "  between  each  distinct  sen- 
timent ;"  and  when  finished,  "an  universal  encore 
succeeded,  and  it  was  again  sung,  accompanied 
by  the  audience  with,  if  possible,  increased  feeling." 
At  the  same  time  the  *  loyal '  party  did  all  in 
their  power  to  prevent  the  dissemination  of 
liberal  opinion  not  only  in  the  outdoor  gatherings 
but  oven  through  the  medium  of  the  press.  On 
the  1st  of  November,  1819,  a  Birmingham  book- 
seller, Mr.  George  l^^^'g^  of  Bull  Street,  was 
apprehended  under  a  wan  ant  issued  by  the 
Magistrates,    "  for    selling   a   number    of    *  The 


Eepublican,'  a  blasphemous  work  still  publishisg 
by  Carlile."  Being  unable  to  find  sureties  for  hij 
appearance  at  the  assizes,  he  was  thrown  into 
Warwick  gaol,  to  await  his  triaL  The  author  of 
an  'inflammatory  hand-bill'  printed  by  Kagg 
Mr.  Charles  Whitworth,  was  also  taken  into 
custody  a  few  weeks  later.  Osborne,  "a 
pamphlet  vendor,  of  Union  Street,"  was  also 
apprehended  for  selling  "The  Black  Book;" 
Kichard  Mansfield,  for  "unlawfully  selling  in 
this  town,  a  seditious  publication  called,  An 
Address  to  the  Eeformers ; "  all  these,  together 
with  Joseph  Kussell,  Joseph  Brandis,  and  John 
Osborne,  were  each  sentenced  to  one  year's 
imprisonment,  and  required  to  find  sureties  for 
their  good  behaviour  for  several  years  afterwards. 
After  many  delays,  the  leaders  of  the  Birmingham 
Eeform  movement  were  sentenced  as  follows: 
George  Edmonds,  to  nine  months'  imprisonment, 
T.  J.  Wooler,  to  fifteen  months,  Charles  Mad Jox, 
to  eighteen  months,  and  Major  Cartwright,  to  pay 
a  fine  of  £100  to  the  King,  after  having  paid, 
in  travelling,  law,  and  other  expenses,  nearly  a 
thousand  pounds.  W.  G.  Lewis,  of  Coventry, 
for  a  pretended  libel  in  a  Coventry  newspaper 
was  sentenced  to  two  years'  imprisonment  iu 
Oakham  Gaol.  And  so  ends  the  first  part  of  the 
struggle  for  liberty. 


CHAPTER     LIL 
THE     CHURCHES     AND     SECTS     IN     B  I  R  M  I  N  G  H  AM  — 1  8  1 1 -1  8  2  0. 


Necessity  for  more  Churcliea— St.  George's  Church— Preparations  for  building  Holy  Trinity  Chapel— £6eae2er  Chaptl,  Steclhousc  Lane- 
Rebuilding  of  Carr's  tiane  Chapel— New  Roman  Catholic  Chapel,  Shadwcll  Street- Riot  in  1813. 


Thb  second  decade  of  the  nineteenth  century- 
was  one  of  great  progress  in  the  churches  of  the 
establishment  in  Birmingham.  Not  only,  as  we 
have  already  recorded  in  our  last  chapter  of  the 
history  of  thci  churches  and  sects  in  the  town, 


was  the  Free  Church  completed  during  this  period, 
but  further  steps  were  also  taken  towards  pro- 
viding additional  church  accommodation,  the  need 
for  such  provision  having  long  b3en  felt 

At  a  meeting  held  in  October,  1818,  it  was 


**sCUarfh.) 


OLD   AND   NEW   BtRMINGHAM. 


361 


stated  that,  in  the  mi«lst  of  a  popukti«jn  of 
0O>OOO  souls,  (in  8L  Martin's  paiish  alone,)  the 
cburchcs  and  chapels  of  the  Estiiblishnicnt  could 
not  furnish  accommodation  foi-  innn?  ihaii  7,630; 
distributed  as  follows : 

At  81.  .Martin's  Chun:h         2/200 

—  St  Mar/s  C^bflpcl  2,000 

—  St  Paiirs  Cha^>el  1,130 

—  St  Barlholoniew'8  Chapel  ...      *^00 

—  Qmst  Church      ...         1,510 


[To  theact  for  the  accoiuuiodalion  of  the  rest 
of  the  town,  may  be  added, 
At  St  Philip'b  Church 
—  St  Johii*s  Cljapel,  Deriteud 
—  St  James'  Chapel,  Aahtcil 


7,630 


-2,000 
700 
700 


3,400 

Thus  making,  iji  all,  provision  for  11,030  per- 
sons, out  of  a  ti^>tal  population  of  about  80,000, 

It  was  roL'om mended,  tliercfurc?,  that  an  appli- 
cation should  be  made  to  Parliament  for  the 
building  of  three  new  clinrches,  vanh  to  accommo- 
date 2,000  pel  sons,  out  of  tlic  grant  of  a  milUun 
provided  by  the  **  Act  for  building  mid  proinnting 
th*!  bnihling  of  churches  in  populous  pnrishes/' 

On  the  28th  of  December,  in  ihe  saitn?  year, 
the  welcome  news  was  annouucetl  in  the  Gtxzt'tte 
that  the  Commissioners  appoint>od  under  the  Act 
ju8t  referred  to,  had  "  detennincd,  willi  a  liberal 
consideration  of  the  wants  of  ournunicruus  popu- 
Intion,  immediately  to  build  a  new  Church 
witliin  the  parish  of  St  Martin,  out  of  the 
Parliamentary  grant,  provided  a  proper  f^ite  for 
the  building  Ix)  procured,*'  It  was  further  re- 
ported that  '*the  board  appointed  by  the  Lord 
Bishop  of  the  Diocese  are  now  actively  engaged 
in  making  the  necessary  j«reliminary  arrange- 
ments;" and  that  "some  gentlemen  have  kindly 
ijngnged  to  stilicit  puhscriptions  from  the  principal 
inhabitants,  at  the  commeucemont  of  the  new 
year,  in  ai«l  of  the  fund  already  formed  for  the 
purpose  of  p^^viding  a  sit«  for  the  intended  build- 


ing, and  defraying  any  other  expenses  which  may 
be  incidental  to  the  undertaking." 

The  site  was  ultimately  obtained,  partly  by  the 
munificence  of  the  Marquis  of  Hertford  and  Miss 
Golmoi'e,  and  partly  by  purchnge,  out  of  the  fund 
thus  raiseil  by  private  subscription,  from  the 
Governors  of  King  Edward's  School.  The 
situation  was,  next  to  that  of  St  Philip's,  the 
best  ill  the  town,  at  that  period,  at  the 
upper  end  of  Hampton  Street  and  Tower  Street, 
and  adjoining  Great  Hampton  Row.  The  church, 
dedicated  to  St.  George,  'was  the  first  in  Birming- 
ham in  which  a  return  'was  made  to  Cliristian 
arcliitecture.  It  is  built  in  the  early  English 
doco rated  style,  from  designs  by  Thomas  Rick- 
man,  the  author  of  a  popular  work  on  Gothic 
Architecture,  and  the  first  promoter  of  the  Gothic 
revival  The  church  consists  of  a  nave,  aisles, 
and  chancel,  with  a  lofty  square  embattled 
tower  at  the  west  end.  The  nave  ia 
dividetl  from  the  aisles  by  richly  moidded 
stone  piers  and  arches,  upon  which  rises  a 
lofty  clerestory,  finished  with  a  battlement  and 
pinnacles.  The  tower,  which  is  114  feet  high, 
resembles,  in  its  general  features,  the  Somerset 
ijliire  towers  of  the  1 5th  centur)%  and  ia  surmounted 
by  a  pierced  parapet,  Tvith  crocketed  pinnacles. 
At  the  east  end  is  a  largo  stained  glass  window, 
of  rich  flowing  tracery,  underneath  which  is  a 
highly  decorated  altar-piece.  The  ceiling  over 
the  nave  and  aisles  is  panelled,  p.irtly  in  wood 
and  partly  in  plfister ;  the  open  timber  roof  not 
having  been  at  that  period  introduced.  Although 
there  are  crudities  in  the  design  of  this  structnrei 
as  necessarily  there  must  he  in  all  he^inninfjfi,  it 
will  compare  favouraldy  with  any  building  of 
the  same  early  period  of  the  revival  of  Christian 
architecture  in  England.  Internally  the  Inulding 
is  98  feet  in  length  and  60  feet  in  width;  the 
width  of  the  nave  i^  26  feet,  and  the  height  45 
feet  There  is  accommodation  for  1959  persons, 
the  greater  portion  of  the  sittings  being  free. 

Tlic  first  stone  was  laid  by  the  local  commis- 
sioners appointed  under  the  Act,  in  the  name  of 


ing  to  XI 2, 481)  inat^ad  of  exceeding,  as  is  not 
UDcomiuoiiIy  ibe  case,  was  contracted  for  and 
completed  for  upwards  of  eiemn  hundred  j^tomidtt 
less  titan  tlie  original  estimates  ;  and  that  journal 
is  strongly  of  opinion  that,  "  upon  close  iiivesti- 
gation,  it  will  be  found  iLat  St.  George's  Cburcli 
has  been  completed  for  one  third,  if  not  one-half, 
under  the  cost  of  any  church  of  its  size  and 
capacity  erected  of  lata  years." 


The  sum  of  X3j000  was  raised  by  voluntary 
subscription  for  the  purchase  of  this  land  as  » 
Bite  for  the  new  chapel,  which  it  was  proposed  to 
erect  and  dedicate  to  tho  Holy  Trinity*  Thsi 
Tfirst  [stone  w^as  laid  during  the  last  yc^ir  of  th 
period  under  notice^  but  as  the  edifice  was  no 
completed  until  1823  we  defer  tlie  further  nolio 
and  description  thereof  until  our  next  cltapter  ( 
the  religious  history  of  the  town» 


fIndn*ndencyhiBirmlt.gbam4  OLD    AND  NKW    BIKMIKGHAM. 


363 


turn  naw  to  tbe  history  of  t\w  dissenters 
linghumi. 

r  the  completian  of   the    N«w  Meoting 

in    Moor    Street,   ttnd    the    consequent 

1  of  the  second    Unitarian  society  from 

miporaiy  meeting-houae  in  Livery  Street, 

-er  bnilding  was  used  by  an  offshoot  from 

dependent   congregation   in   Carr's  Lone, 

he  successful  ministy  of  the  Kev.  Jehoiada 

previously  pastor  of  Carr'a  Lane  Meeting. 

*nlarity  of  Mr.  Brewer  at  the  Livery  Street 

5-ho«8e   led   to    the   erection  of  a  larger 

5  for  his  increasing  congregation^  in  Steel- 

lane.     He   died,  however,  in  1817,  jnat 

ra  completion.     Tbe  new  building,  called 

r   ClmpcJ,   was*    o|^>ened   on   the   9th   of 

er,  1818,  the  U«v.  W.  Tboqie,  of  Bristol, 

Sig  tbe  morning  service,  and  the  liev.  S, 

of  Mancheiiter,  that  of  the  evening.     In 

Jie  chapel  is  a  monument  to  the  memory 

ainister  for  whose  congregation  it  was 

1  who  laid  the  first  &tone  on  the  4th  of 

6.     The  chiipcd  contains  acconinuuhition 

I  Uian   1,200   persoug ;  the  cost  of    its 

^aa  about  X  7,000, 

Y  meantime,  nnder  tbe  successful  minis- 
>f  the  llev.  John  Angell  James  at  the 
>ciety,  the  chapel  became  too  small  to 
date  the  lai^^e  congregations  which 
i  I  here  from  week  to  week  For  the 
»he  preacher  was  already  beginning  to 
r  and  wide,  and  attracted  nil  classes  to 
De  lo  bear  him.  jVf  ter  repeaU^d  enlarge- 
was  therefore  decided  to  rebuild  the 
id  the  first  atone  of  the  new  stnicture 
by  the  pastor,  on  Friday,  July  30th, 
^m  a  report  in  ilie  Gazette  of  the 
I  learn  that  the  ceremony  attracted  "  a 
assemblage  of  spectat^jrs,"  and  that  the 
k)thy  East  (the  puator  of  Ebenexer 
toelhouee  Lane,)  and  the  Eev.  Isaiah 
»r  of  the  Baptist  Chapel,  in  Cannon 
Dok  part  in  the  proce^adings,  •*  Mr. 
ya  tho  report^  "  delivered  an  animated 


and  apprc»priate  address  to  those  asseinbled  on 
the  occasion,  in  his  usual  impressive  and  energetic 
manner."  At  the  time  of  its  removal,  the  older 
meeiing-bouse  was  capable  of  accommodnting 
about  800  hearei*s,  and  it  was  intended  to  provide, 
in  the  new  building,  accommodation  for  2,100  j 
of  which  350  free  sittings  ehoidd  be  appropriated 
to  the  use  of  the  poor,  and  300  for  the  chOdren 
of  the  iSunday  Schools, 

Just  three  months  after  the  laying  of  the  first 
slone  of  the  building,  the  Gazette^  November  1st, 
1810,  contained  the  following  paragraph  : — 

N«w  Meeting  House,  Ciarr'a  Ijane. — Afi  an  inst'int'e  of 
uti|mrHlIuled  dispatch  in  the  erection  of  public  buiMiiiga 
ill  thib  towo,  ii  is  due  to  Ihu  Architt^ct  iind  Committee 
for  couducting  the  builditig  of  thti  New  Mtjcting  Hooae, 
in  Ciirr's  Lane,  and  esiwdally  to  tbe  spirited  exertions  of 
tbe  Builder,  to  mculiuii  tbnt  ultbougb  tbe  CcnamittOO 
voluntarily  extended  tbe  tiiuL%  yftt  tli«  building  was 
1:0 ve red  in  on  Saturday,  one  day  witbin  tbe  period 
originally  contracted  for. 

Upon  tbe  last  «late  waa  engraved  the  following  ioserip* 
tion  ; — 

"  M»im<M'aiid.i.— On  tb«  30tb  day  of  July,  1819,  the 
first  stone  of  the  buibliag  was  Inid  by  tbe  Kev.  John 
An^eli  James,  the  Minbti»r,  On  the  3Utb  day  of  October, 
in  tbe  same  year,  this,  tbe  biat  slate  waa  laid  by  Hetiry 
lAsneve  Holland,  tbe  bmlder,  iu  the  presence  of  StMitnan 
Thomas  Whitwell,  the  urcbitect, — Laiis  D^'o" 

Some  idea  of  tbe  magnitndo  of  tbin  chnpel,  may  be 
formed  by  stating  that  it  contains,  within  it*  extornal 
boundaries,  alwut  305,000  cubic  feet. 

Thts  new  chnpel  was  opened  for  divine  service 
in  August,  1^20.  It  is  a  largo  building  of  brick, 
and  had  itntil  within  the  lust  thr«o  years,  a  lofty 
and  imposing  cemunted  front,  in  the  pseudo 
Grecian  style,  presenting  an  arch  of  large  span, 
within  which  were  ]>Iaccd  the  entrances.  In 
1 S76,  however,  the  old  front  was  removed,  and 
the  budding  somewhat  lengthened,  the  new  fiont 
being  of  red  brick  with  stone  dressings,  in  a 
style  of  architecture  more  in  harmony  with  the 
purpose  for  which  the  place  was  erected;  viz., 
that  of  Christian  worship. 

The  Roman  Catholics,  who,  tip  to  the  com- 
mencement of  the  period  under  notice,  still  had 
but  one  place  of  worship  in  the  town, — St* 
Petor*s  Chapel,  in  Broad  Street,^hegan  now  to 
hudd  a  second,  in  Shadwell  Street,  (on  the  site  of 


364 


OLD  AND  NEW  BIRMINGHAM. 


[The  Medical  Ghtxitki. 


the  present  cathedral) ;  occupying,  in  the  mean- 
time, a  temporary  place  of  worship  in  Water 
Street.  The  new  chapel  was  opened  in  1813,  by 
the  Rev.  Dr.  Milner,  and  dedicated  to  St  Chad. 

The  other  sects  in  the  town  appear  to  have 
flourished  and  increased  in  numbers  and  influ- 
ence; small  chapels  and  meetinghouses  arose  in 
the  various  quarters  of  the  town,  but  none  of 
sufficient  importance  to  call  for  particular  notice. 

In  the  earlier  part  of  this  decade,  Birmingham 
was  once  more  the  scene  of  a  religious  riot.  On 
the  night  of  the  22nd  of  March,  1813,  a  crowd 
broke  into  the  Methodist  Chapel,  in  Belmont 
Row,  broke  the  windows,  destroyed  the  pulpit 
Bible,  and  pulled  down  the  chandelier.  From 
this  place  the  rabble  marched  to  the  Jew's 
Synagogue,  in  Severn  Street,  and  thence  to  a 
meeting-house  near  Lady  Well,  and  finally 
to    the    Baptist    Chapel,    in    Bond    Street ;   in 


all  these  the  windows  were  shattered,  pewi 
destroyed,  and  the  places  pillaged  of  eveiytldng 
which  could  be  carried  away.  An  attempt  was 
made  to  fire  the  Bond  Street  Chapel,  whidi 
happily  failed,  although  the  drapery  of  the  piil|Ht 
was  entirely  consumed.  The  strong  arm  of  the 
law,  however,  proved  more  effective  in  this  case 
than  in  1791,  and  four  young  men,  named 
Hanley,  Adams,  Turner,  and  Guest,  weie 
sentenced  respectively  to  seven  years'  imprison- 
ment 

"In  this  town,"  says  Charles  Pye,  (in  hk 
Description  of  Modem  Birmingham^  published 
during  this  period,)  "  every  individual  worehipe 
his  Maker  in  whatever  way  his  inclination  leads 
him,  without  the  least  notice  being  taken  or 
remarks  made;  if  a  person's  conduct  is  exemplary, 
or  if  he  does  not  give  way  to  any  vicious  propen- 
sities, no  one  will  interrupt  or  interfere  with  him.' 


CHAPTER     LIU. 


LOCAL     CHARITIES,      CHIEFLY     MEDICAL. 

Establishments  of  the  Binuingham  General  Dlsj^ensary— Description  of  the  Building— ProiXksal  to  Establish  a  Lying- la  Hospital- 
Orthccpa'dic  Hospital— Deaf  and  Dumb  Institution. 


In  passiii|T  from  ono  to  another  of  the  scenes 
which  we  have  endeavoured  to  reproduce  in  the 
last  few  chapters, — from  the  public  life  of  our 
townsmen  to  their  amusements,  and  from  thence 
to  their  literary  and  social  life, — our  readers 
have  doubtless  looked  for  some  particulars  as  to 
our  local  charities,  and  may  perhaps  have  censured 
the  author  for  so  long  delaying  any  further 
notice  of  what  has  well  been  described  by  Pope 
as  "  all  mankind's  concern."  But  the  delay  has 
arisen  mainly  from  the  fact  that  since  our  notice 
of  the  General  Hospital,  there  has  been  but  little 
to  chronicle ;  from  the  foundation  of  that  institu- 
tion, to  the  commencement  of  the  present  century, 
with  the  single  exception  of  the  General  Dispen- 


sary, we  have  had  no  new  charity  to  record,  and 
but  little  respecting  those  already  in  existence. 
We  now,  however,  take  up  the  story. 

Li  1770  the  first  Dispensary  was  established  in 
London,  by  a  few  private  individuals ;  it  was  ia 
fact  little  more  than  a  private  institution  at  first, 
numbering  only  100  subscribers.  But  in  two 
years  the  Governors  had  increased,  to  300,  and  by 
1778  the  institution  numbered  fourteen  thousand 
subscribers.  As  the  advantages  of  this  useful  charity 
became  known,  the  scheme  was  adopted  by  many 
provincial  towns,  and  especially  in  Ireland.  Towards 
the  end  of  the  year  1792  a  proposal  to  establish 
a  Dispensary  in  Birmingham  was  mooted  in  the 
columns  of  the  Gazette,  which  resulted  in  the  for- 


Binitlngb»n>  OeMr»l  Dlip«D*ar70       OLD    AND    KEW    BIEMINGHAM. 


365 


ation  of  a   private  society;  and  early  in  the 
lUuwing  year,  1793,  tlie  infant  project  attracted 
be  attention  of  ^latthew  Boult<»n,  who  at  once 
pok  it  under  hia  protection,  and  elected  himself 
Is  treasurer,  saying,  **if  the  fuml»  of  the  institu- 
ion  are  not  eufficient  for  its  support,  I  wOl  make 
Iji  the  deficiency.**    A  house  was  thereupon  taken, 
d  Temple   Row,  and  the   insUution   grew  and 
fToapered,  until,  in  1806,  it  was  found  nece^ary 
D  erect  a  more  suitable  btnlding.      A  site  was 
iLtiiined  in  Union  Street,  and  **our  ingenious 
man,  Mr.  W.  HoUina  "  prepared  designs  for 
intended  structure,  the  first  stone  of  which 
laid  by  Thomas  Potta,  Low  Bailiff,  on  the 
5rd  of  December,  1806,     The  new  building  was 
ipened  during  the  year  1808 ;   it  consists  of  a 
tns  and  two  wings,  the  former  being  surmounted 
ly  a  triangtdar  pediment,  supported  by  four  lofty 
pilasters,  with  fluted  capitals.     ^'  Over  the  door- 
iraiy,"  says  Mr.  Bates,  **  is  an  emblematical  piece  of 
Sculpture  by  W,  Hollins,  representing  a  female 
proaehing  beneath  an  arch ;  she  holds,  appropri- 
ately, a  medicine  cup  in  her  hand,  but   whether 
^a  the  jK)int  of  taking  a  dose  herself,  or  as  a  nurse 
■tthe  institution  about  to  adniinster  a  draught  to 
■iliniseon  patient,  we  have  not  been  able  to  ascer- 
tain, nar  is  the  mystery  elucidated  by  the  iuscrip- 
tiou/**      Tlje  building  is,  in  fact,   one  of  those 
monstrosities  with  which  an  overweening  love  for 
psetido  classic  art  has  disfigured  our  town,   and 
not  ours  only,  but  neiirly  every  city  and  town  in 
hn  Umt4id  Kingdom.! 
Ugly,  huwevcr,  us  the  building  undoubtedly  is, 
hnfl  yet  sheltered  an  institution  which  has  been 
r  instrument  of  more  usefulness,  in  proportion 
o  the  sums  expended,  than  any  utberof  our  local 
liarities,      During  the  year  1794,  280  patients 
rere  relieved ;  in  1802  the  number  had  grown  to 
,470  J   ten   years  later,   (1812)  the   number  of 
clients  admitted  exceeded  fuui*  thousand.  During 
it  year  in  which  both  the  Vaccination  and 


•  Tlic  if)iii7it'''i<><A  i*  "  ^^f  tl>8  Mont  High  oamctli  He»Uiig." 

♦  Jo  BinitmgiMm,  we  *n!  gfrry  to  say.  thfi  «d»«kniU.in  for  this 
i  of  tbtnjf  liii*  Dtft  yet  «IIe<l  «iiL 


Mi<lwif«ry  departments  existed,  1868,*  the 
number  had  increased  to  9,072,  while  in  1871 
the  number  of  sick  patients  alone  amounted 
to  10,570,  and  by  1877  had  increased  to  19,286, 
Perhaps  the  best  idea  of  t!ie  usefulness  of  this 
institution  is  conveyed  in  the  total  number  of 
patients  admitted  during  the  entire  period  of  ita 
existence,  which  is  as  follows : — 

Sick.  Midwifery.  Vaccine  InocuUtion. 

345,881.  35,123,  101,387. 

In  1813  wc  find  the  first  note  in  the  Gazette  of 
another  useful  charity,  which  did  not,  however, 
take  a  practical  form  for  nearly  thirty  years  after 
the  first  attempt  to  found  it  :— 

Oct.  IJ,  1813, — It  givea  lis  much  grAtifi  cat  ion  to  hear 
that  0  aocitity  is  about  to  he  estahliahed  for  t!ie  express 
purposf?  of  afFordiug  relief  to  poor  lying-in  women,  A 
meeting  has  l>een  held,  the  result  of  which  gives  every 
reason  to  believe  that  the  society  will  be  wel!  supported, 
and  we  doubt  not  will  be  essentially  servic<?able,  m  there 
certainly  ia  not  any  situation  to  which  the  poor  are  exposixL 
that  calls  *"0  loudly  for  reliiif  from  those  wtio  have  it  in 
their  power  to  aMbrd  it. 

The  Lying-in  Hospital  was  not,  however,  estab- 
lished until  1842. 

On  the  24th  of  June,  1817,  a  meeting  attended 
by  all  the  more  influential  and  bene  vol  on  tly -dis- 
posed inhabitants  of  the  town  and  neighbourhood 
was  held  in  Birmingham,  to  consider  the  propriety 
of  establishing  an  Institution  for  the  Eelief  of 
Persons  laljouring  nnder  Bodily  DeforDoty.  It 
was  resolved  to  establish  such  an  institution,  and 
that  it  should  bear  the  name  above  mentioned ; 
that  the  Earl  of  iJartmouth  he  Patron  of  the 
Institution ;  that  Mr.  Freer  be  appointed  Surgeon 
to  the  Establishment,  and  that  ^Ir  J.  W.  ^Vlmtely 
be  appointed  secretary.  Ultimately  the  rather 
clumsily  worded  titleof  the  institution  was  changed 
for  that  of  "  the  Orthfcpaidic  Hospital,'^  and  a 
building  was  obtained  for  the  purposes  of  the 
charity  in  New  Street.  Before  the  end  of  Sep- 
tember the  Gazette  announced  that  the  society 
had  already  liveen  the  means  of  relieving  twenty- 
five  |)atients,  and  that  the  applications  for  ad- 


•The  Midwifery  depttrimeut  i 
nnliutj  in  IKTU. 


I  abnndiiot^  In  19(30.  and  Vaecl- 


366 


OLD  AND  NEW  BIKMINGHAM. 


[The  Deaf  and  Dumb  ImtitiitiaB. 


mission  continued  to  be  very  numerous.  During  the 
first  year  of  its  establishment  235  patients  were 
relieved,  and  the  charity  has  continued  up  to  the 
present  time  to  prove  of  incalculable  assistance 
to  hundreds  of  sufferers  from  various  herniary 
complaints,  and  has  accomplished  much  valuable 
work  in  its  limited  sphere  of  usefulness,  in  a  quiet 
and  unobtrusive  manner. 

In  the  year  1 800  was  founded,  by  a  few  scien- 
tific inhabitants,  the  Philosophical  Institution,  of 
which  we  shall  have  more  to  say  in  a  future  chap- 
ter ;  and  it  is  to' this  society,  as  wo  sliall  presently 
see,  that  we  owe  one  of  the  most  useful  of  the 
educational  charities  in  our  midst.  During  1812, 
Dr.  De  Lys  lectured  at  the  Institution  on  the 
advantages  which  the  deaf  and  dumb  might  derive 
from  a  new  system  of  instruction  he  (with  Mr.  A. 
Blair)  had  introduced.  A  young  girl,  about  eight 
years  of  age,  labouring  under  these  defects,  was 
introduced  by  the  lecturer  to  illustrate  the  effects 
of  his  system,  and  this  circumstance  gave  rise  to 
the  General  Institution  for  the  Instmction  of 
Deaf  and  Dumb  Children. 

A  private  meeting  of  the  principal  inhabitants 
was  held  on  the  30th  of  November,  in  the  same 
year,  at  St.  Philip's  Parsonage,  at  which  it  was 
determined  to  take  the  initiative  steps  towards 
establishing  such  an  institution,  and  this  was 
followed  by  a  public  meeting  at  the  Blue  Coat 
School,  four  days  later,  when  the  project  was 
formally  set  on  foot  and  the  first  officers  of  the 
new  institution  were  elected.  We  have  not  space 
to  quote  the  first  annual  report  of  the  committee 
in  full,  it  must  therefore  suffice  to  give  an  outline 
of  the  work  accomplished  during  the  year.  An 
experienced  teacher  had  been  engaged,  (Mr.  Braid- 
wood)  who  would  reside  wholly  in  or  near  Bir- 
mingham ;  he  was  the  son  of  Thomas  Braid  wood, 
whose  school  for  the  deaf  and  dumb  had  received 


the  approbation  of  many  of  the  most  emmcnt 
men  of  the  time.     The  commdttee  had  ascertamed 
that  there  were,  in  Birmingham  alone  ^*  not  fewer 
tlian  twenty  poor  children^   fit   objects  of  this 
Charity."     Further,  they  reported  that  at  the  last 
Assize  at  Warwick,   "the  Grentlemen  of  a  mort 
respectable  Grand  Jury,  and  the  High  Sheri^ 
unanimously  subscribed  to  this  Institution,  and 
kindly  honoured  it  with  their  powerful  Becom- 
mendation  to  the  County  at  large."     Thus  far,  all 
preliminaries  were  satisfactorily  arranged,  and  the 
new  institution  was  ready  for  work  ;  on  the  10th 
of  January,  1814,  the  school  was  opened,  and  the 
task  of  instructing  the  Deaf  and  Dumb  in  the 
useful  arts  commenced.      On  the  28th  of  August 
Mr.  McCready  gave  a  performance  at  the  Theatre 
Eoyal  for  the  benefit  of  the  institution,  at  which 
an  address,  written  by  the  Rev.  Charles  Kennedy, 
was  delivered  by  Mrs.  Edwin  immediately  after  the 
play  of  The  Deaf  and  Dumb.     In  February,  1815, 
the  new  Asylum,  at  Edgbaston,  handsomely  fitted 
up  by  Lord  Calthorpe,  was  opened ;  in  it  was 
provided  accommodation  for  sixty-five  childnju, 
although  at  first  only  twenty  were  admitted,  from 
want  of  funds  for  the  carrying-out  of  the  further 
provisions  of  the  institution.     In  later  years  the 
increase  of  subscriptions,  legacies,   and  donations 
enabled  the  managers  of  the  institution  to  develop 
still  further  the  intentions  of  its  founders,  and 
there  is  now  accommodation  for  upwards  of  160 
children.     All  honour  to  those  who  thus  imitate 
the  divine  Master,  by  giving,  in  a  certain  degree, 
ears  to  the  deaf,  and  voice  to  the  dumb,  and  thus 

o]^  new  worlds  of  thought, 

With  sense  and  feeling  give  their  eyes  to  shine 
And  light  up  all  the  human  face  divine  ; 
Give  them,  in  silent  prayer  to  lift  on  high 
The  smile  of  conscious  immortality  !  * 

•  Kennedy's  Address. 


PithiirnfeMn.iKyt,nu-isiii3mj     OLD   AKD   NEW  BIKMINGHAM. 


367 


Th.^ 


CHAPTER      LIV, 

runLIC      LIFE     AND     E  V  E  K  TS— I  81  1  - 1  8  2  0. 

T    it  iUiUdlnps— Formation  of  the  Xew  Suitni(\t*li1—G«a-Llgbtini:—Df*ftth  or  Mylt*i  Swini^ 
I  nd  Pntriotic  Celcbntioutt— Mini  el  lane  oua  Eventj*— Crimi?— Tlie  Mystery  of  Mary  Aflhford 


fe"  taking  up  once  again  '*  the  story  of  our  lives 
itom  year  to  year,*'  we  feel  a  sense  of  relief  that, 
rduring  the  second  decade  of  the  present  century, 
we  have  to  record  no  riots  or  puhlic  disturbances 
Buch  as  have  disfigured  previous  pages  of  our 
Ktstory  j  the  turmoil  of  tlie  first  political  c-ampaign 
^hs^B  already  been  chronicled,   with  its  attendant 

Eittturbfinees  and   pi-osecutions ;  we  have  also  re- 
tfired  briefly  in  a  recent  chapter  to  the  petty  riot 
a  1813,  and  there  happily  remains  no  further 
.'disturbance  to  record  in  the  present  chronicle. 
I      This  was  a  decade  of  improvement  In  every 
■gipect,  of  better  streets,  better  accommodation 
^foT  the  various  goods  in  puldic  marlcets,  and  of 
the  dawn  of  a  better  system  of  local  govemTnent. 
I      We  noticed  briefly,  in  our  last  chronicle  of 
r ©vents,    the    fourth    Act    "for    better    paving, 
!;  lighting,   watching,  cleansing,   and  otlierwise  im- 
'proving  the  town  of  Birminghfini."      The  most 
important  of  the  provisions  of  this  Act  was  that 
which  empowered  the  Commissioners  to  treat  with 
the  Lord  of  the  Manor  for  the  lease  or  purchase 
^  bis  markets,  fairs,  and  other  manorial  rights, 
and  to  establish  agricultural  markets  in  tlie  Bull 
King,  and  on  the  site  now  called  Smithtiekl     In 
'f  the  clauses   conferring  these  powers   upon   the 
,  {'om  mission  era  it  is  spt  forth  that  "whereas  the 
I  town  of  Birmingham  is  become  a  very  large  and 
i  populoua  trading  tc»wn,  and  the  markets  there 
Imve  from  time  out  of  memory  been  held  in  the 
fetroets  or  places  called  Bull   Street,  Hi;;h  Slreet, 
find   Dale  End,  and  whereas   the  Commissioners 
Itavo  purchaMid  and  taken  down  divers  messuages 
€r  tenemcntt£  and  bnlldings  situate  in   tlie   Bull 


Ring,  for  the  purpose  of  enlarging  and  making 
more  commodious  the  said  market  place,  and  it 
would  greatly  tend  to  the  convenience  of  the  in- 
hibitants  if  the  markets  were  in  future  held  there, *^ 
it  is  enacted  that  **  the  street  or  place  so  widened 
and  enlarged,  called  the  Bull  Eing,  shall  be  deemed 
a  public  highway,  and  shall  be  considered  and 
used  as  the  market  place  for  the  town  of  Birming* 
ham/' for  **  all  goods,  wares,  and  merchandises, 
fruit,  vegetables,  or  garden  stufi^  butchers'  meat^ 
or  other  matter  or  thing  except  neat  cattle,  horses, 
sheep,  pigs,  hay  and  straw,"  and  that  the  Lord  of 
the  Manor  may  set  up  stalls  for  markets  and  fairs, 
and  may  collect  rents  and  tolls  for  the  same. 
With  regard  to  the  mercbandise  excluded  from 
the  Bull  King  market  it  is  enacted  that  the  Com- 
missioners may  purchase  "a  piece  of  land  with 
the  buildings  thereon,  called  the  Moat  and  Moat 
House,  belonging  to  8ir  Thomas  Gooch,  Baronet, 
and  Thomas  Francis,  Esquire,"  and  may  lay  open 
the  land  **  so  as  the  same  shall  fonn  an  area  of  at 
least  one  acre  and  two  roods,"  and  **  enclose  the 
same  for  a  market  place  for  the  sale  of  neat  cattle, 
horses,  sheep,  antl  pigs,  hay  and  straw,"  and  that 
on  the  completion  of  the  said  market  place,  the  use 
of  other  thoroughfares  for  this  purpose  shall  cease, 
except  at  the  two  public  fairs,  on  which  occasions 
the  sale  of  horses  *'  in  a  certain  street  there  called 
the  Horse  Fair,"  shall  continue  as  usual* 

In  accordance  with  these  provimons,  the  pur- 
chase was  completed,  and  the  ancestral  home  of 
the  lords  of  Eiraiingham  was  demolished,  and 
the  market  tolls  and  other  rights  were  purchased 
of  the  Ij>rd  of  the  Manor,  for  j^  12,500,  and  with 


368 


OLD   AND    NEW   BIEMINGHAM. 


[GM-Iighting. 


these  passed  away  for  ever  the  last  vestiges  of 
feudal  Binningham.  The  house  which  stood  on 
the  very  site  of  the  ancient  "  castle "  was  des- 
troyed, the  almost  dry  ditch  which  had  erst  been 
"  as  a  moat  defensive  to  a  house  "  was  i&lled  up, 
the  old  drawbridge,  which  had  long  ceased  to  serve 
its  ancient  purpose,  was  removed,  and  the  lords  of 
the  manor  of  Birmingham  passed  out  of  our  history 
for  ever. 

No  compunction  as  to  the  destruction  of  the 
last  link  between  the  past  and  the  present  seems 
to  have  disturbed  the  Commissioners ;  they  adver- 
tised in  the  Gazette  as  follows,  for  plans  for 
converting  the  Moat  grounds  into  a  market- 
place : — 

New  Smithfield. 
March  27,  1815. — The  Commisaiohers  of  the  Birming- 
ham Street  Act  do  hereby  give  Notice,  that  they  are  in 
want  of  a  Plan  for  adapting  the  Premises,  which  they 
have  lately  purchased,  called  the  Moat  and  Moat  House, 
for  the  Accommodation  of  the  intended  Smithfield,  and 
they  do  hereby  offer  a  Premium  of  Ten  Pounds  for  the 
Plan  which  shall  be  most  approved  of,  and  Five  Pounds 
for  the  next.  Ground  Sketclies  of  the  Premises  may  be 
had,  and  other  Particulars  known,  by  applying  at  our 
Office  in  New  Street,  Birmingham,  where  tlie  plans  are  to 
be  delivered  in  by  the  respective  Candidates  on  or  before 
the  30th  Day  of  March  instant. 

By  Order  of  the  Commissioners, 

Smith  and  Arnold,  Clerks. 

On  the  5th  of  April,  1817,  it  was  ofTicially 
announced  that  the  Land  purchased  fur  a  ^Market 
Place,  and  commonly  called  and  known  by  the 
Name  of  the  "  Moat,"  would  he  opened  as  a 
Market  Place,  "for  the  sale  of  neat  Cattle, 
Horses,  Sheep,  and  Pigs,"  on  Thursday,  the  29th 
of  May,  (for  the  Whitsun  Fair,)  and  on  the 
Tuesday  following,  for  the  sale  of  IJay  and 
Straw. 

The  next  improvement  we  have  to  record  is 
one  which  affected  the  appearance  of  Birmingham 
by  night.  Hitherto,  although  gas  had  been  in 
use  at  Solio  since  1802,  the  town  had  been 
content  to  remain  in  the  most  miserable  gloom 
after  sunset,  the  darkness  being  rendered  visible — 
and  nothing  else — by  the  feeble  flickering  rays  of 
the  old-fashioned  oil  lamps.     Even  the  theatre 


was  no  exception  to  the  rule ;  and  the  place 
where  we  now  look  for  brilliancy,  or  at  least 
cheerful  brightness,  was  only  rendered  a  little 
brighter  than  the  rest  of  the  town  by  the 
occasional  use  of  wax  instead  of  oil.  It  was  not 
until  1817,  that  a  company  was  formed  to  "light 
the  town  with  smoke,"  as  Sir  Walter  Scott 
plirased  it  On  tlie  6th  of  January  in  that  year, 
proposals  were  published  in  the  Gazette,  "for 
lighting  up  the  public  Streets  of  the  Town,  and 
the  Houses,  Shops,  and  Manufactories  of  such 
Persons  as  may  be  desirous  of  the  same,  by 
a  Company  of  Proprietors,  to  be  called  the 
"Birmingham  Gas  Light  Company."  These 
proposals  were  as  follows  : — 

I.  That  the  Capital  of  this  Company  be  £100,000,  in 
10,000  Shares  of  £10  each,  and  the  Shares  to  be 
transferable. 

II.  That  each  ^tersou  shall,  at  the  Time  of  his  becoming 
a  Subscriber,  pay  down  a  deposit  of  £10  per  Cent,  towards 
the  necessary  ExiHjnses  of  Surveys,  Plans,  Parliamentary 
and  other  incidental  Charges,  to  be  incurred  in  pnKoiring 
the  Establishment  of  the  Company's  Works  ;  and  in  case 
£20,000  is  not  subscribed  for  in  three  Months,  that 
the  Deposit  be  returned,  after  deducting  the  Expences 
incurred. 

III.  That  no  Person  be  admitted  a  Subscriber  who  is 
not  an  Inliabitant,  or  otherwise  concerned  in  TmJe  in 
the  Town  of  Birmingham,  till  after  the  first  Day  of  March 
next  ;  after  which  Time  the  Subscription  to  become  open 
to  the  Public. 

IV.  Tliat  no  Person  shall  be  allowed  to  subscribe  for  more 
than  40  Shares  until  the  said  1st  Day  of  March  next 

V.  That  when  2,000  Shares  shall  be  subscribed  for,  a 
General  Meeting  shall  be  held,  pursuant  to  public  Notice, 
to  be  given  in  the  Birmingham  Papers,  for  the  Purpose  of 
Electing  a  Committee  of  not  less  than  15  Persons ;  and 
such  Committee  to  be  invested  with  full  Powers  to 
manage  the  Concerns  of  the  Company  till  an  Act  of 
Parliament  is  obtained  (if  necessary),  with  Power  to  add  to 
their  Nuniber  if  they  shall  think  fit,  so  as  not  to  exceed  24  ; 
and  no  person  to  }>e  eligible  to  serve  on  the  Committee 
who  is  not  the  Holder  of  10  Shares,  and  that  six  do  form 
a  Quorum. 

VI.  That  no  Call  be  made  of  more  than  £10  yy^r  Cent 
on  each  Share,  and  that  not  oftener  than  every  three 
Months. 

VII.  That  at  every  General  or  Special  Meeting  the 
Votes  shall  be  taken  by  Shares,  and  not  by  Voices  ;  and 
any  absent  Member  to  be  at  Liberty  to  Vote  by  Proxy, 
each  Proxy  being  a  Subscriber,  and  appointed  in  writing. 

The  bill  for  this  much- needed  improvement 
was  not  brought  into  Parliament  until  Febniazy, 


ObitOBryNoU^MMOfBinninehamMen.]    OLD    AND    NEW    BIRMINGHAM. 


369 


1819 ;  it  received  the  Royal  assent  on  the  14th 

of  May,  in  the  same  year.     The  first  shop,  so  far 

as  we  can  learn,  that  was  lighted  with  gas  in 

Birmingham,   was  Poultney's  at    the  corner  of 

Moor  Street,  and  the  first  occasion  on  which  the 

new  light  was  generally  used  in  the  town  for  a 

public  illumination,  was  at  the  rejoicing  on  account 

of  the  failure  of  the  proceedings  against  Queen 

Charlotte. 

During  this  decade  two  men  well-known  to  us, 

one  of  whom  has  figured  largely  in  this  history 

of  Old  Birmingham,  passed  away  to  their  rest. 

The   first   of  these  was    Myles    Swinney,   the 

printer,  founder  of  the  Bimiingham  Chronicle ; 

the  obituary  notice  in  the  Gazette  was  as  follows : — 

Died,  on  Friday,  [October  80th,  1812,]  after  a  long 
illness,  at  his  house  at  Ashted,  Mr.  Myles  Swinney,  aged 
74,  nearly  50  years  proprietor  of  **Swinney*s  Birmingham 
Chronicle. " 

The  second  was  our  old  friend  William  Ilutton. 
After  the  turmoil  whiclt^ucceeded  the  riots  of 
1791,  he  had  settled  down  to  enjoy  that  repose 
he  had  so  well  earned  by  a  life  of  untiring 
industry.  At  the  end  of  1793,  he  delivered  over 
his  business  to  his  son  Thomas,  and  resided  for 
the  most  part,  at  Bennett's  Hill,  coming  into 
Birmingham  for  a  few  hours  only  in  eacli  day  to 
assist  his  son  in  the  shop.  In  his  seventy-ninth 
year  he  made  the  journey  entirely  on  foot  into 
the  North  of  England,  and  along  the  line  of  the 
old  Roman  wall.  A  brief  recapitulation  of  his 
career,  written  by  himself  when  at  the  age  of 
eighty-five,  will  doubtless  interest  our  readers  : — 
"  At  the  age  of  eighty-two,"  he  says,  "  I  con- 
sidered myself  a  young  man.  I  could,  without 
much  fatigue,  walk  forty  miles  a  day.  But  during 
the  last  six  years  I  have  felt  a  sensible  decay; 
and,  like  a  stone  rolling  down  a  hill  its  velocity 
increases  with  the  progress.  I  have  lived  to  bury 
two  generations  and  among  them  many  friends 
whom  I  loved.  I  do  not  know,  nor  am  known 
by  any  soul  living  prior  to  my  twenty-seventh 
year.  But  although  I  barely  live  myself,  I  may 
haye  taught  others  to  live.  I  was  the  first  who 
opened  a  circulating  library  in  Birmingham  in 


1751,  since  which  time  many  have  stai*ted  in  the 
race.  I  was  the  first  who  opened  a  regular  paper 
warehouse  in  1766 :  there  are  now  a  great  number. 
I  was  also  the  first  who  introduced  the  barrow 
with  two  wheels ;  there  are  now  more  than  one 
hundred.  I  may,  in  another  view,  have  been 
beneficial  to  man  by  a  life  of  temperance  and 
exercise,  which  are  the  grand  promoters  of  health 
and  longevity.  Some  whom  I  know  have .  been 
induced  to  follow  ray  example,  and  have  done 
it  with  success.  I  was  never  more  than  twice  in 
London  on  my  own  concerns.  The  first  wa& 
April  8,  1749,  to  make  a  purchase  of  materials 
for  trade,  to  the  amount  of  three  pounds  !  the  last 
April  14,  1806,  fifty-seven  years  after,  to  ratify 
the  purchase  of  an  estate  which  cost  £11,590  I 
One  laid  a  foundation  for  the  other,  and  both 
answered  expectation." 

The  first  serious  symptoms  of  the  approach  of 
death  occurred  during  his  ninetieth  year  ;  ho  had 
attempted  to  walk  into  Birmingham  as  usual  in 
the  morning,  l)ut  was  compelled  to  accept  the 
eagerly-proffered  assistance  of  several  strangers, 
and  at  length  reached  the  paper  warehouse,  in 
High  Street,  having  been  two  hours  on  the  way, 
in  walking  two  miles  and  a  quarter.  From  this 
place  he  returned  home  in  his  carriage,  being 
utterly  helpless.  After  this  he  gradually  sank, 
and  died  on  the  20th  of  September,  1815,  at  the 
age  of  ninety-two. 

Another  of  our  old  and  honourrd  townsmen 
who  passed  away  during  this  period,  was  Mr. 
Jonathan  Knott,  editor  of  the  Gazette,  His 
death  is  thus  recorded  in  the  journal  with  which 
he  had  been  connected: — 

Died,  on  Friday  Evcniiig,  [February  18th,  1814,]  in 
his  48th  year,  from  the  sudden  rupture  of  a  blood  vessel, 
preceded  by  an  indisposition  of  a  few  weeks,  which  had 
greatly  impeded  his  bodily  frame,  Mr.  Jonathan  Knott, 
for  many  years  an  eminent  Bookseller  and  Printer  of  this 
town.  His  relatives  and  friends,  by  whom  his  private 
worth  was  properly  appreciated,  will  long  have  reason  to 
lament  his  removal.  As  editor  of  this  Gazette,  his  several 
duties  were  performed  with  imjiartiality,  candour,  and 
integrity,  carefully  excluding  from  its  pages  all  matter 
which  might  ii\jure  the  character,  or  even  wound  the 
feelings  of  individuals. 


370 


OLD  AND   XE^   BIBMINGHAM. 


(P»t7lcvUeC 


There  were,  of  course,  the  umial  manifoataiionB 
of  rejoicing  and  of  fiorrow,  during  tliia  pcnod,  on 
the  occasion  of  events  of  national  interest.  We 
f  have  previously  spoken  of  the  reception  of  the 
news  of  the  attack  on  the  Prince  Regent,  and  the 
eubfieqnent  proceedings  thereupon  ;  as  well  aa  of 
the  Inception  of  the  deputation  after  the  rovoca- 
tion  of  the  Orders  in  CouncO.     The  successes  of 


took  place,"  Then  came  the  defeat  of  Matalu 
Soult,  in  the  Pyrenees,  a  month  laUit ;  on  \h 
24th  of  July,  WelHagton  had  besieged  Pamftiv 
luna,  and  on  the  28th,  Marshal  Soult  mw 
defeated  in  the  battle  of  the  Pyreneea.  Thft 
dispatch  announcing  these  bnUiant  vLctorw!*, 
reachtsd  Birmingham,  on  the  15th  of  August,  aad 
further    particulars    were    ohtainfd    s<»on    dU 


l^w  ^ 


iS^ 


:^u^: 


/-Wf^V" 


PBXNa   LANK,    ADJOINING   THE   SCENE  OP   MAUY   ASHKORD  Ji   DEATH. 
From  o  prUii  in  tht  postetiion  of  Aff.  WUiUim  B^Ujs. 


British  arms  afforded  several  opportunities  for 
rejoicing  during  this  period.  The  Peninsular 
victories  in  1813  were  tlie  first  to  arouae  our 
townsmen  ;  the  news  of  the  brilliant  victory  at 
Vittoria,  arrived  here  on  the  7th  of  July,  and  **  so 
soon,**  says  the  local  Gazeitef  "  as  the  London 
6a£ette  Extraotdinary  was  read  on  Monday 
momingp  tlie  inhabitants,  as  it  were  by  commou 
consent,  began  to  make  preparation e,  and  m  the 
evening,  a  most  brilliant  and  general  illuminatlou 


midnight  **  Mr.  John  Hurt^  the  c  »ach  propneB 
of  this  town,"  says  the  Gazette^  "  liad,  it  appe^ 
given  directions  that  so  soon  as  any  satis^tod 
information    of    these    great    events    could    be 
obtained  in  Lonrlon,  one  of  hiij  coaches  was  imn 
diately  to  set  off  with  aD  speed  to  Birmingh 
and  the  Balloon  post  coach»  through   Coventi; 
was  driven  at  so  great  a  rate  that  it  reached  ha 
before  one  o'clock  on  Tuesday  morning  !  bring 
a  second  edition  of  tlie  Times  newspaper.     The 


Uc  CAlrbmUoimJ 


OLD  AND  NEW  BIKMIN<iHAiL 


371 


coachman  and  guard  soon  gave  notice  to  the 
inhabitants  of  the  joyful  tidings  they  had  brought^ 
and  (it  being  Bell  Wake)  a  largo  concomso  of 
people  very  soon  assembled,  who  sot  the  ringera 
to  clang  the  belk  of  St.  ^rartin*8  and  St  Philip^s, 
and  then  drew  the  coach  along  the  streets  with 
cheers  of  congratulation  and  loud  huzzas  1 
**  About  noon  the  same  day  many  thousand 
persona  assembled  to  meet  the  mail  coach,  which 
arrived  with  decorations  indicative  of  victory. 
The  populace  took  out  the  horses  at  the  commeuce- 
mont  of  the  town,  and  dragged  the  coach  to  the 
Post  Office,  and  afterwards  tlirough  the  principal 
etreeta.  In  the  evening  there  was  a  general 
illumination. '^ 

The  news  of  the  glorious  and  decisive  victories 
at  L«ip6ic,  in  the  same  year,  reached  Birmingham, 
on  the  4th  of  November,  by  the  same  coach 
which  brought  the  news  of  Soult^s  defeat. 
Placards  announcing  the  gratifying  news  were 
issued  from  the  various  printing  houses,  and 
spread  throughout  the  town,  the  bells  of  St, 
Martin's,  St  Philip's,  and  St.  John's,  Deri  tend, 
lang  out  a  merry  peal,  tens  of  thousands  of  the 
inhabitants  went  out  to  meet  the  coach,  and 
greeted  its  arrival  with  the  most  enthusiastic 
shouts,  and  the  illuminationB  were  both  briUiant 
and  DumerouB. 

Then  came  the  signing  of  the  Treaty  of  Feace^ 
in  1814,  and  more  rejoicings,  accompanied  by  the 
roasting  of  oxen  and  sheep,  and  the  plentiful 
consumption  of  ale. 

The  death  of  the  youthfid  Princess  Charlotte 
of  Wales,  on  the  6th  November,  1817,  touched 
the  national  heart  in  a  more  intense  degree  than 
had  been  experienced  for  many  years.  The  whole 
nation  went  into  mourning  for  her  loss,  addresses 
of  condolence  were  sent  from  every  town  in  the 
kingdom  to  Uie  Prince  Eegent,  and  from  Btrming- 
liam,  the  hotbed  of  disloyalty,  aa  it  was  then 
believed  to  be,  the  loyal  and  sympathetic  feeling 
i  masses  went  witli  the  address  of  **  the  res- 
I  inhabitants." 

On  the  39th  of  January,  1820,  the  king,  George 


the  Third,  passed  away  at  the  ripe  age  of  83,  and 
Birmingham  juined  in  the  sorrow  of  the  whole 
nation  fov  the  lo^sj  of  the  patriarch-king.  The 
new  king  George  IV.,  who  had  long  been  monarch 
in  all  but  t!ie  name,  was  proclaimed  in  Birming- 
ham on  Thursday,  February  3rd,  and  shortly 
after wai'ds  the  usual  ** suitable  address"  was 
adoptt^d  by  a  "  highly  respectable  '*  assembly  of 
our  fellow  townsmen. 

In  1820  came  the  shameful  trial  of  Queen  Caro* 
line,  and  who,  that  has  smiled  over  those  wnnder- 
f  ul  caricature  prints  of  glorious  George  Cruikshank, 
docs  not  know  how  chivalrously  the  peo)de  of 
England  resented  the  iiulignitios  which  **  the 
first  gentleman  in  Europe  "  put  upon  his  uufor- 
fortunate  Queen,  And  when  the  scandalous 
proceedings  were  defeated  the  joy  of  the  whole 
nation  was  unboimded.  Dkiminations,  trans- 
parencies, (not  forgetting  tlie  glorious  one  on  Mr. 
Hone's  shop  in  Ludgate  Hill  by  George  Cruik- 
shank), and  other  tokens  iif  joy  were  exhibited  in 
the  metropolis  and  elsewhere  by  the  delighted 
multitudes.  In  Bimiingham  a  few  feeble  and 
foolish  someboilies  L&sued  a  handbill  requesting  the 
people  to  refrain  fro  Hi  these  exubciant  tokens  of 
j<iy  but  the  manifesto  muL  with  the  censure  it  rielily 
deserved  ;  and  was  further  c ensured  by  the  more 
general  illumination  than  might  have  otherwise 
have  taken  place.  The  streets  wem  brilliantly 
lighted  up,  even  the  humblest  contributing  to  the 
general  display  ;  and  during  the  evening  there 
was  no  lack  of  fireworks,  discharging  of  guns, 
pistols,  &c.,  on  the  part  of  the  artisan  classes, 
who  thus  testified,  in  a  humble  manner,  their 
joy  at  the  defeat  of  the  ministerial  proceedings. 
This  was  the  first  illuiuination  in  which  gas  was 
generally  used  in  Birmingham. 

Leaving  now  for  a  time  these  loyal  and  patriotic 
proceedings  on  the  part  of  our  townsmen, 
we  note  a  few  of  the  misceUaneous  events  of  this 
decada 

Among  these  it  becomes  our  duty  first  to 
chronicle  the  establishment  of  a  Chamber 
of   Commerce    in    Birmingham*      On  the   Slst 


372 


OLD   AND  NEW  BIKMINGHAM. 


(MiaeellaiicoQt  Ivnti. 


June,  1813,  a  meeting  was  held,  under  the 
Presidency  of  Mr.  R.  Spooner,  then  High  Bailiff, 
to  take  steps  for  the  formation  of  a  Commercial 
Society  "for  the  purpose  of  collecting  and 
comparing  the  opinions  of  its  Merchants  and 
Manufacturers ;  of  acting  as  a  Medium  of  Com- 
munications with  Ministers  and  the  Legislature 
on  the  subject  of  Trade,  and  of  co-operating,  as 
occasion  may  rec^uire,  with  other  parts  of  the 
United  Kingdom,  on  questions  affecting  the 
general  prosperity  of  the  Manufactures  and 
Commerce  of  the  British  Empire."  The  Society 
was  formed ;  and  it  was  resolved  unanimously 
that  it  Do  called  **  The  Uliamber  of  Manufactures 
and  Commerce  of  Birmingham." 

We  have  already,  in  our  chapter  on  trade  and 
commerce,  referred  to  the  establishment  of  a 
Proof  House  in  Birmingham.  The  following 
account  of  the  ceremony  of  laying  the  first  stone 
of  the  building,  from  the  columns  of  the  Gazette^ 
will  doubtless  interest  some  of  our  readers  : — 

October  4, 1813. — The  principal  gun  makers  of  this  town, 
after  very  considerable  pains  and  expence,  having  procured 
an  Act  of  Parliament  for  the  erecting  and  establishing  of 
a  Proof  House,  proceeded  on  Wednesday  last  to  lay  the 
first  stone  of  the  building,  Mliich  is  situated  in  I^mbury 
iStre«'t,  near  the  Fnzelcy  Canal,  and  will  be  of  int  ilculable 
benefit  to  the  town  and  the  eoniniunity,  as  the  barrols  of  all 
guns  manufactured  at  liiiniingham  must  be  full  Tower 
[»roof,  by  which  persons  may  use  su<'h  fire  arms  with  the 
greatest  safety.  The  Guardians,  Trustees,  and  Wardens 
attended,  and  deposited  within  a  cavity,  ijreviously  pre- 
pared in  the  ston«',  a  series  of  gold  and  silver  coins  of  his 
present  Majesty,  the  l^ank  of  England  tokens,  and  the 
silver  and  copper  tokens  of  this  town,  with  a  narrative  of 
the  events  which  led  to  the  establishment  written  upon 
parchment,  and  enclosed  in  a  glass  bottle  ;  over  the  whole 
was  laid  a  brass  plate,  enirrnved  with  a  suitable  inscription, 
containing  the  names  of  the  Guardians,  Trustees,  and 
Wardens,  kv..  After  the  ceremony  the  parties  retired  to 
a  dinner  prejtaied  for  the  occasion  ;  mirth  and  good 
humour  presided,  and  the  festive  glass  cir.?ulated  freely 
to  a  late  hour.  At  the  time  of  laying  the  stone  the  bells 
of  the  churches  struck  uj),  and  continued  their  merry  peals 
occasionally  throughout  the  day. 

On  the  2-1  til  ol  March,  1816,  another  of  those 
slight  shocks  of  earthquake,  with  which  this 
country  seems  to  have  been  nither  frequently 
visited  during  the  earlier  part  of  the  present 
century,     "  was    sensibly    experienced    in    this 


town  and  neighbourhood,"  lasting  about  twenty 
seconds. 

This  year  saw  the  establishment  of  tb»  fiist 
Savings  Bank  in  the  town ;  and  on  the  first  day 
of  opening,  the  sum  of  £26  was  deposited. 

Questions  of  rating  houses  for  the  maintenance 
of  the  poor  appear  to  have  arisen  again  during 
this  period,  out  of  which  arose  the  following 
interesting  statement,  as  to  the  number  and 
rateable  value  of  houses  in  Birmingham: — 

The  total  number  of  honses  in  Birming- 
ham Parish 18,082 

Of  these  contribute  towards  the  main- 
tenance of  the  Poor   8,898 

Houses  that  pay  no  Poor's  Rates 1 4, 189 

The  annual  value  of  the  whole  Parish 

is    £210,170 

The  annual  value  of  Premises  paying 

Poor's  Rates    £114,665 

Ditto    ditto  that  pay  no  Poor's  Kates  £95,505 

The  outcome  of  these  statistics  was  the  intro- 
duction of  a  bill  into  Parliament  for  the  rating 
of  the  landlords  of  houses  under  £12  a  year 
rent,  instead  of  allowing  such  houses  to  escape 
being  rated  at  all,  on  account  of  the  poverty  of 
the  tenant.  The  bill  was  however  lost,  by  a 
majority  of  67  in  a  House  of  136  members;  the 
defeat  being  chiefly  owing  to  the  hostility  of 
the  landed  interest. 

The  growth  of  the  town  westward  is  illustrated 
in  a  striking  manner  in  the  notice  quoted  below. 
Our  readers  will  doubtless  remember  the  old 
footpath  to  the  Five  Ways  of  an  earlier  period; 
and  some  idea  of  the  rural  appearance  of  the 
lower  end  of  Broad  Street,  at  the  close  of  the  last 
century,  may  bo  obtained  from  a  glance  at  the 
little  engraving  of  Baskerville  House,  after  the 
riots  of  1791.  This  residence,  with  its  pleasant 
lawns  and  avenues  of  shady  trees,  remained  until 
within  a  few  years  of  the  date  of  the  notice  here 
quoted ;  what  it  was  after  the  completion  of  ^Ir, 
Gibson's  undertaking,  may  be  seen  by  anyone 
passing  along  Easy  Row  at  the  present  day. 
The  old  facade  of  the  stately  residence  of  John 
Baskerville  and  Eylands,  may  still  be  seen  amid 
its  grimy  surroundings,  itself  a  dingy  warehouse ; 


Tlie  Mystery  of  M.ir>'  AjsIJoH.J 


OLD   AND  NEW   BIRMINGIIAI^L 


37  3 


the  iHiginning  of  theee  things  may  be  read  in 
tlie  f<j]lowing  parugraph  from  the  Gazette^  of 
March  3rd,  1817:— 

It  gives  us  grejit  pleasure  to  b©  able  to  inform  the 
trading  World  that  Thomas  Gihaon  has  completed  his  Canal 
*t  Basken'ille  Phice,  This  is  certainly  ouo  of  the  greatent 
Works  any  single  Individual  in  this  part  of  the  coantry 
ku  undertaken  'for  many  years,  and  we  wish  him  that 
«liece88  he  bo  justly  nierita.  The  lino  of  wharfs  intended 
to  be  erected  on  this  Canal,  ought  to  be  called  by  his  own 
Karae,  **  Gib&on'a  Wharfa/'  They  will  be  well  situated 
for  the  Convenifnee  of  Trade,  being  nearly  in  the  Centro 
of  England  ;  and  fl<rcording  to  a  Level  taken  by  an  inge- 
nloos  Engineer,  to  determine  the  Height  of  this  Canal, 
found  \o  be  3,000  feet  above  the  level  of  the  Thames  at 
London,  and  12  feet  higher  than  any  other  Canal  in  Eng- 
land. 

The  first  Boats  laden  will  be  raised  from  the  lower  to 
the  higher  Level  thiis  Blorning  nt  Eleven  o'clock. 

The  troubles  into  which  the  too  skilful  and 
iinacrupulons  engravers  of  our  town  were 
pTODe  to  ftdl,  owing  to  their  devotion  to  one 
branch  of  their  art,^ — that  of  imiUitirig  the  notes 
of  the  Bank  of  England,— led,  in  1818,  to  an 
enquiry  ajs  to  the  best  means  of  rendering  the 
bank  paper  as  far  aa  possible  inimitable.  A 
meeting  of  the  principal  inhabititnts  of  IJirming- 
ham,  was  held  on  the  22!id  of  April,  1818,  Mr. 
William  Ccttterill,  High  Bailiff,  presiding;  at  which 
it  was  resolved — ^"  That  this  Meeting,  observing 
with  feelings  of  deep  concern  the  increasing 
nuinber  of  Prosecutions  arising  from  and  out  of 
the  Forgery  of  Bank  of  England  Notes,  is  of 
opinion  that  a  due  regard  to  public  Morals,  as 
well  m  public  Credit  and  Security,  req^uires  that 
tbo  ntmast  endeavoura  should  be  made  to  diminish 
the  evih'*     It  needed,  however,  more  than  niere 

olut ions  at  towns'  meetings  to  remedy  this  evil. 
Tt  was  ne»t  until  Gpoi-ge  Cruikshank  pointed  out 
tlic  mon\l  of  the  crime  and  its  ghastly  punishment 
in  hifi  famous  **  Bank  Note,  not  to  be  imitated/* 
that  the  attention  of  the  authorities  waa  dniwn  to 
the  terrible  facility  with  which  their  clumsily 
«Iigravtid  notes  were  copied ;  and  thdu  the  remedy 
folio wlhI  speeilily. 

In  May,  1817,  a  crime  wis  committed  within 
[  five  niilt^  of  Liirmingbam  which  aroused  the  mo^t 
ftitercst  and  excitement,  not  only  in   Bir- 


mingham, but  throughout  the  country.  A  pretty 
country  girl,  named  Mary  Ashfotd,  the  flaughter  of 
a  gardener  living  at  Erdington,  might  havebei.n  met 
on  almost  any  market  day  on  her  way  to  or  from 
the  BLrmingham  market,  whithor  i^he  went  with 
dairy  produce,  cither  from  her  own  home,  or  from 
her  uncle's  at  Langley  Heath,  a  little  village  consist- 
ing of  a  few  straggling  houses  not  far  froju  Penn's 
Mills,  where  ahe  occasionally  stayed.  On  Whit- 
Monday,  May  26th»  1817,  she  wont  as  usual  to 
Birmingham  {from  I^ngley),  and  stood  in  Hi^;b 
Street,  near  the  Caatlelnnj  on  her  way  to  tho 
to^vn  she  had  called  at  the  house  of  Mr,  Mafhi'll, 
*  in  Erdington,  where  a  female  frif^nd  of  hei-s, 
named  Hannah  Cox,  wsis  in  service,  and  madf"  an 
appointment  to  call  for  her  on  her  way  back,  to 
accompany  her  to  a  dfince  at  a  public  house  at 
Tyburn  (called  **  Tyburn  House/*)  about  two  niiitiS 
from  Erdington.  She  sold  her  little  stuck  in  tlje 
nmrkt^t  as  soon  as  poesihh',  in  order  to  keep  liei 
appointment  with  her  friend  j  and  reiurniiig  to 
Erdington  at  about  six  o'ch>ck,  went  to  the  housH  of 
her  friend's  mother,  in  the  village,  to  change  her 
di-ess,  and  at  about  half-past  seven  o'clock,  set  out  to 
the  dance.  She  seems  to  hitve  won  tlie  admiration 
of  most  of  the  rustics  assembled  at  the  balbrttum, 
by  her  beauty  and  simple  modesty ;  dressed  io 
a  clean  and  exceedingly  neat  print  dress  and 
white  *  spencer/  she  looked  more  than  usually 
pretty  that  niglit  Among  her  rustic  aduait^ra 
at  Tyburn  House  was  a  young  bricklayer  named 
Abraham  Thornton,  the  son  of  a  smdl  farmer, 
who  danced  with  her  the  whole  of  the  evi^uing. 
Her  friend  Hannah  Cox,  left  tho  house  a  bttie 
b<>forc  miilnighl,  and  waited  nt  her  rcipiest  on 
the  bridge  close  by,  until  Mary  Ashfor*  and 
Abraham  Thornton,  and  a  young  m^n  named 
Benjamin  Carter  joined  her.  It  was  then  just 
after  midnight  and  the  two  couples  at  once  started 
to  walk  to  Erdington,  but  Carter  appears  almost 
immediately  afterwards  to  have  returned  to  tlte 
house.  This  caused  some  delay  on  the  part  of 
Hannah  Cox,  who  did  not  therefore  regiiin  Imr 
friends  until  they  had  gone  about  a  mile  of  tho 


374 


OLD    AND    NEW    BIRMINGHAM 


[The  Hysterx  of  Muy  Aahfard. 


distance.  When  they  reached  the  first  road  lead- 
ing to  Erdington,  (a  little  beyond  the  Old  CuckoOy 
on  the  lefty)  Hannah  Cox  left  them  again,  and 
turned  along  it  towards  her  home.  At  about  two 
o'clock  in  the  morning  a  man  named  John  Umpage, 
who  was  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Reynolds  in  Penn's 
Mill  Lane,  (i.e.,  on  the  road  to  Mary  Ashford*s 
home,)  heard  voices  in  the  lane,  within  a  few 


three,  within  five  minutes'  walk  of  Erdington, 
walking  very  fast  towards  the  house  of  Mis. 
Butler,  Hannah  Cox's  mother.  Hannah  Cox  was 
called  up  by  Mary  Ashford,  probably  a  little  before 
four  o'clock,  and  here  the  latter  changed  her 
dress.  She  appeared  very  calm  and  in  good  spirits, 
and  there  were  no  marks  of  previous  agitation  or 
confusion  in  her  person  or  her  dress.      She  re- 


•t'^»> 


PLAN     OF    THE    SCENE    OF     MARY     ASHF0KP*8     DEATH. 
From  a  print  in  the  possession  of  Mr    William  Bates. 


yards  of  the  place  where  the  crime  was  subse- 
quently committed.  The  talking  continued  until 
he  started  on  his  way  home  to  Witton,  at  about 
a  quarter  before  three  o'clock.  After  he  left  Rey- 
nolds's house  he  took  the  footpath  across  the  field 
adjoining  the  fatal  pit,  which  led  into  a  forc- 
drough,  and  thence  in  to  Bell  Lane,  Erdington. 
As  he  entered  the  foredrough,  he  saw  two  persons 
on  the  stile  at  the  further  end,  and  recognised  the 
man  as  Abraham  Thornton.  The  young  girl  held 
her  head  down  so  that  he  could  not  see  her  face, 
and  appeared  desirous  of  escaping  recognition. 
This  would  probably  be  about  three  o'clock,  and 
Mary  Ashford  was  again  seen,  alone,  at  half-past 


dressed  and  made  up  into  a  bundle  the  clothes 
worn  at  the  dance,  and  left  the  house  within  about 
fifteen  minutes  of  the  time  Hannah  Cox  was 
called  up,  and  the  latter  saw  her  no  more.  At  a 
quarter  past  four  o'clock  she  was  met  by  a  labourer 
named  Joseph  Dawson,  returning  from  Erdington 
along  Bell  Lane,  towards  the  place  where  she  had 
been  last  seen  with  Abraham  Thornton,  and  she 
was  then  walking  very  fast,  dressed  in  the  clothes 
she  had  worn  in  Birmingham  on  the  previous  day, 
(wearing  a  scarlet  spencer  in  lieu  of  the  white  one 
she  had  on  at  the  dance,)  and  carrying  a  bundle. 
About  the  same  period,  or  a  few  minutes  later, 
she  was  seen  on  the  same  road,  a  little  nearer  to 


Tbe  M)st«rry  of  Mti-f  ii«lLlunlJ 


OLD  AND  NEW   BIBMINGHAM. 


375 


the  foredrough,  by  a  man  named  Thomas  Broad- 
hiUBt^  and  she  was  itUl  walking  very  fast.  This 
was  the  last  person  by  whom  she  was  seen  alive,  and 
it  y\^  then  perhaps  twenty  minutes  past  four,-- 
when  the  witness  reached  Ida  home  in  Erdington,  it 
wanted  twenty  minutes  to  five  by  his  clock,  which 
Wfts  a  quarter  too  fast ;  it  was  therefore  nt  that 
time  only  twenty-five  minotes  past  four  o'ck^rk. 


into  tlie  pit.  One  of  th«  shoes  was  **  all  blood  '' ; 
and  at  the  Bight  he  ran  and  brought  a  man  named 
LavelJ,  (who  lived  close  to  Reynolds's,  afore- 
mentioned) to  come  and  look  at  them.  Blood 
was  visible  in  various  places  around ;  aonie  he 
saw  about  a  couple  of  yards  round,  disposed  in 
zigzag  or  trian^lar  form  ;  another  little  pool  was 
observed   near  a  hush,  and  elsewhere.      Having 


l\ 


Vl 


[s^ev^*— — 


r 


\  \  nN? 


■V 


^4^ 


AURAUAII  THORNTOK* 

At  about  half-past  four  o'clock  in  the  morning 
a  labourer  staite*]  from  Hurst  Street,  Birmingham, 
to  his  work  at  Penn'e ;  it  was  just  five  o*clock 
when  he  passed  the  top  of  Moor  Street,  in  DaJe 
End,  and  he  reached  Erdington  about  (perhaps  a 
little  before)  Bix  o'clock.  Taking,  as  usual,  the 
road  leading  into  Pcnn's  Lane  (along  Bell  Lane, 
and  down  the  foredrough  into  the  footroad 
leading  to  Fenn's  Lane,)  he  passed  between  two 
pits  close  to  the  latter  road,  and  by  the  side  of 
the  one  on  the  left  hand  side  of  the  path  he 
obsen^ed  a  bonnet,  a  pair  f>f  shoes,  and  a  bundle, 
lying  close  by  the  U>p  nf  tlie  shii>e  trading  down 
48 


MARY    ^sHFOUn. 


gathered  together  several  people  from  Penn's 
Mills,  he  did  not  wait  to  see  the  cause,  but 
p»roceeded  at  once  to  bis  business  ;  it  was  about 
half  past  six  o'clock,  when  he  first  reached*  the 
scene  of  what  was  as  yet  a  mystery. 

At  about  seven  o'clock,  after  several  frEidesa 
attempts,  the  body  of  the  young  woman  was 
dmgged  out  of  the  pit  with  a  rake, — ^and  recognised 
as  that  of  Mary  Ashford.  The  dress  she  wore 
was  that  in  which  she  was  last  seen,  and  bore 
marks  of  blood  ;  and  when  the  scarlet  **  sj)eucer  ** 
was  taken  off,  in  the  presence  of  Mr.  Joseph 
\Vebster»  the  owner  of   IVnn***  Mills,  that  getiUe- 


376 


AKD  KEW  BIRMLNGIIAM, 


(The  Myvterr  of  M«jy  iUAcftndk) 


m&Q  obaeiTed,  ou  eacL  arm,  what  appeared  to  be 
marks  from  the  grasp  of  a  man's  hand  Footprints, 
(aa  shown  on  the  plan  engraved  on  page  374,) 
were  observed  along  the  soft  ground  of  the  field 
adjoinmg,  which  was  harrowed,  of  a  man  and 
womaB,  (ewom  to  be  those  of  Thornton  and  Mary 
AsMord),  down  the  field,  then  back  again,  alter- 
nately run  nil  ig,  walking,  and  dodging  j  and  ter- 
minating within  a  few  yards  of  the  fatal  pit ; 
under  a  tree  opposite,  on  the  other  side  of  Penn*s 
Lane,*  other  marks  were  observable,  indicating 
a  atniggle  and  an  ultimate  yielding  {or  compul- 
sion) to  the  suspected  roan's  guilty  purpose.  From 
this  place  to  the  pit  was  the  track  of  l>lf>od. 

Two  of  the  workmen,  Lavell  and  Bird,  care- 
fully traced  out  at  an  early  hour  in  the  morning, 
the  footprints  which  traversed  the  hairowcd  field 
from  side  to  side,  Eind,  with  the  assistance  of  Mr. 
Webster,  measured  the  woman's  footprints  with 
the  shoes  taken  off  the  decoaaed  ;  and  they  were 
Bwom  to  correspond  exactly  thercTvith. 

The  first  excitement  of  the  discovery  of  Mary 
Asblord,  being  over,  they  next  proceeded  towards 
unravel Hng  the  mystery.  Dim  id  Clarke,  the 
landlord  of  the  "  Tyburn  Ilouae,*'  hearing  of  the 
affair,  started  off  in  search  of  Thornton,  and  met 
him  near  the  Chapel,  at  Castle  Bromwich,  on  a 
pony.  Chirk  e  says  :  '*  I  said  to  him  ;  'What  is 
become  of  the  young  woman  that  went  away  with 
you  from  my  bouse,  last  night ; '  he  made  no 
answer.  I  said,  *  She  is  murdertnl  and  thrown 
into  a  i>it.*  He  said,  ^  Mnrdercff  /* — *  Ye^, 
murdered  ! '  *  Why,*  said  Tliomton,  *  I  was  with 
her  till  four  u*elock  this  morning/  *  Then,'  said 
I,  '  you  must  go  along  with  me  and  clear  your- 
self.' He  said  'I  can  soon  do  that'"*  The 
two  then  rode  back  towards  **  Tyburn  House,"  a 
distance  of  mona  than  a  mile  ;  yet,  according  to 
Clarke's  evidence,  neither  of  them  once  referred, 
on  their  way  to  the  terrible  fn*eiit  which  had 
tlius  hrouy;ht  them  together.  They  talked  aliout 
farming,  and  on  miscellaneous  topics  of  general 

« SxAmiuAtion  of  nanlel  Chake,  ridt  TriAl  of  TUnmlon,  p.  i± 


intereai;  but  of  the  girl  who  had  been  foully 
treated  and  so  far  aa  they  knew,  murdertd, 
within  a  mile  of  the  place  where  thej  then  stood, 
and  with  whom  Thornton  had  danced  on  the 
preceding  evening,  and,  by  his  own  cx)nfea8ion, 
walked  until  four  o'clock  tlrnt  very  morning,  not 
a  word  was  said  after  the  conversation  just 
recorded,  No  enquiry  as  to  the  circumstanc 
under  which  her  melancholy  fat©  had 
discovered,  no  anxiety  to  unravel  the  mystery  on 
the  part  of  the  man  who,  so  suspiciously  im- 
plicated in  the  transaction,  yet  declared  himself 
innocent;  he  simply  '^tolked  about  farming." 
On  reaching  the  house  of  Daniel  Clarke,  Thornton 
seems  to  have  taken  his  ease ;  **  had  something  lo 
eat  and  drink,^'  and  remained  there  until  the 
constable  arrived  from  Birmingham,  soon  aft4ir 
ten  o'clock.  He  was  taken  into  custody  and 
searched  by  the  latter,  assisted  by  a  man  named 
Benson.  The  search  resulted  In  an  admission  of 
the  prisoner's  criminality,  but  not  as  to  the 
murder;  and  the  confession  was  t^ualilied  by  the 
statement  that  in  his  guilt  the  poor  girl  had  been 
a  consenting  party.  At  one  o*clock  in  the  day  ho 
wtis  examined  by  William  Bedford,  Esq.,  one  of 
the  magistrates  for  the  county  j  and  deposed  as 
follows : 

That  he,  (A  nil  A  HAM  Truiinton,)  was  by  tmde  ft  Wok* 
Inyer— thfit  lie  Mvtd  with  hia  father,  at  Castle  Bitymwicll 
^tbftt  he  had  been  at  a  tlnnco  at  Tyburn  House,  on  tie 
night  of  the  26th  of  May  laat^— that  ht^  doDCed  with  the 
deeejiwd  (Mauy  Ashfoiid,)  and  came  away  from  the  hm*o 
Willi  her,  efti'ly  the  next  morning,— that  Hannah  Cox,  aod 
I  n  young  Uiaii  of  the  name  of  Cartel,  went  pail  of  the  way 
'  with  (htm— that  after  Examinant  and  Dect-ased  were  h'ft 
by  the  other  two,  they  walked  on  by  tlicmsitlves  till  ihey 
cnme  to  a  stile,  and  then  they  went  over  four  or  five 
fields, — that  they  uftenvftrds  came  buck  lo  the  fttil«  again, 
and  fi^at  qd  it,  tidking  about  a  quarter  of  au  Lour, — while 
they  &at  tht^rc,  a  man  came  by,  who  wished  them  a  good 
morning  ;  Exaiuinant  wished  him  a  giiwX  morniDg,— thtil 
he  soon  afteiwords  went  on  lowanU  Erdini^on  ;  ho  went  to 
the  Groeti,  at  Erdiiigtou,  witli  Mary  Ashford,  luid  theu  &he 
went  on  by  hyrself  ;  ^husaid  ehe  was  going  U>  Mrs,  Butl»T*», 
—that  he  wnittdon  the  Green  &utnc  time  forthcDeco^seil,— 
liut  iiH  she  did  not  come  back,  ho  thcti  went  towivrds  home, — 
In  bia  road  home,  he  saw  young  Mr,  HoJdt  n  near  to  hh 
father'a  house  ;  he  also  aaw  u  man  ami  wontuii  in  the  rond 
Ihcre,  at  the  same  time,— tliat  aftei  h«  had  i^sAtd  Hr. 


Tb«  Ifyiteiy  of  Ifitr;  Athford,) 


OLD  Am)  NEW  BIRMIKGHAM. 


377 


Holden's  honse,  h«  saw  John  HaydoiJ,  Mr.  Rotton^s  game- 
Ice^per,  taking  up  some  nets  at  the  floodgates,  near  Mr, 
Twanilc} '»  Mill,  ond  spoke  to  bim  ;  he  stopped  to  talk 
with  him  ahoVLt  a  quarter  of  mi  hour,— thnt  he  al«o  siiw 
John  Woodcock,  Mr.  Twain  ley's  iliiler,  while  1m  '  stood 
talkiDg  to  Haydoiif  but  he  did  not  tipcak  to  Ijim,  — ihat  he 
afterwards  passed  James  White,  who  was  at  work  ut  Mr. 
Wheelwright's  bank  ;  and  then  ho  went  straight  home. 
Examinant  further  said,  thot  when  he  got  home,  it 
wanted  twenty  minutes  to  five,  by  his  father's  clock,'— 
he  took  off  a  Mack  coat  which  he  had  on,  and  put  on 
another^ — ho  also  took  off  bis  hat  and  hung  it  up  in  the 
house,— that  he  did  not  pull  off  his  shoes,  though  they 
were  very  wet,  from  walking  throngh  the  grass,— he  saiti 
that  he  had  been  drinking  the  whole  evening,  but  that 
he  was  not  much  intojdcated. 

The  persons  referred  to  all  testified  to  having 
met  the  prisoner.  The  first,  WiEiam  Jennings, 
a  milkman,  met  liim  in  the  lano  leading  down 
from  Erdington,  towards  tho  old  Tan j worth  road, 
at  or  about  half- past  four  o'clock  ;  he  was  then 
**  walking  very  leisurely  along  the  road,  w*ithout 
the  least  appearance  of  heat  or  hurry  about  him ; " 
Jennings'  wife  also  corroborated  his  statement. 
A  servant  at  Mr.  Rolden's,  a  house  juat  below 
the  canal  bridge,  also  deposed  to  having  seen 
from  hor  chamber  window  a  man  walking  down 
the  load,  whom  she  thmnjht  she  afterwards 
identified  as  Xbomton ;  it  was  then  between  half- 
past  four  and  twenty  minutes  to  five  o'clock, 
Her  master's  son,  Mr.  John  Holden,  junr.,  also 
saw  the  prisoner.  John  Hay  don,  Mr.  Rotton's 
game-keeper,  testified  to  his  having,  as  Thornton 
stated,  been  down  to  the  floodgates  to  take  up 
some  nets,  at  about  fivo  in  tho  morning,  and  that 
he  saw  and  spoke  to  the  prisoner.  Woodcock, 
the  miller,  saw  the  two  men  talking  together,  and 
•*had  since  calculated  that  it  must  have  been 
about  ten  minutes  past  five." 

The  reader  will  at  once  see  that  it  is  in  this 
ion  of  the  evidence  that  the  principal  diffi- 
culties present  themselves.  If  the  prisoner 
returned  to  the  fatal  field  from  Mrs.  Butler's, 
(that  is,  supposing  he  ever  accompanied  the  gir! 
therei  for  it  must  be  remembered  that  all  the 
;es  deposed  to  meeting  her  alone^  no  other 

son  being  in  sight,)  or  if  he  remained  at  the 
place  until  Mary  herself  returned,  it  is  necessary 


to  suppose  that  within  a  quarter  of  an  hour  of 
the  time  she  was  last  seen,  (and  she  was  then 
above  five  minutes'  walk  from  the  field,)  he  had 
committed  both  crimes,  crossed  the  field,  (as 
indicated  by  the  sworn  footsteps,)  and  reached 
the  lane  near  Holden's  house,  where  bo  was  first 
seen  by  the  milkman,  at  half-past  four  o*dockj  or 
at  the  most  thirty- five  minutes  past.  Yet  all  the 
witnesses  who  saw  him  in  that  locality  declared 
that  he  was  walking  leisurely,  and  Jwithout  the 
least  appearance  of  heat  or  confusion ;  and  the 
distance  in  a  straight  line  from  the  pit  to  that 
locality  was  nearly  a  mOe  and  a  half,  and,  by  the 
way  he  himself  said  he  had  gone,  it  was  quite 
two  miles.  It  is  therefore  impossible  to  believe 
all  the  evidence,  for  if  he  had  walked  with  Mary 
to  Erdington,  as  be  stated,  then  the  witnesses 
who  deposed  to  meeting  her  alone  must  have 
been  mistaken,  or  wilfully  perjured  themselves. 
Again,  supposing  his  statement  to  be  true,  the 
footsteps  across  the  field  in  the  direction  of 
Tybum  and  Castle  j_Bromwich  could  not  have 
been  his,  although  they  were  sworn  to  have 
agreed  exactly  with  the  boots  he  wore. 

"Ko  trial,"  says  a  contemporary  report, 
**  since  the  year  1781,  when  the  unfortunate 
Captain  Donellan  was  convicted  of  poisoning  his 
brother-in-law,  Sir  Tlieodosius  Boughton,  Bart. ; 
and  Pitmore  and  Uaminond,  for  shooting  Mr. 
Barrack,  butcher,  of  Birmingham,  ever  excited 
60  universally  the  attention  of  all  ranks  of  people, 
as  the  present  By  six  o'clock  in  the  momingj 
great  numbers  of  persons  had  assembled  before 
the  gates  of  the  County  Hall,  using  every 
endeavour,  interest,  and  entreaty  to  gain  admis- 
sion ;  and  by  eight  o'clock,  the  time  fixed  for  the 
trial  to  begin,  the  press  at  the  doors  was  incon- 
ceivably great;  and  it  was  with  the  utmost 
difliculty  that  way  could  be  made  by  tho  javelin 
men,  for  the  entrance  of  the  witnesses  and  other 
persons  who  were  subpoened,  either  for  the 
prosecution,  or  the  defence,  of  the  prisoner," 
Tho  court  was  crowded  in  all  parts  to  excess; 
and    the   jurors   (eight  of    whom    we?^    either 


378 


OLD  A^D  NEW  BIRMD^GHAM. 


(The  Mystery  of  Mary  AiUbiC 


farmers  or  yeomen)  having  been  sworn,  the 
prisoner  was  charged  with  having  '*  on  the  27th 
of  May  last,  in  the  Royal  Town,  Manor,  and 
Lordship  of  Sutton  Coldfield,  in  the  County  of 
Warwick,  not  having  the  fear  of  God  before  his 


The  evidence  which  we  have  endeavoured  to 
summarise  in  the  foregoing  narrative  was  elicited, 
and  submitted  to  a  most  careful  examination,  and 
the  jury,  without  retiring,  returned  a  verdict  of 
"not  ouiltt." 


PORTRAIT  OF  MARY   A8HF0RD,    IN   THE  DRESS  SHE  WORE  AT  TUE   DANCE. 
FrcrtiK  an  old  print  in  the  posseman  of  Mr.  JV.  Bafts,  B.A. 


eyes,  but  being  moved  by  the  instigation  of  the 
Devil,  wilfully  murdered  Mary  Ashford,  by 
throwing  her  into  a  Pit  of  Water."  Thornton, 
of  course,  pleaded  "  Not  Guilty,"  and  the  trial 
began;  prefaced  by  the  quaint,  old-fashioned 
phrase  addressed  to  the  prisoner,  "  God  send  you 
a  good  deliverance." 


To  the  inhabitants  of  the  locality  in  which 
Mary  Ashford  had  lived,  as  well  as  to  many 
others  who  had  manifested  a  deep  interest  in  the 
case  throughout  the  country,  this  verdict  was 
most  unsatisfactory  ;  and  to  none  more  so  than 
to  William  Ashford,  the  eldest  brother  of  the 
deceased.      Taking  advantage,   therefore,  of  an 


tiM  lijwIfffT  of  Itikty  Ashr«iTl,} 


OLD  AND  NEW   BIRMIKGHAM. 


379 


almost  forgotten  law,  he  appealed  Abraham  Thorn- 
ton ;  that  is  to  say,  he  became,  as  it  were,  a  private 
prosecutor,  as  the  direct  heir  male  of  Mary  Aahford, 
in  a  new  trial  instituted  against  him  for  the  alleged 
murder  of  the  appellant's  sister.  The  trial  was  fixed 
for  Novembor  G th,  1817,  but  was  postponed,  at  the 
request  of  the  defendant^  until  the  17th,  on  which 
day  the  Lord  Chief  Justice  Ellenborough,  with 
other  judges,  took  their  seats  for  the  hearing  of  the 
case.  William  Ashford,  the  appellant,  is  described 
in  ft  contemporary  account  of  the  proceedings  as  **  a 
plain  country  young  man,' about  twenty-two  years 
of  age,   of  short   stature,  sandy   hair,  and  blue 
eyea."  The  Count  of  Appeal  having  been  read,  the 
prkoner  was  asked,  in  the  usual  manner,  whether 
he    was    guilty    or    not    guilty    of    the    crime 
"  whereof  he  stood  appealed, "    His  reply, — the  last 
occasion  on  which  such  a  reply  was  made— startled 
the  whole  court,  and  brought  back  to  mind  a 
vivid  picture  of  mediieval  times  :  **  Not  GuiXty  ; 
amf  I  am   ready  to  defend  tJie  aaine  wUh  my 
body,"      At   the   same  time,    from    the   depths 
of   his  counsers   bag   (in  which,    for   the   sake 
of    concealment,   they   had  been  brought    into 
Court,)  he  produced  a  pair  of  large  gauntlets,  or 
Lorseman's  leathern  gloves,  and,  putting  one  on 
his  left  hand,  {which  he  held  up  in  giving  the 
challenge,)  he  thixjw  down  the  otlier  on  the  floor 
for  the  appellant  to  take  up,     Rith  the  Court  and 
the  audience  were  literally  electrified  at  this  extra^ 
ordinal}'  proceeding,     Tliere  had  hi-en  no  ''  wager 
of    battel "    since    1638,    and    scarcely  anyone 
except  the  half-dozen  lawyers  who  were  learned 
in  black  letter  lore  knew  exactly  what  would  he 
the    course    to    take  under    the  c ire  urns tancc-s. 
Ashford  was  a  yoimger  man, — little  more  than  a 
boy,  in  fact, — and  quite  inferior  to  his  opponent 
in  strength  and  physique,  and  any  trial  of  battle 
between  him  and  Thornton  would  be  unfairly 
matched ;  there  waa^  therefore,  nothing  left  but 
for  the  former  to  appeal  to  the  mercy  of   the 
Court,  that  they  should  not  permit  the  cause  to 
be  decided   by   force.     The  **  wager  of   battel " 
oould  only  be  resorted  to  in  cases  where  there 


existed  only  circumstantial  evidence  of  the  crime, 
and  was  refused  when  the  evidence  was  conclu- 
sive of  guilt  and  admitted  no  denial,  when  the 
criminal  was  taken  **  red-handed,"  or  in  the 
event  of  his  having  **  broken  prison,"  or  in  any 
other  way  incriminated  himself*  The  appellant 
based  his  plea  to  set  aside  the  wager,  therefore, 
on  the  assertion  that  the  guilt  of  Thornton  was 
sufliciently  established  to  admit  of  no  denial,  and 
that,  in  consequence,  the  defendant  was  not 
entitled  to  that  mode  of  trial.  The  bench,  bow- 
ever,  had  never  regarded  with  favour  the  appeal 
of  murder,  inasmuch  as  it  seemed  to  imply 
some  doubt  of  miscarriage  of  justice  in  the  fore- 
going trial,  and  it  was  not  probable,  therefore, 
that  the  appellant  in  this  case  would  get  more 
than  he  was  allowed  by  the  strict  letter  of  the 
law.  The  Court  decided  against  the  view 
AsMord  took  of  the  proven  guilt  of  Thornton, 
and  the  former,  finding  it  useless  to  pursue  the 
matter  further,  withdrew  the  appeal,  and  left  the 
issues  of  the  case  to  the  Jtidge  of  all  the  Earth, 
before  whom  both  appellant  and  appellee  have 
since  been  called ;  we  do  not,  therefore,  presume 
to  pass  judgment,  or  to  olfcr  any  suggestion  as  to 
tlie  elucidation  of  the  ni)  stery ;  but  rather  to 
le^ve  it  to  the  Higher  Court,  where 

the  action  lie« 

In  bJH  true  nature  :  and  we  ourselves  com  pell"  d. 
Even  to  the  teeth  and  forehead  of  our  faults, 
To  give  in  evidence.* 

Other  serioTis  crimes  were  committed  in  Birming- 
ham during  this  decade,  as  we  have  previously 
mentioned.  In  the  same  year,  on  the  6th  of 
February,  a  Mr,  Pennington  was  murdered  at 
^^anxhall  ;  liooth,  the  notorious  coiner  and 
hank-note  forger,  was  arrested  at  Perry  Barr,  on 
the  28th  of  March,  1812,  and  on  his  premises 
were  found  £3,000  in  good  notes,  200  guineas  in 
gold,  £600  in  counterfeit  silver  coin,  and  a  largo 
quantity  of  forged  notes ;  for  his  offences  he 
suffered  the  extreme  penalty  of  the  law,  during 
the  same  year.    These  and  other  id  stances  showed 


380 


OLD  AKD  NEW   BIRMINGHAM. 


tTlicACK  B*<ril.  1S114 


tbat  while  oiur  town  was  increasing  in  population, 
extent,  and  prospority,  there  was  at  the  aame  timo 


ft  considerable  increase  in  the  number  of  j 
crimes  committed  in  our  midst. 


CHAPTER     LV. 

AMUSEMENTS     OF     THE      PEOPLE, 
Including  th^  hUior^  of  ih€  Theatre  Soifol,  from  1811  to  IBW. 

Il  eurions  old  pkybUI— MftCiiHulj  ns  OrMte^—ElUitou's  addraM  to  BlniiiBgbftni  pbiygoer*— Hli  own  p«Tfbrm«iieM— Ml« 
Edmund   Kt^&n^Miithews—MutidQii— *'  Romeo  Coat«a  "— I>obb's  Rcmpiag  Machine  -Mln  O'Ndl— Grifnuldl  —  Aa  AMttkt 
EUitfton  AH  A  humbug-  Tlie  Bohemian  SanuioD—Alrred  Bunii — The  third  destraetloia  of  the  Tbe«.tr«  RoTal— Othar 


We  comraenpc  thia  decade  of  the  theatrical 
history  of  Birmingham  with  a  quaint  old  play- 
bill, the  original  of  which  is  in  the  poaseasion  of 
Mr.  Merger  H.  Simpson,  the  preeent  lessee  of 
"  the  old  Theatre,"  We  have  heard  much  of  late 
years  respecting  the  decEne  of  the  legitimate 
drama  j  what  would  the  gnirablera  of  the  present 
day  think  of  such  a  performance  as  the  folio  wing, 
in  a  '  patent '  theatre  ? 

Theutre  Royal^  Birmingham. 
Combination  of  the  most  miraci  louh  imd  Fashionahh 
Atblktw  Exertions.  Mr.  M'Cready  respeclfully  makoa 
known  to  the  Public  that  he  has  re-engnged  Mr.  WILSON 
for  the  Remaining  Fonr  Nights  of  tlie  Season,  On  Mon* 
day  Evening,  Decern btir  16^  I81L  will  he  performed 
Morton 'a  fav^ourito  Comedy  of  Starfts  If^orih  Knmcbtg, 
,  ,  ,  .  End  of  the  Flay  Mr.  Wilson  will  go  throngh  the 
whole  of  lii»  Performances  on  the  TiouT  RorE  \  Particu- 
krly  he  will  walk  from  the  Stage  to  the  Pit  and  back 
again,  whcdhig  a  rial  Barrow t  and  supporting  a  Boy  at 
the  same  time.  ....  Ukewi&e  a  Whimsical  Dance, 
wiih  Two  Bays  mtspendtd  to  his  Feet.  He  unit  turn  a 
Chair  upside  d&wn^  resting  the  Top  oti  the  L'ope,  and  stand 
on  the  inverted  Fifi,  Also  his  wonderful  Somerset  over 
the  Orchestra ;  with  several  other  mstonishing  Feats. 
After  which  will  be   presented  Foote'a  revived  Farce  of 

the  Mayor  of  Oarrat In  the  course  of  the  Farce 

will  he  exhibited  a  Scene  from  the  Metropolis 

fur  the  purpcit  of  introducing  those  cchhraUd  aitd  weU 
known  Champions,  Belcher  ajid  HamMO>'I)  the  Black, 
....  Affording  to  the  Amateurs  and  Admirers  of  the 
faghionahle  Art  of  Boxing,  A  Sparring  Match,  which 
must  prove  a  "  Gratifying  Mill "  to  the  *'  Brethren  of 
the  Fancy."  .... 

The  younger  Macready,  whose  debui  we  noticed 
our  last  chapter  on  the  theatre,  atill  progressed  in 
favotiT  and  popularity.  As  OrcMeSy  (August,  1812) 
we  read  that  "  his  appeariance  altogether  brought 
back  departed  ages  to  the  imagination;  hia  acting 


throughout  was  dignified  and  impreasiTd;  Ui 
mad  scene  was  finely  conceived,  and  execaied 
with  correctneaa,  judgment,  and  feeling,  thai 
merited  the  repeated  pkiidits  which  accompanied 
his  exit.'*  His  dress,  on  this  occasion,  we  arc  in- 
formed on  the  same  authority,  was  **  pictnredqtiely 
classical ;  "  an  early  presage  of  the  reform  he  wai 
afterwards  to  initiate  in  the  archaeology  ol  ih» 
atf^e* 

M'Oeady  left  Birmingham  in  1813,  and  thft 
management  of  the  Theatre  Royal  fell  into  the 
hands  of  the  comedian,  Robert  William  Ellifrtaa 
Our  readers  may  be  curious  tu  i>6ad  the  famou* 
hnt  eccentric  manager's  address  to  the  Biimiog- 
ham  public  : 

•*  Stratford  Plaee,  London,  May  20.  ISIS.— Hering 
taken  the  Theatre  Royil  in  Bimiiugham,  for  a  t«tn  of 
years,  1  beg  leave  most  resiH^ctfnlly  to  intnsat  your 
attention  to  an  outline  of  the  plan  I  mean  to  pursue  iu  the 
npproaching  season.  I  purpose  to  open  the  theatre  for  » 
]>eriod  of  twenty  weeks,  benefit  nights  includt-d,  on 
Monday,  the  3l8t  of  May  instant.  Daring  this  p*n<sd 
performers  in  the  highest  estimation  will  occaaonnlly 
appear.  Th e  pi  ece«  pe rforra ed  w i  U  he  carefully  sel ectrd,  aiitl 
diligently  superintended  j  and  it  will  be  my  aim  to  praient 
as  often  a«  circumstances  permit,  the  very  best  example 
of  the  Britiah  Drama.  To  fto  large  and  jvopnlous  a  town 
Qs  Birmingham,  with  a  neigh bourhoo<l  so  crowded  with 
opulence  and  distinction,  a  theatrical  establishment  is 
obviously  necessary,  in  point  of  policy,  as  well  as  ef 
rational  recreation.  In  such  a  situation,  rt  might  b# 
supposed  that  a  theatre  would  snstain  itself  without  very 
earnest  aolicitations  for  support,  Th«  fact,  however,  u 
that,  even  in  this  situation,  unless  a  marked  degree  of 
protection  be  extended  by  those  who  lead  and  govern  th« 
public  taste,  the  best  efforta  of  the  Manager  must  bt 
enfeebled,  and,  in  the  end,  defeated.  By  tho»e,  thrx^fore, 
who  may  be  dewroua  that  Birmingham  should  hare  th* 
advantage,  as  well  as  credit,  of  a  well-rugulaled  The»l«» 


Tlieniw  R*>y*1,  1911  1890.) 


OLD   AOT)  NEW   BmMINGHAM, 


3dl 


I  sbdi  be  excusi^d,  t  hope.  wht?ti  I  suggest  tbat  ft  most 
elTecbiAl  aid  tnigUt  bo  affordttd  by  cansiog  otie  Qveuing,  at 
least,  iu  the  week  to  be  considered  fa^Monabk  for  theat- 
rical amusements.  On  this  evening,  without  incon- 
Teuleticet  p<^"hap3j  to  any  indiridual,  au  expectation 
might  he  held  oat  that  the  beat  company,  or  that  a 
considerable  |Kirtioti  of  the  best  company,  of  Birmingham 
and  its  neighbourhood}  would  be  collected  at  the  Theatre, 
An  elegant  place  of  periodical  ajisembliigo  might  be  thiia 
established  ;  and  the  Manager  enabled  to  do  justice  to  his 
own  inclinations,  and  to  satisfy  the  wish  the  public  are 
alwaya  entitled  to  entertain,  that  what  is  done  on  a  stage 
at  all  shall  be  done  welL  My  intention  is,  that,  in  the 
general  course  of  the  season,  there  shall  be  three  perfor- 
fomtancesiu  the  week,  namtdy,  on  Monday,  on  Wednesday 
and  on  Friday,  The  Monday  night  will  be  commonly 
devoted  to  Tragedy ;  on  the  Wednesday,  the  perfor- 
niancet  will  b«  miscellaneous ;  and  on  Friday,  some 
Cckintdy,  or  other  Dram  a,  of  pre-eminent  merit,  will  be 
reprvscnted.  If  that  night  were  to  bo  di4^ti!lguished 
in  thi*  manner  I  have  pointed  out,  all  persons  coming  to 
the  Theatre  on  Friday  would  be  assured  of  beholding  an 
interesting  jierformance,  and  of  being  surrounded  by 
those  they  know,  and  might  be  pleased  to  meet.  My  own 
IM^rsonal  efforts  on  the  stage  will  be  humbly  o  Be  red  to 
yxmi  notice  for  a  few  nights  during  the  season.  During 
the  unavoidaljle  discharge  of  my  duties  elsewhere,  those 
»  act  on  my  behalf  will  be  urged,  both  by  their  own 
!  of  respect  and  my  most  earnest  injunctions,  to  show 
©very  jK>s»ible  attention  to  the  accommodation,  and  the 
inclinations  of  all  who  may  honour  the  Theatre  by  their 
presence  or  by  their  encouragement.  AnxiouK  as  you 
muat  no  doubt  be,  for  the  welfare  of  Binningham  and 
ita  noighboorhootl,  I  tnist  yon  will  pardon  this  iutmsion 
on  a  subject  so  mstcrinlly  connected  with  its  gratitication 
and  public  character.  The  chief  object  of  my  ambition 
ia  to  place  the  theatrical  entertainments  of  Birmingham 
on  a  par  with  those  of  other  great  commercial  places.  In 
the  parsiiit  of  this  object,  I  shall  do  my  utmost  to  deserve 
jiatronage ;  and,  if  I  gain  it,  all  I  can  to  show  that  1  nm 
gralefiil  for  it*  I  Uavo  the  honour  to  be,  your  most 
obedient  humble  aerrant,  Robeut  William  Elustoh." 

The  new  manager  Lad  taken  care  to  inaugurate 
Ym  reign  at  the  Theatre  Hoyal  with  a  strong  com- 
pony.  On  the  diet  of  Maj  was  presented  tho 
fftvourit^  comedy  o(  the  "Soldier's  Daiightor/' 
with  Mr»BartIey,  Mr*  F.  Middle  ton,  Mr,Mallmsoii, 
Ml,  lloUingswurth,  ^liss  WTieeldon,  Mre.  Grove, 
Mr«.  I'aync,  ^^^8,  aod  Miss  Weston,  and  many 
uthvT  eminejit  artiBts,  selected  from  the  best 
iiietroijolitan  and  provincial  companies.  It  was 
daring  Elliston's  first  season  here  that  the  cuatom 
was  eatfthliBhed  of  regarding  Friday  aa  the  fashion- 
Able  night — a  custom  which  has  found  favour 

iOBg  ua  from  that  time  to  the  present  day  ;  and 


even  now,  as  in  1813,  may  be  ohsafTed  at  the 
Birmingham  theatres  during  an  attractire  eugage- 
jueut  **  an  unusual  display  of  beauty  and  fashion, 
who  by  their  cheering  approbation  of  the  per> 
formers,  give  an  additional  spur  to  their  exer- 
tions/'* 

The  manager  reserved  the  special  attraction  of 
his  own  appearance  on  the  Birmingham  boards 
until  July ;  on  the  1 2th  of  that  month  he  came 
for  the  first  time  before  his  new  patrons  in  the 
part  of  Octavian^  in  Coleman's  play  of  "The 
Mountaineers,"  on  which  occasion,  we  are  told, 
**  he  supported  the  character  with  his  accustomed 
excellence."  On  the  following  Wednesday  **  his 
very  successful  and  spirited  representatiaa  of  the 
three  Shingles  (aided  by  the  comic  powers  of 
Messrs.  Mallinson  and  Dobbs),  convulsed  the 
house  with  continual  bursts  of  laughter/'  The 
following  day  lie  sustained  the  part  of  Othello; 
and  on  the  Friday,  he  appeared  with  Misa  Booth, 
(who  made  her  ilehut  here  on  that  occasion)  in  the 
comedy  of  "The  Will/' 

Iteferriug  to  Miss  Booth  the  Gazette  says: 
"  Those  who  witnessed  the  spirit  and  vivacity  of 
her  performance,  and  the  delicate  proportion  of 
her  form,  will  think  it  almost  incredible,  that  she 
had  played  Angdu  m  London  on  the  evening  pre- 
ceding, and,  after  that  exertion,  had  travelled  all 
night  and  day,  to  arrive  in  Birmingham,  just  in 
time  to  dress  for  AlhlnaJ* 

The  season  of  1814  was  one  which  old  Bir- 
mingham play -goers  may  well  have  looked  back 
upon  with  loving  remembrance.  In  September 
Edmund  Kean  cbhio  among  us  for  the  first  time, 
and  expectation  was  rife  concerning  the  new  star 
- — meteor^  we  might  almost  have  said — who  had 
burst  80  suddenly  upon  the  theatrical  firmament, 
whose  acting  C*oleridge  had  compared  to  the 
reading  of  Shakespeare  by  flashes  of  h^htning. 
Our  readers  may  pcrliaps  like  to  hoar  what  a  local 
critic  has  to  say  about  Edmund  Kean  : — 

Judging  ,  ,  .  from  an  obaervation  which  has  ba«ii 
at  least  attantive,  if  not  accurate,  it  appears  evidently 

*  Afii$  Bimim^m  GtartU,  Jane  li,  1S13. 


3B2 


OLD   AKD  KEW  BmMIKGHAM. 


[Tli«ftU9  lto]rat.  tnt'l 


couspictioua  that  he  ta  a  most  extniordinary  actor ;  hU 
representation  of  p&Bflion  is  not  descriptire  but  imitative  ; 
the  silent,  yet  forcible  attacks  he  makea  on  tho  heart  and 
feelings  of  his  auditors  are  irreiiistible,  and  wo  are  imrol- 
uutary  hurried  into  a  aympatliy  with  the  character  befort* 
us.  With  Mr.  Kean  the  charftcter  is  never  seen  to  be  well 
exhibited,  as  in  many  eminent  porformen,  bat  is  the 
character  itself  and  we  forget  the  actor  in  our  pity,  fear, 
diagust,  or  horror  of  the  individual  represented.  The 
paf^e  of  nature  ha^  ocrnpied  Mr.  Kean's  attention,  and  he 
has  read  volnmea  with  a  facility  of  attention  and  exertion 
which  ordinary  minds  must  vainly  hope  to  attain,  and 
which  mere  study,  perhaps,  will  never  accomplish.  Hifl 
eye,  his  Up,  unetiualled  in  exprejision,  his  every  limb  and 
hii  every  fibre  seem  to  act  in  unison  with  the  passion,  and 
to  unite  in  promoting  one  proiligious  whole.  He  must  be 
seen  to  be  truly  appreciated  ;  and  if  a  few  sceptics  should 
be  slow  in  beliefi  the  effulgence  of  such  a  star  must  bo 
shortly  universally  acknowledged.* 

But  Kean  waa  not  the  only  Bctor  of  note  who 
visited  the  Birrainghnm  Theatrn  daring  that 
season.  On  the  1 2th  of  December  we  read  that 
**Mr.  Mathews,  who  has  heen  prevented  by  his 
late  serious  accident  from  appearing  on  our 
boards  at  an  earlier  period  of  the  season,  will  this 
evening  introduce  an  entertainment  prepared  by 
himself,  called  Mail  Coach  Adventures,  in  the 
course  of  which  he  will  sing  most  of  liLs  i>opular 
songH,"  Mr.  Munden — the  Hogarth  of  'the 
grand  grotesque  of  farce,'  as  Lamb  styled  him — 
Mr.  Elliston  liimself,  Mrs.  Jordan,  Miss  Sally 
Booth,  and  other  celebrities  of  the  time  also 
apiwared  on  the  Birmingham  boards  during  tho 
same  season;  but  of  all  who  visited  us  in  1814^ 
none  created  more  excitement  than  tho  riiliculoiis 
and  eccentric  **  Eomeo  "  Coatefl.  Laughed  at  for 
his  alisurd  amateur  impersonations  of  Romeo,  and 
**that  gallant,  gay  Lothario/'  courted  for  his 
immense  wealth,  his  matchless  diamonds,  he  was 
the  talk  of  society*  He  rode  in  a  splendid 
curricle,  the  body  of  which  was  in  the  form  of  a 
cockle-shell,  on  which,  as  well  as  on  the  harness 
of  his  horses,  appeared  his  crest,  a  cock>  with 
which  became  associated  tlie  motto  *' Whilst  we 
live,  we'll  crow,"  He  came  to  Birmingham  in 
the  month  of  Soi>tember,  1814,  and  perfonned 
here  "  in  his  usual  classical  style,  the  part  of  tho 


i  nol 


gallant,  gay  Lothario,"  In  a  newspaper  report 
tho  period  wo  read  that  *Hhe  house  was  cmwdi 
and  the  amateur  was  received  with  every  at 
tion.  .  *  ,  An  unbounded  peal  of  appUuw 
marked  Ids  entrance,  and  the  three  angular  bowi 
with  whicli  he  returned  the  compliment  were 
received  with  *Bravo!  bravor  The  perforamnee 
proceeded  amidst  acclamations,  occasioned  by  the 
singular  attitudes  and  emphasis  of  theamAteui; 
the  other  performers  participating  in  the  general 
mirth,  added  to  the  risibility  of  the  audience, 
who  were  so  much  pleased  by  his  dying,  that  i 
general  encore  produced  an  entire  new  scene  not 
intended  by  the  author — this  was  a  negotiati 
before  tho  audience,  between  the  d^fui  man^ 
manager,  and  the  characters  on  the*  stage, 
requesting  him  to  indulge  the  aqdionce,  and  to 
which  he  consented.  The  manager  accordingly 
announced  that  he  would  repuat  tho  dying  scene; 
but  after  waiting  till  the  patience  of  the  audience 
was  exhausted,  the  last  act  was  commenciHl  aniidfl 
uproar,  and  this  was  performed  entirdy  in  dumb™ 
show.  The  manager  then  came  forward  and  saitl, 
that  as  the  detul  man  had  not  8poki*n  quitt 
plaiidy  they  had  misunderstood  him,  and  that 
Mr.  Coatcs  would  speak  the  address  which  ha 
had  intended  to  deliver  before  tho  Prince  R^igenli 
and  tho  Emperor  of  Russia,  but  which  he  W4« 
prevented  from  doing,  by  their  not  giving  hmi  an 
opportunity.*  To  this  the  audience  assented — 
the  curtain  drew  up,  the  hand  played  *S«^  the 
Conquering  Hero  Comes,"  and  in  marched  the 
amateur  in  regimentals.  The  storm  was  hushed, 
hut  scarcely  had  a  couplet  proceeded  from  his 
lips,  than  an  unlucky  wight  in  the  gallery  called 
out  *Sing  it.'  The  blood  of  the  amateur  waj 
lip ;  he  took  off  his  hat,  and  showed  as  modi 
contempt  aa  the  nature  of  his  face  would  ailmit 
of.  ,  .  .  He  ran  off  the  stnge  to  the  re^rtt 
of  the  whole  house,  and  all  tlie  rhetoric  of  th# 
manager  waa  exerted  in  vain  to  induce  him  to 


i 

i 

urn 


iBiijvl.  18114820] 


OLD   A:ND  new   BIRMINGHAM. 


383 


letum.     Tho  after-piece  passed  in  dmiib  bLow, 
and  thiM  ended  this  mighty  Liatorj,'* 

It  will  scarcely  be  credited  that  under  the  man- 
agement of  Eobert  William  Elliston,  an  artiiicial 
field  ol  standing  com  was  introduced  into  a  piece 
for  the  puipoee  of  showing  Mr.  Dohb'a  reaping 


During  1816  local  playgoers  were  promised  an 
unusual  treat,  in  the  engagement  of  the  celebrated 
Miss  O'Neil ;  but  the  fulfiinient  of  that  promise 
seemed  for  some  time  a  matter  of  considerable 
doubt,  and  they  were  tantalized  from  hour  to 
hour,   alternating   between  hope   and  fear,  now 


■'<M 


^-  .A 


WfK 


OLD    VIKW   UF   THK   TUl»  OF   SEW    HlkLtli,    o-ii. 


p 

—- 

«! 

i 

f 

z  " 

-^=^ 

^?^ 

alKTY 

OF 

machine  at  work.  The  piece  into  which  this 
curious  incident  was  introduced^  was,  according 
to  the  play-hill, '  the  celebrated  Farce  of  Fortune's 
Frolic;*  the  part  of  Bol/m  Ronghead  was  sus- 
tained by  Mr*  Dobba,  who  w^orked  the  machine 
ad  explained  its  principles  during  the  progress 
the  farce.  We  have  heard  in  recent  times  of 
a  much-advertised  sewing  machine  being  intro- 
duced into  the  harlequinade  of  a  Pantomime,  but 
perhaps  the  episode  of  the  Dobba  lieaping 
Machine  is  unequalled  in  the  annals  of  the 
liritiah  Stage. 
49 


saying  "  she  w*ill  come,''  and  anon,  **  she  will 
not,"  and  like  G  ret  eh  en  f  oaring  lest  the  **  not," 
should  be  the  tinal  statement  of  the  case,  Tlia 
actress  had,  during  a  short  leave  of  absence  from 
the  Covent  Garden  Theatre,  vieited  several  of  the 
principal  towns  in  the  provinces^  and  had  con- 
cluded an  engagement  with  Mr.  Elliston  to  appif 
at  the  Tlieatre  Royal,  Biimingham,  for  six  nights, 
for  the  sum  of  six  hundred  guineas^  but  on  the 
eve  of  the  engagement  the  Covent  Garden  pro- 
prietors uitorfered  to  prevent  Mies  O'Neil  from 
performing  here,  stating  that  her  leave  of  abseaoe 


384 


OLD  AKD  NEW  BIRMINGHAM. 


(lliMtra  Bojil.  inMSft 


'4 


i  \ 


I  ' 


.   i 
I 


bad  expired.  A  delay  occurred,  during  which  a 
letter  waa  received  from  the  lady  herself,  cw- 
firming  her  engagement,  but  at  the  same  time 
informing  the  manager  that  it  would  be  impossible 
to  reach  Birmingham  that  day.  In  consequence 
of  the  delay,  therefore,  the  theatre  was  closed 
from  Wednesday,  October  2nd,  until  the  follow- 
ing Monday ;  and  during  this  period  doubts  were 
still  entertained  as  to  whether  she  would  fulfil 
her  engagement.  Miss  O'Neil,  imagining  from 
an  interview  she  had  had  with  Mr.  Barlow,  the 
Covent  Garden  manager,  that  her  immediate 
attendance  in  town  was  absolutely  necessary,  left 
Manchester  with  the  intention  of  appearing  in 
Birmingham  on  the  Thursday  evening,  for  the  one 
performance  only;  but  finding  Mr.  Elliston 
absent,  she  continued  her  journey  to  London,  and 
discovered  that  the  Birmingham  manager  had 
succeeded  in  obtaining  permission  for  the  fulfilment 
of  her  engagement  with  him,  upon  which  she  re- 
turned, hoping  to  perform  here  on  the  Saturday. 
Handbills  were  speedily  printed  and  circulated, 
assuring  the  public  that  Miss  O'Neil  had  arrived 
in  Birmingham,  and  would  commence  her  engage- 
ment on  Monday,  October  7th. 

The  excitement  caused  by  Miss  O'^eil's  visit  is 
well  reflected  in  the  following  report  from  the 
Gazette  of  October  14th  : — 

In  the  memory  of  the  oldest  inhabitant  of  the  town,  no 
event  in  our  theatrical  history  has  occasioned  a  sensation 
so  remarkable  as  the  performances  of  Miss  O'Ncil.  The 
mania  for  a  ricw  of  thii  interrsting  and  highly  gifted 
young  lady  has  not  been  confined  to  any  i)articular  class 
in  society,  but  j)er^'aded  all  ranks  ;  even  a  glance  at  her  in 
her  carriage  was  considered  worthy  jf  contention,  and  the 
doors  of  the  Royal  Hotel  were  constantly  besieged  with 
spectators,  anxious  to  catch  a  glimps  of  her,  at  her  entrance 
or  departure  from  the  house. 

Excepting  at  the  periods  of  our  Musical  Festivals,  we 
do  not  recollect  to  have  seen  so  great  an  influx  of  stran- 
gers :  and  certainly  on  no  former  occasion  do  we  remem- 
ber such  overflowing  houses,  or  to  have  witnessed  so 
extraordinary  an  avidity  to  obtain  admission  within  the 
theatre.  On  almost  every  night,  of  her  appearance,  the 
house  filled  so  quickly  that  the  doors  have  been  closed 
long  before  the  usual  hour  of  commencement,  and 
hundreds  unable  to  effect  an  entrance  have  been  obliged 
to  return  disappointed.  To  enter  \x\yon  a  minute  criticism 
of  Miss  O'Neil's  acting  is  unnecessary,  the  thousands  who 


have  been  present  daring  her  performanoea  have  only  to 
recall  to  their  minds  those  touches  of  deep  pathos  by  which 
their  symyathy  was  so  frequently  and  irresistibly  excited. 
Her  tones  and  enunciation  are  peculiarly  harmonioas  and 
distinct,  and  hei  attention  to  the  scene  nndeTiatiiig.  Her 
delineation  of  the  progress  of  passion  sppesred  to  Qi 
strikingly  correct — her  bursts  seemed  to  eleetrify  the 
whole  of  her  auditors. 

Mr.  Elliston,  who  has  been  unceasing  in  bis  efforts  to 
secure  her  eminAit  talents,  has,  we  perceive  with  satis&e- 
tion,  re-engaged  her  for  a  few  nights  next  season. 

The  exertions  of  Mr.  Conway  and  Mr.  Hartley,  during 
the  engagement  of  Miss  O'Neil,  have  most  essentially  oon- 
tributed  to  give  due  effect  to  that  lady's  performance,  by 
the  able  manner  in  which  the  characters  allotted  them 
have  been  sustained.  The  former  of  these  gentlemen  will 
take  his  benefit  this  evening,  being  the  only  remnnerstion 
for  his  valuable  services,  and  Mr.  Hartley  on  Friday.  On 
both  occasions,  we  trust,  their  friends  and  the  puUic  will 
convince  them  that  their  eminent  services  on  this,  and 
on  former  occasions,  are  not  forgotten,  and  will  not  be 
allowed  to  pass  unrequited. 

The  plays  represented  on  the  occasion  of  Miss 
O'Neil's  visit  were  "Romeo  and  Juliet,"  "The 
Jealous  Wife,"  "Venice  Preserved,"  "The 
Stranger,"  and  "  The  Gamester." 

During  the  season  of  1817  the  famous  clown, 
Joseph  Giinmldi  appeared,  in  a  new  comic  panto- 
mime, on  the  Birmingham  hoards,  delighting  large 
audiences,  as  he  never  failed  to  do,  by  has  broad 
— yet  never  indecorous — humour. 

llealism  and  spectacular  display  seem  to  have 

formed  the  staple  attraction  during  the  closing  years 

of  Elliston's  management     During  1818  a  drama 

was  produced  entitled  "  The  North  Pole,  or  the 

Arctic  Expedition,  with  remarkable  scenic  effects, 

if  the  following  description  of  the  closing  scene 

was  borne  out  by  the  representation  : — 

A  Ship  of  immense  size,  fully  rigged,  with  a  Crew  of 
forty  Persons,  commanded  by  a  Naval  OflBcer,  will  effect 
her  passage  through  floating  Islands  of  Ice,  which,  on 
separating,  will  show  an  Expanse  of  Ocean  covering  the 
Whole  Stage  ;  slie  will  sa  down  to  the  Front  Lights 
with  her  Bowsprit  over  the  Pit !  producing  as  novel  and 
l)Owerful  effect  as  can  be  exhibited  on  the  stage. 

Many  droll  anecdotes  are  told  respecting 
Elliston's  career  in  Birmingham,  especially  of  the 
shifts  he  made  to  attract,  and  then  to  trick  his 
audience.  On  one  occasion,  after  a  long  con- 
tinuance of  empty  benches,  and  (consequently) 
empty  coffers,  the  town  awoke  one  morning  to 


Tbettre  nnynl.  TS114830.1 


OLD  Am>   NEW   BraMINGHAM. 


385 


find  the  walk  and  hoardings  coverod  with  flaming 
posters  announcing  that  an  engagement  liad  been 
entered  into  by  Mr.  EUjaton  with  a  Bohemian 
GimU  of  remarkable  strength,  who  was  to 
perform  many  extraordinary  feats  with  a  huge 
stone,  weighing  more  than  a  ton,  which  he  would 
to6S  about  aa  easily  as  an  ordinary  indiridual 
would  a  tennis-balL  Thta  was  an  attraction  not 
to  be  resisted  by  Birmingham  play-go^rs.  Hamlet 
and  Macbeth  might  be  played  to  empty  houses, 
the  wit  of  Sheridan  might  woo  pleasure-seokers 
in  vain,  but  a  clap-trap  performance  exhibiting 
extraordinary  brute  force  was  capable  of  attracting 
a  crowded  house,  full  almost  to  overflowing,  from 
fioor  to  ceiling. 

When  the  play  which  preceded  tliis  exhibition 
was  over,  the  public,  who  had  regarded  the  legi- 
timate part  of  the  entertainment  with  the  utmost 
impatience,  sat  in  eager  expectation  of  the  intel- 
lectual entr^acte,  and  after  waiting  for  some 
minutes,  became  clamorous  for  the  appearance  of 
the  Bohemian  Samson.  At  length  the  manager, 
who  was  a  master  of  the  art  of  bamboozling, 
rushed  before  the  curtain  in  the  utmost  apparent 
anxiety.  *  Tiio  Bohemian  has  deceived  me  !  *  he 
cried.  *  That,  however,  I  could  have  pardoned ; 
but  he  has  deceived  you,  my  friends,  ^ou ; '  and 
his  voice  trembled  with  emotion  as  he  endeavoured 
to  stifle  his  sobs  :  *  I  repeat,  ho  has  deceived  me ; 
he  is  not  here.* 

The  universal  diBappoiiitmcnt  found  vent  in  a 
perfect  yell,  which  hurst  forth  from  every  part  of 
the  house*  The  wily  manager,  however,  was 
quite  equal  to  the  occasion ;  drawing  a  bundle  of 
letters  from  hia  pocket,  he  held  them  up,  'Her© 
18  tlld  coireepondence,'  he  said.  '  Does  any  gentle- 
man here  understand  German  t  If  so,  will  he 
oblige  me  by  stepping  forward.' 

No,  it  did  not  appear  that  the  audience  in- 
cluded a  single  German  scholar,  or  at  any  rate,  if 
so,  be  was  too  modest  to  step  forward. 

'Am  t,  then,  left  alone  1  *  cried  the  manager, 
•till  sustaining  his  well-feigned  emotion.  '  Well, 
I  will  translate  them  for  you,* 


A  few  voices  in  the  large  assembly  were  heard 
above  the  rest,  disclaiming  the  implied  incredulity 
in  requiring  vouchors  of  Mr.  Ellis  ton's  good 
faith. 

*  Your  commands,  then,  shall  be  obeyed,'  he 
replied,  returning  the  supposed  autographs  of  the 
perfidious  Hercules.  '  I  will  not  read  them. 
But,  my  denr  patrons,  your  kind  consideration 
shall  not  go  unrewarded,  You  shall  not  say  you 
have  paid  your  money  for  nothing.  Thank 
heaven,  I  can  satisfy  you  of  my  own  integrity, 
and  present  yon  with  a  portion  of  the  entertain- 
ment you  have  paid  to  see.  The  Bohemian,  the 
villain,  is  not  here.  But  the  stone  is,  and  you 
SHALL  BEE  IT.'  The  orchestra  struck  up  a  lively 
air,  and  the  curtain  rose  slowly,  disclosing  a 
huge  piece  of  sandstone  rock,  upon  which  was 
stuck  a  label,  with  the  inscription  in  huge  letters, 
*  This  is  the  SxoyE/ 

The  guMible  public  was  satisfied,  the  manager's 
coffers  were  amply  replenish^,  and  the  story  of 
the  Bohemian  Samson  who  was  to  have  tossed  a 
ton  of  stone  about  like  a  tennis  ball  was  told  by 
many  a  Birmingham  playgoer  to  his  cliildren. 
Need  we  say,  however,  thai  the  only  existence  the 
prodigy  ever  had  was  in  the  fertile  brain  of 
Robert  William  EUiston. 

In  spite  of  all  hia  resources,  however,  Ellis  ton 
was  unable  to  make  the  theatre  pay ;  he  said  that 
in  1818  he  lost  £1,500.  His  trickery  {of  which 
the  example  just  recorded  was  hut  one  out  of 
many  similar  instances)  disgusted  the  real  play- 
going  public,  and  at  the  beginning  of  the  year 
1819  he  found  himself  compelled  to  withdraw 
from  the  management  of  the  theatre.  He  was 
succeeded  by  Mr.  Alfred  Bunn, — ''hot,  cross 
Bunn,"  as  Puncli  used  to  call  him,^ — who 
armounced  all  kinds  of  novelty  and  attraction; 
caused  the  theatre  to  be  entirely  renovated  and 
re-decorated  by  Westmacott,  and  for  the  first  time 
to  be  lighted  with  gas.  On  the  6th  of  January, 
1 820,  Sheridan's  '* Pizarro"  was  played,  and  the  per- 
formance having  concluded  at  an  earlier  hour 
than  usual,  the  theatre  was  in  darkness  by  half- 


r 


OLD  AND   NEW   BIEMmGHAM, 


[The&tn  Bajr^l.  ISU'inO^ 


past  eleven  o*clock,  and  the  actors  had  left  it  for 
the  night) — and  for  ever.  The  echoes  of  applauae 
bad  ficarcelj  died  away  in  the  deeerted  hnilding, 
when  vast  columns  of  smoke  and  flame  were 
seen  breaking  out  from  the  windows  and  issuing 
from  the  roof*      Thousands  of   the  inhabitants 


and  1793.  The  building  was  insured  for  £7,000, 
and  Mr.  Bunn  had  insured  his  own  personal  pro- 
perty  contained  therein  for  £2,000,  but  the  poor 
players  lost  all  they  had* 

There  waa  at  that  time,  it  seemly  «  **  IGaor 
Tlieatre/*  in  Woroeater  Street^  of  Uie  perfoEiB* 


/^ 


1) 


'ROMBO      COAT19. 
From  an  old  prifU. 


came  out  to  see  the  old  playhouse  once  more 
perish  in  the  flames.  All  attempts  to  save  it 
were  in  vain  ;  amid  the  drixzling  rain  the  roof  fell 
in  with  a  crash  which  shook  the  ground  for  some 
distance  around,  and  in  three  hours  nothing  was 
left  but  the  bar^  walls  and  (curiously  enough) 
the  original  fttoade,  which  thus  braved  the  fury 
of  two  destructive  hres,  and  still  stands  an  in- 
teresting momento  of  the  old  playhouses  of  1780 


ancea  at  which  the  QazetU  contains  one  or  two 
notices  in  the  year  1818*  It  was  a  wooden  build* 
ing^  which  stood  opposite  the  *  King*s  Head;' 
and  to  this  humble  abode  came  the  biimt^o^i 
players,  and  performed,  appropriately  enough, 
**  Raising  the  Wind,*'  "  A  Core  for  the  Heafi- 
ache/'  and  **  Blue  Devils."  Of  this  pitiable 
attempt  at  "i-aising  the  wind,"  Oxberry  sayt, 
"the  humanity  of  the  hardware  folka  may  be 


we  fitate  as  a  positive  fact  that 
*|]iared  only  Is.   4d.   after  performing 
three  nights. 

The  pJaygoing  public  w«re  not  altogether  with- 
out entertainments  during  the  re-building  of  the 
the&tra  On  the  3rd  of  Jiily,  1820,  wo  read  that 
*•  the  celebrated  Mr*  Mathews,  from  the  English 
Opera  House,  has  the  Honour  to  inform  the 
Public  of  Birmingham  and  its  Neighbourhood, 
that  he  will  have  the  Pleasure  of  being  "At 
Home  **  in  the  Royal  Hotel  Assembly  Booms,  on 
Thursday,  the  20th,  and  Saturday,  the  22nd 
instant,  when  he  wiH  entertain  hia  Friends  with 
liis  two  lnjst  popular  entertainments — **  A  Trip  to 
Paris,"  and  his  **  Country  Cousins." 

By  the  end  of  July,  in  the  same  year,  the  new 
Theatre  was  so  far  advanced  towards  completion 
that  the  manager  was  able  to  announce  the  re- 
opening for  the  Hth  of  the  following  month,  and 
the  performers  were  by  public  notice  directed  to 
assemble  on  the  10th;  new  scenery  had  been 
^Hnted  by  Messrs.  Greenwood,  Whitmore,  and 
^^^^eve,  and  the  theatre  had  been  hnndsomoly 
W  decorated  by  Bixon,  The  new  theatre  was 
I   Opened  as   announced,   on  the   Hth  of  August, 


with  Sheridan's  comedy  of  "The  Rivals,"  and  a  new 
farce  entitled  **ThG  Promissor)^  Note,"  written  by 
the  architect  of  the  building,  Mr.  S.  Beajdey, 

Among  the  other  amusements  of  this  decade 
we  notice  that  Madame  Tussaud  paid  a  visit  to 
Birmingham  in  November,  1813,  and  exhibited 
her  collection  of  wax-work,  (which  had  already 
won  for  itself  a  position  far  above  other  similar 
exhibitions)  at  the  Shakespear  Tavern,  in 
New  Street.  Worthy  of  note,  too,  both  on 
account  of  the  performer  liimself  and  the  locality 
upon  which  he  pitched  \m  tent,  is  tbe  visit  of  the 
famous  equestrian,  Ryan,  who  performed  at  a 
**  New  Equefltrian  Circus  "  which  was  erected  on 
the  Moat  grounds^ — the  last  occasion  on  which 
they  were  used  for  the  purpose  previous  to  their 
conversion  into  the  Smithfield  Market — during 
the  WhiUuntide  Fair  of  1815. 

We  had  also  occasional  flying  visits  from  Mr, 
Haddock,  with  his  famous  Mechauic  Theatre; 
Ingleby,  the  Conjuror;  C-aHwright's  Musical 
Glasses  and  Philosopliical  Fireworks;  A  Spec^ 
tacular  Kntertainmtjnt,  representing  the  obsequies 
of  the  Princess  Charlotte,  and  other  miscellaneous 
shows  and  sights  as  in  modem  times. 


CHAPTER     LVI, 


THE     FIRST     PHILOSOPHICAL     AND     ARTISTIO     SOCIETIES     OF     BIRMINGHAM. 

Tbe  PhiloMi>hical  tmtitntlon— De«<^rtiTt1on  of  llt«  Building— Tlie  Academy  uf  Art»  AtKl  [U  ¥\ni  MxliiMtloti—CourlJtiotLa  for  the  r»4  opiioti 
of  Picture*— Th#  Bocietj  of  Artwtii— First  Ffttrtmi  ftBid  aubftciiber^-^ErecUoD  eflhe  Prrmmneiit  BuUaitig  In  Now  Street— DeseripUon 
of  tlifr  BtLildtof — CailiortDe  Huttoa  on  ArU  intt  ArtiflU  \n  BirmingbAJti. 


Tfis  second  deeade  of  the  nineteenth  century  is 
memorable  in  the  history  of  the  arts  in  Bir- 
mingham, as  having  seen  the  birth  of  two 
tailtloti0ti8  which  have  exerted  a  benelicial  InJlu- 
cooe  upon  our  town,  both  in  respect  of  mental 
culture  and  of  artistic  training,  and  ultimately  led  to 
the  formation  of  a  third  institution  which  remains 
to  this  day  almost  uniqup,  both  as  to  its  cbaiacter 


and  as  to  the  work  which  it  has  accompliahcd. 
The  first  of  these  was  the  Birmingham  Philo- 
sophical Society,  the  germ  of  which  existed,  in 
the  form  of  a  small  private  society,  as  early  as  the 
year  1800.  A  few  scientific  inhabitants,  having 
formed  themselves  into  a  Society  for  the  study  of 
experimental  philosophy,  found  many  otheis 
anxious  to  sliare  in  their  labours,  and  in   1813 


388 


OLD   AND   NEW   BIEMINGHAM. 


[The  AfmAranj  of  AtU. 


*     ircliasetl  commodious  premises  in  Cannon  Street, 
which  they  fitted  up  in  the  same  manner  as  the 
Eoyal  Institution  of  London.     The  first  lecture 
in  the  Society's  new  home,  was  delivered  by  the 
Eev.  John  Corrio  {the  President),  on  the  17th  of 
Octolier,    1814.     The  lecture-room  was  spacious 
(for  that  time),  heing  capable  of  seating  upwards 
of  two  hundred  pBtsons;  it  was  semi-t^ircular  in 
shapt?,   having  raised   tiers  of  benches,   and   the 
ceiling  was  supported  by  two  light  pillars  of  cast- 
iron.     Within  the  biiildipg  were  various  smaller 
rooms  for  the  pursuit  of  divers  branches  of  ex- 
perimental   philosophy,    amply    provided    with 
nwesaary  apparatus ;  also  a  museum,   a  news- 
room and  other  apartments :  it  was,  m  fact,  a 
complete    and    admirably     furnished     scientific 
institute,    and   within    its   walls    many   of    our 
townjsnien,  whose  names  are  now  familiar  in   our 
mouths  as  household  words,  received  a  valuable 
scientific  and  philosophical  training.     As  we  have 
already  related,  we  arc  indebted  to  this   Society 
for  tho  establicshment  of  the  Institution  for  the 
Deaf  and  Dumb,  and  moreover,  in  all  probability, 
for  the  foundation  of  one  of  th-e  noblest  of  our 
local  institutions,  of  which  it  was,  in  a  measure 
the   prototype,    the    Birmingham   and    Midland 
Institute. 

Tlicre  was,  however,  a  still  more  important 
institution  than  the  PhOuaophical  Society  founded 
during  thia  decade,  the  forerunner  of  the  Society 
of  Artists — ^viz.,  the  Bimiiugham  Academy  of 
Arts.  In  April,  1814,  a  liUlo  Bociety,  composed 
of  resident  Artists  and  Amateurs,  **  convinced  by 
their  own  experience  that  liirmingham  possesses 
many  local  and  peculiar  advantages  for  aasemhlLng 
and  exhibiting  Works  of  Art,  encouraged  by  the 
libertil  spirit  of  its  inhabitants,  and  by  the 
particular  attention  now  excited  to  subjects  of 
Art  and  Science  nearly  allied  to  their  own," 
BTmon need  their  intention  of  opening  an  Annual 
Exhibition.  They  pledged  themselves  for  the 
impartiality  of  their  proceedings]  adding  that 
**  no  considerations  shall  induce  them  to  swerve 
from  the  conduct  prescribed  to  them^  by  a  regard 


to  the  success  and  reputation  of  their  establish- 
ment, and  in  the  general  taste  of  those  whoa© 
judgment  they  respect,  and  whose  approbation^ 
therefore,  it  will  always  be  their  pnncipal  study 
to  obtain." 

The  list  of  honorary  members  included  th« 
names  of  Benjamin  West^  Thomas  Phillips, 
J,  M.  W.  Turner,  John  llaxman,  Richard  West- 
mncott,  John  Soane,  Dr*  De  Lya,  and  other*  of 
eminence  in  the  world  of  art  and  science.  Tha 
secretary  of  tho  new  society  was  the  late  Mr.  J. 
Vincent  Barber,  whose  works  now  in  the 
possession  of  the  Birmingham  and  Midland 
Institute,  and  in  the  engraved  "Graphic  Blustra- 
tiona  of  Warwickshire,"  are  known  to  all  lovers 
of  art  in  the  Midland  Counties.  The  Conditions 
for  the  reception  of  Pictures  were  as  follows  i- — 

1.  That  tho«e  Artists  and  Auifttenri  only,  who  an 
pornifuiently  resident  within  SO  mites  of  Birmingham^  be 
eligible  iia  Exhibitors. 

2.  That  the  Exhibition  sbull  consist  of  original  Puntingi 
in  Oil  and  Water  Colours,  Sculptiues,  Models,  Architec- 
tural Dedgua,  Engravings,  Pictures  m  Crayons,  Miniatond^ 
and  Iiopresaiotts  from  JleJal  Dii?8,  and  from  Engravings 
OD  ppeciouH  Stones. 

3.  That  the  Admission  or  Rejection  of  all  Works  s«nt 
for  Exhibition  shall  depend  on  the  Decision  of  a  ComniittM 
composed  of  an  equal  Number  of  Amateurs  and  Pro- 
fessora. 

4.  That  Pictures  sent  for  Exhibition  shall  be  properly 
framed,  with  or  without  Glasses,  having  the  Name  and 
Address  of  the  Artist  or  Amateur,  and  a  Description  of 
the  Subject,  to  appear  in  the  Catalogue,  pasted  on  tha 
Back,  and  those  Works  which  are  intended  for  Sale  must 
be  accompanied  bj  a  written  Communication,  stating  tha 
Terms  upon  which  they  are  to  be  disposed  of. 

The  Society,  however^  will  not  be  accountable  for 
Breaking  of  Gloaaes,  or  for  any  Ancidents  that  may  happen 
to  the  Works  sent  for  Exhibition,  although  tha  attnosi 
Care  sliall  be  taken  to  protect  them. 

5<  That  the  Erhibltiou  shall  open  the  first  W«ek  in 
September,  181 4^  and  that  Pictures  and  other  Works  of 
Art  intended  for  Exhibition  must  be  delivered  on  the  22nd, 
23rd,  or  24  th  of  August  preceding. 

An  early  Intimation  will  be  given  of  the  Place  of 
Exhibition. 

ThosA  Artists  and  Amateurs  who  intend  to  beooma 
JUxhibitors  are  requested  to  communicate  their  Intention 
to  the  Secretary  as  early  as  possible,  stating  the  proliable 
Number  and  Sizes  of  their  Productions,  that  the  Society 
may  calculate  accordingly. 

Birmingham,  Aprils,  1S14. 

J«  YiyoEHT  BA.KBKR,  Soeretvy. 


( 


I 


Tb«86«Icty  of  ArtiiUi.) 


OLD   AND  KEW   BIKMINGHAM. 


389 


The  iirst  exhibition  was  opened  on  Monday, 
September  12,  1814,  and  vfos  held  in  atempomry 
room  in  Union  Street,  at  the  back  of  the  old 
Birmingham  Fire  Offices.  It  was  not  to  be 
supposed  that  the  members  were  satisfied  with 
this  miserable  accommodation,  and  within  a  month 
of  the  opening  of  the  exhibition  we  find 
appended  to  their  advertigement  a  plan  for  the 
establishment  of  a  permanent  home  for  their 
collections.  During  the  short  period  which  had 
elapsed  since  its  opening,  they  had  been  "  induced 
to  hope  that  a  favourable  opinion  had  been  formed 
with  regard  to  the  genenil  utility  of  the  estah- 
liahment,  even  in  its  present  liraited  state  ;**  and 
"judging  by  the  attention  their  Plans  had 
idready  experienced,  they  indulged  a  confident 
expectation  that  the  Taste  and  Liberality  of  the 
Public,  would  enable  them  t*j  a«:corapHsh  the  full 
extent  of  their  designs."     Tbeu  followed  a 

Plan  of  Donations  iQwarth  tfu  Erf.rti&n  of  an  Academy 

qf  Ar(s  in  Birmingham. 
A  Donor  of  Five  Gtiinuas  to  have   personal  mlmission 
to  the  Annual  ExUibition. 

A  Donor  of  Ten  Oniucoa  to  have  personal  admLssion, 
«iid  the  liberty  of  bringing  on^  frif-nd  each  Day. 

A  Donor  of  Fifteen  Guineft*  to  have  iJ<?r8onttl  admisBion, 
and  the  Liberty  of  bringing  two  Friends  each  Day  ;  and 
«o  on  to  any  Amount  of  Donations, 

The  Donations  will  not  be  called  for  until  the  nmount 
reqniped  is  subscribed. 

A  second  society  of  a  similar  character,  but 

having  a  more  extended  scope,  was  established  in 

182L     The  first  note  respecting  it  appeared  in 

the  Gitzctte  on  the  first  of  January   in  that  year, 

congratulating  its  readers  on  "  the  probability  of 

an  Institution  being  soon  established,  in  this  town  I 

for  encouraging  the  cultivation  of  the  Fine  Ai-ts." 

The  projectors  of  the  movemejit  published  the 

following  requisition  on   the  26th  of  the  same 

month  : 

We,  the  nndersigned,  considering  that  the  duo  cultiva- 
tion of  the  Fine  Arts  is  essential  to  the  proBjverity  of  the 
muiufiLctures  of  thia  town  and  neighbourhood,  and  that 
no  •ociety  at  present  exist*  for  this  specific  pui-pose,  and 
;  of  opinion  that  it  is  extremely  desirable  that  such  a 
bty  Bhould  be  now  formed^  do  hereby  invite  all  pemons 
iident  io  the  town  and  neighbourhood  of  BLrmi ogham, 
who  may  be  dinposcd  to  unit (^  in  protnoting  tliis  object, 


to  a  meeting,  to  be  held  at  the  Public  OflUce,  in  Moor 
Street,  on  Wednesday,  the  7th  of  February,  at  twelve 
o*clock  in  the  forenoon,  in  order  to  take  the  subject  into 
consideration. 


Satiiuel  Gallon, 
Edward  Outrani, 
William  Hamper, 
Edward  Johnstone, 
J.  H,  Spry, 
James  W^oolley, 
Samuel  Ryland, 
William  WttlliB, 
H.  Galtou, 
George  Yates, 
W.  Wynne  Smith, 
J.  W.  LJoDtt, 
P.  M.  Jame«, 


Josiah  Ccarrie, 
J,  A,  James, 
John  Johnetone, 
Timothy  Smith, 
S.  Tertiu3  Calton, 
John  Gordon, 
Thomas  Attwood, 
John  Towers  Lawrence, 
Edward  Tboniason, 
Archibald  Kvnrick, 
John  Badduis, 
Theophilus  Richard  a,  jiin., 
J.  V.  Burber, 


George  Barker, 
The  meetin*^  was  held  as  announced,  Suniuel 
Galton  presiding,  and  it  was  resolved  that  the 
proposed  institution  be  established,  and  adlrd 
**  The  Birmingham  Society  of  Arts ;"  tliat  a 
Museum  be  formed  for  the  reception  of  objects 
of  art ;  that  suitable  accommodation  be  provitlud 
for  students  in  the  Fine  Arts  ;  that  the  Com- 
mittee be  empo Wined  to  make  arrangements  for 
pnhlic  exhibitions,  and  for  the  delivery  of 
lectures;  and  that  the  Members  of  the  Instil 
tution  should  consist  of  Patrons  (subscribing 
£100  or  more),  I'roprietors  (subscribing  £'50), 
and  Govcrnorsj — the  latter  being  the  annual 
subscribers  of  two  guineas ;  certain  privih  •.^^ 
being  accorded  to  each  of  the  seveml  grades  uf 
subscription,  A  provisional  committee  was 
formed,  and  the  following  liberal  subscriptions 
and  donations  were  received  i 

Sir    Robert    Lawley,    Bart.,   a  valuable 


Collection   of  Cants. 

£ 

Lord  Beaucharop 
Sir  Charles  Mordaunt 

..     100 
...     100 

H.  l^gge       ...         ..         .. 

D.  S.  Dugdalu           

Timothy  Smith         

F,  Lawley      

T.  Lawrence 

...     100 
...     100 
,..       50 
...     100 
...       60 

Edward  Thorn ason   „. 

...       60 

Samuel  Galton 

...     100 

S.  Tortiu.s  Galton      

.,»     100 

Hubert  Gfllton          

...     100 

M.  R,  Boulton 

,-,    im 

James  Taylor  ,. 

...     100 

Samuel  Rylond        .„        , 100 

Mark  Sandenj            ,»,         ^,         ,.,     101 

In  May,  1822,  we  read  that  the  Society's 
Musoiim  in  New  Street  "is  now  fitted  up,  and 
furnished  with  the  valuable  Collection  of  Caats 
from  the  Antique,  presented  to  the  Society  by 
Sir  Robert  Law  ley,  Bart.,"  and  that  it  is  to  be 
opened  on  the  4th  of  Jime,  for  the  adnnesion  of 
members  and  students.  "The  Committee,"  we 
read  further,  "have  availed  themselves  of  a 
favourable  opportunity  of  providing  a  consider- 
able addition  to  the  present  collection,  throw gh 
the  assiduity  of  a  gentleman  who  is  visiting 
lUily^  and  who  has  poHtely  offered  his  services 
in  select iug  such  sjHScimens  of  the  works  of  art, 
as  will  best  promote  the  objects  of  the  Society.** 
The  S^uciety  does  not  appear  to  have  on^^anised 
an  Exliibition  of  Pictures  untO  the  autumn  of 
I  1827t  Among  the  artists  represented  in  tlie  iirst 
exhibition  we  meet  with  the  names  of  J.  Vincent 
Barher,  Samuel  Lines  and  his  sons  (who  together 
exhibited  no  less  than  nineteen  pictures),  Thomas 
Wyatt,  lluushaw,  Creswick,  Everett,  Wallace, 
Cdleman,  Walker^  lihodes,  Hobday,  Uoom,  Jukea, 
and  others  of  more  than  local  fame.  The  cele- 
brated sculptor,  Chantrey,  visited  the  Exhibition 
prior  to  its  opening,  and  "  expressed  a  lively 
interest  in  the  Institution,  and  suggested  many 
valmible  hints  in  reference  to  the  Exhibition, 
*of  ivhich/  we  are  told.  Mho  Committee  intend 
to  avail  themselves.'  "  * 

The  Society  had  not  allowed  the  idea  of  a 
aiiitablo  block  of  buildings  for  tho  accommoda- 
tion of  the  Exhibitions  to  lie  unini proved.  By 
the  end  of  July,  1829,  the  new  building  ivas 
nearly  completed,  and  the  following  interesting 
description  appeared  in  the  Gazette  of  July  13  : 

Tlie  tiew  buildings  of  the  society^  wliich  are  now  so  near 
tlieir  convpl<»tion,  consist  of  a  magiiiflccnt  cirealar  E^thi- 
bit  ion -room,  52  feet  diniuettr,  with  n  dome  roof,  and 
lighted  from  the  centra  hy  a  skylight,  29  feet  diftmeter  ; 
the  ceiling  ia  thrown  into  panels,  and  the  genenil  ofiect  of 
the  room  is  novel  and  striking;  indeed,  when  filled  with 
well  painted  pktnres,  wo  have  little  doubt  of  its  being 
considered  the  iinnftt  room  of  its  Icind  in  the  kioj(«Ioni.  It 
ix  ajiproAched  from  New  Stneet  by  a  s^jftrious  ilight  of 
fitepe,  and  on  each  8id«  are  conTenient  and  ia- el  I -lighted 


•  J,  A.  Litngftiril,  LL.D.  :  CV^fwry,  etc.,  it.,  p,  805. 


rooma,  one  of  which  will  be  aied  as  a  libmry  or 
room,  and  the  other  as  an  exhibition  room  for  aculfitare; 
between  the  Utter  and  the  circular  room  i^  a  «ira!1 
octagonal  room,  forming  a  communi cation  between  the 
twOi  and  which  it  is  intended  to  aso  for  mimatsim  or 
other  antall  workji  of  art.  Beyond  the  large  room  ia  % 
light  and  spacious  room  for  the  exhibition  of  water-<^olQar 
drawings^  and  adjoining  thereto  is  ^  long  room  for 
exhibiting  printa.  It  will  thasi  be  evidant  that  eYoy 
accommodation  has  been  provided  which  can  be  re^ttlrad 
in  an  exhibition  of  works  of  art ;  and  core  boa  been  takes 
so  to  arrange  the  rooms  as  to  make  them  aTiiiUble  for  t^ 
other  uses  to  which  the  Society  wilt  appropriate  thee. 
In  addition  to  the  rooms  aboy^  enumerated,  acioommodi^ 
tions  have  been  prorided  for  the  keeper,  Ac,  kc  tin 
exterior  elevation  in  Kew  Street  is  executed  in  Bttk 
stone^  and  is  of  the  Corinthian  order  of  architeetnrei.  It 
has  a  finely  proportioned  portico,  which,  by  the  pennisskft 
of  the  Commissioners  of  the  Streets,  it  was  alloired  to 
extend  across  the  footpath  ;  thus  not  only  atfoMisg 
greater  oonvemonce  for  {>ersous  visiting  the  exhibition  b 
carriages,  but  abo  materially  adding  to  the  arcIiiUcCDnl 
beauty  of  the  edifice.  The  example  which  has  beoa 
chosen  by  the  Architects  as  their  model,  and  wl 
although  not  servilely  copied,  they  have  adapt<Hl  to  th^i 
piirpoEfo,  is  one  of  the  most  chaste  and  exqursi 
of  Roman  splendour,  the  Temple  of  Jupiter 
purity  of  which  is  worthy  of  the  most  re  fined  i>cri^  of 
Grecian  excellence  in  the  arts  of  design.  It  is  the  iotea* 
lion  of  the  Society  to  erect  other  buildings  beyond 
present  tennination  towaids  the  Post  Oflice,  ^  as  entirely' 
to  exclude  any  view  of  the  back  buildings  from  Nnr 
Street,  by  which  the  exterior  appearance  will  b*^  greatly 
increaaed. 

I^Iiss  Catberiiie  Hutton,  hearing  of  thi^  mOT6- 
ment,  writes,  in  her  too  frequently  cynical 
manner  when  she  has  occasion  to  speak  of  Bir- 
mingham or  its  people:  "With  regard  to  the 
aits,  I  think  the  genius  of  tbe  artists  of  Bir- 
mingham is  more  calculated  to  paint  tea  boaids 
than  piciiures ;  and  that  the  fate  of  their  Exlii- 
bition will  be  to  die  a  natural  death.  I  shotild 
not  wonder  H  this  happens  beforo  tbey  haw 
erected  a  building  for  the  reception  of  their  | 
paintings  :  but  if  afterwards,  it  is  no  matter ; 
it  will  serve  for  a  Methodist  meeting  hotwt 
That  society  is  flourishing  enough  to  take 
possession  of  all  cast-ofF  public  edilioos,  what- 
aoever*" 

As  we  know,  this  elegant  suite  of  roonui  diJ 
not  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  Wesleyaus,  or  inj 
other  religious  society;  and  the  artists «  albeit 
some  of  them  had  exhibited  their  akill  in  tbd  I 


CUiBehM  and  8«eti.  Ifiit-lSSO. 


OLD  AKD  NEW    BIEJIINGHAM, 


391 


paintiDg  of  tea-trays,  did  not  -  biit  liuinble 

sphere  of  aHktie  labour.    We  ^  ,,-i   - .  iu  an  early 
chapter  to  group  together  a  few  of  those  local 


artists  of  the  earlier  period  of  our  art  history; 
meanwhile  we  take  our  leave  for  the  preseiit  of 
the  artistic  and  scientific  societies  of  the  town. 


CHArTKU      LVIL 
THE     CHURCHES     AND     SECTS     IN     BIRMINGHAM,     1821-1880. 

B0I7  Trinity  Chft{)el,  Birde-slcj^ — 9t  Peter's  Church— Bu ruin g  of  St.   Pnt**r*ji— St.  Thrinnjw'4    Churob— RobulMiiig    of  Chorry  Street 
Oi«p«t--St  Ajiftrew's,  or  M^iunt  2ion  Cl»p«l,  Gr»hjim  Str<-t«t— Erlwjinl  Irving— The  SweJctiboiiKUsiA  and  tliclr  Meetina-hattao— 
K«w  Syiut^tigno*  »«vem  fetrcet— The  ftnrt  Ttfinperwicu  Bwiety  \a  Birminghniii . 


Ik  our  last  chapter  of  the  history  of  religion  in 
Birniingham,  mention  was  made  of  the  coni- 
mencenieut  of  Huly  Trinity  Chapel,  Ikirdesley. 
The  site  having  been  purchased,  and  provi^iion 
made  for  the  erection  of  a  resiilenco  for  t!ie  clergy- 
man (out  of  a  fund  voluntarily  mused  for  the 
purpose,  Bmoxmting  to  £3,000),  the  cost  of  erec  t- 
ing  the  sacred  edifice  it^^elf  was  defrayed  by  the 
roujmissioners  for  building  new  chtinhc*.  The 
first  stone  was  laid  by  the  Earl  of  Plymouth,  on 
tlic  29th  of  September,  1^20,  in  the  presence  of 
the  Eaiis  of  Bartraouth  and  Ayk'feford,  nnd  a 
laige  concourse  of  the  moat  intiuential  resiilenls 
in  the  neighbourhood  ;  and  tlie  building  was 
E>jisecrated,  Jmiuary  23rd,  182.'J.  In  its  goiierul 
ppraranre  this  beautiful  strm^tiire  bus  been 
thought  by  80ir.e  to  resemble  theULipel  of  King's 
College,  Cambridge,  from  whirh,  perhaps,  the 
fiTcliitect  (Fxiincis  Goodwin)  copied  the  idea  of 
the  octagonal  turrets,  surraountetl  by  dwarf  spires, 
which  rise  from  each  of  the  four  comers  of  the 
building.  The  buttresses  are  finished  with 
decorate«l  pinnacles,  and  these,  coinbint'd  with 
the  four  turrets,  give  to  tlie  roof  of  the  chapel  a 
mottt  pluasing  an*!  graceful  appearanc**,  unequalled 
by  that  of  any  other  building  in  the  town.  The 
arehit*'et  has  imparted  to  the  western  front  a  nohle 
ami  imposing  air,  from  the  bold  archway  within 
which  he  has  phiccd  the  entrances  nnd  the  Inive  weM 
wind<jw,  the  whole  being  smmounUnl  by  a  gable, 
IJI  tlio  cf^ntre  of  which  is  an  ornamental  clock. 
60 


At  the  east  end  is  a  shallow  projection  forming 
the  sacra rium  ;  and  above  this  a  largo  and  beauti- 
ful Catbaiine  wheel  window,  which  is  fiUed  with 
painted  glass,  imparting  to  the  intiirioran  ex<»ed- 
iiigly  rich  ofiect,  which  is  heightened  by  the  fine 
altar  piece  by  Foggo,  representing  Christ  healing 
the  Sick  Man  at  the  Foul  of  Betheada.  The 
ceiling  is  lofty  and  harmonises  well  with  the 
cbaratler  of  thi^  building,  which,  although 
8iin*oinnleil  on  three  sides  by  galleries,  does  not 
suffer  in  appeaninco  fn^m  the  jiresence  of  those 
structures,  as  Gothic  edifices  in  many  instances  do. 

The  cost  of  th«  building  amounted  to  £14/235. 
The  living  is  a  perpetual  cumcy,  in  the  gift  of 
the  Vicar  of  Aston. 

On  the  lirst  of  August,  1825,  the  Gazeife  con- 
tained the  first  note  respecting  a  new  church  in 
Dale  End  :— 

August  1,  1825.— -The  corner  Btone  of  a  rbiirch,  (iedicntcd 
to  St,  F*etfr,  in  ruursf  of  tTL'i'tion  in  Djilt*  End,  ju  this 
town,  WRS  Ittid  with  due  cercmoiiiul,  on  the  piirt  of  tlio»o 
fpfiiciiilly  cofit'emcd,  dij  the  uiorniiigof  Tuesday  last.  Two 
of  the  Ivocal  Coniniiji!tioner»,  the  Rev.  L.  Gardner,  D.D., 
Kei'tor  of  St.  Philip's,  the  p«imh  in  which  the  stnicture 
ii  to  be  fAbed  ;  an<l  Jwiues  Tfiylor,  Esii.,  of  Moor  Green, 
with  their  Solieilor,  the  Architects,  and  11  Dumber  of  the 
clergy  of  the  town  atectubled  to  breakfast  at  the  Royal 
IloteJ,  nnd  &o<m  after  ten  nioriHl  in  procession  to  the  ajKit 
w  here  the  fomialith  fi  Ujittal  00  fflach  o<:casioni(  were  ob&erveJ , 
iind  the  stone,  under  which  some  coins  of  the  present  reigu 
w  eiv  dt'irtvsited,  was  lowered  into  ita  posit  ion.  The  ceremony 
being  toncyudeil,  an  appropriate  prayer  was  offered  np  by 
i>r.  Gar<hitr,  alter  which  the  procession  returned  to  the 
hotel.  The  brass  plate  embedded  iu  the  mortar  immedi- 
ately under  the  stone,  bears  the  following  inacription  : — 


^itrocture,  aiiitHintiiig  to  £I9,«7U  2s.  U-L  wna  dcfrayeii 
out  of  a  Parliaini  iitary  Unirit  of  £1,000,000*  The  Hon, 
and  Kight  Rpt.  Henr}-  Ey^k•l*  D.  1).,  I/irtl  Bishop  of  the 
Diocese  ;  the  R^v\  LnwreDcc  tJnrdnci%  Yhlh,  I'liitoroftbe 
Pamh  \  John  Wclchraati  Wliateky,  iind  John  Cope, 
Churchwardens  of  the  Fariuh  ;  Eickniftnand  Hatchinsoiij 
AnJiitects/' 

The  liew  cliurcli  was  consecmted  on  tlie  10th 

of  August,  1827,  when,  we  read,  **  the  intt^rior,  as 

Iwell  m  the  exterior   of    the    edifice    was   much 


expense  of  erection  was  found  to  bo  leas  than  the 
estimate,  hy  muii'ly  £900  j  having  been  estimiited 
nt  £13,OS7,  while  the  total  cost  of  the  buiMing 
amounted  only  to  £12,204  Oa.  4d. 

Tile  style  of  the  cburch  ia  Grectiui|  of  the 
tyf>e  most  favoured  by  English  ftrchitecta  of  the 
Georgian  era.  It  has,  at  the  weat  eud,  a  mos^tve 
tetrastyle  Doric   jM^rlieo,  above   wltirh   rises  nxt 


> 1821  183M  1 


OLD   ANT>  KEW   BIRMINGHAM. 


octagonal  turret,  eiicirclcd  liy  a  rtiltmnade, 
rc«43mblbg  that  of  tlie  Tower  of  tlio  Wiiifls,  at 
Athens.  **  It  may  wot  he  nninten'stin^'/'  says 
Mr,  Btites,  in  his  excellent  Ouiile,  **  t'»  loarn  that 
in  the  construction  of  the  portico,  I  ho  inrs  >nry 
of  which  is  executed  in  a  s^imilar  ninnner  to  that 
of  its  ancient  exaiiipk%  [the  Temple  of  ^linervo, 
at  Athene*,]  etones  of  unusual  niagnitmle  were 
required ;  tlie  lower  blocks  of  the  columns 
weighing  npwar<ls  of  seven  tons,  and  the  centre 
piece  of  the  architrave  measuring  more  than 
thirteen  feet  in  length.  These  large  stones  were 
obtained  with  ditficulty  from  the  qnarries  at 
Guiting,  in  Gloucestershire."  The  east  window 
of  the  church  is  filled  with  staininl  glass,  hy 
Peraherton,  representing  thu  Ascension, 

On  the  night  of  Monday,  the  24th  of  Jniiuary, 
ISSl,  a  fire  broke  out  in  the  roof  of  this  buiM- 
ing,  and  made  very  considorable  pnigif^  before 
any  alarm  was  given ;  for,  in  less  than  an  hour 
after  the  discovery  had  l>een  made,  the  roof  fell 
in,  a  mass  of  blading  timbei*8,  and  completed  the 
wreck  of  the  interior  of  the  church  ;  involving 
in  one  common  min  the  whola  of  the  handsomu 
fittings, — pews,  pulpit,  organ,  and  altar  piece, — 
learing  notliing  save  the  bare  blackened  walls  to 
tell  of  the  costly  structure  which  was  as  yet 
barely  ^ve  years  old  The  fire  waa  supposed  by 
a  few  at  the  time  to  have  been  the  work  of 
incendiaries,  but  tlie  general  belief  pointed 
to  a  more  practical  solution  of  the  apparent 
mystery;  viz.,  that  the  roof  was  ignited  by  the 
over-heating  of  a  flue  at  the  east  end  of  the 
church,  which  communicated  with  the  upper 
porti;in  of  the  building.  A  view  of  the  ruins 
appears  on  page  399,  The  reconstrtiction  of 
the  edifice  was  not  com[iletcd  until  1837. 

AVithin  a   month  of    the  laying  of    the  fii-st 

stone    of    St.    Peter's  Church,   in    1825,   there 

apfteaivd  a  brief  note  in  the  Gifzrtte  resiKfciing  a 

further  proviaion  for  the  spiritual  needs  of  our 

intst  anil  r.till  increasing  population  : — 

Oatobcr  lo,  1826.— The  Local  Commismonem  for  th« 
liatldiiig  of  iJliQJchea  in  this  town  met    on   Huttintiiy 


morning  kst,  to  ilecide,  frotn  among  the  various  designs 
and  estimates  submitted  to  them,  aj>on  a  plan  for  the 
eitsction  of  the  new  Cimrch  intended  to  l>t  built  at 
Hollowny  Head,  when  wo  nnilerstand  the  one  made 
(4ifijet'  of  was  that  furnisiieil  hy  Measra.  Rickman  and 
Huti'hiiison,  undwr  vihn^M  iuinriiitendence  thu  work  will 
therefore  be  corrietl  inta  execution. 

The  first  8k>ue  of  the  new  clinrch,  to  be 
dedicated  to  the  doubting  apostle,  was  laid  by 
the  bisliop  of  the  diocese,  on  the  2nd  of  October, 
1826,  and  the  building  was  completed  and  con- 
secrated on  the  22nd  of  October,  1829.  The 
designs  for  this  church  were  furnished  by  the 
architects  of  St.  Peter's,  Messrs.  Rickman  and 
Hutchinson,  and  the  entire  expense  was  defrayed 
out  of  the  Commisaioners'  fund  for  building 
churches;  again  the  cost  of  election  was  loss 
than  the  estimate,  amounting,  in  all,  to 
£14,222  13.^.  lOd.  Accomnimlation  was  pro- 
vided  for  2,125  persons,  more  than  six  himdred 
of  the  sittings  being  free. 

8t.  Thomris's,  like  its  predecessor,  is  in  the 
AnglotJrecian  style,  the  bare  and  phdn  ext«nor 
of  the  building  itself  being  relieved  by  the 
massive  entrance,  wbirh  is  almost  semicircular  in 
ahajKT,  «nd  consists  of  tM'o  Ionic  porticofl,  from 
the  canti'e  of  whicli  rises  a  tower  of  the  usual 
Georgian- classic  type,  not  inelegant,  albeit  slightly 
out  of  proportion^  o*ertopped  by  a  large  gilded 
ball  and  cross. 

Two  of  the  older  Kpiscoiml  Chapels  of  Bir- 
mingham underwent  important  alterations  during 
this  decade.  In  1823  exertions  were  made  to 
complete  St.  PauKs  by  the  long^leferred  erection 
tif  the  spire  ;  and  this  time  they  were  successful, 
and  the  heavy  appearance  of  the  building  (to 
wljicli  tlic  Bipmre,  clumfiy,  dwarf  tower  greatly 
contributed)  was  relieved  by  t!ie  light  and 
graceful  spire.  In  1830  the  little  chapel  of 
8t.  James,  at  Ash  ted,  underwent  considerable 
alterations  and  repairs,  at  an  expense  of  about 
£850. 

Wliile  the  ehuix:hes  of  the  Establishment  were 
thus  flourishing  and  increasing  in  Birmingham,  a 
corresponding  increase  an<l  pr(#sperily  wag  at  the 


conditioD  ]  the  old-fasliioTied  meeting  liouse  in 
Cherry  Strcet^ — th«  hrst  huikliiig  erected  by  tht- 
Muthodists  in  Birnjingham— was  taken  down  in 
1823,  and  the  present  larjjje  ami  commodinua 
clia|>el — itself  in  turn  now  about  to  he  removed 
to  make  way  for  the  new  ihoroughfjtre — erected 
!  at  a  cunaiderable  coaL     Anotlier  new  cliap  d  was 


strufture  was  erected  on  Newhall  Hill,  (the 
"Hari>er's  Ilrll"  of  Watts  earlier  days)»  at  tha 
cost  of  a  private  individual  (Mr,  Kobins),  who 
expended  lip wanla  of  £11,000  npon  the  under- 
taking, and  thereby  ruined  himself.  When 
finislied  it  waa  let  to  the  foUtiwers  of  the  alile 
and  Ldo<|nent  Scotch  preacher,   Eiiward   Irving, 


who  wtkB  at  that  time  in  the  zenith  tif  his  popu- 
larity ;  and  he  came  down  to  Birminghiim  to 
conduct  the  inaugural  services,  on  the  24th  of 
Mfirch,  1824.  13ut  the  Catholic  Apostolic 
Church  (as  it  was  called)  did  not  get  on  very 
well  with  the  proprietor  of  the  huge  chapel,  and 
the  members  were  all  too  lew  to  fill  the  building, 
except  on  the  rare  occasions  on  which  the  founder 
of  the  society  himself  preached  j  and  it  was  not 
long  before  they  erected  for  themselves  a  smaller 
chapel  in  Newhall  Street,  and  after  lying  unused 
for  some  length  of  time  the  chapel  on  Newhall 
Hill  (in  what  in  course  of  time  became  Graham 
Street)  was  purchased  for  the  Baptists,  and 
received  the  new  name,  Mount  Zion,  in  lieu  of 
the  older  one  given  to  the  building  by  the  Ining- 
it^  or  '*  Apostolicans,"— 5^.  Andrews,  It  has 
Bince  become  hallowed  to  Birmingham  men  by 
the  memories  which  cling  around  it  of  the  earlier 
ministrations  of  George  Dawson  iiiid  the  long  and 
useful  pastorate  of  Charles  Vince  ;  but  of  these 
things  we  shall  have  to  speak  in  a  future 
chapter. 

During  the  last  year  of  this  decade  the  mem- 
bers of  the  New  Cliurch — known  to  the  outer 
world  as  Svvedcnborgiana — erected  a  new  and 
more  commodious  meeting-house  in  Summer  Lane, 
It  will  be  remembered  that  they  had,  as  early  as 
1791,  established  a  society  in  Newhall  Street, 
but  the  first  building  passed  out  of  their  hands, 
owing  to  an  unfortunate  omission  on  the  part  of  the 
members,  by  which,  instead  of  Ijcing  vested  in  a 
number  of  trutiteeiJ,  for  the  benefit  of  the  society, 
it  became,  technically,  the  private  property  of  an 
individual,  who  subsequently  became  bankrupt ; 
and,  in  consequence,  the  buiiding  was  sold  as 
part  of  the  effects.  The  Newhall  Street  building 
being  thus  lost  to  them,  the  members  of  the  New 
Church  erected  for  temporary  use  a  small  chnpel 
^io  Pamdise  Street  1)  with  a  view  to  ite  ultimate 
€on version  into  a  private  dwelling ;  and  with  this 
restricted  accommodation  they  remained  until 
1830,  the  lirst  year  of  the  pastorate  of  the  Rev. 
^want  Madeley,  when  they  were   emboldened 


once  more  to  attempt  the  erection  of  a  lai^ger 

meeting-house.  Fearing,  possibly,  lest  the  income 
of  the  society  should  not  prove  equal  to  the 
expenses  of  the  new  budding,  they  made  pro- 
vision to  eke  out  their  means  by  the  rents  of 
several  private  dwellings  which  they  so  con- 
structed in  connection  with  the  building  as  not 
to  interfere  either  with  the  convenience  or  uni- 
formity of  the  chapel  itself.  The  appearance  of 
the  interior  was  relieved  from  the  flatness  usual 
in  buildings  of  the  meeting-house-classic  order  of 
architecture,  by  the  arched  roof;  and  on  the 
whole  it  is  considerably  lighter  and  more  cheerful 
than  such  places  usually  are. 

The  year  1827  is  memorable  in  the  history  of 
the  Hebrew  society  of  Birmiuglmm  as  having 
seen  the  completion  of  a  new  and  (for  that 
period)  commodious  synagogue,  in  Severn  Street ; 
wliere,  for  the  first  time  in  Birmingham,  their 
solemn  and  impressive  ser view  might  be  conducted 
in  a  more  fitting  and  becoming  manner  than 
in  the  small  building  which  they  had  hitherto 
occupied. 

An  important  part  of  the  outer  manifestation 
of  the  religion  of  the  heart  has  by  all  dunomuia- 
tions  and  sects  been  admitted  to  consist  in  the 
sober  and  temperate  life  by  which,  not  merely 
those  who  profess  and  call  themselves  Christians, 
hot  also  the  pious  discij^les  of  other  forms  of 
religion,  should  exhibit  to  the  irreligious  world 
around  them  the  influence  of  their  faith.  It  is, 
therefore,  via  a  note  of  progress  in  the  outward 
religion  of  morality  that  we  record  in  this  chapter 
the  establishment  of  the  first  Temperance  Society 
in  Birmingham,  on  the  first  of  September,  1830, 
The  first  anniversary  meeting  was  held  on  the 
3ath  of  August,  1831,  at  the  Public  Office;  the 
following  brief  report,  from  Atub  Gazette^  of 
September  5  th,  will  serve  to  show  that  tlie 
society  had  already  attracted  to  its  cause  a 
number  of  highly  respectable  and  influential 
iiihabitants : 

Temperance  Soctett.— The  first  Atiiiivtreaiy  of  thia 
Society  wu  heKl  at  thu  Public  ,0flie4^,  on  Tuesdiiy  liut. 


(Atiti-Com  I«ir  Mrettm^  tn  \ft». 


William  Chance,  Esq,,  who  was  called  to  the  chair, 
opened  the  procovdings,  and  explained  the  st«pa  that  had 
been  previously  taken.  The  Report  was  read  by  the  Rev. 
S,  ByerSi  and  the  adoption  of  it  waa  moved  hy  the  KeT» 
ThoxnAa  Moseley,  and  seconded  by  the  Bev,  B.  S!at«r. 
The  Rev.  Dr,  Hewitt,  from  the  United  States,  who  had 
taken  a  distingunihed  part  in  the  origin  of  these  Societies 
in  America,  then  entered  into  some  very  interesting 
statements,  by  which  it  wonld  appear  that  olreaily  the 
b«nefi<;ial  effect  of  Temperance  Soeieliea  hiw  extensively 


appeared  in  America,  where  distilled  spirits  wers  drsftk 
to  a  very  alarming  degree,  but  where  a  con«iden^ 
diminntion  of  consumption  has  taken  pLu*e  since  sttni* 
tion  has  been  thna  called  to  the  subject  The  Rev,  Dt 
strongly  urged  the  fommtion  of  sinallar  aocieti^  ta 
England,  and  prodnced  some  very  impressive  reoaow 
which  will  no  doubt  be  embodied  In  the  future  ail«J 
of  the  society.  The  Rev,  Mr  James,  Mr.  Cad  bury. 
Mr.  Chapman,  of  Ash  ted,  addressed  the  tnccting*  a 
terminated  with  a  vote  of  thanks  to  Dr.  Hewitt. 


CHAPTER      LAIIL 


THE    BIKMINGHAM    POLITICAL    UNION,    AND    THE    STRUGGLE    FOR    PARLIAMEHTAltr 

REFORM     1828-1832, 

Anti-COm  Law  lf«elliij;in  189ft— A  newmttomift  for  ttia  Enfrant'hiiement  of  Btrmltigluuii— Dl!»tr««ft  of  fh^  Pf^tle— Tbe  01^^  ot  ll» 
Puliticul  Unir>N— The  Mpctlngs  at  the  Royal  Hott-I  and  tJie  Globe— Requliition  to  the  High  BaililT— 1 1  utig  at  BeardivoFlti  t 

BeiHMltwry— OhJ<^ots  of  the  Union— The  ■etoud  Meeting  at  the  Rcpodi lory— The  Union  Medal— Det^t  '.  V.—Thm  ftnt  Aannai 

HeetlDg^DJiixter  at  the  Royal  Ht»t©l-^Tht?  Fn.^nch  Itevohition— Petition  of  RIghta—AJiiiiversary  of  ti..  l —  i  Jie  fint  H^fgtta  BiU- 

jSbe  Second  Bcftdinge«n1«d— Defeat  ofthoUeiit$urp— DiB«L>lutioirtof  Farllauiiei&i— The  second  Bill— The  Dtrwinglumi  Petiticit)— Addrva 
to  tb«  OuremroeDt— Def«at  In  the  Botu«  of  Lh ►rda— Oreal  Meeting  on  Nowh&U  Hill— Town's  Meeting  at  the  Repositorj— The  tliird 
Reform  Bill— Great  Oftthering  of  the  UtiJona— Their  aynin— The  Union  Vow— Another  Defeat  in  the  Lords— Itoaigiiatloji  of  Ikt 
Mini irtry—Exci tern pnt  in  Birmingham— Thj^'ateiied  Arrtrut  of  the  Uuioniats— Propi^se^i  Karcb  to  London — MiUtaiT  Pr«pazatioa»— 
Ectam  of  Ijoni  Grey  to  Power -ThanksgiYing  of  the  Peoidc  at  Newhall  Hill— Final  Victory. 


» 


Aftee  the  tliso^strous  defeat  of  the  Reform  move- 
Toent  in  1821,  ^vhen  the  principal  leaders  were 
coniBiitted  to  prisoDj  the  spirit  of  the  p(»ople 
soems  for  a  time  to  htive  liecn  effectually  cruahed, 
80  that  the  injustice  of  those  proooedinga  doefi 
not  appear  to  have  called  forth  a  single  public 
remona trance.  Kow  and  then,  during  the  half- 
dozen  years  which  followed,  an  occasional  e? pas- 
mod  ic  attempt  to  obtain  political  justice  in  one 
form  or  other  was  made ;  but  tlie  active  commonee.' 
ment  of  the  second  campaign  of  the  united  Liberal 
party  in  Birmingham,  dates  from  the  year  1826, 
On  the  17th  of  March,  in  that  year,  an  Anti-Corn 
Law  meeting  of  the  inhabitants  was  held,  at 
which  Mr.  Joseph  Taylor,  presided,  and  Mr. 
Spoon er  waa  one  of  the  ehief  speakers ;  and  it 
was  unanimously  resolved  to  petition  for  the 
abolition  of  the  obnoxious  Corn  Laws.  In  the 
following  July  a  deputation  waited  upon  the 
Government  and  presented  a  memorial  to  the 
same  effect,  and  showing  also  the  distressed  state 
of  the  town.  A  further  petition  was  forwarded 
in  the  autumn  of  the  paroe  year,  from  the  Bir^ 
minghani  Chamber  of  Commerce.  But  they  were 
yet  to  meraorialiBe  and  petition  for  many  years, 
id  the  burden  of  the  great  work  was  to  pass 


from  the  shoulders  of  Birmingham  to  those  of 
Manchester  before  the  desired  object  was  ob- 
tained. 

The  following  year  was  tmmarked  by  any 
political  excitement;  but  in  1828,  when  the 
petty  borough  of  East  Retford  was  disfranchised 
on  account  of  the  gross  corruption  practise^!  At 
the  late  election,  local  political  excitement  wa« 
resuscitated  by  the  bill  which  was  brought  into 
the  House  of  Commons,  to  transfer  to  Bir- 
mingham the  forfeited  electoral  rigbts  of  East 
Retford,  and  a  petition  in  favour  of  the  measuie 
was  signed  by  upwards  of  four  thousand  persons 
in  Birmingham  in  one  day.  The  measure  wa* 
strenuously  opposed  by  the  Government,  with 
the  exception  of  Mr.  IIuskissoDi  who  by  hi^ 
vote  in  its  favour,  forfeited  his  seat  in  tho 
Wellington  cabinet.  Among  those  who  voted  in 
favour  of  the  bill  were  I-ord  John  Russell,  Lord 
Palmerston,  Sir  James  Graham,  Lord  Gooi)g& 
Ben  tin  ck.  Sir  James  ^lackintosh,  Sir  Ftedtri 
Burdett,  Sir  John  Cam  Ilobhouse,  Mr. 
Duncombe,  Joseph  Hume,  and  others.  The 
Houee,  however,  rejected  the  proposal,  and  whirn 
it  was  reintroduced  in  the  following  desgi'^n, 
1829,  it  met  with  the  8an:e  fate;  but  wsthiti  & 


Diitreat  of  the  Pft0pl«t>] 


OLD  Amy  KEW  BIEMLNGllAM. 


397 


few  days  of  the  second  failure,  Lord  John 
Russell  gave  notice  of  his  intention,  ouly  in  the 
next  session,  of  bringing  in  a  bill  to  onfranchidif, 
not  Birmingham  alone,  but  also  Leeds  and 
ilanchestor. 

The  people  of  Birmingham  were  driven  to  press 
tlieir  demands  for  parliumejitary  representation 
from  the  desperate  condition  of  affairs.  Owing 
in  a  gre^t  measure  to  the  reBtrictiuns  upon  trade, 
and  to  the  unsatisfactory  currency  system,  the 
trade  of  the  country  was  paralysed,  wages  were 
low,  and  the  people  in  the  direst  distress,  bor- 
dering almost  upQD  deBperation.  A  meeting  was 
held  in  Birmingham  on  the  8th  of  May,  1829, 
attended  by  fuur  thouflund  persona,  **  to  take  into 
consideration  the  present  distressed  state  of  the 
country."  Again  they  addressed  Parliament, 
praying  for  free  trade  and  currency  reform ;  eight 
thousand  signatures  wei-e  appended  to  their 
petition,  but  their  cry  was  still  disreganled.  The 
^Klbji^ct  was  an  uncomfortable  one,  and  members 
of  parliament  endeavoured  to  banish  all  thoughts  of 
it  by  the  pleasant  ficiion,^put  into  words  by 
more  than  one  honourable  member — **  that  every 
ruiin  in  the  cDuntry  was  hapfiy  and  conifortablc, 
with  plenty  of  work  and  abuurlant  remuneration 
for  it*"  This  ejillous  and  lying  response  to  the  cry 
of  tlie  poor,  burned  into  the  heart  of  Thomas 
Attwt>od  the  fixeil  determination  U  orgaui/e  such 
a  union  of  the  people  as  should  y*uw  tlieni  in  a 
position  to  compel  the  Government  to  legislate 
on  behalf  of  the  musses,  instead  of  for  the 
benefit  of  the  few.  At  first  the  idea  existed  in 
his  mind  only  in  a  vague  and  abadowy  form,  bnt 
the  more  he  pondered  over  it  the  clearer  <Hd  it 
Lecouie.  He  was  convinced  that  th«  pnblic  will 
might  be  iniitied,  ami,  under  judicious  direction, 
become  all-powerful ;  and  he  puD»ned  the 
jiruject  alone,  in  his  own  mind,  until  bo  had 
laa-itered  tdi  its  details.  Then,  fetding  the 
emn  responsibility  which  would  attend  the 
^uidniae*^  of  such  a  umjv  Lament,  and  with  a  pi  one 
fivisretice  which  U  never  wholly  absent  from  the 
ituJy  groat  man,  he  went  tlowu  on  his  knees,  in 


his  library,  at  Harbnrne,  in  the  gmy  early  dawn, 
— for  be  had  finally  resolved  upon  the  under- 
taking during  the  night — and  prayed  to  Almighty 
God  that  if  the  great  association  he  contemplated 
was  not  cidculated  to  promote  the  liberty  and 
happiness  of  the  mass  of  the  people  it  might  not 
prosper.  Such  was  the  meek  and  submissive 
sjiii-it  in  whif;h  the  Birmingham  Political  Union 
antl  its  subsequent  extension  was  projected  ;  is  it 
then,  tu  be  wondered  at  that  AttiVood's  labours 
were^  in  the  end,  abundantly  blessed  1 

On  a  bitterly  cold  night  in  Decend>er,  1829, — 
the  Hth  of  the  month,  a  mooting  wm  held  at  the 
Royal  Hotel,  Temple  Row,  at  which  wore  present 
Messrs.  Attwood,  Scholefield,  Muntz,  Shorthouso, 
Ltiwreiice,  and  other  gentlemen,  Bixtecn  in  aU, 
called  together  by  a  private  circular  ;  nnd  on  that 
memorable  night  **  the  Political  Union  for  the 
Fitjtectiun  of  Public  liights  "  was  born.  On  the 
following  Monday  an  adjourned  meeting  was  held 
at  the  (J lobe  (now  the  Clarendon)  Hotel,  Temple 
Street,  Mr,  Attwood  again  presiding,  and  the 
rules  of  the  Union  were  submitted  und  adopted, 
receiving  the  signatures  of  ihe  twenty-eight  per- 
sons present.  It  was  tlien  resolved  to  request 
the  High  Bailifl*  to  call  together  the  peojile  of 
Bimjiughain,  and  to  lay  before  them  the  new  con- 
stitution for  their  approval,  antl  thereupon  to 
enrol  as  many  as  would  conform  thereto  as  mem- 
bers of  the  Union.  In  less  than  a  week  after  the 
meeting  at  the  Globe,  the  following  requisition 
signed  by  two  hundred  respectable  inhabitants, 
was  ]>resented  to  the  High  Bailiil',  Mr,  William 
Chance: —  , 

*'  We  the  ander»igfie<b  l»eiag  of  opiuion  that  the 
Genehal  Dr<rriEHH  which  now  Afklicts  tuk  Country, 
and  which  has  bft^ii  so  severely  felt  At  several  perioiU 
liuiiiig  the  last  fiftipn  y<.»ara,  is  entirely  to  be  ascrilieil  to 
the  GuoHS  MisiiANAUEMENT  OF  PuitiJC  AFFAIRS,  and  that 
such  ujiamauagrniejit  can  only  be  effectually  and  per- 
mantnilly  remedied  by  an  EFFEctrAL  Reforai  in  this 
CoMiioss  HoiTjfK  OP  Parliament  ;  and  being  also  of 
ofiiiiion  thai  Tor  tlu*  hjgnl  accoinpli?«hnient  of  this  OftKAT 
LHwEi  r,  and  forth©  farther  Redhess  of  Public  Wron«h 
and  GkikvaNCI^,  it  is  eXfieUieut  to  form  a  Geseual 
Political  IT n ion  between  the  Lower  ani*  Middlk 
Clashes  OK  TMK  Vy:ovle,  th  rtq%t<«i  that  you  will  call  a 


ITJie  Orit^a  *>t  tli«  fV^UUc*!  Haitm 


I 


I 


I 
I 


Mebtino  ot  the  Mcrclianta,  Manu facta ricrs,  Tni<i<*5m«D, 
Mechinics^  Artisans,  niul  other  iDhabitaQts  of  the  town  of 
Birminghamt  for  the  purpose  of  tnkiiig  these  important 
subjects  into  consideration." 

It  need  scarcely  l»e  added  that  the  Hiuli  BaililT 
refused  to  c^U  the  meeting;  he  replied  that  **  he 
could  not  \^ew  it  as  any  part  of  liis  duty "  to 
do  BO.  In  consequence  of  this  refusal,  the  leaders 
of  the  movement  called  it  themselves ;  appoint- 
ing it  to  be  held  in  Heard s worth's  Eepository  on 
the  14lh  of  Jatmaryj  13^30,  at  ten  o'clock  in  the 
morning*  The  call  v  as  responded  to  by  upwards 
of  12,000  peisona,  and  t!ie  meeting  was  said  to 
have  been  the  largest,  up  to  that  time,  ever 
aasembh^d  in  this  kingdom  within  the  walla  of  a 
huihling.  3lr,  G.  F,  Muntji  was  trailed  to  tlio 
chitir,  and,  on  taking  it,  he  dechired  himself  "not 
ashamed  of  presiding  at  a  meetiiig,  the  object  of 
whieh  was  the  promotion  uf  radical  reform, 
meaning  by  that  term,  not  revfdiitioii,  Init  aboli- 
tion of  abuses."  Mr.  ScholeHeld  antl  Mr.  Genrge 
Edmonds  then  addressed  the  meeting  and  ]>ro- 
posed  the  fin^t  resolution,  declaring  tlie  necessity 
for  political  reform ;  and  tlieri  Mr.  Attwood  nmd 
an  elaborate  docnment  setting  forth  tlie  plan  of 
the  Union  J  which,  althongh  it  f>i  cniiied  an  hour 
in  reading,  wus  listened  to  with  the  lUmost  atten* 
tion.  From  tliia  ijtatement  it  is  worth  while  to 
place  on  record  the  ontline  of  the  objects  of  the 
Political  Union,  wliieh  were  declared  to  be  as 
follows : 

•*  Ist, — To  fjhtaiii  hy  every  just  and  le^jnl  means  sudi  a 
Rkf4>1!M  in  thi'  OoM^r1^Srt  Hnr>^K  of  rAitiJAMPNT  iis  may 
utiMurc  a  KK.VL  and  Kffkctcal  UkihksematioS  of  the 
Lt>WKH    AND    MiriJ>LK    CLAfWJEK  OK  THK  TKOPrE  in  the 

**2n»i^To  enquire,  coni*nlt,  eoiijiider,  nnd  determine 
respecting  the  right.s  and  liVu^ities  of  the  intlnstrious 
class*'-*,  and  rcsputing  the  legn^  nieann  of  Kiciiring  those 
wUicVi  remain  and  r(*rovrring  those  which  are  lost 

''3rd. — To  prepare  |ielitioiis,  addrexs^s,  &nd  remon- 
•tratueB  to  the  Crown  and  the  l^gisliitive  ikidica,  re^[iect- 
if«g  the  ftresrrrrttwn  »nd  rtsUtrfttion  of  rrivijc  Kiujirs, 
and  respetitin^  the  repeal  of  bad  tftirn  and  the  enuctineut 
Qt  0O€tl  lairs. 

**  4tli, — To  prevent  and  redre«8  as  far  as  priii!ticable  all 
>CAL  rrnLic  wnoNfss  and  urrRi'SsioNH,  nnd  all  local 
sruoACMMBNTS  upoii  the  rights,  interfst?',  nnd  privih^^'es 
f  tht'  conimanity. 


**5th,— To  obtain  the  r«pc<il  of  the  Malt  and  U» 
Be£rTax£s;  and  Ic  genonil  to  obtaia  an  altantlofiift 
the  Hy»tcni  of  taxation,  so  as  to  cati&e  it  to  preH  hm 
severely  upon  the  indtutrioas  clnsRes  of  the  comnniiiilfi 
and  more  equally  upon  the  wealthy  chiaacs. 

*•  6th. — To  obtain  the  rt^uriiun  of  foch  9rpiitaU  T«8 
and  e^rpntse  of  the  Govern uent  in  the  same  degree  m  Ife 
hgulativt  inereaae  m  the  vaJut  o/  fiunftt  baa  i&dCiBi 
their  rtitpeclU^  valyc^t  and  has  rtditi^td  and  is  tedmh§ 
the  general  pricts  of  labour  throiighout  th*^  coantry. 

*'7tb, — To  promote  petut,  imjon,  and  concord  asioa; 
all  elassea  ol  his  Majesty's  aubjects  :  and  to  guide  ind 
direct  the  pnblic  mind  into  unifonn^  [K^ncofnb  and  lepti- 
mate  operations  ;  instead  of  leaving  it  to  waste  ii6ftH9gtk 
in  loose,  desultory,  and  unconnected  exertions,  or  to 
carry  out  itis  own  object.^,  imgtiided,  un«6sial«dt  aud 
u  neon  trolled, 

*'Sth. — To  collect  and  organise'  the  p4»acefiil  tt' 
pression  of  the  Pre  Lie  Opimox,  bo  tis  lo  bring  it  to 
act  upon  the  Jegislutive  function*  in  a  juat,  legal  and 
effectual  wiiy. 

**Pth. — To  influence,  by  every  b'j^al  mean&,  iht 
elections  of  inembtT^  of  Parlinoient,  so  as  to  promote 
the  return  of  upright  and  capable  Keprea<jntatirea  of  thf 
People. 

**  10th» — To  ailopt  Ruch  mcaimres  as  may  be  l*'*^^  "'^il 
necessary  for  the  puri>o«e  of  obtaining  an  effcotn*! 
mentary  investigation  into  the  situation  of  the  i.  ....^.r^ 
and  into  til e  causf^  of  its  vndiarmsKment  and  diHicuIticf ; 
with  the  view  of  lelirviiiK  the  National  f>i>»ineMts  af 
reudyring  justice  to  the  injured  as  far  na  pmcticablr^  ml 
to  l>ring  to  tiirtl  iiny  Menihrrs  of  •dth«T  Ilonsr  t-f  Parlia- 
ment who  may  he  found  to  hava  act4»d  fj^JUi  crindnal  or 
corrupt  motives," 

The  members  of  the  Union  were  to  bo  '^goo*!, 
faithful,  and  loyal  subjects  of  the  King  ; "  lo 
obey  the  laws  of  tlie  land,  and,  w^here  they  eea«etl 
to  proteet  the  riglit^  liberties,  anl  intcre.stjs  of  tl»e 
community^  to  mideavour  to  get  them  changed  hy 
just,  legaL  and  peaceable  mean«  only  ;  to  preseut 
themselves  at  the  meetings  uf  the  Union,  und 
conduct  themselves  peaceably  and  legally  therenl; 
to  choose  only  just,  upright,  ami  able  men  nf 
members  of  the  political  council,  ami  to 
dismiss  them  and  elect  others  in  their  sleiid 
whenever  they  ceased  to  watch  over  the  in- 
terests of  liberty  and  right ;  to  obey  slrictly  all 
the  just  directions  of  the  political  council ;  and 
above  all  never  to  forget  that,  while  the  strength 
and  moral  influence  of  the  society  by  in  the*trict 
observance  j:>f  "  Fkack,  O^v/^i^  Unitm,  and 
Lkcjalitt,  njHjn  any  breach  of  the  innumcjuhh* 
and   intricate  laws  which  sun-oundtui  them,  thu 


■cal  coavulsions,  I  will  not  interfere  in  llio8C5  con- 
viibiuna,  but  legally  and  peaceably ;  and  I  wish 
you  to  bear  this  in  mind.  When  tliose  dreadful 
circnnistanceR  arise,  I  know  you  will  come  to  nie, 
and  say,  *  Lead  us.*  My  friends,  I  will  not  leiid 
yoo ;  1  will  go  with  you  as  far  us  the  law  will 
allow ;  but  if  the  elements  of  *  Peace,  Law,  and 
Order,'  are  disorganised,  I  will  go  with  you  no 
farther." 

For  seven  hours  the  vast  concourse  of  pennons' 
stood  to  listen  to  the  speeches  uf  tliL^  refona«r«, 
and  heartUy  accepted  all  their  propositions,  'ibey 
w^erc  bent  upon  a  thormigb  reform  at  lastj  anVl' 
would  listen  to  no  half*rilfU5uresi,  An  amend- 
nit-nt  calling  only  for  the  enfrnnchipemeilt  of 
Ijiriningham  was  rejected  by  20  to  1,  and  the 
thirty-six  gentlemen  whose  natexes  were  appended 
to  the  declaration  of  the  Union  were  appointed 
as  the  fust  Coiuicil.  Iliey  also  aduptod  a  petition 
praying  the  House  of  Conimons  to  take  into  cod- 
sideration  **  tlie  distresses  of  the  kingdom  and  the 
jjrievanccs  of  the  people,"  and  their  causes, 
which  were  stated  to  be  "  ovenvhehning  taxa- 
tion, an  enormous  and  uncousjtitutiorml  stand- 
ing aimy,  buntls  of  useless  and  unmerited 
placemen  and  pensioiicfTs,  profligate  expenditure 
of  the  public  money,  an  ill-Tegukted  Established 
Cliurch,  and  an  arbitrary  change  in  the  value  of 
money. '^  The  petitioners  ventured  to  remind  the 
House  that  its  duty,  **  upon  assembling  in 
Parliament,  is  to  redress  the  giievances  of  the 
people,  previous  to  voting  the  money  out  of  their 
pockets ; "  and  they  therefore  further  prayed 
that  the  Commons  would  **  vote  no  estimates,  no 
supplies,  nor  any  mutiny  bill,"  until  Bome  ste]>s 
wei-e  taken  to  belter  the  forlorn  LOiiditiun  of  the 
people,  and  that  they  would  "  forthwith  repeal 
iili  tlic  taxes  upon  malt  and  beer,  tliereby 
iufcjtantly,  in  some  degree,  relieving  distresses  of 
tlie  labourei-s  and  cultivatoi's  of  that  soil  which 
gave  them  birtli,  and  ought  to  give  them 
bread," 

Tim    meetiug    had    a   great     ellect    upon    the 
country ;  several  full  it^ports  of  the  pitjceedings 


were  published,  and  the  principal  speeches,  wit] 
comments    tl)ercon,   appeared    in    n«;arly  eveiy' 
journal  in  the  kingdom*     Writing  of   the  new 
movement,   the    Monthtrj   Journal    mid :    "  Th^ 
hurricane  has  begun  to  blow,  that  will  sweep  i 
imperious  Minister  and  all  his  8nbs6n*ient ' 
from  tlie  high  places  of  power,  trust,  patronage,^ 
and  olKciai  influence.     We  defy  him  or  them 
iiestrain  its  fury."     The  7V«i^*  and  the  Moi'nin 
dtfkfnklc     ridiculed     **the    whole      thing" 
nonsense,  as  might  liave  been  expected,  but  ial 
this  case,    (which   is   not    a  solitary  one,)  thai 
lendef«  of    public    opinion   proved    to  be  lesi^ 
prescient    than    their    humbler    contemporaries. 
In   four  months   the    Union   numbered    2,200  j 
members,  and  similar  unions  were  already  bein^| 
formed  all  over  the  coiltitry.     Tli«  new  move 
ment    attracted     to    its  forces    several    Liberall 
noblemen  and  menib*?rft  of  Parliament,  and  even  J 
Cabinet   Ministers*  began  to  look  forward  with] 
apprehension  to   the  e fleet  which  the  law-abiding  I 
unions  were  likely  to  pix)duce  in  I'arliament  and 
throughout  the  country* 

The  first  grr^at  display  of    the  strength  and  ] 
power  of  the  Political  Union  took  place  ou  Mon- 
day, May  17,  1830,     Early  iu  the  morning  the! 
busiest  streets  of  tlie  town  were  thionged  with  1 
tlie  members  of  the  Union  from  outlying  di&tricte, 
and  hundreds   pressed   into  the   rooms   of    the  J 
CouncU  to  enlist  under  the  banner  of  political  | 
freedom,  among  whom  was  the  member-elect  of 
1819,    8ir    Charles    Wolseley.      The    day    was 
regarded    as    a    general    holiday ;    shops    were 
closed,  and  their  windowj*  fdled  witli  spectaton;] 
the  town  was  in  a  general  commotion,  not  a  fcv 
of  the  more   timorous  respectabilities   professing  J 
to  entertain  fears  of  disturbance ;  but  that  was  a  I 
thing  of  bygone  days  now;  the  people,  under 
their   new   leader,   had    learned    the    valu^    ol' 
peacejible  demeiinour  and  the   ]K)w»»f   of    inatal| 
force, 

A    monstre    pruce^>ion    wan    ur^^anitfoii, 
headed    by    a    band,    playing    '*  God   saVe  th^  1 
King,"    mai-died    to  the  J^^pository,   but   Icnif^J 


lIou  MeiUL] 


OLD  AJ^fD  KKW  BIKMINGHAM. 


401 


before  ita  arrival  tho  building  was  more  than 
half  filled,  and  before  tlip  Co  vine  0  had  taken 
their  places  ifc  was  estimated  that  there  could 
not  have  been  less  than  18,000  persons  present. 

**  We  bad  the  good  fortune,"  says  the  Bir- 
minghum  Journal^  "throngb  the  politeness  of 
Mr.  Beards  worth,  to  soo  the  procession  as  it 
moved  from  the  end  of  Mout  Street  to  the 
Eepofiitory,  from  the  site  of  the  famed  White 
Horse,  Ytmi  this  elevation  we  commanded  a 
complete  view  of  the  immense  concourso  from 
the  place  of  meeting  to  the  end  of  New  Street ; 
und  a  more  animating  spectacle  was  never  pre- 
ftted  to  the  hvmian  eye.  The  most  remarkable 
feature  in  the  conduct  of  the  populace  was  the 
great  attention  paid  to  Messra.  Attwood,  Schole- 
field,  and  Muntz,  who  headed  the  procession, 
Several  sturdy  fellows  formed  a  sort  of  hculy- 
and  by  dint  of  hanl  labour  and  great 
Keition,  succeeded  in  keeping  off  the  ijrcsxun^  of 
the  multitude  from  those  gentlemen." 

Mr.  G*  F.  Muntz  was  called  to  the  chair,  and 
after  a  few  words  from  Mr.  Geoi-ge  Edmonds, 
who,  in  his  endeavours  to  preserve  order,  had 
imfortunatcly  lost  his  voice,  a  most  satisfac- 
tory i-e^wrt  was  read,  showing  the  rapid  extension 
of  the  principle  of  the  Union.  **  Its  effects," 
said  Mr.  Attwood,  **  have  not  alone  been  felt  in 
Birmingham  or  its  neighbourhood  ;  its  infiuence 
has  been  felt  throughout  England,  and  EurojKs 
resounds  with  it.  Be  assured,'*  ho  continued, 
"  we  have  given  the  enemy  a  tremendous  blow  ; 
we  have  made  him  reel,  as  the  boxers  say,  from 
one  side  of  the  stage  to  the  other.  Uy  your  per- 
mission we  will  repeat  tho  blow  again  and  again, 
until  wo  are  enabled,  by  God's  blessing,  to  give 
them  what  the  French  call  the  roup  dc  ffrace,  or 
what  we  call  the  finishing  blow."  This  must  be 
donei  not  only  in  a  morally  right  manner,  but  by 
strictly  legal  methods,  and  he  again  repeated  his 
caution  respecting  those  inexplicable  laws  which 
'  devil^traps,*^'  hedged  about  the  reformers' 
!  footsteps  on  every  hand-  **  But  for  our  great 
prudence,"  said  Mr.  Attwood,  **we  should  have 


been  destroyed  like  the  Beformeis  of  old,  and  I 
(licked  out  from  amongst  you,  and  in  all  proba- 
bility lodged  in  a  dungeon." 

After  declaring  in  favour  of  the  Marquis  of 
Dk^nd ford's  Bill  of  Keform  (which  was  printed 
and  circulated  among  the  members  of  tlio  IFnion, 
together  with  tho  declaratiou),  tho  meeting 
approved  the  new  Union  Medal,  tho  obverse  of 
which  contained  a  representation  of  the  British 
I-ion,  rousing  himself  from  al umber,  surrounded 
bj  the  legend  :  "  The  safety  of  the  King  and  of 
tho  People ;  the  Constitution,  nothing  less  and 
nothing  more"  j  and  on  the  reverse,  a  repi-o- 
sontation  of  the  Itoyal  Crown,  irradiated,  and  on 
a  scroll  underneath,  tho  words  **  Unity,  Liberty, 
Prosperity,"  a  legend  above,  "God  save  the 
King,"  and  below,  "  Birm"*-  Political  Union^ 
25  January,  1830."  It  was  resolved,  **Thftt 
this  modal  ho  adopted  as  tlie  badge  of  the  Union, 
attached  to  a  ribbon,  on  which  is  en  woven  the 
red  cross  of  St.  George,  quartered  by  that  of  St. 
Andrew,  commonly  called  the  British  Union 
Jack.  A  standard  that  has  nobly  sux»poited  the 
national  honour  in  foreign  climes,  and  which,  we 
trust,  wiU  be  efficacious  in  the  greftt  moral  con- 
test for  recovering  the  national  liberty  iit  home." 
The  meeting  also  voted  a  gold  Union  medal  to 
Mr.  Attwood  for  his  patriotic  exertions. 

The  Hefonners  little  thought,  as  they  separated 
at  tho  close  of  that  meeting,  that  before  another 
public  gathering  should  be  held,  the  King,  whose 
powerful  infiuence  had  ever  been  on  the  side  of 
repression  and  political  injustice,  would  have 
passed  out  of  the  world  ;  3  et  such  was  the  case. 
On  tlio  wild  and  stormy  night  of  the  26th  of 
June,  little  more  than  a  month  after  the  Union 
meeting,  George  TV.  died ;  and  the  Liberals 
looked  forward  to  the  dawn  of  a  more  hopofid. 
state  of  things.  Thoy  a*ldressed  the  country  on 
the  eve  of  the  elections,  and  with  powerful 
offect. 

The  great  sensation  excited  ihrcnighout  the 
country  by  tiro  two  great  public  meetings  of  the 
Union,  on  the  25th  of  January  and  the  17th  of 


403 


OLD   AKD   2CEW   BIRMINGHAM. 


(Th«  Flmt  Afimial  Vaettt^ 


May,  caused  a  wish  on  the  part  of  the  Council 
that  the  first  Annual  Meeting  should  be  attt^nded 
with  similar  Mat  j  and  letters  of  invitation  were 
■written  to  distant  raembcrK,  of  rank  and  standing 
in  the  country,  to  give  theii  countenance  and 
Bupport  to  the  cause  by  attending  on  this  occa- 


Eoom   was   engaged  to  proride  accommodation 
for  two  hundred  gentlemen. 

The  town  was  once  more  thronged,  thei\^fo 
on  the  26th  of  July,  and  even  a  more  imp«is* 
procession  than  on  former  occasions  wended  its 
way  from  the   home  of  the  Union,  the  Glob 


l;i;,i' 


\m 


.#-■' 


*wu»^ 


-V2:^'"  ^f). 


m 


(^:^;^\^. 


,^    ^/. 


WKSLKYAN   IIIAI'EL,    CHER  II Y   8T11EST, 


men.  In  respouee  to  this  invitation,  Sir  Francis 
Burdett,  Bart.,  who  had  previously  joined  the 
Union,  engaged  to  attend  if  the  meeting  could 
be  deferred  until  after  the  close  of  the  I^arlia- 
nientar}^  session.  To  meet  his  convenience, 
therefore,  it  was  postponed  from  the  5th  to  the 
26th  of  July,  1830.  In  order  to  mark  their 
sense  of  the  public  spirit  of  Sir  F,  Burdett,  the 
Council  determined  to  invite  him  to  dine  on  that 
evening  at  the  liojd  Hotel,  and  it©  As&<im\A>f 


Hotel,  down  Temple  Street,  along  New  Street, 
down  High  Street  and  part  of  I)ii^r>etli,  up  Mill  J 
Lane,  Smithheld,  and  Bolsall  Stixset ;  headed  by  j 
the  band  of  the   Union,   in   two  breaks*     Mr.- 
Attwoud  watched  the  scene  ft'om  the  **  coloasal^ 
White  Horse,"  and  directed  the  band  to  wove  off 
down  Cheapside,  to  allow  the  procession  to  pais 
to  the  rear  of  the  Eepository,  in  Moseloy  tStredt^ 
When  the  vast  concourse  had  entered  tli  ' 
Vn^^  \Xi^\<&  «^^^  nQi^^Wt^  ^a^Qi^a  less  thuu       . 


er»lUii>  EoyulBoteL] 


OLD  AND  KEW  BIEMINGHAM, 


403 


>eri)oiis  present.  Sir  Francis  Burdett  waa  called 
the  chair,  and  delivered  a  vigorouB  and  telling 
rpeech  c<:»nceming  the  corrupt  practices  wLicli 
rovailed  at  elections  •  pocket  liorouglia,  tbe  Com 
Laws,  and  kindred  topics,  Mr.  E,  D.  Davenport, 
'ormerly  M.P.  for  the  borough  of  »Shafteshury,  Mr. 
G*H),  Edmonds,  Mr,  Attwood,  and  other  leaders  of 
ixe  Union  also  addressed  the  meeting,  which  was 
rouglit  to  a  happy  conclusion  by  a  graceful  act 
io  one  who  hiul  rendered  them  valuable  services, 
le  proprietor  of  tlie  large  and  most  suitable 
building  in  which  all  their  public  meetings  had 
been  held, — Mr.  Beardswortb, — to  whom  they 
^resented  a  handsome  silver  tea  service. 

In  the  evening,  the  dinner  at  the  Koyal  Hotel 
passed  off  in  an  admirable  manner.  **  It  was 
lot  judged  advisable,"  we  are  told,  in  a  report 
rf  the  proceedings,  **  to  invite  the  neutral  milk- 
md-waterdiko  friends  of  Reform,  or  probably  a 
nuch  larger  number  uf  the  liespec tables,  as  they 
ire  called,  might  have  been  brought  together 
Ipon  the  occasion."  The  band  of  the  Union 
which  had  jtuat  been  provided  with  a  **  splendid 
iform,)  played  a  selection  of  patriotic  airs ; 
ihe  speeches  were  of  the  usual  after-dinner  type, 
id  included  many  loyal  toasts  and  sentiments  j 
[d  the  various  members  of  the  organization 
jrer©  by  this  pleasant  reunion  bound  more  closely 
ogether  in  fellowship  one  with  another,  and  tlie 
Jnion  itself  strengthened  and  benefited  thereby. 
The  same  evening,  wliile  English  Liberals  were 
lining  together  in  peace  and  amity,  their  brethren 
ranee  were  striking  a  glorious  blow  for 
iom,  hurling  the  last  of  the  Bourbons  from 
B  throne,  and  declaring  once  more  the  liberty 
the  people,  Birmingham  watched  that  event 
the  utmost  interest  and  anxiety,  and^  on 
y,  October  11th,  between  three  and  four 
ousand  members  of  the  Union  dined  together 
Beardsworth^s  Eepository,  to  celebrate  the 
gloriouB  event,"  Mr,  Attwood  presiding, 
the  Unioai  hymn  had  been  sung  by 
thousands  of  voices,  Attwood  said :  "I 
made   miwy  friiwJet,    it  seemg;    perhaps. 


some  enemies.  I  have  had  much  to  contend 
with,  and  liave  had  occasion  for  some  little  nerve. 
I  have  been  told  that  I  should  set  in  motion  a 
tremendous  principle,  which  no  human  power 
could  control;  that  I  should,  like  a  Franken- 
stoin,  create  a  monster  of  gigantic  strength, 
endowed  with  life,  but  not  with  reason,  that 
would  hunt  nie  to  destruction.  Is  that  sot 
[A  "No"  thundered  through  the  place.] 
"  What  possible  mischief  can  arise,'*  he  con- 
tinued, **  from  men  aniuiated  with  the  same 
motives  wliich  animate  youl  and,  as  for  me, 
what  possible  danger  do  1  incur  i  Where  is  the 
man  among  you  who  would  injure  me  1  Where 
is  the  one  amongst  you  who  would  not  f  jlbiw 
me  to  death  in  a  righteous  cause  l  "  [Every  tuio 
in  the  vast  assembly  rose  as  one  man  and 
shouted  "All!"] 

During  the  same  mouth  they  petitioned  the 
King  to  dismiss  the  Ministers,  and  a  few  weeks 
hi  tor  the  Wellington  and  Peel  administration 
resigned,  and  the  Grey  administration  was 
formed.  Early  in  December  the  I*oIitical  Counril 
called  a  meeting  of  the  town  to  support  tlie  new 
cabinet ;  and  once  more  a  large  gathering  was 
held  at  the  Eepository,  on  the  13th  of  that 
month.  At  this  meeting  the  famous  petition  of 
Ivights  was  ailopted,  and  entrusted  to  the  P^arl  uf 
liadnor  for  presentation  to  the  Lords,  and  to  the 
Marquis  of  Biandford  for  prcsentalion  to  the 
Commons,  It  cluin.td  as  *'  tlie  birthright  of 
eveiy  Englishman  " : 

iMt,  —The  nght  of  Iiaving  all  Pkicemai  uiiunssed  from 
the  House  of  t  'omiiJODB  ugreeably  to  the  Greut  CoNhiTITtJ- 
TioNAL  Act  of  Hetjxkmknt  which  plaoeH  the  present 
iUaatrious  Fiiiwily  on  tho  Throat- 

**  2ad. — The  right  of  having  triennial  or  wore  /rrqueni 
Parliavic^Ua^  as  recognised  and  jsecured  by  thi^  Greut  Con* 
stitutiouul  Act,  tbe  6th  of  Willtatii  and  Mury,  cap.  2« 

*'3rd. — The  right  of  sitting  und  votiugin  the  ('ommons 
House  of  Parliauieot,  when  law/uUy  chmrit  without  the 
qualificaiimi  qJ  property,  which  was  fixed  ancoastitution- 
ally  by  the  Act  of  &th  of  Queen  Anne, 

*'  4th. — The  right  of  hanug  all  the  Knights,  Citizeits, 
aad  Burgcfiaea  of  the  House  of  CommoD§  paid  the  lei^mn* 
abU  wa^fes  of  attendance  by  a  rato  u^u  Wiitrvi  ?»\vfeVv\.v%^xvNa^ 
in  order  to  euahU  the  ottiuTaoik  \rtjttv\*i  ViVaNv.  \\w«i\«:vvc%x 
of  the  »ervkc&  ol  \wTW)^ft  VYVvt\%  uu^^tx  >.\vfL  *«xv.Vi  .^wocvm- 


404 


OLD  Am)  NEW  BIBMINGHASr. 


(AitntveniitT  of  tt*9  UnM 


sUuiGos,  nnd  bnving  the  snnie  knowlpclge,  and  tbe  same 
wants  aud  interests  as  themseki's. 

"  5th. — The  right  of  hnvittg  th<*  Inrgp  towns  and 
populous  districts  of  the  country  jepreacn  ted  in  the  Hou^e 
of  ComiTJons,  in  place  of  thoftt  de  ayed  boroughs  which 
rL'tnm  nv  embers  1o  Parliament,  Although  now  cod  tain  ing 
but  few  inhabitants. 

'*  6th. ^^The  right  of  eveiy  mun  to  have  a  vote  m  the 
election  of  Members  of  the  House  of  Commons,  who  U 
in  Any  way  railed  upon  to  contribute  to  either  National 
or  Local  tuxation^  direct  or  indirect ;  by  which  your  peti- 
tiouers  understand  that  either  all  thfl  taxes  ought  to  be 
taken  o!T  from  those  articles  necea^ary  for  the  subsistence 
and  comfort  of  working  men,  or  that  all  working  men, 
who  arc  compelled  to  i\&y  such  taxes,  aliould  have 
a  vote  in  the  election  of  Members  to  your  Honourable 
House. 

"  7th. — The  right  to  have  elertious  for  Members  of  the 
House  of  Commons /r<i<?  and  fiubin^ised,  and  with  this  view 
to  have  nrraiigementa  made  in  the  conducting  of  elections 
as  may  effectually  prevent  all  force,  fenr,  or  intimidation, 
and  all  bribery  or  undue  inflnence  of  any  kind,  from 
acting  upon  the  minds  of  the  elector/*/* 

On  tho  25tli  of  January,  1831,  the  members 
of  the  Union  again  dined  togeltier  to  celebrato 
their  annirersaiy,  and  many  loyal  speeches  were 
delivered,  in  which  the  King's  known  sympathy 
for  tlieir  cause  foraietl  a  thomo  for  congiatuhition, 
and  many  "  praTe  'orts  "  were  nttered  conueming 
the  alleged  disaiTeciion  of  certain  of  the  Tories 
towards  his  Majesty  ;  they  spoke  now  of  armed 
assistance:  "If  the  King  commanded  them/' 
they  said,  "  they  would  produce  n  national  guard 
that  wouhl  he  like  a  wall  around  his  throne/' 
Mr.  Attwood  said  :  **  It  was  not  too  much  to  say^ 
that  if  the  King  required  it  they  could  produce 
him  in  this  district,  at  hie  order,  within  a  month, 
two  armies,  each  of  them  as  nunierous  and  as 
brave  as  that  which  conquered  at  Waterloo." 

A  few  weeks  later  the  first  Ecforra  Bill  was 
introduced  into  tlic  House  of  Commons,  March 
Istj  1831,  hy  F^ord  Jolm  ItIusscH  It  was  imme- 
diately  the  cause  of  the  utmost  alarm  and 
trepidation  in  hoth  Houses  j  Lord  Sidmouth, 
addressing  Earl  Grey,  declaring :  **  I  hope  God 
will  forgive  yon  on  account  of  this  bOl :  I  don't 
think  I  can.'*  It  was  looked  upon  as  almost 
revolutionary,  and  many  prophesied  the  speedy 
overthrow  of  all  uur  national  institutions,  and  the 


total  ruin  of  the  nation  itself.     <>n  the  HUi 

hill  was  read  for  the   first  time,   and  the 
evening  a  mass  meeting  was  held  m  Binnlngli 
expressing  the  determination  of  the  people  to  1 
''  the  l»iU«  the  whole  bill,  and  nothing  but 
bUh" 

The  second  n^ading  was  carried  b^  a  i&^jo 
of  one — ^in  the  fullest  house  ever  known- 
ni embers  having  voted  on  that  oc<!aeifin.  Gr 
rejoicings  following  throughout  the  kingdom,  nn 
nowhere  more  than  in  Binningham,  where 
event  was  celebrated  by  popular  demon^^tr^o^ 
and  a  general  illunmiation.  But  on  the  Idth  an 
again  on  the  22nd,  the  I^Iinisters  were  bealc 
and  at  ouce  placed  their  resignations  in  the  hatidl 
of  the  King,  His  ^lajosty,  however,  refused 
accept  ihem,  and  dissolved  Parliament  in  ordd 
that  the  feeling  of  the  country  might  Imj 
tained.  At  this  act  the  joy  of  the  Refonuelf 
knew  no  hounds  :  in  Binningham  they  brok 
open  the  belfries  and  set  tlie  hells  ringing  TDcrn)| 
to  the  horror  and  disgust  of  their  deric 
custodians,  llie  PoliticAl  Union  ittsued 
address  to  the  electors  of  the  United  Kijtgdou 
calling  upon  them  to  vote  fur  no  C!andidat6  wli^ 
would  not  pledge  himself  to  support  the  hill 
its  entirety ;  and  the  result  was  that  a  stii 
greater  number  of  Hcformerd  were  returned. 
second  hill  was  introduced  on  the  24th  of  Jutt|i 
1831,  and  tlie  first  reading  was  carried  by  a  \ai\ 
majority,  and  it  was  successfully  piloted  to  th 
committee  stage  of  its  existence  ;  but  here  it  md 
with  obstruction,  objection,  and  every  form 
hindrance,  and  the  patience  of  the  peo|>Je  wa 
tried  to  the  utmost  point  of  endurance  Hm 
the  Union  took  a  hold  and  decisive  step.  On  thj 
28th  of  July,  the  Political  Council  addnsssed 
following  independent  and  almost  fierce  ' 
tion  "  to  tho  House  of  Commons  :■ — 

**Your  jHititioners  have  observed  witli    dUigast 
tudiguatiou  the  factious  and  poerilo  opposilir^n  mmU  t^ 
the   opinions  of  a  majority  of  your  hon 
and  to  the  demands  of  an  oppross^-d  «ud 
and   with    feeliu|^  of   a  nearly  MimUai-  ehaiMctttf* 
contrast  tht5  rapidity  with  i^hich  measures  of  pmalf 


i  Ikfam  Biltl 


OLD   AKD  KEAV   BUtMmGHAM. 


tliAtUm  littvc  been  on!\t:ted  by  former  Parlijimeuts,  witli 
be  «xtmonlmaiy  tit^UIieils  at  present  <Ii«|iliiycd  in  com- 
[dieting  a  whole^me  and  heultliy  meadure  of  wisdom, 
j|uHtk'«,  and  conciHatiou/* 

DauicI  O'Connell  presented  this  **  petition  of 
JxeUionstTttnct!,"  but  it  was,  aa  miglit  have  been 

ex]jected,  rejected  as  "grossly  disrespc^ctfuJ/^  At 
[length,  however,  the  report  of  tho  committee  was 

considered,   and  after  three  nights*  debate,  the 

third  reading  of  the  bill  was  carried,  September 
l21st,  by  a  majority  of  109,  the  nimiberB  being 
[345  to  23G. 

The  people  were  not  wanting  in  gratitude  to 
[the  Government  for  their  exertions  in  the  eause 
|c»f  reform,  and  a  numerously  signed  address  was 
^)re8ented   by   the   Union   to   Earl    Grey,  Lord 

Althorp,  and  LoihI  John  Kussell.  From  the 
flatter  tliey  reetived  the  full  owing  reply  : 

"I  beg  to  ackiiowledge,  with  bi^ftrtfelt  gratitude,  the 

nxideservod  honour  done  me  by  150,000  of  my  ootrntry* 

Hon* 

"Our  pro8[Hi<:t»  ure  now  obsuured  for  a  momtiit,  and  I 

At  oaly  for  a  moment.     It  is  imposmblQ    thiit  the 

rhisp«r  of  factiou  should  prevftil  against  tbe  voice  of  a 

'  nation.** 

There  now  loomed  before  the  minds  of  the 
»eopIa  the  dread — nay  the  almost  certainly  of 
iefeat  in  the  House  of  Lords.  The  bill  was  re^id 
second  time  in  the  hereditary  chamber  on  the 
}rd  of  October ;  and  on  tho  same  evening  Bir- 
inihgham  held  a  gix^at  meeting  on  Kewhall  Hill. 
^hops  and  factories  were  closed,  the  bells  w^ero 
clanged,  flags  wore  hung  out,  and  mottoes  dis- 
[dayed  ;  such  as :  "  William  the  Fourth,  the 
IVople's  Hope*  *'^**  Earl  (J  rey— the  just  rights 
of  our  order  secured,  we  will  then  stand  by  his 
:>rder;"  "Taxation  without  representation  is 
Ityranny ; "  and  similar  sentiments.  They  met 
[to  petition  the  Lords  to  pass  the  bill 

'  We  Imve,"  s&id  thfj  chuirniau,  *'  unitGd  two  millious 
eaccttbly  and  legally  in  one  grand  and  deter- 
Qcitttion,  to  recover  ilie  liberty,  tbc  happiness, 
Itid  the  prosperity  of  the  country,  and  I  should  like  to 
b*ow  what  j»owor  there  in  lu  England  thut  can  rtsiat  a 
tiw«r  lik«  this.  La  Fayt'ttc  told  as  forty  years  ago  that 
Un  A  tiatit^u  to  Ui  free  it  is  iiufticient  that  «h«  wills  it* 
',  around  ut  thU  vast  and   magnilicciit  atstuddage  in 


pure  and  uncont'iminatod  with  foreign  alloy— see  this  pro- 
digioua  mass  of  brave  and  npriglit  men  as^scmbled 
together  to  iiui>i>ort  their  good,  and  gracioua,  and  patiiotic 
King — and  who,  with  such  a  spet'tacle  before  him,  can 
possibly  doubt  that  the  Britit^h  Nation  mils  that  the  Bill 
of  Hefomi  shall  jiasa,  and  therefore  that  it  mmtt  pass.^^ 

Tlien  with  reverence  he  added  :  **  I  desire  that 
you  will  all  take  off  your  hats,  and  that  you  will 
look  up  to  the  Heavens,  where  the  just  God 
rules  both  Heaven  and  Eaith,  and  that  you  will 
cry  out  with  one  heart  and  voice,  *  God  bless  the 
King/" 

In  a  moment  every  head  was  uncovered, 
every  face  upturned,  and  the  air  was  rent  w^th 
the  thunder  of  voices  crying  **  God  Bless  the 
King  1 "  It  is  possible  that  many  **  nnparlia- 
mentiiry  "  remarks  were  uttered  by  the  various 
speakere,  respecting  our  hereditary  legi^latoi*3 ; 
but  they  felt  that  they  were  exercising  a  solemn 
duty  in  thus  waraing  them  of  the  danger  of 
disregarding  the  people's  cry.  But  the  Lords 
were  greatly  incensed,  and  during  the  succeeiling 
nights  of  the  debate  Lord  Eldon  and  others 
denounced  the  proceedings  of  the  Birmingham 
Union  us  Ulegal  and  treasonable;  and  on  the  7th 
of  October  they  threw  out  the  bill.  The  King 
determined  once  more  tn  prorogue  Parliament,  in 
order  that  the  whole  measure  might  Ihj  recon- 
sidered, and  on  the  20th  of  October,  Parliament 
was  prorogued  accordingly* 

Ko twit hstun ding  the  exa^jjieration  of 
people^  (which  in  Birmingham  took  vai'ious 
forms,  such  as  the  tolling  of  the  bells,  the  hang- 
ing out  of  black  iliigs,  tearing  down  the  names 
of  Wellington  and  the  Queen  from  the  strcets, 
etc.,)  there  w^as  no  riot  or  mobbing, — nothing 
but  **  peace,  law,  and  order,"  in  the  streets  of 
Birmingham.  On  the  day  foUowiog  the  proro- 
gation of  I'arliament,  a  lai-go  town's  meeting  waa 
he'd  at  the  Eepositoi^,  the  High  Bailiff  (. 
Oliver  ilason)  pix»siding.  They  met  '*  for 
purpose  of  expressing  to  his  Majesty,  by  add 
the  deep  regret  and  bitter  disappointment  felt 
the  inhabitants  at  the  rejection  uf  the   Kefor 


Pftrkcit,  Mr.  WilliAin  RedierD,  and  other  leading 
Liberals  of  the  town,  settiiijj  forth  in  a  cleax, 
caliHr  and  decisive  manner,  that,  while  they  were 
on  the  side  of  law  and  onier,  yet  if  the  question 
flhould  become,  reform,  accompanied  by  revolu- 
tion, or  no  reform  at  all,  they  would  not  hesitate 
to  flay,  '*  Give  us  the  tirst,  for  they  Kould  not 
have  the  last  altomative."  But  they  would  not 
stoop  to  a  victory  by  bloodshed  ;  they  would  not 
imitate  the  French  in  this  pai-ticnlar.  This  fact 
stood  out  nobly  in  their  every  appeal^  aa  in  the 
following  address  to  the  country,  which  was 
flamed  at  this  very  meeting  i — 
'•  Friends  and  Fellow  Connirymin  I 
"  Our  roAd  ia  clear.  Our  miDd  is  made  np.  WE  ^Wihh 
STAND  UY  LOUD  GREY.  That  illuitrious  SUtesman 
has  decUrtsl  timt  the  BILL  OF  REFORM  shall  hfC4mt 
Law^  in  aU  its  es»eDtiiil  |»rineipl(?^  aud  proviHions.  The 
whole  histoty  of  his  life  forbids  us  to  jiustru,st  his  wortL 
The  strength  of  a  United  l^ation»  wliieh  he  wields,  for- 
bids us  to  mistrust  his  power.  Thfrrfm-t  wt  triil  stami  by 
Lord  Orry,  And  if  by  nny  posfcibility  he  ^hoiihl  be  driven 
ftotn  power,  we  will  carry  hira  bnck  upon  the  should  en 
of  the  people  ! 

*'  Fncvdg  and  Felhrr  CmtntrymeTi  ! 
^*  The  King,  th«  Ministers,  the  House  of  Comjnous,  and 
tho  People,  niid  are  (ill  united.  All  these  ha.yt  given  proof 
thiit  they  arc  true  to  the  eiiusc  of  Lit»erty,  and  that  they 
ar«  determined  to  rarry  the  Bill  of  Refonu  into  a  Law* 
This  HOLY  LEAGUE  is  invincible.  Nothing  can  shake 
its  power  if  no  discord  or  disunion  arises  within  itseir 
U  is  for  you,  therefore,  to  ahiin  discord  na  the  only  rock 
on  which  yonr  hopes  can  be  wreckcth  Discord  among 
your8clve«  would  give  to  your  enemies  the  only  poRj^ible 
chance  of  obtaining  n  triunipb  over  you.  Let  no  disunion 
iiri.He  nmong  you  ;  and  notliing  can  prevent  the  downfall 
of  that  Btrocioua  Oligarchy  wbiih  hns  so  long  trampled 
upon  the  Liberty  nnd  HappineRs  of  the  Couutr)'* 
*'  Friends  and  Felloit!  Connln/mat  I 
**  At  the  same  time  that  we  show  confidence  in  the 
King  and  in  his  MiniHtei-s,  and  a  fixed  determination  to 
preserve  the  law%  let  us  nhow  no  weakness — no  timidity  — 
no  lukuwurriiuess — in  the  eiiuse  of  Liberty.  Let  us  all  be 
unitedi  us  one  man  IB  the  enthuniastic  and  determiiied 
support  ol  this  great,  thin  holy  cause.  I^t  POLITICAL 
l>KIONS  be  formed  instantly  in  every  Town,  in  every 
Distritit,  and  in  every  Village  where  they  do  not  alri^ady 
exist.  Let  the  nation  slsiud  forth  in  its  strength  ;  and  in 
peaceful  and  commanding  majesty  express  its  WILL  ;  and 
that  WILL  is  certain  to  Ucomc  ihc  Law  of  the  Land, 
"  Friends  and  Fellow  Countrymen  t 
**  Be  patient.  Be  jieacefviL  Be  linn.  Be  united.  Ho 
determined.  PI oce  your  confidence  in  the  King  and  in 
his  Ministers.  I'ntil  these  shall  deemve  you^  thert  can  be 
no  fear  for  the  Liberties  of  England* 


*'  Fri^uU,  CoutUryjMtn,  amt  Broihers  f 

**  Listen  to  ua.  The  SWORD  must  not  b«  dirnini  b 
England.  The  t^trrible  Kmll  of  thi*  TOC81N  tnnrt  not 
aoand.  Tho  tears  of  the  Wir|ow  and  tlie  <ir}«bAn  roii*tiuit 
mark  our  course.  Theje  are  the  last  dread  altemattTei  of 
an  oppreased  nation.  The  influence  of  tho  Olig 
aided  by  a  corrupt  and  degenertite  BENCH  of  BISF10| 
haa  obtained  a  momentary  triumph  in  th©  Hoast^  of  1 
By  the  power  of  the  King  and  of  tb«  Law  we 
humble  the  Oligarchy  in  the  dnst.  Oar  gmllaat 
hours  the  French  effected  a  glorious  Revolution  by  lif 
the  Bauruadeh,  cemented  by  the  be«t  blood  of 
nation.  Wk  will  have  no  Babricapr^  Wttliotit  i 
— without  Muarchy— without  riolation  of  the  l^w^  \ 
will  a<scomplish  the  most  GLORIOUS  REK0KMAT1(| 
recorded  in  the  History  of  the  Woild. 

*'GOD  BLESS  THE  KINO. 
**  By  order  of  the  Council, 

**Tbosias  ArrwooD,  Chainnaau 
**BKNJAsiiN  Hadlby,  S«cf«taiy/ 

The  advice  containecl  in  this  address 
immediately  acted  upon,  and  Political  Unioa 
sprang  up  in  every  locality.  Attempt* 
made  to  stop  the  formation  of  euch  associationiv 
but  all  in  vain  ;  the  people  had  at  length  l<ranieil 
their  own  strength,  and  knew  wherein  it  ky  ;— 
and  once  mure  the  rufomiera  were  returned  to  PaJ 
liament  in  mi  overwhelming  majority.  The  thu 
Keform  Bill  was  introduced  on  the  1 2th  of  I 
ber,  1831,  and  was  road  a  third  time  on  the  19Uifl 
March,  1832.  "  What  will  the  Lords  do  now,^ 
was  the  question  on  every  lip  j  and  tho  answd 
was  awaited  with  breathleaa  interesU 
second  reading  was  fixed  for  tho  9th  of  Apiflj 
nnd  it  was  felt  that  upou  this  docialoii 
the  fate  of  the  hereditan  Chamber.  On  ihft 
14th,  the  debate  was  protmcted  tmtil  ckyligb 
and  the  division  resulted  in  victoiy  for 
KeformeiB ;  the  second  reading  had  boen 
by  a  mnjority  of  nine. 

Still  there  was  danger.     Threats  wtrrc  rif« 
serious  damage  to  the  bill  in  committee,  and  i| 
must  be  pit^vented,  or  all  the  labotits  of 
Union  would  have  been  without  bcneficijd  njstiltl 
A  maimed  bill   the  people  would  not  have ;  it 
must  still    be    "the   bill,   the   whole   bill, 
nothing    but   tho   bill.*'     In   ord*'r  to  eonviurt 
their  lordships  of  this  determination  on  tJio  ] 
of  th»)  people,  the  Council  of  the  PoUtical  Um 


406 


OLD   AND  NEW  BIBM INGHAM. 


[GaUierlQ^  of  Uie  VnkmM, 


invited  the  Unions  for  miles  rotmd  to  meet  on 
New  hall  II  ill  on  the  7  th  of  May,  and  declare 
themaelvea ;  and  the  people  responded  noblj  to 
the  cidL  From  the  minejj  and  fumacea  of  the 
Black  Country  came  one  hundred  and  twenty 
thousand  men,  with  150  bannera  and  eleven 
bands  of  music ;  from  the  broad  acres  of  War- 
wickshire, and  from  the  looms  of  Coventry, 
came  labourers  and  eilk-weavers,  and  artificers  of 
various  kinds,  five  thousand  in  number ;  from 
Bromsgrove  and  Rf dditch^  from  the  salt  mines  of 
Droitwiclj,  and  from  oth«r  placts  in  the  county 
came  the  Worcestershire  contingent,  ten  thousand 
strong  I  Birmingham  herself  contributed  to  the 
vast  assemblage  no  h'ss  than  fifty  thousand  eouls 
— all  these — upwards  of  200fiOQ  of  them  in  all, 
with  innumerable  banners  flying,  with  bands  of 
music  accompanying  llie  triumphant  march  of 
liberty,  aBsembled  on  tho  satri-ed  Imttle-ground  of 
freedom,  to  reiterate  their  demand  for  adequate 
representation  in  the  (lovenmient  of  their 
country.  The  father  of  the  l^niona  presided, 
and  from  the  whvJe  concuiun^,  like  tho  surging 
of  a  mighty  sea,  aroue  the  Ilyiiru  of  tlie 
Unions : — 

CALL! 

Over  mountain,  ovt-r  jdiiin, 
Eclioioi^  wi4l«'  from  sou  to  b«ji, 

Peals,  and  «L:i11  in»t  peal  ni  vain, 
Tbt*  trunijM't  mil  of  liberty  I 

Britaiu'fi  ^anlinti  spirit  cries — 

BritoQB  Awake  1  awake  I  arise  ! 

Slcef)  no  mote  the  h\eep  of  shame  : 
R{><€  nnd  br(*ak  oppression's  chnin  f 

Lulled  Uy  rnedoniH  empty  iiflmi% 
Worae  tlinn  hUvvum  no  more  n-irmin, 

Freedom's  rights,  not  frrcdonj's  iiumc, 

Dare  to  know  nnd  diirc  to  idnini. 

Sliall  lioiK'st  hili<»nr  toil  in  vnui 
Wliilf  pliioili^r  fiitti'ns  on  tli*-  land  I 

StiU  shidl  0  tyriint  fuclinu'a  n-ign 
Pi^oi^Ie  and  Ktn;^'  at  oncf*  coinmjiud  f 

|Jo  I  it  may  not,  tiball  not  be, 

For  Wtf  luiwt,  me  will  l»«  free, 

Sleep  ye  alill  T  \\h\h  one  by  one 

I'^tJi  ftiicrtrd,  di'ur-lionght  li^ht  ia  loit, 

Rijjbttt  whicb  yonr  falbfr*^  Iroadswoidsi  won 
Kigbts  wbi«.'h  your  fiitbt'r'b  liftf-blooU  coit ; 

No  !  it  may  not,  sbidl  not  be, 

JVr  \vt'  mitfl",  we  will  bv  free* 


8«e  ii«ea  rroiu  hh  bed  of  fame 

Each  chief  of  f^lorioaa  Hutitiyitiede 

With  Haio[iden  !  history's  noblesl  namey 
Tlii*y  caU  tu  to  our  country's  need  ; 

They  call,  and  cao  we  heedless  be  f 

No  J  for  we  must,  w«  will  be  free; 

But  not  to  war  and  blood  they  c&U, 
Th*'y  bid  us  lift  oot  swonl  or  gun  ; 

Peaci'riil,  but  firm,  join  one  ariij  nil 
To  claim  your  rights,  and  thry  »r©  won. 

The  British  Lion's  rr»icealoa« 

Shall  gain  for  Britaiu  all  li«r  own. 

ANSWER, 

Lo  ]  we  answer ;  see  !  we  come 

Quick  at  freedonr»  holy  call. 
We  come,  wo  come  I  we  come^  wo  come  I 

To  do  the  glorious  work  of  alt. 
And  b;irk  !  we  raiae  from  sea  to  soa 
Our  sacred  watchword.  Liberty  I 

Ood  is  our  guide  ;  from  field,  from  wa?e, 
The  plough,  the  annl,  and  the  loom, 

Wc  come,  our  conn  try 'a  rights  to  save, 
And  s|»eak  a  tyrant  faction's  doDtn. 

And  hark  !  we  raise  from  sea  to  sea 

Our  sacred  watchword^  Liberty  I 

Ood  is  our  guide  !  no  sword  we  draw  ; 

We  kindle  not  war's  fatal  fires. 
By  union,  juRtifHs  reason,  law. 

We  claim  the  birthright  of  our  aires  ! 
And  thus  wc  raijie  from  eiea  to  $ea 
Our  sacreil  watch wonl  Liberty  ! 

When  tho  echoes  of  the  stirriug   melody  h* 
died  a^vay,  and  the  vast  multitude  was  hushed 
silence  by  the  suuiul  of  a  trumpet,  Mr.  AttwoodJ 
spoke*     lie  asked   them  if  they   intended  to  1 
the  shives  of  the  borough -mongers  ;  if  they  would 
not  rutlier  dla]  and  with  on©  voice  tiwy 
**M\  I  All  \"     *^  I  say,"  he  deehwd   "that  thtt] 
people  of  England  stand  at  this  very  momc&ti 
*  like  greyhounds  on  the  sliji ' ;  Aiid  tlial  if  uu 
helovetl  King  shoiUd   '^ive  the    wani,  or  if  ih« 
Council  shcjuld  give  th«  word   in  his  name,  and] 
under  his  autliority,  the  grandest  scents  wuuld  W| 
instantly  exhibited  that  wjvs  ever  witiicsse«l 
this  earth    liefore."     lu    like    n^unner  did  othisrl 
hwlers  rif  the  Uidcin  address  the  uiultitudo,  and! 
before  soparatinij;  ^^>*^y   itJgistered   a   vow, — tltal 
vast  sea  »if  faces  upturned  to  heaven,  beforo  Ood^j 
with   heads    reverently  uncovMx^d,    utioriiig,  wr* 
with  Olio  voice  the  pled^'e  : — 


*'  fti  unbrok£n  faith ,  ihrougli  every  peril  uml  trml  and 
priration,  we  <levoto  onraclvea  and  our  cUildren  to  our 
country *s  cause," 

Ikfora  the  entkiisiasm  of  the  groat  Newhdl 
HiJl  Tnecting  ha«l  time  to  cool  ilowu — almost 
heforu  the  echoes  of  Lho  hymn  of  Liberty  had 
Jied  away — news  carao  tbat  tho  Minis  try  had 
suffereU  another  defeat.  The  Lortla  hiid  decided  hj 
a  innjority  of  thirty-tivo,  to  postpone  the  considera- 
tion of  the  di^fmnchiaing  clauses  until  the  amount 
of  enfranchisement  should  he  detemiined.  And 
so,  after  three  day;**  consideration,  Lord  (Jrey  once 
more  refiignetJ,  on  tlie  10th  of  Mny.  In  Ilirming- 
ham  the  people  were  at  tho  highest  pitch  of 
excitement.  Business  was  suspended  ;  most  of 
the  factories  and  worki?hops  were  closed;  the 
artisans  gathered  in  angry  wnd  exciUnl  knots  at 
the  street  corners ;  and  fearg  were  eutertained 
that  the  nation  was  on  the  eve  of  a  revolution. 
An  actor  in  these  exciting  scenes  thus  spenks  of 
what  he  saw : 

*•  Early  in  the  morning  the  muf!Ie<l  peuls  of  the 
bells  of  Stv  PliiHp's  Church  Ml  upon  the  ear. 
A  bhick  fiiiii  floated  from  the  tower*     I  inmuHli- 

ily  proceodetl  to  the  News  Rootji,  in  Iionnett's 

ill  ;  it  was  filleil  with  gentlemen  in  a  etate  of 
great  alarm ;  Earl  tirey  lunl  gone*  out  of  olhcn, 
and  the  Dnke  of  Wellington  had  coni>*  »u.     Up 

Lto  this  time  comparatively  few  of  the  higher  ami 
middle  classea  had  joine<i  tho  Union,  which  was 
composed  almost  solely  of  the  Mower  onlerf/  I 
liad  belonged  to  tho  Political  Union  from  the 
fir^it,  and  entered  the  News  Kooni  in  a  glovi*  of 
iTitimph.  The  f»eople  were  alarmed;  they  ex- 
pected the  Political  Union  would  rise  and  pull 
Wtwn  their  houses  and  mob  them.  They  were 
Hiking  what  wiis  to  be  done.  As  soon  as  I  could 
obtain  a  hearing,  I  said»  '  Gentlemen,  it  is  quite 
H^  elttr  you  will  go  to  the  il^— 1,  unless  you  adopt 
^Httliy  tXK'^mmendatiou ;  there  is  but  one  way  of 
^^Hlving  youmidves,  and  that  is  to  immediately  join 
M  Iho  Political  irnion/  'PU  join/  •  Pll  join/  PU 
H  join,'  n;9aQnded  throughout  the  rtmm.  I  replitnl, 
■     *  f  Tfl..  fn  $00  gentlemen  willing  to  sign  what 


they  say  they  will  do;'  and  many  signed  al 
once.  I  ran  like  a  shot  to  15arlow*s  book  store, 
where  Kodenck's  paper  shop  now  is,  and  got  soma  ' 
sheet.8  of  parchment,  and  took  them  up  to  th« 
News  Koom.  Mr.  Parkea  beaded  one,  and  the 
gentlemen  signed  as  fast  aa  they  could.  While 
this  was  goijig  on  I  ran  to  Mr,  Biirlow'a,  and 
wrote  a  placard,  'Great  and  important  political 
movement  The  entire  middle  cla?8o.«<  are  joining 
the  Political  Union.  They  are  ilo.^king  to  the 
News  Eoom  by  thousands,  to  sign  the  declaration. 
At  twelve  o'clock  there  will  be  a  grand  processiou 
from  the  New.s  lloom,  to  the  Kooms  of  the 
Political  Union ^  Great  Charles  Street,  to  hand  itt 
their  adhesion  lo  Mr  Atlwooil.* 

**  In  one  hour  Mr.  rbr!<.nv  had  this  posted  all 
over  the  town,  in  placards  aljotit  two  feet  squareL 
At  the  same  time  we  had  a  large  quantity  strnck 
off  and  sent  in  h undies  by  every  coach  to  all  tha 
large  towns  throughout  the  kingdom,  to  be  thera 
yHjstel  lip,  I  then  sent  to  the  Union  Rooms  and 
got  about  a  1,000  wands,  and  brought  them  to 
the  News  Itoom,  and  at  twelve  o'clock  a  grand 
procession  was  formed  in  double  file,  ^Ir,  [J.  C] 
Earlow,  of  liilnton,  [afterwards]  arul  I  leading. 
Wo  proceeded  to  Great  Charles  Street,  then 
thronge'l  with  thousauda  of  perfions,  when  Mr, 
Pavkes,  in  an  eloqtient  speech,  banded  in  tht 
adhesion  of  the  midille  and  lower  classes  to 
]ijr,  Attwood,  At  the  same  time  these  handed  in 
their  five  and  ten  pounil  notes  immediately, 
after  wlHth  suhacriptions  poured  in  from  tho 
country »  tho  nobility  even,  prohahly  partly  aa  an 
insurani*o  against  being  molcntcd,  contributing^ 
largely.  Tlje  Council  was  then  sitting,  and  the 
question  then  arose,  what  was  first  to  be  donet 
The  i>eople  were  collecting  in  niiisses  frightful  to 
those  who  did  not  know  them.  They  came 
pouring  in  from  all  parts  of  the  country,  and  men 
on  horseback  to  know  *if  the  |>eople  were  to 
move,'  Tt  was  necessary  to  do  something,  and  I 
suggested  that  Mr,  Attwcod  should  give  out  that 
there  would  Ihj  a  grand  profession  at  four  oVlock 
from  tho  Cat i noil  1  looms  to  NewhaU   lUU^  >rW\^ 


410 


OLD     AND     KEW     BlUMrNGHAM 


[Dark  Dayj  for  the  Refonnen. 


a  meeting  would  bo  held,  and  a  prayer  olFered  up 
to  the  Throne  of  Grace  that  the  Council  and  the 
people  might  be  directed  in  the  right  patli  in  that 
hour  of  their  country's  agony.  This  was  adopted. 
At  the  time  named  the  procession  was  fonncd, 
beaded  by  Mr.  Attwood  and  monibei-s  of  tlie 
Council  in  one  or  more  carriages.  Newhall  Hill 
presented  one  dense  mass  of  men  ;  and  wh(;n  !Mr. 
Attwood  and  othei-s  who  accompanied  him  gained 
the  waggon  prej)ared  for  the  speakers,  and  the 
Rev.  Hugh  Hutton  arose  and  uncovered  U)  offer 
up  the  prayer,  one  hundred  tliousand  men,  witli 
their  hate  off,  with  frames  of  iron  and  hearts  of 
steely  instantaneously  uncovered,  and  with  up- 
lifted eyes  joined  the  fervent  supplications  of 
their  reverend  leader  that  the  God  of  kingdoms, 
and  nations,  and  people  would  look  down  and 
save  the  liberties  of  their  country.  A  deputation 
was  appointed  to  proceed  to  London  to  petition 
the  King,  and  the  meeting  quietly  dispersed. 
This  was,  in  respect  to  intensity  of  feeling,  tlie 
grandest  meeting  held  during  the  whole  political 
agitation." 

The  solemn  moment  when  Hugh  Hutton 
returned  thanks  to  God,  and  the  vast  assembly 
•**  cried  amen,  like  the  roaring  of  thunder,"  was 
fittingly  selected  by  the  Academician,  J).  II. 
Haydon,  as  the  subject  of  a  great  historical 
picture,  and  ho  made  portrait  studies  of  all  the 
principal  persons  connected  with  tlic  movement, 
for  that  purpose;  but  unfortunately,  owing  to 
lack  of  funds,  and  other  hindrances,  the  work 
was  never  executed.  The  sketches,  after  being 
traced  by  Mr.  Sam  :  Timmins,  from  one  owner  to 
another,  and  through  the  hands  of  several  book- 
sellors,  were  ultimately  secured  through  his  exer- 
tions and  deposited  in  tiie  Birmingham  Eeference 
Library — only  to  perish  in  the  lamentable  fire  of 
January  last. 

The  Council  of*  the  Union  met  daily,  and  soon 
became,  practically,  the  ruling  power  in  the 
nation.  From  all  quarters  the  people  looked 
towards  Birmingliam,  as  the  head-quarters  of 
'  '^beralism,  and,  as  the  Titnea  happily  phrased  it, 


"  the  barometer  of  the  Reform  feeling  throughout 
England."  Since  the  remarkable  change  of  front 
on  the  part  of  the  middle  classes  towards  the 
Ileform  movement  in  Birmingham,  many  others 
in  vai  ions  parts  of  the  coimtrj  had  imitated  their 
action,  and  now  the  cause  of  Reform  seemed 
stronger  than  ever.  "People  who  would  have 
killed  a  man,"  says  the  writer  above  quoted,  "for 
talking  of  reform  of  Parliament  a  short  time 
befure,  *  had  been  Reformers  all  their  lives ; '  all 
men  became  Reformers," 

Then  arose  disquieting  rumours  of  a  great 
march  of  the  Birmingham  Union,  two  hundred 
thousand  strong,  for  the  purpose  of  encamping  on 
Hampstead  Heath  until  the  bill  was  passed.  The 
Tory  papers  professed  alarm,  and  counselled  the 
arrest  of  the  leaders  of  the  Union.  Warrants 
were  actually  made  out  for  that  purpose,  but 
remained  unsigned,  and  were  afterwards  found  at 
the  Home  Office.  These  proceedings  reached  the 
ears  of  ^fr.  Attwood,  and  he  wrote  (confidentially) 
to  Mr.  R.  Wallace,  Chairman  of  the  Glasgow  and 
Greenock  Unions,  and  to  his  brother  Charles, 
who  was  president  of  the  Northern  Unions,  at 
Xewcastlc-un  Tyne ;  requesting  their  presence  in 
liirmingham  to  support  him  during  the  trying 
ordeal  which  might  be  expected  as  soon  as  the 
new  Tory  Cabinet  was  formed.  ]Mr.  Wallace 
rei)lied,  that  he  felt  his  proper  position,  at  such 
a  crisis,  to  be  tlie  head  of  his  own  Unions, 
and  that  he  could  not  come  to  Birmingham,  but 
added  many  w^ords  of  cheering  comfort  to  the 
father  of  the  movement.  Mr.  Charles  Attwood 
complied  at  once,  hurrying  to  Birmingham  as 
fast  as  horses  could  carr}'  him.  Deputies  were 
appointed  in  all  the  Unions,  so  that,  if  the 
Presidents  should  be  arrested,  they  might  step 
into  their  i)loces,  and  so  preserve  the  Unions  from 
disruption.  During  these  eventful  days,  an 
incident  occurred  which  well  illustrates  the  faith- 
ful adherence  of  the  men  to  their  cause,  and  more 
especially  to  their  beloved  leader.  One  night, 
after  dark,  as  Mr.  Attwood  sat  alone  in  his  study, 
in  the  somewhat  lonley  house  at  Harbome,  he 


Oj)  tli«  «re  nf  Itevulntlnii  ] 


OLD   AND   NEW  BIKMINGHAM. 


411 


-was  alarmed  by  hearing  the  hum  of  voices,  and 
the  tramp,  as  it  wore,  of  many  feet,  quietly 
moving  about  in  the  lane  adjoining.  Ho  loolveil 
out,  and  was  still  more  astonished,  if  not  starOed 
to  find  tli*j  house  so  unrounded  by  armed  men. 
They  weii3  his  own  faithful  followers,  who  had 
heard  the  rumour  that  Mr.  Attwood  was  to  he 
^rrestod  that  night ;  and  they  had  come  out  to 
line  the  hedges  and  surround  Um  house,  deter- 
mined to  drive  hack  soldiery  or  police  mIio  should 
attempt  to  enter. 

Tlie  excitement  of  this  period  paralyeed  tlio 
commerce  of  Lho  country ;  everybody  seemed 
4tnjdoudf/  w€iiting  for  a  revolation.  The  toriea 
talked  of  a  proclamation  of  a  military  despotism  ; 
of  police  suiveilJance ;  of  a  system  closely  akin 
io  that  of  France  in  ita  worst  time.  In  Bir- 
fniugham,  however,  the  soldiery  were  well 
aflecte*!  towards  the  people ;  many  of  them  were 
BnemT>ers  of  the  Union,  and  nearly  all  had  inti- 
mated to  the  leaders  that,  so  long  as  the  people 
kept  within  the  hiw,  and  resorted  to  no  violence, 
they  would  not  lift  a  hand  against  them.  They 
implored  the  people  to  abstain  from  riotirg ; 
window-breaking,  or  other  illegal  proceedings,  as, 
in  tiiat  case,  if  they  (the  soldiery)  i-efuscd  to  draw 
ihe  sword,  or  fire  upon  them,  would  he  liable  to 
ije  condemned  and  shot  "  If  you  do  nothing," 
they  continued,  "  hut  make  speeches,  sign 
petitions,  and  go  peaceably  to  present  them, 
though  you  go  in  liundreds  of  thousands,  the 
<frcys  will  not  prevent  you."  Among  those  of 
the  Scots  (ircys  who  were  at  tbat  time  in  Bir- 
mingham, woA  the  celebrated  Alexander  8omer- 
villo ;  aiid  he  has  described  very  graphically  the 
doings  inside  the  barracks  during  tliese  eventful 
days: — 

**  Every  day  for  months  previously  hundiiads 
of  people  walked  into  the  cavahy  bjimicks  yanl 
to  »ec  thei  Greys,  who  came  to  Birmingham  in 
the  latter  part  of  183  L  On  the  Sunday  before 
the  meeting  on  Newhall  Hill,  there  wei-e  upwards 
of  five  thousand  people  within  the  gates,  most  of 
th«m  wtslhdresaed  arLi^^ans,  all  wt^uring  ribbons 


of  light  blue  on  their  breasts,  indicating  that 
they  were  memliers  of  tlie  Political  Union,  Next 
Sunday,  [the  13th,]  the  barrack  gales  were 
closed.  No  civilians  were  admitted.  We  were 
marched  to  the  riding  school  to  prayers  in  the 
forenoon,  and  during  the  remaining  pait  of  the 
day,  or  most  of  it,  were  employed  in  rough- 
sharpening  our  swords  on  the  grindstone,  I  was 
one  of  the  *  fatigue '  men  who  turned  the  stone 
to  the  armourer  and  his  assistants.  It  was 
ramoured  tliat  the  Birmingham  Political  Union 
was  to  march  for  London  that  night,  and  that  wo 
were  to  stop  them  on  the  road,  "We  had  been 
daily  and  nightly  booted  and  saddleil,  with  ball 
cartriilge  in  each  man's  possession,  for  three  days, 
ready  to  mount  and  turn  out  at  a  moment's  notice. 
But  until  this  dfiy  we  bad  rough-sharpened  no 
swords.  The  purpose  of  so  roughening  their 
edges  was  to  make  them  inflict  a  ragged  wound* 
Not  since  before  the  battlt:  of  Waterloo  had  the 
swords  of  tlie  Greys  undergone  the  same  process. 
Old  soldiers  spoke  of  it,  and  told  the  young  ones. 
Few  words  were  spoken.  We  had  made  more 
noise,  and  proljably  looked  less  solemn  at  prayers 
in  the  morning,  than  we  did  now  grinding  our 
swords.  It  was  the  Lord's  Day ;  and  we  were 
workimj.  When  closed  within  the  barracks, 
booted  and  saddled,  wo  liad  no  communication 
with  the  townspeople  niglit  nor  day,  and  knew 
no  tiling  of  their  muYements,  We  did  not 
apprehend  an  immediate  collision  until  the  day 
of  the  sword  sharpening*  The  danger  now  seomed 
imminent/* 

The  Union  did  not  start  on  theii-  journey  to 
I^ndon,  however,  nor  were  the  services  either  of 
police  or  soldiery  called  into  requisition.  On 
the  same  evening,  Mr  Scholefield  returned  from 
London,  with  the  tidings  Uiat  **  all  wiut  over  y" 
Lord  drey  now  considered  his  r»3turn  to  powei 
impossible.  **  Nothing,"  he  said,  **  is  to  be  done 
but  to  keep  the  people  quiet.  Ko  doubt  the 
Duke  of  Wellington  will  before  long  bring  in  a 
bill  of  i-eform  nearly  as  good  as  that  of  Lord 
John  KusselL     Keep  the  peojde  quiet,"  were  his 


I 
I 


word*  to  Mr,  Scholefield  ;  and  with  thiB 
r^d  intolIig<?iice  that  gentleman  returned 
to  Birfntngham.  However  this  roight  aatuify 
lukewarm  refoTmera  it  waa  not  the  result 
which  Mr.  Altwood  and  the  Political  Council 
eould  offer  to  the  people  a&  the  outeome  of  all 
theb  toiK  They  felt  that  such  a  conclusion 
would  effectually  stifle  all  popular  independence, 
and  render  nugatory  the  iuiluence  of  that  grand 
display  of  the  power  of  a  united  people  which 
had  heon  exhibited  in  the  great  meetinga  on 
Kowhall  HilL  The  gi'eat  originator  of  the  mov^ 
aient,  therefore,  resolved  to  oppi>ae  to  tl»o  utmost 
such  a  crisis  as  that^  and  tlien  anil  there,  on  that 
Sunday  evening,  he  drew  up  the  famous  Declara- 
tion against  I  lie  Duke,  which  was  adopted  by  all 
the  Unions  throughout  the  kingdom,  and  was 
published  in  Tiirniinghani  on  the  ^londay  morn- 
ing.     It  ran  as  follows  : 

"SOLEMN  DKCLA RATION, 

**  Btmiinghtm.  Mny  14,  1832. 

**  We,  tlie  undersigneil,  thiuk  it  ner^sar}^  in  tliia  awful 
crisis  of  our  coiin try's  fate,  to  niiike  it  known  to  our 
fellow-country  men  the  alarm  and  liorror  with  which  we 
am  iiitpf««eie(l  by  the  re{»ort  of  the  Diike  of  Wellington 
htviiig  be«n  placed  at  the  be*d  of  his  Majesty's  Councilsi. 
We  entertftin  this  alarm  and  horror  on  the  following 
groun^ls  : — 

'*lst, — ^The  Duke  of  WeUington*ji  general  avowal  of 
Arbitrar}"  Principles, 

*'2nil.— HiH  sjM-ech  igainst  ALL  REFORM,  miiae  only 
abont  a  yenr  and  half  ngo. 

"  3rd.— Hii*  Protest  against  the  Reform  Bill»  m  entered 
on  the  Journals  of  the  IJonae  of  Lorda,  on  the  17th  of 
April  la^t. 

''4tk — His  reported  Expreswioua  in  the  lute  Parlia- 
ment amounting  to  those  of  regret,  tbnt  the  Irish  People 
•  WOULD  NOT'  break  the  Law. 

"  5th,— His  l>cing  a  Pensioner  of  Foreign  Despota  ;  and 
■9  wach,  exposed  to  their  tnJluenee,  and  unfit  to  govern  a 
Frte  People. 

**<Jth. — VUb  condnrt  to  Mariihal  Ney,  who  wsa 
mordert^d  hy  the  Bourbon  Government,  in  violation  of 
the  Convpntion  of  Paris,  uotwithjitanding  his  apjK'al  to 
the  Duko  of  Wplliugton,  who  had  signed  that  Con- 
vention. 

**  7th. — Hi»  general  support  of  Arbitrary  Power  ou 
the  Continent  of  Europe^  and  tho  certainty  that  hia 
policy,  if  he  be  tme  to  hin  principles,  will  ne<^es.'iarily 
involve  tbe  nation  in  unjust  and  ruinous  Wars  against 
the  Liberties  of  Enrope. 

*' 8th.— Ilia   utter  iiieompetency  to  govern   England 


hy  any  other  means  tban  bj  tha  Swofil,  wHoh  kts  nvmg 
yet  b^en,  and  never  will  be,  submitted  to  by  thi^  Britiili 
People. 

"For  theae  and  vaiiooa  other  reaaona,  Wf  kerdif 
solemnly  declare  our  fixed  dotonuination  to  n«  aU  thft 
meana  which  the  Constitution  tind  the  Law  have  placed 
at  our  disposal,  to  induce  his  Majesty  to  reject  from  hit 
Councils  thai  faction,  at  the  bead  of  which  is  the  Dekt 
of  Wellington,  who  have,  by  their  arbitrary  prineipleifc 
excited  the  di*truj»t  and  abhorrence  of  the  whole  popula- 
tion of  the  United  Kingdom,  and  we  declare  oor  firm 
conviction  that  the  public  excitement  aud  agix^tion  oia 
never  be  allayed  untU  the  great  Bill  of  Reform  ahall  be 
carried  into  law  by  that  Administration  by  whose  wisdom 
and  virtue  it  was  first  introduced* 

"  These  are  our  tixed  and  unalter&bla  aentiiDafita^  md 
we  hereby  appeal  to  all  our  fellow  countrymen,  through- 
out England,  Scotland,  and  Ireland,  and  we  ojufidentfy 
call  on  them  to  unite  with  us  and  to  aign  thia  our  aoUma 
declaration  J  in  support  of  the  liberty  and  the  happioes  of 
OUT  country." 

Remifiiscenoes  of  the  old  Scottish  Co v enactor* 
and  tbeir  league,  and  of  Uieirdeeila  in  the  struggle 
for  freedom,  gtiggested  to  the  Birnjinghata 
refomiera  the  formation  of  ft  solemn  league  and 
covenant ;  and  a  document  was  drawn  np  by 
Mr,  W.  R*>df«rn,  for  signature.  It  «ot  forth  that 
the  inhabitants  of  Birmingham,  "  haying  with 
hearts  stricken  with  grief  and  consternation^ 
received  the  disastrous  intelligence  that  his  Majeat  j 
has  appointed  to  the  highest  station  in  the  Govern- 
I  ment  of  this  country  hia  Grace  the  Duke  of 
i  Wellington,  the  pledged  and  sworn  foe  *  ol 
Reform/  and  *  truly  Udieving  *  Uiat  •  this  ill- 
boding  appointment  ^  threatens  a  blow  to  their 
cause,  and  that  *  unless  it  be  8j]M>edily  rescinded  * 
it  will  '  bring  down  upon  our  >>elov€sd  country 
unutterable  woes/  and  subject  the  land  '  to  the 
dominion  of  a  stem,  jealous,  and  implacable 
Oligarchy  ; '  '  with  one  common  mind,  heart  and 
determination,  do  therefore,  by  this  Solemn 
I.*eague  and  Covenant,  made  and  entered  into  in 
imiUtion  of  many  worthy  and  memoruWe  ex- 
amples of  our  forefathers,  as  recorded  in  history^ 
Covenant  and  declare,  each  one  with  the  otbATs^ 
.  ,  .  .  to  Stand,  Abide,  and  Hui»i>-fast, 
the  one  by  the  other,  in  using  and  adopting  all 
feasible  and  lawful  ways  and  means,  with  which 
God  or  Nature,  Chance  or  CircntusiAncea,  may 


I 


fumiRK  Ufi,  for  the  a«8«ttion  and  vindication  of 

all  «iich  our  juit  rights  und  liberties,'" 

111  the  midst  o£  theae  dark  forebodingij  came 
hopeful  tidings  ;  on  the  very  day  after  the  jM^ople 
had  declared  against  the  Duke,  and  only  two 
^lays  after  the  grinding  of  the  swords, — Tueadajj 
May  15th — Lord  Grey  received  communications 
reapectbg  the  poaaibility  of  his  resuining  oftice, 
the  Duke  having  experienced  some  difticulty  in 
loiming  aCabinetw  Mr.  Joseph  Parkes,  who  was 
at  that  time  in  London,  caused  slips  to  be  printed 
to  the  eflect  that  Lord  Grey  was  again  in  power ; 
and  immediately  set  off  by  post  express  for 
Binninghiim,  scattering  the  welcome  slips  by  the 
roadside  and  amongst  the  people  in  every  town 
and  village  on  his  way  ;  and  reached  Birming- 
ham by  »ix  o'clock  on  the  Wednesday  morning. 

The  good  news  spread  like  wild-fire  ;  and  in  a 
very  few  minutes  the  whole  pnpulation  was 
roused  from  its  slumbers,  and  thronged  the  streets 
— the  bells  of  all  the  churches,  which  hod  been 
tolled  and  luufHcil,  were  imniedititely  set  ringing 
jjyuualy — changing  **  theii  funLvml  marches  to 
delightful  measures  ; "  the  Royal  8tandnrd  floated 
proudly  from  the  dunie  of  St  Philip*s,  blue 
ribbons  decked  all  the  public  vehicles,  as  well  aa 
the  persons  of  nearly  all  the  inhabitants  ;  printed 
^dacnixls  sprang  up,  us  if  by  magic,  calling  on  the 
jieople  to  rally  round  the  standard  of  the  Premier ; 
mid,  as  by  one  consent,  a  vast  concourse  of  the 
people  moved  towards  the  home  of  Mr,  Attwood, 
4it  llarliorne,  from  wlit^nce  at  ten  o'clock,  a  large 
procession  with  its  attendunt  music  and  banners, 
returned  towards  Birmingham,  and  was  met^  on 
the  outskirts  of  the  town,  by  upwun^ls  of  50,000 
of  the  inhabitants,  with  a  forest  of  bnnners,  nnd 
the  various  bands  of  the  L^nion.  Old  association*, 
fiiid,  as  well  as  pluivsant,  le*!  the  joyous  multitude 
to  march  to  Ncwball  Hill,  shouting  und  singing 
tiH  ihey  went,  '*  Kule  Britannia  !"  •*  lirituns  never 
«hall  In?  slavea  !  "  "  God  wive  the  ICing  1 "  "  Long 
live  Karl  (ji-ey  1"  and  other  expressions  of  loyalty 
MXid  patriotic  feeling.  As  the  morning  wore  on, 
large  numlwsrs   tlockod  inti)   the  town  fi-om  the 


surrounding  villages,  and  when  the  vast  multitude 
reached  the  old  meeting-ground,  such  a  sceive  of 
joy  mingled  with  solemnity  wa«  presented  as 
perhaps  was  unef|ualled  by  any  previous  gathering. 
With  the  old  feeling  of  reverence,  their  first  act 
was  One  of  devotiom  The  whole  multitude 
uncovered,  and  then  a  prayer  was  offered  up, 
with  thanksgiving.  A  memorial  to  Earl  Grey  was 
then  agreed  upon,  und  a  deputation  appointed  to 
present  it 

During  these  proceedings  im  interruption 
occuriiid  which  caused  considerable  alarm  to  many 
persons  present ;  the  sound  of  a  drum  was  heard 
in  the  distance,  and  the  cry  arose  that  the  soldiers 
were  advancing  upon  them.  Amid  the  excitement, 
however,  the  vast  concourse  remained  unmoved, 
and  aU  fear  very  speedily  vanished  when  distance 
ceased  to  lend  enchantment  to  the  music  of  a 
miserable  company  of  mountebanks,  who,  when 
they  discovered  tlie  excitement  they  had  caused, 
precipitately  retreated  into  a  public-house  hard  by, 
called  the  Duke  of  Marlhoruugh. 

llie  vast  iissenibly  broke  up  i>eaceably,  many 
of  the  country  people  remaining  in  the  town  until 
evening  to  sjieed  the  deputation  on  its  way  to 
London.  At  half -past  six  o'clock  the  same  night, 
Messrs.  Attwood,  Suhololield,  and  Parkes,  with 
four  others,  set  out  on  their  journey,  to  present 
the  memorial  to  Eiirl  Grey,  accompaniedj  vn  their 
way  out  of  the  town,  by  dense  ciowds  of  peti]>le, 
loutlly  cheering. 

The  victory,  however,  had  not,  by  the  time 
they  arrived  in  London,  been  actually  won,  but 
was  fuHy  assured.  On  the  night  of  the  17th  of 
May.  the  Duke  of  Wellington  at  last  faced  the 
dillieully  of  his  position  ;  the  rank  and  file  of  the 
array  could  not  be  depended  upon  to  do  his 
bidding,  in  putting  down  the  reform  moveuient ; 
the  people  hatl  alrmdy  begun  to  t^ike  the  danger- 
ous ailvice  of  Mr.  Edmonds,  to  "  run  for  gold," 
and  a  run  u|)on  the  banka  had  been  commenced 
in  real  oamest,  upwards  of  one  million  sterling 
having  been  already  wiLh*lMwn  in  small  sums  ; 
these  grave  facts,  together   with  the  tlireatened 


414 


OLD  AND  NEW  BIRMINGHAM. 


ITIie  R«ronii  Bill  vnnied. 


commercial  ruin  and  the  determined  attitude  of 
the  masses,  led  him,  on  the  evening  above  men- 
tioned, to  declare  his  inability  to  form  a  Govern- 
ment, and  to  retire,  with  a  hundred  other  peers, 
from  the  House  of  Lords. 

The  deputation,  having  thus  seen  the  last  of 
the  opposition  to  the  Reform  Bill,  returned  at 
once  to  Birmingham,  after  receiving  the  most 
enthusiastic  welcome  from  members  of  both 
Houses  of  Parliament,  from  the  London  Unions, 
the  Common  Councils  of  all  the  metropolitan 
boroughs,  and  even  from  Royalty  itself. 

Their  journey  to  Birmingham  was  a  march  of 
triumph ;  labourers  left  their  toil  in  the  fields  to 
cheer  them  as  they  passed ;  whole  villages  turned 
out  to  greet  them,  and  raised  their  simple  arches 
of  evergreens  ;  others  presented  addresses  ;  little 
children  scattered  flowers  in  their  pathway,  and 
even  the  stonebreaker  by  the  wayside  raised  his 
little  flag  declaring  for  "  Attwood  and  liberty." 

But  when  they  reached  home  the  joy  of  the 
inhabitants  knew  no  bounds.  The  whole  popula- 
tion turned  out  to  meet  them  as  they  entered  the 
town,  on  the  28th  of  ^lay  ;  banners  hung  from 
almost  every  window  ;  every  peal  of  bells  in  the 
town  clanged  out  a  joyous  welcome  to  the  depu- 
tation, and  the  thunders  of  artillery  echoed  the 
same  greeting ;  but  these  were  both  drowned  in 
the  deafening  cheers  of  the  populace,  as  from  two 
hundred  thousand  throats  th»».  victors'  return  was 
hailed,  and  the  final  vanquishing  of  their 
opponents  was  celebrated.    Such  a  scene  was  never 


before  witnessed  in  Birmingham  ;  and  at  length, 
when  from  the  pressure  of  the  multitude  the  pole 
of  Mr.  Attwood's  carriage  was  broken,  the  people 
joyfully  harnessed  themselves  thereto,  and 
wheeled,  or  rather  carried,  the  conveyance  up  the 
Bull  Ring  into  New  Street. 

A  week  later  the  Reform  Bill  passed  the  tliird 
reading  in  the  House  of  Lords,  and  on  the  7th 
of  June  received  the  Royal  assent.  By  this  act 
Birmingham  was  enfranchised  ;  and,  for  the  first 
time  in  her  history,  was  admitted  to  a  share  in 
the  councils  of  the  nation.  Preparations  were  at 
once  made  for  the  election  of  two  Liberal  mem- 
bers, and  the  Council  of  the  Political  Union 
decided  to  use  all  its  influence  for  the  return  of 
Messrs.  Attwood  and  Scholefield,  their  president 
and  vice-president.  At  one  period  it  was  feared 
that  they  would  be  defeated,  owing  to  the 
threatened  division  of  the  Liberal  party  by  the 
candidature  of  Mr.  George  Edmonds ;  and  this 
condition  of  afiairs  aroused  the  Conservatives  to 
the  possibility  of  their  securing  one  of  the  seats 
as  a  result  of  the  division.  But  ultimately 
Mr.  Edmonds  withdrew  from  the  contest ;  and 
as  this  action  rendered  all  opposition  utterly 
hopeless,  the  two  candidates  nominated  by  the 
Political  Union  found  themselves,  on  the  day  of 
the  nomination,  masters  of  the  situation,  there 
being  no  other  candidate,  and  they  were  therefore 
returned  unopposed,  as  the  first  representatives 
of  the  Borough  of  Birmingham,  in  the  reformed 
House  of  Commons. 


Publte  Lifo  And  Ev«&ts^lS3l^50.] 


OLD   AKD   NEW   BIRMrNGHAM. 


415 


CIIAPTEE      LIX, 


PUBLIC     LIFE     AND      E  V  ENTS  —  1  82  1 -1  830. 


DisUii^uiAliod  Vfeitow— Tho  Piini^is  Jintl  rrinceiw  of  Demnark— Mr.  Robina^in— WeUingiotJ  anJ  Picl-^The  Prineeu  Vktinrbi— E^cplosloa 
in  St.  Maiy's  Square — The  Birmirtgham  Jmtmal— Town  tiDprovcmeiit»— Propoaal  to  orect  a  Town  n*ll— New  Tboroughfares^Towii 
HaU  8ite«^Tha  Dteritend  Turnpike  QaIo  removed— Biimiogluuii  Botanical  Gardens— Obitxiaiy  Notk^flt— Thi»  St.  Darid'et  Societj- ^ 
Th«  DhtboUc  Qaestion,  etc. 


Wu  now  return  to  the  beginning  of  the  third 
decade  of  the  oontmy,  to  clironicle  the  various 
evenia,  and  to  take  note  of  the  public  life 'of  that 
period. 

During  this  decade  Birmingham  had  several 
distiDguiahed  visitors.  First  among  these  (in 
point  of  time)  were  the  Prince  and  Princess  of 
Denmark,  who  came  here  and  remaiEed  tliree  or 
four  days,  in  July,  1822, 

In  September,  1823,  the  then  Chancellor  of 
the  Exchequer,  Mr*  Robinson,  taking  the  advan- 
tage of  a  temporary  residence  at  Leamington, 
with  hia  family,  paid  a  visit  to  Birmingham,  in 
order  to  inspect  some  of  the  leading  manufactories 
in  the  town;  and  subsequently  accepted  an 
invitation  from  the  High  and  Low  BaililTs,  and 
other  principal  inhabitants,  to  dine  with  them  at 
the  Royal  Hotel,  on  Thursday,  September,  11th, 

Then  came  **  the  great  Duke,*'  against  whom 
the  people  were  at  that  time  fighting;  he  had 
been  staying  at  the  abode  of  his  distinguished 
colleague,  Sir  Robert  Peel,  at  Drayton  Manor, 
and  his  proximity  to  the  homo  of  Radicalism  led 
the  High  Bailiir,  Mr,  William  Chance,  to  send  an 
invitation  to  Sir  Robert  and  his  illustricius  guest, 
re4xuesting  them  to  honour  him  with  their  presence 
at  his  official  dinner.  The  invitation  was  accepted, 
and  the  great  leaders  of  the  Tory  party  and  of 
the  Government  of  the  day,  accompanied  by  Lady 
Peel,  Mrs,  Arbuthnot,  and  others,  arrived  at  the 
Royal  Hotel  at  noon,  on  the  23rd  of  September, 
1S30. 

As  our  readers  are  aware,  the  popular  irritation 
^amai  the  Duke  and  bis  party  was  at  that  time 
53 


very  considerable,  although  not  at  its  greatest 
height,  in  Birmingham ;  we  ai-e  not,  therefore, 
surprised  to  read  in  the  Binninfjhavi  Journal  of 
that  day  that,  **  on  entering  their  carriages/*  to 
proceed  to  the  Society  of  Arts,  ^*  they  were 
assaile<l  by  considerable  hissing  from  the  popu- 
lace j"  but  for  the  credit  of  our  town  we  are  glad 
to  read  further  that  *^  if  anything,  the  applause 
preponderated."  The  Broad  Street  bridge  of  the 
new  canal  (where  the  Church  of  the  Messiah  now] 
stands)  was  then  newly  opened,  and  our  readersj 
will  bo  at  least  amused  to  hear  that,  in  1830,  this 
was  one  of  the  first  of  the  Birmingham  **  lions  " 
to  which  our  illuatrious  visitors  were  conducted ; 
and  further,  that  they  entered  a  barge  and  **  pro- 
ceeded to  examine  the  works  of  that  stupendous 
undertaking."  They  afterwards  visited  the  glass 
works  of  ilr.  Chance,  and  the  interesting  show- 
rooms of  Sir  Edward  Thomason,  in  Church  Street, 
returning  to  the  Royal  Hotel  about  half-past  five 
in  the  evening.  *'  On  all  occasions,"  says  the 
Journal,  *'  there  was  a  varied  demonstration  of 
public  feeling,  the  cheering  never  being  enthusi- 
astic, nor  the  disapprobation  violent" 

Alter  dinner  the  usual  toasts  were  prop 
and  speeches  made.     In  responding  to  the  toaal 
proposed  in  his  honour  by  the  High  Bailiff,  theJ 
Duke  of  Wellington  said  : 

**  Gentleraeu :  I  feel  much  gratified  by  the  honour 
which  your  worthy  ch^inniini  the  High  Bailiff,  hM 
conferred  apon  m«  by  afibrditig  me  the  opportunity  of 
meeting  yon  npon  this  occasion  ;  and  it  is  additionally 
satisfactory  to  be  thus  able  to  accompany  my  right  hon. 
friend.  The  High  Bailiif  haa  been  pleased  to  notice  in 
terms  of  approbation  what  he  has  termed  the  services  I 
haro  rendered  to  the  country.     For  this,  as  well  as  Ui« 


mannpr  in  which  you  have  eipteaaed  your  concarrence,  I 
feel  Jiighly  gratified,  but  it  doe»  not  req\iire  th(?  fl-ittering 
eipi^essions  of  tho  High  Baililf  to  enhance  the  value  of 
your  good-will  or  the  gratiUcatiou  I  f^el  in  receiving 
these  inarka  of  appixibation.  Having  in  the  course  of 
this  day  visited  your  public  institutions,  I  have  witnessed 
with  pleasure  your  enlightened  protection  and  encoutuge- 
mcnt  of  the  arts,  and  that  spirit  of  enterprise  and  improve* 
merit  in  all  the  resources  of  your  great  commtmily  by 
which  you  are  diattngainhed— improvements  not  leas 
imfKjrtnnt  or  inferior  to  any  which  I  have  seen  in  any 
part  of  the  country.  [Cheers.]  The  approbation  of  sach 
a  society  I  consider  more  than  a  sufficient  reward  for  any 
service  of  mine.  [Cheers.]  Gentlemen,  I  beg  Ioavc  to 
rytum  you  my  best  thanks  for  the  distinguished  honour 
you  have  conferred  upon  me  in  drinking  my  good  health, 
and  in  return  1  drink  yours.*'    [Load  cbeert.] 

In  a  similar,  yefc  more  eloquent  atrdn,  Sir 
Robert  P«l4  foUuwed,  making  his  first  speech 
before  ft  Birmingham  auilicnee,  sayiog  : 

**  There  eould  be  no  time  at  which  a  compliment  such 
as  the  one  you  have  just  paid  would  not  be^  highly 
gratifying,  but  the  occasion  on  which  it  is  conferred 
enhances  its  \''alue.  It  is  paid  on  a  day  on  which  I  have 
had  the  honour  of  introducing  my  noble  friend  to  many 
of  your  public  institntions,  and  thone  public  works  which 
do  honour  to  your  town,  and  which  must  necessarily  miso 
the  impression  of  every  stranger  who  may  visit  them, 
[Cbeerj.]  My  chief  claim,  however,  to  any  mark  of  your 
Cite  em  is  the  di-ep  interest  1  ever  feel  in  the  welfare  of 
the  town  of  Birmingham,  [Great  cheers.]  For  this 
interest  I  have  many  motives  ;  as  a  Minister  of  the  Crown 
I  iihould  display  a  gross  dereliction  of  my  duty  were  I 
indifferent  to  the  welfare  of  this  important  seat  of  nmnn- 
iacturcs  and  commerce.  Forgetting,  however,  my  relation 
to  the  Government  of  the  country,  as  a  private  gentleman 
residing  within  the  district  which  acknowledges  with 
pride  this  great  town  as  its  ractropolisj  1  cannot  but  feel 
interested  in  all  that  concerns  the  welfare  of  Birnungham. 
[Cheers.]  That  district  which  participates  in  its  prospects, 
syrnpathiscfj  in  its  distress,  ivjoices  in  its  welfare^  and 
languishes  in  its  decay.  [Cheers.]  Gentlemen,  I  have 
indeed  another  motive  for  the  deep  interest  1  feel  in  the 
prosperity  of  Dirmingham.  Whatever  my  present  high 
station  may  be  in  the  councila  of  my  Sovereign,  I  assure 
you  I  can  never  forget  my  own  connection  and  that  of  my 
family  with  the  miinufacturing  industry  of  this  country. 
[Loud  cheers,]  On  this  acoourit  I  feel  puraonally  elevated 
by  all  that  temls  to  elevate  the  manufacturing  class4^4i — 
[cheers] — and  when  1  see  around  me  sucli  an  exhibition  of 
public  sidrit — when  I  see  that  there  ia  no  comnunnty  in 
whitjh  there  is  a  greater  diKposition  to  promote  objects  of 
active  bencvokTice — tlmt  here  the  arts  receive  encourage- 
nit?nt  and  the  hours  of  relaxation  after  the  toils  of  busineas 
are  devoted  to  th<'  encourageniflnt  of  science  and  the  culti^ 
vfttion  of  literature  and  iijttdlect— 1  do  indeed  f«el  my 
condition  and  my  tdmractcr  in  society  raised  by  such  a 


connection.  [Great  cheering.]  If  then,  with  these  trip 
motives  for  an  interest  in  the  prosi»erity  of  Binningha 
I  conclude  by  pioi>osing  as  a  toast  prosperity  to  the  maun-' 
factures  of  Birmingham,  I  }ioi)e  I  shall  not  be  conAidenad 
as  arrogating  to  my^iclf  a  duty  which  I  am  not  in  i 
measure  entitled  or  qualified  to  perform,"     [Cheera,] 


Sir  Eobert  then  proposed    *' Prosperity  to  tb« 
Town   and   Trade   of  Birmingbam  '* ;    and 
meeting  was  brought  to  a  close  at  a  mlher  lai 
hour,  the  Duke's  party  retiring  by  a  side  dooi; 
and  entering  their  carriagea,  drove  away  amid 
the  mingled  cheers  and  groans  wliicb  had  greel 
their  every  appearance  during  the  day.     And 
ended  the  first  and  laat  visit  of  "  The  Iron  Duke* 
to  Birmingham, 

To  the  Baine  Hotel,  during  the  same  year,  came 
our  present  beloved  Queen, — ^then  a  mere  child, — 
being  on  a  tour  through  mid-England  with 
Duchess  of  Kent,  her  illustrious  mother.  The: 
had  visited  Guy's  Cliif  and  other  objecU 
interest  in  Warwickshire,  and  proceeded  to  Bir- 
mingliam,  in  order  to  see  some  of  the  great 
manufactories  for  which  it  was  famous,  A  guard 
of  h Lino  11  r  waited  in  St  Philip  s  churchyard^  so 
as  to  be  near  tlie  Hotel,  commandod  by  the  Hon. 
Grant]  J  am  M,  Yorke,  who  afterwards  became 
rector  of  the  noble  church  liard  by,  and  is  now 
Dean  of  Worcester*  As  the  time  drew  near  for 
the  arrival  of  the  Royal  visitors,  the  military 
escort  was  drawu  up  in  front  of  the  Hotel,  diielly 
for  the  purpose  of  doing  the  work  which  shotdd 
have  been  done  by  police,  had  there  been  any 
in  that  day.  Discipline  was  but  indiflferenUy 
preserved  in  the  large  crowd  which  hud  nssembliNd, 
and  as  the  future  Queen  of  England  alighted 
from  the  carriage,  a  lady*  suddenly  rushed 
forward  from  the  front  ranks  of  tlie  crowd,  and 
snatching  the  astonished  little  Royal  lady  into 
her  arms,  furveritly  kissed  her*  The  crowd 
cheered  loudly  at  this  exhibition  of  exnbemtit 
luyalty  and  ijupulsive  affection,  but  the  Itorid 
party  showed  considerable  annoyancev  and  even 
anger. 


th« 


■A  Mrs.  Faldki,  Uto  of  Oroat  GhAtlct  8te«rL 


After  visitiBg  some  of  the  principal  manii- 
foctoriea  in  the  town,  they  proceeded  to  Aston 
Hall,  which  then  "  belonged,"  says  Her  Majesty 
m  her  private  diary,  "  to  a  Mr.  Watts ; "  this  was 
James  Wait,  the  son  of  the  great  inventor,  the 
^  creative  geuius  of  Soho, 
I        If  it  be  true,  as  Milton  sings,  that 

I   iti 

■   see 


**  Peace  hath  her  rictorita, 
Ko  lesa  renown 'd  timn  war/' 


it  is  also  sadly  true  that  she  is  not  without  her 
scenes  of  misery  and  death,  which,  although 
happily  less  frequent  and  disastrous  than  those 
of  the  battle-field,  yet  appear  to  be  inseparable 
from  many  of  the  useful  arts.  In  August,  1823, 
occurred  one  of  the  first  of  those  terrible 
accidents  in  Bimiiugham  which,  to  the  sous  and 
daughters  of  toil,  have  bucome  so  many  ghastly 
monuments  in  the  march  of  time  by  which  its 
conjrse  is  marked  ;  **  black  days  '*  beside  which 
ikoae  of  the  commercial  world  are  insigniiicant. 
In  ihi$  accident  a  near  and  dear  relative  was  lost, 
in  ihaty  a  chUd  was  maimed  and  disfigured,  and  its 
whole  life  so  bhghted  that  the  not-long  delayed 
Tisit  of  the  angel  of  death  seemed  only  a  merci- 
ful reprieve  \  in  another,  the  bread-winner  of  the 
family  lost  a  limb,  entailing  long  and  dreary 
days  of  want  and  poverty,  until  the  disabled 
man  could  once  more  resume  his  daily  work  ; 
and  so  these  dreadful  accidents  have  burnt 
themselves  into  the  history  of  our  town.  The 
ncord  of  the  cat^istrophe  to  which  we  have 
xef erred  appealed  in  the  Oazeite  of  August  11, 
aa  follows : 

In  the  discharge  of  our  public  duty  through  a  long 
Benes  of  years,  it  has  not  Mien  to  our  lot  to  rei^ord  a  more 
appalHng  and  dreadful  accident,  or  from  the  peculiar 
domestic  afl^ction  under  which  the  family  of  the  principal 
Bofferera  previoualy  laboured  —  one  that  has  excited  a 
more  Urely  and  general  feeling  of  aympathy  and  regret, 
than  that  which  occurred  in  St  Mary's  Scjuare,  in  this 
town,  on  Monday  laat.  Soon  after  four  o'clock  in  the 
afUmoony  the  inhabitants  for  a  considerablo  distance 
around  the  square  were  alarmed  by  the  report  occasioned 
by  a  tremendous  explosion,  and  the  fears  of  thosa  in  the 
immediate  vicinity  were  heightened  by  effects  greatly 
nenerobling  those  of  a  slight  shock  of  an  earthquake, 
ifiUOlQjplutitd  by  the  destruction   of  a  number  of  their 


windowg.  It  was  immedint«ly  ascertained  that  the 
report  proceeiled  from  the  premises  of  Mr.  Wilson,  for- 
merly ill  the  occupation  of  Messrs.  Wilson,  Stark ey,  and 
Co.,  button  makers  ;  and  several  persons  almost  immcdi- 
stely  proceeded  to  the  spot,  when  a  dreadful  scene  presented 
itaelt  In  a  back  room,  or  warehouse  adjoinmg  thy  house 
the  body  of  Mr.  Wilson  wns  discorerad,  almost  entirely 
buritd  beneath  a  heap  of  mbbish,  shockingly  mutilated  and 
disfigured,  and  deprived  of  all  signs  of  life  ;  and  in 
another  part  of  the  same  room,  but  at  some  distance,  on© 
of  the  females  employed  in  the  manufactory  was  found 
expiring  from  the  effects  of  the  injury  she  had  sustained. 
The  room  in  which  the  bodies  were  lying,  we  understand, 
presented  an  appearance  of  the  most  complete  ruin  and 
deaolation— the  floor  was  perforatcJ,  the  ceiling  and 
walls  stripped,  the  roof  and  part  of  the  latha  displaced, 
and  a  large  counter,  at  which  it  afterwards  appeared  the 
unfortunate  sufferers  had  been  engaged,  riven  to  atoms, 
and  the  greater  part  forced  through  the  aperture  into  a 
workshop  beneath-  1  n  u  room  adjoining  several  females  wer© 
at  work,  two  of  whom  were  also  found  to  be  very  seriously 
injured  by  the  effects  of  the  explosion,  and  two  others 
slightly  so.  Other  more  distant  parts  of  the  manufactory 
wore  much  shattered,  and  the  windows.  Ice.,  broken. 
The  bodies  of  the  deceased  were  removed  into  the  house, 
and  the  females  injured  were  forthwith  conveyed  to  tho 
hospital,  where  immediate  surgical  nid  was  rendered  them. 
The  natural  inft-rence  as  to  the  cause  of  the  melancholy 
catastrophe  was,  that  it  proceeded  from  an  explosion  of 
gunpowder  ;  the  real  cause  was,  however,  soon  ascer- 
tained, and,  dreadful  as  was  the  occurrence,  the  most 
exaggerated  reports  were  in  speedy  circulation,  and  great 
crowds  were  iu  consequence  attracted  to  the  spot. 

In  the  course  of  the  evening  an  jnc|uest  was  summoned 
by  the  coroner,  Mr.  Whateley,  which  met  on  the  following 
morning.  The  principid  evideuce  was  obtained  from  tho 
under  sexton  of  St.  Mary's  Chapel,  who,  it  seems  was  the 
first  to  enter  the  promises  after  the  explosion  ;  and  from 
spverul  jiersons  employed  in  the  establishment^  from 
whose  testimony  it  appears  that  Mr.  Wilson  had  been  for 
some  time  in  the  habit  of  manufacturing  percussion  or 
ftilminating  powder — a  chemical  com|K>und  of  highly 
dangerous  preparation— now  generally  used  as  priming  to 
fowling-pieces.  By  two  of  the  individuals  eiaminod,  Mr. 
Wilson,  very  shortly  prior  to  the  accident,  was  observed 
to  be  occupied  at  the  counter  of  the  warehouse,  attended 
by  the  female  who  also  unfortunately  fell  a  victim,  with 
a  quantitj'  of  the  powder  before  him,  which  he  was  about 
to  put  into  a  bottle  standing  near  at  hand.  One  of  these 
witnesses  passed  by  him  so  shortly  before  the  explosion, 
that  it  took  place  before  he  had  time  to  descend  tho  steps 
of  the  warehouse  :  and  that  moment  he  obaerved  that  Mr. 
W.  was  rubbing  some  of  it  between  his  hands,  but  by 
what  precise  means  the  explosion  was  caused,  remains, 
and  must  still  remain,  wholly  unexplained.  It  waa 
known  that  tho  deceased  was  sometimes  in  the  habit  of 
coUectingthe  powder  with  the  aitl  of  a  knife<blade,  when 
putting  it  into  bottles,  but  whether  he  used  it  on  thii 
occasion  could  not  be  ascertained  ;  a  blow  or  frictioii 
against  some  hard  substance,  no  doubt,  however,  gave 


418 


OLD  AND   NEW  BIEMINOHAM. 


CTbe" 


effect  to  the  latent  qaalities  of  the  mixture.  It  is  sup- 
posed the  quantity  that  exploded  was  from  foor  to  five 
pounds  weight ;  and  from  the  testimony  of  the  medical 
gentleman  (Ifr.  Lloyd)  who  examined  the  bodies,  it  is 
some  slight  consolation  to  \uiow  that  the  deaths  «f  the 


In  April,  1825,  we  read  the  following  an- 
nouncement  of  a  new  paper  for  Birmingham, 
which  ultimately  hecame  one  of  the  most  thriving 
of  weekly  journals,  and  may  be  regarded  as  the 


LORD     JOHN     RUSSELL: 
From  a  pen-and-ink  sketch. 


sufferers  must  have  been  almost  instantaneous.  After  a 
long  and  most  painful  investigation,  the  verdict  returned 
in  both  cases  was  Accidental  Death.  The  females  who 
were  conveyed  to  the  hospital,  notwithstanding  the 
severity  of  their  injuries,  we  are  happy  to  say,  are  in  a 
fair  way  of  recovery.  The  remains  of  Mr.  Wilson,  who 
was  little  more  than  21  years  of  age,  were  interred  on 
Friday,  in  St  Mary's  Chapel-yard. 


progenitor  of  the  Birmingham  Daily  Past,  a 
newspaper  which  has  long  since  taken  its  place 
in  the  front  rank  of  provincial  "  dailies  "  : — 

New  Birminqham  Pap£R. 
On  Saturday,  the  4th  day  of  June  next,  will  be  pub- 
lished a  new  weekly  paper,  to  be  entitled  Ths  Birmiko- 


Town  ImproTeraetiU  J 


OLD  Aim  NEW  BIRMINGHAM. 


419 


MAM  JouitNAL.  A  prospectus,  aetting  forth  the  ex- 
pediency  of  introiluciixg  the  same,  unci  the  principles  of 
Its  gpTemment,  will,  in  a  few  days,  be  circuljited  through- 
•out  the  extensive^  popuJona,  and  important  districts  of 
thin  and  the  adjoining  coutitiea. 

The  Birmingham  Jonmal,  containing  the  Foreign 
Intelligence  received  in  London  to  the  last  period  on  the 
preceding  evening,  Parliamentary  Proceedings,  a  correct 
report  of  the  London  and  Provinciid  Markets,  with  a 
Jadicioo&ly  selected  masii  of  iiziporlant  local  information, 
will  be  published  precisely  at  ttvtlve  o'clock  every  Satur- 
day morning  By  thia  arntugement,  and  through  the 
medium  of  its  agencies,  it  will  bo  circulated  thronghout  a 
district  of  twenty-five  miles  round  Birmingham  the 
^AMB  EVENING,  and  in  the  princii>!Ll  towns  in  th«  king- 
4om  early  on  the  following  morning. 


hands  of  the  Tory  party  ;  in  1832  it  was  sold  to 
Messrs.  Piirkes,  Scholeiield,  and  Redfern,  and 
became  the  organ  of  the  Liberals  ;  but  it  did  not 
become  either  a  eiiccessful  or  remunerative 
venture  until  1844,  when  it  was  purchased  by 
Mr,  Feenej,  the  founder  of  the  Post 

There  were  atill  certain  rights  enjoyed  hy  that 
now  almost  mythical  personage  the  Lord  of  the 
Manor,  in  Birmingham,  in  the  matter  of  certain 
stallages  in  the  market,  and  these,  it  appears, 
stood  in  the  way  of  a  long-needed  improvement, 
the  proviaioa  of  a  covered  market-plaoe.     These 


THK   lUCFOllMKrife     UEHAL. 


Printed  and  publiahedj  for  the  Proprietors,  by  Williann 
Hodgettfl,  No.  16,  Spicenl-alrect  (oppobito  St.  Martio's 
Chiirch)  to  whom,  or  to  the  Editor,  all  coromnnieationa 
(free  of  poatftge)  ore  requeated  to  be  addressed. 

Agenta  in  London,  Messrs.  Newton  and  Co.^  No.  5, 
Warwick-square,  and  Mr.  Barker,  No.  33^  Fleet-street. 

The  Joutfial  was  originally  started  by  the 
little  coterie  of  old-fashioned  Tories  who  used  to 
meet  at  "  Joe  Lyndon's  " — the  Mineroa  taveru  ; 
and  owed  its  birth  to  the  annoyance  of  *'  the 
party ''  at  certain  remarks  on  the  Birmingham 
Tories  which  had  appeared  in  the  Times.  They 
went  through  the  solemn  farce  of  burning  the 
ofiending  newspaper,  it  is  said,  previous  to  the 

asideration  of  the  proposed  new  '*  organ,*'  and, 

'"^^er    subscribing    the   necessary   capital,    made 

arrangements  with  Mr.  William  Hodge tta  for  the 

atarting  of  the  paper  which  was  to  reflect  their  pecu- 

Har  views.    The  Journal  did  not  long  remain  in  the 


were  ultimately  purchased,  in  1825^  by  the 
Commissioners  ;  and  t\t  the  same  time  measures 
were  taken  for  the  extension  of  the  market-placei 
and  for  the  provision  of  better  accommodation 
for  the  increasing  number  of  sellers  and  buyers 
therein.  Uwing  to  the  opposition  of  certain  of 
the  inhabitants,  however,  these  improvements 
were  not  effected  during  that  year;  but  in 
November,  1827,  the  Commissioners  issued  the 
following  notice  : —  ' 

The  Commiaaioners  of  the  Street  Acts,  in  conseqnenoe 
of  applications  made  to  them  by  the  Magiatratea  and 
others,  have  again  given  the  notice  rct| aired  by  Parlia- 
ment of  their  intention  to  ap[dy  in  the  ensuing  sessioa 
for  an  act  to  cuablt*  them  to  eflVct  sundry  contemplated 
improvements,  and  particularly  to  erect  a  market -house, 
and  to  increase  the  accommodations  which  are  indispen- 
»ably  necessary  for  the  due  administration  of  jnatice.  It 
therefore  remains  to  be  seen  whether  the  Comml^ioners, 
acting  as  trosteea  for  the  public  benefit,  will  receive  that 


420 


OLD  AKB    KEW  BIBMENGHAM. 


[ThB  pmpOMd  Town  BalL 


i 


f 


degree  of  support  from  the  inli*bitant«  gcncndly  which  ia 
Mientiiil  to  their  suwgbb, 

The&e  were  r»ot,  however,  the  only  improve- 
ments  the  Commisaionera  proposed  to  eflFect  in 
the  town.  Their  scheme  included  the  enlaige- 
meni  of  BmithMd  Market;  the  widening  of 
Stafford -street ;  '*  the  opening  into  Park-street  from 
Digbeth;  the  widening  and  iniprovement  of 
Digheth,  alao  of  the  end  of  Allison-street;  the 
improvement  of  New-atreet  at  tho  upper  end  of 
Worcester-street ;  Union-passage,  from  Cherry- 
street  to  Bull -street ;  the  widening  of  Smallhrook- 
fttroet  at  the  end  of  Dudky-street ;  the  improve- 
ment of  Hurst-sti-e^it ;  the  improvement  of 
Navigation-street  and  Pinlold-atreet ;  the  improve- 
ment of  Masshonse-lane  ;  and  the  improvement 
of  the  Ixittom  of  Worcester-street" 

But  there  wm  still  another  moat  important  and 
necef^*ary  requirement  of  public  life  for  which  the 
Commissioners  proposed  to  make  provision,  along 
with  their  other  town  improvements.  It  will 
doubtless  be  remembered  by  readers  of  the 
earlier  chapters  tliat,  until  late  in  the  eightetmtb 
century,  diminutive  **  town's  meetings  "  were  wont 
to  bo  held  **  in  the  cliamber  over  the  Cross  ;  "  in 
later  years  they  had  been  held  either  in  the  large 
room  at  the  Public  Offices,  or  at  the  Shakespear 
Tavern,  in  New  Street,  Nowadays,  however, 
the  only  building  in  which  it  was  possible  to  hold 
even  a  respectable  town's  meeting  was  Beards- 
worth's  Kepository ;  and  that  bad  the  drawback 
of  being  in  private  Iiands,  and  was,  moreover,  not 
overburdened  with  elegance  of  appearance.  The 
next  object,  was  therefore/*  the  purchase  of  a  proper 
site  for,  and  the  erection  of  a  Town  HaJl,  suitable  . 
for  the  transaction  of  public  business,  an  object  to 
which  the  attention  of  the  Commissioners  was 
called,  in  the  first  instance,  by  the  Musical 
Committee  of  the  General  Hospital,  and  which 
has  since  been  more  forcibly  urged  by  a  very 
large  proportion  of  the  ratepayers."  On  this 
subject  it  was  thought  expedient  **  to  confer  with 
the  deputation  of  the  MemoriaHsts,  who  exhibited 
to  the  Committee  a  plan  of  a  suitable  building 


ved  Uie 

[>rog^H 
proj^ 


capable  of  containing  3,000  persons,  the  eBinnalad 
expense  of  which,  including  the  purchase  of  a 
freehold  site,  they  stated  to  be  about  -£20,000'* 

The  Town  Improvement  Bill  (comprising  th^ 
whole  of  the  foregoing  provisions)  received  Uie 
Royal  aasent  on  the  26th  of  May^  in  ih« 
year.  One  of  the  earliest  notes  of  pi 
relative  to  the  carrying  out  of  the  several  proj 
thus  sanctioned,  deals  with  the  selection  of  a  sit* 
for  the  Town  HalL  In  the  Gazette  of  July  28» 
we  read  that : 

At  a  special  meeting  of  th«  Commissiiineri  of  th*  y«w 
Improvement  Act,  on  Friday^  it  was  resolreil,  thAt  th^ 
intend<id  Town  Hall  fihould  be  erected  in  lieunett*a  HiU, 
near  to  the  Public  News  Room.  Plana,  estimate!,  and 
specifications  will  be  advertised  for  m»  loon  u  Uit 
purehaae  of  the  land  neeeisary  for  the  porpos*  it 
arnmged. 

In  September,  we  read  further,  that  "the 
widening  and  improving  the  Stafiford  Street  end 
of  the  town  has  been  determined  upon,  by  thft 
Commissioners,  as  the  first  public  work  to  be 
executed  under  the  authority  of  the  new  improve- 
ment act" 

In  the  August  of  1829  we  note  that  '*tlie 
noble  proprietor  of  the  Edgbaaton  estate^  and 
the  owners  of  the  Long  Moors  and  Balsall  Heath 
estate,  have  agreed  immediately  to  form,  at  a 
cost  of  at  least  £1,000,  a  direct  line  of  ?oad,  $6 
feet  wide,  from  the  Worcester  Road,  opposite 
the  end  of  the  Wellington  lload,  leading  across 
the  Pershore  Road  and  the  river  Rea,  into  tba 
Alcester  Road,  near  to  ilr.  Haden's  reaidence.* 
This  new  line  of  communication  has  been  long 
wanted  by  the  inhabitants  of  Edgbaaton  and 
Highgate,  and  will  reduce  the  dbtance  between 
the  two  points  from  two  miles  to  about  three- 
quarters  of  a  mile*" 

Towards  the  end  of  the  same  year,  anothor 
most  important  street  improvement  was  effected. 
The  rapid  growth  of  the  eastern  end  of  the 
the    town, — a  populous   district   having    arisen 

*  Or  ai  wt  ahcmld  sajr  newadayf  i  **  f^ai  th«  BrUtH  Be^ 
opposite  the  imA  of  lii«;  Wiimtigtan  Bond,  leading  «»um  fHETilMttfl 
Hoad  und  Uiu  rivrr  Rt^  ifito  tho  MomltH  SotA,  Dieu  Ut  St,  FusmTt 
Church."  Thli  uow  tboiougblbro  took  tbe  muM  «r  '*  the  fiatna 
Heatl)  Road."— U.K.  n. 


Town  ImprovDinentf.] 


OLD  AND    NEW    BUIMINGHAM. 


421 


I 


l)«tween  Aahted  and  the  Aston  Road,  whicb  at 
iirat  bore  the  inelegajit  name  of  *'  J>utIdeston 
Town," — the  Commissioners  wisely  took  time  by 
the  forelock,  and,  before  the  whole  of  the  land 
was  built  upon,  constructed  a  main  thoruughfaro 
from  Gosta  Green  to  the  Baltley  Gate,  near 
Bloomsbury,  called  Gieat  Lkter  Street^  "  thereby 
•opening  a  direct  road  from  the  centre  of  the 
town  to  Castle  Bromwiclj^  Coleahill,  etc," 

The  Town  HaU  Committee  experienced  con- 
eiderable  dilhculty  in  the  selection  of  a  suitable 
fiite ;  on  April  26,  1830,  they  announce  that  they 
**  have  found  themselves  compelled  to  abandon 
the  contemplated  site  at  the  further  end  of  New 
Street,  in  con3equence  of  the  exorbitant  prices 
-demanded  by  the  present  occupiei*8  of  the  pre- 
mises. It  would  certainly," — ^thcy  continue, — 
**have  been  a  desirable  situation  on  account  of 
ita  elevation,  the  open  space  around  it,  the  excel- 
lence of  the  approaches  to  it  on  ail  aides,  and  the 
handsome  termination  it  would  have  formed  to 
New  Street."  They  trust,  however,  **  that 
another  site  will  ere  long  he  found,'*  and 
•conclude  their  report  by  suggesting  *'  to  those 
portions  who  may  have  suitable  situations,  the 
«j[pediency  of  offering  thorn  to  the  Commis- 
sioners for  the  purpose,"  At  last^  after  much 
disappointment  and  delay,  the  Commissiouers 
were  succeasful  in  obtaining  a  site  for  the  build- 
ing,— the  he^t  site,  as  experience  has  proved,  that 
4jonld  possibly  have  been  fixed  upon  for  such  a 
building,  had  they  the  whole  of  the  town  to 
choose  from.  In  the  Gazetie  of  August  16,  1830, 
we  read,  that : 

At  a  numerous  meetiiii^  of  the  Commisaioners  of  the 
Stn?ni  Act  on  Tiiesdny  last,  specially  convened,  it  was 
unAJiiniousIy  »let©miini«d  tlitt  the  intended  Town  Hall 
should  be  erecteti  in  Fanidis*  Street.  Tbia  very  desirable 
atto,  so  well  calcttlntcd  to  give  a  good  ftrchitet^tnral  finish 
to  N«?w  Stixi't,  has,  w^  understand »  been  contracted  for 
an<t  obtained  hj  the  CouiiniftsionLTii  at  a  fair  and  reason- 
mblt'  price  ;  and  there  i»  now  every  prospect  that  tlic 
work  will  proceed  withont  fiirt?jer  interruption.  In 
Sildittoa  to  the  land  requinul  for  tin*  Vmildiu^  itself,  the 
-CominlfiiloQrrf,  as  a  matter  of  convenience  and  to  prerent 
the  erection  of  any  nuisance  in  the  immediato  neighbour- 


hcKHl.  have  purchased,  on  very  advantageous  terms,  tht 
reversion  of  the  property  at  the  lack,  extending  to 
Edmund  Street  and  fronting  to  Congrevo  Street, 

In  our  next  chronicle  of  eventa  we  shaU  have 
to  record  the  erection  of  the  Hall. 

Another  welcome  reform  in  street  affairs  during 
this  decade  was  the  removal  of  the  turnpike  gate  in 
Deritend,  in  1828.  The  Gazette  of  August  25th, 
in  that  year,  gives  a  very  interesting  little  ''history 
in  brief  "  of  the  origin  of  these  tolls,  together  with 
a  recapitulation  of  the  various  incidents  in  connec- 
tion with  the  erection  of  the  last  bridge  in  thia 
ancient  thoroughfare,  and  the  formation  of  the 
Trust,  which  although  notice  has  already  been 
taken  of  these  matters,  is  worth  quoting  here 
entire  : 

The  Tolls  payable  at  Deritend  Bridge,  and  at  the  other 
Gittea  in  Dcritend  leading  into  the  town,  will  cease  on 
the  *27th  inatant,  at  twelve  oVlockat  night,  and  the  turn- 
pike gates  and  houses  will  be  removed.  It  may  not  be 
uuiutereating  to  our  readers  to  give  a  short  account  of 
the  origin  of  these  tolls,  and  the  improvements  wbidi 
have  been  made  by  the  Trustees  tmder  the  several  Acts 
of  Parliament  that  have  been  passed  for  erecting  the 
bridge.  At  a  meeting  of  the  inhahitanta,  called  by  public 
advertisement,  on  the  17th  of  January,  1787,  it  was 
resolved  that  an  Application  ahould  be  made  to  Parlia* 
ment  for  an  act  to  erect  a  Turnpike  at  Deritend  Bridge, 
for  the  purpose  of  taking  down  and  rebuilding  the  bridge, 
for  widening  the  avenues  thereto,  and  for  preventing  the 
lower  part  of  the  town  from  being  overflowed.  It  will  be 
in  the  recollection  of  many  persons  now  living,  that  at 
this  period,  in  limes  of  flood,'  the  lower  part  of  Digbeth 
was  impassable,  and  it  became  absolutely  necessary  to 
take  down  and  rebuild  the  bridge,  and  to  widen,  deepen, 
and  vary  the  bed  and  course  of  the  river.  From  an 
account  tak*>^n  by  a  Gentlemau  residing  in  Deritend,  of 
the  number  of  cflrriages  and  horses  paftsing  over  the 
bridge,  it  was  calcu luted  that  a  small  toll  of  two-pence 
for  each  four-wheele(!  carriage,  one  penny  for  every  two- 
wheeled  earriflge,  and  one  half- penny  for  every  horse, 
would  be  sufficient  in  the  course  of  four  years  to  enable 
the  Trustees  to  take  down  and  rebuild  the  bridge,  and 
make  every  other  necessary  improvement.  The  smonnt 
of  the  tolls  collf^cted  during  the  four  years  produced* 
however,  but  £500  per  annum,  which  was  Httle  more  than 
one  half  the  estimated  produce ;  the  consequence  waa, 
that  the  TruJitees  at  the  expiration  of  the  act—  the  tolls 
having  produced  so  much  less,  and  the  work  having  cost 
so  much  more  than  was  expected— found  themselvoi, 
notwithstanding  the  receipt  of  a  rate  in  aid  of  the  tolls, 
many  thousand  ponnds  in  debt.  In  this  dilemma,  they 
applied  to  Parliament  to  renew  the  Act  for  a  further 
term,  and  for  an  inorease  in  the  tolls  ;  but  in  cotisequenee 


422 


OLD  AOT>    NEW    BIRMINGHAM. 


ttim  J 


I 


of  A  powerful  oppositfon,  the  upplication  was  unaucoesafnl. 
Tbii^the  nmtter  r«eted,  with  a  bridge  not  more  than  half 
conjpleteil,  until  1813,  when  the  trustees  renewed  their 
application  for  and  obtained  another  act  to  complete  the 
bridge,  and  make  the  other  improvements  required  by 
thf  first  act,  and  to  pay  the  principtl  of  the  amount 
borrowed,  the  persona  who  had  lent  money  on  the  credit 
of  the  toll  a  baving  Agreed  to  Bocrifice  all  interest  This 
act  continued  in  force  until  1822,  when  another  act  was 
applied  for  and  obtained,  for  the  purpose  of  widening  the 
lower  part  of  Digbeth,  between  Eea-street,  and  Mill-lane, 
and  widening  and  repairing  the  two  bridges  in  Bradford- 
street  and  C'heapside.  For  this  purpose  power  was  given 
to  the  trustees  to  continue  the  tolln  until  the  1st  of 
January t  IS 30,  The  trustee,  howaver,  have  b«eD  enablad 
to  accomplish  all  the  objects  of  this  last  act  in  a  shorter 
period  than  was  given  by  it,  and,  as  we  have  before 
stated,  the  toll  wilt  b«  diBcontinued  on  the  27th  instant 
The  Trustocs  have  diligently,  faithfully,  and  disin- 
terestedly accomplished  the  object  of  their  trust,  and  the 
public  should  bo  informed,  that  whenever  expenses  were 
incurred  at  any  of  their  meetings,  such  expenses  were 
paid  by  the  trustees  out  of  their  own  i>ockei8.  Out  of 
ninety-five  inenibers  of  the  trust  who  were  appointed  by 
tlie  first  act  of  1788,  the  following  are  all  that  are  now 
living :— Kev.  C.  Curtis,  liev.  Dn  Madan,  Samuel 
GaUon,  Esq.»  Mr.  Anderton.  Mr.  Timothy  Smith,  Mr. 
Cockle,  Mr.  John  Parker,  and  Mr.  Henry  Parker. 

In  1829,  the  ftrst  stepa  were  taken  towards 
the  fonEation  of  a  Botanical  and  Horticultural 
Society  in  the  town,  and  the  establishment  of 
Botanical  Gardens  in  its  vicinity.  On  the  9th 
of  July,  in  that  year,  a  meeting  was  held  at  the 
Old  Library  for  this  purpose,  Thomas  Lee,  Esq., 
prositling ;  and  it  was  resolved  that  four  hundred 
ahar-es  be  raised,  at  £5  per  ah  are,  and  that  each 
share  he  subjected  to  a  subscription  of  one  guinea 
per  annum.  On  the  23rd  of  September,  another 
meeting  was  held,  at  which  the  Earl  of  Dart- 
month  presided  J  whereat  a  committee  of  manage- 
ment was  appointed,  with  full  powers  to  select  a 
site  for  the  gardens,  and  to  carry  the  objects  of 
the  society  into  eflect.  The  noble  carl,  we  read, 
was  also  pleased,  at  tlie  request  of  the  meeting, 
to  accept  the  office  of  president  of  the  institn- 
tion. 

It  was  not  until  1830,  however,  that  the 
gnciety  obtained  a  suitable  piece  of  land  for  their 
gardens.  At  a  meeting  held  on  the  19th  of 
October,  in  that  year,  a  recommendation  from  the 
committee,  to  establish  the  proposed  gai-dens  "  at 


I 

and 
wiun 

ttirc^TI 


Holly  Bank,   in  the  parish   of  Edgbastiiii," 
unanimously  approved;  "the   site  thus  selecl 
being  admii'ahly  adapted  for  the  porpoae,*'  and 
offering  **many  peculiar  adv&ntagea  not  alaevhcn 
to  he  mrjt  with  in  this  neighbonrhoocL** 
effect    of    this    welcome   announcement   i 
stimulate  the  demand  for  shares,  so  that  it 
anticipated     that    the    whole    number   reqi 
would  apoedily  be  subscribed  for. 

The  ground  having  been  secured,  {compwDg, 
originally,     twelve      acres,     but      subseqiientlj 
extended,  on  the  recommendation  of  Mr,  Loudon, 
to   sixteen   acres,)   the    ooimnittee   ImmediaU:!/ 
engaged  a  competent  curator,  Mr.  Cameron,  who, 
with  the  advice  and  practical   assistance  of  the 
gentleman  just  named,  as  well  as   of  the  com- 
mittee, proceeded  to  lay  out  the  gardens  to  the 
best   advantage;    and,   aided     by    tha    nattnal 
advantages  of  the  situation,  they  w&t&  sucoessfid 
in  forming  a   most    delightful  retre&i^  pleiLsing 
alike  to  the  botanist  and  the  admirer  of  nal^p  - 
lovelineea  in  whatever  shape  she   reveala  herijii. 
A  magnificent  elliptical  conservatory  wa»  subse- 
quently erected  by  Mr,  Jones,  which  was  at  that 
time  considered  one  of  tlie  finest  in  the  kingdom; 
and   the    entire    gardens,    with    their    channing 
walks,  the  terrace,  the  beautiful  undulating  lawn, 
and   the   many  interesting  features,  such  as  the 
arboretum,     rosarium,   pinetum,    femeriea,   etc,, 
form  an  irresistible  attraction   to  all  classes,  (far 
the  grounds  are  open  on  certain  da^*^  at  a  ni-  ^ 
nominal   charge  for   admission,)    thus    cDala:., 
even  the  humblest  artisan  to   avail  himself  of 
these   pure   and  healthful    pleasures) ;   and  tho 
society   may  fairly  take  to  iteelf    the  credit  of 
having  cultivated  among  the  massea  a  taste  for 
that  employment  wltich  **  is  the  greatest  refresh- 
ment to  the  spirits  of  man,"  even  as  it  was  man'i 
primary  occupation  ere  he  lost  the  innocence  of 
the  first  Arcadia. 

Among  the  obituary  notices  of  this  period 
fi.nd  the  name  of  Richard   Pratchet,  who  at  oi 
time  filled  tlie  office  of  High  Bailiff  of  the  toviit 
and  was  in  every  way  a  useful  and  enetgelic 


iJLL>    AXB   NEW   BERMINCiHAM. 


423 


jHiLlic  man ;  a  Commissioner  of  ilm  Street  AoU, 
an  J  one  wlio  was  ever  ready  to  nsaist  in  carrying 
out  improvements.  He  tlietl  **  at  Im  home, 
Sand  IMts,  near  tbiij  town,"  July  4,  1821,  aged 
67 ;  and  a  monument  was  erected  in  acknow- 
ledgment of  bis  ywlAk  services,  in  St  Martin's 
CbuTch,  from  a  desijrn  liy  Mr.  Holliiw. 


winch  Birmingham,  a^  the  Metropolis  of  the 
Midlands,  had  attracted  to  horself  the  population 
of  the  surrounding  counties,  even  as  far  off  as 
tlie  Principality,  [n  earlier  times,  as  we  know, 
there  ivai?  a  **  Welsh  end,*'  ami  perhaps  a  little 
colony  of  Welshmen,  but  the  latter  is  somewhat 
doubtful;  in  1824  tlieio  was  evidently  a  Welsh 


'''ims 


Frfim  ttif  ttut  0/  MiH  iAhe, 


On  the  1 6th  uf  Januaiy,  in  the  fullowing  year, 
the  General  Hospital  had  to  mourn  the  loss  of 
its  treasurer, — and  one  of  its  most  generous 
patrons, — ^Mr.  Charles  Lloyd,  sen.,  of  whom  a 
{Kirtrtiit  and  a  brief  incidental  notice  lias  been 
giviu  in  our  .sketch  c»f  Chariea  Lloyd  the  younger. 
As  we  bavo  already  staled,  a  beautiful  bust  was 
plic«il  in  the  General  Hospital,  as  a  memorial  of 
bU  m-rvicfcs  \jh  Ix-balf  of  that  excellent  charity. 

Among  the  minfjr  incidents  of  this  period  we 
coxno  acro^  one  which  iudic^ites  the  extent  to 
54 


contingent,  which  imluded  **a  very  citiisiduntble 
number  of  poor  person?,"  and  not  a  few  of  our 
more  wealthy  townsmen.  It  is  pleasing  to  record 
that  at  this  comparatively  early  date  the  latter 
wore  so  far  mindful  of  their  poorer  couiifrymen 
to  Like  steps  for  the  foruuitiou  of  a  charitablo 
society  on  their  bcbidf.  A  meeting  wm  held 
^klarch  Isfc,  1824,  J^fr.  Kdwnrd  Lloyd  Williama 
pre-*iding»  at  which  it  was  resolved  **  That  a 
Soi'toty  be  fi»rmod,  to  be  ealle<l  *The  iJirmingham 
Sk  David's  Society,'  iu  object  being  to  assist  in 


424 


OLD  AND  NEW   BIRMINGHAM. 


[Leneh's  Trust,  ete- 


educating    and    clothing    Children    of    Welsh 

Parentage,   not  having  parochial  settlement  in 

Warwickshire  or  the  adjoining  counties."    The 

society  was  accordingly  established,  and  on  the 

7  th   of  March  in   the  following  year  the  first 

Anni^rersary  Meeting  of  the  subscribers  was  held, 

at  the  Eoyal  Hotel,  at  which  it  was  resolved 

that  the  committee  should  place  five  children, 

conformably  to  the  rules  of  the  institution,  in 

the   Blue   Coat   School,   to   be  maintained  and 

educated   at    the   expense   of    the    St.   David's 

Society.     It  was  stated  at  this  meeting  that  there 

were    not    less    than    between   five  and    seven 

thousand  Welsh  families  residing  within  fourteen 

miles  of  Birmingham,  most  of  whom  were  of  the 

labouring  classes. 

In  the  Gazette  of  December  27,  1824,  appeared 

the  following  interesting  notice   of  one  of   the 

oldest  of  our  local  charities,  to  which  reference 

has  already  been  made  on  several  occasions  in 

these  pages : 

Lench's  Trust. 

Wc  have  pleasure  in  giving  publicity  to  the  following 
interesting  account  of  a  charity  that  lias  long  existed  in  ' 
this  town,  but  wliich,  notwithstanding  its  extent  and 
usefulness,  is,  perhaps,  but  little  known  to  the  great 
majority  of  our  readers.  Comparing  the  good  it  effects 
with  the  means  employed,  it  is  perhaps  unequalled  ;  and, 
certainly  wo  are  aware  of  no  institution  more  eagerly 
sought  after  by  those  for  whoso  benefit  it  is  designed. 
On  Tuesday  last,  being  St.  Thomas's  Day,  tlie  Bailiff  of 
Lench's  Trust  (the  present  Low  Bailiff  of  this  Town) 
paid  the  usual  gratuity  of  ten  shillings  to  each  of  the 
112  occupants  of  the  alms-houses,  who  are  principally 
widows.  There  are  at  this  time  nearly  a  hundred  appli- 
cants for  admission  ;  and  such  is  the  attention  paid  by 
the  trust  to  the  comfort  of  the  inhabitants,  that  but  four 
deaths  have  occurred  during  the  last  two  years,  though 
there  are  forty  between  70  and  80  years  of  age,  eighteen 
between  80  and  90,  and  five  upwards.  Several  have 
occupied  their  rooms  from  20  to  30  years,  a  few  more  than 
40,  and  one  individual  not  less  than  50  years,  and  who 
is  now  nearly  one  hundred  years  ohl,  scarcely  any  of 
them  being  under  60.  Of  late  years,  to  render  the 
charity  beneficial  to  the  most  needy,  it  has  been  the 
custom  not  to  admit  any  much  under  70  years  of  age. 
They  receive  quarterly  five  shillings  each  ;  but  at  this 
Reason  of  the  year  the  trustees  have  thoughtit^right  to 
double  the  usual  allowance. 

The  founder  of  this  excellent  and  well-appropriated 
charity  died  in  the  reign  of  Henry  VIIL,  and  bequeathed 
a  small  sum  for  the  benefit  of  the  poor,   and  in  part  for 


the  paving  and  improTement  of  the  town.  The  preaeot 
income,  however,  does  not  all  ariae  from  his  bequest,  for 
more  than  one  benevolent  individual  ainee  his  time  hsve 
bequeathed  to  the  same  tmst  property  to  be  applied  by 
tht'ta  for  the  benefit  of  the  poor  of  this  place,  at  tlieir 
own  discretion.  The  late  Mrs.  Scott,  of  New  Stieet, 
some  few  years  back,  enabled  the  trustees  to  build  one 
side  row  of  the  almshouses  situated  in  Dudley  Street, 
and  at  her  decease  she  endowed  them. 

The  original  buildings  for  this  porxKMe  are  those  in 
Steelhouse  Lane,  containing  42  rooms  ;  next,  those  in 
Dudley  Street,  containing  88  ;  and  lastly,  those  in  ?uk 
Street,  containing  82  rooms,  making  a  total  of  112, 
which,  being  erected  at  an  average  of  perhaps  not  more 
than  £iO  a  room,  supply  as  many  comforts  in  proportion 
to  the  expenditure  as  perhaps  any  institution  for  the  poor 
can  exhibit. 

We  have  been  favoured  with  another  account  of 
this  most  interesting  "gild/*  from  documentaiy 
sources,  which  will  appear  in  the  Appendix  to 
the  present  volume. 

It  was  during  this  decade,  as  most  of  our 
readers  are  aware,  that  the  great  change  in  the 
modes  of  travelling  was  inaugurated,  and  the 
contemporary  records  are  full  of  allusions  to  the 
new  "railroad  mania"  which  threatened  to 
become  more  universal  and  all-absorbiug  than 
even  the  "  canal  frenzy  "  sixty  years  earlier ;  but 
we  must  leave  the  story  of  this  movement  for 
our  third  chapter  of  the  history  of  travelling. 
There  is,  however,  one  paragraph  which  may 
come  here,  as  showing  the  attention  which  the 
new  motor  was  attracting  in  all  branches  of 
locomotion.  In  the  Gazette  of  October  2nd, 
1826,  we  read  the  following  notice  of  the 
arrival  of  the  first  Steam  Canal  Boat  in  Bir- 
mingham : 

Stkam  Canal  Boat. 

A  Steam  Canal  Boat  arrived  in  this  town  on  Fiiday 
last  from  London,  carrying  twenty  tons,  and  is  the  first 
successful  attempt  ever  made.  The  steam  is  generated 
with  the  Patent  Duplex  Generators,  upon  an  entirely 
new  principle,  without  a  boiler,  and  without  danger. 
The  weight  of  the  machinery  does  not  exceed  four  tons. 
Her  consumption  of  coal  upon  the  trip  was  one  ton.  She 
has  a  wheel  in  tlie  stem,  upon  an  improved  construction, 
that  is  capable  of  being  raised  up  on  entering  a  lock. 
The  average  of  her  speed  was  equal  to  that  of  the  fly 
boats.  She  passed  through  the  long  tunnel,  one  mi.ti 
and  three-fourths,  in  forty  minutes,  and  towed  another 
boat  carrying  ten  tons,  without  sensibly  diminishing  her 
sjieed.     Great  curiosity  was  excited  on  the  hanks  of  the 


B  nniJiigliAni  ii]  1839.) 


OLD   AND   NEW   BIliM!NGHAD^L 


425 


cuiftl  by  this  navel  mode  of  travelling,  aud  at  one  time 
Ahe  bod  DO  less  than  fifty  passengers  upon  hcrderk.  The 
neflult  of  this  experiment  has  been  perfectly  satisfactory, 
and  when  the  machinery  is  applied  tu  regular  canat  boats 
of  a  soitable  construction,  it  is  calcalato<l  that  one  whole 
day  will  be  saved  in  time  between  London  and  Birming- 
hain.  It  is  the  intention  of  the  proprietors  to  establish  a 
line  of  steam  boats  iinmediiitely*  This  machinery,  from 
ita  lightness,  is  ]K*culiarly  ailapted  for  shoal  rivers  and 
cands  ;  and  the  I'atentee,  who  is  now  in  town,  will 
dispose  of  exclnsive  pi  ivilegca  for  any  part  of  the  cotmtry, 
upon  very  reflaonablo  terms. 

While  Birmmgham  was  thus  busy,  in  the 
various  ways  indicated  in  tho  present  chaptefj 
with  her  o%vn  atfaira,  and  wliile  she  was  ako 
engrossed  with  the  great  question  of  parliamentary 
refonn,  she  did  not  fail  to  tahe  her  part  in  the 
various  general  movements  of  the  time,  Lir- 
min^ham  money  was  liberally  subscribed  towortls 


alleviating  the  distress  of  the  Irish  peasantry,  in 
1822;  the  voice  of  Birmingham  was  heard  in 
the  cry  of  righteous  indignation  which  went  up 
from  the  people  of  England  for  the  abolition  of 
slavery  in  the  British  dominions ;  and  Birming- 
ham men,  no  longer,  as  in  1791,  afraid  of 
granting  religious  liberty  to  all  churchea  and 
secU,  joined  in  the  general  memorial  in  favour 
of  the  emancipation  of  Roman  Catholics  from 
that  eivil  disfranchiaemeiit  which  bad  been  their 
portion  ever  since  the  Revolution  in  1688,  A 
local  Catholic  Association  was  formed  in  1824, 
and  in  1829  our  townsmen  of  all  sects — the 
episcopalian  Eann  Kennedy  joining  with  the 
nonconformist  John  Angell  James — united  in 
supporting  the  demand  of  the  Catholics  for  a 
greater  measure  of  civil  Hbeity, 


CHAPTER      LX. 


BIRMINGHAM      IN      188  2, 


Oravelly  IJIU— TJie  VlUftgfof  Awton— The  Old  Park  Avonno— Lichfl^M  Street  ami  the  Old  Ehiuaro-^Rulns  of  St  Pbter^t  Clinrch^The 
MAifci.'t  riicc— Nt<w  Stii*a— Tb^OMGriJjiinif  St'Uw'l— The  Whoiit8h«ar*ri'l  \U  LiUKllonl— Mr,  Hmby  mnd  the  DtikD  of  Norfolk— 
Th»  N,iiji.im1  Sthitol  Im  Pe»  k  Utm*— [>r.  U(Kjk  nnd  (he  Scljoolliciyat— iiite  of  tho  Towti  H al I— Bin gloy  Hoiifl©— Bennett' ft  ani— Tht 
Firat  t  H(kc-  The  Ni?w»  Uoimm     l^Si  afi.t  litll!. 


From  the  laat  half- dozen  chapters  the  reader 
^AJi  by  various  indications,  form  some  idea  of 
the  gradual  change  which  haa  come  over  the 
town  sirieo  our  last  survey ;  it  will,  however,  he 
of  some  interest,  perhaps,  to  gather  up  these 
scaliered  tlu^ads,  and  once  more  to  travel  with 
our  re^dei^i  in  imagination,  through  the  streets  of 
Birmingham,  to  note  their  appearance  at  the  close 
of  th«  Georj^n  era. 

It  is  the  year  of  grace  1832,  and  the  Reform 
itation  has  jtist  culminated  in  the  passing  of  the 
It  me^isure  for  the  extension  of  tlie  franchise.  It 
t8  about  one  huuilred  years  since  Samuel  Johnson 
paid  his  first  vii^it  to  Birmingham,  and  we  are 
now  About  to  enter  the  town  from  the  same  point. 
Am  we  ttaiid  on  the  top  of  the  steep  ascent  called 


Gravelly  Hill,  the  newly-created  Parliamentary 
liorough  of  Birmingham  stretches  out  hefore  us, 
covering  the  oppoBite  hill  and  extending  almoat 
into  the  valley  which  lies  at  our  feet,  wherein 
nestles  peacefully  the  pleasantly  rural  village  of 
Aston,  above  which  rises  the  gmceful  spire  of  the 
cl lurch,  and  the  minaret^like  turrets  of  the  old 
Hall, — exactly  as  Washington  Irving  had  seen 
and  described  them  in  his  delightful  Sketch  Book, 
a  few  years  earlier.  Tlie  hill  on  which  we  stand 
is  considerably  higher  than  the  Gravelly  Hill  of 
later  times.  From  Erdington  to  the  junction  of 
the  Lichfield  and  Tarn  worth  roads,  the  former 
had  not  J  as  yet,  been  levelled  by  the  cutting  of 
tlie  hollow  road,*  and  from  the  finger-post  at  the 


*  Afl  it  HoUotr«y  B^mI. 


42fp 


OLD  AXD   X£W   BmiOXGIIAJL 


timias 


ertzni  of  tii<;  hiU,  Ut  the;  oM  .Salford  bridge,  was  a 
iif9«$p  <\it»i0'AiUi^  which  was  afterwardB  relLeTed  bj 
th*  Hrnciion  of  Ihr;  new  bridge,  and  the  constnic- 
lion  of  the  #;rfil^nkm<^Dt  orer  the  lower  part  of 
ih«  val]«;7. 

In  the  va]ley  Wf;  noti';«  on  our  left  the  ar^aednct 
which  carri«;M  the  J^iniiingham  canal  over  the 
river  An  we  prffCM-^A  up  the  Lichfield  lioad 
i/iwarrls  himjiiigharn,  we  paM  on  our  right  the 
noble  avenue  hiding  up,  through  Aston  Park,  t4> 
IUh  J  fa]],  and  forming  an  unbroken  line  of  trees, 
neaHy  half  a  mile  in  length ;  so  s<^>on  to  bo  "cur- 
tail'd  of  tliiM  fair  proportion,"  by  the  Grand 
Junf'lion  iCitilway.  Wc  have  yet  at  least  a  mile 
it)  tnive]  along  the  liighway,  before  we  reach  the 
oulnkirtM  of  iJirmingham  ;  by  the  old  park  wall, 
through  tli<$  t/ill-gate  at  Aston  (jross,  and  across 
the  bnjok  ;  now  W(j  are  entering  the  town. 

It  conmi'-n^teH  with  the  row  of  pleasantly 
situat^Ml  lioii.-tcHon  tlie  left,  near  Dartmouth  Street, 
coninuinding  an  exleuHive  view  of  the  Lowcells 
(now  eoniijil-rd  into  LozcUh),  and  the  upjKjr  part 
of  Anton  riirk.  iJy  tlie  time  wo  reach  Gosta 
Green  wc  find  (HirMidvim  witliin  the  grimiest  part 
of  Mu!  t.uwn,  i\n^  **  gunniakci-H'  (piarter."  Our  way 
in  up  Lirlilicld  Stn^^l,  pant  the  old  Workhouse, 
to  wliicli  ag<»  and  Hni(*k<^  liave  given  a  dingy  and 
minnrahlo  appcaranrc,  n-niinding  one  almost  of 
thai  grim,  prinon  lik(t  **1iouhu  that  holds  the  parish 
poor,"  wliich  ( 'ral)lM«.  dcsc.rilu'H  with  such  Hogaith- 
likn  lidcdity,  in  '''V\w  Village." 

Wo  reach  at.  h'Ugth  the  Old  St[uaro,  which  had 
only  nu'ontly  been  dtmuded  of  the  pleasant 
garden  shown  in  the  olil  engraving  copied  on 
page  Hft  ;  and  turning  down  the  Lower  Priory 
into  Dale  ImuI,  wo  eomo  in  view  of  the  charred 
walls  of  SL  IVtor'rt  Church,  which  is  in  course 
of  n^storation.  A  marked  improvement  has  been 
olToctod  in  the  principal  stivots  by  the  erection  of 
inui  lamp-i)o8t.»i  along  the  curb-stone,  in  lieu  of 
the  old  pn\jwting  brackets  from  the  walls  which 
had  done  duty  in  the  dark  days  of  oil  lamps, 
ever  since  the  Lighting  Act  of  **  sixty  years 
8ina\** 


We  are  now  in  the  opoi  markc-t-plaoe  in  the 
Boll  King,  which,  with  its  irregolar  rows  of  stalk 
'  and  crowds  of  markel-folk^  is  ao  wdl  reproduced 
in  David  Cox's  familiar  picture.  Cm  our  rigbt 
hand  we  take  oar  last  look  at  the  old  houses 
between  Bell  Street  and  Philip  Street.  wbere<m 
the  CummiBftionen  hare  already  decided  to  erect 
a  convenient  market-house.  Away  in  the 
distance,  orer  the  top  of  St.  Martin's  Chmch, 
wc  catch  a  glimpse  of  the  graceful  roof  of 
Holy  Trinity  Chapel,  where  a  populous  suburb 
has  arisen  since  our  last  smrey,  covering  the 
whole  of  the  rising  ground  from  which  Prince 
Eupert  attacked  the  town  nearly  two  hundred 
years  ago. 

Now  let  us  return  into  New  Street,  and  take 
some  note  of  the  changes  which  the  last  twenty 
years  have  wrought  there.  Take  a  glance  as 
you  pass  at  the  quaint  old-fashioued  inn-yard  of 
the  Swan,  for  time  has  marked  it  to  undergo 
considerable  change  before  we  travel  this  way 
again.  We  are  once  more  in  New  Street,  but 
the  improvements  and  alterations  since  our  last 
survey  have  very  much  changed  its  appearance. 
The  "  Hen  and  Chickens  "  has  invaded  the  foot- 
path, across  which  has  been  erected  a  s<|uaTe 
portico,  supported  on  heavy  round  pillari?. 
Changes,  too,  have  come  over  the  old  Free 
School :  the  **  sleepy  statue,"  as  Hutton  used  lo 
call  it,  has  been  removed ;  having  verified  the 
sago  remark  of  Doctor  Marigold,  that  "  if  you 
don't  go  off  as  a  whole,  when  you  are  alx)Ut 
due,  you're  liable  to  go  off  in  part,  and  two 
to  one  your  head's  the  part."  The  etiigy  of 
Edward  the  Sixth  lost  his  head,  that  important 
moiety  of  his  person  having  rolled  off  his  decayed 
and  mouldy  shoulders  into  the  area  in  front, 
threateniiig  considerable  damage  to  other  heads, 
less  devoid  of  feeling,  below.  So,  fearing  le^t 
the  weightier  portions  of  his  Majesty's  person 
should  follow  in  the  same  direction,  the  govemore 
of  the  school  removed  it  altogether ;  and  with  it 
the  row  of  stone  vases  which  had  adorned  the 
roof.     A  little  later  the  vane  and  capola  wen 


428 


OLD  AXD  XEW  BIRMINGHAM 


iBtfB. 


Basby,  about  whom  m  curiou«  story  b  lolL  Like 
m#3«t  oth^r  BirmiDghain  mannfa«.-tnivrs  of  hLs 
class,  he  maile  the  same  premises  cp«>n  which  he 
carried  on  his  business  s^nre  als*D  a^  his  prirate 
reaidence :  an^l  at  the  V<u:k  thereof  he  kept  a 
pretty  considerable  lirtrr  of  pig?,  t«>  which  he 
derote*!  all  the  time  an<i  attention  he  coold  spare 
from  hLs  business.  H<!:  was  proud  of  his  porkers, 
and  whenever  a  customer  came  to  his  warehouse 
who  aeemetl  likely  to  be  interested  in  his  hobby 
he  was  ever  anxious  to  sh'^^w  them  the  occupants 
of  his  styes.  One  day,  a  stout,  elderly  gentleman 
eame  into  >Ir.  Busby's  warehouse,  and  made 
•undry  purchasers  which  he  directed  to  be  sent 
up  to  the  Royal  Hotel  for  him.  The  wire- 
drawer  lcK>ked  mther  raapicioiial  j  at  his  custoii  er, 
who  was  by  no  means  well-dressed,  and  in  wan  I  ly 
determined  to  take  the  goods  up  himself,  and  to 
leave  them  (mlj  on  condition  that  he  left  a 
receiptefl  bill  with  them.  However,  he  was 
determined  to  be  civil  to  the  man  at  present, 
especially  as  he  was  evidently  a  countryman,  and 
therefore  more  or  less  interested  in  Mr.  Busby  s 
hobby.  So,  before  the  stranger  departed,  the 
manufacturer  said  :  "  You  look  like  a  farming 
gentleman  ;  now,  }te  y«»u  any  judge  in  pigs?" 

"  Well,'  said  his  customer,  "I  am  a  bit  of  a 
judge,  and  Tve  got  a  few  of  my  own.'' 

"  Then,  you  shall  a*^  mine,"  said  the  wire- 
drawer,  and  straightway  led  his  new  friend  into 
the  yard,  to  the  abode  of  his  porcine  pets. 
"There,"  he  continued,  "did  i/oit  ever  see  such 
Ijeauties  in  your  life  ?  * 

"  Well,  they  are  good,"  said  the  supposed 
fanner,  "  but  I  think  I've  got  some  as  good  at 
home." 

Of  course  ]>u.sby  could  not  believe  that  pos- 
sible, and  he  felt  more  determined  than  over  not 
to  see  the  last  of  his  goorls  until  he  had  bi'en 
paid  for  them.  So,  a  little  while  after  the 
stranger  had  departed,  he  followed,  as  directed, 
to  the  hotel,  his  porter  walking  alongside  carrying 
the  goods,  while  he  himself  asked  to  be  shown 
into    the    presence    of     liis    st-Tinge    cr.stomer. 


'^  Walk  this  way,  then,"*  said  the  waita;  udlfa. 
Busby  followed, — to  the  room  wherein  wA  ^ 
supplied  farmer.  ^  This  pezson  wishes  to  m  1 
your  Grace,"  said  the  waiter,  deferentially,  as  ki 
ushered  tlie  now  bewildered  znannfactnrer  iik» 
the  room.— *•  What's  this?"  thought  Boshr,- 
"  Grace,  Grace, — what  have  I  been  doing  I*  lai 
then,  in  a  wlusper  distinctly  andible  to  tbe 
smused  cnstoner,  he  said  to  the  waiter,  '*  Who  i» 
the  gentltrmanl'*— "The  Ihike  of  Xorfolk,' 
whispered  the  latter,  and  left  him  in  his  Gnce't 
presence. 

For  the  next  hour  the  Birmingham  manllil^ 
turer  and  the  head  of  all  the  Howartls  had  the 
ro^m  to  themselves,  and,  before  the  former  left, 
he  had  an  invitation  to  go  and  see  the  pig» 
which  the  I>uke  had  had  the  hardihood  to  con- 
sider e*|ual  to  lu%  b«t  whether  he  ever  journeyed 
so  far  we  do  not  know. 

Mr.  Busby  was  not  magt^mr  in  estimating  the 
Duke's  position  im  society  bj  the  onsuitableiiesi 
of  his  costume  to  his  high  isnk.  In  Munden  s 
R^mhiscfn^'^  it  is  said  that  he  cnce  went  into  & 
hotel  in  Cnvent  Gard«i,  cwdered  dinner,  and  with 
it  a  cucumber. 

"  A  cucumber ! "  exclaimed  the  waiter,  looking 
hanl  at  his  guest's  appearance,  **  why,  they  are 
half  a  guinea  apiece  !" 

'*  Are  they  \ "  replied  the  Duke,  "  then,  bring 

Tlie  waiter  appealed  to  the  host,  who,  taking  a 
peep  at  his  visitor,  recognised  him,  and  ordeivd 
the  dinner  to  be  served  as  re«|uested. 

The  gcnei-al  appearance  of  New  Street,  although 
somewhat  altered  by  the  various  recent  structun^s, 
was  still  that  of  a  quiet,  semi-private  street; 
more  than  half  the  houses  on  the  south  side  were 
private  residence-*,  and  between  Cannon  Street 
and  Needle.-s  Alley,  on  the  other  side  of  the 
street,  were  three  pleasant,  almost  rural,  resi 
dences,  with  trees  and  grass-plots  in  front ;  the 
one  at  the  corner  of  Needless  Alley  being 
occupied  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Cooke,  Head  Master  of 
the  Fr.'e  Ommmar  School     Turning  down  Peck 


Bimitngliuii  la  1S33.] 


OLD   AND   >:EW    lUliMlKGHAM. 


429 


Lune,  (which  entere<i  New  Sfcn'et  at  the  spot  now 
-covered  by  the  recently  added  pnrtions  of  the 
Exchange  Buildings,)  we  reach  the  site  at  the  old 
Dungeon,  which  had  been  pulled  down  Roon  after 
the  completion  of  the  prison  in  Moor  Street ;  in 
ita  stead  we  find  a  national  school,— a  happy 
indication^  let  us  hope,  of  the  improvement  in 
the  social  hahita  and  morals  of  the  people.  At 
the  period  of  our  survey  it  is  occupied  tempo- 
mrUy  by  the  burnt-out  congregation  of  St.  Peter's. 
It  waa  erected  in  1813,  by  public  subscription, 
and  was  calculated  to  accommodate  nearly  a 
thousand  children;  the  ascent  to  the  ufiper^  or 
girla*  nchoolroom,  being  by  means  of  a  spiral  stair- 
case  of  iron.  Among  the  most  frequent  vimtors 
to  the  school  was  the  late  Rev.  I  Jr.  Hook, 
afterwards  Dean  cf  Chichester,  who  was  at  this 
timo  Lecturer  at  St.  Philip's  Churclh  One  who 
was  then  a  scholar,  but  is  now  numbered  among 
■*the  gray  beard  boys,^'  says : 

"The  doctor  was  a  great  enthusiast  on  the 
qnesiion  of  education,  and  when  he  had  tho- 
roughly drilk^d  ilie  first  class^who  always  did 
their  l>est,  for  they  knew  their  man — used  to 
empty  his  pockets  oi  all  the  loose  silver  he  had, 
telling  the  master  to  get  change,  and  then  to 
divide  it  among  the  lads*  Sometimes  it  would 
amount  to  twopence  each ;  and  then,  when  the 
school  broke  up,  there  was  a  scamper  to  'Lease 
I^ne/ where  a  very  dean  old  worn  m  sold  *hot 
6uck,'  a  aweatmeat  much  loved  by  tlie  juvenilea 
of  forty  years  ago.  For  some  reason  or  otiier  the 
scholars  of  Pinfold  Street  School  had  acquired 
tJie  nickname  of  the  *  drowned  bulldogs,'  and 
many  a  fight  we  had  over  that  unpleasant  epithet. 
I  rememl»er  a  school  fight  between  this  and 
several  other  schools  HC(|uiring  such  importance 
that  the  shopkeepers  in  the  town  began  to  put  up 
their  shutters,  till  the  proaenco  of  the  redouljtahle 
•  BiHy  Hall/  witli  bis  ash  p\nnt,  put  terror  into 
the  heels  of  the  combatants,  and  soon  cleared  the 
streets." 

It  is  worthy  of  rcmnrk  that  nt  this  period  the 
lat^  Mr*  Xfcichard  Tapper  Cndhur)*,  and  a  number 


of  friends,  used  to  hold  meetings  every  Monday 
evening  in  the  lower  school-room,  to  advocate  tlie 
Temperance  movement. 

Turning  up  Pinfold  Street  we  soon  reach  tho 
crest  of  the  hill  whereon  the  (Jommissioners  have 
commenced  th'^  erection  of  the  noble  Tou*n  Hall. 
Tliere  is  not  much  Ui  be  seen  at  present,  however, 
except  scaQ'old  poles  and  huildijig  materials,  and 
these  hardly  give  us  an  idea  of  the  future  appear- 
nnce  of  the  building;  one  thing  we  note,  though, 
as  we  walk  along  in  front  of  the  site,  namely, 
that  the  low  roofed  housc^a  iu  Paradise  Street  come 
close  up  to  the  Iltdl,  so  that  when  finished  it 
will  not  be  seen  to  the  best  advantage  from  this 
point  of  view. 

We  now  betake  ourselves  into  liroad  Street, 
which  we  have  not  seen  aince  it  was  a  mere  field- 
path  to  the  Five  Ways.  It  is  now  a  thoroughfare, 
and  there  are  houses  and  maiuifactories  on  either 
side  until  we  reach  BingJey  House,  the  residence 
of  the  Lloyd  family^  with  its  pretty,  parkdike 
grounds  in  front,  across  which  the  tame  rabbits 
scamper,  or  stop  for  a  moment,  to  gaze  fearlessly 
at  the  passers-by.  iJeyond  this  point  the  road 
has  a  pleasant  half  rural  appearance  ;  most  of  the 
houses  standing  hack  from  the  footpath,  having 
pretty  little  lawns  or  grass-plots  in  front 

And  now,  having  readied  the  outskirts  of  the 
town  on  the  western  side,  and  thus  passed  through 
it  from  east  to  west,  we  i^tiirn  to  take  a  last 
glance  at  the  upper  portion  of  New  Street,  which 
we  have  miesed  in  our  wastward  journey  by 
turning  into  Peck  Lane  and  Pinfold  Street. 
Passing  Christ  Church,  we  come  to  a  new 
thoroughfare  called  Bennett's  Hill,  the  **  upstart 
street"  mentioned  by  Miss  Hutton,  which  has 
been  constructed  since  rnir  last  survey.  It  enters 
New  Street  at  the  spot  formerly  occupied  by  the 
Post  Office,  and  tlu^re  is  a  new  and  ratlin r  more 
imposing  structute  err*  tifd  for  the  accommodation 
of  this  branch  of  U\4  Ma,jesty*s  aer\'ice  at  the 
western  corner  of  llennetfs  HiO,  which  has  in 
later  years  been  occupied  by  Messrs.  Lilly  and 
Addinselh     Here  tSere   was  a  little  penthousa 


430 


OLD   AND  NEW   BDiMINOHAM. 


[Binningluuii  in  1S31 


under  which  to  stand  ia  ordar  to  give  or  receive 
letters.  If  there  were  four  persons  standing 
under  this  pent-house  at  once  the  accommodation 
was  taxed  to  the  utmost,  and  the  unhicky  fifth 
must  remain  out  in  the  open  street,  no  matter 
what  the  weather.  But  there  were  not  often 
more  callers  at  one  time  than  the  number  pro- 
vided for  ;  these  were  not  the  days  of  the  penny 
post,  and  the  receipt  of  a  letter  was,  among  the 
humbler  classes,  almost  as  uncommon  an  occur- 
rence as  that  of  a  telegram  nowadays. 

Turning  up  Bennett's  Hill  we  come  to  the  new 
line  of  street  recently  opened,  called  Waterloo 
Street,  where  the  proprietors  of  the  Birmingliam 
News  Koom  have  erected  a  handsome  building 
for  their  use*  from  designs  by  Messrs.  Kick  man 
and  Hutchinson.  It  was  opened  to  the  sub- 
scribers on  the  first  of  July,  1825,  and  ample 
provision  was  made  to  suit  all  classes  of  readers. 
Here  might  bo  found  all  the  leading  London, 
Provincial,  and  Foreign  news])apers,  Shipping, 
Commercial,  and  Law  intelligence,  together  with 
files  of  the  most  important  i)ai)ors,  such  as  the 
London  GiizdUo,  The  Tinws^  and  the  local  journals  ; 
and  our  readers  will  doubtless  be  astonislied  to 
hear  that,  even  in  those  good  old-fashioned  days, 
it  was  open  for  a  few  hours  on  Sundays. 

There  are  several  otlier  now  public  buildings 
which  have  arisen  since  our  last  survey ;  the 
elegant  little  suite  of  rooms  cre.rtel  on  the  ton- 
tine plan  in  Temple  Uow  West,  for  the  accommo- 
dation of  the  Birmingham  New  Library  ;  from 
the  top  of  Livery  Street  we  can  see  in  the  distance 
the  gmceful  tower  of  St.  ( Jeorge's  Church,  and  to 
the  left,  beyond  Oreat  Charles  Street,  the  newly- 
finished  spire  of  St.  Paul's.     Prom  an    eminenci^ 


•  AfterwanU   au-l    still    n^c\    l.y    tli<'    nirmln,'li  iin     IJaiikiii.; 
Company. 


we  may  now  count  the  spires  and  towers  of 
thirteen  town  churches  :  the  older  churches,  St 
Martin's,  St.  Philip's,  and  St.  John's,  DeriteuJ; 
the  churches  of  the  eighteenth  century,  St  l^r 
tholomew's,  St  Mary's,  St  Paul's,  and  St. 
James's,  Ashted ;  and  those  of  recent  date, 
Christ  Church,  Holy  Trinity,  St.  Geoi^'s,  St 
Peter's,  and  St  Thomas's. 

The  liomau  Catholics  have  two  places  of 
worship  in  the  town ;  tiie  Unitarians  have  two ; 
the  Independents  have  three  (a  portion  of  the 
old  congregation  still  remaining  at  the  Livery 
Street  meeting-house) ;  the  various  branches  of 
the  Baptist  community  have  five,  and  those  of 
the  Methodists  the  same  number  ;  and  there  are 
also  places  of  worship  belonging  to  the  Sweden- 
borgians,  the  Catholic  Apostolic  Church 
(Irvingites),  Lady  Huntingdon's  Connexion,  the 
Calvinists  (called  also  Adullamttesj,  and  the 
Jews.  In  all  there  exist  (in  1832,  the  period  of 
which  we  aro  writing)  no  less  than  thirty  five 
places  of  wor.-liip  within  the  boundaries  of  the 
town,  wherein  Leland,  in  1538,  found  but  two; 
and  whereas  in  his  day  there  existed  but  one 
public  building  (the  old  (niildhall  at  the  end  of 
New  Street),  the  reader  will  be  able  to  count  up 
at  this  (lite  more  than  a  score,  comprising' 
hospitals,  schools,  asylums,  libraries,  residing 
rooms,  (Jaliery  of  Arts,  philosophical  and 
literary  institutions,  and,  in  fact,  almost  every 
reiiuirement  of  public  and  social  life; — almost, 
yet  not  quite  ;  we  liave  not  as  yet  a  Town  Hall 
or  a  Markiit  House,  but  these  are  already 
promised,  and  in  a  short  tiuie  we  shall  bo  able 
to  record  tlnur  completion.  And  so  at  the  end 
of  three  hundre  1  years  of  progress,  we  may  he 
able  still  to  say  with  the  old  writer,  "  IJerming- 
ham  is  a  very  mete  place." 


The  TlMatn  Royml.  1821-3  J 


OLD  AKB  NEW  BIEMmGKAM 


431 


CHAFTEK      LXL 


THE    THEATRE     IN      B  I  R  M  I  N  G  H  A  M  »      1821-1830, 
With  Notices  of  Qther  Amuaemenis  of  the  People, 

CbUIaaI  In  Birmingham— Th*>  ♦'Tliedtrical  L^olciT'Oir'— Edmund  Kfian,  UntmAf,  cl^.— The  Cbdteiiimm  Amateiin— Orlmftlili— L[t« 
PropertiMh-Mr  Pow^r  in  FrankfrnU-Jn—A  novel  Anlanctie^A  MlliUry  <lpiet»clo— Another '*  Infant  Rii*'iu4"— Mr.  Wiirdo's 
Addnuit— The  Juveiiile  ConJuctar— Reallsni— ^E(|Uftatrj|illliH;  la  Uie  Theatre^ A nwtdotia  of  H&creaily— The  ''Aftlcaii  Bontiiui "— Kesm 
the  YoixJtgat—**  I  can't  Oitd  Blumiiuigmm  '*— MteoelUneoiu  AmoiieixiatiU. 


OtTR  last  chapter  in  the  history  of  iba  IcM^al 
Btage  left  the  newIy-Tebuilt  Theatre  Royal  in  its 
first  season,  at  the  commencement  of  Mr,  Alfred 
Buim*s  managerial  career.     During  the  season  of 

1821,  Mr.  Vantlenhoff,  Mr.  Mathews,  Mr.  W.  C, 
Ifacready,  Mrs.  Dunn,  and  other  celebrities 
appeared  on  the  boards  of  our  local  theatre,  but 
no  particnlar  event  occurred  worth  chronicling. 
In  the  following  March,  tv?o  CoucerU  were  given 
at  the  theatre^  in  which  Madame  Catalaui  and 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Yainciez  took  part.  The  prices  of 
admission,  were — Boxes,  lOe.,  Pit,  Ts,,  and 
Gallery,  5s.  During  the  regular  theatrical  season 
of  1822,  which  commenced  on  the  20th  of  May, 
playgoers  had  the  advantage  of  a  looally-printed 
"guide,  philosopher,  and  friund,'*  to  aid  them  in 
selecting  *  what  to  see.,/  in  the  shape  of  a  little 
weekly,^ — a  mere  duodecimo  tract  —  entitled 
The  Thantriad  LooherOn^  which  prod  aimed 
itself  to  he  **  nothing,  if  not  critical."  It 
had  but  a  short-lived  existence,  extending 
only  to  the  end  of  the  one  season,  twerit}- 
five    numbers    in    all,     eomniencing    May    27, 

1822,  and  finishing  in  November  j  it  was  edited, 
in  part  at  least,  by  Mr.  C.  R  Cope,  There  was 
much  scope  for  the  exercise  of  its  critical  functions 
during  this  season;  for  in  addition  to  the  great 
Edmund  Kean,  (who  api>eared  in  "Macbeth," 
"Othollo/'  "  Ki(!hfird  HI.,"  "A  New  Way  to  Pay 
Old  Debts,"  Joanna  l^uillie's  **l)e  Montfort,"  and 
other  piec<?5,)  we  had  Mr.  Young,  in  a  rountl  of 
Bhakeitiierian      uharactors,      Mumlpu,      llarley, 

56 


Blanchard,  Miss  M,  Tree,  and  an  admirably 
selected  general  company. 

The  next  season  saw  Mr.  Macready  here  again, 
playing  Wolsey  to  Mrs.  Bunn's  Queen  Katharine  ; 
Farron  also  appeared,  **  for  one  night  only,"  as 
Oljhhyy  in  **The  Clandestine  Marriage,"  Elliston 
and  Mr.  and  Blrs,  Charles  Kemble.  Then  came 
a  series  of  much-lauded  performances  by  **the 
r  V '  *  1  Colonel  Berkeley  and  the  other 
i  I  lum   Amateurs,"  for  the  iienefit  of  the 

Deaf  and  Dumb  Institution  at  Edghaston,  wholly 
uninterfiiting  from  a  dramatic  point  of  view. 
Following  these,  we  had  once  more  the  veteran 
Orimaldi  and  his  son,  whose  occasional  visits  to 
the  town  brought  delight  to  all  ages  and  ranks. 
On  on©  of  these  occaaionsj  we  are  told  by  Boz,  in 
his  memoirs  of  the  celebrated  clown,  the  manager 
had  forgotten  to  prtivide  suitable  "properties" 
of  the  sawdust-stuffed  goo.se  and  sausage  order,  to 
be  purloined  by  the  mirth -making  Joe  from  the 
inevitable  poulterer^s  shop,  in  the  harleq^uinade. 
Of  course  tire  "business"  could  not  proceed 
without  these  iudiBpensablo  articles,  iind  as  there 
was  no  time  to  manufacture  them  in  the  ordinary 
way,  the  projierty-man  had  to  sally  forth  into  the 
raarket-place  and  buy  some  real  poultry^and  all 
alive  too — so  that  the  playgoers  enjoyed  the 
unusual  sight  of  a  clown  playing  with  litm 
imtpi'iiie^.  Whether  the  performance  was  re- 
peated we  cannot  tell,  but  if  so,  the  dumb,  but 
bj  no  means  silent  actors  must  have  had  anything 
but  a  pleaaant  time  of  it  during  the  rotgii  of 


I 


miarule  whicli  clmmfteriaed  the  harlequinade  of 
an  old-fashion f^d  pjintoiuime. 

While  on  ihe  subject  of  theatrical  make-shifta^ 
we  may  recall  another  droll  incident  which 
occuned  at  the  Binningham  Theatre  Royal^ 
during  Bunn's  management  When  ^Irs.  Shelley's 


The  comedian  was  continually  urging  upon  tht 
manager  the  necessity  of  providing  for  thii 
sensational  effect,  but  he  invariably  shelved  the 
difficulty  with,  *  Ob  !  we  shall  find  something  ut 
other ; '  and  in  this  position  matters  remainfid  oa 
the  day  of  the  performance,     *'  Well,"  said  Power 


^  strange  story  of  FraukenMemf  in  its  dramatic 
form,  was  the  sensation,  an  Irish  comedian — ^thc 
celebrated  Power — was  starring  in  lUrnnngluim, 
and  he  announced  the  piece  for  his  beiuifit ;  but 
de8|>ite  all  hia  entreaties,  Bunn  rofusi?d  to  spend 
a  penny  ui^on  its  i>roductioii,  and  there  w^is  one 
special  scene, — the  fall  of  nn  avalanche,  burying 
beneath  it  the  mysterious  being  of  the  play, — 
which  certainly  needed  someiliing  like  an  expen- 
sive mounting;,  the  more  especially  as  that  episode 

1  occupied  tie  most  prominent  pOBiti^n  in  flie  hilL 


at  lengtli,  ruefully,  "  we  eliall  have  to  change  the 
piece,  that's  all." 

"Change  the  piece  1  nonsense  !  "  responded  Uio 
manager. 

"But  there's  no  avalanche,  and  we  can't 
posaihly  finish  the  piece  without  it.'* 

"Couldn't  it  be  cut  out?" 

"  Impossible  :  we  nnut  ehmuje  the  pise^/" 

A  few  minutes  pause  on  the  part  of  the 
manager,  and  then  he  suddenly  exclidmecl; 
"  I   liave   it  1 — but    tliev    mutJt    let    down    the 


A*'n«< 


OLD  ANB  NEW  ELRMINGHAM. 


433 


gieen  curtam  instantly  on  the  extraordinary 
effect  Hanging  in  the  flics  h  the  large 
elephant  made  for  *  Blue  Begird  • '  ice'ii  ham  it 
whiiewnslitiV 

"What !  "  exclaimed  Power. 

*•  We'll  have  it  whitewashed,  contiuued  Bunn 
coolly ;  "  what  is  an  avalanche  hnt  a  vaat  mass  of 
white  1  When  Frankenstein  is  to  be  annihilated, 
the  carpenters  shall  shove  the  whitened  elephant 
over  the  flies — destroy  you  hoth  in  a  moment — 
and  down  comes  the  curtam  I" 

It  was  a  case  of  *  nobaon's  choice ; '  and  as  poor 
Power  bad  relied  npon  this  great  sensation  to 
attract  a  large  audience,  he  submitted  to  the 
inevitable.  The  huge  whitewashed  elephant 
tumbled  over  to  the  accompaniment  of  the 
custoiaary  stage  thunder;  the  eflect  from  the 
jfront  was  appalling,  and  the  curtain  foil  amid 
thunders  of  applause. 

It  would  seem  strange  to  modern  theatre  goers 
to  hear  of  a  representation  of  the  charge  of  the 
light  Brigade,  or  the  fall  of  Coomaasie,  in  which 
none  but  those  who  had  actually  served  in  those 
engagements  and  could  produce  medals  in  proof 
of  the  fact  should  be  allowed  to  appear ;  yet  in 
1824,  such  a  representation  of  the  great  decisive 
battle  of  the  present  century,— Waterloo — was 
announced  under  those  conditions.  One  hundred 
Waterloo  veterans,  all  of  whom  were  able  to  show 
medals,  took  part  in  the  mimic  warfare  j  whether 
they  possessed  any  histrionic  ability  does  not 
appear. 

There  was  another  "infant  Eoscius"  in  1825, 
who  astonished,  if  he  did  not  edify,  large 
audiences,  at  the  Assembly  Rooms  of  Dee's  Eoyal 
Hotel  He  is  thus  anuouncod  in  the  Gazette  of 
that  period : — 

Royal  Hotel  Assembly  Rooiis,  BinMiN«HAsi. 
On  Monday,  Tuesday,  Thuradiiy,  aad  Friday,  lh»  9th, 
10th,  12th,  and  13th  of  May,  1825— the  cttlybratcd 
Infant  Ho«ciu9,  only  aeven  years  and  a  quarter  old,  from 
the  extreme  preniiure  of  the  company,  and  from  the  moat 
nn bounded  applAu«e  with  which  he  ha«  be«n  received 
durinjC  the   whole  of  his  iDtmitable    TerformatiCM,    hasi 

Bced   him   to  aclect  four  more  Et^ningS  Amusement 
entirely  changing  the  wholtj  of  his  Pt^rform^nce 


from  the  last  week,  coramencing  with  a  new  introduciion  / 
and  in  the  place  of  the  Helo-drama  the  Infant  Ro«ciuB 
will  go  through  the  rouch-admired  and  very  humorous 
Comedy  of  Peckjt  of  Troubles  ,  or,  The  Distress  of  the 
French  Barber;  the  whole  of  his  songs,  and  scones  in 
Macbeth,  Puarro,  Merchout  of  Venice,  Richard  III,  and 
Douglas,  which  will  be  entirely  changed  aa  usual,  &nd 
conclude  with  the  Muncat  Glasses. 

In  the  same  month  the  Theatre  Koyal  was 
oj^encd  for  the  season,  under  the  management  of 
Mr.  Warde,  for  whom  the  following  address  was 
written  by  the  well-known  song-writer,  Thomaa 
Haynes  Bajly ; 

When  a  now  Landlord  takes  a  well-known  Inn, 

How  should  the  Novice's  career  begin  ? 

If  all  the  house  is  properly  prepared, 
Larder  and  cellar  stocked,  and  beds  wollaii'd  ; 
Servants  engaged— all  promising  recruits, 
From  the  head  waiter  down  to  Bob  the  Boots— 
Surely  the  Host  himself  with  smiles  should  wait 
On  the  first  Oueata  assembled  at  the  gate  ; 
Present  his  bill  of  fare,  arid  hope  they*ll  find 
Each  littlp  item  perfect  of  its  kind. 

I  am  a  Host  to-night ;  my  hope  now  rests 

Ou  this,  my  Public  House,  and  these  my  guests* 

My  constant  aim  shall  be  to  meet  your  wishes, 

I've  ordered  in  a  stoik  of  tempting  disties  ; 

Old  wine  made  mellow  and  imi>roved  by  age, 

New  fmits  just  sent  us  from  the  I^ndon  stage  ; 

The  Comic  trifle  and  the  Tragic  1k>wI, 

*'  The  feast  of  reason  and  the  ilow  of  soul  !  '* 

My  decorations,  too,  are  quite  complete. 

Best  rooms,  and  attics  also,  clean  and  neat ; 

Each  urevicR  freshly  painted,  waahcd,  and  bumish'd^ 

And  all  my  snug  apartments  newly  furnished  ; 

In  short,  your  Host  thus  humbly  recommends 

This  House  of  Entertainment  to  his  friends. 

Yet  hold — of  Enteitainment  did  1  say  ? 

Hath  not  the  Drama's  sun -shine  pass'd  away  ? 

Is  not  poor  dear  Thalia  almost  mute  f 

And  sad  Melpomene  in  disrepute  / 

Becanae  rcchiirchi  people  all  dine  late. 

And  tliink  no  food  digestible  till  eight  I 

Doth  not  Dame  Fashion  dri^-^c  her  slaves  about. 

In  an  unvaried  round,  from  rout  to  rout? 

To  see  the  present  btdl  reflect  the  past, 

And  every  rout  a  ditto  of  the  last  ? 

To  be  to-night,  whrre  nightly  they  have  been, 

While  Shakesi>ear*a  Dramas  pass  unljeard— irnaeon  I 

And  ia  our  cause  a  bad  one  9    Must  I  stop, 
Hopeless  of  patronage,  and  shut  up  shop  T 
No,  no  ;  my  efforts  have  already  met 
Applauses  here  which  I  can  ne'er  forget  j 
And  shall  I  tremble,  when  success  depnds 
Upn  the  favour  of  my  former  friends  ? 
Forbid  it  gratitude  J    With  true  delight 


I  welcome  those  who  grace  these  walls  to-night* 

Oh  !  may  the  comic  banquet  I  prepar^j 

Exceed  the  promise  of  my  bUl  of  fare  ; 

Hay  each  part  please  when  on  the  boards  'tis  pLic«d, 

Not  overdone,  but  sweetened  to  your  taste  ; 

And  may  your  present  Landlord  long  remain, 

Happy  to  net  you  '*  cot  and  come  again.** 

Another  precocious  youngster  was  permitted  to 
Btrut  liis  little  hour  on  the  "  Eojal  "  stage  during 
tbia  season,  and  was,  moreover,  allowed  to  drive 
the  conductor  from  Ma  place  in  the  orchestra, 
and,  with  the  suhliitie  impudence  which  appears 
to  have  characterised  every  **  infant  phenomenon," 
uudertook  to  fill  the  vacated  post  himself-  We 
read  that  be  **  led  the  orcbeatra  on  the  violin  in 
the  celebrated  overture  to  Lodoiska  in  a  most 
masterly  style,  (?)  and  afterwards  appeared  as 
Teddy  O'Eourke,  in  the  farce  of  the  Irish  Tutor, 
and  perfonned  the  character  with  the  skill  and 
ability  of  a  veteran  cjf  the  stage."  This 
**  masterly "  condiicl^a-  mu\  uclur  was  just  six 
jeara  of  age  I 

We  meet  with  more  senmitiMnai  realism,  too, 
this  season,  in  the  ehape  of  "  an  Interlude  from 
the  Melo-drama  of  Valmifme  ami  Oi^im^  called 
the  Wild  Man  and  the   Dear,  in  which  a  real 

Bear,  the  property  of  Mr.  Simpson 

will  exhibit  his  extraordinary  perfonuance/*  The 
evening's  entertainment  on  this  occasion  con- 
cluded with  "  the  Melo-drama  of  the  Caravan  ; 
.  .  .  on  which  occasion  a  Reservoh\  fontain- 
irtfj  2,000  cubic  feet  of  naf  mtter  [was]  introduced, 
**  The  last  scene,"  continued  tlie  announcement, 
**  exhibita  a  Waterfall  and  Lake  of  Water,  into 
which  the  Bog  Carlo  is  seen  to  plunge,  and  saves 
the  life  of  the  child  Julio  I  ** 

Following  this  came  an  equestrian  company, 
with  a  atud  of  horses,  performing  '*  the  grand  and 
Interesting  Dramatic,  Equestrian,  and  Military 
Bpet'tacle,  called  the  Invasion  of  Jiussia,  or  the 
burning  of  Moscow/'  But  all  these  performances, 
calculated  to  "make  the  judicious  grieve,"  were 
fully  condoned  by  the  liberal  provision  made  fur 
the  cidtured  playgoer,  in  the  engagement  of  ^Ir. 
Macready,  Mr.  Mathews,  Miss  Foote,  and  others. 


Later  in    the  year,    how«sver,    this    clan  d^ 
patrons    would    read   witli    regret    "  thai   Hf. 
Ducrow  h&s  taken  our  theatre  for  a  alioii  penildf 
and    intends    opening    it    with    an    Equertisili 
Performance  on  Monday  next" 

The  most  noteworthy  incident  of  the  aeaton  of 

1826  is  contained  in  the  following   paragraph, 

which  win  be  read  with  interest  by  all  admiren 

of  the  great  artiste  whom  Birmingkam  < 

ita  own: 

August  28,  1826,— It  ia  |iretty  gtnerally  known  * 
tbc  receipts  of  the  house  on  Monday  last,  tb<*  «?vcn 
which  Mr.  Marveady  took  find  leave  (»f  his  Bir 
friends,  x>rior  to  his  departure  for  Amerirui,  wct«  « 
the  foil  owing  morning  abfitnictGd  from   the  treasury. 
would  tipjM'iir  that  the  villains,  no  doubt  *idtf|tts  ia  tHm 
vocation,  and  possessed  of  every  necessary  itironBatt'^ii|| 
had  concealed  themselves  within  tht?  walla  of  tlie 
until  the  lime  at  which  the  watch mi»n  ujK>n  thif  pw 
gcnerttUy  leave,  aiid  then,  having  miohstruiTtett  i 
the  stage,  th«y  fort^d  open  the  door  of  the  Irrasti 
finding  the  key  of  the  li^an  chest,  without  (uxtherdU 
ohtaiitod  j>o*s«  saion  of  two  hmidfcd  poatid.s  prina 
in  silver,  with  which  th«*y    e<^ — ^   ■•"  ^ 
lilKjrnliiy  of  Mr  Maci'eady  on  t 

honour  of  the  profcsdon  of  whi^u  uv   l^  s*.  uir  ^ 

a  hieniber,  to  be  nniveisully  known.     Upon  \ 
nrqmniiU'il  wiih  the  serious  consMnjucnces  with  >\.juu 
\oh»  thrvati^ed  the  lil onager,  Mr,   Btaerendy  not  inenlf 
relinquished  all  chtini  upon    the  amount  rtHreivedt  hit 
even    i'^otiAi^uted    to    |ieifonn   a    second    night  widiAu: 
rcniuucration*     He  afcordingly  sustained   the   charactfij 
of  Virgiuiu^j  on  the  Thurijday,  to  an  audience  nearly  i 
numerQUa  uh   on  the  fuist  nighty  and  the  Maua^T  Ktal 
fully  reiui hurled.     It  is  hanlly  necessary  to  say  thai  thif 
warmth  with  which  Mr,  Macready  was  received  on  hit  I 
re -appearance,  gave  fuU  ab^u  ranee  that  hia  kind  and  dif-l 
interested  coitUoct  wiia  duly  appreciated.     Mr.  Ma<!readj 
left  on  the  following  day  for  Cheltenham   and  Bristol, 
wheni  6  hr^  proceeds  to  Li?erjK)ol,  and  emlwirks  for  N** 
York  on  Friday.     Two  young  men,  strougly  suspected  of 
being  parti es  in  the  robbery,  are  in  custody,  and  hav«  , 
been  remanded  for  further  examination  ;  but  how  far  tht  ] 
charge  can  be  brought  home  to  them  it  not  yet  1 
A  reward  of  twenty  pounds  has  been  offered  on  eoavictj 
of  the  depredaton*. 

Italian  Operas   at  **  Theatre  Prices,"    lirtS^ 
Bralmm,  Miss  A.  Tree,  *•  Arthur  Matthiao% 
Pet  of  the  Fancy/'  in  the  (?  pugilistic)  chai^terj 
of  **  Jocko/*  for  the  benefit  of  his  friend  Hector 
♦Simpson,  (proprietor  of  the  bear  and  cloga  afci 
mentioned,) — these  are  the  chief  feuturcas  of 
aeaaon  of  1827*     In  January,  182B,  wo  had  aul 


[knoini. 


thai 


**  1  fsAfi't  fljiU  Bniiu]»a£«iiu"J 


OLD   AND    N£W   BUiMINGHAM. 


435 


^'African  lioBciue  "  among  u«,  **  whose  suceefisful 
performances  in  the  round  of  Moorish  and 
African  charactt^rs  in  Urn  Theatres  Royal,  Man- 
•chester,  Liverpool,  Brighton,  Bristol,  Ac,  have 
-excited  a  considerable  degree  of  interest  in  the 
Theatrical  Worid/'  nnd  who  npp<^ftred  in  Birrninj;' 


24  th  of  October  we  meet  with  our  old  friend 
Dobhs  of  the  reaping  machine,  on  the  occasion  of 
his  benefit,  when  he  introduced  two  songs  of  hia 
own,  entitled,  '*  The  Gun  Traiie  "  and  "  I  can't 
find  Brunnnagem,"  the  latter  of  which  is  given 
entire  by  Dr.  Langford,  and,  aa  it  furma  a  curiona 


.^^s' 


iPlSw 


W 


^—       V 


!%^^L 


Am  ttjirti  «!> 


THE  TOWN   HiLL, 


liam  for  a  few  night^s  nnl),  pivviuus  to  bii> 
Appearance  at  Covent  GardHU  in  tlie  following 
munth.  The  regular  season  of  tins  year  opened 
May  26th,  with  a  visit  from  Mr*  Macready, 
BUpported  by  a  strong  company  ;  and  in  the  fol- 
lowing month  we  had  Mr,  T.  P.  (**  Tippy**)  Cooke 
among  us  j  in  July  we  had  Madame  Veatris  ftir 
thn«j  nighte,  and  in  the  same  year  the  younger 
Kean  made  hia  bow  before  a  liirrningbam 
audience  in  the  character  of  Homeo, 
,Jg^  had  also  "  one  night  "  viaita  from  Madame 
imd  '•Paul  Pry"    Listunj  and  on  the 


and   interesting  illustration  of  our  last  chapter^ 
wo  feel  i54fmpelled  to  find  a  place  for  it  herL' : 

I    CAN*T    FIND     BRUMMAGEM. 

Full  twenty  ycjirs,  aad  more,  are  past, 

Since  I  left  BruramRg«m  ; 
But  I  *ct  out  for  home  at  last^ 

To  good  old  Brummagem. 
But  every  place  la  altered  so. 
There's  hardly  a  single  place  1  know  ; 
And  it  fills  my  heart  with  grief  nud  woe, 

For  I  can't  find  Brummagem. 

As  I  walked  down  our  itreetj 
As  ttded  to  be  in  Brummagem, 


436 


OLD  AND   NEW   BUiMINGHAM. 


tPopnlar  Amu 


I  knov'd  nobody  I  did  meet ; 

They  change  their  faces  in  Brummagem. 
Poor  old  Spiceal  Street's  half  gone, 
And  the  poor  Old  Church  stands  all  aloTio, 
And  poor  old  I  stand  here  to  groan, 

For  I  can't  find  Brummagem. 

But  'mongst  the  changes  we  have  got, 

In  good  old  Brummagem, 
They've  made  a  market  of  the  MoU,* 

To  sell  the  pigs  in  Brummagem. 
But  what  has  brought  us  most  ill  Juck, 
They've  filled  up  poor  old  Pudding  Brook, 
Where  in  the  mud  I've  often  stuck, 

OaXching  jaekbanM  near  Brummagem. 

But  what's  more  melancholy  still 

For  poor  old  Brummagem, 
They've  taken  away  all  Newhall-hill 

Poor  old  Brummagem  ! 
At  Easter  time,  girls  fair  and  brown. 
Used  to  come  rolly-polly  down. 
And  show'd  their  legs  to  half  the  town  ; 

Oh  !  the  good  old  sights  in  Brummagem. 

Down  Peck  Lane  I  walked  alone, 

To  find  out  Brummagem  ; 
There  was  the  dungilt  down  and  gone  ! — 

What,  no  rogues  in  Brummagem  ? 
They've  taken  it  to  the  street  called  J/oor, 
A  sign  that  rogues  they  get  no  fewer. 
The  rogue's  won't  like  to  go  there'  I'm  sure, 

While  Peck  Lane's  in  Hrummageni. 

I  remember  one  John  Growse, 

A  bucklemaker  in  Brummagem  : 
He  built  himself  a  country  house, 

To  be  out  of  the  smoke  of  Brummagem  : 
But  though  John's  country  house  stands  still, 
The  town  itself  has  walked  up  hill, 
Now  he  lives  beside  of  a  smoky  mill, 

In  the  middle  of  the  streets  of  Brummiigem. 

Amongst  the  changes  that  abound 

In  good  old  Brummagem, 
May  trade  and  hapi>ine8s  be  found, 

In  good  old  Brummagem  ; 
And  tho'  no  Newhall-hill  we've  got. 
Nor  Pudding  Brook,  nor  any  Mott^ 
May  we  always  have  enough  to  boil  tho  pot. 

In  good  old  Brummagem. 

Tho  theatrical  records  of  the  last  two  years  of 
this  decade  are  but  a  repetition  of  what  has  gone 
before,  Liston,  Vandenhoff,  Sally  Booth,  ^lac- 
ready,  Charles  and  Fanny  Kemble,  and  Braham, 
all  appeared  during  these  two  seasons;  but  the 
attention  of  the  people  was  probably  too  much 

•The  Moat. 

t  The  commoQ  ll^arwiekshire  name  for  Sticklebacks. 

S  The  DungeoD. 


engrossed  by  the  great  political  moTements  of  thai 
period  to  give  due  support  and  patronage  U^ 
amusements,  and  so  we  allow  the  curtain  ono» 
more  to  fall  upon  the  history  of  the  player's  art  in 
Birmingham. 

The  other  amusements  of  the  period  were  of 
the  usual  type.  We  still  find  notes  of  the  old 
sport  of  "Cocking,"  and  occasionally  even  of 
bull-baiting.  Madame  Tussaud's  wax- work  exhi- 
bition found  an  unaccustomed  home  at  the 
Theatre  in  the  winter  of  1822  :  and  in  the 
"  Garrick  Boom  "  in  the  same  building  the  cele- 
brated French  giant  Monsieur  Jacques  held  his 
receptions  during  the  following  February. 

In  1823  we  find  a  notice  of  a  baBoon  ascent 
by  Mr.  Sadler  which  seems  to  have  proved  an 
unusual  attraction  to  our  townsmen,  although 
under  somewhat  unfavourable  circumstances  : 

Oct.  20,  1823. — Ascent  of  Mju  Sadler. — The  hoist- 
ing of  a  flag  on  the  tower  of  St.  Philip's  Charch,  od 
Monday  morning,  announced  the  intention  of  Mr.  Sadler 
to  attempt  an  ascent  with  his  balloon ;  and  notwithstand- 
ing tho  very  unfavourable  state  of  the  weather,  thonaan^ 
of  the  inhabitants  were  observed  in  all  directions  making 
their  way  towards  the  Crescent,  t!ie  spot  fixed  upon  for 
the  ascent,  while  a  still  denser  stream  of  our  |>opulatioD 
directed  their  coureo  towardi  Newhall  Hill  and  other 
eminences  aroun.l,  coniinaniliug  a  view  of  the  Crescent, 
and  from  which  the  ascent,  though  at  some  distance, 
could  be  seen  with  the  best  possible  effect.  In  these 
situutions  the  populace  quietly  remained  during  the  pro- 
cess of  inflation,  though  the  rain  continued  to  descend  in 
torrents,  and  almost  without  intermission,  during  the 
whole  of  the  morning.  .\s  the  hour  fixed  upon  for  the 
ascent  drew  near,  our  streets  became  about  wholly  deserted, 
and  many  of  the  shops,  as  well  as  the  different  ware- 
houses, were  closed,  the  attraction  being  too  great  to  be 
resisted,  whether  by  master  or  servants  ;  indeed,  since 
the  ascent  of  Mr.  Sadler  from  Vauxhall  in  1811,  we  do 
not  recollect  any  instance  in  which  public  curiosity  was 
more  generally  excited. 

The  Bull  Ring  appears  to  have  ever  been  a 
favourite  locality  for  all  curious  exhibitions,  and 
in  March,  1894,  Birmingham  sightseers  were 
attracted  thither  to  see  and  hear  a  wonderful 
"  Speaking  Doll,"  of  French  construction,  which 
was  stated  to  be  **  the  first  attempt  ever  made, 
with  any  degree  of  success,  to  form  human 
organization  by  means  of  mechanism." 


The  Mnitcal  Fcitii^U] 


OLD  AND  NEW  BOiMINGHAM. 


437 


In  1827  a  large  building  of  the  Amphitheatre 
iype  was  erected  in  Bradford  Street,  by  the 
■celebrated  equestrian,  Ryan,  under  the  name  of 


**  The  New  Grand  Arena."  It  was  subsequently 
converted  into  a  Baptist  meeting-houj^e,  called 
"The  CircuB  Chapel/' 


CHAPTER     LXII. 

THE     B  I  R  M  1  N  0  H  A  ^[     TRIENNIAL     MUSICAL 
Stemd  Period^  from  1$0S  to  I81S9, 


FESTIVALS: 


Mr.  Jofweph  lloorw— First  TjCcaI  Ptrfonnjuicc  of  tht'  "  Creation,''  1802 — AppttcAtiua  to  LorJ  DuiUlcy  fer  VeniaoD— Moewt'g  AwonipAui- 
n.PDU  to  the  *' MpAsiah  '  first  piTfi»rm<«l,  ISO.'V— Mr*.  Billiwgton— Or  Croteli— Another  dimculty  reapectinjj  Uie  Theatre— Mftilame 
C4tiUiiJ— MiM  St^-pheiu— A  New  Dcjmrtaro— Tlie  Roy»l  HauMlioId  Band— Mowrt's  "  Rociiilcm  "™Dre«s  Bull— Royal  Patronage-- 
Coata— ErectipQ  of  Uje  Town  Hali 


Wb  now  return,  "  after  many  days,"  to  the  story 
of  the  Birmingham  Musical  Festivals.  Adopting 
the  plan  of  the  able  kistorian  of  the  Festivals, 
Mr.  J.  Thackray  Eunce,  it  will  be  remembered 
that  our  first  chapter  concluded  with  the  last 
eting  of  the  eighteenth  ccnttiry.  The  present, 
lAracing  the  second  eiwi-h  in  their  history, 
i  carries  us  on  to  the  last  of  the  Festivals  held  in 
St.  Philip's  Church,  previous  to  the  erection  of 
ihe  Town  Hall,  which  naturally  enough  forma  the 
I -commencement  of  a  third  epoch. 

The  year  1 802  unquestionably  marked  the  com- 

[menceraent  of  a  new  era  in  the  history  of  the 

[Festivals,  as  it  also  marked  the  begiimiug  of  a 

Dful  career  on  the  part  of  one  whose  name  is 

lindissoluhly  connected  therewith.     "  Before  that 

*tinie,"  says  Mr,   Bunce,  **the  operations  of  the 

Committee   though   energetic  and  in   tlie   main 

rell-directed,  had  not  pQssessed  the  completeness, 

aor  been  atten^ied   by   the  success,   which  can 

»nly  bo  secured  by  the  labours  of  one  (|uaiified 

enon,  bent  on  realising  in  the  performance  of  a 

groat  t^sk  the  arahiliou  of  liis  life.     That  person 

ras  found  in  our  himentcd  townsman  Mr.  Joseph 

M*joTe.     This  gentleman  had  rendered  nmch  assis- 

inco  in  planning  and  conducting  the  Festival  of 

I7t>9,  but   it  was  not  until   1802  that  he  was 

Blac4Hi  virtually  at  the  head  of  the  Committee  as 

fccir  couniiellor  un<l  director.     Fi-oni  this  time 


until  the  period  of  his  death  he  devoted  himself 
to  the  Birmingham  Musical  Festivals,  and  from 
the  moment  he  undertook  their  control  these 
meetings  grew  steadily  in  importance,  both  as 
regards  their  influence  upon  the  development  of 
musicid  art,  and  the  assistance  they  afforded  to 
the  funds  of  the  Hospital/'* 

The  Festival  of   1802  was  remarkable  m  the 
first  in  which  special  attentioti   was  paid  to  the 
band    and    chords.       Both    were    considerably 
strengthened,  the  latter  by  selections  from  the 
metropolis  and  from  provincial  choral  societies 
and  the  cathetlral  choir«t  of  Worcester  and  Lich> 
field,  and  the  former  by  the  assistance  of  **  the 
gentlemen  of  the  Birmiugham  Private  Concerts." 
Mr.  F,  Cramer  \vas  once  more  leader  of  the  band, 
and  the  principal  singers  were  Madame  Dussek, 
Miss  Terinant,  Miss  Mountain  ;  Messrs.  Brahain, 
Kny  vett,  Elliott,  and  Denman,  The  old  custom  of 
devoting  two  mornings  to  miscellaneous  concerts 
was  on  this  occasion  braken  through,  and  the  pat- 
rons of  the  Festival  had  tlie  pleasure  of  hearing 
for  the  first  time  in  Birmingham,  Haydn*8  oratorio 
of  the  **  Creation,"  which  excited  an  enthusiasm 
second   only   to    that   inspired  by  that    divine 
mii^terpiece  which  had  already  become  inseparable 
from  the  Bimiingham  celebrations,  the  "Messiah." 
Besides  these  two  oratorios,  the' programme  in- 


438 


OLD  AND  NEW  BIRMINGHAM. 


[The  Muic*!  FMivali. 


duded  a  selection  from  Handel's  "Acis  and 
Galatea''  and  the  usual  miscellaneous  concerts. 
The  President  for  this  year  was  the  Earl  of  Dart- 
mouth ;  the  meeting  commenced  on  the  2nd  of 
September,  and  the  result  of  Mr.  Moore's  able 
management  was  exemplified  by  an  increase  of 
more  than  £1,200  in  the  receipts,  which  amounted 
in  all  to  £3,829,  of  which  the  Hospital  received 
X2,380.  Mr.  Bunce  throws  considerable  light 
upon  the  habits  of  our  forefathers,  fi-om  the 
minutes  of  the  committee  of  this  year.  They 
appear  to  have  bestowed  groat  attention  upon  the 
commissariat  department  on  this  occasion,  and  at 
the  same  time  to  have  endeavoured  to  keep  do^ii 
the  charges  within  a  reasonable  limit  Accordingly 
they  resolved  that  ordinaries  should  be  pi-epared 
at  the  two  principal  taverns, — the  Stork  and  the 
Shakespeare, — but  that  the  churgo  should  not 
exceed  5s.  per  head,  "  including  malt  liquor ; " 
and  further,  that  not  more  than  nincjience  per 
head  should  be  charged  for  tea  at  the  ball. 

In  order  tliat  there  should  be  no  stint  of  pro- 
visions, thoy  directed  their  secretary  "  to  write  to 
Lord  Dudley's  steward,  to  ask  whetlier  his  Lord- 
ship means  to  send  any  venison  against  the 
Oratorios."  Presumably  "his  Lordship"  did  send 
the  venison  as  re([ue^ted — we  had  almost  written 
demanh'd — for  a  similar  request  was  made  at  the 
next  Festival ;  and  at  a  later  date  we  lind  the 
demands  of  the  Committee  for  a  sufticient  8iii)ply 
of  this  "savoury  nie^t"  extended  to  the  Earl  of 
Aylesford,  and  to  Mr.  Heneage  Legge,  of  Aston 
HalL 

At  the  Festival  of  1805  the  band  and  chorus 
were  still  further  increased,  but  the  number  of 
oratorios  was  again  reduced  to  one, — the  ever 
popular  "  Messiah,"  with  (for  the  first  time  hero) 
Mozart's  accompaniments.  In  place  of  a  second 
oratorio  the  Committee  provided  a  selection  from 
the  "Creati(m,"  and  the  choicest  morccniur  of 
Handel's  less-known  works.  For  the  second 
time  tlie  Birmingham  Festival  was  graced  with 
the  presence  of  the  greatest  English  soprano  of 
thnt  period.  Mrs.  Billington,  who  was  supported 


by  Miss  Fanny  Melville,  and  Mrs.  Vaughan ;  the 
chief  male  singers  being  Messrs.  Harrison, 
Vaughan,  W.  Knyvett,  and  Bartleman.  For  th» 
fii'st  time,  on  this  occasion,  the  annoancementi  of 
the  Festival  contain  the  n<ime  of  the  conductor, 
that  post  being  filled  by  ^Ir.  Greatorex.  The 
Festival  commenced  on  the  2nd  of  October,  with 
the  Earl  of  Aylesford  as  president.  The  results 
again  justified  the  wisdom  of  the  Committee  in 
allowing  Mr.  Moore  so  large  a  share  of  tha 
control  of  affairs,  the  gross  proceeds  amounting  to 
j£4,222,  (not  less  than  £1,056  of  which  was 
received  at  the  performance  of  the  **  Messiah,") 
and  tl.»e  profits  yielded  thereby  to  the  Hospital 
being  £2,202  17s.  lid. 

Satisfactory  as  this  result  was,  it  was  szoeUed, 
both  as  regai-ds  attractions  and  pecuniaiy  letmn^ 
by  the  Festival  of  1808,  at  which,  for  the  third 
time,  Mrs.  Billington  again  appeared.  As  on  ths 
last  previous  occasion  the  meeting  was  dafened 
until  the  beginning  of  October;  the  ontorio* 
were  again  the  "Messiah"  and  the  .''GrBstian," 
the  latter  being  compressed  into  two  parts,  ia 
order  to  allow  of  an  organ  concerto  by  the 
eminent  conductor.  Dr.  Crotch,  and  a  short 
selection  from  "  Jeptha,"  in  which  the  powers  of 
^Ii's.  Billington  and  Mr.  Braham  were  speciallT 
displayed.  The  other  performers  at  this  festival 
were  Messrs.  Hawkins,  Vaughan,  Gk)s?,  ami 
Klliott,  Signor  Naldi,  Mrs.  Vaughan,  and  a  local 
musical  prodigy,  Master  Simeon  Buggins.  The 
band  and  chorus  wore  increased  to  two  hundn-d 
jierformers,  being  the  largest  body  ever  pre- 
viously assembled  out  of  London  ;  the  increase 
in  the  latter  department  was  chiefly  due  to  the 
IJirmiiij^imui  Oratorio  Choral  Society,  which  had 
been  organised  that  year  by  the  exertions  of  Mr. 
Moore.  The  total  receipts  of  this  Festival  were 
£5,411,  and  the  profita  accruing  to  the  Hospital, 
£3,257.  At  the  meeting  of  1811  the  committee 
once  more  came  into  collision  with  the  manager 
of  the  Theatre  Eoyal.  The  first  week  in  Octol^r 
was  again  fixed  for  the  FeetiTal^  but  Mr. 
Macroady  could  not  give  up  the  theatre^  that 


Tb«tM«8icaIFiMrt}vii!a.j 


OLD  AND   NEW   BIKMINGHAM, 


439 


being  the  Fair  week,  and  consequently  the  most 
profitable  portion  of  bis  senmih  Mr.  Macread}% 
however,  had  been  a  good  friend  to  the  Hospital 
on  many  occasions,  and  the  committee  could  not 
iiftbrd  to  treat  him  in  the  high-handed  manner  in 
which  tbcy  had  dealt  wit!i  Mr.  Yatca^  80  the 
date  of  the  Festival  was  altered  to  tlie  last  week 


promise,  and  the  Birmingham  Festival  was  held 
a3  originally  arranged,  in  the  first  week  of 
October,  The  sermon,  on  this  occasion,  was 
preached  by  the  Bishop  of  Worcester ;  the  list  of 
performers  was  uimsnally  brilliant,  including  tho 
nan] OS  of  Madame  CataJani,  Madame  Bianchi, 
Miss    Melville   and    Miss   Jane   Fletcher,    and 


^-^  ^%^ 


^^ 


*MX 


:^j  -^^:^^. 


cVp'^ 


BOTANlCiLL  GAim^NS,    £l>0BAST0y. 


in  September.  Then  a  new  difficnity  arose ;  the 
Earl  of  Bradford  (the  President,)  could  not  come 
during  that  week  because  ho  had  engaged  to  go 
to  Oswestry  races.  There  was  but  one  way  out  of 
thd  dilemma,  and  that  was  to  get  the  date  of  the 
Fair  altei-ed,  vrhich  was  done,  and  so  hereafter 
the  Onion  Fair  was  held  on  the  three  days  ending 
with  the  last  Saturday  in  September.  Thus  all 
pirties  were  fatiaficd ;  Mn  Macready  was 
able  to  gladden  the  hearts  of  country  cousins 
at  thwr  anuuid  visit  to  *'the  play/'  Lord 
Biudfc»fd  went  to  Oswestrr  Tares  orccr<!ing  to 
66 


Messrs,  Bi-aham,  WiQiam  Knyvett,  Vaughan, 
Harris,  Bellamy,  and  Signer  Tramemani  among 
the  vocalists  j  and  the  instrumentalists  included 
Cramer,  Kobert  Lindloy,  Ashley,  and  liloralt, 
Mr.  Wesley  conducting  this  time,  in  ploce]  of 
Dr»  Crotch,  The  principal  attraction  was  again 
the  **  Messiah,"  the  music  for  the  other  morning 
performances  being  selected  from  tlie  *'  liedemp- 
tion,"  the  "  Creation,"  "  Judas  Maccabajus,"  aod 
**  Israel  in  Egypt"  The  result  of  the  lilieral 
provision  made  by  tho  committee  was  again 
shown  by  a  continued  increase  in  tho  proceeds, 


440 


OLD     AND    NEW     BIKMINGIIAM 


[Tbe  linaical  Ftetirili 


which  amounted  to  £6,680,  and  the  profits  to 
£3,629.  At  this  meeting  the  prices  were  raised 
to  20s.  in  the  morning  and  lOs.  6d.  for  the 
evening  performances. 

In  1814,  the  committee  once  more  engaged 
Madame  Catalani,  and  at  this  Festival  Miss 
Stephens  (afterwards  the  Countess  of  Essex) 
made  her  first  appearance  here,  through  the 
influence  of  the  Marquis  of  Hertford  with  Mr. 
Harris,  the  Covent  Grarden  manager,  who,  at  his 
request,  consented  to  allow  Miss  Stephens  to 
appear  at  Birmingham;  the  other  principal 
vocalists  were  Miss  Smethurst,  Misd  Travis,  Miss 
Stott,  Mrs.  Vaughan,  and  Miss  Russell;  and 
Messrs.  Bartleman,  Vaughan,  Knyvett,  Elliot, 
Denman,  and  S.  Buggins,  The  band  consisted 
of  84  performers — a  larger  number  than  on  any 
previous  occasion, — and  the  baton  was  again 
wielded  by  Mr.  Greatorex.  The  "Messiah," 
part  of  the  "  Creation,"  and  a  selection  from  the 
works  of  Mozart,  Beethoven,  and  Pergolesi 
formed  the  principal  attractions ;  the  Earl  of 
Plymouth  was  tlic  President,  and  it  was  remarked 
by  the  newspapers  that  "  the  attendance  of  the 
nobility  was  juuicli  greater  than  at  any  former 
Festival."  The  proceeds  amounted  to  £7,144, 
and  the  profiU  to  X.3,131. 

The  Festival  of  1817  seemed  likely  at  onetime 
t)  be  anything  but  successful,  S3  far  as  the  attend- 
ance of  outsiders  was  concerned,  at  any  rate, 
3 wing  to  a  report  which  appeared  in  the  London 
papers  about  the  middle  of  September,  to  the  effect 
that  fever  was  making  dreadful  ravages  in  the 
town.  Happily,  however,  the  committee  were 
able  to  contradict  it  on  high  medical  authority, 
in  good  time  to  prevent  it  fiom  damaging  the 
prospacts  of  the  Festival. 

In  this  year  tlie  patronage  of  monibers  of  the 
roy.d  family  was  first  extended  to  the  Uirminghani 
meetings,  the  Duke  of  Sussex  liaving  permitted 
the  committee  to  use  his  name.  The  peiforniances 
this  year  included  the  "  Messiah  "  a'ld  portions  of 
Haydn's  *' Seasons,"  Mczait's  "I»eqiiicm,"  and 
Beethoven's  "  Blount  of  Clivej."    At  one  of  the 


concerts  in  the  theatre  a  scene  from  Mozart's  open 
of  ''  Don  Giovanni "  was  performed,  and,  on  the 
same  evening,  concertos  were  played  by  Drouet  on 
the  flute,  Weichsel  on  the  yiolin,  and  Lindlej  on 
the  violincello.  Notwithstanding  the  fever  scare, 
the  receipts  amounted  to  £8,746,  and  the  profits 
to  £1,296. 

For  the  Festival  of  1820  the  committee  deter- 
mined to  devise  even  more  liberal  things  than 
heretofore,  and  thus  to  place  these  celebrations  in 
a  much  higher  position  than  they  had  previously 
attained.  This  new  policy  was  ixutiatod^  ^  ™^7  ^ 
expected,  by  Mr.  Mpore,  oi^  -who|9  motion  the 
committee  resolved  "  that  the  next  music  meeting 
should  be  conducted  on  the  grandest  possible 
scale,  in  order  to  afford  the  highest  musical  treat 
which  the  present  state  o^  art  in  this  kingdom 
will  admit"  In  accordaAc^  with  this  laudable 
i*esolution  the  Festival  wag  extended  from  three 
days  to  four,  and  instead  of  holding  three  balls, 
as  they  had  done  on  previous  occasions,  they 
determined  to  hold  only  one,  thus  reserving  all 
thf'ir  resources  for  the  more  legitiiuate  object  of 
the  meetings.  The  Earl  of  Dju'tmouth  had  con- 
sented to  act  as  president,  and  the  Bisliop  of 
Oxford  to  preach  the  sermon,  but  owing  to  the 
trial  of  Queen  Caroline  tjJcing  place  during  tlie 
week  appointed  for  the  Festival,  their  lordships 
were  both  detained  in  town,  and  were  thus  pre- 
vented from  taking  part  in  the  Birmingham 
musical  celebration.  The  Earl  of  Dartmoutli, 
however,  manifested  his  interest  in  it  by  sending 
a  liberal  donation,  and  by  obtaining  for  the 
Festival  the  assistance  of  several  members  of 
the  king's  private  band.  Among  the  vocalists 
were  ^Iss  8tej)hons,  ^ladanie  Vestris,  Si^nom 
Gorri,  Mrs.  Salmon,  Miss  D.  Travis,  Miss 
Flelclier,  Messrs.  Vaughan,  Knyvett,  I>ellaniY, 
Beale,  King,  Evans,  and  Goulding,  and  Signori 
Begrez  and  Ambrogetti.  The  instrumentalists, 
led  by  Cramer,  Spagnoletti,  and  Mori,  iucludetl 
ahr.ost  every  notable  performer  in  the  kingdom. 
The  Fesiival  commenced  on  Tuesday,  October 
3rd,  with  a  full  choral  service  at  St  Philip's, 


th«  ?  tutoil  Kut^tUnK.I 


OLD  AND   NEW    DIR.MINGFIAM 


4n 


the  eirtiro  choir  of  one  hundred  and  thirty  voioea 
fi«9i§Miig  therein ;  on  Wednesday  niorning  part 
el  Haydn's  "Seasons"  was  parformeil,  with 
ds  newly  nrmnged  hy  Mr.  ^VobV*,  a  loeal 
*  clergyman;  Thiirsihiy  inoininj*  wsi.^,  as  iHual, 
consecrated  to  the  **  Messiah ;  *'  on  Friday,  a 
Bclcction  of  sacred  musio  was  givon,  iiudmliiig 
Mozart^s  **  Requiem,"  which,  it  wad  statedi  had 
**  never  yet  been  perfectly  executed  in  this 
country,  owing  to  the  want  of  some  wind  instrii- 
Dienta,  of  which,  by  the  gracious  permission  of 
His  Majesty,  the  Manage i-s  have  boon  alkiwed  to 
avail  themselves  from  the  Tioyal  Iluusiditkld  Band/' 
On  each  of  the  evenings  except  Thursday  (which 
wa3  giren  up  to  the  dress  ball),  a  miscellaneous 
concert  was  given  at  the  Theatre.  The  Jiboral 
provision  thus  made  by  the  Committee  f':>r  the 
enjoyment  of  their  paUons  resulted  in  an  increase 
in  the  prooocds,  which  amounted  to  £9,483, 
bein^,'  an  increase  of  ^1,000  over  the  receipts  at 
any  previous  Festival ;  the  profits  were  -£5,000, 
**  an  amount,'*  says  Mr.  Btmce,  **  which  has  been 
BXcecdo<l  on  five  occasions  only/* 

Encouraged  by  the  siicces^  of  1B20,  the  Com- 
mittee entered  upon  the  arrangenifjnts  for  the 
next  Festival  with  the  determination  to  "  make 
the  performances  finer  and  more  perfect  than  any 
that  have  taken  place  in  the  kingdom/'  Once 
more,  ajid  for  the  last  time,  we  find  the  name  of 
Madame  Catalan i  among  the  principal  perform er?, 
in  company  with  Miss  Stephens,  Miu  Salmon, 
and  ^fi^iis  Travis  ;  and  Messrs.  Rraham,  Vaughan, 
Kny  vett,  Ikdlamy,  Signor  Placci,  and  other  artists 
of  note ;  the  bond  and  choinis  together  number- 
iDg  2Zl  performers.  The  Festival  commenced, 
as  on  the  last  occasion,  with  a  full  Choral  Service, 
Tuesday  October  7tb,  1823  j  the  other  perform- 
ances comprised  "a  new  Sacred  Drama  entitled 
*  Gideon/  **  part  of  the  **  Seasons,"  part  of  Mozart's 
"  Roqnicm/'  the  '*Messiah/*and  selections  from  the 
oratorios  of  *' Judas  Maccakeus  **  and  "  Israel  in 
Egypt/'and  from  a  Mass  hy  Jumelli.  Although  the 
president  (the  Earl  Talbot)  was  prevented  by 
beroavoinent  fiom  heing  present  at  the  Festival, 


it  is  satisfactory  to  know  that  it  was  once  more  a 
great  success,  realising  the  unoxamphd  amount 
of  £11,115,  of  which  the  Hospital  received 
£5,600. 

At  the  Festival  of  1826,  which  commenced  on 
the  3rd  of  October,  the  list  of  patrons  was  for  the 
first  time  headed  by  the  name  of  the  reigning 
Soverei/^n,  an  honour  which  has  ever  since  been 
confened  upon  the  Birmingham  Musical  Festival, 
Among  the  prmcipal  vocalists  appeared,  for  the 
first  time,  Madame  Caradori ;  together  with  Miss 
Stephen}?,  ^fiss  Palon,  Miss  Bacon,  the  Misses 
Travis,  Messi-s,  Braliam,  Vaughan,  Kny  vett, 
Phillips,  and  Signoii  Curioni  and  De  Begnis. 
Among  the  instrumentalists  were  J.  B.  Cramer, 
De  Beriot,  Kiesowetter,  B.  Lindley,  Kicholson, 
Moralt,  Ashley,  Disfcin,  Puzzi,  and  others  of  note. 
The  programme  included  selections  from  MehuFs 
"Joseph,*'  Graun'a  **Tod  Jcsu,"  "Gideon," 
Haydn's  "Seasons/*  and  Ilandtl's  ** Judas  Jfac- 
cabseus/'  besides  other  choice  morctaux.  The 
receipts  were  £10,104,  of  which  the  profits 
amounted   to   £4,592. 

The  last  Festival  held  in  St.  Philip's  Church 
commenced  on  the  6th  of  October,  1829.  Within 
a  few  days  of  the  celebration  a  circular  ap]>cared 
which  seemed  likely  to  damage  its  prospects  some- 
what, inasmuch  as  it  appealed  to  the  religious 
instincts  of  the  people,  calling  on  them  to 
abstain  frum  attending  tlie  performances,  on  the 
ground  that  they  were  inconsistent  with,  or 
opposed  to,  the  spirit  of  Christianity.  This 
circular  was  written  by  Thomas  Swan,  at  the 
suggestion  of  that  ominont  and  justly  esteemed 
philanthropist,  Joseph  Sturge  ;  and  it  naturally 
called  forth  considerable  indignation  on  the  part 
of  the  promoters  and  supporters  of  the  Musical 
Festivals,  the  more  especially  from  its  ill-timed 
publication — which  did  not  admit  of  a  reply  in 
time  for  the  Mi^eting — and  also  from  the  fact  that 
it  was  issued  anonymously,  and  without  even  the 
name  of  the  printer.  To  the  former  objection, 
however,  Mr.  Sturge  replied,  that  the  precise  time 
of  its  appearance  was  accidental,  the  manuscript 


I 


having  beeu  pkced  in  his  Immls  some  time  before, 
and  Ills  absence  from  home  alone  prevented  its 
publication  at  an  earlier  period.  **  If,  therefore, 
it  was  ill-timed,"  he  adds  frankly,  **  I  am  alone 
reeponsiblo/'  The  name  of  the  printer  was,  he 
farther  states,  omitted  inadvertently  ;  but  that  of 
the  author  designedly,  as  **  it  would  give  him 
unnecessary  publicity  to  affix  it" 

Still,  notwithstanding  this  undoubtedly  well- 
meant  opposition,  the  Festival  proved  a  success. 
The  noveltivs,  which  were  but  few,  included  a 
selection  from  the  Service  written  by  Cherubini 
for  the  Coronation  of  Charles  X,,  of  France  ;  also, 
at  the  evening  concerts  at  the  Theatre,  a  selection 
of  operatic  music  (with  the  usual  costumes  and 
seeuic  accessories),  **in  which,'*  says  the  historian 
of  the  Festivals,  **  the  famous  Malibran  acquitted 
herself  to  the  astonit?!»meiit  and  admiration  of  a 
liiniiirighani  audience,  who  now  witnessed  her 
performaTice  for  tbe  first  time,"  Among  the 
vocalists  on  this  occasion  we  uiCRt  with  tlie  name 
of  Signor  (Ajski,  now  better  known  as  8ir  Michael 


Costa — no  longer  as  a  vocal ij^t,  however,  bmai 
an  eminent  composer  and  conductor.  The  toUl 
amount  produced  by  the  FestiTal  was  X0,7ri, 
and  the  profits  £5,964.  During  tluB  Festival  the 
Hospital  celebrated  its  jubilee,  having  been 
cstiiblished  fifty  years ;  and  during  this  period 
it  had  received  from  those  musical  gatherings  m 
less  a  sum  than  £45,718. 

We  conclude  the  second  period  in  the  hktofy 
of  the  Festivals,  as  we  did  the  fimt,  with  m  lobb 
showing  the receiptsand  profits  on  eaeb  occasioa: — 


Year. 

Totid  rr«MM)eda. 

N«t  Profit. 

£ 

£ 

1802 

3,820 

2,afo 

1806 

4,222 

2,202 

1808 

5,411 

8,257 

1811 

6.680 

S.e!£9 

1814 

7,144 

a.  131 

1817 

8,746 

4,2(nS 

1820 

9,483 

5,000 

1828 

tl,116 

5  - 

18^6 

10,104 

4, 

]S2d 

9,771 

6«1K>4 

£76,505 


^40.257 


CHAPTER      LXIir, 


KDUCATION      IN      B  J  K  M  1  N  C  II  A  M  ,      130  1-184  0, 


Tb4  Sundfty  Buboot  UovciucDt— TUti  "Hadru  "  and  "  LaLctusicriULti "  8cIioo1k  -£iIucation  in  BIrmli^(Jmiu  in  t§S7 — The  FH<I 

Scluwl— llicr«i*e  uf  the  Reveuncn— The  Frae  GrAtninttr  S<;hool   Bill  of  l^SO—Oppo^itlofi  frotii  th<!  DiitMDtvrv^Oefail— Tlig  i 
oClSSl— HemoTKl  of  the  Old  School— Mr,  Burry's  Dcsiifn  fur  tbe  Nevr  Buntliiigji^Duficriiption  of  the  New  BaildUigN— Tbe  1 
Bchooli— Tlia  Binninijhat«  »tia  Edgbavton  ProprleUry  Bcliool— St.  Mary's  Ntttbiuil  Hdioobu 


Ik  out  peeords,  thus  far,  of  the  progress  of  Birming- 
hain  in  the  nineteenth  century,  wc  have  purposely 
deferred  the  consideration  of  the  educational 
history  of  the  town  until  the  period  of  the  first 
real  i-cform  in  the  noLle  institution  founded  by 
Kin^  Edward  the  Sixth,  and  endowed,  as  wo 
showed  in  an  earlier  chapter,  out  of  the  revenues 
confiscated  by  his  royal  father  from  our  ancient 
Gild  of  the  Holy  Cross. 

Having  now  reached  that  period,  and  before 
entering  upon  the  further  history  of  that  institu- 


tion, it  mil  be  vrell  for  ua  to  take  a  glance  at  the 
provisions  which  had  been  made  eUewhere  for 
the  education  of  the  people.  And  among  tl»0 
most  remarkable  and  interesting  features  in  tho 
educational  progress  of  the  town,  as  well  as  of 
tho  country  in  general,  must  be  mentioned  the 
Sunday  School  mov^ement,  which  has  been  ailenll/ 
working  a  great  reform  in  the  manners  and  ntonli 
of  the  people,  and  which  has,  unnoticed  by  us  in 
the  course  of  our  story,  grown  and  flourished 
until  it  has  become  one  of  tho  most  useful  and 


•m.iMi.imi    OLD  AKD   XEW   BIEMmGHAM. 


4i3 


vjiliiabic  institutions  in  the  counLiy.  We  need 
not  refer  herts  to  the  origin  of  the  Sunday  School 
movement,  but  may  mention  that  we  owe  its 
introduction,  aa  far  aa  Birmingham  is  concerned, 
!to  the  Revds^  C.  Curtis,   Hector  of  SL  Martin*^, 


H,O0O  cbihlren  receiving'  education  in  tlie  various 
schools  of  the  town  (not  including  King  Edward*s) 
out  of  a  population  of  100,000  persons  ;  the  table 
will  enable  the  reader  to  form  some  idea  of  thtj 
work  done  by  each  of  the  schools  mentioned  : — 


N 


fj&, 


hi 


toj 


.n 


X^ 


\\\*mm 


THE   FREE  OAAltMAR  8rHOOL. 


4iiid  J,  RiJandj  of  8t  Mary's  ;  the  movement  was 
«peedily  taken  up  by  the  dissenters,  tlie  Unitarians 
-and  the  Methodists  being  among  the  most  zealous 
in  this  good  work.  Secular  instruction  was  also 
<5Are fully  looked  after,  and  the  provision  made  by 
the  Free  Grammar  School,  the  Blue  Coat  School, 
and  the  Protestant  Dissenting  School,  were 
.aupplemented  by  the  establishment  of  a  free 
school  for  the  education  of  the  poor  on  Dr. 
EeU'a  **  Madras  '*  system,  in  Pinfold  Street^  in 
2812,  and  also  of  a  school  on  the  Lancasterian 
system*  In  1827  there  were,  as  appears  from  the 
loDowiEig  table  printed  in  a  hite  edition  of  Button, 


Blue  Coat  School      .., 

Infant  School,  Ann  Street 

Infant  School,  Iidiagtoo 

Asylum 

NutioTiftl  Schooli 

Schoo In  of  IndiMtry  . . , 

St.  Philip's 

St  G«orge*8 

St.  Mary*>  ... 

St.  Martin's 

St  PanVa  ,.. 

Christ  Chnreh 

St,  Bartholomeir'B,  St  Jnmeii's, 
St  John's,  aud  Trinity,  with 
the  five  above  mentioned, 
making  A  total  of ... 


Boys.        GirU,      Total, 


—      ..  2,180 


414 


OLD   A^ny   NEW   BIUiMIXGHAM. 


tTkt  Fwm  amtaiusr  B^taeL 


P»rk  Street 

Kow  Mcetin*: 

Old  Meeting 

Bajitist    itnd    Sunday    Stihool 

Uuion     ... 
Cherry  Street  AmJ  Ikhiiout  Kow 

( Wesley.iu  Oltl  SehooU)       . , . 
Wesleynn,  New 
Bradford  Street 
Mount  Zjon 
IiiUngton    ... 
TKoriHJ  Stret-t 
Inge  Street 
Bornuti  Cntliolic 


Boya 
441 


GirlH. 

48 
200 
100 


Total. 
,,  43 
..     740 

..   am 


—      .,.6,000 


^91 

leo 
so 


910 

SOD 

20 


.1.600 
.    «01 

.  aeo 

,     100 

250 


N 


8,030        2,«2        14,091» 

While  olLiM  eduraiion;il  institutions  wore  thus 
growing  and  flonrishing,  tlje  Fre<?  Grammar  School 
appears,  like  the  buiMing  in  which  it  wn«  heH, 
to  have  fallen  into  decay*  The  instruction  im- 
parted tirerein  was  still  circnmscribed  by  the  c^l 
barriers  whrclt  regaftled  the  acquisition  of  the 
Icaraed  knguagea  as  tho  be-all  and  eiid-all  of 
education,  and  henco,  ina?»nincb  as  the  people  of 
Birmingham  were  devoted  to  more  practical  pur- 
suits, and  desired  for  their  sons  an  tducation 
befitiiTig  the  emailing  they  were  destined  to  fulfil, 
the  noble  chanty  of  otir  forefathers  had  ceased  to 
benefit  the  town.  But  the  progrosa  of  Time, 
which  had  crumbled  the  walls  of  the  building, 
and  hj5d  }i?ft  the  curriotilum  far  behind  the  age, 
had  also  vastly  increased  the  revenues  of  the 
institution — the  simple  £20  a  year  yielded  by 
the  lands  which  the  inhabitants  had  so  wisely 
preferred  to  the  actual  cash,  the  acora  which  ha<l 
been  planted  in  the  sixteenth  century,  having 
grown  into  a  grand  oak.  The  land  originally  lay 
outside  the  town,  but  by  the  growth  of  three 
centuries  the  town  htidencompaitsed  it  on  every  side, 
and  it  was  now  in  a  most  central  situation,  yielding 
an  annual  rctuni  of  £3,000  ;  and  with  such  ample 
means  at  their  di^sposal,  the  governurs  deterndtied 
to  provide  a  school  worthy  of  the  town.  Accord- 
ingly, a  Bill  was  brought  into  Parliament  during 
theBosfiion  of  1830  to  enable  them  *Ho  pull  down 
the  present  Master's  houses,  and  School  house, 
in  l^ew  Street,  in  the  town  of  iJiruiingbam,  and 


to  make  and  erect  more  suitable  accommodatiftos 
on  a  new  site  in  the  vicinity  of  tho  town,  and  to^ 
procure  aucb  new  aita,  and  to  extend  the  objecta 
of  the  charity,  by  erecting  and  making  on  tlie  old 
site  in  New  Street,  accommodations  suitiblr  far 
a  New  School  for  teaching  modem  languagea,  th« 
arts,  and  sciences ;  and  to  make  certain  addilioiii 
to  the  eatatcft  of  the  said  charity  by  piircha^%ind 
to  raise  money  for  the  purposeap  Aforesaid,  hy 
applying  certain  fund*  now  bdongiiig  to  tliirf  AiA 
charity,  and  by  sale  of  i  *  *  "  taiffts  IjcWn^*- 
ing  thereto,  and  by  ni'  r  r  <r  oth^  ptrr- 

poses."  There  was  howeve^f  A  weak  dlitnae  if  tho 
proposed  Act,  which  fftibjected  it  lo  the  9t)at 
dtdurmiued  opposition  on  the  part  of  Ch» 
dissenters;  viz.:  'Uli#fc  lio  peiT^Mi  aliatt  bt 
cleeted  n  governor  who  is  not  a  member  rf  fte 
Kfltftbiished  Church  of  England.  '*  The  oppeMkta 
contended  that  it  was  not  in  acconfanoe  vriW  liia 
spirit  of  the  endowment  which  provided  Only 
tb'jt  the  governors  should  he  **  of  the  more  X^ 
erect  and  mote  trusty  inhabitants  of  tho  foWif ; 
and  "  as  the  School  was  f*^unded  for  iHe  comSittk 
benefit  nf  the  town,  without  exception,  4kt 
eligibility  to  the  situation  of  goverftora  shoAd 
continue  to  bo  the  privilege  of  all  ;  the  rather,  ■ 
since  the  harmony  itoA  goodwill  of  the  ftown  and  fl 
ncighbrMirhood  are  distnrlxsd  by  the  introdaelron 
of  the  proposed  enactment,  and  would  be  ret- 
more  seriously  injured  by  its  becoming  a  law." 

The  opposition  thus  raised  was  successful  in 
uverthrowing  the  BUI,  which  woa  lost  on  the 
motion  for  the  third  reading  by  a  majority  of 
six,  twenty-two  voting  against,  and  eixtotjii  lof^ 
the  measum 

Karly  in  1831,  however,  the  Gazeiie  announced 
that  '*  all  the  points  of  difference  rekting  to  the 
intended  Free  School  Act  have  at  length  been 
arninged  ;  and  that,  as  now  agreed  to,  tlie  Bill 
will  be  introduced  early  in  the  next  session  of 
Parliament,  and  allowed  to  paaa  pm  fi»rnuL 
through  all  its  stages,"  This  welcome  tinnouncr- 
ment  proved  to  bo  true,  and  the  Act  passed  almost 
unaltered,  empowering  the  governors  to  ex|ioiul 


is-H 


The  Fn;»  arAtnuinr  Sttltool.) 


OLI>  AND  KEW  BULMINGHAM. 


445 


JS50,000  in  the  erection  of  a  suitable  building  for 
the  reception  of  a  select  number  of  the  *'  boys 
axid  youths*'  of  the  town,  and  further  to  ky  out 
XijOOO  on  the  school  buildings  for  the  children 
of  the  poorer  inhabitants.  Accordingly,  the 
qimint  old  building  of  1707  was  removed  in  1832 
(the  classes  being  held  in  the  interim  at  the 
ShalcC8{K'are  Rooms,  Now  Street) ;  and  on  the 
18th  of  February,  1833,  the  Gnzetic  published 
the  following  announcement  relative  to  the 
intended  new  structure  : — 

"The  Govcrnora  of  tlic  Fn^e  Gmmmiir  School  have 
AWiuxled  their  first  premium  of  £10U  lor  tlie  li*»t  design 
for  the  New  School  Buildings  and  Ifasters*  Houses  to  Mr. 
Chftrlrt  Barry,  of  London  ;  the  second  preniium  of  £70  to 
Mr.  Haywurd  of  Bath  ;  and  the  third  of  £J0  lo  Mr  God- 
wiu,  of  London*  These  three  designs,  wts  itiiderattind, 
wuje  selected  from  among  upuarda  of  sixty  others,  the 
grcAt  minority  of  which  were  also  Gothic.     Th.it  k*  nt  in 

Mr*  Barry,  nnd  from  which  the  nr;w  edifice  will  doubt- 
b«  erected,  is  a  rich  and  beautiful  speeimett  of  the 
Florid  style  ;  it  is  exceedingly  iipprr>priate,  nnd  is  well 
adapt)  d  for  the  purposes  for  wldt  h  it  is  intfiuled^  and 
while  it  serves  to  mark  t)ie  era  in  which  the  school  was 
founded,  vi^ill  prove  highly  ornamental  to  tlie  town,  Mr. 
Parry  is  an  architect  of  widl-kumvu  skill  aud  e;?penence, 
Aud  liaa  Ineen  employed  in  the  erectiou  of  aeveml 
Churchfa,  nuder  the  Putliainentary  Commiasioners,  his 
Litest  U-ing  the  New  Cliurch  at  Briglitou.  The  Koyal 
Iiislitutton  at  M:inche*tei%  aud  the  TnivelleiV  Club 
House,  in  I'all  Mull,  were  also  built  from  his  designs,  and 
under  his  saperintendetico^" 

The  feliciitoua  choice  made  by  tho  govcrnora 
was  approved  not  only  by  the  inhahitants  of  Bir- 
niiiighain,  but  by  people  of  tiiste  throughout  the 
country,  and  may  really  be  said  to  have  made  the 
reputation  of  the  architect.  In  Godwin's  "  Slate 
of  Architeoturu  in  the  Provinces,"  whitih  was 
written  while  this  structure  was  in  course  of 
erection,  the  author  exprtssses  his  opinion  that 
•'  it  is  not  merely  an  ornament  to  tiirminghani  but 
t«»  England^"  and  that  it  **  affords  a  fair  evidence 
of  this  skill  with  which  that  gentleman  [Mr. 
Birr)']  will  carry  out  hU  beautiful  de&igns  for  the 
Houaes  of  Parliamcttt,  if  iiermittcd  to  act  accord* 
Ini  to  his  own  judj^munt." 

The  fltvlc  adopted  by  tbo  architect  is  very 
appropriately  that  wltich  pn-vuilcd  nt  the  period 
of  the  foundation  of  tiio  school — the  Gothic  of 


the  Tudor  era.  The  form  of  the  building  is 
quadrangular,  the  diiuensiona  being  174  feet  in 
front,  125  in  Ihmk,  nnd  60  feet  in  hei-ht.  The 
principal  elevation,  towards  ^"ew  Street,  is  com- 
posed of  two  stories,  the  upper  series  of  windows 
bein]<  very  loft}',  and  eniiclied  witli  fine  tracery, 
divided  by  eight  buttresses,  terminating  above  the 
embattled  panipet,  in  a  series  of  pinnacles,  with 
the  usual  Tudor  ornaments,  consisting  of  the  crown, 
rose,  portcullis, etc.  j  and  the  elevation  terminates  in 
two  wings  (ranging  with  the  buttresses  and  their 
pinnacles,  both  in  height  and  proiuincnce),  in 
each  of  which  is  a  lofty  oriel  window,  of  two 
stories  in  height.  The  original  plans  contemplated 
the  erection  of  a  great  central  tower,  btit  this  has 
never  been  realiiteil. 

Entering  the  building  through  tho  spacious  and 
richly  ornamented  porch,  we  find,  on  the  ground 
tloor,  two  large  apartments,  one  on  either  side  of 
the  porch,  each  extending  nearly  half  the  length 
of  the  building,  with  oak  panelled  walls  and 
ceilings  j  these  are  the  two  subordinate  school- 
room?. Ascending  t!ie  luindsome  stone  staircase, 
we  reach  the  two  principal  rooms,  which  are 
connected  by  a  corridor.  One  of  these  is  the 
library,  which  is  lighted  by  the  noble  series  of 
windows  of  the  front  elevation,  and  ia  102  feet 
long,  25  feet  wnde,  and  31  feet  high.  It  contains 
a  valuable  collection  of  books,  and  a  fine  bust  of 
the  founder,  by  Schumacher,  The  otlicr  room, 
which  occupies  a  corresponding  part  of  the  tear  of 
the  build iug,  ia  the  grammar  school ;  tho  ro.jf  is 
carved  and  enriched  with  tracery,  after  the  manner 
of  those  of  Crosby,  Elthani,  and  other  halls  of  the 
Tudor  period.  At  the  end  of  the  room,  xvhcre  the 
chair  of  the  head  master  is  phiced,  is  a  lofty  and 
handsomely  carvetl  oak  screen,  behind  which  is  a 
platform  for  visitors.  *'Wheii  peopled  by  tho 
youthful  votaries  of  learning,  amongst  whom  tho 
utmost  oriler  and  discipline  are  maintained,  it 
may  bo  imagined  that  this  fine  collegiate  hall, 
where—  (it  may  be  with  no  illusive  finger) — 

*  S*i*^%do\\8  Foresight  points  to  abow 
A  tittlr  1  ^tich  rf  hrpin-^Fi  1  ishop»  ^l»^p  : 


446 


OLD  AKD  KEW  BIEMINGHAM. 


[The  Frer  Gnn 


Or  here  a  chancellor  in  embryo, 
Or  bard  sublime  * * 

presents  a  most  striking    appearanca^'t      The 

buildings  in  flank,  together  with  the  wings  of  the 

front  and  rear,  form  the  residences  of  the  masters, 

and  apartments  for  private  pupils. 

The  changes  which  had  thus  been  brought 
about  in  the  school  buildings  had  also  their 
counterpart  in  the  school  itself.  The  Greek  and 
Latin,  which  had  formed  the  whole  of  the  instruc- 
tion imparted,  were  now  supplemented  by  more 
useful  branches  of  learning,  calculated  to  fit  the 
scholar  for  business  pursuits  ;  elementary  schools 
were  established  in  various  parts  of  the  town,  and 
so  the  foundation  which  before  the  removal  of  the 
old  building  had  provided  for  no  more  than 
a  hundred  children,  now  gave  instruction  to  nearly 
fifteen  hundred.  The  elementary  schools,  which 
are  neat  and  even  handsome  buildings  of  brick,  in 
the  Elizabethan  style,  are  four  in  number ;  the 
first  was  erected  in  Gem  Street,  near  Aston  Street, 
in  1838,  the  second,  in  the  same  year,  in  Meriden 
Street,  Digbeth,  the  third  in  Edward  Street, 
Parade,  a  littlo  later,  and  the  fourth,  in  Pigott 
Street,  Bath  Row,  in  1852. 

The  number  provided  for  in  these  schools  is  as 
follows  : — 


Hoys. 

Girls. 

Gem  Street      ... 

...     135 

.     130 

Meriden  Street 

...     240 

Edward  Street 

...     140     . 

..     140 

Pigott  Street   ... 

...     250     . 

..     250 

765  620 

The  extension  of  the  course  of  instruction 
given  in  the  Grammar  School,  which,  in  addi- 
tion to  the  elegant  attainments  of  classical  learning, 
now  provided  also  the  more  practical  instruction 
in  the  arts  and  sciences,  was  higldy  eulogised  by 
Dr.  Buckland  at  the  meeting  of  the  British  Associa- 


•  Shenstone.     f  W.  Bate*.  B.A.,  Pic'ti>rial  Quldt?,  p.  111. 


tion,  in  1839,  of  which  one  section  was  held  in  tli» 
rooms  of  this  building.  Such  useful  additions  to 
the  curriculum,  he  maintained,  most  have  been  the 
intent  of  the  munificent  founders  of  all  colleges, 
though  at  the  period  they  lived  such  studies  nizj 
have  been  unknown. 

In  addition  to  the  enlarged  provision  thus 
made  for  the  education  of  the  youth  of  all 
classes,  an  energetic  and  useful  scholastic  instito- 
tion  was  established  near  the  Five  Ways,  in  1838^ 
by  a  body  of  Proprietors  (and  hence  called  th« 
Birmingham  and  Edgbaston  Proprietary  School\ 
in  order  to  provide  for  their  sons  a  school  in 
which  the  advantages  of  a  classical  and  commercial 
education  should  be  combined,  and  from  which 
corporal  punishment,  which  at  this  time  was 
regarded  with  growing  disfavour  among  educa- 
tionalists, should  be  excluded.  Shares,  entitling 
the  holder  to  nominate  one  pupil,  were  offered  at 
£20  etich,  and  were  made  transferable. 

The  school  building,  which  was  completed  in 
1841,  was  designed  by  Mr.  Hugh  Smith,  and  is 
a  handsome  Elizabethan  structure  of  red  brick, 
with  stone  dressings.  The  frontage  consists  of 
the  entrance  to  the  school,  surmounted  by  a 
handsome  dwarf  tower,  lighted  by  an  oriel  window, 
flanked  on  each  side  by  the  masters'  residences; 
and  there  is  an  extensive  play-ground  in  the  rear. 

We  have  not  space  to  describe  in  detail  the 
various  national  schools  referred  to  in  the  table 
given  at  the  beginning  of  this  chapter ;  the  only 
building  of  this  class  having  any  pretension 
to  architectural  appearance,  erected  during  the 
period  under  notice,  is  St  Clary's,  in  Bath  Street,  a 
neat  little  Gothic  structure  of  stone,  erected  in  1824, 
at  a  cost  of  £2,187,  of  which  £1,090  was  raised 
by  subscription,  and  the  remainder  received  from 
the  National  Society,  and  the  Privy  Council 
Committee  on  Education. 


Ttt9  D  nnlnsbaco  lUllirji]:*.] 


OLD   AND   NEW  BIRMINGHAM, 


I4T 


CHAPTER      LXIY. 


THE     BIRMINGHAM     RAILWAYS 

A»  Wipuvlletod  0<M«li-jourii«r--Op|K»ftiOD  to  the  Railway  Movemeut—  Early  aitempU  of  MurUocb  and  Trovltblck— All  iffyightiHl  T«0- 
^aim  KocfCT^ — The  London  and  Bfrmioglmm  Railwity— Hie  Omid  Juuutiou  Railway— Oixmltij.*  of  thtt  First  Unn  tn  Itlntilitglianih* 
Oocaplotion  of  tht  London  aad  Birmiughata  Line— The  Midlattd  Railwaj-^Dr.  Ctioroli'A  tSteain  Coach— Ueaton'a  filoam  Coach. 


Just  a  oentuiy  had  passed  awajr  aiace  Nicholas 
Rothw'ell  first  performed  his  journey  to  London, 
in  the  Birmingham  stage-cuach|  in  tiie  unusually 
short  space  of  two  days  and  a  half ;  and  the 
lapse  ol  time  had  brought  with  it  suhstantial 
improvements  both  in  the  speed  and  comfort  of 
the  sUgc-coach,  which  is  well  illustrated  by  the 
fact  that  on  May-Day,  1830,  the  "  Independent 
Tally-ho  "  jwr formed  a  feat  altogether  unparal- 
leled in  the  aitnals  of  couching,  by  travelling  the 
same  distance  (109  miles)  in  seven  hours  and  ten 
minutes.  But  great  as  this  speed  must  liave 
appeared  to  th^  wondering  inhabitants  at  tihat 

Jjime,  it  was  destined  to  be  out-distanced  before 
Qy  years  had  elap,^ed  ;  and  already  the  minds 

"^f  the  people  were  exercised  couceruing  a  nnich- 
talked-of  **pufKug  Billy''  which  had  begiui  to 
run  between  Stockton  and  Darling  too,  the 
wonderful  invention  of  "  the  engine-wright  of 
KilHngworth,"  as  George  Stephenson  modestly 
called  himself.  Not  thut  the  people  were  much 
inclmed  to  Ijelieve  in  the  new  wonder  ]  for  eTcn 
an  educiitt^d  reviewer — one  of  the  famous 
Qnurterlf/  writers^ — treated  the  whole  matter 
with  incredulity,  stating  that  nothing  could  be 
moru  palpably  absurd  than  the  prospect  held 
out  of  locomotives  travelling  twice  aa  fast  aa  stajjo 
coaches,  and  that  people  woidd  na  soon  atiffer 
theniselvea  to  be  fii'ed  o^  upon  one  of  Congrevo'a 
ricochet  rocketa  as  trust  themseh'ea  to  the  mercy 
of  a  machine  going  at  such  a  Dite,  Tb«y 
imagined  all  sorta  of  improbable  dLfHculties ; 
In  some  of  the  rural  dtitrictdi  thuy  were  afraid 
Ic-it  the  smoke  of  the  iron  hone  should  injure 
the  Aodoea  of  the  sheep  ;  othara,  aa  for  inatanoa 
57 


the  now  proverbial  Member  of  Parliament,  feared 
leat  the  straying  of  an  occasional  cow  on  to  the 
line  shoidd  prove  an  awkward  obsUtcle  to  the 
train  (to  which,  as  every botJy  knows,  the  witty 
engineer  replied  that  it  wonhi  prove  awkwaiil, — 
"very  awkwrrd  indeed  —f(^r  thfi  om)  /**) ;  others 
feared  lost  the  sparks  from  the  engine  should  set 
fire  to  the  adjoining  proportios  along  the  line  ; 
and  all  (fclie  learned  Lord  Droiigluiiii,  as  we  have 
recently  heard,  among  the  iiundn^r)  reganhid  tlia 
idea  of  travelling  at  more  than  eight  miles  an 
hour  aa  a  mere  dunMxm. 

There  had  been,  twenty  or  thirty  years  earlier, 
among  the  old  Soho  circle,  two  nion  who 
implicitly  believed  in  the  ultimate  success  of 
steam  locomotion.  One  of  these  was  our 
townsman  William  Murdoch,  who,  as  wo  know, 
had  constructed  a  small  locomotive  during  hia 
residence  in  Cornwall,  much  to  the  astonish  fiient 
of  his  neigflibouiB ;  and  an  eccentric  Cornish  man 
named  Ki^diard  Trevithick,  who  hud  setin  Mur- 
doch's engini*,  copied  it,  with  sumt;  iiuprovementi, 
in  1802,  and  took  out  n  piitent  ffir  it.  Hm 
aflerwanls  exhibited  it  in  London,  on  the  very 
spot  which  was  afterwardn  covered  by  the 
Euston  terminus.  An  amiming  story  is  told  by 
Coleridge  re^peetui^  Trevithick's  engine.  When 
the  inventor  was  travLdUng  with  it  to  the  port 
from  whence  it  wan  iihipp«*d  to  London,  he  came 
in  sight  of  a  closed  toll  gat4%  and  immediately 
Mhut  tjir  uteam,  but  the  mu  men  turn  waa  so  great 
that  ilie  engine  did  not  comu  la  a  stop  until  it 
reached  the  gnto,  wltich  was  opened  with  unaC' 
cuifrtonied  celerity  by  the  gate-koei^er. 

•'What   havn   n*  g'>t  \n   pay   bt^rt^l"   niikMrt 


lUK  BiiiMis.iUAM  ANU  liDfiBAsru.v  mornirrAKY  school. 


**No— notb— nothtug  to  pay,  Mtj  dear  Mr. 
D^  — Demi  y  d— Jo  drive  on  as  fad  as  you  can/ 
Koth— nothing  to  piiy  I  " 

Tlie  other  nieinbor  of  tlio  Lunar  Society  at 
Soho  who  Jippearg  to  havG  anticipiitcd  Stephen- 
son's invention,  w;is  the  erudite  Br.  Darwiu,  who 
thus  apostrophised  the  motor  of  tho  ftitiire,  in 
his  Botanic  G  itihm^  puUlishi;d  in  1793  ; 

**Socm  aliall  thy  itniij  unconqu^r'd  Steam  I  fiFar, 
Dni2  the  fsTnw  btir;^^,  or  J;ivH'  i1n*  nqiiil  lai  ; 
Or  (III  the  wi4e-wftvittg  wingw  rjipirndtnl  k'ur 
TiiK'  llyiog  chariot  thio'  the  tit  U*  of  uiv  1  '* 


Tlio  Bill  po^sctj  the  Lower  House  eucccsalu 
hut  was  riyected,  in  Jime^  by  the  Lords,  \iitU 
sessioii  of  1333  tho  applicalion  was  rontjwcd 
and  ultiniiitely  the  Act  was  obtiiincal,  at  m  ccwt  < 
X72,S69, 

lu  the  following  June  the  work  of  constr 
tlic!  Hue  wiw  comuiencL'd,  and  Wiia    succ 
com  pie  tad    in    about    four   yeara^^ — ^    work 
vo1ving»    as  \\m   licen  show/*,    ahiuist   onc-thir 
greiitL'i*  amount  uf  khour  thiui  did  Urn  con«tructiajl 
uf  the  (trutt  Pyramil  of  (Jhoi»pft|    aud  wliich 


OticiilJi^  of  tlic  Fi(»i  tlu]:w.ty  I 


OLD   AND   :NE\V   B1KMINXUIA>[. 


419 


necussiUited  tUo  I'tiiaoval  of  03  niuuli  matoiial  as 
would  encompass  tlia  earth  more  than  three  times^ 
witli  a  liaiid  one  foot  hij^di  and  threes  feet  broatL 

But  whila  thb  great  lunlertaking  wag  in 
jr  ogress,  another  iirhich  ftill  but  little  short  of  it 
was  set  on  foot.  The  first  had  almady  given 
promise  of  a  successful  line  connecting  our  town 
with  the  metropolis,  when  the  construction  of  a 
Bt?cond  lino  was  pn ejected,  from  Birniingliam  to 
Manchester,  to  be  called  the  Grand  Junction 
Hallway.  The  royal  assent  was  obtained  for 
this  line  in  1833,  and  the  work  was  completed 
in  July,  1837,  fourteen  mouths  earlier  than  the 
London  and  Birmingham  line,  and  was  therefore 
the  first  railway  opened  in  the  Midland  Counties. 

Early  on  Tuesday  morning,  July  4  th,  the  town 
was  in  a  state  of  commotion;  before  six  o*clock 
the  streets  leading  towards  the  railway  terniiims, 
were  thronged  with  people,  and  from  nearly  every 
window  hung  flags  and  other  decorations,  while 
the  strains  of  several  bands  of  music  gave  evidence 
that  even  at  that  early  hour  the  festivities  of  the 
day  had  already  commenced.  The  Birmingham 
Juunud  of  that  day  thus  describes  the  9;:ene  : 

At  ieven  o'clock  prc'ciaoly  ia  the  mominx»  the  t>cll 
I  rtitjgf  wht?ii  the  opening  Lruio,  drawn  by  the  '  Wildfire  * 
.commenced  moviDg.  The  train  consisted  of  eight 
,  all  of  th«  firdt  c'ht33,  and  bearing  the  follovvm»; 
-the  'Greyhound,*  the  Swallow/  tho  *  Liverpool 
and  Birmingham  Mail/  tUo  *  Celerity, *  the  *  Umitire/  the 
'Statesman/  und  the  ^  Birudngham  ami  Manchester 
Mail/  The  trniji  starttnl  alowly  ;  bat  emerging  from  the 
yard  [at  Vanxhall]  sfHiedily  bur^it  ofTat  a  rapid  rate.  To 
those  who  lor  the  lirat  time  witni^sacd  auok  a  scene  it  was 
peculiarly  exciting,  and  the  immense  nmltituile,  as  far  as 
the  eye  could  reach,  gave  expression  to  their  udaiiration 
by  loud  End  loni^'continued  hnitza^,  and  the  raving  of 
hataand  li.indkeri.'hieiM. 

H^  Leaving  the  throng  behind,  the  monster  pixj- 
^■Ipliou  quickened  ita  pace,  and,  instead  of  the  ten 
^^^^07  twelve  miles  an  hour,  soon  bc^an  to  afford  the 
H  BjKHJlators  a  glimpse  of  the  travelling  of  the  future^ 
H  running  at  a  epeod  of  not  Jess  than  from  thirty  to 
thirty -five  miles  an  hour.  Later  on  in  the  morn- 
ing a  train  of  second-claas  carriages  set  out  amidst 
aimilar  demoDdtrations,  and  not   long  afterwards 


the  same  attentions  were  bestowed  upon  the  first 
train  whiuh  arrived  in  Birmingham  from  Liver- 
pool 

The  people  W'^m  not  lung  in  becoming  ac- 
customed to  tlio  new  mode  of  travelling,  and 
conaoquently  when,  in  the  following  year,  the 
London  and  Birmingham  Kail  way  was  opened, 
there  was  considerably  less  excitement.  The 
following  pavngraphs  fioni  the  Gfizeite  may  servo 
to  record  the  event : 

August  27,  18S8. — On  Monday  Inst  tho  whole  lino  of 
Itailrortd  from  this  town  to  Lomlon  was  traversed  by  a 
train  of  fonr  carriages,  occniutd  by  Directors  and  Share- 
hohli't!).  Tiie  purly  loft  the  stution,  after  jmrtaking  of 
breakfast,  at  half-paat  six  o'tiloek  in  the  Triorning,  aod 
arrired  in  London  at  about  a  iiiuirtor  past  ono.  An  hoar 
am!  a  hiilf  Wilh  ocenpi^'d  in  inajiectin;;  tho  tnnnel  at 
Kilsby  and  other  interesting  [uirt«  of  the  great  ivork^  so 
that  the  JlMtani^e  may  be  s.iid  to  luvc  been  tni veiled  itt 
little  more  than  five  botirs, 

Sipt.  17,  ISoS. — This  morning  the  entire  line  of  Rail- 
road  between  this  and  Londoa  Anil  be  opened  to  tliO 
pnhlie.  Birniingliani  will  tlHH  be  bronght  within  six  if 
not  five  honrs  of  the  enpital  ;  it  remains  only  for  those  in 
this  town,  with  whom  is  tlie  power^  to  prepare  each 
IncihtieH  of  coniinimicalion  with  the  heart  of  tho  tow^n  as 
tire  requisite,  and  vnst  benefits  cannot  fsil  to  result  to  all 
classes  of  the  inhabitants. 

A  little  later  the  Midland  Railway  was  com- 
pleted, connecting  ISirmingham  and  Derby;  others 
of  course  soon  followed^  and  of  these  we  shall 
make  record  from  time  to  time  in  our  chronicle 
of  local  events.  Tho  two  lines  connecting  Bir- 
mi  ugh  am  with  London,  Mlui  cheater,  and  Liverpool 
(and  afterwards  called  the  I^oudon  and  North 
Western  Railway),  ami  the  Jlidland  line,  were 
centred  in  the  terminus  at  Curzon  Street,  where 
a  largo  ami  commodious  block  of  buildings  was 
erected  to  serve  as  a  station  and  hotel.  Mean- 
while the  public,  who  bad  at  first  looked  upon 
tho  railway  i)roject  with  incredulity  and  fear,  now 
veered  completely  round  to  the  most  unbounded 
ex agge ration  of  t!ie  possibilities  of  steam  locomo- 
tion. One  of  the  most  favourite  hobbies  of 
inveiitoi's  and  engineers,  was  to  construct  an 
engine  which  would  run  on  ctimmon  roads,  aud 
among  the  most  succesitful  projects  of  this  des- 
cription, was  the  steam  coach  constructed  by  the 


4m 


OLD  AND   KEW  BERMIKGHAM. 


f Fdtitl««X  II1rto>7,  If»tML 


celebrated  Dr.  Giurcli,  who  was  at  that  time  a 
resident  in  Birmingham.  This  vehicle,  which 
carried  forty  persons,  was  used  in  the  atreels  of 
Birmingham  in  1853,  and  was  doubtless  one  of 
tlio  most  practical  attempts  in  that  direction  at 
that  uaily  period  in  the  history  of  steam  locomo- 
tion. In  the  same  yeax  the  steam  coach  invented 
by  Mr.  Ileaton  also  ran,  and  astonished  the 
people  by  the  speed  and  regularity  of  its  move- 
ments, which  were  thus  recorded  in  a  local 
newspaper  of  the  period  : 


The  stcftm  coach  of  Mt^^rs.  Heittnn  pirrforQied 
Tuesday,  Augtjst  7.  with  upwards  of  thirty  pdMPTig 
the  journey  to  Coventry  and  back  with  the  aaix 
cxpeditioD  with  which  it  l^^ct  week  tmTen««l  to  "WoItii* 
hiimpton.  Its  ftvcrago  pAce  was  eight  miles  ta  bour, 
iDcluiling  stoppages. 

Experiments   in   this  direction  were  not  des- 
tined, however,  to  meet  with  general  appp 
being  likely  to  prove  dangerous  to  other  1 
licnco  the  attention  of  engineers  and  invent 
was  turned  towards  more  practicable  and  proEtah 
projects. 


CHAPTER      LXV, 

POLITICAL     HlSTORYi      1833^1840. 
Ijidudimj  tfic  History  of  the  BuU  Ring  Riot*  of  ISSX 

Bc-ic;ti0oaftfir  the  Edforni  MorenifinC— The  IrlAh  CMirion  Bill— DemonstTntiAn  on  NowlinU  HUI— KceuKsitiitloTi  of  the  Lnfal  wrl  *>ntt!ln 
tUmal   Ajwcwbtton— <"oiiwrvj*tlv(*  Activity— The  Elct'tiou  of  1SS5— CDR«<^rvntive  Bitnqat^t— Reform  nHnqaot— Meeting  11 

HiU— A  "Womaa'i  roliticsil  Union  "—iJcntli  of  the    Kinpc.  and  consc^quent  Gdicnl  Elect  Ion— Riot  in  ftoirt  of  thft   J; 

RetiYAt  of  the   WorccuterBhim   Yeoijintir}"— The  Clinrtis-t  Movtnjcnt— lie  *>l(l  policy  of  "  F»flf e,  Lnw,  ami  OT<l<?r"  n..,  - 

Feui^UB  O^Coniiorin  Btrintnghftm— Tho.  Xntionia  Conventloti— Remo^'al  of  the  Coiiventlon  to  Blrmitigham— Tarbtiletrt  tfeetln^ 
The  Bull  Ring  Riot»-Ri-'»i^jatloii  of  Mr.  Attwootl-lJbei-al  Victory. 


Having  obtained  the  extension  of  the  fmnchise, 
and  the  reform  of  electoral  abuses^  it  may 
naturally  be  supposed  that  tlie  people  would  now 
be  contented  and  liappy,  and  that  the  jiolitical 
historian  of  our  town  would  have  little  to  write 
concerning  the  few  years  that  followed  the  excite- 
ment of  1832, — for  it  is  during  a  period  of  unrest 
and  dissatisfaction  that  political  liistory  is  made ; 
political  action  is  the  outcome  of  oppression  and 
abuses,  and  whencvL-r  f^ppression  ceases  and  full 
liberty  is  granted,  tiic  book  which  records  our 
political  history  may  bo  closed  Bat  political 
factory  is  not  infrequently  followed  by  a  reaction 
against  the  measure  which  has  been  obtained  after 
so  severe  a  struggle  and  such  intense  excitement ; 
and  perhaps  not  unnaturally  so.  The  public 
mind  has  been  »o  completely  concentrated  upon 
the  object  for  which  the  masses  have  been  strivin^^ 
that  they  had  come  almost  to  believe  that,  that 
object  once  achieved,  all  abuses  will  come  to  a 
speedy  end, — that  the  measure  for  which  they 
have  striven  will  be  a  panacea  for  every  ill* 


So  it  was  in  the  case  of  the  Kef  arm  Bil 
'*  Men  had  believed/'  says  one  writer,  **that  witl 
the  Reform  Bill  the  influence  of  party  would 
subordinate  to  the  public  interest ;  that  legislatio 
by  the  new  House  woidd  make  the  country  fa 
ever  prosperous  ;  that  labour  would  be  abunda^ti^ 
wages  high,  food  cheaper  than  it  ever  had 
bef(tre.     There  was  no  doubt  grent  exa 
in  ail  this.     The  result  of  the  elections  ahowed 
that,  much  as  demoeracy  had  gained,  it  hail  still 
more  to  obtain  ;  and  the  disappointment  of  t!i 
reality   was  proportioned   to  the  extent  of 
anticipation.     In  Birmingham  this  was  eep 
fcdt.     The  Ministers  who  had  been  glorified  a  fen 
short  months  ago,  became  the  objects  of  thelj 
distrust  and  anger/* 

Tbo  policy  of  the  government  on  the 
Coercion  Bill  lirst  aroused  the  people  oa  beh 
of  Irish  liberty,  and  sent  them  once  more  itito  i 
field— the  old  battle  ground  of  liberty,  Newha| 
Hill,— on  the  20th  of  May,  1833.     It  was  mtv^ 
the  irony  of  events  thatj  oa  that  spot,  the  vc 


A  <>»Qa«miClv«  Ik»«ctk»»  J 


OLD  AM)  NEW   BIRMINGHAM- 


4^1 


people  who  had  offered  up  thank^ving  for  Uia 
wtiirn  of  Earl  Grey,  should,  within  a  short  tv«l?e 
manths,  unanimously  resolve  to  petition  the  king 
to  diamiss  the  ministry  they  had  themselves 
largely  helped  to  place  in  power.  It  is  said  that 
more  than  200,000  peraons  were  present  on  this 
occasion ;  marching  to  the  ground  with  flags  and 


The  Pctitiofi  to  the  Comoiotui,  horn  tb«  mta^  mttXlng, 
■Ifaiust  all  restrictioiit  oa  the  importation  of  «itiiiiAl  Mx^\ 
T^geUUe  food,  was  prMtttit«d.  on  Monday  last,  by  Mr 
Attwood  ;  asalao  waaone  from  the  Couucn  of  thtt  Unioa 
•gtiln«t  tho  condoet  of  tho  poUc«  •!  the  Uio  OoldbAtK 
Fields  Meeting." 

This  reaction  against  the  ministers  told  with 
effect  upon  the  Conservative  party  in  lUrminghani, 


ly 


ift;^^^ 


THE   SKW    llOVAL    HOTEL   NKW   srrilf.KT. 
JjUrwarth  tlu  Ptui  OfUm  tlnii   luinnd  lUrfnitf  Offlot, 


banners,  and  a  band  of  music.  Amongst  the 
members  of  the  Political  Council  preaenti  were 
Mr.  Thomas  Attwood,  Mr.  Muntz,  and  the  Ilev. 
T.  M.  McDonnell^  accompanied  by  the  Ubemtor, 
Daniel  O'Connell,  Dr,  Wade,  and  other  friends  of 
Ireland. 

On  the  1st  of  July  we  read,  in  XmV  OaxeHe^ 
that:— 

*'Earl  Fitzwilliim  kadag  dedinad  preMBtiog  to  bb 
Ksjetty  the  Petittoa  %mm  the  KcwIuU-hOl  Ifae^ng. 
pmyiag  him  to  diAiitte  bis  llint»t<rri.  nad  hi4  Lordihip 
having  irtamed  it  to  Uie  chaiiinan*  Mr.  Montj;,  watufm* 
paaied  with  a  letter  of  tirelre  fwge*,  explAimng  hii  fMMmi 
Uif  refoitag,  it  bad  h«eo  deUrmiaed  l*i  try  Lord  llaltMVtsa. 


vvhich^  during  the  heat  of  tlie  reform  movemt^nt, 
had  hartlly  dared  to  show  itwjlf ;  a  Tory  couhl, 
indeed^  scarcely  avow  himself  in  a  public  meeting 
without  execration  and  insult  \  but  the  change  \u 
i\m  public  mind  ( tnlmldeniHl  them  to  come  out 
once  moru  into  tlur  light,  and  to  roauicitate  the 
old  l^yal  and  Constitutional  Aiaociation,  which 
had  died  a  natural  death  iu  1820.  The  Karl  of 
Dartmouth  waa  ptcsidfmt^  and  the  vict^preifidenta 
were  thii  ICarl  of  Dradford,  I^rd  ( klthorpo,  the 
Hon.  Freilencit  Calthorpe^  Mr  W.  8.  Dugdale, 
M.P.,  and  Mr,  Gough;  Mr*  IL  Kpwncr  waji 
chairman,  and  Mr.  Jamaa  Beawink,  drputy  chaif- 


man,  and  the  Mej^sis.  J.  B.  llebbert^  and  Ooorgc 
Whately,  the  secretaries,  A  "  l>i5clamlinn  of 
Prill ciple  "  was  drawn  up  as  follows,  wliitih  every 
member  was  required  to  sign  : 

We,  vvhodij  riAmiis  are  hereunto  subscribcO,  declare  our 
fijted  determitmtion  to  maiiitJitn  the  tried  and  aiitient  prin- 
cifilc»on  wliicli  the  constitution  of  our  canntry  b  eat&blishedt 
Attd  as  members  of  this  A*isocuitiou  we  hold  ouraclveu  plmlged 
to  resist  all  measures  by  whiuh  the  conneetioij  between 
Church  nud  State  may  be  severed  or  rekjted — the  dignity 
©f  the  monarchy  impflired,  or  ita  ©x:8tenc«  etidftugr red — 
the  efficiency  of  tho  Houhc  of  Lords  a*  an  integral  branch 
of  the  Legialature  diniinisheti,  or  the  deliberative  powers 
of  the  Commons'  IIi>Ui>e  of  Pftrl  lament  fcttere<l  or  con- 
trollBd  ;  as  we  are  eouvinced  that  the  indei>endeDee  of  the 
established  authorities  Ls  essential  to  the  existence  of  social 
order,  the  security  of  property,  and  the  interests  of 
r«%ion. 

The  association  tlms  recalled  to  life,  dta- 
tiiiguiBbed  itself  by  considerable  activity  in  various 
dii-ectioiis  :  in  issuini*  addressos,  mcnlcating  tbelr 
piinciplos,  organizing  committees,  attending  to 
the  registmtion  of  voters,  advotatin^  the  cliuix:k- 
rate  question,  and  moat  especially  preparing  to 
contest  tke  next  election,  revolving  to  attempt 
to  i^Teat  one,  at  least,  of  the  seats  for  the  borough 
from  the  Liberal  party.  At  tlie  end  of  the  same 
year  the  opportunity  arrived,  and  tbe  Conserva- 
tives iioTnin;Ucd  as  their  candidate,  Mr.  It.  Spoouer* 
Everybody,  except  the  parties  concerned,  regarded 
the  attempt  as  hopeless,  but  they  persisted  in 
going  to  the  poD,  and  did  so,  with  tbe  following 
result:  Mr,  Attwood,  1,718;  Mr»  Schokiidd, 
1,660;  Mr.  Spooner,  915»  At  the  nomination, 
■which  took  place  on  the  8th,  of  January,  1835, 
a  somewliat  serious  accident  occtirrcti,  which  is 
thus  recorded  in  the  Oaztlte : 

The  grejiteat  consternation  wm  excited  in  coii8c<iiienee 
of  a  nioiit  alaiining  email  fioju  the  east  end  of  the  south 
galk^ry.  In  tin  instant  per»oiia  were  seen  to  ks  precipitated 
from  the  front  of  tbe  gallery  to  tbo  front  of  the  hjill,  and, 
At  tbe  time,  the  general  impression  was  that  the  gallery 
had  given  way.  It  appenrs,  however,  that  owing  to  the 
number  of  persona  who  stn^^d  upon  tlio  uppermost  bench, 
it  gave  way,  au"!  the  nntnrd  eonscquonce  was  that  tbe 
oocupiera  of  tho  bench  were  instantly  thrown  forward 
Bpoa  those  in  the  fFont  of  them,  and  the  effect  extending 
to  tho  SiHits  in  front  of  them,  the  weight  becamts  too 
powerftd  for  the  front  of  the  gulkry  to  withstaiid.     The 


panelling    accordingly   gave  way,    and    sevetml 
previously  occupying  seats  in  tbe  front,  were  either  ] 
cipitaled  or  voluntaiily  jucofied  by  way  of  safety,  into  t^ 
Wly  of  the   IwU  and   side  gallmes.         Nothing  coi 
exceed   the   momentary  alarm   wkich    the   circ-uiniUi>«i 
createil ;    and   the  confusion    was  ao  grvat    that   it 
thought  better,  although  Mr  Spooner  had  not  con 
that  the  Kotuming  Officers  should  clos«  the  bosifl 
calling  for  a  show  of  hands,  which  was  deckired  to 
favour  of  5Ir.  AttwootI  and  Mr,Schole!ivld.   A  \Ht\\  was  thei 
deniiuded  on  behalf  of  Mr.  Spooner,  whkh  was  fixed  t^l 
commence  on  the  Friday  morning.     The  meeting  imiB«-f 
difttely  se{»aratcd. 

The  local  politicid  history  of  the  year  1835,) 
relates  entirely  to  the  Conservatives,   who,  not- 
witlmtandiug  their  defeat  at  the   election,  stilll 
exhibited   considerable  activity.       They   held  ft  I 
groat  meeting  to  support  Sir  Robert  Peel,  audi 
passed  an  addrcan  expressive  of  con^denco  in  his^ 
government ;  also  a  great  meeting  **  of  the  friends 
of  the  Protestant  Religion,  and  the  Const itntiun  ^ 
in  Church  and  State,''  on  the  18th  of  KovemW;  B 
and  on   tbe    1 7th  of  December  they   celebrated 
their  first  anniversary,  by  dining  together  at  tho 
Town  Hall,  to  the  number  of  848. 

All  tbo  Conservative  nobility,  many  of  the 
cloigy,  and  other  influential  inhabitants  of  Iha 
town  and  neighbourhood  were  present,  *'  A  itvf 
years  before,*^  said  a  writer  in  the  DinHhujham 
JounteUf  *'  such  a  gathering  ^ould  have  been  im- 
possible. Now  they  met  iu  peace,  in  the  very 
centre  of  the  lieform  agitation,  and  did  not 
hesitate  to  denounce  with  boldness  the  principle* 
and  designs  of  their  opponents/' 

At  this  meeting  we  meet  with  the  lirst  notico 
of  **  a  new  and  most  effective  mode  of  cheering, 
called  the  Conservative  or  Kentish  tire,  which 
was  quickly  cauglit  by  the  company,  and  all 
appeared  to  join  in  it  witli  great  glee,"  Tho 
Conservative  reijorter  adds  that — ^**it  had  a 
singular  and  pleasing  effect  from  the  gallericB!^ 
and,  we  arc  told,  was  heard  at  a  considerable 
distance  from  the  hall.'' 

But  the  Liberals  did  not  mean  to  allow  then 
opponents  to  have  things  entirely  their  own  way, 
and  on  the  18th  January,  1836,  hcM  a  largo 
meeting  in  the  Town  Hall,  which  was  intendi 


Rcfona  BAOf|U'jt,  isao.] 


OLD   AND   NEW   BIRMINGHAM. 


453 


aa  **  Ji  demonstrntion  which  shoiild  overawe  lite 
House  of  Loiila  and  perhaps  the  Throne  itself/" 
I'hey  adopted  an  address  to  the  King,  u^jjiiig 
**«n  organic  change  in  the  constitution  of  the 
llunse  of  Lords,"  and  a  petition  to  the  Commons 
ill  favour  of  "a  nioro  efficient  nica^iuro  of  Cor- 
poration Ilefonn."  On  the  28th  of  tlie  same 
month  a  great  Keform  bampiet  was  held  in  the 
Town  Hall,  at  which  no  less  tliat  900  persons  mi 
down  ;  amongst  the  guests  were  Joseph  Hume, 
fcsir  William  ^loleswoilb,  (yC^ninell,  Sir  J, 
Chetwynd,  Sir  Charles  WoJseley,  Mr,  Alt  wood, 
Mr.  Sdiolefield,  the  Hon.  C.  P.  Villiers,  and  thi^ 
Mayors  of  several  of  the  sun'oiinding  towns, 
Amon^  the  toasts  propodod  were  the  following : 

*■  The  Penple — nwl  maij  they  nn*er  forqtt  to  Hndkatt 
their  righti  and  fulfil  tlunir  duties.'* 

**  The  liefortmrs  of  the  United  Kingdom  -and  may  Ui^tj 
fifcfr  fonjrt  that  *  tin  km  is  fhoifjth.*  " 

'*  2^he  health  o/  the  Members  fur  th^.  hoi'oiujh,'* 

**  Mr.  Untfii  and  the  Hf>cial  and  pair  lot  k  M'-^nherg  of  the 
Ilottiff  of  Cotntnuits,  and  the  (dher  dutintjHishfd  V^i$U(ir»  who 
hntt  hoHouirJ  u»  with  thtir  prcAcnce.** 

•*  The  Borough  nf  Birmin'jfhrim,  and  nmy  U  apeedity 
realise  (he  benefit  of  a  liUral  ami  cnli'jhtened  Corporation 
eUcUd  by  U^a  jieap'e.'* 

On  the  following  Monday,  February  let,  about 
a  thousand  nonolectoi's  dined  t(^gether  at  the 
scimo  place,  as  a  couiiter-deiuonslration  to  tlie 
recent  gatherings  of  the  Conservatives,  who  bad 
claimed  tlmt  thfit/  spoke  the  voice  of  the  town. 

Thii  euLhusiasm  with  which  the  Uirmin^diam 
Liberals  espoused  I  he  cause  of  the  Irish,  on  all 
occasions,  endeared  the  towji  and  iU  peoj^lt*  lo 
Jhe  ^reat  liberator,  who  was  a  frequent  visitor, 
attended  all  the  prmci[ial  meeting's  of  the 
party.  On  the  13th  June,  in  this  ye.ir,  a  public 
meeting  wiis  held  in  the  Town  Hall,  under  the 
firesidency  of  the  Low  IJailili',  Mr.  Tyndall — the 
High  Bailiff,  Mr.  James,  having  declined|  to  call 
it, — to  take  into  considcnitiou  the  position  of 
the  Irish  Corporations  Keform  Bill,  at  ^ieh  a 
petition,  in  favour  of  the  IhU,  was  adopted, 
which  received  no  fewer  than  13,400  ^i^natures 
in  two  days ;  and  at  the  same  time,  in  or  ter  to 
4UKsi0t  O'Couuen  iu  defending  his  seat  for  1  Dublin, 


the  sum  of  £100  was  subscribed  in  five  raimitca  I 
l1io  Conservatives  were  not  idle  during  this 
period.  They  continued  the  issne  of  their  gra- 
tuitous literature  ;  they  est^iblished  a  fme  library 
and  news-room,  the  only  qualification  for  reader* 
being  tlieir  adherence  to  the  "  Loyal  and  Consti- 
tutional Association  " ;  they  held  frequent  meet- 
ing?,  and,  in  fa«:t,  did  everything  witlnn  their 
power  to  arrest  the  progress  of  Liberal  opinions. 

In  May,  1837,  just  before  the  death  of  William 
the  Fourth,  the  Lilxrals  foi-nied  themselves  into 
a  new  Society,  called  the  Beforni  Associalitn, 
and  on  the  19th  of  June  another  great  meeting 
was  held  on  Newhall  Hill,  to  inaugurate  the 
movement.  About  fifty  thousand  persons  were 
present,  and  considerable  excitement  prevailed  ; 
the  dragoons  were  l{fq)t  in  readiness  to  mount^ 
booted  and  saddled,  and  provided  with  ball 
cartiidgc.  Happily,  as  on  all  previous  occa- 
sions, military  intervention  was  wholly  nn- 
needed  ]  the  proceedings  were  both  loyal  and 
orderly,  conimencing  with  a  eolemn  prayer 
from  the  whole  of  the  vast  assembly,  bare- 
headetl,  for  the  recovery  of  the  King  who  lay 
dying  Jfr.  Attwood,  Mr.  Mnntz,  ^fr.  Suit, 
and  Mr.  Edmonds  were  present  and  addresscil 
the  meeting,  and  resolutions  were  passed  in 
favour  of  household  sufrerage,  tho  ballot,  tiien- 
nial  Parliaments,  payment  of  members,  and  the 
aljulitioji  of  pn>perty  qualifications.  At  the  same 
time  a  "  Woman's  Political  Union  "  was  estab- 
lighed,  tlje  busimiss  of  which  (as  there  is 
nothing  now  under  the  sun, — not  even  **  woman's 
rights,'*)  was  entirely  conducted  by  tlie  softer 
sex,  Vfho  hehl  and  addressed  meetings,  passed 
resolutions,  raisetl  subscriptions,  and  in  other 
ways  helped  on  the  cause  of  political  freedom. 

The  death  of  the  King  necessitated  a  general 
election,  and  the  Conservatives  again  entered  tht 
field  in  order  lo  win  from  tho  Liberals  one  of  the 
scats  for  Iiiruunghann  The  Keform  Asf^ociation 
nond Hated  the  members  who  ha* I  R^rved  them 
faithfully  ever  since  the  i  niranehisfcment  of  the 
town,  Messrs,  Atiwood  and  Scholefield;  and  tha 


OLD  AKD  NEW  BIRIMINGHAM. 


tTtwlkainl 


I 


t 


ConaeryativGS  selected  bib  their  candidate  the 
Hon,  A,  G,  Stapleton,  and  although  the  latter 
did  not  succeed  he  demonstrated  that  the  party 
had  somewhat  iujproved  its  poaition.  The 
pollm;^  took  place  on  the  25th  of  July,  with  the 
luUowing  result:— Mr.  Attwood,  2,165;  Mr. 
Scholefield,  2,139;  Mr.  Staploton,  1,049.  The 
exciteraent  on  the  polling-day  wa«  very  great, 
and  very  nearly  terminated  in  a  Hot  Large 
crowds  of  noisy  and  turbulent  people  met  in 
front  of  the  Uoyal  Hotel,  where  Mr.  Staplelon's 
Central  Committee  met^  and  ridiculed,  in  no 
measured  terms,  the  defeated  party.  Ahout  htdf- 
past  seven  in  the  evening,  some  of  the  Conser^^a- 
tives  attempted  to  drive  away  the  people,  who 
were  probably  not  in  the  best  humour  to  en- 
counter opposition,  after  the  drinking  and  gcnieral 
liceiise  wbieh  characterized  election  times  in  those 
days;  and  the  crowd,  becoming  angry  at  the 
rather  rough  usage  they  received  from  their  oppo- 
nents, immediately  hurled  a  shower  of  brickbats 
at  the  hotel  windows,  thereby  doing  conHiderablo 
damage.  Colonel  Wallace,  of  the  5th  Dragoons 
(then  stationed  at  West  Broniwicb,  iu  anticipation 
of  a  disturUince),  seeing  the  state  of  atfatrs,  went 
at  once  to  Mr.  Attwood^s  rooms,  at  the 
Clarendon  Hotel,  and  rei|uested  him  to  use 
his  influence  to  di8pers»e  the  crowd.  Ho  went 
at  once  le  the  Koyal  Hotel,  and  taking  his  stand 
at  one  of  the  windows,  addressed  the  excited 
throng,  and  ultimately  persuaded  them  to  dosist 
from  further  disturbance  and  go  to  thoir  homes 
iu  quietness.  The  Riot  Act  was  then  read  in  the 
presence  of  the  few  stragglers  who  remained,  and 
the  dragoons  were  drawn  up  in  frout  of  the 
hotel  to  preserve  order. 

The  next  morning  the  shattered  windows  of  the 
hotel  attracted  a  crowd  of  idle  sight-seers,  and 
among  theuj  a  few  mischievous  lads,  who,  seeing 
a  few  windows  which  had  eacaped  whole,  and 
doubtless  pained  by  Ibo  absence  of  uuifurmity  of 
appearance,  proceeded  to  smash  t!iem  alao.  The 
Riot  Act  was  therefore  once  more  read,  and 
Colonel   Wallace   again   succeeded   in  appeasing 


the  crowd,  when,  at  an  inopporttme  mommn,  i 
troop  of  the  Worcestershire  Yeomanry  appaamd 
on   the  scene,   and   as   they   rode   through  t^ 

streets,  attracted  still  larger  crowda,  hooting  azMl 
pelting  them  with  small  iMsbbles,  until  they  w«» 
compelled  to  take  refuge  in  the  Hen  and  ChickiM 
yard;  and  at  lergth,  whUe Mr.  Attwoc-d  attracted 
the  attention  of  the  crowd  in  New  Street,  the 
affrighted  yeomanry  managed  to  effect  a  retrtat 
unscathed,  down  the  hack  yard  of  the  Hotel  into 
Woiiiest^r  Street.  It  was  stated  that  they 
been  ordert^d  to  load  with  ball,  and  on 
throwing  of  the  first  stone  to  fire  upon  tba 
crowd  ;  to  which  a  Liberal  paper  boldly  replie^l : 
*'  Yes,  the  crowd  would  have  acampetvd.  There 
would  liave  l>een  a  ready  victory;  pistols  to 
pebbles  are  a  mighty  odda.  But  the  crowd 
w^ould  have  retiasembleil ;  and  the*/  would  ham 
iumembk'd  in  armpit.  There  are  at  least  100,000 
muskets  in  Birmingham,  and  40,000  men  who 
know  the  use  of  them."  Thanks,  liuwever,  to  the 
forbearance  and  tact  of  Colonel  Wallace,  and  tLo 
inlluence  of  Thomas  Attwood,  such  a  catastruj*he 
was  averted,  and  the  former  well  deserved  the 
testimonial  which  the  grateful  people  presented 
to  him  in  ackuowledguient  of  his  galhiDV 
conduct 

Towards  the  dose  of  this  year,  the  roUtj<mi 
Council  of  the  Union  issued  tiu  addieas  to  iho 
Reformers  throughout  the  kingdom,  in  whidi 
prominence  was  given  to  the  chief  points  of  *Hho 
Charter,"  viz. :  Uni vernal  Suffrage,  Voting  by 
Ballot,  and  shorter  Parliaments ;  adding  tlrnt, 
with  the  gejieral  and  hearty  cooperation  of 
Liberal,  "  tlie  victory  is  won,  even  before  tbc 
buttle  is  joined.  Are  tliere  any,**  they  ask,  **  who 
will  dare  to  stand  against  our  united  voices  t** 
J  tut  alas  !  the  cry  was  not  taken  up  liy  the  peopU 
in  the  old  spirit  of  **  peace,  law,  and  order,"  lliia 
time  I  A  few  fooUsli  leadeia  of  the  *' Chartista  ** 
(as  they  called  themselves  from  the  "Charter    • 


*  ThH  itiemortiUe  *  nye  |H*ltit«'  wf  thU  Chtrtntr  vent  :'^iilTena) 
aumaj;a«  Volt  by  naltut.  Aiuituil  Ftet llttiueiitB»  Fkjmeut  flf  JUmhet% 
And  tlie  AUtlitiao  of  Froiterly  QuittflOBUoiit. 


( 


456 


OU)   AND   NEW   BIKM INGHAM. 


[Chartist  VettiiMIL 


met  at  Holloway  Head  (one  would  imagine  lliey 
had  even  yet  some  misgivings,  and  did  not  dare 
to  desecrate  the  old  meeting  ground  of  Newhall 
Hill),  on  August  13th,  and  echoing  the  old  Union 
cry  of  "  the  bill,  the  whole  bill,  and  nothing  but 
the  bill,"  they  demanded  "  the  Charter,  the  whole 
Charter,  and  nothing  but  the  Charter."  It  was 
in  vain  that  any  other  reforms  were  suggested ; 
they  did  their  utmost  to  stifle  the  Anti-Corn  Law 
League  at  its  very  birtL  The  first  great  meeting 
held  in  Birmingham,  on  this  question,  on  the  29th 
of  January,  1839.  was  interrupted  by  the  noisy 
cries  of  tlie  Chartists,  who  would  have  "  nothing 
less,  nothing  more,"  than  their  Charter.  Ignoring 
the  true  remedy  for  the  distress  of  that  memorable 
year,  they  blindly  followed  the  Chartist  leaders, 
and  soon  succeeded,  by  their  persistent  advocacy  of 
physical  force,  in  repelling  the  really  thoughtful  and 
sensible  amongst  them.  The  Birmingham  delegates 
to  the  National  Convention  (which  was  to  super- 
sede parliament), — Messrs.  R  K.  Douglas,  Hadley, 
and  Salt — withdrew  therefrom  in  disgust  at  the 
violence  of  their  colleagues ;  and  others,  more 
violent  but  less  known,  were  chosen  in  their  stead. 
Sedition  became  the  order  of  the  day ;  and  torch- 
light meetings,  and  midnight  drills,  were  as 
common  as,  ten  or  twelve  years  ago,  they 
were  among  the  Fenians  in  Ireland ;  and  at 
length  the  Government  issued  j)roclamations 
against  them. 

At  length,  the  Metropolis  being  in  a  very 
<'xicited  state,  the  Convention  removed  its  sittings 
(or  more  properly  speaking,  ftanditifja)  to  Bir- 
niinj^ham,  where  they  attracted  large  crowds  ovory 
evening,  in  tlie  Bull  Bing,  during  the  last  week 
in  April,  reading  newspapers  and  delivering  in- 
flammatory addresses.  Later  on  they  met  twice 
n  day,  during  the  dinner  hour,  and  in  the  evenini?, 
iiupcdiii^  the  trullii*,  cuoin^  must  ui  ilie  shop- 
keepers to  close  their  places  of  business,  and 
business  itself  to  be  completely  suspended  in  that 
part  of  the  town.  Lender  these  circumstances  the 
magistrates  did  no  more  than  their  duty  to  the 
town,  in  issuing  the  following  proclamation  : — 


"Victoria  R. 
**  Whei-cas  evil-di8X)0sed  persons  have  of  late  held  mett- 
ings,  during  the  evening,  in  the  Bull-ring,  and  then  ted 
there,  by  seditious  harangues,  have  endeavoured  to  cxdte 
the  jwople  to  violence  and  illegal  proceedings ;  and  wbcms 
such  Heditious  speeches  have,  on  several  occasiona,  caoftd 
a  large  concourse  of  people,  to  the  great  alarm  of  )i& 
Majesty's  subjects— we,  the  undefsigned  Magistrates, 
deem  it  our  duty  to  command  all  persons  to  refraia 
from  attending  such  meetings,  as  being  contrary  to  law, 
and  dangerous  to  the  tranquillity  of  the  borough  ;  and  vt 
further  declare  it  to  be  our  determination  to  prosecute  all 
those  who,  after  this  notice,  shall  hold  such  meetings,  or 
who,  by  inflammatory  speeches,  shall  attempt  to  excite 
the  people  to  any  disturbance  or  breach  of  the  peace. 
"William  Scholefield,  Mayor. 
\V.  C.  Alston  ?.  H.  Muntz 

S.  Beale  C.  C.  Scholefield 

T  Bolton  C.  Shaw 

AV.  Chance  Joseph  Webster 

J.  B.  Uavies  Joseph  Walker 

J.  T.  Lawrence. 
Public  Offices,  May  10,  1839." 

Several  hundred  special  constables  were  sworn 
in,  and  a  few  of  the  leaders  of  the  disturbance 
were  arrested  and  escorted  out  of  the  town  by  a 
troop  of  dragoons;  but  the  meetings  were  con- 
tinued with  unabated  vigour.  "On  Thursday 
night,"  says  the  Journal  of  June  27,  **  the  Mayor 
addressed  a  few  words  to  the  people  assemblcl, 
to  induce  them  to  disperse,  and  in  the  course  of 
his  address  olTcred  his  influence  to  procure  the 
Town  Hall  for  one  night  in  the  week  for  popular 
meetings.  The  only  result  of  this  good-natured 
attempt,  was  the  formation  of  a  procession  up 
New  Street,  along  Col  more  Row,  and  down  Bull 
Street,  and  back  to  the  Bull  King,  by  which  time 
it  being  the  hour  of  ordinary  breaking  up,  a 
breaking  up  took  place." 

And  so  matters  continued  until  the  beginning 
of  July,  the  Chartists  becoming  bolder,  and 
defying  the  magistrates,  the  police,  and  even  the 
military.  On  the  4th  of  that  month  a  body  of 
Lnndnn  police  was  despatched  to  Birminirham,  by 
railway,  with  orders  to  break  up  the  meetings  and 
arrest  the  leaders.  A  dense  mass  of  people  had 
gathered  around  Nelson's  statue,  and  were  just 
forming  themselves  into  procession,  to  parade  the 
town,  when  the  police  marched  up  Moor  Street 
from  the  railway  station  with  their  siayes  in  their 


Ifilinia  PtYK)Mi|tiigi».) 


OLD   AXD  NEW  BLRMmOHAM. 


457 


bnntts  and  rushed  upon  llic  crowd.  Wliat 
followed  Tiuist  be  told  by  nn  eye-wittiess  of  the 
scttne,  the  late  ^fr.  James  Jaffray  : — 

"The  police,"  he  says,  "fought  tlieir  way  to  thn 
gtanJard  l»carers  and  floraolished  the  ilags,  whilst 
otherj»  knocked  down  all  who  opposed  them.  For 
tho  moment  they  partially  cleared  the  Bull  RiPg, 
but  the  people  rallied  ;  some  tore  down  shuttei-s  of 
the  fihop^  in  the  neighbourhood ;  others  smashed 
them  in  pieces  and  supph'ed  the  crowd  with 
bludgeons  ;  others  again  picked  up  heavy  stonesi 
and  thus  armed  they  returned  to  the  charge. 
The  police,  who  were  by  this  time  scattered,  were 
sunuundi*il  and  most  of  them  overpowered. 
Some  were  knocked  down,  some  kicked,  some 
stubbed  and  stoned  ;  and  had  it  not  been  for  the 
arrival  of  the  military  the  entire  of  them  would 
have  fallen  a  sacrifice  to  the  fury  of  the  people. 
Br.  Booth,  however,  accompanied  by  a  troop  of 
the  4  th  Eoyal  Irish,  and  a  company  of  the  Eifle 
Brigade,  having  arrived  on  the  spot  at  the 
moment,  the  Riot  Act  was  read,  and  the  struggle 
censed.  The  crowd  continued  to  increase,  and 
many  of  them  with  arms  of  various  kinds,  seemed 
only  anxious  for  an  encounter.  From  fifteen  to 
twenty  of  the  London  FuHcu  went  into  the 
Market  Hall  Tavern  ;  a  large  crowd  followed,  but 
the  Riflemen  soon  dispersed  them.  Another  body 
of  the  police  went  to  the  Grand  Turk,  the 
windows  of  which  were  demolished ;  and  llie 
police  would  have  been  attacked  there  had  not 
the  soldiers  arrived  and  onc(3  more  dispersed  ibe 
mob.  Surgeons  were  speedily  in  atten<lance  at 
the  Public  Office.  The  wounded  police  were 
brought  in  and  dressed,  and  seven  of  the  w  orst 
coses  were  removed  to  the  Hospital  Two  of  the 
police  had  been  stabbed,  one  in  the  abdomen  and 
tbe  other  about  the  groin.  Such  of  th«  police 
who  were  either  only  slightly  or  not  at  all  liurt 
continued  to  patrol  the  Bull  King  along  with  the 
troops,  and  soon  succeetled  in  taking  into  custody 
ten  or  tw*elve  men,  some  of  whom  were  armed 
with  deadly  weapons,  while  some  of  them  had 
their  pockets  filled   with   stones.     It   w.is   now 


about  eleven  o'clock  ;  the  crowd  was  still  ou  the 
increase,  and  apparently  determined  on  revenge. 
The  troops,  however,  kept  their  temper  admirably. 
The  popular  rage  was,  indeed,  chiefly  directed 
against  the  London  police.  The  Magistrates  rode 
up  and  down  amongst  the  people,  advising  them 
to  disperse,  but  without  raiich  effect  At  length 
a  cry  of  *Holloway  Head'  was  raised,  and 
immediately  some  thousands  marched  off  in  that 
direction.  They  wore  addressed  at  Hollo  way 
Head  by  some  person,  who  meant  to  apjwase  tho 
people  and  induce  them  to  disperse  quietly.  It 
had  but  little  effect,  for,  as  if  by  one  impulse, 
they  moved  off  the  ground,  and  proceeded  to  St. 
Thomas's  Church.  There  they  pulled  down  a 
range  of  about  twenty  yards  of  the  iron  railing 
which  surrounded  the  building,  broke  the  stones, 
and  armed  with  the  pieces  of  railings,  and  such 
other  weapons  as  they  could  procure,  they  once 
more  marched  in  divisions  into  the  town.  A 
large  party  proceeded  to  the  Golden  Lion,  in 
Aston  Street,  from  which  house  the  meniljers  of 
the  Convention,  with  the  exception  of  Dr.  Taylor, 
had  just  departed  to  their  lodgings;  but  no 
violence  was  done.  Thus  in  comparative  quiet 
passed  tho  night  of  the  4th  of  July." 

Early  on  the  morning  of  the  lf)th,  an  injudicious 
placard  was  published,  of  wliich  wo  give  a  copy, 
from  a  rare  original  in  the  possossiun  of  J.  Lander, 
Esq.  : — 

RESOLUTIONS 

Unanimously  ogreed  to 

BV  THE 

GENERAL 
CONVENTION. 

Rksolvko.— 

' '  iHt^Tlmt  tLia  Convention  in  of  opinion  timt  a  wanton, 
flngrnnt,  und  unjust  outrage  hiia  Iwen  made  upon  th« 
|ter»pln  of  Birmingham,  by  n  blood-tlursty  ami  iinconstlta- 
tiaiml  force  from  London,  actiii|^  under  tho  authority  of 
men,  who,  when  out  of  offire,  sanrtionod  rtnd  took  part  in 
thr-  mt'C'ti»>;s  of  the  iK'Oph%  autl  now  uhen  they  share  in 
tin-  pnhlir  plundcrr,  sock  to  kcfp  tin?  itcojib  in  aoctal  and 
1)0 1  i  t  i  I 'rt I  degiv Ja  tion, 

*'2nil— Thftt  the  peoph^  of  Birminghnm  aii*  the  best 
judsfi'H  of  thuir  own  th^Ut  to  mt^ot  in  tho  Bull  Ring  orelne- 


where,  have  Uicir  «wu  ftmUnga  to  co&siilt  resjiccting  xht* 
outrage  given,  ajul  itre  tht?  \*^Bi  judges  of  their  oivii  jjower 
ftDd  re«oureea  to  obtfiiu  jtistii^e. 

"3rd* — That  the  summtiry  and  dcgjiotii*  Arrest  of  Dr. 
Taylor,  our  nwiwc ti'd  <  (illin-guf ,  ulTonb  »notht'r  wnrtiicing 


Lovutt,  for  sit^Tiing  this  1»U1,  nm]  Collins  forprinj 
the  order  for  pfititin^  it>  wero  arwitttjd  utd 
fitinteneed  to  tirelye  months  txti|insanitieill  IB 
Warwick  CfiiuL 


LR»ii«Riotai:  MrJairhiyajfumUvfj  OLD  AKD  JtfEW  BIRMINGHAM. 


459 


lor  trouUe  was  anticipated;  tbe  more 
[y  as  the  remainder  of  the  vveok  was 
|>a6sed  in  iranquiljitj,  except  for  the  occmoual 
political  meetings  which  took  place  at  Holloway 
Head.  Three  mectiiitrs  were  held  on  Sunday, 
tbe  14th,  in  the  same  locality, and  it  was  rumoured 
that  a  fourth  would  he  held  at  Smithfield  in  the 
fsveuing;  but  this  proved  to  be  a  falae  alarm, 
and  the  day  ended,  as  had  those  of  the  foregoing 
week,  without  disturbance. 

On  the  Mondu)'  morning,  tbe  neighbourhood 
of  the  Public  C*Hice  was  thronged  by  the 
Charti^tfi  and  thcii  supporters,  aasdous  to  leani 
the  fate  of  the  three  prisoners,  Harvey,  Lovett, 
and  Collins,  The  investigation  was  continued 
up  to  four  o'clock,  after  wliich  Lovett  and  Collins 
were  liberated  on  bail,  on  learning  which  the 
throng  dispersed  quietly,  and  it  seemed  that 
unce  more  order  and  confidence  were  resturud, 
Bui  this  pi-oved  oaly  to  be  the  lull  which  pre- 
coded  the  storm.  At  seven  o'clock  the  iJull 
Ring  was  once  more  crowded  with  persons,  who 
seemed  to  have  been  brought  tagether  witli  the 
DQIpectation  of  witnessing  some  pre-arranged 
event,  but  who  nevertheless  exhibitetl  the  utmost 
ordorlinesa  in  their  behaviour,  insomuch  that 
there  seemed  not  the  idightest  necessity  for  inter- 
ference on  the  jiart  of  the  authoiities.  Wliat 
Uacy  were  evidently  anticipating,  however,  may 
JMtt  be  described  in  the  following  narrative, 
written  by  Mr.  Jame$  Jaflray  a  few  years  after 
the  events ; — 

**  Shortly  after  eight  o'clock,"  he  says,  '*a  mob 
of  pdC90na^  to  the  number  of  about  500  were  seen 
coming  up  Digbeth,  armed  with  pieces  of  b'on, 
woodeii  niilings,  and  other  weapons.  On  their 
arrival  at  Moor  Street,  they  turned  down  to  the 
Prison,  and  immediately  commenced  a  furious 
attack  upon  the  windows,  almost  all  of  which 
iliey  demolished.  The  policemen  who  were  inside 
closed  tho  gates,  having,  it  appears,  orders  not  to 
act  against  the  people  without  instructions  from 
tiie  Magistrates.  Tlie  mob  having  demolished 
tim  oifice  windows,  and  dared  the  police  to  an 


encounter,  retraced  their  steps,  and  immediately 
c/jmmenced  an  attack  upon  the  windows  in  the 
long  range  of  building,  on  the  premises  of  ^Icssrs. 
Bourne,  grocers.  After  smashing  every  pain  in 
the  buildings  which  is  five  storeys  high,  with  a 
frontage  of  about  40  feet,  they  divided  themselves 
into  parties,  and  commenced  the  work  of  destruc* 
tion  in  good  earnest.  One  party,  at  a  quarter  to 
nine  o'clock,  burst  in  the  shop  door  of  Messrs. 
Boyrne's  house,  Btnd  immediately  commenced  des- 
troying the  property.  Tea,  sugar,  and  every 
article  they  could  lay  their  hands  upon  were 
thrown  into  the  street,  the  canisters  kicked  out 
amongst  the  rioters,  and  the  whole  frontage 
battered  in.  The  shop  mates  and  inmates  were 
paralysed,  and  fled  out  of  the  house  by  the  side 
and  other  doors.  Whilst  this  work  of  devasta- 
tion was  going  on,  another  pEi-iy  ofTected  their 
enlranc^j  into  the  shop  of  Mr,  Leggett,  feather 
dealer  and  upholsterer,  and  having  got  possession 
of  a  number  of  pieces  of  bed-tick  ing,  some  of  them 
rushed  into  the  street  with  them,  and  spread 
til  em  like  carj^inting  in  aU  directions  about  the 
Bull  Ring. 

**  Having  placed  the  linen  in  this  manner  upon 
the  pavement,  one  of  tbe  rioters  deliberately  went 
to  a  lamp  at  ^fokon^s  Monument,  and  having 
liglited  a  piece  of  paper,  he  set  lire  to  the  ticking. 
When  in  Hames  it  was  rolled  up  into  a  heap, 
ojiposite  the  Jronument,  and  from  theuce  carried 
in  iliiferent  portions  iirto  the  shops  of  Meaarai 
Bourne  and  Leggett.  The  fire  almost  instantane- 
ously seized  the  countem  and  pa^>er,  and  in  a  few 
minutes  the  buildings  were  in  flames*  The  objects 
uf  the  rioters  were  now  so  obvious  that  the  con* 
course  who  had  assembled  in  the  Bull  King 
bec^mie  evidently  nlanned,  and  dispersed,  leaving 
the  rioters  in  full  possession  of  the  leadiqg 
streets. 

''  The  attack  wa^  continued  on  the  house  of  Mr. 
Arnold,  pork  butcher,  nearly  opposite  the  monu- 
ment They  were,  however,  repulsed  there,  and 
did  ^not  succeed  in  firing  the  house.  Other 
parties  in  the  interim  forced  open  the  ohopa  of 


Mrs  Martin,  jeweller,  next  to  Messrs,  Bounie'fl, 
Mr.  Banks,  druggist,  Mr.  Savage,  cheese  factor, 
Mr.  Arthur  Dak  in,  grocer,  Mr.  Horton,  silver- 
smith, Mr,  Gooden,  Nelson  Hotel,  Mrs.  Brinton, 
pork  butcher,  >Ir.  Allen,  bisruit  baker,  Mr. 
Heath,  cheese  factor,  and  Mr.  Scud  am  ore, 
druggist.  The  front  window  of  Mrs.  ^fartin's 
house  was  completely  smashed  in,  and  all  the 
property  within  reach,  consisting  of  gold  rings 
and  jewellery,  were  thrown  about,  and  a  portion 
of  them  stolen.  Mr.  Banks's  shop-window  was 
broken  in,  and  a  great  deal  of  property  destroyed* 
The  shop  windows  of  the  other  above-named 
houses  were  stove  in,  and  the  ivindows  in  many 
of  the  rooms  smashed.  The  attack  upon  Mr, 
Horton'a  shop  was  thu  most  furious.  The 
property,  consbting  of  almost  evei-y  species  of 
manufactured  silver  and  silver-plated  goods,  was 
thrown  into  the  street,  and  scattered  about,  and 
even  employed  in  smashing  the  windows  of  the 
adjoining  houses.  Some  of  the  property  was 
carried  away,  but  a  great  jjortion  of  it  was  broken 
to  pieces  and  kicked  through  the  streets.  The 
Nelson  Hotel  suffered  greatly.  The  shutters  of 
the  coffee-room  were  completely  destroyed,  as 
well  as  the  front  of  the  liquor  shop,  and  nearly 
all  the  mndowa  in  front  of  the  house.  A  piece 
of  burning  timber  was  placed  against  one  of  the 
windows  of  the  liquor  shop,  but  it  was  removed 
before  the  wood  of  the  building  ignited.  The 
worlc  of  devastfition  occupied  until  about  twenty 
minutes  to  ten  o  clock,  when  the  police,  and  soon 
after  the  military,  arrived,  and  the  rioters  fled  in 
all  directions.  The  Birmingham,  District,  and 
Norwich  Fire  Engines  soon  after  arrived,  some 
of  them  under  the  escort  of  the  4th  Dragoons, 
and  a  good  supply  of  water  having  been  pro- 
cured, they  commenced  playing  with  great 
effect,  and  happily  coniined  the  flames  to  the 
promises  of  Messrs.  Bourne  and  Leggett. 

**The  confusion  and  alarm  of  the  night  were 
terrible.  Many  of  the  inhabitants  in  the  Bull 
Ring  and  neighbourhood  fled  with  their  families, 
account  books,  and  such  portion  of  their  valuable 


property    as    could    be    easily   conreyal  tw. 
^Ir.  Belcher,  who  lived  in  the  boiia^  idjoinini^  ] 
Mr.  Leggett's  premises,  and   two   ladies^  m 
by  means  of  a  ladder.  Detachnaents  of  the  twofi ' 
and  rifle  brigade  were  sent   in  all  dtreclioni  to 
clear  the  streets;  and  the  most  fearful  appw-J 
hensions  were  entertained  Uiat  other  porta  of  th#| 
town  would  l>e  attacked   in    a    similar  nuuu)er«| 
Nothing  however  of  the  kind  occurred,  and  inihl 
the  exception  of  the  above  outragp,  which  hn\ 
been  attended   with  the  loss  of  many  thousi&ii 
pounds  worth  of  property,  the  night  pasderl  onf 
without  further  violence.    By  one  o'clock  the  fin 
in  Messrs.  Bourne's  premises  was  subdued,  but 
not  until  tho  front  building  was  a  complete  wreck, 
nothing  being  left  standing  except  the  wails.  The 
fire  in  Mr.  Leggett *8  house  was  extinguished  aboct  j 
the  same  time,  but  the  engines  continued  playing  1 
until  throe  o'clock,  when  they  returned  to  their  J 
respective  offices.   The  whole  of  the  men,  aseosted 
by  a  number  of  the   inhabitants,  worked   with 
great  skill  and  energy,  and  to  their  exertions  mtij 
be  attributed  the  fortunate   termination  of  tho| 
fire..     Several  men  and  boys  were  arrested  upon 
and  after  tho  arrival  of  the  troops,  and  the  prisoa  \ 
in  Moor  Street  was  literally  filled  with   theuL 
Many  of  the  parties  were  of  course  taken  upon  | 
alight  grounds,  owing  to  the  anxiety  to  appreheod  ] 
the  real  offenders. 

"  The  morning  following — that  of  Tuesday — ^e  1 
town  presented  a  most  gloomy  appearance.     The 
shops  in  the  principal  streets  were   closed,  and 
continued  so  during  the  day.    Dragoons  and  rifle- 
men were  stationed  at  the  top  of  High  Street, 
leading  down  to  the  BuU  King,  in  Digbeth,  at 
the  bottom  of  Spiceal  Street,  and  at  the  end  of  ' 
Moor  Street,  leading  into  Dale  End.     The  police  I 
and  special  constables  patrolled  the  street,  and  the ^ 
town  had  all  the  appearance  of  being  under  ncigG. 
The  ofhcers  of  the  town  were  actively  engaged  in 
searching    suspected    houses    for    the    property 
carried  away  the  night  before,  but  were  unsucoeas- 
f  uh    A  search  was  also  made  in  some  of  the  lane» 
and  courts  for  pikes,  or  such  other  weapons  ii  1 


Ball  Rlnis  Riuto:  Ur.Juflray'iXunUm.l  OLD    AXD    NEW    BIRMINGHAM. 


m 


might  be  Id  the  possession  of  auspicious  charac- 
ters, and  soTDc  few  were  fotind.  At  the  close  of 
the  public  busiuess  that  day,  the  magistrates  re- 
tii-ed  to  their  private  room,  whore  they  and  several 
others  of  the  bench  reniained.  As  the  evening  ad- 
vanced, fears  were  entertained  that  the  night  would 
Dot  pass  off  quietly,  and  these  apprehensions  were 
enhanced  by  an  announcement  that  a  large  body 
of  Chartists  were  assembled  at  HoHoway  Heatl. 
The  Magistrates  iasued  a  short  but  significant 
placard  announcing  that  the  Riot  Act  bad  been 
xead,  and  another  calling  on  the  special  constables 
to  attend  at  their  dilTerent  wards  Tiie  military 
vere  on  duty  in  various  parts  of  the  town,  and 
'every  precaution  was  taken  to  prevent  a  recurrence 
of  the  scenes  of  the  previous  night.  Several 
manufacturers  who  were  apprehensive  of  danger, 
bad  their  premises  guarded  by  men  well  armed, 
and  had  any  further  attempt  been  made  on 
property,  the  assailants  woidd  not  have  escaped 
with  impunity.  By  eight  o'clock  the  sljops  were 
lUl  closed,  and  the  streets  con^paratively  deserted, 
the  jjeaceable  inhabitants  having  rema-ned  in  their 
dwellings.  Shortly  after  eight  o*clock  Colonel 
Thorn  and  Colonel  Chatterton,  at  the  head  of  two 
troops  of  dragoons  and  a  piece  of  ordnance, 
gttlloijed  at  full  speed  from  the  barracks  up  Dale 
End,  through  High  Street,  up  Paradise  Street, 
and  Broad  Street  to  Holloway  Head,  where 
about  400  Chartists  hud  been  meeting*  Before 
the  arrivid  of  the  troops  on  the  ground  a 
detachment  uf  rlfli-men  had  reached  the  field, 
and  the  Chartists  had  immediately  scattered  in 
all  directions*  The  cavalry,  under  the  direction 
-of  Mr.  Alston,  scourer!  the  neighbourhood  ;  and 
they  and  the  foot  soldiers  took  a  nwmber  of  men 
prisoners  on  and  near  the  ground.  Having  con- 
veyed them  to  prison,  the  troopg  proceeded  to 
clear  the  streets  and  alleys,  and  arrested  many 
persons  found  out  of  their  houses.  By  nine 
^*clock  the  town  was  perfectly  tranquil  The 
special  constables  and  i>olicenien  still  remained 
on  duty,  but  the  soldiers  at  an  eiirly  hour  were 
-enabWd   to  retire  to  their  barracks.     To  guard 


against  any  attack  in  the  8ubuH>s  the  Yeomanry 
were  stationed  in  variotis  directions,  and  a  large 
body  of  troops  surrounded  the  town,  ready  to 
gallop  in  at  any  point,  if  required.  These  pre* 
cautions  had  the  desired  effect  The  town 
conlinued  throughout  the  night  in  perfect  repose  ; 
confidence  to  a  considerable  ejttent  was  restored, 
and  the  following  morning  numerous  parties  of  all 
classes  visited  the  Bull  Ring,  to  see  the  rains,*' 

Ikfany  of  the  participators  in  the  riot«  were 
apprehended  and  committed  for  trial  at  the 
Assizes,  which  were  held  in  the  following  month. 
Four  persons  were  condemned  to  death,  viz., 
Howell,  Roberts,  Jones,  and  a  boy  named  Aston, 
for  the  attack  on  ^fessi^.  Bourne's  ;  but  all  were 
reprieved  and  transported  for  life.  Five  were 
sentenced  to  imprisonment  with  hard  labour  for 
eiglitcen  n»onths ;  one  to  twelve  months;  one  to 
nine  months  j  three  to  six  months;  and  one  to 
one  month's  imprisonment.  Lovett  and  Collins, 
as  we  have  already  stated,  were  each  imprisoned 
for  twelve  months,  for  publishing  the  **  inflam- 
malory  aud  seditious  placard."  Chums  were 
allowed  to  the  amount  of  £15,027,  and  the  entire 
costs  of  the  riots  were  not  less  than  i; 20,000, 
to  dt fray  which  two  rates  of  £11,000  and  £9,000 
respectively  were  levied  on  the  hundred. 

At  the  close  of  the  yuar  1839  Mr.  Attwood  ns 
sigued  his  seat,  and  accoptLal  theChilten»  IIim<lred*i, 
to  the  grief  of  all  true  liberals,  who  would  have 
wished  to  see  him  retain  a  position  he  had  earjied 
so  noljly  and  fiUfd  8o  well  Tlie  lilx^nil  piirty  in 
llijiuijigham  was  divided  in  its  choice  nu  this 
t»ccasion,  and  nominateil  two  candidates  to  hll  the 
vacant  seat — Mr.  Joseph  Sturge  aud  Mr,  ti.  F. 
^funtz,  Mr.  Sturge,  however,  who  had  the  >iuji- 
port  only  of  a  minority  of  the  party,  wisely 
withdrew.  nr,d  thv.R  enabled  Mr.  ^.liaitj:  to  obtain 
an  eany  victory  over  his  opponent,  Sir  Cliarles 
Wetherell;  the  numbers  being — ^for  Mr.  Munti 
1454,  for  Sir  Charles  Wetherell,  916. 

With  this  record  of  another  successful  election 
contest  for  tlic  liWi-al  f^arty,  we  close  the  present 
chapter  of  our  poUticid  lustory. 


462 


OLD  AND  NEW  BIKMINOHAM. 


(Cborelies  ud  8«ete  ini-ltlB. 


CHAPTER     LXVI. 


THE    CHURCHES    AND    SECTS    IN    BIRMINGHAM,     1831—1840. 

Church  Building— xUl  SainU'— Bishop  Ryder's-St.  James's,  Edgbaston— 8t  Matthew's— Progi-Ms  of  Catholicism  in  Binninghua- 
Proposed  New  Cathedral  -Opening  of  St.  Chad's— Description  Of  the  Building— New  Preabyterian  Chapel,  Breed  Strwi— Methoditt 
ConfereuM  in  Birmingham— Spring  Hill  College — Tercentenary  of  the  Reformation. 


In  th'>  last  decade  of  the  religious  history  of 
our  town  we  had  to  record  the  erection  of  several 
large  and  commodious  churches  out  of  the  fund 
provided  for  parliamentary  grant  for  that  purpose 
but  in  the  present  chapter  we  have  to  tell  of 
no  such  assistance  in  making  provision  for  the 
spiritual  welfare  of  the  people.  Yet  the  work  of 
the  church-building  was  not  impeded  on  this 
account :  private  enterprise  stepped  in,  and  made 
up  for  the  lack  of  State  aid,  and  we  have  the 
pleasure  of  recording,  as  the  work  of  this  decade, 
the  erection  of  three  nqw  churches  in  the  town. 

The  first  of  these  was  All  Saints',  erected  on 
what  was  then  known  only  as  Birmingham  Heath, 
although  it  was  the  centre  of  what  was  already 
becoming  a  very  largely  populated  district,  pro- 
mising soon  to  connect  the  midland  metropolis 
with  the  great  "  black  country  "  beyond.  As  in 
the  case  of  most  of  the  churches  erected  sub- 
sequent to  the  Georgian  era,  All  Saints'  is  built 
in  the  Gothic  style.  Although  of  plain  materials 
— the  main  portion  of  the  building  is  of  brick, 
the  pinnacles  and  cornices  being  of  stone,  at  a 
cost  of  £3,817,  exclusive  of  boundary  wall ;  and 
the  church  was  consecrated  September  28,  1833. 
It  contains  1,200  sittings,  of  which  700  are  free. 

Our  readers  will  remember  that  at  the  close  of 
Qur  last  chronicle  of  public  life  and  events,  we 
recorded  the  formation  of  a  new  and  important 
thoroughfare,  Great  Lister  Street,  rendered 
necessary  by  the  rapid  growth  of  the  town  on 
that  side.  Most  of  the  inhabitants  of  this  new 
locality  were  therefore,  at  this  period,  without 
church    accommodation;     and    this    deficiency 


happily  attracted  the  attention  of  the  estimable 
Bishop  of  Lichfield,  Dr.  Eyder,  and  by  his 
influence  and  example,  other  wealthy  neighbours 
were  stimulated  to  assist,  with  their  subscriptions 
and  by  advocating  the  cause,  in  erecting  a  church 
for  this  large  and  poor  neighbourhood.  In 
grateful  remembrance  of  the  good  bishop's  kindly 
and  disinterested  help,  the  church  was  called 
after  his  name.  It  is  a  neat  Gothic  structure  of 
brick  and  stone,  relieved  from  the  usual  monotony 
of  red-brick  Gothic,  however,  by  the  handsome 
tower,  which  is  to  some  extent  a  copy  of  that  of 
the  celebrated  St.  Botblph's,  at  Boston,  Lincoln- 
shire. 

Dec.  24,  1838.— On  Tuesday  last  the  interesting 
ceremony  of  publicly  dedicating  tliis  edifice  to  the  service 
of  Almighty  God  was  performed,  iu  the  presence  of  a 
large  and  most  respectable  congregation,  by  the  Lonl 
Bishop  of  Rochester. 

During  the  same  month  a  new  church  was 
opened  at  Edgbaston,  provided  by  the  munificence 
of  Lord  Caltliorpe  : — 

Dec.  3,  1838.--The  elegant  ChajK'!,  [St.  George's,! 
recently  erected  at  Edgbaston  by  Lord  Calthorpe,  with  a 
view  to  the  supplying  of  the  additional  accommodatioii 
80  much  required  for  the  puqjoses  of  public  worship  by 
the  inhabitants  of  that  parish,  was  consecrated  by  th»f 
Right  Rev.  the  Lord  Bishop  of  AVorcester  on  Wednesday 
morning  last.  The  site  of  this  truly  beautiful  edifice  was 
the  gift  of  the  Noble  Lord,  and  the  structure  itself  was 
erected  by  his  Lordship  at  the  expense  of  nearly  £6,000, 
with  the  exception  of  £500  bequeathed  by  the  late 
Mr.  Wheelcy.  Lord  Calthorpe,  in  addition,  has  rery 
handsomely  endowed  the  building,  and  provided  the 
communion  plate,  service  books,  &c.,  &c.  For  the  use 
of  the  poorer  inhabitants  two  hundred  free  sittiogi  ti« 
reserved ;  and  the  remainder  are  to  be  rented,  acootdiog 
to  their  various  situations,  at  20s.,  168.,  and  12l  per 
annnm. 


C1mit<J)i*>i  4ad SeeU,  tSSMMOJ 


OLD  AND  NEW  BtTtM  INGHAM. 


463 


The  patroQigv  of  the  Clmpl,  we  andtrstand*  is  vcftcd 
in  the  QobW  donor,  l^ord  CalthoriJC,  the  Ven.  Archdeacon 
SpooQer,  Rnd  Mr,  Thomson,  ol  Loodon ;  and  the  Rev. 
Isaac  Spoooer,  son  of  Richard  Spooner,  Es^j.,  liaia  been 
appointed  the  first  incumbent, 

Aaguat  27,  1837. — On  Wednesilay  Ift^t,  during  the 
ftasembling  of  the  cU'Tgy  and  gentry  who  took  jiart  in  the 
procession  at  the  laying  of  the  foundation  atone  of  Bishop 
Ryder^B  Church,  in  this  town,  a  very  Wsntihil  cnediillion 
of  the  size  of  life  of  the  late  Biahoiv  the  work  of  our 
towusmnn,  >Ir.  Peter  Hoi  I  ins,  wa4  exhibited  nt  the  Blue 
Cont  SehooL  ftfany  of  the  Bisliop's  friends  who  were 
pTiiMent,  mdudin^  iho  Kcv.  Tnhn  Kempthorne,  Chaplain 


done,  in  building  several  cburchos  in  large 
diBtricts  unprovided  for»  aud  in  indicating  to 
others  who  were  capable  of  cmnploting  the  pro- 
ject, Buitttble  fields  of  labour.  The  first  church 
efforts  of  the  society  were  directed  towards  the 
noighbourhood  for  which  Bishop  Ryder's  had 
already  made  partial  provision, — tho  new  district 
cnlh'd  Dnddeslon,  exteiKlinj;  frum  Gosta  Green 
to  the  otiUkirts  of  the  town  on  the  Saltley  side. 
The   ^eat  artery   of  this  district,  Great  Lister 


'Vil 


u>-^l 


<^4-.T~»    -^^.         -^- 


SI'IIISU    niLL   CiiLLEeJti. 


to  liis  Lordship  when  ho  prcsidetl  over  the  See  of 
Olouoester,  pronounce  1  the  Ukennesn,  considering  the 
circumstanee  under  which  it  waa  produced  (being  alto- 
gelher  &  iioAthumouH  work),  *i  most  extraordinary  reseni- 
bUini*et  It  is  a  proIHe  in  low  relief,  and  ir  inteJided  to 
farm  part  of  the  niouument  to  be  placed  in  the  parijiU 
church  of  Lutterworth,  where  the  pious  antl  worthy 
»tieci!««or  of  IVirkliJf,'  waj  for  many  yenra  the  aSeetionate 
Aud  beloved  niinifttcr 

During  the  year  1838  a  new  chnrch-building 
u^s.Mjfttion  was  formed, — chiefty  through  tha 
exertions  of  the  He  v.  John  Garb<'tt,  the  Ktiml 
Dean — bearing  the  name  of  the  Jlinningbarn 
Cbnn:h  Society ;  its  object  being  to  aid  m  erecting 
ten  new  churches  in  the  town.  The  entire 
j^rogiarame  of  the  society,  however,  was  not 
carried  out ;  but  niuch  good  work  was  neveitholofs 
59 


Street,  was  'selected  m  the  locality  of  the  new 
cbiirch,  of  wliitih  the  first  stone  was  laid  on  the 
12th  of  October^  1839,  by  the  Bishop  of  Nova 
Scotia ;  anil  tlie  buibling  was  consecrated 
October  20th,  1840.  It  is  an  exceedingly 
plain  Gothic  structure  of  rod  brick,  with 
a  neat  stone  spiro,  and  baa,  we  believe,  a 
good  organ,  luilt  by  Halkshaw;  the  east  window^ 
of  stained  glass,  was  presented  by  the  architect, 
Mr.  lliomaa,  of  Leaiuington*  The  church  is 
dedicated  to  St.  ^lattbew. 

Passing  to  the  history  of  other  denominations 
during  this  decndc,  the  first  and  moat  important 
addition  to  the  chui-ch  accommodation  of  our 
town,  to  be  recoided  in  this  chapter,  ia  that  of 


464 


OLD   AiCD  NEW   BIRMINGHAM. 


(Chorches  and  Sects,  1831-U4a. 


the  long-talked-of  Eoman  Catholic  Cathedral 
The  huildiog  of  this  great  central  cathedral  of 
the  English  Catholics  was  first  proposed  in  1834, 
and  the  earliest  notice  of  the  movement  appeared 
in  the  local  newspapers  at  the  end  of  January  in 
that  year.  The  Gazette  referred  to  the  work  in 
the  following  paragraph  : — 

January  27,  1834. — It  will  be  seen  by  a  notice  in  this 
page,  that  the  practicability  of  erecting  a  Roman  Catholic 
Cathedral  in  this  town  is  under  consideration.  Dr. 
Walsh,  Vicar  Apostolic  of  the  Midland  district,  ])resided  at 
a  meeting  held  in  St.  Peter's  Chapel,  yesterday  week,  and 
yarious  resolutions  to  that  end  were  entered  into.  Among 
those  who  took  part  in  the  proceedings  were  tlie  Rev. 
Messrs.  M'Donnell  and  Peach,  Messrs.  Hardman,  Tid- 
marsh.  Palmer,  Hopkins,  Brien,  Green,  Boultbee,  Bridge, 
Chambers,  and  Hansom — the  latter  of  whom  stated  that 
he  was  sure  they  might  set  up  a  building  which  would 
outvie  any  place  of  worship  in  the  town.  The  Right  Rev. 
C:hairman  expressed  his  intention  of  giving  £200  to  the 
fund,  and  a  monthly  contribution  of  one  pound  towards 
payment  of  the  interest  of  money  to  be  borrowed.  Mr. 
M'Donnell  said  he  should  put  down  his  name  for  £20, 
and  for  half  a  sovereign  per  month  until  the  building  is 
completed.  Other  persons  present  also  promised  pecuniary 
assistance  toward  the  object. 

The  site  selected  for  the  building  was  that  of 
the  little  chapel  of  St.  Chad,  in  Shadwell  Street, 
erected  in  1813;  an  extended  area  being 
obtained,  with  a  frontage  to  Bath  Street,  by  the 
demolition  of  a  number  of  the  surrounding 
houses.  The  building  was  consecrated,  with 
great  pomp  and  solemnity,  in  the  presence  of  the 
whole  of  the  English  Catholic  hierarchy  and 
nobility,  and  many  of  the  most  distinguished 
foreign  bishops.  These,  in  their  mitres,  with 
the  rich  dresses  of  their  several  orders,  and 
youtlis  bearing  lights  and  lilies,  preceded  and 
followed  the  procession,  forming  one  of  tlie  most 
magnificent  ecclesiastical  spectacles  ever  witnessed 
in  England.  We  quote  the  following  interesting 
description  of  the  cathedral : — 

**  St.  Chad's  Cathedral  stands  at  the  meeting  of 
Bath  Street  and  Shadwell  (Chad-well)  Street. 
With  the  exception  of  the  front  towards  Bath 
Street,  St.  Chad's  is  a  very  plain  building  exter- 
nally. The  material  is  red  brick  Avith  stone 
dressings.       The    style    throughout     is    Middle 


Pointed.  The  front  towanls  Bath  Street  is 
about  seventy  feet  wide.  A  resemblance  is 
traced  by  the  Rev.  W.  Greaney,  the  historian 
of  St.  Cliad's,  between  the  west  front  of  St 
Chad's  and  the  west  front  of  the  church  of  St 
Elizabeth  at  Marburg  in  Hesse-Cassel.  This 
front  of  St.  Chad's  is  divided  by  buttresses  into 
three  compartments,  the  central  division,  con- 
taining the  entrance  doorways  Avith  a  window  of 
six  lights  over  them,  siumounte<l  by  a  gable  some 
eighty  feet  in  height  from  the  j»avement;  the 
side  compartments  each  containing  a  very  lofty 
Avindow,  and  carried  u]»wards  in  the  form  of  a 
tower  with  slender  spire.  The  height  to  the 
summits  of  these  spires  is  one  hundred  and  fifty 
feet,  eighty-five  feet  of  which  are  occupied  by 
the  towers.  From  the  fact  that  the  buttrest^s 
die  in  the  wall  below  the  belfry  stage,  these  towers 
liave  a  somewhat  meagre  appearance :  an  effect  from 
which  Pugin  does  not  ajipe^ir  to  have  shrunk,  bs 
he  repeated  it  at  St.  Wilfrid's,  Cotton  Hall,  near 
Cliendle.  Tlie  westeni  doorways  are  divided  by 
a  central  ])illar,  which  sii}>j>oit.s  an  image  of  i'Tlf 
Lady  and  the  Holy  Child  undor  a  caimj.y,  \\hi(h 
occuj»ies  the  aj)ex  of  the  tympanum  of  ihr 
continuing  arch,  the  side  sj'uces  of  which  aie 
filled  with  adoring  angels,  one  on  either  side. 
The  doorways  [have  *  sliouldcrcd '  archer.  T)ie 
doors  are  of  oak,  with  scroll  hinges  and  other 
fittings  carefully  wrought.  On  a  level  with  tlie 
height  of  tlie  doors  the  mouldings  of  the  fir^t 
(•If'set  of  the  buttresses  are  carried  along  the  biise- 
ment  of  the  towers,  so  that  the  canopied  niches, 
with  figures,  that  fill  the  lower  spaces  of  the  two 
narn>w  and  lofty  windows  of  the  towers  that 
mnge  with  the  great  western  window  of  the  nave, 
rest  upon  these  mouldings.  The  great  window  is 
transomed,  and  its  head  is  filled  with  tracery 
consisting  chiefly  of  three  large  roses,  with  lesser 
circles  and  quati-efoils. 

"  The  general  plan  of  the  church  is  cruciforao^ 
composed  of  nave  with  aisles,  a  transept,  and  an 
apsidally  terminated  choir,  with  two  lateral 
chaj^ls.      Beneath  the  cathedral  is  an  extensive 


C1iurdi«K4UdS«^'K,  Itll  14^.1 


OLD    AND    NEW   BIRMINGHAM. 


465 


cr\7>t.  Tilt*  IftijL^th  »>f  the  chiircli,  iuchidinj^  the 
porch,  is  15G  fcet»  the  l>readth  HB  feet,  the 
mtp.ni/il  height  75  feet.  Tho  nave  is  divided 
from  its  s^blm  by  six  cblste^]»d  columnB  on  either 
side.  There  is  no  chirej^tory,  and  the  rc»of  is 
oarrietl  without  l>reak  over  navt3  nnd  aisles.  Tho 
biaces  ai^  can'e*T»  and  tlif*  principald,  tie-l>eainfl, 
and  rither  f mining  dn^*«!>od  and  dinBifert'd.  The 
roof  was  \muU^\  ami  decorated  at  the  expense  of 
tiie  congTf»gation  in  1844.  The  aisle  windows, 
whiclt,  like  thofse  in  th<^  \vc5*t(?m  faces  of  the 
tower*,  are  length y»  are  of  two  lights  with  circles 
in  the  head.  Against  the  great  soutli-eastern 
pillar  of  tlie  nave,  at  the  junction  of  the  nave 
with  the  tmni^ept,  is  the  pu]]jit,  a  sidendid 
specimen  of  ojvk  carving,  brought  from  the  church 
of  St.  Gertrude^  at  Louvain,  in  Belgium,  and 
presented  to  St.  Ciiad*s  hy  the  Earl  of  Shnnvs- 
bury.  It  h  hexagonal,  anil  \\m  four  of  its  .^ides 
tdomed  witli  ftdiagc  and  tvilxini^icle  work,  and 
ed  figures  of  the  f*>ur  great  do€t<:>r8  of  the 
atin  Church,  The  gallery  over  the  western 
porvh  wa.-!*  biiilt  for  the  orgjm  and  choir ;  but 
when  a  surpliced  choir  wa.^  e.^t*ibUshed  in  1854, 
the  organ  wua  removed  U*  '»ver  the  sacrii*ty,  ami 
the  west  gallery  l>€eame  a  tribune. 

"The  glrtsa  in  tho  windows  of  the  nave  next 
finds  attention.  In  the  nortli  aisle  is  tho 
^workers*  window,  pi-escnted  to  St,  Chad  s  by 
Mr.  Hanhnan*8  workmen  in  1854.  The  figure  to 
the  left  of  the  9i>eetator  is  BL  Luke,  the  Evangelist, 
the  patron  of  jmintei*^  ;  that  to  the  riglit,  St, 
Andrew  nf  Crete,  another  patron  of  this  pr<:ifes~ 
eion.  Below,  four  workmen — all  of  wbt>m  are 
portraits — are  roprasente<L  One  is  sketching,  a 
eecond  cutting  glasa,  a  tliird  painting  it,  whilst  a 
fourth  is  burning  it. 

**  In  the  8ame  aifile,  in  the  bay  immediately  to 
the  west  of  the  bai>tistry,  is  n  winihnv  erected  in 
memory  of  Mr.  T.  Fitzherbert-Brockholos  (stm  of 
Mr.  W.  Fitzherljert-Bnxikholes,  of  Ckught«>n 
HaD^  Lftncashire),  who  die<l  Jime  19th,  1851, 
>  i^gad  48  yearn.  To  the  loft  of  the  s[Hn  tator  i.<=  St. 
Fmnnis   of    A>^titi,   with    the    Fitxherhc^rt  anns 


undorne^itlL  To  the  right  is  St.  Thoraas,  Ajiostle, 
with  tho  Brtx'kboles  arms  below.  In  the  sex- 
foiled  circle  over  the  lights  is  a  Jigure  of  St. 
Cecilia,  given  to  St.  Chad^s  by  Horr  Benz,  for- 
merly org?inist  of  tliis  eathedml,  and  now  capell- 
meister  at  the  Catliedral  of  Spires. 

**  Iti  the  south  or  St.  Tliomas's  aisle,  the  second 
window  westwnrtl  of  the  transept  is  a  stained- 
glass  memorial  one  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wareing,  the 
former  of  whom  died  suddenly  in  St.  Chad*8,  at 
High  Ma^s  on  Passion  Sunday,  1844.  The  prin- 
cipal figures  are  those  of  the  Blessed  Virgin  and 
of  St.  George.,  under  lofty  canopies. 

"  The  tower  and  spire  over  the  crossing  have 
never  l>een  built.  Their  design  was  in  close  con- 
formity witli  that  of  the  western  steeples, 
althougli  necessarily  their  dimensions  were 
greater.  The  western  towers  have  two  windows 
of  one  light  in  each  face  of  the  Ijelfry  stage  ;  the 
central  toM^er  was  to  have  two  of  two  lights  in 
each  face. 

**Tlie  Flanagan  window  in  the  south  transept 
was  erected  to  the  memory  of  the  Very  Rev. 
Tliomas  Canon  Fknngfiu,  who  died  at  Kidder- 
minster, July  21st,  1865.  He  was  author  of 
•  History  of  tlie  Church  of  England,*  *  Manual 
of  English  History/  and  other  works,  and  wa» 
at  the  time  of  liis  death  one  of  the  clergy 
uttaclied  to  St,  Chad's  Catliednd.  Tlie  window 
represents  tho  life  of  St.  Thomas  of  Canterbury, 
and  miracles  wrought  at  his  shrine, 

"  The  Walsh  Monument  is  placed  under  the 
gnj'at  window  of  the  north  transept.  It  was  exe- 
cuted from  the  designs  of  Mr.  E.  W.  Pugin.  The 
material  is  Bath  stone.  The  figure  of  Bishop 
Walsh,  in  pontificals,  with  crozier  and  mitre,  is  in 
a  rocnrabent  posture.  In  front  of  the  tomb  are 
shields  with  the  arms  of  the  bishop,  the  cathedral, 
Oscutt  College,  St.  Edward  the  Confessor,  and  of 
Bishop  Walsh  (repeated).  The  tomb  is  sur- 
mounted by  an  elalxtrate  canopy.  Tlie  dossal  i» 
diaperetl,  and  has  a  rjuatrefoil  in  the  centre  with 
a  small  figurt*  of  Bisliop  Walsh  off  taring  his  Ci»the- 
drsd  of  St.  Chad.     Tlie  tomb  is  protecte«l  by  an 


wiiultjw  in  St.  Chtid's,  preacnted  hy  the  Messrs. 
Ilanlnian  to  the  cliurth.  An  eluborate  account 
will  he  fcanid  in  thi'  work  of  the  Rcv»  W* 
Grf-aney  (pp.  56-62),  t<>  which  wc  nuist  needs 
refer  the  reiuh  r,  as  tnmscriptinn  of  it  woidd  piiss 
tht  fnir  hounds  of  literary  ohhgntion*  The  Hard- 
nmn  window  \ym  placed  in  8t.  Chad's  in  Angnst, 
If  68. 

"  Tlie  bipti^tn'  opens  fixnn  tlie  north  aitde.  It 
htks  a  kirge  font  for  the  liapti?inal  water,  and  a 
smaller  one  to  receive  the  water  flowing  from  the 


and  a  surj*liced  choif  inirodticeil,  the  clioir 
extcndtHi  into  the  nnvc.  Tlie  ehiuicel  is  ^\t 
from  the  tnmsept  hv  a  ricJi  scrouu  of  opcni  woiiitj 
eighteen  feet  in  height,  fonned  by  eight  iijn 
shafts  entdosing  sovenopen  spfictv^  i^paiined  by  sil 
cusped  an:hes  of  eipml,  and  one  (Uio  aintml) 
gn^ter,  width,  and  forming  a  <loorway  dtisenl 
fohling  gates  of  eight  open  tracctried  pan»?lfl  aboTH 
and  eight  close  beneaUi.  The  arches  of 
screen  are  gnrmoiuiUHl  by  erucketcnl  giihl« 
w^hilst  the  slmfte  inns  canied  ttp  oa  gmcttftil  fiati 


Cliurchett  nod  fSecU,  1831-1640.] 


OLD   AND    NEW   BIK.MINGHAM. 


467 


rer  fill  is  a  cornice  crowiied  by  a  jjii^rceU  pampet 
ring  atandaM  fur  tapers,  Upou  a  siHfcii5s  oi 
stage  nsing  from  the  ro<i<l-gallery  Ih  Uie  crucifix 
ifFith  attendant  figiirea  of  St-  Mary  and  8t.  Jolin. 
**  Tlie  liigh  altar  and  reinxlos  ar«  of  stone.  The 
baldacluuo  or  canopy  over  it  is  of  wood,  caned 
with  flowers  and  angel  cubjis,  AKiund  the  altar 
itself  are  four  pillars,  twelve  fi^.^t  in  height,  ciieli 
ocuujjosod  of  fuur  lai-ge  and  f(UU'  sniaUt^r  shafts, 
with  foUai^Mi  caps,  the  hirger  iH^aring  figure*  of 
auj^els,  each  holding  a  stiindard  and  wax  liglit ; 
thu  amuJlcr  surmounted  by  fii^irts  of  bitihops  in 
pontificals  coloured  and  gilile^L  The  canopy  is 
richly  iliai>ered  and  gilded.  Beneath  it,  on  the 
top  of  the  btone  reredns,  is  an  euriched  oaken 
case,  ^tainted  and  gihled,  cuntaining  tlie  remaining 
relicd  of  St.  Chad,  Biehop  of  LichtirUl  (a.d. 
669-672),  and  patR»u  uf  this  Catliedml  Chunh. 
The  three  windows  of  the  tip.se  arc  divided  into 
twd  lights,  eacli  containing  two  full  length  ligures. 
The  two  figures  on  the  upi^cr  part  of  the  window 
on  the  Gospel  side  ai-e  St.  John  the  Evangelist  and 
8t  Peter,  and  in  the  lower  St.  Jlichael  anil  8t. 
Edniund,  In  tlie  centre  window  over  the  altiir 
ftre  the  Blessed  Virgin  and  St.  Chad.  The  twu 
figures  in  the  ujijxT  [mH  on  tlie  Epistle  side  are 
St  PatU  and  Ht*  Joseph,  and  in  the  lower  part 
St.  ICdwanl  tlie  Confessor  and  8t.  Edward,  Kin;:; 
and  mitrtyr.  The  stained  glass  of  thettc  wintlows 
was  fM>]ueil  for  the  most  part  fmni  ancient  examples 
at  Bristol  Cathcdml  and  Tewkesbury  iVI)b<'y,  and 
was  a  gift  of  the  Earl  of  Shruwsbury.  On  cither 
fide  of  the  chancel  is  a  row  of  hftiienth-century 
ttall^,  vnth  misereres  of  Flemish  workmanship, 
formerly  in  the  ancient  church  uf  Santa  Maria, 
ij3  Capitoho  at  Cologne.  The  eanopy  oyer  the 
epifieopftl  throne  is  from  a  ilesign  by  Piigin.  It 
is  nearly  Uiirty  feet  in  height*^  and  terminates  in 
^locketed  finialB.  Amongst  it*  ornaments  is  a 
figure  iif  St.  Chad  in  iK»ntiBcals.  The  bishop's 
dtf^ir  etoU  is  on  the  Epistle  side,  tlie  lower  part 
and  priedieu  corresponil  with  the  stalls,  but  the 
43tti«py  is — as  lliat  of  the  throne— < if  Pugiri's 
4mm*    Round  tlie  walht,  under  the  eastern  win- 


I 


duws,  runs  the  legend :  *  Ecce  tidjeraaculum  Dei 
cum  hominibus  et  hnbitabit  cum  eis,  ot  ipsi 
popiUus  ejus  enmt*  On  the  walls  of  the  clmncel 
ajid  of  the  body  of  the  church  may  be  seen  the 
twelve  *  consecration  crosses,'  to  which  lights  are 
attiwihed  on  the  anniversary  of  the  dedication  of 
the  church.  The  lampadarium^  eiispemied  from 
the  ceiling  by  cliains^,  is  of  carved  wood»  painted 
and  gilt.  It  bwu»i  tlie  legend:  *Aduremu9  in 
aetemum  sancti^simum  sacmraentiun.*  Three 
lamps  htmg  from  it.  The  le^iorinrnt  of  solid 
brass,  was  a  gift  of  the  Earl  of  Shrewsbury.  It 
foTiiierly  belonged  to  the  collegiate  chiirch  of  St. 
Peter  at  L«juvain. 

*'  The  Lady  Chapel  is  on  the  (iospel  si<le  of  the 
altar.  It  is  se]«anUed  from  the  tnmsept  by  a 
curved  oiik  screen,  consisting  of  a  cejitral  door- 
way and  four  comimrtniente  of  open  tracery,  ^lur- 
miiimted  by  crockcted  pediments  with  pinnacles 
between  tliem.  There  is  a  figure  of  the  Blessed 
Virgin  over  the  centre  arcli.  The  altar  and 
reredos  ait?  of  carveil  stone.  In  front  of  the 
altar  are  three  givmps,  that  in  the  centre  representr- 
ing  the  Nativity,  with  the  Presentation  on  the 
n<a'th  side,  and  the  Adoration  of  the  Magi  on  the 
south.  Our  Liuly  is  in  the  centre  of  the  I'ereilos, 
with  the  Visitation  on  tlie  south  side,  and  the 
Anmmeiatifm  on  the  north.  Below  tliese  gr<»up8 
art*  four  single  figures,  St.  Mary  Magdalene,  St 
Barbara,  St.  Cecilia,  and  St.  Catherine.  The 
tabeitiacle  is  of  gilt  metal-work,  with  the  emblems 
of  the  four  Evangelists  in  enamel  The  flo^ir  of 
the  Lady  Chaf^el  is  laid  'ivith  Minton's  tile«.  On 
a  pedesttd  to  the  left  of  the  Ijidy  Chapel  is  &Q 
ancient  carved  oak  figure  of  the  Blessed  Virgin, 
from  Genuany,  presented  tt»  Bt.  Cliad's  by  the 
architect.  .  *  In  the  north  window  of  the 
Lady  Oiapel— which  is  of  two  lights— is  depict^ 
the  Aimunciation.  Below  each  of  these  figUK-a  is 
a  group  of  children,  four  in  number,  enclosed  ift 
a  iiuatrefoil,  those  on  the  left  of  the  spectator 
being  boy»,  those  on  tiie  right  girk  The  legends 
nm  :  *  Per  infaiitiam  tuani,  libera  nos,  Jesu  ;  * 
^Sanea    Virgo    Virginum,  om  pro  nobis-'     This 


468 


OLD   AND   NEW   BIKM INGHAM 


[ChutebM  tna  nteto,  IMtlMI 


* 


window  was  the  jrift  of  th*J  boys  mid  girl^  nf  St* 
Cliair.s  Poor  Schools*  in  1844,  As  the  windows 
in  tKe  chancel,  these  windows  are  by  W.  War- 
rington, from  designs  hy  Pngin. 

**Afi  St,  Chad's  stiindft  upon  a  declivity,  tlie 
eaftt  end  in  Bhatlwell  Street  lieing  twenty  feet 
lower  tlian  the  entrance  at  the  west  end  in  IJath 
Street,  the  architect  cnnstructed  a  ci^'pt  or  under- 
croft— ^dei  lira  ted  to  8t,  Peter — ^beneath  the  whole 
of  tlio  npper  church.  Only  a  part  is  as  yet  made 
use  of.  The  solemn  appeamnce  of  the  cr)^pt  is 
much  aided  by  all  it«  wimJowg  l>eing  filleil  with 
stained  glas***.  The  crypt  is  divided  into  several 
chantries,  (out  of  them  painted,  and  employed  as 
oratories  of  the  Honiman,  Waring^  Poncia,  and 
FletcJier  families.  Previous  to  1875,  those  and 
oth(*r  lateral  chapelii  were  used  for  burials.  There 
are  meniori^Ls  in  tlio  crypt — of  Rev.  Edwartl 
Peach,  Rector  of  8t  Clmd's,  who  died  in  1829; 
of  tlie  Rev.  Gharl^  McDonnell,  Provincial  nf  the 
Francii^can  Onler  in  Enj^'lainl,  wdio  died  in  1843, 
aged  72 ;  of  the  Rev.  Joseph  Carpue,  of  the 
chapel  of  the  Simnish  Embassy,  London,  who 
died  in  April,  1849;  of  the  Rev.  Joseph  Lycett, 
who  died  at  Solihidl,  March  15,  1853;  and  of 
Very  Rev.  Canon  Moore,  Mdio  died  ill  June, 
1856." 

Near  8t.  Chad's  is  the  Bishop's  house,  erected 
hy   the   .**4ime  architect,   ai*  the   residence   of  the 

bishop  and  the  officiating  clergy 

**A  residence  (says  Pugio)  which,  both  in  it^ 
©cc  las  last  ic4d  chanicter  and  extent  of  accommfxla- 
tion,  is  in  all  respects  suited  for  the  occupation  of 
the  bishops  and  clergy,  and  also  for  transacting 
the  increased  business  of  the  dissitrict,  has  been 
erected  for  a  sum  which  does  not  involve  a  greater 
annual  outlay  than  would  have  been  required  for 
two  lai^o  modem  houses,  which  must  have  been 
destitute  of  every  requisite  for  this  important 
purpose." 

"V^ndlo  the  churches  of  the  Establishment  were 
tlius  flourishing  and  incre^ising  in  number,  and 
the  Church  of  Rome  had  made  the  greatest  stride 
since  their  establishment  in  the  town,  the  protest- 


ant  dissenters  do  not  seem  to  have  made  any  gwal 
progress  during  this  decade. 

In  May,  1839,  the  foundation  stone  wm  kid 
of  an  Independent  Chapel  in  Wheeler  Street, 
Lozella ;  and  in  the  same  month  the  Unitamn 
chapel  and  school  buildings  on  Newhall  HiU 
were  commenced. 

A  small  Presbyterian  cliajiel  was  erected  ill 
1834,  on  the  site  afterwards  occupied  by  * 
larger  building  of  the  same  character  in  Broad 
Street. 

\MHle  t!ie  dissenters  were  thus  inactive,  for  attHM^ 
in  the  work  of  chapel  buildings  however,  two  ol 
the  more  prominent  secte  were  busy  in  cl&m 
ways.  The  Independents  during  this  period 
established  a  college  for  the  training  of  yoirag 
men  for  their  ministry,  and  the  Methodic 
in  1836,  held  their  annual  general  ConfcrcJi(» 
in  the  town. 

Tlie  Independent  College  was,  we  lielieve,  rojj- 
gested  in  tlie  first  instance  by  the  Rev.  Tunothy 
East,  of  Ebenezer  Chapel,  Stcelhouse  Lane,  to 
George  Storer  Mansfield,  Esq.,  who  gave  mtM 
landed  estates  for  that  purpose ;  to  which  he  and 
his  sistf^m.  Miss  Glover  and  Miss  Mansfield  (who 
resided  on  Spring  Hill),  set  aside  a  considemblo 
sum  of  money  for  the  supj>rtrt  of  the  institution. 
Being  anxious  that  it  should  be  esU])liBhed  duriog 
their  lifetime,  the  ladie,'*,  witli  the  most  praise- 
worthy self-sacrifice,  resigned  their  own  dwelliu^ 
house  for  that  pur[>ose,  and  "  Spring  Hill  Col- 
lege ■'  was  opencil  in  1838,  for  the  reception  ol 
students,  and  thirteen  young  men  at  once  entertid 
the  institution  and  commenced  their  atudies,  Thi 
college  was  afterwards  aflSliated  with  the  XTniiw- 
aity  of  London  and  is  empowered  to  send  studeofei 
there  to  take  their  degrees.  A  good  library  was 
pro\adeil  for  their  use,  and,  besides  the  theological 
tutor,  t-vvo  others  wero  engagerl,  the  one  fof 
philosophy,  and  the  other  for  biblical  and  clas^icil 
philology.  But  the  full  development  of  the  col- 
lege, placing  it  on  a  level  with  the  best  institu- 
tions of  the  kind  in  the  kingdom,  clid  not  inkt 
pkce  until  after  its  removal  to  Moseley ;  thb  part 


« 


I 


libUcr  Uf9  sad  EvtnU  1 


OLD  AND    NEW   BIRMINGHAM. 


469 


of  its  hisUjry  we  shall  have  U^  leave  to  be  recorded 
in  a  future  chiij>t«r»  at  its  proper  date. 

We  close  this  eha|>ter  of  the  religious  hifitory 
of  our  town  witli  a  iifitice  of  an  ijiteresting  cele- 
bnition  ;  tliat  of  the  Tercentenary  of  tlie 
Refommtioii  : 

Septemljor  28,  1835.— At  a  General  Meeting  of  the 
Clergy  of  this  town,  held  on  Wedncaday  last,  the  follow- 
i©g  resohitioris  on  the  «nbj»ct  of  aoicmnising  the  Third 
Centenary  of  the  Reformation  were  onauitnously  adopted  :^ 

1st.  That  sus  there  in  nianlfeiit^d  tlimughoiit  the  kingdom 
an  intention  of  solemnising  the  4th  of  Octoher  next 
(falling  on  the  Sabbath)  &a  the  dny  in  the  year  1535, 
when  the  first  entire  English  rersioo  and  pnblicatian  of 
the  Bible  were  accomplished,  by  Miles  Coverdule,  Bishop 
of  Exeter,  it  is  their  duty  to  observe  that  day  as  a  day  of 
Thanksginng  to  Almighty  Gofi  for  t ho  blessings  of  the 
Kcformution,  and  of  prayer  for  the  continuance  of  them. 

2niL  That  in  caec  no  prescnbcd  fonn  be  issued  by 
flutijority  for  the  lairpo^',  the  Clergy  feci  it  to  bo  their 
duty  to  call  upon  their  resfjectivc  congregations  and 
pari^ihioiiera  to  obsierve  it  privat^ily,  and  that  they  ahould 


make  the  bleflsiugs  of  the  Refonued  Religion  a  prommcnt 
feature  of  their  Sermons  in  the  miniiitrtitiun  of  the  day, 
det4.Tmined,  however,  to  keep  the  question  cutirely  clear 
of  every  political  bia«  ;  and  histly,^ — 

That  suitable  hpnna  be  selected  and  printed  for  the 
occasion,  and  n  cheap  luedid  bo  struck  to  cotiimeinorate 
the  celebration,  to  l>e  presented  to  the  Sunday  S<;hool 
Children  and  Teachoi's.  In  accoixlance  with  the  latter 
part  of  this  recomniendation,  medals,  we  imderstanil, 
have  been  struck,  and  hymns  prepared  to  assist  in  a 
devout  and  grateful  celebnition  of  the  day.  There 
apijears  now  to  l>e  no  doubt  but  that  the  event  will  he 
generally  celebrated  throughout  the  country,  and  in  many 
places  collections  will  be  made  for  the  relief  of  the 
distressed  Irish  Clei;gy. 

October  12,  1835.— The  third  Centenary  of  the  Refor- 
mation, on  Sunday,  the  Ith  inst.,  was  generally  observed 
in  tliis  town.  Sermons  appropriate  to  the  day  were 
delivered  in  the  various  Chun^hes  and  Chapels  of  the 
Establishment,  and  in  sovenil  of  the  Dissenting  Miieting 
Houses.  Congn^gations  so  large  aiul  atten  t i vc  have  f^cldom 
been  simultaneuiiHly  assembled,  and  the  occasion  wa* 
rendered  memorable  to  the  Children  of  the  Sunday 
Schwds  by  the  dbitribution  of  me^Uls  struck  in  com- 
luemoration  of  the  event. 


CHAPTEli      LXVII. 
PUBLIC      LIFE      AND     EVENTS,      1831O840. 

Bufldtug  af  th«  Town  HaU— D^eriptions  of  tlio  BullcIUiu— The  Wirkot  Tlall— Visit  of  Loni  Broughimt— JOi«pli  Sturge  and  tlie  Slav* 
Tmdi»— Death  of  Willlatii  IV.— Tfie  YoutiK  Qu*en-Li>caiJ  CelcbmUoD  of  CorormLion  D«y— Tbo  Ineorpomtlou  lloverticntr-Th« 
Uat  at  the  GUI  Goverouietit  of  tlio  Town-ObitujiTy  Notices -The  BHtish  Ajssoctation  ftjid  Uae  Flrat  Exhibition— Mora  Loyal 
CVtebr^tious^  aU, 


At  the  eloae  of  the  laat  chapter  of  the  chronicle 
of  pnhlic  events  wo  took  note  of  the  projected 
erection  of  a  new  Town  Hall,  and  we  have  now 
In  record  its  erection.  A  Jesiign  for  this 
bn tiding  was  supplied  by  ^£r.  Barry,  and 
exhibited  at  the  lioyal  Acadpiuy,  but  waa  not 
aJo|}tt*tj  by  the  Couimishioner&  A  description 
of  this  design  (which  poBacssed  certain  points  of 
reiwaniblanca  to  the  building  subsequently  erected, 
tad  w»8  by  no  meaDs  devoid  of  beauty,  although 
somewliat    flat    and    heavy,)   appeared    in    the 

diie,      and     will     doubtless     interest     our 

iera: — 


It  is  not  of  a  description  to  strike  at  first  view,  except 
as  licing  an  admirably  executed  drawing,  it  seoming  to 
consist  of  little  more  than  an  hexastyle  portico  of  a  very 
plain  character  ;  when  we  come,  however,  to  examine  it, 
we  discover  it  to  Ix?  replete  with  k^autiea,  and  to  afford 
evidence  of  study,  of  original  thought,  and  more  than 
ordinary  feeling.  The  order  is  a  Doric,  or  rather  wlmt  i» 
rjrnnVy  dennminated  T^iscan^  the  eolumns  having  bases 
and  unlUited  shiifts,  and  tlie  frieze  Uiiog  without  trigly|iha  ; 
still  Tusc^i  would  very  ill  designate  the  general  charajctcr, 
which  is  treated  more  in  the  spirit  of  the  Grecian  Doric 
thnu  any  other  style.  The  columns  are  raised  on  a  base- 
ment or  stylobftte,  pierced  only  by  three  doors  of  narrow 
proportions,  and  with  axeeedingly  deep  jdain  lintelii  aiid 
architraves.  These  doors  coiTesiwud  with  the  centre  and 
two  extreme  intcrcolumns  of  the  jiortico  above,  so  that 
th«  distance  of  solid  unbroken  wftU.between  them  is  very 


470 


OLD  AND  NEW  BIRMINGHAM. 


[TlMTowiiBilL 


considerable,  and  conveys  the  idea  of  very  great  strength. 
Stilly  this  arrangement  would  have  1)een  attended  with  a 
disagreeable  appearance  of  weakness,  as  the  lateral  doors 
would  have  been  too  near  the  angles,  had  not  the  archi- 
tect most  felicitously  overcome  this  inconvenience  by 
extending  the  basement  at  each  end  l)eyond  the  portico 
itself,  by  the  addition  of  a  very  l)old  pedestal,  carried  up 
as  high  OS  the  bases  of  the  columns.  Another  circumstance 
that  contributes  materially  to  enhance  the  rich  picturesque 
effect  of  the  whole,  yet  which  is  apt  to  escape  notice  in  a 
drawing,  is  tliat  he  has  introduced  columns  ^nthin  the 
portico  behind  those  in  front,  thereby  producing  not  only 
a  fine  degree  of  chiar*  oscuro^  but  great  per8|)ective  variety 
and  force.  The  building  is  insulated,  and  the  columns 
arc  continued  along  the  sides  ;  yet  from  want  of  a  plan, 
and  owing  to  the  point  from  which  the  edifice  is  viewed, 
wc  cannot  say  whether  there  is  a  regular  intoreolunm 
Ixitwecn  the  column  and  the  wall.  Wc  should  apprehend 
that  their  bases  are  close  to  the  wall,  even  if  no  part  of 
the  shafts  is  engaged  in  it,  otherwise,  as  the  building  is 
only  hexastyle  in  front,  the  interior  space  would  l>e  too 
confined,  except  formed  into  a  single  large  apartment. 
Rarely  have  we  seen  a  design  possessing  so  much  origin- 
ality, with  apparently  no  pretension  to  novelty  ;  or  so  tnie 
to  the  spirit  of  cla.ssical  architecture,  without  at  all  riuniml- 
ing  us  of  any  individual  model. 

The  Commissioners  Jecidod  t<.)  accept  the 
design,  however,  of  Messrs.  Hansom  and  Welch, 
in  preference  to  that  of  Mr.  I'arry,  and  the 
huilding  was  commenced  on  tlie  27th  of  April, 
1S32.  !Many  himlrances  occurred,  partly  owing 
to  the  fact  tliat  the  contractors  (who  were  also 
tliM  architects)  had  under-estimated  the  cost  of 
the  work,  having  contracted  for  its  completion 
for  the  sum  of  £17,000,  with  about  £1,700  for 
extras,  whereas  the  total  cost  was  al)Out  £25,000, 
although  the  Anglesey  marlde,  witli  which  it  is 
faced,  was  presented  to  the  architects  by  Sii* 
Kichard  Bulkley,'Bart.,  the  owner  of  the  Penmon 
Quarries,  from  which  it  was  obtained.  A  report 
was  published  shortly  after  the  completion  of  the 
building,  by  the  Securities,  showing  the  losses 
sustained  thereby,  as  follows  : — 

Birmingham  Town  Hall. 
January  26,  1885.— We,  the  undersigned  Securities  for 
erecting  this  magnificent  building,  beg  to  lay  l>efore  the 
public  the  following  statement  of  monies  lost  by  us,  in 
consequence  of  our  connection  with  the  Birmingham 
Town  Hall,  and  to  invite  the  respectable  inhabitants  of 
the  town  and  borough  to  institute  an  inquiry  into  the  fair 
value  of  the  building,  with  a  view  of  determining  whether 
something  ought  not  to  be  done  for  our  relief. 


We  feel  convinced  that  the  inhabitants  of  the  boroof^ 
do  not  desire  to  poMoaa  the  building  at  a  leai  cost  tkaa, 
under  all  circumstances  considered,  was  abtolntelj 
necessary  for  its  erection,  nor  would  they  wish  to  leamu, 
the  Securities,  exposed  to  those  minons  conseqneiKfli 
which  must  ensue  unless  we  are  protected  by  the  genveu 
interference  of  the  town. 

Money  advanced  by  Mr.  Welch,  sen.,  st  the 
commencement  of  the  work,  to  ensUe  the 

Architects  and  Builders  to  proceed        ...  £1,310  0  0 

Money  ditto  by  Mr.  Tench         ...             ...  500  0  (^ 

Money  advanced  by  Mr.  Welch,  sen.         ...  1,800  0  0 

Money  ditto  by  Mr.  Lloyd          ...             ...  1,800  0  0 

Money  ditto  by  Mr.  Welch,   sen.,   in  Sep- 

toml>er,  1884             ...            ...             ...  1,C00  0  0 

Money  ditto  by  Mr.  Lloyd          ...             ...  1,000  0  0 


Jan.,  1835. 


£6,410    0   0 
W.  P.  Lloyd, 
John  Welch, 
Edwabd  T&kch, 
Securities  for  erecting  the  Birminghan 
Town  Hall. 


An  admirable  description  of  the  building  was 
given  by  ^Ir.  Bates,  in  bis  interesting  Gui(k^ 
which  wo  give  entire,  in  preference  to  entering 
upon  a  new  description  of  what  has  already  been 
so  frctpiently  described  before  : 

"  The  hall,"  he  says, — **  as  to  the  architectural 
merits  of  whic  h  criticism  has  been  most  minute 
and  divei-se,  but  which  popular  opinion,  after  all, 
\X\v  true  trst,  has  long  ago  decided  to  be  an  onia- 
nicnt  U>  the  town,  and  a  credit  to  the  public  ta.-te 
and  spirit  of   its  inhabitants — may  be  instanced 
as   a   remarkable    attempt   to    apply   to    modtrn 
purposes   a   style   of    structure   which    belongetl 
essentially  to  the  Greek  temples.     Upon  a  rusti- 
cated basement  or  aR-ade,  rising  to  the  height  of 
al)out  twenty    feet,   and    pierced    with  diK)rways 
and  windows,  for  the  convenience  of  the  interior, 
is  i)laced  a  sj)lendid  series  of  Corinthian  columns 
about    forty   feet   bigb,    supporting   entablatures 
above.     Of  these  there   are,  at  present;  thirteen 
along  each  side,  and  eight  in  the  princii>al  front, 
when^  they  are  surmounted  by  a  lofty  pediment 
The  columnar  ordinance  employed  is  in  imitation 
of  the  Roman  foliated,  or  Corinthian,  example  of 
tlie   Temple   of  Jupiter   Stator,    at  Rome;   the 
columns  are  fluted,  and  tlie  entablature  gieatlj 


472 


OLD   AXD  NEW   BIRMINGHAM- 


(The  Tt>vm  mu. 


were  killed.  They  were  interred  in  St  Pliilip'fl 
Cliurchyanl,  and  a  nionmuent,  consistinj^  appro 
priately  of  the  Iwise  of  a  pillar  which  hml  been 
wrought  l»y  one  of  the  sufferi're,  was  erected  to 
their  memory  by  their  emjjloyers  and  fellow 
workmen. 

"  The  main  part  of  the  hiterior  connists  of  one 
large  liall — the  object  of  the  builduig  Iwing  the 
acconim<Hlati()n  of  public  meetingfl  and  other 
large  assemblies.  This  hall  can  accommo<lato 
about  4,000  persons  sittimj^  but  more  than  double 
that  nuniU^r  when  stiuiding  up.  It  is  145  feet 
long,  65  wide,  and  65  high,  being  somewhat 
smaller  than  Jlxeter  ILdl,  and  ten  feet  higher 
from  the  flt>or  to  the  roof  than  the  ()i)em  House. 
Light  is  receiveil  from  windows  behind  the 
colunms  in  the  l)ody  (►f  the  building — one  to 
each  intercolumniation.  There  are  c(»rridors  oi 
communiaition  running  al(»ng  on  <»ach  side  of  it, 
on  its  own  hfvel,  and  stiiircjises  leading  to  u]>iK»r 
corridors  to  give  access  to  gidleries.  Kooms  for 
commitUios,  the  accommodation  of  jwrformers, 
etc.,  ar«'  formed  at  tli<*  upjKT  end  of  tlie  building, 
and  un<h'r  tlie  orchestra.  The  ceiling  is  i*hast<'ly 
and  aj)propriately  decoiiit(Ml,  and  the  sjiaccs 
between  the  windmvs  ornamented  with  iluted 
Corinthian  pilast^irs.  Tlui  admiral)Ie  marble  bust  of 
^Iendelss(»hii  is  fn»m  tlie  studio  of  our  t^jwnsman, 
Mr.  Peter  llollins,  and  has  but  reciuitly  [184b] 
b(M*n  i)lace<l  in  its  present  ap}iit>priat(!  situation. 

"  Jn  a  recess  at  tlie  end  is  the  magnific*  nt  <»rgan, 
constructed  by  llill  of  London  one  of  whose  best 
]»ro<luctions  it  is  considered  to  be  -at  a  cost  of 
between  fnnn  £3,000  to  £4,000.  Though  the 
me<;hanical  details  are  uninteresting,  an«l  in(M»n- 
clusive  as  to  the  charact^T  <d  the  instrument,  we 
j^ul)join  a  few  i)articulai's.  The  out<'r  cas<«  (  r  >m 
a  design  by  Mr.  Mackenzie,  in  harmony  witli  tlie 
rrehiteetiir.I  style  of  the  huildin,:;)  is  40  fe  t  wide, 
45  feet  high,  and  17  feet  de.p.  Th«*re  an'  71  tlr  w 
.«-to]>s,  4  sets  <»f  keys,  and  above  4,000  pipes  ;  the 
largest  \v(M»den  j»i]M»  has  an  int  rior  ca]»acity  of 
224  cubic  feet.  It  is  calculated  that  tlie  tindn-r 
alone  employed  in  the  construction  of  this  organ 


must  weigh  betweijii  20  and  30  ttnis,  while  the 
metal  and  other  materials  used  in  the  stnictnK 
raise  the  weight  of  the  whole  to  at  least  40  tons. 
The  IxjUows  are  nc^cessarily  of  great  sire,  omtaiu- 
ing  about  300  8([iiare  feet  of  siirface.  Tliis  or^ 
is  distinguished  by  many  iKK^uliarities  in  the 
arrangement  of  the  keys,  etc.,  by  wliich  lie 
pi.»rformer  is  enablcnl  to  pitxluce  an  almtfst  endless 
variety  of  tone  and  power.  Of  tbest*  our  liniittnl 
sjMiee  forbids  a  detail — which  would,  indeetl,  be 
uninteresting  to  tlie  merely  general  n«der.  A 
visit  to  the  interior  of  the  instniuient,  caiinut  fail 
to  be  proiluctive  of  much  pleasure  to  a  scientific 
lK*rson.  It  is  composeil  of  tlin?e  stories,  to  whirli 
corres|)onding  staircases  lead  ;  then*  is  ample  nx>iu 
to  walk,  and  the  various  comi)artnient$  of  this 
immense  i)iec(;  of  mecliauism,  with  their  forests  nf 
pijK'S,  may  be  surveyed.  Lookeil  into  frr>m  the 
gallery  over  it,  the  largest  wootlen  pipe,  which  i* 
3  feet  sijuare  and  32  feet  deep,  will  ap}>ear  lite 
the  shaft  of  a  mine ;  and  if  the  full  ]>owers  of  the 
instniment  are  develojied  while  the  visitor  is  still 
in  the  r«*cesses  of  the  machinery,  he  will  l»e 
tleafenetl  by  the  awful  roar,  and  may  well  iiua^'iin* 
that  the  building  is  about  to  be  rent  a^junder  by  a 
terrific  exjjlosion. 

"lUit  though  this  wonderful  instniment  is  thus 
capable  of  simulating  the  most  awful  voices  A 
nature,  or  the  most  tenitic  bhists  of  the  wir- 
splitting  trumpet,  it  is  e<[ually  well  a<bipt^*il  t<' 
pnxluce,  mider  the  hands  of  the  tidentitl  orgiUiU'l, 
Mr.  Stimpson,  the^  finest  and  most  c»>nij)Kt«f 
strains  of  the  octave  flute.  Had  we  not  aln-u^ly 
exceeded  (mr  limits  we  sliouhl  have  hail  nuuli 
jtleasure  in  instituting  a  comiuirison  iK^twtvn  this 
and  the  ]>rincii»id  orgiuis  in  our  own  country  uinl 
on  the  continent ;  we  can,  however,  but  adtl  that 
looking  to  the  nundnT  <*{  pijfc^  as  a  more  accur;it<' 
criterion  of  the  }iower  of  an  instnnnent,  than  the 
nundK'r  of  .*/o///(,  on  which  it  is  customary  to  dilate 
when  diwcribing  an  oi^n,  it  nmy  be  affirme«l 
that  the  l>inninglmm  orgui  and  the  new  one 
at  York,  an?  the  hirga^^t  and  most  \k  werful  iu  the 
world." 


TlieTi»wii  HftUJ 


Ni.n  AXi>  XKw   iai;MixniiA.M 


473 


luit  oiir  rmclor^  will  aUn  ivnA  wjlli  iiitiTfst,  \vi« 
lliiiik,  tile  hnprei^simis  ]iiXKbic*<'il  liv  thh  unlAv 
j5tnictui\'  iiiw>n  tlu-  iiiiiiil  of  a  Ina^  |M>t't,  mul  1*110 
whom  all  liimnu;;h»iijj  iiK*n  luii'^t  lovt'  aiul  Ji'linin^ 

"  llie  Bimiiuj^Uam  Town  Hall  it«  n  nt»l>leeililieL* 
— look  at  it  froia  ai»y  of  tlu.^  iivH  iiiics  t if  approach, 
when  you  will  Swu  malvT  n  very  i:U*;h'  sky,  it  is 
silent  glun^  juul  Ix^inty  ;  imtler  the  hri;(ht  Ji;4ht 
of  tht'  jiiooii — hut  luon*  HO  when  the  *'!ear  inoon  is 
now  dttrk^ti^  now  Jiislietl  o\it  again  iJinlcleuly,  by 
%hv  rapiilly-aciuhling  hlaek  sttsnu-clnml!*,— it  is,  nf 
all  the  huiMiiigs  I  renieiulKT  in  this*  kiiif^dom^  the 
luoet  thunghl->nj(^^\stive.  Ami,  pHjlrahly,  uiueh  of 
this  }M»wt*r  h  a^eriluihle  t^j  thoik^  very  nuittcrs  of 
objection,  which  tii*it<*s,  that  I  must  consider 
suiK'i'ior  k»  mine,  have  titken  to  its  site  an<l  noigli- 
btairhomL  I  like  it  for  standing  mMir  to  thosf 
humhle  hrii*k  ilw*41ing-ho«se9,  Knowin*;  an<l  feel- 
ing, «a  I  »lo,  th**  pnrjKisu?  antl  spirit  wliirh  ur^'e«l  its 
CT©ction»  it  looks  to  me  like  tJieir  nia^^'tiitteent,  not 
ituiolently  c<  auloscejulin^jr,  friend — nut  tlieir  lurn^dity 
1f>r*h  Hail  its  siU*  b<i«n  more  elevateil  ^jnnd^ 
iinil  iU*  wltitl*'  nion^  is->laU^h  I  think  it  woiihl  not 
liave  jM>Hsej4Ft*il  that  lo*«k  of  the  kimlly  graml,  tluit 
c«auiUnuMiee  of  the  iM'nt'volently  litsiuitiful,  which, 
to  my  sen.se  at  lejiat^  it  now  piissesse,^     The  pru- 


•CliiirTes  n*-4M'tt  IVintM'rton,  of  wluMit,  luil  ti)*iiiL-c  ) Herniate* I,  Wtt 
liAii  1m(«ii  l**<l  Im  Imvu  »t'**li*>'i>  IH'HT?  fully  i<i  a  f.+turi*  rl»>iia«r,  w,i» 
litjfii  it  r.-Nty|M»»»],  H*»iilh  Wmlt-..  III!  iJH*  2;r>l  Hf  J^nii^irv,  17lH>. 
»ii4  wft*  t'iltu'Ntitil  lit  Ui9  PruLtHUiit  UiHMt^iitiiii;  Ch;tritj  M*  b  »il, 
l>rk  S*fv*«t,  BiOiiii);,'hi»ifi,  H^  w*^  rt[>|inMitirQt|  Ut  lii*  uiicU\» 
IfT^iiuftmiuIrr,  iti  Lively  sar<*4^t ;  Imt^  thn  ikiti^  hi*  «iii]<}oyitit^nt»  Ua 
rnn  AWay  at  tht*  otft^of  im>vi'iit«i*ii,  mikI  wi^iit  Im  ne^  In  tlj«  Vfvut 
tiuUn^t  wUitJiKf  lie  wenl,  la*  iiHlii1|L|rii|  liU  Um^  elHrlHliietl  ^Te^itr  tt 
bv^  Mill*  Alt  »f  lor.  au  I  Im'caium  Ni}*>it?Mfia  »fi>l  i»ri»4ti«-riMtA;  luttHti 
lintiii|»py  iimrrlngc  with  hji  itrln'Mi  wrlio  )tit»««><t  uiilnif  ^»  liini,  WA 
MiM  otir'«  Jiioreto  riaiini  lk>  Eni^t.aiJ,  itlin>(»,  l-i  uttik  IiLstiionl.  f  lUte 
nmuiiis  hi*  Dvvn  cnuhtr^'iurit.  Uit  "  Hhyhn^k"  was  iiiilvri^tMy 
a*tfuir«>l»  tlKl  ri*iiechlly  hy  84>fJKJtia  Tuirixin?,  (fifTrrwnr In   Mr. 

JitMtlr^  Tatroiinl,)   ttin  «tmiHUtiril.      ril    t.^'i:!    Iin    pulilt.itlM    lfl    itl« 

JI/oHfM^  ti*i**$itofY  '♦TUf'  AMl4iliiii  raj4iy  uf  Vn^l  V<*iji*}w,"  in 
wliUli,  uiuU'r  n  lltiii  th«4iiiiii%  lie  |Hturtrii]rH  hi^  uwnn  Iffe.  SitU- 
•CHtfiRjiny  lie  Umk  \*t  tlie  IvHunn;;  )v|iitr>iriii,  atjil  ilctl}f1tto»1  \nr  r 
»tiUit*ni*if^  at  iJtr  Ht'tiiiiiilit*:  |iiHiiLui4<  of  Uln  own  totm,  ai^'l  Hur- 
wlii'ft*  tbritiij^lKHit  t)i"  kuitj'I'OM.  Th  \^'^H  tilH  yirrtllh  uiiforttintitr^y 
Uivc  w*»y,  a(t>l  hv  *•!»»  i  ino|ii>ll*tl  tu  tiy  «  loilJi^r  oliini^lr,  vinUiipjf 
QibrallAr,  Multn^  E.|yt>el>»  *'(■'.,  ntnl  tvlun^cU  only  It^  itir,  nl  Lhct 
bon»»nf  ia«  limthfT,  Mr  W.  n.  IVui)i«rtJiiK  Ltii)i(jiU«  IIIU,  ItlriKttitf- 
luttt.  Sian-lt  ^{ri(,  JMO.  uiir  «|ttuLiUMii,  wliMi  cci  v«*«aH  itn  a>liMlrttli}«' 
•  tAmjil*^  uf  liU  BtyW,  14  Ink  iifniiu  Uu  "  Ufo  »i>«i  Ut4«mf^'  litfitiiilUM," 
•dlt<tl  )fy  John  Fuwb*r. 


jt'etion  lieyontl  the  wtreut  lin^i  in  tlie  f^outli  fiont, 
whieh  a  skilful  anil  seientiHc  arehiteet  pointinl  out 
to  nie  as  a  '^nnit  defect,  I  like ;  thia  must  he  my 
had  taste.  It  steps  out  %vith  a  generona  and 
complacent  hravory,  as  if  it  would  say,  *  I  belong 
to  you  alb  and  will  protect  and  he  friend  you  alb 
r  am  here  with  yon;  come  to  me  all  as  fellows 
Bndfnemls:'  not  aa  an  insolent  blusterer,  with 
one  leg  thrust  out  like  a  bully»  because  he 
happen.^  to  be  stnmg  and  a  big  fellow,  aa  who 
shouhl  say,  *  Keep  oft^  you  rabble,  you  vagabonds  1 
or  come  on  if  you  dare,  and  111  smash  you!* 
I  believe  there  is  not  any  building  in  England 
that  can  exhibit  such  a  glorious  range  of  cohuiina 
Afar  off  the\^  attract,  near  they  fascinate  tho 
ga»».  Get  into  an  angle  with  the  ea^itern  line 
of  them,  and  they  become  countless,  e-alling  up 
a  fancy  of  *  there  are  thousands  more/  only  your 
visiou  is  too  wrak  to  trace  ai:d  follow  ihe  line, 
8tanil  at  a  distance,  and  luok  to  the  roof;  the 
sky  an<l  it  are  associated;  they  are  njighty  and 
graceful  dwellers  together.  The  fabric  is  a 
splendid  poem. 

**It  has,  besides,  recommendations  to  the 
*  pmctical  man/  jntr  exa^lk'Ufy,  Had  (Govern- 
ment done  tlie  town  the  honour  of  patrunizing 
the  building,  contrivance  ^vouid  have  been 
snecessfnl  in  making  the  same  thing  a  subject 
of  taxation  to  tlie  amount  of  a  hundreil  thousand 
pounds.  The  men  of  ISirndugham  know  how 
these  matters  are  inanngeil  well  enough;  and  so, 
by  escaping  fruiii  the  aid  of  royal,  minis teriid, 
and  aristocratic  patronage,  they  saveil  their 
fullowdownsineu  some  seventy  thousaml  i>ounda. 

*'  Hut  the  im[Mjsing  grandeur  and  gratifying 
beauty  vanitihes  win-n  you^  have  entered  the 
building.  The  poetry  is  gone.  In) posing  effect 
is  utterly  s;icrificed  to  the  sheerest  uiility,  i\e.^ 
ihe  anti-utilitarian's  utility,  Yei  do  I  opine  thmt 
even  more  utUity  might  Imve  bei-ij  maintained  if 
attention  to  poetical  eff  ct  had  n  it  been  80 
entirely  superseded.  Tli^se  galleries  !ijtpi*ar  like 
fiasty  eitcreseences — a  ilefcit  wliicli,  (^erlainly,  is 
diminished    wlien    they    am   <>cnu|tied    by    some 


m 


OLD   AXB   XEAV   BIKMIXGHAM, 


ttteT»a«lil 


eight  hundred  or  a  thousand  persons:  but  then 
they  have  a  look  of  unsafeness,  capable,  and 
strong  aa  a  close  inspection  convinces  us  they 
are*  There  is  about  ihem  a  character  of  heavy 
fragility ;  it  is  ponderousness  resting  on  fibgree. 
The  eowp-ifcEi/,  perhaps^  would  have  been  much 
more  satisfactory  and  grand,  if,  instead  of  the 


at  present ;  though,  in  respect  of  egress  frott^ 
the  ground  floor,  I  know  no  public  building  for  j 
piipniar  assembla^'es  that  &ur|Kis8ea  it ;  the 
on  the  nomination  day  tried  the  case  thorougMf.i 
**  Crood  people  of  Birmingham^  let  oU  ttiangwij 
see  the  inside  of  your  noble  building  (that  hxM 
ing  of  which   you  justly   may  be  prood),  vkea ' 


i 


a. 


JS9H 


Wi^»^ 


INTEniOli    OF    TtlE   TOWN   UALL. 


Ugly  excreacencea  and  projections,  which  now 
constitute  the  galleries,  gradations  of  seats  had 
risen  dii-ectly  from  the  tloor,  exactly  at  the  lines 
from  which  tho  front  scats  of  the  galleries 
are  perpendicular  with  the  base.  Such  a  con- 
struction would  not  only  have  given  a  reality, 
but,  what  IB  almost  equally  necessary,  also  an 
appearance  of  satisfactory  strength  and  stability, 
besides  an  increase  of  accommodation,  as  to  the 
immber  of  sitters,  for  all  seek  to  avoid  the  spaces 
under  the  galleries.  Ingress  and  egress,  too, 
would  have  been  no  less,  perhaps  more,  easy  than 


it  is  crammed  full  of  your  fellow-tow n 
some  great  and  stiiTing  occasion. 
Let  the  spaces  which  allow  of  two  thou 
people  to  arrange  unruffled  their  gala  dresses, 
stretch  out  legs  and  take  good  elbow-room,  1 
r]uintuply  packed^  showing  a  sea  of  faces  aD 
heads  as  cloiiely  piled  and  wedged  as  if  they  kav«i1 
been  rammed  together  by  paviours'  rods,  just  as 
they  were  crowded,  and  crammed,  and  rammed^ 
and  wedged  on  Wednesday,  January  Tth,  1 835 
and  the  eye  will  sweep  over  a  spectacle  which  is 
equalled  by  nothing  but  old  Niagafa — a  «pectftcl0 


Tbfi  MuU\  U4n.] 


OLD  AND   NEW   BIRMINGHAM. 


475 


at  once  awful,  suUmie,  and  heart-throbbing. 
Then  all  excrescence,  all  incongruity^  littleness, 
and  disappointed  expi^ctation  are  swept  away. 

"  On  that  day  there  were  ten  or  perhaps  twelve 
thousand  people  packed  together.  The  Beats 
being  removed,  left  the  great  floor  clear;  and 
«very  avenue,  aisle,  and  accessible  window  place 
waa  filled  with  bodies  crushed  up  into  the 
smallest  dimensions ;  thousands  of  arms  were 
literally  wedged  to  the  sides  by  the  pressure. 
The  orgnn-loft,  from  which  my  view  is  taken, 
was  occupied  by  the  committees  and  friends^  who 
were  admitted  by  ticket  From  this  station  the 
eye  ran  over  the  whole  plain  and  mountains  of 
bata  and  faces  ;  up  from  which  rose,  on  every 
occasion  of  eircumstuntial  or  verbal  appeal  to 
tboir  approving  senses,  cheers  that  would  have 
made  silent  the  loudest  thunder;  rattling,  and 
rin^ng,  and  reverberating  with  such  passionate 
sublimity,  that  one  actually,  for  a  moment,  felt 
a  dread  tliat  the  roof  and  walls  would  split  under 
tljat  miglity  burst  of  voices ;  while  hats  and 
arms  shook  and  shivered  like  the  crossed  and 
splintering  biUows  of  tlio  sea,  in  a  black  night, 
when  opposite  and  furiously  sharp  blasts  are 
battling  o*er  its  surface.  And,  look  there — I  am 
aupjx>sing  the  reader  has  eyea — imagination  would 
scarcely  have  helped  me  to  the  conception  of 
isuch  a  scene  and  effect,  if  I  had  not  witnessed 
them  tie  facto.  There  were  many  dashings, 
Tushings  of  those  who  were  outside  the  building, 
in  bodies  of  some  hundreds  at  once,  attempting 
to  force  themselves  into  that  solid  mass;  they 
seemed  to  drive  into  the  compact  body  a  huge 
inky  biUow — it  swept  on  as  if  an  oce^in  from 
without  had  made  a  tremendous  send  of  its 
waters  into  the  land-locked  haven,  which  it 
<3exised  to  heave,  and  sway,  and  swell  as  though 
it  would  burst  every  barrier,  and  overwhelm  all 
in  its  course.  Another  i^end — and  another  —and 
then  I  bad  the  similitude  of  a  dark  pine  forest, 
swinging  its  clinging  and  intertwisted  branches, 
Mi  one  instant  with  one  motion,  as  the  rattling 
iieaipest  rolled  over  them,   unfearing  and    un- 


scathing.  I  have  seen  many  strADge  and  stirring 
things  in  my  time,  but  that  is,  perhaps,  one  of 
the  most  extraordinary," 

We  have  already  recorded,  in  the  last  chapter 
of  our  chrDnicle  of  local  events,  the  eteps  taken 
by  the  Town  Commissioners  for  the  provision  of 
a  convenient  Market  Hall  Early  in  this  decade 
the  work  of  erection  was  commenced,  and  in  the 
Gazetie  of  Febnmry  16th,  1835,  we  read  that 
"The  new  Market  Hall  was  thrown  open  to  the 
public  on  Thurstlay  last  (February  12th),  and 
during  the  day  it  was  crowded  with  persons,  a 
considemble  portion  of  wh<jm  wei^  no  doubt 
attracted  by  curiosity.  On  Saturday  it  was  ^ain 
visited  by  great  numbers,  and  in  the  evening  was 
lighted  up  wjtli  gas  for  the  accommodation  of 
buyers  and  sellers." 

The  site  selected  for  this  building  was  that 
portion  of  the  old  town  lying  between  BeU 
Street  and  Philip  Street,  and  extending  from  the 
Bull  Ring  back  into  Worcester  Street  The 
length  of  the  hall  is  three  hundred  and  sixty -live 
feet ;  its  width,  one  hundrtd  and  eight  feet ; 
and  its  height,  sixty  feet.  There  are  two 
p»rincipal  entrances,  facing  into  the  Bull  Ring 
and  Worcester  Street^  the  arches  being  supported 
by  massive  Doric  columns  ;  and  on  either  side  of 
the  building  are  snialler  entrances.  Accommo- 
dation is  provided  for  six  hundred  stalls,  fitted 
up  for  the  sale  of  fruit,  game  and  poultry,  hsb, 
butchers*  meat,  fancy  articles,  live  pets,  poultry, 
etc.  The  total  cost  of  the  building  was  about 
X67,261. 

In  1851  a  liandsome  fountain  of  bronze  was 
erected  in  the  centre  of  the  hail,  adorned  with 
well  designed  figures  representing  the  various 
manufacturer,  groups  of  fish,  fruit,  flowers,  etc* 
It  was  designed  and  executed  by  Messenger  and 
Sons,  and  was  inaugurated  December  24th,  1B51* 

Birmingham,  after  having  taken  so  prominent 
a  position  in  the  great  political  movement  of 
1830-32,  grew  considerably  in  importance  and 
dignity,  and  attracted  many  distinguished  visitorsk 
On  Febniarj  IfelVi,  V^^b  A^^^i'^^^'*^^^  K\^v>a»aSi^'Ci^ 


476 


OLD  AND   NEW   BIKMLNGHAK 


(The81«TOTni«. 


and  suite  Waited  the  town,  and  spent  a  day  or 
two  in  going  the  round  of  the  most  interesting 
manufactories.  In  July  of  the  same  year  Lord 
Brougham  came,  in  onler  to  inspect  the  still 
famous  establishment  at  Soho ;  and  was  the 
guest  of  the  junior  partner  of  the  firm,  James 
Watt,  Esq.,  at  Aston  HalL  On  the  23rd  of 
July,  1838,  His  lioyal  Highness  the  Duke  of 
Cambridge  caUcd  at  Binningham,  staying  for  a 
few  hours  at  Dee's  Hotel.  After  inspecting  the 
celebrated  establishment  of  Mr.  George  Richmond 
Collis,  he  proceeded  to  the  Town  Hall,  where  the 
powers  of  the  great  organ  were  displayed  by 
Mr.  Hollins.  Tlie  Duke  then  returned  to  Dee's 
Hotel  and  shortly  afterwards  continued  his 
journey  to  London.  A  week  later,  July  30th, 
Marshal  Soult,  attended  by  the  Man^uis  of 
Dalmatia,  tlie  Marquis  de  Mornay,  the  Due  de 
Vicenra,  the  Due  de  Bassana,  the  Comte  de 
Praalin,  AL  de  Francqueville  and  others,  arrived 
at  the  same  hotel ;  where  a  guard  of  honour  of 
the  14th  Light  Dragoons  were  stationed,  and 
offered  him  a  salute.  "  The  visitors,"  we  read 
"  were  received  by  the  High  and  Low  BailitTs, 
F.  Lloyd,  Esq.,  and  Mr.  G.  K.  Collin, — visiting 
first  the  splendid  establishment  of  the  latter 
gentleman,  thence  to  Messrs.  Sarjeant's  Gun  and 
Sword  Manufactory,  which  aj)|>eared  t<i  afford  i 
extreme  interest  to  the  wholes  P^rty,  an<l,  as  a 
kindred  subject  to  them,  led  to  many  entjuiries. 
Tlie  Papier  Maclic  Manufactory  of  Messrs. 
Jennens  and  Betteridge ;  the  Britjinnia  Nail 
Works  of  Mr.  T.  M.  Jones;  the  Proof-house; 
and  the  extensive  Button  Manufactory  of  ; 
Messrs.  Hammond,  Turner  and  Sons,  were  sub  I 
sequently  visitetl,  and  each  of  the  processes  led  , 
to  various  expressions  of  astonishment  and  of 
high  gratificiition. 

"His  excellency  was  then  conducted  to  the 
Town  Hall,  which  had  been  j^reviously  and  for 
some  hours  filled  to  an  overflow  by  anxious  but 
orderly  inmates,  who  waited  with  extreme 
interest  the  arrival  of  the  veteran  visitor,  but 
very  judiciously  Mr.    Hollins    entertained    the 


assemblage  with  an  occasional  performance  on 
tlie  organ.  On  the  arrival  of  the  Marshal  in 
the  Town  Hall  he  was  warmly  greeted  by  tho» 
assembled.  Mr.  Hollins  perfornied  some  pieces* 
on  the  organ,  and  after  spending  some  time  in 
this  scene,  the  Marshal  returneil  to  Dee's  Royal 
Hotel,  where  dinner  had  been  provi«ie<l  in  the 
large  room." 

On  the  16th  of  April,  1833,  an  agitation  was 
commenced,  upon  which  all  who  took  part 
therein  may  look  back  with  commendable  pride 
and  satisfaction  ;  an  agitation  which  did  honour 
to  Birmingham,  and  in  which  one  of  our  towns- 
men acquitted  himself  like  a  true  hero,  and 
reflected  credit  and  renown  upon  the  tows 
which  had  produced  a  Joseph  Sturge.  A 
meeting  was  held  on  that  date  at  Dee's  Hotet 
Assembly  Room,  Mr.  John  Simcox,  the  High 
Bailiff,  presiding;  the  object  was  to  support  a 
petition  for  the  "immediate  and  complete''' 
abolition  of  the  iniquitous  Slave  Trade.  But  as 
in  the  case  of  other  reforms,  there  were  "  vested 
interests "  in  the  way,  and  the  friends  of  liberty 
were  not  peimitted  to  have  matters  all  their 
own  way  at  the  meeting ;  an  opposition,  headed 
by  Mr.  G.  F.  ^luntz  and  other  members  of  the 
Political  Union,  raised  the  cry  of  "8}X)liation 
of  i>roperty  ! "  The  result  was  a  scene  of  dis- 
order, the  room  being  densely  crowded,  and 
the  ])artie3  pretty  equally  divided.  On  behalf 
of  the  opj>osition  Mr.  G.  F.  Mnntz  moved,  "that 
anxious  as  we  are  for  the  e^rly  ])ut  gradunl  aboU- 
tion  of  Negro  Slavery,  we  cannot  admit  that,  in 
the  peculiar  crisis  of  the  country,  it  is  a  subject 
which  calls  for  the  attention  of  His  Majesty's 
(lovcrnuient,  in  preference  to  the  measures  neces- 
sary to  be  carried  into  eCFect  for  promoting  the 
commercial  and  manufacturing  interests  of  the 
country,  nor  can  we  sanction  any  pro]>osition  for 
the  abolition  of  Negro  Slavery,  unaccompanied 
by  an  ofi*er  of  granting  to  the  owners  of  West 
India  Estates  such  compensation  as  Parliament 
may  think  proper."  A  resident  in  the  West 
Indies, — the    liev.    P.    Duncan — detailed  .  many 


Jow-pbSttir^isiiml  the  SUve  Trade.  1       OLD    AND    NEW     ISIKMINOHAM, 


477 


incidents  illiistmtive  of  the  horrors  of  the  Slave 
Trade,  and  sapi^^M>rted  the  petition,  and  at  the  con- 
clusion of  Lis  Bpcech,  owinK  to  the  continued  in- 
tennption  tho  High  Bailiff  was  compelled  to 
dissolve  the  meeting. 

On  the  22iid  of  the  same  month  another 
meeting  was  held,  for  the  same  object,  at  the 
Public  Office  ;  Thomas  Lowp,  KKq.,  in  the  chair. 
On  tills  occasion  the  expresbion  of  opinion  was 
unanimously  in  favour  of  immediate  abolition  of 
the  Slave  Trade;  and  it  was  resolved,  **that 
petitions  to  both  Houses  of  Parliament  for  the 
immediate  Abolition  of  Slavery,  to  bo  entitled 
the  Petition  of  tlm  undcrsif;ned  Magistrates, 
Clergy,  Ministers,  llankers,  Merchants,  Manu- 
facturers, and  ollit'r  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  an<l 
Neighbourhood  of  Birmingham,  be  forthwith 
prepared  and  circulated  for  signature/' 

On  October  17tb,  1S3G.  Joseph  Sturgc  set  out 
on  his  long  contu ill  plated  journey  to  ihe  West 
Indies,  with  the  view  t^f  miiking  personal  iu- 
quiiics  a8  U)  the  state  of  the  Ni'gro  population, 
in  tlie  hofie  of  obtaining  nn  iuuelioration  of  their 
condition.  Pi-evious  to  his  leaving  home,  a 
com  pi  i  men  til  ry  address,  signed  by  the  luading 
inhabitiintd,  of  all  parties,  was  presented  t-*  him. 
The  following  coiinuunication  was  leceived  from 
him  early  in  the  following  year,  ami  published 
in  the  UirmhttjhHm  Journal  of  January  28  : — 

••  Aa  wc  sliftll  not  l>e  able  to  si?rid  our  docuuient  home 
in  a  ittiUblc  state  by  this  packet,  our  frirndj*  will  ht  gkd 
to  know  wlitit  haa  tw-cn  the  general  result  of  our  etifiuiricB 
during  a  resilience  o;  nearly  a  month,  from  persoaal  in- 
vestigfttioii  in  ditferent  parts  of  llie  inlnnd,  and  from 
inrannatioii  tlerived  from  ninnbers  of  th<i  h^gislalure, 
ihagi!»lr»t*'-«,  legal  and  medical  priwrtiti oners.  miniBtc^rs  of 
\\m  ChnrcU  of  Englitiid.  and  of  the  Methodiit  and 
Moravi&u  persuAsiona,  schoolmasters,  merchant's  planters, 
ntturnvjSt  uvi^rsi'ers,  niiinageiii,  and  the  ncgrues  them- 
a»»tvea. 

••  W«  think  we  may  iafely  My,  that  the  great  experi- 
ment of  conferring  nt  once  immcdinte  freedom  on  36,000 
j^JuvfJi,  has,  after  two  years'  trial,  succeeded  beyond  the 
K|i««:t«iioii8  of  those  in  the  colony  who  were  most  favour- 
M«  f4j  the  measure.  The  uuirersat  testimony  lK)th  of 
the  employer  and  negro  is,  that  the  bUte  of  things  is 
immea»sur  Jjly  imiiroved.  It  is  true  that  ill  I  tbe  s^inguine 
hojicM  ofthuht?  arc  not  fully  realised  who  did  not  take  it 
tullidcntly  hi  to  account  that,  in  the  immediate  change 


from  slavery  to  freedom,  the  new  ftate  of  things  wonld 
have  to  contend  with  the  prt-jiidicos  of  tbc  pljinter  on  the 
one  hand  and  of  the  lalKmrer  on  the  other,  against  the 
introdaction  of  those  changes  which  are  needful  to  ensure 
its  complete  succeaa. 

**  The  rernuiutng  evils  (which  do  not  exist  where  the  prin- 
fiples  of  freedom  have  been  nioro  fnlly  understood,  snd 
have  been  more  coutj^ktidy  acteil  n[>oTi  for  a  long  period) 
might,  we  believe,  be  remedied  by  a  ti-mpcratc,  firm  and 
judkiotis  exercise  of  nuthonty  of  the  Goternment  at 
home.  Ojte  of  the  most  pressing  evils  is  the  want  of 
proper  provision  for  the  aged  and  infirm,  es[>ecially  tlioac 
who  have  become  so  ^inee  the  Ist  of  Augnst,  1834,  for 
whom  there  is  no  legal  provision.  We  bo[»e  to  speak  taore 
particularly  npon  the  [irinm[>ftl  points  embraced  in  otir 
enqniry  when  we  have  leisure  to  do  so. 
**12Moutli,  U,  18Se." 

On  ^fay  27tb,  in  the  name  year,  we  read  : — 
Mr.  JoRt'ph  Stnrge  iirrivid  saftdy  at  home,  via  New 
York,  on  Wednesday  lost,  in  ^ood  ln-alth.  He  left  hU 
frif'tids,  Dr.  Lloyd  and  Mr.  Harvey,  in  Jamaica,  quit© 
well,  on  the  7th  ult  It  is  stated  that  Mr.  Stnrge^a 
frknds,  and  the  friends  ©f  emtincifiation^  contemplate 
inviting  him  to  a  puWic  breakfast  on  as  early  a  day  as  can 
be  arranged. 

On  the  6tb  of  Jlitic  a  public  breakfast  wag 
given  U>  this  noble  hearted  philanthropist,  in  the 
Town  Hall,  **  for  the  purpot^e  of  cfm«rrflti dating' 
him  cfti  his  safe  return  from  the  West  Indies,  and 
to  expn^ss  the  high  sense  of  his  imwDaried  and 
phihmtliropie  exertions  in  the  cause  of  negro 
emancipatbn  ;"  when  upwards  of  fivo  hundred 
persons  tisseinbled  I/)  do  liitn  honour. 

We  have  alRwIy  briefly  referred,  iu  the 
Piditical  lli.story  of  this  pcTiod^  \a\  the  di*ath  of 
WilHaiii  IV.  iind  the  acoos,si<>n  fd  Yietoriu.  (hi 
the  26th  of  June,  1837,  tlie  im'w  C^ueen  wiia 
prtH'laiuied  in  Uirniinfjliitrn,  mid  the  event  was 
iTlebrati'd  with  eiithusijisni  by  the  people. 
Twelve  months  later— on  the  28th  of  June,  I83t<, 
the  t/ueen  was  crowned,  jiu<1  oni-e  m<»re  tlio 
j>eop3e  of  Birmini^ham  t«^»«tified  their  loyalty  t<» 
the  youth  fid  sovendgii  in  a  manner  snitalde  t<j  the 
occaKigiL  The  eelebnition  enmnienced  with  divine 
iM?rvdee  at  jdl  the  idiurehe*^  uf  the  Kstaldishment^ 
and  apim>priaU*  srrmt»nK  wei^  pr«^ieh*Hb  Thon 
the  children  of  llie  school  cuniieet4*d  therewith 
were  **  re-aled  with  gfKMl  Euglish  fare ; "  the 
children  of  the  Wt'i*levan  ilethoilisft  8eht>idsi, 
four  thiaiMnnd  in  numl»er,  wdked  in  prucejision  to 


478 


OLD   AND   NEW   BIRMINGHAM. 


(Tlie  Inooiporation  MotvmsL 


an  open  space  at  HoUoway  Head,  and,  after 
hearing  an  address  from  their  ministers,  joined  in 
singing  a  hymn  and  "  God  Save  the  Queen ;  ** 
the  other  Sunday  Schools  also  assembled,  and  all 
were  *  regaled.' 

"  At  one  o'clock,"  says  the  Gazette,  **  the  doors 
of  the  Market  Hall  were  thrown  open,  and  an 
interesting  sight  i)resentcd  itself  of  tab]ial^  most 
judiciously  arranged,  and  abundantly  provided  for 
dining  four  thousand  of  the  industrious  classes, 
of  both  sexes,  who  were  admitted  by  the  tickets 
of  subscribers  to  the  fund  raised  for  the  i)urpose. 
The  fare  consisted  of  roast  beef  and  plum  pudding 
and  a  quart  of  ale  to  each  guest.  The  hall  was 
most  beautifully  decorateil,  and  too  much  com- 
mendation cannot  be  bestowed  on  the  zeal  and 
judgment  manifested  in  the  armngements  made 
by  the  gentlemen  of  the  Committeo.  The  offices 
of  Stewaixls  were  most  effectually  sustained  by 
respectable  inhabitants  of  the  town,  in  the 
proportion  of  one  to  fifty  guests.  A  Band  of 
Musicians  played  before  and  in  the  intervals  of 
the  festive  scene.  At  each  end  of  the  hall  a 
booth  was  erected,  in  which  the  Chairman  and 
Vice-Chairman  wc^re  stationed  ;  that  in  the  direc- 
tion of  Worcester  Street  being  occui)ied  by  the 
High  Bailiff,  supported  l)y  J.  T.  I^awrence  and 
W.  Chance,  Esqrs.  Mr.  Geach,  and  Mr.  Phillips 
the  Chairman  of  tlie  Committee  uf  Management, 
and  several  ladies  were  accommodated  in  this 
booth.  Above  the  High  Bailiff  a  gallery  was 
erected  for  the  recei)tion  of  la«lies,  which  was 
soon  filled,  as  were  the  various  passages  l)otween 
the  tables,  by  spectiitors  of  the  cheering  scene." 

The  day  closed  with  a  ball  at  tlio  Town  Hall, 
dinners  at  several  of  the  hotels  and  inns,  bell- 
ringing,  fireworks,  illiiniinations,  and  other  tokens 
of  joy. 

Although  the  people  of  Birmingham  were  now 
represented  in  Parliament,  and  thus  had  a  share 
in  the  government  of  the  nation,  they  w»re  as  yet 
without  a  suitable  governing  body  in  their  own 
town.  The  old  fonn  of  local  government  by  the 
High  and  I^ow  Bailiff,  Headborough,  and  Consta- 


bles, was  nowy  it  is  true,  supplemented  by  tiie 
Commissioners  appointed  under  the  several  Street 
Acts ;  but  neither  of  these  bodies  were  elected  by 
the  voice  of  the  people.  The  Court  Leet  of  tlie 
Lord  of  the  Manor  was  an  irresponsible  body,  and 
the  CommissioneTB  were  almost  as  far  removed 
from  popular  influence  as  the  Justices  of  the 
Peace.  It  was  not  to  be  supposed,  therefore,  that 
a  large  community  which  had  already  exerted  80> 
powerful  an  influence  upon  the  destinies  of  the 
country  should  ref«t  satisfied  with  an  irresponsible 
local  government ;  and  accordingly  we  find  that, 
before  the  end  of  the  year  1833,  the  initiative 
step  had  been  taken  towards  obtaining  a  municipal 
corporation  for  the  town.  On  the  16th  of 
December  in  that  year  we  read  in  the  Gazette 
that  "two  of  the  commissioners  appointed  by 
Government  to  make  enquiries  as  to  the  suitable 
division  of  towns  into  districts,  and  other  matters 
connected  with  the  granting  of  Charters  of  Incor- 
poration to  the  new  [parliamentary]  Boroughs, 
were  last  week  in  the  town,  pursuing  the  objects 
of  their  appointment."  Among  the  provisions 
recommended  by  these  commissioners  were,  the 
division  of  the  town  into  twelve  districts,  each  of 
which  should  choose  its  own  alderman;  the 
appointment  of  a  stipendiary  magistrate ;  the 
holding  of  a  Quarter  Session  in  Birmingham ;  and 
the  erection  of  a  Borough  Gaol.  But  these 
fair  promises  seem  for  a  time  to  have  been 
forgotten,  and  we  hear  nothing  more  respecting 
the  incorporation  of  the  town  until  June,  1835, 
when  the  Municipal  Corporation  Heform  Bill 
was  introduced.  In  August  the  Bill  was  rejected 
by  the  Lords,  and  on  the  18th,  an  indignation 
meeting  was  held  in  Birmingham,  addressed  by 
Mr.  P.  M.  James,  (High  Bailiff.)  Mr.  T. 
Tyndall,  (Low  Bailiff,)  the  Rev.  T.  M. 
McDonnell,  Thomas  Attwood,  M.P.,  Geoige 
Edmonds,  Wm.  Beale,  and  other  leading  inhabi- 
tants. 

After  expressing  their  "  grief  and  indignation  '^ 
at   "the  arbitrary  interference    of    a  poweifol 


480 


OLD  AND   NEW   BIiailNGHAM. 


(TUr  Iticnrfiidfttlioii  VivibiiI 


majority  in  the  House  of  LoMa  with  the  meiBiire 
of  Corponitt^  I  Inform,  which  especially  interests 
the  people,"  they  resolved  "  that  the  earaeet 
thdnks  of  the  meeting  he  presented  to  that 
glorious  and  patriotic  minority  in  the  House  of 
I^iirds,  who  have  nobly  vindicated  those  f*rmciple8 
which  they  have  professed,  and  now  stand  as 
inflexibly  by  the  cause  of  the  people  as  they  did 
in  the  memcuable  passing  of  the  Eefomi  Bill  ; " 
and  finally,  **  that  a  memorial  be  adopted,  and 
that  it  l>c  presented  to  Lord  Melbourne  by  the 
^f embers  for  the  Borough."  But  once  more  the 
ncce.H&ary  reform  was  delayed,  until,  on  the  30th 
of  October,  1837,  a  meeting  was  held  in  the 
Town  HalJ,  and  a  petition  was  adopted,  praying 
the  Queen  in  Council  to  gnint  a  Charter  of  Incor- 
poration for  the  borough.  The  matter  was  taken 
lip  this  trnic  in  a  party  spiritjaud  a  strong  opposi- 
tion was  organized  by  the  Conservatives,  who 
held  a  meeting  at  Dee's  Hotel  on  the  3rd  of 
January,  1B38,  and  passed  reaolutions  in  favour 
of  remaining  **  aa  they  were  ;  "  being  of  opinion 
"  that  a  Charter  of  Incorporation  would  be  highly 
detrinienUd  to  the  interests  and  prosperity  of  the 
borough  of  Birmingham/*  On  thelSlhof  July 
the  acljourned  question  as  to  the  Incorporation 
of  the  borough  came  before  the  Privy  Council, 
and  memorials  were  pnt  in  both  by  the  advocates 
and  the  opponents  of  Incorporation ;  depmtations 
were  also  received  from  both  parties  by  the 
President  of  the  Council,  and  every  effort  was 
put  forth  on  both  sides  to  influence  the  decision 
of  their  Lordships.  But  all  opposition  happily 
proved  useless ;  the  Privy  Council  agreed  to  tlie 
grant  of  Incorporation,  and  on  the  5th  of 
November  the  nvvf  Charter  was  publicly  read  in 
the  Town  Hail*  It  was  addressed  by  the  Cotmcil 
to  the  ex-High  Bailiff,  Ur.  William  Scholefield, 
and  empowered  him  to  make  out  the  first  brngess 
list,  and  to  act  as  Iteturning  Officer  at  the  fii*et 
election  of  Town  Councillors.  The  district  incor- 
porated included  the  town  and  manor  of  Bir- 
mingham, the  parish  of  Edgbaston,  the  hamlets  of 
Beritend  and   Bordesley,    and    Diiddeston   and 


Nechells ;  ami   was  dividixi  into   thlr* 

The  corporation   was  to   c^neist  of  a 

teen   Aldermen,  und  forty-«igbt  CoaociUore ;  j 

the  first  election  of  Councillors  wnB  fixed  to  tm* 

place  on  the  26th   tif   December,  IS38,  attd  fil 

Aldermen  and  Mayor  on  the  27th  of  the  m3» 

month. 

The  elections  took  pdace  as  appointwi,  Ml 
William  Scholcfield  being  unanimously  tleeVid 
the  first  Mayor;  Mr*  WiJliara  Ke^Ifem  wu  &p- 
pointed  Town  Clerk,  and  Mr.  R  K.  Douglas  ww 
unanimously  electrid  to  the  office  td  liegistfir  i 
the  Mayor's  Court 

On  the  Till  of  May,  1839,  the  Mayor  ann 
that  the  petition  of  the  Council    for  a  sep 
Court   of   Quarter   Sosj^ions,   had    been   gnuit«!i_ 
Matthew  DavenpH:rrt  HiU,  E^cp,  was  appointed  I 
the  crown  to  the  office  of  Reconler ;  9Ui\  at ) 
next  meeting  of  tlte  Council,  Mr.  Oeoi^ge  Ktl 
was  unaaimoualy  elected  Clerk  of  the  Peace,  i 
Dr.  Birt  Da  vies  to  thf'  office  of  Corcaicr*     On  I 
7  th  of  April,   1840,   Mr.   Red  fern    rt^igned 
office  of  Town  Clerk,  and  Mr.  Solonian  Bray  w» 
electetl  in  his  stead,     A  complete  list  of  May 
from  1838  to  the  present  time,  will  be  printed] 
the  appendix  to  the  preaent  volume^ 

A  few  worthy  townsmen  of  the  period  w»  i 
leaving  behind  us»  passed  away  during  this  ( 
First  among  them,  in  point  of  time,  wiia  Ja 
Arraitage,  a  cliemist,  who  for  nearly  twenty-«cf 
years  acted  aa  Treaaiu^r  to  the  BlmiiDgham 
Library.     In  the  pursuit  of  his   favourite  ittid^ 
the  science  of  Botany,  he  rendered  valuable 
tance  to  the  Botanical  and  Horticultural 
of  Binningham,  and  kis  ext-t'neive  corr< 
with  several  of  th»'  tnoet  eminent  botair 
day,  obtained  for  the  Society  considomble  adta: 
age^.     lie  dieil  at  his  residence  in  the  Aston 
in  May»  1 833,  in  the  7oth  year  of  his  age. 

On   the  28th   of  December,  1836,  Dr.    Ju 
Johnstone,  who  had  practised  as  a  physician  in  I 
mingham  for  upwards  of  forty  years,  ]  m       ' 
from  our  midst,  to  the  great  grief  of  man 
been  indebted  to  him  for  renewinl  Jife  and 


I 


The  confidentiit!  friiiml  mi>l  Ijiijgrnpher  nf  Ih. 
Parr,"  says  the  Qijzettc^  '*  waa  kiuiBeli  a  scholar  uf 
no  onlinary  acijuireraonts,  and  his  biographical 
memoirs  of  that  celebrated  man,  dis^play  sound 
.judgment,  retioed  taato,  and  classical  learning/' 

Our  old  friend  Jaman  Dobbs,  the  comedian,  of 
whom  we  have  previously  made  mention  on  several 
occa;9ion.^,  died,  after  an  illness  of  fourteen  days, 
At  his  brother's  house  in  Xewton  iStreet,  November 
Idt,  ld37,  at  the  age  of  56  ;  and  on  the  12th  of 
the  same  month  died  an  old  Birmingham  worthy, 
M..  Tliomas  Blakemore,  at  the  patriarclial  age  of 
105,  He  had  formerly  kept  tbe  old  Bml-in-Havd 
public  house,  in  Dale  End,  where  he  took  in  the 
Gazeiie  in  the  days  of  ite  original  proprietor^ 
Thomas  Aris,  who  died  in  1761,  seventy-six  years 
before  his  subscriber ! 

In  1839,  tbe  Gaz^M*^  had  to  mourn  tbe  loas  of 
ics  editor,  Mr.  Thomas  Knott,  who  had  held  that 
Ikonourable  position  for  a  quarter  of  a  century, 
being  at  the  same  time  one  of  the  proprietors  of 
that  journal  He  bad  taken  the  otmost  interest 
in  everything  which  concerned  the  welfare  of  the 

wn, —  the  General  Hospital,  King  Edward's 
School,  the  Public  Library,  the  Botanical  Gar- 
dema,  the  Society  of  Arts,  and  the  Church 
Building  Society,  all  benefited  by  his  judicious 
oounael  and  effective  support.  Ho  died  at  his 
reeidence,  ('amp  Hill,  on  the  9th  of  duly,  1839, 
at  the  comparatively  early  age  of  forty  uiue. 

In  August  18^9  the  nintli  Annual  Meeting  of 
the  British  Association  for  tbe  Advancement  of 
Science  was  held  in  Birmingham.  The  biaugural 
Addresa  was  delivered  in  the  Town  HaU,  August 
29th,  by  the  Rev.  W.  Vernon  Harcoun  ;  and 
Keporta  of  iCesearches  in  the  various  Sciences 
were  read  by  the  Kev,  liaden  Powell,  Sir  David 
Brewster,  Richard  Owen,  Edwaid  Forbea,  and 
other  eminent  scientific  writei-s,  upwards  of 
fourteen  hundred  members  of  the  Association 
attending  the  meetings  of  the  various  sections. 
During  the  vbit  of  the  Associatiun  a  happy  idea 
waa  carried  into  execution  by  the  people  of 
3inP>PghAm^    of    fthowjng    their    distinguished 


visitors  what  our  artisan^t  and  mechanics  were 
capable  of  accomplishing  in  the  various  arts  and 
manufactures,  by  means  of  an  Industrial  Exhibi- 
tion—the first  of  the  kind  ever  attempted,  and 
the  forerunner  of  thoae  great  international  shows 
which  have  since  been  held  in  almost  every  capital 
throughout  the  civilized  world.  The  objects  of 
this  exldbition  were  : — 

Ist.  To  prcsctit,  in  one  vi«w,  the  various  stages  through 
which  tbe  principal  articlea  munufacturpd  in  this  district 
have  to  pass,  commencmg  with  tlie  raw  material. 

2iid.  To  make  known  tbe  value  of  any  recent  improve- 
ments in  the  arts  and  manufactures, 

3rd.  To  collect  togfltUcr  any  curious spteimcn  occumog 
in  practice^  whether  in  mechanics  or  chemistry,  whit-h 
may  lead  to  the  suggestion  of  further  iniprovements  in 
the  application  of  science  to  practical  puqmses, 

lii  some  one  of  these  objects  we  presume  that  most 
manufacturers  must  fee!  an  Individual  interest,  and  will 
therefore  contribute  as  far  as  they  cun  to  tbe  success  of 
the  exhibition. 

This  little  exbibiticm  was  held  iu  tiie  priucipal 
rooms  of  the  Free  Grammar  School,  and  subee- 
quently,  in  consequence  of  the  great  success  which 
attended  it,  at  the  Shakspeare  Rooms,  where  it 
waa  visited  by  a  large  number  of  the  inhabitants. 
Several  of  the  pupils  of  the  Mechanics'  Institute* 
were  deputetl  to  explain  the  various  objects  of 
interest  to  the  visitors,  and  probably  from  their 
connection  in  this  manner  with  the  undertaking, 
the  members  of  the  Institute  resolved  themselves 
to  hold  a  similar  exhibition  of  objects  illustrative 
of  the  fine  arts,  experimental  phOosopliy,  manu- 
factures, etc.,  whicli  %vas  opened  on  the  17th  of 
December  in  the  same  year,  and  proved  equally 
suGce8i>ful.  Another  exhibition  was  organised  by 
the  Mechanics'  Institute  in  the  following  year, 
but  did  not  meet  with  success,  and  consequently 
involved  the  society  in  financial  difficulties  which 
ultimately  proved  its  ruin. 

In  1840,  we  find  our  townsmen  again  testi- 
fying their  loyalty  to  tbe  young  Queen,  on  tbe 
occasion  of  her  marriage,  which  took  place  on  the 
10  th  of  February,  in  that  year.     From  some  cause 

•  It  WAH  wbtie  in  thi*  ei.bn>itjnii  thut  Mr.  Danfd  Wright, 
fortn^Tlir  tD4Ut«r  of  Uiu  Protestant  fU*»enUug  8ch«i»I,  amJ  tii  Uml 
tliuc  rontlucior  of  tho  claa«?»  In  t\w  Mwhaftic*'  IfisUtute^  wst 
wlUi  a  lit  of  «po|>k*T»  w»tl  tiicU  on  tbe  iitoL 


it  appears  that  no  oiganiscd  plan  was  adopted 
for  the  celebration  of  the  auepicioos  event;  but 
the  eponlaneouB  loyalty  of  the  people  expressed 
itself  in  spite  of  indifference  on  the  part  of  the 
authorities,  and  the  day  was  celebrated  with  all 
the  uiual  tokens  of  joy.  In  the  June  following 
the  inhabitants  of  Birmingham  joined  with  ail 
classes  of  the  Queen's  loyal  subjects  throughout 


the  kingdom  in  tbanksgiyings  and  congntols- 
tions  for  the  happy  escape  of  Her  Majietfty  aad 
the  Prince  Consort  from  the  hand  of  the  would- 
be  assassin,  Oxford. 

And  with  these  gratifying  tokens  of  the  co^ 
tinued  luyaJty  of  the  people  of  Birmir^ham,  m 
close  another  decade  of  the  public  life  of  our 
town. 


CHAPTER    LXVIIL 

AMUSEMENTS     OF     TUE     PEOPLE r 
iMcludin^  tlu  HUi4fr}f  of  the  Tfuatrt  E^yat,  /ram  liiSl  to  IS40. 


pstnl  la  Blniiiii,gbAni— SUerldAii  Kuowlw^-^JbArles  MAttbewv— Th«  Tonng  4iDeNcdti  Ro«eiu»— Altaretioo  ot  Phaei'-Ta( 
IHii|j|JOltttinent^"IiTe^ulAr"  PtrfornuuQcea— NewMdtva^cmeut'— Chiirltts  BMce  Pfemberton— Mr  Anuivieail's  Fyluce— A 1 
BiSl    Thi  Lad^  of  hyQ%i—¥\T%i  ClirUtmAf  PiuktotuJuie-  LiK*iurcii-^OU)<r  Aitiuj»euient«, 


At  a  time  when  the  popular  mind  was  exercised 
to  the  utmost  in  pohtical  strife,  those  institutions 
which  exist  to  provide  amusement  and  recreation 
were  not  in  the  most  flourishing  condition  ;  and 
consequently  the  history  of  the  Tlicatni  and 
kindred  institutions  has  but  little  to  record  during 
the  first  two  years  of  this  decade,  occupied,  as 
they  were,  wilJi  the  great  agitation  chronicled  in 
a  foregoing  chapter.  Only  two  events  need  be 
recorded  previous  to  the  year  1833,  viz.,  the 
appearaDCO  of  the  world-famous  Paganini,  in 
February,  1832,  and  the  performance  of  Sheridan 
Knowles's  iine  play,  The  Hunchback,  in  which 
the  author  sustained  the  character  of  Master 
Walter.  Both  these  artibtes  again  appeared  in 
the  eeasju  of  1833,  the  latter,  with  Miss  Ellen 
Tree,  playing  in  TJie  Wife  and  other  of  his 
dramatic  works.  This  seaeon  opened  with  Mr* 
Macreaily  s  appearance  in  Virglnius;  and  during  tli© 
year  Mr.  and  ^fie.  Wood,  apijcared  in  the  Opera 
of  The  Barber  vf  Seollle.  Mr.  Charles  Matthews 
presented,  **  at  home  '* — at  his  Birmingham  home, 
the  Theatre  Boyal, — **  the  fourth  volume  of  his 


Comic  Annual/'  The  *'  Amencan  Young  Rcttdu 
Mr.  Mangeon  appeared,  with  Misj  Inreninlj 
and,  on  the  21st  of  October,  Paganini  gave 
farewell  performance,  **  previous  to  his  tn 
departurf!  for  the  Continaat,"  An  entertitiumd 
entitled  *^  Dramatic  Recollections  "  was  also  givfli 
in  November  of  the  same  year,  at  Dee's  Roy 
Hotel,  by  ^liss  Kelly. 

The  theatre  was  opened  for  the  season 
1834,  under  new  management,  Messrs.  Fitigibbaii 
and  Wight  man  biving  succeeded  ^Ir.  Watwo, 
as  lessees,  A  change  was  timih  in  the  prices  by 
the  new  managets  j  there  had  hitherto  been  only 
one  price  for  boxes,— fc^iir  shillings — but  these 
were  now  divided  into  up|>er  and  lower,  and  tk» 
former  reduced  to  three  shillings,  the  pit  beti^ 
also  reducetl  from  half  a-erown  to  two  6hdlii]tg& 
Mr.  Charles  Kean  appeared  during  the  Ppemag 
week  of  the  season,  iu  the  round  of  chaznelcn 
formerly  sustained  by  his  father;  and  he  lOi 
succeeded  by  Mr,  Balls  and  Miss  EUim  Tree,  whD 
appeared  in  the  ScJwol  for  Scandid.  For  tlis 
first  week  in  August,  *'  tbe   two  (irst  danfittB  m 


464 


OLD   AND   NEW   BIRMINGIIAM. 


[T»i«  Tb«mtrr  Rojr«l.  1«M 


The  "irregular*'  eeasoTi,  which  intervened 
between  the  autumn  of  1834,  ami  the  spring  of 
1S35,  was  marked  by  the  appearance  of  Mr. 
West's  Equestriaii  Troupe  at  the  Theatre  Hoyal, 
recoriled  in  the  following  extract  from  the 
Gnzetie: — 

Februjuy  Id,  1835. —The  splendid  DramAtic  3p6cUcle 
of  Mazeppa  attracted  nuTnerous  and  rtapectabk  audiencea 
to  the  Theatre  during  the  past  week»  and  the  flattering 
rect^ption  it  has  met  with  on  ««cU  aucceaaiYe  night  mitat 
be  highly  gratifying  to  the  Manager,  to  whom  much  credit 
is  due  for  the  admirable  tuannf>r  in  which  the  entire  piece 
is  got  up.  Mr.  We8t*8  fine  Ei|uu«tnan  Troop  are  »een  to 
great  advantage  in  the  Tuuniament^  in  which  there  is 
introduced  a  comhinatioji  of  gorgeous  scenery  and  dresses^ 
investiag  the  ]vti^eRnt  with  a  vivid  and  dazzling  app-ear- 
an<"<?,  and  rendering  the  scenie  display  pecnliarly  effective. 
It  will  be  flten  thnt  Mazeppa»  together  with  the  novel 
entertJiiniiRiul  of  "  Eaphiiel'a  Dream,'*  la  auuounoed  for 
rtpetitiou  thia  evening. 

The  history  of  the  Beason  of  1835  ia  full  of 
the  names  of  artisteg  whose  performances  have 
canned  tdd-fashionetl  playgoers  to  reganl  the 
days  of  their  youth  as  the  golden  age  of  tha 
drama — Macready  and  Charles  Kean,  Chariea 
Kt^iJil>Itj  and  T.  P.  Cookej  Madame  Vestris  and 
Mrs.  Stirling,  and  others  equally  well-known. 
At  the  beginning  of  th«  following  season 
the  nmnagement  i>assed  into  the  handi*  of 
Mr.  Arraistead;  and  eady  in  April  **  a  splendid 
Oriental  Sjx^ctacle/'  called  Stvhtl  and  Ktdaarade, 
or  tht^  \Vifte}\^  of  OhUcIrm^  (taken  from  the 
beautiful  Ttdm  of  ike  Genii),  was  prod u cod ^ 
which,  we  are  told,  *'  drew  crowded  autUences 
at  Liverpool  for  two  hundred  nights,"  The 
Wauderiiyj  Miff^ftd  was  also  played  during  the 
aame  montli,  f^r  Ihv.  first  time  in  Blmiinghani, 
with  Jlr.  Wri^dit  as  Jam  Bag8.  Later  on  in  the 
season,  Ijirmingliani  plaj^goers  bad  the  rare  treat 
of  witnesksing  the  purfonnance  of  their  brilliant 
townsman,  Charles  Keece  Pemberton,  hi  his  most 
colelirated  parts,  Bliylock  and  Macbeth,  in  aid  of 
the  building  fnnd  of  the  Mechanics'  Lnstituto. 

Tlie  most  notewortby  event  in  the  season  tA 
18.17  was  the  en<jfa;j;enicnt  for  three  nights  of 
one  of  the  most  remarkable  comb i nations  of 
theatrical   **  stars*'  which   have  ever  gmced  the 


l>oards    of    a    Birmingham    theatre,   com|iTtsi 

Mr.   and   Mrs.   Yates,   Mrs.    Honey,    Mn*.  Filj- 

Avilliani,  Mr.  O.  B.   Smith,  Mr,  Buckatone,  aod 

Mr.    John   Reeve,   who  appeared   on    the   13tli». 

14th,   and     15th    of     July.     Previous   to   thw 

engagement,  Mr.  Templeton,  a  famotis  tenor  m 

those  days,  appeared  with    Misa   Sherriflf  in  a 

serie-s  of  operas;  and,  later   on    in    the   aeaaon, 

Mr.  Vandonhoffi  Madame  Vestrih,and  Mr.  Chorlw 

Matthews  again   appeared    before    Birmingham 

playgoers.      Still,    notwithstanding     the   ample 

provision  made  by  the  mnnager  for  tlie  delecta 

tion  of  his  patrons,  the  theatre  did  not  pay,  and 

Mr.   Armistead  adde^l  one  more  to  the  already 

long  list  of  managera  who  had  faile4  to  make  the 

Birmingham  Theatre  Iloyal  a  financial  suecflB. 

The  following  pamgraph  from  the  Gazette  roooids 

Mr.  Armistead's  failure  :■ — 

Aagnst  28,  1837— la  con.sequence  of  non-fulfilin«nt  of' 
the  tenna  of  the  lease,  and  of  non-payment  of  the  nuit 
by  the  manager,  the  Tniatees  of  the  Theatre,  on  the  part 
of  the  Proprietors,  took  jma^^es^ion  of  the  premiaea  last 
week.  Thia  act  was  j*e*isted  oi»  behalf  of  Mr  Araiittead, 
and  five  persons  were  taken  into  castotly  while  attempting 
to  regain  possession  dnring  tha  night  of  Sunday.  Th^ 
parties  were  charged  with  forcibly  entertag  the  theativ, 
and  the  circiini stances  were  invp»tigated  at  the  Pntihc 
Office  on  the  following  morning.  The  sitting  magiatTata, 
Mr.  Lloyd,  decided  that  the  proprietors  had  obtainad 
legal  possession ;  and  on  the  underatandiug  that  tb* 
manager  would  consent  to  gire  u{»  all  further  claim*  the 
defendanta,  upon  entering  into  their  own  rftcogntyipoat, 
ware  ordered  to  be  disch«rg«*d.  At  the  close  of 
the  pTtjceedings,  appli cation  was  made  to  Mr.  Barker, 
the  Solicitor  to  the  Proprirtori,  for  the  use  of  the 
Theatre  for  a  performance  in  aid  of  '*  the  distressed 
workmen,"  on  the  evening  of  Friday,  Tb«  re^neit 
was  snbsequeutly  granted,  and  the  [terfomtanc^  took 
place.  The  house  was  ]ii-etty  well  fiUtMl ;  and 
a  correspondent  writes  us,  tliat  by  way  of  acknow- 
ledgment    '*  three   grotLns  were  given   for  the  torie&*' 

Tliis  was  the  year  of  the  Musical  Festival, 
and  as  the  theatre  offered  a  chance  of  remunera- 
tion to  anyone  who  cared  to  risk  the  nudertaking, 
a  short  season  wfis  commenced  under  the  manage- 
ment of  IMn  Clarke,  and  during  the  autumn 
many  of  the  old  favourites  appeiired,  including 
Madame  Vestris  and  Mr,  Charles  Mattbt^ira^ 
Mr.  Phillips,  Mr.  Charles  K45an,  and  otiiers. 

On  the  4th  of  Match,  183d,  an  amateur  pu^ 


i 


4 


Tb«  TUtlrc  R<>7a].  189)-l^40.1 


OLD   AND   NEW   BIRMINGHAM. 


485 


formance  was  given  at  the  theatre  by  Mr. 
Joseph  Smith  (at  that  time  an  amateur  actor 
of  some  DOte),  assisted  by  Mr,  J.  C.  Onions  and 
the  wtsU'known  **  Xed  Farmer,"  in  aid  of  the 
saflering  poor.  Early  in  April  the  Theatre  wa« 
re-opened  by  Mr.  Miinroe,  with  Mr.  M.  H. 
Simpson  as  stage^manager,  the  first  piece  being 
an  adaptation  of  the  immortal  Fickwirk  Papers , 
with  which  **Bok"  had  conviUsed  the  whole 
reading  world  only  two  years  before,  llie  piece 
was  entitled  **  Bam  Weller ;  or,  The  Pick- 
wickiana,"  and  the  title  rule  was  sustained  by  iln 
HalL 

One  of  the  first  measures  taken  by  the  new 
numagement  to  ensure  popularity  was  a  further 
reduction  in  the  prices  of  admission — the  boxes 
being  lowered  to  3a*  and  28.,  the  pit  Is.,  and  the 
gallery  6d.  One  of  the  curiosities  of  this  season's 
engagements  was  the  once  famous  **  Gnome  Fly/* 
Hervio  H.  Nano,  who  visited  the  town  in  June, 
and  again  in  September ;  and,  during  hie  second 
engngement,  was  the  cause  of  a  disgraceful 
theatrical  riot — happily  almost  the  only  one  in 
connection  with  the  Birmingham  stage.  It  is 
thus  record etl  in  the  Gazette  : — 

October  8,  1S38.— A  diagracpful  riot  took  place  at  the 
Theatre  tii  this  town,  on  Monday  iiight  last.  It  appears 
tliAt  A  dispute  hftd  arisea  between  the  Mnnager  and 
-  Biguor  Hervio  Nauo,  with  reference  to  a  pecuniaiy 
demand  of  the  latter  in  a  settlement  which  took  place 
OD  Saturday,  Hervio  Nano  »t  the  time  when  his 
presence  was  required  for  his  part  on  the  stage,  was 
seated  in  ooe  of  th«  boxes  of  the  Theatre,  and  on  being 
appltwi  to,  in  an  andtblc  vuice  re  rased  to  take  bis  part 
aniess  a  settlement  was  made  to  his  satisfaction.  The 
Stage  Manager  explained  that  there  was  no  claim  existing 
«n  the  part  of  the  complainant,  as  a  full  settlement  had 
b«en  made  with  Mr  Yates,  of  the  Adelphi,  to  whose 
company  the  Sign  or  was  attached.  An  at  tt' nipt  was 
made  to  remove  Nano  forcibly  frum  the  box,  and  in  the 
acudle  the  latter  passed  over  into  the  pit  and  on  to  the 
stage,  and  in  the  course  of  the  Jstniggle  was  aided  by 
■ome  of  the  atidienca.  From  the  stage  he  proceeded 
again  to  the  boxes.  After  another  attempt  on  the  j>aft 
of  the  Manager  to  proceed  with  a  different  piece,  Signor 
Nano  addressed  the  audience,  and  being  so  advised, 
proceeded  to  the  greeo-rofini,  soon  after  which  a  iciiffle 
waa  heard  on  the  sto^.  and  Nano,  having  raised  the 
curtalnf  was  teen  stnigglitig  with  several  f arsons ,     A 


rush  was  made  by  some  of  the  aurlience  from  the  pit  nnd 
bojtcs,  but  to  no  avnil*  as  the  subji'Ct  of  ?»yinpiithy  did 
not  re-appear.  Hereupon  tlie  occiipjintii  of  the  gallery, 
hrtving  given  notice  of  their  intention  to  those  assembled 
in  the  pit  to  clear  away,  began  to  tear  up  the  benches  of 
the  gidlery,  and  to  throw  them  into  the  pit,  breaking 
the  chandeliers  and  whatever  came  in  the  way  of  the 
missiles,  the  havoc  and  confusion  continuing  until  the 
lights  were  extinguished. 

r*uring  this  reason  was  presented,  for  the  first 
time  before  a  Biriaingham  audience,  the  ever- 
popular  Li(dy  of  Lyoiis^  the  part  of  **  Claude ! 
Melnotte"  being  sustained  by  Mr.  Balls.  The 
music-loving  portion  of  the  audience  at  the 
theatre  was  not  forgotten  by  the  enterprising' 
managers  ;  in  October  Mn  Braham  appeared  for 
two  nights,  and  ^fr.  Temple  ton  followed,  in  the 
ensuing  week,  in  the  opera  of  La  SontuimbHla, 
On  the  9th  of  November,  on  the  occasion  of  hia 
benefit,  Mn  Thompson  delighted  the  audience 
by  **  introducing  the  Statue  of  Xebon,  a  copy 
from  the  one  in  the  Bull  Rin^%  hut  in  white, 
to  resemble  marble,"  which,  we  are  told,  **  was 
a  beautiful  facsimile,  and  drew  forth  contiBUed 
applause  from  all  parts  of  the  hotise."  On 
December  7th,  Mr.  Munroe  appeared  for  the 
first  time,  in  the  paii  of  **  FalstafF,*'  in  King 
Henry  the  Fourih,  for  the  benefit  of  his  stage 
manaj^er,  Mr.  Simpson. 

The  Bea£on  of  1839  presents  but  hw  matters 

calling  for  .^^pecial  notice ;    mention   shotdd   be 

made,   however,  of  the  production,  for  the  first 

time  in  Dirminghara,  of  *'  nn  entirely  new  drama, 

written  and  arranged  from  the  celehmted  work  of 

*  Boz,'  and  prepared  for  dramatic  representalion 

by   Edward    Stirling,     Efi<|.,   entitled    Ntrholas 

IS^ickkbt/"     This  waa  presented  on  the  5th  of  j 

March ;    and   for   the    following    evening    waa 

announced  : 

A  Burletta,  to  conclude  with  Gustaviia^  or  the  uaiskcd 
Brdi,  in  the  last  scene  of  which  will  Ijo  given  a  Grtiiid 
Masquerade.  Parties  taking  Lower  Box  tu'ketj  aro 
entitled  to  (idmissioTi  to  the  Stage  or  Lobhy  floors. 
Miy!k<4,  Dresses,  or  Dominoes  to  bo  h»d»  on  s[»plicAtioa 
to  Mr.  Simpson,  or  Mr,  Watlda,  at  the  Box  Oflfice* 

Tljis  ingenious  device  of  combining  a  theatrical 
performance  with  a  masked  ball,  (the  play  being 


4eG 


OLD   AKD   KEW   BIBMINOHAM. 


iortiMiV44» 


evidently  written  to  intioduce  the  ball),  reminds 
us  of  the  "  little  piece  "  which  Douglas  Jerrold 
•*wrot«  lap  to  *'  an  old  Admiral's  coat»  in  the  early 
days  of  Ms  ctireer  as  **  stock  author  "  to  a  metro- 
politan theatre ;  and  it  is  not  surprising  to  6nd  so 
questionable  a  device  for  drawing  a  good  house 
followed  by  the  invasion  of  the  boards  by  a  circus 
company  I  that  of  the  famous  Ducrow.  At  the 
commencement  of  the  regular  seaaoD,  however, 
more  intellectual  fare  was  provided*  IVr^miW, 
Uamht^  (in  winch  Mr,  Cowle  made  his  fiiat 
appearance  on  the  lo(^  stage,)  and  the  Schfjol 
for  Smndai,  (with  Charles  Matthttws  as  Charles 
Surface,  and  liladrtme  Vestris  as  Lady  Teazle,) 
occupied  the  place  which  had  been  usurped  by 
dap-trap  pieces,  Ducrow'a  horses,  and  Van 
Amburgh's  wild  beasts.  On  the  23rd  of  July, 
Taglioni  api>eared,  for  one  night  only  ;  and  she 
WAS  followed  by  a  troupe  of  *'  Bedouin  Arab 
Vaulters/'  On  this  occasion,  we  read,  the  stage 
i-epresented  '*the  j^rtnt  Desert  of  Sahara!  with 
Tableaux  VivaJis  of  the  evolutions,  daiicea  and 
exercises  peculiar  to  tlie  Bedcvi,  or  sons  of  tlve 
Desert,  which  will  be  given  in  the  representation 
of  an  Arabian  Festival,  by  the  native  Bedouius^'* 

Tho  Autumu  season  opened  with  tlie  "Grand 
Roinaiitic  Operatic  Spectacle  of  Blue  Beard," 
iu  which,  by  arrangement  with  the  proprietor  of 
the  Zookigical  Gardens,  Liverpool,  '*  a  dnpmdoiis 
thphuftt'*  was  introduced.  After  tliis  iuterregnum 
of  speclacle  and  realism ^  Mrs.  Honey  cumnienced 
a  five  nights'  engagement  iu  £/«*» /af/*v/^;  and 
in  November  ^Ir.  Buckstoue  apjiearcil  in  his  new 
comedy,  Singh  Life,  performed  for  tht^  tiist  time 
in  Biiniiugham,  on  the  8th  of  that  montli. 

The  list  of  engagements  for  the  season  of 
18rj  was  a  very  brilliant  one,  including  thi* 
names  of  Mr.  Tern  pie  ton,  yir.  Buck  stone,  Mn 
Yates,  Paul  Bedford,  Mr.  Jiraham,  Mrs,  Honey, 
Miss  Ellen  Tree,  Mr,  and  Miu  Wood,  and  other 
eminent  artistes.  Among  the  attractions  provided 
for  less  critical  tastt^s  were  I)ucrow*tj  famous  stu<l  i 
of  hoi»©a,  Van  Amburgh's  liona  and  tigei's,  ami  a 
gi-auA  Christmas  Pantomime,  (the  fii^t  of  a  long  I 


seHod  of  successes  during  the  Meaars.  Sunpson't 
management)  entitled  *'  Harlequin  and  the  Knigitt 
of  the  Silver  Shield;  or  the  Goblin  NtU,* 
**  written  and  produced  by  Mr.  De  Hayes,  tuifler 
the  immediate  direction  of  Mr.  Simpson;**  an4 
with  this  *^  Christmas  Annual,"  the  theatiicil 
hijstory  of  the  decade  under  notice  oomea  to  a 

Cl080. 

The  other  amusement «  of  thU  period  exbiUt 
a  gradrnd  improvement  in  the  mannera  and  tsildi 
of  the  people.     We  have  not  to  chronide  any  rf 
the  brutal  and  demoralising  sports,  which  havt 
of    necessity    found  a   place    in    all    pianfif 
choptet^  of  our  history  of  the  amusements  of  tht 
people  ;  but  in  their  place  we  have  the  p]««sti|i 
of  recordit^g  a  meeting  of  **  gentlemen  friendly 
to  the  project  of   providing  ground     'for    iht 
encouragement  of    cricket,     racket,     and    othsr 
games,' "  which   was   held   at  the  Public  Office^ 
June   10th,    1^34,  the   High   BaiJitf   presiding 
It  was  proposed  to  rent  a  piece  of  *       "     ^  ^  >^l 
six  acres  in  extent,  in    the     neigh ti,.,„.j   of 
Holloway  Head,  which  hatl  been  oifer^  hy  tint 
proprietor  for  that  purpose,  at  a  rtmtal  of  jEW 
per  annum,  although  estimated  by  him  at  douMi 
the  amount  asked ;  and  it  was  further  propovel 
that  about  £1,200  be  expended  in  the   formation 
of    the    projected  recreation   groutuL       It   rlo^ 
not   appear,   however,  that  this  laudable  proj<sct 
was  ever  carried  into  ejcecution,  and  the  lovers   » 
athletic  exercises   were  yet  to  wait  twrnty  yew 
before  any  provision  should   be  made   for  their 
enjoyment  by  the  public  authorities  of  the  town* 
It  is  with  pleasure  that  we  tranacribe  the  lait 
reference  in  the  local  jotmials  to  the  cruel  paju 
time  of 

lirLI^BAlTIN(3, 
To  the  Edittir  of  Art  is  OaxtU, 
0<tto1>er  1%  1SS5,  — »Slli,— It  must  ht  gmtif^mg  Ui  tfity 
fnL^nd  of  hunmnity,  thftt,  during  the  Uxt  Sesaiun  of  pArtii^ 
ment,  a  bill^  the  pmritious  of  wliicb,  if  strictly  enf(»Tt*d, 
wrill  ImTe  the  effirt  of  dboUshiug  the  horrid  and  clftmortHi* 
tni^  practire  of  Hulbhaiting,  wis  iutrodaced  *ml  rt^cpirid 
the  Roysd  Mftfiit.  It  thvrefons  lM?hf>v«ii  the  Miuaiticrv  tad 
I  huiY'hwanlona  of  those  |Muiahes  wh«>nt  the  cruel  «ygUni 
hci>t  \}i\n%  pur0Ut'<|,  to  avAil  thetti»(*lved  of  th«  |io«r«r  o^ 
plattnl  in  tficir  hnnU,  iiml  ^viloiml^  to  enrty  iuU»  •fct 


i^muMmanU  or  U)«  IN«Mp1t.] 


OLD   AND  KEW   BIK^riNGHA^L 


487 


th«  humane  intentions  of  tlie  fmniTs  and  supporters  of 
the  bill,  whil»'  ev.Ty  sinwre  frieud  to  hnmnnity  wUl 
cheerfully  K-iitl  his  %«9UBt«noc.  As  iin  jiuliviiluiil  «it*«i)lf 
itit4?re8ti*«i  in  promoting  tli«  bappines«(  of  tliu  bnite  crea- 
tion, !  ahull  d«?voto  my  time  hih\  lab^»ur  in  tlun  goo  I 
€HiUBe,  Aod  exort  mTa4»lf  to  render  tho  bill  eflcctnnl  to  the 
eiid  dftign*'d-  For  w  nt  of  svtch  L»x«rtion,  Biill-hnititjiLy 
wo^*  Cornell  Oil  to  n  horrible  exfi-nt  during  tbe  lust  wiik*' 
m%  D^<'rl^y  Hill,   tm\X  thonwuds  of  i»eopk«  from  diatuut 


letters  and  science ;  and  among  others  James 
jMontgomery,  the  poot,  delivered  a  course  o! 
lectures  on  the  EngHsh  Poets,  at  the  Philosophical 
Iiistitotion,  in  the  wi titer  of  1838 ;  and  their 
own  Charles  Roece  Pi-inberton,  in  the  fading 
yeurs  of  his*  life,  lectiired  on  several  occasions, — 
ivow     UUcoursinjt     grandly     on     Shakespeare's 


m< 


.<« 


>i'i^ 


ISTEUIOR    or    THE   TilEATltE    RUYAI, 


parishes  c^JUgrcgated  together  to  enjoy  this  feast  of  blood. 
Three  bulls  were  then  hait4?d  on  the  Snturdny  evening 
fvcTioiLS  to  thti  wiikc  8«il>bath,  and  fnr  four  su(i*t;sstve 
days  they  were  torn  and  liicemted  for  their  ftnnjsenteut  in 
a  manner  too  shorking  lo  rehd^.  Trusting  thut  lli<?  din- 
boUeal  ?port  will  be  i^peedily  aboji^hoJ^  I  remain,  Sir, 
your  obligi»d  servant,  A,  Smith. 

Bricrley  Hill,  Oct  3,  1855. 
Many  who  hatl,  in  days  gone  hr,  found  their 
chief  recreation  iii  the  public  house,  the  wake- 
fenst,  and  the  fair,  now  sought  enjoyment  in 
more  tntelli?ctnal  pursuit?,  at  the  Mechanics' 
faatitute  and  kiJidreU  gocielio*,  Lectiir&s  were 
4cUveped,  fggai  timfe  to  timet  by  Giuiutrnl  man  of 


character  of  Brutus,  and  now  descrihing,  with  a 
rich  glow,  the  sceneij  and  sights  he  had  looked 
upon  in  the  far  East,  on  the  dusky  Nile,  or 
the  eunny  banks  of  the  Mediterranean,  The 
following  graphic  description  of  the  lecturer  and 
Ilia  theme,  on  the  occasion  of  his  lecture  on 
**  Brutus,"  whi^^h  he  also  delivered  at  SheRiehl, 
is  f^uotcd  by  Dr.  Langford  from  tho  Shejield 
Itifhjmideni : 

'MMien  he  stepped  upon  the  platform  there 
was  a  tremendous  outhurst  of  cheering,  which 
apeelily  &\xi\k  iuti  a  mure  &uhducd  irumifttstaiian 


488 


OU)  AND  NEW  BIRMINGHAM. 


[ AmoMimento  of  the  People. 


of  welcome.  What  a  change  had  come  upon 
him  !  He  was  but  the  shadow  of  himself ;  his 
manly  bearing  and  his  free  action  were  gone,  and 
in  their  place  were  come  the  stooping  gait  and 
the  feeble  walk.  But  oh  !  what  a  tale  of  suffer- 
ing was  told  when  he  opened  his  mouth  and 
spoke.  His  voice,  which  had  been  sweet  as  the 
lute  and  loud  as  the  trumpet,  had  become  weak, 
cracked,  and  discordant !  And  there  was  the 
dreadful  cough  that  appeared  to  be  everlastingly 
tearing  at  his  heartstrings !  Well,  but  he  did 
speak  ;  and,  wonderful  to  behold,  as  he  gradually 
advanced  he  got  the  mastery  of  his  infirmities^ 
The  subject  of  the  evening's  lecture  was  Brutus,  in 
Julius  Csesar.  He  brought  out,  one  by  one,  the 
beauties  of  the  character,  and  when  he  made  it 
appear,  as  it  really  is,  a  glorious  specimen  of  the 
best  qualities  of  human  nature,  he  hold  it  up  for 
admiration  and  instruction.  Pemberton  was  no 
longer  the  man  he  had  l)een  some  short  time 
before — he  had  left  all  his  own  weaknesses  and 
entered  fully  into  the  loveliness  and  truth  of 
Brutus.    Tlie  illustrative  passages  were  given  with 


the  delicacy  and  power  of  f onner  time&  It  was 
life  in  death  ;  and  showed  how  the  vigoroiis  sool 
can  impart  energy  to  the  wasted  body." 

In  June  1832,  the  art-loving  pubUc  d 
Birmingham  had  provided  for  them  a  free  trett 
of  no  common  order,  in  the  exhibition  of  Lodge's 
famous  Gallery  of  Historical  Portraits,  which  wv 
opened  "for  gratuitous  inspection  "in  the  large  room 
of  the  Society  of  Artists,  in  order  to  display  the  licb- 
ness  of  that  collection  of  engraved  portraits,  which 
was  then  about  to  be  published  in  monthly  parts. 

Among  the  other  exhibitions  and  amusements 
of  this  period,  may  be  mentioned  Signor  Bertolotto's 
Industrious  Fleas,  which  were  here  in  Januarj, 
1837 ;  Ryan's  Amphitheatre;  Waxworks;  Professor 
Anderson ;  and  the  miscellaneous  entertainments 
which,  from  time  to  time,  were  given  at  Vauxhall 
Gardens,  which  were  during  this  decade  at  the 
height  of  their  splendour  and  success.  Variegated 
lamps  and  fireworks,  comic  singing,  galas,  and 
occasional  performances  by  he  'stars'  of  its 
metropolitan  namesake,  formed  the  chief  attiac- 
tions  at  this  favourite  resort  of  the  people. 


We  have  now  coinpk'ted  our  story  of  the  rise  of 
Birmingham  from  the  little  village  held  of  William 
Fitz-Ausculf,  ill  the  days  of  William  the  CoiKiueror, 
to  the  parliamentary  and  municijjal  borough  of 
1840,  with  its  miles  of  streets,  its  hnndred  and  fifty 
thousand  inhabitants,  and  its  manifold  industries. 
We  have  noted  the  gradual  improvement  in  its 
appearance,  in  the  styh?  of  its  pul)lic  buildings, 
the  number  of  its  churches  and  schools,  the  relined 
character  of  its  amusements,  and  the  increased 
attention  given  to  its  sanitary  condition.  The 
town  which  in  Leland  s  da}*  had  but  one  street 
and  **  one  paroch  church."  has  now  an  abundance 


of  both  ;  and  has  moreover  a  noble  town  liall, 
a  commodious  public  office,  a  large  and  handsome 
market  hall,  several  good  hotels,  an  elegant  aod 
comfortable  theatre,  a  new  grammar  school, 
botanical  gardens,  public  library,  and  many  other 
reciuirements  of  public  and  social  life.  But 
between  the  new  borough  of  1840  and  the 
Birmingham  of  1879  there  is  still  a  groat  contrast ; 
and  it  will  be  our  task  in  the  few  8ucce(»«ling 
chapters,  to  record  the  growth  of  the  town  duriu:; 
the  intervening  period;  to  |  resent,  in  fact,  an 
adecjuate  picture,  so  far  as  we  are  enabled,  uf 
New  Dirmingh  im.     To  do  this  in  detail,  on  the 


'*New  Birmingham.'*] 


OLD   AND   NEW  BIRMINGHAM. 


489 


same  scale  as  Tre  have  endeavoured  to  depict  the 
life  of  Old  Birmingham  would  require  seveml 
large  volumes,  and  would  moreover  make  this 
portion  of  our  work  a  mere  newspaper 
chronicle  of  modem  events,  well  remem- 
l)ered,  doubtless,  by  most   of   our  readers.      We 


propose,  therefore,  in  the  remaining  portion 
of  our  narrative,  to  present  a  continuous  his- 
tory of  each  section  of  the  public  and  social  life 
of  our  town,  rather  than  to  divide  it  into  periods, 
either  of  a  single  decade  or  longer,  as  in  the 
foregoing  chapters. 


'  Hew  BirmiDgbam.'l 


OLD  AND  NEW  BIRMINGHAM. 


491 


Old  and  New  Birmingham. 


PART    II. 

FROM    THE    GRANTING    OF   THE    CHARTER   OF    INCORPORATION    TO    THE    PRESENT    TIME. 


"Tf^N  entering  upon  the  history  of  what  may 
Jl^  fairly  be  termed  the  "  New  Birmingham  " 
period, — dating  from  the  commencement  of  the 
first  decade  of  the  existence  of  the  Corporation, 
£Lud  consequently  of  the  municipal  life  of  the 
town, — it  will  be  necessary,  as  we  have  pre- 
viously intimated,  to  adopt  a  somewhat  different 
order  in  the  course  of  our  narrative.  In 
each  division  of  our  subject, — municipal,  political, 
religious,  educational  and  literary,  commercial, 
-and  general,  as  well  as  in  noting  the  changes 
in  the  appearance  of  the  town,  and  the  amuse- 
ments of  the  people, — we  propose  to  deal 
with  the  history  of  the  entire  remaining 
j)eriod,  from  1841  to  1879.     For  the  guidance. 


therefore,  of  the  reader  who  may  be  disposed  to 

accompany    us    through    this    lengthy    period, 

in   which   we   shall    find  greater  activity  than 

we  have   hitherto   met  with  in  the  course  at 

our  local  records,  we  subjoin  a  sketch  of  the 

proposed   order  of   the  succeeding   chapters  of 

our  history. 

1841—1879. 
I.  Municipal  History.  VI.  Charitable  Institu- 

II.  Political  History. 

III.  General       History  : 

Public     Life    and 
Events. 

IV.  Churches  and  Sects. 

V.  Education  and  Litera- 
ture, Literary  Institu- 
tions, etc. 


tions. 
VII.  The  Triennial  Musi- 
cal Festivals. 
VIII.  Amusements  of  the 
People. 

IX.  Trade  and  Commerce. 

X.  Public     Buildings, 
and  appearaaoe  of 

the  Town. 


CHAPTER      I. 
MUNICIPAL     HISTORY     OF     THE     BOROUGH. 

The  Boi\>iigfa  Incoiporated— Cttlebntion  of  the  Eyent— Conflicting  Anthoritiei  ^Attempt  to  doeo  St.  PbiUp's  Churchyard— Propoea]  (o 
adopt  the  Public  Health  Act—Mr.  Rawllaaon's  Report— A  Boireyor  of  the  Old  Tjpe— The  Bbmlngham  ImproYement  Act— Hie 
Borwngh  Goal— The  Lunatic  Asylum— Publio  Baths  and  Washhouses— The  New  Workhouse  The  Fk«e  librariea  Movement— DeflMti 
of  the  Proposal  to  adopt  the  Act  ia  Birmingham— Cruelties  at  the  Borough  Goal-  •  Proposed  Nev  lupvoveoMBt  Bill  defeated  bf  ihk 
BatepiV«w-The  First  Stipendiarf  Magistrmte-Ihe  First  Puhiic  Pur:;— Tlie  Qoeon's  Viait  to  Bimdngham— Woodeoek  Street  Biftte 


492 


OLD  AND  NEW  BIRMINGHAM. 


[The  Chttter  OnatBd. 


—The  Fre«  Libraries  Act  adopted— Street  Tramways— Town  Improvement  Bill  sanctioned— A  Borongh  Analyst  appointed— IW 
New  Borough  Cemetery— The  Purchase  of  Aston  Park— Street  Improvements— Sir  Josiah  Mason's  Orphanage — New  Fish  Marketr- 
A  New  Street  Tramway  Scheme— Visit  of  Prince  Arthur— New  Division  of  the  Borough  into  Wards— Propoeed  New  Oorpofatloa 
Buildings— A  new  experiment  in  Street  Paving— Presentation  of  a  Diamond  for  the  Mayor's  Chain— Cannon  Hill  Park— Coostraetaon 
of  the  First  Tramway— The  Sewage  Difficulty— Proposed  Increase  of  the  Borough  Rate— Purchase  of  the  Qas-works— The  New  Cor- 
porate Buildings  Commenced- Purchase  of  Land  for  a  New  Park  at  Highgate— Purchase  of  the  Waterworks— Small  Heath  Park— New 
Chief  of  Police— The  Improvement  Scheme. 


IT  is  not  proposed,  in  the  present  outline  of  the 
Municipal  history  of  Birmingham,  to  record 
in  detail  the  work  of  our  local  legislature,  or  to  take 
note  of  all  its  enactments  ;  and  happily  this  is 
not  needed,  since  the  invaluable  History  of  the 
Corporation  by  Mr.  Bunce,  of  which  the  first 
volume  is  already  issued,  will  supply  the  student 
who  seeks  to  know  more  of  that  great  governing 
body  with  all  the  information  he  may  require. 
All  we  propose  to  do  in  these  pages  is  to  point  out 
and  make  record  of  those  special  acts  of  the  Town 
Council  which  have  raised  Birmingham  to  its 
present  position,  and  have  placed  the  Corporation 
of  Birmingham  in  the  front  rank  among  the  local 
governing  bodies  of  England. 

We  have  already  referred  to  the  incorporation 
of  the  borough,  aud  have  placed  on  record  the 
names  of  our  first  Corporate  Officers  ;  as  we  stated, 
the  new  borough  was  divided  into  thirteen  wards, 
returning  forty-eight  councillors,  and  these  were 
apportioned  to  the  several  wards  as  follows  : — 


No.  of 

No.  of 

Represen- 

Rejiresen 

Ward. 

tatives.        Ward. 

tatives. 

Ladywood 

...     3     St.  Peter's 

...      6 

All  Saints' 

...     8    St.  Martin's 

...      8 

Hampton 

...     8     St.  Thomas's 

...      3 

St.  George's 

...     3     Eilgbaston 

...     3 

St  Mary's 

...     8     Deritend&  Bordesley     6 

St.  Paul's 

...     3     Duddeston&  Ncchells   6 

Market  Hall 

,..     3 

Total    48 

Sixteen  aldermen  were  also  appointed,  thus 
bringing  up  the  total  number  of  the  Council  to 
sixty-four. 

We  may  here,  however,  make  reference  to  the 
celebration  of  the  event  by  a  public  dinner,  which 
took  place  on  Thursday,  February  21st,  1839,  at 
which  the  Mayor  presided.  The  scene  is  well 
described  in  the  Journal  of  that  week  : — 

"  Immediately  above  the  Mayor's  chair  there  was 
suspended,  in  the  way  of  canopy,  a  large  and  very  hand- 


some Crown,  festooned  with  lanrel,  and  having  a  unioD 
jack  waving  over  it.  Over  the  vice-president's  chair  there 
was  a  splendid  silk  banner,  with  the  Birmingham  arms 
painted  on  it,  and  resting  on  the  rail  of  the  great  gallery 
was  placed  the  well-known  symbol,  the  bundle  of  sticks, 
surmounted  by  a  cap  of  liberty,  to  indicate  that  freedom 
can  only  be  upheld  by  union,  and  accompanied  by  a  |«ir 
of  scales,  as  emblamatic  of  equal  justice  to  all,  the  great 
purpose  why  liberty  ought  to  be  vindicated  and  main- 
tained. In  the  organ  gallery  were  tw«  very  handsome 
transparencies,  and  in  the  great  gallery  was  a  third 
transparency,  of  very  large  dimensions.  Banners  of  blae, 
pur^de,  and  white,  were  suspended  from  the  candelabra, 
two  from  each,  and  the  entire  front  of  the  galleries  was 
festooned  with  laurel  branches  and  artificial  flowers  and 
rosettes,  the  number  of  the  rosettes  being  not  leas  than 
fifteen  hundred.  When  to  the  effect  of  these  very  tastefui 
decorations,  we  add  the  attractions  of  the  hall  itself,  with 
the  blaze  of  light  running  along  its  extensive  walls,  the- 
cheerful  faces  of  not  less  than  five  hundred  gentlemen  at 
the  tables  below,  and  above  all  the  blooming  cheeks  and 
bright  eyes  of  nearly  twice  that  number  of  elegantly 
dressed  ladies  in  the  galleries,  the  rich  tones  of  the  ma^- 
nificant  organ,  and  the  pealing  anthem  swelling  the  note 
of  praise,  we  shall  not  be  accused  of  exaggeration  when  we 
say  that  the  coup  d'ceil  at  the  moment  that  *  Xon  nobis ' 
was  being  solemnly  chanted,  was  one  of  very  great  and 
rare  beauty." 

It  was  necessary  that  the  new  Council  should 
possess  a  Corporate  Seal ;  and  a  report  was  pre- 
sented by  the  Committee  appointed  to  consider 
the  matter,  on  the  19th  of  January,  together  with 
five  suggested  designs  ;  which  are  fully  described 
in  Mr.  Bunce's  History.  It  may  suffice,  therefore, 
to  say  here  that  the  design  wisely  chosen  by  the 
Council  as  the  arms  of  the  Borough,  (in  preference 
to  the  vaguely  symbolical  lions  and  lambs, 
locomotive  engines,  union  banner,  cap  of  liberty, 
and  other  similar  insignia  suggested,)  was  the 
Arms  of  the  ancient  and  honourable  family  of 
Bermingham,  (engraved  on  our  first  page,)  with 
the  simple  and  appropriate  motto,  "  Forward." 

Although  the  government  of  the  town  was 
now  invested  in  the  representative  body  thus 
incorporated,  the  jurisdictions  of  the  authori- 
ties  which   were    previously   in   existence,  still 


494 


OLD  AND  NEW  BIRMINGHAM. 


[St.  PbjQip'g  Chmtkyvd. 


aideo — were  much  frequents!  by  the  idlers  who 
moet  tsli^dously  ol>st!rYed  "  Saint  Monday/*  and 
found  the  sacred  encloaure  a  convenient  place  for 
pedestrian  matches,  twice  round  the  churchyard 
"being  roughly  eati mated  aa  one  mile.  These  races 
and  walking  matches  were  occasionally  followed 
by  the  most  unseemly  "  rows,"  and  had  become 
almost  a  public  scandal  ]  *  and  hence  the  proposed 
action  of  the  Commissi  on  era.  At  a  meeting  of 
the  Town  Council,  however,  during  the  first  week 
of  January  1839,  Mr,  Alderman  R  H,  Muntz 
moved  ;  "  That  it  is  the  opinion  of  the  -Town 
Council  that  the  walks  of  St.  Philip*^  Church- 
yard are  an  ornament  to  tlie  Borough,  and  should 
be  kept  in  proper  condition,  and  that  thejr  give 
this  their  decided  opinion^  that  it  would  be 
injurioua  to  the  town  if  they  were  closed  up." 
Shortly  afterwards  the  Town  Ch^rk  gave  an 
opinion,  at  the  request  of  the  Mayor,  ns  to  the 
legality  of  the  proposal  of  the  Commissioners  to 
obtain  an  Act  for  this  purpose,  as  follows : — 

"  On  the  wholf  1  am  of  opinion  thfltit  ii?iiot  compftent 
for  the  Slivc^t  CommiMsiofura  to  tarry  ihto  effort  thi^ir 
piiopojuHl  iiriiiti^L'Ttuut  n-Njit-rtii)^  St.  lMiUfji*P  Chnrdi- 
yartl,  and  tluil  il  they  aliouKl  do  so  tln^y  will  excised  thtir 
autlinriiy— ivill  inj>ia|>]truiiiiatc  tht*  fiimljs  entrusttd  to 
tlieir  t^iirfi — it  ltd  will  fiiiuiHh  good  grounds  for  an  apiH-iil 
against  the  intH." 

^fr.  MuulK  tlien  mtived — "Tliat  in  the 
opinion  of  this  Council  the  [miponed  arrau garment 
of  the  *StruL^t  Connjii.^sioiiora  with  rcajicet  to  St, 
Philip's  Chtiichyard  is  ilk^<;nl— involvisi  a  niis- 
appli cation  uf  publie  moneys,  and  would  j Hermit 
a  good  ground  of  api>eal  against  the  ralo  ;  nor, 
in  the  judgment  of  this  Council,  is  the  illegality 
of  this  transaction  at  nil  reih^cmcd  hy  its  utility, 
or  hy  its  conannancy  with  the  public  wishes; 
that  this  Council,  therefoi-e,  still  hopes  that  the 
Conmiissi oners  will  see  fit  to  ahandon  a  measure 
which  cannot  be  perst^vercd  in  withnut  producing 
a  strong  rcsJstaiicc  on  tbe  piirt  of  the  town." 
This  proposition  was  i:econded  hy  Mr.  Aldernmn 

•  I'fii  tikia  flirt  w«  nn*  UidaHyii  lu  Ati  nW  Uirmm^h^Tji  refomier, 
Mr.  f.  Appl^ltjr*  ^lio  WM  niie  of  tii«  earldermeinlH'i-B  Mfttn;  rollUcjil 
Ualan,  mn^l  noir  <lSTf))  realilos  iH  Oui^hin,  Ulu  ttt  Alan,  l«lni;  utiU  i 
hAlA&nil  in^urty^ftud  d&niAy  UiUrc^Ud  lu  the  w^lfaro  uf  niv  Birming- 
ham.-R.K.D.  ' 


Hutton,  and  carried  unonimotisly.  Thiis  the 
Corporation  eucceasfolly  reafsted  an  attempt  t^ 
close  almost  the  only  green  spot  in  tlie  heart  of 
the  tuwn,  and  preserved  for  future  gesierationa  i 
most  invaluable  "lung,"  closa  to  our  bofiicit 
thoroughfares.  The  "races"  were  stopped  bj 
closing  the  walk  round  the  boutid&riea  of  tbe 
churchyard,  and  opening  new  thorougb&res  acros 
it  in  every  direction  instead^  But  eould  not  a 
strip  be  spared  in  1579,  when  anch  aeondida  would 
be  ini  possible,  to  form  a  path  from  the  Blue  Coit 
School  to  Temple  Eow  Wes^  running  parallel  witli 
Colmore  Row! 

During  the  year  184i,  the  Mayoral  chair  wm 
filled  by  Mr,  Thomaa  Weston,  and  at  the  dose  of 
hh  year  a  tea  party  was  huld  at  the  Town  Hall^ 
November  11th,  in  testimony  of  tbe  able  and 
impartial  manner  in  which  he  had  diflcb&rged  the 
duties  of  his  ofHce,  and  an  address  was  presented 
to  him  on  this  occasion.  In  acknowledging  the 
honour  thus  conferred  upon  him,  he  gave  some 
interesting  particulars  as  to  his  early  life^  viz  :^ 

Unit  tLirty-sovt-n  years  ftgo  he  came  to  BirminghatD 
a  j"ior  boy.  ThniugSi  kind  patronage,  be  had  gaintti  l'I- 
p'ri<'tic\',  ho  Inul  gniot^Ll  iniportatice,  h«  hail  prospered,  and 
he  it'll  proud  of  tlnj  community  m  whieh  he  rt'3ld«»J.  Hp 
wii^  tliC"  .son  of  a  working  man^  and  was  sent  frotn  &  r.iral 
(district,  like  iiirtTi  v  othiT  boySj  to  taku  his  chaoce  in  this 
tcraii*  His  parents  ivore  working  p^^opkj  unaMe  to  pro- 
viiti*  for  th^m^lvae  in  their  old  age^  but  they  truDsiijitt^i 
to  their  rhildren  &  name  im^ullied  and  lan tarnished  ;  mud 
hv  Imptni,  trier,  BO  to  transmit  his  naJise  to  Ms  I'hMnu. 
Althonf^h  bis  pareiitji  were  totally  imablc  to  ^t&  him*. 
fortui>e,  they  gave  1dm  what  was  Ijetter— they  taught  him 
tht*  rudiments  of  rea^lingi  writing,  and  Arithmotlf^  tuti 
laid  the  fouudutioa  d(  Ms  future  succeae. 

On  the  passing  of  the  Publio  Health  Act  of 
1848,  an  unsuceessfid  attempt  wa^  made  by  the 
Osunuil  to  a%^ail  themselves  of  its  provisions,  ia 
oriler  to  bring  about  tho  desirtnl  consolidation  i*f 
thti  governing  bodies  of  the  town  ;  and  ia 
accordance  with  a  uieniorinl  of  the  rati^payera,  nn 
etiquiry  was  conducted  by  Mr.  Robert  Rawlinsonj 
C.E,  one  result  of  which  was  th©  publicatioti 
of  a  most  valuahl'9  and  interesting  pamph- 
let rej^i^cting  the  natural  history  — if  we 
may  so  describe  it — of  the  town.     W©   woold 


sir.  RRirliiisou'*  Rflp-irt,  J  518.  J 


ULD  AXD  KEW  BrinnNGHA:\L 


495 


glttdly  tmiisfermuoh  of  i]m  rc^port  into  onr  jvages 
did  not  the  exigencies  of  space  forbid ;  Iftit  wo 
cannot  forbear  quoting  one  or  two  paragraplis, 
and  gatbering  togetber  some  of  the  mofct  interpst- 
ing  particulaiv,  for  the  benefit  of  thosR  of  our 
nsaders  who  mnv  m>t  Imve  nittt  with  this  now 


Hnji,  Th*^  A\]^  welt*  yet  >i*"law  the  salt  wave,  altlmilgb 
the  Gnnnjii'UiHof  ScotJrtrid  hud  existed  cnuiitli'sn  centtiries, 
Ali4  the  hills  of  CQinbtfrlnitil  h^d  [uiBsied  their  stnte  as 
phioiiMcd  Titountaiiis,  Walea  was  dry  land,  and  tho 
Cottrsvi'old  Hills,  in  Gloiice-^tershire,  atMl  snme  f^'W  pirtii 
of  cent  ml  Eoglarid,  were  nhave  wafji*r.  Th<^  rocks  of 
Dudley  Imd  Huh^idod  eveu  bi»f.«r«  tUc  tlejKint  of  the  siiiid* 
rock  begin  ;   huge  ic«-flo<?s  aud  b^r;^a  ctitrie  floating  up 


:ii^:l 


r^^.^-^''' 


r^35 


Igl 


^VJ' 


^M^ 


rfy?Wi'i! 


IN.SAMTAKV     UiKsKh:     A     COUJtT     IN     JOHN     STruEET. 
Al»tii  to  hi  rtavtffii  vndltr  th€  AriUam*  Dii^*Hngi  Act, 


ipftmphkt*     The   foniifitiun   of   the    **ncw 

dutuno  *'  upon  which  JJinnin^baiu  is  built, 

i»   thus  i>icturesqtiely   dc^i';bod  by  2^1  r.  Rawliu- 
on  : — 

**  Could  wc  havft  seen  the  form  of  country  vhcn   (hy 

1  diluviuai  on  uliidi  Hirminghiitn  now  «Uind!i  vina  being 

I  depo&iteil»  we  should  hnvn  fuund  l!i«  ft-^ji->»lutr'C  luvmin;;  a 

Ijouudnry  pi  orally  not  unlike  the  vurvc  of  the  cute ropj-i  tig 

63 


froMi  some  nonhern  continent  long  since  dro\*Tied,  gnnding  ^ 
tha  imbed  i^id  rmgnient*  toro  troni  their  parent  rock, 
weariu^'  i'unksiiitd  jihoals,  uial  ultitniitidy  dejodting  their 
stony  burden  in  sc'ttUered  uronpa  over  \n^\  ttteas  heHreiiffcer 
to  Ix-i'ome  dry  lund.  The  whole  site  "ii  whiih  iUrniin^- 
hiuii  Ktunds  ho»  been  subjccti-d  to  thi!>iweffnng  action,  nnd 
the  present  vnlJeys  of  the  rivera  Ilea  and  Tfuoo  ant  hot 
tile  indintntions  of  thr  1 1  t  ?^e»-iibore  ;  thes^intl  ^inl  gnvd 
now  dug  from  beneat*i  I  he  *lreets  was  v^iKhed  and  rolled 
by  Louipur-itively  shAllow  wut^ir  into  it«  i»reMeut  Us  I  ;  the 


496 


OLD   AND   NEW   BIRMINGHAM. 


[Mr.  RawUiiBOii's  Bqtort,  ISia. 


Alternations  of  clay  and  marl  speak  of  deeper  water,  or  a 
more  quiet  shore." 

It  is  this  sand  and  gravel  which  preserves  the 
foundations  of  the  buildings  dry;  while  the 
undulating  surface  of  the  land  assists  in  keeping 
the  town  clean  and  well  ventilated,  and  the  streets 
comparatively  dry.  The  report  further  states 
that  there  is  a  marked  dryness  in  the  air,  the 
average  rainfall  in  Birmingham  being  about  one- 
third  less  than  in  Liverpool  or  Manchester ;  and 
whereas  the  damp  atmosphere  of  Lancashire  is 
necessary  to  the  profitable  spinning  of  cotton-yam, 
the  drier  atmosphere  of  Warwickshire  is,  we  are 
told,  equally  advantageous  to  the  iron  manufacture, 
to  the  production  of  polished  steel  implements, 
and  tlie  metal-plated  wares  in  general  of 
Birmingham. 

The  trades  of  Birmingham  are  not  forgotton  by 
Mr.  Bawlinson,  and  some  of  his  remarks  on  this 
subject  are  worth  quoting  : — 

*' There  are,"  he  says,  "about  520  distinctly  classified 
manufacturers,  traders,  or  dealers,  and  about  twenty 
separate  professions  in  Birmingham,  and  each  trade  may 
certainly  bo  divided  into  five  branches,  which  will  give 
2,600  varieties  of  occupation  ;  but  I  have  no  doubt  this  is 
understated,  as  there  are  fourteen  distinct  branches  named 
in  the  Directory  as  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  guns. 
The  trades  carried  on  in  the  town  are  not  only  numerous, 
but  they  are  also,  in  a  great  measure,  distinct  and  inde- 
pendent of  each  other  in  their  manufacture  and  after  use. 
To  the  knives,  swords,  and  s]»ears  of  the  ancient  Britons 
has  been  added  a  splendour  of  finish  and  polish  unknown 
to  the  magical  blades  of  Damascus  ;  and  there  is  a  small 
instrument  of  skill  manufactured  in  millions,  the  pen, 
more  powerful  in  the  world  at  this  day  than  all  the  swords, 
spears,  and  sc-ythe-anned  chariots  of  past  ages.  The  black 
and  dingy  '  nayler  '  of  Leland  has  for  his  town  companion 
the  electro- plate  and  jiapier-mache  manufacturer,  by  the 
latter  of  which  the  lustre  and  polish  of  the  precious 
metals  is  outshone  by  the  iris-dyes  of  the  pearl." 

One  peculiar  feature  in  the  commercial  aspect 
of  IJinningliam  is  noted  by  Mr.  lliiwlinson  which 
should  not  be  overlooked,  as  it  suj)plie8  the 
stnmger  who  may  be  interested  in  the  history  of 
our  town  with  an  e.xplanation  of  the  inde])endent, 
self-reliant  character  of  the  Birmingham  artisan. 
**  The  variety  of  trades  and  occupations  exercised," 
he  says,  "  tends  to  a  more  equal  and  general 
diffusion    of  wealth  amongst  tlie  master  manu- 


facturers, and  the  means  of  acquiring  it  in 
moderation  among  the  workpeople ;  there  are  few 
'millionaires/  connected  with  trade  in  or  near 
Birmingham,  if  we  except  the  Staffordshire  in>&- 
masters ;  there  are  few  who  occupy  the  position  d 
the  *  cotton  lords '  of  Manchester,  or  the  '  meicbant 
princes '  of  Liverpool ;  but  there  is  a  numeroos 
class  of  master  tradesmen  whose  wealth  tends  to 
comfort  rather  than  ostentatious  show,  and  there 
is  a  race  of  workpeople  comparatively  independent 
and  self-relying.  Some  observant  and  intelligent 
writers  have  considered  the  prosperity  of  the  town 
has  arisen  from  its  perfect  freedom  from  the 
corporate  trammels  of  past  ages,  or  the  hlind, 
exclusive  guild,  which  affects  to  give  privileges  to 
the  few,  by  the  Chinese  plan  of  stereotyping  the 
initiated."  From  Mr.  Kawlinson's  further  remarks 
on  the  local  trades  we  learn  the  following  facts 
respecting  the  increase  of  steam  power.  From 
1780  to  1836  there  were  169  steam  engines 
erected  in  Birmingham  with  a  total  of  2,700  horse- 
power. In  1839  the  horse-power  was  3,436, 
consuming  240  tons  of  coal  daily  ;  and  in  1849— 
tlie  date  of  the  report — the  horse-power  was 
about  5,400,  with  a  daily  consumption  of  about 
377  tons  of  coal,  and  an  equivalent  of  labour  to 
that  of  86,400  men. 

The  allotment  gardens,  which  still  lingered  at 
Edgbaston,  Bordesley,  Handsworth,  Moseley,  and 
along  the  valley  of  the  Rea,  are  not^d  with  com- 
mendation by  ^Ir.  Eawlinson,  and  the  lar^^e 
number  of  public  houses — 1,363  in  all,  including 
beerliouses,  wholesale  stores,  etc. — with  disfavour 
and  concern ;  and  he  then  passes  on  to  the 
important  subjects  of  gas  and  water,  to  which  we 
shall  refer  more  particularly  later  on.  The 
crowded  and  neglected  condition  of  the  church- 
yards are  next  commented  on,  and  contrasted 
with  the  clean  and  neat  condition  of  the  two 
recently  opened  cemeteries, — the  General  Ceme- 
tery at  Key  Hill,  and  the  adjacent  Church  of 
England  Cemetery  ;  and  then  the  Inspector  deals 
with  the  main  subject  of  enquir}',  Uie  government 
and  sanitary  condition  of  the  town ;  adverting  to 


Mr  RAwliiiJOb'i  Rcf^ort,  1S4S.] 


OLD  Amy   NEW   BIRMINGHAM. 


497 


tfee  abseiice  of  a  general  system  of  ae^Ye^age,  tbe 

Bperfect  conditiun  of  the  stroeta  and  road^,  the 

|gh  rates  and  inefficient  service  which  ^e^sulted 

[bom  the  multiplicity  of  ctmHicting  authorities, 

And  to  the  liiudrance  to  good  government,  and 

wasteful  multiplication  of  officers  which  such  a 

iKmditiun  of  ulT^iirs  enUiled. 

He  sums  up  the  restdt  of  his  enquiries  in  the 
[  following  recommendations  : — 

•*H»viiig  fully  cxftTiu'ncd  thw  town  and  Buhiirbs  of 
Binuingham,  I  heg  rt- s pet t fully  to  recomujeni  that  tliD 
Public  Health  Act  l>e  put  io  foR'e  ;  thnt  the  loca!  power 
necessnry  to  cheap  nn<l  ctBrieut  govurnment  niny  be 
€OQSolidAt«d,  and  ihut  the  whole  ffiuitary  work  of  the 
borough  may  ha  placeil  uuder  one  »\Htablishment. 

**  I  b<^g  respectfully  to  lay  the  follouiugKuujnuvry  before 
jthe  Geneml  Bonnl  of  Health  for  tWir  considerntiou  : 

I,  ThAt  the  borough  o*  Biriniiighani  is  not  ao  healthy 

it   may  be,  on  nccouut   of  un paved  fitreeta»  coufriied 

middens  ntid  cvsapools,  and  stii^usnt  ditdios. 

lat  excess  of  diseti^i^  may  be  distinctly  traced  to 

rdedlodgiiig-houae**  and  want  of  Tentilatiou  in  confined 

courts,  and  to  the  ^unt  of  drains  gcuertdly. 

**3.  That  the  present  dm reh  und  chapel  yards  within 
the  town  which  are  used  as  buried  grouiidn  ahould  be 
closed. 

I**  4,  Tliat  a  better  supply  of  water  **houU  be  proirided, 
and  that  a  perfect  system  of  eewers  and  drains  should  be 
Uid  dowu. 
*'5.  Thrit  public  park^  and  pleasure  grounds  would   he 
▼ery  ben+'ficial  to  the  working  claasea  and   their  families, 
**6.  That   a   eonaolidation   of    tho   conflicting   powers 
exercised  within  the  borough  would  proilucegre.Tt  economy. 
••  7.   That  tbe  health  of  the  inhabitants  would  Ixi   im* 
proved,  their  comfort*  increased,  and  their  moral  condition 
[Tiised— 1.  By  a  perfect  system  of  street,  court,  yard,  and 
house  dminage.     2.  By  a  constant  and  cheap  supply  of 
|>arB  water  uiider  pressure,  laid  on  to   every  house  and 
yard,  to  the  entire  superseding  of  all   tou'al  welU  and 
pumpe,  th«  water  of  which  is  impure.     3.    By  the  sub- 
atitation  of  water-closets  or  soil-pan  apiiaratus  (for  the 
more  ejEpensive    existing    privies   nnd    cesspools),   with 
|>roper  drains  to  carry  away  all  surface-water  aud  refuse 
from  the  roofa»  strceU,  yards,  and  water-closets,     4,   By 
Ly  paved  courts  and  pn.«*sa^cs,  and   by  a   regular 
.of  washing  and  eleanairig   all    courts,  jiasaagea, 
iths»  and  surface  channels, 
**8.  That  ih»'se  improvemeuU  may  lie  realjaed  indepen- 
deDtJy  of  any  advwntnge  tobcderiveil  from  theapplieattou 
of  town  refuse  to  agricultural  purjiosos,  at  the  latea  per 
week  for  each  house  and  labourer'*  cottage  here  stated  :  — 
1,   A  full  »u»d  complete  syjitem  of  botne  sud  yard  tl ruins, 
with  a  water-closet  and  soibpnu,  and  ynrd  drriju  to  each 
houite,  three  hairjience  |«er  week.     2.  A  constant  hijch- 
pre«4ure  »upply  of  pure  water  laid  on  in  each  hou^e  with 
m  water-tap  and  waste-wntvr    sink    to  each  hou*iC  com- 


plete, for  threedialf  |ien<?e  a  week.  3.  Complete  end 
perfect  pftVt;mcut  to  all  yanla  and  courts,  with  proper 
surfat^e  cliuunels  an<l  grates,  at  one  farthing  a  week  each 
houso.  4,  Washing,  cleansing,  aud  watering  streeta, 
courts,  foot -walks,  and  surface  ehanneU,  at  one  (krthing 
a  Week  each  house. 

"9,  That  from  the  character  of  tho  aoO  io  the  neigh- 
Ixjurhood  of  the  town,  sewage  manure  may  be  applied  to  tho 
agricultural  land  by  irrigation,  with  singular  advantagOi 
90  OS  to  increase  its  value  to  the  farmer^  aud  yield  an 
income  for  the  benefit  and  improvement  of  the  town. 

*•  10.  That  these  improvements  will  iucT^a.He  the  health 
and  comfort  of  nil  classes,  and  reduce  the  amount  of  poor's 
rates. 

'*  IL  That  the  direct  charges  stated  will  be  the  means 
of  a  direct  and  indirect  siiviug  to  the  inhabitants  generally, 
but  to  the  bibouring  rajin  tjspeclally,  of  many  times  the 
amount  to  be  paid. 

**12.  That  the  outlay  will  not  be  burdensome  or 
oppressive  to  any  class  of  the  cotiimujiity,  as  the  capital 
required  may  be  rabed  by  loan,  ami  the  interest  upon  it 
reduced  to  au  auaual  or  weekly  rent-charge." 

In  consequence  of  the  rivalry  and  bitter 
hostility  which  prevailed  in  the  town,  between 
tbe  various  governing  bodies,  the  enquiry  was 
unproductive  of  any  immediate  reform.  Although 
the  Government  of  their  own  motion  included 
Birmingham  in  tbe  schedule  of  a  bill,  to  apply 
the  Public  Health  Act  to  several  towns,  the 
Commissioners,  by  their  determined  opposition, 
were  successful  in  defeating  the  proposal  so  far  aa 
it  related  to  the  mis-governed  midland  metropolis. 

Mr»  Bunce  gives  a  curious  illustmtion  of  the 
way  in  which  public  work  was  performed  under 
the  regim*^  of  the  Com  mi  fusion  era.  The  actinfj 
surveyor  of  the  hamlets  of  Duddeaton  and 
Nechells  was,  he  tells  us,  **  a  saddler  and  beer- 
sfdler  by  trade,"  and  **  had  received  no  training 
of  any  kind  as  a  surveyor,  but,  for  a  salary  of 
£30  a  year,  he  boldly  undertook  the  manage- 
ment of  the  drainage  of  his  district,  hia 
qualification  for  this  function  being,  to  use  his 
own  phrase,  that  he  was  a  kind  of  'universal 
genius.'"  When  giving  evidence  before  the 
Pari  ill  men^^ry  Committee,  in  1845,  he  declared, 
amid  roars  of  laughter,  that  '*  he  newr  could 
see  that  there  was  any  art  in  laying  down 
sewers,'*  that  **  he  never  had  no  instruction,"  that 
he  knew  nothing  of  the  use  of  n  spirit  level,  and 


4»S 


OLD   AND   NEW   BlRMrXGHAM,  {tu* mnn^iuskmu lunprmmni m^i 


that,  he  **tc>ok  levuls  (for  scnvord  atnl  roinU)  by 
tliree  sticks  i  crow-sliclts."  liovv  s:Uisfnt:t<iry  this 
method  proved  may  be  reaJ  in  Mr  lUvvliiuoii'a 
report,  from  wliich  we  leam  t)iiit  m  the  tliHtiitt 
presided  over  by  this  natural  geoius^  **an  expca- 
sive  culvert  of  little  or  no  use  to  the  hainlcts  had 


Hou^  of  Commons  ta  the  fuUowui^  ^[af^h, 
alLhoUi^h  threateJifd  with  n  foi-niidabli*  oppo- 
siuou  oil  the  ynirt  of  the  numerous  loctl 
*  iutercits,'  it  >v*i»  Uap|ii!y  bnui^ht  to  a  «jc- 
ctjeeful  issue,  and  bt^eunie  law  on  thi»  24t^l 
July,   1851. 


^^ 


3t^. 


x>^^^ 


lN«A>flTARY     HOUBESI     KO.     2     COUHT,     JrtlfJf     fiTREET. 
About  to  be  rvmoixd  uiuUr  (A«  Artimna'  IhP9iHn(f9  AH. 


been  made,  aa  one  part  is  too  low  and  other  {larts 
are  too  high,  and  that  no  side  or  crosd  street 
drains  liad  been  laid  in/^ 

In  Au^'Ust,  1850,  however,  the  Council  resolved 
to  make  another  vigorous  effort  to  remove  the 
stigma  of  uiisgovernnieut,  antl  to  make  an  end  of 
the  chaotic  moVj  of  eontlicting  authdrities,  by 
preparing  a  bill  to  cunH>litiato  the  governing 
bodies  of  the  town^  whicli  wtu*  introduced  in  thtt 


The  Act  transferred    to  the  Cottuctl  all 
powers    previously  exercised  by   the  BoanJ* 
Com  mission er»  and  Surveyors  ;  and>  iu  adJitiaU 
empowered    the    Council    to    undertake    %t 
improvements,  to  remove  all  turnpikes  within  in 
Bcrough,  and  to  puruhaae  the  Waterworks*  ^  and 
the  rating  for  the  purpow;*  nf  the  Act  woa  fixa 
at  two  shillingij  and  sixpence  iu  the  pound- 
Improvement    Rate    of    two    shiitin^    And    i 


Tb«BinniiJ«hwnImprovt.meiitAa,miJ   OLD   AND   NEW    BIRMINGHAM. 


49» 


[mprovement  Rate  (for  the  purchase  of 
^.-.v,...kd  properties.)  of   bixpcuce. 

On  the  1st  of  January  1852  the  new  Act 
earn©  into  operation,  and  the  whole  of  the 
non-representative  bo<iies,  with  the  old 
fiyatetti   of    divided  respoimibilities,    were  swept 


borough,  all  prisoners  were  sent  to  tbe  county 
gaol  at  Warwick,  and  all  except  petty  sessions 
cases  had  to  he  tried  at  the  county  sessions  ;  the 
luck-up  at  Moor  Street  was  used  oidy  for  the 
detention  of  prisoners  waiting  the  decision  of  the 
magistrates ;  and  the  entire  eonatabulary  force  ia 


Sii 


Wi 


:tjf^^siM.a^,k^£k^^^ 


INSAiflTAftY     HOUSES  :     NO.     1     COURT,     STEKLttOCSE     LAKE. 
About  to  be  ffmovtd  under  Uu^AriiMnif  DtDtUittya  Ad, 


away  ;  and  on  the  3rd  of  January  the  Cuuncil 
met  for  the  tir^tj|tiniG  ujidei  their  new  powc-rs, 
having  entire  control  over  the  municipid  work  of 
the  tctwn, 

111  one  department^  however,  the  new  authtjrlties 
hmd  alrendy  /rorked  a  great  reforui|  beioi^  the 
sing  of  the  Improvement  Act,^ — ^natiudy,  in  the 
fiiintstration  of  juhtice  and  tbe  preservation  of 
ihi;i  pcice,     IV^vious  to  the  incoiponition  of  the 


the  town,  previtau  to  1838,  consisted  only  of 
niuelccn  tuen,  1 1  protect  the  Hves  and  property 
of  m'To  lh;.n  150.000  inhabitants !  But  after  the 
creation  of  the  representative  municipal  govern- 
ment, the  new  police  system  was  inlroduci5d  lu 
liirminghani,  and  something  like  an  ailet^uate 
force  org.mised,  consisting  of  a  superintendent, 
8  inspecloi's,  8  sub-inspectors,  26  sergeants,  and 
293  men, — making  a  total  of  ;)36.     For  a  timoj 


500 


OLD'  AND    NEW    BIRMINGHAM. 


N«w  Gaol,  Asylum,  and  BhIIhl] 


however,  the  Government  retained  the  management 
of  the  force ;  but,  after  continued  remonstrance 
and  opposition  on  the  part  of  the  inhabitants, 
resigned  its  control  into  the  hands  of  the 
Council 

We  have  already  recorded,  in  the  last  chapter 
of  our  chronicle  of  local  events,  the  establishment 
of  a  separate  Sessions  for  the  Borough,  at  the 
requisition  of  the  Town  Council ;  there  needed 
now,  therefore,  only  a  suitable  House  of  Correction 
to  complete  the  machinery  of  justice,  and  to 
render  the  Borough  independent  of  the  county 
town,  except  for  the  more  important  cases 
committed  for  trial  at  the  Assizes.  It  was  therefore 
resolved  by  the  Council,  in  1844,  to  erect  a 
Borough  Gaol  on  Birmingham  Heath  ;  and  the  first 
stone  of  the  building  was  laid  by  the  Mayor, 
Mr.  Thomas  Phillips,  on  the  29th  of  October, 
1845.  The  Gaol  was  completed  in  1849,  the 
first  prisoner  being  received  within  its  walls  on 
the  17th  of  October  in  that  year. 

It  was  built  from  the  designs  of  'Mr.  D.  R 
Hill,  and  arranged  upon  the  system  of  Pentonville. 
The  building  is  of  brick  with  stone  dressings,  the 
style  adopted  being  a  kind  of  Romanesque  ;  the 
warders*  turrets,  on  the  walls,  give  to  tlie  place  a 
castellated  appearance  quite  in  keeping  with  the 
purpose  for  which  it  was  erected.  It  was 
originally  built  to  contain  three  hundred  and 
thirty-six  cells ;  but  the  additions  which  have 
since  been  made  have  increased  the  number  to 
about  four  hundred. 

The  next  undertaking  of  the  Coq)oration  was 
the  erection  of  a  Borough  Lunatic  Asylum,  on  a 
site  in  the  neighbourhood  of  the  Gaol.  The  first 
stone  was  laid  September,  29th,  1847,  by  the 
Mayor,  Mr.  L*.  Marti neau ;  and  the  building, 
which  was  erected  from  designs  by  Mr.  I).  K. 
Hill,  was  completed  in  June,  1850.  It  cont.iins 
accommodation  fur  nearly  400  patients,  and  is 
admirably  adapted  with  a  view  to  the  cure  of  the 
unfortunate  inmates ;  being  provided  with  books, 
newspapers  and  periodicals,  and  other  means  of 
diverting   the   patients   during  their    temporary 


exile,  and  surrounded  by  well-kept  groands  and 
gardens. 

Meanwhile,  although  the  Council  had  not  as 
yet  made  any  provision  for  the  healthful  enjoy- 
ment of  the  people,  the  public  mind  was  awake 
to  the  necessity  of  such  provision  being  made, 
and  a  public  meeting  was  held  on  the  19th  of 
November,  1844,  to  promote  the  establishment  of 
Public  Baths,  and  the  formation  of  Public  Parks 
in  the  town,  and  upwards  of  i^4,400  was  sub- 
scribed for  the  purpose  in  one  week.  The  matter 
was,  however,  allowed  to  drop  for  a  time,  and  it 
was  not  until  June,  1846,  (by  which  time  X6,000 
had  been  subscribed),  that  the  Public  Baths 
Association  chose  a  site,  in  Kent  Street,  for  their 
first  experiment.  At  a  meeting  of  the  Council 
on  the  7th  of  October  in  the  same  year,  on  a 
motion  of  Mr.  Alderman  Cutler,  the  Buildings 
Committee  were  empowered  to  take  the  neceasaiy 
steps  for  adopting  the  Public  Baths  Act  in  Bir- 
mingham, and  in  the  following  month  a  meeting 
of  the  Association  was  held,  at  which  it  was 
resolved  that  as  the  Council  had  the  matter  in 
hand,  the  land  acquired  should  be  transferred  to 
that  body.  On  the  2nd  of  October,  1848, 
the  Council  gave  their  final  consent  for  the 
erection  of  the  first  set  of  Public  Batlis  on  the 
site  selected  by  the  Association,  at  an  estimated 
cost  of  .£10,000;  but  it  was  not  until  October 
29,  1849,  that  the  first  stone  was  laid,— that 
ceremony  being  perfonned  by  Mr.  S.  Thornton, 
Mayor, — and  the  building  was  not  opened  until 
the  12th  of  May,  1851.  The  designs  selected 
were  those  of  Mr.  D.  R.  Hill,  the  architect  of  the 
Borough  Gaol  and  the  Lunatic  Asylum ;  the 
exterior  is  in  the  Elizabethan  style,  and  the  estab- 
lishment comprises  sixty-nine  private  baths,  two 
swimming  baths,  and  three  plmiging  baths.  The 
wash  house  department  contains  twenty-five 
washing  stalls,  and  thirty-two  drying  horses,  and 
is  abundantly  supplied  with  hot  and  cold  water, 
every  convenience  being  provided  in  the  large 
laundry  adjoining. 

Although  not  the  work  of  the  corporation,  it  18 


Tb«  Prv6  Lllinu-y  Ifovuiutjtit  ] 


OLD   AND  NEW   BUiM INGHAM, 


BOl 


fittiag  that  we  should  rocord  in  this  chafitt-r  the 
erection  of  the  new  Wurkhousc.  lliu  old  building 
in  Lichfield  Street  Lad  begun  to  ftdl  into  a 
dilapidated  condition,  and  the  growth  of  tlie  town 
Around  it  hud  rendered  its  site  entiroly  unfit  for 
Buch  an  institution.  It  waa  no  lunger  possible  to 
^^pe  from  its  windows  (as  its  tiarlier  inmates  might 
liave  done)  the  b^^autlftd  uudulating  sweep  of 
<M>untry  from  Aston  to  Barr  Beacon,  and  from 
Erdington  to  Sutton  Park;  the  view  was  now 
At  out  by  the  wilderness  of  dingy  brick  and 
oi*tar  on  every  side,  which  rendered  it  close  and 
unwholesome ;  and  at  length  it  was  resolved  by 
thtJ  ratepayers  that  a  new  building  should  be 
erected  on  the  land  belriuj^ing  to  the  Piirish  at 
Binuiiigham  Heathy  iu  tlie  neighbourhood  of  the 
Gaol  and  the  Lunatic  Asylum,  It  wim  built  from 
the  designs  of  Mr,  Bateman,  hut  hm  sinre  been 
enhirgcd  under  the  superinleudence  of  Me'^ra, 
Martin  and  Chaml»erlain,  The  first  stone  was 
laid  September  9  th,  1850,  and  the  buihling  was 
opeued  on  the  29th  of  March,  l8o2,  when 
upwiirds  of  8,000  persons  visiteil  it.  It  is  planned 
with  coDsiderable  care  and  thoitgbtfulneas  for 
the  comfort  and  welfare  of  the  innmtea  ;  all  the 
Apartments  u^ed  by  the  aged  poor  being  on  the 
.gronud  floor,  and  every  rcwm  in  the  buikling 
Living  the  benelit  of  sunshine  dtiring  some 
portion  of  the  day,  wheaAby  both  the  health  and 
cheerfulness  of  the  inmates  is  enhanced.  The 
4:lmi>e],  which  faces  the  road,  is  very  tastefully 
fitted  up,  and  is  capable  of  aeconimodating  1,000 
wor^hippers.  It  is  a  neat  structure  in  the 
perpendicular  style  of  architecture^  surmounted 
by  u  light  and  elegant  bell-turret.  The  aisles, 
nave,  and  chancel,  are  paved  with  encaustic  tiles, 
prosenlcci  by  the  architect,  Mr.  Biiteman,  and 
Mr*  Minton;  and  aitveral  of  the  windows  are 
filled  with  stained  glass,  by  Messrs.  Chance.  The 
tciUU  cost  of  erection,  including  land,  furniture 
etc.,  was  X4  4,470. 

In  1850,  as  most  of  our  readers  arc  aware,  the 
first  Fi-ee  Libraries  Act  was  pa^ed,  mainly 
ilirongh  the  exertions  of  ^Ir,  Ewart ;  and  by  thla 


Act  town  councils  were  authorised  to  establish 
public  librai'ies  and  museums  in  their  towns, 
providing  a  majority  of  two-thirds  could  be 
ohtiiined  on  a  poll  of  the  burgesses,  favourable  to 
the  adoption  of  the  Act.  Tliis  Act  had  tiot  been 
on  the  SUitute  Book  much  more  than  twelve 
months,  when  an  attempt  was  made  to  apply  its 
provisions  to  Liiniingliam.  At  a  meeting  of  the 
Town  Council,  on  the  Gth  of  February,  1852, 
Councillor  J,  IL  Boyce  moved  that  at  their  next 
meeting  the  Council  should  take  the  subject  into 
consideration,  and  then  decide  as  to  the  advisability 
of  introducing  the  Act  into  the  Borough.  The 
next  meeting  was  held  March  1 9th,  and  thereat 
the  Council  resolved  that  the  Mayor  be  roiiuested 
tti  take  the  nocessiry  step^  to  de  ten  nine,  in 
acc^ardance  with  tlio  Act,  whether  or  not  the 
Public  Libraries  Act  should  be  adopt<?^i.  Tlie 
Mayor,  Mr.  Ilcnry  Ilawkea,  thereupon  appointed 
Aprd  7th  as  the  day  on  which  the  town  should 
decide  the  question.  Tlie  cry  taken  up  by  the 
oppom^nts  of  the  measure  was  that  it  woidd 
violate  the  principle  of  voluntaryism,  and  would 
prove  another  ** state  endowment;"  they  were 
not  all  believers  in  voluntaryism — many  wt^re 
t^uit^  otherwise^ — but  in  their  love  of  darkness 
and  ignorance  they  willingly  joined  the  party 
which  seemed  to  have  the  most  plam^ihle  ground 
of  opposition  to  the  movement  The  opposition 
was  led  by  a  somewhat  erratic  independent 
minister,  the  Bcv,  Brewin  Crant,  who,  mtrubile 
dictu  /  has  since  become  one  of  the  staunchest 
advocates  of  state  endowment,  and  a  clergyman 
of  the  Church  of  England.  The  supporters  of 
the  movement  were  fully  as  active,  however,  as 
their  op]ionebts.  A  meetiug  was  held  on  the 
3 1st  of  March,  at  the  Public  Office,  presided  over 
by  ilr.  T,  Weston ;  and  a  sub-comniittee  (con- 
sisting of  Messrs,  J.  H,  Boyce,  E.  C.  Osborne, 
George  Dawson,  M.A.,  Samuel  Timmins,  J.  A. 
Langford,  and  W,  Ilarns,)  was  Appointed  to 
canvass  the  town,  with  a  view  of  setting  before 
the  inhabitants  the  true  issues  of  the  decision^ 
and  to  endeavour  to  obtain  tlie  necessary  majority 


502  OLD    A^^D    NEW    BIBMINGHAM.  [CmeityatthcBimwghGMi! 


of  votes.  The  polling  took  place,  as  ai)pointed, 
on  April  7th  ;  534  votes  being  recorded  in  favour 
of  adopting  the  Act,  and  only  363  against  it ;  but 
as  by  the  obnoxious  clause  introduced  by  Mr.  K. 
Spooner,  M.P.,  a  majority  of  two-thirds  of  the 
votes  recorded  was  necessary  for  the  adoption  of 
the  Act,  the  proposition  wa&  lost,  and  the 
intellectual  advancement  of  the  people  was 
retarded  for  almost  a  whole  decade. 


although  occasionally  using  some  severity  and 
discipline,  yet  always  with  a  sense  of  thdr 
position,  and  a  desire  to  avoid  the  necessity  of 
recurrence  to  harsh  measures."  Such  was  the 
model  governor  of  the  gaol,  as  painted  by  the 
hand  of  those  who,  as  representatives  both  of  th» 
law  and  of  the  people,  were  entrusted  with  tht 
duty  of  visiting  the  gaol  on  behalf  of  the  outer 
world  ;  and  who  should  have  insisted  in  all  ca9» 


Only  two  yeiirs  after  the  defeat  of  the  Tn'o  |  that  the  merciful  words  of  the  law,  "not 
Library  Movement,  however,  the  Town  C(.>uncil  ,  exceeding,"  should  never  be  disregarded.  How 
were  successful  in  obtaining  an  Act  enabling  I  this  duty  was  fulfilled,  the  report  of  the  inspector, 
them  to  render  invaluable  as8'*stance  in  the  |  presented  on  the  same  occasion,  shall  say. 
oi-ection  of  the  lUrniingham  and  Midland  I  "  In  the  course  of  this  enquirj'," he  says, ''facts 
Institute,  and  thus  some  atonement  was  made  for  have  been  brought  to  my  knowledge  which  warrant 
the  temi>orary  loss  of  Free  Libraries  in  the  town,  j  me  in  stating  ihat  the  governor  is  in  the  habit 
Of  the  action  of  the  Ct)uncil  in  tlie  matter  of  the  of  inilictiiig  on  the  prisoners,  especially  those  of  j 
Institute,  we  shall  have  to  speak  further  in  our  ,'  the  juvenile  class,  punishments  not  sanctioned 
history  of  that  institution.  i  l>y  law,  which,  while  they  are  not  even  effectual  in 

During  tiie  spring  of  1853  the  humanity  of  j  repressing  disonler,  are  in  their  nature  repugnant  | 
the  town   was  shocked    l)y   reports    which    were  !  to  the  feelings  of  humanity,  and  likely  to  drive 
current  of  the  most  inhuman  cruelties  practisod  !  the  prisoners  to  desperation."  * 
at  the    Dorouj^h   (Jaol,   the   truth   of  which  was  Ono  of  tlic   favourite   instruments   of    torture 

l)orn«^  out  by  several  suicides  committed  by  used  by  this  '*  considerate "  governor  was  the 
prisoners  confined  therein.  A  pu])Iic  meetiii;^  '  crank,  which  ou;^  j)0'»r  prisoner  -was  condemned 
was  held,  and  a  deput,itic»n,  consisting  of  Messrs.  to  turn  ten  thousan*!  times  in  one  day,  in  an 
Jo?ei»h  Allday,  (i.  Turner,  W.  Hale,  and  J.  H.  '  ahnnst  nude  condition.  Two  thousand  times 
Cutler,  was  appc.inted  to  wait  upon  Lonl  ^  had  the  jxior  wretch  to  turn  this  hideous  crank 
Palnierston,  to  present  a  memorial  ailo]»ted  at  the  ,  before  breakfast,  four  thousjind  tinjos  between 
UK.'eting,  praying  for  a  public  emiuiry  into  the  '  breakfast  an.l  dinner,  and  four  thousand  betwet^n 
iliscii>line  at  the  gaol.  On  the  HHU  of  Junt?,  |  dinner  and  supper.  Several  othei-s  were  punished 
the  report  of  the  visiting  justices,  in  reference  I  in  even  a  more  barbarous  manner,  bringing  to 
to  these  charges,  was  presented  to  the  magistrates  ,  mind  rather  the  regime  of  the  Inquisition  than 
at  their  usual  session,  together  with  the  report  ;  the  prison  discipline  of  one  of  the  most  liberal 
of  the  government  inspector,  Mr.  Perry.  The  I  and  enlightened  communities  in  England,  during 
former  reported  that  they  had  ever  *^  found  ,  the  hitter  half  of  the  nineteenth  century.  They 
Mr.  Austin  (the  governor  of  the  gaol)  faithful,  '  were  kept  for  several  days  without  food,  fastened 
energetic,  and  painstaking  in  the  discharge  of  his  i  to  the  wall  by  a  collar  which  almost  strangled 
difficult  and  laborious  duties ;  and  that  since  his  '  them,  and  made  to  wear  a  strait  jacket  of  the 
appointment  as  governor,  he  has  maintiiined  good      most  ingeniously   cruel   contrivance.      When  the 


order,  both  among  officers  and  prisoners,  with 
that  consitleration  for  the  officers  which  ought  to 
have  received  not  only  the  obedience,  but  the 
support ,  of  all ;    and  as   regards  the  prisoners. 


miserable     victims    fainted    from      exhaustion, 


*  "  Nut  only  liktrl) ,"  aiMs  Pr.  Lsuigford.  '*  but  which  artodtj  1 
did  drive,  in  leas  tbnn  fu^r  yean,  seventeeu  i^enoos  to  i 
aUou," 


CttuiUy  it  tlui  Boroujsb  Oiiol.) 


OLD  AND  NEW  BIRMIKGHAK. 


503 


buckets  of  cold  water  were  tlirown  over  them, 
by  order  of  the  humane  and  considerate  governor; 
and  other  tortures  were  devised,  which  made 
death  seem  to  the  wretched  prifloneis  a  happy 
leleaae.  It  is  pitiful  to  read  of  even  "mere 
yauths  being  driven  to  suicide  under  this 
monstrous  treatment*' 

It  is  not  to  be  wondered  at  that  the  report  of 
ihe  visiting  jiisticos  aroused  the  indignation  of 
tbe  people^  and  the  Government  enquiry  promised 
by  Lord  Palmeraton  was  looked  forward  to  with 
great  aaxiety.  On  the  15th  of  August,  the 
governor  of  the  gaol  tendered  his  resignation, 
and  the  enquiry  was  commenced,  at  the  Queen's 
Hotel,  on  the  30th  of  tlie  same  month.  The 
CommissioneiB  were,  ^Ir.  Wolsby,  Recorder  of 
Chichester  ;  Capt.  Williams,  Inspector  of  Prisons 
for  the  Home  District ;  and  Dr.  Bailey,  Medical 
Inspector  of  Millbank  Penitentiary.  The  enquiry 
occupied  twelve  days,  and  every  case  of  alleged 
cruelty  was  investigated,  confirming  the  report 
of  the  inspector  in  every  particular.  The  Com- 
missioners* report  was  publislied  in  July,  1854, 
'Ad  forms  a  contribution  to  the  history  of  Blr- 
tniugham  which  may  weU  cause  the  cheek  to 
burn  Olid  the  bead  to  hang  down,  as  we  reuieinber 
that  the  cruelties  recorded  therein  were  perpc- 
ftrated  in  our  mitlst  only  five  and  twenty  yc-ara 
f  ago  ;  tliat,  as  the  I'lmes  said,  *'  Birmingham  Gaol 
was  ill  Becret  the  scene  of  doings  which  literally 
filled  tlie  pubUc  with  horror,"  and  that  stories 
**  which  would  have  been  thought  exaggerations 
if  found  in  one  of  Mr.  Dickens's  books,*'  should 
have  been  true  of  our  borough  gaol  in  1853. 

In  1855,  we  have  to  record  another  step 
towards  the  establishment  of  a  Free  Library  in 
the  town,  in  the  presentation  to  the  town  of 
about  200  volumes  of  the  Patent  Office  Pub- 
lications, on  condition  tliat  they  should  be 
de|Kisitcd  in  a  librniy  to  which  the  inlmbitants 
could  have  free  acctaa.  This  gift  from  tlie  Cora- 
missioncrB  of  Patents  was  ref»orted  to  tho  Town 
Council  on  the  5Lh  of  June,  1855  ;  and  it  was 
nwdvcil  that  the  Midland  Institute  be  requested 
64 


to  accept  the  books,  and  place  them  In  their 
rooms,  where  tliey  might  be  used  free  of  charge  ; 
and  that  when  a  Free  Library  should  be  estab- 
lished, the  works  should  be  transferred  thereto. 

During  the  closing  weeks  of  the  year  1855,  the 
Council  was  occupied  in  the  preparation  of  a  new 
Improvement  Bill,  and  a  meeting  of  the  ratepayers 
was  held  December  18th  respttcting  the  project. 
Amid  great  confusion  the  following  resolution  waft 
moved,  almost  in  dumVshow,  by  Mr.  Lucy  : 

That  tlio  Goaucil  of  tliid  Borough  be  authorised  and 
empowered  to  make  Rppliwition  to  Purliament  in  tba 
ensuing  sesfjiou,  for  an  Act  to  amend  the  Birmingham 
Improvement  Act  of  lS51t  ixnd  for  other  purpoaea,  in 
accordance  with  the  published  parliamentary  notice  now 
read  by  the  Town  Clerk  ;  and  that  among  such  other 
purposes  the  said  Committee  be  authorised  and  empowered 
to  obtain  powers  to  nuse  and  borrow  for  the  purpose  of 
the  said  intended  Act,  the  sura  of  £SO,ODO,  upon  the 
tTedit  of  the  rates  authorised  to  Iw  leried  by  the  said 
intended  Act,  and  to  consoUihite  the  rates  called  respec- 
tivt*ly,  tht^  Borough  Improvement  Rate  and  the  Street 
Improvement  Kntt%  HUthoristd  to  be  levied  by  the  aaid 
BiJiuingham  Inipiiovement  Act,  1851. 

A  poU  was  demanded,  which  the  Mayor 
appi>inted  to  take  place  on  tho  three  following 
dayi?,  and  the  poll  resulted  in  an  ovcnv helming 
majority  against  the  [jrt»i*osed  bill,  only  1 70  yqU» 
being  rcconled  in  favour  of  it,  and  the  large 
number  td  3,402  again§t  The  mmlt  of  this 
apparent  want  uf  confidence  in  the  Town  Council 
was,  that  tho  directors  of  the  Binningham  Batiking 
Company  dtiflined  to  increase  the  account  against 
the  local  authoritieSi  and  the  two  committeea 
concerned— the  Finance  Committee  and  the 
Public  Works'  Committee — tendered  thoir  resig- 
nations at  the  next  meeting  of  the  Council 

On  the  first  of  April,  1856,  the  Council 
appointed  a  Stipendiary  Magistrate  for  the 
Borough,  Four  candidatea  were  nominated  :  Mr. 
Kynnereley,  Mr.  Adams,  Mn  Bevan,  and  Mr, 
Simons ;  and  tho  first-immed  gcntiemau  was 
elected,  £0  votes  being  recorded  in  liis  favour, 
only  33  being  given  for  the  highest  unsuccesaful 
candidate,  Mr,  Kynnorsley's  appoititnient  hav- 
ing been  continued  by  the  Queen,  ho  was 
introduced   to   the   CouncU  on  tho  19th  of  tbe 


504 


OLD   AKD   NEW   BIRMINGHAM. 


[Oar  first  PabUc  Pufai 


same  month,  and  took  his  seat  on  the  Bench 
the  same  day. 

We  have  now  to  record  the  establishment  of 
our  first  public  parks. 

In  1855,  Mr.  C.  B.  Adderley,  M.P.  (now  Lord 
Norton),  offered  to  the  Council  ten  acres  of  land 
at  Saltley,  for  a  public  park,  the  conditions 
.being  that  the  Council  should  pay  a  nominal 
rent  of  £5  per  annum  for  the  lanii ;  that  they 
should  lay  out  the  park  in  a  proper  manner ; 
and  that  the  donor  should  share  in  the  control 
of  the  same  and  have  a  voice  in  the  regulations 
relating  thereto.  Tliese  conditions  being  con- 
sidered objectionable,  the  General  Purposes  Com- 
mittee recommended  that  the  offer  be  declined, 
and  the  Council  ratified  their  decision.  This 
elicited  from  Mr.  Adderley  the  following  letter  : 

Hams,  23rd  of  August,  1855. 
Dear  Sir, 
I  have  received  from  you  a  copy  of  tlie  resolution  of  tlic 
General   Purposes  Committee  declining  my  offer  of  ten 
acres  of  land  at  Saltley  for  a  public  park. 

It  appears  that  they  have  throughout  misunderstood  my 
offer  to  liave  amounted  to  a  free  ^ih  to  them  of  the  land, 
though  from  time  to  time  I  have  endeavoured  to  correct 
such  a  misapprehension,  and  to  state  it  clearly  to  he  an 
offer  to  give  the  land  for  the  purjtose  of  a  Park  on  certain 
conditions,  heing  the  same  conditions  as  land  might  be 
offered  upon  for  the  same  jmrpose  by  other  landowners. 

There  occurring  a  delay  in  any  other  offer  being  made, 
they  asked  that  the  conditions  might  be  retluced  to 
writing.  I  re«iuested  you  to  state  them  on  my  part,  which 
I  meant  to  amount  to  a  ver}'  reduced  rent,  a  voice  in  the 
regulations  of  the  park,  and  a  guarantee  of  a  proi>cr  laying 
out  of  the  ground. 

Objections  apprar  to  have  been  raisod  to  all  these, 
although  the  rent  which  you  proj^oscd  was  at  least  one- 
sixth  of  the  real  value,  and  being  intended  more  as  an 
acknowledgment  than  a  rent,  I  would  willingly  have 
reduced  lower  still  ;  and  the  stipulation  for  propel  fencing 
was  not  on  my  own  account,  but  part  of  a  set  of  i»ark 
regulations,  which  they  lecpiestcd  me  to  obtain  from 
Manche.-,ter. 

I  should  regret  that  the  public  should  now  be  deprived 
of  an  expected  jilacc  for  recreation,  by  the  offt;r  having 
failed  ;  1  will,  therefoie,  myself,  set  apart  the  same  space 
of  ground  in  the  proposed  quarter  for  the  public  ;  and  as 
it  appears  (objections  having  been  made  to  a  fence)  that 
the  Committee  had  no  intention  of  ornamenting  the  pro- 
j)Osel  i)ark,^such  a  piece  of  giound  will  serve  as  well  all  the 
purposes  of  a  play-ground  for  all  clas^es  of  people. 

Yours,  truly, 
C.  Couchman,  Esq.  C.  B.  Addeiiley. 


The  Corporation  did,  however,  subsequently 
accept  Mr.  Adderley's  generous  provision  for  the 
recreation  of  the  toiling  artisans  of  Birmingham, 
but  in  a  modified  form;  the  land  was  leased  to 
them  for  999  years  at  a  peppercorn  rent  of  5& 
per  annum.  This,  our  first  public  park,  the 
forerunner  of  a  goodly  series  of  such  institutions 
— was  opened  on  the  30th  of  August,  1856.  The 
event  was  celebrated  by  a  dinner,  at  which  400 
guests  sat  down,  in  a  marquee  erected  in  the 
park;  and  a  concert  was  afterwards  given,  which 
included  an  ode,  written^or  the  occasion  by  R 
Monckton  Milnes  (now  Lord  Houghton),  and 
set  to  music  by  Dr.  Belcher. 

In  commemoration  of  !Mr.  Adderley'a 
generosity  the  Council  resolved,  December  9, 
1862,  to  "erect  a  suitable  and  imperishable 
monument,"  which  took  the  form  of  a  portrait, 
painted  by  Weigall,  and  was  deposited  in  the 
Corporation  Art  Gallery. 

Li  the  meantime  another  small  j>ark  was 
ofiered  to  the  town,  on  somewhat  similar  terms, 
by  Lord  Calthorpe.  On  the  first  of  April,  1856, 
the  General  Puri)Oses  Committee  jiresented  the 
following  rei)ort  to  tlie  Council  in  reference  to 
his  lordship's  proposal : 

That  they  liiul  received  from  Mr.  Whateley  Lord  Cal- 
thorpe's   i)roi)osals  for  letting  to    the    Corporation,   for 
purposes  of  public  recreation,  between  twenty  and  thirty 
acres  of  land  in  the  Pershore  Road,  by  way  of  expcrimeut, 
for  one  year,  at  a  rental  of  £3  per  acre.     The  land  ap^Hjars 
in  every  respect  suitable,  being  in  a   pleasant  and  com- 
pt»ratively  rural  situation,  and  at  the  same  time  contiguous 
to  the  centre  of  the  town.     The  following  is  a  cojty  of  the 
proposal: — "Lord   Calthorpe  i»roi»osi'S  to  let  to  the  Cor- 
poration for  one  ycat-f  about  thirty  acres  of  land,  at  a 
l)asture  rent,  for  the  purpose  of  recreation  for  the  working 
classes,  in  ordt:/-  iv  try  the  effect  of  it,   on  the   following 
conditions  : —L — That    the  working   cla.«?ses   shall   have 
free  admittance  at  all  hours  of  the  day  during  the  six 
working  days.     2. — That  no  person  shall  be  admitted  on 
the  ground  on  a  Sunday.     3.  -That  all  gambling,  inde- 
cent   langmige,    and     disorderly    conduct     bo     strictly 
prohibited.     4 . — That  no  wine,  malt  liquor,  or  spirituous 
liquors  be  sold  or  consumed  on  the  ground.     5. — That 
no    smoking    be    allowed.      6. — That    no    horses    and 
carriages    be  permitted    to  enter   the    grounds,    except 
chairs    on    wheels    with   invalids    and    children.      7. — 
That    no    Dogs    be    allowed    to    enter.      8. — That  no 
games    be    allowed,    except    cricket,     rounders,     trap- 


imKm  P*rk.] 


OLD  AOT)  ]raW  BIRiimGHAM. 


505 


it  IjAtbuig  bp  prohibited.  10.— That  SaiuUj  and 
sch<wl  children  be  admitted  on  tlie  days  of  their 
respective  afrntyersarios,  11. — That  a  proper  narabor  of 
polirH?  ofliccra  be  in  attendance  atriotly  to  enforce  the  above 
regulations.  12. — That  the  fences  be?  jjreservcd  from 
injnry/' 

Tlio  regulntion  as  to  the  closing  of  the  paik  on 

Sundays  having  been  withdrawn,  at  the  request 

of  the  CouncH,  the  offer  was  acceptml  and  at 

the   conchision   of  the   trial  year  the  land  was 

handed  over  to  the  town  on  a  lease  similar  Ut 

that  of  Addorfey  Park.     Aa  in  the  previous  case 

the  new  park    was  calknl  by    the  namo  of  the 

donor,   and  was  formally  opened  t^n   the  1st  of 

June,  1857,  by  the  Dake  of  Cambridge 

EThe  possession  of  these  two  small   parka  or 

at  ion    grounds    only     whetted    the    public 

appetite  for  still  more  accommodation  of  a  like 

character,  and  attention  was  now  turned  to  the 

noble  fragment  which  still  reinaiuod  of  the  park 

^  enclosed  by  Sir  Thomas  Hoi  to  at  Aston.     The 

I  greater  part  had  been  cut  up  into  streets  and  laid 

out  for  btiihling  land,  but  waB  as  yet  to  a  great 

extent  unbuilt-upon. 

The  first  reference  to  the  pnrcliaae  of  Aeion 

Pork  by  the  Council  occurs  in  the  Minutes  of  the 

Quarterly  Meeting  of  the  Council,  August,   6th, 

1850,  where  we  read  that  "the  Mayor  informed  the 

CouncU  tliat  he  had  received  an  offer  of  the  Aston 

Park  Estate,  and  brought  under  the  consideration 

of  the  Council  the  propriety  of  entering  into  a 

treaty  for  the  purchase  of  the  estate  as  a  place  of 

pubUc   recreation  and  amusement  for  the  Bur- 

Igc^^es,"     On   tliiB  information  a  committee  was 
appointed  **  to  open  a  coinmimication  with  the 
proprietors  of  the  estate  with  the  view  of  obtaining 
the  refuse  of  purchase  until  the  cad  of  the  next 
Session  of  Parliament,'*    On  the  29th  October  the 
Committee  reported  to  the   Council;   they  hail 
^applied  to  Mr,  E.  Itobins  {who  was  acting  for  the 
^^proprietors  in  the  sale  of  the  estate)  in  accordance 
Hirith  the  resolution ;  but,  as  the  Council  had  not 
M   yet   obtained   their    Improvement   Act,   and 
^consequently  were  witiiout  legal  power  to  pur- 
aesi    Mr*   Robins   declineil   to   enter  into  any 


treaty  lest  it  should  inadvertently  involve  both 

parties  in  litigation  and  dithculty.     The  matter 

was  therefore  shelved  for  a  time,  and  we  hear  no 

more  re^jKicting  the  purchase  of  the  park   until 

August  22nd,  1856,  when  the  question  was  one© 

more     raised,     and     the     following     i-esolution 

adopted  :■ — 

Thnt  the  Oeneml  Purposes  Committeo  be  authorised 
aad  instnictud  to  coiniiiimicate  with  the  Propriotors  of 
the  Astoii  Park  Estate,  and  aecurtain  upon  whut  terms 
the  estate  may  be  atiquired  as  a  Public  Park  and  |»laco  of 
n^creation  for  Hit  in habi Lints  of  the  Borough. 

In  iiursuance  uf  these  instructions  the  Com- 
mittee, with  the  Borough  Surveyor,  viewed  the 
estate,  and  on  the  28th  October  reported  to  the 
Council  on  the  subject.  They  had  instructed 
Mr.  Jolm  Lewis  llornbluwer  **  to  select  from 
Aston  Park,  for  a  place  of  puhHc  recreation,  such 
au  eligible  portion  thereof,  comprising  the  llall, 
as  might  be  purchased  for  a  sum  not  exce6<Hng 
£30,000,  and  to  submit  a  plan  of  the  portion 
selected,  and  to  report  thereon  not  only  the  par- 
ticdars  before  referred  to,  but  his  opinion  upon 
the  general  capability  and  value  of  Aston  Park  and 
Hall,  as  it  lies  within  the  park  pale,  as  a  whole/' 
In  reply  Mr.  Hornblower  selected  eighty -two  acres 
of  the  land  immcMliately  smTouuding  the  hall,  as 
Ijeing  .^pcclully  Buited  to  the  roquiromonts  of  a 
public  imvk,  and  valued  the  same  at  about  £23,000. 
There  was* at  that  time,  enclosed  %vitliin  the  park 
palings,  the  whole  of  the  land  now  bounded  by 
Victoria  Eoad,  Birchfield  Koad,  Aston  Brook, 
Trinity  Koad,  and  Park  Boad,  about  ICO  or  170 
acres  in  all — and  this  Mr.  ITomblower  valued  at 
£50,000.  The  proprietors  of  the  estate,  however, 
had  set  a  higher  value  upon  the  land ;  estimating 
the  selected  eighty-two  acres  at  £60,D00,  and  a 
narrower  circle  of  land  surrounding  the  h^dl— 
about  thirty  acres — at  £24,500,  To  thU  the 
Council  demurred,  and  iiistnictLd  the  Committoo 
to  ascertain  from  the  proprietors  whether  any 
reduction  of  the  price  could  be  made,  and  to 
report  thereon,  "with  such  recommendations  as 
they  think  fit  to  make  as  to  the  extent  of  land 
which  they  deem  It  desirable  to  purchase,  and  the 


506 


OLD  AND  NEW    BIR^nNGHAM. 


[Pureft^M  df  Aitot  Fttk. 


price  which  should  be  given  by  the  Council  for 
the  same/'  The  proprietors  of  the  estate,  however, 
declined  to  make  any  reduction  or  abatement 
whatever  in  the  price  asked,  as  tliey  considered 
the  land  alone  to  be  worth  the  money,  and  that 
the  haB  would  be  given  into  the  bargain.  At  the 
meeting  of  the  Council  at  which  this  decision  of 
the  proprietors  was  reported,  the  General  Purposes 


While  the  Council  were  thus  heeitating 
clLaffering  over  the  price,  a  limited  liab 
company  wa^  being  formed  for  the  pordiaat  of  i 
portion  of  the  Aston  estate,  including  the  hall, 
with  a  view  to  the  conversioD  ol  the  same  int4>  & 
place  of  public  reci-eation,  on  the  modd  of  the 
Crystal  Palacei  which  had  been  opened  a  few 
years  earlier  at  Sydenham.     The  objects  of  tbs 


-y< 


JOSEPH   CUAMBKRIAIN,    llSQ.,    M.P, 


OnawHlee  were  instructed  to  ascertain  and  report 
I  to  <!ie  Council  the  original  and  subsequent  cost  of 
the  several  ptiblic  parks  in  other  largo  towns,  and 
from  their  report  we  learn  that  at  that  time,  while 
Birmingham  was  as  yet  without  a  public  park, 
Kottitigham  had  two,  one  of  which  was  eighty 
aci€fi  in  extent,  and  the  other  fifty  acres ;  I^eds 
and  Bradfiirtl  each  li.id  one  of  sixty- two  acres  in 
extent ;  Glasgow  had  three,  (including  Glasgow 
Green)  covering  in  all  upwards  of  three  hundred 
acres  ;  and  Derby  had  one  of  sixteen  acres. 


Company,  as  stated  in   their  Memorandtim  of 

Association,  was : — 

1,  To  purchase  Park, etc.,  with  a  view  to  derive  a  pn^t 
from  such  purchasCi  and  thereby  comi>eiuiate  the  Ooitipauj 
for  outlay, 

2.  With  ultiinnte  intention,  afkr  providing  mu^ 
conipcnh&tion,  to  Appropriate  Hidl  and  premises  to  th» 
use  of  the  Piihlic  ;  ao  far  m  to  admit  the  public  tbeieto^ 
and  to  apply  all  pru(it»  thut  may  hn  made  to  maifiteQaiioe 
and  iraprovemeut  of  Hall  and  premises,  4nd  not  for  anj 
pecuniary  benefit  of  Compwny  or  Shareholders. 

The  purchase  money  amounted  to  X35,000; 
and  the  company  having  been  aBtahli»hed,  and 


PQKliMe  of  Alton  2uk.} 


OLD  AND   XEW   BIEMINGIUl^L 


507 


the  transfer  of  the  estate  comploted,  tiiere  waa 
an  univeTsal  deeire  that  the  QaeeD  should  be  asked 
to  open  the  park  in  person^  and  that  desire  was 
conveyed  by  the  Mayor»  Mr.  John  RatclilT,  to  the 
Earl  of  Shaftesbury,  in  the  following  letter : 

Birmingliam,  March  6th,  1858. 

My  LoEDt — I  have  the  honour  to  iii+orm  your  Lordship 
that  an  AaaociatioD,  fonned  for  the  |mix:ljiise  of  Aston 
Hall  and  Park, — an  Estate  lying  closely  adjacent  to  this 
Borough, ^ — have  just  entered  into  {losseasion  of  the  aame. 

Your  Lordship  ia  perhaps  aware,  that  the  property  haa 
Iseen  act^nired  for  the  pnrpoao  of  providing  a  «3onvcnieiit 
place  of  recreation  for  the  inhabitante  generally,  but 
especially  for  the  Working  Classea  of  tkni  important  and 
rapidly  increasing  Barongh. 

For  auch  a  purpose  a  more  desirable  place  could  not  he 
easily  imagined  j  the  means  of  acceaa  are  nnmeroua  and 
easy,  and  its  proximity  to  that  part  of  tho  Borough 
which  abounds  with  manufactories  and  works,  renders  it 
extremely  eligible  and  convenient  as  a  place  of  healthful 
jcaort  for  the  large  number  of  artizana  employed  Ihereiiu 
Its  situation  commandB  the  finest  views  of  which  the 
neigh bourboo<l  can  boatfL  It  Ilea  open  on  one  aide  to  the 
^9ah  and  invigpratiftg  breezes  which  blow  from  tlio 
highest  table  land  in  the  kingdom.  Its  undulating 
mrface  presents  to  the  eye  alternately  the  wood-fringed 
Wte,  the  beautiful  lawn,  and  the  noble  avenue  ;  and  la«t, 
hut  not  least,  the  picturi^Bquc  and  ancient  mansion  of  its 
former  possessors,  the  Holtes,  with  whose  history  and 
snJferings  in  the  Royal  Cause,  in  the  time  of  the 
Rebellion,  almost  every  inhabitant  of  the  Borough  is 
acquainted. 

The  acquisition  of  this  property,  the  value  of  which  is 
'daOy  increasing^  not  only  intrinsically,  but  for  the 
purpose  for  which  it  is  intended,  is  being  mainly  effected 
by  the  iiisue  of  shares  ^of  twenty  shillings  value  to  the 
Working  Classes,  aided  by  the  voluntj^ry  subscriptions  of 
the  wealthier  inhabitants. 

Having  thus  imperfectly  brought  under  your  Lordship's 
notice  this  subject^  it  remains  only  for  me  to  communicate 
to  you  tlie  one  anrious  hof«  of  those  who  are  labouring 
to  effect  their  most  commendable  purpose.  That  hope  is, 
that  by  means  of  some  proper  representations  made  to 
the  Queen,  Her  Majesty  may  be  induced  graciously  to 
eonaent  to  open  the  Park  in  jhtsoij,  !*ome  time  in  the 
Boontha  of  May  or  June  next,  as  may  best  accord  with 
Her  Mi^eaty's  convenience. 

If  Her  Majesty  would  consent  to  this,  success  would  be 
eortain,  and  the  toil-worn,  smokc'tnhaling  artizana  of  our 
ieomtng  population  would  receive  as  from  the  free  grace 
of  their  belovcil  Queen,  the  greatest  boon  which  ootild  be 
collectively  conferred  upon  them. 

I  need  banlly  remind  your  Lordship  that  Her  Majesty 
performed  a  simitar  gracious  act  at  Manchei^ter  to  that  she 
is  humbly  desired  to  prfonn  here  ;  and  1  mn  safely  assure 
your  Lordship,  that  the  high  estevm  and  aifvctiouate 
«eg»rd  m  which  Uer  Mt^esty's  royal  jjeraon  is  here  h«ld, 


by  all  claaaea  of  her  sulijecta,  will  ensure  for  Her  Majecsty 
a  most  loyal  and  enthusiastic  reception. 

1  have  the  honour  to  be,  my  Lord, 

Your  Lordship's  humble  Servant, 

JoKN  Katouiff,  Mayor. 
The  Right  Honoumble  the  Earl  of  Shrfte-sbury,  kQ. ,  &c. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Town  Council,  on  the  15th 
of  April,  the  following  welcome  letter  was  read  : 

Windsor  Castle,  April  8th,  1858. 
Sin, — I  am  now  authorised  to  inform  you,   that  tho 
visit  of  Her  Majejity  the  Queen  to  Birmingham,  will  take 
place  upon  some  day  in  the  week  beginning  the  13th  of 
June.  1 

All  further  details  must  be  matter  for  future  arrange- 
ment. 

1  have  the  honour  to  be,  Sir, 

Your  obedie&t  humble  Servant, 

C.  B.  Phjpp» 
J.  Eatcliff,  Esq.,  Mayor. 

Ab  soon  as  the  news  became  known  the  utmost 
joy  prevailed.  It  was  the  first  time  any  Engliiih 
Sovereign  had  tints  honoured  the  town,  and  the 
people  resolved  to  give  Her  Majesty  a  hearty 
Biruiinglmm  welcome.  A  Bpecial  meeting  of  the 
Council  was  held  April  27th,  to  re<:eive  a  report 
from  the  General  Purposes  Committee  as  to  the 
arrange Qienta  for  the  reception  of  Her  Majesty  in 
a  proper  and  becoming  manner.  Briefly,  these 
were  as  follows  :  That,  as  Her  Majesty  had 
signified  her  intention  of  receiving  an  address 
from  the  Council,  the  Town  Hall  and  its  various 
cummittee  rooms  should  be  adorned  an<l  fitted 
up  ;  that  the  members  of  the  Council  shoull  wait 
the  arrival  of  IUt  Majesty  in  the  hall,  and  that 
the  Mayor  and  Town  Clerk  alone  should  attend 
upon  her  at  the  station  and  accompany  her  to  the 
hall;  that  tlie  route  from  the  Town  Hall  to 
Aston  he  through  New  Street,  High  Street,  Dale 
End,  Staff otxl  Street,  Aston  Street.,  and  Church 
Boad  to  the  Park  j  that  three  triumphal  arches 
:ihould  he  erected  by  the  Council,  one  at  the 
junction  of  Dale  End  with  High  Street,  another 
at  Gosta  Greeny  and  a  tliird  at  the  borough 
boundary;,  in  Aaton  Head ;  and  that  certain  of  the 
ftpurtments  in  Aston  Hall  should  be  suitably 
furnished  with  a  view  to  Her  Majesty's  comfort 
and     entertainment.       Other    suggestions     and 


508 


OLD    AND    KEW    BIRMINGHAM.  ITh*  Quewi.  VUit  to  HrmiDghaia. 


anangements  were  made  which  need  not  be 
detailed  here ;  and,  as  the  story  of  the  Queen's 
visit  has  been  frequently  told  and  is  well-known 
to  all  our  readers,  it  may  suffice  here  to  place  the 
event  on  record  in  the  official  report  presented  to 
the  Council  on  the  13th  of  July,  1858,  by  the 
Greneral  Purposes  Committee : 

**The  General  Purposes  Committee  liave  now  the 
gratification  to  report,  in  order  that  it  may  be  recorded  on 
the  Minutes  of  the  Council,  that  on  the  15th  day  of  June 
last,  the  inhabitants  of  this  loyal  Borough  were 
honoured  by  tlie  presence  of  their  Sovereign,  and  her 
Illustrious  Consort,  who  arrived  at  the  Station  of  the 
London  and  North  Western  Railway  a  few  minutes  after 
twelve  o'clock,  when  the  Mayor  and  the  Town  Clerk, 
attired  in  full  official  Municipal  Costume,  were  in 
attendance  to  receive  and  conduct  the  Royal  Visitors  to 
the  Town  Hall.  Her  Majesty  and  Suite  having  taken 
their  seats  in  their  carriages,  escorted  by  a  detachment  of 
the  10th  Hussars,  and  preceded  by  the  carriage  containing 
the  Mayor,  the  Town  Clerk,  and  the  Mayor's  Chaplain, 
proceeded  by  way  of  Great  Queen-street,  Worcester-street, 
High-street,  Bull-street,  Colaiore-row,  and  Ann-street, 
to  the  Town  Hall,  alighting  at  the  principal  entrance  in 
Paradise-street.  Her  Majesty  and  Iler  Royal  Consort 
passed  into  the  Reception  Rooms  prepared  for  them,  and 
in  a  few  minutes  afterwards  were  conducted  by  the  Mayor 
and  Town  Clerk  into  the  body  of  tlie  Hall,  when  Her 
Majesty  ascended  tlie  dais,  the  Prince  Consort  standing 
on  lier  left,  and  the  Ladies  of  Her  Suite  taking  their 
placi's  bLhind  the  Throne.  The  National  Anthem  having 
been  sung  by  the  choir,  the  Mayor  advanced  to  the  dai's 
and  said  : — May  it  please  your  Majesty,  I  liave  a  loyal 
Addicss  of  the.  Corporation  of  this  IJorou^di,  which  on 
their  behalf  I  desire  to  present  to  your  Majesty  ;  the 
Town  Clerk  will  now  read  it.  Her  Majesty  having 
graciously  signilied  her  assent,  the  Address  adopted  by 
the  Council  at  its  Meeting  on  the  7th  day  of  June  last, 
was  read  by  the  Town  Clerk,  and  the  Mayor  having 
formally  presented  it,  Her  Majesty  read  the  following 
gracious  reply  :  — 

"  I  liivc  rei-civfl  with  pleasure  your  hiyal  aud  dutiful  A<Mross, 
exiue.s.iing  yuur  .sincere  and  <U'Votod  ulleetion  to  my  IVrsou  and 
my  Timaie. 

"  It  i.H  most  gr.itifyiiiK'  to  me  to  Imvo  tli.*  opi.ortunity  of  vi.sitin;;j 
thin  aiieicnt  aud  enteri'ri.sin^  town,  the  eentie  of  i»j  much  of  our 
manufaetuiiiig  indiistry  ;  and  I  trust  you  may  lonj^  rcmiiu  in  tlie 
full  enjoynn-nt  «)f  that  liberty  and  .security,  without  which  even 
industry  itwelf  mu.st  fail  to  real)  't'^  ai'i>roi.riate  reward. 

"  1  (U-aire  you  will  convey  to  the  viwt  eomniUTiity   which  you 

represent,  my  sincere  thanks  for  their  conlial  welcome,  a.ssuring 

them  at  the  tiamc  time  of  the  pleasure   I    have   derived    from 

witnessing  the  great  and  incre;jsing  prosperity  of  Birmingham  and 

■  its  nei^hbourhoo  1. 

The  Queen  having  handed  this  gracious  reply  to  the 
Mayor,  His  Worship  then  said  :— "  I  have  also  the  honour, 
your  Majesty,  of  presenting  an  Address  to  your  Royal 
Consort  from  the  Town  Council,  which  I  will  request  the 
Town   Clerk   to    read."     The    Town    Clerk   then   again 


advanced  and  read  the  Address  to  His  Royal  Hi^ea^ 
adopted  by  this  Council  at  its  Meeting  on  the  7th  day  of 
June  last.  To  this  Address  the  Prince  Consort  read  the 
following  reply : — 

"  Mr.  Mayor  akd  Gektlemcn, 

"  I  thank  you  very  sincerely  for  your  kind  and  Ibtteni^ 
address 

"  It  is  most  gratifying  to  me  to  find  that  tne  riews  vhidi  I 
expressed  on  tlie  occssion  of  my  last  visit  to  Birmingham  ccnndde 
with  those  of  its  industrious  and  enlightened  citizens,  and  to 
hear  that  the  lustitation  I  was  then  called  upon  to  inangoratc  bids 
fair  to  answer  the  exi)ectations  of  its  enterprising  foandera. 

"  It  is  with  unmixed  pleasure  that  I  have  witnessed  this  day 
your  conlial  and  loyal  reception  of  your  Queon ;  and  whai  I 
reflect  that  eaeh  \i8it  which  it  has  been  my  good  fortune  to  pay 
this  town  has  bcon  occasioned  by  some  fresh  eflfort,  on  your  part, 
to  promote  either  the  social  happiness  or  the  moral  and 
intellectual  improvement  of  your  fellow  citizen.^,  I  can  only 
express  my  hoi>e  and  confident  trust  that  the  blessing  of  Almi^ty 
God  may  contintie  to  attend  your  exertions  in  so  noble  a  cause." 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  Prince's  reply,  the  Secretary 
of  State  communicated  to  the  Mayor  Her  Majesty's 
commands  to  him  to  approach  the  Throne.  The  Mayor 
having  obeyed,  Her  Majesty,  receiving  tlic  Sword  of 
Her  Eqtierry,  conferred  the  honour  of  Knighthood  upon 
His  Worship.  Mr.  Alderman  Hodgson  and  Mr.  Alder- 
man Palmer,  the  mover  and  seconder  of  the  Address  to 
Her  Majesty,  and  Mr.  Alderman  Phillips  and  Mr.  Alder- 
man Carter,  the  mover  and  seconder  of  the  Address  to 
the  Prince  Consort,  were  severally  presented  to  Her 
Majesty  and  had  the  honour  of  kissing  hands.  The  other 
Members  of  the  Council  were  then  individually  intro- 
duc((l  to  the  Queen.  Her  Majesty  and  the  Prince 
Consort  then  retired  and  were  re-conducted  to  their 
carriages  by  the  Mayor  and  the  Town  Clerk,  accompanied 
by  the  Members  of  the  Council.  Her  Majesty's  procession, 
l)rect'ded  by  the  Mayor  and  Town  Clerk,  was  then  formal 
and  procetikd  by  way  of  New-street,  High-street,  Dale 
End,  Stafford-street,  and  Aston-street,  to  the  Boundary 
of  the  Borough,  from  whf^nce  the  Royal  cortege  (joined 
by  the  carriages  of  several  of  the  County  Magistracy) 
passed  onward  to  Aston  Hall,  where  Her  Majesty,  after 
having  [jartaken  of  Luneheon,  (provided  by  your 
Committee,)  reciived  the  Address  of  the  Interim 
Manager-?,  and  formally  inaugurated  the  Hall  and  Park. 
Her  Majesty,  the  Prince  Consort,  and  Suite,  accompanied 
by  the  Mayor,  the  Town  Clerk,  and  several  Members  of 
the  Corporation,  then  proceeded  to  the  temporary  Railway 
Station  at  Aston,  from  whence  the  Queen  and  the  Royal 
Party  took  tin  ir  departure.  Previously  to  leaving.  Her 
Majesty  beckoned  the  Mayor  to  Her,  and  was  graciously 
l)leased  to  express  to  His  Worship  her  high  gratification 
at  the  reception  she  had  received. 

The  hall  and  park  thus  opened,  became  one  of 
most  j)opulrir  i\surts  in  the  midland  counties,  and 
we  shall  notice  some  of  the  entertainments 
provided  l)y  the  Company,  in  our  chapter  on  the 
Amusements  of  the  People.  "We  may  heie 
digress,  however,  in  this  respect,  to  record  briefly 


PWtal  Acddaot  At  Ast^n  Parle*] 


OLD  AND   KEW   BIILMINGHAM. 


509 


an  event  connected  therewith,  which,  to  a  ceTtain 
extent,  comes  within  the  scope  of  the  present 
chapter.  A  woman,  named  PoweD,  who  styled 
herself  **  the    Fenmle   Elondin,"  was  engaged  to 

perfonn  at  Aston  Park  on  the  high  rope,  on- 

1863 ;  and  during  the  perfonuance  the  rope 
broke  and  the  poor  woman  was  killed  instan- 
taneous] j.  Considerable  excitement  prevailed, 
and  not  a  little  indignation  at  the  act  ion  of  the 
Company  in  tlms  pandering  to  the  taste  for  such 
demoralising  exhibitions;  and  this  was  heightened 
by  the  receipt  of  a  letter  addressed  to  the  Mayor 
by  command  of  the  Queen,  expressing  **her 
I>ersonal  feelii^gs  of  horror  that  one  of  her 
subjects, — a  female, — should  have  been  sacriliccd 
to  the  gmtifieution  of  the  demoralising  taste  *'  for 
SQcli  exhibitions,  and  trusting  that  the  Mayor,  in 
common  with  the  rest  of  the  to>vnspeople  of 
Birmingham,  would  use  his  influence  "  to  pi-evont 
in  future  the  degradation  to  such  exhibitions  of 
the  park  which  was  gladly  opened  by  Her 
Miyesty  and  the  Prince  Consort,  in  the  hope 
that  it  would  be  made  serviceable  for  the 
liealthy  exercise  and  rational  recreation  of  the 
people." 

This  unfortimate  occurrence  was  pai'tly  instru- 
niental  in  bringing  about  the  acqiiirement  of  the 
liall  and  piirk  by  the  Town  Council  At  the 
same  meeting  at  which  the  Queen's  letter  to  the 
Mayor  was  read,  another  communication  was  also 
laid  before  the  CouncD,  viz.,  a  copy  of  two 
resolutions  passed  at  a  meeting  of  the  Managers  of 
Astun  Park,  which  were  as  follows : 

"  That  the  liranageia  consider  that  tlie  recent 

calamity   at  the  Piu-k,  on   the   occasion   of  the 

Ftireslers*  Ft'le,  resulting  in  the  death  of  Mrs. 

Powell,    will    increasD    the    dithculties    of    the 

Iklan^igers  in  necuriug  the  Hall  and  Park  on  the 

original  Plan  of  the  Limited  Liability  Act ;  and 

^thertifore  they  are  desii-ous  that  steps  should  bo 

to  arrange  with  the  Corporation  for  the 

plotion  of  the  purchase.** 

That  a  copy   of    tlio  above  Resolution   be 

^arw&ixled  to  the  Mayor,  and  that  he  be  respectfully 


requeisted  to  take  such  measures  on   the  occasion 

as  may  appear  to  him  advisable," 

As  a  result  of  this  communication  from  the 

Aston  Hall  Company,  a  letter  was  athire^sed  by 

the  Mayor  to  the  Lord  Lieutenant  of  the  County 

(Lord  Leigh),  as  follows: 

"  BoroQgh  of  BirmlDgbaiii,  Mayot's  Office, 

Oct.  8th,  1868. 
My  Loan, — I  am  inroniied,  and  1  believe  correctly, 
that  the  Aston  Hall  nud  Park  Company  will  Iks  unable  ta 
bi^ilil  much  longer  tlie  possession  of  thtir  cdtabliahment ; 
aiui  uiile»if»  nieiins  are  used,  Mitbout  deluy,  to  secure  the 
property  in  p«^ri>etiiity  for  the  rational  recreation  of  the 
^>eo|»]€?,  possession  will  hi*  resunied  by  its  former  owners. 

To  pmveut  tbia  catastrophe  it  will  be  neceasar)*  to  vert 
the  property  in  a  responsible  public  body,  and  possibly 
your  Lordshiii  may  ngri'C  with  me  that  the  Coryioratioii  of 
Bimiiuglium  would  bo  the  nsost  proper  public  body  ta 
whom  it  could  be  conveyed. 

To  efTeet  this  deitinible  object  do  leas  a  sum  thmi 
£'28,OilO  will  be  required  to  discharge  existing  Hnbihties, 
and  a  considerable  addition cil  outlay  njust  be  incurred  in 
feneing,  rcstomtion,  iiihI  otherwises  to  render  the  Hall 
and  Pttrk  siiit^ible  for  tlie  con  tern  jiliitcd  purpose, 

NotVA'irlistanding  this  heavy  burden  on  the  Park,  I 
believe  tlmt  redemption  i«  even  now  not  impossible,  if 
prompt  an<i  energetic  nieasurta  bo  adopted. 
Thsit  belief  le^th  partly  on  the  Corporation,  and  partly 
on  your  Lordship,  and  the  Justices  and  Gentlemen  of  the 
County. 

The  former  have  the  i>owcr  and  1  believe  the  will  to 
reuvler  aid  iu  the  shoj^eof  a  round  sum  of  money  ;  and  I 
am  giatiiified  from  the  loynl^  emphatic^  and  spirited 
Innguage  ol  the  Resohition  adopted  at  their  Meeting  at 
\Vaii*ickj  over  whieh  your  Loidslnp  [kresiJcd,  those 
Oent1eii«en  will  not  be  far  behind  the  Corporation  of 
Binningham  in  their  eflorts  to  prevent  an  occurrence 
which  will  be  stigmatised  as  a  disgrace  to  al)  (lartieB 
(K)ueerned. 

Uodtir  these  drcnmstanees  I  venture  to  Ask  your 
Lordship's  advi.e  and  assistHnce. 

Will  your  Lordship  inime<iia!ely  convene  another 
Meeting  of  tliose  Justices  aud  tomtit  men  who  ^o  recently 
and  fcftintstly  expressed  their  nytupnthy  with  the  common 
object  we  have  in  view,  and  lay  the  factn  before  them  ? 

If  your  Lordj»hip  will  adopt  this  course,  help  will  come 
to  it%,  and  bueh  help  1  am  uutiiiHed  as  with  our  own  mcana 
will  aeeoniplish  our  wislios. 

In  short,   if  the  County   will  move    in   the    matter 
promptly  and  energetically,  iia  thiy  will  I  am  sure  on  your 
Lordship's  call,  I  will  move  the  Council  for  a  vote  of 
i:2O|0O0,  and  I  am  satisfied  I  slntll  not  move  in  Tain. 
1  aui,  my  Lord, 

Your  Lordship's  faithful  Servant, 

ClCAKLKs   STUltGE, 

The  Right  Hononmble  Mftt/trr  ^f  Birv%in^ham. 

Tufc  LoiiP  LlEUTEXAKT  OK  WAnwicKbimiit 
Stoneleigh." 


Uie  Pootilf,) 


OLD  AND  NEW   BlKMlKGHAiL 


511 


area  for  relaxation  and  amusement  after  toil  must 
be  invaluable.  Her  ^lujesty  had  hoped  that  tiiis 
requirement  had  been  permanently  provided  for; 
and  Her  Majesty  ia  still  unwilling  to  believe 
that,  in  a  locality  in  which  so  much  wealth  eb 
found  in  proximity  to  the  hard  labour  by  which 


Corporation  amounted  only  to  £19,000.  On  the 
22ud  of  Seplenjber,  18G4  the  hall  and  park  were 
opened  to  the  public  free,  for  their  use  and 
enjoyment  '*  for  ever."  The  faets  relative  to  the 
purchase  of  tlie  estate  arc  set  forth  on  a  Memorial 
Tablet   of    bi'a^s.   which  is  placed  in  the  large 


■\UMm 


I  ITilF^": 


e^\]m3liiM 


•MMiMMA\mi\l\ 


-^-1    •,4«* 


L-^/-^- 


tt  Mil  I 


:ir 


% 


THIS   KXC1J1AN0E. 


it  is  produced,  funds  can  be  wanting  to  secure 
to  the  pitpuTation  an  enjttvment  the  value  uf 
which  th«>y  have  been  tiught  to  estinmte  by  the 
tmniKjmry  uw  of  Aston  Park,  and  of  which  it 
would  be  very  injudicious  and  unJAiiiirable  now 
to  deju^ive  tlieni/' 

Ultinjatcly  the  sum  of  £7,000  was  contribute<l 
[by  several  ^f  the  woaltkier  inhabitt*ntd  of  the 
tow-u  antl  tjei^h!iouihood,  and  as  by  this  time  the 
amount  suUcnbed  by  the  touipaiiy  had  reached 
£OfiOOt  the  Imlancc  remaining  to  be  paid  by  the 
66 


Entrance    Hall,    and  bears    the    following    in- 

scrip tiou  : 

Tie  it  rem^mbcreil  that  on  the  Twenty 'fc<*coud  d:iy  of 
Sppte ml ►€►!',  AA\  ISfli,  aful  in  the  Mayoralty  ol  the 
Rt*  Worshipful  Wiilifliii  HoUiiby,  Es«|re,,  ttas  hull  and 
Forfy-llifCM  iirrc«  of  UnA  darroTiading  it,  h/ivtng 
b^t'ti  imrvUftscd  1y  Ww  ('orjKjrat'oii  of  the  Borough  of 
BirtTiinghii^Tt,  were  fornjally  dedicated  to  the  use  of  the 
people  fori  heir  rccieatioo,  as  a  ¥iee  Hall  and  Park  for 
ever. 

And  b«  it  also  remembered  tliat  of  the  aam  of  T\%'enty- 
MX  ThouBuiid  rounds  paid  by  tho  Corporation,  u  th© 
purcUiixe  nioni?y,  the  an  in  gf  17000  wj^h  contrilmt«d  hy 


512 


OLD   AND   NEW   LLRMINGHAK 


[The  Fiei  Library  MoTemot 


the  benevolent  Lady  and   Gentlemen  whose  names  and 

donations  are  inscribed  below : — 

Miss  Louisa  Anne  Ryland  ....  £1000 
Abraham  and  Gtorge  Dixon  Ebquires  .  .  2000 
Thomas  Lloyd,  Es(|uire  ....  1000 
George  Frederick  Muntz,  Esquire  .  .  1000 
William  Middlemore,  Esquire  .  .  .  600 
Richard  Greaves,  Estjuire  *) 

Ell  ward  Greaves  Es<ire,  M.P.,  and     V  .       500 

Jeffery  Bevington  Lowe,  Esqre.         / 
Archibald  and  Timothy  Kenrick,  Esq  res.     .       500 
Sampson  Samuel  Llovd,  and  )  200 

George  Braitlnviiite  Lloyd,  Esquires.  ( 
Alfred  and  Duglas  Evans,  Es<iuires      .         .       200 
Charles  and  James  Shaw,  Esquires      .         .       100 
THOMAS  STANDBUIDGE, 

Town  Clerk. 

The  building  (which  has  already  been  fully 
described  in  our  chapter  on  the  Holte  Family), 
was  converted  into  a  museum  by  the  energetic 
assistance   rendered    to    the    Company    by    Sir 
Francis  E.  Scott.      Many  examples  of  industrial 
art,   etc.,   had  been   collected   previous    to    the 
acquisition  of  the  hall  and  park  by   the   Cor- 
poration, and  many  of  these  were  retained.     A 
few   years   ago   the   principal    contents    of    the 
museum  of  Natural   History  were  removed  from 
the  Queen's  College,  and  deposited  in  Aston  Ilall. 
They  comprise  a  large  collection  of  British  and 
Foreign  Birds,  Mammalia  and   Reptiles,  and  are 
placed  in  the  entrance  hall,  the   *  Yellow  Koom,' 
the  *  Cleopatra  Room,'  and  *  Lady  Holte's  Room.' 
In  the  splendid  department  formerly  known  as 
the    *  Great   Drawing   Room '    (now    called   the 
Queen's  room),  is  arranged  an  interesting  collect- 
ion of  Chinese  and  Jai)anese  productions,  origin- 
ally   lent    by    Ambrose     Pai-sons,     and     since 
purchased  from  that  gentleman  by  tlie   Corpora- 
tion  for  permanent  exhibition ;    also  the  hand- 
some state  palanquin  and  cliair  of  state,  prcserxtod 
to  Iler   Majesty  by   the  Major  King  of    Siam. 
Sir   Francis   Scott's   collection   of    the    Arundel 
Society's  reproductions  of  works  of  art,   a  collec- 
tion of  Specimens  from  the  Great  Exhibition  of 
1851  (comprising  models  of  fruit,  articles  used  in 
manufactures,    etc.),    a  collection  of    Geological 
Specimens,     ^lachinery.     Models     of     Statues, 
plaster  ca^ts,  etc.,  fill  the  various  other  rooms, 


and  are  fully  described  in  the  excellent  HadI- 
book  to  the  Museum,  comj^iled  by  tlie  Curator, 
Mr.  Alfred  Rodway.  During  the  rebuilding  of 
the  Corporation  Art  Gallery,  the  coUection  of 
pictures  and  examjdes  of  induptrial  art  has  heen 
removed  to  Aston  Hall  and  is  arranged  in  the 
Great  Gallery  and  the  Glass  Pavilion.  The  latter, 
which  extends  along  the  entire  length  of  the 
west  front  of  the  building  was  erected  sub- 
secjuent  to  the  purchase  of  the  hall,  by  the 
Company. 

In  1873,  a  piece  of  land  fronting  Park  Road, 
was  purchased  by  the  Corporation,  and  added  to 
the  Park,  the  total  area  of  which  is  now  50a  Or 
23p. 

In  1859,  the  second  set  of  public  baths  was 
erected,  in  Woodcock  Street,  near  Aston  Eoad, 
the  first  stone  being  laid  JvHj  25t}L 

In  October,  in  the  same  year,  a  report  was  pre- 
sented to  the  Council  by  the  Burial  Board  Com- 
mittee, respecting  the  establishment  of  a  Borough 
Cemetery  ;  and  in  accordance  with  the  recomiiie&- 
dation  of  the  Committee,  it  was  resolved  that  an 
estate  of  one  hundred  and  five  acres,  at  Witton,  be 
purchased  for  the  sum  of  £16,350,  being  at  the 
rate  of  about  £150  an  acre.  The  Council  further 
instructed  the  Finance  Committee  to  obtain  a 
loan  of  £25,000  for  the  purchase  and  laying  out 
of  the  said  land,  and  for  other  necessary  works 
in  connection  therewith.  Tlie  Cemetery  was 
opened  May  27,  1863. 

Once  more  the  question  of  adopting  the  Free 
Libraries*  Act  was  brouglit  to  the  front,  in 
August,  1859.  At  a  meeting  of  the  Council  on 
the  16th  of  that  month,  Councillor  (now  Alder- 
man) K.  C.  Osborne  moved  "  Tliat  this  Council 
doth  hereby  request  tlie  flavor  (Mr.  ThomaJ 
Lloyd)  to  convene  a  i)ublic  meeting  of  the 
Lurgesses,  to  determine  whether  they  will  a<l<'pt 
for  this  l>orough  an  Act  passed  in  the  I8lh  and 
19th  years  of  her  present  Majesty,  .  .  .  for 
the  establishment  of  Free  Public  Libraries  and 
Museums  in  Municipal  Towns,  &c."  An  amend- 
ment was,  however,  adopted  for  the  appointment  «f 


a  Committee    to  consider  nnd  rr*porfc  upon    the 
inatteft 

Tliis  report,  which  was  m*3st  exhaustive  and 
I  intere.stijig,    wad  not   presented    until   January, 
I860.     The  Committee  reported  tliat  sLuco  the 
[  first  attempt  to  introduce  the  Act  intu  nirmin<?- 
rbam,  8©ren  years  previously,  sevtTul  krge  tuwnsv 
bad  adopted  it ;  they  had,  therefore,  **  the  means 
I  of  ©stimatinfi  iU  raluo  by  their  experience,  and 
'  of  thus  ascertaining  if  it  is  productive  of  those 
beneficial  results  which  its  friends  anticipated." 
During  this  period,   ton,  the  Act  under  which 
Free  Libraries  were  cstablbhed  had  been  amended. 
If  it  had  been  adopted  in  1852,  only  one  half- 
penny in  the  pound  could  have  bee«  taken  from 
'  the  rates  towards  the   coat  of   maintaining   the 
!  Libraries,  and  none  of  the  public  money  couhl 
[luiYe  been  expended  in  the  purchase  of  books. 
But  in   IS5^  a  new  Act  was  parsed,  rr^pealiug 
I  that  of  1850,  and  empowering  Town  Councils  to 
levy  a  rate  of  one  penny  in  the  pound,  which 
may  be  used,  not  merely  fur  tlie  maintaining  of 
the  Library,  but  also  for  the  purchase  of  **  bouka, 
:  newspapers,  maps,  specimens  of  Art  and  Science/' 
[and    for   all    other  Library  purposes.       Ahout 
r twenty  towns  had  adopted  the  Act,  and  anumgst 
[tlie  number,  Manchester  and  Liverpool    In  these, 
more  nearly  resembling  otir  own  town,  the 
"tJbmmittee  had  made  euvpiirios  as  to  the  wtirking 
of  the  Act,  and  reported  fully ;    it  may  suffice 
[  bare,  however,  to  condenae  from  their  report  the 
following  facta  : 
Mjinchestor  was  the  fimt  town  to  adopt  Llie  Act  of  1850, 
1  and,  on  ticcoQiit  of  tbe  limited  provision*  of  tluit  enat  t- 
I  ment,  fuQiid  it  necca^ary  to  apptal  to  the  lahAbitauts  for 
I  Toluntary  subftcriptiona^    and  the*  Hum  of   £ri,S23  wtis 
ill   tliis  niai]ii<<r»    JCT^OIS   was  expended    in    th>* 
ichfise  of  »  siiitiible  building  and  jiite.     13,0'JS  volumes 
%t  lK>ok4  were  purchoti^d,  at  n  coat  of  j£4,15(i,  and  about 
3|200  others  were  presented  by  vorious  donors  ;  but  of 
the  latter  only  almnt  5^0  were  of  speciiil    valm-%    thus 
I  con&nninf^  the  Birmingham  conimitteo  in  their  o[iinion, 
'  tiiat  ciusufll  tlonationM  is*  a  totally  untrustworthy  sourco 
I  for  the  formatiott  of  puhltt'  libmrlus  under  »»y  circum- 
•tanc^ft/*    The  21,000  volumes  aei^uirod  at   the  opening 
of  th«  library  had  increased  during  the  seven  years  to 
1 51,240,  including  (Jii, 221  Hpwificiitions  of  l*citetit«,  bound 
[into  2,303  voluSo»»   prwiM^nted  by  her  Majesty *»  Com- 


missionors.  During  the  seven  years  of  the  existeace  of 
the  library  the  total  isane  of  books  amounted  to  2,000,  S29. 

At  Liverpool  tbe  results  were  equally  gratifying.  The 
library  wai  establjsht'd  in  1854,  and  comprised  at  the 
timeofopeaing  only  l.-IS?  volumes  ;  which,  in  fiv*?  years, 
had  increaaed  to  53,018.  The  aggregate  issues  in  1864 
were  36,978  ;  in  1859  they  amoimted  to  639,043,  being 
au  actual  circulation  of  12/290  volumes  per  week, 

"After  the  examples  given,"  continues  the  report,  **  it 
is,  perhaps,  unnecessary  to  give  further  illustrations  of 
the  working  of  these  institutions.  It  may,  however,  be 
observed,  that  from  every  town  Irom  which  reports  have 
been  obtaiiMkl — Stilford,  Shelliold,  Birkenhead,  and  Ox- 
ford, being  among  the  number  ^ — similar  encouraging 
results  are  recorded  ;  and  in  e^ery  infitance  the  establish - 
metit  of  a  Free  Library  has  been  bailed  by  the  inhabitants 
as  an  important  agent  towards  the  mental  and  moral 
improvement  of  ill  tdaases  of  society." 

Tlie  result  of  tliia  rfijiort  was  thut^  at  a  meeting 
of  tlie  Burgesses  licld  in  tho  Town  Piall,  February 
21,  18G0|  presided  over  b>  the  Mayor  (Mr. 
Tbonifts  Lloyd),  the  resolution  for  the  adoption 
of  the  Act  was  carried  hy  an  overwhelming 
mnjority.  The  Free  Libraries'  Committee  was  ap- 
pointed March  0th,  and  presented  its  first  report 
to  tlio  Council  on  the  15th  of  May,  recommending 
the  esinbliHliment  of  a  Central  Iteference  Library, 
Lending  Library,  Newsroom,  and  Art  Gallery, 
near  the  Town  Hall,  and  of  three  Branch 
Librariiia  ;  one  for  the  northern  district,  near  SU 
George's  Church ;  another  near  Gosta  Green,  for 
the  eastern  district ;  and  a  thini  Id  the  vicinity 
of  Bradf«jrd  Street,  for  tlie  southern  district  These 
recommendations  were  approved  by  tlie  Council, 
and  the  Committee  was  authorised  fo  carry  them 
int<j  eifect.  Premisi?s  for  tho  accommodation  of 
the  Northern  Branch  Library,  in  Constitution  HID, 
were  obtained  from  Mr.  Cortland,  on  a  lease  for 
twenty-one  years,  at  au  annual  rent  of  X45,  aubj*^ct 
to  the  Council  keeping  the  premises  in  proper 
repair  and  condition.  Meanwhile  the  ComniittoQ 
was  not  slothful  in  carrying  out  the  more  impor- 
tant measure  authorised  by  tho  Council,  of 
erecting  suitable  [premises  for  the  Central  Librarios 
and  Art  Gallery.  On  the  4th  of  September, 
18G0,  a  report  was  presented  to  the  Council  on 
this  subject ;  the  Committee  recommended  tho 
selection  of  the  piece  of  vacant  ground  adjoining 


erection  of  the  Central  Buildings  on  tlie  land 
4idjoiiiing  tlie  Instiiute,  they  reported  that  they 
were  in  communication  with  Mr*  Barry,  the 
architect,  upon  the  subject,  and  would  shortly  be 
prepared  to  lay  before  the  Council  plans  of  the 
intended  buildings  for  approval. 

The  first  Fiee  Library  (Constitution  Hill 
Branch)  was  opened  to  the  public  on  the  3rd  of 
April,  1861,  by  Mr.  Arthur  Ryland,  the  then 
Mayor  of  the  Borough.  The  members  of  the 
Council,  and  the  pruacipal  inhabitants  interested 
in  the  cauee  of  education,  were  hospitably  enter- 
tained by  the  Mayor  at  Dee's  lloyal  Hotel,  after 
which  they  proceeded  to  the  Library  for  the 
purpose  of  inaugurating  it.  Addresses  were 
delivered  by  the  Mayor,  the  Rev.  Canon  Miller, 
<yeorge  Dawson,  and  others,  and  the  Library  was 
then  formally  declared  open.  The  arrangements 
for  the  issue  of  books  were  not,  however,  com- 
pleted until  the  22nd  of  April  Crowds  of  persons 
presented  themselves  on  that  day  for  bDrrowers' 
tickets,  and  so  great  w^as  the  excitement — we  are 
told  in  the  firat  annual  report  of  the  Committee^ 
tliat  for  several  weeks  applicants  had  to  wait 
upwanls  of  an  hour  lie  fore  their  turns  arrived  to 

\  attended  to,  as  many  as  two  hundred  persons 

plying  at  one  time. 

The  Committee  further  reported  tlmt  they  had 
obtained  land  for  the  Southern  Branch  Library, 
at  the  junction  of  Heath  Mill  Lane  with  Dcritend, 
JOld  that  efforts  were  being  made  to  obtain  a 
suitable  ?ite  for  the  eastern  district,  and  proposed 
to  erect  both  these  branch  Libmries  Itefore  com- 
mencing the  central.  Notwithstanding  several 
delays,  however,  in  the  latter  undertaking,  it  was 
completed  before  either  of  the  branches;  but  of 
this  we  shall  make  fuller  record  at  a  later  date. 

In  connection  with  the  park  provided  by 
Mr.  Adderley  (Lortl  Norton),  a  free  library  and  a 
ismall  museum  were  founded  by  that  gentleman, 
and  opened  on  the  11th  of  January,  1864. 
Being  in  an  out-of-the-way  locality,  however,  they 
were  but  little  used  at  firat,  and  it  w^as  found 
^(sadmlJe  aftor  a  time  t^  open  the  library   and 


newsroom  only  in  the  evening,  from  six  to  nine 
o'cloi:k ;  and  the  contents  of  the  museum  were  J 
removed  to  Aston  HalL     The  library,  which  hail 
since   been   added  to    by    the    Free    Libraries' 
Committee,  now  contains  2,819  volumes. 

During  the  year  1860,  that  eccentric  individual 
Mr»  George  Francis  Train,  applied  to  the  Town 
Council  for  permission  to  lay  down  a  tramway  m\ 
one  of  the  streets  of  our  town  ;  but,  although  he 
obtained  the  desired  sanction  no  use  was  made  of 
it,  for  the  tramway  was  never  laid.  The  public 
of  Birmingliam  had  not  as  yet  any  confidence  in 
the  scheme ;  and,  it  was  reserved  for  the  corpora^ 
tion  itself  to  undertake  the  work  of  constructing 
street  tramways 

During  the  year  1860,  the  Council  was  occupied 
with  the  discussion  of  a  proposed  bill  for  obtaining 
additional  powers  for  the  improvement  of  the 
town,  On  the  5th  of  December  a  town's  meeting 
was  held  to  consider  its  pi o visions,  and  amid 
much  noisy  interruption  a  \yo\\  was  demanded, 
and  fixed  for  the  tliree  following  days.  The 
official  declaration  of  the  result,  which  was  made 
on  the  nth  of  the  same  month,  showed  a  majority 
of  *J6,  2,729  votes  having  been  recorded  in  favour 
of  the  bill,  and  2,634  against  it  The  Act  was 
obtained  during  the  following  session  of  Parlia- 
ment, at  a  cost  of  XI  1,000. 

In  February,  1862,  the  Town  Council  adopted] 
for  Birmingham  the  Adulteration  Act,  which  had 
just  become  law  through  the  efifurts  of  our 
townsman  Mr.  John  Postgate,  F.E.C.8.,  (whoj 
has  applied  himself  unrendttingly  to  the  task  of 
obtaining  the  utmost  security  from  adulteration, 
both  of  food,  drinks,  and  drugs) ;  and  a  borough 
analyst  was  appointed  forthwith,  in  the  person  of 
Mr.  Alfred  Hill,  M.D.  We  shall  refer  more 
particularly  to  the  important  part  taken  by 
Dirmingham  in  the  movement  against  adulteration 
in  a  future  chapter. 

As  an  illustration  of  the  value  of  land  in 
Birmingham  in  1864,  as  well  as  of  the  energy 
and  enterprise  of  the  Council  in  the  improvement 
of  the  town,  we  may  note  hens  the  fact  that  in 


516 


OLD  AND  NEW   BIRMINGHAM. 


[The  Free  Libniiei. 


the  above-named  year  the  sum  of  £53  lOs.  per 
yard  was  given  by  the  municipal  authorities  for 
the  land  at  the  corner  of  Worcester  Street,  for 
the  improvement  of  the  comer  now  occupied  by 
"The  Quadrant" 

We  now  return  once  more  to  the  history  of  the 
Free  Libraries.  Owing  to  the  cost  which  would 
have  been  involved  in  carrying  out  the  plans  of 
Mr.  Barry  for  the  Central  Libraries,  (the  lowest 
tender,  after  the  committee  had  deducted  all 
unnecessary  or  nonessential  provisions,  being 
£12,250  lOs.,  or,  including  the  Art  Gallery, 
£14,250  10s.),  tlie  work  was  placed  in  the  hands 
of  Mr.  William  Martin,  and  the  tender  of  Messrs. 
Branson  and  Murray,  for  the  erection  of  the 
buildings  at  a  cost  of  £8,600,  was  accepted. 
Owing  to  a  strike  in  the  building  trade  the  work 
of  erection  was  considerably  delayed,  but  in  April, 
1865,  the  buildings  were  so  far  advanced  that  the 
Committee  reported  to  the  Council  that  it  was 
now  desirable  to  appoint  a  Chief  Librarian,  in 
order  that  the  new  officer  might  enter  upon  his 
duties  in  time  for  the  opening  of  the  Central 
Lending  Library  and  Newsroom.  Thirty-two 
applications  were  received  from  candidates  for 
the  new  and  honourable  municipal  office,  and  out 
of  these,  three  names  were  submitted  to  the 
Council,  viz :  Mr.  George  McWhea,  Mr.  J.  D. 
Mullins,  and  Mr.  Edward  Lings,  the  librarian  of 
the  previously-established  branch  library  at 
Constitution  Hill.  The  Committee  recommended 
Mr.  McWhea  as  the  most  suitable  candidate,  but 
the  Council  elected  Mr.  J.  D.  Mullins  (who  had 
for  some  time  previously  occupied  tlic  post  of 
librarian  at  the  Birmingham  Old  Library),  as 
Chief  Librarian,  and,  although  he  has  at  all  times 
borne  the  character  of  an  exceedingly  strict 
disciplinarian,  he  has  obtained  and  maintained 
the  confidence  of  the  Committee  and  of  the 
Council  both  as  a  bibliographical  scholar  and 
keeper  of  the  books  and  manuscripts  committed 
to  his  care,  and  as  the  head  of  a  large  and 
important  department  of  the  public  service  of  the 
town. 


The  Central  Lending  Library  was  appTopriateiy 
opened  on  the  first  day  of  the  British  Association 
meeting  in  the  town,  September  6,  1865 ;  a 
short  religious  service  being  celebrated  by  the 
Lord  Bishop  of  Worcester,  and  addreaaes 
delivered  by  the  Mayor  (Mr.  H.  Wiggin),  Lord 
Stanley,  M.P.  (now  Earl  of  Derby),  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Miller,  and  Mr.  George  Dawson,  M.A. ;  and 
at  the  conclusion  the  Library  was  declared  open, 
free,  to  the  people  of  Birmingham,  for  ever. 
The  issue  of  books  commenced  on  the  19th  of 
the  same  month,  and  a  large  number  of  borrowers* 
tickets  were  speedily  issued,  the  average  daily 
issue  of  books  being  575,  and  of  persons  using 
the  Newsroom,  300. 

Meanwhile  the  work  of  collecting  valuable  and 
standard  books  for  the  formation  of  a  Reference 
Library  was  being  steadily  proceeded  with,  and 
land  had  been  purchased  by  the  Committee,  at 
the  comer  of  Legge  Street  and  Aston  Road,  near 
Gosta  Green,  as  a  site  for  the  eastern  branch 
library;  the  plans  of  Messrs.  Bateman  and 
Corser,  for  the  erection  of  Deritcnd  branch 
library,  at  a  cost  not  exceeding  £1,000,  were 
approved,  and  the  building  commenced.  The 
way  was  thus  prepared  for  the  triple  ceremony 
which  took  place  on  the  26th  of  October,  1866, 
comprising  the  opening  of  the  Deritend  Branch 
Library,  the  laying  of  the  foimdation  stone  of 
the  Gosta  Green  branch,  and  the  opening  of  the 
Ccntml  Reference  Library.  The  ceremonies  in 
each  case  were  performed  by  the  Mayor  (Edwin 
Yates,  Esq.),  and  an  Inaugural  Address  on  the 
opening  of  the  Reference  Library  was  delivered 
by  Mr.  George  Dawson,  M.A., — an  address  which 
has  ever  been  considered  one  of  the  happiest 
efforts  of  "  the  first  of  English  talkers."  Space 
f(jrbid3  our  quoting  more  than  the  closing 
sentences  of  this  eloquent  oration,  which,  when 
read  in  the  light  of  recent  events,  possess  a 
melancholy  interest  for  us  : 

"  Now,  Mr.  Mayor,  we  probably  could  not  part 
without  some  little  looking  forward  to  the  future. 
For  man's  part  in  immortality  is  so  great  that  he 


Oiwrntng  nf  the  Rercroiiee  L^brwry) 


OLD  AJ!^D  NEW  BIRMLN'OHAlNr, 


517 


ftlways  looks  bpyoiid  that  Jay  wh«u  *  the  earlLly 
ho  1186  of  this  tabernacle  shjiU  be  diasolved  * ; 
beyond  the  day  when  thei^e  earthen  vesdelB^  so 
gloriously  sbapetl  by  tlie  Ahuightj  potter,  shall 
liavc  fallen  Ijack  again  into  shapeless  clay  j  and  he 
longs,  wiUi  a  pardonable  desire,  that  his  name 
may  be  remembered,  when  the  place  tliat  knew  hLin 
knows  him  no  niore^  Tliat  glorions  we^ikness  I 
hop4i  we  all  of  na  share — that  we  would  fain 
iiannt  some  pkct?  in  this  world  even  when  the 
iy  is  gone ;  that  wc  desire  that  our  names  shall 
!  y;ratefnlly  spoken  of  when  we  have  long  past 
away  to  join  the  glorions  dead  If  this  be  your 
passion,  there  are  few  things  that  I  wonld  more 
willingly  sliare  with  you  than  the  desire  that,  in 
days  to  come,  when  some  student,  in  a  fine  raptiifo 
of  gratitude,  as  he  sits  in  tbis  room,  may  for  a 
moment  call  to  mind  the  names  of  the  men  who, 
by  speech  and  by  labour,  by  the  necessary 
agitation  or  tlie  continuous  work»  took  part  in 
founding  this  Library*  Tliere  aiis  few  places  I 
would  rather  haunt  after  my  death  than  this  room, 
and  there  are  few  things  I  woidd  have  my  child- 
ren remember  more  than  this,  that  this  man  apoko 
tlie  discourse  at  the  opening  of  tliia  glonous 
library,  the  first-fruits  of  a  clear  understanding 
that  a  great  town  oxbts  to  discharge  towards  the 
people  of  that  town  tlie  dtities  that  a  great  nation 
exists  to  discharge  towaixis  the  people  of  that 
nation — that  a  town  exists  here  by  the  grace  of 
God,  that  a  great  town  is  a  solemn  organism 
through  which  should  (low,  and  in  which  should 
be  shaped,  all  the  highest,  loftiest,  and  truest  ends 
of  man's  intellectual  and  moral  nature,  I  wish, 
then,  for  you,  Mr.  Mayor,  and  for  myself,  that,  in 
years  to  come,  when  we  ore  in  some  respects 
foi^otton,  still  now  and  then,  in  this  room,  the 
curious  quejstions  may  be  asked :  Who  was  Mayor 
on  that  famous  day  1  A\rho  said  grace  before  that 
famous  bauquet  ]  Who  returned  thanks  for  that 
gracious  mcalT  Who  gathered  these  books 
together  1  Wlio  was  tlie  first  man  that  held  that 
neir  oflice  of  librarian  1  I  trust  his  name  will  be 
printed  whenever  the  name  of  tliis  Corpomtion 


appciars.  "Wlxat  his  title  is  to  be  I  don't  know — 
whether  it  is  to  be  Town  Librarian  or  Corjioration 
Librarian — but  I  ^nvj  him  whatever  it  may  be, 
and  I  am  glad  the  Corporation  has  given  iti^clf  on 
officer  who  represents  intellect— that  it  looks  up- 
ward deliberately  and  says,  *  we  are  a  Corporation 
who  have  undertaken  the  highest  duty  that  is 
possible  to  us ;  we  have  made  ))rovision  for  our 
people- — for  all  our  people — ^and  we  have  made  a 
provision  of  God's  greatest  and  best  gifts  unto 
man. 

On  the  Ist  of  August,  1867,  the  Corpora- 
tion Art  Gallery  was  opened,  in  the  room  pro- 
vided in  the  Central  Library  block,  with  a 
small  but  valuable  collection  of  pictiircs,  some 
of  which  had  been  presented  to  the  town, 
and  others  obtained  on  loan.  Among  the 
former  may  be  mentioned  Detect cd  CorreS" 
potidenccy  by  Opio ;  a  fine  group  of  Dmd  Game^ 
by  Coleman ;  An  Old  Oak^  Forest  of  Arden^ 
by  F,  IL  llenshaw  (presenkd  by  the  Art  Gallery 
Association);  Wcigairs  portrait  of  Sir  Charles 
Adderley  (L^rd  Norton),  previously  referred  to; 
a  large  picture  by  Etty,  deposited  in  the  Gallery 
(witli  several  others),  by  the  Birmingham  Society 
of  Arts.  A  number  of  valuable  pictures  by  J. 
V.  Barber,  IL  Harris,  Samuel  Lines,  and  others, 
were  deposited  in  the  Gallery  by  the  Council 
of  the  Birmingham  and  Midland  Institute. 

In  the  spring  of  1868  the  Heference  department 
was  enriched  by  the  presentation  of  the  unique 
Shakespeare  Memorial  Library,  brought  together 
by  the  patient  and  loviug  labour  of  Mr.  George 
Dawson  and  Mr.  Sam:  Timmins.  The  Library 
was  founded  in  commemoration  of  the  Tercen- 
tenary of  Shakespeare^'s  birth,  many  of  the  books 
being  given  by  Shakespearian  scholars  and 
collectors,  notably  by  the  two  gentlemen  above- 
named,  and  by  Mr.  J.  O.  Halliwell  and  the  lato 
Charles  Knight.  Other  works  were  purchased  ' 
by  voluntar}^  subscription,  and  the  future  growth 
and  completeness  of  the  Library  was  provided 
for  in  like  manner  by  annual  subscribeia. 
Donations  of  valuable  books  were  also  received 


618 


OLD  AND  NEW  BIRMINGHAM. 


(The  Corporatioiii  Ait  Otllevy. 


from  Mr.  J.  Payne  Collier,  F.S.A.,  Mr.  Howard 
Staunton,  Mr.  and  Mrs  Cowden  Clarke  and  other 
'good  ShakespearianB,'  as  well  as  by  the 
publishers  of  editions  of  the  works  of  Shakes- 
peare and  of  Shakespeariana. 

During  the  same  year  the  Gosta  Green  News- 
room and  Lending  Library  were  opened,  the 
former  on  the  1st  of  February,  and  the  latter  in 
month  of  June. 

In  the  spring  of  1869  the  treasures  of  the 
Reference  Library  were  rendered  more  accessible 
to  the  public  by  the  issue  of  an  admirably 
compiled  catalogue,  which,  while  affording  all 
the  advantages  of  classification,  as  well  as  of  a 
full  and  complete  alphabetical  list,  had  the 
great  merit  of  brevity  and  cheapness.  The  credit 
of  compiling  this  model  catalogue  is  due  to  the 
Chief  Librarian  and  his  invaluable  assistant  Mr. 
F.  T.  Barrett,  who  has  since  been  appointed 
Chief  Librarian  of  the  Mitchell  Library,  Glasgow, 
— a  post  which  he  is  eminently  qualified  to 
fill  with  credit  both  to  himself  and  to  tlie  Library 
over  which  he  prcsitles.  Wo  may  hero  also 
mention  as  a  circuinstancc  worthy  of  remark,  tliat 
there  are  few  jmblic  libraries  from  wliich  so  many 
subordinate  officers  have  been  elected  to  preside 
over  similar  establishments  in  other  towns,  as 
those  of  BirmiD^'ham,  wliich  have  thus  proved 
a  valuable  training-school  for  librarians.  Mr.  V. 
T.  Barrett,  of  Glasgow,  Mr.  C.  Madeley,  of  War- 
rington, Mr.  J.  II.  Wright,  of  Stocktun-on-Tees, 
Mr.  Johnson,  of  the  Medical  Institute  Libmry, 
Birmingham,  ^fr.  A.  Cotgreave,  of  Wednesbury, 
and  Mr.  G.  Catlin,  of  llandsworth,  are  among 
those  whom  the  i)resent  writer  (himself  a  member 
of  the  same  fraternity,  trained  at  Birmingham) 
can  call  to  mind  as  having  received  their  first 
lessons  in  library  management  under  Mr.  J.  D. 
Mullins. 

The  annual  report  of  the  committee  for  the 
year  1868,  records  several  very  valuable  additions 
to  the  Art  Gallery.  First  among  these  should  be 
mentioned  Foley's  noble  statue  of  the  late  Prince 
Consort,  (of  which  we  give  an  engraving  on  page 


514),  which  was  deposited  in  the  Art  Gallery  by 
the  Albert  Statue  Committee  until  a  auitable  site- 
should  be  found  out-of-doors  for  it.  The  Conndl 
of  the  Midland  Institute  had  handed  over  to 
the  committee  the  bust  of  David  Cox,  by  Peter 
Hollins,  the  cost  of  which  was  defrayed  by  puUie 
subscription;  a  bust  of  Matthew  Davenport 
Hill,  Esq.,  by  Hollins,  was  also  placed  in  the 
Gallery ;  and,  later  in  the  year,  another  bust,  by 
Mr.  Hollins,  of  the  late  Mr.  William  Schole- 
field,  M.P.,  presented  to  the  town  by  the  Mayor 
(T.  Avery,  Esq.),  was  handed  over  to  the  care  of 
the  Art  Gallery  sub-committee.  During  the  same 
year  three  large  landscape  pictures  (views  in  Uie 
Dolomite  Mountains)  were  presented  to  the  Art 
Gallery  by  the  Artist,  Mr.  Elijah  Walton,  The 
Gallery  was  further  enriched  (temporarily)  by  the 
loan  of  a  fine  collection  of  armour,  jewellery,  and 
other  art  workmanship,  from  South  Kensington 
Museum. 

The  value  to  art  students  of  the  South  Ken- 
sington loans  led  the  Committee  to  attempt  the 
formation  of  a  permanent  museum  of  industrial 
art,  and  a  meeting  of  gentlemen  interested  in  the 
movement  was  held  June  14th,  1870;  a  com- 
mittee was  thereupon  appointed  to  collect  funds 
for  this  purpose,  resulting  in  the  subscription  of 
upwards  of  £1,100,  which  was  expended  in  the 
purchase  of  exaini)les  of  Indian  workmanship, 
carving,  metal-work,  jewellery,  and  textile  fabrics, 
exam])les  of  ancient  and  modern  Venetian  glass, 
purchased  from  ^lessrs.  Salviati,  and  of  English 
glass,  manufactured  by  Messrs.  Barnes,  artisan 
glass- workers,  of  Birmingham. 

Among  the  other  objects  of  art  which  have 
since  been  added  to  the  Industrial  Art  Museum 
at  the  Art  Gallery  may  be  mentioned  the  beautiful 
silver  shield,  by  Messrs.  Elkington  (known  as  the 
"  Elkington  Challenge  Shield  "),  deposited  by  the 
Birmingham  Volunteers  ;  the  exquisite  example 
of  engraved  glass,  (a  vase,  by  North  wood),  pre- 
sented by  Mr.  J.  B.  Stone ;  a  collection  of  metal- 
work,  purchased  out  of  ^Ir.  Chamberlain's  donation 
of  XI, 000  ;   a  collection  of  old  Eoman  pottery, 


TJwFrteUbmfietaiidAttOmmry]     OLD  AXB  NEW  BmMINGHAM. 


510 


glass,  and  terra-cot ta,  presented  by  Signer  Castel- 
lani  and  W-  Scott,  Esq. 

Tlie  collection  contains  memorial  portraits 
(chie6y  painted  by  subscription)  of  DrBirt  DaTies, 
George  Dawson,  Peter  HoUins,  and  Alderman 
Osborne  (all  painted  by  W.  T,  Roden) ;  of  Sir 
Josiab  Mason,  by  H.  T»  Munns ;  of  David  Cox 
and  Arthur  Ryland,  by  Sir  J,  W,  Gordon ;  of 
Joaeph  Goodyear,  by  Room  ;  of  Hugh  Ilutton, 
by  Blakiston;  and  of  Joseph  Stiirge  and  **Poet 
Froeth,"  by  unknown  artists. 

The  growth  of  the  older  department  of  the  Art 
Gallery — the  department  of  pictorial  art^ — liaa 
been  to  some  extent  provided  for  by  the  establish- 
ment of  a  PuT>lic  Picture  Gallery  Fund,  for  which 
the  town  is  indebted  to  the  munilicence  of  the 
late  FoUett  Osier,  Esq.,  who  origiuated  the 
fund  by  an  anonymous  donation  of  ^3,000, 
Several  additions  have  since  lH?en  made  to  the 
fund,  which  is  invested  on  behalf  of  the  trustees, 
and  produces  about  £80  or  £90  per  annum 
interest.  The  latter  alone  is  used  for  the  purposes 
of  the  Art  Gallery,  and  two  maguillcent  works  of 
art  have  already  been  purchased  out  of  the  interest 
thus  accumulsited,  viz.^  '*A  Condottiere,"  l>y  Sir 
Frederick  Leighton,  RR,A.,  and  **  A  North-west 
Gale  off  the  Longaliips  Lighthouse,"  by  John 
Brett 

In  Octcjber,  1871,  the  Free  Libraries'  Com- 
mittee applied  to  the  Council  for  permission  to 
open  the  Reference  Library  and  the  Art  Gallery, 
on  Sunday  afternoon  and  evening.  Tlie  proposal 
inet  with  great  opposition,  but  was  ultimately 
led,  and  the  Library  and  Art  Gallery  were 
opened  on  Smiday  for  the  first  time  on  the  28th 
of  April,  1872. 

At  the  Annual  Dinner  of  **  Our  Shakespere 
Club/*  April  23rd,  1873,  an  announcement  was 
made  of  another  valuable  gift  to  the  Reference 
Library,  viz.,  a  complete  collection  of  the  various 
CfUtiona  of  the  works  of  Cervantes,  with  all  the 
cnticisms  and  annotations  thereon,  collected  by 
riUiaui  Bragge,  Esq.,  F.S.A.,  by  whom  they 
prescnteil  to  the  Library,     A  separate  Hand 


List  was  compiled  by  the  Chief  Librarian,  who 
also  compiled  and  issued  (1872-1876)  the  first 
three  parts  of  an  annotated  Catalogue  of  the 
Shakespeare  Memorial  Library  (comprising  the 
English  Editions  of  Shakespeare's  Works,  the 
English  Editions  of  the  Separate  Flap  and 
Poems,  and  the  English.  Shakespeariana),  and  a 
useful  Hand  List  of  the  Birmingham  Books 
in  the  Reference  Library,  in  1875, 

In  1875  the  Comtuitteo  came  into  possession 
of  one  of  an  exceedingly  rich  and  valuable 
collection  of  Imoks,  Manuscripts,  Prints,  Coins, 
Seals,  etc.,  relating  to  the  County  of  Warwick, 
and  of  rare  early  English  literature  generally; 
a  collection  rich  in  black  letter  lore,  as  well  as  in 
original  editions  of  the  older  English  Poets,  and 
including,  perhaps,  the  largest  number  of  tracts, 
etc.,  relating  to  the  Civil  War  ever  brought 
together.  Space  would  fail  us  to  tell  of  the  many 
rarities  of  this  priceless  collection, — of  the  large 
paper  copies  of  our  great  county  history,  and  of 
other  topographical  works,  of  the  famous  Manu- 
script Cartularies  of  Knowlo  and  Thelesford,  of 
the  treasures  of  early  typography,  (among  which 
ought  to  be  mentioned  the  first  Latin  edition  of 
the  Havis  Siuliifem  or  "  Ship  of  Fools,"  and 
the  curious  black  letter  edition  of  Btfynard  the 
Fox^  both  illustrated);  of  the  innumerable  collec- 
tion of  Warwickshire  pamphlets  (including  some 
twenty  or  more  little  quartos  relating  to  Robert 
Dudley,  Earl  of  Leicester) ;  or  of  the  almost 
unique  series  of  Warwickshire  prints,  and  the 
altogether  unique  MS.  Collections  of  William 
Hamper,  Thomas  Sharp,  of  Coventry,  and  other 
antiquaries.  We  have  rejirinted  in  our  chapter 
on  the  Battle  of  Birmingham  the  four  precious 
quartos  relating  to  that  event,  all  of  which  were 
included  in  the  collection,  and  the  fourth  of  them, 
as  the  pre<!ient  writer  believes,  and  there  stated, 
onhj  in  that  collection,  being  undoubtedly 
unique.  We  have  not  the  heart  to  go  on  with 
tile  catalogue,  for  we  have  to  record  that  nearly 
all  these  priceless  treasures  perished  in  the 
lamentable  fire   of  January  1870,  of  which  we 


620 


OLD  AND  NEW  BIKMINGHAM. 


[The  Free  LTbnziea. 


have  to  speak  presently.  We  need  only  add 
here,  what  the  reader  has  already  guessed  for 
himself,  that  this  was  the  far  too  little  known 
Staunton  Collection,  formed  by  the  late  ^fr. 
Staunton,  of  Longbridge,  Warwick. 

The  collection  was  purchased  for  the  Library, 
at  the  suggestion  of  Mr.  Sam :  Timmins,  at  a  price 
considerably  below  its  market  value,  viz  :  about 
X2,000,  lialf  of  which  amount  was  raised  by 
private  subscriptions,  the  remainder  being  voted 
out  of  the  funds  of  the  Free  Libraries'  Committee. 

On  the  26th  of  April,  1876,  a  bust  of  Sam: 
Timmins,  Esq.,  J. P.,  one  of  the  oldest  members 
of  the  Free  Libraries*  Committee,  was  placed  in 
the  Eeferenco  Library  in  recognition  of  his  ser- 
vices in  the  selection  of  the  books,  for  the  library, 
and  as  a  liberal  donor  himself  to  that  valuable 
collection.  It  met  with  a  melancholy  fate,  being 
broken  in  pieces  by  the  fall  of  a  portion  of  the 
roof  during  the  fire  in  January  last 

On  the- 17th  of  August,  1876,  a  Museum  of 
Arms,  collected  and  arranged  by  the  Guardians  ot 
the  Proof  House,  was  presented  by  that  l)ody  to 
the  Corporation  to  be  exliibit^jd  free  of  charge,* 
and  was  handed  over  to  the  cure  of  the  Free 
Libraries*  Committee.  Tt  consisted  of  nearly  a 
thousand  specimens  of  Armour,  Crossbows,  Guns, 
Pistols,  Swords,  etc.,  many  of  them  being  finely 
ornamented,  and  the  whole  illustrating  tlio 
History  of  Amis  from  an  early  jxiriod  to  the 
present  time.  The  popularity  of  this  interesting 
Museum  may  l)e  gathered  from  the  fact  that 
during  the  year  1877,  upwards  of  one  hundred 
and  eighty  thousand  persons  visited  it. 

Among  the  treasures  of  the  Eefei-ence  Library, 
at  the  latest  date  of  which  we  can  speak  of  it,  men- 
tion should  be  made  of  the  rich  collection  of 
Books  and  Pamphlets  relating  to  Birmingham, 
collected,  for  the  most  part,  by  the  assiduous 
research  of  the  Chief  Librarian  ;  a  set  of  the 
magnificent  works  on  Eoman  Antiquities  by  the 


•It  had  previously  licen  exhibitel.  for  al>out  two  yeare, 
In  the  i.remisen  attache  I  to  Messrs.  Spnirier's  Manufactorj',  in 
Nmrhnii  street,  at  a  char^-e  of  sixpence  for  admission. 


Piranesi;  a  fine  copy  of  the  famous  Nuremberg 
Cln'onide,  the  best  edition,  adorned  with  manj 
hundreds  of  quaint  woodcuts  in  the  earliest  style 
of  that  art ;  sets  of  the  Publications  of  nearly  all 
the  learned  societies  and  printing  clubs ;  a  file  of 
ArtVs  Gazette,  from  1760,  or  thereabouts,  to  the 
present  time;  the  Description  da  VEgypie,  issued 
by  order  of  the  French  Government;  Lord 
Kingsborough*s  Antiquities  of  Mexico;  LAnti- 
chiia  di  Ercolano;  Walton's  celebrated  London 
Polyglot;  the  series  of  Photographs  of  the 
Antiquities  in  the  British  Museum,  presented  by 
W.  Middlemore,  Esq.;  many  of  the  most 
valuable  county  histories,  and  other  scarce 
topographical  works;  a  choice  selection  of 
works  on  the  fine  arts,  including  the  works  of 
Ruskin,  Pugin,  and  others,  and  engravings  from 
all  the  principal  galleries ;  the  Photographs  and 
Etchings  issued  by  the  South  Kensington  authori- 
ties (purchased  out  of  the  Industrial  Art 
^fuseum  fund);  the  Engravings  from  Ancient 
Marbles  in  the  British  Museum  (presented  by  the 
Trustee);  and  many  other  equally  valuable 
works,  in  every  department  of  knowledge. 

Let  the  reader  add  to  this  catalogue  the  brief 
list  we  have  already  selected  from  the  Staunton 
collection,  the  choice  contents  of  the  Shakespeare 
Memorial  Library  and  the  Cervantes  Librar}-, 
and  a  valuable  collection  of  old  books  bequeathed 
to  the  Library  by  the  late  W.  Reynolds  Lloyd, 
Esq.,  and  he  will  form  some  idea  of  the 
richness  of  that  treasure-house  of  thought  and 
research,  and  will  at  the  same  time  be  enable<l 
to  comprehend,  to  some  extent,  the  sense  of 
inestimable  loss,  and  the  overwhelming  grief, 
which  was  manifested  by  every  intelligent 
citizen  of  Birmingham,  when,  on  the  afternoon 
of  Saturday,  January  11th,  1879,  the  mournful 
intelligence  was  carried  to  every  quarter  of  the 
town,  that  the  Refercnce  Library  was  in  flames  ! 
We  need  not  refer  particularly  to  what  has  so 
recently  transpired  and  is  so  generally  known  j 
suffice  it  to  say  that  nearly  all  that  we  have 
enumerated    (with    the  exception,    happily,    of 


The  Ftee  Libraries.] 


OLD  AND  NEW  BIRMINGHAM. 


521 


the  Gild  Book  of  Knowle,  and  some  few  hundred 
volumes  of  the  Shakespeare  and  Reference 
Library  books),  perished  in  the  flames.  The 
contents  of  the  Art  Grallery  had  fortunately  been 
removed  to  Aston  Hall,  (together  with  the  Seals, 
Coins,  and  other  misceUaneons  curiosities  of  a 
museum  character  belonging  to  the  Staunton 
Collection  and  the  Shakespeare  Library),  during 
the  alterations  which  were  being  made  in  the 
Library  buildings.  It  transpired  that  the  origin 
of  the  fire  was  the  sudden  flickering  of  a  small 
jet  of  gas  in  one  of  the  pipes  which  a  workman 
was  engaged  in  repairing.  The  room  in  which  it 
was  situated  happened  to  be  strewed  with  chips 
and  shavings,  and  one  of  these  became  suddenly 
ignited ;  and  the  flame  spread  among  the  shavings 
so  i-apidly  that  it  became  impossible  to  arrest 
it  in  its  destnictive  career.  The  statue  of  the 
Prince    Consort    (wliich  had  been   temporarily 


placed  in  the  lower  reading-room),  survived  the 
ravages  of  the  flames  and  the  falling-in  of  the 
roof,  uninjured,  as  did  also  two  models  by  Fpley 
of  statues  of  Burke  and  Goldsmith.  tThe 
contents  of  the  lending  library  were  for  the  most 
part  saved,  by  the  exertions  of  the  assistants 
and  the  crowd. 

A  movement  was  at  once  set  on  foot  for 
restoring  the  Reference  Library,  and  in  addition 
to  many  valuable  donations  of  books  (including 
one  of  a  selection  of  choice  and  rare  volumes  from 
Her  Majesty  the  Queen),  upwards  of  £12,000  has 
already  been  subscribed  for  that  purpose. 

No  report  has  been  issued  by  the  Free 
Libraries'  Committee  for  the  year  1878,  owing 
to  the  destruction  of  most  of  the  registers 
containing  statistics ;  we  can  only  give  the  total 
number  of  volumes  therefore  up  to  the  end  of 
1877,  at  which  date  they  were  as  follows  : 


DEFABTMEKTS. 

1 

T 

1 

,1' 

11 

1 

]i 

1 

is 

1 

1' 

.       1 

< 

B  e  km  lice  Libra  ry      ...     ... 

Central  Lending  Library  ... 
Constitution  Hill  Librftry... 
Derittnd  Library         ..     .,. 

GoiU  GriJ«n  Libraiy 

Addcrley  Park  Obrary     ,., 

3,353 

7ai 

2fl6 
357 
174 

10,221 
3,431 
1,872 
l,68i 
1,416 
522 

3,884 
215 

uo 

83 
«83 

53 

6,930 
1,856 
8G2 
017 
707 
200 

tfi,199 
021 

im 

282 

2S3 
76 

SJ06 
1,010 
643 
480 
5ۤ 
233 

6,611 
2,033 
2,611 
2,733 
1,245 

8,215 
1,373 
769 
693 
019 
259 

674 
343 
314 
382 
52 

91 

44,5104: 

17,543 

7,136 

6,976 

7,094 
2,810 

Totaia 

5,235 

19,l4e 

4,483 

11,1/8 

0,036 

7,4&7 

15,133 

11,918 

1,705 

91 

66,087 

t  Includes  6,739  Volumes  forming  the  Shakespeare  Msmorial  Library. 

t  This  number  does  not  include  the  Publication  of  the  Patent  Office,  which  make  fh)m  2,000  to  4,000  Volumes, 

according  as  they  are  bound. 


During  the  year  1877,  no  less  than  259,144 
references  were  made  to  books  in  the 
Eeference  Library,  on  week  days,  and  21,924 
on  Sundays — 281,068  in  all;  and  the  joint 
itBue  of  Yolumes  during  the  year  in  the  several 


lending  departments  amounted  to  398,886; 
total  issue  of  the  various  departments  in 
twelve  months,  679,954.  The  Art  Grallery  and 
Museum  of  Arms  were  visited  during  the  year 
by  394,645  persons.      These  figures  need  no 


522 


OLD    AND    NEW    BIBMINGHAM.  [Prop<*ed  New  Cotpawte  Bandit 


comment  They  indicate  as  adequately  as  figures 
can  indicate,  the  immense  influence  exerted  by 
the  Free  Libraries  and  Art  Gallery  on  the 
intellectual  life  and  progress  of  the  people  of 
Birmingham;  and  when  taken  in  connection 
with  the  eager  readiness  with  which  the  town 


the  history  of  the  Free  Libraries  down  to  the 
present  time,  to  the  general  history  of  the 
Corporation. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Council  on  the  15th  of 
June,  1869,  the  Estate  and  Buildings'  Committee 
reported     on     the     proposed    New    Municipal 


STATUE   OF  JAMES   WAIT    IN   RATCLIFF   PLACE. 


has  set  about  the  work  of  restoring  the 
invaluable  Reference  Library,  and  of  repairing  the 
loss  it  has  sustained,  they  serve  to  show  the  high 
value  at  which  our  townsmen  estimate  tliese 
intellectual  privileges  which  they  have  purchased 
for  themselves,  by  a  voluntarily  imposed  rate, 
and  have  evidently  determined  to  make  use  of 
to  the  utmost  of  their  ability. 
TTe  must  now  return,  having  li^ic^A.  \iT\ft^^ 


Buildings  for  which  a  site  had  been  obtained 
with  a  frontage  to  Ann  Street,  Congreve  Street 
Edmund  Street,  and  a  new  street  or  thoroughfare 
culled  Eden  Place.  According  to  the  report  of 
the  Committee  the  cost  of  these  erections  would 
be,  as  nearly  as  could  be  estimated,  as  follows 
Corporate  Buildings,  £37,000;  Assize  Courts, 
£76,000;  Judges'  Lodgings,  X12,500;  total 
\  ll\'i.^,^QQ,     U^on   this    report  being   read  it 


Vmpomdmw comnt^ BnmngM,}      OLD   AND   XEW   BIEMINGHAM. 


523 


was  resolved  '*  that  the  Cotnimttee  be  authorised 
to  advertiae  for  fjlans  for  the  new  corporate 
buildiiigB,  and  submit  the  same  to  the  Council 
for  approval ;  aiid  that  the  Estate  and  Buildinga 
Committee  confer  with  the  General  Purposes 
Committee,  with  the  view  to  ascertain  if  it  is 


iioji|  the  Jii^'h  and  important  office  of  Town 
Clerk,  and,  by  his  uniform  courtesy  to  all  who 
had  occasion  to  consult  him,  by  the  able, 
conscientione,  and  faithful  discharge  of  his 
numerous  and  important  duties,  and  by  the 
loyalty  which  ever  characterised  his  conduct  as 


faTATiiE  OF  na.  phiestley,  in^  conoioevk  btreet. 


the  intention  of  Her  Majesty's  Government  to 
introduce  a  bill  in  Parliament  founded  on  the 
rep^jit  of  the  Judicature  Committee,  and  to 
report  Uie  same  to  the  Town  CounciL" 
Jjk  February,  1869,  the  town  lost  an  old  and 
aed  public  servant,  in  the  person  of  Mr. 
Thomas  Stondbrid^e,  who  died  on  the  10th  of 
that  montli,  in  his  52nd  j'tar,  Imving,  as  expressed 
in  tlifi  resolution  of  tho  Council  on  the  occasion, 
**  lor  iifte^n  years  filled  with  *  honour  and  distinc- 


tbe  chief  officer  of  ibis  Cotmci),  of  whose 
honour  and  interests  he  was  at  all  times  scrnpu- 
luusly  jealous,  had  gaineil  the  esteem  and 
admiration  of  every  member  of  this  Council, 
and  the  well-deserved  appixjbation  of  his  fellow- 
burgesses."  A  neat  and  handsome  memorial,  in 
the  form  of  an  obelisk,  has  been  erected  by  the 
Coimcil,  in  the  Episcopalian  portion  of  the 
Borough  Cemetery,  at  Witton. 

On  the  9tU  oi]^axvi\i^  Nk^^  ^\aRft.\ssSX^^R»!s&.>s% 


524 


OLD   AND   NEW  BIRMINGHAM. 


[Sir  Joftiah  Mmoq'*  Orphsaase. 


his  death  was  filled  up  by  the  appointment  of 
Mr.  E.  J.  Hayes,  who  still  holds  the  same  office. 
At  a  meeting  of  the  Town  Council  on  the 
3rd  of  August,  1869,  tlie  following  communica- 
tion from  Mr.  Josiah  Mason,  respecting  the 
transfer  of  the  noble  Orphanage  at  Erdington  to 
the   care    of    the    Council,    was    read    by   the 

Mayor : — 

Norwood  House,  Erdington, 

August  2nd,  1869. 

Dear  Mr.  Mayor, 

I  herewith  send  you  a  printed  copy  of  the  foundation 
deed  of  the  Orphanage  and  Almshouses  which  I  have 
lately  built  here,  and  endowed  with  upwards  of  a  thousand 
acres  of  freehold  land,  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Binning- 
ham,  besides  land  and  buildings  in  Birmingham  itself. 
This  deed  of  endowment,  although  made  more  than 
twelve  months  ago,  is,  as  you  may  be  aware,  not  legally 
complete  until  twelve  months  after  its  execution.  That 
period  having  now  elapsed,  it  is  proper  I  should  make 
this  communication  to  you  officially,  for  the  following 
reason : — One  of  the  most  serious  difficulties  I  had  in 
settling  the  endowment  scheme  was  how  to  provide 
against  the  administration  of  the  charity  falling  under 
the  exclusive  control  of  any  religious  sect  or  party,  or  the 
funds  being  diverted  from  their  proper  purpose.  After 
much  consideration  I  have  concluded  that  the  most 
effectual  moans  of  accomplishing  my  object  was  to  place 
my  trust  under  the  superintendence  of  my  fellow-towns- 
men, acting,  through  their  municipal  representatives, 
in  such  a  mode  that  whilst  it  should  impose  the  smallest 
amount  of  trouble  upon  the  Town  Council,  should  really 
place  in  their  hands  the  means  of  securing  the  efficient 
administration  of  property,  which  is  already  considerable, 
and  which,  from  its  nature,  must  increase  with  the 
prosperity  of  Birmingham.  During  my  own  life,  or  so 
long  as  I  have  health  and  strength,  I  trust  to  be  able, 
with  the  assistance  of  the  seven  gentlemen  I  have  named 
trustees,  to  continue  the  administration  of  the  charity. 
Immediately  after  my  death,  if  the  Town  Council  will 
do  me  the  honour  to  render  the  slight  assistance  I  ask  in 
the  promotion  of  my  scheme,  they  will  have  to  elect  an 
equal  number  of  trustees  to  those  I  have  named,  making 
the  number  fourteen,  viz.,  seven  j)rivate  and  seven  official 
trustees.  The  seven  official  tnistees  may  be  either  mem- 
bers of  the  Council  or  not,  as  the  Council  for  the  tim  e 
being  may  determine.  Whenever  any  vacancy  shall 
happen  in  the  number  of  official  trustees,  nominated  by 
the  Council,  the  Council  will  fill  up  such  vacancy. 
Whenever  any  vacancy  happens  in  the  number  of  private 
trustees,  the  whole  body  of  trustees  (in  which  the  Town 
Council  will  always  have  the  advantage  of  seven  votes  to 
six)  will  fill  up  that  vacancy.  The  only  restriction  I 
have  imposed  on  the  trustees  is  that  they  shall  be 
Protestant  laymen,  resident  within  ten  miles  of 
the  Orphanage.  In  order  also  that  the  Toimi  Council 
may  have  more    frequent  oppottumliea  oi  Kv\\veTsA%va^ 


the  finances  of  the  trust  than  would  be  afforded  by 
the  appointment  of  tnistees  (which  after  the  first  appoint- 
ment would  be  infiequent),  I  have  proTlded  that  the 
accounts  of  the  charity  shaU  be  audited  by  a  pahUe 
accountant  once  a  year,  and  that  a  copy  of  such  accoonti 
shall  be  transmitted  to  the  Town  Clerk  of  the  bcmnigfa. 
By  these  means  I  trust  that  my  charity  may  always  ham 
the  advantage  of  a  small  execative  body  elected  by,  and 
therefore  commanding  the  respect  of^  their  fellow- 
townsmen,  and  preserved  from  all  improper  infloences,  by 
being  placed  under  the  control  of  the  pablic  opinion  of  th« 
town.  It  will  be  a  great  satisfaction  to  me  to  know  tlut 
the  Town  Council  of  the  borough  of  Birmingham  will  be 
willing  to  accept  the  trust  I  have  reposed  in  them,  and 
for  that  purpose  I  shall  be  glad  if  yon  bring  the  matta 
before  them  in  due  course. 

I  am,  dear  Mr.  Mayor, 

Yours  truly, 

Josiah  Mason. 
Henry  Holland,  Esq. , 

Mayor  of  Birmingham. 

On  the  14th  of  July,  1870,  the  first  stone 
was  laid  of  a  new  Fish  Market  Hall,  in  the 
Bull  Ring,  at  the  corner  of  Bell  Sfcrett^  by 
Alderman  Phillips. 

On  the  27th  of  December,  1871,  a  public  meet- 
ing of  the  inhabitants  was  held  to  authorise  the 
Corporation  to  apply  for  an  Act.  to  lay  down 
tramways  in  the  principal  streets ;  about  twelve 
routes  were  included  in  the  bill,  which  was  passed 
during  the  following  session,  but  as  yet  only  two 
lines  have  been  laid.  The  first  from  Monmouth 
Street,  along  Snow  Hill,  Constitution  Hill,  Great 
Hampton  Street  and  Hockley  Hill,  to  the  borough 
boundary,  was  opened  September  7th,  1873, 
having  cost  £12,000;  it  was  leased  to  the  Bir- 
mingham and  District  Tramway  Company.  The 
same  company  also  hold  a  lease  of  the  second  line 
(from  Monmouth  Street  to  Bristol  Eoad,  by  way  of 
Colmoro  Row,  Ann  Street,  Paradise  Street, 
Suffolk  Stieet,  the  Horse  Fair,  and  Bristol  Street) 
which  was  opened  on  Whit  Monday,  June  5th, 
1876. 

On  the  14th  of  June,  1872,  H.RH.  Prince 
Arthur  visited  Birmingham  in  oider  to  open  the 
Royal  Horticultural  Society's  Show,  at  the  Lower 
Grounds,  Aston.  This  was  the  first  royal  visit 
to  the  town  since  1858,  and  the  Town  Council 
^  \^^Q\\^d    their    illustrious    visitor    with  every 


NewCoiToi»t«Buildij,gieommcn.c.Ll  OLD    AJJ^D    NEW    BniMINGlIA3L 


lififi 


manifestation  of  respect  An  addrt?s3  was  read 
at  tb©  Town  HalJ>  and  in  the  evening  tlie  ex- 
terior of  the  Hall  was  brilliantly  illuminated,  at 
the  public  expense,  whereat  some  few  republican 
THtopayera  grumbled  at  the  "waste  of  publii: 
money." 

On  the  15th  of  October,  1S72,  an  order  in 
Council  was  approved  by  Her  Majesty  for  divid- 
ing the  borough  into  sixteen  wortls.  Tlie  ward- 
division  was  now  aa  follows  : 

Mnrkct  ilnlh 
St.  Tlionms's. 
St,  Martin'*. 


R0tUm  Park, 
All  SainU'* 
L»dywoo<b 
St.  Paula. 
St.  GeoTge'i^ 

St.  5Iar)"8» 

SL  Bartfiolomeic's. 


Edgbaston. 

DeriUnd. 

Bordemhy. 

Diuidettmi, 

Kfchdla. 


If  tho  reader  will  turn  for  a  moment  to  the 
list  printed  on  page  492,  he  will  ste  at  a  glance 
the  elmnges  made  by  this  new  arrangement. 
The  old  Hampton  and  St.  Peter's  wanls  are 
abolished,  and  in  their  places  we  have  three  new 
wards  italicised  in  the  fviist  column  above.  The 
large  wards  of  Deritend  and  Bordesley^  and 
Duddeston- cum -Nee  hells  were  divided.  One 
alderman  an<l  three  councillors  were  apportioned 
to  each  ward,  thus  keeping  the  total  number  a.s 
before,  viz.,  twelve  of  the  former  and  forty-eight 
of  the  latter. 

Tlie  plans  for  the  Corporation  Buildings  were 
submitted  to  the  Conncil  on  the  11th  of  Febru- 
ary, 1873,  and,  at  the  recommendation  of  Mr, 
Wttterhouee  (who  had  been  engaged  to  report  on 
the  designs  of  the  various  competing  architects), 
thoee  of  Mr.  Yeoville  Thomason  were  selected  as 
the  most  suitable*  Objections  were  taken,  how- 
ever, to  the  elevation  (which  was  of  a  totally 
ditVerent  cliaractcr  from  that  which  was  finally 
adopted),  nnd  it  was  n*mr*cielled  in  accordance  with 
the  wifthej*  of  tho  connuittee.  The  first  stone  was 
laid,  June  17t)i,  1874,  by  the  Mayor,  Mr.  Joseph 
Chamberlain,  at  whose  invitation  the  principal 
inhabitants  met  and  celebrated  the  event  by  a 
luncheon  at  the  Great  Western  Hotel.  A 
display  of  fireworks  took  place  in  the  evening  at 


Aston  Park,  also  at  the  charge  of  Mr.  Chaniberlain. 

The  westei^n  wing  of  the  buildings  {comprising 
the  Council  Chamber,  ante-rooms,  and  certain  of 
the  offices),  was  opened  without  ceremony,  on  the 
7  th  of  Noven*ber,  1878.  The  remaining  portion 
of  the  building  (in  which  are  included  tlie  grand 
staircase  and  reception  room),  are  not  yet  ready 
for  opening.  A  full  description  of  tho  buildings 
will  be  given  in  chapter  X. 

In  April,  1873,  a  new  experiment  was  made 
in  street  paving,  by  laying  tlio  road-way  of  Moor 
Street  with  blocks  of  wood  (rendered  hard  and 
impervious  to  water  by  hydraulic  pressure)  ;  and 
on  the  9th  of  June,  1874,  the  Coimcil  decided  to 
pave  New  Street,  Paradise  Street,  Dale  End, 
High  Street,  aud  Bull  Street  ^vith  the  same 
niateriai  The  work  was  completed  in  1875,  but 
a  portion  of  tho  p«iving  has  recently  been  taken 
up  and  re  laid,  in  order  to  substitute  a  concrete 
foundation  for  the  original  one  of  transverse 
boardsj  which  was  found  to  l>e  unsuitable. 

An  interesting  presentation  in  connection  with 
the  local  jewellery  trade  took  place  at  the  meeting 
of  the  Council,  June  27,  1873,  when  a  valuable 
diamond,  worth  j£150, — the  first  ever  cut  in 
Birmingham,  was  p^re^ented  to  the  town,  (to  be 
worn  with  the  Mayor's  chain,)  by  Mr.  W. 
Spencer,  by  wbom  it  was  cut,  and  set  in  a  hand- 
some gold  badge,  upon  which  the  arms  of  tho 
borough  are  embltLEoned.  This  interesting  and 
valuable  example  of  local  workmanship  is 
deposited,  when  not  in  use,  in  the  Corporation 
Art  Gallery. 

On  the  1st  of  September,  1873,  the  town  was 
enriched  by  the  aecjuimtion  of  a  noble  park  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  Jfosclcy,  the  gift  of  Miss 
Hyland,  of  Barford  Hill,  Warwick,  The  muni- 
ficent donor  modestly  declined  to  allow  the  park 
to  b<?  called  after  lier  own  name,  as  the  Council 
by  a  unanimous  resolution  wished  to  do,  and  it 
bore  simply  the  name  of  the  old  estate  out  of 
which  it  was  fonned,  viz.,  Cannon  Hill  Park.  At 
the  request  of  Jkliss  Ryland  the  i>ark  was  opened 
without  tmy  public  ceremony  \  a  C^k^  i£L<ssis^c:fts«!^  ^\ 


fM 


CjUj   A3n>    yZW   BrRlGyC-ELLMl 


lESPizL 


iht,  Oinncil,  with  th*  ILiyT    X   Bi^;?*-  51*^.  , 

lor  th^  i*t  '•-f  :fift  z^zlti.  T\  *^^rj  -tjrz^t  -.n 
llMit  daj  WJM  prw^n&i/L  m  i  suHiiiiiiii    :f   tlie 

TftnAAA   Hill    P»rk,    -.wniwl    I.-re    S»riOrni!.rr.    IhTZ.— 

tf^ng^  CvMUtH  Hill  Piric  ^  dM  C'lrpor.iti^n  -<f  Birminjr' 
h«m  f6r  th«  nm  fA  uh«t  p<^#rji«»  of  rlie  v^va  in>i  aei£i- 

|*rk  mAy  proT*  t«  «  «  irinr-i*  of  h«altii*ii  r«!«r»tii:a  :.i 
tb«  yw\f\0s.  of  fcirmiiifduun,  axui  tiiat  cfa^  will  u:  =i  die 
|ffyt^,tu>ii  tad  pcimtrTatua  of  vha:  »  ao<7  clit^ir  owa 

L»-,t:.vi.  Ayyz  Rtll^l-. 
K«HM  Hill,  Warwick. 

T}i«  park  u  fiftj-^r^n  acns  in  ext«nt,  azi'l  Ls 
titnaU:^]  in  Wc»rr>iftt«»hire,  on  the  b«or»irrs  of 
Warwickuhire,  bein;;  4ivifie<l  from  the  latter 
eoiinty  by  an  arm  of  tbf;  river  Bea ;  the  other 
li^>tjndariefl  of  the  j/ark  are  Moseley  Roail,  Pershore 
K^at],  and  F>ig>jaiston  Koa^l,  the  principal  eotraace 
l^^jing  in  the  latter.  We  rjnote  the  description 
f^ivfTi  by  th«  curator,  Mr.  Ro^lwav,  in  hi*  iLaeful 
little  "  IfandW.k."— 

Tli«;  ^oiinrl  in  t^^iiti fully  tindnlatin^,  U  well  wootler], 
%w\  wan  laid  out  with  grf;at  tant^  by  Mr.  J.  Gibson,  of 
Tfatt^rMa,  the  9ix\*iUMi  \fti\Ti%  boni«  by  Miss  Rvland. 
8«svf;rAl  a/:rfJi  aro  (l«vot':<l  t/>  ornamenUl  ^rdening, 
iriclu'linf(  nhniUifrien,  in  which  are  planted  many  choice 
and  rar'!  «;ver^eenM.  The  natural  attractions  have  been 
viiry  much  fcnhanc*-d  >»y  the  formation  of  large  i>ools, 
which  (ire  nurroundfd  by  jdantationH  and  pleaitant  walks. 
Hwfinn,  Canadian  g#-*-H<',  ducks,  and  other  water-fowl,  are 
Kept  on  thesi!  yKK^ls,  whi'di  are  alw>  used  for  boating,  a 
aniull  chargn  )H;ing  made  by  the  lessee  of  the  pools  for  the 
u<wi  of  boulN.  Near  the  boat-house  are  landing  stages,  at 
whirh  (ilnixr  \^^xw\\\^  fire  allowed  to  embark  or  land.  The 
bniliiug-pool  is  *l\^\  fi'<;t  by  100  feet,  with  a  depth  varying 
from  *l  f«M-t  (J  inchis  to  fi  feet  6  inches.  The  bottom  is 
eonriidi-,  mid  tlin  waior  is  krpt  fresh  and  pure  by  a  small 
Nticiim  piiMning  through  it.  On  one  side  of  the  pool  a 
numb(«r  of  dresHing  sheds  are  erected  for  the  convenience 
of  balh<MS. 

Thiun  JH  a  ph'ti'tant  retreat  ut  the  south-cast  corner  of 
lhi«  Park,  calh-il  the  '•Fernery."  Hero  is  a  small  j>ond. 
In  whitdi  grow  n<|-mtic  phiuts,  and  nearly  every  variety  of 
Kiiglinh  Kein  niiiy  be  found  on  its  banks.  From  this 
|iohi(  In  gnlned  a  delightful  view  over  the  adjacent 
eouiitry. 

Aeroniuiotbition  is  provided  for  1>oth  driving  and  riding  ; 
Mi  iijt(t(ii/«Ml  ennhige  dilve,  nowly  i\  wVU  v\\  \v»w^v,\\,  v«\\xvU 


nnnd  rfxe  ?irk.  mil  mntns' 7«i,  d^mi   t^iiiiriiiqf  •■& 

^nnL'San  if  2ubb  Tvq  rsda  zlu  Adlbnhms  ftnlua  ■ 
-ir-^r^ts-i  :  ir  ji  la  lEuznenal  macuipe,  infaMty  of  nmiihcd 
mnc-.  izui  ainMmu  -iS  &kc  05  25  feeC  lad  is  fitted ^ 
-*:ni  &  ins  nsipi  2a  toe  eumJirs  vui  •mtvouEBoe  of 
T-jBriin.  I;  5b  iixzmuided  05  a  kfaii  of  szeftie,  saiff 
-rijim.  TTiSCiL  KflZi  iR  pLicstL  T^Jsk  pari^im  aad  the 
Eiimii«»  'Lokl^  VSR  «ncsed  sc  liut  cstzre  oxt  of  JCs 
Ey^diiiL 

W-i  maj  h**re  bri^ifly  nji-dce  the  satisfictoiT 
34:Iirii:Ti  bj  the  Council  of  what  was  Ioil;  known 
as  sLe  Sewage  di£'!TiICT.  Injmctions  Lai  been 
3ervi»«I  'in  the  Corp-ondon,  against  the  further 
p«:Hi^':n  <:f  the  river  Tame,  br  Sir  ^rharles 
A-M^rley  and  the  inhabitants  of  Gzayelly  Hill; 
TilTLiMe  informiition  had  been  collected  and 
par.lishel  bj  the  Sewage  Commicteef  respecting 
the  varions  modes  in  operation  in  other  Luge 
t«:wns  for  the  treatment  and  utilisation  of  sewage; 
anil  experiments  had  been  made  for  years  as  to 
the  best  metho<l  of  sewage  farming.  At  length, 
after  long  and    carefol    consideration,  what  is 

'  known  as  the  Bochdale,  or  "  pan  system, ""  was 
adopted,  and  the  sewage  conveyed  by  boats  to 

'  the  Corporation  farms. 

At  the  end  of  March,  1874,  a  poll  was  taken 
of  the  ratepayers  of  the  borough,  as  to  whether 
the  Council  should  have  power  to   increase  the 

I  borough  rates  beyond  2s.  in  the  pound,  but  at 

i  the  close  of  the  poll,  (which  lasted  three  days,) 
it  was  fijund  that  the  proposed  increase  was 
defeated  by  a  majority  of  2,654. 

On  the  8th  of  June,  1875,  the  Council  resolved, 
after  an  animated  discussion,  to  abolish  the  time- 
honoured  Whitsuntide  and  Michaehuas  pleasure 
fairs,  which  had  long  become  a  nuisance  and  a 
serious  hindrance  to  business,  blocking  up  as 
they  did,  some  of  the  busiest  thoroughfares  in 
the  town. 

Ihiring  the  parliamentary  session  of  1875,  two 
important  bills  were  passed,  transferring  to  the 
care  of  the  Corporation  the  extensive  business  and 
valuable  plants  of  the  Gas  and  Water  Companies. 
The  successful  piloting  of  these  important  mea- 
^  euros  through  the  various  parliamentary  stages  ii 


528 


OLD  AND  NEW  BIRMINGHAM. 


(11m  New  Fuki. 


Rooms  of  Messrs.  Elkington,  Gillott's  Pen  Manu- 
factory, and  the  Mint,  and  then  returned  to 
Packington.  The  illuminations  in  the  evening 
were  said  to  have  been  on  the  grandest  scale  ever 
witnessed  in  Birmingham. 

On  the  25th  of  May,  1875,  the  Council  decided 
to  purchase,  for  the  sum  of  £5,390,  a  piece  of 
waste  land  (eight  acres  in  extent)  near  the 
Moseley  Road,  called  Hollier's  Charity  Land,  and 
to  convert  the  same  into  a  public  park.  It  was 
at  first  intended  to  be  called  Camp  Hill  Park,  but 
as  this  was  supposed  to  bear  too  close  a 
resemblance,  in  sound  at  least,  to  "Cannon 
Hill  Park,"  and  this  might  lead  to  confusion,  it 
was  resolved  to  call  it  "Highgate  Park."  The 
new  park  was  opened  June  2,  1876,  by  the 
Mayor,  Joseph  Chamberlain,  Esq. ;  and  no  one 
who  had  aforetime  crossed  the  dismal  piece  of 
land,  crowded  with  brick-ends  and  other  unsightly 
refuse, — the  once  pleasant  greensward  worn  bare 
and  brown — would  have  readily  identified  it  with 
the  exquisite  little  park,  with  its  broad  terrace 
and  winding  walks,  its  shrubberies  and  bright 
parterres,  and  its  smooth  trim  lawns,  as  it  appeared 
after  the  transformation  accomplished  under  the 
direction  of  the  Baths  and  Parks  Committee. 
From  the  upper  portion  of  the  park  a  better  view 
is  obtained  of  the  town  than  from  any  other  spot 
in  the  -vicinity.  The  lower  end,  near  Alcester 
Street,  is  paved  with  asphalte,  and  serves 
admirably  as  a  i)layground  for  the  juvenile  popu- 
lation of  that  neighbourhood 

On  the  day  of  the  inauguration  of  Highgate 
Park  another  noble  gift  was  announced  from 
Miss  Ryland,  of  about  43  acres  of  land  for  a 
new  Park  at  Small  Heath ;  and  four  days  later, 
June  6th,  the  Council  decided  upon  the  purchase 
of  yet  another  park, — the  Summerfield  estate, 
situated  between  the  Dudley  Road  and  Icknield 
Port  Road,  Winson  Green,— for  £9,000.  This 
latter,  which  is  about  twelve  acres  in  extent,  and 
contains  some  fine  old  trees,  was  opened  to  the 
public  by  the  Mayor  (Alderman  Baker)  on  the 
29th  of  July  in  the  same  year. 


The  Small  Heath  Park,  which  was  opened 
April  5th,  1879,  was  laid  out  at  considenbk 
expense  (£4,000  of  which  was  generously  con- 
tributed by  Miss  Ryland),  from  plans  preptnd 
by  the  Borough  Surveyor.  A  carriage  drive  wu 
formed,  and  an  ornamental  structure  erected  in 
the  centre  of  the  park,  as  a  Refreshment  Honae^ 
and  from  the  elevated  ground  upon  which  this 
building  stands,  a  good  view  of  the  whole  pad, 
and  of  the  ornamental  lake,  may  be  obtained. 
The  principal  entrance  is  in  Coventiy  Road,  but 
for  the  convenience  of  visitors  arriving  by  railway 
at  Small  Heath  Station,  another  entrance  has  been 
made  in  Wordsworth  Road. 

We  may  here  close  the  list  of  our  Public 
Parks  and  recreation  grounds  bj  recording  the 
opening,  on  the  1st  of  December,  1877,  of  the 
Recreation  Grounds  presented  to  the  town  bj 
W.  Middlemore,  Esq.,  comprising  about  four 
acres  of  land  situated  in  Burbury  Street,  Lozells. 
During  the  present  year  (1879)  the  Gas  Com- 
mittee have  temporarily  thrown  open  to  the  public, 
as  a  recreation  ground,  a  piece  of  land  at  Nechelk 

The  breathing  places  of  Birmingham  may, 
with  advantage  to  the  reader,  be  here  tabulaU-d 
as  follows : — 

SIZE.  OPENED. 

A.       R.     p. 

Adderley  Park  ...  10  0  22  ...  1S56, 

Calthorpe  Park  ...  31  1   13  ...  lSo7. 

Aston  Park  ...  50  0  23  ...  1S5S. 

Cannon  Hill  Park  ...  67  1     9  ...  1873. 

Highgate  Park  ...  8  0  28  ...  1S76. 

Summerfield  Park  ...  12  0  20  ...  1S76. 

Burbury  Street  Recreation  Ground     4  1     3  ...  1S77. 

Small  Heath  Park  ...  41  3  34  ...  1S79. 

In  all,  therefore,  the  people  of  Birmingham  now 
possess  nearly  220  acres  of  parks  and  playgrounds, 
and  by  the  Birmingham  Closed  Burial  Grounds 
Act  of  1878  they  will  shortly  acquire  several 
other  pleasantly  laid-out  open  spaces  within  the 
town  itself;  so  that  it  will,  hereafter,  compare 
favourably  with  almost  any  in  the  provinces 
in  this  particular.  The  attention  paid,  too, 
by  the  Corporation  to  the  beautifying  of  all 
our  open  spaces  by  planting  trees  and  shrube, 


Tli«  litiprovein«Dt  Buhoine, 


OLD  AND  KEW   BmillNGHAM. 


529 


will,  ia  course  of  time,  make  bright  and  cheerful 
thost»  places  which  were,  in  many  instances,  little 
better  than  waste  howling  wildernesses,— deserta 
of  brick  and  mortar. 

On  the  6th  of  June,  1876,  the  Council 
appointed  a  new  Chief  of  Police,  in  the  place  of 
Superintendent  Glossop,  who  had  been  superan- 
nuated, at  X40O  a  year,  in  the  April  of  the  same 
year.  The  candidate  selected  for  the  office  was 
Major  Bond,  under  whose  regimd  the  tc.me  and 
condition  of  the  force  has  been  considerably 
improved. 

Under  the  Artisans' Dwellings  Act  of  1875,  a 
scheme  was  approved  by  the  Council,  November 
0th,  1875,  for  the  cleariDg  of  a  large  area  of 
insanitary  dwellings,  lyiDg  between  Bull  Street, 
Pale  End,  and  Steelhouse  Lane,  and  the  con- 
I  struction  of  a  new  and  important  thoroughfare 
from  New  Street,  opposite  Stephenson  Place  to 
the  juijction  of  Bagot  Street  with  the  Aston 
Koad,  and  also  for  constructing  two  leaser 
thoroughfares,  leading  out  of  the  new  street  into 
High  Street  and  Dale  End. 

A  Government  enquiry  was  held  respecting 
I  ^16  propoaed  scheme,  in  1876,  and  the  Act 
I  obtained  for  carrying  out  its  proposals*     Nearly 


aO  the  properties  have  now  been  purchased,  and 
a  small  portion  of  the  area  lying  between  New 
Street  and  Bull  Street  has  been  cleared,  and  the 
commencement  of  the  new  street  formed,  upon 
which  buildings  are  now  being  erected.  The 
clearing  of  this  vast  area  of  insanitary  buildings, 
{most  of  which  have  been  standing  upwards  of  a 
century,)  may  be  regarded  as  one  of  tlie  most 
gigantic  undertakings  in  the  annals  of  the 
Corpomtion;  and  the  project  (like  the  purchase 
of  the  valuable  properties  of  the  Gas  and  Water 
Companies)  is  mainly  due  to  the  enterprise  of  our 
junior  member,  Mr*  Ciiaml>erlain,  although  much 
praise  ia  due  to  the  bard-working  Chairman  of 
the  Improvement  Committee,  Councillor  White. 
Much  remains  yot  to  be  done,  but  the  manner  in 
which  the  work  has  been  commenced  gives  every 
assurance  that,  in  a  few  yeara  to  come,  such  a 
transformation  wiU  be  effected  in  this  locidity  as 
will  render  it  one  of  the  moat  important  and 
flourishing  districts  in  the  towm 

And  with  this  brief  notice  of  an  undertaking, 
wliich,  to  describe  fully,  would  occupy  far  more 
space  than  we  have  at  our  disposal,  we  biing  to  a 
conclusion  our  sketch  of  tlie  history  of  the 
Corporation. 


CHAPTEE      IL 


POLITICAL     HISTORY,      1341^879. 


Tbo  AiitI*Cora-Law  A^UtiMU^Qeni^na  Election,  1S41— The  ChartiaU  And  the  Antl-Com-Uw  AsBocUUon— Th«  Complete  Suffnige 
Aanoeiatloii— The  Aiitt-Corn-LAW  League— John  Brlglit'i  Fini  Spoocb  la  Birtulaghom— Death  of  Mr.  JoiliUA  Bcboleflelil— Dofeflt  of 
Ui«  LibaraJsi— Rej^cai  of  Uia  Corn  Laws— Free  Trftd«— Oeuer&l  Election,  IS48— Thti  BLrmingbAiu  PoUiicat  ConncU— Hie  CnihoUc 
Qucfltion^Oeiterol  Election,  1852— Tho  War  with  RiuniAr-Odunral  Election,  1857— De&ih  ol  Mr.  O.  F.  Mantx,  M,P.— Kcttun  of 
•T  '  "     RcTorm  Agitution— Tha  Blrminslum  Ksrorm  Ajifiociatioa—Defo&t  of  the  OorBrnmeiit— <}«nenl  Electioa,  18Ad— A 

Withdrawal  of  the  Bill  by  tbo  Govemmeat— The  Radical  Etefonn  LMgoa  -  Oenoml  Staetloo,  Isefi^Hr,  Glad^totM'i 
J  lc4— <}roAt  Rafbnu  D«moiutration  at  BrookQelds— Mr.  OUmoU'i  filll— Second  Meeting  at  Brookfialda— Thd  Refbrm 

hvii  Carriefi— IteatU  of  Mr.  W.  Scboleflt'Id,  M.  P.— Return  of  Mr.  Oooi^  Dixon— Foriuation  of  tlic  Liberal  Auociatioo— The  Wab 
ClinT^'h  ?*iiyp^n«fon  Bill— 0^?^nr^al  Election,  18<}S— Rotum  of  the.  Three  Liberal  C5andidate«-Dlwj«tablUhment  of  tlM»  Wab  Church— 
}  I  ication  LoafStto— Pacing  of  the  Eleiatmtary  E<lucatioa  Act— Eltictioa  of  the  tLratScluial  Board  for  Bir- 

'  lUy  in  the   Board    Bchool*— RciiiiciiaUon  of  Mr.   George   Dixoti,    M.R'-Retam  of   Mr.    Joseph 

L..  ......r .  .^...— ,„..... L.  La.  ...1  .,.,  1S74— Oppo^tion  to  the  Foreign  Poli4jy  of  the  Govimmieiii—Preaaat  State  of  Fkrtltt  tn  Btnntogbatn, 


I  OcR  next  t 
Itoffi    the  \i 


tory  of  our  own  times, 
the  preaent  day,  is  to 


record  briefly  those  political  events  which  have  to 
a  certain  e^iWul,  ;L\aa\Iva^'\TsXfe^w;^V  ^  ^\«^  \xsstss. 


530 


OLD   AKD  NEW  EIEMmGHA^L 


tThe  AuU-Com-Lmw  j 


the  merely  ephemeral  movementa  which  have 
exerted  no  abiding  influenw  either  upon  the 
constitution  or  in  the  political  life  of  the  town. 

The  agitation  for  the  Eepeal  of  the  Com 
Laws  during  1841,  brought  about  a  Parliamentnry 
crifiis;   the  vote  of  want  of  confidence   in  Her 


Alston.  The  noiaination  waa  fixed  for  June  30 
and,  in  addition  to  the  four  gentlemeti  nama 
Mr,  G.  White,  the  Chartist,  was  also  nominate 
Although  the  show  of  bonds  was  maiiifestlj 
favour  of  the  Liberals,  a  poll  was  demanded  M 
Mr  Spooner,  and  was  taken  with  th^  to 


'  t^\ 


NEW  LIKE  OF  SMJ  1.1,    r.M  M(*IiE    How   AND  ANN^.STr4E£T, 


Miyeety's  Ministers,  moved  by  Sir  Robert  Peel,  on 
the  24th  of  May,  wa-s  carried  by  a  majority  of  one 
in  a  House  of  623  meml^rs,  and  on  the  23rd  of 
June  Parliament  was  dissolved,  Mr,  Joshua 
Scholefield  and  Mr.  G.  F.  Muntz,  issued  addressea 
in  advance  of  the  expected  dissolution,  seeking 
re-election,  (the  lattuT  after  only  a  year  and  a  half 
of  aervice,  having  been  elected  for  the  first  time 
in  Jannary,  1810)  j  and  the  Couj^ervatives  were 
not  far  behind  their  opponents  iu  bringing  out 
candidates  for  the  anticipated  elections,  in  the 
persona  of  Mr.  Kiehard  Spoonei  and  Mr.  W.  C, 


result :  for  Mr.  Muntz,  2,175 ;  for  Mn  Schoh 
1,963  ;  and  for  Mr.  Spooner,  1,825. 

Meanwhile  the  Birmingham  Branch  of  th^ 
Anti-Corn  Law  Association  had  taken  up 
earnest  the  work  of  spreading  information  on  tht 
subject  of  Free  Trade,  by  means  of  pamphlet^ 
leaflets,  weekly  meetings,  sermons^  and  olhtf 
methods.  A  medal  waa  struck  by  Mr«  Jo£«pk 
Davis,  of  IN'ewliall  Hill,  bearing  appfopriiU 
devices,  and  the  two  mottoes ;  **  I7mh  th^  ht 
burdms,  dm!  thy  bread  to  t)m  hnn^^*' — and 
the  reverse,  "  Free  Trade  mth  all  the  Wf>rid* 


A  meeting  of  delegates  was  hold  January  26, 
1842,  at  the  Waterloo  Eooma,  Mr.W.  ScliolGfieH 
presiding,  at  which  reports  were  leatl  respecting 
the  state  of  tmde  in  the  vicinity ;  the  workmen 
in  the  fancy  steel  toy  trade  reported  that  the  rate 
cf  wages  had  been  reduced  one-half,  and  that 
where,  in  one  manufactory,  in  1815,  120  persons 
had  been  employed,  there  were  at  that  time  only 
tdttf.  In  the  plating  trade  the  immher  of 
mnphyh  had  been  reduced  by  one  third,  and  the 
remainder  were  working  only  for  atock,  and  were 
not  folly  employed  ;  the  wages  in  that  trade  had 
alao  been  reduced  35  to  40  per  cent  Similar 
reports  were  presented  from  the  Brassfountlry 
trade,  from  lamp-makers,  gun-makers,  silver 
workers,  tin-plate  workers,  jewellers,  and  others ; 
while  the  pawnbrokers  reported  ^*  that  they  would 
not  be  able  much  longer  to  lend  money  on  pledges, 
the  business  had  increased  so  rapidly,  and  so  few 
pledges  were  being  redeemed,"  Another  feature 
in  the  commercial  depression  was  exhibited  in  the 
slalement  of  the  ntimber  of  void  houses  in 
Birmingham,  which,  by  the  last  cenjsus,  (1841) 
were  reported  to  number  4,000,  although  the 
population  was  increasing  at  the  rate  t>f  l^t  per 
cent.,  or  more  than  4,000  a  year.  In  the  prin- 
cipal streets  alone  there  were  void  houses  repre- 
senting an  annual  rcnlfd  of  little  less  than 
X4,200,  and  an  annual  levy  of  about  £360,  A 
deputation  wa^  appointed  to  wait  on  the  Govern- 
ment, and  a  petition  to  the  House  of  Commons 
was  approved;  and  in  the  evening  a  public 
meeting  was  held  in  the  Town  Hall,  addressed 
by  Mr.  Curtis,  of  Ohio,  U.S.,  and  I^Ir.  Cobden. 

The  facts  thus  brought  before  the  public,  as 
to  the  miaeiy  and  want  inflicted  by  the  Corn 
Laws,  impelled  the  worthy  pastor  of  Carr's  Lane^ 
the  Rev.  J.  A.  James,  to  address  his  congrega- 
tion on  the  subject  of  the  iuiquitous  restrictions. 
Had  the  fineetion  been  one  of  commercial  reform, 
or  of  general  politica  merely,  he  would  not,  he 
have  brought  it  before  them ;  but,  as  a 
ster  of  a  religion  which  was  pre-eminently 
one  of  m«rcy,  he  felt  impelled  to  come  forwanl. 


Ho  concluded  by  reading  a  petition,  praying  for 
the  total  repeal  of  the  Com  Laws,  as  impolitic, 
unjust,  and  unscripturaL  This  petition  was 
presented  to  the  House  of  Commons  by  ^Ir. 
Joshua  Scholefield  on  the  Htli  of  Febiiiary, 
signed  by  upwards  ol  50,000  of  the  inhabitants 
of  Birmingham  ;  and  on  the  following  Friday, 
February  18th,  an  enthusiastic  town's  meeting, 
on  the  same  subject,  was  held  in  the  Town  Hall, 
at  wliich  the  Chartists  (who  had  hitherto  proved 
rather  doubtful  allies)  gave  their  hearty  support 
to  the  Anti-Corn  Law  Association. 

The  year  1842  was  also  marked  by  the  attempt 
to  establish  on  a  firm  foundation  the  Complete 
Suffmge  Association,  of  which  Mr.  Joseph  Bturge 
was  one  of  the  leaders.  It  was,  m  effect,  a 
system  of  Chartism  divested  of  its  xigly  clement 
of  **  physical  force."  The  conflict  with  the  old 
Chartist  body,  however,  rendered  all  the  efforts 
of  this  association  unavailing.  A  conference  waa 
held  in  the  town  during  the  month  of  April,  at 
which  delegates  from  forty-four  towns  were 
present)  and  on  the  9th  of  that  month  a  meeting 
of  the  Association  was  held  in  the  Town  Hall,  to 
receive  a  report  of  the  proceedings  of  the  Con- 
ference, Another  meeting  was  held  on  the  same 
evening  in  Duddeston  Kow  (their  head-quarters 
at  that  time)  by  the  old  Chartists.  Riots  were 
occurring  in  various  parts  of  the  country  during 
the  two  months  which  followed,  and  were  re- 
pressed with  no  gentle  hand  by  the  Government ; 
and  it  was  not  long  before  the  Birmingham 
adlierents  of  the  Charter  were  up  in  revolt, 
issuing  placards,  and  otherwise  inciting  the 
people  to  acta  of  violence.  On  the  22nd  of 
August  a  meeting  was  announced  to  be  held  in 
Duddeston  Kow,  the  placard  c*\lltng  upon  the 
Men  of  Birmingham  to  "  wohk  no  more  until 
Liberty  be  ei^tabliahed,"  and  was  otherwise 
couched  in  language  which  ieemed  likely  to 
incite  the  proposed  meeting  to  riot.  Some  little 
disturbance  did  actually  occur,  but  by  the  prompt 
interference  of  the  police  it  was  immediately 
I  quelled ;  and  the  convener  of  the  meeting — tht 


532 


OLD     AND      NEW     BIEMINGHAM.        (DeathofMr.  JoalmaSdiolefleld. 


well-known  George  White — was  anested  and 
committed  to  the  sessions  on  a  charge  of  issuing 
the  seditious  and  inflammatory  placards. 

In  consequence  of  the  Royal  Proclamation 
against  ill^al  meetings,  the  Town  Hall  Com- 
mittee declined  to  grant  the  use  of  that  building 
for  a  proposed  Conference  of  the  Complete 
Suifrage  Association;  a  special  meeting  of  that 
association  was  therefore  held  instead,  on 
September  12tlL  On  the  14th  of  November 
another  meeting  was  held,  to  elect  delegates  to 
the  conference,  which  was  to  bo  held  during  the 
following  month.  It  seemed  to  resolve  itself  into 
a  struggle  between  the  Chartists  and  the  members 
of  the  association ;  the  former  mustered  strongly, 
and  were  determined  to  oppose  the  appointment 
of  Mr.  Sturge  as  chairman,  proposing  instead  that 
a  Mr.  Fellows,  a  working  man,  should  preside. 
Mr.  Sturge  was  then  nominated,  and  the  meeting 
declared  in  his  favour,  by  a  large  majority.  Once 
more  the  Town  Hall  was  refused  for  the  Con- 
ference, and  it  was  held  in  the  room  formerly 
occupied  by  the  Mechanics'  Institute,  in  Newhall 
Street.  The  sitting  of  the  Conference  commenced 
December  27,  and  at  its  opening  there  were 
nearly  300  delegates  present;  but  again  the 
conflict  between  tlie  two  parties  divided  the 
meeting,  one  party  declaring  in  favour  of  the 
word  "  Bill "  being  used  in  a  certain  resolution, 
and  the  other  of  the  word  "  Charter,"  and  so, 
after  much  wordy  warfare  over  one  unlucky  word, 
tlie  Conference  dissolved  without  accomplishing 
any  useful  purpose. 

Less  than  a  month  afterwards,  a  political 
assembly  of  a  more  useful  and  successful  character 
was  held  in  the  Town  Hall,  On  the  22nd  of 
January,  1843,  a  "Great  Anti-Com-Law  Tea 
Party "  took  place,  at  which  upwards  of  1,700 
persons  were  present.  After  tea,  the  meeting 
was  addressed  by  the  leading  Liberals  of 
Birmingham  and  Manchester,  including,  among 
the  latter,  John  Bright,  who  delivered  his  first 
speech  in  Birmingham  on  this  occasion  in  denun- 
ciation of  the    "  oppressive  impost."      At   the 


close  of  the  meeting  nearly  £200  was  sabsczibed 
towards  the  funds  of  the  Anti-Com-Law  League. 

On  the  22nd  of  May,  in  the  same  year,  a 
similar  tea  party  was  held  in  the  Town  Hall,  in 
the  interests  of  the  Complete  Sof&age  Union, 
and  in  honour  of  the  twenty-six  members  of  the 
Birmingham  Town  Council,  who,  on  the  3rd  of 
March,  had  voted  for  the  motion  of  Mr.  Alderman 
Weston,  to  petition  Parliament  for  Complete 
Suffrage,  Vote  by  Ballot,  Equal  Electoral 
Districts,  Abolition  of  Property  Qualifications, 
and  Annual  Parliaments — ^the  five  points  of  the 
Charter  in  fact — which  had  been  carried  by  a 
majority  of  one. 

Another  great  Anti-Com-Law  meeting  was 
held  in  the  Town  Hall,  February  5th,  1844,  at 
which  Mr.  Cobden,  Colonel  Thompson,  and 
Mr.  Moore  were  present  as  a  deputation  from  the 
League.  Some  little  disturbance  was  created  by 
George  White,  who  made  an  attempt  to  speak  in 
favour  of  the  Charter,  but  subsequently  left  the 
hall,  and  the  members  of  the  deputation  then 
addressed  the  meeting.  The  sum  of  £850  was 
afterwards  subscribed  towards  the  funds  of  the 
League. 

During  this  year,  the  town  had  to  mourn  the 
loss  of  its  oldest  representative,  the  colleague  of 
Mr.  Attwood  in  the  first  Reformed  Parliament, 
— Mr.  Joshua  Scholefield — who  died  in  LondoD, 
on  the  4th  of  July,  in  the  70th  year  of  his  age. 
Of  the  three  candidates  who  were  proposed  for 
the  vacant  seat, — Mr.  William  Scholefield, 
nominated  by  the  "  Liberal  Electors,"  ^Ir.  Joseph 
Sturge,  by  the  "Radical  Electors,"  and  Mr. 
Richard  Spooner,  by  the  Conservatives,  the  last 
named  gentleman  was  elected,  and  had  the 
honour  of  being  the  only  Conservative  who  has 
ever  sat  in  Parliament  for  Birmingham.  The 
voting  was  as  follows:  for  Mr.  Spooner,  2,095; 
Mr.  Scholefield,  1,735 ;  and  Mr.  Sturge,  346.  If 
the  latter,  therefore,  had  followed  the  admirable 
example  of  George  Edmonds,  (who,  as  our  readers 
will  remember,  honourably  refused  to  be  the 
means  of  dividing  the  Liberal  party  at  the  first 


n^Md  of  the  Coni  Lawt.] 


OLD  AITO  KEW   EniJn:N^GHAM, 


533 


Birmingham  electioD,)  the  roll  of  our  Parlia- 
mentary representatives  wuuld  have  presented  an 
unbroken  series  of  Liberal  victoriesp  from  the 
time  of  our  enfranchisement  to  the  present  clay. 

Diiring  the  session  of  1846  the  Bill  for  the 
Repml  of  the  Com  Laws  was  being  discuBsed  in 
the  Honse  of  CommooB,  and  the  utmost  efforts  of 
the  League  were  exerted  to  enlist  the  sympathy 
of  the  nation  in  its  fovour.  Pamphlets  and  fly- 
leayesy  containing  facts,  arguments,  rhymes,  cate- 
chisms and  conversationa  were  done  up  in  neat 
packets,  bearing  an  appropriate  pictorial  design, 
and  ciienlated  gratis  in  all  parts  of  the  country. 
On  the  25th  of  June,  the  Bill  was  read  a  third 
time  in  the  House  of  Lords,  and  passed  without  a 
division  ;  and  the  rejoicing  in  Birmingham  on  the 
of   the  movement  was  both  hoarty  and 

leral,     A  public  meeting  was  held  July  Sth,  at 

which  the  following  resolution  was  passed  : — 

Thiit  thia  meeting  regards  with  fcelioga  of  the  Ingbest 
•atiafoctioti  the  RopeiJ  of  the  Corn  Laws  and  the  Castoma 
Tarilf,  and  eonmdera  that  tho  gratitude  of  the  country  is 
due  to  Sir  Robert  Peel  for  his  noble  and  successful  exer- 
tions in  fiupjiort  of  their  Ropeal  and  Keform* 

An  address,  "  containing  the  expression  of  much 
gratitude  "  was  also  adopted  and  signed  by  nearly 
8,000  persona,  and  was  presented  to  Sir  Bobert 
Peel  in  London,  July  STtlu 

In  view  of  the  General  Election,  which  was 
fixed  to  take  place  in  July  1847,  the  Liberals  of 
Birmingham  began  early  in  June  of  that  year  to 
work  for  the  return  of  two  members  of  their  own 
party,  and  thus  to  wipe  out  the  disgrace  of  their 
defeat  at  the  previous  election,  whereby  a  victory 
had  been  obtained  by  the  Conservative  candidate. 
It  was  tmanimously  resolved  that  Mr.  William 
Scholelield  should  be  invited  to  be<jome  a  candi- 
4kte,  and  a  deputation  was  appointed  to  wait 
upon  Mr.  Muntz  to  ascertain  whether  he  would 
unite  with  ^Ir.  Scholefield  in  canvassing  the 
-©lectors* 

Mr.  Muntz,  however,  declined  the  proposal, 
and  refused  to  **  coalesce  with  anybody,**  or  to 
make  any  personal  canvass,  *'  never  having  done 
JO,  and  believing  that  such  a  practice  is  equally 


degrading  both  to  the  constituency  and  the  can- 
didates." In  his  address  to  the  electors  he  quoted 
and  applied  to  himself  Goldsmith's  well-known 
lines— 

**  UDproctisGd  he  to  fawn  or  seek  for  power, 
By  doctrines  fafihloned  to  the  vmying  hour. " 

Mr.  K.  Spooner  offered  himself  again  for  re- 
election in  the  Conservative  interest,  and  on  the 
same  side  Mr.  Sergeant  Allen  sought  the  suffrages 
of  the  electors,  issuing  an  address  wherein  an 
attempt  was  made  to  blend  Liberal  ^vith  Conser- 
vative principles— a  combination  which  has  of  late 
years  been  styled  Liberal-Conservatism.  The 
polling  took  place  on  the  30th  of  July,  and 
resulted  in  the  regaining  of  the  second  seat  for 
the  Liberal  party,  by  whom  every  subsequent 
Parliamentary  election  has  since  been  won,  Mr. 
Spooner  being  the  only  Conservative  member  who 
has  ever  sat  for  Birmingham.  The  numbers  were 
as  folJows :— for  Mr.  Muntz,  2,830  ;  l^ir.  Schole- 
fidil,  *^,829;  Mr.  Spooner,  2,302;  and  Mr. 
Allen,  89,  the  last-named  gentleman  having  retired 
from  the  contest  at  an  early  horn-  on  the  polling 
day. 

During  the  political  excitement  winch  followed 
ui>on  the  French  Revolution  in  1848,  and  in  onler 
to  counteract  the  violence  of  the  Chartists,  a  new 
Liberal  society  was  established  for  the  peaceable 
agitation  of  various  reforms,  tmder  the  title  of  the 
Birmingham  Political  Council,  the  preliminary 
meeting  of  which  was  held  on  the  3l8t  of  March 
in  that  year,  Mr.  J.  Baldwin  being  elected  chair- 
man, and  Mr.  G.  Mantle  secretary.  Following 
on  the  lines  of  the  old  Political  Union,  its  motto 
was  **  Peace  !     Justice  !     Prosperity  !  " 

In  the  following  April  a  declaration  in  favour 
of  obtaining  by  all  peaceful  and  constitutional 
means,  Household  8ufl&age,  Vote  by  Ballot, 
Triennial  Parliaments,  and  electoral  Districts,  was 
signed  by  9,000  [>erson8,  and  on  the  Ist  of  May 
another  political  society  was  established,  under 
the  name  of  the  Reform  League,  of  which  Mr. 
G.  F.  Muntz,  M.P.  was  elected  president,  with 
Messrs.     W.   fcholefield,  M.P,,  GeoF^e  Da.^^^^sn 


534 


OLD  AXD   NEW  BIEMINGHAM. 


[Sympathy  mHh  Enopaj. 


-  ^ 


Tlumms  Weston  and  R.  K.  Douglas  as  Vicc- 
piosideiits.  A  large  Executive  Committee  was 
also  appointed,  and  W.  E.  Timmins  was  elected 
Secretary. 

An  imi)etu8  was  given  to  the  Reform  agitation 
during  this  month  by  the  passing  of  the  Jewish 
Disabilities  Bill  in  the  House  of  Commons  by  a 
majority  of  CI  votes,  and  its  subsequent  rejection 
by  the  Lords  by  1 63  against  1 28  votes.  Notice 
Avas  given  by  Mr.  Ja«»eph  Ilumc  in  the  House  of 
(.j.)mmons  that  on  the  20th  of  Juno  he  should 
move  the  following  resolution  : — 

That  this  House,  as  at  present  constituted,  does  not 
fairly  represent  the  population,  tho  pro]»erty,  or  the  in- 
dustry of  tho  eoimtry,  whence  has  arisen  great  and 
increasing  discontent  in  the  minds  of  a  large  portion  of 
the  i)cople  ;  and  it  is  therefore  expedient,  with  the  "view 
to  amend  the  National  liepreseutation,  that  tlio  elective 
franchise  shall  be  so  extended  as  to  include  liouseholdors  ; 
that  votes  shall  be  taken  by  ballot  ;  that  the  duration 
of  Parliament  shall  not  exceed  tlii-ec  years ;  and  that  the 
apportionment  of  members  to  population  shall  be  made 
more  eqiuil. 

As  might  bo  exj^ectod  ^Er.  Hume's  resolution 
was  aucoptod  in  liirniingham  with  th«  utmost 
8;itisfiid.i'm.  A  petition  in  support  of  tho  motion 
w.is  adopted  by  a  largo  and  enthusiastic  meeting 
uf  the  Reform  League,  in  the  Town  Hall,  on  the 
31st  of  May;  a  meeting  of  the  Political  (,'ouncil 
was  hold  in  the  Town  Hall,  June  7th,  in  favour 
of  Universal  Suflrage  and  in  support  of  'Slv. 
Hume's  motion;  and  a  somewhat  noisy  and  violent 
out -door  gjithering  of  the  ('hartists  was  held  in 
L-n'cday  Struct,  near  thcj  I'eoiJe's  Hall,  on  Sunday 
June  11th.  The  attendance  of  a  large  body  of 
l)'>Iice  at  tho  Staniforth  Street  slatimi,  and  of  two 
companies  of  infantry  from  AVeedon,  who  were 
Btatione<l  near  the  railway,  i»rcvented  any  serious 
breach  of  the  peace,  however  ;  and  their  services 
were,  happily,  not  in  requisition. 

Mr.  Hume's  motion  was  not  brought  forward 
until  the  Cth  of  July,  when  it  was  nj(?cted  by  a 
majority  of  2G7,  only  81  votes  being  recorded  in 
its  favour. 

The  oiibrts  of  Louis  Kossuth  in  the  Hungarian 
straggle    for    liberty,   iu    1B4^,  tvwsvVvjwcsX.   W\<i 


s^'mpathy  of  the  people  of  Biimingham,  in 
common  with  that  of  the  nation  in  general,  and 
one  of  the  first  meetings  for  the  expiession  of  that 
sympathy  was  held  in  the  Odd  Fellows'  Hall  is 
this  town,  on  the  23rd  of  iNIay  in  that  year; 
when  the  following  resolutions  were  adopted 
unanimously : — 

That  by  us,  EDglishmen  and  Freemen,  no  itmggk  for 
the  defence  or  attainment  of  national  liberty,  can  be 
looked  npon  with  indifference  ;  and  all  efforta  to  aeenn  it 
should  have  tho  advantage  of  an  ezpieaaion  of  sympathy 
from  the  people  of  this  Country. 

Tliat  the  present  struggle  in  Hungary  ia  eminently  n 
effort  which  demands  the  aympathy  and  aapport  of 
English  Freemen,  as  it  at  once  seeks  the  preaarvatioii  of 
loug-enjoyed  liberties  and  the  confirmation  of  newlj- 
acquii-ed  freedom  ;  thus  uniting  our  qrmpathies  sa  tnu 
Conservatives  and  friends  of  progress. 

That  this  Meeting  pledges  itself  to  aid  the  Hun^riiia 
cause  by  every  available  means  open  to  individual  eflbit, 
and  consistent  with  oar  duties  as  citaens  of  a  neotnl 
state. 

Another  meeting  was  held  on  the  23id  of  Jmu^ 
for  the  same  purpose,  and  to  petition  Flaxliunent 
I  on  tho  same  subject;  and  a  thixd,  a  Town'i 
Meetiu<^,  was  held  at  the  Corn  Exchange,  on  the 
13th  of  August,  Tvhen  the  following  resolntioiu 
were  passed : — 

Tliat  as  £u<;lishiiien,  as  lovers  of  all  fre(*dom,  civil  snd 
nli^ious,  as  true  Conservatives,  and  as  friends  of  pio- 
gross,  tliis  meeting  fvel  it  a  sacred  duty  to  express  liar 
earnest,  entire,  and  uurcser\'ed  approbation  of  the 
Hungarian  stniggic  for  Independence,  and  their  hunbls 
and  hiaity  admiration  of  Hungarian  heroism. 

That  we  look  with  dee]>  and  unmitigated  abhorrenn 
u]>on  the  savage  and  horrible  manner  in  which  Anitm 
carries  on  the  war  ;  and  as  friends  of  the  rights  of  natiou 
and  tlie  freedom  of  the  world,  emphatically  protest  agaiut 
tlie  unrighteous  intervention  of  Kussia. 

That  a  x^'titiou  be  presented  to  the  Queen,  pnying  (he 
(loveninient  to  give  an  emphatic  cxprcs^uon  to  th<ee 
univt-rsal  feelings  of  the  people,  by  iininediatcly  recngnis- 
ing  the  (h'  facto  (iovernnieut  of  Iluugan'  ;  and  that  the 
flavor  be  requestetl  to  sign  the  same  on  behalf  of  the 
meeting,  audjto  secure  its  presentation. 

Aftt'r  a  season  of  ]>olitieal  rejjose,  party  feeling' of 

a  reli^io-political  character  was  noised,  in  thetoTrn 

antl  throughout    the   country,  in    1850,  by  the 

creatiun  of  Dr.  Wiseman  Cardinal  Archbishop  of 

"Westminster,  and  tho  establishment  of  a  Koman 

Catholic  Hierarchy  in  England.     A  Town's  3Iet;t- 

Vw^'^^*?^  \\ftld  in  Birmingham  on  the  1 1th  of  Decern- 


188 


OLD   AND   NEW  BERMINGHAM. 


|Tli«Citboilel 


into  several  dioceses,  uudef  the  goveniinent  of  a  BomAn 
Calholic  Archbishop  and  Roman  Catholic  Bishops,  with 
t«tTitorial  juriaditaion  ;  and  w©  humbly  aubniit  an  opinion 
that  tho  Roman  Pontiff  has  been  greatly  influenced  in  his 
policy  towards  this  Country  by  the  informatiou  which 
ni'ist  have  reached  him  concerning  the  exist^tnoe  in  the 
CUuidi  of  England  of  a  certain  number  of  the  clergy, 
wboae  teacMng  and  practice  approximate  to  those  of  the 
Church  of  fiouae. 

**  Wc  regard  tho  proceedings  of  the  Pope  as  an  insult 
to  Your  Majesty,  as  a  violation  of  the  constitution  under 
whit^h  wo  live,  and  oji  an  audacious  attack  upon  our  civil 
and  religious  liberties.  We  protest  against  the  recognition 
of  the  authority  in  this  nation  of  any  foreign  potentate, 
ss  subversive  of  order,  good  government,  and  freedom  ; 
and  we  earnestly  pray  Your  Majt-sty  t*)  take  immediate 
atepa  to  vindicate  the  prerogatives  of  tho  Crown,  and  to 
maintain  the  libertia^  of  Your  Migesty's  subjeeia, 

**  This  address  was  seconded  bj  J.  B.  Melson, 
M.D,,  and  supported  by  the  Rev,  J.  A,  Jumes, 
R.  Spooxier,  M.P.,  and  the  Rev.  li  Vaughan. 

"Mr,  Joseph  Sturge  proposed  the  following 
amendment : — 

**To  THE  Queen's  Most  Excellext  Maji^isty, 
The  humble  address  of  the  Inhabitants  of  Birmingham, 
in  Town's  Meeting  assembled. 

**  May  it  please  Vour  Majesty^ 

"  We,  Your  Mftjesty'«  loyal  subjects  of  the  Borough  of 
.'Jj^minghain,  in  Town's  Ali'eting  a^isembled,  for  the 
'  imrpoM  of  expressing  our  sense  of  the  recent  appoint- 
ment of  a  Roman  Ciitholic  Hierarchy  in  this  Country", 
beg  respectfully  to  represent  to  Your  Majesty,  that  in  our 
opinion  such  appointment  does  not  reijuire  any  legislative 
iutttrference. 

'*  We  dutifully,  yet  earnestly,  deprecate  all  reatrictions 
ii}K)n  the  free  enjoyment  by  every  religioua  ho<ly  within 
Your  Majesty's  doiiiiniona,  of  its  spiritaal  orJer  and 
discipline. 

*'  We  therefore  intreat  Y^our  Mujc«ty  1o  ainction  such 
measures  as  may  Ikj  pro^io^d  for  securing  the  maintenance 
and  extension  of  civil  and  religious  lib«rty. 

"The  amendment  was  seconded  by  George 
Edmonds  and  sujijjorted  by  -George  Bawaon^  tbe 
Jvcv.  Brewin  Grant,  and  ilr.  Stokes,  a  Roman 
Catholic  It  was,  of  course,  put  first  to  tbe 
meeting.  1  quote  the  scene  from  the  graphic 
rt^liort  of  a  contemporary  chronicler  :— 

•♦The  Cbairnian  then  proceeded  to  read  the  original 
•ddreaa,  and  the  amended  one  submitted  by  Mn  Sturge, 
during  which  tlic  mcoliog  pre«5rved  the  Htrictcat  aikuce 
until  the  conclusion  of  each  address,  when  there  waa  a 
burnt  of  cheering  from  the  supporters  of  cacL 


**  A  profound  atiUness  then  fell  tip<m  the  vaat  moltil 

that  tilled  the  hall,  m  that  a  pin  could  be  almost 
to  diopp  while  10,000  men  contentedly  held  their 
in  a  titate  of  mo^t  intense  c^tcitcment,  as  the  ChiiraoM 
advanced  to  the  front  of  the  gallery  to  put  the  qur«tiati- 

*'  The  amendment  wiis  first  put,  and  a  forest  of  I** 
■nd  a  sea  of  moving  hats  and  handkerchiefs  waa  initant]; 
displayed,  while  the  pent-up  ezcitemrnt  of  Uie  mMM  givi 
way  in  a  tremendous  burst  of  cheering, 

"  Tlie  question  was  then  put  in  the  negative,  or 
the  amendment,    and   an    apparently   equal   ontn^ 
display  of  hands,  and  an  equally  euthusiaj»(ic  uiauifcaL* 
tion  of  feeling,  followed.     When  silence  waa  txtstQTvA^  ihat] 
Clmirmunt  after  a   pause  taid,  I   find   it  ao  exceedingV 
diihcult  to  decide,  that  1  wish  to  try  it  agaiti.     ^Urrsl 
laughter  and  dieeriug.) 

*'The  question  for  and  againat  the  amendment  via 
again  put,  with  nearly  tbe  same  results,  and  tlie  mm« 
Torifeitius  ap[ clause.  The  CludrTnari,  after  ailetir*  had 
been  obtained,  said,  I  feel  esttremc  difficulty  in  direiding 
this  question,  ]»iirticularly  as  there  are  srattcr^'d  ii 
dUfereut  parts  of  the  hall  grou{>s  of  }te.mous  on  both  siil 
I   fuel,  as    1    say,  extreme  difficulty   iu    deciding 

question,  BI^T   my  OPIXIUK    is   that  l  me    AMtt^'^>i^CXT  ti| 

NOT  CARRIED,     A  treinondous  shout  of  ap;  >w«i 

by  waying  of  haU  and  hnnd kerchiefs.    ^  n  |h«, 

sup|>orter8  of  the  original  address,  tl^eir  rxcitcmont  \m\ 
of  the  moi^t  rapturous  and  enthtisiaslic  kind,  no  dout 
stimulutcd  by  the  expectation  that  thoy  had  obtained  a 
triumph.  At  length  silence  having  been  with  somt 
difficulty  restored — the  Chairman,  advtincing  to  the  front 
said,  I  will  now  put  the  original  address,  Thcvie  who  art 
in  favour  of  the  original  address  will  hold  up  both  hands. 
In  a  moment  thousands  of  hands  were  heVl  **"  •"  *  hec» 
and    other     demon*»trationa    of    excited  tioa 

followed.  When  the  prolongi^d  cheering  L;ju  ph ilk  what 
subsided^ the  Chuinnan  said,  those  who  are  againct  the 
original  addreiss  will  hold  up  boUi  their  liantla.  A  still 
larger  number  of  hands  wen?  then  hold  ap,  foUowcd  by 
the  same  noisy  demonstrations,  Tlie  Lhuirmtn  tb** 
advanced  to  the  front  of  the  orchestra,  amidst  the  tnott 
intt'Uite  excitement,  and  aaid,  I  feel  tho  same  <lifficulty 
that  I  did  before  in  coming  to  a  decision,  but  it  is  my 
opinion,  and  I  okcide  that  tme  ohhunal  M%i*Kmh  xt 
LOHr«  A  tremendous  tiur^t  of  cheering,  whit^h  «t»w»ni»d  to 
shake  the  building,  followed  thi^  annotr  liiJe  ] 

the  utmost  consternation  and  diaajipointf  iU*l 

itsel r amongst  the  requisionists.  The  up n in  i  ;  ude»  | 
of  applause  were  prolonged  again  and  agikiu  utii,:  -  t  the  ' 
supporters  of  the  amendment. 

*'  The  Mayor,  on  the  motion  of  Mr»  Sturge,  theti  leH 
the  rliair,  amidst  cries  of  "  a  most  unfair  decision,"  ftcm. 
some  of  the  reiiuisitionists,  who  were  taunted  by  Ml 
Edmonds  with  grois  insult  to  the  Mayor,  and  sis  beiog 
very  inconsistent  sticklers  for  law  and  authority. 
Iklr>  James  Taylor,  shaking  his  head  at  the  Mayor,  nad 
(as  we  understood  him),  *' You  have  disgraced  your^eJT" 
Mr.  Edmonds  then  su^gvsted  th^tt  Mr,  Spoonmr  ahoold 
take  tho  chair,  while  a   vote  of  thnnkit  «as  irivcu   to 


'4 


4 


■id. 


)  ^^^y 


PoUlIeal  EvcmU :  WjiJlfeM.) 


DLL)  Ayiy   ^'EW  BIEMINGIIAM. 


537 


Mayor;  but  tins  Mr,  Sjjoou-^r  i«osjii\eIy  tlet-Iitjel  to  do, 

amul  confusion,  tloring  which   rbe  Mayor  left  the  Hsill, 

iniiin^itely,   howcv^er,   Mr.  Wrston   was.  moved  into  the 

-ebair,  nnil  ow  the  motion  of  Mr.  K'linouJa,  aecoudeJ  by 

_|r.  Sturgc.  the  rote  of  thfltiks  wi«  put  to  the  meeting 

'tod  carried  viem.  ctm.^  the  rei|HJsltiojjist3  declining  to 

t»1te  any  part  in  the  vote. 

•'Three  cheers  werti  then  given  for  the  Mayor,  three  for 
liWrty,  and  three  for  the  Qtteon  ;  and  the  proceedings  of 
thK  one  of  the  moat  nanierotifl  and  important  meeliuga 
ever  hcM  in  Birmingham,  tormioated  by  the  supporters 
f -^  amendment  singing  ''  God  save  the  Queon,"*  which 
eived  with  silence,  and  in  some  instances  by 
BuMin^  from  the  right-hand  side  of  the  hall  and  platform, 
Tiie  proceedings  occupied  abont  six  hours  ;  and  althoagh 
the  meeting  was  occasionally  in  such  an  excited  state  that 
many  of  the  gpoaker*  could  not  l*e  heard  beyond  a  abort 
distance  from  the  platform,  yet  the  asBcmbled  multitude 
w«fi>5  n-niarkably  good  humoured,  and  separated  very 
quietly/' 

The  eX'ritement  continued  during  the  first  few 
weeks  of  the  new  year,  and  among  other  local 
contributions  to  the  controversy  Jectuifea  were 
delivered  by  the  Rev,  Dr,  Miller,  Dv.  Dixon, 
(Wealeyau  minister),  and  Mr,  George  Dawson, 
M.A*  Ultimately  the  question  was  set  at  rest 
by  the  passing  of  the  Eccletiiastical  Titles  Bill,  a 
mere  briduvi  fulmen  wLicli  never  accomjdished, 
and  perhaps  was  never  intended  to  accomplish, 
its  avowed  purpose,  and  was  most  wisely  altered 
in  187L 

The  question  of  Parliamentary  Eeforra  was 
iigain  brought  to  the  front  in  1852  j  a  public 
meeting  was  held  in  the  Town  Hall,  January  16, 
addressed  by  George  Edmonds,  George  Dawson, 
the  lU?v,  Brewin  Grant,  Sir  Joshua  Walmsley, 
M.F.,  and  G.  Thompson,  M.P.  ;  and  in  February 
I  new  Reform  Bill  was  introduced  into  the  House 
f  Commons  by  Lord  Jolm  Russell,  for  extending 
the  franchifle  in  the  counties  to  occupiere  of  pre- 
mises rated  at  X20,  and  in  cities  and  boroughs 
to  huusehidders  rated  at  £5*  Another  meeting 
was  held  on  the  24th  of  that  month  to  support 
the  Bill,  but  the  intention  was  frustrated  by  an 
amendment,  which  was  carried,  declaring  that 
**any  measnie  of  Reform  that  does  not  include 
tlie  shortening  of  the  duiation  of  Parliament, 
the  abolition  of  the  property  qualification  of 
Membi^n*  of  Parliament,   universal  suITruge,  and 


a  fair  distribution  of  mem>^ers  corresponding  with 
the  population  of  eadi  district,  wOl  not  give 
satisfaction  to  the  people  of  this  country.** 

As  moat  of  our  readers  know,  the  Reform  Bill 
of  1852  did  not  become  law,  and  the  cause  ^ 
Parliamentary  Reform  was  shelved  for  a  time. 
For  several  years  afterwards  the  country  was  too 
busUy  engaged  with  the  affairs  of  Eastern  Europe 
to  pay  much  attention  to  other  political  questions 
affecting  the  interests  of  the  people  of  Great 
Britain, 

On  the  2l8t  of  February,  1852,  Lord  John 
Russell  resigned,  and  the  Earl  of  Derby  formed  a 
Ministry,  in  which  Mr.  Disraeli  was  for  the  first 
time  Chancellor  of  the  Exchequer,  that  being, 
moreover,  his  first  office  in  any  admuiistration. 
On  the  1st  of  July,  in  the  same  year.  Parliament 
was  dissolved;  the  nomination  for  Biimingham 
took  place  on  the  10th,  when  the  old  repre- 
sentatives, Messrs.  ^funtz  and  Scholeiield,  were 
returned  unopposed. 

Another  attempt  was  made  by  Lord  John 
Russell,  in  1854,  to  carry  his  Reform  Bill  (which 
providinl  fur  the  enfranchisement  of  £10  house- 
holders in  the  countids,  and  £6  householders  in 
boroughs) ;  but  the  country  was  too  much 
engrossed  by  the  Crimean  War  to  take  much 
notice  of  it.  A  meeting  was,  of  course,  held 
in  Birmingham,  in  support  of  it  (March  15th), 
but  the  Bill  was  withdrawn  in  April,  and  once 
more  shelved. 

The  **  annual  attempt  to  disfranchise  the 
freeholders  and  other  legally  qualified  voters  ** 
for  North  Warwickshire,  by  the  numerous 
objections  raised  as  to  their  eligibility  to  vote, 
stimulated  the  Liberals  of  Birmingham,  in  1856, 
to  form  a  Liberal  Registration  Society.  Mr.  W. 
Scholefield,  JfLP.,  and  Messra  Jamea  Taylor, 
jun.,  H.  Allbutt,  W.  Harris,  H.  Smith,  J.  S.  Wright, 
and  Councillors  Sadler  and  Jackson  were  the 
leaders  in  this  useful  movement;  at  the  first 
meeting,  held  October  1st,  nearly  XI 00  was 
subscribed  towards  the  objects  of  the  dociety. 

lu    March,    IS5T,  Viwt\iMaKCX  ^^a  ^aafcf5c»^«Sk^ 


538 


OLD   AND   NEW   BIRMINGHAM. 


[■•hmi  of  Ur,  J«l»Bl4^ 


a]»d  once  more  the  two  repreacntatives  **  walked 
OYer,''  being  re-elected  without  opposilion.  But 
ia  the  case  of  the  denier  member,  Mr,  G.  F. 
Mtmtz,  the  parliamentary  honours  thus  renewed 
were  enjoyed  only  for  a  few  abort  months;  for 
«n  the  30th  of  July,  in  the  same  year,  he  died, 
at  the  age  of  62»  having  represented  the  borough 
in  Parliament  for  se?entecn  years. 

It  happened  at  that  time,  that  a  member  of 
the  former  Parliament,  who  had  already  become 
famous  both  as  an  orator  and  a  sound  politician, 
wa«  without  a  eeat,  having  been  ungraciously 
rejected  by  liis  former  eonjatituency,  Manchester, 
on  account  of  his  views  on  the  Crimean  War, 
and  his  consist eirt  advocacy  of  a  peace  policy, 
and  to  this  gentleman, — "the  foremost  man  in 
the  House  of  Commons,"  Mr.  John  Bright — "  the 
Liberals  of  Birmingham  almost  instinctively 
turned,"*  in  order  to  Ell  up  the  blank  caused 
by  his  temporary  absence  from  the  national 
l^islature, — a  place  which  no  other  living 
statesman  could  have  filled. 

Another  Liberal  candidate  came  forward,  Mr. 
Baron  Dickenson  Webster,  of  I*eim's  Mills — but 
at  the  public  meeting  for  the  selection  of 
candidates,  held  August  4th,  it  was  obvious 
that  he  would  meet  witli  the  supptjrt  of  only 
a  small  minority  of  the  Liberal  electoiB,  and 
before  the  day  of  nomination  Mr.  Webster 
wisely  withdrew  from  the  contest,  so  that,  on 
August  10th,  Mr,  Bright  was  elected  without 
opposition.  **  The  peculiarity  of  this  election," 
aays  Dr.  Langford,  "  was,  that  Mr.  Bright  was 
not  in  Birmingham  at  the  time,  and  had  issued 
hie  address  only  two  days  before  the  nomination. 
It  was  the  spontaneous  tribute  of  a  great  con- 
etituency  to  a  great  man — which  could  overlook 
even  great  diSerences  of  opinion  on  some  subjects 
for  the  sake  of  securing  a  representative  of 
the  highest  eloquence,  the  most  unswerving 
consistency,  the  most  sterling  honesty,  and  of 


'  Dr.  Lukgford ;  Modem  BLrmltiisbftm,  U.,  f. 


the  broadeat  Liberal  viaws."*  The  Mayor  (Mtl 
John  Batclifi),  immediately  telcgiupbed  the  molll 
to    Mr.    Bright,   and   roceired   the    foUowbg 

reply : 

Rocbdalo,  Aa^QJit  lOth,  lUl. 
De^rMr,  Mayor, 

I  h»ve  to  \haxik  jm^  tad  I M  Tuo«t  HUferdy, 
your  kinJnesa  itt  fending  me  the   tule 
wluch  informB  me  thi*  I  am  one  of  v  •  iroj 

Uoprei«iUti«^*!'a  of  the  gnmi  oomnuunty  ovrrwiiKli|W 
huve  the  honour  to  fJlcdtle.  I  hdpc  I  ni^v  fnT«  Ik 
power  hereafter  to  show  that  I   am  not  -  ^in^f 

of  the  confidence  yuar  towosroen  Lave  i  j-. 

Believe  me,  with  great  h*i£pis<rt,  I 

Yoara  ^tbluriy*  ■ 

Jvusi  DKienT. 

To    the   tdectors   who   had    thu«   returned  hii 

unsolicited,  to  his  old  accustomed  jtlace  in 

House   of   Commons,   he   issued    the   foUawin] 

address : 

Hochdale,  Atiguat  lOtIt,  mi 

GeDtlemen^ 

Your  respected  Chief  Mngistrate  has  itdarmtd  m« 
by  telegi'tti>b,  that  he  has  this  dny  declared  me  to  be  dn\j 
elected  owe  of  yoar  Repreaentalivt^  iu  rt-'-  < 
ha  ye  ItMrued  fn>ra  other  eources  that  lU'  1  fi 

miiiufcsted  io  my  favour  that  no  otli'  - 
preseuU'd  to  yoa  at  the  hubtiaga,  and  t  r<  ijjj 

lilcctioD  haa  been  withoat  eonte^jt  or  0ppt»s,iuiju  u^no  iOj 
ijtiartcr. 

When   I    addressed    you    two    days    ^go,    1  had 
expectation  of  a  result  tto  speedy  aud  eo  tnuif|tti]  of  tli 
then  impendiug  struggle  ;    1  accept  it  aa  a  oauchia 
proof  of  the   bias  of  your  political   wytwa^   ami  of 
confideDce    ia  me    which  I    ahall   wtiifm    to    snaintaia 
imdimiiiiAhcd, 

It  is  a  matter  of  real  regret  to  me  that  I  haire  not  hctM 
able  to  be  with  you  during  the  poflt  wt^ek,  and  a!  ilm\ 
huBtiugs  this  day ;  I  ahall  bojie,  bowe?er,  that  on  torn* 
not  di'ilAnt  occ&sion  I  may  be  permitted  to  tueet  you  la 
your  noble  Town  Hall,  and  to  become  more  intinuUelj 
acquainted  with  a  constituency  from  whom  I  hafi 
received  an  bonour  aa  signal  as  it  was  nnezi^ot»d,  aoi 
towards  whom  1  can  nerer  entertain  other  tebHtkg^  thai 
those  of  respect  and  gratitude. 

With  heartfelt  thanks  for  yoor  kindooM^  which  I 
I  may  hare  the  health  and  opportunity  in  aome  meatfinr 
to  repay, 

I  Babscnbe  myself^ 

Very  fdithfiilty  youra, 

I  jiuf  Btuoitr, 

In  October  of  this   year  luc  nrst  Crm^^^sn  of 

the    So<jiuJ    Science    Association    \tm>    ii  Id    tiij 


*iCed«m  BlnalncHun,  u,.  It 


540 


OLD   AND   NEW   EIKMINGHAM.       iMr.  ftrtgWto  mmiaghM.  i 


We  also  desire  to  express  our  hope  tlidt  your  lonlstiip 
may  long  live  to  write  your  name  on  many  anothiT  pngo 
of  our  national  history ;  certain,  that  however  we  may 
differ  from  yon  in  detoils,  all  your  future,  like  your  i»a«t 
life,  will  be  devot^jd  to  the  furtherance  of  the  political 
enfranchisement  of  your  roimtrymcn,  and  to  the  removal 
of  the  liuit  remnant  of  n'ligiowi  tntolenuice  and  sectarian 
ezclnsion. 

Thi8  i«  not  the  time  to  press  upon  your  lonlahip  our 
views  on  panicular  measurea.  We  ilesire  simply  to 
eiEpresA  to  you  our  gratitude  for  your  po&t  servicep,  our 
admiration  of  your  cJiaracter,  and  our  earnest  hope  that 
your  lordship  mny  he  spared  to  consummate  those 
political  and  religious  reforma  with  which  your  name  will 
be  ever  aaaodated. 

At  t!ie  comnienciiment  of  the  year  1858  a 
Ik-formers*  Union  was  formed  in  Binwiugham 
(chietiy  thronit?li  the  exertiona  of  some  of  the 
old  E^fonneM),  it-8  bases  being:  1st,  a  much 
wider  axtoiisiori  of  the  suffrage ;— 2nd^  a  re- 
distribution of  electoral  districts  ; — Srd,  the 
ballot; — 4th,  abolition  of  property  qualification  ;— 
and  Sib,  shortening  the  duration  of  Parliament.** 
The  first  great  meeting  of  the  new  Union  was  held 
in  the  Town  Hall,  February  2nd,  being  called 
by  tho  Mayor,  in  response  to  a  requisition 
signed  by  upwards  of  4,000  itdinbitants.  An 
important  and  lengthy  letter  from  Mr.  Bright 
(who  waa  unable  to  attend)  was  read,  in  which 
he  reviewed  the  aeveral  bases  of  the  Union  : 

I  bejieoeh  you,  he  aaid^  to  watch  well  what  is  proposed, 
[in  ParlianientJ  and  what  is  done.  Be  the  measure  great 
or  amall,  let  it  be  honest  in  every  part.  Include  aa  many 
a»  you  can  in  the  right  of  the  fninchi«e«  Insist  upou 
each  a  redistrlhutiou  of  seats  at  shall  give  th«  House 
of  Couifnons  fairly  to  the  indtiaty,  the  property »  the 
intelligfliu'o,  and  the  i«>pulatien  of  the  country.  Demand 
the  bftllot  as  the  undeniable  right  of  every  man  who  is 
called  te  the  [»oIl ;  and  take  special  care  that  the  old 
conBtitntional  rule  and  principle  by  which  majimtU$ 
alono  shaU  decide  in  Parliamentary  elections  shall  aot  be 
delated. 

I  givf"  ray  hearty  support,  as  I  have  heretofore  done,  to 
the  propositions  contained  in  your  circular.  I  lament 
that  I  cannot  join  in  your  meeting  to-morrow,  for  I 
esteem  it  a  great  honrmr  to  be  permitted  to  act  with  the 
luhahifcanta  of  Birmingham  on  that  question,  which,  a 
quarter  of  a  century  ago^  they  did  ao  much  to  advance, 
and  on  which  tueir  potent  Toice  is  once  more  to  he  heard. 

On  tlie  27th  of  October,  1858,  after  three  years 
of  enforced  absence  from  public  life,  ducing  which 


hehadbeen  reduced  by  iU^healtli  '^to  a  oemdUiailQf 
weakness  exceeding  the  weakness  of  a  Little  okfld,' 
Mr,  Bright  met  Ida  con^timents  far  the  liist  tint 

since  his  election.  It  need  scarcely  be  said  thit 
he  met  with  such  a  reception  ms  Binxungham  nnai 
well  know  how  to  give  to  those  whom  thfy 
delight  to  honour, — a  reception  which,  ia  it^ 
ardent  demonstrations  of  enthusiasm,  fell  bat  huk 
short  of  that  which,  thi-ee  months  Wore,  hmi 
been  accorded  to  their  beloved  sovereign  hendl 
We  have  not  tlie  spaco  to  describe  Uie  speeeih 
itself,  which  dealt  with  the  still  vexed  question  of 
lieform,  but  there  is  one  parsgntph  which  shoaid 
not  bo  omitted  from  this  record,  referring  s^  it 
does,  to  the  distinction  which  Birniingham  con- 
ferred upon  itself  by  the  spontaneous  eJectkm  of 
Mr.  Bright  as  their  repiescnUitive  : — 


I  shall  not  attempt,  he  nid,  by  the  «niipIoytnesit  d 
aay  elaborate  phradeft,  toexprtas  to  you  wlmt  I  feltat  tht 
time  when  you  conferred  upon  mo  the  aignal  hnium  d 
returning  me  as  one  of  your  r»preaMitaljvea  to  th« 
of  Commons,  I  am  not  sufficiently  master  of  th<i 
language  to  diacoTer  wordft  which  nhall  expres  what 
felt»  and  what  I  feel  now  toward*  you,  for  what  yootUl 
then,  and  for  the  reception  which  you  hat •  given  ni«  ta- 
night  I  never  imagined  for  a  moment  that  you  insv 
prepared  to  endorse  all  my  opinions,  or  to  lanction  e*<xj 
political  act  with  wldch  I  have  been  connected;  bull 
accepted  your  resolntion  in  choodng  uie  as  meaning  ^ui^ 
that  you  had  watched  my  political  carBer  ;  that  yua 
helievo<l  it  had  l>een  an  hgneat  one  ;  that  you  werr  ■a£i»' 
6ed  I  had  not  swerved  knowingly  to  the  right  hauit  or  t» 
the  left ;  thdt  the  attractions  of  power  bad  not  ehangei 
my  course  from  any  view  of  courtiiig  a  fleeting  popalanty; 
and,  further,  that  you  arc  of  this  opinion — aa  ofiaisi 
which  I  religiously  hold— that  the  man  whose  piditkat 
career  b  on  a  line  with  hia  conscientious  convictions  ofe 
never  be  unfaithful  to  his  constituents  or  to  his  comixrj. 

The  sight  of  the  vast  Bulging  maas  whkk 
filled  the  great  hall  to  ita  ntmoet  capacity,  *'  oooh 
posed,"  as  he  afterwards  remark^  **  to  a  great 
extent  of  our  countrymen  who  have  no  politiod 
power,  who  are  at  work  from  (he  dawn  of  day  li^ 
the  evening,  and  %vho  have^  therefore,  limited 
means  of  informing  themselves  on  great  «iti«»- 
tions,"  doubtless  moved  the  great  orator  lo 
renewed  efforts  in  obtaining  for  the  great  maas 
of  his  conBtituenta  their  political   rtghta;  and 


Tbe  Refonu  BUli  of  1 


OLD  AND  NEW   BIKMINGHAM. 


541 


rly  in  tlw  sessian  of  1859  Le  introduced  in 

tie    House    of   Commons   a  new  Refonn    liill, 

[iMUBed  upon  tbe  principles  of  the  Reform  Asso- 

iation^  which  had  b<?en  formed  in  Birmingham 

11  November,    IS58 — viz.,  a  krge  oxt<»nsion  of 

I  the  suffrage,  vote   by  ballot,  and  a  more  etpial 

apportionment  of    Members  to   population.     A 

Itown^s    meeting   was  held   in   the   Town   Hall, 

I  February  1st,  for  the  puqiose  of  considering  the 

[proposed  meitsure,  and  resolutions  were  adopted 

by  ftn  overwhelming  majority  in  its  support,  and 

Qg   entire   faith   in   the  integrity  of  its 

QOter^  pledging  themselves  **  to  give  him  their 

noet   hearty   support  in  his  enrleavours  bo  pro- 

f mote  such  a  scheme  of  Parliamentary  Keform  as 

Khali  be  satisfactory  to   the  great  body  of  the 

[people." 

A  rival    Bill  was  introduced,  however,  during 
be  same  session  by  the  Earl  of  Derby,  which 
I  included    several   **  fancy   franchises"  —  as    Mr. 
I^right  happily  termed  them— giving  a  vote  to 
[persons  having  XI 0  per  annum  in  the  Public 
^undd.  Bank  vStock,  or  India  stock,  or  £60  in  a 
I  Savings  Bank,  to  recipients  of  pensions  in  the 
Public   Services   amounting   to  -£20  a  year,   to 
Iwellers  in  a  portion  of  a  house  whose  aggregate 
I  r&nt  was  £20  a  year,  to  graduates  of  the  Univer- 
^^ities^  ministex9  of  religion,  memljers  of  the  legal 
medical  professions,   and  to  certain  school- 
ers.    The  only  praiseworthy  feature  in  the 
rOovenunent  BiU  was  the  proposed  assimilation  of 
[the   county  franchise  to  that   of  the  boroughs, 
I  thus  reducing  it  to  £10. 

A  gi'Cttt  town's  ntcetiiig  was  held  in  Bir- 
|iningham,,to  consider  the  Govoniraent  measure, 
I  on  the  ^th  of  March,  at  which  both  rej>re8entrt- 
I  tives  of  the  borough  wei-e  present,  and  strongly 
|<;ondenmed  the  bdl.  A  resolution  to  the  same 
purpose  was  adupted  by  the  muetinr,  as  waa  also 
A  petition,  which  received  upwartis  of  forty 
I  thousand  signatures  in  two  days* 

Tlie  obnoxious  hill  was  df^feated  on  the  second 
leading,  April  1st,  by  a  majority  of  39  (201  /or 
And  3D0  against)^  and  on  the   19th  of  the  same 


month  Parliament  was  prorogued,  preparatory  to 
a  dissolution,  which  followed  immeJiutely  after- 
wards. 

Messrs,  Scholefield  and  Bright  offered  them- 
selves for  re-election,  the  latter  issuing  an 
important  address  on  the  ipinstion  at  issue.  The 
Conservatives  found  a  candidate  in  the  pcreon  of 
Dr,  G.  Bodington,  of  iSutton  Coldfield,  who,  in 
his  address,  however,  stated  that  he  would  not 
engage  in  the  contest  unless  Birmingham  bade 
him  do  so  j  and  as  no  response  was  given  by  the 
electors,  he  wisely  declined  to  court  what  seemed 
certain  defeat.  Later  on,  the  Conservatives 
brought  forward  another  candidate,  Mr.  Tliomas 
Dyke  Ackland ;  but,  notwithstanding  the  sup- 
port which  he  received  from  a  number  of  timid 
Liberals  who  feared  **  the  extreme  and  dangerous 
principles  of  Mr.  Bright,"  he  was  <lefoatcd  by  a 
large  majority,  the  numbers  being — for  Mr. 
Bright,  4,425  ;  Mr.  Scliolbheld,  4,282  ;  and  Mjr. 
Ackland,  1,544. 

The  new  Ministry  uuil^r  LorI  Palmerston 
introduced,  early  in  the  session  of  1860,  another 
Reform  Bill,  providing  for  a  considerable  exten- 
sion of  the  franchise,  which  ^vas  received  with 
great  satisfaction  by  tbe  people  of  Birmingham, 
to  whom  it  was  proposed  to  give  a  third  repre- 
sentative. The  bill  was  passed  through  the 
Commons  successfully  by  the  beginning  cif  June, 
and  a  few  days  later,  to  the  surprise  and  grief  of 
all  true  Liberals,  Lord  John  Russell  announced 
that  the  Government  intended  to  withdraw  it 
And  so  from  this  time  the  question  of  reform 
was  shelved  until  the  **rest  and  bo  thankful*' 
policy  came  to  its  end  with  tho  death  of  the 
I*remier  in  1865, 

Dunug  the  session  of  1860  the  cause  of  Free 
Trade  was  advanced  by  the  financial  policy  of 
Mr.  Gladstone,  and  more  especially  by  the  ncgo- 
ciation  of  the  French  Treaty.  But  one  of  tho 
most  important  fiscal  reforma  iotroduced  by  this 
great  statesman  was  the  abolition  of  the  paper 
duty,  one  of  the  heaviest  and  most  oppressive 
"  taxes   on    knowletlge.**      TLva  ^i^anxi-^  laa  ^\«. 


readers  are  doiiljlle&s  awnre,  was  strongly  oppoeed 
bj  the  House  of  Lordi*,  who,  contrary  to  all 
modem  precedent,  at  first  rejected  t)iia  portion  of 
tha  Budget^  and  thereby  called  forth  much  dis- 
cussion as  to  the  right  of  the  Upper  House  to 
deal  with  money  hilb,  A  Committee  of  the 
House  of  Commons  was  appointed  to  inquire 
aa  to  the  precedents  for  the  course  adopted  by 
the  Lords,  and  their  report  was  drawn  up  by  Mr, 
Bright^ 

While  the  eause  of  Keform  slumbered  peace- 
fully within  the  Le^'islature,  it  was  not  permitted 
to  do  so  ill  Birniinghaui,  **  the  home  of  Reform/' 
as  it^  citizens  loveil  to  call  it.  The  Radical 
Refonn  League  hold  meetings  from  time  to  time, 
and  were  not  slow  to  record  their  di5aatisf action 
at  the  apathy  displayed  hy  the  Government  in 
regard  to  this  questiun.  At  a  meeting  held  on 
the  4th  of  Mareh^  1861»  the  following  resolution 
was  adopted  :— 

That  the  deliberate  and  dibhonourable  abutdonment 
of  Ri'form  bj  her  Jlfljesty'a  Goveiimieiit  hwving  again 
thrown  the  question  before  ilie  country,  it  is  the  duty  of 
RefornierK  anil  all  clusfieB  promptly  and  earnestly  to  com- 
bine to  roret'  upoii  the  attention  of  the  House  of  Commona 
t!i«  national  de^-iro  for  a  tliorough  refoim.  This  League, 
therefore,  cidls  upon  the  attention  of  the  people  in  every 
tawD  in  the  kingdom  to  i>etition  Parliaraent  during  tlie 
present  Sea-sion,  praying  for  an  immediate  conaideratioii 
of  the  aubjeet,  and  for  the  a<loption  of  a  measure  which 
shall  satisfy  the  jnst  rtcjuirunitnta  of  the  people,  by  in- 
cluding niftnhood  uufTrage,  vole  by  ballot,  and  equal 
electoral  dial  riots. 

Again,  at  the  an n mil  meeting  to  receive  the 
addresses  of  their  represuntatives,  held  January 
*26th,  1864,  the  town  declared  that  :— 

The  present  House  of  Conimona  having  been  elected 
on  the  question  of  reform,  and  the  mojority  of  its  members 
having  pled^eil  themselves  tb  promote  no  oxten^ion  of 
the  fraiicliis^?,  this  meeting  records  its  opinion  that  the 
Parliament  hua  fiulod  in  its  duty  in  not  having  paused  a 
measure  which  wouhl  have  admitted  a  large  number  of 
the  unenfranchised  to  a  real  share  iu  the  government  of 
the  nation.  This  meeting  believes  the  |Tescnt  period  to 
be  favourable  to  the  i>as5ing  of  such  a  measure,  the 
necessity  for  which  hns  on  various  Oi^casiona  been  en- 
loRHjd  by  her  Majesty 'ii  Jliniiitera,  and  by  the  leaders  of 
both  politics  1  parties. 

On  the  17t!i  <f  Fcl  nmry,   1865,  a  new  Asso- 


ciation was  founded,  which  was  doslij 
hecome  one  of  the  most  powerful  oigants 
for  the  advancement  of  the  catiad  of  Lil 
ever  est ahlished— exceeding  in  its  influeaoe 
results  even  the  famous  PoUttcAl  Uniaii  of 
Thomas  Attwood.  A  meeting  was  held  on  tht^ 
d&y  in  the  Committee  Room  of  the  Town  Halt 
of  all  the  leading  membera  of  the  LilMstal  ptHy 
in  Birmingham^  and  the  result  of  their  ddblH»^ 
tions  was  the  formation  of  the  Liberal 
The  following  were  the  officers  and 
for  the  first  year  : — President,  Mr.  P,  H.  Mi 
treasurer,  Mr,  John  JafTray  ;  hon.  secretAry,  lb. 
George  Dixon  ;  committee^  Mesais,  Cauadlkr  JL 
Baldwin,  G.  Baker,  George  Dawson,  R  lletchiti 
Aldcmian  W.  Holliday,  W*  Harris,  B.  Hani^ 
Councillor  H,  Holland,  G.  J.  Johnson,  J,  T. 
Keep,  Alderman  T.  Lloyd,  Alderman  il.  Mj 
X  8.  Manton,  W.  Middlemore,  C.  E.  Mi 
Alderman  T,  Phillips,  J.  Pickering,  Alderman 
Sturge,  J.  Taylor,  jun.,  Alderman  A-  Rjhud,  dxd 
J.  S.  Wright  ♦ 

In  July,  1665,  another  general  election  i 
pkce.  The  two  members  for  BirmiDghaa 
elected  without  opposition  ;  hut  in  Xurth  WiS^ 
wick  shire  one  of  the  seats  was  contested  hy  Hl 
G,  F,  Muntz,  at  the  instance  of  the  nswiy- 
organised  Liberal  Asstociation,  He  was  nosno- 
cessful,  however,  in  wresting  the  seat  from  eitlisr 
of  tlie  Conservative  members,  who  weie 
supported  hy  a  safe  mi^'ority.  The  xiumbees 
were  as  follows :— For  Mr.  Xewdegsite,  S,!.**!?; 
Mr.  Davenport  Bromley,  2,873  ;  Mr*  Mtmti, 
2,408.  The  Conservative  victory  was  MithriH 
in  Bimiiiighaui  hy  a  Ixuuinet  at  the  Rurhsngt 
Assembly  Eooms,  on  August  7th,  at  whiich  Mf. 
(afterwards  Sir  Charles)  Adderloy  (now  Ixtd 
Norton)  presided. 

The  proposetl  Ki?fonn  BiH     '  ;.^  r-iai 

duced    by     tho    JluKseJl    adij  i«»n    in   thr 

session  of    I8GG    formed   the  firincipal   [ 
topic  of   the   previous  aulnmti;      A   merUj 


'  Uu  g  iittl    Mu  lent  lUriutnghttr. , 


fiti 


OLD  AND  NEW  BIEMIXGHA^r 


TTliB  n«l<irm  EfU  cf  liH. 


the  local  branch  of  the  National  Reform  League 
was  held  in  the  Town  Hall,  November  23»  Mr- 
J,  A.  Partridge  in  the  dmir.  Mr.  Edmoixd 
Beales  and  Mr.  Maaon  Jones  attended,  and  the 
following  re^ohitions  were  passed  :■ — 

That  this  meeting  adopts  aa  a  piincfple  the  right  of 
manhood  su^'rage ;  as  a  protection  the  ballot ;  and  aa  a 
policy  the  duty  oi  atxeplingsuch  inatalmentt  as  may  be 
attamsble. 

That  having  regard  to  the  titne-honotired  namo  of 
Knsaell,  and  the  great  aeiricea  and  high  reputation  of  Mr 
Gladstone,  this  raectiiig  expresses  its  confident  hop«  that 
a  large  instalment  of  political  rights  will  now  be  conceded 
to  the  working  manhood  of  thia  country,  and  that  the 
principle  of  manhood  auffrage  will  he  reoogniaed  aa  the 
baaia  of  our  re[>resentation. 

ABotber  meeting  was  held  in  the  same  building 
on  tbo  1 3tb  of  December,  at  which  ^It.  Bright 
delivered  one  of  his  groat  Reform  speeches.  On 
the  25th  of  the  same  month  was  published  the 
return  of  bousebolders,  prepai-ed  by  the  Govern- 
ment in  anticipation  of  their  Reform  Bill  The 
number  of  houses  in  the  parish  of  ISirmingham, 
with  their  respective  rentals  {so  far  as  affected  by 
the  proposed  measure),  were  as  follows  ; — 


Under  £4  rentals   ... 

..,        974 

£4  aod  under  £5 

..     2,114 

£5     n 

M          ^« 

.,.     5,94S 

£6     ., 

M      ^7 

It 

...    8.478 

£7    ,, 

M      ^8 

1» 

...     6.160 

£B    „ 

n       i-0 

M 

...     4,801 

£9     „ 

M        i^lO 

56& 

£10  and  npwarda  .. 

...  13,204 

41,229 
Tlie  new  Bill  was  introduced  in  the  House  of 
Commons  by  Mr.  Gladstone,  on  tlie  12tb  of 
March,  1866  ;  and  the  local  agitation  on  its 
behalf  commenced  forthwith.  A  town*s  meeting 
WHS  held  in  the  Town  Hidl,  March  26tb,  at  vs^hich 
letters  were  read  from  the  borough  members,  and 
a  petition  was  adopted  which  received  the  signa- 
ttires  of  44,23G  persons,  and  was  presented  to  the 
House  of  Commons.  On  the  18th  of  June  the 
Ooyemment  were  def^^ated  by  a  majority  of  1 1, 
andj  after  an  adjournment  of  a  week,  resigned 
office.  A  new  administration  by  Lord  Derl»y  on 
the  9th  of  July,  and  the  business  of  the  Session  ( 


was  brought  to   a  close  ae  speedily  as  posstti 
leaving  the  question  of  Keform  tinsettlod. 

During  this  time  several  great  open-air  mtetis^ 
were  held  in  Birmingham  ;  one  at  the  hacli  of  t^ 
Town  Hall  on  July  4th,  at  which  from  6,000  u* 
10,000  persons  were  estimated  to  have  boea 
present ;  another,  on  the  9th,  at  Goste  Green, 
and  a  third,  at  the  same  place,  on  the  25th. 

'*  The  failure  of  the  franchise  bill  of  ihi? 
administration,"  says  Mr.  Molesworth,*^ 
it  abimdantly  evident  to  those  who  regnnlwj 
themselves  as  unjustly  excluded  from  the  fiao- 
chiso  that  their  claims  would  never  be  c<>i 
by  the  legislature  unless,  as  in  1832;  they 
the  matter  into  their  own  hands,  and  showed 
an  uumistakeable  manner,  both  to  friends 
foes,  that  they  were  thoroughly  in  earnest^ 
that  whatever  Conservative  reaction  there  mij 
be  among  the  enfranchised  classea  it  did 
extend  to  those  who  were  denied  a  share  ia 
election  of  representatives  to  the  House 
Commons,"  For  this  purpose  the  Eeform  Leag 
was  estabbshed,  partly  through  the  instrnnw* 
lality  of  Mr.  Edmond  Bedes,  "a  highly  naspec- 
table  hamster,  who  bad  been  appoint^sd  to 
its  president. 't  Open  air  meetings  were  h« 
from  time  to  time  during  the  spring  and  sumc 
of  1866,  and  on  the  23rd  of  July  in  the  8am» 
year  a  monster  demonstration  waa  appointed  to 
he  held  in  Hyde  Park.  Owing,  however,  to  the 
Home  Secretary,  and  Sir  Richard  Maync,  the  head 
of  the  London  police,  the  reformers  were  refus 
admission  into  the  park,  and,  by  the  dire<:tio 
of  Mr.  Beales,  the  procession  was  led  hack 
Trafalgar  Square,  where,  after  tlie  passing  of 
usual  resolutions  in  favour  of  reform,  the 
throtig  dispersed  peaceably  to  their  homes  Ul 
fortunately,  however,  the  usual  contingent 
idle  and  ntfBanly  hangers-on  remainc*d  brhtnd 
scenting    with   unerring   instinct   a   disturbance 


•  History  of   Engliuiit  ttvm  U»e  ycAT  1830— UT4. 


B? 


THu  Reform  Movvxoeni^  ISIKhT  ] 


OLD   AIS'D   KEW   BIRMINGHAM, 


545 


and  a  riot  ensued,  wherein  the  park  palings  on 
either  side  of  the  Marble  Arch  were  torn  down 
and  considerable  damage  done^  the  cause  of 
reform  being  greatly  discredited  thereby. 

A  similar  demonstration  was  organised  in  Bir- 
mingham,   and   was    held   at   Brookfielda,    near 
Icknield   Street  Eaat,   on   the   27th  of  August, 
1866.     ^fany  of  the  factories  and  workshops  in 
the    town    were    closed  and   large  numb*3rs   of 
people  poured  into   the   town   from  the  neigh- 
bouring   districts.      A  monster    procefision   was 
fonned   to   the    place   of    meeting,   and  thither 
^flocked    thousands   upon    thousands    of    earnest 
a,  until  it  is  estimated  that  more  than  200,000 
"pbrsons  were    present  at  the  vast  assembly.     A 
number  of  stands  were  erected  on  the  ground, 
ftud  addresses  delivered  from  each  of  them,  the 
following     resolution   being   put   simultaneously 
to  the  entire  meeting  :  **  That  the  present  House 
of  Commons   has,   by  its  rejection  of  the  very 
moderate  measure  of  Parliamentary  Reform  pro- 
posed   by   the    late   Government,    prove<l   itself 
utterly  unworthy  of  our  confidence  and  support, 
and  that  it  in  no  sense  represents  the  wishes  of 
the  Commons  of  Great  Britain.     We,  therefore, 
hereby  pledge  ourselves  to  demand,  agitate  for, 
and  use  all  lawful   means  to  obtain  registeretl, 
residential   manhood  suffrage,   as   the   only  just 
batiis  of  representation,  and  the  ballot  to  protect 
us  from  undue  influence  and  intimidation  in  elec- 
tions."   The  Ixirough  members  were  present  at 
Ihia   gathering,   but   Mr.   Bright  found   himself 
I  unequal  to  the  task  of  addressing  a  great  crowd 
in  the  open  air ;  so  he  and  his  colleague  reeerred 
their  speeches  until  the  evening  meeting,  which 
was  held  in  the  Town  Ilall,     The  building  w^as 
I  densely   crowded^   and,   after  addresses   warmly 
I  recognising  the  sen-ices  of   Messrs,   Bright  and 
Scholefield  in  the  cause  of  rofonn  had  been  read 
and   presented,  speeches  were  delivered  by  the 
Kwo  members  and  by  Mn  Edmond  Beales,  who 
told   hid   hearers,   amid   cries   of  **  shame,"   that 
what  he  had  done  in  the  cause  of  refuim  (in 
[connection  with  the  Hyde  Park  meetings)  had 


entailed    upon    him    the    loss    of    his    post   as 
Revising  Barrister  for  Middlesex. 

In  February,  1867,  Mr.  Disraeli  introduced 
the  Government  proposals  for  Reform  in  a  aeriea 
of  thirteen  resolutions  ;  and  on  the  day  fullowing 
tlie  Committee  of  the  Birmingham  Liberal  Asso- 
ciation^ considering  that  the  said  resolutions  were 
"  formed  with  the  intention  of  delaying  the 
settlement  of  the  question  of  Reform  and  of 
opposing  the  just  demands  of  the  people/'  in- 
stmctetl  the  officers  of  the  Association  "to  confer 
with  the  mnml>er8  for  the  borough  as  to  the 
action  which  ought  to  be  taken  by  the  Liberal 
party  in  the  present  condition  of  aflFairs,  Several 
public  meetings  were  held  by  the  Liberal  party 
during  the  few  weeks  which  followed  ;  and  on 
the  22nd  of  April  (Easter  ^fonday)  another 
great  Refonn  Deraomt ration  was  held  at  Brook- 
fields,  at  which  from  200,000  to  250,000  pei^ona 
were  present.  Addresses  were  delivered  einiul- 
taneously  from  eight  platforms  in  various  pai-ta 
of  the  immense  area,  and  the  resolutions,  which 
were  signalled  by  the  blow  ing  of  a  trampet,  were 
put  at  once  throughout  the  entire  assembly,  and 
by  nearly  two  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  voices 
the  cry  went  forth  for  a  satisfactory  measure  of 
reform. 

Wo  need  not  refer  particularly  here  to  th» 
events  which  followed  dnring  the  session  of 
1867.  Alter  nuraorous  alterations  and  revisions^ 
tlie  Conservative  Ministry  carried  a  Reform  BiU, 
which,  as  all  our  readers  know,  extended  the 
suffrage  to  every  hoi^eholder,  and  gave  to  the 
large  constituencies  (including  Birmingham)  an 
additional  representative,  a  provision  hampered^ 
however,  by  the  **  minority  clause,"  by  which 
electors  in  those  constituencies  can  vote  only  for 
two  members,  thus  providing,  as  was  supposed, 
for  the  return  of  a  representative  of  the  weaker 
party  in  each  case. 

On  the  9th  of  July,  1867,  our  ro^tected  senior 
memlier,  Mr,  W,  Scholefield,  died,  in  his  58th 
year.  Two  candidates  wore  nominated  for  the 
vacant  seat :  Mr,  George  Dixon   (wKo  v^&  ^v 


546 


OLD  AND  NEW   BIRMINGHAM, 


[PnUiitti] 


that  time  Mayor)  being  supjwrted  by  the  Liberal 
party,  and  Mr.  Sampson  Lloyd  The  nomina- 
tion took  place  in  the  Town  Hall  on  July  22Ddf 
und  the  polling  on  the  following  day,  Mr  Dixon 
being  elected  by  a  miyority  of  1,605.  Tho 
numbers  were — for  Mr,  Dixon,  5,819;  for  Mr. 
Lloyd,  1,605. 

During  this  year  a  new  political  society,  called 
the  **  Constitutional  Association,"  wna  formed, 
And  Mr,  Sebastian  Evans  was  elected  honorary 
secretary.  A  Working  Men's  Liberal  Conserva- 
tive Association  also  came  into  existence,  and 
several  lecturts  were  delivered  under  the  auspices 
of  the  two  societies  during  the  following  winter. 
Lectures  were  also  delivered  by  leading  Liberals, 
«t  the  instance  of  the  Heform  League.  The 
Working  Men's  Liberal-Conservative  Association 
held  their  annual  meeting  on  the  9th  of 
December,  at  which  a  report  was  read  showing 
that  the  society  numbered  2,000  members. 

The  year  1868  was  sf^ent  chiefly  in  preparing 
for  the  election  contest,  which  it  was  felt  must 
come  during  the  ensuing  autumn.  The  defeat 
of  the  Government  on  Mr.  Gladstone's  Irish 
Churcb  resolutions  led  to  a  dissolution  ;  and 
now  the  cnuvnss  commenced  in  earnest  **for 
decidedly  the  most  remarkable  general  election 
that  has  taken  place  since  that  which  followed 
the  passing  of  the  Keforro  Act  of  1832.*  In 
Birmingham  live  candidates  entered  the  field — 
three  in  the  Liberal  intercitts,  Messrs.  Bright  and 
Dixon,  the  former  members,  and  Mr.  P.  H. 
MuntXy  one  of  the  first  members  of  the  Town 
Council ;  and  two  Conservatives,  viz.,  Messrs- 
fiampson  S.  Lloyd  and  Sebastian  Evans,  LL.D. 
Meetings  were  hold  almost  nightly  in  all  parts 
of  the  town  ;  comic  journals  were  issued  weekly 
by  both  parties—'*  Toby "  being  the  Liberal 
^*  organ  "  and  "  The  Third  Member "  the  Con- 
servative— and  each  lampooned  the  opposition 
candidates  in  iO-drawn  and  wretchedly  executed 
cartoons ;    and    the    machinery  of    the   several 


*  Mol«swortli :  Eittory  of  Ec^glAiid*  tit  S49. 


political  associations  was  pot  in  motiom  to  tm^ 
pass  the  ends  of  each  part^r.  The  Lihczili, 
determined  to  win  the  three  soats  in  aplte  of  tba 
"  minority  clause,''  made  elAbormte  armngemenlt 
for  equalising  the  voting  in  each  ward  ;  in  oae 
the  Liberal  olebtors  wore  instructed  to  vote  for 
Bright  and  Dixon,  in  another  lor  Dixoa  isd 
Muiit2,  and  in  a  third  for  Bright  and  Monti,  attd 
so  on  lliroughout  the  borough*  It  was  « 
marvellous  examjvle  of  discipline  that 
regulations  werv  successfully  carried  out ; 
temptation  to  disobey  'julers  in  wards  iustmct4 
not  to  vote  lor  Mr.  Bright  was  exciseJing 
strung ;  and  added  to  this  came  the  taunts 
the  Conservatives,  who  dubbed  the  obedie; 
electors  the  **  Vote^as-you-are-told  party" — bat  I 
Liberals  remained  loyal  to  their  Associa 
The  nomination,  contrary  to  the  umial  cost 
was  fixed  to  take  place  in  the  open  air,  &t 
back  of  the  Town  Hall,  on  the  1 6th  of  Kovember. 
I'pwards  of  20,000  persons  Wiins  present,  tfid 
the  show  of  hands  was  largely  in  favour  of  th« 
tliree  Libeial  candidatee,  but  a  poll  was  demanded 
for  Messrs.  Lloyd  and  Evans.  Tliis  took  pla^ 
on  the  following  day,  and  so  well  was  the  work 
of  distributing  the  votes  btstween  Oio  thne 
Liberal  candidates  curried  out,  that  the  diQM 
which  was  expected  to  have  ensured  the  rettiro 
of  a  Conservative  ^*  third  memlier "  provid 
wholly  ineffectual.     Tlie  nistalt  was  as  folluwi  -A 

VOCCA. 

For  Mr.  Dixon  ,  ,        ,        ,        .     15,05>» 

„    Mr.  MimU.  U 

„   Mr.  Bright  1 

„   Mr  Moyd  ,  ^;00 

,,    Dr»  Evmis  .  7,061 

The  overwhelming  minority  of  Liberal  membei* 
returned  to  the  new  Parliament  led  Mn  I>i5J 
to  place  his  resignation  in  the  hands  of  Hi 
Majesty,  and  Mr.  Gladstone  was  Mint  for  to  i 
a  Cabinet  Mr.  Bright,  for  the  first  time  in 
parliamentary  career,  was  inviteil  to  t«ke  oflto  i 
the  new  Govemmcnt,  and  consented  to  bvoon 
President  of  the  Board  of  Tnda  It  need  wsmnij 
be  said  that  in  his  seeond  appeal  to  hit  eonstitneoti 


648 


OLD  AND   NEW  BIRMINGHAM. 


^ 


which  an  elector  might,  if  he  chose,  give  the 
whole  of  his  fifteen  votes  for  one  candidate.  The 
Conservatives,  on  the  other  hand,  attempted  only 
to  secure  a  narrow  majority,  nominated  only  eight 
candidates,  the  whole  of  whom  were  elected. 
The  Roman  Catholics  also  secured  the  return  of 
one  member,  thus  leaving  the  Liberal  party  with 
only  six  successful  candidates.  At  the  first  meet- 
ing of  the  Boaid,  Mr.  W.  L.  Sargent  was  elected 
Chairman,  Mr.  Sampson  S.  Lloyd,  Vice-Chairman, 
Mr.  G.  B.  David,  Clerk,  and  Messrs.  Martin  and 
Chamberlain,  Architects  to  the  Board.  For  the 
first  three  years  (the  term  of  office)  the  Church  of 
England  party  on  the  Board  ruled,  and  a  system 
of  religious  teaching  embracing  sectarian  principles 
was  adopted.  But  at  the  expiration  of  their  term 
of  office,  in  November,  1873,  the  Liberals,  profiting 
by  their  former  experience,  restricted  themselves  to 
eight  candidates,  and  ejected  them  by  an  over- 
whelming majority,  and  the  position  of  parties 
was,  therefore,  exactly  reversed,  the  second  Board 
consisting  of  eight  Liberal  or  "  secular"  members, 
six  Churchmen,  and  one  Roman  Catholic.  The 
policy  of  the  Board  was  immediately  afterwards 
reversed,  and  all  distinctively  religious  teaching 
(including  even  Bible-reading)  discontinued  ;  but 
an  unsectarian  Religious  Education  Society  was 
formed  for  tlie  purj^ose  of  supplying  the  deficiency 
by  voluntary  agency  out  of  the  ordinary  school- 
hours,  to  such  scholars  as  cared  to  attend. 

In  1876  the  election  was  uncontested  and  the 
Board  now  consists  of  the  following  members : 
Mr.  G.  Dixon,  J. P.,  Chairman,  Mr.  T.  Beston, 
Rev.  R.  B.  Burgess,  M.A.,  Rev.  IL  W.  Crosskey, 
Mr.  R.  W.  Dale,  M  A.,  Mr.  W.  J.  Davis,  J^f r. 
W.  H.  Greening,  Miss  C.  M.  Kenrick,  Mr.  J. 
Jones,  Mr.  J.  A.  Langford,  LL.D.,  Ivev.  Canon 
Longman,  Rev.  E.  F.  M.  MacCartliy,  M.A.,  Rev. 
H.  C.  Milward,  M.A.,  Rev.  W.  H,  Poulton,  M.A., 
and  J.  S  Wright,  J.P.,  Vice-Chairman. 

In  November  of  this  year  (1879)  the  Board 
will  have  been  in  existence  for  nine  years,  and 
during  that  period  have  built  aud  opened  24 
schools    all  of   them  ^architecturally   considered, 


ornaments  to  the  towa  Tl 
of  these  schools  with  the  da^ 
number  of  scholars  for  whc 
provided,  including  boys,  gi 


Name  of  SchooL 


Date  ( 


1.  Farm  Street. 

2.  Bloomsbury. 

3.  Jenkins  Street 

4.  Steward  Street. 

5.  Garrison  Lane. 

6.  Elkington  Street. 

7.  Lower  Windsor  St. 

8.  Allcock  Street. 

9.  Rea  Street  South- 
10.. Osier  Street. 

11.  Dartmouth  Street 

12.  Smith  Street 

13.  Bristol  Street 

14.  Nelson  Street 

15.  Norton  Street 

16.  Moseley  Road. 

17.  Fox  Street 

18.  Brookfields. 

19.  Summer  Lane. 

20.  Oozells  Street. 

21.  Dudley  Road. 

22.  Little  Green  Lane 

23.  Hutton  Street. 

24.  Montgomery  Street  Jul}' 

The  total  amount  exper 
of  school-buildings  and  p 
£349,575  19s.  Id.,  and  the 
maintenance  for  eight  years 
of  which  £52,574  has  be 
School  Rate. 

The  following  informatic 
Scholarships  is  given  in  Dr.  1 
and  valuable  Handbook  : 

Mr.  J.  Chamberlain  resigned  h 
Board  in  1876,  and  gave  the  sum 
for  the  purpose  of  founding  sch 


*  Langford,  Binningham :   A  Handb 
(just  istiued),  i>i>.  €0-61. 


Jul] 
Mai 
Ma] 
Jul] 
Jul) 
Maj 
Nov 
Apr 
Jul] 
No^ 

Jun 
Oct< 
No^ 
Non 
Jani 
Jani 

Sepi 
Jani 
Juni 
Aug 
Jam 


kFDUtic&lH)«tM7l 


OLD  AND    NEW   BIBMINGJIAM. 


549 


Wright  ^ve  a  doDation  of  £20  a  year,  to  he  coatinaed 
for  three  yo&rs,  for  the  SAme  purpose.  The^e  scholarshipB 
are  open  to  boy»  and  girls  in  all  the  schools  under  the 
control  of  the  Board.  There  is  n  trust  enJowraent  of 
£260  6«.  9d.  belonging  to  the  Birmingham  and  Etlgbas- 
ton  Day  School  for  Girla  which  haa  heea  transferred  to 
the  Board,  and  Measrs.  Caaaell,  Fetter  and  Gal  pin  have 
pTfisentcd  20  copica  of  their  ** National  Educator"  in  aix 
▼olnmcs  to  be  given  as  prizea.  FYizes  are  also  given  for 
regular  attendance,  and  through  the  indefatigable  exer- 
tions of  Miss  Julia  Goddard^  priz««  are  also  given  for 
pnx>ila  who  pass  the  be«t  examination  on  kindnesa  to 
animaU.  In  1878,  53e  hooka  were  thna  awarded  ;  and  a 
«ilver  medal,  given  by  Mra.  J.  H.  Chamberlain,  as  the 
**  Dawaon  Memorial  Prize,"  for  the  be«t  paper  by  a  pupil 
teacher;  special  prisces  by  Mr.  Flower  and  the  Mayor, 
Mr.  Alderman  Jease  Collingi. 

In  1873,  aft^r  a  long  period  of  rest,  necessitated 
by  the  utmost  physical  prostration,  Mr.  Eri;^ht 
retoTDeil  to  public  life,  and  again  accepted  office 
in  the  Cabinet,  as  ChaneDor  of  the  Duchy  of 
of  Lancaster.  The  election  to  this  office  {without 
Dppoaition),  took  place  on  October  18th,  1873. 

In  January,  1874,  Parliament  was  dissolved, 
and  at  the  same  time  Mr.  Gladstone  tendered  liis 
resignation  of  office.  The  legislation  of  the  two 
previous  sessioxis  had  partaken,  to  a  great  extent 
of  a  sanitary  and  social  character,  and  interfered 
with  many  existing  '*  interests,"  the  representatives 
of  which  felt  themselves  aggrieved  and  "harassed ;" 
and  adding  to  this  the  fact  that  certain  members 
of  the  Govemracnt  had  become  exceedingly  un- 
popular, from  various  causes,  it  is  not  to  be 
wondered  at  that  a  reaction  had  set  in  s^atnst 
the  Government  as  a  whole.  But  the  Liberal 
party  w^ere  scarcely  prepared  for  the  wholestdo 
rejection  of  their  candidates  wliich  took  place 
throughout  the  country,  and  surprised  even  the 
Conservatives  themselves  by  the  overwhelming 
majority  returned  in  favour  of  a  change  of  admin- 
fetmtion.  While  this  was  the  case,  Birmingham 
was  even  yet  regarded  as  unnssailable,  and  an 
attempt  was  made  to  divide  the  Liberal  party 
and  thus  afford  an  opportunity  to  carry  a  Conser- 


vative candidate,  it  failed,  and  no  contest  took 
place  •  the  three  members  were  tli  ere  fore  returned 
without  opposition.  The  election  took  place  on 
the  30th  of  January,  1874. 

In  June,  1876,  Mr.  George  Dixon,  on  account 
of  domestic  affliction,  accepted  the  Stewardship 
of  the  Chiltern  Hundreds— in  other  words  resigned 
hia  seat— and  on  the  27th  of  the  same  month  Mr. 
Joseph  Chamberlain  was  elcct^id,  without  oppisi- 
tion,  to  fill  the  vacant  seat, 

Since  that  date  the  **  spirited  foreign  policy  "  of 
the  Conservative  government  haa  occupied  the 
attention  of  the  country,  almost  to  the  exclusion  of 
home  legislation.  Political  subjects  have  been  fully 
discussed,  however,  in  Bimaingham,  at  the  annual 
meeting  of  the  constituency  to  ht^ar  adddresses 
fiom  the  borough  members.  Against  the  war 
policy  of  the  Government,  Birmingham  has  pro- 
tested, from  time  to  time,  in  large  and  enthusiastic 
meetings.  On  the  31st  of  May,  1877,  the  Eight 
Hon*  W,  E.  Gladstone  visited  Birmingham  to 
promote  the  federation  of  the  Liberal  Associa* 
tions,  and  after  meeting  with  a  splendid  reception 
as  he  passed  through  the  streets,  addressed  a 
densely  packed  meeting  in  Bingley  Hall,  at 
which  it  was  estimated  there  were,  at  leasts 
20,000   persons  present. 

The  influence  of  Binningham,  as  will  be  seei. 
from  the  foregoing  outline  of  our  political  history, 
has  at  all  times  during  the  present  century,  been 
exercised  chiefly  on  behaLf  of  the  cause  of  Liberal- 
ism ;  and  we  doubt  not  that  when  once  more  the 
attention  of  the  country  is  turned  towards  domestic 
politics,  the  broad  and  earnest  Libetulism  of 
Birmingham  wUl  again  exercise  a  potent  inEuence 
for  good  on  the  destinies  of  the  nation  in  genera] ; 
and  we  hope  to  see,  in  the  not  very  distant 
future,  many  g'eat  reforms,  in  the  accomplishment 
of  which  Birmingham  may  play  an  important  and 
honourable  part. 


550 


OLD  AND  NEW  BIRMINGHAM,         CP 


CHAPTER    III. 

PUBLIC    LIFE    AND    EVENTS,    1841-1879. 

The  Church  Bate  Qaestion— The  People's  Hall-Death  of  Hr.  O.  HoUina— Murder  In  Heneage  Street— Deat 
Yiait  of  H.R.H.  the  Prince  Consort— The  Licensed  Asylum- Death  of  Miss  Hutton— New  Street 
County  Court— Riot  at  Snow  Hill— The  Com  Exchange— South  Stafford  Railway— Death  of  Jan 
Fellows'  Hall— Exhibition  at  Bingley  House— Yiait  of  Prince  Albert— The  First  Cattle  and  Poull 
Hall— Death  of  the  Rev.  Rann  Kennedy— The  Stoiir  Valley  Railway- The  **  Baroness  Von  Beck  **  Ca 
to  Charles  Dickens— Aston  Hall  F6tee— Death  of  T.  C.  Salt— Death  of  Jeseph  Sturg»— Statue  of  Thi 
Cox— The  Volunteer  Movement— Hospital  Sunday— The  Sturge  Statue— The  Marriage  of  the  Pr 
Birmingham— The  Birmingham  Lifeboat— Monetary  Panic  in  1865— Elihu  Burritt— Working  Men's 
Opened— The  First  Dog  Show- Monetary  Panic  in  18M— The  Murphy  Riots— Albert  Statue— Dea 
Statue— Last  Visits  of  Charles  Dickens  to  Birmingham— Sir  Rowland  Hill  Statue- >The  Priestley  8i 
Recent  Events. 


Wb  havfe  now  to  record  briefly  the  general  history 
of  the  period  under  notice,  classifying  the  various 
occurrences  of  each  year,  so  as  to  form,  to  some 
extent,  a  connected  narrative,  rather  than  a  mere 
disjointed  list  of  events  clironologically  arranged. 
The  principal  event  of  interest  in  the  first  year 
of  this  period,  was  the  attempt  made  by  the 
Eector  of  St.  Martin's  to  levy  a  church-rate.  The 
first  notice  of  this  intention  was  issued  about  the 
end  of  August,  as  follows : 

In  obedience  to  a  mandate  of  the  Archdeacon  of 
Coventry  to  the  churchwardens  of  Birniingham,  a  vestry 
meeting  of  the  inhabitants  of  Birmingham  who  are 
entitled  to  be  present  and  vote  in  vestry  will  be  holdcu  at 
the  Town  Hall,  on  Friday,  the  10th  of  Sei)tcniber  next,  at 
eleven  o'clock  in  the  forenoon,  for  the  purpose  of  making 
a  church-rate  to  defray  the  charges  incident  to  the 
churches  and  chai>els  of  Birmingham. 

On  the  31st  of  tho  same  mouth  a  crowded 
meeting  was  held  at  the  Public  Office,  Mr.  0. 
Sturge  in  the  chair.  Speeches  were  delivered  by 
Messrs.  Edmonds  and  Pare,  and  a  resolution  was 
passed  unanimously  ap]:)ointing  the  whole  of  tlie 
gentlemen  present  to  form  a  committee  to  watch 
over  and  protect  the  interests  of  the  inhabitants 
at  the  proposed  vestry  meeting. 

The  meeting  was  held  on  the  10th  of  Septem- 
ber as  annoimced,  in  tlie  Town  Hall ;  after  a 
scene  of  indescribable  confusion,"  arising  out  of 
the  election  of  a  chairman,  in  the  absence  of  the 
Eector  from  ill-health,  and  as  soon  as  the  voting 


for  the  chairman  was  co; 
Thomas  Weston  was  elec 
against  97  recorded  for  1 
meeting  was  dissolved,  i 
offered  by  any  ratepayer  pi 

The  polling  for  the  rate 
of  October,  when  it  waa 
votes  were  recorded  in  i 
were  7,281  against  it 

During  the  year   1841 
erected  in  Loveday  Stree 
It  afterwards  became  a  gui 

On  the  16th  of  Decen 
George  Hollins  (the  orgai 
and  of  St.  Paul's  Church] 
of  his  age ;  upon  which  tl 

The  loss  of  such  an  Individ 
is  no  ordinary  bereavement, 
large  circle  of  immediate  relati^ 
wife,  to  three  infant  children 
what  has  befallen  them,  the  j; 
severe  character.  The  more  di 
is  to  express  what  is  known 
sympathy  on  this  painful  occas 
it  is  scarcely  possible  to  say 
music,  and  every  mind  that  is 
genius,  will  feel  a  deep  in 
calamity. 

Mr.   Hollius's  place  as 
Hall  organ  was  filled  by  t 
17th  of  February  in  the 
James  Stimpson,  of  Carlis! 


'  Another  attempt  was  mmlB  in    1842   to  levy  a  I  the  pariah  of  St  Mnrtin'a  Lane,   have  resolmd  to  tax 

f^i       t    tj  i  *k     •   I,  \  -i.     4     u   t  '4.     Join    Bouchkr    aud    Nathan     KiMBEELRy,    Churck-j 

Church  Rate  on  the  inhabitant-^,  but  once  more  it  ,        ,^.      -  i  r»      i    *    ^i  *.   <■  i-    *.j 

^^  '  Wdrdons  oithe  nforesaia  riiriiih,  to  the  ainoQUt  of  loa.  do. 

defeated  by  an  overwhelming  majority  ;  there  '  for  tobacco,  smiff  ami  cigars,  whkh  thnj  kapr  Jtewr  haOt 


M2 


OLD  AKD  NFW   BraMIKGIUJl 


It 


*  Ib  Jinoftry  184Sr  Birmmgham  moorned  the 
l^iw  of  A  worthy  lownamftii,  in  tbe  jurreon  of  Mr. 
Winiani  IfoDiiui,  who  died  or  tht!  12th  of  that 
inoiitiiy  m  hit  ^th  y«ir.  A»  wt;  hate  pointed 
out,  in  otir  notice*  of  the  sevend  buildings,  Mr. 
Hollini  wfts  th«  architect  of  the  Pahlic  OMre,  the 
Birmingham  Old  Library,  the  CJ  eneral  I)]A|>ensarj, 
And  other  1o«a1  edifiee*.  ^  Th»  later  years  of  kifl 
life  were  devcjiiMl  in  in(rt»ducing  a  more  correct 
Ueteinto  isarsl  moDumentJi,  upon  which  he  spared 
no  coet  in  collecting  infoniiation  from  Italy, 
Fnnce  and  thia  country.  Hia  numeroiu  pro- 
dtictiona  in  thin  d'-'partmcnt  are  imprt'saed  with  a 
purity  of  tAftt^,  anri  propriety  of  character,  rarely 
to  be  met  with  in  a  m6tro[>olitau  fttudio/^*  Hia 
•on,  Peter  Holling,  E^q,,  Rculptor,  ia  gtil!  living, 
and  ha»  contribuUHl  to  the  adornment  of  the 
town  by  PCTcral  Btatnca  and  busts,  which  are 
noticed  cUcwherc  in  this  volume. 

On  the  29lh  of  Novemljcr  in  tlii^  year,  the 
vae  honoured  by  a  visit  from  His  Koyal 
nii^hncas  the  Prince  Conuort,  who  was  at  that 
time  the  guest  of  Sir  I'obert  Peel,  at  Drayton 
Mannr,  Tht!  royal  party  were  met  at  tht*  Midknd 
liailway  Station,  L/iwloy  Street,  by  the  Mayor, 
the  mumber«  of  tlie  Town  <Vnnril,  and  several  of 
tho  noljility  of  the  noighboiiihood,  and  an  adiJreaa 
was  read  and  re!S|k>«d*fd  to  by  His  Roynl 
Ilighnosi.  The  party  aftenvards  visited  the 
principal  mnniif actor ies ;  also  the  Town  Hull, 
the  rinimiijur  School,  and  the  Proof  House. 
Addresses  werii  presented  by  other  representative 
bodies^  inchnlin^'  the  Kural  Dean  anrl  the  ClGT^y, 
tlie  (.iovf-ntoiR  (»f  the  Free  Graninjur  Hchool,  tlie 
Council  of  the  Queen's  College,  and  various  local 
Conniiiltee^*. 

On  the  23rd  of  September,  1841,  the  Philo- 
Ophical  Institution  lost  its  esteemed  curator, 
Dr.  William  Ick,  ^vho  died  at  the  early  age  of 
44.     The  following  notice  of  this  worthy  disciple 

•  Obltojuy  ttoUcc,  qiiotcil  Uy  Dr    UiQ|$ford,   Afo^hn*   tiirmhnh 


of  science  hwm  hceo,  kmdlj  wiitteii  for  m  by  Mf. ' 

Joeeph  Hill : 

I?o  hbtori^  of  ottf  tMra  wasU  b* 
alltjdiiig  to  th«  ideiil26e  n  w'sn  hge 
Tarmtor  of  the  BirmtagliAa 
Uf.  Wm.  Ick^  F.O.a  At  so  iKihcf  fMod  oeeM  lii 
Uborimia  re^srchei  Ivrt  bam  of  m^ch  vaisB.  Tbt 
imilwvf  and  caiuiT  exra rations  fvior  to  \^¥K  aa^  1^ 
cuttingt  through  tiie  ml  taadiTftne  alke«^  B«]r«Bif«» 
mtt^  a  constuit  i&aia  i^im  kit  tiitfcMawa  ;  w^  pcadi 
•nd  book  ia  band,  be  wia  rrtr  on  a  tocr  of  ^amtmsf^ 
and  tT«rj  sectioii  laii  opcB  wm  a  icM  for  a  MrkiiC 
rensarlcabU  ponrtfmjalt  la  eoloiir  of  thnr  wisali 
ebaractrrijitica,  wbiUt  bta  ]«»  has  dMsribed  the  varioat 
fomiAtiont  with  great  deuncfi  aad  p^wer.  The  TaQcj 
6f  the  Kefl  is  dilAted  oq  in  rarinus  pa3ieFii^  notaklj  in  ob€ 
printed  in  the  Muiland  CouuIum  Btrtitd,  June  7,  1841. 
The  whole  of  the  rmllry  he  brought  ander  cmrdia] 
extmiaation*  The  various  beds  of  rcgf  table-peat,  grmyrl^ 
drift  coal,  qaartioae,  crystaliae  boaldan,  cb»1k,  flint 
kc.,  and  renulta  of  igneoo^  distnrbancca  ate  deficri^'tiveV 
pourtrayed.  Ktar  NeihfslJs  he  dii^oTera  antlers  of  the 
■tag  eermu  eUphtu  and  boms  of  aa  ox.  At  Edwarxis' 
Wire  5Iills  the  tibia  of  an  ox,  luid  aear  Uie  rirer  b«d 
bonea  of  »Ug«,  hares,  kc,  freab  water  nbelU,  Iteetlei, 
alintba,  willow  and  hazel  imU  in  abtitidAnec ;  tad  ia 
the  four  feet  clay  large  trunks  and  branches  of  wiUo^ 
and  old  oabs,  with  several  feet  of  overlying  beda.  Hii 
research es  extend  past  Lawley  Street  to  E%beth,  im 
onwar<l  to  Taught  on 's  Hole  and  S[ioedweJl  :ftIiIL  Tb 
exeavationa  at  the  General  Cemetery  and  various  part* 
Edgbaiiton  and  the  Lozella,  are  aUo  brought  undi 
cartful  investigation.  Dr.  Ick  dted  in  1844,  a 
comparatively  young  roan,  not  too  young,  however,  to 
Imve  lufl  a  name  aa  a  philosopher  and  sicholar,  aa  a 
Buccestiful  botAtiical,  geological,  and  scicntijie  lectarrr. 

At   the   annivej-sary   dinner  of   the   Licens 
Yicliialk'rs*  Society,  1845,  presided  over  by  tha 
Mayor,    (the    kte    Aldermon  rhillips,)   It   wa 
resolved,  at  llie  inalance  of  that  gentleman,  tli&d 
an  rt.^yluni  should  be  founded  in  connection  wit! 
the  society,   for  decayed  nu»nibers  of   the  tra<l«| 
and    their    widows,     Mr.    Phillips    began    thuj 
subscription  with  £50,  (which  he  sub^*4ueiitl| 
increased    to    £100»)   and    about     ^<500   wen 
subscriljed  at  the  dinner  towards   thia  landahW 
object.     The  fee  simple  of   n  jiuitable  piece 
land  in  the  Bristol  Koad  was  secunid  at  a  codt  a^ 
X  1,1 18   3?.,   and    the   first   stone   was   laid   by 
Mr.  PhilHjKs,  on  the  SOth  of  August,  1848.     Th^ 
building'     was    ereetc<l    from    tlio    dcaigM 
y\v.  W  U,  HiU,  and  was  opened  for  the  i«orptiu 


'4 


^rtimpwMtoworBJr.i,ingi.«iii,)OLD  AND  NEW  BIRMINGHAM. 


55S 


of  the  firat  injiiatcs  in  18  49.  The  aum  of  seven 
shillings  a  week  is  alJowefl  to  a  widow  or  widower 
in  the  asyluni,  and  ten  shillings  a  week  to  a  roan 
and  Ms  wife;  medical  altendmuce  find  all  other 
requisites  are  provided  in  case  of  sickness.  The 
cJAuns  for  adniissinn  having*  of  late  yeai-s,  greatly 
excoe^ied  the  accommodation,  and  inatead  of 
eiihirging  the  premises,  the  system  of  oulnioor 
pensions  was  extended,  whereby  a  weekly 
allowance  is  made,  and  the  recipients  reside 
cUietly  with  their  relatives.  Every  member  of 
the  trade  in  llie  borough  contributes  six  shillings 
a  year  towards  this  excellent  institntinnj  and  is, 
therefore,  entitled  to  its  provisions,  in  case  of 
need. 

Among  the  visitors  to  our  town  in  1845 
we  had  a  •*chiel"  from  the  Land  N^  Cakes, 
"takin*  notes/*  which  he  afterward*  "prentit" 
in  his  Fir^t  Imj^regifiotis  of  Etujland  Kxiid  its 
Peoplt*^  our  critical  visitor  being  none  other  than 
the  famous  geologist  and  journalist,  Hugh  Miller, 
He  entered  the  town  from  the  wastem  end,  and 
M'a^  disappointed  with  the  "long  low*  suburii," 
and  its  **pai"ticuLiry  tamedooking  houses,"  and 
was  beginning  to  lower  his  expectations  **tothe 
level  of  ft  flat,  meiliocre,  thn^e-mile  city  of  brick," 
when,  he  says,  **  the  coach  drove  up  through 
New  Street,  and  I  caught  a  glimpse  of  the  Town 
Hidl,  a  noble  building  of  Anglesea  marble,  of 
which  Athens  in  its  best  days  might  not  have 
been  ashamed."  The  whole  street  he  considered 
**  a  fine  one^"  i»nd  admired  specially  **  a  stately  new 
edifice — ilie  Free  Grammar  iSchool  of  King  Edward 
the  Sixth  f  and,  descrying  **  through  the  darken- 
ing twilight  a  Roman  looking  building  that  rises 
over  the  market-place,"  ho  infers  that  "  the 
humble  brick  of  Birmingham  .  .  .  represents 
merely  the  business  necessities  of  the  place  ;  and 
that,  wh*'n  on  any  occasion  its  taste  comes  to  be 
display ed,  it  proves  to  l»e  a  not  worse  U.^t<^  than 
that  shown  by  its  neighbours," 

He  observes  that  **  almoit  all  tlie  leading 
towns  of  England  manifest  some  one  leading 
taste  or  other,"    and   that    of    Birmingham    he 


naturally    enough    conceives  to   be  a  taste    for 

music. 

**  In  no  other  town  in  the  world,*'  ho  says,  "  oro  tU« 
tiiocbaiiicnl  drta  more  lioiay :  liamnn*r  rings  incessantly  on 
anvil ;  there  is  mn  UDending  clang  of  mtstiil,  an  unceasingl 
clank  of  engines  ;  flame  rustles,  water  kisses,  steam  roarsi  T 
and  from  time  to  time,  hoarse  and  hollow  over  alt ,  rises  ^ 
th«  thuLtlcT  of  the  proofing  honae.     The  people  live  in  an 
atmospliere  continually  vibrating  with  clamour ;  and  it 
would  seem  as  if  their  amiL^ements  had  caught  the  general 
tone,  anil  become  noisy  like  their  avocations.     The  man 
who  for  years  has  slept  aonndly  night  after  night  in  tha 
neighbourhood   of   a  foundry,   awakens  disturbed  if  by 
some  aocidi-iit  the   hammering    ceases  :    the    imprii^Qedi 
linnet  or  thrush  is  i?xcited   to  emulation  by  even  tha 
screeching  of    a  kntfe-j^^inder's  wheob  or   the  din  of  a 
coppersmith's  shop,  and  pours  out  itH  soul  in  mum\     It 
seems  not  very  improbable  that  the  two  principles  on 
which  these  phenomena  hinge^principles  as  diverse  as 
the  phenomena  themstdTe^-— may  have  been  inOuential  in 
inducing  the  peculiar  characteristic  of  Biruungham  ;  that 
the   noises  of    the   plaee,    grown   a   part  of   customary 
existence   to  its  people— inwrought,  as  it  were,  into  the 
very  staple  of  their  lives^exert  over  them  some    such  ( 
i]inm.irked  influence  as  that  exerted  on  the  &leeper  by  thai 
foundry  ;  and  that,  when  tUcy  rehix  from  their  labouro,  f 
they  seek  to  fill  up  the  void  by  modulated  noises,  first  I 
caught  up,  like  the  song  of  the  bird  beside  the  outler'tl 
wheel,  or  cop[HtrsTniih*s  shop,  in  iinconscious  rivalry  of 
the  clang  of  tlicir  hammers  and  engines.     Bo  the  truth  of 
the  theory   what    it    may,    there   can    be  little    doubt 
rrgarding  the  fact  on  which  it  hinges.     No  town  of  its 
size   in    the  empire    .npends   more  time    and   money  ia 
concerts  and  musical   festivals  than    Birmingham ;    no 
sm.dl   propoition   of  its  people  are  amateur  performers  ; 
alnjost  all  are  musical  critic.H  ;  and  the  organ  in  its  great 
hall,    the   property  of    the   town,*  is,    with   scarce   the 
exception  of  York,   the  largest  in  the  empire,  and  the 
finest,  it  is  said^  without  any  exception."  t 

On  the  31st  of  March,  1843,  Catherine  Hutton 

died,  at  the  advanced  age  of  90.     She  was^  as 

many  of  our  readers  are  doubtless  aware^  the  only 

daughter  nf  William  Ilutton,  and  was  born  on 

the  lith  of  Febniarj^   1756.     We  have  already 

made  freijuent  rt^feronce  to  her  letters  in  the  course  I 

of  this  history,  and  it  is  to  her  graphic  narrative 

of  the  riots  that  we  are  indebted  for  several  of 

the  incidents  of  that  local  reign  of  terror.     Her 

life  was  perhaps  one  of  the  busiest  ever  spent  in 

our  midst,  owing,  chiefly,  as  she  herself  said,  to 

•The  or^an  It  not  th«  property  of  the  town,  (nlthoagh 
j4aei'il  In  the  Town  Hall,)  but  of  ttie  Ocnnml  Ho^iut.-il,  tiavfag 
been  purebaaeJ  Rir  tbo  Trienolal  Vtuleal  Fe-^Uval*.— B.  K.  D. 

t  Horm  MiLLKR  I  Htwl  impnmknu  V  K^i^ntf  anil  lit  i^Mprf; 


W  idnticahle  ntle  of  life,  Dever  to  bo  **  oue 
mommt  miempiojed  when  it  wai  pot  bible  to  be 
doing  aomalhiog,"  Bend«8  writing  three  novela, 
•*Odtwood  Hall/  ^mie  Miser  MarriD*]/'  and 
**The  WeUb  MoimUinecr,"  aDdJTediting  ber 
lathisr'i  '*  lifdy"  »lie  contributed  sixty  paperB  and 
short  ftoriei  to  various  periodicals ;  she  collected 
upwiMtlm  of  2,000  autographs  (adding  to  many  of 
them  notes"  and  anecdotes  [uf  the  writers/^^^aiid 


on  the  coast,  and  fire  inland.**    Trulj  a  imnmA 
lifel 

Towiuds  tbe  cIom  of  thm  decadd  a  kt^  um 
in  the  older  part  of  the  town  (oauiiuuu^  Fbek 
Lane,  King  Street*  Little  Colmore  8iiwt»  lad 
the  Froggary),  was  cleared  awaj  for  tbe  eiwtioii 
of  a  great  central  railwaj  stAtaoiL  'With  the 
deetroction  of  this  mass  of  woro-oat  and  tomUfr 
down  buildings  many  inteiestiiig    fffagmp^t,  ^ 


^^ 


i^ 


ffrvm  it  VkoUiffttipk  tift  ThtNftp}. 


*  was  also  a  collector  of  prints  of  costumes  from 
elt^vcu  yoftra  of  uge  rtlmost  up  to  the  time  of  hor 
death,  and  arranged  them  chronolngically  in  oi^bt 
large  folio  volumes, — ^indoxing  and  annotating 
them  with  the  same  care  wMcb  she  displayed  in  the 
collection  of  autc^^phs.  Besides  all  this,  she  read 
extensively,  "goography»  history,  poetry,  plays,  and 
novels,"  and  made  **  patch  work  beyond  calculation, 
from  eleven  years  old  to  oighty*five," — had  **  ridden 
in  every  sort  of  vehicle  except  a  wagon,  a  cart,  and 
m  omnibus,"  and  had  "been  in  thirty-ninc  of 
the  counties  of  England  and  Walesi,  twenty-six 
times  at  London,  twenty-one  at  watering  places 


old  Birmingham  were  alao  removed ;  among 
these  we  may  make  mention  of  the  site  (in  ths 
Froggarj')  of  the  first  synagogue,  in  Birmingham, 
wherein  the  remnant  of  the  House  of  Israel  wtie  ' 
pennitted  to  worship,  unmolested,  afW  thtdr 
ancient  form,  **  hallowed  by  the  holieat  traditions, 
through  countless  ages;"*  and  near  it,  in  King 
Street,  the  neat  Gothic  church  whicli  had  been 
newly  ei^ected  for  the  members  of  Lady  Hunting* 
don's  Connexion,  together  with  the  old  meeting* 
house  of  the  same  society,  which  had  \mm 
originally  the  firat  local  theatre  of  initxjrtAnctt,— 


■  J'ii4n-iat«te4A^^,fi. 


Maw  Public  BuUUIsgi,  ]g47.] 


OLD   AND  NEW   BIRMINGHAM. 


555 


the  predeceseor  of  the  Thealte  Royal  TI16  old 
Minerva  Tavern,  better  known  as  '*  Joe  Lyndon's," 
the  resort  at  the  *' An ti- Jacobin"  or  Conservative 
party,  in  Peck  Lane,  and  the  school,  on  the  site 
of  the  old  prison,  at  the  comer  of  Peck  Lane  and 
Pinfold  Street,  were  also  among  the  landmarks  of 
the  past  which  were  swept  away  to  make  way  for 
tbe  new  station. 

This  important  addition  to  our  public  buildiuji^s 
was  opened  June  1st,  1854,  and  is  thus  described 
in  Dr.  Laugford's  interesting  Handbook: 

**  The  most  remarkable  feature  of  the  station  ia  the 
roof,  the  work  of  Messrs,  Fox,  Henderson,  and  Co. ,  awi 
WHS  constructed  under  the  direction  of  Mr,  PliillipB. 
This  splendid  piece  of  engineering  skill  re^ts  on  45  Doric 
pOliura,  which  spring  on  the  one  side,  from  the  atatian 
wall,  and  on  the  other  side  is  supportiid  on  iron  colunms 
of  the  same  order.  The  roof  is  a  perfect  span,  having  no 
intermediRte  supports^  The  spring  of  the  roof  begins  at 
ZO  feet  above  the  platform,  and  consists  of  36  principals 
or  arches  of  iron,  each  weighing  about  25  tons  ;  these  are 
firmly  framed  together,  and  the  principals  are  placed  at 
intervals  of  24  feet  apart,  and  each  is  composed  of  five 
riveted  toji^thcr.  The  pillars  are  each  5  tons  12 
in  weight.  The  roof  is  comjKJsed  of  glass  and  corru- 
iron  ;  there  are  more  than  120,000  feet  of  glass, 
weighing  upwards  of  115  tons,  and  nearly  100,000  feet  of 
iron  sheeting  :  the  totid  weight  of  iron  used  in  the  con- 
struction of  the  great  work  is  over  1^400  tons,  and  the 
liba  of  iron  by  which  the  roof  is  supported  are  25  tons 
#*ch  ;  but  so  admimbly  proportioned  is  the  work,  and  so 
skilful  tba  arrangement  of  the  various  parts,  tliat  the 
whole  hat  a  light  »nd  elegant  appearance.  The  work  is 
'Creditable  alike  to  the  ilesigner  and  contractor,  and  we 
iear  that  but  few  of  the  many  thousamls  who  are  yearly 
nntler  this  Wonderful  roof  ^»ause  for  even  a  fiiw  moments 
to  uoticG  and  admire  the  skill  and  taste  which  have  been 
-employed  in  its  coustmction/' 

The  New  Small  Dehfs  Jct^  which  took  eflFect 
throughout  England  and  Wales  on  the  15th  of 
March,  1847,  c^ffected  an  important  reform  in  the 
recovcTy  of  small  debts,  and  during  that  year  a 
County  Court  was  establiahed  in  Birmingham,  ni 
the  Waterloo  Booms,  Waterloo  Street.  A  cite 
has  been  selected  for  a  new  Court  Hoa'^e,  in  the 
new  street  about  to  be  constructed  in  carrying 
4>ni  the  Birmingham  Improvement  Scheme. 


We  need  only  mention,  in  passing,  a  somewhat 
serious  disturbance  which  occurred  at  Snow  Hill 
Fiour  Milla — the  scene  of  several  similar  disturb- 
ances in  past  times, — on  the  29th  of  June,  1847, 
in  consequence  of  the  seizure  of  false  weights. 

It  will  hardly  be  believed  by  etmngers  that 
until  the  1847,  all  the  business  of  the  grain  trade 
of  Birmingham  was  transacted  in  the  public 
streets,  iu  all  weathers,  to  the  great  inconvenience 
of  the  farmers  and  others  interested  in  the  trada 
Through  the  exertions  of  Mr  Lucy  and  some  other 
gentlemen,  however,  the  much  ueeded  shelter  was 
provided,  by  the  erection  of  a  neat  and  useful 
structure  at  the  back  of  High  Street,  "suitable 
for  all  the  purposes  either  of  a  convenient  market 
or  an  assembly  rooto."  The  Cora  Exchange  Hall 
is  built  in  the  Italian  Doric  style,  and  including 
the  vestibules,  is  172  feet  long,  and  from  30  to 
40  wide ;  it  is  a  remarkably  light  and  elegant 
building,  and  has  entrances  from  High  Street  and 
Carres  Lane.  It  was  built  from  designs  by  Mr. 
Hemming,  and  was  opened  on  the  28th  of  October, 
1847.  Seven  yeai-s  afterwaii^ls  it  was  enlarged, 
in  consequence  of  the  greatly  increased  trade 
of  the  district  The  corn  market  is  held  on 
Tuesday  and  TImrsday,  and  a  Grocers'  Exchange 
is  held  in  the  same  building  every  Wednesday. 

On  the  1st  of  November  in  the  same  year, 
1847,  the  South  Stafford  I^iilway  was  opened, 
communicating  with  Walsall  and  Lichfield, 

On  the  2nd  of  June,  1847,  James  Watt,  the 
laijt  surviving  son  of  the  inventive  partner  in 
the  great  Soho  firm,  died  at  Aston  Hall,  in  hii 
80th  year.  "  Inheriting  a  large  share  of  the 
powerful  intellect  of  his  distinguishtd  father,  to 
the  extension  of  whose  fame  he  had  for  the  last 
tliirty  years  shown  the  most  zealous  and  truly 
tilial  devotion,  he  imited  to  great  sagacity  and 
a  masculine  understanding  the  varied  acquire- 
ments and  literary  taste  of  a  well  cultivated 
mind.  His  name  will  long  be  remembered  in 
association  with  that  of  the  late  M.  Boulton,  as 
they  were  for  nearly  half  a  century  successfully 
eug^iged   in   carrying   out  those   iaveiLi\ai\&  ^wcsiL 


50«»  OLD    A>~     NTW    SrSirLyGHAlL  rTheExhibittonoflW 

iairr:Tan:JS.3  ?v  whii-'ii  :a«J  ieai'i;  ;t  "!>  fiirii^r  ••-sriatf«i  :•:  rav-;  •lii.;  war  £?r  the  world's  show  of 

Tire  Ehr^i  Ai*:.."-i:^.:ii  7tti.i  1  «.-..ii.:  r-^;:  -.:         >' '=i«*    ^^    '^''    ^^-'^'^^     •^^J«««     exhibited 

Ri^:.,..-.......  i-:.^^^--:^^  >;cV=:->r    r'  >*?.  ii.:  i":-''-"^"-  ^ci  w^k  v-   w-.?k  in  the  IWi^tnM 

:o  i.i.:  :..•  ::>.-  i::ric'::cs  rf  :ie  tLk-  .::  Z.t::.--i-  -  "•■  "  ^'^'''-  ^'^  '-"^  ■«  monthly  parts  of  th* 
son  ::  -.ie  Afi:::!!.: ::::>*  .i  ::-.-Tli:::;:i-i:u  i::  L :!:.:       ^•-  -'-  '  -''■•'•  ''^"^  :K<J*-«»-^r  of  the  present  .4r/ 

M:.ili2.i    Cv-ii::-.:..'*    tis    rr"rii---L     -    i    =:•  r;  ''■'-"'■■-     Ti-    ?rji-.^    Cnwrt  made   a   specjjl 

ex:<i:;?->.'      ^..-al-;     :lii     iz"":— -     -v^-vi     "^.i.:  ;"'-^"7    -^"Ci    Lfioc    ii    orier   t.>   visit    th* 

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•   r*. ...  .    ,^^    .  .-•.  :  .  .....--  -  _  y*^!'  "V"*     rill!  TIS     T*?"*:'".   in  T**!!!'!--   S-r»*rt- 

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■=-.injr7  5:CiM.  :_ti:w-i  :r  ^i-  Ljiip.rL 


I  Vwj  B*'ek  "  i:«*«.] 


OLD  A^B  NEW  BIRMmOHAM. 


557 


KoDneJy,  M.A.,  died,  m  his  79  th  year.  He  had 
been  for  many  years  Incumbent  of  St.  Paul's 
Chapel.  *'  He  was,*'  says  a  contemporary,  "  for 
upwards  of  half  a  centary,  one  of  tlie  most  nseful 
and  elo<iuent  mem  hers  of  this  community^  and 
aingularly  guileless,  benevolent,  and  tii>nght  in 
private  life.  His  reUgioua  teaching  was  always 
entirely  free  from  bigotry  or  intolerance,  and  it 
caused  him  to  he  loved  and  honoured  by  good 
men  of  all  persuasions,  through  the  whole  of  his 
long  and  exemplary  career.  He  was  a  man  of 
great  and  varied  powers  of  mind,  an  elegant  poet, 
and  an  accomplished  claaaical  schoUr.  It  may 
be  truly  said  of  him,  as  of  Playfair,  that,  in- 
dependent of  his  high  attainments,  he  was  one  of 
the  most  amitible  and  estimable  of  men,  upon 
whose  perfect  honour  and  generosity  his  friends 
might  rely  with  the  most  implicit  cnnfidence,  and 
on  whom  it  was  equally  impossiljlc  tbat,  under 
any  circumstances^  be  should  ever  perform  a 
mean  or  questionable  action,  as  tbat  his  body 
should  cease  to  gravitate  or  his  soul  cease  to  live." 

On  the  19th  of  August,  in  the  same  year,  the 
Stonr  Valley  Kailvvay  was  opened,  comniuni* 
eating  with  the  mining  district  of  South  Stafford- 
fihire,  with  stations  at  8pon  Lane,  iJldbury, 
Dudley,  Tipton,  Wolveihanipton  and  other  places 
in  the  **  Hlack  Country/' 

Uuring  ibis  niontb,  an  incident  occurred 
which  **led  to  the  display  of  a  great  deal  of  un- 
merited censure,  and  to  an  outburst  of  general, 
hut  misplaced  indignation  ***  A  lady,  known  as 
**  tlie  Baroness  Von  Beck,"  came  to  iiinningbam, 
and  passed  herself  otf  as  a  Hungarian  exile,  who 
had  rendered  good  service  to  the  cause  of  in- 
dependence. She  had  previously  published  a 
volume  of  **  Personal  Adventures  during  the 
nt  War  of  Indcjjeudence  in  Hungary  ;"  and 
at  that  time  preparing  another  work,  **Tlie 
8tory  ol  her  own  Life/'  and,  accomimnied  by  her 
secretary,  Constant  licrr^,  visited  the  principal 
towns  in  Englimd,  to  obtain  subscribers  fur  the 
new    btiok.      Many    of   the    Liberal    lea<lers    in 

*  iAri(ffiinJ. 


Eirmingham  assisted  her,  and  as  she  fell  ill 
during  her  stay  in  the  town,  she  was  invited  by 
Mr,  H-  W*  Tyndall,  to  stay  at  his  house^  where 
she  was  treated  with  great  kindness  and  con- 
sideration. Subsequently  it  transpired,  by 
accident,  that  the  soi-dismii  **  Baroness  "  was  an 
impostor,  and  was  suspected,  moreover,  of  being 
a  spy,  iu  the  pay  of  the  ziustrian  Government 
She  was  identified  by  M*  Hajnik,  Ex-chief 
Commis^sary  of  Police  in  Hungary,  aa  a  woman  of 
indifferent  reputation,  whose  real  name  was 
Wilhelmina  Baeidula,  and  was  anested  and  con- 
veyed  to  the  Moor  Street  prison.  On  the  30th 
of  August  the  case  came  before  the  magistrates, 
but  while  the  **  Baroness  "  was  being  led  from 
her  cell  to  the  dock,  shu  died  in  the  ante-ioom  of 
the  Court,  The  excitement  was,  of  couree, 
intense,  but  the  case  against  M.  Derra  was  pro- 
ceeded with,  notwithstanding,  on  a  charge  of 
obtaining  money  under  false  preteucea,  but  he 
was  dismissed. 

The  Mayor  said  "  the  bench  showed  by  their 
decisjou  that  they  were  not  satisfied  that  the 
prisoner  had  been  guilty  of  conspiring  with  the 
woman.  He  thought  they  had  been  not  only 
justified  in  arres^ting  the  woman  under  such 
circumstances,  but  in  taking  the  prisoner  abo. 
He  begged  J  on  his  part,  to  express  his  thanks  to 
those  humane  gentlemen  who  had  tiiken  part  in 
jdfording  shelter  to  peisons  whom  they  considered 
destitute  stmngei's.  lie  regretted,  for  the  cause 
of  Hungary,  that  such  deception  had  l>een 
practiced.  Had  the  two  parties  been  before  thu 
Bench  in  place  of  the  one,  the  decision  might 
have  been  different/' 

In  July  1 852,  M.  Demi  brought  an  action  against 
Messrs.  George  Dawson,  H.  W.  Tyndall,  Arthur 
llylaud  and  Kicliard  Peyton,  for  false  imprison- 
ment, estimating  the  damages  at  ,£5,000,  but 
was  non-suited.  A  new  trial  was  applied  for 
and  gtanted,  and  the  case  was  heard  at  Warwick 
Assizes,  August  2,  1853,  before  ^Ir.  Justice 
Maule,  %vhen  a  verdict  was  returned  for  the 
plaiutiflT,   damages   £800.      Mr,    DawsoD*g   ^tw 


558 


OLB  AND 


BIBMINGHAM.       rci.«tTr*i 


iioD  uf  the  cost«  aud  Jniiinges  wofl  raked  by 
subBcription,  by  the  members  of  his  congrega- 
tion. 

The  illuslriou^  exile  with  whom  the  unfortunate 
woman  had  claimed  friendship,  Louis  Kossuth, 
visited  Birmingham  on  the  10th  of  November 
1851.  **The  whole  town,"  says  Dr,  Langford, 
''kept  holiday ;  nearly  all  the  manufactories 
were  closed,  and  a  procession  of  from  60,000  to 
70,000  men  was  formed  to  meet  Kossuth  at  Small 
Heatli  and  escort  him  into  the  town.  Since  the 
day  that  the  PQlitical  Union  met  Thomas  Attwood 
at  the  ^ame  place,  Birmingham  had  not  witnessed 
such  a  magnificent  display  of  grneious  enthusiasm. 
Flogp,  banners,  and  trade  symbols  were  C4irned  in 
profusion  j  six  bands  of  music  were  placed  in 
different  parts  of  the  procession,  and  nlmost  every 
person  wore  the  Hungarian  tri-colour.  The  streets 
were  lined  with  people,  every  wiiiduw  on  th^  line 
of  route  were  lined  with  gazers,— men,  women,  and 
children, — all  di-plajing  the  popular  colour. 
Platforms  were  erected  in  every  convenient  place, 
and  were  crowded  with  spectators.  As  the 
carriage  containing  Kusduth  i>assed  along  the 
streets  he  w'us  greeted  with  the  loudest  demonstra- 
tions of  welcome  and  the  heartiest  enthusiasm — 
ftuqjiisiug  in  tliis  r<jt<ptct  any  public  event  ever 
witnessed  in  Uiruiingham,  not  excepting  those  in 
connection  with  the  Political  Union.'* 

A  few  days  uftei  the  illustrious  patriot  left 
Birmingham,  the  sum  of  £750  was  forwarded  to 
him,  tu  he  \pplied  aa  he  might  think  tit,  in  the 
cause  of  his  country. 

In  the  autumn  uf  1852,  a  committee  of  working 
men  met  at  the  Tree^  Inn,  Hockley,  and  inaugu- 
rated a  shilling  subscription  to  present  a 
teatiuiouial  to  the  deliglilful  author  who  was  at 
that  time  charming  the  reading  public  with  bis 
chaniiing  tictions,  which  he  sent  forth  frijm  year 
to  year  within  their  ever  welcome  green  leaves  of 
their  wehume  instalments,  to  testify  to  the 
genial  creator  of  Pd'huteky  the  high  esteem  in 
which  he  wm  held  by  the  working  men  of  Bir- 
mingbum. 


The  presentation,  whicli  consisted  of  a  eop) 
the  '^  niad  "  aalver  of  Messrs*  Elkington,  ml  » 
diamond  ring  was  made  on  the  6  th  of  Juatonji 
1 853,  at  the  old  rooms  of  the  Society  ol  Artii%, 
in  Teruple  Row.  In  the  evening  a  banqmft  w» 
given  at  the  Royal  Ftotel,  at  whicli  Mr.  DickfOi 
delivered  one  of  his  happiest  speeches,  m\ 
space  permitted,  we  should  be  happy  to 
to  these  pages  entire  ;  one  passage^  howe* 
may  quote,  as  showing  the  interest  he  fclt^< 
at  that  time,  m  the,  as  vet,  only  projtH^ted  M 
Institute : — 

Ue  WAd  ri'joiced  to  timl  that  there  was  on  foot 
Litc^rary  and  ScicHtific  Iitatitatioo,  which  woi 
wtirtby  of  litis  pUce,  even  ir  there  were  nothing  elA«of  tk» 
kiud  ill  it.  It  was  to  bo  an  Institution  where  the  wunb 
** exclusion"  »n4  **exclu!!ivUm*'  should  be  tinite  nnknowi; 
where  all  classes  and  crted^  might  irasemblc  io  t^omaioi 
fniLh,  trust,  and  confidence.  It  was  detsigned  to  gmlt  oft 
it  a  great  gallery  of  paiutingand  sculpture,  and  a  onueaa 
of  models,  where  iniluatry  n^ight  trxhibit  the  raHoil 
processes  of  nianuf^tetiiring  maihinery^  and  thereby  < 
to  new  results.  Nay,  the  very  miners  under  the  r?M 
sea  would  not  be  forgotten,  but  would  tie  pr««ciil 
little  to  the  enquiring  r^ye.  It  would  t>c  an  ti 
by  which  the  obstacle*  which  now  ^tooil  in  the  war 
poor  inventor  would  be  smoothed  tiway,  and  if  be  hsd  jiif* 
tbiug  In  him  be  should  lind  enoou.  md  Krl^ 

He  observed,  wilh  unusual  ititercst  ai  .Lion,  tuit 

a  large  body  of  geutlcmcti  had  agreed  lot  ii  time  ta  Uf 
aside  tbeir  individual  opinions,  and  at  an  early  daj  Id 
meet  to  advaace  this  great  ifbject,  and  he  yiuM  \u!t* 
ticiihirly  cull  ui>oii  the  company,  in  driukiog  thU  t^ait, 
to  drink  succe^  to  tliefr  eijd«i:iTonra.  aud  to  make  a^iledgt 
to  ptoniote  the  welfare  of  the  Institution. 

In  1S55  the  town  paid  a  weU-tleaerved  tnhnto 
to  the  memory  of  Sir  iJobert  Peel,  by  the  erectina 
of  a  bronze  statue,  designed  by  Mr.  Peter  Hollim 
and  cast  by  Messrs.  Elkington  and  Mason,  Wiog 
**  the  first  colossal  work  of  the  kitiii  ever  prodared 
in  one  piece  in  Birmingham/**  UpMardfi  of  thre^ 
tons  of  metal  wcm  used  in  the  casting  of  tbi» 
work,  which  is  eight  feet  and  a  half  in  height  H 
stands  on  a  fine  pedestal  of  polished  granite^ 
resting  on  a  sub-plinth  of  grey  st-oae  ;  and  ww 
originaUy  surrounded  by  a  handsome  railiog,  thft 
bars  of  which  represented  large  clusters  of  wlieal- 
earSf  to  commomomte  the  repeal  of  the  Com 


*  Dr.  Laaglbrd  :  (hiNW.r.  isr« 


500 


OLD   AND   JTCW   BIRlvnNonA^r. 


tTti»  jum*  f^k  i 


>  In  ih©  Bpring  of  1856,  the  question  c»f  pur- 
•lifksing  Aiton  Hal]  lieing  prominently  before  tho 
public,  Mr.  John  Wakh  Walsh  conceived  the 
happy  idea  of  organising  a  grand  ft^tw  at  Aston 
Hall  on  behalf  of  the  tjueens  Hospital,  the 
finances  of  which  wero  at  that  time^  at  a  very  low 
ebb.  Permission  hiding  granted  ft>r  holding  the 
proposed  fete,  preparations  were  made  on  a  large 
scale,  and  it  was  tixed  to  be  held  on  the  28th  of 
July*  When  the  day  arrived,  it  »oon  became 
evident  that  such  a  f^te  was  about  to  be  held  as 
had  not  been  heard  of  before  even  iu  Birniinghnm, 
the  home  of  monster  gatherings  of  various  kinds. 
Upwards  of  fifty  thousand  persons,  from  liir- 
mingham,  from  the  Black  Country,  and  fn^m  the 
surrounding  rural  district^  poured  into  tlio  usually 
quiet  little  village  of  Aston,  which  was  gaily 
decomteil  for  the  occasion ;  and  from  the  belfry 
of  the  fine  old  village  church  chimed  forth  such  a 
joyous  welcome  as  had  not  been  heard  since  the 
unfortunate  Stuart  king  had  visited  the  mansion 
of  ISij  Thoiiuts  Holte,  wliile  it  was  yet  in  all  ita 
pristine  grandeur. 

Through  the  nnble  avenue  of  the  park  thronged 
the  deliglited  thousands,  and   in  and  out  of  the 
quaint  old  corridors  and  noble  state  apaitments  of 
the  Hall ;  old  English  games,  and  innocent  fun 
and  pleasure  of  every  description,  occupied  the 
afternoon,  and  in   the  evening  the  avenue   was 
illuminated  witli  thouarmda  of  variegated  lamps  ; 
and  the  f**te  was  brought  to  a  elos^e  with   a  grand 
display  of  firework."*,  chief  among  which  Was  a 
device  which  bore  the  legend  **  Save  Aston  Hall !" 
and  wlufh  doubt k^ss  first  led  the  working  men  of 
Eirmiugliam   to  resolve  upon  carrjring  out    the 
glowing   injunction.     Tlie  receipt  amounted  to 
^2,222  12a.  5d.,  of  which   £1,500  (proBt)  was 
handed    over     to    the    Queen's     Hospital     Mr. 
Walsh  was  elected  a  life  governor  of  the  Hosjutid, 
and  in  commenoration  of  the  splendid  services 
thus  rcnd<'red  trj  that  iriBtituLiou,  n  marble    tablet 
rei'iu'ding  the  event  was  erected  in  the  vestibule 
of  the  building. 

There  haJ  been  some  jealousy  on  the  part  of 


certain  persons,  th^t  \hn  proceedii  of  the  iv\ 
not  been  divided  with  thd  C^^neml  Hoi 
and  in  consefiuence,  Mr.  Walsh  and  hia  fi 
organised  a  second  fete  on  behalf  of  tliat 
tution,  which  was,  if  poseibje,  a  greater  si 
than  the  first  It  took  place  <m  the  15 
September  in  the  same  year,  and  Birmii^ 
again  poured  its  tens  of  thousands  into  the  i 
park  BO  soon  to  become  their  own  ••  fof  ever. 
contemporary  report  says,  **fram  the  comer  of ! 
Mud  to  the  park,  the  road  was  one  oonlii 
prttcossion  of  cabs,  carts,  and  onmibnsea, 
abreast,"  and  the  total  number  of  risitora 
estimated  at  little  le^  than  90,000.  A  chi 
**  on  account  "  was  handed  over  to  the  govcq 
of  the  hospit^U,  for  the  sum  of  XI, 700,  and 
the  next  committee  meeting  it  wa«  reM 
that  the  aggregate  amount  received  from 
two  f^tes  should  be  ascertained,  and  the  entji 
profits  equally  divided  between  tlie 
hospital  a. 

In  the  spring  of  1859,  Binninglam  had 
mourn  the  loss  of  two  worthy  citizens,  Thoi 
Clutton  Salt,  an  old  reformer  of  *;*2,  and  i 
noble  hearted  philanthro[ust,  J  oseph  Sturgc. 

Mr.  Salt  died  on  the  27th  of  April,  at  the  i 
ago  of  sixty-nine  years,  having  been  bom  on  ( 
26th  of  April,  1790. 

Jusepli  Sturge  died  suddenly,  on  the  I  tth 
May,  at  the  age  of  sixty-five.  His  labours 
behalf  of  the  oppressed  slaves  of  the  W< 
Indies  and  the  United  States  and  in  t 
interesta  of  Peace,  are  too  wdbknown  to  ne 
re-counting  here  ;  we  may,  however,  appropnat* 
quote  the  words  of  Mr,  Bright : 

*'  To  me,  his  life,  s^  far  a«  I  was  icqtuiiate^I  with 
Wfl8  n  great  lessou,     J  knew  liiiii  most  Utticnately  ia  I 
last  years  of  his  lift*,  when  ilwra  was  aUuiit  him  a  itj 
nem  of  goo<hmKs  whicli  h  rarely  ^een  airmug  men.    J 
looking  back  to  him,  -in  recjdliug  that  which  w*^*  »tril 
iug  iu  his  conversation,  his  tetnper.  hi*  h«biUof  thoagi 
ftjid  his  actions,  I  often  «*)  to  myself,—*  Wljiit  «  ^ 
nmn  he  w.i»  J    what  courage  auil   wh»l   mcckoct^ 
Iwiicvolcnce  in  action,  and  wh/it   chanty  ia 
whiit  a  charming  unsolHshncss,  and  what  *  lftli< 
that  htgheitt  example  ntforibd  to  ud  iu  tlie  ifftv" 
meat  history.*  ** 


l>«Vtli  OOL] 


OLD   AND   NEW   BIRMINGHAiL 


5Si 


Our  thml  statue  was  erected  during  the  year 
1859,  viz.,  that  of  Thomas  Attwood^  *Hhe  Father 
of  Political  Unions,"  It  was  the  work  of  the 
late  Mr.  John  Thomas,  of  London^  and  cost  about 
£800.  The  figure  is  cut  from  a  block  of  Sicilian 
marble,  and  16  nearly  nine  feet  in  height ;  it 
represents  Mr.  Attwood  in  the  attitude  of  address- 
ing one  of  the  great  galhe rings  of  the  people 
recorded  in  an  earlier  chapter  of  our  narrative. 
The  left  hand  Iwlds  a  roll,  bearing  the  word 
**  Reform,"  resting  on  a  Koman  fascea  (typifying 
unity,  and  obedience  to  the  Law) ;  and  on  the 
bands  thereof  are  the  words  **  Liberty,  Unity, 
Prosperity."  The  statue  is  placed  on  a  bold 
pedestal  of  grey  granite,  which  rests  on  a  broad 
nistic  Imse  of  freestone.  It  was  unveiled 
June  7tb,  1859.  An  engraving  of  this  statue 
was  given  on  page  351  of  tliis  work. 

This  was  a  year  of  lossos  for  us  ;  death  was 
very  buey  with  the  famous  men  of  IMrmingham, 
and  in  less  than  a  month  after  the  death  of 
Jos4?ph  Bturge,  the  glorious  landscupo  painter, 
David  Cox,  fell  beneath  the  scythe  of  the  mighty 
reaper.  He  was  a  native  of  Birmingham,  and  is 
said  by  his  recent  biographer,  Mr.  Solly^  to  have 
been  born  in  Heath  Mill  I^ne,  but  an  old 
resident  informs  us  that  Cox's  father  (a  black- 
smith) Uved  at  the  house  now  occupied  by  Mr. 
Corbett  as  a  Temperance  Hotel,  at  the  corner  of 
Hill  Street,  oppos?ite  the  Town  Hull,  and  that 
this  house  was  pointed  out  to  him  in  his  early 
days,  by  his  father,  as  the  birthplace  of  David 
Cox.  However  this  may  have  been,  he  was 
intended  to  have  been  brought  up  to  his  father's 
business,  but  it  proved  unsuitable,  not  only  to  his 
tastes,  hut,  what  was  of  far  more  importance  at 
the  time,  to  his  strength  also,  as  he  was  a  rather 
weakly  lad ;  and  his  attention  was  directed  to 
drawing.  He  began  by  painting  miniatui'es  for 
lockets  and  for  the  tops  of  snuffboxes ;  and 
afterward?  became  a  scene-painter  at  the  Theatre 
Boyal,  then  under  the  management  of  Macread^, 
with  whom  he  afterwards  travelled  to  Leicester, 
and  at  length  found  his  way  to  L<jndon.     His 


parents  disapproved  of  his  connection  with  the 
Theatres,  and  he  turned  his  attention  to  the  pro 
duction  of  little  sketches  for  the  print-seller.  Ho' 
became  acquainted  wnth  Varley,  and  was  permitted 
to  visit  him  and  watch  him  at  his  work,  and  thus 
he  became  familiar  with  that  artiat's  style  and 
method  of  work.  He  afterwards  went  to  Here- 
ford as  a  drawing-master,  and  settled  there  for  a 
time  ;  but  returned  by-and-by  to  London,  and 
obtained  the  appointment  of  drawing- master  at 
one  of  the  military  colleges.  But  the  love  of 
nature  had  taken  too  strong  a  hold  uf>on  him,  and 
before  long  ho  was  again  free,  and  purFued  Ids  art 
at  bis  leisure.  His  frequent  visits  to  Bettwys-y- 
Coed  rendered  lliat  quaint,  old-fashioned  little 
Weliih  village  famous  throughout  England,  and 
helped  to  make  it  a  general  rendezi'^ous  for  tourists 
ill  North  Wales.  About  the  year  1840  he 
returned  to  his  native  home  and  took  up  his 
residence  at  llarborno,  whore  he  died,  on  the  7th 
of  June,  1859,  and  was  buried  in  the  church- 
yard of  that  beautiful  suburb. 

One  of  his  greatest  admirers  and  friends  was 
the  late  Mr.  Gillott,  whose  collection  of  pictures 
included  many  of  the  finest  of  Cox's  works  ;  and 
at  the  sale  of  the  collection,  in  1873,  they  realised 
.£25,324. 

Thu  Rev.  John  Angell  James  also  died  during 
this  year ;  but  the  notice  of  his  life  belongs  more 
particularly  to  the  religious  history  of  this  j^eriod. 
During  tliis  year  a  succeesful  attempt  waa 
made  to  organize  a  Yohinteer  Rifle  Corps  for 
Birmingham.  The  project  had  been  attempted 
in  1852,  but  was  not  attended  with  success  ;  in 

1859,  however,  after  some  correspondence  and 
** beating  up,"  a  company  was  formed,  and  the 
tirst  geneml  muster  was  held  in  Bingley  Hall,  on 
the  12  th  of  October,  there  being  '^asmanyaa 
116  members  assembled  on  the  occasion-"  This 
was  not  considered  satisfactory,  in  a  great  centre 
like  Birmingham,  and  in  the  following  December 
a  vigorous  effort  was  made  to  increase  the  number 
with   the   result  that,  by  the  end  of  February, 

1860,  the  number  af  men  enrolled  wa&  nj^A^atb^ 


DmiIi  uf  \h*  PHnet  Cmuutri. 


The  je&r  1859  is  ako  memorable  in  cur  anuala 
«s  having  seen  the  inauguration  of  the  **  Hospital 
Sunday  "  movement ;  whereby  on  one  Sunday  in 
€very  year,  a  collection  is  made  at  all  the  places 
of  worship  in  the  town.  This  movement  was 
originated  chiefly  through  the  exertions  of  the 
JRev.  Br.  Miller,  and  the  first  years  collection 
which  WW  made  on  the  13th  of  November, 
brought  to  the  fundn  of  the  Genend  Hospital  the 
noble  sum  of  X5,200  fia.  lOd.  Of  its  subsequent 
tfNialte  we  shall  give  a  tabulated  statement  in  the 
hiatory  of  our  charitable  institutions  during  this 
period. 

On  the  Hth  of  December,  1861,  the  nation 
was  plunged  into  grief  on  account  of  the  death 
of  the  Prince  Conaort,  at  the  comparatively  early 
age  of  forty-two.  The  day  of  the  funeral 
(December  23rd)  waa  observed  in  Birmingham 
with  every  token  of  the  sincerest  grief  on  every 
liand. 

•'  From  an  early  hour  in  the  morning  the  deep- 
toned  bells  of  the  various  churches  in  the  town 
lolled  forth  a  melancholy  *  minuting/  and  kept 
reviving  ever  freshly  in  the  mind  the  depressing 
recollection  of  the  great  deprivation  which  the 
<Jueen  and  the  country  Iiavc  sustained.  The 
aspect  of  the  town  as  the  forenoon  advanced  was 
aingidar  in  the  feeling  of  sadness  and  gloom 
wliich  it  excited.  Almost  without  exception  in 
the  centre  of  the  town,  and  Edgbaaton,  Hockley^ 
Aston,  and  other  suburbs,  the  blinds  wew  drawn 
<iown  in  the  windows  of  the  residents,  and 
scarcely  a  shop  was  open  after  the  hour  of  eleven* 
A  Union  Jack  floated,  at  half-mast  high,  here 
and  there,  at  the  summit  of  buildings  in  the 
town,  and  mourning  garments  were  generally 
wora  So  universal  were  these  emblems  of 
«orrow^  that  even  the  poorest  clad  women  wore 
some  humlilc  expressive  *  bit  of  black,'  There 
wos  a  stillness  in  the  crowded  thoroughfares, 
which  aeemei  to  whisper  of  death  ]  and  people 
dpoke  to  each  other  with  *  bated  breath,*  so 
irrctfiatible  wm  the  iuflaence  of  the  sad  event 


As  hail  been  previously  arranged,  and  as  was  the 

rule  throughout  the  district 

and  doubtless  everywhere  throughout  the  length 
and  breadth  of  the  land,  special  church  and 
chapel  services  were  held  in  the  morning, 
afternoon,  and  evening,  and  they  were  attended 
by  densely  crowded  congregations.  The  interiors 
of  the  sacred  edifices  were  draped  with  black, 
and  heart-felt  emotion  waa  visible  in  every 
countenanca*'* 

A  funeral  i^loge  was  delivered  by  Mr,  George 
Dawson,  at  the  public  service  held  oti  the  same 
day,  in  the  Town  Hall,  and  almost  every  public 
btidy  in  the  town,  from  the  Town  Council  down- 
wards, adopted  ami  forwarded  addresiies  of 
condolence  to  the  widowetl  Qaeen. 

About  three  weeks  afterwards  a  public  meeting 
was  held,  at  which  it  waa  rea^^Jved  to  erect  a 
statue  to  the  memory  of  the  late  Prince,  imd  in  a 
short  apace  of  time  upwards  of  j£ 2,000  were  sub- 
scribed for  that  purpoaa  The  sculp t^^ir  selected 
was  the  late  Mr.  Foley,  and  tlie  work  was 
completed  by  the  end  of  1 867  ;  owini;,  however, 
to  the  difticulty  in  selecting  a  suitable  site, — it 
ha\^ng  been  the  intention  of  the  committee  that 
tJie  statue  should  be  placed  under  a  Gotliic  canopy 
— it  was  located  temporally  in  the  Corporation  Art 
Gallery,  and  was  unveiled  by  the  Mayor  (Alderman 
Avery,)  April  27th,  18G8,  The  statue  is  of  Carrara 
marlik%  and  is  rather  over  life  size;  "the  Prince  is 
clothed  in  the  robes  of  the  Order  of  the  Bath,  and 
the  heavy  cloak  falling  over  and  backwards  from 
the  shoulders,  forms  a  background  to  the  figure, 
and  by  the  quiiitness  and  order  of  its  folds,  i^ives 
repose  and  majesty  to  the  composition,  ,  . 
The  attitude  of  the  figure  is  exceedingly  graceful, 
natural,  and  digni fied.  (^ne  log  is  a  little  ad  vanced, 
and  the  weight  of  the  body  ia  principally 
supported  by  the  other.  The  right  arm  liange 
down,  the  Angers  of  the  hand  just  grasping  the 
h«m  of  the  heavy  robe.  The  head  is  well  set 
upon  the  shoulders,  and  the  face  is  full  of  very 


4 


Birmtngham  Journed^  Detj.  m,  \M\. 


OLD   AND    NEW    BERMlNGHA^f, 


iranli«eerth4»  Prtaot  ofWUei. 


»obIo  exprossion/**     An  engra>riDg  of  the  statue 
appears  on  jmge  514. 

It  was  removed  in  1878  into  the  News  Room 
qt  the  Centml  Fd?o  Library,  during  the  erectioD 
of  the  new  teniporaty  Art  Gallery  ;  and  rejnained 
in  the  building  through  tho  whole  of  tlio  coaiiagra* 
tion  in  Januaiy  last,  being  only  slightly  disctilourt»tl 
by  the  flanjc-s  It  waa  subseqticntly  removed, 
with  the  plaster  models  of  Foley *8  statues  of 
Burke  and  Goldsmith  (which  did  not  osciipe  with 
80  little  injury  as  their  marble  companion),  into 
the  lobby  of  the  Council  House. 

Another  addit  ion  was  made  to  the  "  marble  men  " 
of  our  town  in  1B62  by  the  erection,  at  a  coet  of 
XI, 000,  of  a  marble  statue  to  the  memory  of  Joseph 
StUTge,  an  engraving  of  which  appears  on  page 
479  of  this  volume.  It  was  the  work  of  Mr,  John 
Thomai?  (the  sculptor  of  the  Attxvood  statue),  and 
la  supported  on  cither  hand  by  life-8i/.e  groups  in 
Portlani  stone,  representing  **  Charity "  and 
**  Peace,"  From  the  front  and  back  of  tbe 
pedeaUd  project  bold  tazza-sliAfK>d  ba«inB,  out  of 
wlucli,  originally,  pretty  jot.5  of  water  arose,  aa 
aliewi  in  our  engraving  of  the  statue  ;  but  of  late 
tho  basius  have  been  filled  during  the  summer 
with  bright  bedding  plants.  The  statue  waa 
unveiled  on  the  4th  of  June,  1S62,  by  Wm, 
Middlcmore,  Esq.,  ui  llie  presence  of  about 
12,000  specUtors, 

The  10th  of  March,  1863,  was  a  day  to  be 
remembered  in  the  annals  of  modern  pi^eantry,  as 
tlie  occasion Mf  perhaps  the  most  brilliant  festivities 
ever  celebrated  in  the  United  Kingdom.  On 
that  day  the  loyal  subjects  of  Queen  Victoria 
everywhere  celebrated  the  marriage  of  the  Heir 
Apparent  with  the 

**8t*Ji- Kings'  daughter  from  over  tbe  nca," 
the   Princess  Alexandra,   of  Denmark.     In  Bir- 
mingham  the    streets    were    hung    with    flags, 
banners,  which  6oatt»d  gaily  in  the  **  merry  ^farch 
air,*'     The  Town  Council  and  other  public  bodies 

•  KtfWffiftptr  rrpofl  Arril,  ISfl.H.  iiuuioaht  rn,  Luagfonl.  llodrrn 


dined  togetlier ;  the  Volunteers  Imd  a  grand  Mill 

day  at  CalUiorpc  Park  ;   special    servicea 

held  at  St.  Martin's  Church  and  at  Carr  a  hm 

ChafM?! ;  a  special  fil«te  was  held   at  Aston  Pwky 

the   poor  were    feasted,    the   bells    rang   oat 

intervals  from  steeple  and  spire,  and,  as  if  to  •hen 

that  even  the  clerk  of  the  weather  was  determiis 

to    contribute    to    the    general    rejoicings, 

weather  was  brilliant,  th«  t^wn  being,  accord  in 

to  a  cont«^nip<vrary  chnvnicle,   "  flcntded  with  tin 

mellow  light  of  a  bright  spring  day/* 

But  beyond  all  else  in  the  day's  festivities  wiU^ 

be  remembered  the  uimsually  brilliant  diapJay  ( 

illuminations,  which,  in  some  respects  certidiiljj 

have  never  been  e«4uailed  in  the  midland  cotmtia 

All  the  public  buildbigs,  and  moat  of  the  houw 

in  the  principal  streeta,  displayed  mure  or 

elegant  devices  in  gaa  and  colourwi  lampa;  Irt 

the   pahu   for   brilUaney   and   effectiveness  ir| 

undoubtedly   borne  away   by  the   iJltiminatio 

with  which  the   whole  of  the  west  end  of   SM 

Philip's  Church  (including  tbe  tower  and  domtij 

were  covereil,  aa  shown  in  our  engraving  on 

530.      This  ehe/'ffmnvre  of  illumitintioo  It  thd 

described  by  a  contemporary  tdirotjicler  : — 

Tb»*  ana^le  of  the  church,  the  tower,  dome,  and  ca|tfl 
wore  Ught<^d  up  upon  aU  their  arfhiUi'tumj  Viuvm^  t 
the  whole  waft  suruiouoted  by  an  immense^  cnroiM  of  j«t^ 
eiictosed  in   ra by- coloured  gliisa.     I nd (^pendent    of 
erection  of  the  si'affolding,  which  occupied    forty 
three  diiyi,  the  prDpamtioii  of  the  tabini;  uiii\  thv  ftjiifl( 
of  it  Wfts  ft  gigatitic  Behifvemi'iit  in  giui  titliug.     iH 
3,000  f«t  of   tubing,  varying  in  dtamcUr  ttotn  thn 
quftiierH  of  an  iuch  to  three  Indies,  w«?rt»  u^-^'^ 
join  it  no  less  than  2,000  "  fitting*  "—join tf, 
— were  rcquircii.     When    lighted  up,   Iho    ii.mu 
di»i>layed  10,000  distLnet  jets  of  gas,  mch  Umlngi 
hrgfi  batswing  burner.     And  then,  iu  Q)d«r  tliat* 
oiight  b«  no  lack  of  pressure  in  the  BUpply  of  gu,  1 
pipjs  were   pflreelled  out    into    six  diviiions,    etttin 
unconnected  with  each  other,  mid  each  of  lh«?«e  diTim 
were  supplied  with  gas  through  au  itidajwinlotit  »cr 
pipe  attached,  not  to  the  ordinary  street  maina,  tnit  U^§ 
BiX'iuch  and  three-inch   main,  which  dnsw  M  Ty 

from  ft  ten-inch  nmin  Inld  down  to  «upplv  t'  r 

in  Gaa  Strert,  and  uxed  for  no  other  purj  ■■^ 

like  70, t^OO  feet  of  gas  per  hour  wt»  co  .« 

tilft'ct^    ns  may  ht   well   imagined,    wmk  huliii4tit   m  thi 
extreme.     Every  architt'ctural    otitlin«    I&    th«    qaalBtl 
bnilding  glowed  with  a    brilUant  b«a«lw«Hc  «f   ligM% 


Dr.  Chiireh-^mtifil  Ltnvft.l 


OLD   Amy   XEW   BIKMINGHAM. 


565 


which  now  sunk  with  the  pii*sing  wiad  to  the  prettiest 
<ff  littk^  hlue  jets,  tliat  looked  like  glow-worms  in  a 
lie«lge-row,  and  again  blazed  out  with  a  full  proud 
lirUHiUKsy  that,  while  throwing  a  strange  ^lare  on  the 
Qptarnei)  faces  of  the  raultitutU'  Udow,  lighted  up  tht* 
hoodcs  all  around,  and  flung  grotesque  lights  and  shadows 
throUijh  tlie  trees  upon  the  monuments  and  gravea 
beUMith  them  in  the  churchyard.  And,  aa  if  tho 
illumination  of  the  tower  was  not  sufficient,  coloured 
firtM*  w**rt'  hurut  at  intervals,  and  long  rows  of  variegated 
lamps  were  hung  in  festoons  along  the  railings  miming 
tluxkugh  tha  churchyani,  whilst  others  nestled  in  the 
wreaths  of  evergreens  that  spanned  the  gateways, 

A  most  appropriate  wethimg  gift  waa 
man u file turod  by  Messrs*  Elkington^  at  the 
^xpenae  of  the  town,  in  the  form  of  a  silver 
rdiHJitss^  table,  of  whidi  an  engraving  is  given  in 
Messrs.  Day  and  Sous'  noble  volume  loeording 
tlie  national  celebrations  on  thi?  ocx^sioa  This 
fcplendid  flpecimen  of  Eirmingbam  workmanship 
jrn»  presented  to  the  I^incess  of  Wales  at  Marl- 
torough  Houae,  on  the  30th  of  April;  the 
deputation  consisted  of  the  Mayor  (Mr.  C.  Sturge), 
the  Kev,  Cliarles  Evans.  Messrs.  Jaffray,  F. 
Elkington,  G.  F.  Muntic,  W.  C.  Aitken,  C 
Ratcliff,  H.  Wiggin,  R  Peyton,  8,  Thorn  Urn, 
T.  Kenrick,  and  Alderman  HiiKlgaon. 

We  have  already  made  reference,  in  the  third 
portion  of  our  history  of  travelling,  to  the 
inventions  of  Dr.  William  Church  ;  this  gentle- 
man, who  is  described  as  on©  of  the  first  mechan- 
ical geniuses  of  hk  age,  died  at  Vermont,  in  tlie 
United  States,  on  October  7th,  1853,  aged  85 
^eiirs.  A  biographical  notice  of  this  local  worthy 
Jij>peiifcd  in  the  Blrminghttm  Juunial  of  April 
23rd,  18C4,  and  is  reprinted  by  Dr  Langford  in 
hia  Modern  Birmint/ham^  vol  2,  p.  253. 

On  the  2 1st  of  November,  in  the  same  year, 
4ied  two  worthy  diiciplc^  of  art,  the  one  an  artist 
and  the  other  a  collector,  whose  memory  ought 
to  be  treasured  by  every  lover  of  the  art  they 
iidorned.  The  first  was  our  townsman  Samuel 
Lines,  the  well-known  artist^  who  died  ut  his 
house  n  Tv^mple  Rjvv  Weat,  in  the  85th  y»4ar  of 
his  age.  He  was  bom  at  Allesley,  near  Coventry, 
iu  li7&,  and  At  the  age  of  nine  ye^ts,   owing  to 


the  death  of  his  mother,  he  was  placed  under  tiie 
care  of  an  micle^  a  farmer,  and  was  compelled  to 
talto  an  active  share  in  agricultural  work.  From 
an  early  age  he  tnanifested  his  love  for  Art,  and, 
proving  unsuiUble  t<j  the  work  of  a  farmer,  he 
WHS  apprenticed,  in  17iH,  to  a  Mr,  Keeling,  a 
clock  dial  enameller  and  decorator,  in  BirminghanL 
He  was  afterwanls  employed  by  ^Ir  Clay,  in 
making  designs  for  the  adornment  of  his  papier 
mdeM  goods.  He  also  made  designs  for  Wyon, 
HolHilay,  and  other  die  engravers,  and  for  the 
oniamentation  of  the  blades  of  awords  of  honour, 
presented  to  officers  who  had  distinguished  them- 
selves in  military  and  naval  engagements.  By 
this  work  he  was  brought  into  contact  with 
Mr.  Gunby,  at  that  time  the  principal  local 
B word-maker,  who  was  in  private  life  an  amateur 
artist  and  o  collector  of  pictures.  Tlirougli  his 
aasiitance  and  patronage,  Samuel  Lines  Louk  the 
first  step  in  what  was  destined  to  be  tlic  occupa- 
tion and  the  delight  of  his  future  life — the 
teaching  of  drawing.  He  opened  his  school  in 
Newhall  Street,  in  1807,  occupying  two  rooms 
ill  a  house  exactly  opposite  Bread  Street  This 
step  was  attended  with  great  prosperity,  so  that, 
in  a  short  time,  he  was  enabled  to  buUd  a  house 
for  himself,  in  Temple  Kow  West,  where,  for  fifty 
years,  **  until  within  a  very  few  weeks  of  his 
death,  he  continuiHl  his  teaching,  with  honour  to 
himself  and  profit  to  the  many  hundreds  of 
persons  who  were  from  time  to  time  enrolled 
among  his  pupils."  We  have  elsewhere  referred 
to  the  part  he  took  in  the  organization  of  the  first 
art  exhibitions  in  Birmingham :  we  need  only 
mention  here  that  a  portrait,  with  one  or  two 
examples  of  his  work,  have  been  deposited  in  the 
Art  Gallery  C^ollection,  by  the  Council  of  the 
Midland  Institute. 

By  the  death  of  Sir  Francis  Edward  Scott^  of 
Great  Barr  Hall— the  second  to  whom  we  referred  ^ 
m  having  died  on  tlie  2l8t  of  November  in  this 
ygjar — the  Midland  Institute  was  deprived  of  a 
friend  and  patrou,  who  had  rendered  to  that 
institution  invaluable  *fiervic6S|  **  sparing  neither 


566 


OLD   AND  NEW   BIRMINGHAM. 


[BiraiiDglMai  BidttBgL 


his  purse  nor  more  active  labour,  to  advance  its 
prosperity  and  usefulness.*  When  the  Aston 
Hall  Museum  was  established,  he  generously 
fitted  up  one  of  the  rooms  at  his  own  expense, 
with  the  casts  and  prints  issued  by  the  Arundel 
Society,  (of  the  council  of  which  society  he  was 
a  member,)  and  at  his.  death  he  bequeathed  to 
the  Midland  Institute  a  fine  collection  of  the 
Limoges  Enamels,  which  arc  now  deposited  in 
the  Corporation  Art  Gallery.  L^nfortunatoly  for 
the  town  which  owes  so  much  to  his  efforts,  his 
health  broke  down  at  the  early  age  of  thirty-nine, 
and  he  died  at  St  Leonard*s-on-Sca,  November 
21st,  1863.  The  brief  eulogium  contained  in 
the  obituary  notice  in  the  Didly  Post  may  well 
bo  quoted  here : 

True,  upright,  and  honourable,  no  word  of  his  require«l 
anyone  to  certify  it ;  no  deed  of  his  could  reflect  shame 
upon  the  doer.  Open-hearted  and  liberal,  ready  to  help, 
quick  to  praise,  a  warm  friend,  a  noble  adversary,  Sir 
Francis  Scott  has  left  to  his  young  children  the  glorious 
inheritance  of  a  good  and  an  unsullied  name. 

During  this  year  an  experiment  was  made 
to  provide  for  the  material  wants  of  the 
artiwui  class,  by  the  establisLnient  of  a  Public 
l)ining  Hall,  in  Slaiioy  Street.  Subsequently  a 
second  was  ojjeued  in  Canil nidge  Stre(»t,  but  it 
soon  l»e'anie  evident  that  a  j^reat  mistake  bad 
been  made  in  selecting  as  the  sites  of  those 
institutions  such  unattractive  tlior«nighfares,  and 
in  18G6  the  Birmingham  Dining  Halls  C()nii)any 
was  wound  up. 

On  the  21sfc  of  January,  18G3,  the  foundation 
stone  was  laid  (by  Mr.  H.  Van  Wart),  of  an 
Exchange  for  Birmingham.  The  building  was 
completed  by  the  end  of  the  following  year,  and 
was  opened  January  2nd,  18C5,  by  the  Mayor 
(H.  Wiggin,  Es([.)  The  principal  elevation  is  in 
Stephenson  Place,  and  its  appearance  from  that 
side  is  exceedingly  })ictures4U0  ;  it  had  originally 
a  narrow  frontage  to  New  Street,  but  this  has 
been  recently  extended  by  the  enlargement  of  the 
building  in  1877-8.  Tlie  ground  floor  of  each  front 
is  arranged  for  retail  shops,  and  behind  these  is 

^'Langford 


the  Exchage  Room  and  the  Chamber  of  Ceo- 
merce.  Above  these  is  a  large  and  conveiueBt 
Assembly  Koom,  which  is  chiefly  used  for 
musical  and  other  entertainments  of  a  popdv 
character.  The  remaining  space  on  the  upper 
floors,  is  devoted  to  the  refreshments,  ooffM^ 
and  smoking  rooms,  and  to  private  offices  of 
convenient  sizes  and  suites.  The  entrance  to 
the  Exchange  Boom  is  in  the  centre  of  the 
principal  frontage,  under  a  tower  which  is  carriel 
up  to  a  height  of  100  feet  or  thereabouts.  The 
Assembly  Room  entrance  is  in  New  Strwl^ 
between  the  older  iK)rtion  of  the  building  and 
the  recent  addition.  Tlie  cost  of  erecting  the 
building  (exclusive  of  the  enlargement,  amouuted 
to  £19,300;  the  architect  was  Mr.  Edward 
Holmes,  and  Messrs.  Branson  and  Murray  were 
the  builders. 

On  the  5th  of  April,  1864,  the  Town  Council 
of  Birmingham  resolved  to  invite  Geneial 
Garibaldi  to  visit  the  town,  he  having  arrived  in 
London  two  days  previously.  On  the  8th  of  tLat 
month  a  laconic  message  was  received  by  the 
Mayor,  conveying  the  invit^ition  that  "  GaribaliU 
accepts  the  invitation."  A  n?ception  er.mniittee 
was  funned,  to  co-operate  with  the  General 
Purposes  Committee  of  the  Council,  and  a  snV 
scription  was  raised  for  tlie  purposes  of  the 
reception ;  but  unfortunately  the  promised  visit 
was  never  paid  owing  to  the  unexpect<.Hi  return  of 
the  Italian  jiatriot  to  Caprera,  on  the  22nd  of  the 
same  month ;  and  the  subscriptions  were  handed 
over  to  the  fund  for  the  assistance  of  his  efforts 
on  behalf  of  Italy. 

The  23rd  of  April,  1864,  marked  the 
tercentenary  of  the  birth  of  England's  great 
dramatist,  and  at  Stratford -on -Avon  preparations 
were  made  for  a  great  festival  in  his  honour,  in 
which  many  of  the  leading  men  of  Birmingham 
took  part  Eepresentations  were  given  of 
Shakesi>care^8  finest  dramas,  by  the  most  eminent 
living  exponents  of  the  histrionic  art ;  sermons 
were  preached,  (one  entitled  ''  Genins  the  gift  of 
God,  by  the  Rev.  R.  W.  Dale,  M.A.,  the  pastor 


utD^luun  Life  Bo&t4i.J 


OLD   AND   2(KW   BlUMI^^GHAM. 


567 


f  <if  Can^«  Lane) ;  coHcerta  weto  given,  and  every 
form  of  artistic  enjoyment  helped  to  pass  the 
pikasant  days  by  the  side  of  the  **  soft  tlowing 
Avon." 

In  Birmingham,  however,  a  more  enduring 
farm  of  commemorating  the  th^ee'huTld^?dth 
natal  day  of  the  great  dnmiatist  was  resolved 
ufimi,  in  the  formation  of  the  Shakespeare 
Memorial  Library^  which  we  have  already  noticed 
ill  a  former  chapter.  A  soiree  was  lield  in  con- 
nection with  **  Our  Shakespeare  Club,"  at  the 
jiyal  Hotel ;    nt  which  tlie  fir^t  of  that  lonp 


the  presence  of  a  large  concourae  of  spectatora. 
The  Mayor  (Mr.  H.  Wiggin)  presented  the  boat 
to  Captain  Robinson,  who  represented  the  National 
Lifeboat  Institution,  and  it  was  stationed  at 
Sutton,  on  the  Lincolnshire  coast, 

A  second  lifeboat  was  purchased  during  the 
year  1865,  and  named  the  James  Fearce  (after 
t!ie  originator  of  the  movement).  It  was  stationed 
at  Caistor,  on  the  Norfolk  coast,  and  was  launched 
at  Yarmouth  on  the  25th  of  October  in  that  year. 
Its  crew  were  enabled  to  render  active  service  on 
its  ver\*  first   trip»  namely,  from  Yarmouth  to 


^1 


Mmm...  ir 


gt  KI.N  is    COLLEGE,     I'AJlAi>ISK    S]  [IKET, 


aeries  of  annual  speeches  on  Shakespeare,  was 
delivered  by  the  late  Mr.  George  Dawson^  M.A., 

on  whom,  as  president  of  the  club,  devolved 

^e  honour  of  proposing  the  principal  toast  every 

year,   untD   his  death,    in    1876.      A   selectinn 

from  these  speeches  has  recently  been  published 

by  Mr.  C.   C.  CattelL 

On  the  a  1st  of  December,  1863,  the  pre- 
liminary meeting  was  held  in  connection  with  a 
pmiseworthy  movement  for  the  purchase  of  a 
lifeboat  by  the  working  men  of  Birmingham. 
The  movement  was  so  far  auccessful  that  in  Uie 
following  Kovember^  1864,  **The  Birmingham 
Lifeboat^  No.  1"  was  launched  on  Ko!ir»  r«>o].  in 


Caiator,  by  rescuing  a  vessel  off  the  Crosby 
Sands  J  and  both  the  Birmingham  boats  have  since 
**  seen  service."  It  would  be  an  act  of  injustica 
not  to  mention  the  names  of  Dr.  Langford,  Mr. 
Fulford,  and  Mr.  R.  Foreahew  in  connection 
with  this  humane  underhiking.  The  first-named 
gen  tits  man,  in  the  absence  of  the  Mayor,  presented 
the  Javiem  Pearcf.^  on  behalf  of  the  subscribers, 
to  the  Royal  Institution  at  Yarmouth. 

Our  notices  of  the  Birmingham  Banks  will 
come  in  a  future  chapter,  but  we  must  not  omit, 
in  this  chronicle  of  passing  events,  some  referenca 
to  the  commercial  panic  in  1865,  consequent  on 
tbfi  suspension  of  i^^uvfcw\  \i^  VW  ^^-^tJ^y&i«^<^^^e^l 


OLD  AM)  ^'KW  niRMixnuA^^r. 


{Tif^DMrtil  eiM1«tt«.1MI 


bank  of  Attwood,  Spooner,  MarfihaU^  and  Co*, 
on  the  1 0th  of  March,  an  event  which,  says  Df, 
Langford,  astonished  **  almost  all  people,  not 
only  in  the  town,  but  in  the  country  at  large.*' 
The  liabilities  amounted  to  about  one  million 
pounds,  £700,000  in  deposit  acconnta,  and 
X 3 00, 000  customers'  balances ;  and  the  state- 
ment of  accounts  showed  a  deficiency  of  about 
X3 40,000.  The  business  of  the  bank  was  subse- 
quently taken  oveT  by  the  Joint-Stock  Banking 
Company,  on  payment  by  them  of  a  dividend  of 
1  Is.  3d.  in  the  pound  for  the  assets  and  property* 

Just  one  week  after  the  old-established  bank 
in  New  Street  had  closed  its  doors — un  the  17th 
of  the  same  month— the  Penny  Bank,  in  which 
were  deposited  the  hard-earned  savings  of  most 
of  the  more  provident  among  the  working  classes, 
suspended  payment,  its  accounts  shelving  a 
deficiency  of  nearly  eight  thousand  pounds^  out  of 
between  nine  and  ten  thousand  pounds  habilities, 
A  meeting  was  called  by  the  Mayor  (Mr.  H. 
Wiggin),  in  the  Committee  Room  of  the  Town 
Hall,  on  the  28th  of  April,  to  consider  a  proposal 
for  the  relief  of  depositors  of  sums  under  £3, 
but  this  was  negatived  by  a  proposal  appointing 
a  committee  tc  investigate  the  affairs  of  the  bank. 
The  committee  subsequently  reported  that  the 
realisation  of  the  assets  had  produced  about 
X2,000,  or  a  dividend  of  five  shillings  in  the 
pound.  A  subscription  list  was  opened  for  the 
payment  of  the  depositors  in  full,  but  succeeded 
only  in  enabling  the  committee  to  pay  a  dividend 
of  lis.  3d.  in  the  pound.  One  of  the  contribatois 
to  the  fund  was  the  late  Mr.  William  Scliolefiekl, 
M.P.,  who  had  been  in  its  more  prosperous  days 
president  of  the  bank.  On  hearing  of  the  efforts 
of  the  committee  to  pay  the  depoBilors  in  full,  he 
generously  forwarded  a  chc(|Ue  for  £100  on  behalf 
of  the  movement 

During  this  year  the  late  Mr,  Elilm  Eurritt, 
*'  the  learned  blacksmith/*  \vm  appointed  Consul 
in  liirminghara  for  the  United  States.  In  the 
fulfilment  of  hU  couFular  duties  ho  was  required 
4o  furui>h,  with  his  re|>ort3  of  the  trade  of  the 


district  with  the  United  Stalrt,  fc»iiie  m&m 
the  industrial  character  and  natund  ifsomm 
the  district,  and  to  thii*  circumstanco  we 
pleasant  and  interesting  volumei,  entitled 
in  the  Black  Count rt/  and  ifs  Grten  BcrMad, 
about  one-third  of  which  is  doiroted  to  ■  dcKiiplai 
of  BiiTuingham. 

The  British  Association  paid  its  third  VMtt 
Birmingham  during  this  year,  and,  as  on  the 
previous  occasions,  an  exhibition  of  \ht 
industrial  productions  was  oi^ganisetl,  wherttn 
members  of  the  association  might  iwile  thv  ani 
pirjvement  whicii  had  taken  \\nce  in  the 
factures  of  the  town  since  their  visit  in  IMl 
The  Working  Men's  Industriiil  Exhiliiti»)a  ^ 
first  projected  at  a  meeting  held  on  the  Hih 
Octi:>bcrj  1864,  and  after  irreat  |>i  \1 

exliibition  was  opened  in   BinglL;  ,    vugw 

28th,  1865.  Tlie  Rev.  I>r,  MiU^  (Pi«id«iit 
offm-ed  u]j  prayer,  aft*!r  which  I  he  Vnut  04< 
'WTittt^n  by  Mr.  Coombe  Davis,  and  set  to 
by  Mr.  T.  Anderttin,  Mus.  Bac*,  was  |»erfnmid 
and  the  inauguml  address  w^as  delivered  by 
late  Lortl  Lyttclt<^n. 

"  The  wclbknowo  Imll  in  which  the  exhibit  lot)  bM4,' 
iMiys  Xh^  lUvHtruUd  Lttndv/n  Kt^rs^    "is  iidmr 
for  the  paqrose  ;  butt  large  nsi  is  its  at^ea,  it 
the  sf>ace  requirt^d  by  the  number  of  pefsoo^  viiiu 
anxious  to  exhibit,      As  it  is^  the  cutiilogtic  sets 
thftt^there  rto  753  fxhibitorsj   and  the  room  rNioirvi 
4,900ft.  wall  or  himgmg  space,  3, S 20ft.   floor  *i«< 
2,S30rt.  table  fiice.     ....     The  bftU  iimM 
apprcprintely  and  elrgimtly  deeomt£d«  «&  abui 
flower*  having  been  used.     Tlierc    urc  f#>stoon« 
variety  J  hnnnt'ix'ts  onmmvnted   in  gold  ami  «I 
and  va«es,  atatuar>%  etc.     This  tuetluxl  of 
been  employed  with  such  gCKKl  effbct  thiit  the  »Jj 
of  the  hall  want  all  that  could  be   dc8infd  fcii  wth 
exhiliitiou.     The  articles  (Uiipliijtitl  aw  of  n  Tery 
Iftncoua  character.     The  staples  of  the  local  in^tj 
course  tigiiRt  prominently ;  in  e^tnntping,  thu?^  Art 
two  wonderful  spL'cimena ;  of  QiecthmiiMn  thctt  \s  a 
variety  ;  of  iron  ninnuftLctures,  fhmitwrv 
loundry,  jewellery, papier-muche  wiirca,c.i 
there  is  a  good  dispky.     Th<jre  are  nuTi 
which  much  of  skill  and  cJevcr  workmnn 
one  oflhew  representwathun-'h  which  isaiud  to  ijcc 
of  more  thiin  4,000  »upunite  [MercH  of  wood.     Thi 
tioHF  from  feminine  hngtrs  are  nuineroua  and  variiii 

^Publltlicd  hf  SifUiiMMn  homt  Vim, 


rifa 


IBdl.] 


OLD   AND  NEW   BIRMINGHAM. 


66^ 


llhoujih  cif  has  worth,  but  hot,  pi-rbaps,  the  Icnst  curioua 
|fraturv  of  th(?  cxhibitioUp  it,  n  i|U»Dtity  o(  "originnl 
Mtrjr/'  8011 1  ill  to  coinp«4(?  Fur  lhi«  jirizfs  <«!♦?,  to  \*e  set  to 
tiusic  nftd  fHfrformt'd  At  this  iiiftiigurfition  ;  *'  o  pliy,"  and 
Dtnfl  eompoidtians  in  mii«ic.  This  cxhihitioii  i»  in  every 
njipct  moijl  iTiHlitEible,  am?,  like  ii.lt  othcii*  of  itn  kiijd, 
leontiiin^  much  that  is  instructive  ns  well  us  utwifuh*' 

The  Prizes  wt>rfi  tlialributtul  l»y  Ixml  Leigh  at  a 

^tea  meetin^f  which  was  heM  in  the  Town  Hall, 

)r*c*nuber  19th,    prissided   iiver  hv  tho  Huv,  Dr. 

iMillor.     ThiittHJii  sUv*^r  and  seventy-two  broiutj 

^inrtdalR   were   awarded  ;   also   1 1 B   certificates  of 

amt.     Of  the  sutplus  prt«litfi  (after  distrihutiiig 

"^200  guinr^as  amount  17  members  of  the  Com- 

laitt^o,  50  ^niitjeas  to  Mr,   l\i?rkhcjtr,  ono  uf  the 

kbonomry  soperiiitendents,  and  sHxer  medals  to  29 

[others),    the   sum    of    £300   was    voted    to    the 

HospiL'U^t  leariujjf  X700  to  l»e  dispoRed  of  aftcr- 

["WUTtls,  which  was  done  in  the  following  year,  at 

a  mecstin^'  of  the  Coimnitt*5e,  held  on  the  14th  of 

Iklay.     The  Ijalrtuce  was  then  dbtribnted  as  ful- 

llows: — **Genend  Hospital,  £50;  Quceu's  liospitid, 

1X200,  as  a  mark  of  the  high  regard  of  the  Com- 

Ijnitlei^  for  Dr.  Lloyd,  ft-r  tlu^  services  reuden^d 

Ithc^Te  by  liiiu;   ChildK^irtj  Hospital,   £75,  as  a 

rk  of  esteem  for  the  services  i^mtlered  by  the 

iRew   Dr,    Millt'V    to   the    Coniinittec ;    Lying-in- 

|Hr»spital,  £25  ;  I5hiid  Apyhira,  £50;  Orthopaedic 

InstitntioTi^  £50;  Fenny  Bank  Eclief  Fund,  n^ 

!irk  of  esteem  for  Mr.  Tliomas  Lloyd,  £100; 

.he  Saitatorinm,  £50."^ 

On  the  Ist  of  Axigujst,  186.5,  the  foundation 

Btone    of    Cnrzon    Hall    was    laid    by   Viscount 

'Cur/^m,  M.P,,  and  the  Imilding  was  enfficiently 

advanced  by  December  following  to  allow  of  the 

annual    Dog    Show  being  held    therein. 

!••  Althougli,"  says  Klihu  Burritt,  "  a  cinms  occa- 

Peifinally  performs   within    its  waUs,  it   is  really 

L  dcvotetl  to  the  greatest  provincial  parliament  of 

|dQg9  ia  great  Britain.    Hundreds  of  every  lina^ge, 

name,  sl«e,  etripe,  and   language,   are   hoie 

ijddetl    about    Clmwtniu^    time,   and   diBcii*8 

inestione  of  canine  and  socifd  economy  with  a 

fgrnvity  anil  earnc^tnc^g  which  few  human  conven- 

Itions   frequently  imitate.      Great  lion-fac<?d   St. 

^Dr.  LttUf  rnrd«  Mtidsrn  BirvUn^kism,  iK  235, 


Bemorders  and  little  Scotch  U^rn'eru,  with  their 
spitefiU  oyea  peering  thri:>ug]i  moppy  meshes  of 
hair,  take  part  in  these  animated  debates.  It  is 
one  of  the  most  interesting  re-unions  in  the 
tinimal  world  that  an  amateur  of  it  can  witness/ '* 

The  hall  is  103  feet  long  antl  91  wide,  and  ia 
inxjvided  with  a  large  stage,  sjMaciidly  suitjible  for 
panoramas,  and  is  used  for  that  jiurjMjse  during 
every  winter  season  by  Mei^ars.  Hamilton  ;  it  is 
also  occasionally  used  as  above  stated,  for  circua 
perfoniiances. 

On  the  14th  of  July,  1866,  another  commercial 
panic  was  felt  throughout  the  district  in  conse- 
quence of  the  8tt>ppage  of  the  Birmingham  Bank-  ^ 
ing  Company,  "  owing,^'  as  the  advertisement 
statetl,  **  to  gross  past  mismanagement  recently 
discovered.*'  The  statement  prepared  by  the 
official  li<[uidator  showed  asset^f  tt)  the  amount  of 
two  millions,  and  liabilities,  £1,800,000.  A  new 
joint^tock  banking  company  was  subsequently 
formed,  and  the  bank  opened  under  the  title  of 
The  Birmingham  Banking  Company,  Limited. 

On  the  16th  and  17  th  of  July,  1867,  occurred 
the  last  of  that  long  series  of  riots  which  have 
rendered  the  town  of  Birmingbaax  somewhat 
infamous  in  that  respect,  It  originated  in  the 
weakness  of  the  chief  magistrate  of  the  town  in 
refusing  to  grant  the  use  of  the  Town  Hall  for 
the  purpose  of  a  series  of  anti-papal  lecturca  by 
the  htte  Mr.  William  Murphy,  and  thus  tadtlj 
giving  the  rough  element  in  the  town  to  under- 
stand that  Mr.  Murphy  was  not  to  be  protected 
from  any  attacks  which  might  be  made  upon 
him  by  such  of  the  said  roughs  as  might  feel 
themselves  aggrieved  by  the — ^  certainly  intem- 
pierate — language  of  the  lecturer.  But  whatever 
might  be  the  character  of  Mr,  Murphy's  lecturea^ 
he  should  midoubtedly  have  received  the  same 
protection  as  would  be  accorded — and  rightly 
accon.led— to  the  political  orator,  however  intem- 
perate his  language  might  be;  and  it  ia  to  be 
regretted  that  a  stronger  and  a  wiser  course  waa 
not  pursued, — Uie  use  of  the  hall  gmnted,  and 


*iralk»  i»  Ukt  Btu>!k  Country,  v-  Ut 


Th«  WkU  fitatnc] 


OLD  ANB  NEW  BIRMINGHAM, 


671 


lowest  lougbg,  delighted  at  the  opportunity  of  a 
•'row,"  and  probably  not  oii-ing  two  strawa  for 
^ther  caus^,  took  possession  of  Park  Street, 
•tripped  many  of  tlie  houses  of  their  contents, 
tore  off  the  tiles  from  the  roofs  of  most  of  the 
buildings  in  the  street,  and  there  ensued  such  a 
scene  of  destruction  m  had  not  been  equalled 
since  the  Chartist  riots  of  1839.  The  semcea  of 
the  military  and  police  were  speedily  brought 
into  requi^tion,  and  by  nightfall  the  riot  was 
<lQeUed  and  peace  restored.  The  lecturer  con- 
tinued his  harangues  for  some  days  after  the 
disturbance,  but  no  further  breach  of  the  peace 
«nsu«d.  He  was  subsequently  attacked,  however, 
while  lecturing  in  Whitehaven,  and  died  in  Bir- 
mingham from  the  injuries  thus  received,  March 
12,  1872. 

On  the  1st  of  July  1868,  the  veteran  reformer, 
Mr.  George  Edmonds  died  at  Northampton,  in 
the  80th  year  of  his  age,  having  been  bom  in 
Birmingham  in  1788,  The  principal  incidents 
in  Ids  public  life  have  already  been  told,  in  the 
aeveral  chapteis  of  our  political  history.  In  1 838, 
as  we  have  previously  staled,  ho  was  appointed 
Clerk  of  the  Peace  immcdiattdy  upon  the  establish- 
ment of  Quarter  Sessions,  and  from  that  time  he 
took  but  a  small  part  in  politi(»al  movenicnta  His 
last  public  ai>pearance  was  at  the  gi-eat  Reform 
met'img  in  t!je  Town  Hall,  which  followed  the 
Brookfields  Demonstration  of  the  same  afternoon, 
August  28th,  1866,  and  on  that  occasion,  '*  after 
recalling  some  of  the  political  events  of  the  past 
with  earnest  and  pathetic  fervour,  he  took  his 
leave  of  them  *  for  ever/  "  * 

In  1868,  Birmingham  did  honour  to  the  mt>iuory 
of  James  Watt,  and  at  the  same  time  made  a 
noble  addition  to  the  art  treasures  of  our  town, 
by  the  erection  of  a  beautiful  statue,  by  the  late 
Alexander  Munro,  to  the  memory  of  the  great 
inventor.  The  statue  was  mi  veiled  on  the  2nd 
ot  October,  1868,  during  the  Social  Science  Con- 
gress, which  was  held  in  Birmingham  in  that 


I : 


tdwgfbrd. 


year  Tlie  Daily  Pod,  in  describing  tills  beau- 
tiful work,  said :  "It  would  be  difficult  to 
conceive  an  attitude  more  thoroughly  expressive 
uf  a  work  acrompli^hed.  The  sigiiilicant  grasp  of 
the  fu«:t  by  the  left  hand,  and  the  almost  dreamy 
way  ill  which  thn  other  haud  hokk  the  conipassea 
witli  their  points  upturned,  tell  the  whole  story 
of  the  man's  life  even  to  the  careless  spectator ; 
for,  useless  as  the  compasses  are  now,  and,  though 
still  held,  no  longer  active,  the  man  rests  secure 
in  the  knowledge  of  the  greatness  of  his  great 
invention.  Of  vulgar  triumph  there  is  none  ex- 
pressed alwut  the  moutli,  or  iu  the  eyes,  nor  in 
the  richly -furrowed  forehead,  broad  and  high; 
but  there  is  an  almost  tender  sadness.  The  statue 
is  a  pi>eni — a  great  and  noblo  work,  which  makesJ 
lis  glad  when  we  think  that  we  have  such  artiste 
among  us  and  of  us ;  for  the  whole  Life  is  there, 
the  innate  genius,  the  long  struggle,  the  many 
failures,  the  perfect  %'ictory,  and  the  triumph, 
one,  indeed,  imsoiled  by  any  ignoble  thought,  and 
into  which  entered  no  taint  of  earthly  sellishnesa.J 
The  sculptor  has  seen  the  whole  cif  Wattes  life 
clearly,  and  he  has  made  it  plain  to  us  also." 

In  1868,  a  statue  was  subscribed  for  by  the 
inhabitants,  to  the  memofy  of  the  originator  of 
the  penny  postage.  Sir  Rowland  Hill,  KX.B. 
It  was  temporarily  located,  when  completed,  in 
the  Exchange  Eoom,  until  the  erection  of  th« 
new  Post  Office,  and  in  1873  it  was  removed  to 
its  present  position  in  the  Public  I\ooin  of  the  last 
named  building.  Sir  liowland  Hill  is  represented 
as  holding  a  roll  of  penny  postage  stamps,  and  on 
the  dwarf  pedestal  on  which  the  statue  rests  is  an 
alto-relievo  depicting  the  homely  scene  familiar  to 
all,  of  the  postman's  daily  work.  We  can  only 
expr<^s  regret  that  this  memorial  is  not  placed  in 
a  more  conspicuous  position  out  of  doors,  where 
it  might  be  seen  by  the  masses,  and  especially  by 
casfual  visitors,  who  probably  never  enter  the 
Post  Office, 

During  the  Session  of  1869-70,  the  Binningham 
and  Midland  Institute  had  for  its  president 
Charles  Dickens,  who  had  ever  taken  the  deepest 


199 


OLD  .4SD  SEW  BmaSGHAlL 


E  1m«  iiriiiiii      to   tlifr 
ret  All  db J,  ni  sOmb  tha  b 

Bui  in  tiHiMlon^  JmuMij  (1^70), 
r»ted  ll» 

,  kcxidUMd  the  viof  tiie 

pi  Caibm ; — 

1 1  m  kM  iMt  Mito^  I  Md%  iB 

,  «r  aj  pditiea  ft^H-ar  p4to9B  I 
r«jr;«wt«f  fnlk.     It  tofw 

I  in  tto  f«opls  n^  f»w«m  m    pIsML  to 
!  will  to  villi  a  flnall '  p(,*— boi  tb«l 
in  tto  Ftopfe  vliaa  ttoy 
1 1»  otom«»  *T*9flt  *  dim  with  a  large  *P.* 

TUi  wii  Chttlai  IHAmDdm  brt 
fan  RrwitiiJiMB,  In  tht  foDowing  JqMi  we 
in  BJimlnghjuPy  tn  eoomioQ  with  Engjf"^  tfiralrfiif 
p0O|ile  tlimiglioitt  the  irhnle  wcniii,  noosned  Ihe 
1m  of  tU  gBBkl  kiimmiil  wbcMtt  dstli  hftd 
'^  «eB]»od  th*  gik^  of  natioiu,  ind  iapofmrfied 
tbo  prablie  ttock  of  hAnnlon  j^lfftanTft:^ 

The  Umiimmkl  pnaaenied  to  Mr.  Dsirkons  b^ 
Ilia  HitmiiighAm  fde&dii  in  185$  wjia  twrct  iot- 
l^otton  hy  him,  and  wbc^  he  aai  to  Mr.  W*  R 
Vfftb  Cor  hii  porttmity  he  ramJe  the  Bimuiighaiii 
itkaabuiimd  addnw  ffirm  «  portion  of  the  pidxire, 
whtroiifiof]  a  Ioc»l  artiat,  Mr.  Walker,  who  "  ooold 


aunt  had  tiQctUed 


Mn 

:— 'I  Iwr0    gF«il 

yn  thftt  tte  fEUBsd  addma 

^  ii  tki  addyag  pivcratad  t» 

Maadai,  Aod  to  wfaifih  ftm 

ift  flij  eibaw,  in  thai  mm 

i  it.  nd,  pieane  Ckid,  it 

lo^g  M  I  Ihre  and 

In  1€7I,  aaiact  of  lardy  jiHtioa  wsa  pisfoTBied 
hy  diB  oBc^on  of  •  rtalne  to  the  Bmnory  of  Dl 
ftkatkr,  on  tha  aceMira  oi  th«  ccDlcnnij  ol  hia 
«iff  osy^n.  Thn  stotoe  mm 
md  fgawtrf  to  tba  Major  md  Co^ 
on  hahnlf  of  tha  sobiccibea,  tf 
Hnxkf ,  who  nflcrwmrda  daUvevad  m 
«  the  I'tf  «  and  wotk  of  Dt.  Ptieatiay^  in 
Iha  Town  HaQ,  on  the  lit  of  Axigm^  ISTi. 
The  itolnev  whiA  ia  in  whtto  ovhla^  was  tha 
wnk  of  Mr.  Alex.  W.  WSliamacm,  and  t^prcaenila 
Ih.  Priaatlay  at  th«  moanant  of  his  expeii&ieai 
which  lid  to  the  dJaooToj  of  ^yxygm ;  he  m 
holding  a  lena  in  hia  r^t  hmi^  dinciing  the  my% 
toto  a  aBiiU  Teawl  fQfipoaad  to  omtain  meccsiy, 
whi^  loto  on  a  ample  jet  beaiatiftd  nsti^ 
pednetai  loiwied  of  thne  unhewn  etoiie%  atoisnd 
which  a  oeepaag  plant  haa  entwined  itaell 
Iheze  ia  no  attenpl  to  ^let  or  tooe  down  the 
ccetmne  of  the  period^  hj  the  iDtix>datitianof  a 
doak  or  other  mora  giaeefal  ioh%  jet  the 
afipeazance  of  the  wock  ta  full  of  aimple  giaea 
and  dif^tj,  well  wodhj  of  the  man  wheat 
ontwaid  a|)peaimaai  it  ao  Cailhfqll j  pieaerrea  for 
the  benefit  of  Intiije  genentiooa  of  Birminghain 
men  and  woaaen.  Th»  noble  aUloe  ia  an 
instalmeiit  of  that  reparation  whixsh  the  town 
owea  to  the  mamorj  of  one  of  her  wocthioat^  fit 
moet  ill-need,  dlmoeL 

In  NoTiBmber*  187$»  an  altjtmpi  wae  made  hy 
the  Town  Cotmcil  to  aduni  s-imi:  nf  the  pohBr 


I 


• 


I  The  OroAt  WtftUfB  Arcade.] 


OLD  AND  KEW  BIEMINGHAM, 


573 


thoroTiglifares,  by  planting  trees  therein.  The 
first  of  these  were  iilanted  in  Stephenson  Plaee, 
November  26th;  others  were  pknted  in  Broad 
Btroet,  horn  the  Church  of  the  Messiah  to  the 
Five  Wttys,  in  BrisUd  Street,  Camp  Hill,  and 
other  thoroughfares.  Nechells  Park  Road  waa 
alfio  plants  with  trees  during  the  autunm  of  the 
8ame  year,  at  the  expense  of  Mr.  A,  Winkler 
WiUs,  Other  atU^mpts  at  beautifying  the  streets 
were  made,  with  perhapa  greater  success,  by  the 
Town  Council,  by  laying  out  small  gardens  and 
thrubberica  in  the  principal  open  8i>ace«,  as  in  little 
Hampton  Street,  Lower  Lawley  Street,  Smnnicr 
Hill  Terrace,  Nechells  Place,  and  elsewhere,  and 
by  planting  flowers,  in  boxes,  ai^mnd  some  of  the 
public  statues. 

In  1876  the  Royal  Agricultural  Society*8 
Annual  Show  was  held  at  Aston  Park,  from  the 
19th  to  the  24th  of  July,  and  was  visited  by 
163,463  persons,  a  number  which  had  been 
exceeded  on  one  occasion  only,  viz.,  at  the 
Manchester  Show  of  1869,  when  (partly  owing 
to  the  presence  of  H.RJL  the  Prince  of  Wales  at 
the  Show),  200,000  persons  visited  it  Including 
about  £500  paid  for  season  tickets,  the  receipts 
amounted  to  nearly  XI  3,000  at  the  Birmingham 
Show,  which  was,  therefoT©,  one  of  the  most 
fiuceessful  in  the  annals  of  the  Society.  Among 
the  Tisitois  to  the  Show  waa  the  late  Prince 
Imperial 

Diiring  the  same  year  an  important  addition 
was  made  to  the  **  lions  "  of  Birmingham  by  the 
erection  of  the  Great  Western  Arcade,  over  the 
tunnel  of  the  Great  Western  Railway,  from 
Monmouth  Street  to  Temple  I^w.  A  company 
was  formed  in  July  1875  to  erect  the  Arcade, 
from  plans  and  designs  by  Mr.  W.  H.  Ward,  and 
the  contract  for  the  erection  of  the  building  was 
taken  by  Mr.  Henry  Lovett,  of  Wolverhamptom 
The  Arcade  waa  lighted  up,  for  the  first  time,  on 
the  19th  of  September,  1876,  in  the  presence  of 
the  Mayor,  (Alderman  liakcr),  and  other  gentle* 
men.  There  are  forty  two  shops  on  the  ground- 
floor  and  a  like  numbttr  ou  tlie  balcony,  thej|latter 


being  used  chiefly  as  offices,  and  nearly  every 
artistic  trade  is  represented  therein.  The  shop 
fronts  are  in  ebony  and  gold,  aa  are  also  the 
railings  of  the  balcony,  and  other  fittings,  and 
the  roof  is  of  etched  glass,  with  a  dome  in 
the  centre  of  the  building,  75  feet  in  height  from 
the  floor  ;  the  wood-work  of  the  roof  as  v  ell  as  of 
the  interior  of  the  dome  is  richly  decorated. 
The  Arcade  is  400  feet  long,  and  commodiously 
wide,  and  is  40  feet  in  height,  to  the  centre  of 
the  arched  roof. 

The  galleries  are  illuminated  by  forty-four  four- 
light  candelabra,  and  thf^  lower  part  of  the 
building  is  lighted  by  the  same  number  of  throe- 
light  pendants,  wliile  from  the  centre  of  the  dome 
is  suspuuded  a  colossal  chandelier,  14-ft.  high  and 
8-ft.  in  diameter,  comprising  two  tiers  of  lights, — 
eighteen  in  the  upper,  and  twenty- four  in  the 
lower  tier.  The  Arcade  is  thus  lighted  by  350 
lamps,  each  of  which  is  enclosed  within  opal 
globes,  shedding  a  mellow  light  on  the  building, 
and  when  the  whole  of  these  lights  are  lit  the 
effect  is  magnificent*  The  coat  of  the  entire 
building   amounted   to   nearly  £70,000. 

On  the  30tli  of  November,  1876,  Birmingham 
mourned  the  lo^a  of  one  of  her  noblest  sons,  who 
was  cut  down  suddenly  and  mysterionsly  in  the 
prime  of  life,  after  only  a  few  hours'  illness, — 
tlie  able  and  eloquent  preacher  and  lecturer,  and 
the  public  spirited  citizen,  George  Dawson. 
The  record  of  bis  work  in  our  midst  belongs  to  j 
other  sections  of  our  narrative,  but  we  may 
properly  record  in  this  place  the  fact  thatj 
itumediately  after  his  death,  a  memorial  waf] 
reiiolved  upon  by  bis  fellow  townsmen,  and  a] 
statue  was  subscribed  for,  which  has  been 
entrusted  to  Mr.  Woolner,  It  is  now  finished 
aod  '*  has  been  pronounced  by  competent  judges 
to  be  a  most  successful  work,"^  ami  wo  can  only 
echo  the  hope  expressed  by  Dr.  Langford,  **  that 
there  will  be  no  unnecessary  delay  in  completing 
the  work,  and  that  the  present  genrsration  will 
have  the  pleasure  of  seeing  the  unveiling  of  the 


statue  of  the  man  tbey  so  highly  esteemed  and  ao 
deeply  loved."* 

We  have  yet  another  memorial  to  record 
During  the  year  1877,  it  was  suj^ested  that  a 
Btatue  or  other  suitable  monument  should  be 
erected  to  commemorate  the  invaluable  services 
rendered  to  the  town  by  Mr,  Joseph  Chamberlain, 
M.P.,  in  the  negociations  for  the  purchase  of  the 
great  properties  of  the  Gas  and  Waterworks 
Companies,  and  in  originating  the  Improvement 
Scheme  elsewhere  referred  to.  After  some  delay 
a  memorial  fountain,  bearing  a  medaUiun  portrait 
of  Mr,  Chamberlain,  was  decided  upon,  and  is 
now  in  course  of  erection  on  the  open  space  at 
the  back  of  the  Town  HalJ,  and  will  shortly  be 
com  pie  led. 

On  tht3  evening  of  August  26th,  1878,  a  fire 
broke  out  on  the  premises  of  Mn  William  Donni- 
son,  a  confectioner  in  Digbeth,  whereby  four 
persons  lost  their  lives.  The  alarm  of  fire  was 
given  immediutAjly  after  the  inmates  had  retii'od 
to  rest  Some  time  elapsed  before  the  lire-escape 
arrived  on  the  spot,  and  when  it  did  arrive  it  was 


*  L4]toiroiu» :  llimdbook,  \k  tOS. 


found  too  short  to   be   of   much   service.     Mi. 
Dennison    Iiimself     escaped,     however,    by 
assistance^  and  an  attenipt  was  made  to  resene 
infant  three  moutlis  ohl,  but  it  fell  to  the 
in  the  cf>nfusion^  and  shai>[»d  the  fate  of  the 
wife,  who  was  only  nineti^en  years  of  ag^ 
sister,  anil  a  servant  girl 

The  alleged  mismanagement  of  the  Fire  Bri| 
and  the  police  came  in  for  a  large  shar^  of  blasiff 
in  reference  to  thiK  melancholy   oceumeuoe, 
attempts  were  made  to  obtain  political  mpitid 
of  the  shortcomings  of  this  departxniant  »f  thi 
Corporation  work  ;  but  tJxo  ratepayers  were  not 
induced,  on  aceount  of  a  single  mistake^  to  loil 
confidence  in  the  men  who  had  done  so  much 
the  improvement  of  the  town,  and  had  eh 
the  t*:ino  and  character  of  its  local  govemmeint 

The  principal  events  in  the  puUic  life  of 
Birmingham  during  the  last  thirty-eight  yean 
have  now  been  briefly  recoi-ded  ;  and  we  hive 
onl}'  to  record^  in  the  few  remaining  chapteta,  tlis 
work  done,  and  the  progress  made  in  gpedil 
departments,  by  the  religious,  literary  and 
scientific,  musical,  and  philanthropic  institotii 
of  the  town. 


m 

ihi 

.  not 

VitX 


CHAPTEK      IV. 

THE    CHURCHES    AND    SECTS    OF    BIRMINGHAM;     1841-^1879. 

BStrnwUun  of  St.  Martin'B-HL  PlillVs-Thw  prvpoaed  *•  Ten  new  Clmrches"— Miss  Rylaad'*  Dotutiou— Tb^  Vv-  ..♦»-.......;.  -• 

81   Alban's— Uier  €linri:h  Work  lu  Bimilngham— Tlie  Dnltarlaat— Hie   New  Mocttii^— Tlie  BaptJ«tji 

Ylnco — Arthur  MnriicH— IndepenitunU—- Jubij  Aiigtill  Jame^—R.  W.  Dale  H.iU—R.  A.  ViinghAii— Spring  I) 

Roniitn  Catholicji— Sweileubor^otu— CttthaLlo  ApottoUc  Chtirch^Boorg«  Dawnon  And  the  ChorrJi  of  the  ^Viwia^Ti«e  i 

Frietidtr— Otlirr  DenomLDUtion*. 


Wk  have  now  to  record  the  later  history  of  the 
religiouB  societies  of  the  town ;  to  notice  the 
growth  and  exlenision  of  the  various  denomi- 
nations, to  il escribe  the  numerous  churches 
erected  during  the  past  forty  years,  or  thereahuuts, 
and  to  mark  the  chuncjes  which  hiive  taken  place 
in  some  of  the  older  churches  whose  previous 
history  has  already  been  written. 

First^  then,  as  to  tlie  Mother  Church,  St.  Martin*s, 
At  the  data  at  which  tlie  old  church  i>assed  out 


of  our  narmtive,  matters  had  n^olied  tKe  i 
as  regards  the  ttpjtearance  of  the  htiiitiiug,     *•! 
a   long   lane,"   says   Mr.    Bunc<L\    '*  Uiat   has 
ending^    and    so,    whi^n   all  hml   boon  donr  1 
could   he   to  disfigure   Uie   poor  ChnrcJi, 
meinled,  and  a  necessarj'  restoration  w 
to  bring  l>tick^  as  nearly  as  might  he,  th    . 
of  the  original  mlifice.     This  n«t»jmtion  whs  } 
jectetl  in    1849»  in  oonsoquence  of  tii 
the  spire  M'as  unsafe*  an   im[iiH 


vrriirti  'U9 


576 


OLD  A>'D   XEW  BIKMINGHAM. 


[8L  Hutin't  GhMCh. 


Mquent  exLiminacioa  YeriiitML  A  subgcnpdoii  w:is 
coDsequentiy  bt^gun  for  the  ijeneral  wstonithm  of 
the  churciu  from  the  des^pi  of  Mr.  Philip  Hinl- 
wick,  at  the  estimated  ooet  of  JS  12,000.  Abt^at 
JS5,000  wen*  collected,  but,  througii  lack  of  public 
interet^t,  the  pri.^jecc  fell  thp-'UgL  In  1S53^  how- 
eTer,  it  became  necesisary  t*y  restore  the  tower  and 
spire,  by  re-casing  the  former  and  nsbuilding  the 
latter.  The  top  stone  of  the  old  spire  was  re- 
moTed  July  28th,  18o3,  and  the  top  stone  of  the 
new  spire  was  put  on  Norember  22nd,  1855,  on 
the  occasion  of  Prince  Albert*s  Tisit  to  Birming- 
ham,  to  lay  the  founilation  stone  of  the  Midland 
Institute."  * 

During  the  progress  of  the  work,  two  arched 
recesses  were  discovered,  at  the  bottom  of  the 
tower,  each  about  seven  feet  in  width,  with  sub- 
sidiary arched  traceries  of  a  very  beautiful 
character.  The  architect  conjectured  that  these 
were  the  resting-places  of  the  original  founders, 
and  on  carefully  examining  the  spi^t,  the  workmen 
having  removed  a  thick  crust  of  lime  which 
covered  the  tombs,  found  three  skeletons  in  one 
recess,  and  a  fourth  in  the  other,  in  gixxl  state  of 
preservation-  They  were  a^rain  dej^n^sitoil  in  their 
st4>ne  coflins  and  re-interred ;  and  the  nH.'esses 
were  appropriately  restored  in  acconlance  with  the 
period  of  their  date,  \iz.,  about  the  thirttH?nth 
centurj-. 

The  contrast  between  the  restoreil  tower  and 
spire  and  the  ugly  building  in  its  encashment  of 
brick,  forced  itself  home,  in  time,  upon  the  minds 
of  the  j.>arishi«mers,  and  in  1870,  they  detemiinovl 
up«»n  ff-building  the  fabric.  The  last  serm».-n  was 
preached  in  the  «.»ld  church  on  the  7th  of  Octol»er, 
1872,  by  the  f..»rmer  rector,  the  Eev.  I>r.  Miller, 
and  in  a  short  time  nothing  Wiis  loft  standing 
exc*.-pt  the  idn.-ady  restonxl  tower  and  spire.  The 
new  building  was  completed  in  1875,  and  Wiis 
oni-ecrate'l  July  20th,  the  total  cost,  including 
the  ren-dos,  U-ing  ab<:)ut  £32,000.  It  was  re-built 
from  tlie  designs  of  Mr.  J.  A.  Chat  win,  in  the 
Gothic  f»tyle  of  the  early  decorated  period.     The 

*  History  of  old  St.  lUrttn't. 


tower  opens  to  the  north  aisle    by  lofty  aidMB, 
remains  of  the  old  edifice  ;  the  nave  is  lighted  lij 
a  well-proportioned  clerestory,  from  which  springi 
a  beautiful  open  timbered  roof,  a  copy  to  a  certiin 
.  extent  of  that  of  Westminster  HalL      At  the 
entrance   to   the  chancel   is   a    lofty    and  weD- 
I  proportioned  arch,  rising  almost  to  the  full  heii^ 
of  the  building,  60  feet     The  large  east  window 
was  the  gift  of  Messrsw  Hardman  and  Mr.  Ridddl, 
and  is  an  admirable  example  of  the  artistic  woik 
of  the  former;  in  the  centre  is  a  representation  of 
'  the  Crucihxion,  and  above  and  below  are  depicted 
the  principal  circumstances  in  the  Parables  of  the 
'■  Prodigal  S^n,  the  Good  Samaritan,  etc.     Below 
the  window  is  a  beautiful  marble  reredoe,  contain- 
I   ing  in  the  centre  compartment,  a  representation  ol 
the  Holy  Supper,  and  on  either  side,  statues  of 
I  the  Evangelists.     The  south  transept  contains  a 
'  very  fine  memorial  window,  (presented  by  Mr.  T. 
I   Ryland^in  memory  of  his  wife),  designed  by  Ml 
!   William   Morris^  the  poet,  containing  representi 
;  tions  of  the  typical  forerunners   of  Christ;  and 
.  exactly  opposite,  in  the  north  transept,  is  another 
■  in  memory  of  the  late  Mr.  John  Gough,  church- 
wanlen,    representing   the     Prophets,    with   Onr 
Lord  in  the  cH?ntre  as  the  great  theme  of  prophetic 
utterances.       The  great  west  window  is  also  filled 
with  stained  gLiss,  the  subject  illustrated  being 
the  Last   Judgment,  as  described  in  St.  Matthew, 
XXV.,    31.       The    old   east    window,   by   Messrs. 
Chance,  executed  in  1851,  is  now   placed  in   the 
organ  vestry  overkK>king  the  old  altar-tombs  of 
I  the    Bemiingham    family.       The   length   of    the 
church  from  oast    to  west  (interior)  measures  155 
:  feet  ;    the  width  (at,  and  including  the  transepts) 
104  fi-et,  but  elsewhere,   (including  the  north  and 
south  aisles^  67  feet 
.       As  much   of  the  original  building  as  could  K* 
.  preserved  is  included  in  the'restored  Church  ;  the 
I  choir  stalls  are  made  from  the  old  timbers,  j^vrlions 
of  the  old  stonework  iire  let  into  the  walls,  and.  as 
a  matter  of  course,  all  the  old  monuments,  muial 
tablets,  etc.,  have  been  replaced  in  the  new  boild- 
ing.     We  can  only  add   our  feeble   tribute  of 


8t  PhiUv'iChmtsliJ 


OLD  AND  NEW  BERMINGHAM. 


577 


praiste  to  the  arfhitect,  whn  has  wiuseil  the  beauti- 
ful structure  described  in  our  first  chapter  to  live. 
anew  in  all  its  noble  grandeur,  and  ha«  produced 
ft  Church  "  which  wt;  may  show  with  pride  to 
strangers,  and  with  all  the  gre^iter  pride  because 
from  first  to  last — desi«p;ns,  buildings,  fittings,  and 

ichracnte,  it  ia  a  Birmingham  work." 

In  1864  the.  work  of  restoring  St.  Philip's 
Church  was  comnienced  by  the  re-building  of  the 
aouth-weet  portion,  at  the  charge  of  Mr.  Peter 
HoUiup,  as  a  memorial  of  hia  father.  The  con- 
trast between  the  newly-built  portion  and  the 
remainder  of  the  church,  (which,  on  account  of 
the  soft,  friable  nature  of  the  atone  originally 
meed,  prcsentetl  a  very  dilapidated  appearance), 
led  the  members  and  friend.^  to  proceed  with  the 
work  of  the  restoration,  and  in  1869  the  laat 
ion  of  the  Ixjily  of  the  chun-h  was  finishe*!, 

the  restoration  of  the  west  front.  The  tower 
however  still  remains  m  its  original  condition, 
and  suggests  to  the  caaual  visitor  the  curious 
problem  as  to  how  a  structure  so  much  older  in 
appearance  found  its  way  to  the  top  of  a  compara- 
threly  new-looking  ehurcli. 

In  the  pleasant  open  churchyard  are  several 
monuments  worthy  of  a  passing  notice.  Upon  a 
tombstone  near  the  south-west  comer  of  the 
church,  to  the  memory  of  one  James  Barker, 
who  died  January  22,  1781,  are  the  following 
curious  lines : — 

••  O  crtul  Dttdh  h&w  coiCd  jt<m  he.  ao  unkind : 
Am  to  Uke  him  itefore^  arid  Uave  me  behind  f 

Vent  ehouhi  haw  tuken  both  of  ua  if  either  ; 

irkitfi  wofi'd  have  been  more  pleasing  to  th^  survivor*" 

Near  to  the  footpath  behind  the  east  end  of  the 
church  is  a  stone  to  the  memory  of  Sarah  Basker- 
viile,  the  mfe  of  the  famous  printer;  at  the 
entrance  to  the  churchyard  from  Cherry  Street  is 
the  base  of  one  of  the  pillars  intended  originally  for 
the  To^vn  llall,  whitih  had  been  wrought  by  one  of 
Uie  two  men  who  were  killed  during  the  building 
of  the  hall  and  interred  near  the  spot  thus  ap- 
priately  marked ;  and  at  the  entrance  opposite 
Temple  Street  is  a  handsome  granite  obelisk  to 
the  memory  of  the  Birmingham  men  who  fell   in 


the  Crimean  War.  At  the  corner  of  the  church- 
yard, adjoining  the  rectory,  is  the  quaint  little 
building  erected  in  1792  for  the  accommodation 
of  the  Theological  Library,  bequeathed  by  the 
first  rector  (the  Rev.  William  niggs)^  for  the  use 
of  the  clergy  of  the  neighhourhood. 

We  referred  in  our  last  chapter  of  the  Church 
Hii^tory  of  Birmingham  to  the  Church  Budding 
Society,  and  the  propcjsed  erection  of  ten  new 
chxirches,  of  which  St.  MatthoVs  was  the  first 
The  second  of  these  was  St,  Mark'^,  which  is 
situated  in  King  Edward's  Road,  Summer  Hill, 
and  was  ei'ected  from  the  designs  of  the  late  Sir 
Ct,  Gilbert  Scott,  AJiA.,  in  tlie  early  English 
style.  It  cost  £3,100,  and  wm  eoneeciated  July 
29th,  1841. 

Tlie  third  of  the  churches  built  by  the  same 
organi>i{itii>n  wa^  St.  Luke'f*,  in  th*^  Bristol  Koad* 
It  is  in  the  Ncjrman  atyle  of  architectui^,  and  waa 
designed  by  the  late  Harvey  Egginton,  of  Wor- 
ce-ster.  There  is  a  fine  stained  window  by  Messnk 
C.  and  F.  Peml)erton.  The  cost  of  the  building 
amounted  to  £3,700,  and  it  was  consecrated  on 
the  28th  of  September,  1842. 

Tlie  fourth  of  tliis  series  was  St.  Stephen's,  in 
Xewtovvn  Row,  a  plain  structure  in  the  **  geome- 
tric Gothic"  style,  designed  by  the  late  E.  C. 
Carpenter,  and  erected  at  a  c^st  of  £3,000.  It 
was  consecrated  July  23id,  1844. 

The  fifth  ami  last  of  the  aeries  (for  it  was  found 
impracticable  to  comjdete  the  ten  churches  as  pro- 
posed), was  St.  Andrew's,  w*hich  was  erected  on 
the  waste  land  at  Borih3sley,  near  the  Coventry 
Road.  The  foundation  stone  was  laid  July  23rd, 
1844,  and  the  church  was  consecrated  on  tho 
30th  of  September,  1846.  There  is  a  J^eautiful 
three-light  window  at  the  east  end  of  the  aiale^ 
presented  by  the  architect,  Mr.  R,  Q  Carpenter. 
The  church  consbts  of  a  nave  and  chancel,  north 
aisle,  and  tower,  and  follows  the  style  of  Gothic 
architecttire  known  as  the  **  decorated.** 

The  next  district  in  which  new  chun-h  aecom- 
mmlation  was  provided  was  in  tho  heart  of  the 
town,  in  one  of  the  humblest  riistricts,  known  aa 


578 


OLD  AND  NEW  BIEMINGHAM 


[Modem  BtnnlnghAmCbontei. 


the  Inkleys.  A  new  church  was  erected,  in  1851, 
in  Tonk  Street,  and  is  in  truth  a  church  in  which 
"to  tlie  poor  the  Gospel  is  preached."  It  is  a 
plain  brick  building,  in  the  early  English  style, 
designed  by  Mr.  Orford,  and  consists  of  nave, 
aisle,  and  chancel.  It  was  consecrated  on  the 
26th  of  July,  1851,  and  cost  about  £6,000. 

Ladywood  was  the  next  locality  in  which  pro- 
vision was  made  by  the^  Church  of  England  for 
the  spiritual  wants  of  the  people,  by  the  erection 
of  a  handsome  church,  dedicated  to  St  John; 
the  first  stone  was  laid  September  28th,  1852, 
and  it  Wiis  consecrated  on  the  15th  of  March, 
1854.  It  was  erecteil  from  designs  by  Mr. 
Teulon,  of  London,  and  is  a  good  example  of  the 
decorated  geometrical  style,  consisting  of  chancel, 
nave,  aisles,  and  tower. 

On  the  30th  of  May,  1855,  a  new  church  was 
commenced  in  the  growing  district  north  of  St. 
George's,  at  the  comer  of  Farm  Street  and  Wheeler 
Street  It  wjis  erected  from  the  designs  of  Mr. 
Pedley,  in  the  early  "middle-pointed"  Gothic  style, 
rectangular  in  plan,  consisting  of  nave,  chancel, 
aisles,  nortli  and  south  chapels,  and  sacristy,  and 
was  consecrated  on  the  4  th  of  June,  1856,  being 
dedicated  to  St.  Matthias. 

On  the  30th  of  August,  1859,  the  little  church 
of  St  Cleniont^  at  Nechells,  was  consecrated.  It 
is  cruciform  in  j)Ian,  and  consists  of  nave,  aisles, 
transepts,  and  chancel,  and  has  a  small  bell-turret 
at  the  south-east  angle  of  the  nave.  It  was  built 
from  the  designs  of  Mr.  J.  A.  Chatwin,  at  a  cost 
of  about  rig3,500. 

Owing  to  the  munificence  of  Miss  Eyland,  the 
erection  of  a  new  church  for  the  district  of  Lady- 
wood  was  commeDced  in  1857,  the  foun«iation- 
stono  being  laid  by  that  lady  on  the  1st  of 
August  ^liss  Kyland  gave  the  land  and  a  large 
sum  of  money  towards  the  cost  of  the  building, 
which  amounted,  in  all,  to  about  £3,000.  The 
church,  which  is  dedicated  to  St  Barnabas,  is 
situated  in  Kyland  Street  North,  and  was  de- 
signed by  Mr.  Bourne,  of  Dudley.  In  plan  it  is 
a  parallelogram,   without   aisles,  having  a  large 


open  timber  roof  spanning  the  entire  width,  and 
there  are  galleries  on  three  sides.  The  tower  ia  at 
the  north-west  angle  of  the  buildingy  and  is  8^^ 
mounted  by  an  octagonal  crocketted  toixet  It 
was  consecrated  on  October  24th,  1860. 

The  erection  of  new  churches  within  the 
borough  boimdaries  appears  to  have  ceased  from 
this  date,  until  1865,  when  a  neat  little  stractura 
was  erected  in  Broad  Street,  called  Immanuel 
Church,  from  designs  by  Mr.  E.  Holmes,  in  the 
decorated  Gothic  style.  The  cost  of  erection  was 
about  £4,400. 

In  the  following  year  a  new  church  was  erected 
in  the  densely-populated  district  south  of  St 
Martin's,  in  Bissell  Street  The  land  for  this 
church  (St  David's)  was  presented  by  Mr.  John 
Nicholls,  and  the  building,  which  is  "  a  handsome 
Gothic  edifice,  very  broad  and  vigorous  in  treat- 
ment,"* was  designed  by  Mr.  Martin  (Martin  and 
Chamberlain),  at  a  cost  of  £5,000.  The  epire  is 
visible  from  a  great  distance. 

In  1867  Miss  Ryland  contributed  £10,000  for 
building  additional  churches  in  Birmingham,  and 
the  first  church  erected  out  of  this  fund  was  St 
Lawrence's,  in  Dartmouth  Street, — a  Norman 
Gothic  building  of  brick,  with  stone  facings,  con- 
sisting of  chancel,  nave,  aisles,  and  tower.  It 
was  consecrated  June  25th,  1868. 

During  the  same  year,  a  new  church  was 
erected  in  Great  Colmore  Street,  dedicated  to  St 
Asaph,  and  was  consecrated  on  the  8th  of 
December,  1868.  It  consists  of  nave,  chancel, 
and  aisles,  and  has  three  stained  window&  The 
cost  of  erection  was  about  £6,500. 

In  the  same  year  a  new  church,  dedicated  to 
St  Nicholas,  was  erected  on  laud  given  by  the 
Messrs.  Elkington,  in  Lower  Tower  Street ;  the 
cost  of  building  being  provided  jointly  by  the 
trustees  of  the  Ryland  fund,  and  the  representa- 
tives of  Mr.  H.  Elkington.  The  east  end  of  the 
church  has  since  been  enriched  with  carving  and 
with  a  handsome  reredos,  at  the  expense  of  Mr. 
F.  Elkington.     At  the  western  end  of  the  church 

*Tk*  Stnngmr*9  CMde  through  Birwdng^tam  (OomialiX  p.  M. 


Modem  BlrmiugUam  QturtihettJ 


OLD  AND  NEW   BIEMINGHAM. 


579 


U  a  fine  stained  window  ropresenting  the  Twelve 
Apostles. 

Oa  the  5th  of  January,  1869,  St,  GabrieFs, 
1  church  in  Pickford  Street,  was  consecrated, 
in  the  same  year  a  neat  Gothic  church  was 
erected  in  Cato  Street,  Duddeston,  detlicated  to 
8t  Anne,  It  is  built  of  brick,  and  consists  of 
nave,  chancel,  and  aisles,  with  gaDeries  supported 
on  iron  pillars.  It  was  consecrated  on  the  22nd 
of  October,  1869. 

In  1871  the  new  chim;h  of  St.  Alban  the 
Martyr  was  completed,  after  some  years  of  effort 
on  the  port  of  the  curate-in-ehai^e  of  the  pre- 
Tious  **  temporary  church,"  which  had  become 
tomewliat  notorious  on  account  of  the  extreme 
ritualism  practised  therein ;  and,  in  consequence, 
aseisUince  had  been  refused  by  the  Church  Ex- 
tension Society,  so  that  the  outside  walls  had 
remained  at  the  height  of  about  three  or  four 
feet  for  several  years.  But  in  the  year  above- 
named  tlie  church  was  finished  and  consecrated, 
and  is  ooe  of  the  few  local  churches  which  remain 
open  every  day  for  private  devotion.  The 
^  priest-in-charge,"  the  Rev,  J.  fci.  Pollock,  has,  on 
florveral  occasions,  been  the  subject  of  imfavour- 
able  criticism  ;  and  in  one  iuatance  called  forth 
the  indignation  of  the  people  in  an  imusual 
degree.  On  the  I7th  of  September,  1866,  Mr 
Pollock,  from  some  cause  not  explained,  publicly 
excommunicated  a  girl  who  had  been  a  member 
of  bis  ehtirch  and  cumgrogation^  named  Letitia 
Taylor,  an  act  which  led  to  a  mnoa  of  meetings 
and  lectures^  and  memorials  were  presented  to 
the  Bishop  of  the  diocese,  but  with  no  satisfactory 
result.  About  a  month  aftfrwaitls,  on  the  13th 
of  October,  the  excommvmicated  Miss  Taylor,  ac- 
companied by  Mr,  and  Mrs.  T.  H.  Aston,  again 
presented  herself  at  the  church,  (the  old  tem- 
porary church,  adjoining  the  site  of  the  present 
building),  and  another  violent  **  scene "  took 
place.  **The  exhibition,"  says  Dr,  Langford, 
•*waa  disgraceful  Men  cursed  and  blasphemed, 
clambered  over  the  seats,  hissing  and  yelling  in 
iStk€  most  excited  manner,     Tlie  women  screamed 


and  rushed  to  the  door,  and  at  one  time  fatal 
results  were  anticipated.  The  chapel  had  to  be 
guaixied  for  some  weeks  after  by  the  police." 

A  haudsrimo  church  wag  erected  in  Heath  Street, 
(St  Cuthbert's,)  and  consecrated  March  19th,1872. 
It  is  in  the  early  decorated  style,  in  brick  and 
stone,  and  consists  of  nave,  (with  cleresttjtry  and 
open-timbered  roof,)  chancel,  aisles,  and  tower. 

On  the  lat  of  May,  1874,  a  new  church  was 
consecrated  at  Hockley,  (St  Saviour*8,)  at  the 
junction  of  Bridge  Street  with  Villa  Street,  just 
within  the  borough  boundary.  It  is  a  brick  build- 
ing, Gothic  in  style,  consisting  of  nave,  chancel,  and 
apse,  with  three  stained  windows.  The  pulpit, 
of  Bath  stone,  and  font,  of  Caen  stone  are  beau- 
tifully carvetl,  by  Peter  Hollins,  by  whom  the 
latter  was  pre-sented^  The  cost  of  the  building 
amounted  to  about  £5,500. 

After  the  death  of  the  Rev.  Joseph  Oldknow, 
who  had,  during  his  many  years  miniaterifd  duties 
at  Holy  Trinity  Church,  won  the  affection  and 
ej3teem  of  his  parishioners,  a  meeting  was  held 
in  the  schools  in  connection  with  that  church,  on 
the  8tli  of  September,  1874,  presided  over  by 
the  Very  Rev.  the  (late)  Dean  of  Worcester, 
at  which  it  was  resolved  "  to  commemorate  the 
worth,  learning,  and  work"  of  the  late  Vicar, 
**  to  carry  out  hist  dying  wishes  by  erecting  a 
church,  with  a  legally  assigned  district,  in  the 
thickly-popidated  neighbourhood  of  Small  Heath," 
A  temporary  church  was  immediately  afterwards 
commenced,  and  a  site  purchased  for  the  per- 
manent building,  at  a  joint  cost  of  £1,000.  The 
temporary  church  was  opened  July  7th,  1875, 
and  it  is  still  used  (1879);  it  has  an  excellent 
organ  by  Bevingtou  and  Sons,  which  cost  £310, 

A  third  church  was  provided  for  the  Lady  wood 
district  in  the  same  year.  It  is  dedicated  to  St 
Margaret,  and  consists  of  nave,  chancel,  aisles, 
and  baptistery.  The  style  adopted  being  that  of  the 
12th  century.  It  was  consecrated  October  2nd, 
1875. 

In  1878  a  new  ecclesiastical  district  was  formed 
out  of  tlie  parish  of    St    Clement's,   Nechells, 


580 


OLD  AKD  NEW  BIRMINGHAM. 


(New  Uniteriaii  OmrehM^  ble. 


and  a  church  erected,  to  accommodate  750  persons. 
It  was  dedicated  to  St.  Cathterine,  and  consecrated 
November  8th,  1878. 

Having  now  completed  the  records  of  church 
work  done  in  Birmingham  within  the  pale  of  the 
Establishment,  we  now  come  to  the  later  history 
of  the  Dissenters. 

As  being  the  oldest  nonconforming  sect  in  Bir- 
mingham (which  must  be  our  only  order  of 
preference),  we  deal  first  with  the  Unitarian 
Society. 

In  the  year  1860  the  Society  worshipping  at  the 
New  Meeting  resolved  upon  building  a  new  church, 
nearer  to  Edgbaston,  and  a  site  was  selected, — 
not  on  terra  firman  but  over  the  Birmingham  and 
Worcester  canal, — in  Broad  Street,  the  first  stone 
being  laid  by  Mr.  Timothy  Kenrick,  on  the  11th 
of  August,  1860.  The  new  chapel,  which  ia  called 
the  Church  of  the  Messiah,  was  opened  on  New 
Year's  Day,  1862,  the  memorials  to  Dr.  Priest- 
ley, the  Rev.  John  Kentish,  and  others,  having 
been  carefully  removed  from  the  old  building. 
It  is  built  on  strong  massive  arches  spanning  the 
canal,  and  is  a  beautiful  example  of  geometrical 
Gothic.  The  principal  entrance  is  a  triple-arched 
portico,  with  granite  columns,  above  whi(;h  is  a 
fine  five-light  traceried  window  and  a  gable,  and 
from  the  angle  nearest  St.  Peter's  Place  rises  a 
lofty  and  well-proportioned  spire,  about  150  feet 
in  height.  Internally  the  church  has  a  fine  open 
timber  roof,  and  several  stained  glass  windows. 
The  architect  of  this  beautiful  structure,  (of  which 
an  engraving  appears  on  page  559,)  was  Mr.  J.  J. 
Batcman. 

After  the  vacation  of  the  Moor  Street  meeting, 
whereby,  in  the  opinion  of  the  more  energetic 
workers  among  the  poorer  classes,  a  valuable 
mission  station  was  abandaned,  a  new  society 
arose,  called  the  Birmingham  Free  Christian 
Association,  who  opened  a  mission-room  in 
Fazeley  Street,  and  subsequently  erected  a  neat 
little  chapel  on  the  same  site.  The  Unitarians 
have  also  three  other  places  of  worship  in  Bir- 
mingham, viz.  :  The  chapel  of  the  Birmingham 


Unitarian  Domestic  Mission  Society,  Hmt 
Street ;  the  chapel  of  the  Church  of  the  Mesnak 
Ministry  to  the  Poor,  Lawrence  Street ;  and  tl^ 
Newhall  Hill  ChapeL 

Next  in  point  of  antiquity  to  the  Unitariaos  ia 
Birmingham  are  the  Baptista  We  have  pre- 
viously recorded  the  erection  of  the  principal 
modem  chapel  of  this  denomination,  "Moimi 
Zion,"  in  Graham  Street ;  but  the  chief  events  in 
its  history  have  occurred  during  the  period 
covered  by  the  present  chapter.  In  1844  Mr. 
George  Dawson  was  elected  to  the  pastorate  of 
this  church,  but  after  two  years  of  work  among 
the  Baptists  he  found  himself  out  of  accordance 
with  many  of  the  doctrines  held  by  this  sect  and 
resigned  his  irksome  post  for  one  more  congenial 
to  his  taste,  as  pastor  of  a  free  church,  unfettered 
by  any  doctrinal  tests  whatsoerer.  In  1852  Mr 
Charles  Vince  was  elected  pastor  of  Mount  Zi<m 
Chapel,  and  held  that  position  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  on  the  22nd  of  October,  1874. 
This  is  not  the  place  for  his  biography,  but  we 
may  appropriately  quote  the  epitome  of  his  life 
which  is  inscribed  on  the  handsome  Gothic 
memorial  erected  over  his  grave  in  the  Old 
Cemetery  :  "  As  a  preacher  of  the  Gospel  of  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ,  his  teaching  was  especially 
characterised  by  perfect  faith  in  the  infinite  love 
and  mercy  of  God,  and  by  deep  and  tender 
sympathy  with  the  hopes,  the  sorrows,  and  the 
struggles  of  men.  As  a  citizen,  his  generous  zeal 
for  the  poor,  the  suffering,  and  the  oppressed, 
made  him  the  strenuous  advocate  of  all  efforts 
for  social  and  political  reform.  The  sweetness 
of  his  nature,  the  purity  of  his  life,  and  the  manli- 
ness and  simplicity  of  his  character,  compelled 
the  respect  and  attracted  the  friendship  of  those 
who  differed  from  him.  His  courage,  integrity, 
courtesy,  and  charity,  won  the  affection,  and  his 
eloquence  commanded  the  admiration  of  all  classes 
of  his  fellow-townsmen,  by  whom  this  memorial 
is  erected  as  a  tribute  to  his  personal  worth  and 
public  services." 

In  1848  the  large  building  in  Bradford  Street^ 


previously  known  as  "  Ryan's  Circus/'  was  pur- 
eliaaed  by  the  Baptists,  having  fallen  into  disuse 
418  a  circus,  and  was  conyerted  into  a  chapel  at  a 
"Coat  of  £1,200.  It  was  opened,  under  the  new 
name  af  the  **  Circus  Cliapel,"  October  24th, 
1S49»  with  the  Rev.  W.  Landels  (now  of  London), 
as  the  minister. 

llie  must  beiiutiful  of  the  later  ckapela  erected 
by  the  Baptists  is  Wycliffe  Chapel,  Bristol  Street, 
-which  was  ejected  by  Mr,  W.  Middlemore,  who 
laid  the  foundation  stone  November  8th,  1859. 
The  style  adopted  is  very  appropriately  that  r»f 
tha  14th  Century,  the  age  of  Wycliffe,  and  it 
was  designed  by  Mr.  Cmnston.  '*  In  i>lan  it  is 
a  parallelogram,  with  nave  and  aisles,  and  a  tower 
and  spire  at  the  nortli-west  angle.  Externally 
the  building  iS  entirely  of  stone.  The  principal 
■elevation  has  a  central  entrance,  divided.  In  the 
tympanum  of  the  areJi  a  statuette  of  Wytlilfe  is 
introduced  with  very  good  effect  Above  is  a 
large  tmceried  window  sunnounted  by  the  usual 
gable,  terminated  with  a  rich  cross.  The  sides 
have  two  stories  of  tiaceried  windows,* each 
window  in  the  upper  tier  having  a  separate  gable. 
The  tower  to  the  level  of  the  roof  is  square,  above 
it  is  octagonal  and  surrounded  with  clustered 
pinnacles  and  flying  buttresses,  above  which 
is  a  richly  crockntted  spire,  carried  (with 
the  tower)  to  a  height  of  about  140  feet  In- 
ternally the  nave  is  separated  from  the  aisles  by 
iron  columns,  each  column  having  a  central  shaft 
with  smaller  ones  around.  The  capitals  to  the 
shafts  are  also  of  iron,  with  foliage  of  the  same 
metal.  The  ceilings  or  roofa  are  entirely  of  wood, 
the  central  one  leaving  principals  with  arched 
braces,  the  gpaces  between  each  principal  being 
panelled  The  ceiling  to  the  aisles  is  groined  in 
wood  with  moulded  ribs  to  the  angles.  At  the 
east-end  is  the  baptistery,  elliptical  in  plan,divided 
from  the  nave  by  a  lofty  moulded  arch  way, 
having  piers  with  detached  shafts,  and  enriched 
capitals.  The  baptistety  proper  is  of  marble^  the 
pavement  around  being  of  encaustic  tile%  tlia 
whole  being  raised  a  few  steps  above   the  general 


level.  Tlie  ejist  wall  is  pierced  with  a  scries  of 
small  traceried  windows,  the  panels  l>eing  carved 
with  fruit,  flowers,  &c.  Above  these  windows  is 
a  small  gallery  containing  the  organ  and  seats  for 
the  clioristers.  There  are  galleries  on  throe  sides, 
having  enriched  panelled  fronts.  Tlie  seata  are 
all  uniform,  and  are  of  a  subBtantial  and  miis- 
give  character."  We  give  an  illustration  of  this 
beautiful  structure  on  page  562, 

The  Baptists  have  nine  other  chapels  (besides 
those  mentioned  in  earlier  chapters  of  this  narra- 
tive,) within  the  boimdaries  of  the  borough,  vuc, 
Heueage  Street,  (opened  1841),  Great  King  Street,  | 
(1848),  Hope  Strc^ot,  Lodge  Road,  Lougmore 
Street,  Priestley  Eoad,  (Spark brook)  Warwick 
Street,  (Deritend)  ;  the  General  Baptist  Chapel 
in  Longmore  Street,  (first  opened  in  1786),  and 
the  Particular  Baptist  Chapel,  Frwlerick  Street, 
J^ewhaH  Hill, 

In  1877  the  Baptist  Church  Meeting  in  Cwinon 
Street  invited  the  Rev.  Arthur  Mursell  to  become  . 
its  pastor,  and  that  gentleman  entered  upon  a  pro- 
bationary ministry  of  six  months,  in  January, 
1878,  conchuling  at  Midsummer  of  the  same  year. 
An  interval  of  about  nine  months  then  elapsed 
previous  to  his  entering  permanently  upDu  the 
pafitomte  of  that  church,  in  April,  1879.  The 
building  being  condemned  under  the  Birmingham 
Improvement  Scheme,  the  last  Sunday  service 
was  conducted  therein  on  the  5th  of  October  in 
the  same  year,  on  wliich  occasion  the  pastor^ 
having  selected  as  his  subject,  "  Last  Echoes 
among  Old  Walls,"  gave  a  brief  outline  of  ths 
history  uf  the  chapel  The  Cannon  Street  church 
are  at  the  present  time  (October,  1879),  therefore, 
without  a  homo,  their  Sunday  Services  being  held 
in  the  Town  HalL 

Next  in  chronological  onler  among  the  DissQa- 
ters  of  Birmingham  are  the  IndependenU ;  and 
our  first  duty  is  to  the  older  churriies,  the  earlier 
history  of  which  lias  already  been  given  in  theie 
pages. 

T))e  principal  matter  to  bo  roconled  in  con- 
nection with  the  parent  church  of  this  denomina^ 


5%2 


0U>   AND  NEW  BrRMINaHAM. 


ifadq^oiaral  < 


tion,  d tiring  the  first  two  decades  of  the  period 
under  notice,  is  the  pastorate  of  the  Rev.  John 
Angell  James,  to  which  we  have  already  referred 
in  previous  chapters,  **  As  he  approached  the 
ftutunm  of  life,"  sayis  EJihii  Burritt,  *'  his  power 
m  the  pulpit  became  more  perceptible  and  im- 
preesiva  It  was  when  tiie  autumnal  tints 
of  those  concluding  years  had  touched  his 
gro4it  bushy  head  and  beard  and  strongly -marked 
features,  that  I  first  saw  and  beard  him.  The 
earnestness  of  his  soul  in  his  work,  his  voice, 
mellowed  like  a  sabbath  bell  that  had  adled  a 
dozen  generations  to  the  sanctuary,  the  deep 
8<jI enmity  of  his  manner,  the  sheen  of  a  godly  life 
that  seemed  to  surrouinl  liim  like  a  halo,  the  very 
reflection  of  the  thoughts  ho  had  put  forth  upon 
the  world  through  his  bookstall  gave  to  bis  dis- 
course a  power  which  I  bad  never  seen  e^iuaUed 
in  any  other  minister  on  either  side  of  the 
Atlantic,  .  .But  however  large  his  congrega- 
tion/' continues  Burritt,  **  and  however  often  he 
may  be  able  lu  addre.ss  other  audiences,  the  most 
eloquent  minister  can  reach  but  a  comparatively 
few  persona  with  his  voice.  He  mu«t  put  his 
thoughts  to  press  in  drIct  to  reach  and  move  the 
milliom  This  John  Angell  James  did,  to  a  degree 
and  offect  which  no  other  minister,  of  any  denomi- 
nation, bas  attained  for  the  List  century.  It  is 
doubtful  if  Baxter  or  even  Bunyan  has  been  so 
widely  read.  Mr.  James  gave  to  the  world,  as  the 
bfjit  legjicy  of  his  lift%  deventeen  volumes,  some 
of  whiclr  have  had  a  vast  circulation.  Hia 
*  Anxious  Inquirer  after  Salvation  Directed 
and  Encouraged  *  must  rank  i>nly  second  to 
Bunyan's  '  Pilgrim  s  Progress  ^  in  number  of 
copicjs  printed  and  circulattid  in  diffei^nt  langnages 
and  countries*.  No  man  in  writing  a  book  could 
be  more  deeply  impressed  witli  the  conviction 
that  he  was  moved  by  the  spirit  of  God  than  was 
the  author  of  this  remarkable  voliima  Tliat  con- 
viction seemed  to  be  deeper  at  the  end  than  at  the 
beginning  of  the  work.  II e  charges  its  readers 
to  *Jake  it  up  with  something  of  the  awe  that 
warns    you    how    you     touch     a     holy     thing/ 


Thoufiands  on  botli  sides  of  tJie  Atlantic 
taken  it  up  in  this  way  to  all  the  benefit 
its  author  hoped  of  it**  * 

Mr.  James  retained  his  pastorate  for  miire  dl 
half-a-century,  and  in  1 855,  a  three  day»*  jM 
celebration  was  held,  commencing  Septenibrr  9 
on  which  occasion  Mr.  Jaraea  predebted  to  ei 
of  the  2,000  children  in  the  8ttnclay  and  I! 
Schools,  a  copy  of  his  little  book,  **  A  JahJ 
Memorial,"  and  on  the  II th  of  the  same  moi 
he  laid  the  foundation  stone  of  the  Jubilee  Uofl 
Francis  Koad,  Edgbaston.  He  died  on  th^^H 
October,  1859,  and  was  buried  onder  the  jnil 
he  had  so  long  filled.  Mr.  R.  W.  Dale,  who  b 
been  admitted  as  co-pastor,  November  22nd|  185 
aucceoded  Mr.  James  in  the  paatorat««  and 
held  that  position  up  to  the  present  time,  haft 
won  tlie  admiration  and  esteem  of  tlic  great  ho( 
of  Nonconformists  throughout  the  world 

The  chapel  was  restored  and  enlai^ged  in  I  ST 
and  now  contains  accommodation  for  abi>tit  %^ 
persons. 

In  reference  to  the  Ste^xlhouce  Lane  Chap 
(described  in  an  earlier  chapter,)  iv  i  .nt) 

that  during  the  period  imdex  notie,  .  i  hjhi 
and  thoughtful  ymmg  p^reacher  and  authoiry  Bob 
Alfred  Vaughan^  son  of  tlie  hit€  Dr.  K.  Vawghn 
was  for  a  few  ye-ans  pastor  of  that  chvmih,  i 
death,  at  an  early  age,  was  mourned,  not  only 
all  who  had  enjoyed  tlie  rare  priirile^  of  pej9Q] 
friendship  with  him,  but  by  atimirets  of  I 
writings  (copies  of  which  an?  now  very 
throughout  the  country. 

In  1844  a  neat  chapel  was  erected  in 
Street,  called    Highbiny  Chapel,    at    whidlj' 
some  time,  the  Eev.  Brewin  Grant  ofliciotrvi 

The  chapel  in  Fraiicia  Eoad,  rofcrre.d  to  abol 
was  completed  m  1856,  and  opened  on  the 
of  October    in    that    year.      It  was  built  fm 
the  designs  of  Mr.  Yeoville  Thomason,  at  a 
of  £5,000,  and  comprises  nave,  tnin$ept«,  vt^stdi 
and  a  tower  and  spire  170  feet  in  height. 
temally  the  Imilding  has  an  open  timbered 


•  WuVa  in  tht  Btoils  CW««py.  ]fp  Ql*0. 


and  is  an  oxcctKlingly  neat  and  graci»fcil  structure* 
It  tuny  interest  sonic  o{  our  lady  readers  (if  sufiii 
there  be)  to  know  thai  the  prfilific  anthorees 
known  to  the  world  aa  Miss  Enuua  Jaiitj  Wor- 
Ixiige  wns  for  -^ntiat'  ytars  a  inembt^r  of  the  Fmnck 
Boad  Church 

There  are  nho  {Ances  of  worship  behinging  to 
this  denomination  in  Lfgge  Street,  PuLmer  Street, 
Bordt'sley  Street,  Small  Ileatli,  Gooch  Street,  and 
all  the  principal  Buhiirbs  of  the  town* 

In  1840  a  fund  was  started  fur  the  erection  of 
a  new  (bU%'e  in  place  of  the  small  and  incom* 
modious  huilding  at  Spring  HilL  A  donation  of 
JE500  was  presented  anonymously  through  the 
llev.  J.  A,  Jaraea  ;  John  Le^,  of  Kidderminster, 
and  John  Barker,  of  Wolverhampton,  also  gave 
£500  each  ;  find  several  other  donations  of  j£250, 
£200,  and  £100  were  given,  and  at  the  close  of 
the  year  1856  the  huilding  fund  amounted  to 
£12,985.*  A  beautiful  and  picturesque  site  was 
purchased  on  Moseley  Common  for  the  new 
building  and  grounds,  commanding  a  fuie  and 
extensive  prospect  of  the  Hurroiinding  country, 
and  the  building  wais  commeuecd  in  1854,  from 
the  deeigns  of  Mr.  Josejih  Jamefii,  of  London, 
and  opened  on  the  24th  of  June,  1857,  **The 
style,*'  says  Dr.  Langford,  **  is  that  of  the  early 
part  of  the  fifteenth  century,  the  detaUs  inclining 
more  to  the  decorated  period  than  to  the  per- 
pendicular. The  building  forms  three  sides  of  a 
quadrangle,  tlio  main  front  being  Uj  the  south. 
In  the  centre  of  the  south  front  is  a  liattlemeutcd 
tower,  78  feet  in  height,  flanked  by  a  bell  turret 
carried  H  feet  higher  In  this  tower  is  the 
]inncipal  entrance  to  the  building.  The  door- 
way is  exceedingly  bcjiutiful,  the  carving  with 
which  the  face  of  the  arch  is  enriched  being  a 
c  ever  combination  of  many  of  the  best  examples, 
all  brought  out  with  scrupulous  care.  One  of 
the  bnnds  b<?ars  the  inscription,  *  The  feai*  of  the 
Lord  is  the  beginning  of  wisdom  *]  and  on  each 
Bidtj  are  shields,   on   which  are   inscribed,    ^On 


♦i  am  i»d<»bt<Hl  lo  Or    Ijitttjft>M'»  nan(ft,aok  for  tli««« 


earth  peace,  goodwill  to  men,*  and  *Gloiy  to 
God  in  the  highest.^  Above  the  mala  eatiasicit 
rise,  in  succession,  three  bay  windows^  for  i\m 
lighting  respectively  of  Council  kh3Ui,  ratu^imm, 
and  laborator}%  The  tracery  of  these  widows  k 
of  a  Yery  elaborate  characti^,  a  buttress  lu  till 
right  of  the  doorway  being  decidedly  original 
and  Ijeautifu]  in  fonn.  To  the  west  of  tlic  (ow«gr 
is  the  library,  on  the  exterior  of  which  a  l&fgt 
amount  of  ornament  has  been  lavished  It  b 
lighted  by  four  very  large  moulded  windows  of 
stained  glass,  supplied  by  the  Messrs,  Chajioe,  ttf 
Spon  lAue.  Over  the  tracery  of  theso  is  a  fkU 
pierced  paitipet,  euimounted  by  four     *  'v* 

carved  pinnacles.    Immediutely  beyond  : :  y, 

and  forming  the  west  angle,  is  the  Warfcus 
house,  flnnkod  by  an  o<^togon  turret,  on  the  summit 
of  which  is  a  water  tank  for  the  use  of  the  oetalK 
lishmenl*  To  the  east  of  the  tower  ia  the  dinlitg 
hall,  with  lecture  room  over  it ;  and  beyond  tbede 
the  matron's  residence.  The  wings,  which  are 
two-storied  and  have  tmnsomed  winfUiws,  arc  in 
keeping  with  the  main  front,  though  not  so  riclj 
in  decoration.  At  the  end  of  eacli  wing  is  a  \idl 
turret  Inside  is  a  handsome  entnvnce  hall, 
paved  with  encaustic  tiles,  and  having  in  one  of 
tho  walls  a  most  elaborate  piece  of  car\^ing,  ia 
Caeu  stone,  intended  to  serve  as  a  frame  for  i 
metallic  tablet  to  be  erected  to  tlio  memory  of 
the  original  founders  of  Spring  Hill  College,  ^fi. 
a  S,  ilansfitdd,  Mr.  Charles  Glover,  Mrs.  Sarah 
Glover,  luid  Miss  Elizabeth  Mansfield.  A  cor- 
ridor window,  immediately  fronting  the  entrance 
hall,  is  fitted  with  stained  glass  and  containii  th** 
Mansfield  and  Glover  arms,  together  with  tiweo 
of  the  three  county  towns,  Warwick,  Wart<«ti?r, 
and  Stafi'ord.  Tho  libmry,  the  ontnineo  to  which 
is  from  the  hall,  is  a  fine,  lofty  apartment,  ojicn 
roofed,  the  prijiciinds  resting  on  eurbela  t»f  wingiid 
angels.  Bookshelves  am  auricfl  ro^md  tbi-ce  m*lt» 
of  the  room,  and  over  these  is  a  small  gall^ij- 
As  regards  detail,  the  most  noteworthy  feature  of 
the  library  is  tho  cliimuoy^piiMse  at  eithisr  omL 
IViih  are  i/f  Caoii  etono;  th*s  1^^  ^  n\ifrfh 


Spring  Hril  CoDc^e  } 


OLD  AN^D  NEW  BIRMINGHAM. 


585 


prints  motto,  *Scientia  iMitoutia  cet;*  and  tliey 
are  torered  with  the  most  delicate  carving  which 
huniaii  hands  ever  executeil  Each  flower  or  bit 
of  foh'age  inr-rodaccd  is  worthy  of  special  stuily. 
Inia^iae  a  lily^of-the-vaUey,  for  instance,  executed 
in  hi;:^h  relief,  with  nearly  as  much  dtdicaey  as 
nature^s  sell  could  givo  it.  The  carver  could 
not  have  been  more  6tu!L'essful  if  wax  or  Parian 
marble  had  been  hk  inalerial,  iiistead  of 
atone  dug  out  of  the  quarries  of  Normandy, 
One  chimney-piece  is  surmotuited  by  a  bust  of  Dr. 
Joeeph  Fletcher,  formerly  of  Stepney,  the  other 
by  a  bust  of  Dr.  Pye  f?mitl»,  who  may,  wc 
suppose,  be  reganled  as  the  ** representative  man" 
of  Nonconforming  collegiate  life.  The  dining- 
room  has  also  two  finu  chimney-pieces,  more 
massive  in  style,  but  with  carving  equally  beau- 
tiful. None  of  the  other  public  rooms  call  for 
special  remark.  Along  the  north  side  of  the 
principal  building  runs  a  lengthy  corridor,  with 
pointed  arches,  the  perspective  effect  of  which 
is  a  very  fine  one.  The  wings  are  appropriated 
to  tlie  students ;  the  studies  being  on  the  first 
floor,  and  the  dormitories  overhead.  Each  study 
L^as  an  area  of  ten  feet  by  eleven  feet,  and  is  nine 
^fcet  in  height.  There  is  at  present  accommodation 
I  for  thirty-six  students  ;  but  at  the  cost  of  a  couple 
of  thousand  pounds  this  could  be  easily  doubled 
by  running  a  centre  btiil ding  into  the  quadrangle. 
The  kitchens,  etc,  are  in  tlie  basement  story  of 
the  east  wing.  All  the  intcnial  arrangements 
seem  complete,  and  not  the  least  satisfactory  is 
the  apparata'?  which  heats  the  building.  *'  * 

"  It  has,"  says  Elihu  Burritt,  in  his  Wallcs  in 
the  Black  Country^  **  an  able  corps  of  professoi-s, 
not  only  of  Theology  and  Ecclesiasticid  History 
and  Polity,  but  of  Philosophy,  Classical  and 
Oriental  Languages.  It  supplies  studios  and 
donnitories  for  thirty-six  students,  and,  adoitting 
^1||  figure  pertaining  to  water- works,  it  acts  as  a 
very  important  feeder  to  the  pu]pits  of  the 
Independents  throughout  the  kingdom." 

Till?  history  of    the    Methodists    during  this 

*0r.  LAn^ord'a  Umtdbook,  pp.  Si»4fi. 


period  is  one  of  gre^it  progress.  In  addition  to 
the  rdder  clmpels,  and  those  erected  during  the 
two  decides  last  treated  of  (1821— 1840),» 
chapels  have  been  erected  in  Nechells  Park  Eoad, 
Coventry  Kuatl,  New  John  Street  West,  Summer 
Bill,  and  in  all  the  principal  suburbs  of  the 
town,  A  new  and  handsome  structure  has 
been  erected  in  St,  Martin  Street,  Isliiigt^m,  in 
place  of  the  older  chapel ;  a  Gothic  building  of 
atone  and  ornamental  brickwork,  designed  by 
Mr.  J.  n  CliMmlHtrhiin,  and  erected  at  a  cost  of 
ncax'ly  £8,000,  The  annual  Conference  of  the 
Wesley  an  Connexion  has  been  held  In 
Birmingham  several  times  during  this  period. 
The  Wesleyan  Societies  of  Birmingham  are 
divided  into  five  "Cu^cuits,"  each  of  which  is 
presided  over  by  three  or  four  stationed  ministers, 
who  are  changed  eYQvy  three  years.  The  Circuits 
are  arranged  as  follows  :— - 
First  Cirntitf  (Cherry  Street);  Cherry  Street,  Moseley 

Road,  luge  Street,  Knntfiford  Street,  and  Kiug'i 

Hifatb. 
Stem%d    Circuit,    (Belmont     Row)  :     Belmont     Bow, 

Bradford  Street,    Coventry   Roail»    Lord  Street, 

and  Bloomabury  Mission  Room. 
Third    Circuii^    (Newtown     Row) :     Newtown     Row, 

Necbelh  Park  Road,  Lichfiflld  Road  (Astou),  and 

Krdiiigton . 
Fourth  Circuit,  (Wesley)  ;  Conatitiition  Hill,  (**Wealey 

Chapel,")  Summer  Hill,  (Icknield  Street  West,) 

New  John  Street    Weat,    Aston   Villa,    (George 

Street,  Lozells),  and  Kinevek 
Fi/Ih  Cireuii,  (Islington):  St.   Martin's  Street  (Isling- 
ton),   Bristol   Road,    Harborno   and   SelJy   Oak; 

with     preacliiiig    stations    at    Holliday    Street, 

**BntUh  Workman,"  St   Vincent  Street,  Osier 

Street,  and  Icknicld  Port  RoaJ. 

Tl»e  history  of  Methodism  docs  not  end  .with 
the  records  of  the  Wesleyan  Connexion ;  the 
Methodist  church  has  perhaps  been  more  fertile 
in  what  we  may  terra  outgrowtlis  thim  any 
other  religions  community  in  England.  The 
fijst  of  these  departures  took  place  very  booh 
after  the  death  of  the  founder  of  the  Society, 
when  Mn  Kilham,  a  minister  at  that  time 
stationed  in  the  Newcastle  circuit,  appeared  as 
the  advocate  and  champion  of  separation   from 

-*VlL,  UlltkstoD  <1S25).    Consytutioit   BLll   C1B2B),   BrUtol  Boad 
(1834).  and  N^rwtflwii  Bow  (ISHT). 


s^ 


on*  Ayi*  yiW  BIBMIXGHAM. 


[OmrchM  and  Seets,  IMl— U». 


Mr.   ^^  T' A—    iiiT.;«k:<*i  iL*   c^t^risc   cf    il*r 

ani  f-:-r  ili*  in-  ww  -rir-rl^i  fr.c  iLc  zlItSs^. 
ax  tike  o:-Li^r^rz'V:     f  17S»X  uji  j.>.-n  tfi^r^fcris 

fonzjed  a  it*:'"'  orjiLiriiiir.  '»Lic*i  vs^  cill-e*! 
•* The MeiL-.idi:^  y^-r  Oi'Zizxxi:^  TLi»  s-x-irrij 
obuined  a  suhll  f^^Aznz  in.  licmii-riiASi  as  e^^j 
as  1^09,  bs:  n«j  p-erz&AXiezil  p-lace  of  -rr-rsLip  "ira* 
«eci«»i  br  tliezn  until  IS^,  irhriL  i  cLarel  was 
opened  in  Unrtt  Stieie:,  wLich  iri?  o  nsiierallj 
enlarsed  ai.d  :mppcT*J  in  lS4i  ThrT  Lire  n:  w. 
beeidee  this,  tbai-el?  in  M-ij^L-IrT  Siree:,  Heith 
Street,  Laiivw.xd,  and  at  Dal?all  He;aih. 

In  1S35  the  Wesleyan  Meitcdi?:  Asc^<ciation 
was  formedy  as  a  result  of  a  secession  fr.-m  iLe 
Old  Connexion,  t-n  acx»unt  of  the  incr«i5e«I 
anthoritT  given  by  the  Conference  to  the  itinerant 
minijteis;  and  a  chapel  was  built  bv  the  new 
society  in  this  town,  in  Bath  Street,  which  was 
opened  in  1839.  In  1S50  the  j«arent  socixrij  {ihe 
Old  Connexion;  sulfered  great*rr  Losses  by  sec«?s?ion 
than  they  had  erer  l«ef«»re  ♦•xi'vrienced.  At  the 
Conference  of  that  year  the  IJevd?.  .Samuel  l>unn, 
James  Everett,  and  WiHiam  Griffith  were  ex- 
pelled from  the  Connexion  on  aeci»unt  of  their 
supfHj^ed  coijiphcity  in  tlie  aulli«.r.liip  of  the 
notorious  "  Fly-Sheets/'  in  which  the  Methixlist 
system  had  Ix-en  s<-verely  critici-s*.-*!  ;  an«l,  as  a 
result,  a  lar;::e  secessiou  iij*jk  place,  e.specially  of 
lay  meinU'rs  of  the  .society,  ami  these,  afte^wa^l^ 
amalgaiiiatiiig  with  the  older  seceJers,  foniied  the 
new  rociety  known  us  the  United  Methodist  Free 
ChurclicH,  who  have  nr»w  two  circuits  in  Bir- 
miii;,dia!n,  of  the  Northern  of  which  Kocky  Lane 
Chapel  ih  the  centre,  and  of  the  soutlieni  Bath 
8tre<;t  ChajicL 

The  Primitive  Methodists  have  also  two  circuits 
here,  l>ijt  tlieir  iiilliience  is  chiefly  felt  in  the 
outside  diHtrictrt.  Their  principal  town  chapel  is 
ill  (fooeh  Street. 

Aft<;r  the   erection   of    St.    Cliad's  Cathedral, 


rec  T^ed  in  a  foiregoing  chapter,  Birmmgham 
t«caake  the  centre  of  the  Eoman  Catholic  faith 
in  Enzkad,  and  held  that  position  for  manj 
T'sars.  partly  owing  to  the  proximitj  of  the  gnat 
oi'IIeiLaie  institution  at  Oscott,  of  which  Cardinal 
.  Wiseman  was  at  one  time  president  The  town 
became,  in  ISIS,  a  See  of  Borne,  a  Papal  rescript 
appointing  the  Rev.  Dr.  UUathome  "  Bishop  of 
Birmingham;"  and  he  was  enthroned  in  Si 
ChadX  on  the  30th  of  August  in  that  year. 

Two  eonrentnal  and  monastic  orders  wen 
established  during  the  same  decade,  the  one  in 
Baih  Street  and  the  other  in  Hunter's  Lane; 
to  the  latter  a  chapel  was  attached,  which  was 
ojiened  for  puhlic  worship  on  the  28th  of  Julj, 
1S47. 

Shortly  afterwards  a  new  and  more  important 
s^ZicietT  of  a  similar  character  was  founded  in 
Bixmingham  by  the  eloquent  and  zealous  con- 
vert, John  Heniy  Newman,  D.D.  Tins  was 
the  Oratory  of  St  Phillip  Xeri,  which  found 
a  temjiorary  home  in  Alcester  Street,  and 
numbered  among  its  earliest  inmates  Father 
Falurr  and  Austin  Mills.  "Their  long  black 
il'.»aks  and  peculiar  habit  of  the  Order  were 
conspicuous  objects  in  the  streets  until  the 
fiilmination  of  an  edict  against  them  by  the 
Government  in  1852,  incidental  to  the  agitation 
on  the  Pai»al  aggression  movement."  ♦  In  1852 
they  erected  a  large  and  commodious  building  in 
Ha;,'!ey    Eoad,    to   which   is   attached    a    church 

"  dcnlicateil  to  our  Blessed   Lady,  under  the  title 

j 

■  of  lit*r  Immaculate  Conception."  To  many  per- 
sons who  have  no  sympathy  with  Roman  Catho- 

'  licism  the  Birmingham  Oratory  has  Wome 
endeared  by  its  associations ;  and  the  names  of 
John  Henry  Xewman  and  Eilward  Caswell  will 
long  be  remembered  in  connection  therewith 
In  1862  the  Roman  Catholics  purchased  from 
the  Unitarians  the  building  long  known  as  the 
New  Meeting  House,  the  successor  of  that  in 
which  Dr.  Priestley  preached,  from  1780  to  1791, 
and  which  was  burnt  by  the  rioters  in  the  latter 


"  Uinta  for  a  Hif  tory  of  Birmingham,  [by  JamM  Jaflhiy.] 


OifirfJiitH  and  Ba^  IBU—mU.} 


OLD   AND  KEW   BIRMINGHAM. 


year.  It  is  now  known  as  St  Michael's,  atid 
during  the  year  1878  a  red-brick  manse  was 
erected  in  front,  thus  obscuring  the  view  of 
this  bist<iric  edifice.  Two  handsoTne  churches 
have  been  erected  by  the  Catholics  during  the 
past  ten  years ;  St,  Joseph's,  at  Nechells,  and  St. 
Catherine  of  Sienna,  in  the  Horse  Fair.  The 
other  places  belonging  to  the  Roman  Catholics 
are :  St»  Anne's,  Alcester  Street ;  the  Convent 
of  St  Anne,  Lowe  Street ;  Si  Mary's,  Brougham 
Street ;  and  St.  Mary's  Retreat,  Harborne. 

Of  the  Swedenborgians,  we  have  only  to  reconl 
here  that  on  the  16th  of  June,  1875,  the  first 
stone  of  a  new  church  was  laid  in  Wretham 
Koad,  S<:iho,  and  the  building  was  opened  for 
worship  on  the  22nd  of  November,  1875,  at 
which  date  the  society  vacated  their  old  meeting- 
&nse  in  Summer  Lane,  and  so  passed  out  of  the 

itory  of  tlio  religions  sects  of  the  borougk  Tlie 
new  church,  which  is  built  in  the  early  English 
style,  and  consist^s  of  nave,  aisles,  and  chancel, 
with  a  spire,  cost  £10,000. 

Another  of  the  smaUer  sects  have  also  migrated 
from  their  old  quarters  ip  the  town,  viz.,  the 
Catholic  Ai»ostolic  Church,  who  have  erected  for 
themselves  a  new  chun-h  in  Summer  Hill  Terrace^ 
The  old  building  in  New  hall  Street  waa  removed 
in  1877  to  make  way  for  the  new  Assay  Offices, 

Tbo  withdrawal  of  Mr,  George  Dawson  from 
the  Baptist  Church  of  Mount  Zion  in  1846  (to 
which  we  have  referretl  in  our  notice  of  that 
denomination),  led  to  the  formation  of  a  new 
imsectarian  church,  called  the  **  Church  of  the 
Saviour."  This  course  was  resolved  upon  at  a 
meeting  held  on  the  23rd  of  February,  1846, 
at  Mount  Zion  Chaptd,  at  which  a  report, 
dmwn  up  by  Mr,  Dawson,  was  adopted,  de- 
claring "That  jis  a  Catholic  Church  it  is  not 
their  intention  to  have  any  doctrinal  test  as 
a  church  or  as  a  congregation.  They  regard 
fixed  viewa^  embodied  as  professions  of  faith,  as 
productive  of  mischief.  The  preacher  should  not 
be  retained  as  an  advocate  of  certain  opinions.  It 
is  not  the  fair  and  manly  mode,  as  all  men  differ ; 


and  no  man  has  a  right  to  judge  another,  further 
than  by  the  Scriptural  rule,  *  by  their  fruits  ye 
shall  know  them/  A  man's  own  conscience  is 
the  arbiter  of  his  fitness  to  join  the  Church  of 
God;  more  especially  as  they  are  known  to  differ 
in  opinion.  Tlie  pieacher  is  to  give  the  results  of 
his  study ;  and  the  people  are  not  hound  to 
believe  him  further  than  appears  consistent  to 
themselves  as  inquirers  after  tmth ;  their  bond 
being  a  common  end  and  purpose,^ — to  clothe  the 
naked,  to  feed  the  hungry,  and  to  instruct  the 
ignorant." 

On  the  1 3  th  of  July»  in  the  same  year,  the  first 
turf  on  the  site  of  the  new  Church  was  turned, 
and  the  building  was  completed  and  opened 
August  8th,  1847,  two  eloquent  discourses  being 
delivered  on  that  occasion,  by  Mr.  Dawson.  The 
morning  discotirse  was  afterwards  published  under 
the  title  of  **  The  Demands  of  the  Age  on  the 
Church,"  and  earned  for  the  preacher  the  doubtful 
distinction  of  a  place  in  the  Rev.  George  Gilfdlstn's 
**  Gallery  of  Literary  Portraits." 

The  Church  was  built  from  the  deaigns  of 
Messrs,  Bateman  and  Drury,  and  is^  in  plan,  a 
parallelogram,  with  a  circular  end.  It  has  a 
massive  cemented  front,  in  the  Corinthian  order, 
the  entrance  being  beneath  a  fine  ornamented 
arch,  supported  by  two  enriched  columns.  In  a 
niche  at  the  upper  end  of  the  Church,  behind  the 
preacher's  platform,  is  a  rich-toned  organ, 

^£r,  Dawson  pjmained  miniater  of  the  Church 
of  the  Saviour  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
on  the  30th  of  ^November,  187G,  and  was  suc- 
ceeded by  his  former  assistant  in  the  ministry,  Mr. 
G.  St,  Clair,  KG  S. 

In  1856  the  Jews  of  Birmingham  removed 
from  the  old  Synagogue  in  Severn  Street  to 
a  new  and  handsome  structure  in  Blucher 
Street,  Singer's  Hill,  tlie  fir^t  stone  of  which 
was  laid  on  April  12tlj,  1855,  The  new 
Synagogue,  which  waa  consecrated  on  September 
24th,  1856,  was  erected  from  designs  by  I^Ir. 
Yooville  Thomason,  in  the  Byzantine  style  of 
architecture.     It  is  divided  into  nave  and  aisles  by 


588 


OLD  AND  NEW   BIRMINGHAM.  [Chiiirbe«*ad  sects  imi-ict. 


arcades  of  seyen  arches  on  each  side,  the  lower 
order  of  which  support  the  galleries,  and  the 
upper  a  beautiful  semicircular  ceiling.  The 
sanctuary  opens  to  the  main  building  by  a  fine 
arch,  supported  by  four  columns. 

The  old  Meeting  House  of  the  Quakers,  or 
Society  of  Friends,  in  Bull  Street  (erected  in 
1703,  and  enlarged  in  1778),  is  also  among  the 
buildings  which  have  passed  away,  having  given 
place,  in  1856,  to  the  present  not  inelegant 
Meeting  House,  which  was  erected  from  the 
plans  of  Mr.  T.  Plevins,  and  was  opened  on  the 
25th  of  January,  1857. 

In  1848  the  Presbyterians,  finding  their 
original  chapel  (erected  in  1834)  too  small  for 
their  increasing  numbers,  erected  a  substantial 
church  in  Broad  Street,  the  first  stone  of  which 
was  laid  on  the  25th  of  July  in  that  year.  The 
style  adopted  in  the  building  is  Italian,  the  prin- 
cipal front  being  occupied  by  a  tower,  vestibules, 
and  staircases.  It  has  a  somewhat  heavy  appear- 
ance externally,  owing  to  the  absence  of  windows, 
the  cliurch  being  lighted  from  the  roof. 

A  second  church  was  erected  by  the  Presby- 
terians in  1869,  in  Camp  Hill,  and  was  opened 
on  the  3rd  of  June  in  that  year.  It  was  built 
from  the  designs  of  Mr.  T.  Naden,  in  the  Deco- 
rated Gothic  style,  and  consists  of  nave  and 
side  aisles,  with  tower  and  spire. 

The  Christadelphians  first  obtained  a  footing 
in  Birmingham,  we  believe,  in  1866,  holding 
their  services  in  the  Athenaeum  Hall,  Temple 
Bow.      On  the  removal  of  the  Swedenborgians 


to  Wretham  Boad,  Handsworth,  the  Chnstaik 
phians  took  possession  of  their  old  meeting  h<KU 
in  Summer  Lane,  which  they  still  hold.  Serrio 
are  also  held  by  this  denomination  every  Sundi 
in  the  Temperance  Hall,  Temple  Street. 

The  Plymouth  Brethren,  Disciples  of  Cbi 
Lady  Huntingdon's  Connexion,  Latter  Day  Saini 
Spiritualists,  and  other  minor  sects,  have  also  pkc 
of  worship  in  Birmingham. 

"  This  is  not  the  place  " — says  Mr.  Bates 
concldding  his  notices  of  the  religious  edifice 
town* — "to  expatiate  on  the  necessity  of  a  rig 
performance  of  our  religious  duties,  or  to  tea 
the  strict  connection  between  religious  sentime 
and  our  moral  and  social  condition.  Enooj 
that,  in  the  words  of  Burke,  *  we  know,  and  wl 
is  better,  feel  inwardly  that  religion  is  the  It 
of  civil  society,  and  the  source  of  all  good  ai 
all  comfort,'  and  with  this  conviction,  ai 
rejoicing  in  the  knowledge  that  the  Qn] 
of  Birmingham  of  every  denomination  i 
distinguished  as  a  body  no  less  for  the  ferven 
with  which  they  labour  in  their  holy  ministratic 
than  their  exemplary  conduct  in  private  life,  y 
trust  that,  while  the  visitor  in  surveying  t 
physical  aspect  of  our  town  may  exclaim  wi 
Sir  Roger  de  Coverley,  *  that  the  fifty  ne 
churches  do  very  much  mend  the  prospect, 
it  may  also  be  apparent  in  the  manners  a] 
habits  of  our  people,  that  the  frequent  tempi 
of  the  Almighty  subserve  a  higher  and  nobl 
purpose." 


^Pictorial  Guide  to  Birmingham,  p.  80. 
t  Spectator,  No.  3S3. 


Tim  QtUM:ir«  C«»Uq({c,] 


OLD   AND    Xi:W    IJIRMINGHAM- 


589 


CHAPTER     V, 


XDUUATIOK,    LITERATURE,    AKD    LITERARY    AND    SCIENTIFIC    SOCIETIES 

IN     BIRMINGHAM;      18  41—18  79. 

•Hi**  Qoren'ii  Collegn— The  BlrmlnghAm  and  Midland  In*tituii5— Charles  Dickens's  Rciadlng4— Miuoiri  CollAf^e— The  Onunnur  Behool— 
^Blrujlngliam  Book*  nnJ  their  Authors— Local  PoritttLicAl  Lttcnture— ElemcnUjy  EducAtioa^  TJic  Hoard  SchooU^Utoxmry  and 
BclvuUfle  SocieUei  of  filrmlngliam. 


\Vk  came  now  to  the  history  of  the  educational 
aod  literary  progress  of  our  to^ivia  daring  the  post 
forty  yeara 

In  1828  Mr,  W.  Sands  Cox  founded  a  school 

of  Medieiue  and   Surgery  which,  by  hia  watch- 

fulxie^  and  care  grew,  in  time,  into  the  useful  and 

valuable  institution  now  known  as  the  Queen*s 

-College,      The  present  building  was  erected  in 

1843-44,  and  consists  of  seventy  students*  rooms, 

Uboratories,  anatomical  rooms,  library,  museum, 

chapel,  and  a  large  and  handsome  dining  hall. 

The  principal  elevation  consists  of  a  centre  and 

wings^  each  having  an  entrance  doorway,  above 

-«ach  of  which  is  a  lofty  oriel  window,  extending  to 

the  height  of  two  stories ;  between  each  of  these 

are  two  other  traceried  windows  of  the  same  height, 

and  the  whole  is  surmounted  by  a  gabled  parapet, 

with  pinnacles.     This  fa^e  is  evidently  copied 

from  that  of   the  Free  Grammar  School.      The 

chapel,  which  was  consecrated  in  1845,  contains 

a  stained   glass   window   (**  Christ   Healing   the 

Sick ")   designed   by   Mr,   Brooke  Smith,  junn, 

.and  executed  by  Messrs.  Pemberton*     The  altar- 

jneoe  contains  a  dne  work  of  art  in  silver,  designed 

by  Flaxman,  and  executed  by  the  late  Sir  Edward 

Thomason,  the  subject  being  the* Shield  of  Faith.* 

In  til e  dining  haU  are  three  noteworthy  pictures 

by  the  gre-at   French  artist,  David,  presented  by 

the  late  Vice-Principal,  the  lie  v.  Chancellor  Law, 

one  of  which,  '*  The    Return  ^of  the  Prodigal,^' 

merits  special  atttintion.     There  are  also  jxirtraits 

-of  W.  Sand  Cox,  Est].,  the  Itev.  Chancellor  Law, 

Dr,  Johnson,  and  of  the  groat  benefactor  to  the 

ege,  the  Rev.  Samuel  Wila«m,  Wamford,  LLD. 


After  a  long  and  troublous  conflict  between  the 
founder,  the  professors,  and  the  supporters  of  the 
institution,  the  College  was  incorporated  by  Act 
of  Parliament,  and  has  since  done  much 
good  work.  *^  It  is  divided  into  three  facultiea  : 
1,  Theology  ;  2,  Medicine  ;  3,  Arts.  The  couraes 
of  study  qualify  for  the  degrees  of  B.A.,  M.A., 
B.C.L.,  D.C.L,  M.B,,  and  M.D,,  in  the  Univer- 
sity  of  London,  and  for  the  diplomas  of  the 
Royal  College  of  Surgeons,  and  the  Society  of 
Apothecaries."* 

We  have  already  referred,  in  the  chapter  on 
Public  Life  and  Events,  to  the  proposal  which 
was  set  on  foot,  in  the  winter  of  1852-3,  to 
establish  a  Literary  and  Scientific  Institute  in 
the  town.  The  cordial  approval  of  Charles 
Dickens  served  to  encourage  the  projectors  of 
the  movement,  and  they  were  still  further 
encoumged  by  his  offer,  made  to  Mr.  Banks  on 
the  occasion  of  his  visit  to  receive  the  testimonial, 
to  give  a  public  reading  of  his  Christmas  Carol, 
on  behalf  of  the  institution,  **  There  would  be 
some  novelty  in  tlio  thing,"— lie  wrote,  on  the 
following  day,  to  Mr.  Arthur  Ryland — *'a« 
I  have  never  done  it  in  public,  though  I  have 
in  private,  anJ  (if  I  may  say  so)  with  a  great 
effect  on  the  hearers.'' 

A  meeting  was  held  in  the  Lecture  Theatre 
of  the  old  Philosophical  Institution,  Cannon 
Street,  on  Monday,  January  10th,  1853,  the  result 
of  which  was  the  foundation  of  the  Birmingham 
and  Midland  Institute.  The  first  list  of  donations 
was  issued  on  the  llth  of  Juno,  showing  that 


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Geneml  uaid  the  Indu^tritil  ;  tho  former  eiubracing 
the  usual  privileges  of  a  first-Glass  literai-y  society* 
— a  News  Room,  an  admirable  Lecture  Programme, 
English  History  and  Literature  Classes,  and  an 
annual  Uonveraazione, — for  the  annual  subscrip- 
tion of  one  guinea ;  the  latter  consisting  of 
cliissea  for  the  study  of  Languages,  Litcmture, 
Aud  Science,  at  exceedingly  low  fees.  Tliere  has 
also  been  added  to  tlie  Institute  an  ArchjcologiciU 
Section,  of  which  Mr.  Sam:  Timmins  is  President, 
the  conditinns  of  membcrehip  l>eing  a  yearly  sub- 
scription of  live  shilling  in  addition  t«  tlie  usual 
guinea  subscription  to  the  Listitnte  itself.  This 
Section  has  done  g<xid  work  in  the  publication  of 
valua>de  papers  on  local  antiquities,  with  illus- 
tnitive  drawings ;  and  we  venture  to  express  the 
hope  that  at  no  very  distant  period  its  meml>erfl 
may  unite  in  the  production  of  a  corrected  and 
enlarged  edition  of  Bugdole's  groat  county  history 
Such  a  work  would  be  a  lasting  monument  to  the 
present  officers  and  members  of  tlie  society. 

The  Birmingham  and  Midland  Institute  has 
numhetv'^d  amongst  its  presidents  some  of  the 
most  distinguished  writers  and  thinkers  of  the 
present  generation^  all  of  whom  have  tlelivered 
the  customary  inaugural  address  at  the  commence- 
ment of  tho  session.  What  an  interesting  volume 
might  be  made  of  these  annual  addresses,  delivered 
by  Cbarles  Dick  en  s»  Charles  Kings  ley,  Professors 
Huxley,  Tyndall,  and  Fawcctt,  John  Morley,  Sir 
Henry  Itowlinson,  Sir  John  Lublxick,  Dean 
Stanley^  ?tnd  othei^  of  not<?.  Surely  they  would 
repay  the  trouble  of  collecting  and  publishing  ! 

At  the  prtjscnt  time  the  Institute  building  is 
undergoing  considerable  alteration  and  enlarge- 
ment, at  a  cost  of  nearly  XI 8,000.  When 
completed  it  will  be,  to  a  fuller  extent,  what 
Charles  Dickens  has  termed  it,  "  one  of  the  most 
rerasirkable  schemes  ever  devised  for  the  educa- 
tional behoof  of  the  artisan  "...  which  has 
**  educated  education  all  aruund  it" 

On  the  23rd  of  February,  1875,  the  first  stone 
was  laid  of  a  niagnilicent  Science  College,  founded 


and  tjndowed  by  Sir  Josiah  Miison,  the  foantl 
of  the  coble  orphanage  at  Erdington,  and,  9^  ih 
building  is  now  nearly  completed  and  will 
opened  during  18t0,  we  may  |»roj>erIy  indu* 
here  some  notice  of  the  institution.  It  i*  to 
governed  by  a  bailiti*  and  six  trustees^  the  foimdi 
himself  being  the  bailiff,  and  the  present  tmite< 
Mes.sra.  J.  Thackray  Bunce,  J.  G,  Bhike,  UJ% 
T,  P.  Heslop,  M,D.,  G.  J.  Johnson,  G.  Shaw, 
M.  J.  Smith.  After  tho  fotinder's  death  tM 
TowQ  Council  is  to  elect  five  other  trostees^  s) 
vacancies  are  to  be  filled  up  aa  they  occur  by  \ 
Council  and  the  trustees  respectively.  Ti 
trustees  are  to  be  laymen  and  Protestants ; 
theological  test  or  qualification  is  to  be  itnpoM 
upon,  or  required  from,  any  professor  or  teadu 
in  tho  College ;  and  neither  sex,  creed,  or  hirtl 
place  is  to  hinder  any  student  from  admissia 
thereto.  Preference,  however,  is  to  be  given  1 
students  from  the  Orphanage  at  Erdington,  and 
seeouil  preference  to  natives  of  Birmingham  an 
Kidderminster. 

*'Ap<Lrt  from  the  vtluc  it   is  likely  to  hiivc  u 
educational  institution,"  nys  the  Daii^  Maii^  *'  it  u  kit] 
tucturolly  a  buihling  which  evmono  in  the  town  m 
point  to  with  priile. 

As  a  spt^cirMcn  of  Gothic  architecture,  it  is  on«  of  I 
fnieai  the  town  possoases.    With  the  gratlual  j     " 
of  tho  sculfolding  one  is  enabled  more  fully  t 
the    beautiful     proportions    and     bold    dignity'    ol 
structure.     The   lofty  hipped  roof  riaes  in   the  ocnl 
block  over  a  building  five  storeys  hi^li,    the 
which  ifl  massive  in  appearance,  varied,  and  pieti 
The  front  is  built  of  red   brick;   with   Pofihind 
details,  which  hove  been  inserted  witbont  any  mini 
ortiamentation,  but  in  the  b<59t  innutier  fiossiblc  to  i»rwli 
the   most  genuinely  artistic  effect.      Dividtn]    tolo 
parts,  the  elevation  rises  in  the  erntro  to  a  coi 
height,  and  the  walls  of  thiS  upi>er  Uoor  rewde  ft 
line  of  the  front  enough  to  allow  of  n  passage, 
by  a  pierced  parapet*     In  the  centits  of  this  block 
entrance  gateway,  in  the  form  of  a  deeply  rt*< 
raised  on  shafted  jambs.     Over  this  i*«  a  projecti 
balcony,  and  on  the  next  floor  six  large  windows,  whf( 
will  give  light  to  the  chemiral  lectnn*  room.     Fi 
point  vims  a  Urge  oriel  window  of  two  storeys  hi; 
above  this  a  gable,  the  terntinal  of  which — a  mu 
id  122  feet  al»ove  the  level  ot  the  fttreet     Fn»m  the 
dominant  (Central  block  portioni  rocode  on  cAch  tii^r.,  ai 
at  the  eictreinities  of  each  of  th«w  are  projecting  wi 
tonuinating  in  lofty  turreted  g*bles.     Thea*  projectii 
wings  are  90  feet  In  hoight«  and  on  ^a^ih  storey  har« 


6rftin»»r  Sdioot.] 


OLD  AND  I^EW   BI 


windows  groa[ied  together.  The  portions  between  the 
centre  and  wings  ape  much  lower,  being  about  55  feet  in 
height  and  haring  but  three  storeys.  The  whole  of  the 
central  bloi^k  huBn  TrontAge  to  Edmund  Street  of  US  feet, 
and  is  36  feet  wide.  The  buildings  now  in  progress  of 
erection  rover  an  area  of  about  2,400  square  yards,  but  in 
the  coQTse  ot  tirat%  when  the  original  plan  of  the  founder  ia 
fully  carried  out,  they  will  occupy  nearly  double  that 
ftrea^  the  extention,  of  course,  being  made  in  the  roar.  At 
right  angles  from  the  block  fronting  Edmund  Street » 
three  parallel  blocks  recede  on  the  sides  of  two  open 
courts,  and  these  are  joined  at  the  south-west  end  by  a 
wing  parallel  with  the  front  block.  From  this  it  will  be 
•ceo  that  the  buildings  are  arranged  something  in  the 
ahsipe  of  a  double  |)aralle1ogT&m ,  the  cental  block  ex- 
tending from  Edmund  Street  in  the  direction  of  Groat 
Charles  Street  doing  double  duty  in  forming  one  of  the 
ailes  for  each. 

*'  Ufion  entering  the  gateway  in  the  central  block  we 
find  ourselves  in  a  large  and  lofty  vestihnle,  whose  groiucd 
arches  with  moulded  ribs  resliug  on  dwarf  columns, 
carved  capitals,  and  spaudrila,  and  geometrical  tracery 
are  in  admirablo  harmony  with  the  exterior  ol  tbo  build- 
ing. From  the  vestibule  a  broad  flight  of  steps  loads  to 
a  landing  on  the  ground  ^oor,  which  is  six  feet  above  the 
level  of  the  streetj  and  from  this  Itindiog  a  wi<le  central 
corridor  extends  from  the  front  to  the  batk  of  the  build- 
lugs,  while  another  corridor,  in  a  transverse  direction 
from  the  first,  runs  along  that  part  of  the  college  fronting 
Edmnnd  Street,  at  each  end  of  which  is  a  staircase  from 
the  basement  to  the  top  of  the  building.  Thti  principal 
■taireaae  opens  to  the  right  half  way  down  the  central 
corridor  with  an  arcade  of  four  arches  on  granite  colnmnSj, 
and  communicatians  with  every  storey.  The  central  cor* 
ridor,  further  down,  passes  into  the  back  range  of  build- 
ings, the  doors  on  one  side  opening  to  a  library  and 
reading  room  of  large  dimensions^  and  on  the  other  to  the 
physical  lahomtory.  On  the  first  floor  are  the  chemiad 
lerture  theatre  already  spoken  of,  three  lorge  lecture 
rooms,  chemical  preparation  room s,  professors* apartments, 
idaaa  rooms  for  magnetistn,  rooms  for  chemical  collections, 
models  and  apparatus,  and  in  the  south-west  block  at  the 
back  'are  several  large  rooms  for  drawing-  The  floors 
above  are  entirely  devoted  to  chemistry,  A  commodious 
a[urtment  in  the  front  block  is  set  apart  as  a  professor's 
laboratory,  and  here  also  are  rooms  for  the  study  of 
organic  chemistry,  and  for  gas,  water,  and  spectrum 
aaalysis.  Above  these  is  a  large  and  lofty  room  to  be 
Qscd  as  a  muaeum.  In  addition  to  the  rooms  already 
aentioned,  there  are  on  the  several  floors  about  25  smaller 

na  for  professors,  aaststanta,  clasaes,  &c.,  and  onaach 
opposite  the  principal  staircase  are  the  necessary 
coat^rooms  and  lavatories.  Altogether  the  building  con- 
tains nearly  a  hundred  rooms.  The  several  laboratories 
will  bo  fitted  up  with  small  and  large  evaporation  niches 
and  with  every  appliance  and  fitting  that  the  modem 
professor  can  suggest  or  the  student  require." 

,  The  Grammar  ScboQl  hiw  undergone  consider- 

le  change  in  its  constitution  during  this  period. 


After  several  unsuccessful  attempts  at  rtiforra,  a 
new  scheme  for  the  government  and  conduct  of 
the  school,  drawn  up  by  the  Charity  Commis- 
sioners, was  approved.  By  the  original  Chiiiter 
the  governors  of  the  School  were  self-elecUd ; 
but  miJer  the  new  scheme,  they  arc  eleeted  aa 
follows  : — Eight  by  the  Town  Council,  one  each 
by  the  three  Universitea  of  Oxford,  Cambridge, 
and  London,  by  the  teachers  of  the  school,  and 
the  remainder  are  what  ia  termed  co-oplative. 
The  Uead  Master  must  be  a  graduate  of  one  of  th© 
Universiities,  but  need  not  now  be  in  Holy  Orders, 
Tlic  old  distinetions  of  classicAl,  comraerical,  and 
elementary  schools  are  now  alwlishcd,  giving  place 
to  what  are  termed  the  Higli,  Middle,  and  Lower 
Middle  Schnnls,  and  except  in  case  of  fuimdrntion 
scbolarrilii[»s  (to  the  extent  of  one-third  of  the  whole 
numljer  of  scholars)  and  Kinq  Edward*s  Scholar- 
ships, fees  are  paid  varying  from  £2  to  ^7  per 
annum,  which  will  be  increased  after  Juno  24thi 
1880,  to  a  scale  varying  from  £2  10s.  to  £S  per 
annum  ;  and  again,  after  Midsummer,  1881,  from 
£3  to  £9  per  annum.  The  present  number  of 
children  being  educated  under  this  foundation 
is  about  1,560. 

During  the  past  forty  years  the  lit^^rature  of 
Birmingham  Ims  been  somewhat  extensive,  and 
among  the  books  thus  issued  from  the  metropolis 
of  the  Midhinds  have  been  not  a  few  which  hava 
taken  high  rank  in  the  literature  of  our  time,  and 
have  been  read  not  only  among  those  who  have 
enjoyed  the  personal  acquaintance  and  friendship 
of  their  authors,  but  by  readers  everywhere, 
Among  these  may  be  mentioned  the  charming 
prose  writings  of  Elibu  Burritt,  the  poems  of  Dr 
Sebastian  Evans  and  Dr,  J,  A.  Langford,  the 
**  Prison  books  and  their  authors,'*  **  Pleasant 
Bpot3  and  Famous  Places/*  and  the  four  chatty 
and  interesting  volume.^  of  local  history  of  tho 
latter  gentleman,  who  received  the  degree  of 
LL.1X,  in  1869  from  the  senate  and  trustees  of 
Greenville  and  Tusculum  College,  Tennease,  *'  as 
a  mark  of  their  high  appreciation  of  the  valte  of 
his  literary  labour?,"     Dr.  C.  M.  Ingleby,   Dr,  J. 


0^ 


594 


OLD    AND     NEW    BIRMINGHAM. 


(Local  Xewipaiien. 


H.  Xcwnmn,  John  Angell  James,  E.  TV.  Dale, 
George  Dawson,  W.  Lucas  Sargant,  J.  Thackray 
l>unce,  Sam :  Timmins,  J.  Toiilmin  Smith,  T.  H. 
Gill,  Thomas  Eagg,  Bessie  Rayner  Parkes,  and 
other  names  might  also  be  mentioned  of  local 
authors  who  have  found  many  readers  outside  the 
radius  of  their  personal  influence.  Mention 
should  also  he  made  here  of  several  well-known 
authors  whose  works  have  not  been  issued  from 
the  local  press,  but  who  have  special  claims  upon 
us  as  natives  of  or  residents  in  Birmingham,  as, 
for  instance,  Mr.  Edward  A.  Freeman,  the 
historian  of  the  Norman  Concpiest,  who  is 
a  native  of  Harborne ;  Mr.  Edward  Capem, 
the  Devonshire  postman  poet,  who  has 
taken  up  his  residence  in  the  same  pleasant 
suburb;  Mr.  George  Mogridge,  better  known 
as  "  Old  Humphrey,"  who  lies  buried  at 
.  Ilandsworth;  and  Mrs.  Emma  Jane  Worboise, 
who  was  for  many  years  a  resident  in  this  locality. 
The  department  of  prose  fiction  has  also  been 
enriched  by  the  writings  of  Miss  Julia  Goddard, 
daughter  of  our  townsman,  Mr.  S.  A.  Goddard, 
who  laboured  so  hard  in  the  cause  of  freedom, 
botli  in  the  Reform  a^'itation  of  1830  and  in  the 
Anti-Corn  Law  struggle  of  later  years.  But  he  is 
perhaps  better  known  to  modern  Birmingham 
men  by  his  letters  during  the  American  AVar, 
advocating  the  cause  of  the  North,  which  have 
since  been  ropu])li8hed  in  two  volumes. 

In  the  history  of  local  periodical  literature  we 
must  go  back  to  the  year  1836,  in  which,  during 
the  month  of  July,  a  new  weekly  newspaper — the 
Midland  Couniles^  Herald — was  commenced,  on 
the  plan  of  a  gratuitous  circulation,  and  is  for 
the  most  part  an  advertising  medium,  chiefly 
devoted  to  the  land  interests,  farming,  agri- 
culture, etc.  It  is  neutral  in  politics,  and  has  a 
very  extenf^ive  circulation.  On  the  30th  of 
I)ec(?niber,  1848,  the  Birmingham  Mercury  was 
established,  on  democratic  principles. 

The  first  daily  newspaper  published  in  Bir- 
mingham appeared  on  the  7th  of  May,  1855, 
under  the  title  of  the  Birmingham  Daily  Press, 


It  was  not  a  successful  venture,  and  lived  onlj 
about  two  years. 

In  1857,  the  Birmingham  Daily  Post  was  estab- 
lished  by  the   proprietors   of  the   Birmingham 
Journal ;  the  first  number  was  iflsued  on  the  4th 
of   December.     The  Daily  Post  has  remained, 
throughout  its  career,  loyal  to  the   principles  of 
Liberalism,  and  by  enterprise  and  good  manag»^ 
ment  has  become  the  leading  journal  in  the  Mid- 
land   Counties,   having  a    daily    circulation  of 
upwards  of  40,000  copies.     In  connection  with 
this  journal  was  issued  for  the  first  time,  during 
the  same  month,  a   weekly   newspaper  for  the 
working   classes — the   Saturday    livening    Pod^ 
which,  in  addition  to  the  news  of  the  week,  con- 
tained serial  stories  and  other  special  contribu- 
tions.    The  title  was  subsequently  altered,  on  the 
discontinuance  of  the  Journal,  in  1869,  to  that  of 
the  Birmingham  Weekly  Post,     It  has  a  circula- 
tion of  52,000  copies  weekly. 

On  the  first  of  January,  1861,  a  monthly 
satirical  publication,  entitled  the  Town  Crier^  wa3 
commenced,  which  has  held  its  own  against 
subsequent  competitors  up  to  the  present  time. 
It  had  at  fii'st  occasional  woodcuts,  but  the  art  of 
wood  engraving  was  not  at  that  time  in  a  flourish 
ing  condition  in  Birmingham,  and  these  embellish- 
ments were  wisely  discontinued. 

In  May,  1862,  a  second  daily  newspaper, 
Conserv^ative  in  politics,  was  established  in  con- 
nection with  the  venerable  Bimilngham  Gazette, 
founded  by  Mr.  Aris  in  1741,  and  bearing  the 
same  name.  The  Saturday  issue  still  bears  the 
name  of  the  original  founder,  and  thus  preserves 
a  link  between  the  days  of  George  the  Second 
and  the  Victorian  era. 

The  political  campaign  of  1868  brought  into 
existence  several  *  comic*  weeklies,  to  which  we 
have  already  made  reference  in  a  previous  chaj)ter. 
The  Third  Member ^  the  organ  of  the  Conserva- 
tives, and  Toby,  that  of  the  Liberals,  lived  only 
during  the  election  contest,  (about  three  months) 
both  wore  illustrated,  the  former  with  lithographed 
cartoons,   and   the  latter  with  woodcuts.     The 


Lociil  NvwaptiHtn,] 


OLD  Amy  ITEW   BIEMINGHiJVL 


595 


GHfiiron^  a  thml  publication  of  the  same  class, 
lived  only  about  tbree  weeks.         .  /nh^'J   ^^ j  .i,t» 

lo  September,  1869,  one  of  the  moat  important 
joumalistic  experiments  ever  attempted  in  the 
pmviiicea  was  commenced  in  the  publication  of 
the  first  numljer  of  tbe  lUustrated  Midiand  News, 
a  weekly  publication  conducted  by  Mr,  Joseph 
Hatton,  tbe  well-known  novelist  and  journalist 
It  eonBiated  of  sixteen  folio  pages,  of  the  same 
eUe  and  general  appearance  as  its  successful  proto- 
type, the  Ilhtstrated  London  News^  and  con- 
tained from  eight  to  twelve  fairly  executed  wood 
engravings  every  week  But  the  proprietors 
laboured  under  the  disadvantage  of  being  com- 
pelled to  send  their  best  work  to  the  London 
engravers,  as  there  was  at  that  time  no  competent 
engraver  on  wood  in  the  town,  and  although  this 
difficulty  was  at  length  to  some  extent  obviated, 
the  local  work  was  of  manifestly  inferior  quality, 
and  this,  together  with  the  introduction  of  by  far 
too  many  borrowed  electrotypes,  uninteresting  to 
midland  readere,  caiLsed  the  local  intci-est  in  the 
venture  to  die  out,  and  after  sixteen  months' 
existence,  it  became,  practically,  a  London  pub- 
licatian^  and  soon  afterwards  altered  its  title, 
becoming  the  Illudrated  Nettmpaper.  With  the 
Increased  local  facilities  for  producing  such  a 
journal,  and  the  probability  of  securmg  a  larger 
circle  of  subscribers,  it  is  a  matter  of  suqirise 
that  no  attempt  hius  yet  been  made  to  repeat  the 
experiment. 

During  the  same  week  in  wliich  the  lUmirated 
Midland  Neto$  was  commenced,  the  first  number 
of  a  new  weekly  satirical  journal  wtis  published, 
entitled  Brum^  edited  by  "  Old  Sarbot,"  and  iilus- 
trated  with  coloured  lithographic  cartoons  drawn 
by  Mr.  G.  H.  Bernasconi.  This  periodical  lasted 
scarcely  four  months,  expiring  in  tlio  following 
December* 

Soon  alter  the  outbreak  of  the  war  between 
France  and  Germany,  when  the  London  EcJio 
(a  halfpenny  evening  newspaper)  was  selling  in 
large  numbers  in  Birmingham,  the  first  local  even- 
ijig  journal  was  issued,  at  the  same  price — the 


Birmingham  Daily  Mail — which  speedily  won  for 
itself  a  large  circulation,  both  by  its  fearless  and 
outspoken  Liberalism  and  by  the  ability  of  its 
"  special  '*  articles  on  all  topics  of  general  interest 
As  a  pleasant  and  chatty  new  s]>a  per,  appearing  at  an 
hour  when  the  majority  of  business  men  have 
leisure  for  reading,  it  ha^  become  one  of  the  most 
lK)pular  and  widely-read  journals  in  the  Midland 
Counties,  having  at  the  present  time  a  circulation 
of  56,000  copies. 

A  more  ambitious,  but  less  successful,  daily 
newspaper  was  issued  for  the  first  time  on  the 
2nd  of  January,  1871,  under  the  oditoi*ship  of  the 
late  Mr.  George  Dawson,  M*A.,  ^vith  Dr.  J.  A, 
LtiMgford  as  **  local  editor,"  bearing  the  simple 
title  of  the  Birmingham  Morning  News,  The 
policy  of  this  journal  wat  that  of  **  advanced 
Liliendism,"  but  its  special  feature  consisted  in  the 
contributions  of  the  editor,  whose  popularity  ob- 
tained for  the  new  journal  a  considerable  cii'cula- 
tion*  Owing,  however,  to  some  differences  with 
the  pro[»rietor,  Mr,  Dawson  did  not  long  retain 
the  editorship,  and  when  it  became  known  that 
he  had  resigned  the  circulation  began  to  fall  ofiF, 
and  the  paper  was  no  longer  able  to  hold  its  own 
against  the  powerful  Post,  and,  after  a  chet[uered 
career  of  about  five  years  (during  the  last  six 
months  of  which  it  appeared  both  morning  and 
evening  as  a  half  penny  joumjd),  it  ce:ised  to  exist. 

During  the  year  1876  a  monthly  periodical, 
entitled  the  Birmingham  Emminer^  was  pub- 
1  is  heel,  and  gave  promise  of  a  high  class  serial  for 
local  readers,  which  should  represtjnt  the  thought 
and  culture  of  the  town.  After  about  a  twelve 
months*  existence,  however,  the  publication  ceased 
from  want  of  sufficient  support  More  successful 
have  been  the  attempts  to  establish  periodicals  of 
this  class  representing  special  departments  of 
knowledge,  as  in  the  case  of  the  Dirmmglmm 
Medical  Review,  the  Midland  Naturaluity  and  the 
Central  Liierarg  Magazine^  the  latter  of  which 
has  now  been  in  existence  about  seven  years. 

In  October,  1876,  a  weekly  "Journal  of  Sense 
and  Satire,"  entitled  the  Dart^  was  commenced 


ft96 


OLD  AKD  VTKW  BmMINGILOL 


tU«^9Cr 


as  a  Libeml  oi^an,  freely  criticising  tlie  action  of 
pnblio  men,  and  giving  each  week  a  cartoon 
}>ortrait  or  caricaturf  sketchy  drawn  bj  Mr.  G-  H. 
l!t?rniuiconi,  la  the  following  January,  1877| 
the  LwN^  a  Conservative  journal  of  a  similar 
cbumcter,  wua  commenced,  but  lived  only  a  few 
months.  In  February  of  the  present  ye^r  the 
Owl  was  established,  on  the  old  lines  of  the  Dart, 
which  had  ceaaed  to  represent  the  Liberal  party, 
and  the  artist,  Mr.  Bemasconi,  joined  the  new 
venture,  hi>!  place  on  the  Dart  being  filled  by 
Mr.  fcjersball.  A  halfpenny  journal  of  a  similar 
elia racier,  also  in  the  Liberal  interest,  has  since 
been  established  under  the  resuscitated  title  of 
The  Gridiron, 

At  the  time  of  writing  (October,  1879),  we 
bear  of  changes  in  the  proprietorship  of  the 
l)fif7t/  GazetU^  wliich  has  been  purchased  by 
the  present  editor,  Mr.  A.  A.  Sylvester,  and 
Mr.  E.  W.  8imkiu ;  and  of  the  projected 
issue  of  a  new  evening  journal  in  connection 
therewith »  under  the  title  of  the  Birmhigham 
Daihj  Globe. 

Another  attempt  is  about  to  be  made  to  establish 
a  high-cla«s  local  magazine,  in  the  publication  of 
Mid'England :  A  Magazine  of  Literature^  Science^ 
Arty  and  Archivolofjij^  the  first  number  of  which 
is  announced  to  appear  in  November  (1879),  with 
contributions  by  Miss  Julia  Goddard,  Llewelly  nn 
;jewitt,  Sam  :  Timmins,  W,  Bates,  EA,,  W.  G. 
FitittoD,  and  others. 

If  the  periodical  Literature  of  Binningham  has 
been  productive  of  many  failures,  it  has  also  been 
distinguished  by  a  few  great  successes.  The 
Birmingham  Daifg  Poai  has  taken  a  place  among 
the  best-conducted  provincial  newspapers  of  our 
time,  and  its  opinions  are  received  with  attention 
and  respect  throughout  the  country ;  while  its 
contemporary,  the  Gazette^  has  the  honour  of  being 
one  of  the  oldest  newspapers  in  the  kingdom,  and 
few  journals  could  have  been  of  greater  assistance 
to  the  historian  than  this>  which  has  now  figured 
in  the  course  of  our  history  nearly  a  hundred  and 
forty  years. 


The  two  great  national   scianttfic 
have  held  several  of  their  annual  gatWtsgi 
Birmingham  during    this    period-      Tho 
Association  (which  had  first  visited  Bi: 
in  1839)  came  again  in  1849.     Among  thoie 
took  part  in  this  meeting  were   IMncif 
Bonaparte,  the  Bishop  of    OxfonI,  Sir 
Lyell,  Dt,    Ouckland,  Sir  Eodcrick  Mni 
the  Chevalier  Bunsen,  Sir  David  Brewster^ 
feasors  Owen,   Forbes,   Playfiiir,  S    ' 
Percy,  Eobcrt  Stephenson,  ami  n 
note. 

A  third  visit  was  paid  by  the  A—  .niTB^ 
186*%  on  which  occasion  an  iniportiiu  v  '  m^  f 
reports  was  collected  and  published,  r 
the  Kesources,  Pro*lucts,  and  Hanu£Bettm«  ofj 
Birmingham  and  the  Midland  Hardware  Dtilneli 
edited  by  Mr.  Sam:  Timmins. 

The  kindred  society — the  National 
for  the  Promotion  of  Social  Science — waa 
in  Birmingham,  the  first  Congress  being  held 
in  October,  1857.     On  tho  12th  of  that  montki 
the   inaugural   address   of    the   Association  wi 
delivered  in  the  Town  Hall  by  Lord  Broughia 
Papers  were  afterwards  read  on  the  thrwe  fofldir. 
ing    days    on    Jurisprudence    and    Amendmsni^ 
of  the  Law,  on  Punishment  and  Refoi 
Public  Ile^th,  Education,  and   Social 
by  the  ablest  exjionents  of  the  new  FcienocL 

In  1867  the  Association  again  risited  Binmng*! 
ham,  the  meetings  commencing  on  Septal 
30th.  The  proceedings  were  opened  by  a 
preached  in  St.  Philip's  Church,  by  the  Bishop 
of  Worcester ;  and  in  the  evening  the  Inanganl 
Address  was  delivered  by  tlie  President,  the  Eiit 
of  Carnarvon.  Two  soip6c8  were  heJd  in  thf 
Town  Hall,  one  on  the  1 8t  of  Octobtrr  and  t2i# 
other  ^on  the  6th  ;  and  on  the  2nd,  after  tb» 
unveiling  of  the  Watt  statue  by  the  ]irayor,  Mr. 
Sam  :  Timmins  delivered  an  eloqueni  addnas  on 
the  life  of  the  great  inventor. 

Wo  come  now  to  the  elementary  schook  of  tb^ 
town*  An  important  addition  was  made  in  181^ 
to  the  school  accommodaUon  of  the  town  hy  tilt 


tmTm-  r 


denienUry  RtuaitiOD.] 


OLD  Amy  NEW  BmMmGHA>L 


597 


I- ction  uf  the  Birniinghom  Free  Industrial 
S(  hofil  in  Gem  Street,  the  tirst  stone  of  which 
wnB  laid  on  the  12th  of  ApiD  in  that  year  by  the 
late  Eecorder  of  TSimiingham,  ^fatthew  Daven- 
port Hill,  Mr.  (X  W,  Orford  wiis  the  architect. 
For  some  years  the  school  was  principally  devoted 
to  the  education  of  the  children  of  soldiers  killed 
in  the  Crimean  Wai*,  who  were  maintained  out 
of  the  Royal  Patriotic  Fund*  After  these  had 
grown  up  out  of  the  school,  and  the  school  be- 
eame  more  strictly  tlevoted  to  the  work  of  local 
education,  an  application  was  made  for  a  certifi- 
cate under  the  Industrial  ^Schools  Act  of  1866, 
and  after  the  usual  examinations  it  was  granted, 
and  the  institution  became  a  didy  certified  Indus- 
trial School  in  March,  1868. 

As  early  as  1850  the  people  of  Birmingham 
formed  themselves  into  an  association  for  the 
1  introduction  of  a  free,  secular,  and  compulsory 
■tfyatem  of  National  Education,  supported  by  the 
Bmtea.  Tlie  Society — which  was  callr^d  the  Bir- 
H^Qgh&m  School  Association^had  for  its  aecre- 
■iance  Mr.  William  Harris  and  Mr.  H.  E  S* 
"  Thompson ;  and  sent  a  deptitation  to  the 
JiducAtional  Conference  held  at  Manchoater  in 
t  year.  A  National  Public  School  Association 
formed,  as  the  result  of  their  del iherat ions, 
which  the  Birmingham  Association  became  a 
branch,  and  the  r^uestion  of  a  national  system  of 
^ucatiou  was  agitated  in  the  town  with  great 
Tigaur  and  enerj:?y  during  the  year  1851. 

In  January,  1861,  a  conference  was  held  in 
[Birmingham  with  reference  to  the  education  of 
fleeted  and  destitute  children.  Mr.  Recorder 
Mr.  W.  ScholeBeld,  M.P.,  Miss  Carpenter, 
[  of  Bristol ;  Dr.  Miller,  and  others  interested  in  the 
[cause  of  education,  took  part  in  the  deliberations. 
Although  nothing  of  importance  was  accom- 
[jjltshed  aa  the  result  of  these  conferences,  they 
[prepared  the  way,  to  some  extent,  for  the  confer- 
acaa  of  1867,  hvXd  at  the  suggestion  of  Mr, 
I  George  Dixon,  then  Mayor  of  Birmingham,  which, 
in  their  tuni,  were  the  prelude  to  the  organiaation 
the  Nattouiil  Biucation  Dmgue. 


The   Mayor  moved,  and   the  Rev.  C.   Evans 

seconded  : — 

ThAt  la  the  optoioa  of  this  nieetiag  increased  poirrrs 
are  necessary  for  the  exteuMon  of  the  meana  of  education  ; 
jind  that  for  tkia  purpose  it  is  desimble  to  npply  to  Par- 
liament for  an  Act  eiji|»owering  monicipal  corpora ttoitei  to 
leTy  rates  for  educational  purposea. 

Mr,  W.  L,  Sargant  then  moved,  and  Mr.  J.  T, 

Bunco  seconded : — 

That  this  meeting  approves  of  the  principle  that  children 
of  tender  age  shall  not  be  employed  unless  due  proTiidoii 
be  made  for  their  instruction  at  sehooL 

The  adjourned  Conference  was  held  on  the  24th 

of  the  same  month,  at  the  Chamber  of  Commerce, 

Exchange  Buildings,  when  the  following  resolu* 

lutions  were  pa8.«»od  : — 

That,  whereas  it  haa  been  ascertained  that  there  are 
large  numbera  of  persona  who  are  able  to  aend  their 
children  to  .«cliool  and  yet  who  do  not  do  so,  either  from 
apathy  or  from  selfiish  eonttiderations,  it  is  the  opinion  of 
this  meeting  that  a  due  regard  for  the  interests  of  thoao 
children^  thus  neglected,  imposes  on  the  Government  the 
duty  of  passing  a  law,  inflicting  penalties  on  the  pnrenta 
of  ehildreu  for  whose  continued  absence  from  school  there 
is  notr  in  the  opinion  of  the  magistrates,  a  sufficient 
reason  given. 

That  this  meeting  decltnea  to  recommend  any  general 
system  of  compulsory  instruction,  but  that  it  is  of 
opinion  that  the  Industrial  Schooitt  Act,  extended  by  the 
tight  of  experience,  may  prove  a  means  of  aectuing  th« 
instruction  of  neglected  children. 

The  third  and  last  meeting  'of  the  Confei-ence 
was  held  in  the  Council  Chamber,  March  Stli, 
when  similar  resolutions  were  passed,  and  as  a 
result  of  the  meetings  tlie  **  Birmingham  Educa- 
tion Society"  was  formed.  The  report  of  the 
society  was  published  on  the  31st  of  December, 
and  from  that  we  learn  the  following  particulars  : — 
The  population  was  343,948,  there  was  school 
accommodation  for  20,275,  and  the  attendance  at 
schools  was  18,561,  or  8*41  average  per  cent,  on 
the  whole  population. 

The  first  annual  meeting  of  the  society  was  held 

on   the   17th  of  April,  186S,      From  the  rejiort 

tlion  read  we  find  tliat  the  Society  had  already 

done  good  work  in  the  cause  of  free  education. 

The  report  states  that  : — 

There  are  now  SO  schools  on  the  list  of  the  ■ocie^  U* 
which  ehildren  are  aoat  frae.    This  oomprisei  foar-fiftha 


59ft 


OLD  AXD   NEW   BISMINGHA^r. 


^ElKDCBtuy  Edncitkn. 


of  thf  vho]«  rjiiniTi«-r  in  Birmingham.  Thtt  ca««-§  of  tL*r  ' 
chil'ir* n  Lav*-  }Ar'h  -itri'.tly  <rxaii.in*-«i  \KioT*:  frrknm  haTt 
be«ij  mill*-,  in  or<!<:r  to  avoid  th*:  lUmoralifeatioD  i^ftultiLj; 
from  ^'vin;;  aid  to  tboMr  whorouM  afford  to  educate  their 
OWD  <-}jildr«:iJ.  In  this  matter  the  committ«-e  have  l^ieen 
guid*;d,  ill  a  p-f-at  m»;aj»un-,  hy  the  nuinlier  of  )ierM>D9 
in  turh  fiiuily  :irjd  their  a^J;r^l5'ate  we^-kly  eari.in;:s. 

In  l^'CO,  thr'»ugh  iht  .-'Kriety's  eff«jrt>,  an  unde- 

noiiii national  hcliW  was  f-rc-cleil  at  Jirookfields ; 

and   tlic*   Haojf:   year  saw  the  formation   of    the 

National  Edii<:ation  Lfeigue,  whirh  wa-s  foun^led  at 

a  |.iivat<;  nie«:tin;,'  h«;M  at  the  residence  of  Mr.  G. 

I)ix'»:i,    M.P.     The  basis  of  the   Lea;^ue  was  as 

foll'jw.-,  :- 

].—\j":il  riTithr<riti<'N  f-hall  1  e  con)i>«-Iled  ].y  h'lW  to  see 
that  sutL'  !<  lit  "  h'.ol  mrouiUUttW.iou  is  j-rovidf-d  forever}* 
rhiJtl  ill  tli-ir  di-tri't.  2.— The  cost  of  founding  and 
maintiiiniij;;  -nth  ^ihooU  as  may  Tie  rr'piir«r<l  •<li:ill  1ki 
|irovid- d  oit  of  ihi.-  hual  mt'-s,  supplemented  hy  ^lovem- 
mcnt  i]  ;:i."i.tv  '1.—  All  fM.-hool^  ai  h.-d  }»y  hn  al  rat<'S  shall 
1h:  inid»;i  th-  niana;:«'m'-nt  of  hxal  authorities,  and 
aiiliji:' t  to  (;«iv<:rnni«nt  inspution.  4. —  All  schools 
aih-d  hy  loral  ratfr*  .sliall  U-  un sectarian.  5.— To  all 
a^'ho'ilM  aid*d  hy  Imal  rat«s  adniission  bhall  be  free.  6. — 
Kchool  n««riiniiioilation  hidn;^  provided,  the  Stati*  or  the 
lo<  ;d  author itji-s  sjiall  havi:  jx^wer  to  lomind  th«.*  atten- 
dai.«»r  ol*  liildnii  of  suitahlc  agn  not  othi.mise  rf«eiviiig 
edi;«a*i'iii. 

In  or«h-r  t'>  ciirry  nut  tin*  ol'j'-cts  nf  tlii*  Loa;,Mie, 
I:ir;v  sums  w«ie  suhscrihed   by   many  gi.-ntlemcn 
int<-M-.-tfd   in   the   cans**   of  education  throughout  ' 
the  rnuntry.     Among  these  we  may  mention  the 
following,'     hums     ^uUscribed     by     J  Birmingham  ! 
nwij  :-- 

.Mr.  (;.  Dixnii,  M.I' 

Mr.  K.  h.  Clian.e  

Mr.  .1.  ('liumbfrlaiii      

Mr.  .Fos<j>h  Clianiherlain 

Mr.  (;.  B.  Lloyd  

Mr.  A.  Kirld      

Mr.  Koll.tt  0.«,ler,  F.Ii.S. 

Mr.  W.  Middl.^moir     

Mr.  Anliihald  K  cm  irk 

Mr.  F.  S.  iiolton  

Mr.  T.  Krnrirk  ...         

Mr.  William  Kcniirk   ... 

Mr.  J.  Arthur  Ken  rick 

Mr.  John  .rallVny 

Mr.  William  Dudley     

Mr.  Jidni  W<d>ster 


£1,000 
1,000 
1,000 
1,000 

1,000     ' 
1,000 
1,(K)0 

1,000     I 
1,000 
1,000 
500 

r>oo         ! 

r.(»o 

5uo         I 

200  ' 

200 


The;  work  (^f  the  Ix'aj.uio  was  conniienced   in 
real  e/irnest  by   the   publication  of  a    Monthly 
PapoTf   and   of    panipbleta,    leaAeU,    atv^i    o^\^\ 


publication^,  to  e*incate  the  people  of  England 
on  this  important  subject.  Meetings  were  held 
in  all  fjarts  of  the  country,  with  the  result  that, 
in  1870,  the  Government  fiassed  an  Elcmeniaiy 
E'iutation  Act,  as  recorled  in  our  last  chapter  of 
Political  Histon-. 

By  this  Act  cich  district^was  empowered  to 
ele'.t  a  S.-hool  Board,  and  tliat  of  lUmingham 
was  electee!  in  November,  1870.  Nearly  £350,000 
have  l>een  expended  by  the  Board  in  the  erection 
of  school  buildingis,  ami  twi-nty-four  handsome  sets 
of  .«chools  have  Ixjen  ad'lt^l  to  the  town  then.*by, 
from  the  designs  of  Messrs.  Martin  and  (Jhaml»er- 
hiin,  whf  -e  names  an:-  a  iru.ir.intee  for  grxxl  sound 
archittMjtural  w..rk, 

Be'-id'fs  tlufse  iher*.*  at*-  in  the  t«»wn  fifty-sevea 
elementary  schools  b-.-ji'ii^jin;:  to  the  variou.«  reli- 
j^'ifiiis  dt*nomi nation.*:,  pr.'vidin.:  acciimmo<lation  fur 
nearly  30,000  children,  Lrivini:,  with  the  24,638 
pnjvided  f«»r  by  the  IJoanl,  a  complete  total  of 
8cho<jl  accommodation  f<ir  nearly  55,000  children. 

Nor  must  the  (»lder  iu-;titiitions  noticed  in  pre- 
vious chapters  be  overpH^»ke*l.  Thr  iJluc  CV«al 
Si.hrKd,  the  fuur  elementary  or  L'>w*'r  Middle 
Srhofd."^  in  conii«M;ti«>n  ^vitll  Kin.ui  Kdwanl  the 
Sixth's  foundation,  and  llie-  numerous  wellcon- 
duclt'd  jrivate  school.--  in  the  town,  all  ludp  to 
swtdl  the  inxnision  f.,r  i  hmentarv  oducvation  of 
the  rnildicn  of  BirminL'liinu.  An^l  although, 
even  yet,  we  cannot  regaid  that  provision  as  ade- 
.;uate  and  complete,  we  may  with  pride  and  grati- 
tude contrast  our  present  conditi<»n  with  that  of 
the  jierind  immediately  preceding  the  commence- 
ment of  thi.s  pt'rio'I,  ami,  -uiveving  our  great  Free 
Liliraries,  Midland  ln.-^titule,Sehoul  (.f  l)e-ign,aiid 
( 'olh'ges,  as  the  means  of  continuing  the  great  work 
of  education  begun  in  the  >chof)l.-^,  und  feel  that 
not  only  have  tlie  Birmingham  men  and  women 
of  the  future  an  o]>])orlunity  of  becoming  fairly 
ground«'d  in  the  nuliments  of  knowledge,  V»ul 
that  they  may  have  tin-  b«'.-t  possible  eilucation 
which  can  be  devihcd,  and  thus,  as  Elihu  Burritt 
observes,  "  a  large  and  broad  kisis  has  been  laid 
\  at\.  ^\\\0v\  H.vi  'k^^vlV.  "Cvvsi.  ^ycs^<5XMt«  of  public  opinion 


LiiciiwT«tKiScicntiftciniit«hition,.j     OLD    AND  NEW  BIRMINGHAM. 


d9d 


m  Birmingham,  and  to  inciisase  ita  force  and 
effect  upon  the  country  and  its  government." 

Wo  need  only  mention  briefly  hore  the  Diocesan 
Tniiiiing  CoUefre  for  SchoolmasterB  at  Saltley ;  a 
handsome  building  in  the  Gothic  of  the  period 
of  Edwani  I,  which  contains  accommodation 
for  100  students.  The  College  was  opened  in 
1852,  and  since  that  time  nearly  a  thousand 
schoolmasters  hare  been  trained  within  its  walls. 

From  tliG  ashea  of  the  old  Mechanics*  Institute 
(edtablidhod  in  1825,  at  the  schoolrooms  in  con- 
nection with  the  Old  Meeting  and  Ebenexer 
Cliapel),  arose,  in  1843,  the  Polytechnic  Insti- 
tution, which  occupied  the  building  afterwards 
used  aa  the  Children's  Hospital,  and  here  classes 
were  held  for  instruction  in  the  varinus  branches 
of  knowledge,  including  Latin,  German,  French, 
and  other  languages.  Lectures  were  also  given 
frequently  during  the  winter  season,  by  some  of 
the  eminent  and  popular  lecturers  of  that  day. 
A  library  of  about  4,000  volumes  was  attached 
to  this  institution,  together  witli  news  and 
roatling  rooms,  in  which  the  principal  ncwspapeis 
and  literary  periodicals  of  the  time  were  supplied. 

It  was  in  connection  with  this  institution 
Charles  Dickens  delivertMl  his  fiT^i  Birmingham 
speech,  on  the  28th  of  February,  1844. 

The  Polytechnic  Institution,  however,  like  all 
the  predecessors  of  the  Midland  Listitute,  had  a 
hard  fight  for  exii>tence,  and  at  length  succimibetl 
lij  its  fate  in  September,  1853,  dying,  however, 
«lmo€t  at  the  hour  of  victory  of  its  more  fortunate 
successor. 

The  Athenic  Institute  was  established,  in  1841, 
in  Suffolk  Street,  "its  object  being  to  provide 
its  members  with  the  means  by  which  may  be 
obtained  mental,  moral,  and  physical  improvement, 
^(plg^ihcr  with  rational  amusement.''^  In  1846, 
according  to  the  fifth  Annual  Report,  the  Institute 
numbered  eighty  members,  and  the  receipts  for 
the  past  year  had  amounted  to  upwards  of  £132. 

The  Central  Literary  Association  was  founded 
m  1856y  the  iirst  meeting  being  held  on  the  28th 


76 


«  W.  BfttM.  HUoHtd  Guid*^  p.  163. 


of  November  in  that  year.  Meetings  are  held 
weekly  during  the  session,  at  which  readings  are 
given,  papers  read,  and  literary  topics  discussed. 
Wo  have  ali'eiidy  made  reference  to  the  quarterly 
magazine  issued  in  connection  with  this  Society, 
in  our  notice  of  the  periodical  literature  of  this 
period 

In  the  same  year  the  Birmingham  Amateur"" 
Dramatic  Society  was  formed  by  Mr,  John 
Steeple  (the  artist),  Mr.  S.  W.  HUl,  and  Mr, 
H,  J.  Whifclock.  The  first  meeting  of  the  Asso- 
ciation was  held  at  the  Assembly  Kooms,  Broad 
Street,  January  26,  1857,  when  the  farce  entitled 
"Done  on  Both  Sides,"  was  performed.  The 
first  public  performance  took  place  on  the  3rd 
of  June,  1859,  at  the  Theatre  Koyal,  on  behalf 
of  the  funds  of  the  Midland  Institute,  the  pieces 
performed  being  Tom  Taylor's  **Plot  and  Pas- 
sion," *'  Le  Pauvre  Jacques/'  (with  new  music  by 
T.  Anderton),  and  the  farce,  "I've  Eaten  my 
Friend."  The  second  public  performance,  on 
behalf  of  the  same  institution,  wjis  given  on 
October  17,  1861,  at  the  same  house,  the  pieces 
being  **A11  that  Glitters  is  not  Gold,"  "Bom- 
bastes  Furioso,*'  and  "A  Wonderful  Woman." 
But  the  mo6t  successful  public  performance  of 
this  Society  was  that  given  on  the  23rd  of  April, 
1868,  in  aid  of  the  Shakespeare  Memorial  Fund, 
when  the  amateurs  were  assisted  by  Mr.  Sothern 
and  Miss  Madge  Kobert«on  (now  Mrs.  Kendal). 
The  representation  consisted  of  Sheridan'a  brilliant 
comedy  "  The  School  for  Scandal/'  and  the  farce 
entitled  "A  Thumping  Legacy/'  The  per- 
formance, although  highly  successful  from  an 
artistic  point  of  view,  was  nevertheless,  com- 
mercially, a  failure,  only  a  few  pounds  being 
realized.  The  Society  has  since  given  several 
other  public  performances  for  various  charitable 
purposes. 

Amoi^  the  literary  institutions  of  the  town 
we  may  appropriately  notice  here  the  great  reform 
effected  in  the  management  of  the  Birmingham 
[Old]  Library,  by  Mr,  G.  Jabet  in  1860.  Pre- 
vious  to  that  date  the  shareholders  only  had  beea 


60b 


bii)    AKi)     NEW    BIRMINGHAM.  (ChariUblein.tltutioiu.lMl.llS. 


Fill 

i 

f 
t 


I  r  ■ 


iif 


pennitted  to  make  use  of  the  library,  the  sub- 
scription being  30s.  per  annum ;  consequently  the 
institution  was  in  anything  but  a  flourishing  con- 
dition, but,  by  Mr.  Jabet's  efforts,  the  committee 
were  induced  to  lower  the  annual  subscription  to 
one  guinea,  and  to  throw  the  library  open  to  all 
who  chose  to  become  members,  irrespective  of  pro- 
prietorship. The  result  has  been  that  this 
institution  has  become  one  of  the  most  flourish- 
ing and  successful  subscription  libraries  in  the 
provinces. 

Of  the  Society  of  Artists  we  may  only  add 
here,  that  a  Spring  Exhibition  of  Water-Colour 
Drawings  has  been  established  in  connection 
therewith,  so  that  its  rooms  are  now  open 
to    the    public    eight     months     of    the     year. 


The  Royal  Birmingham  and  Midland  Counting 
Art  Union  has  its  ofl^ces  in  the  Society's  Bo(hbi^ 
and  from  its  walls  the  winners  select  their  ait> 
prizes. 

Of  the  other  literary  and  scientific  societieB  in  oar 
midst,  we  need  only  here  enumerate  the  Birming- 
ham and  Edgbaston  Debating  Society,  the  Bir- 
mingham Law  Society  (which  has  a  valuable  liw 
library),  the  Birmingham  Medical  Institute,  (this 
institution  also  possesses  a  valuable  libraiy),  the 
Birmingham  Natural  History  and  Microscopical 
Society,  and  the  Birmingham  Philosophical 
Society.  There  are  now  Literary  Liistitutes  on 
the  plan  of  the  Birmingham  and  Midland  Insti- 
tute, at  Perry  Barr,  Harbome,  Moeeley  and  BalaU 
Heath,  and  King's  Heath. 


CHAPTER    VI. 

CHARITABLE      INSTITUTIONS;    1841—1879. 

The  General  Hospital ;  new  wing  erected— The  Queen's  Hospital— Lying-in  Charily- Tlie  Ear  and  Thr«.»at  Inlinnarj— The  Orthopedic 
and  Spinal  Hospital— Tlie  Honmopathic  Hospital— General  Institution  for  the  Blind— The  Children's  nosi>ital— The  Eye  Infiraurr 
—Women's  Hospital— Sir  Josiah  Mason's  Orj^hanage  and  Almshouse— The  James  Memorial  Almhouses  at  Nechells. 


The  history  of  the]  local  charities  during  the 
period  under  notice  is  one  of  the  pletu^antest 
records  of  prosperity  in  well-doing  which  it  can 
fall  to  the  lot  of  a  town  historian  to  chronicle. 

In  connection  with  the  Geneml  Hospital  we 
have  here  to  record  that  in  1857  a  new  wing  was 
erected  (chiefly  out  of  the  funds  realised  by  the 
Aston  Hall  Fetes)  from  the  desi«^ns  of  Messrs. 
Martin  and  Chamberlain,  making;  provision  for 
20  additional  beds,  and  for  a  dispensary,  phy- 
sicians* and  surgeons'  room,  and  other  oflices. 
The  20  beds  and  the  furniture  of  the  ward  were 
generously  provided  by  ^Fr.  J.  C.  Cohen  ;  and 
these  increased  the  total  number  of  beds  to  about 
240.  We  cannot  here  enter  into  minute  detail  as 
to  the  work  of  the  hospital ;  but  may  state,  from 
the  last  published  annual  report,  that  the  number 
of  in-patients  admitted  dunn^  \^1^  vj«l^  ^,^W— 


i  2,206  of  which  were  admitted  without  tickets; 

'  the  out-patients  of  the  same  year  numbered 
25,655.  The  amount  derived  from  the  Triennial 
Musical  Festivals  during  this  period  will  be  found 
in  the  history  of  the  Festivals. 

One  of  the  first  charitable  movements  in  this 
period,  and  one  which  resulted  in  the  foumling  of 
an  institution  second  only  to  the  General  Hospital, 
was  that  set  on  foot  by  Mr.  W.  Sands  Cox  for  the 
establishment  of  a  Clinical  Hospital  in  connection 
with  the  Royal  School  of  Medicine  and  Surgi^r}', 
now  better  known  as  the  Queen's  College,  The 
proposal  was  first  made  in  a  letter  from  Mr.  Cox 
to  the  Rev.  J.  T.  Law,  the  then  Chancellor  of  the 
Diocese  of  Lichfield,  in  November,  1839  ;  and 
that  gentleman  responded  by  contributing  £1,000 
rent-charge  on  land  in  Bath  Row.     The  Rev.  Dr. 

V  '^  w?ms1q.\vL  ^Aconded  the  liberality  of  Mr.  Law  by 


Th«Qtie«n'a  HoAitltrtl) 


OLD  AND  NEW  BIRMINGHAIit 


GOl 


a  donation  of  £1,000  towards  the  proposed  insti- 
tution, and  public  subscriptions  flowed  in  to  a 
sufficiently  large  extent  to  justify  the  promoters 
in  commencing  operations.  The  first  stone  of  the 
Queen's  Hogpitiil,  as  it  came  to  be  called,  wixs 
laid  by  Earl  Howe  on  the  18th  of  June,  1840, 
the  wards  were  opene<:l  for  the  reception  of 
patients  in  the  year.  The  building  was  erected 
from  the  designs  of  Messrs.  Bailsman  and  Drury, 
and  consisted  of  a  centre  and  two  wings,  approached 
by  a  portico,  surmounted  by  the  arms  of  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Wameford,     The  entire  cost  was  £8,746. 

In  1847  a  penny  suhscription  was  undertaken 
by  the  artisans  of  Birmingham  (who  have  always 
taken  special  interest  in  this  charity)  which  realised 
the  noble  sum  of  £935  Is.  3d.,  and  on  the  28th 
of  December,  1848,  the  funds  of  the  chanty  were 
further  augmented  by  the  noble  sum  of  £1,070 
as  the  result  of  a  special  concert  at  the  Town 
Hall,  gratuitously  given  for  that  |iurpose  by  the 
**  Swedish  Nightingale,"  Jenny  Lind. 

We  have  already  recorded  the  eftbrts  of  Mr. 
J.  W.  Walsh  on  behalf  of  this  institution,  in 
organising  the  great  Aston  Fetes  in  1856,  and  we 
need  only  mention  here  the  great  assistance 
rendered  by  the  Hospital  Sunday  and  Hospital 
Saturtlay  movements  to  this,  among  other 
institutions.  In  1867  the  Hospital  Committee 
entered  Uito  an  agreement  for  the  purchase  of  the 
house  and  ground.^  of  iSt.  Martin's  Rectory,  ad- 
joining the  Hospital,  for  the  extension  of  the 
Imilding,  in  onler  to  provide  for  the  increfising 
necessities  of  the  Out-patient  iJepartuient.  The 
great  proportion  of  the  cost  of  this  extension  was 
contributed  by  the  working  classes  of  the  town ; 
and  the  first  stone  of  tlio  new  building  was  laid 
by  Lord  Leigh,  on  the  4th  of  December,  1871. 
A  hymn,  specially  written  for  the  occasion  by  the 
late  Canon  Kingsley,  was  sung  by  a  choir  of 
1,000  children  from  the  Birmingham  Schools' 
Choral  Union ;  and  after  the  ceremony  of  the 
stone-laying,  the  event  was  celebrated  by  a 
luncheon.  The  new  building  was  opened  on  the 
7th    of    Novemhor,    1873,   and    uix   tlie    1st  of  I 


January,  1876,  partly  in  consideration  of  the 
noble  assistance  which  had  been  so  willingly  ren- 
dered by  the  working  classes,  the  Hospital  was 
made  free.  Nearly  40,000  patients  have  been 
received  by  this  Hospital  since  its  foundation,  and 
the  total  income  during  last  year  amounted  to 
£10,771  6s.  and  the  expenditure  to  £7,703  53. 

In  1842  the  Lying-in  Hospital  was  insti- 
tuted, for  the  reception  of  poor  women  during 
their  confinement.  The  work  of  the  charity  was 
carried  on  in  the  building  now  used  as  the 
Children's  Hospital,  in  Broad  Street,  but  in 
1 868  it  was  resolved  to  change  it  into  a  Lying-in 
Charity  for  the  provision  of  medical  attendance 
for  poor  married  women  during  confinements  at 
their  own  homes,  free  of  expense,  and  the 
building  in  Broad  Street  was  vacated.  The 
business  of  the  charity  is  now  carried  on  in 
NewhaU  Street 

In  1844  an  Institution  for  the  Kolief  of 
Deafness  was  founded  by  Mr.  William  Dufton, 
and  was  first  carried  on  in  Cannon  Street ;  after- 
wards it  was  removed  to  Cherry  Street,  and 
subsequently  to  45,  Ann  Street^  where  the  Eye 
aiid  Ear  Dispensary  was  amalgamated  with  it, 
and,  as  there  was  already  an  excellent  Kye 
Hospital  in  existence,  tlrnt  department  of  the 
treatment  was  discontinued ;  and  as  great  atten- 
tion was  at  that  time  being  devoted  to  the  various 
disease:*  of  the  throat,  as  being  intimately  asso- 
ciated with  the  organ  of  hearing,  the  energies  of 
the  staff  were  directed  entirely  to  the  subject  of 
car  and  throat  diseases,  and  the  amalgamated 
institutions  took  the  new  name  of  the  Ear  and 
Throat  Infirmary.  The  institution  was  again 
removed,  and  now  has  its  home  in  Newhall  Street 
under  the  same  roof  as  the  Orthopaidic  and  Spinal 
Hospitid, 

Of  the  last-named  charity,  wMch  has  already 
been  noticed  in  a  preceding  chapter,  we  have  only 
to  mention  here  that  it  was  removed  from  place 
to  place,  and  at  length  found  a  home  in  Great 
Charles  Street,  in  1858,  "and  from  that  time," 
says  Dr.    Warden,  **  its  progre^  and  ^ros^erltY 


he  dated."  The  premiaes  formerly  occupied 
the  Institution  of  Mechanical  Engineers,  at 
the  comer  of  Newhall  Street  and  Great  Charles 
Street,  were  obtained  in  1877  for  the  purposes  of 
this  and  the  last-mentioned  cliarity. 

Homoeopathy  was  first  introduced  into  Bir- 
mingham in  1845;  a  DispeoBary  was  opened  in 
Great  Charles  Street  in  the  same  year,  but  larger 
and  more  convenient  premises  being  required, 
ft  house  was  in  the  Old  Square  opened  as  a 
Hnmteopathic  Hospital  and  Diapensary,  in  May, 
1847,  In  1866,  tlte  friends  of  the  ittstitution, 
encouraged  by  the  liberality  of  Sir  Josiali  Mason 
nod  Mr,  R  L.  Chance^  who  offered  to  contribute 
J^lyOOO  each  towards  the  erection  of  a  new 
buOdbg,  resolved  at  a  fitting'  time  to  commence 
a  vigorous  canvass  for  that  purpose;  and  iu 
1S73,  a  suitable  site  having  been  obtained  in 
Eia^y  Row,  at  a  coat  of  X7,000,  one4ialf  of  tho 
DOW  building  was  erected  from  a  design  by  Mr, 
Yeovillo  Thomason,  and  opened  on  tho  23rd  of 
November  in  the  same  year. 

The  General  Lnatitution  for  the  Blind 
(commenced  originally  as  a  private  esttiblish- 
inent  by  two  ladies  in  1816),  was  formed 
into  a  public  institution  on  the  24th  of 
April,  1848,  and  occupied  premises  in  Eroiid 
Street  On  the  third  anniversary  of  its  establish- 
meui,  April  23rd,  1851,  the  first  stone  was  laid 
of  a  new  and  more  suitable  building,  in  Carpenter 
Road,  Etlgbaston,  and  the  institution  entered  upon 
its  new  abode  on  the  22nd  of  July,  1862.  The 
building  was  erected  in  the  Elizabethan  style, 
and  cost  upwards  of  XI  2,000;  and  tliere  are 
exceiient  playgrounds  and  gardens  adjoining.  The 
course  of  instruction  given  to  the  inmates, 
includes  music  (special  attention  being  given  to 
the  oi:gan),  leading,  and  arithmetic,  the  latter  by 
means  of  pegs  and  boards ;  geography  is  taught 
by  the  aid  of  raised  maps  and  globe ;  and  the 
useful  arts  of  brush  and  basket  making  are  also 
tought  In  the  year  ending  June,  1879,  the 
of  indoor  pupil?  had  been  76, — 48  males 
females ;  the  aalea  of  articles  made  by  the 


inmates  during  the  same  year,  had  realised 
£1,922  5s.  lid*,  the  income  for  the  year, 
was  £4,159  17s.  lOd,,  and  the  expenditure 
£4,252  78.   6d 

In  June,  1861,  a  private  meeting  was  held  at 
the  instance  of  Dr.  T.  P.  Heslop,  and  presided 
over  by  the  Mayor  (the  late  Mr.  A.  Ryland),  out 
of  the  deliberations  of  which  arose  one  of  the 
most  successful  of  our  modern  local  charities, 
the  Free  Hospital  for  Sick  Children.  Early  in  the 
following  month  a  more  public  meeting  was  held 
ia  the  Council  Chamber,  Moor  Street,  presided 
over  by  the  Eev.  Dr.  Miller,  at  whieh  the  work 
was  formally  resolved  upon,  antl  a  provisional 
committee  appointed  to  make  arrangements  for 
tho  opening  of  the  Hospital.  After  some 
deliberation,  the  Committee  obtained  a  suitable 
building — that  formerly  used  for  the  purposes  of 
the  Polytechnic  Institution,  for  which  they  paid 
£2,100.  At  the  first  annual  meeting  of  the  Hos- 
pital, it  was  stated  that,  although  no  canva«!S  had 
been  made,  donations  had  been  sent  in  to  the 
amount  of  £J,100, 

In  1867-8  a  handsome  building  was  erected  as 
a  separate  out*patient  department,  on  the  opposite 
side  of  the  street,  on  a  piece  of  land  leased  from 
tho  trustees  of  Lench^a  Trust.  The  new  building 
was  erected  from  designs  by  Martin  and  Cliamber- 
lain,  at  a  cost  of  about  £3,000,  and  was  opened 
on  the  11th  of  January,  1869.  In  this  year,  too, 
the  Committee  obtfiined  from  the  managers  of  tlie 
Lying-in  Charity,  the  coujmodious  building  in 
Broad  Street,  formerly  used  as  a  Hospital,  and 
after  being  considerably  improved  in  appearance 
(a  handsome  gateway  entrance  and  boundary 
railing  being  erected  at  the  joint  expense  of  Dr. 
Heslop  and  Mi*  C.  E.  Mathews,  the  honorary 
secretary),  it  was  opened  as  an  in-patient  depart- 
ment, and  the  old  building,  in  Steelhouse  Lane, 
was  vacated.  A  new  wing  was  added  in  1875, 
lor  the  reception  of  infection  cases,  and  the  build- 
ing now  forms,  with  its  pleasant  grounds  facing 
tlie  street,  one  of  the  brightest  and  pleasantest 
objects  in  that  neighboui'hooil     The  income  ia 


604 


OLD   AND   NEW   BIBMINGHAM. 


tCtdiHteM*! 


1878  was  j£3,289  6s,  9tl,  and  the  expenditure 
£4,190  168.  3d,  and  since  this  noble  institution 
was  founded  it  has  received  10,»'}65  patients 
within  its  walla,  and  haa  further  reliev<?d  out- 
patients to  the  number  of  191,830,  and  home- 
patients  to  the  number  of  2,537,  making  a  grand 
total  of  204,722. 

The  Eye  Infinnary,  originally  t^i^taljlished  in 
Cannon  Street,  was,  after  the  decease  of  the 
Polytechnic  Institution,  removed  to  its  premises 
in  Steelbouse  Lane,  and  subsequently  to  the 
front  portion  of  the  almost  historic  Boyal  Hotel, 
in  Teraple  Row,  which  thoy  still  occupy. 

In  1871  a  Hospital  was  founded  for  the  recep- 
tion and  treatment  of  Women  afflicted  with 
diseases  peculiar  to  their  sex.  **  It  consists,"  says 
Dr.  Langford,  "  of  an  Out  and  In-patient  free 
and  paying  department.  All  women  whose 
average  weekly  family  earnings  do  not  exceed 
SOs. ;  all  women  having  more  than  three  children 
whose  average  weekly  famity  earnings  do  not 
exceed  40s.  are  at  once  admitted.  All  paupers 
and  all  women  whose  earnings  are  beyond  these 
limits,  have  their  cases  submitted  to  the  decision 
of  the  Hoihse  Committee.  The  hospital  was 
opened  for  out-patients  in  Oi-tobcr,  1871,  auil 
for  in-patients  in  December  of  tlie  same  year. 
The  building  was  at  that  time  in  the  Crescent ; 
but  in  1878  the  In-patient  Department  was 
removed  to  more  convenient  premises  at  8 park 
llill^  itt  which  llie  necessary  alterations  and 
udditi^ms  hnving  been  made,  the  work  of  the 
charity  is  carried  on  under  the  most  favourable 
conditions  as  to  situation  and  sun*oun dings. 
Miss  Kyland,  to  whom  the  house  at  Spark  Hill 
belongs,  gave  £600  towards  the  alterations,  and 
a  lease  at  a  nominal  rental  for  42  years.  The 
number  of  beds  is  eighteen.  In  the  same  year 
the  Out-patient  Dei>artmcnt  was  removed  to  the 
Upper  Priory — a  building  tasteful  in  design,  and 
admirably  adapted  for  its  purpose.'* ♦ 

We  have  already  recorded  the   endowment  of 
Sir  Juaiali  Mascjn*s  Orphanage,  at  Erdingtou,  and 

*  Liiisfonl'»0aiid-lfa«k,WtV4V%. 


it  may  here  suiEce  to  quote  horn  the  BimiMf'  | 
ham  Red  Book  the  following  interesting 
of  this  institution,  and  of  the  Almshouses  fe 
by  the  same  largtvhearted  philaotUropist^- 

**Th«  Almshouse!!  are  mttuite  on  the  tompik 

from  Birmingham  to    Sutton,    At  the  comer  of 

Straet,  sad  were  buUt  la  tho  year  15^,  oos 

AlroBhouses,  and  the  other  for  mi  OrphAnag«. 

sccomruodiittoa  in  the  Almshouse  portiou  for  SO 

spiusters  or  widows  of  the   age   of  Wy  yean  o 

Each  iamate  ia  provided  with  a  funiLkhei  houM, 

and  other  iid vantages.     The  portion  which  waa 

the  Orphan itge  is  now  converted  into  a  liozae  for 

edacated  at  the  Or(>hauagc%  who  may  be  out  of  ienriee 

aaffi^riDg  from  aickness,  and  bt  under  the  care  of  a  nuitimuj 

The  new  Orphanage,  erected  on  |iart  of  the  Or] 

eatatesj  is  a  noble  building,  situate  a  nhort  dtntan^ 

the  Cheater  Road,  at  Erdington.     Th«  fotin* 

waa  laid  by  Jojiah  Mason  hiniiielf^  privately,  on 

of  Septemlifr,   I860,  and  the  building  wiu  finial 

(irat  occupied  in  1S6S.     In  addition  to  the  exiwn 

£60^000  on  the   buitdtng,  the  founder  haa  «iido^ 

institutions  with    land   and     buililtng    eatatea   of 

estimated  value  of  £200^000,     No  publicity  waa  givf a 

this  munifiGent  gift  until  the  twelve  montbti  |>i>ftcnl 

by  the  statute  had  elapsed  after  the  date  of  the 

when,  on  the  29th  of  Jidy,  1869,  the  institution  ao^ 

estates  wtjre  handed  over  to  Mjven  truateea,  who, 

with  the  founder,  compose  the  present  board  of 

ment.    On  his  death,  tlie  trustees  will  be  incrcaaed 

appointment  of  fwjven  others  by  the  Town  Couoetl 

tningham.  The  inmateaof  the  Orphanage  arc  to  lie  **)odgdt2| 

clothed,  fed,  maintained,  edncatetl«"  and  bmu(rht  up 

the  extihuive  cost  of  **  the  Orphanage  income/*    I'hur? 

no  restriction  whatever  as  to  locality,  nationality,  or  ft! 

gious  persuasion.     In  the  year  1874  an  additional  *ei«r»1 

wing  was  built,  consisting  of  dormitories  and  a  W-hmi] 

for  150  boys,  connecteil  with  the  niain  builiUng  by  a 

dining    hall   capable    of  ac^eommodating    j»00 

The  Institution  is  now  capable  of  accoramo<Utii 

girls,    l&O  boys,    and   50   infants,    boya,    who    all 

together    for    meals  and    prayera,   but   are   aepamted  i« 

to    school   and   dormiturittn.       The    number   of    iuniatfi 

admitted    to    the    Institution  since   ita    c^mmrut^menV 

has  been  aa  follows  :— Girls,  312,  of  whom  27  have  ditnl, 

153  have  been  sent  to  service  or  returned  to  frirnda,  anl 

202  are  now  in  the  Orphanage  ;  boys,  223 ^  of  wl*um  5  hsvs 

died,  103  have  been  sent  to  employment  or  returned  te 

friends  and  113  now  remain  in  the  Orphanage.     The  raka 

permit  the  admission  of  boys  from  7  to  10  yean  old,  and 

girls  from  4  to  10  years.      Certificates  arv  nHjuiml  of 

marriage,  death  of  Atther,   death  of  mothtjr,  Htul  bnth  of 

child.  ** 

A  neat  block  of  aliuahousoa  or  metaoriikl  cottagei 
huvt»  btseii  erected  at  Nucbells  by  tbi:  Uaughtew 
lil  VW  U^    Mr.   I  [owe  11   Jaiued,  in  lurrnorv  of 


Tii«iiiiaiM«iii«drwOTmi»,i8S4-i87i»,]     OLD   AND   NEW   BIRMTNOHAM. 


605 


Uieir  father,  and  of  their  brother,  John  Howell 
Janie&  They  are  capable  of  acconimodatuig  31 
inmates,    widowSj    single    women,    and   nmnied 


couples — whose  age  is  above  60,  and  who  are 
also  natives  of,  or  resident  in,  Birmingham,  or 
within  a  distance  of  five  mile& 


CHAPTER    Yir, 

THE    TRFENNIAL    M0SICAL    FESTIVALS: 
Third   reriad,    1834-1879. 

Wie  flint  Pestlv&l  in  the  Towu  Hull -MoQdelssolm  in  Binnltigbaiii — **  St.  Paul"— Tlie  *' I^bgcsaug"— First  Perfnttuaoce  of  the 
'*  EJiJah  "— Buit  of  Mcnrtclssotin— Tlio  MftirlelMtolici  FrngwetttJ! — ♦' Eli  "— TesLiiDotiinl  lo  Coat*— "Judith'*— "*  Naftnmn"—"Tbcs 
WoifiAQ  of  Sftiwaria '— "  St.  Petur"— "Tho  Llglit  of  the  World "—Macfarrenii  " H««iirrection **— Wagner's  "Holy  Swpiier'*— 
Roattal's  ** Mi>ii»i  In  Egypt"  etc. 


We  turn  now  once  more  to  the  Musical  Festivals, 
and  proceed  to  record  the  principal  events  in  the 
third  and  most  important  period  in  their  history. 
The  last  Festival  held  in  St.  Pliilip's  Church  took 
place  in  1829,  and,  acconling  to  custom,  the  next 
should  have  been  held  in  1832,  but,  as  the  new 
Town  Hall  was  at  that  time  in  course  of  erec- 
tion, its  was  decided  to  wait  for  its  completion, 
in  order  that  the  Festival  might  be  held  therein. 
It  was  not  until  1834,  therefore,  that  the  building 
was  sufficiently  advanced  to  allow  of  the  holding 
of  the  flrst  Festivsd  within  its  walls.  The  per- 
formances consisted  of  a  new  oratorio  by  Neukomm, 
entitled  **  David,"  a  portion  of  the  Fame  com- 
poeer's  "  Mount  Sinai,"  the  "  Messiah,'*  and  the 
dosing  part  of  Spohr*8  "Last  Judgment;"  two 
evening  concerts  comprising  the  usual  miscella- 
neous selections,  and  a  performance  at  the  theatre 
of  scenes  from  **  Otello '*  and  "Anna  Boleyn." 
llie  Festival  commenced  on  the  7th  of  October, 
and  on  this  occasion  the  prices  of  admission  were 
first  raised  to  the  present  standard  The  receipts 
were  X13,527,  and  the  profits  £5,i8%  out  of 
which  Xl»200  was  paid  for  lengthening  the  Town 
HaJI  to  form  an  organ  recess,  and  £254  towards 
the  exijenscs  connected  with  the  organ ;  so  that 
the  sum  actually  paid  to  the  treasurers  of  the 
Hospital  wjis  £\fi^5. 

The  Ftistival  of  1 837  is  memorable  on  account 
of  the  first  appearance  of  Mendelsjsohn  here,  and 


the  performance  of  his  oratorio  '*St.  Paul"  A 
short  new  oratorio  by  Neukomm,  on  the  subject 
of  the  "Ascension,"  was  also  given,  and  on  the 
Wednesday  evening  the  opera  of  "  Semiramide  " 
was  performed  at  the  Theatre,  Madame  Grisi  sus- 
taining the  leading  character.  A  new  oratorio, 
"The  Triumph  of  Faith,"  (founded  on  the  story 
of  Peter  the  Hermit),  by  Hoeser,  was  also  per- 
formed at  this  Festival  The  produce  of  this 
year's  celebration  (which  commenced  on  the 
19th  of  September,)  was  £11,900,  but  the  proB 
only  amounted  to  £2,776  in  consequenr.e  of  the 
numerous  and  costly  engagements. 

In  1840  the  **  Lobgeeang  **  of  Mendelssohn  was 
performed,  and  among  other  works,  new  to  the 
Birmingham  Festivals,  Rossini's  **  La  Gazza 
Laclra,"  and  Gnecco*s  **  La  Prova,"  Mendelssohn's 
overture  to  the  Midsummer  Night's  Dream," 
The  proceeds  were  £11,613,  and  the  profits 
£4,603. 

The  Festival  of  1843  does  not  call  for  special 
mention,  no  complete  oratorio  being  performed 
except  the  "Messiali."  It  commenced  on  the 
1 9th  of  September ;  the  proceeds  fell  lower  than 
usual,  amounting  only  to  £8,822,  and  the  profits 
to  £2,916. 

The  most  important  of  all  the  series  of  Festivals 
was  that  of  1846,  to  which  attaches  the  special 
interest  arising  out  of  the  first  performance  of 
Mendelssohn's  great   masterpiece,  the  "Elijah^" 


«s 


OiLD  ASD  XEV  B2MISGHA1L 


va,  ill!  ff&a.  it  XiipB  ^  ^viii!a.  fv*ijk«c 


Btarii  tuc  iat  nic  mtfhrL  mam  '17  'as 
_  asatvr  if  -3ff  IG'fMd,  ■rcupvjeucvL  & 
knicwc  yi^Mu.  IT  'a:s  nf^  Qprfs'iramigic  if  'ait  jiwiiinii 
vf  ten.  Jar  looitif  bul  ii  i"*;  iiul^^  ihil  lumiMct  11 
u*  rcaun  if  "Us  «pi.  In-  sh  uLLi^gMC  iac  n:  -dtt  t-hc 
■■E3Ltrr  tilt  snngfiKZiinL  wf  lias^d  ima  m.  "air  nC  if 
FcBK.  -rni  lit  mIirv«*L  pias  if  Hmioel  if  laBtaipfo-. 
mbi  if  HsTCi-  Tiif  ilnaBZ^nuf  rTm.i»uHr  iw^ps-l  i» 
arziirv-jttfxiim.':!.  dil  lis  ic-'AHtn.  vw  Ti&xuf.  H« 
MRKZide:  Old  tri!«L  'i  w-aTtt  fmn.  tw  hl-cl':  if  ig»jn- 
Writa  -  'hi::  latuicr  nsr.  ix  vIj'J.  nitiKSJTf  aai  itt^hsczi 
jicxttfd.  aZitc  i=xr  acLO.  ixnir*  aiox.  saiL  vra.  1.  miiiiac 
air  lie  ragcoiotiL  ^  -iLf  j_  »*r.  ly  if  'jtn  mhbl'Icj  *" 


\tr  rr-r  iii*=,  *x:??gE<»i 


j*r::'.-ilir     rlirk:::-    :•:   Mr.  Sriziris:^  tLc  Rr- 

'.r.::!.'     XL*:  -rci-.Tr  :f  :Lif  zz,izzr  FeKfTjI  vm 
jCll,€3r.  »ii'i  tbe  D*:  TTct:  jS^.S*?*. 

Ii.  1*4&  ;1«:  ••Elijah'  vfc?  rejieaU^i,  trri  Urt 
**  Messiah  *  f.Kfrz::^!  :!•  -n?:!!!  plicr  :  -  I«TarI  in 
Egypt, "  the  *•C^^v: ::;.'"  &Ld  ether  wril-kiivwi: 
work-i  w«:7*:  al«r'.'  r*rfcnri*»i-  Th-e  r?OP-:pt5  were 
je  10/^34.  ai:.d  the  profi'ws  £2.44 ^.  Pi^rivTis  :o  this 
F«::*:ival,  ai.  i  fehor.Iv  af:^r  iL-^  :ej:h  f  Mendel- 
f't^Atn,  a  b^Lst  cf  :he  great  cmpcts-er  was  ex€<:2t€*i 
by  Mr.  P«rt^r  Ho]j;n«.  and  wa«  p]aced  in  frc-nt  of 
th*r  *jv-\j^kXT!i  durin;:  the  perfonnaLceF.  and  is  now 
W:hX^*1  f>u  the  kndinj:  of  the  princ]j<al  staircase  of 
thf;  Town  Hall. 

'ill';  yrifjnii'AUfj'h  in  IS52  inclu«ied,  besides 
tb*;  now  liaiiitional  "  Me«eiah ''  and  "  Elijah,'' 
yi*ih*MiikfAin'ii  fragmrnit  of  an  unfinished  oratorio, 
the  •^  ChriAtim,"  hift  '^Walpm^  Night,"  and 
a$e  urififmhe^l  •*  Loreley,**  Ha3^'«  ^  CisaSaKiC 


wiL&.     Tlie  iccgiplB  VCR 

I^  scPBST  «f  tlie  Fcrtinl  of  1855  wat  tk 
XK'W  :Ea£CE>:>  ctf  ^  EZi,**  ouuipoaed  isxpiwdy  for 
^iTTTtnnanL  I7  Mz.  Carta,  withooi  fee  or  lewaid, 
5«R2nguifi  1^  BBia  iBftended  to  be  paid  hia 
iSicicji  bit  pnm  m  a  oaBfiabiitiian  to  the  fnndf  d 
*Jfet  GcBiesal  HoifciaL  II '"pfaredagmtaiioeeis 
:«:i;l  aEvacalhr  and  i&  die  marireiJ  appkoae  wbidi 
i:  fsb^r^^ihe  avpoaer  at  tlie  doae  of  the  po- 
fmuzise  hastz  greeted  with  tmnnltiKHia  applnne^ 
-9^'^  WM'  TcsKved  vhcn  he  a{^waied  at  the 
srorDKrrc'f  ds^  to  begrn  the  erening  conceit"** 
A  k1t*s  Z7c*=p  oomiDa&ocatiTe  of  a  scene  bm 
I2ie  w::ck  wvi  aflovaida  presented  to  him  br 
Uf»  O'^LSJSSBt  **  aa  a  reeocd  of  his  disinteiested 
]i:«njinr.*  Tvo  nev  rawtataa  were  also  per- 
f  iczrEti  u  the  erouBg  4jum«ts  during  the  Festinl 
— llMfuren's  ^  Leonoia,*  and  Mr.  Howud 
GkoTET's  ^Taa  o*Shantec*  Tlw  leeeqits  were 
£li.745  and  the  profits  X4,09a 

la  IS^S  anew otalorio.  "Judith," bj  Mr.  Henit 
Ls^.  w*as  peribimed.  The  other  morning  per- 
f.r=iar«*  wnnssed  of  the  •*  EUjah,"  "EH,' 
kzri  t'r  <e  **  MesEdih."  The  groes  reoeip*Ce  amoim:e<i 
to  £1L14K  and  the  p*x>fitB  to  X2,731.  '^Be 
nT^-tirr."  «Ts  Mr.  Bonce,  "was  ananged  on  a  scale 
:f  Tii:p«rccedent€d  completenees,  whether  as  regards 
the  works  selected  for  performance  or  the  aitisU5 
to  wh<in  their  interpretation  was  entmsted." 

The  FcstiTai  of  1^1  may  also  be  regazded  ts 
a  Qc^  sncoeissfal  one;  to  the  traditional  per- 
f  ■;  nE^aiices  of  Tuesday  and  Thursday  may  be  added 
the  following  list  of  works  performed  : — Handel's 
*•  Samsc-n,^  HummeFs  '*  Alma  Yirgo,"  Beethoven's 
Mass  in  P,  Haydn's  "Creation,"  "Judas  Ma^ 
cateus,"  and  a  portion  of  "Israel  in  Ea^ypt.'' 
The  performance  of  BeelhoTcn's  Mass  was  wannlj 
commended  by  the  Time*  and  obtained  for  the 
chorus  the  proud  title  (bestowed  upon  them  hj 
the  leading  journal)  of  "the  champion  choristers 
of  England."  The  proceeds  were  £11,453,  tad 
the  profits  X3,043. 


TH«iiaiAiMtti!oiiF^«v»ii,  18W4S79.J      OLD   AI^^D   NEW   BIEMINGHAM. 


607 


At  the  Festival  of  1864  new  laurels  were  added 
to  the  Birmingham  wreath  by  the  masterly  per- 
foimaiice  of  Beethoven's  "Mount  of  Olives,"  in 
which  MdEe.  Tietjens,  Mr.  Sims  Eeeves,  and 
Mr,  Santley  sustained  the  solo  parts.  Besides 
the  **  Elijah "  and  **  Messiah/'  a  new  oratorio, 
Kaaman,"  by  Mn  Costa,  was  produced  with  great 
VQCoeSB.  Mr.  H.  Smart's  dramatic  cantata  **  The 
Bride  of  Dunkorron,"  and  Mr.  A.  Sullivan's 
**  Kenilworth '*  formed  the  principal  attractions 
of  the  evening  concerts.  The  proceeds  were 
jei 3,777,  and  the  profits  X5,256. 

In   1867  the  principal  novelties  comprised  a 
aacied  cantata,  '*The  Woman  of  Samaria,"  by 


Rigby,  appeared  for  the  first  time  at  a  Birming- 
ham Festival  on  this  occasion. 

The  year  1873  was  signalised  by  the  greatest 
financial  success  ever  attained  by  the  Festival, 
the  receipts  being  XI  6,076,  and  the  profits, 
£6,577*  The  principal  new  work  produced  at 
this  Festival  was  Mr,  A.  Sullivan's  oratorio,  **The 
Light  of  the  World/'  and  on  this  occasion  H,R,IL 
f  he  Duke  of  Edinburgh  paid  a  visit  to  Birming- 
liam  for  the  express  purpose  of  hearing  this  work. 

The  new  works  produced  at  the  Festival  of 
1876  were  Mr.  F.  Owen's  cantata,  **  The 
Corsair;"  Professor  G.  A.  Macfarren's  oratorio, 
'*  The    Kesurrection  ; "    Grade's    oacred  j  cantata, 


-m  w 


'Mt 


"■Sim 


EIKlBAfiTON    OLD   THiniCH. 


Dr.  Stemdale  Bennett,  GounotVs  "  Mass  in  G," 
(for  the  first  time  in  Birmingham),  r»eneilict*9 
cantata,  ♦'The  Legend  of  St,  Cecilia,"  and  Mr. 
J.  F.  Bamett's  cantata,  **  The  Ancient  Mariner." 
The  receipts  amounted  to  £14,397,  and  the 
profite  to  £5,541. 

In  1870  the  new  works  were  Benedict's  ora- 
torio, "St.  Peter";  Dr.  Ferdinand  Killer's 
cantata,  **  Nala  and  Damayanti ; "  and  Mr. 
Bamett's  cantata,  "Paradise  and  the  Peri." 
The  receipts  were  £14,635,  and  the  profits 
£0,195,  Our  giftod  townsman,  Mr.  Vernon 
77 


"  Zion,"  and  his  secular  cantata  (performed 
here  for  the  first  time  in  England),  "The 
Crusaders/'  Richard  Wagner's  Bihlloal  scene, 
*'  Tlie  Holy  Supper,"  was  also  produced,  for  the 
first  time  in  this  country,  at  this  Festival 
The  proceeds  amounted  to  £16,374,  and  the 
net  profits,  £6,071. 

In  1879,  the  special  feat\ipes  of  the  Festival 
consisted  of  the  performance  of  Kossini's  "  Moses 
in  Egypt,**  and  of  two  new  cantatas,  "  The  Lay 
of  the  Bell,"  by  Max  Bnich,  and  "The  Lyr© 
and  the  Harp,"  hy  Saint  Saens. 


60S 


OLD  AND   NEW   BERMINGHAM, 


tAlMMt—ttiaflfctttMfti 


We  liave  not  apace  to  mention  the  names 
of  ali  the  principal  vocalists  who  have  taken 
part  in  the  festivals  during  the  period  under 
notice,  bub  some  idea  of  the  completeness  of 
the  arrangements  In  this  department  may  be 
gathered  from  the  following  list  of  a  few  of 
those  who  have  graced  theee  almost  world- 
famous  gatherings.  At  the  earlier  meetings  of 
this  period  Madame  Grisi,  Clara  Novello, 
Madame  Caradori-Allan^  Herr  Staudigl,  (the 
first  and  greatest  representative  of  Elijah ,) 
Signora  Mario  and  Labkche,  and  Mr.  Braham 
appeared ;  and  among  the  vocalists  at  the  later 
meetings  have  been  Mdlle.  Adelina  Patti,  Mdlle. 
Tietjens,  Mesdames  Sainton-Dolby,  Rudersdorff, 
Lemmena-Sherrington,  Patey,  Mdilo.  Christine 
Nilaaon,  Mdlle.  lima  di  Murska,  and  Miss  Edith 
Wynne  ;  Messrs.  Sims  Reeves,  Santley, 
Cumminga,  Weiss,  Vernon  Righy,  and  Signer 
FolL 


We  subjoin  the  usual  tabulated  stakDUStd 


the  financial 

rosolta    of    the 

third    ftmi  i 

tlie  Festivals 

: 

Groaa  Prodooe. 

jSet  PtvutL 

£ 

X 

1834 

13,527 

&,m 

1837 

11,900 

2.776 

1840 

11,613 

4,503 

1843 

8.822 

2.JIt; 

1846 

11.638 

5.508 

1849 

10,334 

2,448 

1853 

11,925 

4.704 

1855 

12,745 

4,091 

1858 

11.141 

3,731 

18SI 

11,463 

3,043 

1864 

13,777 

6,25fi 

1867 

14,397 

5,541 

1870 

14,635 

6,195 

1873 

16,076 

6.577 

1876 

15,374 

6,071 

1879        about    12,000 

r  NoiMi  ■ 

CHAPTER    VIII, 
AMUSEMENTS    OF    THE    PEOPLE,     1811— 187* 

fjndudihg  tkt  Hittoiy  of  the  Thfolru  tluriiiQ  Ukat  psriod). 

Tbe  Tlie&tre  EayAl— ICtertidy— Flrat  AppeaniEice  or  Mr.  Sims  RfleviB— HAckett  as  P&lsUfr— Charles  Dickena  and  the  Aissimr»-Tki 
OtilJd  of  Utetntme  and  Art— Maduae  RUiori—J.  L.  Toole— Tonk's  ColcMMeum— Oustjiviu  f>.  Brooke— The  Moor  8traet  ThMln- 
Tbfl  Hujtia  H&U,  Bro*d  StreeL— Prince  of  WiUea'  Tbeatm— ShakesperiaQ  RaviTala—Aitoa  Lmirer  Grcmnds— The  HolU  Th»tli» 
Miistca]  Societies— Mis telUmeous  AuiusomojiU. 


Ix  the  limited  Bpa*?e  now  at  our  disposal,  it 
will  be  impossible  to  attempt  a  full  and  complete 
history  of  the  local  stage  or  of  the  other  public 
amusements  during  the  past  forty  years  :  such  & 
work  would  of  itself  require  a  goodly  volume, 
and  would  well  repay  in  its  interest  the  labour 
beatowed  upon  it.  All  we  propose  Uj  do  in  thiB 
chapter  is  to  pick  out  a  few  examples  of 
the  amusements  of  the  forty  years  comprised  in 
our  present  record,  and  to  notice  the  various 
places  of  amuaement  now  in  existence. 

First,  then,  as  to  the  **  Old  Theatre/* — as  it  ia 
sometimes  lovingly  called — the  early  history  of 
which  has  already  been  given  in  these  pages. 
During  the  first  year  of  this  period  the  boards 


were  once  more  graced  by  one  whose  first  append 
ance  had  been  made  thereon — Mr,  Mocreaily— 
who  commenced  a  ^yq  nights'  engagement  on  tha 
12th  of  April,  during  which  be  appeaml  in 
"Hamlet,"  **  Macbeth,"  **  Richelieu, "  "  Vir 
ginius,**  and  "  Werner."  Later  on  (June  25th), 
he  appeared  for  one  nighty  sustaining  the  pftii 
of  Claude  Melnotte,  in  the  *'  Lady  of  Lyons,"  (oc 
the  first  time  in  fUrminghani. 

Passing  on  to  tbe  year  1843,  we  pause  far 
moxneni  to  notice  the  first  appearance  in  B]^ 
mingliam  of  a  vocalist  of  great  promise,  iuU0f4 
Reeves, — tbe  now  world-famous  tenor,  Mr.  SinM 
Reeves— of  whom  a  contemporary  critic  ab> 
serves  :    *'  This  gentleman  posaeases  a  fine  tenuf 


Tho  TlMfttm,  ]aillS79.) 


OLD  Am)   l^EW  BIKMINGHAM 


609 


voice,  and  sings  with  great  purity  of  style ; 
there  is,  however,  a  deficiency  Ib  his  articulation, 
which  reqxiirea  correction/* 

In  1852  Mr,  James  Hackett,  the  celebrated 
American  Fahtaff,  made  his  first  appearance  liere 
in  that  impersonation. 

The  efforts  on  behalf  of  the  national  f^nd 
for  the  purchase  of  Shakespeare's  House 
brought  about  that  "  Splendid  Strolling  '*  of 
which  Mr.  Far«ter  makes  record  in  his  Life  of 
Charles  Dicketm^  and  gave  the  people  of  Bir- 
mingham an  opportunity  of  witnessing  the 
perfoimances  of  perhaps  the  most  famous  com- 
pany of  amateurs  who  ever  "trod  the  boards." 
They  appeared  at  the  Theatre  Royal  on  the 
6th  of  June,  1848,  in  Ben  Jonson's  comedy  of 
"  Every  Man  in  his  Humour,"  in  which 
Charles  Dickens  sustained  the  part  of  Captain 
Bohadil.  This  succa^sful  impersonation,  with 
its  picturesque  make-up,  has  beeu  immortalised 
on  canvas   by    Mr,  W.  P,  Frith,  R.A. 

The  part  of  Old  Knowall  (which  tradition 
aasignft  to  Shakespeare  as  its  original  representa- 
tive), was  sustained  on  this  occasion  by  Mr.  Dudley 
Cofltello  ;  Mr.  Frederick  Dickens  sustained  that  of 
Edward  Knowall]  and  among  the  other  actors 
were  >rark  Lemon,  John  Forster,  George  Cruik- 
ahank,  Frank  Stone,  Augustus  Egg,  G.  Scharf,  and 
Mrs.  Cowden  Clarke.  The  performance  concluded 
with  the  farce  entitled  **  Animal  Magnetism,"  by 
Mre.  Inchbald,  in  which  Dickens,  Lemon, 
Cruikshank,  G*  H.  Lewes,  Miss  A.  Romer,  and 
Miss  Emmeline  Montague  appeared.  The  gross 
receipts  amounted  to  £327. 

A  second  performance  was  given  by  the 
amateurs,  on  the  27th  of  the  same  mouth, 
the  piece  selected  on  this  occasion  being  the 
**  ^lerry  Wives  of  Windsor.^*  The  character  of 
the  fat  knight  was  worthily  sustained  by  Mark 
Lemon,  (who  in  later  years  became  somewhat 
famous  in  the  same  impersonation) ;  to  Charles 
Dickens  was  assigned  the  part  of  Justice  Shallow, 
and  to  John  Leech  that  of  his  cousin  Slender* 
Other    parts    in    the     mirthful     comedy    were 


sustained  by  Frank  Stone,  Augustus  Egg,  John 
Forster,  G.  H.  Lewes,  Dudley  Costello,  Frederick 
Dickens,  F  W.  Topham,  Mrs.  Cowden  Clarke, 
and  other  members  of  the  brilliant  coterie,  but 
in  the  whole  comedy  there  was  sxirely  nothing 
more  richly  humorous  than  the  representation 
of  the  character  of  the  blustering  awaahbuckler. 
Ancient  Pistol^  by  teetotal  George  Cruikshank  i 
The  receipts  on  this  occasion  amounted  to  £262. 

A  still  more  famous  company  of  amateurs 
(with  which  Cliarlcs  Dickons  was  also  con- 
nected), appeared  in  Birmingham,  on  the  12th 
and  13th  of  May,  1852,^ — the  Amateur  Com- 
pany of  the  Guild  of  Literatiire  and  Art.  The 
play  was  a  new  one  by  Lord  (then  Sir  E. 
Bulwer)  Lytton,  entitled  **  Not  So  Bad  as  We 
Seem,"  written  expressly  for  the  Members 
of  the  Guild;  and  the  cast  included  the  names 
of  Charles  Dickens,  Wilkie  Collins,  John  Forster, 
Mark  Lemon,  John  Tenniel,  Frank  Stone, 
Augustus  Egg,  Charles  Knight,  Dudley  Costello, 
R,  H.  Home,  and  other  well-known  litterateura. 
The  piece  was  splendidly  mounted,  the  scenes 
having  been  specially  painted  by  Clarkson 
Staniield,  Louis  Haghe,  David  Roberts,  Telbin, 
John  Absolon,  and  other  eminent  artiste. 
Following  Lord  Lytton'a  brilliant  comedy 
came  a  most  amusing  farce,  produced  under  the 
joint  authorship  of  Charles  Dickens  and  Mark 
Lemon,  entitled  **  Mr.  Nightingale's  Diary," — 
a  piece  which  the  play-going  public  would  be 
glad  to  see  revived.  In  it,  Mr.  Dickens  imper- 
sonated 'a  hall-waiter  and  a  sort  of  a  half -boots,* 
closely  resembling  our  old  friend  Sam  Weller; 
and  further  performed  the  remarkable  feat  of 
*  doubling  * — or  should  we  not  say  sesciupUiVf — 
that  character  with  five  others;  while  Mark 
Lemon,  the  other  principal  actor  in  the  piece» 
undertook  three  ports.  The  price  of  admission  to 
this  noteworthy  performance  (which  had  pre- 
viously been  given  before  Her  Majesty  the  Queen,) 
was  seven  shillings. 

Another  famous  performance  during  this  decade 
took  place  on  the  5th  of  August^  1858,  when 


610 


OLD   AND   NIEW  BTE^flKGHAM. 


(The  llketttn*,  murv 


Madame  Ristori  appeared  at  the  Theatie  Boyal, 
"for  one  night  only/*  sustaining  the  part  of 
Elizaheiha^  in  "Elizabetlm,  Regina  d  'Inghleterra.^* 
She  was  supijorted  by  MdUea  Ferroni  and 
Teasero,  and  Signors  Marjeroni,  Bocconini,  Glech, 
Teasero,  and  Bellotti  Bon,  Madame  Bistori 
again  appeared,  on  the  14th  of  July  1863,  in  her 
grand  impersonation  of  Medeu, 

On  October  25th,  1864,  the  most  popular 
comedian  of  the  present  day,  Mr,  J.  L»  Toole, 
made  Mb  first  appearance  in  Birmingham,  in 
three  pieces, — "The  Pretty  Horsebreaker,"  **  Ici 
on  Parle  Fnincaia,**  and  '*  Oliver  Twist,*'  He 
subsequently  appeared  in  the  '*  Cricket  on  the 
Hearth,"  as  Caleb  Plummer^  and  in  other  of  his 
now  famous  impersonations* 

Of  the  many  other  eminent  actors  who  have 
appeared  at  the  Theatre  Royal  during  the  long 
period  covered  by  the  present  chapter,  we 
cannot  further  speak  here,  hut  it  may  suffice  to  say 
that,  under  the  long  and  prosperous  managerial 
career  of  the  Messrs.  Simpson  (the  late  Mr.  Mercer 
H.  Simpson,  senr.,  and  his  son,  the  present 
manager,)  nearly  every  artist  of  note  has  fulfilled 
engagements  at  this  house,  and  that  almost  every 
class  of  dramatic  entertainment  has,  at  one  time  or 
other,  been  presented  therein ;  so  that  the 
complete  history  of  this  classic  theatre  would  be, 
in  leaJity,  the  history  of  the  English  stage  itself 
during  this  period 

In  December,  1853,  Mr,  John  Tonks  opened 
Bingley  Hall  with  an  equestrian  company,  that 
building  having  been  fitted  up  as  an  amphitheatre 
capable  of  holding  4,500  persons;  it  bore  the 
name  ol  "  Tonks's  Colosaeiim.  In  the  April  of  the 
following  year  Lord  Byron's  Sardanapahis  was 
produced  at  this  house;  and  in  July,  Mr 
Gustavus  V,  Brooke  made  his  farewell  bow 
here  prior  to  his  trip  to  Australia  and  Cali- 
fornia. He  appeared  as  Sir  Giles  Overreach 
in  **A  ^ew  Way  to  pay  Old  Debt^,"  also  in 
the  **  Hunchback,"  **Tbe  Merchant  of  Yenice," 
"ITie  Lady  of  Lyons,"  *' Rumeo  and  Juliet," 
'*Bichelieu,"  ** Othello,"   -'The  Wife,"    *•  Ham- 


let," "  The  Stianger,"  and  a  new  tragedy  entilW 
"  Unamo." 

An  application  was  made  to  the  Magjstnlii 
in  1860  for  a  license  to  perform  plays 
Amphitheatre  in  Moor  8tn?et,  but  wa* 
On  the  10th  of  March,  1861,  however,  the  » 
newed  application  (made  on  behalf  of  Mr  J. 
C.  Chute,  who  had  taken  the  building  it  t 
rent  of  X4T5  per  annum)  was  granted  Tk 
principal  fare  at  the  new  houae  cooiisted  of 
pieces  of  a  sensational  or  melodramatic  chazBclir« 
such  as  **  Pauline ;  or,  the  Children  of  ttl 
Night;"  "The  Pirate  ol  tha  Gulph,"  »Md 
of  the  Woods/'  **  Cartouche/*  and  aimHar  pitv 
duclions. 

In  1856  a  Music  Hall  was  erected  in  Broad 
Street  (on  the  front  portion  of  the  grounds 
late  Bingley  House),  by  a  joint-stock  eo3 
at  a  cost  (including  the  organ)  of  £12,000. 
waa  intended  to  be  used  for  concerts  ol  higl 
miifiic,  and  was  opejied  under  diatinj 
patronage,  with  two  oratorio  performani 
which  Madame  Claia  Kovello,  Madame  Wi 
Messrs.  Sims  Reeves,  Montem  Smith,  and 
Mellon  took  part,  on  the  3rd  and  4th  ol  Sepi 
1856*  It  did  not,  however,  prove  very 
ful  as  a  Music  Hall,  and  on  the  13th  of  Hmj 
1862,  a  theatrical  license  waa  applied  lor 
granted,  on  the  understanding  that  only 
entertainments  as  those  of  Mr.  and  MrsL  Hcntani 
Paul,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  German  Eeed,  and  otheii| 
should  be  given.  In  October  ol  the  aam^  yooj 
the  newly  licensed  theatre  waa  taken  by  Ms 
James  Scott,  of  the  Belfast,  Theatre,  but  he  onl] 
retained  the  management  a  lew  week?,  beiiij 
succeeded  in  Kovember  by  Mr.  W»  H*  Swan 
boi'ough  who  opened  it  as  the  Koyal  Music  Hall 
Operetta  House,  for  the  performance  of  vaud* 
villos,  operettas,  and  light  pieces  generally,  II 
the  following  April  Mr.  Charles  Mathews  appears 
at  this  house,  and  here  Mr.  H»  J,  Byron  mfl«3< 
his  first  appeai-ance  in  Birmingham,  in  his  ovfll 
burlesque  of  **AU  Baba,  or  the  Thirty-mBS 
Tliieves."     This  theatre  (which  in  commemoia 


Th«  Th«atx«B»  18411879.] 


OLD   AMD  NEW  BIKMINGHAM. 


611 


tion  of  the  Royal  Wedding  on  the  10th  of  March 
in  this  year,  had  taken  the  name  of  **  the  Prince 
of  Wales*  Operetta  House,")  ia  also  noteworthy 
as  the  one  at  which  Mr.  Sothern's  imifiue 
impersonation  of  Lord  Dundreary  was  first 
presented  to  a  Birmingham  audience. 

For  some  time,  however,  the  fortunes  of  the 
Prince  of  Wales*  Theatre,  as  it  came  afterwards  to 
he  called,  were  not  of  the  hrightest,  and  after 
seYenil  changes  it  passed  into  the  hands  of  the 
pretent  lessee,  Mr,  James  Kodgers,  in  Kovember 
1866,  and  under  his  judicious  management  it 
has  become  one  oi  tlie  most  piosperoua  and 
snce^sful  theatres  in  the  provinces.  In  1876  it 
was  entirely  reconstructed;  the  old  low  front  was 
removed,  and  handsome  shops  erected  in  its  place, 
and  the  interior  of  the  theatre,  having  been  re- 
modelled and  decorated,  wag  rendered  more 
perfect  in  its  acoustic  properties,  and  brighter 
and  more  cheerful  in  appearance.  This  house  has 
been  distinguished  of  late  years  by  the  brilliant 
Shakesperian  and  other  revivals  produced  thereat, 
among  which  special  mention  shoidd  be  made  of 
the  late  Mr.  Charles  Calvert's  revivals  of  "  Henry 
the  Fifth,"  "  Henry  the  Eight,"  and  *'  Sardana^ 
palas,'*  and  Mr.  Coleman's  revival  of  '*Henrj 
the  Fifth."  Mr.  Henry  Irving  usually  appears 
at  this  house,  when  on  hit*  provincial  tours,  and 
has  performed  here  in  '*  Hamlet,'*  "  Richard  III.," 
"Louis  XL,"  <*  The  Bells,"  and  other  of  his  great 
impersonations,  Mr,  and  Mrs.  Kendal,  Mr. 
Hare,  Mr.  J.  L,  Toole,  and  many  other  leading 
aitists  have  also  appeared  from  time  to  time  at 
this  theatre. 

In  connection  with  the  beautiful  pleasure 
grounds  laid  out  by  Mr.  H,  G.  Quilter,  at  Aston, 
known  as  the  Aston  Lower  Grounds,  a  third  local 
theatre  (the  **  Hulte ")  was  established  in  April, 
1870.  A  handsome  block  of  buildings  {on  the 
model  of  the  Alexandra  Palace,  Muswell  HiU,) 
have  been  ere<:ted  by  the  Lower  Grounds  Company, 
in  the  centre  of  the  increasingly  popular  groimds, 
comprising  a  large  and  complete  Aquarium,  with 
a  series  of  Fine  Art  Galleries  over  it,  and  (at 


right  angles  therewith),  a  Great  Hall  220  feet 
long,  by  90  feet  wide,  suitable  either  for 
concerts  or  theatrical  performances.  On  three  sides 
of  this  splendid  hall  are  broad  galleries,  and  at 
the  further  end  is  a  handsome  stage,  suitable 
either  for  modem  comedy  or  for  elaborate 
spectflcular  pieces.  When  the  building  is  used 
for  theatrical  performances  the  floor  ia  raised, 
and  about  three-fourths  of  the  hall  enclosed, 
leaving  the  portion  nearest  the  entrancs  as  a 
commodious  vestibule  or  promenade.  By  this 
means  the  theatre  proper  is  shut  off  from 
noise  and  interruption,  and  the  acoustic  proper- 
ties of  the  house  are  thereby  greatly  improved. 
During  the  pre^sent  year  (1879),  theatrical 
peifomiances  have  been  given  by  the  late  Mr. 
Craven  Robertson's  comedy  company,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  BilUngton,  Mr.  Joseph  Eldred,  Mr.  J.  W. 
Ilyley,  Mr.  T.  W.  Robertson's  Cu^te  Company, 
Mr.  Durand's  EnglishOpera  Company,  and  others. 
Musical  performances  have  been  given  fioui  time 
to  time,  and  among  the  works  performed  by  the 
Holt©  Choral  Society  have  been  Rossini's  "  Stabat 
Mater,'^  Mendelssohn's  "Loreley,"  the  "Messiah," 
Gade*s  cantata,  "  Zion,'*  and  Mr.  T.  Anderton'a 
cantata,  **Juhn  Gilpin."  A  series  of  ballad 
concerts  have  also  been  given.  We  have  not 
space  to  describe  at  length  all  the  attractions  of 
this  most  popular  resort,  but  it  may  suffice 
to  say  that  it  has  taken  the  position  of  a 
"  people's  palace,"  similar  to  the  large  establish- 
ments  of  Sydenham  and  Muswell  Hill,  and 
bids  fair  to  become  in  future  the  most  popular 
place  of  amusement  in  the  midland  counties. 
Views  of  the  grounds  and  buildings  are  given  on 
page  575, 

As  in  former  periods  ali-eady  noticed  in  these 
pages  the  miscellaneous  entertainments  of  the 
forty  years  covered  by  this  chapter  have  been 
numerous  and  very  varied,  from  the  high-class 
concert  to  the  performances  of  the  so-called 
Concert  Halb,  Birmingham  is  in  a  marked 
degree  a  musical  town,  and  hence  we  may  say  of 
musical    societies  and   performanoes  that  their 


OLD  AND   NEW  BIKMINGHAM. 


tuune  ifi  Legtoa  The  F^atival  Choral  Society 
give  a  series  of  high-class  Concerts  erery 
season ;  another  series  is  given  by  Meases. 
HarrisoDf  at  which  neariy  every  vocalist  of  note 
has  appeared  ;  a  third  series  (chiefly  of  oTchestral 
music),  is  given  under  the  direction  of  Mr. 
Stockley  ;  a  fourth  is  given  by  the  Philharmonic 
Society  ;  and  within  the  last  few  weeks  (Nov, 
1S79),  an  association  has  been  formed  at  the 
si^ggeBtion  of  the  Mayor  (Jesse  Collings,  Esq.,) 
called  the  Birmingham  Musical  Association,  for 
the  purpose  of  prc»viding  cheap  concerts  for  the 
people,  the  first  of  which  was  given  on  Saturday 
evening,  November  8th. 

Of  miscellaneous  entertainments  we  can  only 
mention  a  few  here.  We  have  already  referred  to 
the  first  readings  by  Charles  Dickens,  on  behalf  of 
the  Birmingham  and  Midland  Institute,  and  these, 
as  most  of  our  readers  are  doubtless  aware,  were  the 
precursors  of  a  series  of  public  readings  given  by 
the  great  novelist  at  intervals  from  that  date  until 
within  a  few  months  of  his  death.  He  appeared 
in  Birmingham  as  a  public  reader  on  several  sub- 
sequent occasions,  the  last  being  during  his 
farewell  tour,  on  the  Ist  and  2nd  of  April,  1869. 

On  the  27th  of  December,  1850,  Albert  Smith 
paid  us  a  visit,  and  gave  his  entertainment 
entitled  "The  Overiand  Koute,"  at  the  Eoyal 
Hotel  In  January,  1857,  William  Brough 
lectured  on  "Burlesque,"  The  notorious  P.  T. 
Barnum  also  paid  us  a  visit,  in  February,  1659, 
and  imparted  to  the  shrewd,  money-making 
"  Brums  "  hi9  notions  on  the  "  Science  of  Money- 
making,  and  of  Humbug  generally,"  On  the 
25tli  of  Febniary,  1862,  the  genial  editor  of 
Punchy  Mr.  ^lark  Lemon,  appeared  at  the  Music 
Hall,  Broad  Street,  and  delivered  his  Lecture, 
"About  London  and  Westminster,"  illustrating 
his  discourse  with  views  of  some  of  the  places 
referred  to.  The  second  part  of  the  Lecture  was 
delivered  on  March  4  th, 

The  same  gentleman,  in  Februar^v  1669, 
appeared  for  the  first  time  in  Birmingham  in 
his  impersonation  of  Falsi aff^ — a  character  which 


he  had  essayed  in  the  golden  days  of  the 
**  splendid  strollers," — but  this  time  the  fit 
knight*s  adventures  were  those  of  the  road  tathet 
than  of  his  Windsor  amours.  The  scenes  were 
selected  from  the  two  parts  of  **  Henry  ths 
Fourth,**  in  which  the  editor  of  Punch  was 
supported  by  Messrs.  Herbert  CT«llin»  W,  L 
Branscombe,  Harry  Lemon,  (his  son),  W,  B. 
Clarke,  Master  Couran,  and  Miss  Rose  Garland 
The  meriy  little  company  paid  us  another  visit 
in  the  fallowing  October,  on  which  occason 
Birmingham  was  honoured  by  the  preaeaoe  Ofli 
one  evening  of  three  noteworthy  entexiainen; 
Charles  Dick^is  addressing  the  members  of  tiie 
Midland  Institute,  Mark  Lemon  playing  in 
the  scenes  from  "Henry  the  Fourth,'*  at  the 
Exchange,  and  Bejijamin  Webster  in  the  "Willr^w 
Copse,"  at  the  Theatre  Royal 

Other  entertainers  of  divers  sorts  have  fre- 
quently appeared  in oui midst:  Frederic Maocak^ 
issuing  the  pleasing  mandate,  **  Begone  Dull 
Care !  '*  George  GroasmiUi,  opening  up  un- 
explored mines  of  English  humour;  J,  C 
M,  Bellew  and  Walter  Montgomery  hiTe 
charmed  their  large  circles  of  admirers  by  their 
rendering  of  the  masterpieces  of  liteiataie; 
**  drawing-room  CDtcrtainments "  innumerabk 
have  been  given,  by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Howard  Paul, 
Tliurton,  Woodin,  Charies  Du-Val,  Georgt 
Grossmith,  junr.,  and  many  others  of  note; 
Panonimaa,  Negro  Minstrels,  Conjurors,  Yentiito* 
quists,  and  every  variety  of  diversion,  have  helped 
to  swell  the  catalogue  of  the  amusements  of  tha 
people.  And  on  all  holidays  and  throughout  ths 
summer  mouths,  the  ^*  iron  horse  "  has  carried  vuX 
into  the  pure  country  air,  or  away  to  the  aoaftile, 
thousands  of  the  toiling  artisans  of  Binuioghaia; 
and  excursions  are  now  made  in  a  sing^  dajlo 
far-off  places  which  in  the  ■  good  old  Hmm '  would 
have  taken  weeks  to  reach.  There  ate  few 
Birmingham  artisans  nowadays  who  have  not 
paid  more  than  one  visit  to  the  aeasidey  or  wha 
have  not  climbed  the  hills  of  Wales,  or  ei^ond 
the  little  worid  of  the  metropolis. 


Locft]  MASuAiCturM.] 


OLD  AND  NEW  BIEMINGHAM. 


6ia 


CHAPTER    IX, 
LOCAL    TRADE    AND    COMMERCE.     1811— 187ft. 

BtMMfbnndry— The  Gun  Tnid©— Coining— The  BuUjju  Trade— El«ctio-FUtlDg—QluB  Manxifaetur©— The  9lc*l  Pen  Tnw^le— PiO'makiBg— 
JClMellAneoiu  Trades— The  CofTee  Hoitses-  BinninghAjn  Biuiks. 


Wk  cannot  bring  to  a  close  this  history  of  our 
town  and  its  people  without  some  notice  of  tlie 
tiaiie  and  commerce  of  Biraiingham  during  the 
second  half  of  the  nineteenth  century.  It  would 
b©  out  of  place,  however,  in  a  general  work  of 
this  characteri  to  enter  into  minute  details 
respecting  each  branch  of  industry;  it  will 
snffice,  therefore,  to  give  here  an  outline  of  the 
principal  industries  of  the  town  as  they  now 
exists. 

First  among  our  local  trades  come  the  various 
departments  of  brassfoundry,  in  which  about 
11,000  persons  are  employed,  and  in  which  metal 
to  the  value  of  upwards  of  £2,300,000  ia  used 
in  a  single  year.  The  various  articles  made  from 
this  metal  comprise  bells  and  general  household 
fittings,  plumbers'  brassfoundry,  tubes,  lamps, 
chandeliers,  gas-fittings,  wire  and  sheathing, 
bedsteads,  ordnance  and  naval  bra^sfoundry,  and 
ecclesiastical  hrass-work-  Messi-s.  Winfield  are 
the  principal  manufacturers  of  general  brass- 
work  'j  Messrs.  S.  B.  ^Vbitfi^ild,  Greening  and 
Fardon^  and  Brierley  and  ('o.^  of  brass  bed- 
steads^ Messenger  and  Sons,  and  Hinks  and 
Bon,  of  lamps  and  chandeliers ;  Hardman  and 
Co.,  Camm  Brothers,  and  Jones  and  Willis,  of 
ecclesiastical  brass-work  j  and  Martineau  and 
Smith,  of  brass  taps,  etc. 

The  gun  trade,  which  employs  about  10,000 
persons,  may  rank  second  among  our  industries, 
and  although  not  in  so  flourishing  a  condition 
now,  as  it  waa  before  the  establishment  of  the 
Enfield  8m aU  Arms  Factory,  it  still  maintains  an 
important  position,  as  may  he  seen  from  the 
annual  reports  of  the  Guardians  of  the  Proof 


House,  from  which  we  learn  that  in  1878  the 
number  of  gun- barrels  proved  was  558,815,  an 
increase  of  100,000  over  the  returns  of  the 
preceding  year.  It  is  difficult  to  mention  even  all 
the  principal  manufacturers  in  so  extensive  a 
branch  of  industry,  but  perhaps  the  largest  firm  is 
that  of  the  Birmingham  Small  Arms  Company, 
Small  HeatL  Mr.  W.  Greener,  Messrs,  Cooper 
and  Goodman,  Weatley  Kichards  and  Co.,  and 
W.  L.  Sargant  are  also  well-known  firms. 

Tlio  industry  introduced  by  Matthew  Boulton, 
of  making  good  current  coin  of  the  realm,  (as 
distinguished  from  those  counterfeits  which  were 
*  coin'd  by  stealth  *  and  brought  the  town  into 
evil  repute),  is  still  carried  on  by  Ralph  Heaton 
and  Co.,  at  the  Mint,  in  leknield  Street,  where 
coins  are  struck  for  the  British  and  other  Govern- 
ments, inclnding  China,  Turkey,  Italy,  and  the 
Republics  of  South  America. 

Buttons  are  stiU  manufactured  in  Birmingham 
in  largo  quantities  by  many  well-known  firms, 
principal  among  which  may  be  mentioned  Messra. 
Green,  Cadbury,  and  Richards,  Smith  and  Wright, 
Watts  and  Manton,  and  Hammond,  Turner  and 
Sons. 

Perhaps  the  most  interesting  of  the  modern 
industries  of  Birmingham  is  that  of  electro- 
plating, which  was  introduced  in  1838  by  Messrs. 
Elkington,  Mason,  and  Co.,  whose  show-rooms 
form  one  of  the  greatest  attractions  to  every  intel- 
ligent stranger  visiting  the  town,  and  whose 
productions  have  contributed  so  much  to  the 
interest  of  the  great  international  exhibitions. 
Here  the  artistic  workmanship  of  former  ages  is 
reproduced  as  if  by  magic  ;  the  cboice  productions 


C14 


OLD  AKD   NEW   BIR>rTNOHAM. 


{hum 


of  a  Cellini  or  a  Ghiberti  aje  copied  in  Oxb  most 
fattbf til  manner.  "  Here  are  more  than  '  apples 
of  gold  in  pieturea  of  sUrer' ;  here  are  the  ti^eee 
that  bear  both,  and  the  leaves  that  guard  and 
garnish  them,  all  done  to  Nature's  best  truth,  life, 
and  beauty.  Here  are  her  moet  exquisite  ferns, 
with  their  crinkly  foliage  in  tracery  as  delicate 
as  she  hereelf  could  work.  Here  are  the  master 
thoughts  and  master  touches  of  artistic  genius  in 
designs  of  infinite  vaiiety/'*  It  is  not  merely 
in  reproduction  that  this  &rm  haa  been  successful, 
but  in  the  production  of  original  designs,  in  the 
variety  of  prize  cups,  shields,  and  other  articles 
they  have  from  time  to  time  produced.  Mention 
may  also  be  made  of  the  bronze  statues  of  Burke 
and  Goldsmith,  by  the  late  Mr.  Foley,  and  of  the 
beautiful  doimnni  enamela  produced  at  this  famous 
manufactory.  There  are  now  many  other  firms 
in  the  electro-plate  trade,  among  whom  may  be 
mentioned  Messrs*  Horace  Woodward  and  CH, 
Wm.  Spurrier,  Johnson  and  Co.,  and  Collis 
and  Co. 

Kext  to  the  electro-plate  trade  in  point  of 
interest  is  the  now  very  extensive  glass  manufac- 
turing  industry  of  Birmingham,  in  which  the 
firms  of  Chance  Brothers  and  Co.,  F.  and  C. 
Oaler,  Stone,  Fawdry,  and  Stone,  and  Lloyd  and 
Summerfield  are  best  known.  The  word  '^  glass  ** 
calls  up  various  and  widely  different  asfiociationa, 
from  the  humble  but  useful  article  which  admits 
light  to  the  dwelling  of  the  cottager  and  artisan  to 
the  finely  cut  and  richly  oraamonted  objects  of 
art  for  which  Venice  \im  been  celebrated  for 
centuries  ;  thence  to  the  powerful  lenses  used  in 
lighthouses,  and  to  the  material  used  in  the  erec- 
tion of  the  great  Crystal  Palace  at  Sydenham  ; 
and  above  all,  perlmps,  to  the 

*'  Stoned  wiudowg,  richly  dight, 
Coslitig  A  dim  religious  light/' 

which  adorn  alike  both  the  stately  cathedral  and 
the  humble  vilbge  church.  For  the  latter 
Messrs.   Hartlman  and  Mr,  Swaine  Bourne  are 


_^^  •  BcmBrrr :  WuXk*  i%  fht  Biatk  CkniniTy,  p  ns. 


famous.  MesBra.  Osier  have  almost  a  world-wide 
reputation  for  ornamental  gla^.  "  If  the  vote 
were  taken,**  says  Elihu  Burritt>  "  of  the  miHinn 
of  different  countries  who  saw  what  that  &st 
CtyBtal  Palace  contained,  as  to  the  most  imprea- 
fldve,  attractive,  and  best  remembered  object^  a 
majority  would  say  that  it  waa  Osler^s  Crystal 
Fountain.  It  waa  a  magnificent  centre-piece  for 
all  the  splendid  sonoundings  of  art  and  industry 
within  those  walla.  It  seemed  a  gorgeoui 
stalactite  from  that  concave  sea  of  glass  which 
gave  translucent  roofage  to  the  great  spectacle  of 
human  skill  and  toil.  But  that  fairy  foantaln 
waa  only  the  b^inning  of  productions  which 
have  excited  equal  admiration/' 

If  a  stranger  were  asked  for  what  paiticuhi 
article  of  manufacture  Birmingham  had  beooms 
most  famous,  he  would  in  dl  probability  select 
the  steel  pen  as  the  representative  of  local 
industry,  and  when  it  is  mentioned  that  twenty 
millions  of  these  uaofnl  articles  an  made  heT« 
every  week  it  will  be  readily  concedeil  that  such 
a  guess  would  be  pretty  near  the  mark.  In  iti 
early  days  the  steel  pen  was  an  expensive  article^ 
costing  as  much  as  twelve  shillings  a  dozen,  and 
they  were,  in  proportion,  more  valued  tlian  at  th« 
present  time.  With  a  single  steel  pen,  preaexited 
to  him  by  Mr.  Gillott,  Charles  Rcade  wi\>te  tbe 
whole  of  his  powerful  story,  "  It  is  ^ever  too  late 
t<3  Mend,"  though,  in  all  probability  the  poor  ilK 
used  (or  should  we  say  well-used)  nib  must  hnn 
liecn  almost  past  mending  by  the  time  it  hid 
completed  its  task,  A  curious  anecdote  is  quoted 
by  Br.  Langfurd  in  liis  Handbook^  frum  thi 
Manchester  Examiner^  as  to  the  destination  of 
some  of  the  Birmingham-made  pens.  Writiag 
from  Geneva,  in  the  present  year  (1879)  a 
correspondent  of  that  journal  says  :  *•  I  wont  th* 
other  day  into  a  stationer's  shop  to  bny  a  box  of 
pens.  I  asked  for  English  pens.  *  Ma  fm^*  Mid 
tbo  shopman,  *  we  have  hardly  anytliing  hot 
English  pens.*  *  But  thesis  are  German^  I 
remarked.  *  Not  a  bit  of  it :  '  '  v^  »  Gvrmafi 
name,  it  is  true,  but  they  all  m  Btrmii^ 


Looftl  Xtiiufketaiia«»  etct 


OLD   AND   NEW  BIRMINGHAM. 


615 


iiikm.  You  have  Ruder,  of  Berlin  ;  Sclimiilt, 
of  Frankfort ;  Schneider,  of  Bremen  ;  hut  tbey 
mulce  no  pens,  these  fellows,  they  buy  them  in 
EoglanJ.  Even  our  Plume  FcderaU  (Federal 
pen),  po  much  used  here,  and  which  all  the  world 
believes  to  he  Swiss,  is  English  made.  Make 
your  choice,  Monsieur,  every  one  of  these  boxes 
is  from  Birmingham-"  Of  course  the  principal 
manufacturers  of  this  article  are  the  world-famous 
Gillotta,  aud  Perry  &  Co..  (late  Josiali  Mason) ; 
but  there  are  now  many  other  well-known  firms, 
Messrs.  Hinka  and  Wells,  John  Mitchell,  and 
Brandauer  &  Co. 

After  the  pen  trade  comes  that  of  pin  making, 
of  which  also  Birmingham  is  the  centre.  Every 
BcHoolboy  wi^I  recollect  the  old  descriptions  of 
jiin  making,  in  which  we  learned  that  it  required 
ten  persons  to  make  a  single  pin, — ^though 
strictly  speaking  fourteen  persons  were  employed 

I  in  the  various  stages  of  its  nianufacture^bnt  all 
ihis  haa  long  been  changed,  by  the  invention  by 
an  American  named  Lemuel  Wright,  of  a  machine 
for  making  a  perfect  pin  during  the  revolution  of 
a  single  wheel  This  machine,  wiiich  was  intro- 
duced in  1824,  has  since  been  perfected,  and 
these  useful  but  sometimes  dangeromj  articles  are 
now  turned  out  in  such  quuutitiea  as  to  add  new 
force  every  day  to  the  wonder  as  to  **  where  all 
the  pins  go." 

There  are  many  other  local  trades  of  which  we 
cannot  speak  fully  here ;  as,  for  instance,  the 
manufacture  of  wood  screws,  of  which  Messrs. 
^ettlefold  (late  Nettlefold  and  Chamlierlyin)  turn 
out  about  200,000  gross  a  week  ;  cwt  nail  making, 
die  sinking  (specially  represented  by  Mr.  Joseph 
Moore,  of  whose  work  there  are  some  fine 
specimens  in  the  Corporation  Art  Gallery) ; 
Jewellery,  which,  in  good  times  is  a  very 
important  trade^  (in  which  Messrs.  Bragg  are 
lamouj») ;  Wire  Drawing,  in  which  branch  of 
industry  Messrs.  Horsfall,  of  Hay  Mill«,  (where 
the  first  Atlantic  Cable  was  made)  are  perhaps 
the  largew^^t  manvifacturera  in  the  world  ;  Ropt*- 
making ;    Tin    Plate   Work ;    the   Papier-Mache 


trade,  (already  described  in  these  pages) ;  and 
many  others.  We  must  not  omit  a  brief 
reference  to  the  famous  establishment  of  Messrs, 
Tangye  Brothers,  (manufacturers  of  Hydmulic 
and  General  ilachinery),  whose  hydraulic  jacks 
were  used  in  launching  the  Great  EmterHy  and 
in  raising  the  huge  Monolith,  recently  erected  *  on 
the  banks  of  Thames.' 

Mention  m^y  not  ina|  propriately  be  made 
here,  as  it  affects  the  condition  of  the  artisan 
population  of  the  town,  of  the  enterprise  of  the 
Birmingham  Coffee  House  Company,  Limited,  in 
providing  for  the  necessities  of  the  people  by  the 
establishment  of  handsome  and  attractive  Coffee 
Houses,  in  all  the  principal  thoroughfares,  in 
which  tea,  coffee,  milk  and  cocoa  are  provided  at  a 
cheap  lute,  and  every  means  adopted  to  render 
these  houses  a  counter-attraction  to  the  public 
house  or  the  gin  palace.  More  than  a  dozen  of 
these  useful  establishments  have  now  been  opened 
by  the  Company,  and  the  fact  that  all  are  doing 
well  13  a  sufficient  evidence  that  already  much 
has  been  done  to  ameliomte  the  condition  of  the 
toiling  multitude  in  this  great  hive  of  industry. 

The  banking  companies  of  Birmingham  are  as 
follows : — The  Birmingham  Branch  of  the  Bank 
of  England,  Bconett^s  Hill ;  Lloyds  Banking 
Company,  Limited,  which  has  its  head  office  in 
the  handsome  buOd ing  erected  in  1869,  in  Ann 
Street,  but  also  continues  to  occupy  the  old 
premises  in  High  Street,  and  has  branch  estab- 
lishments in  Deritend,  Great  Hampton  Street, 
Five  Ways,  and  Aston  Road  ;  the  Birmingham 
Banking  Company,  Bennett's  Kill ;  the  National 
Provincial  Bank  of  England,  which  now  occupies 
the  handsome  modern  building  erected  on  the  site 
of  the  old  premises  iu  1869,  at  the  corner  of 
Bennett's  Hill  and  Waterloo  Street;  the  Bir- 
mingham and  Midland  Bank,  a  handsome 
building  in  New  Street  and  Stephenson  Place, 
erected  in  1867-8;  the  Birmingham,  Dudley,  and 
District  (formerly  the  Birmingham  and  District) 
Bank,  in  Colmore  Row,  (erected  in  1868-69,)  of 
which   there  is  also   a  biunch  establishment  in 


SIS 


OLD  AND  NEW   BIBMINOHAM. 


Wk 


Hockley  Hill ;  the  Birmingham  Joint  Stock 
Bank  (formerly  Attwood,  Spooner  and  Marshairs) 
in  New  Street,  the  premiaes  of  which  have  been 
rehnilt  rery  recently,  (with  branches  in  Temple 
Row  Wert  and  Great  Hampton  Street);  the 
Birmingham,  Worcester  City  and  County  Hanking 


Company,  Limited,  Cherry  Street^  for  whom  new 
premises  are  now  being  erected  in  Ana  Statet; 
the  Union  Bank  of  BinDxngbam,  Watedoo 
Street ;  the  Staffordshire  Joint  Stock  Bank,  5ev 
Street ;  and  Measra  Goode,  Mair,  A  Ca,  Fppv 
Priory. 


CHAPTER    X. 

PUBLIC    BUILDINGS,    AND    APPEARANCE    OP    THE    TOWN,    1841—1879. 

Olfl  Hirr<«U 'iiw«!|ri  « way— Snow  Hill  SUtion— The  Old  Inkleyn— Ann  Street  and  Colmore  Row— The  Council  Hoaae— The  Fosk  OOre- 
Nfw  Churfbrai— riivftte  Ifnpmvffnentii  -Btreet-paring— Htreet  Oanlen*— The  Saborbe— AMon— Handsworth— Edgfauton— HtrbvM 
-  (telitey-  Small  Heath  and  Si^irk  flrook-Mofleley  and  Balaall  Heath. 


Ouii  task  is  now  almost  completed.  We  have 
Gn(lcnvonre<l  in  this  jiortion  of  the  work,  to  note 
tlio  d(jvcl(»j)incnt  of  the  town  from  its  incorpora- 
tion to  the  present  time,  and  we  may  appro- 
priately, in  conduHion,  gather  up  the  threads  of 
the  nine  foregoing  chapters  and  notice  briefly 
the  modorn  ]mhlic  Imildings  and  the  ap])earanco 
and  extent  of  tlio  town. 

Hinco  wo  took  our  last  survey  in  1832  the 
onlim  appoarancn  of  ]>irmingli»m  has  undergone 
(Miiinidorablo  change.  Many  of  the  old  narrow 
strootH  hiive  Iwon  swept  away  ;  a  group  of  narrow 
strootH  ami  lanes  wore  n?movc<l  to  make  way  for 
the  central  railway  Htation,  and  others  followed  in 
i\w  clearing  of  tho  site  of  the  Snow  Hill  station. 
The  latter  strutturo  waH  itself  rebuilt  in  1870,  and 
lA  now  a  light  and  elegant  building  worthy  of  tho 
(Jroat  Wostorn  Company.  On  its  completion  tho 
oM  buildings  in  Little  Charles  Street  and  Edmund 
Street  won?  removed,  an<l  the  lino  of  the  last- 
named  street  altered  and  continued.  It  now 
bear.H  the  name  of  **  New  Edmund  Street "  and 
extends  from  tho  Livery  Street  front  of  the  station 
to  l>roail  StriH»t  Corner. 

The  (Md  Inkleys,  too,  have  for  the  most  part 
l>een  n?movcd,  as  also  many  of  the  old  buildings 
in  Moor  Street,  and  on  the  site  of  Albert  Street 
A  portion  of  tho  new  street  undertaken  by  the 


Town  Council,  called  Corporation  Street,  has 
been  laid  out,  and  is  now  being  built  npoD. 
The  old  line  of  Ann  Street  and  Colmore  Bow 
has  been  altered,  and  the  whole  of  the  north  side 
rebuilt,  forming  one  of  the  finest  thorooghfaies 
in  the  town.  Two  large  hotels  and  other  public 
buildings  have  been  erected  therein,  and  the  line 
is  appropriately  finished  by  the  noble  Council 
House. 

This  noble  structure  rises  (in  the  dome)  to  the 
height  of  162  feet,  and  is  296  feet  in  length 
along  tho  principal  front,  in  Ann  Street  The 
Congrcvo  Street  front  is  1 22  feet  and  the  Eden 
Place  153  feet  The  height  to  the  top  of  the 
cornice  is  65  feet,  and  to  the  top  of  the  pediment 
over  tho  principal  entrance  is  90  feet  The 
ccutml  pediment  contains  a  sculptured  group 
representing  "  Britannia  rewarding  the  Bir- 
mingham Manufacturers,"  Under  the  circular 
arch  beneath  this  group  is  a  figure  subject  in  glas? 
mosaic,  by  the  Venice  and  Murano  Company,  and 
in  the  four  pediments  at  each  angle  of  the  front 
portion  of  the  building  are  other  scidptured 
groups  representing  literature,  art,  and  science  in 
their  relation  to  manufactures.  The  windows  are 
divided  by  a  row  of  columns,  so  as  to  harmonise 
with  tho  adjacent  To\vn  Hall,  which  has  alsc 
giiideil  tlie  Council  in  their  choice  of  the  classic 


nettuf  UieTofm,  ISTdJ 


OLD  AKD  NEW  BIEMINGIIAM. 


617 


of  wcUitecturOj  and  in  the  height  of  the 
Ing.  Interaally  the  building  comprises 
I  for  all  the  varioua  departmeute  of  the  work 
» Coq)oration,  a  !mndsome  and  coramodioua 
audi  Cliamber,  with  ante-rooms  thereto,  the 
Mayor's  Parlour,  aad  a  aeries  of  Doble  Keeeption 
Boonisi  To  these^  as  well  as  to  the  Couucil 
CIiAmber,  access  is  obtained  from  the  great  centml 
staitcase,  immediately  under  the  dome.  The 
band  mils  of  the  bains  trade  are  all  of  marble,  of 
various  colonic ;  and  the  return  flight  of  the 
staircase  is  supported  on  polished  marble  columns. 
The  Keception  Rooms,  or  State  Apartments  are  so 
arranged  as,  by  the  opening  of  a  pair  of  massive 
folding  doors,  to  fomi  one  noble  apartiiiorit  nearly 
160  feet  in  length.  The  central  portion  is 
separatod  from  the  western  by  an  open  screen  of 
marble  columns.  Tlie  floor  is  of  oak,  with 
parquet  border,  and  along  the  northern  wall  are 
niches  in  which  it  is  intended  to  place  statues. 
The  southern  side  consists  of  a  double  row  of 
windows  ;  the  upper  of  which  will  bo  filled  with 
stained  glass.  The  CouncQ  Chamber  is  at  the 
western  end  of  the  building ;  it  is  semicircular  in 
plan^  and  around  the  western  end  is  the  spectators* 
gollcr)*,  raiseil  somewhat  above  the  level  of  the 
portion  allots  to  members,  and  divided  therefrom 
by  an  open  screen  of  marble  columns.  The 
members*  seats  are  arranged  in  a  semicircular 
form,  the  Mayor^s  chair  being  at  tho  eastern  end 
of  the  chamber,  on  a  dais.  Behind  this  is  a 
handsome  screen  of  Eiga  oak,  with  panels  of 
Italian  walnut,  richly  carved,  with  the  arms  of 
the  Borough  emblazoned  in  the  centre.  The 
upper  tier  of  windows  are  filled  with  stained 
glass,  and  both  the  walls  and  the  ceiling  are 
ornamented  with  frescoea  emblematical  of  Bir- 
niingham  influatry.  Tho  whole  of  this  noble 
building  reflects  the  highest  credit  upon  the 
architect,  Mr,  Yeoville  Thoraaaon,  who  has 
designed  and  superintended  every  detail  during 
its  erection. 

The  Poet  Office  has  twice  been  removed  during 
this  period     First,  from  the  corner  of  Bennett's 


Hill  to  the  building  formerly  known  as  the  New 
Kojal  Hotel;  and  subsequently,  in  1874,  to  the 
new  building  erected  for  the  purpose  opposite  the 
Town  Hall.  The  old  building  was  thereupon 
taken  down,  and  with  it  passed  away  one  of  the 
old-fashioned  mhurban  mansions  of  New  Street, 
"  Portugal  House,'*  which  was  built  by  the  once- 
celebrated  "  Beau  Green." 

New  churches  have  been  erected  in  all  parts  of 
the  town,  as  described  in  the  last  cliapter  on  the 
"  Churches  and  Sects  of  Birmingliam."  Palatial 
buildings  have  taken  the  place  of  the  old- 
fashioned  country  banks,  some  of  them  enrichtd 
with  stained  glass  and  marble  sculpture,  and  all 
of  a  highly  ornamental  dcBcriptiou,  Even  tho 
retail  shopkeeper  has  kept  pace  with  the  times, 
and  many  of  these  establishments  in  the  prin- 
cipal streets  are  elegantly  fitted  up  and  decorated 
with  the  utmost  taste. 

Nor  are  the  tasteful  buildings  of  the  town 
confined  to  the  principal  thoroughfares.  The 
handsome  school  buildings  erected  in  every  part 
of  the  town  are  ornaments  to  their  respective 
neighbourhoods,  and  the  artistic  work  diapLiyed 
in  thtjir  erection  has  been  emulated  and  copied  in 
many  uf  the  more  modem  manuiactorie.'*,  ware- 
houses, and  other  buildings  of  each  locality. 

Great  attention  has  been  paiil  hy  the  Town 
Council,  of  late  year^,  to  tho  paving  of  the  streets  ; 
nearly  all  the  footways  are  now  paved  either  with 
fi ags  or  blue  bricks,  and  the  old-fash lonod 
"  petrified  kidneys,"  have  now,  for  the  most  part, 
been  abolished;  the  roadways  in  the  principal 
streets  have  been  paved  with  wood,  and  in  many 
others  with  granite  blocks.  The  thick,  black, 
greasy  mud  with  which  the  streets  used  to  be 
Huoded  during  the  winter,  and  of  which  visitors 
from  the  country  carried  home  extensive  samples 
on  their  attire,  as  waventrtf  of  their  annual 
excursion  to  the  cattle  sliow,  is  now  to  a  groat 
extent  unknown. 

Improvements  have  been  effected  in  open 
spaces  by  the  planting  of  shrubs  and  flowers 
thereon,  and  the  Corpomtion  have  now  under- 


618 


OLD   Ami   NEW   BIRmNGHAM. 


(tWdSlM 


taken  the  core  of  the  town  churchyards  ;  so  that 
bright  green  spots  are  even  more  frequently  to  be 
met  with  in  the  heart  of  the  town  nowadays 
than  at  the  date  of  our  last  survey,  more  than 
forty  years  ago. 

The  old  pleasant  suburbs,  as  they  were  in  1832, 
have  now  become  thickly  populated  dbtricts, 
which,  except  in  name,  are  in  reality  portions  of 
the  great  midland  metropolis.  Most  of  these  are 
now  governed  by  Local  Boards  of  Health, 
ejcercising  many  of  tho  functions  of  Town 
CouBcila 

While  the  old  suburbs,  such  as  Aston,  Ash  ted, 
Bloomshury,  Kechells,  Balsall  Heath,  and  other 
adjoining  districts  have  become  small  towns,  the 
suburban  residents  have  found  new  homes 
further  from  the  town;  and  now  outlying 
districts,  tueh  as  Acock  s  Green,  King's  Heath, 
Moseley,  King's  Nortou,  Harbonie,  Perry  Barr, 
Erdington,  and  even  as  far  as  Sutton  Coldfield 
have  become  new  suburbs  to  Birmingham,  and  as 
the  present  exodus  still  continues,  it  is  diMcidt 
to  say  how  far  the  local  induence,  so  to  speak,  of 
tli«  town,  will  yot  extend.  With  the  view  of 
rcachiDg  these  outlyiJig  suburbs,  and  of  making 
them  contribute  to  the  public  expenditure 
of  tho  town,  a  scheme  was  published  in 
iJecembcr,  187T,  by  the  Town  Council,  for 
extending  the  boundaries  of  the  borough  so  as 
to  include  them  all ;  but  no  action,  has,  as  yet, 
been  taken  in  tho  matter,  and  although  most  of 
the  residents  therein  are  Birmingham  men,  th« 
districts  themselves  are  beyond  the  rjidius  of  the 
town,  and  do  not,  therefore,  come  within  the 
scope  of  the  present  work. 

At  Aston  and  1  lands wtirth  the  Load  Boards 
have  adopted  the  Tree  Libraries'  Act,  and  in  the 
former  a  temporary  Libmry  has  been  in  working 
since  February,  1878,  The  Library  contains 
about  4,500  volumes  and  about  3,500  of  the 
inhabitants  have  availetl  tlieniselvea  of  its  pro- 
visions. At  Handswortli  a  handsome  building 
baa  been  erected  from  the  designs  of  Messrs* 
Alexander  &  Hen  man  for  the  use  of  the  Library 


and  other    departments    of    the 
Then)  are  also  X^ocal  Boards  at  Salt]' 
Heath,  and  Harbome. 

In    1875   the   Manor   of    Asiou    a<io] 
Elementary  Education  Act,  the  first  School 
being  elected  in   the  July  of   thai  year. 
J.  A*  Cooper  is  the  Chaii-man  of  the 
Mr.  T.  G,  Pratt  the  clerk  j  and  during  the 
years  of  the  Board's  existence  five  handsome  e 
of  school  buildings  have  been  erected  in  ijli 
one  at  Saltley,  and  one  at  Water  Ortom        ■ 

Aston  Parish    Church    is    one   of    the  m 
interesting  of  the  old  churches  of  Binningfai 
and  contains  a  fine  series  of  monuments  to 
hers  of  the  Holte  family,  and  seTeml  vety^ 
idtar    tombs.     The  church    is  built   in  m 
English  jstyles,  from  Edwanl  IL  to  Henry 
but  the  principal  feature  of  the  building  i 
massive    tower,    surmounted    by    its    tall 
graceful  spire.     The  latter  was  carefully  real 
and  slightly  increased  in  height  tinder  the 
tion  of  Mr.   J.   A.   Chatwin,  in    1878,  and 
church  itself  is  now  undergoing  restoration 
that  gentleman's  able  direction. 

There   are  also   handsome   modem  diapi*] 
this  suburb,  belonging  to  the  Baptists,  In* 
dents,  and  Wesley ans.     The  Independent  C 
in  Wheeler  Street,  Lozells^  is  one  of  the 
and  most  commodious  nonconformist  cl 
the  neighbourhood. 

The  stiU  pleasant  suburb  of  Handswoi 
fine  old  Parish  Church,  dedicated  to  St 
which  has  been  called  by  Elihu  Burritt,  "  a 
of  Westminster  Abbey  to  Birmingham ,  con 
crated  to  the  memory  of  its  great  dead,  w 
named  have  won  illustrious  fama'*  Uei 
C'hantrey's  noble  statue  of  James  Watt* 
Flaxman's  bust  of  Malthew  Boulton,  ami 
remains  of  botli  of  these  illustrions  pal 
lie  buried  here.  William  Murdoch  is  also  i 
mem  orated  by  a  memorial  bust  execute! 
Chun  trey,  and  he,  too,  lies  near  the  other  h 
of  the  Soho  factory.  The  church  was  comp] 
restored,  and  partly  rebuilt,  tmder  the  dire 


llteSuburlift.) 


OLD  AND  NEW  BmMINGHAM. 


«» 


of  Mr.  J,  A.  Chatwin,  in  1876,  at  a  cost  of 
upwards  of  X7,000. 

There  are  two  other  clmixjhes  in  tho  parish  of 
HftDdsworth:  St>  Jaraes^s,  and  »St  Michael, 
and  All  Angela',  Soho  Hill. 

Edgbaston  ia  one  of  the  few  suburbs  dose  to 
tlie  town  which  has  maintained  its  semi-rural 
appearance,  mainly  from  tlie  fact  that  it  is  the 
aristocratic  suburb  of  BirmiDglmm — litomliy,  our 
••  West-end  *' — and  also  because  it  is,  for  tho  most 
part,  the  property  of  one  landlord,  Lord  Cal- 
thorpe,  who  has  exercised  the  strictest  care  in 
preventing  the  erection  of  such  buildings  as 
would  destroy  the  present  character  of  the 
locality.  The  old  Parish  Church  is  one  of  the 
_ttl06t  beautiful  little  churches  in  Englimd.  *'  Its 
»uty,"  saye  Eliliu  Burritt.  **  is  not  in  architec- 
tunU  proportions  nr  pretensions,  but  in  tlie  churm 
which  nature  has  given  it.  In  the  first  place,  it 
is  picturesquely  situated  under  the  eaves  of  a 
stately  grove  that  veils  Eilgbastan  Hall  and  its 
park  and  pool  from  the  road  Then  it  is  com- 
pletely netted  to  the  very  top  of  its  tower  with 
ivy.  Hardly  a  square  inch  of  its  bare  walls  can 
be  seen  at  a  few  ro<l8  distance,  .  .  ,  Kobed 
thus  by  nature  in  tho  best  vestment  she  could 
weave  for  a  sanctuaiy,  it  seems  to  have  a  more 
sacred  consecration  to  the  worship  of  God  than 
an  archbishop  could  give  it"  * 

Besides  the  parish  church  there  aro  at  Edg- 
baston three  other  churches  of  the  Establishment. 
SL  G€o/ye\  in  Galthorpe  Road,  was  erected  in 
1838,  in  the  early  Eugliah  style,  and  was 
enlai^ed,  in  185C,  by  the  addition  of  the 
chancel  St.  James\  Charlotte  Road,  was  con- 
seciuted  in  1852,  in  the  decorated  style,  aud  is 
cruciform  in  plan,  with  a  dwarf  spire.  St 
At4{ftn/Une*g,  in  the  Hagley  Road,  is  one  of  the 
handsomest  churches  in  the  neighbourliood.  It 
was  built  by  subscription  at  a  cost  of  £9,000, 
and  was  consecrated  in  1868.  Tbe  tower  and 
«pire  weie  added,  at  a  cost  of  X4,000,  in  1876. 

*  fr«£t*  ft  tU  Blaek  CcunHv,  J^  «M. 


Passing  through  Edgbaston  we  come  to  Mar- 
borne,  which,  like  Edgbaston,  has  a  beautifully 
situated  Parish  Church,  which  was  carefully 
restored  in  1867,  and  contains  a  fine  stained 
window  to  the  memory  of  David  Cox.  There  is 
a  School  Board  for  Harborno  and  Smethwick, 
but  no  new  school-buildings  have  been  erected  by 
the  Board  in  this  suburb. 

The  village  of  SaUley  has  little  of  special 
interest,  except  the  Training  College  already 
described.  There  is  a  neat  church  dedicated  to 
St.  Saviour,  to  which  was  added  in  1870,  a 
massive  square  tower,  in  the  Korman  stjde  of 
architecture. 

Small  Heath  and  Spark  brook  are  now  portions 
of  the  Borough  ;  at  the  former  the  principal  object 
of  interest  is  the  Small  Arms  Factory  and  there 
is  l^esides  a  church,  dedicated  to  St.  Andrew,  and 
1  land  some  places  of  worship  Ijelonging  to  the 
Uongregationalista  and  the  Wesleyans.  The 
church  at  Sparkbrook,  ( called  Christ  Church)  is 
an  excellent  example  of  ecclesiastical  Gothic,  and 
was  opened  in  October,  1867* 

At  Moseley  the  priucipal  objects  of  interest  aro, 
the  Independent  College,  (already  described  in 
these  pages)  ;  and  the  Ilall  and  Park,  on  the  site 
of  the  old  building  destroyed  in  the  riots  of  1791. 
Several  other  old  houses  injured  in  the  riots  were 
also  situated  In  this  neighbourhood.  The  Parish 
Church  has  an  old  square  tower  erected  in  tho 
reign  of  Henry  VIU,  and  as  it  ia  for  the  most 
part  clad  in  ivy,  thta  sacred  edifice  has  an 
appearance  of  rare  antiquity.  There  is  also  a 
modem  church,  dedicated  t^  St  Anne,  which  was  • 
erected  at  the  expense  of  Miss  Anderton,  of 
Moseley  Wake  Green,  in  1874. 

At  Balsall  Heath,  (which  connects  Moseley 
with  Birmingham)  is  a  modem  church  dedie^ited 
to  St.  Paul  It  is  built  of  brick,  and  has  a 
massive  square  tower  which  may  be  seen  for 
several  miles  round. 

We  have  now  completed  our  survey  of  the 
town  and  its  suburbs,  and  have  thereby  brought 
our   noticeB  of    New  Birmingham    to  a  dose. 


620 


OLD  AND  NEW  BIRMINGHAM 


(Ooneliiita. 


We  have  travelled  through  eight  centuries  of 
Biimingham  life,  and  have  traced  the  growth 
of  the  town  from  its  cradle  to  the  fulness  of 
manhood ;  and  if  the  reader  has  carefully 
noted  the  facts  of  this  history,  and  has  marked 
the  steady  improvement  in  every  department  of 
our  public  life,  he  will  have  felt  that,  like  the 


great  Apostle  of  the  Gentiles,  the  Birmingham 
man  may  claim  with  truth  to  be  a  *'  citizen  of 
no  mean  city."  Calling  to  mind  the  long 
list  of  worthies  of  whom  we  have  imperfectij 
spoken  herein,  he  will  feel  that  it  is  no  small 
honour  to  be  able  to  say,  ''  I,  too,  am  a  Binning* 
ham  man." 


'If 


i 


Appendix.) 


OLD  AND  NEW  BmMINGnAM, 


APPENDIX. 


EdWARB    BkR&IIKGHAH    IK   THE  ToWER   (|>.  7). 

The  following  very  curious  and  interesting  docuniont 
(eopicil  from  the  original  in  the  Library  of  Lord  Lytteltoti 
at  Haglcy,  hy  Mr,  Hamjicr),  throws  considertilile  light  on 
the  manner  in  which  the  estatt-s  of  Edward  Biirminghiim 
were  dirided,  and  more  especiiilly  aa  to  the  charactur  of 
the  mnn  John  Trattye  or  Pretyi  at)d  the  meatta  by  which 
he  ohtAined  this  '*  remarkable  Lease,"  aa  Mr  Tiulmin 
Smith  terms  it.  If  the  testimony  of  the  second  wiUiesa^ 
Edward  Tnylonr,  he  tme^  tho  lease  wag  a  forgery,  er^^cated 
•ftcr  the  death  of  Edward  Bfirmingham. 

"  28  Oct.  3k  i  Philip  k  Mary,  Thomas  k  John  Trattye 
child rrfi  of  John  IVattye  det^^ased,  k  Alec  Inte  wif«  of 
the  flder  John  Prattye,  conipluined  in  Ghnneery  acuinst 
Edward  Lytolton  Ek[^'^  titlti  to  the  Heath  iMiH  kc, 
ftlledgiug  that  Edward  IWmynjjham  Fm\:  by  Indenture 
dated  n  Oct.  24  Henr:  VfiL  did  demiso  A:  let  to  farm  to 
the  said  John  Prnttyo  senior  the  said  Mill,  also  the 
Connygre  containing  160  acrcn,  a  Meddow  called  the  Lake 
Meadow  containing  80  acres,  and  a  pasture  called  Dod- 
walles  containing  80  acres,  to  hold  for  fourscore  k 
nineteen  years,  at  the  yearly  rent  of  £6.  13.  4:  where- 
upon a  Commission  issued  k  many  IVi  In  eases  were 
examined  ;  inter  alia,  th*  following  : — 

'*  John  Ellsone  of  Yardeley  in  the  conntic  of  Wigom 
'*yoman  of  the  age  of  threscore  fyftene  yercs  or  tlere 
"aboutea  depoaeth  k  saythe  that  he  this  Examynat 
**  alKtntes  twcutie  ycrea  paste,  rej^ayred  to  London  aboutcs 
*'  certaync  hia  buaynea  there  to  do,  k  being  there  was  re- 
'*uuc.*Udby  John  Pratt  ve  to  go  with  hym  in  to  the  Tower  of 
'*  London  to  speake  with  oncTidward  Hrymyngbam  who  at 
**thftt  present  remayneil  there  aa  a  pry  son  er  at  whiche 
'*  their  comj^ng  to  saide  E.  13.  after  sidutaciorii  hndd 
**betwene  theym  the  saide  E.  K  spake  unto  the  saide 
**Praltye  in  the  presence  of  this  Exainynat  theis  worde? 
**  Alas!  John  Prattye  what  wante  of  ^ce  hadd  I  to  lose 
*'  my  landcsand  goodes  after  this  so rte,  it  was  by  kcapiug  of 
"light  comijnny,  and  the  saidc  Prattye  answeared  that  he 
"hiidd  the  kssc  grace,  and  then  the  saide  Byrmyiiglmm 
"declared  unto  the  saido  Prattye  that  he  wanleil  money, 
"and  pmyed  the  saide  Prattye  to  lielpe  hym  to  some, 
"whercunto  the  snid  Prattye  anuswered  that  there  was 
**iio  eau.«c  whye  he  ahulde  do  so  for  that  he  hndd  do 
"  benofytt  at  his  handed,  saying  further  that  ]ie  the  Juiido 
"  Prattj'e  dyvcra  tymcs  desired  some  lyving  at  his  hnndes, 
"whiche  he  coulde  never  obteigue,  and  Uirther  snide  lo 
"  the  saide  E.  B.  yet  Sir  if  youe  will  make  me  a  lease  for 
"yerea  of  tho  Heathe  Mylne,  the  Lake  mesdowc,  the 
"  Conyiigro,  and  the  Dudwoles^  iji  Byruiynghani,  1  will 
"  helpe  youe  to  some  money  although  1  borrough  some  to 
"bringc  me  home,  w  hereunto  the  saide  E.  B.  annswercd 
"Alas  I  John  Prattye  lyttell  shall  it  avajle  thee  any 
*'  lease  that  I  can  make  to  thee,  for  that  my  hmdes  are  in 
"  the  Kyng  his  handes,  and  thtn  the  saide  J,  P.  snide,  for 
"  to  have  tioche  a  lea*e  as  youe  can  make  me  I  will  give 
"youe  here  twentie  schillings,  nnd  further  you  shall  hiive 
"  a  I'olte  when  youe  will  sende  for  hym,  whiehe  the  saido 
**  Pnittye  saide  he  woJde  gyre  more  for  pyttic  then  for 
"  any  advanntage  he  shnlde  have  by  the  same  lease,  and 
"then  tho  saide  E, B,  promyscd  the  said  P,  he  wolde 
"make  hym  so  good  assurance  as  he  coulde  devise." — 


"  Edwarde  Taylour  of  Kythermynster  in  the  Countie  < 
"  Wigoni  yoman  of  the  ago  of  threscore  twelfe  veres — T 
"saythe  that  the  saide  John  Prattye  atoutes  eighteno 
"  yeres  paste  sent  for  this  examynant  to  his  house  k  at  hia 
"coiijyiig  the  saide  P.  declared  to  hym  that  he  shnlde 
**  before  hia  dejmrtnre  engrossc  a  lease  in  jiarLihement  to  be 
"made  botwixtc  Edwardo  Byrmynghara  then  deceassed  a 
"  lyttle  before  that  tyme,  k  the  same  J,  P.,  and  that  this 
"deponent  shuldo  be  well  recompensed  for  his  pciynes, 
"whiclie  this  deponent  was  very  lothe  to  doo,  albeit  for 
"fere  of  bodylie  burte  there  did  engrosse  an  Indenture  in 
*'  mrchement  made  betwixte  the  Raide  E*  B.  k  tlia  saide 
"J* P.  by  the  informacion  of  the  said  J.I\  of  certayuo 
"  parcelk'ia  of  gronnde  within  the  lordefthipp  of  Byrroyng* 
"nam,  the  names  whereof  he  retnemhreth  not,  Ac  when 
"he  was  wry  ting  the  ^anie  one  come  in  and  loked  uppon 
'*bym  whose  name  he  knewe  not,  whereat  the  said  J.  P. 
"wa-s  angry,  and  further  this  deponent  saytlic  that  tho 
"same  Indenture  he  dated  with  an  nnteii'ate,  hut  howo 
"longe  before  the  makyng  he  remeuibieth  not,  and  after 
**  this  dejKtnent  hadd  engrossed  the  same  and  sett  thereto 
'*  labelles  the  said  l\  set-to  waxe  and  sett  fourth  a  Signett 
'*  whiche  he  snyde  was  the  iSeale  of  Armcs  of  the  saide 
"E.  B.  k  snyde  lie  founde  it  in  his  purse  whiche  he  toke 
**froui  hym  when  the  saide  BjTmyngham  was  dying,  and 
"then  and  there  in  the  presence  ol  this  deiK>nent  the 
"  aaide  Prattye  did  scale  the  saide  lease  k  and  wolde  have 
"hadd  this  examynant  to  Imve  counterfayted  the  hsnde 
"of  the  saide  E.B.  and  to  wryte  bj/  vie  Edicanh  BtjT- 
"  mi^tgham  whiche  this  dejionent  sayde  he  coulde  not  doo, 
"and  then  the  saidc  J.  P.  wrote  [witli]  his  owne  handes 
*'  under  the  snide  lease  by  mc  Edwarde  IfyrtnyTighitm,  and 
"saythe  further  when  this  was  done  there  were  no  more 
"present  but  this  examynant  anil  the  sjiide  Prettyc,  and 
"saythe  further  that  the  saide  P.  enrne*tlyo  willed  this 
"  deponent  to  keap  his  coonsaill  touching  the  premyases, 
"  and  so  this  deponent  deperted,  and  renu'mljreih  that  he 
"hadd  for  jMirte  oF  his  rewarde  a  Colle  skynne  tanned, 
**  and  also  aaythe  that  dyvera  tynies  longe  after  the  saide 
"  lease  so  made  the  said  Prcttye  sent  for  this  deponent  by 
"his  frendfs  to  come  to  his  honse  and  nnike  merrj  with 
"hym,  and  also  when  he  mett  this  examyoapt  in  any 
*'  towne  wolde  have  hadd  hym  to  the  Wyne  and  Tavcriie 
"to  have  made  hym  chere,  and  to  have  hadd  talke  with 
"  hym,  albeit  this  deponent  weying  hia  comipte  jfrartyie 
"as  bifore  wold  never  after  the  making  of  the  iaide  lease 
"come  in  his  compony,  nor  lalke  with  hym.*' 
STiiA-rroKii  lloisE,— (pp.  4l\  54.) 

We  give  on  the  following  page  another  view  of  this 
in1ere*iting  hnlf-timbcied  house,  which  was  built  ly 
Ambrose  Itotton,  A. P.  1601,  and  is  now  tl»e  property  of 
ilr,  J.  \\\  Simcox,  of  Hall  Green,  This  fine  old- 
fashioned  homestead  has  been  in  the  Simeox  family  hinee 
169fl,  and  the  present  owner  has  in  his  possession  the 
cnnveysnce  thereof,  in  that  year,  to  Wifjiam  Simcox, 
together  with  all  subsequent  deeds  relating  thereto.  1  he 
engraving  ia  copied  from  an  old  llthogiaphed  drawing 
by  Mr.  W,  Hnwkes  Smith,  in  the  possession  of  Mr, 
Simcox.  It  is  token  from  the  east  end  of  the  building, 
nnd  does  not  therefore  show  the  fine  west  wing  which 
has  since  been  taken  down  ;  the  chimney  stack  and  the 
riilge  of  the  roof  of  that  wing  are,  however,  visible  in  tlie 
picture.     The  sketch  on  page  49  was  taken  in  1878. 


ndtx.} 


OLD  AND  NEW    BIRMINGHAM. 


623 


Ilj6T0liY     OK     TUK      SuriKTY     OF     FKHiNI>s    IS 
HKOTfAK— (p.  5tU 

►  ifr    WiJHam  White's  intei'^^tin^  Uttk  volume, 
«►  H^aririekshire  in  th<^  tlik  nutt  lath  ccHluriff, 
\hr  f*iIlonrin^  jKlditional    fmls  n'Sj^iM-ting  the 
istrtry     of    Quakfristii     itj     numinffhsin].       The 
Ti*,r>,'r.    o»     the    Uii'min>5li*iin     FriciMU     is    ia 
wh**!!    tlic   nicetinfj  wns  held  at  thfl 
Bayhs^.     Tii^or^'o  Fox,  the  founder  of 
;Ra>,  htiUi  ft  inr<!ting  in  Birminglmm  in  I(itt7  ;  and 
tltf  «*imo  drofide  vre  read  ttiiit  ftt   Birroinglunm, 
in  H  uicetirjif  at  tlie  house  of 
In  cHJne  with  a  nid«  niulti- 
.'!,,,  .,i,.i  ptJiveB,  who  pulU'd  Friends 
ind  bent  and  abused  siome  of  them  ; 
'  windows  of  the  house  in  the  ronstable's 
B.     The  like  tn-atmcnt  Friends  met   with  when 
i»ly  Mftcmhlfd  in  tht  house  of  William  Bayley/* 
"letrcmi,  |i:  the  close  of  the  seventeeittli 

that    **  r  Quiirter    Mct^ting    [of   the 

in   Wnrwif  KMMi'j    htilh     over    b^cn    held    in 
am/' 

w  from  the  iiite  of  the  original  Meeting  Hoose 

Dmouth  Street  is  thus  dewribed  hy  Mr.  White  ; 

ring  north,   the  hill   would  slope  ftwny  in  gentle 

tions   to  Hm^kley  woodn  ;     its   brook    ttowing    in 

iSJi  hinX  purity,  and  widi-ning  into  a  considerable 

fif  vijil*"r,   cnUed   Hockley    pn<il.     The  gahlea  and 

f  thi'  n*? w I y- erected  Aston  Hall  would  In?  seen  with 

ttch  spire  a  little  more  to  the  right,  and  l>thiird 

■be,  hc'voud  the  windings  of  the  The  Tame,  the 

iy  hill/  and  the  bare  and  bleak  heath  on  which 

fton  now  stands,  and  known  as  thv  Ciddfield  ;  while 

r-kground  would  be  filled  up  by  the  tower  of  Sutton 

I,   the  woorU  of  it»  spacious  park,  and  the  long- 

I  eminence  of  Barr  Bencon,     Ixx>king  due  east,  the 

!,.» r,tv»  r.i^Wts  were  the  Mfridcn  Hills,  half  way  to 

ler,  tlie  gentle  eminences  crowned  by 

d  nmusiou  of  Ca*tle  limnTWch  ]  and  in 

id  tlie  vfllh-yH  of  the  Rea  nnd  Tauje,   *  the 

hill,*  now  Cok'whill  Stie<'t,    and    the  shady 

1  (lit-  '  Dale  End,"     South -west  and  south  would  l*c 

irtioiiH  of  the  upper  nart  nf  ihr  town,  the  spire  of 

'       .   and  rising  noove  the   trees  of  the  cherry 

homely  turret  crowning  the  roof  of   King 

a         hi>ol,  which  had  been   founded  then  upwards 

iitjd  Tears,  but  which  still  stood  on  the  edge  of 

'i'fjp  woods  of  Bordcjiley  park,  ovcrlooktHl  by 

jban  Park  Street,   and  Imuuded  by  the  i|uaint 

bouses    of    M)eergiite-end/   would   complete  the 


t  Turjrr— (p,  TBI 

\  period  to  which  our  lornier  remarks  upon  L«n*"h's 
itendecl  (p.  76 J  the  whole  ol  the  rents  amounted  to 
£40  only,  of  which  more  than  one-half  was  derived 
the  property  left  by  William  l^nch,  and  the  re- 
i*r  from  the  other  charitable  foundations  embraced 
TniHt.     H  is  significant  of  the  grent  increase  in  the 


Birmingham  pro|H^i1i 
two  oeu tuners  hav: 

(»(  the  Chiiiity. 


t  The   pre&t-nt  lime 

the   yearly  rents 

'  ver>-  considerable 

i     I  vf^d  from  old  luihl- 

1  r ;  1. 1  i  iy  expanded  m  ha«i 

Tht*  original  Trust  **  lor 


;  ol  the  roinouM  ways  and  bridges  in  andahnut 

" '     '  bgh am,  **  U'  f o r  e  no ticf -d ,  w  .  i  ' 

darity.     F'^w  of  the  pi 
*fit«nl  of  th'  fddJgations  ^t;  .....  i-.- 
to  William  Lench, 


Oilu^en  proi»eriy  described  Bintiin^httm  as  **  veiy 
watery/'  Few  towns  were  more  so  ;  the  parish  com- 
prisetf  or  eoveivd  a  hill  bteween  two  hills,  and  its  two 
main  streams— the  Rea  and  Hockley  Brook,  hod  nume» 
roua  sniaU  rivnlets  or  streams  for  feed[prs.  Tbe  great  (all 
on  the  slope  from  Holloway  Head  and  BpIIs  B«I71  gav« 
flay  Brook  and  Pudding  Brook  running  to  the  Moat; 
that  from  Broad  8tit»et,  En?ty  Hill,  nnd  TftradUe  Street,  a 
stream  by  the  Parson  it  ge,  near  Lady  Well,  there  swell  <»d 
by  thnt  sjtring.  The  high  giound  now  occupied  by  St. 
rhilijt'?*  Church  drained  through  Cherry  Orchard,  across 
High  Street,  and  formed  a  stream  anciently  called  **  Her- 
muni's  dyche"  or  "  Hflssam/s  ditch,"  and  in>nli«tnnui<ly 
ideuTified  by  those  names  from  the  12th  to  Iftth  century, 
pasfviug  Moor  Street  at  the  side  of  the  Woolpnck  Hotel, 
where  the  spnce  remains  to  the  present  day,  and  on  across 
Pnrk  Street.  The  Priory  Grounds,  of  great  extent  and 
traditionally  well  wooded,  wa.^hed  down  to  the  Butts— «s 
witness  '*  the  ditch  "  t>ehinil  Statford  Street— hence  amias 
the  Dftle^  which  for  distinction  from  Dericnd— thergJite 
End — ^became  the  Dale  End  of  the  town,  on  towards  Park 
Street  and  through  l^ke  Meadow,  where  it  wti^  joined  by 
Hersiim's  dyche,  an<l  ran  pa.st  ihe  prewnt  lluirs  Mead, 
across  Digbeth  ^Dyg's  bath),  dividing  the  piirish  ^rom 
Astoi;,  where  a  hridge,  commonly  railed  the  Little  Bridge, 
WHS  erected  over  it  ere  it  joined  the  Ren,  j^giiin  to  i^jiss 
Digbeth  by  the  larger  bridge  of  stone.  Thus  the  Nurtace 
waters  of  one  side  of  the  hill  gave  bridges  to  l»e  repaired 
and  fords  to  be  maintained  at  Dudley  Street  (Dud  wall  Lane), 
the  Parsonage,  Edgbaston  Street,  Moor  (or  Moul)  Street, 
Park  Street,  Dale  End— where,  as  at  Deritend,  the  bridge 
was  barred,  and  kept  chained  and  lockeil,  with  an  attend- 
ant bar-keeper.  The  waters  on  the  other  side  of  the  alojic 
through  the  New  Hall  estate  fonned  the  pool  recorded  by 
Water  Street,  then  firtwed  across  Snow  Hill  (Samly  Lane) 
and  Walraer  (W'all  J  lour)  I^-mc,  with  a  bridge  and  ford  at 
at  eaih,  others  again  were  found  at  the  Sandpits,  at 
Ho<:!kley,  Aston,  Boumbrook,  Watery  Lane,  Lnwlcy 
Street,  a  very  ancient  road,  and  at  other  j>oints,  on  all  of 
which,  when  ruinous,  the  l»aiJiff  or  treasurer  of  the  Trust 
regularly  disbursed  the  funds  at  his  disposal  in  such  re- 
pairs as  were  needed. 

(Jravel  and  stones  also  were  pUR'hsHed  and  brought  from 
W'inson  Green,  and  carters,  lnl>ourcrs,  and  [utviours  were 
constantly  employed.  At  timei*  u  pjiviour  had  to  be 
brought  from  Lichrteld  or  other  distant  nlace. 

Timber  was  largely  emphDved  in  staking  up  the  mde 
footpaths,  nnd  now  and  again  a  bridge  was  washed  away 
in  a  Hooih  The  bftdly-made  rc^ds  were,  in  hilly  situations 
such  a«  Di^;t»eth  and  Cnrr's  Lane,  easily  destroyed  by  heavy 
rains,  the  functions,  thenfore,  of  the  bailiff  nt^similated  to 
those  of  the  modern  borongh  surveyor,  and  lie  shored  the 
official  in>jHjrtan*e  of  the  town  bailiff  and  constable, 

Cantrnct  work  was  unknown,  every  job  was  ordered  and 
paid  tor  in  detail,  evt-n  to  the  ale  whicli  was  an  invariable 
accom liniment  to  the  work. 

With  the  growing  iiniwrtancc  and  Inciter  governuient  of 
the  town  was  this  exiwnditure  gradually  diminished »  and 
by  about  IS  40  entirely  diet  I  away. 

Another  ancient  Trust  was  for  making  Jove  or  |ieaee 
between  those  who  quarrelled.  Loved  ay  Street  attesis  the 
source  of  thii*.  Two  per^ns  quarrelled,  and  a  lawyer 
made  them  friends,  gave  a  receipt  to  the  baililf  for  2s*  ffd. 
an*l  probably  retained  the  oyster.  This  pracliee,  though 
of  long  standing,  was  too  absurd  for  continuance  and 
Ivcixme  olisolete  about  100  years  since.  Amongst  other 
fpiftiiit  appropriatioh  of  the  funds  was  tht  yearly  jiaymeDt 
t!  roJwH  \x%  St,  Martin's  Church,  still  in  force,  m<leed 
hanly  h«s  l>een  uniformly  marked  by  a  9tedfa»r 
jk^mI  lo  it4  origtnn]  foundation— the  early  Trntt  **  in 
default  nf  other  ii*e*,  the  rents  to  the  jkjot  Jivinj;  within 


624 


OLD  AND  NEW  BIKMINGHAM 


[Appendh. 


the  town  *'  having  always  been  kept  in  view  and  con- 
stantly extended.  Thus,  in  1764  were  built  the  Steel- 
house  Lane  almshouses,  and  subsequently  others  in  Park 
Street  and  Dudley  Street,  which  having  fallen  into  disuse 
have  been  replaced  by  others  in  Hospital  Street,  Raven- 
hurst  Street,  and  LAdywood,  the  comfort  of  the  inhabitants, 
being  the  study  and  aim  of  the  stewanls  of  this  well- 
nianaffed  Charity. 

Mr.  Toulmin  Smith  who,  shortly  before  his  death,  com- 
piled a  calender  of  the  very  interesting  records  of  the 
Trust  in  bearing  testimony  to  the  management  of  the 
Charity  past  and  present  has  recorded  that  '*  the  *  works 
of  charity  '  ordained  by  William  Lench  in  1525  to  be  done 
in  Hirmingham  still  continue  to  be  done  there  by  his 
feoffees  in  tho  spirit  and  as  near  as  can  be  to  the  letter  of 
these  old  ordinances,"*  and  he  desired  to  say  that  "  with 
a  very  wide  acnuaintance  with  the  ordinances  and  history 
of  English  Gilds,  I  am  aware  of  no  instance  in  which 
there  has  been   such  a  steady  adherence  to  the  original 


purposes  of  the  endowment  and  such  an  unbroken  eoone 
of  sound  management  and  well-kept  accounts,  as  I  hxn 
found  to  be  the  case  from  an  examination  of  the  lonf 
series  of  the  records  of  Lench*s  Trust,  "t 

The  work  of  the  Charity  is  still  being  expanded,  aoother 
block  of  almshouses  being  projected  at  Highgateibm 
designs  by  Mr.  J.  A.  Chatwin. 

The  inmates  for  the  houses  are  always  selected  from  the 
most  urgent  cases,  and  to  some  170  aged  widows  lod 
spinsters  is  the  evening  of  life  thus  rendered  plai- 
sant.  The  applicants  for  the  benefits  of  the  Charity  trr, 
however,  always  largely  in  excess  of  its  means,  and 
any  charitable  person  who  has  a  desire  to  help  the  podr 
and  distressed  may  here  find  a  sure  and  economical  mode 
of  carrying  out  his  ^vishes. 


*  English  OiltU,  p.  250. 

t  Introdaction  to  the  Caleodar. 


KE8ULT8  or  Parliamentary  Elbctions  :  1832-1876. 

December  12,  1832. 
J^hTs^hSA        I  '^•-**<l  withoutopposition. 

January,  1835. 

Thomas  Attwood,  L. 1718 

Joshua  Scholefield,  Z 1660 

Richard  Spooner,  0. 916 

August,  1837. 

Thomas  Attwood,  L. 2145 

Joshua  Scholetield,  L. 2114 

./.  G.  Slajykton,  C. 1046 

On  Mr.  Attwood's  retirement,  Jan.  1840. 
(Jeorge  Frederick  Muntz,  Z.        -        -        -        -     1454 
Sir  CJiarlcs  Wetherell,  C. 915 

July,  1841. 

George  Frederick  Muntz,  L.       -        -        .         -     2175 

Joshua  Scholefield,  L. 1963 

Richard  Spooncr,  C. 1825 

On  Mr.  Scholcfield's  dcatli,  July,  1844. 

Richard  Spooner,  C. 2095 

William  Scholefield,  L. 1735 

Josej^h  Sturge,  L. 346 

August,  1847. 

Ocorge  Frederick  Muntz,  Z.        -         -         -         .  2830 

William  Scholefield,  Z. 2824 

Riclmrd  Spooner,  C. 2302 

^fr,  Serjeant  Allen,  C. 39 

July,  1862. 

George  Frederick  Muntz,  Z.        ]    Elected  without 
\>  illinm  Scholefield,  Z.  \        opposition. 

March,  1857. 
George  Frederick  Muntz,  Z.        )    Elected  without 
Willmm  Scholefield,  Z.  {        opposition. 


On  the  death  of  Mr.    Muntz, 
August,  1857. 

John  Bright,  Z.,  elected  without  opposition. 
April,  1859. 

William  Scholefield,  Z. 4425 

John  Bright,  Z. 4282 

Thomas  D.  Acland,  C. 1544 

July,  1865. 

W^illiam  Scholefield,  Z.      /  r-i    *.  j     -^.v     *  •*;«« 

John  Bright,  Z.  i  ^^^'^^  '"^^^"^  «PP«"**°"- 

On  the  death  of  Mr.  William  Scholefield, 
July,  1867. 

George  Dixon,  Z. 5819 

Samps&n  S.  Lloyd^  C. 4214 

November,  17,  1868. 

George  Dixon,  Z. 15,198 

Philip  Henry  Muntz,  Z.          ....  14,614 

John  Bright,  Z. 14,601 

Sampson  S.  Lleyd,  C. 8,700 

Sebastian  Evans,  C. 7,061 

December  21,  1868. 

i  Elected  without  opposition  on  taking 
John  Bright,   L.  I       office   as   President  of  Board  of 
(       Trade  under  Mr.  Gladstone. 
October  18,  1873. 

(  Elected  without  opposition  on  accept- 
John  Bright,  Z.  <      ing  the  office  of  Chancellor  of  the 
(      Duchy  of  Lancaster. 
January  30,  1874. 

Messra.  Bright,  Z.,  Dixon,  Z.,    J      Re-elected  without 
and  Muntz,  Z.  {  opposition. 

June  27,  1876. 

Joseph  Chamberlain,  Z.,  elected  without  opposition  on 
the  retirement  of  Mr.  G.  Dixon . 


■ 

^^^^^V                    AND 

NEW   niRMINftllA^r. 

■ 

1 

CONTENTS, 

I 

WS^R 

PAOE, 

CHAFF  KB 

PAOE.      ^^H 

i* 

The  Afnnor  and  ity  Lorda 

3 

xli. 

The  Story  of  Soho,  Part  IL 

265      ^^1 

ii* 

Denteiid.itsChnpelimditeAlnnyrWortliy 

11 

xUl 

A  Second  Chapter  of  Local  Worthiea    - 

272      ^W 

iii. 

Birmingham  in  the  Sixteen ih  Ceotury 

17 

xliii. 

Public  Life  and  Events— 17004800 

293            ■ 

AT- 

Aaion  Hnll  and  its  Owiiern 

19 

xliv. 

Churches  aad  Secta  in  Birmingham — 

^^H 

It. 

The  Battle  of  Birminghftin  • 

JJ'2 

17914812 

306      ^^M 

vi 

Birminghani  in  Transition 

44 

xlv. 

Appearance  of  the  Town  at  the  conj- 

^^H 

Til 

Appearanw   of    the    To wii— 16604700 

r.4 

mcncement  of  th^  Ninptoenth  Cen- 

^^H 

viii. 

A  peep  into  the'  Old  Town  Booli^ 

r>7 

tury    .            -            .            ,            - 

^^H 

ix. 

The   Churcli    in    Pmspenty    nnd    flio 

3(1  Vi. 

Intellectual  and  Literary  Activity  of  the 

H 

^ 

Church  in  Dungcr 

60 

Town  at  the  clost-  of  the  Ki]a:hteenth 

^H 

A  Picture  of  Birmingham  in  1730-31     - 

ri4 

Centuiy          -            ,            .            , 

313             M 

xl 

The  Free  Schools  aud  Charities  of  Bir- 

xlvii. 

Amusementa  of  the    People,   including 

^^H 

mingham  in  the  SLVtnteenth  Century 

71 

the     History     of    the    Birmini»bnm 

^^H 

xil. 

Samuel  Johnson  in  BinningljEini 

70 

Theatre,  17954810    - 

318      ^^M 

xia 

Aris'a    Birmingham    Gazettt^    and   the 

xlviii. 

Publio  Life  and  Events— 18014810 

327      M 

appearance  of  the  Town  in  17414750 

83 

xlix. 

Local  Trade  and  Commerce— 17654810 

3S7     ^H 

xiv. 

The  Story  of  a  runaway  A[»prentice 

y2 

h 

More  about  Travelling  - 

S44     ^^M 

3tV. 

The  Churches  and  Sect«  af  Bimiinglmm 

li. 

The  Firat  Cnmpaign  in  the  Struggle  for 

^^H 

in  17204760 

yo 

Freedom— 18114820 

349      ^^M 

xri 

How  our  Ancestors  Tmvelled    - 

103 

Iii, 

The  Churches  nnd  Sects  in  Birmingham 

^^^H 

XTil 

The  Old  Prison  of  Birmingham 

109 

-1811482U  .... 

360     ^^H 

XTiU. 

Local  AlanufactnrpH  in  the  Kijchteenfh 

tiii. 

Local  Charities,  Chiefly  Medinal      - 

364            V 

Century         .            .            .            . 

111 

liv. 

Public  Lite  and  Eventi— 18114820 

367      ^^ 

xix. 

John  Baakcrnlle 

114 

Iv. 

AmuiM?raeuts  of  the  Peo^de,   including 

^^H 

XX* 

Birmingham  in  1760 

ni> 

the    History   of  the   Theatre    Royal 

^^H 

zxi. 

The  General  Hospital 

1*25 

from  ISll  to  1820      -            -            - 

380            V 

«ij. 

William  Hutton  in  Binnin^jhaTn 

VS2 

Ivi. 

The   First   Philosophical   and    Artistic 

H 

XJciiti 

The  Story  of  Soho    - 

i;i8 

8ocii'ti«.^  of  Birnnngham  - 

m 

xxiv. 

Public  Life  and  Events  in  1760477n     - 

141 

Ivii. 

The  Churches  and  Secta  in  Birmingham 

^^H 

XXT. 

The  Lamp  Act         - 

156 

^18214830  -            .            .            - 

391      ^^1 

xxri. 

Poet  Frecth  and  the  Birminfchani  Piiuik 

Iviti: 

The   Birmingham   Political  ITnion  and 

^^B 

Clnh  .             .            -             - 

163 

the  Stmggle  for   Parliamentary  Re^ 

B 

XJtrii 

The  Churches  and  Sects  of  Birmingham 

fonn— 18284832  -             »             - 

396             ■ 

in  17604780 

Idl* 

lix. 

Public  Life  and  Events— 18214830      - 

415              ■ 

xxviii. 

The    Birmingham     Triennial    Musical 

Iv. 

Birminghani  iu  1832 

■ 

Fe^ttivals*     first    jM»rioil    frnm     17*^^ 

1%K 

The  Theatre  iu  Birmingham— 18214830 

■ 

to  1790           .            .            .            , 

176 

with  Kotieea  of  other  Amusements  of 

■ 

xxix. 

The  first  History  of  Biimingham     - 

181 

the  Pyople       .... 

M 

xxz. 

Public  Life  and  Event*  iu  17754  7P0     . 

185 

Ixii. 

Birminghani   Trienuittl   Musical   Festi- 

^1 

Tlxf. 

The  Birmingham  Library    • 

197 

vals,  Second  Period  from  18024829 

1 

xxxii. 

Appearance  of  Bimnngham  in  179*1 

203 

Ixiii. 

Education  in  Birmingham — 1801-1840 

■ 

xxxiii. 

A  few  old  Birmingham  Worthies    - 

210 

Ixiv. 

The  Birmingham  Railways 

447       ■ 

xxxiv. 

What  led  to  the  Kiots  of  17i*i  - 

220 

Ixv. 

Political  History— 18334840,  indufling 

^^H 

XXXV. 

The  Fourteenth  of  July  and  ita  Evcnti 

226 

the  History  of  the  Bull  Rin^'  Kiots 

^^H 

XXXTl, 

The  Second  Day  of  the  Riots 

232 

of  1839      -            -            ,            . 

450       ^^ 

xxxvii. 

Tlie  Third  Day  of  the  Eir>ts      - 

235 

Uvh 

The  Churches  and  Secta  in  Binningh&m 

H 

xxxTiiL 

The  End  of  the  Riotft    - 

244 

—18314840  .            .            .            , 

462              ■ 

xxxix. 

After  the  Riots 

247 

Ixvih 

Public  Life  and  Events— 18314840 

469             ■ 

xl 

The  Theatre  in  Binninghjmi  ^m  1775 
to  the  burning  <^^  t^^   N>w  Street 

Ixviii. 

Amusements  of  the  People^   including 
the   History  of  the  Theatre    Royal 

I 

Thealfv  in  )7P.i 

257 

m 

from  1831  to  1S4o      . 

H 

OLD   AND   NEW   BIRMINGHAM. 


CHAVTER. 

i. 
ii. 
ill 
iv. 


PART  II. 

Municipal  History  of  the  Borough 

Political  History— 1841-1879 

Public  Life  and  Events— 1841-1879       - 

The  Churches  and  Sect^  of  Birminglmra 
—1841-1879 

Education,  Literatui-e,  and  Literary  and 
Scientific  Societies  in  r>irmin<rhj>tii  - 
1841-1879       .... 


589 


OHAJTER. 

PAGB. 

vi 

491 

vii. 

529 

550 

viii. 

574 

ix. 

X. 

Charitable  Institations— 1841-1879      - 
The  lYiennial  Musical  Festimls,  Third 

Period,  1834-1879       - 
Amusements  of  the  People— 1841-1879, 

including    the   History  during  that 

period  -  -  .  . 

Local  Trade  and  CJommerce— 1841-1879 
Public    Buildings  and    Appearanr^f  of 

the  Town— 1841-1879 


600 
$05 


€08 

m 

616 


LIST    OF    ILLUSTRATIONS. 


Westley's  Plan  of  Birmingham  in  1731.  to  face  i>. 
William   Huttou's  first   visit    to   Birmingham, 

to  face  i\ 
Facsimile  of  Rothwell's  Coaching  Bill,  to  face  p. 
Bradford's  Plan  of  Birmingham,  1751,  to  face  p. 
AUiu's  Cabinet  of  Curiosities        •         to  face  p. 


67  Lower  end  of  New  Street   (alwut  A.D.,   1800), 

to  face  p.      30! 

97         Old  View  ol  the  M<»it  from  Lower  end  of  Moat 
105  l^ue    •  -  -  -  to  face  p.      81 

145         Interior    of    the    Society    of    Artists'    Rooms, 
292  to  &oe  p.      8S 


The  Council  House.      Fi'jnrftc  Tiflc. 

Monuments  of  tlie  ULMiniuglmm  Family  - 

The  "  Propper  Chappell  "  of  D.-iitfiil 

Portniit  of  John  Ro^'»'r.s  - 

The  "Old  Crown  House,"  Deritoud 

r.iiinin^hain,  in  1(>40 

Aston  Hall.     (Kast  Front  j 

Lon^  Gallery,  Aston  Hull 

Great  Staircase,  Aston  HjiII   - 

Portrait  of  Charles  1.       - 

Aston  Church 

Portrait  of  Prince  Rupert 

The  Old  Ship  Inn,  Camp  Hill 

St.  Martin's  Cliurch     (Old  View) 

Stratford  House,  Camp  TIi!l 

Old  Meetinf,'  House 

Market  Cross 

The  Welsh  Cross 

North  prosj)ect  of  St.  Philip's  Church 

Interior  of  St.  Philip's  Church   - 

Westley's  East  prospect  of  Ilirnun^hnni 

Kree  Grammar  School 

The  Old  Workhouse 

The  Blue  Coat  School      . 

Dr.  Johnson 

The  Old  Square    .  .  .  . 

St.  John's  ChajKj],  Deri  tend 


H) 
i>0 
•1\ 
•J  5 
•2S 
'20 
:v.i 
•^7 
41 
45 

•ly 

r»5 
:)S 
»;i 
<).'» 
«i> 

73 

77 
81 
82 
85 
89 


The  Xew  Meeting  Hon  v  • 

jnhn  Wesley               .             .             .  .              p 

The  Old  Prison,  IVck  Lam-           -  -             ■      V 

St.  liartholoniew's  Chiir.  'i     -             -  -             1( 

John  Baskerville               -  -             -      11 

The  General  Hospital             -             -  -              11 

Theatre  Royal,  New  Street            -  -              -       1: 

The  House  in  the  Old  Stpmr.              -  -              1: 

•St.  Mary's  Church             -  -      1' 

The  Soho  Manufactory           -  -              1{ 

Watt's  House,  Harper's  Hill        -  -             -      L 

John  Ash,  M.D.,  founder  of  the  GcpcTnl  Hosjrtnl      1- 

The  C'lnal  Om.e                -  -             .1; 

The  Moat       -             -             -             -  -              li 

Poet  Freeth          -            -            -  -             •      V, 

St.  Paul's  Chapel       -             .             .  .              l« 

William  Hutton  -            -            -  -            -      li 

St.  James's  Chapel,  Ashted  -  -  -  1 
The  General  Hosj)ital,  showing  the  two  wings  -  1 
Facsimile  of  a  Letter,  written  by   Huttoi  .it  the 

age  of  seven      -             -             -  -             -       1 

'*  Hockley  Abbey  *'    -            -             -  .             1 

Old  Windmill,  Holloway  Head  •  -             -      1 

Birmingham  Old  Library,  Union  Str«*rt       -  1 

*  *  Old  Smithy,"  in  Digbeth         -  -            -      1 

"  Old  Triiw  House,'; Digbeth           -  -             1 

Stained  Window  in  St.  Paul's  Chapel  -            -      S 


^V                                              OLD   AND 

NEW   BIKMINGHAM. 

^P 

1 

PAGE. 

PAGE.                H 

The  frttih  Circle      ... 

207 

Wesleyao  Chapel,  Cherry  Street 

402              ■ 

Joseph  Pnestley>  LL.  D.  • 

211 

The  Gathering  of  the  Uniona  on  Newhall  Hill   * 

407              ■ 

••A  iJii-niioghain  Toiist,  Jaly  lltli,  179L"  • 

215 

Lord  John  RusselL     From  a  pen  and  ink  sketch 

413              ■ 

The  Attack  on  the  Old  Moetiucf  Hoiw,   July 

The  Refonners'  Medal      -            .            -            - 

119              H 

I4lh,  1791 

223 

Old   View   of  Digbeth,    from  the  end  of  31  ill 

B 

Homes  desUxjVLHl  by  the  Rioters,  July,  1791 

2S1 

Lane            ..... 

123              ■ 

Houses  injure«l  ^r  ^V^tiovH!  flnrinff  t)if  Riots ^ 

Portiuit  of  late  Dean  Hook 

427              ■ 

.ruly»17S»l        -            -            -           ' 

2m 

„          Alfred  Bun  11 

432              ■ 

DM  Caricature  Pfint  of  the  Riots     - 

250 

The  Town  Hall    -            - 

485        ^J 

Livery   Streut   (Tnion)    Meeting'  House.       Old 

Botanical  Gardens,  Edgbaston 

439       ^H 

Meeting     Hnnsc,     rt-huilt     1792-&t5,        Xew 

The  Free  Grammar  School 

^^1 

Meeting  Uou^,  n  built  1802 

254 

Hirniingham  and  Edgbaston   Proprietary  Sehool 

448 

The  Old  Court  of  Requests 

255 

New  Royal  Hotel,  New  Street     - 

451 

POrtrftit  of  John  Collins,  Author  of  "Tbf^  Bnish  " 

259 

Bishop  Ryder's  Church 

455 

,,         Matthew  Boultoii 

2C€ 

Interior  of  St.  Chad*a  Cathedral 

458 

„         James  Watt    -            -                         - 

'J67 

Sitringhill  College      .             *                          . 

im 

HingWv  Houae.     Res^ideucc  of  Charlvs  Lloyd. 

274 

Intt-rior  of  the  Market  Hall 

466 

rortTixit  uf  Chnrk'S  Lloyd  ^the  M>^v\ 

278 

Old  Vitw  of  the  Town  Hall,  from  Htll  Street 

471 

Watt's  llouHf,  Heathtit'bl 

230 

Interior  oMhe  Town  HttU 

474 

Th*?  Olil  Past  Uth«-e 

287 

Monument  to  Joseph  Stnrge 

479 

The  l.oyid  Associntiou 

291 

St,  Pliilip's  Church*  from  the  East  entl  - 

433 

Christ  Chureh»  New  Streot 

295 

Interior  of  the  Theatre  Royal 

487 

t'hrlwt    Churrh-      Med«L    CftiijirMMi)on«nT>sr    tlie 

The   late    (i,    F,    Muntz,    M.P.     From   an   ohl 

Laying  of  the  First  Stone 

29^ 

print     ------ 

493 

Hen  and  Chickeoa,  New  Street 

307 

Insanitary  Hoaacij  :  A  court  in  John  Street 

495       ^ 

Tht  NekoD  Statue,  High  btn^ot 

310 

Insanitary  Hou&es  :  No,  2  court  John  Street 

^^1 

Old  House  in  the  Bull  Ring 

314 

Insanitary  Houses  :  No.  1  court  Steelhouse  Lani* 

499       ^^ 

Section  of  Old  Map,  «howiug  the  district  round 

Joseph  Chamberlain,  Es-i,,  M.P, 

506             ■ 

St.  Martin's,  Old  Mill  Pool,  etc.    - 

819 

The  Right  Hoo.  John  Bright,  M.P. 

510             H 

Old  View  of  the  liull  Ring 

322 

The  Exchange      .            .            ,             ,            . 

H 

The  Puhlic  Office,  Moor  Street 

330 

Statue  of  the  Late  Prinee  Consort,  by  Foley 

514             ■ 

Old  Houses  rfinnvi'fl  hi  iimke  w«y  for  tlic  Public 

Statue  of  J  amen  Watt  in  Katclitf  Placo    - 

522             ■ 

i»frne-t 

H35 

St<»lue  of  Dr.  Piieatley  iu  Congreve  Street    - 

523             ■ 

OUISt,  MaitinaParsouftge 

338 

The   Elkington   Chalbnije  Shiidd,    in    the   (or- 

H 

Dhl  V»«rw  of  Temple  RiH  Wpfit,  froMi  Cobnor*' 

porntion  Art  (iidli-ry     -             .             -             . 

527             ■ 

Raw      ....            - 

343 

New    Line   of   Street— Colmore    Row   and   Ann 

^^B 

St.  Philiii*H  r^uicb  ' 

34« 

Street          .             .             -            ,             - 

^^1 

Statue  of  Thomas  Attwaoil 

351 

The  Cnion  L'luli  House,  Colmore  Row      - 

535      ^^H 

l^ortrnit  of  ti*?orge  Edmondx 

354 

I ikimi nation  of  St.  Philip's  Chun^h 

539            S 

St.  Gi'Ofge's  Church,  from  Great  Haaiptuu  Row 

35» 

Exterior  of  St.   Martin's  Church  a.s   te  built  in 

H 

Bust  of  tbc  late  Hev.  John  Angell  Jniui-'S     - 

3e2 

1875      .            -            -            . 

■ 

Ppum's   luftue,   adjoining  thi'  wfne  of  Mary  Ash- 

Interior  of  Saint  Martin's  Church 

547             ■ 

ford's  Heath            .... 

870 

CJreat  Western  Arcade      .             .             ,             . 

551             ■ 

rhm  of  the  scene  of  Mmy  AshfonPs  Death 

874 

Portruit  of  George  Dawson,  M- A. 

554            ■ 

Portraits  of  Abraham  Thornton  and  Mary  As)»- 

The  Church  of  the  Jklesaiah 

559            ■ 

ford      •            -            .           -            •            - 

375 

j     Wycliffe  Chapel          .            -            .            . 

562            ■ 

Portrait  of  Mary  Aabford,  in  the  dress  she  wore 

Queen^s  College    -            .            -            -            - 

567            ■ 

at  the  dance      ,             -            -            .             - 

378 

Sir  Josiah  Maaon^s  Science  Collegia 

570            ■ 

Old  View  of  the  Top  of  Now  Street,  showing  the 

Views  in  Aston  Lower  Oronnds    - 

■ 

Society  of  Artists'  R<»om8 

333 

The  Council  House     -                         -            ^ 

583            ■ 

"  Romeo  Coatea "      -            -            .            . 

3Be 

Sir  JoHiflh  Mason's  Orphan »ii« 

591             ■ 

Holy  Trinity  Chuj)^!,  Bonlesley  - 

392 

Handsworlh  Old  Church 

602             ■ 

St.  Peter*  Church,  Pabj  End 

394 

Edgbaston  Old  Chnrcli    -                         .            , 

607             H 

View  of  the  Ruiuh  nf  St.  Poter**  afti^r  the  fire    - 

3J>i) 

* 

Stmtfonl  Hon>e         -                        -            . 

022             fl 

ERRATA 


Page  17,  line  10,  for  **  as  ercr  '*  read  **  or  ever,"  and  delete  comma  after  **  entred.' 

141  (chapter  heading),  for  "1760"  read  "1750." 

142  (page  heading),  for  "1760"  read  "1760." 
619,  line  17,  for  "  Follett  ddtr,"  read  "T.  Clarkaon  Oaler. " 
596,  line  14.  for  "1849"  read  "  1865." 
596,  line  30,  for  "  1867"  read  "  1868." 


Appendix.  1 


OLD   AND  N^W  BIRMINGHAM. 


625 


MhAYOKH  or  BiRMlXGHAM— 

]'  "    '      m  ScUolefield 
th  tuber  I'tli  — 

1  Hy.  Mantz 

1  Hv.  Mniit7 

1-  1  benle 

I8i3  Thrimaa  Weston 

1844  Thomas  Phillips 

*JS45  Henry  Smith 

^L  i.  I"   '    rr  Martiiieau 

I  s  Geach 

IL.  1  Thornton 

iai*y  VVilimm  Lucy 

1850  William  Lucy 

•1851  Henry  Smith 


Elected,  November  Oth —  Elected 

1852  Hetiry  H»wkes  1367 

1853  James  Tlaldwin  1868 

1854  John  Palmfr  1869 

1855  T.  K.  T.  Hodgson  1870 
*1856  Johtj  RjitLliff  1871 

1857  John  Riiteliff  1872 

1858  Sir  J.  HAtditT,  Knt  ♦1873 

1859  Thomas  Lloyd  1874 

1860  Arthur  Kyla'nd  1876 

1861  H^-nrv  Mauton  1876 
•186'i  Charles  SHj ret'  1877 

186H  William  Hollidny  1S78 

1864  HMiry  Wiggin  •1879 

1865  Edwin  Yfttes 

1866  George  Dixon 

In  the  yeara  marked  thus  *  Nov,  flth  fell  on  Sunday* 


,  November  9th — 
Thomas  Avery 
Henry  Holknd 
Thomfls  Prime 
G.  B,  Lloyd 
J,  Sadler 
Amhroae  Bi^s 
J.  Chamberflun 
J,  Chamberlain 
J.  Chamhorhiin 
George  Baker 
W.  Kenriek 
Jes»e  Colling!! 
R,  Chamberlain 


Li»T  OF  Local  PKRioDicAi-a — (exdtisive  of   New8pai>ers,  Tradn   Jouniala,  and   Sporting    Paj>er9).     7'hose 
wiih  fin  asterisk  are  still  in  ej^isience. 


marktd 


The   BimiinQham   Ktp^ter    and   Enkrtmnimj  Muneuvi, 

2  vols,  (waa  2nd  ever  completed  ?).     SkeU'hlcy,  1765. 

The   Medical  Mi^rlhntj^    by  J.   Tomlinson.     This  only 

extended  to  one  volume  :  a  second  edition,  with  an 

appendix,  was  publiahed  by  S.  Aris,  1774- 

Tli£   Birmingham    lnspect4jr^    edited    and    pnbliuhed    by 

W.  Hawkea  8mrth  ;  1  voL  8vo,  1817. 
Th r.  Sea rcJier.     J  abet^  1817. 
Bdifumd**  Wtfkly  JUcorder :  4to,  4(1.  jier  number.     Vale, 

1819.     Last  number,  Aug.  14,  1819  ;  (8  noe,), 
Tke  Saturdays  Register  ;  8vo  by  J.  Edmonds,  and  pub- 

lialjed  by  him,  6d.  per  no.     Jan,,  1820, 
JSdmtmd's  Wtekly  Ke^9t4 r  ;  4to,  1 9  nos.  Last,  8th  Jan. ,  1 820. 
The   Cnrtift   Maga^ine^  or   LiUrari/    Wandertr ;    12mo,, 

6d»  per  number.     Bloomer,  1820. 
The  Thmlriml  Looker-On  :  2  vols.  12mo,  1822.     Drake. 
The  Birmingham  Btvxtai  :    4to,  3d,     No,  1,  June  26, 
,       1823.     (About  47  noa.), 

Mu    Birmingham     Rep&rUr    and     Theatncal    Review, 
"^     Printed     by    Hodgetta,     published     by      Buckton, 

edited   by  'Francis   Lloyd  ;    1823.     (14  noa,). 
Th€  ThrniHcal  John  Bull  ;  2  vols,   12mo,  1824,     Edited 

by  Edward  A II day.  printod  by  Cooper. 
The  M&nse^  Trap :  12mo.,  1824,     Print«*a  by  T,  Dewaon, 

(Query  edited  or  written  by  Alfred  Bunn  1) 
The  Retiew,     Printed  by  Butterworth  :  aaid  in  **Mottae 

Trap,"  page  2,  to  he    *  atill-born.' 
The  NoU  Book. 

The  Binninghnm  Speciaior  ;  1  vol,  12mo,  1824.     Drake. 
The  Lounger.     Drake.  1825. 
The   Dramatic  Censor   or    Theatrical    JUcordir ;    1826, 

12mo,  price  24d, 
The  Btrminghain  Inde^tcudmi  :  1827. 
7^*;    Bit  miiujham    Magazine:    edited    bv     Kev.     Hugh 

Hntton,  1  vol  8vo.     Drake,  1828. 
The  Hazletmtod  Magazine;  12rao,  1828,  kc. 
The  Metnthly  Argus  and  Public  Cemtor ;  8vo»  from  1828 

to  1884. 
The  Iris  ;  ^  nos.    8vo,     Moore,  1830. 
The  Literary  Phmiiji ;  4  nos,  only,  8vo,     Belcher,  1830. 
The  FolittenI  ConifHtnion*      Oct,,   1880,    8vo,  3d.      W, 

Phustana,  Dale  End. 
The  FotUiml  L'nwn  Monthly  Begisier,  or  the  lU/ormera* 
Magazine.     No.  1,  March,  18S2.     Cisarles  Wataon, 
Chun^ii  Street, 
r/w!  JVaifi :  8vo.  July,  18S2,  Id,     R.  Jenkin^Ofi,  Church 
StrveL 


The  Midhind  Chronich  ;  1  vol.  12mo,     Hndaoni  1883, 

The  AitaJyst  ;  8vo,  1834,  &e. 

The  i'f»cotian  ;  2  vols,  and  odd  nos.     Edited  by  the  Rev. 

John  Moore,  kt\ 
The    Birmingham    M&nthhj    Magazine;    12mo.      Allen, 
High  Street       6   numbers,  August,  1834,  to  Jan., 
1836  ;  pp.  144. 
The  Birmingham  Penny  Magttzitie,    Harding,  1835.   (Pro- 
bably not  more  than  one  number  publislied.) 
The  Na^urali^ ;  edited  by  Hall. 
The  Botanic  Garden  ;  edited  by  G.  B,  Knowlea. 
The  People's  H'atehmmn;  8vo.     W^right,  1838.     32  nos. 
The  Binninghavi  Iris;  edited  and  published  by  T.   J. 

Ouseley,  1839,  8vo.     4  nos,,  Is,  per  no. 
The  Free  Schofilf  or  King  Edward's  Magasms ;  6  nod., 
edited  by  Wescott  and  Evana.     Published  by  Da  via, 
1840. 
The    Midland    Counties    Standard ;     eilited   by   Joseph 

Allday.     6  vols,  4to,  1842. 
The    Birmingham    and    £dgbaslon    Proprietary     School 

Magazine;  8vo,  1845.     Belcher, 
Th4t    Birmingham    Musical    Kraminer    tsnd    Dramatie 
Iteview;  edited  by  Mr,  Stimpson,  8vo,  19  noa.,  2d* 
each,     1845«6. 
The  Protestant  Watchman  ;  12mo.     Rogg.  1848,  kc. 
The  Reform  League  Cirenfar;   by  Mnntz,  W-eston,  kc, 

2  nos,,  8vo.  ;  merged  into  the  Mercury t  1848. 
The  Etinefnbrattcer  of  the   Presbyterian   Chureh,   Broad 

Street;  1848,  8vo.     Id,  per  no. 
The  Recorder :  4  nos.,  small  4to,  1849, 
^The   Totrn  Crier;   4to,      Commenced  January,    1861. 

{First few  numbers  iUustrated.) 
The  Bazaar  Qatettt     of    Wisdom,    U*it^    and   Humour, 
Issued  during  the  Volunteeis'  Bazaar,  October  14,  15, 
16,  and  17,  1863  ;  folio,     Ilhtstrated. 
The  ProtestaJit  Reeard  of  Birmingham  and  neighbour- 
hood;  1863-6,     (24  noa.)    8vo, 
Mirmingham>  Protestant  Associatian  Record;  1866*8.     (12 

BOS.)     8vo. 
The  Midlatid  MdrmmliA ;   June,   1868,      (One  nttmber 

only.)     8vo.     Illustrated^  la. 
The  Third  Member:  edited  by  Aunt  Jane,     (16    noa.) 

1868.  8vo.     Klmtrated, 
r%*      (About    12  noa.)     1868,    8vo.      Illustrated  by 

Serehall. 
The  Gridiron;  edited  by  Old  Sarbot.     (4    noa.    1868) 
4to-     Dlvntrated, 


626 


OLD  A>T>  NEW   BIS3[DiGHAM. 


lAppniix. 


Hi:i^«.     >*::*n-«7.  150-  to  ll&rrh.  1 571.     Folxo, 

4TCJ. 

Tif  .Vi:;:™"?  £ftnri^m  Ltn^t^  JTMrir:   /"v<^-     C'*- 

ih*  *3ist«t«  of  :i»  Lear=*. 
TV  Jf*f-«: .    A  xrosiKj  Ma2u:=*  for  Mzt^aI  I=-jroTt- 

TJi-r  £ir3iia^«i*  /k.\u*:  1*7! -3,  4:o.     «  tcIk 

iPitzictd  1S72.     *Ta 

Tt^  Stcu^r  CknmicU  ;  1572,  kc,     4:.>. 

jrii*7  Edvmrd'i  Sdu»l  CkrcmicJf  ;  1S72-S.     4:o. 

7%f     ^irai*a^4am     ProteMami    ^wn  '.*:>«     Jlngazimt  ; 
1572-8.     ill  E».'     5t». 

TV  lAinmd  JUvine  :  lS7f.  &<r.     4:ol 

•  Tlk€  Crmiral  LiUrrtry  Jfa^azinT.       K^xiMntTlr.)     Com- 
menced Janaur,  1S73.     STa     rihJtraEtfd. 

Tks  Lxh'Tal.      Published  for  the   Binnizigham   Liberal 
AssodatioD,  1*78-     Sto. 

Th<  Sckool  BmM  EUdio*  y^wrt.     PnblUhe-i  ^v  :h*  Bir- 
minzham  S>:riptiin1    &Jncation    Union.      i5  no4. 
1  *73.     §To. 


7m  BirmimykaM  Sunday  RepcrUr ;  1874.     Sto. 
TTu  Birmimfkam  Examiner,  1876-7.     8to. 

*  The  J>jrt :    A  Joaraal  of  Sense  and  Satiie.    Com- 

Brncei  (Xrtober,  1876.     4to.      IlJtutraiei  hi  Br- 
aiacom'aibf  Senkall. 
Tk€  Liym:     A  Sadncal  Jonmal.)    1877.    Small  fafioi 
•Contmiscd  about  six  months.;    Ulwttraiid. 

*  77  f  Midland  XntHraiist.     8to. 

*  TV  Si\aII  Heatk  Litcmry  Jfo^zine.     8to. 

*  Ta^   Or/.-    A  Journal  uf  Wit  and  Wisdom.    Cob- 

it  enrcd  JanuaiT  31,    1S79.      4to.      JllMdraied  ky 
BtmajKumi. 

*  Tkf  Gridiron  :    A  verklr  Grill  for  Saints  and  SinwOL 

Commenced  June.  1879.     4to. 

*  The  Spemkrr.    *Jlhv  organ  of  the  Binningham  Fnlii- 

mentarr    Delating    Societr.)      Commenoed  1871. 
Small  Jto. 

*  Jt.P.    (The  oigan  of  the  Hockley  and  HaodsvoiA 

Parliamentaiy  Debating  Sodetr. )    Commeneed  1871. 
410. 

*  M id- England :    A   monthly  Magazine  of   littfitBie, 

Sdenoe.  Ait,  and  Archjtology.     Xo.  1,  Deoember, 
1 879.      TTitk  Pkotogmph  and  other  lilitslraiioaL 


Tb'  earlier  ]4fftion  nf  tUs  lUt  (previuas  to  ISMX  ^  napki 
frvxn  lit*  note*  ^^f  Mr.  W.  Bate«,  B.A. 


Indcs. 

OLD   AND  NEW  IURMINGHjOL                                             I         | 

INDEX.                                                     ^1 

Art 

.r  Tn.r  mnStv  mi'\  156                            1  Aitrin  Hall  Fitot.  Mt)                                      | 

Bin^rVv  TT:ilI.  IS55                                                  ^^^| 

A'i  • 

<f  A  Pftrk  mt  !%ilt- 1  A«tou     Lniwer     GroandA,      AqnAHum     wl 

B                                 riewof,  374                     ^^^H 

l,  :.i5                                Theatre,  till 

^^^1 

A.M 

0.)                          A5k»D  L«>wer  Braunda,  Viewji  la,  575 

'li^ni,  14                               ^^^M 

A'i' 

>,  liO                                Aatuii  Lower  Groaadii,  HHjj'al  Horticultural 

.^^^H 

Ji.,1 

Show  lit,  &a4                                                1 

^^^H 

A      ! 

Tl.  ,yi\\ 

A^!:Mi  Pirk,  the  oM  avenue  of,  In  1832,  426       1 

•  .»«).  80                  ^^H 

All' 

il  Avjni'iUtuml  Sbowiit,  573             ' 
Hish  L'.matlc),  KPicticn  of,  500 

J:                                    Ural  iastnail,  413                ^^^^H 

-usoii  ViiHuiiUerd"),  650 

Bi                                   OaPt^tn.  123              ^^^^H 

1  tbLi  iiututt,  ill 

ALli-LiiL  Institute.  61« 

BJnuLii;;iiAiu     uiid      EdglMiitiib     Propiiett1|^^^^^| 

A^' 

ki» 

AUw<»ott  (T  ),   349,  SM,  S54,  3D7  i(  m^..  451, 

Stbooi,  4^:  View  or  44»                               J^^^^l 

Al 

i.ii^TiamX  JIS 

If. J,  47S 

Birinin^hj^tu     and     MtLtUud    liiHtitutt<«  50f  ^^^^^| 

All 

.i';:« 

1  )  SU tiie  of,  er«ctetl»  Ml 

H  i  4tor  V  o  r.  .VS9  ft  »q                                     ^^^^H 

All. 

ii^Utt,  SM 

iLUO,  Viow  of,  3iJ 

Bi rt  ( Rv >-.  U I  ut ti ).  .ton                                          ^^^H 

1\-: 

'  -i 

1     ),  Ggvortior  of  the  Borou^b  Oftol^ 

BUiiop  Uv'ii<r'<i  Cliumh,  »v  GhunthFa                ^^^^H 

"  ■    :'i 

chas-e  1  with  crtiolty,  50i  <l  *o/. 

BlAMi  (JO,  MoTiioir  of,  2SJ  .  liH  Ma^tiiAcrnt          ^1 

Al:i 

1  M«ton.  OO* 

Av&Unche  (a  novel  tboatrifuJ)  in  FranktiuttiOr^ 

Directory,  iiOJ ;  and  tliu  ilinerta  CJub,           ^1 

A\» 

tieU^,  Wl 

i'A'2 

%ll-2V\                                                              __^^ 

All 

'LL  S'JLiL-ty,  6vy 

Ayros  {81r  WiUiAm).  42 

Balloon  Ascent  lay  Mr.  SAdler,  4n<J 

BU<  k  &>>  V.ir^l,  3i:i                                       ^^^H 

Aju 

.1  aid  \muk  ot  ttie  Stork,  Id 

Biakeition*  (Thtts.),   A  CuntenarUn,  481             ^^^^^| 

B]i<  k  (F  },  K.l3tor  of  tht'  aai^tU,  304                 ^^^H 

iials&II  lle^ith,  61^ 

An, 

n.iutcl.  515 

Ba.uk  Note  For^fBrms,  373 

rt!.                     1  Inalitullou  for  lbe>  iM)S                        ^H 
lit                     uty  School,  74 ;  View  of.  St                ^1 

At- 

Au, 

>Jte«  (Tbe).  lOfl 

Biuiks,  Tuyloraiikl  Lloyd'a,  387-8;  WUkinaon, 

Bi                 ^'K  -jia                                               ^H 

A»U'l'<nu  L,iw 

Mc  Liai;.39fl 

Stutltt,  and  Hinilti'ii.  338 ;  Qdltfiti'fl,  3^ ; 

Bottd  (^LkJ'^U,  -^^                                                                 ^1 

Aot>'Com-L.'*w 

Au^itiition,  530*ol«cg. 

M\mQ  of  Attwooti.   S|»o.>ner»   and   Mar- 

Book  Club  (Binniu(;hn'n,)Poel  Frcotli'i  eoD-           ■ 

A|fcjl]o  iTn  l-ri^4 

.  :u;j 

aliaJl*  iiffiS ;  Cailum  of  the  Pmny  Oank« 

UHrti'^i.  with.  imAm                                      ^^^M 

♦P 

(Hritijjman*«),  92 
{.he  Towu  (l"2th  c«nttir>'),  8; 
rv),  IT;  (le^^'i  1T>0),  &t;  (1734)- 

668 ;  atopiiA^f}  of  the   Dintihi^hfun  Buuk- 

Pm                    iiier,  an««t  oft  370                       ^^^^H 

API 

iug  Co.,  6<J0  ;  Mofkm  Bunks.  m5 

^^^H 

1  ■                '  i; 

Bapttisttf,  early  meetiaga  beld  ta  High  Street, 

^^^H 

^U  ol.  (17 

41  /iO)                          U5;(17«0), 
101  i                           11800  1803X 

lui 

17'tl                                      ^H 

lis;  ^ITTi 

Bond  Stnwt  Chapel.  221 ;  iittark  on.  301 

l:                                           ^  >ho                                  ■ 

riS;  •     , .           Md 

•  CantiQn  .Stivut  Cliaiicl,  lOJ,  17,4- i ;  Mil 

ii                                         1  sbtid,4S2;  View  In           ■ 

Aim 

'  ^MJcil  lur  ukit  of  Jftoluon'a 

Cireiia  Chaptil,  Unidloitl  8tr^^t,  580-1 

Freeman  Street  Meeting,  lUI 

B^tiltoii  (Mitthaw),  113,  121                                            ■ 

Ar 

^^^s^•ni).  rj3 

GrAliam  Street  Chapel,  :t05.  aSO 

Boulton  (M),  pnvenU  Sgintoa  front  obtAla.          ^H 

Ai> 

A  In  tl)e,  S51 

Wycliffe,  Chapol,  681 ;  View  of,  662 

ing  a  Pe nation,  2SS                                                   ^H 

Al' 

Other  cha|>el»,  681 

S««  n/«o  8oho                                                             ^H 

A;- 

n  3HJ 

Biirbcr  (J,  V)  USS 

Bon rn  (Rev.  HaRtutil),  Pamphlet  by,  102            ^_^H 
Boiling  Ori»en  Festival,  31:1                              ^^^H 

Ar 

ubktUAry  NoMoc  of,  4£0 

liAtunttAU.  V.)  ■'  Ancient  Marinar,"  itOT 

Riruuiii  (P.  T  )  612 

Baroue^H  Vuti  Beck,  atf  Von  Beck 

Ar^ 

T,  530 

1..  :.12 

Boxing  at  ttao  Theatre  Royal,  380                     ^^^H 
Bnutfonl  Street,  31^                                            ^^^H 

Ari 

An 

.^f,  517,  MS,  519 

Bamickfl,  erection  of  iUc,  2»7 

Bradford  a  Plan,    Description   of,    146,    US;           H 

Ai 

<>f»  to  Ujritiitit:ham,  M4 

Barrett  {¥  T),  5l« 

niuiitrati<m«  frotn,  t6T                                             ■ 

Ar 
Ar 

V  t  ttdoptod,  i2» 
»0 

Qurry  8  (Mr  >  Deaign  for  the  Oramm&r  School, 
BaMkervillo  (John)  HI :  Life  oJ,  with  fiutice* 

Bragg*' (W),   Hia  (Jift  of  the  Ccnrantua  CoU     __^^ 

lection  to  the  Town,  619                           ^^^H 

Braudij)  (Joseph).  300                                         ^^^H 

Ar' 

Aii 

>  ;  Pint  ExbibiUon,  8S9 

of  bin  prmltimionEt,  114,  *i  ttq,,  164 

B^.HH^s  urkN,  341,  613                                              ^^^H 

Av 

— ^ Portrait  of,  116 

li                      <i)4S0                                              ^^^^H 

Ahi 

.It  ot  143 

Will  of,  117 

1                     u:r),  a  centenarian,  175               ^^^H 

A.»i 

1 ,  1S6 

Biukennllu  Hoiue,  373,  mt  alto  Biota 

l::                   '  1  ird«iiR,  AHtou.  ^l                          ^^^^H 

Ailifi^U  (M4[>) 

,  sappijaeil  morder  of;  View  of 

Bii,skervll|t'«  tiriNW.  317 

BriiiliL(J.)  JiiTvt  tki'tea  for  Blnnlngbwu,  6^3;          ^1 

tllO     Ittt4) 

•pot»    370;    SaiTntivo   of  tlic 

Uiitl.*t(rul<n«)  600,  .'.12 

hia  brvt  !tp -ech  a  Her  c^lectiuu,  540                          H 

cf<-5it,   u,/; 

;    PLm    iif    tfio    seen*   of    her 

BsUtlt;  ot  Binninjfhnra  (1W3)  Vi 

Drigllt  (JX  IV.rfr.LlJ  .if.   -10                                                       H 

378 

liattlG  of  Birmingham  (KoprlltU  of  old  tl*eta 

BriatoJ    '                                                                        H 

A-^i 

>.  205-8 

rehititig  to)  i\^-6 

Britlfili                               I  of.  (in  IBSO)  4dl ;          ■ 

*'-\ 

1    liooM    Id 

Beast  Market,  66 

(in  1                                 ^6S,  6116                             H 

.2 

Bayly  (T.  U.X  Pootical  Addrew  on  the  Re 

BroAd  ia  l: .  c  t                         i  »al«  End)  66                       H 

A'.' 

^et  {Er«!tioa  of>»  SI 

uptning  of  the  Theatre  Hoyal,  4i'>i 

Bear-TuiliiiK.  "IS 

Brewer  (Rev.                                                                     ^| 

A- 

J  V  Alvollo  CiiTildn*  «t,  911 

Brouglism.  L                     jjonof  a  ScrvioA  of          ^H 
Plate  to,  34J                                                           ^1 

A> 

Fr««   Libmry,    Board 

tT<«itory,  401,  40a 

^  Ac.  of,  01i» 

lilt  of  OllTt**,"  O07 

Brongham  (Lord)  visit  of,  476                                    ^M 

A 

r>.  :a 

BrowneH's  Hole.  186                                            __^M 

A> 

Hoctkley  Abbey/' 

Ucllrolif--:-   fur    at    Martln'ai,  provided  out  Of 

Brwih'a  (Mitx)  ''  Lay  i^f  t)i«  Bell,"  607               ^^^B 

.20& 

Unch'a  Truat,  7fJ 

Buckle-tnakiD^,!!^                                           ^^^H 

Av 

Bell*  (IVaI  .>0.  ITovidM  for  St.  Pliillip*.  Tl 

BnlMKaiting  at  ChaiK»l  Wake  Ct71>3)  306            ^^^H 

A^s 

0^  22 ;  DwtTiptJoo  of 

BoUa  (Pcala  of).  iHomiacd  at  St.  MarUa'a  and 
9t  PUlUips,  UJO 

Bulbbaitnig.  4^6                                                    ^^^H 
Bull  Lane.  11-.^                                                      *   ^^^H 

A 

.  80 

B<"1U,  *"  MaJxaa  "  ttcbool  System.  44S 

Bun  Kinc.  :ni  r:.  i:*t                                ^^^H 

A- 

I  o(  tlie  QuooiL  to,  when 

Beunett'a  (D.S.)  **  Woman  of  Sanirttli*/'  607 : 
•♦The  lay   of    81.     Cedlia,"  6o7 ;    '*8fc. 

i;                                               of  the,  467^61            ^^M 

417 

^H 

A 

.   -4 

P.'i.r;T,07 

1 ;                                            <  of,  432                      ^^^H 

A> 

111   1 

.T  lr>  rnrr-hjisp  1>T 

!7 
tmd   lt0 

nu1c«  or  NorfoDc,  429       ^^H 

jity;   CdwArd  Bermlnghana 

Uiv: 

;1 

L<                               .  t»f>  risit  ot,  47c$                ^^^H 

^^^1 

the* 

Miimu'a 

Cuiui'/u   tWjii-i^^iU#    biA    diMwilpUou    ot    the           ^H 

^^^H 

iOtl"    ' 

iOWTl^  !»                                                                                         ^H 

^^^r 

Chii- 

.    J24  25 

Caanpl«»ll    (Titoinfta).     hli    hiaiid«kii>    w.Ui  ^_^H 
Gregory  Watt,  iisfi                                        ^^^H 

b 

^11,  dl;^ 

i|jUuix  ul  Ihx  MlUvUitii  i^i 

i  iiiilUigWii  lilis.),  173 

;  »- 


OLD  AND  NEW  BIKMIXGHAM. 


t^    £:« 


z€     C:H3t 


!l 


iaS7 


«.  «*-.  4?'  c  frj 

l«aMd.  in 

st?t»rt  Mflesnr  Omsk,  am 

CaAl:r.  iMaiftaei.  Ml 
Carel^M  ■  MKfjf,  1*1 
Cwtj-je  :•£  IK.  J'jkMsnm^  79 
Caro:ia€  (Tru:  <iO  ^^t€m',e^^  ; 

Cvtrn^s  iMjKTk.  »2,  SS«.  y<^ 

C«rr  s  Lk»».  Acod^vU  a.  M 

c;a£;>  lu  (TVt).  2«S 

Gttalu::  ObduML  IM.  431 

C&luelni,  Mr  $L  Chad's 

Cis^ociC  A^o^tolic  dt^irck,  Wi,  5S7  J 

Caxli  ^'.i^  (KjcKmaX  ti>t  Ckvck  of  (9l  Mnie  . 

tic:^  of  th^  Ratidimf  is 

Tea{wnrT  CkApei  ia  WatarSowt,  SM 

C:^;«:  la  SkadvelT  SirwC  MS 

OnUfTj  (The}.  S66 

St.  Chad  *  CaUrtrtiz*],  BaOdifi^  oC  4M ; 

Deftcripcka  o!,  *iA 

SC  Ch*d's  Cai2k«dral,  View  of  Istenor, 


-  9l  J«ksX  L^jvood.  S7t 

-  ««.  LavreMcX  <?* 

-  Sc.  Lske  ft.  S77 

a:.  Mairpa^t's,  379 

-  at  lUnksM'ft,  STB 

-  St  Xaatkcv's,  MS 

^]iv«rft.5r7 

VievcClSl 


—  :S&  Xkkoltt.5?t 

—  SLFkalft.  BnUi^oC  171;  Vwieal 
F^sMml  ia  «id  <  ITI 


4&S 


-  Bishop's  Hoate.  46i 
61.  MichaeTs,  i» 
SL  PtVtrX  BroAd  StrecL  23 


OUkerClupelft.  5S; 

Cattle  Sh«v  (the  fixst),  &5« 
CelebnUuii  of  Ftoftce,  1749.  88 
Ceinetenr  (B>>n>ii«:h)  at  Wittoo,  SIS 
CenteDanaua.  T.  Blakemore,  4&1 
——  G«>.  Brid^na,  17i 

J.  Roberta.  «M 

Ceatxal  Litenrj-  AaMx-utkm,  599 
Chamber  of  Commeree  Eatabluhed,  ITS 
Cbamberlaia  (J.X  526.  537.  529,  549 

Portrait  of,  6M 

Charit J  CoIIectioBS  (Ear)7  LocalX  50 
Charles  1.  (Utter  of),  to  Sir  Thomas  Holte, 

27  ;  Portr^t  of.  » 
Charlotte  (Princ«4*X  I>cath  of,  3n 
Charti»t    Movemri.t,    454;     the    Conrention 

raeeU  in  the   Bull  Bin^%  45d ;  the  Ball 

Rtn<  RioU,  457 -<l 
ChelUrbham  Amateurs  (The).  431 
Cherry  Orchird  (Walker's),  67 
Cherubini's  C<mnniujn  Strrice^  442 
CheA»hire  (J.),  204 
Children's  l^MpiUl,  ('•OrM 
China,  "  Poct  Freeth  "  on  our  Trade  with,  21fi 
Christ  Church,  tet  Churches 
ChriHtadelphlans,  5S8 

amrch  (Dr.  W),  M3  ;  hU  Steam  Coach,  450 
Church  of  the  Saviour,  587 
Buil'linc;  Society,  for  buildinij  tea  new 

Chunthe*,  463 
ExteiiHion  (Proposed).  169 

Rate  Quchtion,  550,  et  trq. 

Cbiirrh'tH  :— IJiJihop  Kvder's,  462;  View  of,  455 

All  HiiinU*.  462 

Christ  Church,  Building  of,  306 


Medal   (ithowing     the     original 


♦lc«i;<ii  ff)r  ttic  building),  299 
View  of,  295 


Holy  Trinity,  363.  391  ;  View  of  392 

— Iriiniunuel,  .078 

(Jl'lknovr  Manorial  (Small  Heath),  579 

St.  Allmn's,  579 

■  Ht.  Andrew's,  577 

«t,  Anne,  579 

Ht.  AKiiph,  578 

-  -  Ht    H/tniaf«s,  578 

-  — -  ht.  Iiartholom«;w'n,  building  of,  100 
VU:w  of,  106 

Ht.  «;.itherine'«,  679-80 

Hi  i:\tiu\*'.ut'n,  578 

Ht,  <;iithU;ri  a,  579 

Ht.  HsvJd's,  578 

Mt.  Oabrid's,  579 

Ht  iiiiurntm,  301 ;  VUw  o(,  359 


l>r£,pxtaBn,2Kt:  cractMB  of  the  spire, 

Si.  FkaI's(OldVirvoOl«> 

sc  Peter's,  BraeCiaa  oC  S91-3 ;  Fire  at, 

JM;  Tirv  ct,  SM;   ¥irv  of  the  Boias 

•ritT  the  Fu«,  S9» 

St.  SaTxw's,  HocUej.  579 

St.  Stef«hea'a.  577 

Sc  TVaaas's.  SM 

:mc  •!»  aadar  Dcntead,  St.  Martia's. 

St.    Fhilipa,    aad  the   bsbm    of    each 

sahorb 
QtH  War  Traets :  a  foonh  Tntt  diaeovvted, 

4i 

Clareadoa  Hotal.  997 

Clay.  Heary.  MeoMir  of,  SIS 

aah  (UaMaX  am  Cakn 

CoadMs  (Early  BirauQghisX  10&.  108 

(Barmaagkam)  ia  1770  a»d  ISSQ,  S45 ; 

appearaaoe    oC,   MS;    Geotse    Eliot    ua 

Coackiag  EMti'itTK**!^  S46 
Coal-flehls  (Sotth  StaflofdshireX  TieM  of,  MS 
Coate»  r*  Borneo  ")  ia  Binainghaw,  S8S 

Portrait  of.  383 

Cock  iLn  (TbeX  lu8 
Cock-fl^hUa^  318 
Cock  Match,  1747 

Cock  Street  (DigbethX  M 

Coffee  Hoaae  Moremeat,  €li 

Cuiaage  (Boolton's)  Stanzas  «■,  bj  CoUias, 

laS 

(CooaterfeUX  187 

Coiniajc,  613 

Cold  Bath,  67 

Colerid^  (S.  T.X  Visit  of;  to   B.rmin^haiu. 

2S0 
Collanl  (JchnX  212 
Colleges  -Mason's  College,  59S 

Osoott  College.  5S6 

Queen's  Colleg^e,  5^ 

View  of,  567 

Sprin^;  Hill  College,  4«S,  599 

Training  Collej^e,  Saltier.  599 

Collins,  John.  Memoini  of,  272  ;  his  Scrip- 
acrapc'loyia,  273 ;  EUmnU*  of  ilcnUm 
Orniory,  275 ;  ^camples  <^  his  Poetry, 
179.  ISO.  1S6,  195,  275-8 

His  Monologue  Entertainment,  **  The 

Brush,"  262;  Theatrical  Anecdotes; 
Garrick  and  the  Stage-strnck  Barber, 
262;  Stag's  Slips,  263;  Foote's  perform- 
ance in  Hamlet,  263 

Colmore  (W.X  76 

Colm<jre  R-jw  and  Ann  Street,  816 

View  of,  530 

Commerce  (Chamber  ofX  established,  372 
CommUsioners  (TbeX  4y2  ;   Transfer   of  their 

Power  to  the  Corporation,  499 
Comjtlete  Suffrage  Association,  531 
Concert  Booth,  au  Operas 
Conc4.'rt-Kiving     Societies     of    Birmingham, 

61112 
"  Conegreve  Street,"  191 
Consort  (Prince),  «/  Albert 
Constitutional  Association,  546 
Conveyances  (LocaIX  1775,  1819,348 
"Conygree-Stile-Closc"  (TheX  119,191 
Cooke  (Rev.  Dr.),  428 

Cooper  (John)  and  his  Love-day  Bequest,  108 
Coo|M;r's  Mills,  66 
CojH^  (C.  R),  431 

Copying  Press  (invention  of  theX  141 
Corbet's  BowIingGreen,  67 
Cum  Cheaping  (TheX  54 

Kxchange.  555 

Laws,  Petition  against,  351 


Com  Lava,  am  Anti-Cora  Iav  Agitation 
Carporatkm  Art  Gallery,  517,  518 

BoildingB.  522 ;  fliat  atobe  laid,  5SS 

sar  mlaa  Cooncfl  Hooae 

(History  of  theX  49S ;  Celebration  of 

the  laonporatioa.  493;  the  Cocponte 
Seal.  492 ;  TransfiBr  of  the  F«nrer  of  the 
Cowwiisrinnera  to  the  Corporattoa,  400; 
BoruQgh  ImproTemeot  Rate,  503 

Goeu  (Sir  M.X  his  first  api^aranoe  han  aa 
St^aor  Ccata.  442 

*'  Eh,'  006  ;  ( r<isenUtion  to  tbeCoM- 

power,  O06  ;  his  *'  NaaaBan,"  007 

Gooacil  House,  first  stone  laid,  5S5 

DcKTiption  of.  610-17 

Tiews  of,  1.  583 

OMaterfeit  Coinage  in  1776,  187 
County  Court,  555 

Coort  Lane  (also  called  Moat  ljaw^\  SB 
Cooft  of  Reqnests,  Tiev  of, 

am  aiao  Hattoo 

Cowen's  (F.)  "  Corsair,"  607 

Cox  (1>.X  Memoir  of.  561 

Cox  (W.  SandsX  and  the  Queen's  Col'cg-*,  att 

and  the  Queen's  Hus^iiUl,  r4)0 

does  (The  MarketX  Repair  of.  59 

(Chamber  over)  completed,  50 

BemoTal  of;  206 

View  of,  55 

(OklX  near  Stafford  Street,  56 

ata  edao  Welsh  Cross 

Crown  House,  The  Old,  15 
Cottoo-Spinning,    Wyatt's   Experijaeati  in, 

111 
"Oeation."  (TheX  Bnt  Performanec  in  Bir- 

mingham  of.  437 
Crescent,  The,  909 
Cniikshank,  6,.  371,  373 
Cnrtia,  Rev.  C.  443 
Cnmn  Hall,5«9 
Daggett  (Wm-X  52 
Dale  (R.W.X  5^2 
Dawson  (G.).  516.  517 ;  his  appointment  totht 

pastorate  of  Graham  Street  Chafid,  560; 

Erection  of  the  Church  of  the  Savioor, 

587;  the   "Von   Beck"   Case.  557;  hii 

connection  with  "  our  Shakespeare  Clob,* 

567  ;  his  death,  573 

Portrait  «»f.  554 

SUtue  (TheX  573 

Deaf  and  Dumb  Institution  established.  M 
Deafness,  Instituteon  for  the  Relief  of,  OOL 
Debating  Societies  (OldX  313-316 
Debating  Society  (Biiminghiua  and  Ed^Us- 

tonX  600 
DeLy8(Dr.X366 
Demonstrations  (Open-AirX  on  Kewhall  HiO, 

353,  356,  357.  450 

at  Brooktields,  545 

Denmark  (The  Prince  and  Princess  oO^ttit 

Binuingh^tni.  415 
De  Quinoey  (Thomas)  at  the  Htn  and  Chidxni, 

347 
Deritend  in  1660-1700,  54  ;  in  1700,  IfO 

Bridge,  204 

Bridge  Tunijiike  al»olishe<i,  421-23 

Cl»ai«el.  erection  of,  11 ;  appointment 

of  Chaplain,  12 

View  of  (in  the  Fourteenth  C^-nturyX  t 

View  of  (as  rebuilt  in  1735),  89 

Dt^rra  (OmsUntX  557 

Devil  (The  Famous  LittleX  »t  the  Theatii 

Royal,  166 
Diamond  presented  to  the  Council,  525 
Dickens'  (C.)  Testimonial  to,  558 ;   his  fir«t 
Rradinj3,  589,   90 ;    apf*ears    with  oth«T 
litUrntcun    and   artists    at    the   Theatre 
Royal,  609;   appears    on     behalf  of  the 
Guild    of    Literature  and   Art.  609;  bis 
later  Readings,  612 ;  his  address   hrfnre 
the  members  of  the  Midland   Instiiuie, 
571—2 
Digbcth  and  the  Bull  Ring,  old  sp]-eamM« 
of,  70;    ap|ie«rance  of  in    1sa»S,  312;  okl 
view  of,  423 ;  the  old  oi«en  fon.'**  ix  146, 
204;     old     h.tlf     timbered     Louse     in, 
(Assinder's)  199 
Dining  Hall  (PubUc)  opened.  5« 
Dispensar}-  (Oent*ral)  esttblished,  9^ 
Distress  in  the  Country  (1S29X  397 
Dix  m  (G).  545,  549 
DoblM,  (James,  CumedianX  SSS,  43:^  :S1 


E  Clieopilje,  108 


/) 
I 

h^,:, ...,.,,  ..... 

Dnuiuitit  Society  fAiDfttrtirX  ^TO 

"  Drttiiis    ahd  Culuuni"  i>iuultMe(1    f^r    the 

Town,  yj 
D»«lvtesLot}  Q»1l,  Cockflgliting  at,  ns 
-^-   ^^  ■■  '  Houjc,  21 
r  wn,"  421 
I>  11 

!•  I  iison 

*'  i  TV   (Tb*-),  no 

%■  r  Intlritiary,  Wl 

h  •     1  - 

EdgtMUt 

Bdilmaloo  uld  Chare h.  View  of,  d07 

XdloUuft^  (Duke  cifX  hli  ViMit  to  the  Blnnltig^ 
h&m  Fe<ititr&l^  607 

Xdjaoodt  (O.)  «iid  Lhe  H&mpden  C'luh,  3&0. 
hlB  political  career.  353-4,  35a,  UJiO,  36(1, 
398,  el  ««<?.,  455.  UQ,  deAth  ot  bn 

^Pcrtnut  of.  354 

SdmondA  (Rev.  Mr.),  of  Bond  Street,  350 

»1*" '  ^^--^  fXew),«l6 

Kfl  :    ' 

K  I  (Eletneotjuy),  MT 

Ei  .    ,.,.  .1  ..  ..lety  ^DirmingbftinX  EOT,  rljti'j 

Lienguu  (NaLianal) 

Edwsjni     th6     Sixth's     (EClng)     fSltfmfuturf 

Pfiiiton  (Fmnclii),  Memotr  of,  2«T 

■'  Hia  i^roeeju  for  copying  oU  p«liitlng«. 

141 
dtAlticd  Wlndovr  tu  St  Fanl'a  Chnpcl, 

172,  ongiAvlng  of,  2(W. 
EgyptUa  Conduit  In  the  Bull  Rin^.  310 
iBTscUoD,  m*  M«izib«j«  of  rArlianiunt 
Electro- FUie  Trade,  013-14 
Slcmentary  Schools,  utr  fS^iward  VI. 
''Elijah,"  set  MciuleUiiohn 
BlizaWth  (i^ncen)  ;it  Kruilworth,  19 
KMoi  (Groive)  oa  ttte  old  Cuachinj*  \HyK,  It  10 
ElkingtoQ  Chalteiige  Shield,  <>18,  627 
BUliton  (It  W.)  323,  390;  hU  Bohtmiau  htm%, 

3S5 
BfioroAchiQClitii  on  the  Bt^el^t^  in  1812—333 
Brdlngton  Orphanj^Ki;.  524.  604 
■  Orchftnage,  view  of,  AOl  i"  ' 

BtTTOOlogj  of  tlie  nutne  of  BinuingHam,  3  ft  1 
Kxcha^ge  (TheX  5<M) 
Sxchonge,  Vievr  of,  511 
Sxeentloiu  t>i  Wanhwood  Heath,  100,  9V^ 
Bxhniition<liii1iistml)af  lH^?t>.  181 

andUKtrijl)  of  1S4J»,  :-5rt 

— ^  (IiidUfttrlftO  of  nd\  SOU 
KkptoAtuii  ill  St.  M3r)«  Square.  4 IT 

By**    t"<   ^-n    -V,    •lO-* 

Fit  iitj 

J  I  abolished,  520 

*  i  ^. ..:,[i'i  Ijinli,'  (now  Broad  Street) 

nr  (Joseph),  bfs  liequMt  for  deiuilag  the 

'K  213 


Fre^-th  (JohnX  hU  poetjcal  writlngi.  SIO,  SI 7 
(John)  Od«  to  cominetnoraie  the  first 

boat  looil  of  i:oals,  t>y  the  Canal  arid  Uiv 

Stratford  Jiibitee,  150 
(Job  11)   P<jt' Ileal     InvlUtloQi    to    the 

book  club  dinnAra,   103.  1G8 
— - —  (John)  Verses  on  the  conrerfton   of 

l!ie  Mo4ir  Strept  Tlxeatre  into  a  Wetleyan 

Mae  tin;;  House,  US 

Circle,  iiorlraiis  of  tho,  207 

FrMtirs  ColTte  Hou»c,  79 

FreTill  (Sir  Buldwiu)  of  Tjuuworlb  Castjr,  t^ 
Oadtt'ei  (N.)  "  Zloti"  and   *' The  Cruiauleia 

dor 

(Jaol  (Borough).  Ilrer  tion  of.  500 

— (Borough),  ChniBltloa  at,  602  et  mq. 

Oarbett,  Rev.  J.,  4m 

Oardeui,  v»  AHolment  Gardetia 

Garibaldi  ioTited  to  Visit  Birmingham,  500 

Garland  Inn,  (Tlie)  108 

Gaa  llhiriiination,  the  rirat.  UOtt 

Can  Lijthtirc   iiiv-r.<i..n  of,  ^liO 

' Ill(r  :UiS 

Gufi  Works  ;  3  tiie  CoTpoimtioD,  52il 

Getii^ral  Eli,;  i ., .  Uujijutabi 

Geology  of  birmin,;hain^  405 

Oei>r}ie  III.,  IVjoIiingi  over  the  Recovery  of, 

107 
"  Gib»on*«  Wharf*,"  372-3 
GidtOK  a  New  Sacred  Drama,  441 
Gild  Hall,  Sb ;  fin^rairia^^  of  old  windOTT,  72 
Olid  of  Lho  Moly  Cro^a.  D,  10,  Tl 

willed   "  Leuch^a   Trust,*'  10  ;  Me  aUo 

Lcnch'a  Trust 

OhdwttKio  (W.  E.),  b*«  early  tUcoVieotlona  of 

Bimiinfc'bani,  :i47 
OUtl"**.  i-  i\v    F-  )   Visiit  of,  540 
Gla^  ,614 

GltJ^  :  vivftl  of,  by  EgibtOD,  28V 

aU'fu  1. ., 

Glovt-r,  Miw.  4<W 

Glover  n  (n.),  **  Taw  O'Shonter/*  606 

■*  Goii  in  th*  J(foi*iil/"(Vi*inrii's)  ELxtract  from, 
43 

"  Golden  Dtutaieri,"  313 

Goata  Green,  ItO 

GfahAin  Sin  et  OiapcT,  304  ;  tt«  <\i»o  BaptintA 

GramtiHir  School,  thf  original,  l^\  rebuilding 
of  the  School  in  1707,  71;  View  of  the 
building,  73;  fuither  uotteea  of.  SOO. 
420;  ficfurm  of,  444;  rebutlJtng  of.  in 
X^tS*£,  445;  dejicriptlon  of  the  new 
buildln^\  44'i;  View  of  the  new  boUdlJig, 
113:  further  Btform,  503 


ne-Hi    ( 
flPt  Kn^ 
Flw  at  t 


-r-ited  for  Kodition,  831 
1^  III  worth  Uutlo,  21 


rv,  iVJO,  O 


PoHtau   Mlalitar  In 


of,  425 
iiiiutnu'tlfin  of,  421 


Wit 

Foi  Ways,  iOrt,  10 

For;  V, »..»..>  - ir  of  "  Hockley  Abbey,' 

JOI> 

Free  ot  Chri«l  flliurcb,  tM  Chtm.ibc« 
Free  Lihn      ■    ^  ■  f    r.* jectwl  by  B Lnnlngbam , 
SOO;  at  adopUon,  512,  U 

*f'  L'S 

F^mCJ,)^     J 
Ffevemin  (tu.  A,,>  5^4 


ureal  LiMl*«r  6tr«*'t,  < 
Great  Wi-ilem  Arridi 
Oreatorex   (Mr)  CoX4iliiciur   at   the   Ftttlval 

(ISO.'.),  43S 
Grpy  (Kiirl)  *w  Pamic*l  Ut*b..ry 
Gn-en'x  (B^ao)  House,  102 
Gnumldt.  A]iu<tiot«  of,  431 
Grubb  (EawJii^l),  74 
Gun    Trills*   (Early).   47,   I** ;    Later  nollcae, 

840,  01  s 
Hiuldw^'s  Mt^xrhanlc  Tliiratrtt.  3S7 
Hdssor's  Oratorio.  "Tbo  Triutuph  of  F^ttb," 

005 
Hair-tiinbereil  Houses  ;  Wf«jtojj'i  In  th»?  Bull 

RlOKt  314 ;  Aivsinder's  in  Digbeth.  li>0 
Hal!  (•  Billy  \  420 
Haintlton  (^ir  W  and  Lady)  visit  Birinlnghjun 

it)  1802,  327 
HanmioDd   executed   at   Waahwood    Heatti, 

10i» 

nri.n,.l,n    -Ulb   /TIm?).    350,    350 

1  313.  s.'ia 
mHon  Festival,  177 
-  ,  19 
,  uid  Chnrch,  Vi«w  of,  603 
,  Volunteer  Cavalry,  331 
L^n  of  BirmlnfihQTO,  101 
li» 

t  tEdniiini  Street),  lOl 
!  it  X   propnaf«4  picture  of   the 

4.  Nte  UtUouA.  410 

Hnyt 

UealLL        _  .   Au(Mr  BawlUtton'a  Export 
on),  iAit  I 


Qeatos'i  Steant  Cwreh.  450 

Hector  (E^linnnd)and  Ur.  Johnson,  70-90 

HntiAt'  of,  iti  the  8<|narf,  Vii*W  of,  127 

Hen  ttT..!  ■  »,    L    -    Rigtj  .^jtreet,  m-,  llenioval 

tti  '  1  iiO  ;  »(>.♦,  42tJ ;  Visit  of  Do 

<Jn  .  Old  View  of ,  it07 

Hc*loti(J.  i   ,.  y,^ 
Uighgate  Fark  opened,  528 
Highway    Rohberiea    cominitLed    near    Btr- 

minghain,  107-8 
Hill  (A.,  M  D).  515 

<M.l>X  4S0 

(Sir  R'  "  ' '^   ■^•itne  of.  571 

Hiiler'B  (Ur.  J  i  Dainuyanti.*' OOT 

Hi*Uiry  of  Li  1  i^tloi/sX  181-5 

Hockley  Abb.y.  .,.      ,  ^  awof,  183 
Hodgetts  (Mr.  Wiliiarn/.  315,  419 
Holltcr's  Charity,  Land  purchaiicd   from,  to 

form  lligliKUe  Park.  5t» 
HoUin*  (G  ),  ^M 

(lacier)  403 

<W  ),  ain,  3d5.  41^3.  552 

Hollow  ay  nt:n\,  Jtf2 

Hoiie    Kaiui!y,    Early    Hiittory    of  the.   19; 

Justice  Holtc.  31  ;  3ir  Tbuinos  Holte,  31 ; 

Edward  Holtti,  LM 
Holy  Trinity  Church,  *«  Churches 
Uomaioiiathic  Hospital,  0*i3 
Hook  (The  Vtry   Itev.   W.    F-,   D,I>.),  4S»( 

Portrait  of,  427 
Hoi»k«  (Chr  ),  Soiiritor  to  Jackaon's  (Jbarity, 

73 
Horwj  Fair  (TheX  %m 
liortt'iJiOf  Inn  (Tho),  108 
llorllcultijirul  yhow^  jrre  Royal 
Ho^pliTd  (Cliitlrcn'*),  t;03-4 

—  (Eye).  »104 

(Oencral)  Early  History  of,  125,  el  asg ; 

Recent  Kolice,  (K>0;  Views  of,  116,  175 

(M  —  ' h^.f-X  ti03 

(I  v,i 

{  '    365,  001 

(i^  ...-.,  ,,,,  .....u.  001 


(Women  A),  t»4 

Howard   (John)   visile  the   old   Bitmingham 
Priaon,  185  ;  hia  description  of  the  ptaiMi,  ^ 
1B5 ;  the  Aatoo  gaol  at  Bordcsley,  lH0      i 

^* Humble  Petition  of  the  Pomp  in  Lhe  Boll] 
RinjT,"  311 

Uantinels  "Alma  Virgo/'  0Ort 

Humi^hreys  (Mr.),  *f*  Riols  (1701) 

Hungary  (Syuinathy  witb),  lAH 

Huntinmlon's  (Laiiy)  CoumcUon,  CThapet  In 
Perk  Lane,  221 ;  Bartholomew  St  Chapel, 
221 

Hntton  (CatherlTie)  173;  her  Kamtire  of 
the  riotfl  (1701),  285,  344,  250;  300. 
Death  of.  553 

Button  (Rev.  Hugh),  410 

(W.)    Early    Life    of,   i>S ;    hla    flnrt  1 

vjait  to  Biru.Ji    tuii..    Ort— ^;  bin  second  J 
Tisit  to   1'  123;    cnramei 

buaineaa,  i  h  i  p  and  tnarrlam.  1 

133;  bit  c-  :  ..  .  i  MiJkr,  133;  tti« 
Transit  of  Vtuus  iu  iTtil,  134  ;  Election 
aa  Overseer,  134;  builds  a  House  at 
Bennett's  HID.  Baltlejf,  134;  chosen  a. 
Commiaaiouer  of  the  Court  of  Requests^ 
134 ;  hla  De<ieripiion  of  the  Court,  134, 
135;  cases  dectdrd  by  him,  130;  tha 
Lamp  Act.  136 ;  his  sclion  in  reference 
to  the  Lamp  AcU,  157,  102  ;  his  UUtor^  * 

3f  Binr^i\igham%,    IHI;    Hi'     f:.  Lj'f,    1h|; 
eaorli'tion    of    the    v  tbo 

second  Edition,    t»3;  c*»f 

reaitondenre    i^yitk    f<'  :,   ^85; 

200 ;     bH  t*>    U«e    nro]>o#iea  | 

ratlDg  of  ■'.  2«3 ;  r»»nlv  to, 

ts»4;   111*  V  r .  hi*  tt..  ill.  ;:.tu 

Huxley  i  r3 

••  I  ••.m'^  .  i.ijij,enj,"  435 

Ir-'-    ■ 

/!  'M'».  505 

III  '  vilv).  »<  V  I^mp  Acta 

ll  M 

la;  'J  >'tewsof 

r  uudiiiLukiu  l'>    tliA  Cotnml*- 

Itj,     ,  (ChJirter  oQ  aoUifht  for,  478; 

and  vUiikucd,  460 


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.11. 'I    'li.li    n..H,f,,t   il.iliiili^li.ilii,    4l  ._   |j.-.,rnj.ti..ii'',f.    175 

«!■  ,    /      •    I;  ;.    ;:.»M  I    M:ilk..U  ('Ih«  oil),  «o 


Co:;- 


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N.i^S  Hi- 
Nat.'::-.] 
N;ii.....il 

»:    Hi 


N>  i  ',    !in5-(J;   FtoTor**  b«mnMrt   for 

cksii4iag  it,  337 
Nvukoiiim's  "  pAvlilt"  <M6 ;  hb  "  AAooiuion," 

N«^w  ti'  I  oiition  of,  205 

Kcw  H  .  i 

h  r.  h,  »«•/■  SweOenborgUitia 

h  -w  Stro«t,  461 

N  of  the  lower  *^n<l   cif» 

of,   in    18(M,    SOS:     lu 

M  irlew  of  ttie  iip|j*r  eml 

N  r  Riohju^)  lad  tlta  BirmittgUAU] 

_: .:..    i.-,  47 

KkiWiiAli  HUl,  First  Me'^tlng  on,  S5» 
Kcwmmi  (J.  H..  I».t».)  >^i 
Kuw»  Ro-.m    n.  I. lull's  Hill.  430 
Kow«i|j;  [  Urat    local);     ^;    Arig'w 

lU'  rtt€.   84-5;   Utur  Now«- 

N  lU,  317 

N  IS  <  42S 

^  .i.'i   Piimplilels, 

Ct 

O..... .,  ..  ,    ,,.. 

*'Uii  to  tii«  Wans.    2W) 

On-iKiftitlQgs,  reprfiluctlou  of,  by   Elglnton, 

OM  Mnt'Litig  Honw,  xt(  UnltarianB 
'M>ld  Si^U,"  ft  \u\Ar  kept  fur  baltinK.  9I»* 
OM     Sm-   -    n  -1    From    the    Print   by  W. 

O'Ncll 


r 

Mo- 
til. 
of  :i 
t*rs 

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nT7«>. 

2/>i> 

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Or;, 

L    ,p  ,,  .1,.      if 

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Paraais<»  ii;»«sv. 

IVI 

11  of  tlie  a«te  of,  4ao 
n    tbc    Concert    BooLli, 
nmfijg   of 
in  Aitl 

.    .;4d 


Is 


FiBLnullAe  StTMit  420 
Fnlctt  (BeiAie  JlJiTner),  9U 

(JoscphX  312,  409.  413 

8chol«lh"lJ.  und  H*Ufbni  (MftiarH).  41t» 

Plark§   (PnMlp)    A'Irfrrlnr,    ^(H ;     ^^itthnnir. 

304:    ■    ■  '  ■-    ■     ■     . 

Hi- 

lie:- 

■  JH 

r  Kloctionji,  RtAnlU  or,  ojijv;i*/j,( 

1  u  tlutt  "  Clmrclj  AUd  Kiog/'ery* 

r.'it  -   ,'  '.    Il'^ifi^,  wcSt  M«-tili% 
r.i!  I  i  ji  111!-  ti  ttt  tho  Tlie&tn}  Uoya}^  n^ 
PaJ*^nt  OMltn  Pnblicatlom  (Grant  wf).  503 
PftlrioUc  flind.  n;i^iii:at  tbrontent'd   hivuBloti, 

r.i  .■'"' 
y 

Y 

V  ..■ 

r.'.o.- 

rv  , 

i' 

1 

I' 


ut  inx  on 

lentin,  525 

liJiO?),  SS2.  (»«UX  371 

11,  pri  uteri,  317 

ual  (kjUoola  in.  42y 
4tum,  415 


Plitlo«cipii 

Pickwd'K 

Firlii.i-]'-  !• 

Pit-k;.  . 

Pin  I 

Pi'-i-.  .  ,     '  ■'  ', 

Pill  tjiu.kiUK»  tili 

pitjifor*!  jind  Bauimond  executed  at  Waibwood 

lio^tb,  ISO 
Plague  in  Birmtogbimi,  45 
Plarere  ^Strolling)  in  Tetnplo  Street,  W» 
Plot  agUllit  Ed  ward  lisuniuuihuin,  7 
Pt>em«  hy  John  * 
PtML'tioitl  Dre;iuj  •  tween  tlio  Itoi- 

piUl  and  Nt  :  _    .y  HoUiHi,  120 

Pollot?    Foree    (BinuiKKliaui),   4WI ;    appoiul- 

ni«»nt  of  Mrtjnr  Bi>nd.  'i29 
I'bliticaJ  History— The  Enat  India  Company'M 

Charter  34 1* ;  thp  Ordtsrs  in  Council,  M9  ; 

Bncvtm  of  the  Bfriniughani   opj>osition, 

34*:  t.npi.lnfjoii  of  the  Hftnipden  Club, 
im  to  th<;  Com  I^wrs,  3M ; 
nt    Mr.    Jek^ift'ii    ulaop.   Wl; 

V   .  L  ..f  tlu'  Mni'i-^trrt'--:.  -tAL'  ;  the 

lit   :    iii-iihL    ..M    N>wi(,.l?   [111.!,  '■-::;,  the 

hp-'/'  !■■   -    !;.■'   j.i'M'^r,-^  ,.  ■«,    ",  :    'U.     f*riUOe 

!■'•    ■  '■'      '      'Il^.'J,    ;».>ui  ,    Uh:    ikrJiiUii^ham 

1  iiition,    ttiul    the  Lf>c*kod-ap 

li ;  th*^  Nt?whrtli  IlJU  Mating 

I' J   ,      ■-.   S;  the    Pot«rlo«   Mjissocre, 

36s  ;  I'jyni  domoiiHtration,   3i5i*'00  :  prose- 

(^utioD  of  th*'  filrtiilnghain  radicals,  300 ; 

Ajitl-Corti     I^w     Meeting    (1S2(J),     300; 

Beginoini^    of    the     Reform     AsiUition, 

3SHJ ;   the  distxeaa  in  182H.  397  ;    Birth  of 

o,..    t.  iti  .,,    Union,    3t»h    Meeting   in 

N   Bepisitorj',  HOft  ;  object  of 

I  'S ;  Mr.  Attwijod's  Declnrn- 

t  *  'ii  moTistratlon,  400;  tl»e 

flrrtt  Annual  Metittng, 

'   Bojid    Hotel,   403; 

^^■'403;  the  nr»t 

Mtion  of   Parlla- 

;iig  on   NewJmll 

'II J 'ill,  40ii ;   Adflre&s 

t*>  ihf  Couiitrr,  400 ;  the  tliirtl  Reform 

Bill,  400;  thi'  Union  Hymn,  40S;  defcitt 

of  tdni  bill  in  the  IIouhc  of  Lord*,  4«fl ; 

eitrltjiig  scrni -s  in  Birmtnghaiu,  400 ;  the 

njiddlc    clfi-s-srsi    jt>iu     tlii>     UTsk>ii«    400; 

Another  niet'ting  on   Ni-whall  Hill,   41U  ; 

proposed     gri-jat     piotTirc     liy     Iluydon, 

410;  the  govi'nimcnt  cnunacU'ed  to  ttrn-it 

the    Union    Ir^Adi-rs.   410 ;   seene   in    the 

bamiokff.  411;    ptxipo^ed  nmrch   of   the 

Vjthm    to    fjomlnn,    411;    th<5  ••Jiolemii 

^  '         '   412;    Lord  Grvf   again  in 

:    the  good  news  brought  to 

41 H;    n   fr>rni:H  meeting  on 

versie,  413; 

,  414 ;  the 

for     the 

■  t3roM»ft-i  the  Roform 

Irish  Coereiun  Bill, 

n    on    Newhall   Hill, 

i;    of    the    Loynl    and 

'  idation,  451 ;  CouseT' 

i:i2 ;    Uiii    Khctton    of 

IHi'^,    \y2 ;    ron^tMvativf!i    BfUHpjet.    4j2; 

lit'fomi     Banquet,     4!>3 ;      Meeting     ou 

Newhall  Hill,  4-53  ;  a  "  Wofnan'o  Poiitloal 

Union,"  4:»3;    Gcueml  Eltjctlon  nf  LH3r, 

454 ;  Hiot  in  front   of  t^"   Royal  lb. til. 


■n    of  the     I 
tit     t|je     Til 
Jc  luri^  at  Ihc  PhiloHo|ihii;uI  Luj^lituUctu, 

Pr(L-i,,.kil,.'.    nil 

r  J  tirdfcr  of,  U79 

I  ,370 

V<    ; 

Ptn.idaaL*  tLucal),  310,  fti)i-7,  Uiil  at*P«tidix 

"IVjrrotr*  Folly ,*M2« 


Itobinii  Bill 
nient,  401  : 
Hill,  405;    Am 


Li'.Mul  Vi 

AJili-Com 

C'liiirtiAt"-, 

A*si>' 

ChilH' 

5n2;   1 1 
532;    Llec 
pUw,'e,  53!i 


\>-A  ; 
Ltiiy  ul 
Law  it. 

>     of    th4. 

1.  Couijid, 
M'ld,  MP., 

tiuu    of    a  L'i:jii3!.T\'aLiv*j  in  hiii 


the    Bimiin^hani    PoUticul  ' 

the    Eefomi    Ivtnjjrtie,  5iJn ; 

billtiij     Bill.         ;l:      Sm, 

Huni^arj-. 

53-47;     I 

«ff/;   Oeih 

tmtionof  NmjU 

rai^t'd  i»v  the  < 

Ele«t.inTr(185T),  .:..      .   p. 

MuutA.  MP,,  oi  Mr.  Jt-lm 

Bright,     &3«;  ,     Russetl    in 

DirmingliAin,  •  <.  r'^     ri.i..a 

foimc4,    540;    l 

540;   hl«  nn*t 

540  :      till"       Ft.  i  ..^      _,..    ,,,, ; 

Ovi  Ui\      Mr' 

Gl  .     541:     the 

UU-..:  .:.....    „    ,  '    '..i'>:  t^..,..■r^^l 

Elt^ctJlMI         (iMK»),  ;t 

banquet    at    the    F;  ,«^ 

Reform    J u. 1,^1,^*1, 

the    Ref  ,f 

Mr.  W,  -  f 

Mr.  G.  I  I 

Aztgix-iiati  1, 

54»i;  Lil"  )• 

nlaiiAe,"  .'-»;,,   »i..    t/,..,,.,,,,  u 

Act :  Eleetion  ot   th^  drsi  1 

for    Birruln>;hanu    547  K;  v^ 

School    !?"■-«     ^i-'i :    Omjc-i..l    i-.n u 

0»71),  iVi  -n  of  Mr.  O.  Dix^n, 

M,P  ,aji  Ur.  -J    ChamberLiiu, 

&4«.»;  viiiiL  .-;   :a,.  ...u^utono,  54!) 
Polytetihiiic  Injstittttiou,  5^<0 
Portupral  Hnu»Li.  View  of,  lu^ 
Po»tO'<'  "    "  —  ■       ^^  in  1703,  207 

'  Bennidt's  Hill,  420 ; 

Kr  ii  Holfl  premLsf^h 

017   ,    iUiJi'UMi:  Cii'rt,   ul7 

Poitgate  (Itr.  John),  5i5 

Poultn«y'«  Shop,  the  Oral  lii^bted  with  k^^s 

Sm 
Power  (Mr,)  ab  FratikviutMi^,  ai^ocdote  of. 

4m 
r-'  "    '  ""^  ■'■--'\  death  of.  423 

110 
1  Fiflwanl  Bimjirfrhftrn,  <!'j:1 

I'rei^LiM-.'n.ins,  iir-jad  8tr«et  Clar,  >    '  "    '<  ; 

Cam|>  HJll  Cliurth,  ms.  v 

Htttnrv    of   the   Old   and  ..4 

!  M  Birrn  Ingham,  IBS 

t  I  irison  of  (1760  -1800),  343 

l'ri'i.ii.>  O'r.  J),  Earlier  life  of,  172^4; 
acctfptij  thn  psmtonito  of  the  Old  Mi?«ttiiis, 
221;  the  ThvoIogii-aT  OnntTon  r*v  al  the 
Old  Library,  20l ;  C  villi  ihe 

loml  <l*!r^f  VS:i ;  w  1 :  ru«  tion 

of  hiii   w«reit(,    2'i>;  .fh  The 

French  Ite^^olnti'i^i,  'Sii  .  i;    :;.;■.  ■:  I'.ir  ra^ 

tore,     215,    T2i  ,      ilMVrMi.iaro.  ■,      h.|..   ,    .ill, 

224;  thf*  '*Rr'v  ■'■,'■.■:    -..    ]i,i,,r  I..     .  .-.  ; 

di"-'  .    :-  ,    .iMf.      ■   t.j 

tl-  --1  :l,    r.    IS 

'2'\  M,,u-.^     hy    M. 

P"i  Ji'l,  .''^l;  roritiimatioii  nf 

Jl  hia    writingM,    317-     v< 

al  ,  -  ,'i) 

Portrait  of,  211 

Stattio,  572  ;  ri«w  of,  523 

Prtoc*  of  Wah  .>!,  ■>'  WnJ,  ^ 

Prince  of  W.ti  l-^trii 

Pniit<'rs(Eiti  114 

Priory  of  8t    1  ;J.\  MV 

Prison  (the   Ut  J),  Peck  Uuic,  10»  ;  view  of, 

104 ;    desuription  of,    by  John  Howard, 

ingham   nni    E-lg- 

■:.,  U^ 
rroapti't.  vjI  Bujiuui^li^uii  In  1040,  20 
^—  (K^LSt)  of  the  T*iwn  in  ITSO,  by  Wentiry 

liool.  103 

r,  33^1;  view  of.  330 


I 


fif.''427 
I'uiMij,  U4t2  Uiiiut»lr>  Pi4ition  of  tl»',  ?tll 


Genend  Ktcrtlon  (1S47),  53^;    Qttadrant  (Tho),  510 


VI. 


OLD  AND   NEW  BIRMINGHAM. 


[Index. 


Quakers,  53,  103,  174,  588,  623 

Queen'8  Coll^,  589  ;  view  of,  567 

Qae«D'8  HospiUl,  600—601 

KacMula,  Wilhelmina,  alicu  *'  Baroness  von 

Beck  "  557 
'  Radicals,"  the  Reformers  first  called,  359 
"     J  (George),  360 

-0.5^4-A 

Rallwujis  iinv  btMiiir^^rliiUu).  447;  Murdoch's 
tad  Trt'riUiinli'ii  Eu^ni4.  447;  an 
aHyighted  Toll  k»^<?ii*ir,  A4»-,  thR  London 
ftSiJ  BinotagliAUj  fUilwflir,  443  ;  tb*  Grand 
Junctiuii  k^Llwjiv,  440  :  i»itculikg  of  the 
irat  Une  in  BinuiBiShain,  44ft ;  CDiupLetion 
of  the  LcTudon  iiid  BlnuinghaTit  line, 
U'i:  the  Mbllaiii  Railway  44y;  the 
Baulk  BtflfTord  lliiilwKj,  5^;  tlitj  Stour 
VaUev  Railway,  557 

Bating  of  small  houses,  293.  372 

—  Proposed  increase  of  the  Borough 
Rate,  526 

Bawlinson's  (Mr.  R.)  Roport  on  the  Health  of 
Birmingham,  495  et  »eq. 

Rea  (The)  in  ISOO,  313 

Recreation  Ground  (Exposed;,  486,  see  aUo 
Parks 

Redd  Lyon  (TheX  in  Digbeth,  108 

Redfem  (W.),  480 

Reference  Library,  516  et  aeq. 

Reformation,  Tercentenary  Celebration,  469 

Reform  AgiUition,  Me  Political  History 

Reform  Demonstration  on  Newhall  Hill,  view 
of,  407 

Refonner'3  Medal,  Engraving  of  the,  419 

Regent  (The  Prince)  insulted,  355,  370 

Registration  Society  (Liberal),  537 

Revolution  of  1688,  Centenary  of,  celebrated, 
196 

Rifle  Corps,  $u  Volunteer 

Rigby  0'-),  first  appearance  of,  at  the  Festival, 
607 

Riland  (Rev.  John),  51,  443 

Riot  (Sacheverell)  in  1715 ;  Riots  of  1791, 
what  led  to  the,  220 ;  Riots  of  1791 ; 
The  "  Revolutionary  binner,"  226 ;  Spies 
bring  out  false  reports  of  the  proceedings, 
227;  "Church  and  King,"  227;  Tlie  riot 
commenced,  227 ;  Attack  on  the  Meeting 
Houses,  228;  Dr.  Prii-stley's  house, 
228 ;  'i'/K*  second  dny,  232 ;  Baskerville 
House  saekod  and  burnt,  232  ;  Attack  ou 
Bordesley  Hall,  233;  Uuttou's  Shop, 
High  Street,  233  ;  The  third  day,  235 ; 
Attick  on  Ilutton's  house  at  Bennrtfs 
Hill,  235 ;  Cuthcrine  Uutton's  narrative, 
235 ;  Mr.  IlunijOirevs"  house  a*.  Spark- 
brook,  238  ;  Mr.  Russell's,  ShoweU  Green, 
23S;  Miss  Uussell's  narnitive,  238; 
Mosoley  Hall,  243  ;  The  foxirth  day,  244  ; 
Miss  Hutton's  narrative,  coutiuved, 
244  ;  Address  of  the  Magistrates  to  the 
rioters,  24'^;  End  of  the  Riots,  246; 
C«>nclu8ion  of  Miss  Russell's  narrative, 
247  :  Dr.  Priestley's  Address,  248 ; 
Ariz's  Gazette  and  the  riots,  249;  Cou- 
elu.sion  of  Miss  Huttons  narrative,  250; 
Trials  of  the  Rioters,  2.03 ;  Claims  of  the 
Sutrerers,  253  ;  The  Union  Meeting  House, 
2if' ;  Rebuilding  of  the  Meeting  Houses, ' 
250  I 

"The  Little  Riot"   (17&3),    208;   The  I 

Scarcity   Riots,   31K),    302  , 

in  the  market-place  and  at  Edgbaaton, 

in  ISIO,  331 

(Religious)  in  1S13,  3G4 

in  Moor  Street  (1810),  352 

in  fnmt  of  the  Royal  Hotvl  (1837),  454 

in  the  Bull  Hiiijj  (IS3'.»),  457-(U 

ut  .Snow  Hill  Flour  Mills  (1847),  550 

"Murphy  Riots"  (18t)7),  5G9 

Rol»lH:ri'".s  fiom  Carria<;es  in  Birmingham,  329 

fioiii  ihe  Coaches,  318 

Roberts  (.lolni)  A  Conteujirian,  204 
Robin  IIocxl  Society  (The).  314-315 
Robinson(The  Rij,'ht  Hon.)  visits  Birmingham, 

15 
Rodway(A.),  :.12 
Roebuck  Inn,  Cox  Street,  'X>0 
Rogeis(John)  Bio;,'raphv  of,  12 

Portrait  of.  13 


Rosclos  (The  Infant).  324,  325;  the  "Toong 

Musical  Roscius."  326 
Rossini's  "  MosHS  in  Egyjit,"  607 
Royal  Agricultural  Show  at  Aston,  573 
Horticultural  Show,  524 


Boyal  Mail  (The  first)  from  Birmingham  to 
to  London,  345 

Royal  Touch,  59 

Rupert  (Prince)  Portrait  of,  37 

Rupert's  (Prince)  Burning  Love  to  Birmingham, 
35 

Russell  (Lord  John)  in  Birmingham,  589 

(I^rd  John)  Pen  and  Ink  portrait  of, 

413 

(Joseph),  360 

(Miss)  Narrative  of  the  Riots  (1791), 

238,  247 

Russell  (Mr.)  see  RioU  (1791) 

Ryan's  Amphitheatre,  437 

Ryan's  Circus  on  the  Moat  Grounds,  387| 

Ryder  (Bishop)  402-3 

Ryland  (A.)  557 

Ryhind  (Miss)  525 

Ryland  (Mr.)  destruction  of  his  Residence, 
(Basker>iUo  House)  in  the  rioU  of  1791. 
232 

Sacheverell  (Dr.)  visits  Birmingham,  63 

St.  Chad's  Cathedral,  Interior  of,  458 

see  also  Catholics 

St.  Clair  (0.),  587 

St.  David's  Society,  establishment  of  the,  423 

St.  Martin's  Church,  Early  History  and 
Description  of,  8-10  ;  during  the  Common- 
wealth, 51;  first  "restoration"  of,  56; 
Traffic  in  Sittings  in,  57  et  seq. ;  Utensils 
and  Vessels  belosging  to,  58 ;  new  organ 
for,  70;  further  'improvements'*  in, 
70,  120,  204-5 ;   Restoration  of,  574-6 

View   of,  alter   its  encasement   with 

brick,  45 

as  restored  f  exterior),  543 

(interior),  547 


Sketchley  (JamesX  213 

8key(R.  8.),  333 

Slater  (Samuel)  and    the     Rectory  of    8L 

Martin's,  51 
Slave  Tnule,  Agitation  ag&inst,  476 
Small  Heath,  619 

Smart's  (H.)  "  Bride  of  Dunkerron,"  607 
Smith  (Albert,)  612 
Smithfleld  Market,  Ck>nstraction  of,  3«7 


Proposed  Enlargement  of,  420 
I  Forge  in  T'  ' 


Houses   round,  70 .  removal   of,   311 

332 
St.   Martin's  Parsonage,  50,   313 ;   View  of, 

338 

District  around  (Section   of  Hanson's 


Map),  319 
St.  Mary's  Schools,  446 

Squans  Explosion  in,  417 

St.   Ihilip's  Church,  5ii 

^liestoration  ot),  577 

(Interior)  View  of,  05 

(North  i)rosi>ect  of),  61 

(M(Mlern  View  of),  340 

Illuminated  to  celebrate  the  marriage 

of  the  Prince  of  Wales,  530 

Churchyard,  attempt  to  close,  403-4 

St.  Tliomas  (Pfiorv  of),  b6 
Salt  (T.  C),  500 
SalUey,  019 

Training  College,  5t)i) 

Salutation  lun.  Snow  Hill,  121 
Saracen*s  Jlcoii  (The),  108 

Snw  Hill,  350 


Savings  Bank  (the  first),  372 
Scholenel(l(J.).  530,  532 

(W.),  533  ;  <leath  of,  545 

School  Acconnnodation  in  1827,  443 
School  B«.ard  (The),  547-9 
Schools  (Elementary).  597  et  seq. 
Science  College,  see  Mason 
Scott  Trust,  175 

(Sir  F.  E  ),  5(',.'.— 6 

Scripscra}x>logia,  mc  Collins 

Second  (Mrs.),  ImiJroniptu  on,  by  Collins,  179, 

ISO 
Sewage  Difficulty,  526 
Shakesi)eare  Jubilee  at  Stratford,  142 — 4 

Edition  of,  j)rint^'(l  with  Baskerville's 

type,  144 

Jubilee  Medal,  144 

Memorial  Librar>',  517 

Tercentenan',  500 

Shambles  (Thr),  hA' 

Ship  Inn  (The  Old),  43  ;  View  of,  41 
Shoe-strings,  a  i>rotest  against,  180 
Si(Mons  (Mrs.),  322,   323,  324  ;  farewell  visit 

of,  325 
Simcox  Familv,  021 
Simpson's  (D.)  Sacred  Literature 


Smithy  or  Open  Forge  in  Digbeth,  195 

Snow  Hill,  Execution  of  MatseU  in,  329 

Social  Science  AssocUtion,  596 

"  Society  for  Free  Debate."  315 

"Soft-Tommy  ,"112 

Soho,  Story  of— Boulton'a  Manufactory  at 
Snow  Hill.  138 ;  his  character,  13.S ;  he 
removes  to  Soho,  138;  Joined  by  Mr, 
Fothergill,  138:  Assay  Office,  139; 
Savery's  Steam  Kngine,  139 ;  Watt's  Im- 

Srovement,  139 ;  Soho  in  1774.  140 ;  the 
oho  Mint,  140;  Eginton's  Process  for 
Copying  OU  Paintings,  141 ;  the  Copying 
Press,  141 ;  Extension  of  Watt's  Patent 
to  1800,  263 ;  the  first  engine  mafie  at 
Soho,  265;  erection  of  the  engine  at 
Wilkinson's  Ironworks,  Broaely .  265— 6 ; 
Services  rendered  to  Boulton  and  Watt  by 
John  Wilkinson,  266;  difllcultie-s  with 
workmen,  267 ;  first  intenriew  of  Boulton 
with  William  Murdoch,  268;  Murvloch's 
Locomotive,  268 ;  the  Invention  of  Gas- 
lighting.  269;  Bis-iet's  Description  of 
Soho,  270 ;  the  Soho  Foundry.  271 ; 
Death  of  tlie  Founders  of  Soho,  iTTl— 2 
Soho  Manufactory,  View  of,  135 
Illumination  at.  197 


Somerville's  (Alex  )  Description  of  the  Scene 
in  the  Birmingham  Barracka,  May  13, 
1832,  411 

Sothem  (E.  A.),  590 

Soult  (Marshal),  Visit  of.  476 

Saint  Saons  (M.),  "  The  Lyre  and  the  Harp," 
607 

Salford  Bridge,  426 

Small  Heath  Park,  528—9 

South  StalTonl  Railway,  5.^5 

Spanish  Armada  (The),  18 

Sparkbrook.  619 

Spooner  (R.),  349,  372  ;  elected  M.P.  for  Bir- 
mingham, 532 

Spring  Hill  College,  468.  584 

Standbridge  (T),  523 

Starr  Inn  (The),  108 

Stai>enhill  (Mrs.)  shot  by  her  bns1)and,  551 

Steam  Cinches— Dr.  Church's,  450  ;  Messrs. 
Hcaton  s,  450 

Sword-makin^',  111-112,  341 

Statues;  Nelson,  3.15-7 

Staunton  Collection  (The)  4n,;51D-20 

Steam  Canal  Boat,  424  ^ 

Steam  engine,  the  first  local,  330 

see  also  Soho         ~  " ,  "  ** 

Steam  Power,  use  of,  in  Birmingham.  41*6 

Stephens  (Kilty),  320,  440 

Steel  Houses  (Kettles),  GO 

Steel  Manufacture,  S40 

Steel  Pen  Trade,  014 

Steel  Toy  Makin^i,  113 

Stimi>son  (J.),  550 

Stipendiary  Magistrate  appointed,  503 

Stour  Valley  Railway.  557 

Stratfonl  House,  54,  021  ;  Views  of,  -i-.s  f'Ji 

Street  Acts,  see  I^np  Acts 

Acts  Amemlment  Act,  ISOl,  j-ari-sr-I,  :i31 

ImprovemenU,  1801,  3:J2 

Condition  of  the,  in  1800,  34S 

Sturge  (Jos«  ph)  opposition  of.  to  tJi.;-  MuMcal 

Festivals,   441 ;    vi.sits  the   Wc.^t    In-ii-?*, 
477  ;  death  of,  560 
Statue,  564 

Statue.  View  of,  470 

Suburbs,  618  et  seq 

Suett  (Richard),  the  Actor.  2tV|,  323 
Sullivan's    (A.)    "  Kenihvorth."    007  ;  . "  The 

Light  of  the  Worhi,"  6  '7    . 
Summerfield  Park,  528  ... 

Sunday  Schools,  442 
Surveyor  (A)  of  the  old  school,  497 
Swan  Hotel  (The)  108,  420 
Swan  (Thomas),  441  ^nt-ij  1 

c I 


Inctoi,] 


OLD   AND  NEW   BIKMINGHAM. 


VIL 


3vv,  [,  im,  5S7 

Bs'.  r.  Ml ,  UoAtii  of,  3C0 

*!• 

T  OJd  Binrilti^h,ira).  lri« 

Tn  uturt^r),  Moniolr  of,  218 

Tetui^'  J  jiiCv  s.irieLy,  tbc  firsts  MOS 

W-  a,  OM  Vi«'W  of,  3iS 

MtT*-  I  riuyers  {Htdi  thdr 

lent  '  f't,  oC 

(>  I        ,r.l  X-^Eirf  or,  "lO  ; 

Congjcvr'h"  Al'fiu'uixv  '    ■    ■  '       '. 

iH> »     •*  The    hh'^k^    *}i 
"HAmlct 'aml^'OUu-JL  , 
of  thv  nnit  Thcalrtt,  on    tL> 

{iivMsnt  Uousv,  144;  attj^ntp! 
tn9fS(i«  for,    2i7 ;    Bpcetli    I 
Uiereon,  2r>«  ;  BiMicftU  In  iti 
Coutiiry,  I'llO— «1  :  A  PJayliou 
BuniiUK  of  the  TliBiilni,  L'04  . 
264  .  tlie  Tiieutrfe  rebuilt,  ii  i 
AmxflnU'd    manager,  aiii :    .\ 
lliicrt?Adv,     liiy^au;    '*No  v 
MiJi*  Kitty  SttfphKiiH,  ft20  ;  ile-iiUiiiani   of 
llie  new  tht'fltn?,  3^1 ;  Notf*  froiii  the  Play- 

hiiU  ium-nio),   a^a-'isj    u   Pau'ni 

grmiled,  320 — 6 

Royal— A  cuiloui   Playt.it],   330  ;    r<j- 

ti[>i«»rsineo  of  Mai  ^^july,  y^O ;  B.  W. 
Elll^triii'N  iii«nag« intent,  'M>0  ;  liis  uddre^, 
8S0— *>!  ;  hU  tiiTit  a,ni>e4itoiJcc,  3S1  ;  Miwa 
IkHiU)^  illil ;  Edmunit  K^^ajj's  flr^t  ai>^ 
]K«mnc6  tiert,  Stil ;  diArles  Mnthewa, 
S82 ;  Mun^en,  3a2 ;  "Romeo  Co*t*«," 
JJ8J.   Tv.-l.!.'-.  lUii.ii..'  Mflrl.iur.  ;;h:!;  Mi4S 

ON  i  "tea  of 

Ell.  •■;.  SM; 

AJfii-.  i^; ...■.  ....i.;i..r.    .  ..-^    lliemlTP, 

,1!i.Vfi  ;  HeojieuiuK  of  tli*-  Tiieutre,  S87  ; 
MsAtAine  C<itAl*ni,  431  ;  Tlie  rA«ifri-^I 
/.t;^rr-rn.  4M  ;  IvliriiiU'l  Kcan,  Mnfremly. 
etc.,  431;  ColoiH'l  Btfikdcy  and  Ihe 
Ch«hei)!iAni  Ainatcunt.  4:^1  ;  Ajiecdnte  of 
GriJiialdi,  431 ;  Mr.  Tower  iu  Fi^nk€H*Uin: 
*  nuvfl  a\alaiube.  433',  ft  iharnje  of 
tiiMiiag«mcut ;  Mr.  Warde,  433  ;  OjH-niinf 
Aildjvaa  by  T.  IIayin*»  ^yty,  *'^  I  nDolher 
"  Itifaiit  Roi(cius,"  4:J4  ;  *'  real  wflt^r," 
434  ;  Dticmw,  4H4 ;  Macrecdy's  visit  to 
JUiufficji,  434 ;  Madame  Vt^siliia,  435 ;  'M 
CWi't  flud  Bnii (image III,"  435;  Pla^nini, 
4^ ;  srt«*rii!jin  KiiowIe«^  4.sa ;  Ch«rt<^ 
M.]t"-,  -■  '  •'  •  riltvmtioti  of  yr  ■-■  ♦-■■;  ■  i 
W*  .m  TrouiMi.   i 

"bi."ii«.     *?+,  Mr.  ArraUt^M'i      i  -' 
a  trmnMg'r,  4S4;    Mr.    Clark         r    h      r 
liteiit>  4B4  :  reduction  of  jiri' <  ^^  -        tl. 
Gttoiuti     Fly»    H'  rvio    Nants     4^ . :      a  i 
thentric^l  not,  4S5  ;    "Lady   of  Lyons" 
ftiYt    ii^rfortiied    liore,    4S^;     •*  Ni^-bolrtis  I 
Nitkleby/   4«^  ;   I>iii  r         '         T     ' 
iSO\    Mr,   e}iui]>floQ'ti    I 
Mrt»'iv»dy,  flOS;  flwl  ,., 
RtrvcJi  in  BinningUniij,  f    ,,  narKrua- 
FulnUff,  dot';   Chirk*   IHikeas  and  tlie 
Auiiitttum,  <k>9 ;    tli^  Gnihl  of  Uti'raturc 
and  Art,  <i09 ;    Kistori    iti   BiJuiiughAiii, 
010  ;  J.  U  Took-,  tUft 
-^  ■            View  of  (froiii  AJi  rdd  print),  123 
(Inti-rittr),  Vi«w  of.  i67 

King  sstrcvt.  HI ;  "  C"iini»"  and  **  Aft 

Vqi>  Like  It"  pcrfoiiiit'd,  142;  **  Kinj^ 
John."  14 a  :  £uUrgeiurat  of  the  Th4*atrt;, 

»li4.  261 

^—  "Thr  <Ti^Titlriuait'«   Triv'atc  Theatrts" 

-  Llv  I  HtU ;      ("crformanc©    of 
Ntv                          '"  Ihcrtuit,  20 J 
,\t                        -.9,  HI 

:  -'     '    ),  810 


'i.^m 


Tbc?jitro  •'  Tonks'iiColtJuseuni/'  Bingley  Hftll, 
010  :  O.  V,  Brooke,  610 

(Prince    i»f    W  itc.^',),  '"l"  ;    Mr.  H.  J. 

Byron  a  llrs,1  OlO  ;  Mr. 

SttUicni,  fil  1  y.  MAttiigfi' 

nient,  till;  .^  1  other  re- 

vivulft,  oil 

(Htdti'X  Aston,  ttll 

ThtiCtintai  Looker -on  (The),  431 

Tljomnwn'a  (6ir  E.)  Show^roomM  In  Cliurch 

Strwt.  415 
TI>onit<Mt  (Abniiiam),  Trial  of.  373 

— Portrait  of,  37 5 

Tb-JIfo^ntiip  (|ioem  hy  John  Collins),  it75 
Tttn}4  Lumpkin' i  BambU  through  Hinninghttm 

323  , 

Tonlmfn  (Jo»hiiJi,  D.I>  ),  30S 
Town  BookK  (Tlic  Old),  Uuriotu  extracts  fraoi, 

50.  M 
Town  Hftll,  pntiioaiHl  erection  of,  421 
Barry  %    Original     D««ignH    for,    4<li) ; 

Mc>:sarM.     Haimom    awi    Vtt'Uh'H    Design, 

iTO;    Doiicription   of  thu   Building,  470; 

the   Organ,    472 ;    CIku  k*A    H«M;e     Pera> 

berton'h  Description  of  tlie  Btuldtug.  473 

Old  VJ<;w  of,  from  Hill  8tre4?t,  471 

ffoin  PurodiAij  Btrtiet,  43& 

Enterior  View  of,  4T4 

Toy  (Saajiiel),  212 

Trader  <Uvt%ii).  4T,  111,  337,  4M,  WL«13  tf  aeq. 

■ :Stv  tiLpf  i!*t>ho 

TriiTiwaya,  G-  F,  Traill's  proposal  to  laydowtii 

iSilui 

laid  down,  524 

Ttum  (phniLuK  of)  in  thu  (itre«t&,  6T3 
Tr»?vJtl,i.  1  .,     iHU-umotivo    Eti^tie.    amoalog 

^  am.  447 
"T  (A)  of  a  On'at  and  CnieU 

I i      -lit  netr  Bmnieguni/*  43 

•*  True  liriiitioii  of  Itihuuiau  Cnjfltlc«,"3y 

Tiiiiaaud  (Madame),  3H7.  4:V<t 

'*  Twtdvc  ApO!.tlc-^    rihe),  212 

Twiford  (Robiirl),   Mnrder  of,  io  Snow  HiU, 

Tjudil*  m,  W)  aFirl  lh<?  Von  Deck  Cam,  657 
Union  Cluh  lloOfto,  Virw  of,  i35  i 

Unitarianj)  —Svw  iUvvtiu^  Uoum  (DigtHith), ' 
53;  Now  Minting  House,  Moor  tStrect,  | 
rirecte«l,  lOl  ;  Virw  of,  l»» ;  Old  Mtttiinf 
HouN«,  62—3 ;  View  of,  5*i ;  Beslruftlon  i 
of  the  Old  ami  New  ML'^ting  Honors,  j 
32B ;  O^wiiing  of  the  Union  MA«-tin^ 
Doiiaft,  Liverv  Strt;t?t.  aSb ;  ft«bnlMlng  of: 

the  Mi-  " "I"*;  Union  M-.-cUnw'! 

Hon  .  ,  -iKJiied,  25<i;  Old 

aud  %  s,30ii;  Church  of 

*'     ""*  '  i>.   ^  «' *v  of,  559;    FaMley 

s  r:l,     580;     Lawrence    Street 
,  Newhall  HiUChni*!,  468,550; 
1   Cbai»el,  580 
Va  JIJ 

\»  I  I H,  37j»,  4S8 

\<><'<Man  and  Coronation  of,  cele- 

i    477— S 

u'¥u),  Marriajfi*  of.  eelel»rftt*d.  4*1 

• (L/msfSi),  nrst  vi-sit  of.  to  Birminghatu, 

whM)   I*Tiifiri'-[»  Vii  titria,  4U\ 
— — -  Visit  oL  lo  tti^iu  A.slon  Hall,  508 
Vlnee  (ll«v,  C),  5S0 
Vittorm  (Battle  oQt  c'cJebmted,  370 
VoLnliobi    at    tlic    Later    MucicaI     F^tir&lM, 

Vofiuitfper  Cavalry  (HntidaworthX  331 
Clml!MT)i«<  S>iv-M^  (.nKfTtvlog  of,  627 

Eiii  '^     '    -.  •    •-- I'm 

- — —  Tl  ii.rUi,   (SO 

Hi  ^^natiou  of,  5til 

Vor*  Beck  I  -  j» 

"  Wft*;e-r  or   li.ain-,    ;;;n 

"  W.-tg}.:on  ;ind  ilurses,"  HaitdBWotth,  367 

Wftgntiri*  (11)  Uoly  tiitppoi:  007, 


Wales  (Prince  of)  celebration  of  Uie  MarriajEt 

of,  504-5 
Wales  ^Prinrc  of)  visitu  Birmingham,  527 
Walkers  BinnlnKhani  ncwsmper.  M 
WRlKh  (J.  W  )  560 
Wsrds,  Division  of  tho   Borough  into,  492 ; 

new  divtNlon^  525 
Warneford  (Rev.  8.  W,)  000,  601 
Warri'n    (Samuel)    Pntdiiihor    of    Johnso&'a 

tranahitioiJ  of  Soho.  SO  ;  his  mnmnijham 

W*rwlck»hlrc  Regiment  nhml  for  Uxe  defence 

of  tlio  country  (177$),  ISS 
Wash  wood    Hoath,    Double    Exticutlon    at, 

100 
eret^ution   of  etglit  men   at, 

330 

Waterworks,  purchased  hy  the  CorporttUoo, 

Watt,  Gregor>\  Memoir  of,  2S5 

Watt  (J.)  Cliftracter  of,  L*i5» ;  hi«  connection 

wltli  Boulliui,  130  ft  •tq. 

Chaiitrey'a  Stattie  of,  2T2 

tiee  aUu  8oho 

Statne,  571  ;  View  of.  522 

WatC«  HouJS*.  ean>cr*»  Hill  (View  of),  130 

Watt»  (J.iTOfS,  tht  fonngrr)  417,  555 

WaxworkH,  01 

Wealth  (Local)  339 

Wejunau  (Mary)  170 

Wehstor  (Richard)  213 

Wedgwrtod     (Juwiiih)     purcboset     tome    of 

Egiuton'e  rf-ifrnMluctiona  of  oil  TutlutlanL 

U8 
Well  Street  (Tlighcth),  54 
Wellingtou  (the  Duke  of)  visits  Birmingbam, 

*15 
Wcl*h  Cross.  tak«n   dovni.  3O0 
Welsh  Criisy*  (View  of  the),  58 
Wesley  (John)  in  Btnidnghajo,  102,  174,  175, 

220 

(John),  Fori  rait  of,  101 

Weatley's  East  |tro!ij>eet  of  Birmingham  in 

1730-69 
Weston  (Tlioinas.)  hiji  wirly  career.  404 
Whtol  SAra/  Inn,  New  Street,  4it7 
White  (Couni-tllor),  5*J0 

Whitt  I  fart  (The)    103  

wiiiiriiaii  or  steelhwiw^  Lane,  00 

Whttwt^rth  (Chits  ),  3t0 

Wi-  kns'ii  («.aiu  ),  314 

Wilkinson     (John),     service*     fcndered    to 

BouU4>n  and  Watt  by,  *m 
Wilke.^  (John,  a  member  of  the  Jacobin  ClabX 

WiHiam  (Piincc)  of  Gloucester,  visit  of,  to 

Biniiinuhani,  324 
WlllUms  (lie'v.  E  iward),  il08 
Wiltiams  (Edward  Lloyd),  423 
Wilson  (Mr.)  at  the  Tlieatru  Royal,  3d0| 
Wilson,  Htarkey  and  Co,,  exploision  ou  their 

premiseit,  4J7 
With*  ring  (Dr.  WlllianiX  memoir  of,  210 
Windmill,  Holli>WHy  Head,  View  «f,  IB7 
Wltt^m  C«ntet*^rv.  512 
Wolhinlou  (W  )/72 
Wolseley    (Sir    c)     elated    " Lfglslaloriil 

Attorney,*"  356 
Women's  Hos]dtal,  604 
Wwd  r»aring,  525 
Wooler  (T.  J.),  350,  3(10 
Workhouse  (The    oM).  75,  420  ;  View  of,  77 
— —  (Tlie  new).  ert?cllon  of,  fm 
Working    Man's    Liberal  Coiisarvatlvc    Asso- 

i^iation.  546 
Wright  (Daniel),  death  of,  4Sl    nt^tt. 
Wyatts     (John)     £ji)>oj'iino(ita     ih.     CottOB 

Spinning,  111 
Wycllife  (John)  and  His  new  Doctrine,  11 
Yainciex  (Mr.  and  Mrs).  431 
Yates  (Mr.)  of  the   Theatre    Royal,  qosrpali 

with  Uie  Fejitival  Committee,  17S 
YoTke  (Graathaoi  Mh).  410