Showell's Dictionary of Birmingham Part 17

John Kyrle, who died Nov. 11, 1724, though not a native, resided at Ross nearly the whole of his long and loyal life of close on 90 years, and Pope, who often visited the neighbourhood, there became acquainted with him and his good works, and embalmed his memory in undying verse as an example to future generations. A more benevolent lover of his fellowman than Kyrle cannot be named, and a society for cultivating purity of taste, and a delight in aiding the well-being of others, is rightly called after him. The Birmingham Kyrle Society was established in 1880, and frequent paragraphs in the local papers tell us of their doings, at one time cheering the inmates of the inst.i.tutions where the sick and unfortunate lie, with music and song, and at another distributing books, pictures, and flowers, where they are prized by those who are too poor to purchase. The officers of the society will be pleased to hear from donors, as let contributions of flowers or pictures be ever so many, the recipients are far more numerous. Mr. Walliker, our philanthropic postmaster, is one of the vice-presidents, and the arrangements of the parcel post are peculiarly suited for forwarding parcels.

~Lady Well.~--There is mention in a doc.u.ment dated 1347 of a "dwelling in Egebaston Strete leading towards G.o.d well feld," and there can be no doubt that this was an allusion to the Lady Well, or the well dedicated to the blessed Virgin, close to the old house that for centuries sheltered the priests that served St. Martin's, and which afterwards was called the Parsonage or Rectory. The well spring was most abundant, and was never known to fail. The stream from it helped to supply the moat round the Parsonage, and there, joined by the waters from the higher grounds in the neighbourhood of Holloway Head, and from the hill above the Pinfold, it pa.s.sed at the back of Edgbaston Street, by the way of Smithfield pa.s.sage and Dean Street (formerly the course of a brook) to the Manor House moat. The Ladywell Baths were historically famous and, as stated by Hutton, were the finest in the kingdom. The Holy Well of the blessed Virgin still exists, though covered over and its waters allowed to flow into the sewers instead of the Baths, and any visitor desirous of testing the water once hallowed for its purity must take his course down the mean alley known as Ladywell Walk, at the bend in which he will find a dirty pa.s.sage leading to a rusty iron pump, "presented by Sir E.S. Gooch, Bart., to the inhabitants of Birmingham," as commemorated by an inscription on the dirty stone which covers the spring and its well. G.o.d's Well field is covered with workshops, stables, dirty backyards and grimy-looking houses, and the Baths are a timber-yard.

~Lambert.~--Birmingham had something to do with the fattening of the celebrated Daniel Lambert, the heaviest lump of humanity this country has yet produced, for he was an apprentice to Mr. John Taylor, b.u.t.ton maker, of Crooked Lane. His indentures were cancelled through his becoming so fat and unwieldy, and he was sent back to his father, the then governor of Leicester gaol. Daniel died June 21st, 1809, at Stamford, where he was buried; his age was 39, and he weighed 52 stone 11 lb. (at 14 lb. the stone), measuring 9 ft. 4 in. round the body, and 3 ft. 1 in. round the thick of each of his legs.

~Lancashire Distress.~--The accounts of the Local Fund raised for the relief of the cotton operatives of Lancashire were published Aug. 3, 1863, showing receipts amounting 15,115 4s. 10d.

~Lamps.~--The number of ordinary lamps in the borough, under the control of the Public Works Department, on the 31st of December, 1882, was 6,591, of which number 1,950 are regulated to consume 5.20 cubic feet, and the remainder, or 4,641, 4.30 cubic feet per hour; their cost respectively inclusive of lighting, cleaning, and extinguishing, was 2 12s. 4-1/2d., and 2 5s. 2-1/4d. per lamp per annum. In addition there are 93 special and 53 urinal lamps.

~Lands.~--In Birmingham it is bought and sold by the square yard, and very pretty prices are occasionally paid therefor; our agricultural friends reckon by acres, roods, and perches. The Saxon "hyde" of land, as mentioned in Domesday Book and other old doc.u.ments, was equivalent to 100, or, as some read it, 120 acres; the Norman "Carncase" being similar.

~Land Agency.~--An International Land and Labour Agency was established at Birmingham by the Hon. Elihu Burritt in October, 1869; its object being to facilitate the settlement of English farmers and mechanics in the United States, and also to supply American orders for English labourers and domestic servants of all kinds. Large numbers of servant-girls in England, it was thought, would be glad to go to America, but unable to pay their pa.s.sage-money, and unwilling to start without knowing where they were to go on arriving. This agency advanced the pa.s.sage-money, to be deducted from the first wages; but, though the scheme was good and well meant, very little advantage was taken of the agency, and, like some other of the learned blacksmith's notions, though a fair-looking tree, it bore very little fruit.

~Land and Building Societies.~--Though frequently considered to be quite a modern invention, the plan of a number uniting to purchase lands and houses for after distribution, is a system almost as old as the hills.

The earliest record we have of a local Building Society dates from 1781, though no doc.u.ments are at hand to show its methods of working. On Jan.

17, 1837, the books were opened for the formation of a Freehold Land and Building Society here, but its usefulness was very limited, and its existence short. It was left to the seething and revolutionary days of 1847-8, when the Continental nations were toppling over thrones and kicking out kings, for sundry of our men of light and leading to bethink themselves of the immense political power that lay in the holding of the land, and how, by the exercise of the old English law, which gave the holder of a 40s. freehold the right of voting for the election of a "knight of the shire," such power could be brought to bear on Parliament, by the extension of the franchise in that direction. The times were out of joint, trade bad, and discontent universal, and the possession of a little bit of the land we live on was to be a panacea for every abuse complained of, and the sure harbinger of a return of the days when every Jack had Jill at his own fireside. The misery and starvation existing in Ireland where small farms had been divided and subdivided until the poor families could no longer derive a sustenance from their several moieties, was altogether overlooked, and "friends of the people" advocated the wholesale settlement of the unemployed English on somewhat similar small plots. Feargus O'Connor, the Chartist leader, started his National Land Society, and thousands paid in their weekly mites in hopes of becoming "lords of the soil;" estates here and there were purchased, allotments made, cottages built, and many new homes created. But as figs do not grow on thistles, neither was it to be expected that men from the weaving-sheds, or the mines, should be able to grow their own corn, or even know how to turn it into bread when grown, and _that_ Utopian scheme was a failure. More wise in their generation were the men of Birmingham: they went not for country estates, nor for apple orchards or turnip fields. The wise sagaciousness of their leaders, and the Brums always play well at "follow my leading,"

made them go in for the vote, the full vote, and nothing but the vote.

The possession of a little plot on which to build a house, though really the most important, was not the first part of the bargain by any means at the commencement. To get a vote and thus help upset something or somebody was all that was thought of at the time, though now the case is rather different, few members of any of the many societies caring at present so much for the franchise as for the "proputty, proputty, proputty." Mr. James Taylor, jun., has been generally dubbed the "the father of the freehold land societies," and few men have done more than him in their establishment, but the honour of dividing the first estate in this neighbourhood, we believe, must be given to Mr. William Benjamin Smith, whilome secretary of the Manchester Order of Odd Fellows, and afterwards publisher of the _Birmingham Mercury_ newspaper. Being possessed of a small estate of about eight acres, near to the Railway Station at Perry Barr, he had it laid out in 100 lots, which were sold by auction at Hawley's Temperance Hotel, Jan. 10, 1848, each lot being of sufficient value to carry a vote for the shire. The purchasers were princ.i.p.ally members of an Investment and Permanent Benefit Building Society, started January 4, 1847, in connection with the local branch of Oddfellows, of which Mr. Smith was a chief official. Franchise Street, which is supposed to be the only street of its name in England, was the result of this division of land, and as every purchaser pleased himself in the matter of architecture, the style of building may be called that of "the free and easy." Many estates have been divided since then, thousands of acres in the outskirts being covered with houses where erst were green fields, and in a certain measure Birmingham owes much of its extension to the admirable working of the several Societies. As this town led the van in the formation of the present style of Land and Building Societies, it is well to note here their present general status. In 1850 there were 75 Societies in the kingdom, with about 25,000 members, holding among them 35,000 shares, with paid-up subscriptions amounting to 164,000. In 1880, the number of societies in England was 946, in Scotland, 53, and in Ireland 27. The number of members in the English societies was 320,076, in the scotch 11,902, and in the Irish 6,533. A return relating to these societies in England has just been issued, which shows that there are now 1,687 societies in existence, with a membership of 493,271. The total receipts during the last financial year amounted to 20,919,473. There were 1,528 societies making a return of liabilities, which were to the holders of shares 29,351,611, and to the depositors 16,351,611. There was a balance of unappropriated profit to the extent of 1,567,942. The a.s.sets came to 44,587,718. In Scotland there were 15,386 members of building societies; the receipts were 413,609, the liabilities to holders of shares amounted to 679,990, to depositors and other creditors 268,511; the a.s.sets consisted of balance due on mortgage securities 987,987, and amount invested in other securities and cash 67,618. In Ireland there were 9,714 members of building societies; the receipts were 778,889, liabilities to the holders of shares 684,396, to depositors and others 432,356; the a.s.sets included balance due on mortgage securities 1,051,423, and amount invested in other securities 79,812. There were 150 of the English societies whose accounts showed deficiencies amounting to 27,850; two Scotch societies minus 862, but no Irish short. It is a pity to have to record that there have been failures in Birmingham, foremost among them being that of the Victoria Land and Building Society, which came to grief in 1870, with liabilities amounting to 31,550. The a.s.sets, including 5,627 given by the directors and trustees, and 886 contributed by other persons, realised 27,972. Creditors paid in full took 9,271, the rest receiving 8s. 9d.

in the pound, and 4,897 being swallowed up in costs. The break-up of the Midland Land and Investment Corporation (Limited) is the latest.

This Company was established in 1864, and by no means confined itself to procuring sites for workmen's dwellings, or troubled about getting them votes. According to its last advertis.e.m.e.nt, the authorised capital was 500,000, of which 248,900 had been subscribed, but only 62,225 called up, though the reserve fund was stated to be 80,000. What the dividend will be is a matter for the future, and may not even be guessed at at present. The chief local societies, and their present status, areas follows:--

_The Birmingham Freehold Land Society_ was started in 1848, and the aggregate receipts up to the end of 1882 amounted to 680,132 12s. 7d.

The year's receipts were 20,978 16s. 5d., of which 11,479 represented payments made by members who had been alloted land on the estates divided by the Society, there being, after payment of all expenses, a balance of 11,779 12s. 9d. The number of members was then 772, and it was calculated that the whole of the allotments made would be paid off in four years.

_The Friendly Benefit Building Society_ was organised in 1859, and up to Midsummer, 1883, the sums paid in amounted to 340,000. The year's receipts were 21,834 19s. 6d., of which 10,037 came from borrowers, whose whole indebtedness would be cleared in about 5-1/2 years. The members on the books numbered 827, of whom 684 were investors and 143 borrowers. The reserve fund stood at 5,704 5s. 9d There is a branch of this Society connected with Severn Street Schools, and in a flourishing condition, 32 members having joined during the year, and 2,800 having been received as contributions. The total amount paid in since the commencement of the branch in June, 1876, was 18,181 13s. 11d. The Severn Street scholars connected with it had secured property during the past year valued at 2,400.

_The Incorporated Building Society_ comprises the United, the Queen's, the Freeholders', and the Second Freeholders' Societies, the earliest of them established in 1849, the incorporation taking place in 1878. The aggregate receipts of these several Societies would reach nearly 3-1/2 millions. The amounts paid in since the amalgamation (to the end of 1882) being 1,049,667. As might be expected the present Society has a large const.i.tuency, numbering 6,220 members, 693 of whom joined in 1882.

The advances during the year reached 78,275, to 150 borrowers, being an average of 500 to each. The amount due from borrowers was 482,000, an average of 540 each. The amount due to investors was 449,000, an average of 84 each. The borrowers repaid last year 104,000, and as there was 482,000 now due on mortgage accounts the whole capital of the society would be turned over in five years, instead of thirteen and a half, the period for which the money was lent. The withdrawals had been 85,409, which was considerably under the average, as the society had paid away since the amalgamation 520,000, or 104,000 per annum. The amount of interest credited to investors was 19,779. A total of 100,000 had been credited in the last five years. The reserve fund now amounted to 34,119, which was nearly 7-1/2 per cent. on the whole capital employed.

_The Birmingham Building Society, No. 1_, was established in May, 1842, and re-established in 1853. It has now 1,580 members, subscribing for shares amounting to 634,920. The last report states that during the existence of the society over 500,000 has been advanced to members, and that the amount of "receipts and payments" have reached the sum of 1,883,444. Reserve fund is put at 5,000.

_The Birmingham Building Society, No. 4_, was established in June, 1846, and claims to be the oldest society in the town. The report, to end of June, 1883, gave the number of shares as 801-3/4, of which 563-1/4 belong to investors, and the remainder to borrowers. The year's receipts were 10,432, and 6,420 was advanced. The balance-sheet showed the unallotted share fund to be 18,042, on deposit 3,915, due to bank 2,108, and balance in favour of society 976. The a.s.sets amounted to 25,042, of which 21,163 was on mortgages, and 3,818 on properties in possession.

_St. Philip's Building Society_ was began in January, 1850, since when (up to January, 1883) 116,674 had been advanced on mortgages, and 28,921 repaid to depositing members. The society had then 326 members, holding among them 1,094-1/4 shares. The year's receipts were 13,136, and 7,815 had been advanced in same period. The reserve fund was 3,642; the a.s.sets 65,940, of which 54,531 was on mortgages, 7,987 deferred premiums, and 2,757 properties in hand.

Several societies have not favoured us with their reports.

~Law.~--There are 306 solicitors and law firms in Birmingham, 19 barristers, and a host of students and law clerks, each and every one of whom doubtless dreams of becoming Lord Chancellor. The Birmingham Law Society was formed in 1818, and there is a Society of Law Students besides, and a Law Library. At present, our Law Courts comprise the Bankruptcy and County Courts, a.s.size Courts (held _pro tem_ in the Council House), the Quarter Sessions' and Petty Sessions' Courts.

~League of Universal Brotherhood.~--Originated by Elihu Burritt, in 1846, while sitting in the "Angel," at Persh.o.r.e, on his walk through England. He came back to Joseph Sturge and here was printed his little periodical called "The Bond of Brotherhood," leading to many International Addresses, Peace Congresses, and Olive-Leaf Missions, but alas! alas! how very far off still seems the "universal peace" thus sought to be brought about. Twenty thousand signatures were attached to "The Bond" in one year. Far more than that number have been slain in warfare every year since.

~Lease Lane.~--Apparently a corruption of Lea or Leay Lane, an ancient bye-road running at the back of the Dog or Talbot Inn, the owners of which, some 300 years ago, were named Leays. When the Market Hall was built and sewers were laid round it, the workmen came upon what was at the time imagined to be an underground pa.s.sage, leading from the Guildhall in New Street to the old Church of St. Martin's. Local antiquarians at the time would appear to have been conspicuous by their absence, as the workmen were allowed to close the pa.s.sage with rubbish without a proper examination being made of it. Quite lately, however, in digging out the soil for the extension of the Fish Market at a point on the line of Lease Lane, about 60ft. from Bell Street, the workmen, on reaching a depth of 8ft. or 9ft., struck upon the same underground pa.s.sage, but of which the original purpose was not very apparent. Cut in the soft, sandstone, and devoid of any lining, it ran almost at right angles to Lease Lane, and proved to extend half way under that thoroughfare, and some four or five yards into the excavated ground.

Under Lease Lane it was blocked by rubbish, through which a sewer is believed to run, and therefore the exact ending of the pa.s.sage in one direction cannot be traced; in the excavated ground it ended, on the site of a dismantled public-house, in a circular shaft, which may have been that of a well, or that of a cesspool. The pa.s.sage, so far as it was traceable, was 24ft. long, 7ft. high, and 4-1/2ft. wide. As to its use before it was severed by the sewerage of Lease Lane, the conjecture is that it afforded a secret means of communication between two houses separated above ground by that thoroughfare, but for what purpose must remain one of the perplexing puzzles of the past. That it had no connection with the Church or the Grammar School (the site of the old Guild House) is quite certain, as the course of the pa.s.sage was in a different direction.

~Leasing Wives.~--In the histories of sundry strange lands we read of curious customs appertaining to marriage and the giving in marriage.

Taking a wife on trial is the rule of more than one happy clime, but taking a wife upon lease is quite a Brummagem way of marrying (using the term in the manner of many detractors of our town's fair fame). In one of the numbers of the _Gentleman's Magazine_, for the year 1788, Mr.

Sylva.n.u.s Urban, as the editor has always been called, is addressed as follows by a Birmingham correspondent:--"Since my residing in this town I have often heard there is a method of obtaining a wife's sister upon lease. I never could learn the method to be taken to get a wife upon lease, or whether such connections are sanctioned by law; but there is an eminent manufacturer in the vicinity of this town who had his deceased wife's sister upon lease for twenty years and upwards; and I know she went by his name, enjoyed all the privileges, and received all the honours due to the respectable name of wife." A rarer case of marital leasing has often been noted against us by the aforesaid smirchers of character as occurring in 1853, but in reality it was rather an instance of hiring a husband.

~Leather Hall.~--As early as the Norman Conquest this town was famed for its tanneries, and there was a considerable market, for leather for centuries after. Two of the Court Leet officers were "Leather Sealers,"

and part of the proclamation made by the Crier of the Court when it held its meetings was in those words, "All whyte tawers that sell not good chaffer as they ought to do reasonably, and bye the skynnes in any other place than in towne or market, ye shall do us to weet," meaning that anyone knowing of such offences on the part of the "whyte tawers" or tanners should give information at the Court then a.s.sembled. New Street originally was entered from High Street, under an arched gateway, and here was the Leather Hall (which was still in existence in Hutton's time), where the "Sealers" performed their functions. It was taken down when New Street was opened out, and though we have an extensive hide and skin market now, we can hardly be said to possess a market for leather other than the boot and shoe shops, the saddlers, &c.

~Lench's Trust.~--See "_Philanthropic Inst.i.tutions_."

~Liberal a.s.sociation.~--On Feb. 17, 1865, a meeting was held in the committee room of the Town Hall for the purpose of forming an organisation which should "unite all the Liberals of the town, and provide them with a regular and efficient method of exercising a _legitimate_ influence in favour of their political principles." The outcome of this meeting was the birth of the now famous Liberal "Caucus," and though the names of ten gentlemen were appended to the advertis.e.m.e.nt calling the meeting, the honour of the paternity of the Liberal bantling is generally given to Mr. William Harris. The governing body of the a.s.sociation was fixed at two dozen, inclusive of the president, vice, and secretary; all persons subscribing a shilling or more per annum being eligible to become members. The "General Committee," for some time known as the "Four Hundred," was enlarged in 1876 to Six Hundred, and in June, 1880, to Eight Hundred, the Executive Committee, at the same time, being considerably increased. The recent alteration in the franchise, and the division of the borough and outskirts into seven electoral districts, has led to a reorganisation of the a.s.sociation, or a.s.sociations, for each of the seven divisions now works by itself, though guided by a central Council.--A "Women's Liberal a.s.sociation" was founded in October, 1873, and a "Junior Liberal a.s.sociation" in October, 1878.

~Libraries.~--The first public or semi-public library founded in Birmingham, was the Theological. In 1733 the Rev. William Higgs, first Rector of St. Philip's, left his collection of 550 volumes, and a sum of money, to found a library for the use of clergymen and students. The books, many of which are rare, are kept in a building erected in 1792, adjacent to the Rectory, and are accessible to all for whom the library was designed.--A Circulating Library was opened in Colmore Row, in 1763, and at one time there was a second-cla.s.s inst.i.tution of the kind at a house up one of the courts in Dale End.--A "New Library" was opened in Cannon Street, April 26, 1796, which was removed to Temple Row, in 1821, and afterwards united to the Old Library. The latter was commenced in 1779, the first room for the convenience of members being opened in 1782, and the present building in Union Street, erected in 1798. The report of the committee for the year 1882 showed that there were 772 proprietors, at 21s. per annum; 35 annual subscribers, at 31s. 6d. per annum; 528 at 2ls.; 6 quarterly, at 9s. per quarter; 53 at 6s. per quarter; 17 resident members of subscribers' families, at 10s. per annum; and 118 resident members of subscribers' families (readers) at 5s. The total number of members was 1,479; the year's subscriptions being 1,594. The price of shares has been raised from two to three guineas during the past year. Receipts from shares, fines, &c., amounted to about 480, making the amount actually received in 1882, 2,012 6s.

The expenditure had been 1,818 19s. 9d., inclusive of 60 carried to the reserve fund, and 108 paid on account of the new catalogue; and there remained a balance of 198 6s. 1d. in hand. 782 0s. 9d. had been expended on the purchase of 1,560 additional books, re-binding others, &c., making a total of about 50,000 volumes. The library needs extension, but the shortness of the lease (thirty years only) and the high value of the adjoining land prevents any step being taken in that direction at present. The Birmingham Law Society's Library was founded in February, 1831, by Mr. Arthur Ryland, and has now nearly 6,000 volumes of law works, law reports (English, Scotch, and Irish), local and personal Acts, &c., &c. The present home in Wellington Pa.s.sage was opened August 2, 1876, being far more commodious than the old abode in Waterloo-street, the "library" itself being a room 35ft. long, 22ft.

wide, and 20ft. high, with a gallery round it. There are several extensive libraries connected with places of worship, such as the Church of the Saviour, Edward Street, Severn Street Schools, the Friends'

Meeting House, &c. and a number of valuable collections in the hands of some well-known connoisseurs, literati, and antiquarians, access to most of which may be obtained on proper introduction.

~Libraries (The Free).~--The first attempt to found a Free Library in this town was the holding of a public meeting in April, 1852, under the provisions of the Museums and Libraries Act of 1850, which allowed of a 1/2d. rate being levied for the support of such inst.i.tutions. Whether the townsfolk were careless on the subject, or extra careful, and therefore, doubtful of the sufficiency of the 1/2d. rate to provide them, is not certain; but so little interest was shown in the matter that only 534 persons voted for the adoption of the Act, while 363 voted against it, and the question for the time was shelved, as the Act required the a.s.sents to be two-thirds of the total votes given. In 1855 the Commissioner of patents presented to the town some 200 volumes, conditionally that they should be kept in a _Free_ Library, and about the same time another proposal was made to establish such a Library, but to no effect. The Act was altered so that a penny rate could be made, and in October, 1859, it was again suggested to try the burgesses. On February 21, 1860, the meeting was held and the adoption of the Act carried by a large majority. A committee of sixteen, eight members of the Council, and eight out if it, was chosen, and in a short time their work was shown by the transfer of 10,000 square feet of land belonging to the Midland Inst.i.tute, on which to erect a central library, the preparations of plans therefor, the purchase of books, and (April 3, 1861) the opening of the first branch library and reading room in Const.i.tution Hill. Mr. E.M. Barry, the architect of the Midland Inst.i.tute, put in designs, including Art Gallery, but his figures were too high, being 14,250 10s., the Town Council having only voted 10,500. The plans of Mr. W. Martin, whose estimate was 12,000 were adopted, the Council added 1,500, a loan for the cash was negotiated, and building commenced by Messrs. Branson and Murray, whose tender to do the work for 8,600 was accepted. Thirty-two applications for the chief librarianship at 200 per annum were sent in, the chosen man being Mr.

J.D. Mullins, though he was not the one recommended by the Committee.

The Central Lending Library (with 10,000 volumes) and Reading-room, with Art Gallery, was formally opened September 6, 1865, and the Reference Library (then containing 18,200 volumes) October 26, 1866. In 1869, the latter was much enlarged by the purchase of 604 square yards of land in Edmund Street, and the total cost of the building came to 14,896. The Branch Library at Adderley Park was opened January 11, 1864; that at Deritend Oct. 2, 1866, and at Gosta Green Feb. 1, 1868. At the end of 1870, the total number of volumes in the whole of the Libraries was 56,764, of which 26,590 were in the Reference, and 12,595 in the Central Lending Library. By 1877, the total number of volumes had reached 86,087, of which 46,520 were in the Reference, and 17,543 in the Central Lending, the total number of borrowers being 8,947 at the Central, 4,188 at Const.i.tution Hill, 3,002 at Deritend, 2,668 at Gosta Green, and 271 at Adderley Park. Meantime several new features in connection with the Reference Library had appeared. A room had been fitted up and dedicated to the reception of the "Shakespeare Memorial Library," presented April 23, 1864; the "Cervantes Library," presented by Mr. Bragge, was opened on a similar date in 1873; the "Staunton Collection" purchased for 2,400, (not half its value) was added Sept. 1, 1875, and very many important additions had been made to the Art Gallery and incipient Museum. For a long time, the Free Libraries' Committee had under consideration the necessity of extending the building, by adding a wing, which should be used not only as an Art Gallery, but also as an Industrial Museum; the Art Gallery and its treasures being located in that portion of the premises devoted to the Midland Inst.i.tute, which was found to be a very inconvenient arrangement. The subject came under the notice of the Council on February 19th, 1878, when the committee submitted plans of the proposed alterations. These included the erection of a new block of buildings fronting Edmund Street, to consist of three storeys. The Town Council approved the plans, and granted 11,000 to defray the cost of the enlargement. About Midsummer the committee proceeded to carry out the plans, and in order to do this it was necessary to remove the old entrance hall and the flight of stairs which led up to the Shakespeare Memorial Library and to the Reference Library, and to make sundry other alterations of the buildings. The Library was closed for several days, and in the meantime the walls, where the entrances were, were pulled down and wooden part.i.tions were run up across the room, making each department of much smaller area than before. In addition to this a boarded-in staircase was erected in Edmund Street, by which persons were able to gain access to the Lending Library, which is on the ground floor, and to the Reference Library, which was immediately above. A similar staircase was made in Ratcliff-place, near the cab stand, for the accommodation of the members of the Midland Inst.i.tute, who occupy the Paradise-street side of the building. The s.p.a.ce between the two staircases was boarded up, in order to keep the public off the works during the alterations, and the necessary gas supply pipes, &c., were located outside these wooden part.i.tions. The alterations were well advanced by Christmas, and everything bade fair for an early and satisfactory completion of the undertaking. The weather, however, was most severe, and now and then the moisture in the gas-pipes exposed to the air became frozen. This occurred on the afternoon of Sat.u.r.day, January 11, 1879, and an employe of the gas office lit a gas jet to thaw one of the pipes, A shaving was blown by the wind across this light, it blazed; the flame caught other shavings, which had been packed round the pipe to keep the frost out, and in less than a minute the fire was inside, and in one hour the Birmingham Reference Library was doomed to destruction. It was the greatest loss the town had ever suffered, but a new building has arisen on the site, and (with certain exceptions) it is hoped that a more perfect and valuable Library will be gathered to fill it. In a few days after the fire it was decided to ask the public at large for at least 10,000 towards a new collection, and within a week 7,000 had been sent in, the princ.i.p.al donors named in the list being--

s.

The Mayor (Mr. Jesse Collins). .. .. .. 100 0 Alderman Chamberlain, M.P. (as Trustee of the late Mrs.

Chamberlain, Moor Green) .. .. .. .. 1000 0 Alderman Chamberlain, M.P. .. .. .. .. 500 0 Alderman Avery .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 500 0 Mr. John Jaffray.. .. .. .. .. .. .. 500 0 Mr. A. Follett Osler, F.R.S... .. .. .. 500 0 Mr. John Feeney .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 250 0 Mrs. Harrold .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 250 0 Mr. Timothy Kenrick .. .. .. .. .. .. 250 0 Mr. William Middlemore .. .. .. .. .. 250 0 A Friend .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 250 0 Mr. James Atkins.. .. .. .. .. .. .. 105 0 Lord Calthorpe .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 100 0 Lord Teynham.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 100 0 Mr. Thomas Gladstone.. .. .. .. .. .. 100 0 Messrs. William Tonks and Sons .. .. .. 100 0 Mr. W.A. Watkins.. .. .. .. .. .. .. 100 0 Mr. and Mrs. T. Scruton .. .. .. .. .. 75 0 Dr. Anthony .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 52 10 Mr. Oliver Pemberton.. .. .. .. .. .. 52 10 Alderman Baker .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 50 0 Alderman Barrow .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 50 0 Messrs. Cadbury Brothers.. .. .. .. .. 50 0 Mr. J.H. Chamberlain.. .. .. .. .. .. 50 0 Alderman Deykin .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 50 0 Mr. T.S. Fallows.. .. .. .. .. .. .. 50 0 Mr. J.D. Goodman.. .. .. .. .. .. .. 50 0 Councillor Johnson .. .. .. .. .. .. 50 0 Mr. William Martin .. .. .. .. .. .. 50 0 Councillor Thomas Martineau .. .. .. .. 50 0 Councillor R.F. Martineau .. .. .. .. 50 0 Mr. Lawley Parker .. .. .. .. .. .. 50 0 Mrs. E. Phipson .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 50 0 Messrs. Player Brothers .. .. .. .. .. 50 0 Mr. Walter Showell .. .. .. .. .. .. 50 0 Mr. Sam Timmins .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 50 0 The Rev. A.R. Vardy .. .. .. .. .. .. 50 0 Mr. J.S. Wright and Sons.. .. .. .. .. 50 0 In sums of 20, &c .. .. .. .. .. .. 480 5 In sums of 10, &c .. .. .. .. .. .. 247 2 In sums of 5, &c .. .. .. .. .. .. 169 5 Smaller amounts .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 88 8

This fund has received many n.o.ble additions since the above, the total, with interest, amounting, up to the end of 1883, to no less than 15,500, of which there is still in hand, 10,000 for the purchase of books. The precaution of insuring such an inst.i.tution and its contents had of course been taken, and most fortunately the requisite endors.e.m.e.nts on the policies had been made to cover the extra risk accruing from the alteration in progress. The insurances were made in the "Lancashire" and "Yorkshire" offices, the buildings for 10,000, the Reference Library for 12,000, the Lending Library for 1,000, the Shakespeare Library for 1,500, the Prince Consort statue for 1,000, the models of Burke and Goldsmith for 100, and the bust of Mr. Timmins for 100, making 25,700 in all. The two companies hardly waited for the claim to be made, but met it in a most generous manner, paying over at once 20,000, of which 10,528 has been devoted to the buildings and fittings, nearly 500 paid for expenses and injury to statues, and the remaining 9,000 put to the book purchase fund. In the Reference Library there were quite 48,000 volumes, in addition to about 4,000 of patent specifications. Every great department of human knowledge was represented by the best known works. In history, biography, voyages, and travels, natural history, fine arts, all the greatest works, not only in English, but often in the princ.i.p.al European languages, had been gathered. Volumes of maps and plans, engravings of all sorts of antiquities, costumes, weapons, transactions of all the chief learned societies, and especially bibliography, or "books about books" had been collected with unceasing care, the shelves being loaded with costly and valuable works rarely found out of the great libraries of London, or Oxford, Cambridge, Edinburgh, or Glasgow. Among the collections lost were many volumes relating to the early history of railways in England, originally collected by Mr. Charles Brewin, and supplemented by all the pamphlets and tracts procurable. Many of those volumes were full of cuttings from contemporary newspapers, and early reports of early railway companies, and of the condition of ca.n.a.ls and roads. Still more valuable were many bundles of papers, letters, invoices, calculations, etc., concerning the early attempt to establish the cotton manufacture in Birmingham at the beginning of the last century, including the papers of Warren, the printer, and some letters of Dr. Johnson, and others relating the story of the invention of spinning by rollers--the work of John Wyatt and Lewis Paul--long before Arkwright's time. Among the immense collection of Birmingham books and papers were hundreds of Acts of Parliament, Birmingham Almanacs, Directories (from 1770) most curious, valuable, and rare; a heap of pamphlets on the Grammar School, Birmingham History, Topography, and Guides; the political pamphlets of Job Nott and John Nott, some of which were the only copies known, the more ancient pamphlets describing Prince Rupert's Burning Love (date 1613) and others of that time; reports from the year 1726 of the several local learned inst.i.tutions; an invaluable collection of maps; programmes of the Festivals; and copies of all the known Birmingham newspapers and periodicals (some being perfect sets) etc., etc. Of all the host not more than 1,000 volumes were saved. The fame of the Shakespeare Memorial Library at Birmingham was world-wide and to us it had extra value as emanating from the love which George Dawson bore for the memory of Shakespeare. It was his wish that the library should be possessed of every known edition of the bard's works in every language, and that it should contain every book ever printed about him or his writings. In the words of Mr. Timmins, "The devotion of George Dawson to Shakespeare was not based upon literary reasons alone, nor did it only rest upon his admiration and his marvel at the wondrous gifts bestowed upon this greatest of men, but it was founded upon his love for one who loved so much. His heart, which knew no inhumanity, rejoiced in one who was so greatly human, and the basis of his reverence for Shakespeare was his own reverence for man. It was thus, to him, a constant pleasure to mark the increasing number of the students of Shakespeare, and to see how, first in one language and then in another, attempts were made to bring some knowledge of his work to other nations than the English-speaking ones; and the acquisition of some of these books by the library was received by him with delight, not merely or not much for acquisition sake, but as another evidence of the ever-widening influence of Shakespeare's work. The contents of this library were to Mr. Dawson a great and convincing proof that the greatest of all English authors had not lived fruitlessly, and that the widest human heart the world has known had not poured out its treasure in vain." So successful had the attempts of the collectors been that nearly 7,000 volumes had been brought together, many of them coming from the most distant parts of the globe. The collection included 336 editions of Shakspeare's complete works in English, 17 in French, 58 in German, 3 in Danish, 1 in Dutch, 1 in Bohemian, 3 in Italian, 4 in Polish, 2 in Russian, 1 in Spanish, 1 in Swedish; while in Frisian, Icelandic, Hebrew, Greek, Servian, Wallachian, Welsh, and Tamil there were copies of many separate plays.

The English volumes numbered 4,500, the German 1,500, the French 400.

The great and costly editions of Boydell and Halliwell, the original folios of 1632, 1664, and 1685, the very rare quarto contemporary issues of various plays, the valuable German editions, the matchless collection of "ana," in contemporary criticism, reviews, &c., and the interesting garnering of all the details of the Tercentenary Celebration-- wall-posters, tickets, pamphlets, caricatures, &c., were all to be found here, forming the largest and most varied collection of Shakspeare's works, and the English and foreign literature ill.u.s.trating them, which has ever been made, and the greatest literary memorial which any author has ever yet received. So highly was the library valued that its contents were consulted from Berlin and Paris, and even from the United States, and similar libraries have been founded in other places. Only 500 of the books were preserved, and many of them were much damaged. The loss of the famed Staunton or Warwickshire collection was even worse than that of the Shakespearean, rich and rare as that was, for it included the results of more than two centuries' patient work, from the days of Sir William Dugdale down to the beginning of the present century. The ma.n.u.script collections of Sir Simon Archer, fellow-labourer of Dugdale, the records of the Berkeley, Digby, and Ferrers families, the valued and patient gatherings of Thomas Sharpe, the Coventry antiquarian, of William Hamper, the Birmingham collector, and of William Staunton himself, were all here, forming the most wonderful county collection ever yet formed, and which a hundred years' work will never replace. The books, many rare or unique, and of extraordinary value, comprised over 2000 volumes; there were hundreds of sketches and water-colour drawings of buildings long since destroyed, and more than 1,500 engravings of various places in the county, among them being some 300 relating to Birmingham, 200 to Coventry, 200 to Warwick Castle, 200 to Kenilworth Castle, and more than 100 to Stratford-on-Avon. The thousand portraits of Warwickshire Worthies, more rare and valuable still, included no less than 267 distinct portraits of Shakespeare, every one from a different block or plate. There was, in fact, everything about Warwickshire which successive generations of learned and generous collectors could secure. Among other treasures were hundreds of Acts of Parliament, all pedigrees, pamphlets, &c., about the Earls of Warwick and the town of Warwick; the original vellum volume with the installation of Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, to the Order of St. Michael, with his own autograph; volumes of rare, curious autographs of county interest; county poll books, newspapers and magazines; all the rare Civil War pamphlets relating to the Warwickshire incidents; ancient deeds, indulgences, charters, seals, rubbings of bra.s.ses long lost or worn away, medals, coins, hundreds in number; and rare and invaluable volumes, like the Duc de Nortombria's "Arcano de Mare," and two fine copies of Dugdale's Warwickshire; besides hundreds of books, engravings, caricatures, pamphlets and tracts. The catalogue of this precious collection had only recently been completed, but even that was burnt, so that there is nothing left to show the full extent of the loss sustained. The only salvage consisted of three books, though most providentially one of the three was the splendid Cartulary of the Priory of St. Anne, at Knowle, a n.o.ble vellum folio, richly illuminated by some patient scribe four centuries ago, and preserving not only the names of the benefactors of the Priory, and details of its possessions, but also the service books of the Church, with the ancient music and illuminated initials, as fresh and perfect as when first written. Of almost inestimable value, it has now an acquired interest in the fact of its being, so to speak, all that remains of all the great Staunton collection. The Cervantes Library, which had taken him a quarter of a century to gather together, was presented by Mr. William Bragge. For many years, even in a busy life, Mr. Bragge, in his visits to Spain and his travels all over Europe, had been able to collect nearly all the known editions, not only of "Don Quixote," but of all the other works of Cervantes. Not only editions, but translations into any and every language were eagerly sought; and, after cherishing his treasures for many years, Mr. Bragge was so impressed with the Shakespeare Library that he generously offered his unrivalled collection of the great contemporary author to the town of which he is a native, and in which he afterwards came to live. The collection extended from editions published in 1605 down to our own days, and included many very rare and very costly ill.u.s.trated volumes, which can never be replaced. All the known translations were among the thousand volumes, and all the works were in the choicest condition, but only ten survived the fire.--From the Lending Library about 10,000 volumes were rescued, and as there were nearly 4,000 in the hands of readers, the loss here was comparatively small. The present number of books in the Reference Library bids fair to surpa.s.s the collection lost, except, of course, as regards the Shakespeare, Cervantes, and Staunton gatherings, the latter of which it is simply impossible to replace, while it will take many years to make up the other two. There are now (March, 1884) over 54,000 volumes on the shelves, including 4,300 saved from the fire, about 33,000 purchased, and nearly 17,000 presented. Among the latter are many rare and costly works given to Birmingham soon after the catastrophe by a number of societies and gentlemen connected with the town, as well as others at home and abroad. To catalogue the names of all donors is impossible, but a few of those who first contributed may be given. Foremost, many of the books being of local character, was the gift of Mr. David Malins, which included Schedel's Nuremberg Chronicle, 1492, one vol.; Camden's Britannia, ed. Gibson, 1695, one vol.; Ackermann's London, Westminster Abbey, Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, &c., ten vols.; Works of Samuel Parr, 1828, eight vols.; Ill.u.s.trated Record of European Events, 1812-1815, one vol.; Thompson's Seasons, ill.u.s.trated by Bartolozzi, and other works, seventy vols.; Notes and Queries (complete set of five series), 1850-78, fifty-seven vols.; Dugdale's "Warwickshire, 1656, and other books relating to Birmingham, Warwickshire and neighbourhood, seventy-four vols.; books printed by Baskerville, ten vols.; Birmingham-printed books, 203 vols.; books on or by Birmingham authors, fifty-six vols.; total, 491 vols.; in addition to a collection of about 600 portraits, maps and views relating to Birmingham, Warwickshire and the neighbourhood, including sixty portraits of Shakespeare. The Manchester Town Council sent us from their Public Library about 300 volumes, among which may be named the edition of Barclay's Apology printed by Baskerville (1765); a fine copy of the folio edition of Ben Johnson (1640); the Duke of Newcastle's New Method to Dress Horses (1667); several volumes of the Maitland Club books, the catalogue of the Harleian MSS (1759); two tracts of Socinus (1618); the Foundations of Manchester (4 vols.); Daulby's Rembrandt Catalogue; Weever's Funeral Monuments (1631); Visconti's Egyptian Antiquities (1837); Heylyn's History of St. George (1633), and Nicholl's History of English Poor Law.

There are also a considerable number of works of science and general literature of a more modern date. The trustees of the British Museum gave about 150 works, relating to Greek, Egyptian, Syrian, Phoenician, and other antiquities, to various departments of natural science, and other interesting matters, the whole const.i.tuting a valuable contribution towards the restored library. The Science and Art Department of South Kensington sent a selection of catalogues, chromo-lithographs, books of etchings, photographs, &c. Dr. F.A. Leo, of Berlin, sent a splendid copy of his valuable _fac-simile_ of "Four Chapters of North's Plutarch," ill.u.s.trating Shakespeare's Roman plays, to replace his former gift-volume lost in the calamitous fire. The volume is one of twenty-four copies, and the learned Professor added a printed dedication as a record of the fire and the loss. Dr. Delius, of Bonn, Herr Wilhelm Oechelhauser, of Dessau, and other German Shakespeare authors sent copies of their works. Mr. J. Payne Collier offered copies of his rare quarto reprints of Elizabethan books, to replace those which had been lost. Mr. Gerald Ma.s.sey offered a copy of his rare volume on Shakespeare's Sonnets, "because it is a Free Library." Mr. H. Reader Lack offered a set of the Patent Office volumes from the limited number at his disposal as Chief of the Patent Office. Dr. Kaines, of Trinder Road, London, selected 100 volumes from his library for acceptance; Mrs.

and Miss L. Toulmin Smith sent all they could make up of the works of Mr. J. Toulmin Smith, and of his father, Mr. W. Hawkes Smith, both natives of our town; Messrs. Low, Son, and Co., gave 120 excellent volumes; Messrs. W. and R. Chambers, Messrs. Crosby, Lockwood, and Co., and other publishers, valuable books; Mr. James Coleman his "Index to Pedigrees," "Somerset House Registers," and "William Penn Pedigrees;"

Miss N. Bradley (Bath) the new reissue of Professor Ruskin's works; Mr.

H.W. Adnitt (Shrewsbury) his reprint of Gough's curious "History of Myddie," and of Churchyard's "Miserie of Flaunders," and "The Four Ministers of Salop:" Mr. H.F. Osle presented a, fine collection of Art books, including Gruner's great work, and Mr. J.H. Stone made a valuable donation of the same kind. The above are mere items in the list of generous donors, and gives but small idea of the many thousands of volumes which have streamed in from all parts. Many indeed have been the valuable gifts and additions by purchase since the fire, one of the latest being nearly the whole of the almost priceless collection of Birmingham books, papers, &c., belonging to Mr. Sam. Timmins. The sum of 1,100 was paid him for a certain portion of backs, but the number he has given at various times is almost past count. Immediate steps were taken after the fire to get the lending department of the Library into work again, and on the 9th of June, 1879, a commodious (though rather dark) reading room was opened in Eden Place, the Town Council allowing a number of rooms in the Munic.i.p.al Buildings to be used by the Libraries Committee. In a little time the nucleus of the new Reference gathering was also in hand, and for three years the inst.i.tution sojourned with the Council. The new buildings were opened June 1st, 1882, and the date should be recorded as a day of rejoicing and thanksgiving. The Reference department was opened to readers on the 26th of the same month. In place of the hired rooms so long used as a library in Const.i.tution Hill, there has been erected in the near neighbourhood a neat two-storey building which will accommodate some 2,000 readers per day, and the shelves are supplied with about 7,000 volumes. This new library was opened July 18, 1883. To summarise this brief history of the Birmingham Free Libraries it is well to state that 78,000 has been spent on them, of which 36,392 has been for buildings. The cost of the Central Library so far has been 55,000, the remaining 23,000 being the expenditure on the branch libraries. The present annual cost is 9,372, of which 3,372 goes for interest and sinking fund, so that an addition must soon be made to the 1d. rate, which produces 6,454. The power to increase the rate is given in the last Act of Parliament obtained by the Corporation.

At the end of 1882 the Reference Library contained 50,000 volumes. The number of books in the Central Lending Library was 21,394, while the branch lending libraries contained--Const.i.tution Hill, 7,815; Deritend, 8,295; Gosta Green, 8,274; and Adderley Park, 3,122. The aggregate of all the libraries was 98,900 volumes. The issues of books during 1882 were as follows:--Reference Library, 202,179; Central Lending Library, 186,988; Const.i.tution Hill, 73,705; Deriteud, 70,218; Gosta Green, 56,160; Adderley Park, 8,497; total, 597,747; giving a daily average of 2,127 issues. These figures are exclusive of the Sunday issues at the Reference Library, which numbered 25,095. The average number of readers in the Reference Library on Sundays has been 545; and the average attendance at all the libraries shows something like 55,000 readers per week, 133 different weekly and monthly periodicals being put on the tables for their use, besides the books. At a meeting of the School Board, June 4, 1875, permission was given to use the several infants'

schoolrooms connected with the Board Schools, as evening reading rooms in connection with the libraries.

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

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

_Handsworth_ Free Library was opened at the Local Board Offices, of which building it forms a part, on May 1, 1880, with a collection of about 5,000 volumes, which has since been increased to nearly 7,500.

That the library is appreciated is shown by the fact that during last year the issues numbered 42,234 volumes, the borrowers being 514 males and 561 females.

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

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

~Licensed Victuallers' Society.~--See "_Trade Protection Societies_."

~Licensed Victuallers' Asylum.~--See "_Philanthropical Inst.i.tutions_."

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

Year. Licensed Beer and Total. Population. Beer, &c., Grocers.

Victuallers. Wine On. Off.