Showell's Dictionary of Birmingham Part 19

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

"Beneath this stone, in sweet repose, Is laid a mother's dearest pride; A flower that scarce had waked to life, And light and beauty, ere it died.

G.o.d and His wisdom has recalled The precious boon His love has given; And though the casket moulders here, The gem is sparkling now in heaven."

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

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

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

{Good friend, within these Railes forbear {To dig the dust enclosed here.

{Blest bee the man who spares these stones {And Curst be he that moves our bones.

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

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

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

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

~Local Landowners.~--It is somewhat a difficult matter to tell how much of the ground on which the town is built belongs to any one particular person, even with the a.s.sistance of the "Returns" obtained by John Bright of "the owner" of land so called, possessing estimated yearly rentals of 1,000 and upwards. That these "Returns" may be useful to bia.s.sed politicians is likely enough, as Lord Calthorpe is put down as owner of 2,073 acres at an estimated rental of 113,707, while Mr. Muntz appears as owning 2,486 acres at an estimated rental of 3,948. His lords.h.i.+p's 113,707 "estimated" rental must be considerably reduced when the leaseholders have taken their share and left him only the ground rents. The other large ground landlords are the Trustees of the Grammar School, the Trustees of the Colmore, Gooch, Vyse, Inge, Digby, Gillot, Robins, and Mason estates, &c., Earl Howe, Lench's Trust, the Blue Coat School, &c. The Corporation of Birmingham is returned as owning 257 acres, in addition to 134 had from the Waterworks Co., but that does not include the additions made under the Improvement Scheme, &c. The manner in which the estates of the old Lords of the Manor, of the Guild of Holy Cross, and the possessions of the ancient Priory, have been divided and portioned out by descent, marriage, forfeiture, plunder, and purchase is interesting matter of history, but rather of a private than public nature.

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

~Local Taxation.~--See "_Munic.i.p.al Expenditure_."

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

~Lodger Franchise.~--Considering the vast amount of interest taken in all matters connected with local Parliamentary representation, and the periodical battles of bile and banter earned on in the Revision Courts over the lists of voters, it is somewhat curious to note how little advantage has been taken of the clause in the last Reform Bill which gives the right of voting to lodgers. The qualification required is simply the exclusive occupation of lodgings which, if let unfurnished, are of the clear yearly value of 10; and there must be many hundreds of gentlemen in the borough residing in apartments who would come under this head. Out of a total of 63,221 electors in 1883 there were only 72 who had claimed their right to vote. In many other boroughs the same discrepancy exists, though here and there the political wire-pullers have evidently seen how to use the lodger franchise to much better effect, as in the case of Worcester for instance, where there are 59 lodger voters out of a total of 6,362.--See "_Parliamentary Elections_."

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

the London 'Prentice has been sent to the right-about, and the nasty dirty stinking thoroughfare is now called "Dalton Street."

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

~Low Rents.~--A return of una.s.sessed houses in the parish of Birmingham, taken October 19, 1790, showed 2,000 at a rental under 5, 2,000 others under 6, 3,000 under 7, 2,000 under 8, 500 under 9, and 500 under 10.

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

~Lunacy.~--Whether it arises from political heat, religious ecstacies, intemperance, or the cares and worry of the universal hunt for wealth, it is certainly a painful fact to chronicle that in proportion to population insanity is far more prevalent now than it was fifty years ago, and Birmingham has no more share in such excess than other parts of the kingdom. Possibly, the figures show more prominently from the action of the wise rules that enforce the gathering of the insane into public inst.i.tutions, instead of leaving the unfortunates to the care (or carelessness) of their relatives as in past days, when the wards of the poor-houses were the only receptacles for those who had no relatives to shelter them. The erection of the Borough Asylum, at Winson Green, was commenced in 1846, and it was finished in 1851. The house and grounds covered an area of about twenty acres, the building being arranged to accommodate 330 patients. Great as this number appeared to be, not many years pa.s.sed before the necessity of enlargement was perceived, and, ultimately, it became evident the Winson Green establishment must either be doubled in size or that a second Asylum must be erected on another site. An estate of 150 acres on the south-eastern slopes of Rubery Hill, on the right-hand side of the turnpike road from here to Bromsgrove, was purchased by the Corporation, and a new Asylum, which will accommodate 616 patients, has there been erected. For the house and its immediate grounds, 70 acres have been apportioned, the remainder being kept for the purposes of a farm, where those of the inmates fit for work can be employed, and where the sewage from the asylum will be utilised. The cost of the land was 6,576 8s. 5d., and that of the buildings, the furnis.h.i.+ng, and the laying out of the grounds, 133,495 5s. 8d. The report of the Lunatic Asylums Committee for 1882 stated that the number of patients, including those boarded under contract at other asylums, on the first of Jan., 1882, was 839. There were admitted to Winson Green and Rubery Hill during the year 349. There were discharged during the year 94, and there died 124, leaving, on the 31st Dec., 970. The whole of the 970 were then at the borough asylums, and were chargeable as follows:--To Birmingham parish, 644; to Birmingham borough, 8; to Aston Union, in the borough, 168; to King's Norton, 16; to other unions under contract, 98; the remaining 36 patients not being paupers. The income of the asylums for the year was--from Birmingham patients 20,748 1s. 9.; from pauper patients under contract, and from patients not paupers, 2,989 9s. 5d.; from goods sold, 680 1s. 5d.; total, 24,417 12s. 7d.

The expenditure on maintenance account was 21,964 4s., and on building capital account 2,966 7s. 7d.--total, 24,915 11s. 7d.; showing a balance against the asylums of 497 19s. The nett average weekly cost for the year was 9s. 6-1/2d. per head. Mr. E.B. Whitcombe, medical superintendent at Winson Green, says that among the causes of insanity in those admitted it is satisfactory to note a large decrease in the number from intemperance, the percentage for the year being 7.7, as compared with 18 and 21 per cent. in 1881 and 1880 respectively. The proportion of recoveries to admissions was in the males 27.7, in the females 36, and in the total 32.3 percent. This is below the average, and is due to a large number of chronic and unfavourable cases admitted.

At Rubery Hill Asylum, Dr. Lyle reports that out of the first 450 admissions there were six patients discharged as recovered.--The Midland Counties' Idiot Asylum, at Knowle, opened in 1867, also finds shelter for some of Birmingham's unfortunate children. The Asylum provides a home for about 50, but it is in contemplation to considerably enlarge it. At the end of 1882 there were 28 males and 21 females, 47 being the average number of inmates during the year, the cost per head being 41 13s. 6d. Of the limited number of inmates in the inst.i.tution no fewer than thirteen came from Birmingham, and altogether as many as thirty-five candidates had been elected from Birmingham. The income from all sources, exclusive of contributions to the building fund, amounted to 2,033 3s. 8d., and the total expenditure (including 193 3s. 4d.

written off for depreciation of buildings) to 1,763 15s. 7d., leaving a balance in hand of 269 8s. 1d. The fund which is being raised for the enlargement of the inst.i.tution then amounted to 605 15s., the sum required being 5,000. The society's capital was then 10,850 12s. 8d.

of which 7,358 12s. 5d. had been laid out in lands and buildings. Mr.

Tait, the medical officer, was of opinion that one-fourth of the children were capable of becoming productive workers under kindly direction and supervision, the progress made by some of the boys in basket-making being very marked.

~Lunar Society.~--So called from the meetings being held at the full of the moon that the members might have light nights to drive home, but from which they were nicknamed "the lunatics." Originally commenced about 1765, it included among its members Baskerville, Boulton, Watt, Priestley, Thomas Day, Samuel Galton, R.L. Edgeworth, Dr. Withering, Dr.

Small, Dr. Darwin, Wedgwood, Keir, and indeed almost every man of intellectual note of the time. It died down as death took the leaders, but it may be said to have left traces in many learned societies of later date.

~Luncheon Bars.~--The honour of introducing the modern style of luncheon bar must be awarded to the landlord of the Acorn, in Temple Street, who, having seen something of the kind in one of the Channel Islands, imported the notion to Birmingham. The lumber rooms and stables at back of his house were cleared and fitted up as smoke rooms, and bread and cheese, and beer, &c., dealt out over the counter. Here it was that Mr.

Hillman took his degree as popular waiter, and from the Acorn also he took a wife to help him start "The Stores," in Paradise Street. Mr.

Thomas Hanson was not long behind Hillman before he opened up "The Corner Stores," in Union Pa.s.sage, following that with the "St. James" in New Street, and several others in various parts of the town. The "Bars"

are now an "inst.i.tution" that has become absolutely indispensable, even for the cla.s.s who prefer the semi-privacy of the "Restaurants," as the proprietors of the more select Bars like to call their establishments.

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

~Magazines.~--See "_Newspapers and Periodicals_."

~Manor House.~--How few of the thousands who pa.s.s Smithfield every day know that they are treading upon ground where once the Barons of Birmingham kept house in feudal grandeur. Whether the ancient Castle, destroyed in the time of Stephen, pre-occupied the site of the Manor House (or, as it was of late years called--the Moat House), is more than antiquarians have yet found out, any more than they can tell us when the latter building was erected, or when it was demolished. Hutton says: "The first certain account we meet of the moat (which surrounded the island on which the erections were built) is in the reign of Henry the Second, 1154, when Peter de Bermingham, then lord of the fee, had a castle here, and lived in splendour. All the succeeding lords resided upon the same island till their cruel expulsion by John, Duke of Northumberland, in 1537. The old castle followed its lords, and is buried in the ruins of time. Upon the spot, about fifty years ago [1730], rose a house in the modern style, occupied by a manufacturer (Thomas Francis); in one of the outbuildings is shown the apartment where the ancient lords kept their court leet. The trench being filled with water has nearly the same appearance now as perhaps a thousand years ago; but not altogether the same use. It then served to protect its master, but now to turn a thread mill." Moat Lane and Mill Lane are the only names by which the memory of the old house is now retained. The thread mill spoken of by Hutton gave place to a bra.s.s or iron foundry, and the property being purchased by the Commissioners, the whole was cleared off the ground in 1815 or 1816, the sale of the building materials, &c., taking place July 5, 1815. Among the "lots" sold, the Moat House and offices adjoining realised 290; the large gates at the entrance with the brick pillars, 16; the bridge, 11; the timber trees, 25; a fire engine with carriage, &c., 6 15s. (possibly some sort of steam engine, then called fire engines); the total produce, including counting-house, warehouse, casting, tinning, burnis.h.i.+ng, blacking, and blacksmiths' shops, a horse mill, scouring mill, and a quant.i.ty of wood sheds and palisading, amounted to nearly 1,150. The prosaic minds of the Commissioners evidently did not lead them to value "the apartments where the ancient lords kept their court," or it had been turned into a scouring or tinning shop, for no mention was made of it in the catalogue of sale, and as the old Castle disappeared, so did the Manor House, leaving not a stone behind. Mr. William Hamper took a sketch of the old house, in May, 1814, and he then wrote of the oldest part of the building, that it was "half-timbered," and seemingly of about Henry VIII.'s time, or perhaps a little later, but some of the timbers had evidently been used in a former building (probably the old Manorial residence) as the old mortices were to be seen in several of the beams and uprights. The house itself was cleared away in May, 1816, and the last of the outbuildings in the following month. So perfect was the clearance, that not even any of the foundations have been turned up during the alterations lately effected in Smithfield Market. In 1746, the "manorial rights" were purchased by Thomas Archer, of Umberslade, from whose descendants they were acquired by the Commissioners, in 1812, under an Act of Parliament obtained for the purpose, the price given for the Manor House, meat, and ground, being 5,672, in addition to 12,500, for "market tolls," &c.

~Manufactures.~--For a few notes respecting the manufactures carried on in Birmingham, see "_Trades_."

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

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

The Market tolls, for which 12,500 was paid in 1812, produced 5,706 10s. 5d. in the year 1840.

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

_Corn Market_.--The ancient market for corn, or "Corn Cheaping," formed, part of "le Bul ryng" which at one time was almost the sole place of traffic of our forefathers. At first an open s.p.a.ce, as the market granted by the early Norman Kings grew in extent, the custom arose of setting up stalls, the right to do which was doubtless bought of the Lords of the Manor. These grew into permanent tenements, and stallages, "freeboards," shambles, and even houses (some with small gardens ab.u.t.ting on the unfenced churchyard), gradually covered the whole ground, and it ultimately cost the town a large sum to clear it, the Commissioners, in 1806-7, paying nearly 25,000 for the purpose. The farmers of a hundred years ago used to a.s.semble with their samples of grain round the Old Cross, or High Cross, standing nearly opposite the present Market Hall steps, and in times of scarcity, when bread was dear, they needed the protection of special constables.

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

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

_Vegetable Market_, so long held in the Bull Ring, is now princ.i.p.ally held in the covered portion of Smithfield, which promises to be soon a huge wholesale market.

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

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

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

"June 4, 1772 (and not before as mentioned by mistake) at St. Philip's Church in this town, Mr. Thomas Smallwood, an eminent wine merchant, to Miss Harris, a young lady of distinguished accomplishments, with a fortune of 1,500."

~Ma.s.shouse Lane.~--Takes its name from the Roman Catholic Church (or Ma.s.s House, as such edifices were then called) erected in 1687, and dedicated to St. Mary Magdalen and St. Francis. The foundation stone was laid March 23, in the above year, and on 16th August, 1688, the first stone of a Franciscan Convent was laid adjoining to the Church, which latter was consecrated Sept. 4. The Church was 95ft long by 33ft. wide, and towards the building of it and the Convent, James II. gave 125 "tuns of timber," which were sold for 180; Sir John Gage gave timber valued at 140; the Dowager Queen Catherine gave 10 15s.; and a Mrs. Anne Gregg, 250. This would appear to have been the first place of wors.h.i.+p put up here by the Romish Church since the time of Henry VIII., and it was not allowed to stand long, for the Church and what part of the Convent was built (in the words of the Franciscan priest who laid the first stone) "was first defaced, and most of it burrent within to near ye vallue of 400lb., by ye Lord Dellamer's order upon ye 26 of November, 1688, and ye day sevennight following ye rabble of Birmingham begon to pul ye Church and Convent down, and saesed not until they had pulled up ye fundations. They sold ye materials, of which many houses and parts of houses are built in ye town of Birmingham, ye townsmen of ye better sort not resisting ye rabble, but quietly permitting, if not prompting them to doe itt." The poor priests found shelter at Harborne, where there is another Ma.s.shouse Lane, their "Ma.s.shouse" being a little further on in Pritchett's Lane, where for nearly a century the double work of conducting a school and ministering to their scattered Catholic flock was carried on, the next local place of wors.h.i.+p built here being "St.

Peters's Chapel," off Broad Street, erected about 1786. It is believed that St. Bartholomew's Church covers the site of the short-lived "Ma.s.s House."

~Masonic.~--That the Freemasons are many among us is proved by the number of their Lodges, but the writer has no record throwing light on their past local history, though mention is found now and then in old newspapers of their taking part in the ceremonies attending the erection of more than one of our public buildings. Of their local acts of benevolence they sayeth naught, though, as is well-known, their charity is never found wanting. The three Masonic charitable inst.i.tutions which are supported by the voluntary contributions of the craft during 1883 realised a total income of 55,994 14s. 3d. Of this sum the boys' school received 24,895 7s. 1d.; the Benevolent Inst.i.tution, 18,449 6s.; and the girls' school, 12,650 1s. 2d. The largest total attained previous to 1883 was in 1880, when the sum amounted to 49,763. The boys' school, which is now at the head of the list, is boarding, housing clothing, and educating 221 boys; the Benevolent Inst.i.tution, the second on the list, is granting annuities of 40 each to 172 men and 32 each to 167 widows; and the girls' school houses, boards, clothes, and educates 239 girls, between the ages of seven and sixteen. The boys leave school at fifteen.

During the year 8,675 has been granted to 334 cases of distress from the Fund of Benevolence, which is composed of 4s. a year taken from every London Mason's subscription to his lodge and 2s. a year from every country Mason's subscription. The local lodges meet as follows:--_At the Masonic Hall, New Street_: St. Paul's Lodge, No. 43; the Faithful Lodge, No. 473; the Howe Lodge, No. 587; the Howe R.A. Chapter; the Howe Mark Master's Lodge; the Howe Preceptory of Knight Templars; the Temperance Lodge, No. 739; the Leigh Lodge, No. 887; the Bedford Lodge, No. 925; the Bedford R.A. Chapter; the Grosvenor Lodge, No. 938; the Grosvenor R.A. Chapter; the Elkington Lodge, No 1,016; the Elkington R.A. Chapter; the Fletcher Lodge, No. 1,031; the Fletcher R.A. Chapter; the Lodge of Emulation, No. 1,163; the Forward Lodge, No. 1,180; the Lodge of Charity, No. 1,551; and the Alma Mater Lodge, No. 1,644. _At the Masonic Hall, Severn Street_: The Athol Lodge, No. 74; the Athol R.A. Chapter; the Athol Mark Master's Lodge; and the Lodge of Israel, No. 1,474. _At the Great Western Hotel_: The Lodge of Light, No. 468; the R.A. Chapter of Fort.i.tude; and the Vernon Chapter of S.P.R.C. of H.R.D.M., No. 5. _At the Holte Hotel, Aston_: The Holte Lodge, No. 1,246.

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