# Showell's Dictionary of Birmingham/M

​ Magistrates.—By direction of the Queen's Council, in 1569, all magistrates had to send up "bonds" that they would subscribe to the then recently passed Act for the Uniformity of Common Prayers and Services in the Church, and the Administration of the Sacraments. The local name of Middlemore appears among the few in this county who objected to do so, and most likely his descendants would do the same. The first twenty-five of our borough magistrates were appointed about nine weeks after the date of the Charter of Incorporation, 1839. In 184, 1819, 1856, and 1859, other gentlemen were placed on the roll, and in April, 1880, ten more names were added to the list, having been sent up to the Lord Chancellor a few days before he vacated office, by some knowing gentlemen who had conceived a notion that the Conservative element was hardly strong enough among the occupants of the Bench. There are now 52, in addition to the Stipendiary Magistrate and the Recorder, and as politics must enter into every matter connected with public life in Birmingham, we record the interesting fact that 31 of these gentlemen are Liberals and 21 Conservatives. Mr. T. C. S. Kynnersley first acted as Stipendiary, April, 19, 1856.
Magazines.—See "Newspapers and Periodicals."
Manor House.—How few of the thousands who pass Smithfield every day know that they are treading upon ground where once the Barons of Birmingham kept house in feudal grandeur. Whether the ancient Castle, destroyed in the time of Stephen, preoccupied the site of the Manor House ​(or, as it was of late years called the Moat House), is more than antiquarians have yet found out, any more than they can tell us when the latter building was erected, or when it was demolished. Hutton says: "The first certain account we meet of the moat (which surrounded the island on which the erections were built) is in the reign of Henry the Second, 1154, when Peter de Bermingham, then lord of the fee, had a castle here, and lived in splendour. All the succeeding lords resided upon the same island till their cruel expulsion by John, Duke of Northumberland, in 1537. The old castle followed its lords, and is buried in the ruins of time. Upon the spot, about fifty years ago [1730], rose a house in the modern style, occupied by a manufacturer (Thomas Francis); in one of the outbuildings is shown the apartment where the ancient lords kept their court leet. The trench being filled with water has nearly the same appearance now as perhaps a thousand years ago; but not altogether the same use. It then served to protect its master, but now to turn a thread mill." Moat Lane and Mill Lane are the only names by which the memory of the old house is now retained. The thread mill spoken of by Hutton gave place to a brass or iron foundry, and the property being purchased by the Commissioners, the whole was cleared off the ground in 1815 or 1816, the sale of the building materials, &c., taking place July 5, 1815. Among the "lots" sold, the Moat House and offices adjoining realised £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, burnishing, blacking, and blacksmiths shops, a horse mill, scouring mill, and a quantity 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, moat, 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 Bisset "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 1325, 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, 68¼in. by 50½in., of the parish of Aston, with the Duddeston-cum-Nechells, Deritend, and Bordesley wards, and the hamlets of Erdington, Castle Bromwich, Little Bromwich, Saltley, and Washwood Heath. Water Orton, and Witton. The Board of Health map was issued in 1849; Guest's re-issued 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 arc built. The first of these maps in point of date is that of the Manor of Edgbaston 1718, followed by that of the Manor of Aston 1758, Little Bromwich Manor 1759, Bordesley Manor 1760, Saltley Manor 1760, Duddeston and Nechells Manors 1778, and of Birmingham parish 1779. The last-named was the work of a local surveyor, John Snape, and it is said that he used a camera obscura of his own construction to enable him to make his work so perfect that it served as correct guide to the map makers for fifty years after.
Markets.—Some writers have dated the existence of Birmingham as a market town as being prior to the Norman Conquest, charters (they say) for the holding of markets having been granted by both Saxon and Danish Kings. That market was held here at an early period is evident from the fact of the charter therefore being renewed by Richard I., who visited the De Berminghams in 1189. The market day has never been changed from Thursday, though Tuesday and Saturday besides are now not enough; in fact, every day may be called market day, though Thursday attracts more of our friends from the country. The opening of Smithfield (May 29, 1817) was the means of concentrating the markets for horses, pigs, cattle, sheep, and farm produce, which for years previously had been offered for sale in New Street, Ann Street, High Street, and Dale End. The Market tolls, for which £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 " or 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 Bui ryng" which at one time was almost the sole place of traffic of our forefathers. At first an open space, as the market granted by the early Norman Kings grew in extent, the custom arose of setting up stalls, the right to do which was doubtless bought of the Lords of the Manor. These grew into permanent tenements, and stallages, "freeboards," shambles, and even houses (some with small gardens abutting on the unfenced churchyard), gradually covered the whole ground, and it ultimately cost the town a large sum to clear it, the Commissioners, in 1806-7, paying nearly £25,000 for the purpose. The farmers of a hundred years ago used to assemble with their samples of grain round the Old Cross, or High Cross, standing nearly opposite the present Market Hall steps, and in times of scarcity, when bread was dear, they needed the protection of special constables.
Fish Market.—In April, 1851, the fishmongers' stalls were removed from Dale End, and the sale was confined to the Market Hall, but consequent on the increase of population, and therefore of consumption, a separate market, at corner of Bell Street, was opened in 1870, and that is now being enlarged.
Hide and Skin Market.—The sale of these not particularly sweet-smelling animal products was formerly carried on in the open at Smithfield, but a special market for them and for tallow was opened May 25, 1850; the same building being utilised as a wool market July 29, 1851.
Vegetable Market, so long held in the Bull Ring, is now principally held in the covered portion of Smithfield, which promises to be soon a huge wholesale market.
Marriages.—This is the style in which these interesting events used to chronicled:—
"Sept. 30, 1751. On Monday last, the Rev. Mr. Willes, a relation of the Lord Chief Justice Willes, was married to Miss Wilkins, daughter of an eminent grocer of this town, a young lady of great merit, and handsome fortune."
"Nov. 23, 1751. On Tuesday last, was married at St. Mary-le-Bow, in Cheapside, Mr. W. Welch, an eminent hardware man of Birmingham, to Miss Nancy Morton, of Sheffield, an agreeable young lady, with a handsome fortune."
"June 4, 1772 (and not before as mentioned by mistake) at St. Philip's Church in this town, Mr. Thomas Smallwood, an eminent wine merchant, to Miss Harris, a young lady of distinguished accomplishments, with a fortune of £1,500."
Masshouse Lane.—Takes its name from the Roman Catholic Church (or Mass House, as such edifices were then called) erected in 1687, and dedicated to St. Mary Magdalen and St. Francis. The foundation stone was laid March 23, in the above year, and on 16th August, 1688, the first stone of a Franciscan Convent was laid adjoining to the Church, which latter was consecrated Sept. 4. The Church was 95ft. long by 33ft. wide, and towards the building of it and the Convent, James II. gave 125 "tuns of timber," which were sold for £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 worship put up here by the Romish Church since the time of Henry VIII., and it was not allowed to stand long, for the Church and what part of the Convent was built (in the words of the Franciscan priest who laid the first stone) "was first defaced, and most of it burrent within to near ye vailue 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 piil ye Church and Convent down, and saesed not until they had pulled up ye laudations. They sold ye materials, of which many houses and parts of houses are built in ye town of Birmingham, ye townsmen of ye better sort not resisting ye rabble, but quietly permitting, if not prompting them to doe itt." The poor priests found shelter at Harborne, where there is another Masshouse Lane, their "Masshouse" being a little further on in Pritchett's Lane, where for nearly a century the double work of conducting a school and ministering to their scattered Catholic flock was carried on, the next local place of worship built hero being "St. Peters's Chapel," off Broad Street, erected about 1786. It is believed that St. Bartholomew's Church covers the site of the short-lived "Mass House."
Masonic.—That the Freemasons are many among us is proved by the number of their Lodges, but the writer has no record throwing light on their past local history, though mention is found now and then in old newspapers of their taking part in the ceremonies attending the erection of more than one of our public buildings. Of their local acts of benevolence they sayeth naught, though, as is well-known, their charity is never found wanting. The three Masonic charitable institutions which are supported by the voluntary contributions of the craft during 1883 realised a total income of £55,994 14s. 3d. Of this sum the boys' school received £24,895 7s. 1d.; the Benevolent Institution, £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 Institution, 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 Fortitude; and the Vernon Chapter of S.P.KC. of H.R.D.M., No. 5. At the Holte Hotel, Aston: The Holte Lodge, No. 1,246.
Matches.—Baker's are best, the maker says. Lucifer matches were the invention of a young German patriot, named Kammerer, who beguiled his time in prison (in 1832) with chemical experiments, though a North of England apothecary. Walker, lays claim to the invention. They were first made in Birmingham in 1852, but they have not, as yet, completely driven the old-fashioned, and now-despised tinder-box out of the world, as many of the latter are still manufactured in this town for sundry foreign parts.
​Mecca.—The late Mr. J. H. Chamberlain, shortly before his death, said that he looked upon Birmingham, "perhaps with a foolish pride," as the Holy City, the Mecca of England; where life was fuller of possibilities of utility—happier, broader, wiser, and a thousand times better than it was in any other town in the United Kingdom.
Mechanical Engineer's.—The Institution of Mechanical Engineers was organised in this town, in October 1847, but its headquarters were removed to Loudon, in 1877.
Mechanics' Institute.—The proposal to form a local institution of a popular nature, for the encouragement of learning among our workers, like unto others which had been established in several large places elsewhere, was published in June, 1825, and several meetings were held before December 27, when officers were chosen, and entry made of nearly 200 members, to start with, the subscription being 5/- per quarter. The formal opening took place March 21, 1826, the members assembling in Mount Zion Chapel, to hear an address from Mr. B. Cook, the vice president. The class-rooms, library, and reading-rooms, were at the school attached to the Old Meeting House, and here the Institution, to far as the conduct of classes, and the imparting of knowledge went, thrived and prospered. Financially, however, though at one time there were nearly 500 members, it was never successful, possibly through lack of assistance that might have been expected from the manufactuers and large employers, for, hide it as we may, with a few honourable exceptions, that class, fifty years ago, preferred strong men to wise ones, and rather set their backs against opening the doors of knowledge to their work-people, or their children. It was a dozen years before the Institution was able to remove to a home of its own in Newhall Street, but it rapidly got into a hopeless state of debt. To lessen this incubus, and provide funds for some needed alterations, the committee decided to hold an exhibition of "manufactures, the fine arts, and objects illustrative of experimental philosophy, &c." The exhibition was opened Dec. 19, 1839, and in all ways was a splendid success, a fairly-large sum of money being realised. Unfortunately, a second exhibition was held in the following years, when all the profits of the former were not only lost, but so heavy an addition made to the debt, that it may be said to have ruined the institution completely. Creditors took possession of the premises in January, 1842, and in June operations were suspended, and, notwithstanding several attempts to revive the institution, it died out altogether. As the only popular educational establishment open to the young men of the time, it did good work, many of its pupils having made their mark in the paths of literature, art, and science.
Medical Associations.—According to the "Medical Register" there are 35 physicians and 210 surgeons resident in the borough, and there are rather more than 300 chemists and druggists. According to a summary of the census tables, the medical profession "and their subordinates" number in Birmingham and Aston 940, of whom 376 are males and 564 females. In 1834, at Worcester, under the presidency of Dr. Johnson, of this town, the Provincial Medical and Surgical Association was formed for encouraging scientific research, improving the practice of medicine, and generally looking after the interests of the profession. In 1856 the name was changed to The British Medical Association, with head offices in London, bat prior to that branches had been established in various large towns, the Birmingham and Midland Counties' branch being foremost, holding its first meeting at Dee's Hotel, in December, 1854. The society has now about ​9,000 members, with a reserve fund of £10,000; in the local branch there are 359 members, who subscribe about £150 per annum, — The Birmingham Medical Institute was launched Feb. 5, 1876, but the question of admitting homeopathists as members was nearly the upsetting of the craft at the first meeting; thanks to the sails being trimmed with a little common sense, however, the difficulty was tided over. The opening of the Institute in Edmund Street took place December 17, 1880. The cost of the building was about £6,000, and the purposes to which it is applied are the providing accommodation for meetings of the profession and the housing of the valuable medical library of over 6,000 books. As something worthy of note, it may be mentioned that the Institute was opened tree from debt, the whole cost being previously subscribed.
Memorials and Monuments.-See "Statues," &c.
Men of Worth.—The "Toy-shop of the World," the home of workers, free from the blue blood of titled families, and having but few reapers of "unearned increment," is hardly the place to look for "men of worth or value" in a monetary point of view, but we have not been without them. A writer in Gazette, September 1, 1828, reckoned up 120 inhabitants who were each worth over £10,000 each; 50 worth over £20,000; 16 worth over £50,000; 9 worth over £100,000; 3 worth over £200,000; 2 worth over £300,000 each, and 1 worth over £400,000. Taking certain Income Tax Returns and other information for his basis, another man of figures in 1878 made calculations showing that there were then among ns some 800 persons worth more than £5,000 each, 200 worth over £10,000, 50 worth over £20,000, 35 worth over 50,000, 26 worth over £100,000, 12 worth over £250,000, 5 worth over £500,000, and 2 worth over or near £1,000,000 each.
Mercia.—In 585, this neighbourhood formed part of the Heptarchic kingdom of Mercia, under Cridda; in 697, Mercia was divided into four dioceses; this district being included in that of Lichfield; in 878, Mercia was merged in the kingdom of England. According to Bede and the Saxon Chronicles, Beorned was, in 757, king of Mercia, of which Birmingham formed part, and in Canute's reign there was an Earl Beorn, the king's nephew, and it has been fancifully suggested that in this name Beorn may he the much-sought root for the etymology of the town's name. Beorn, or Bern, being derived from ber, a bear or boar, it might be arranged thusly:—
Metehley Camp.—At Metchley Park, about three miles from town, near to Harborne, there are the remains of an old camp or station which Hutton attributes to "those pilfering vermin, the Danes," other writers thinking it was constructed by the Romans, but it is hardly possible that an undertaking requiring such immense labour as this must have done, could have been overlooked in any history of the Roman occupation. More likely it was a stronghold of the native Britons who opposed their advance, a superstition borne out by its being adjacent to their line of Icknield Street, and near the heart of England. From a measurement made in 1822, the camp appeals to have covered an area of about 15½ acres. Hutton gives it as 30 acres, and describes a third embankment. The present outer vallum was 330 yards long by 228 wide, and the interior camp 187 yards long by 165 wide. The ancient vallum and fosse have suffered much by the lapse of time, by the occupiers partially levelling the ground, and by the passing through it of the Worcester and Birmingham canal, to make the banks ​of which the southern extremity of the camp was completely destroyed. Some few pieces of ancient weapons, swords and battle-axes, and portions of bucklers, have been found here, but nothing of a distinctively Roman or Danish character. As the fortification was of such great size and strength, and evidently formed for no mere temporary occupation, had either of those passers-by been the constructors we should naturally have expected that more positive traces of their nationality would have been found.
Methodism.—The introduction here must date from Wesley's first visit in March, 1738. In 1764, Moor Street Theatre was taken as a meeting place, and John Wesley opened it March 21. The new sect afterwards occupied the King Street Theatre. Hutton says:— "The Methodists occupied fur many years a place in Steelhouse Lane, where the wags of the age observed, 'they were eaten out by the bugs.' They therefore procured the cast-off Theatre in Moor Street, where they continued to exhibit till 1782, when, quitting the stage, they erected a superb meeting house in Cherry Street, at the expense of £1,200. This was opened, July 7, by John Wesley, the chief priest, whose extensive knowledge and unblemished manners give us a tolerable picture of apostolic purity, who believed as if he were to be saved by faith, an I who laboured as if he were to be saved by works." The note made by Wesley, who was in his 80th year, respecting the opening of Cherry Street Chappel, has been preserved. He says:—"July 6th, 1782, I came to Birmingham, and preached once more in the old dreary preaching-house. The next day I opened the new house at eight, and it contained the people well, but not in the evening, many more then constrained to go away. In the middle of the sermon a huge noise was heard, caused by the breaking of a bench on which some people stood. None of them were hurt ; yet it occasioned a general panic at first, but in a few minutes all was quiet." Four years after the opening, Wesley preached in the chapel again, and found great prosperity. "At first," he wrote, "the preaching-house would not near contain the congregation, Afterwards I administered the Lord's Supper to about 500 communicants." Old as he then was, the apostle of Methodism came here a time or two after that, his laat visit being in 1790. Many talented men have since served the Wesleyan body in this town, and the society holds a strong position among our Dissenting brethren. The minutes of the Wesleyan Conference last issued give the following statistics of the Birmingham and Shrewsbury District:—Church members, 18,875; on trial for membership, 1,537; members of junior classes, 2,143; number of ministerial class leaders, 72; lay class leaders, 1,269; local or lay preachers, 769 (the largest number in any district except Nottingham and Derby, which has 798). There are 40 circuits in the district, of which 27 report an increase of membership, and 13 a decrease.—See "Places of Worship."
Methodism, Primitive.—The origin of the Primitive Methodist Connexion dates from 1808, and it sprung solely from the custom (introduced by Lorenzo Dow, from America, in the previous year) of holding "camp meetings," which the Wesleyan Conference decided to be "highly improper in England, even if allowable in America, and likely to be productive of considerable mischief," expelling the preachers who conducted them. A new society was the result, and the first service in this town was held in Moor Street, in the open air, near to the Public Office, in the summer of 1824. The first "lovefeast" took place, March 6, 1825, and the first "camp meeting," a few months later. A circuit was formed, the first minister being the Rev. T. Nelson, and in 1826, a chapel was opened in Bordesley Street, others following in due ​course of time, as the Primitives increased in number. The Birmingham circuit contains about 800 members, with over 2,000 Sunday School scholars, and 250 teachers.—See "Places of Worship."
Metric System.—This, the simplest decimal system of computation yet legalised is in use in France, Belgium, Holland, Italy, Spain, and other parts of Europe, as well as in Chili, Peru, Mexico, &c., and by 27 and 28 Vic. cap. 117, its use has been rendered legal in this country. As our local trade with the above and other countries is increasing (unfortunately in some respects), rules for working out the metric measures into English and vice versa may be useful. The unit of length is the metre (equal to 39.37 inches); it is divided into tenths (decimetres), hundredths (centimetres), and thousandths (millimetres), and it is multiplied by decimals in like way into hectometres, kilometres, and myriometres. The unit of weight is the gramme, divided as the metre into decigrammes, centigrammes, and milligrammes; multiplied into decagrammes, hectogrammes, and kilogrammes. The unit of capacity is the litre, divided and multiplied like the others.
1 inch equals 2½ centimetres. 1 foot equals 3 decimetres. 1 mile equals 1⅔ kilometres. 1 cwt. equals 50.8 kilogrammes. 1 ounce (troy) equals 31 grammes. 1 pound (troy) equals 372 decagrammes. 1 gallon equals 4½ litres. 1 quart equals 1$^1$⁄$_{16}$ litres. 1 metre equals 39.37 inches. 1 hectometre equals 109⅓ yards. 1 cubic metre equals 61,027 cubic inches. 1 kilometre equals 1,093 yards. 1 decigramme equals 1½ grains. 1 gramme equals 15 grains. 1 kilogramme equals 2$^1$⁄$_5$ pounds (avoirdupois). 1 litre equals 1¾ pints.
To turn inches into millimetres add the figures 00 to the number of inches, divide by 4, and add the result two- fifths of the original number of inches.
To turn millimetres to inches add the figure and divide by 254.
To make cubic inches into cubic centimetres multiply by 721 and divide by 44; cubic centimetres into cubic inches multiply by 44 and divide by 721.
To turn grains into grammes, multiply the number by 648 and divide the product by 10,000.
To turn grammes into grains, multiply by 10,000, dividing the result by 648.
The metric system is especially useful in our local jewellery and other trades, but it is very slowly making its way against the old English foot and yard, even such a learned man as Professor Rankine poking fun at the foreign measures in a comic song of which two verses run:—
   Some talk of millimetres, and some of kilogrammes,
   And some of decilitres to measure beer and drams:
   But I'm an English workman, too old to go to school,
   So by pounds I'll eat, by quarts I'll drink,
   and work by my two-foot rule.
   A party of astronomers went measuring of the earth,
   And forty million metres they took to be its girth; Five hundred million inches now go through from pole to pole.
   So we'll stick to inches, feet, and yards, and our own old two-foot rule.
Mid-England.—Meriden, near Coventry, is believed to be about the centre spot of England.
Midland Institute.—Suggestions of some such an institution, to take the place of the defunct Mechanics', had several time appeared in print, but nothing definite was done in the matter until the subject was discussed (June 4, 1852) over the dinner table of Mr. Arthur Ryland. Practical shape being given to the ideas then advanced, a town's meeting on Dec. 3, 1853, sanctioned the grant by the Council of the land necessary for the erection of a ​proper building, and an Act of Incorporation was obtained in the following Parliamentary session. In December 1854, Charles Dickens gave three readings in the Town Hall in behalf of the building fund, whereby £227 13s. 9d. realised, the donations then amounting to £3,467. The foundation stone was laid by Prince Albert, on Nov. 22, 1855, and the contract for the first part of the building given to Messrs. Branston and Gwyther for €12,000. The lecture theatre was opened Oct. 13, 1857, when addresses were delivered by Lord Brougham, Lord Russell, and Lord Stanley, the latter delivering the prizes to the students who had attended the classes, which were first started in October, 1854, at the Philosophical Institute. In 1859, the portrait of David Cox was presented to the Institute, forming the first contribution to the Fine Art Gallery, which was built on portion of the land originally given to the Institute, the whole of the buildings being designed by Mr. E. M. Barry. The amount subscribed to the building fund was about £18,000, and the cost, including furniture au apparatus more than £16,000. Great extension has been made since then, on the Paradise Street side, and many thousands spent on the enlargement, branch classes being also held at several of the Board Schools to relieve the pressure on the Institute. In 1864, the members of the Institute numbered 660, and the students 830, with an income of £998; in January, 1974, there were 1,591 members, 73; family ticket Sellers 2,172 students, and an income of £2,580. At the end of 1833, the number of annual subscribers was 1,900, and lecture ticket-holders 838. In the Industrial Department there were 4,334 students: the Archaeological Section numbered 226 members, and the mus cal Section 183. 108 students attended the Laws of Health classes, 220 the Ladies classes, and 36 the classes for preparation for matriculation. The benefits derived from the establishment of the Midland Institute, and the amount of useful, practical, and scientific knowledge disseminated by means of its classes among the intelligent working men of the town and the rising generation, is incalculable. These classes, many of which are open at the low fee of 1d., and some others specially for females, now include the whole of the following subjects:— English language and literature, English history, French, German, Latin, Greek, and Spanish, algebra, geometry, mensuration, trignometry, and arithmetic, music, drawing, writing, English grammar, and composition, botany, chemistry, experimental physics, practical mechanics, and metallurgy, elementary singing, physical geography, animal physiology, geology, practical plane and solid geometry, &c. The general position of the Institute with regard to finance was as follows: Gross receipts in General Department, £3,281 5s. 6d.; expenditure in this department (including £993 1s. 6d. deficiency at the close of the year 1882), £3,038 17s. 2d.; balance in favour of the General Department, £192 8s. 4d. Gross receipts in Industrial Department, £1,747 13s.; expenditure in this department, £3,173 7s. 10d.; deficiency, £1,425 14s. 10d., met by a transfer from the funds of the General Department. The total result of the year's operations in both departments left a deficiency of £1,233 6s. 6d. The amount due to bankers on the General Fund was £863 13s. 6d.; and the amount standing to the credit of the Institute on the Repairs Account is £140 12s. 2d. It is much to be regretted that there is a total debt on the Institute, amounting to £19,000, the paying of interest on which sadly retards its usefulness. Many munificent donations have been made to the funds of the Institute from time to time, one being the sum of £3,000, given by an anonymous donor in 186(illegible text), "in memory of Arthur Ryland. In August, same year, it was announced that the late Mr. Alfred Wilkes had bequeathed the bulk of his estate, ​estimated at about £100,000, in trust for his two sisters during their lives, with reversion in equal shares to the General Hospital and the Midland Institute, being a deferred benediction of £50,000 to each.
Midland Metropolis.—Birmingham was so entitled because it was the largest town, and has more inhabitants than any town in the centre of England. To use a Yankeeism, it is "the hub" of the Kingdom; here is the throbbing heart of all that is Liberal in the political life of Europe; this is the workshop of the world, the birth-spot of the steam-engine, and the home of mock jewellery. In all matters political, social, and national, it takes the lead, and if London is the Metropolis of all that is effete and aristocratic, Birmingham has the moving-power of all that is progressive, recuperative and advancing. When Macaulay's New Zealander sits sally viewing the silent ruins of the once gigantic city on the Thames, he will have the consolation of knowing that the pulse-beats of his progenitors will still be found in the Mid-England Metropolis, once known as the town of Burningsham or Birmingham.
Mild Winters.—The winter of 1658-9 was very mild, there being neither snow or frost. In 1748 honeysuckles, in full bloom, were gathered near Worcester, in February. In the first four months of 1779 there was not a day's rain or snow, and on the 25th of March the cherry, plum, and pear trees were in full bloom. An extra- ordinary mild winter was that of 1782-3. A rose was plucked in an open garden, in New Street, on 30th December, 1820. In December, 1857, a wren's nest, with two eggs in it was found near Selly Oak, and ripe raspberries were gathered in the Christmas week at Astwood Bank. The winter of 1883-4 is worthy of note, for rose trees were budding in December, lambs frisking about in January, and blackbirds sitting in February.
Milk.—The reports of the Borough Analyst f.)r several successive years, 1879 to 1882, showed that nearly one-half the samples of milk examined were adulterated, the average adulteration of each being as much as 20 per cent.; and a calculation has been made that the Brums pay £20,000 a year for the water added to their milk! Next to the bread we eat, there is no article that should be kept freer from adulteration than milk, and the formation of a Dairy Company, in April, 1882, was hailed as a boon by many. The Company started with a nominal capital of £50,000 in £5 shares, and it rigidly prosecutes any farmer who puts the milk of the "wooden cow" into their cans.
Minories.—Once known as Upper and Lower Minories, the latter name being given to what, at other times, has been called "Pemberton's Yard" or the "Coach Yard." The names give their own meaning, the roads leading to the Priory.
Mints.—See "Trades."
Missionary Work.—About a million and a quarter sterling is yearly contributed in England to Foreign, Colonial, and Home Missionary Societies, and Birmingham sends its share very fairly. The local Auxiliary, to the Church Missionary Society, in 1882, gathered £2,133 8s. 6d.; in 1883 (to June both years) it reached £2,774 17s. 8d., of which £2 336 6s lid. was from collections in the local churches. The Auxiliary to the London Missionary Society gathered £1,050, of which £991 was collected in churches and chapels. The Baptist Missionary Society was founded in October, 1792, and branch was started here a few months afterwards, the first fruits totting up to the very respectable amount of £70. A branch of the Wesleyan Missionary Society was formed here in 1814 for the Birmingham and Shrewsbury district, and the amounts gathered in 18S2 totalled £4,829 10s. 3d. To the Society for ​promoting Christianity among the Jews, the Birmingham Auxiliaries in 1883 sent £323. There are also Auxiliaries of the Church of England Zenana, of the South America, and of one or two other Missionary Societies. The Rev. J. B. Barradale, who died in China, early in 1879, while relieving sufferers from famine, was educated at Spring Hill College. He was sent out by the London Missionary Society, and his death was preceded by that of his wife and only child, who died a few weeks before him, all from fever caught while helping poor Chinamen.
Moated Houses.—The Parsonage, as well as the Manor House (as noted elsewhere), were each surrounded by its moat, and, possibly, no portion of the United Kingdom could show more family mansions, and country residences, protected in this manner, than the immediate district surrounding Birmingham. Many more-or-less-preserved specimens of these old-fashioned houses, with their water guards round them, are to be met with by the rambler, as at Astwood Bank, Erdington, Inkberrow, Yardley, Wyrley, &c. Perhaps, the two best are Maxtoke Castle, near Coleshill, and the New Hall, Sutton Coldfield.
Modern Monasteries.—The foundation-stone of St. Thomas's Priory, at Erdington, for the accommodation of the Monks of the Order of St. Benedict, was laid on Aug. 5, 1879, by the Prior, the Rev. Hildebrand de Hemptinne. Alter the date, and the realer might fancy himself living in Mediæval times.
Monument.— The high tower erected near the Reservoir has long borne the name of "The Monument," though it has been said it was built more as a strange kind of pleasure-house, where the owner, a Mr. Perrott, could pass his leisure hours witnessing coursing in the day-time, or making astronomical observations at night. Hence it was often called "Perrot's Folly." It dates from 1758—See also "Statues," &c.
Moody and Sankey.—These American Evangelists, or Revivalists, visited here in Jan. 1870, their first meeting being held in the Town Hill, on the 17th, the remainder of their services (to February 7) being given in Bingley Hall. They came also in February, 1883, when the last-named place again accommodated them.
Moor Street.—Rivalling Edgbaston Street in its antiquity, its name has long given rise to del)ate as to origin, but the most likely solution of the puzzle is this : On the sloping land near here, in the 14th century, and perhaps earlier, there was a mill, probably the Town Mill, and by the contraction of the Latin, Molendinaria, the miller would be called John le Molendin, or John le Moul. The phonetic style of writing by sound was in great measured pectised by the scriveners, and thus we find, as time went on, the street of the mill became Moul, Moule, Mowle, Molle, Moll, More, and Moor Street. A stream crossed the street near the Woolpack, over which was a wooden bridge, and further on was another bridge of more substantial character, called "Carter's Bridge." In flood times, Cars Lane also brought from the higher lands copious streams of water, and
the keeping of Moor Street tidy often gave cause to mention these spots in old records, thus:— :
| | | £ | s. | d. |
| 1637 | Paid Walter Taylor for ridding the gutters in Moor Street | 0 | 0 | 11 |
| 1665 | Zachary Gisborne 42 loads of mudd out of Moore Street | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| 1676 | J. Bridgens keepinge open passage and tourneing water from Cars Lane that it did not runne into More Street for a yeare | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 1688 | Paid mending Carter's Bridge timber and worke | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| 1690 | John, for mending Moore Street Bridg | 0 | 0 | 10 |
Moor Street, from the earliest date, was the chosen place of residence for many of the old families, the Carless, Smalbroke, Ward, Sheldon, Flavell, Stidman, and other names, continually cropping up in deeds ; some of the ​rents paid to the Lord of the Manor, contrasting curiously with the rentals of to-day. For three properties ad- joining in More Street, and which were s paid until a comparatively modern date, the rents were: —
   "One poune of pepper by Goldsmythe and Lench,
   Two pounds of pepper by the master of the Gild, One pound of cumin seed, one bow, and six barbed bolts, or arrow heads by John Sheldon."
Moseley.—One of the popular, and soon will be populous suburbs, connected as it is so closely to us by Balsall Heath. It is one of the old Domesday-mentioned spots, but has little history other than connected with the one or two families who chose it for their residence ages ago. It is supposed the old church was erected prior to the year 1500, a tower being added to it in Henry VIII.'s reign, but the parish register dates only from the middle of last century, possibly older entries being made at King's Norton (from which Moseley was ecclesiastically divided in 1852). Moseley does not appear to have been named from, or to have given name to, any particular family, the earliest we have any note about being Greves, or Grevis, whose tombs are in King's Norton Church, one of the epitaphs being this:—
   "Ascension day on ninth of May,
   Third year of King James' reine,
   To end my time and steal my coin,
   I Williatn Greves was slain. 1605."
Hutton says that the old custom of "heriot" was practised here; which is not improbable, as instances have occurred in neighbourhood of Bromsgrove and other parts of the county within the past few years. This relic of feudalism, or barbarism, consists of the demanding for the lord of the manor the best movable article, live or dead, that any tenant happens to be possessed of at the time of his death.
Moseley Hall.—Hutton relates that on July 21, 1786, one Henshaw Grevis came before him in the court of Requests, as a poor debtor, who, thirty years before, he had seen "completely mounted and dressed in green velvet, with a hunter's cap and girdle, at the head of the pack." This poor fellow was the last member of a family who had held the Moseley Hall estate from the time of the Conquest. In the riots of 1791 the Hall was burnt down, being rebuilt ten years after.
Mothering Sunday, or Mid-Lent Sunday, has its peculiarities according to districts. In Birmingham the good people who like to keep up old customs sit down to veal and custard. At Draycot-le-Moors they eat pies made of figs. The practice of visiting the parents' home on this day was one of those old-time customs so popular in the days of our grandfathers and great-grandfathers (but which, with many others have fallen into disuse), and this is supposed to have given rise to the " Mothering Sunday" name. Prior to the Reformation, the Catholics kept the day as a holy day, in honour of the Mother of Jesus, it being a Protestant invention to turn the fast-day into one of feasting.
Mount Misery.—At the close of the great war, which culminated at Waterloo, it was long before the blessings of peace brought comfort to the homes of the poor. The first effects of the sheathing of the sword was a collapse in prices of all kinds, and a general stagnation of trade, of which Birmingham, made prosperous through the demand for its guns, &c., felt the full force. Bad trade was followed by bad harvests, and the commercial history of the next dozen years is but one huge chronicle of disaster, shops and mills closing fast, and poverty following faster. How to employ the hundreds of able-bodied men dependent on the rates was a continual puzzle to the Overseers, until someone, wise in his generation, hit upon the plan of paying the ​unfortunates to wheel sand from the bank then in front of Key Hill House up to the canal side, a distance of 1½ miles, the payment being at the rate of one penny per barrow load. This fearful "labour test" was continued for a long time, and when we reckon that each man would have to wheel his harrow backwards and forwards for nearly 20 miles to earn a shilling, moving more than a ton of sand in the process we cannot wonder at the place receiving such a woeful name as Mount Misery.
M.P.'s for Borough.—See "Parliamentary."
Mules.—These animals are not often seen about town now, but in the politically-exciting days of 1815 they apparently were not strangers in our streets, as Mr. Richard Spooner (who, like our genial Alderman Avery, was fond of "tooling" his own cattle), was in the habit of driving his own mail-drag into town, to which four mules were harnessed. With Mr. Thomas Potts, a well-to-do merchant, a "bigoted Baptist," and ultra-Radical, Mr. Spooner and Mr. T. Attwood took part in a deputation to London, giving occasion to one of the street-songs of the day:—
   "Tommy Potts has gone to town
   To join the deputation;
   He is a man of great renown,
   And tit to save the nation.
   Yankee doodle do,
   Yankee doodle dandy.
   Dicky Spooner's also there,
   And Tom the Banker, too;
   If in glory they should share,
   We'll sing them 'Cock-a doodle-doo.'
   Yankee doodle do,
   Yankee doodle dandy.
   Dicky Spooner is Dicky Mule,
   Tim Attwood is Tom Fool;
   And Potts an empty kettle,
   With lots of bosh and rattle.
   Yankee doodle do,
   Yankee doodle dandy."
Another of the doggerel verses, alluding to Mr. Spooner's mules, ran—
   "Tommy Potts went up to town,
   Bright Tom, who all surpasses,
   Was drawn by horses out of town,
   And in again by asses.
   With their Yankee doodle do,
   Yankee doodle dandy."
Municipal Expenditure.—Fortunately the population of Birmingham is going ahead rapidly, and the more the children multiply the more "heads of families " we may naturally hope there will be noted down as rate- payers by the heads of the gather-the-tin office. The cost of governing our little town is not at all heavy, and when divided out at per head of the inhabitants it seems but a mere bagatelle. Mr. J. Powell Williams, who takes credit for being a financier and man of figures, said in 18S4 that the totals of our municipal expenditure for the past few years were as follows:—
* In 1879 it was £354,000 or 18/3 per head
* In„ 1880 it was„ £343,900 or„ 17/5 per head„
* In„ 1881 it was„ £361,500 or„ 18/0 per head„
* In„ 1882 it was„ £374,500 or„ 18/4 per head„
* In„ 1883 it was„ £385,500 or„ 18/7 per head„
* In„ 1884 it was„ £385,500 or„ 18/3 per head„
The bachelors who live in apartments will surely be tempted to begin house-keeping when they see how low a sum it takes to pay for all the blessings conferred upon us by a Liberal Corporation; but what the Pater of half-a-dozen olive branches may think about the matter is altogether a different thing, especially when he finds that to the above 18/2 per head must be added 2/7½ per head tor the School Board, and 1s. 2d. per head for the Drainage Board, besides poor-rates. Government taxes, gas, water, and all these other little nothings that empty the purse.
Murder and Manslaughter.—It would be too black a catalogue to give all the horrible cases of this nature which the local journals have chronicled in past years, those here noted being only such as have a certain historical interest.
"Tom and Jack."—"See Executions."
​Sergeant William Cartwright, of the Coldstream Guards, was killed in Townsend's Yard by a deserter, September 13, 1796.
A desperate attempt was male to murder a young woman in Bull Street in the evening of a fair day, June 9, 1797.
Philip Matsell was hanged August 22, 1806, at the bottom of Snow Hill, for attempting to murder a watchman.—See "Executions."
A Mr. Pennington, of London, was murdered at Vauxhall, Feb. 6. 1817.
Ashford, Mary, May 27, 1817, murdered at Sutton Coldfield.
F. Adams was murdered by T. Johnson, in London 'Prentice Street, Aug. 5, 1821.
Mr. R. Perry was killed in Mary Ann Street, by Michael Ford, December 6, 125. Execution, March 7, 1826
J. Fitter was tried and acquitted August 11, 1834, on a charge of having murdered Margaret Webb, in Lawley Street, on 7th April preceding.
Mr. W. Painter, a tax collector, was robbed and murdered in the old Parsonage grounds (near what is now the bottom of Worcester Street), February 17, 1835.
William Devey murdered Mr. Davenport in a shop in Snow Hill, April 5, 1838.
Mrs. Steapenhill shot by her husband in Heneage Street, January 7, 1842.
Mrs. Davis killed by her husband in Moor Street, March, 1848.
Mrs. Wilkes murdered her four children in Cheapside, October 23, 1847; also committing suicide.
Francis Price was executed at Warwick, August 20, 1860, for murdering Sarah Pratt, April 18.
Elizabeth Brooks was shot by Farquhar, at Small Heath, August 29, 1861. He was sentenced to imprisonment for a long term, but was liberated in April, 1866.
Thompson, Tanter Street, killed his wife, September 23, 1861; hung December 30. Henry Carter, aged 17, who had killed his sweetheart, was hung April 11, 1863.
George Hill shot his unfaithful wife on Dartmouth Street Bridge, February 16, 1864, and was sentenced to death, but reprieved. He was released March 5, 1884.
Murder and suicide in Nursery Terrace, November 28, 1866.
Mr. Pryse was murdered by James Scott in Aston Street, April 6, 1867.
Mary Milbourn was murdered in Heneage Street, January 21, 1868.
Murder and suicide in Garrison Street, November 25, 1871.
Richard Smith was killed by his fellow-lodger, in Adam Street, January 7, 1872.
Thomas Picken, of St. Luke Street, killed his wife, January 22, 1872. He was found next morning hanging to a lamp-post, at Camp Hill Station.
Jeremiah Corkery stabbed Policeman Lines, March 7; was condemned to death July 9, and hung July 27, 1875.
Patrick O'Donnghue was kicked and killed at the Flying Horse, Little Hampton Street, August 7, 1875. Moran and Caulfield, the kickers, were sent to penal servitude for ten years.
A woman, resisting indecent assault, was thrown into the canal, October 3, 1875, and died from effects.
Emma Luke, Hope street, killed her infant and herself, October 23, 1875.
Samuel Todd, a deaf-mute, killed William Brislin, in a fit of passion, December 31, 1875.—Fifteen years' penal servitude.
George Uuderhill shot Alfred Price, in Stephenson place, January 12, 1876, being in drink at the time, and thinking he was going to be robbed. Price died, and Underhill was imprisoned for twelve months.
Frederick Lipscombe killed his wife because she did not get his meals ready to the time he wished, July 18, 1876.
Mary Saunders, Aston, had her throat cut by F. E. Baker, her lodger, January 16, 1877. He was hung April 17.
​John Nicholson killed Mary (or Minnie) Fantham, in Navigation Street, February 23rd, 1877, committing suicide himself. He was buried as a felo de se.
Francis Mason, Latimer Street, stabbed his wife, June 25, 1867, but the jury called it manslaghter, and he was allowed to retire for five years.
William Toy, a glasscutter, was killed in the Plasterers' Arms, Lupin Street, July 20, 1878, in a drunken row.
Edward Johnson, a retired butcher, of this town, killed his wife and drowned himself at Erdington, July 27, 1878.
Sarah Alice Vernon, married woman, aged 26, was first stabbed and then flung into the canal, at Spring Hill, by her paramour, John Ralph, a hawker of fancy baskets, early in the morning of May 31, 1879. He was hung August 26,
Caroline Brooks, a young woman of 20, was fatally stabbed on the night of June 28, 1879, while walking with her sweetheart, but the man who killed her escaped.
Alfred Wagstaffe, of Nechell's Green, kicked his wife for pawning his shirt, on October 25, 1879. She died a week after, and he was sent to penal servitude for ten years.
An Irishman, named John Gateley, was shot en Saturday, December 5, 1880, in a beerhouse at Solihull, by a country man who got away; the murdered man had been connected with the Irish Land League.
Mrs. Ellen Jackson, a widow, 34 years of age, through poverty and despondency, poisoned herself and two children, aged seven and nine, on Sunday, November&nbsp 27, 1881. One child recovered.
Frederick Serman, at the Four Dwellings, near Saltley, Nov. 22, 1883, shot Angelina Yarwood, and poisoned himself, because the woman would not live longer with him "to be clemmed."
James Lloyd, Jan. 6, 1884, stabbed his wife Martha, because she had not met him the previous afternoon. She died four days after, and he was sentenced to death, but reprieved.
Mrs. Palmer and Mrs. Stewart were shot by Henry Kimberley at the White Hart, Paradise Street, Dec. 28, 1884. Mrs. Palmer died, and Kimberley was hung at Winson Green, March 17, 1885.
James Davis, policeman, while on his beat at Alvechurch, was murdered Feb. 28, 1885, by Moses Shrimpton, a Birmingham poacher and thief.
Elizabeth Bunting, a girl of 16, was murdered at Handsworth, April 20, 1885, by her uncle, Thomas Boulton.
Museums.—No place in England ought to have a better collection of coins and medals, but there is no Numismatic Museum in Birmingham. Few towns can show such a list of patentees and inventors, bu: we have no Patent Museum wherein to preserve the outcome of their ideas. Though the town's very name cannot be traced through the mists of dim antiquity, the most ancient thing we can show is the Old Crown public-house. Romans and Normans, Britons and Saxons, have all trod the same ground as ourselves, but we preserve no relics of them Though we have supplied the whole earth with firearms, it was left to Mr. Marshall, of Leeds, to gather together a Gun Museum. Fortunately the Guardians of the Proof House were liberal and, buying the collection for £1,550, nude many valuable additions to it, and after exhibiting it for a time at 5, Newhall Street, presented it to the town in August, 1876. There is a curious miscellany of articles on exhibition at Aston Hall, which some may call a "Museum," and a few cases of birds, sundry stuffed animals, &c., but we must wait until the Art Gallery now in course of erection, is finished before the Midland Metropolis can boast of owning a real Museum. At various times, some rich examples of industrial art have been exhibited in the temporary Art Gallery adjoining the Midland Institute, and now, in one of the rooms ​of the Free Library, there are sufficient to form the nucleus of a good Museum. We may, therefore, have that, in time, we shall have a collection that we may be proud of. Mr. Joseph Chamberlain (April 26, 1875) gave £1,000 to purchase objects of industrial art, and it has been expended in the purchase of a collection of gems and precious stones, than which no thing could be more suitable in this centre of the jewellery trade. Possibly, on the opening of the new Art Gallery, we shall hear of other "thousands" as forthcoming.
Musical Associations.—There were, of course, the choirs attached to the churches previous, but the earliest Musical Society is believed to be that established by James Kempson, in 1762, at Cooke's, in the Cherry Orchard, and the founding of which led to the Musical Festivals. The members met for practice, and evidently enjoyed their pipes and glasses, their nightly song being:—
   "To our Musical Club here's long life and prosperity;
   May it flourish with us, and so on to posterity.
   May concord and harmony always abound.
   And division here only in music be found.
   May the catch and the glass go about and about.
   And another succeed to the bottle that's out"
This society was appropriately known as the Musical and Amicable Society from which sprung the Choral Society in 1776, though the present Festival Choral Society only claims to be in its thirty eighth year. The Birmingham Musical Society dates from 1840; the Amateur Harmonic Association from January 1856; the Edgbaston Musical Union from 1874; and the Philharmonic Union from 1870. The Church Schools Choral Union, the Sunday Schools Union Festival Choir, and the Birmingham Musical Association, with one or two others, are the progeny of later years; the last on the list of musical institutions being the Clef Club (in Exchange Buildings), established March 21st, 1882, for the promotion of musical culture by "providing a central resort for the study and practice of vocal and instrumental music, with the social advantages of a club."
Musical Festivals.—The credit of suggesting the first Musical Festival in aid of the funds of the General Hospital, his been assigned to Mr. Kempson a local musician, who, with his friends, founded a Glee and Catch Club at Cooke's, in the Cherry Orchard. The minutes-book of the Hospital under date of May 3, 1768, records that a resolution was passed that "a musical entertainment" should be arranged, and it was held accordingly on the 7th, 8th, and 9th of September in that year, part of the performances taking place at St. Philip's Church, and part at the Theatre, then in King Street, the Festival being wound up with a ball "at Mrs. Sawyer's, in the Square," Church, Theatre, and Ball was the order of the day for many succeeding Festivals, the Town Hall, which may be said to have been built almost purposely for these performances, not being ready until 1834. The Theatre was only utilised for one evening each Festival after until 1843, when three concerts were held therein, but since that date the Town Hall has been found sufficient. The Festival Balls were long a great attraction (no less than 1,700 attending in 1834), but, possibly from a too free admixture of the general public, the aristocratic patronage thereof gradually declined until 1858, when only 300 tickets having been taken, the Ball night was struck out of the future programmes. The first Festival performances were by purely local artistes, and on several occasions afterwards they formed the bulk of the performers, but as the fame of our Festivals increased so did the inflow of the foreign element until at one period not more than half-a-dozen local names could be found in any programme. This has been altered to a considerable ​extent of late years, so much so that at the last Festival nearly the whole of the chorus of voices was composed of members of our local Musical Societies, and a fair sprinkling of the instrumentalists also. A big book would be required for a full history of the Birmingham Triennial Festivals, descriptive of their rise and progress, the hundreds of musical novelties introduced, the many scores of talented artistes who have taken parts, the lords and ladies who have attended, and the thousand odd notes appertaining to them all. In the following notes are briefly chronicled the "first appearances," &c., with the results and other items for reference.
1768, Sept. 7 to 9. The oratorios of "Il Penseroso" and "Alexander's Feast" were performed at the Theatre in King Street; Handel's "Te Deum" and "Jubilate" with the "Messiah," at St. Philip's Church. The principal singers were Mrs. Pinto, first soprano, and Mr. Charles Norris, tenor; the orchestra numbered about 70, the conductor being Mr. Capel Bond of Coventry, with Mr. Pinto as leader of the baud. The tickets of admission were 5s. each, the receipts (with donations) amounting to about £800, and the profits to £299.
1778, Sept. 2 to 4. The performances this time (and for fifteen festivals after), were at St. Philip's Church, and at the newly-built theatre in New Street, the oratorios, &c., including "Judas Maccabaeus," the "Messiah," Handel's "Te Deum," "Jubilate," "Acis and Galatea," &c. Principal performers: Miss Mahon, Miss Salmon, Mr. C. Norris, and Cervttto, a celebrated violoncellist, the leader of the band being Mr. William Cramer, a popular violinist. The choir had the assistance of "the celebrated women chorus singers from Lancashire." The receipts were again about £800, and the profits £340, which sum was divided between the Hospital and the building fund for St. Paul's.
1784, Sept. 22 to 24. President: Lord Dudley and Ward. Following after the celebrated Handel Commemoration the programme was filled almost solely with selections from Handel's works, the only novelty being the oratorio of "Goliath," composed by Mr. Atterbury, which according to one modem musical critic, has never been heard of since. Master Bartleman, who afterwards became the leading bass singer of the day, was the novelty among the performers. Receipts, £1,325; profits, £703.
1787, Aug. 22 to 24. President, the Earl of Aylesford. In addition to the miscellaneous (mostly Handelian) pieces, the oratories performed were "Israel in Egypt" and the "Messiah," the latter being so remarkably successful that an extra performance of it was given on the Saturday following. Among the performers were Mrs. Billington (first soprano), Mr. Samuel Harrison (one of the finest tenor singers ever heard in England), and Mr. John Sale (a rich-toned bass), and the "women chorus." Receipts about £2,000; profits, £964.
1790, Aug. 25 to 27. President, Lord Dudley and Ward. The "Messiah," with miscellaneous selections, the principal performers being Madame Mara, Mr. Reinhold, and Mr. Charles Knyvett, with Jean Mara (violoncellist) and John Christian Fischer (oboeist). The prices of admission were raised at this Festival to 10s. 6d. and 7s.; Theatre boxes 7s. 6 1, pit 5s., gallery 3s. 6d. Receipts £1,965 15s.; profits £958 14s.
1796, Aug. 31 to Sept. 2, President, the Earl of Alyesford. The Performances were like those of 1790, of a general character, besides the "Messiah;" while the two principal sopranos were the Misses Fletcher, daughters of a local musician. The trombone was introduced at this Festival for the first time. Receipts £2,043 18s.; profits £897.
1792, September 18 to 20. President, the Earl oi Warwick. The "Messiah," with vocal and instrumental selections ​of the usual character. Miss Poole and Master Elliott among the vocalists, with Mr. Holmes (bassoonist) and Signor Mariotti (trombone player), were chief of the newly-introduced performers. Receipts, £2,550; profits, £1,470.
1802, September 22 to 24. President, the Earl of Dartmouth. For the first time in this town Haydn's "Creation" was performed, in addition to the "Messiah," &c. Among the vocalists were Madame Dussek, Mrs. Mountain, John Braham {the Braham of undying fame), and Mr. William Knyvett; Mr. François Cramer, leader of the hand (and at every festival until 1843), had with him Andrew Ashe (flautist), Aufossi (double bass), &c., with over 100 in the orchestra. Receipts, £3,820 17s. 0¼d.; profits, £2,380.
1805, Oct. 2 to 4. President, the Earl of Aylesford. The "Messiah" was given tor the first time here with Mozart's accompaniments; part of the "Creation" &c. Mr. Thomas Vaughan was among the singers (and he took part in every Festival until 1840), and Signor Domenico Dragonetti (double bass) and the Brothers Petrides (horn players) with the instruments. Receipts, £4,222; profits, £2,202.
1808, Oct. 5 to 7. President, the Right Hon. Lord Guernsey. Nearly 200 performers, including Master Buggins (a Birmingham boy alto) Mr. J.J. Goss (counter tenor), Signor Joseph Naldi (buffo), and Dr. Crotch, the conductor, organist and pianist. The last-named was a good player when only 3½ years old. Receipts, £5,511 12s.; profits, £3,257.
1811, Oct. 2 to 4. President, Lord Bradford. Madame Catalini, Mrs. Bianchi, and Mr. T. L. Bellamy first appeared here, as well as Mr. Samuel Wesley (John Wesley's nephew), as conductor and organist. Prices again raised, morning tickets being 20s. and 10s., with 10s. 6d. pit and 5s. gallery at Theatre. Receipts, £6,680; profits, £3,629.
1814, Oct. 5 to 7. President, the Earl of Plymouth. Miss Stephens (afterwards Countess of Essex), Miss Travis, Vincent Novello (the publisher of after years), and Griesbach (oboeist), were among the "first appearances." Receipts, £7,171 12s.; profits, £3,629.
1817, Oct. 1 to 3. President, the Hon. Sir Charles Greville, K.C.B. Mrs. Salmon, Madame Camporese, Mr. Hobbs (tenor). Monsieur Drouet (flautist), Mr. T. Harper (trumpet), and Mr. Probin (horn), took part in the performances. Receipts, £8,476; Profits, £4,296 10s.
1820, Oct. 3 to 6. President, the Hon. Heneage Legge. The principal performers included Madame Vestris, Signora Corri, Miss Symonds (a native of this town, and who continued to sing here occasionally for twenty years), Signor Begrez (tenor), Signor Ambrogetti (buffo bass), Mr. R. N. C. Bocusa (harpist), Mr. Sha(illegible text)gool (violinist), Mr. Stanier (flautist), and Mr. Munde (viola player). The last two gentlemen were connected with this town until very late years. The chief novelty was the English version of Haydn's "Seasons," written by the Rev. John Webb, a local clergyman. Receipts, £9,483; profits, £5,00l 11s.
1823, Oct. 7 to 10. President, Sir Francis Lawley, Bart. Among the fresh faces wore those of Miss Heaton (afterwards Mrs. T. C. Salt), Signor Placci (baritone), Mr. Thorne (bass), Mr. Nicholson (flute), and Signor Puzzi (horn). The Rev. John Webb wrote for this occasion, "The Triumph of Gideon," an English adaptation of Winter's "Timotos." Receipts, £11,115 10s.; profits, £5,806 12s.
1826, Oct. 4 to 7. President, Earl Howe. The programmes this year were more varied than at any previous festival, the performances, in addition to the "Messiah," including the oratorio "Joseph," by Mehul, selections from Graun's "Der Tod Jesu," Handel's "Judas Maccabeus," Haydn's "Seasons," &c. A number of the performers appeared here for their first time, including Madame Caradori, Miss Paton, Miss Biacn, Henry Phillips (the ​veteran and popular singer of later days, but who was then only in his 25th year), Signor Curioni (said to have borne a wonderful resemblance to Shakespeare in his figurehead and features), Signer de Begins, Mr. John Baptiste Cramer, C. G. Kiesewetter (who (lied the following year), Charles Augustus de Beriot (who married Madame Malibran-Garcia), and quite a host of local instrumentalists who were long chief among our Birmingham musicians. Receipts £10,104; profits £4,592
1829, Oct. 6 to 9. President, the Earl of Bradford. This was the Jubilee Year of the General Hospital, and conspicuous in the programme was the "Jubilee Anthem" in commemoration of the fiftieth year of its establishment, the words being adapted to the music composed by Cherubini for Charles X.s coronation. This was also the last year in which the Festival performances took place in St Philip's Church or (except several single nights of operatic selections) at the Theatre. Besides the "Jubilee Anthem," there were novelties in the shape of Zingarelli's "Cantata Sacra" (described in a musical publication as a "tame, insipid, heap of commonplace trash"), and the introduction of "operatic selections" at the evening concerts. Amongst the performers who made their debut in Birmingham were Madame Malibran-Garcia, Mdlle. Blasis, Miss Fanny Ayton, Signor Costa, Signor Guihelei, Mrs. Anderson (who gave pianoforte lessons to Princess Victoria), and Mr. Charles Lucas (violoincello). Receipts, £9,771; profits, £3,806 17s.
1834. Oct. 7 to 10. President, the Earl of Aylesford. This being the first Festival held in the Town Hall it may be noted that the prices of admission were for the morning performances, 21/- for reserved and 10/6 unreserved seats; in the evening, 15/- and 8/-; at the Theatre, boxes and pit, 15/-, gallery, 7/; ball on Friday, 10/6. There were 14 principal vocalists, 33 in the semi-chorus, 187 in the full chorus, 147 instrumental performers, 2 conductors, 2 organists, and 1 pianist. Besides the "Messiah," there was the new oratorio, "David," by Nerkomm (the first that was originally composed for our Festivals), selections from the same author's "Mount Sinai," from Spohr's "Last Judgment," from Handel's "Israel in Egypt," and an arrangement of Hummel's "Motet," &c. This was the first introduction to the Festivals of Miss Clara Novello (afterwards Countess Gigliucci), Madame Stockhausen and her husband (harpist), Ignaz Moscheles, Mr. William Machin (a townsman), Miss Aston and Miss Bate (both Birmingham ladies), Mr. George Hollins (the first appointed Town Hall organist), and others. Receipts, £13,527; profit, £4,035.
1837, Sept. 19 to 22. President, Lord Willoughby de Broke. Mendelssohn's new oratorio, "St. Paul" (oft mistakenly supposed to have been specially written for the occasion), was the most important production, but Neukomm's "Ascension," Haeser's "Triumph of Faith," and several other new compositions were performed on this occasion. In addition to Mendelssohn's first appearance here as conductor, there were other new faces, among them being Madame Ginla Grisi, Madame Emma Albertazzi, Mrs. Albert Shaw, Signor Antonio Tamburini, Mr. Alfred Mellon (in his 17th year, but even then leader of the band at the Theatre), Signor Regondi (concertina player), &c. Receipts, £11,900, but, as besides mote than usually heavy expenses, £1,200 was paid for building the recess in which the organ was placed, the profits were only £2,776.
1840, Sept. 22 to 25. President, Lord Leigh. The oratorio, "Israel in Egypt," by Handel, selections from his "Jephtha," and "Jesbua," and Mendelssohn's "Hymn of Praise," were the great features of this Festival, at which appeared for the first time Madame Dorus-Gras, Miss M. B. ​Hawes, Signer Lonis Lablache, with Mr. T. Cooke, and Mr. H. G. Blagrove (two clever violinists). Receipts, £11,613; profits, £4,503.
1843, Sept. 19 to 22. President, Earl Craven. The performances at the Town Hall included Handel's oratorio, "Deborah," Dr. Crotch's "Palestine," and Rossini's "Stabat Mater," the introduction of the latter causing a considerable flutter among some of the local clergy, one of whom described it as the most idolatrous and anti-Christian composition that could be met with. The Theatre this year was used for three evening concerts, &e. Among the new vocalists were Miss Rainforth, Signor Mario, Signor Fornasari, and Mr. Manvers. The organists were Dr. Samuel Sebastian Wesley and our Mr. James Stimpson, who had succeeded Mr. George Hollins as Town Hall organist in the previous year. Receipts, £8,822; profits, £2,916.
1846, Aug. 25 to 28. President, Lord Wrottesley. This is known as "The Elijah Festival," from the production of Mendelssohn's chef d'oeuvre the "Elijah" oratorio. The performers were mostly those who had been here before, save Miss Bassano, the Misses Williams, Mr. Lockey, and Herr Joseph Staudigl. Receipts, £11,638; profits, £5,508.
1849, Sept. 4 to 7. President, Lord Guernsey. This Festival is especially noteworthy as being the first conducted by Sir Michael Costa, also for the number of "principals" who had not previously taken part in the Festivals, for the extreme length of the evening programmes, each lasting till after midnight; and, lastly, from the fact, that out of a body of 130 instrumentalists, only eight or nine Birmingham musicians could be found to please the maestro's taste. The oratorios of the "Messiah," "Elijah," and "Israel in Egypt," were the principal pieces, with Mendelssohn's "First Walpurgis Night," and Prince Albert's "L'Invocazione dell' Armonia;" the remainder being of the most varied character. The first appearances included Madame Sontag, Madame Castellan, Miss Catherine Hayes, Mdlle. Alboni, Miss Stevens (afterwards Mrs. Hale), Mdlle. Jetty de Treffz, Sims Reeves, Herr Pischek (baritone basso). Signor Bottesini (double bass), M. Sigismund Thalberg (pianist), M. Prospere Sainton (violinist), &c. Receipts £10,334; profits, £2,448.
1852, Sept. 7 to 10. President, Lord Leigh. Handel's oratorio, "Samson," and Mendelssohn's unfinished "Christus," were the chief new works; and the principal strangers were Madame Viardot-Garcia, Miss Dolby, Signor Tamberlik, Herr Formes, Signor Belletti, Mr. Weiss, Signer Piatti (violoncello). Signer Botttsini (double bass), and Herr Kuhe (pianoforte) Receipts £11,925; profits £4,704.
1855, Aug. 28 to 31. President, Lord Willoughby de Broke, The programme included Costa's "Eli" (composed for the occasion), Beethoven's "Mount of Olives," Glover's "Tarn O'Shanter," Macfarren's cantata "Lenora," and Mozart's "Requiem;" the fresh artistes being Madame Rudersdorf, Signer Gardoiii, and Herr Reichardt. Receipts £12,745; profits, £3,108, in addition to £1,000 spent on decorating, &c., the Hail and organ.
1858, Aug. 31 to Sept. 3. President, the Earl of Dartmouth. The novelties included Mendelssohn's Hymn "Praise Jehovah," Beethoven's "Mass in C," Leslie's Cantata "Judith," Mendelssohn's Cantata "To the Sons of Art,' Costa's serenata "The Dream," &c. First appearances were made by Mdlle. Victorie Balfe, Signor Ronconi, Mr. Mentem Smith, about a dozen instrumentalists belonging to the Festival Choral Society. and nearly seventy members of the Amateur Harmonic Association, Mr. W. C. Stockley filling the post of general chorus-master. This was the last year of the "Festival Balls." Receipts, £11,141; profits, £2,731.
1861, Aug. 27 to 30. President, the ​Earl of Shrewsbury and Talbot. The new introductions comprised Mdlle Titiens, Mdlle. Adelina Patti, Mdlle. Lemmens-Shcrrington, Miss Palmer, Signor Ginglini, Mr. Santley, and Miss Arabella Goddard. Beethoven's "Mass in D," and Hummel's Motett "Alma Virgo" were part of the programme, which included not only the "Messiah" and "Elijah," but also "Samson" and "The Creation," &c. Receipts, £11,453; profits, £3,043.
1864, Sept, 6 to 9. President, the Earl of Lichfield. Costa's "Naaman," Sullivan's "Kenilworth," Gnlieml's "Offertorium," and Mozart's "Twelfth Mass" wore produced. Mr. W. H. Cummings made his first appearance. Receipts, £13,777; profits, £5,256.
1867, Aug. 27 to 29. President, Earl Beauchamp. The novelties were Bennett's "Woman of Samaria," Gounod's "Messe Solonnelle," Benedict's "Legend of St. Cecilia," and Barnett's "Ancient Mariner." The new singers were Mdlle. Christine Nilsson and Madame Patey-Whyloek. Receipts, £14,397; profits, £5,541.
1870, Aug. 30 to Sept. 2. President, the Earl of Bradford. The new works were Barnett's "Paradise and the Peri," Benedict's "St. Peter," and Hiller's "Nala and Damayanti," Mdlle. Ilma de Murska, Mdlle. Drasdil, Miss Edith Wynne (Eos Cymru), Signor Foil, and Mr. Vernon Rigby making their debut as Festival singers. Receipts, £14,635 ; profits, £6,195.
1873, Aug. 25 to 28. President, the Earl of Shrewsbury and Talbot. The most important of the novelties were Sullivan's "Light of the World," and Schira's "Lord of Burleigh," but the greatest attraction of all was the patronising presence of royalty in the person of the Duke of Edinburgh. Receipts, £16,097; profits, £6,391.
1876, Aug. 29 to Sept. 1. President, the Marquis of Hertford. Herr Wagner's "Holy Supper," Mr. Macfarren's "Resurrection," Mr. F. H. Cowen's "Corsair," and Herr Gade's "Zion" and "Crusaders" were the pieces now first introduced, the artistes being all old friends, with the exception of Mr. E. Lloyd. Receipts, £15,160; profits, £5,823.
1879, Aug. 26 to 29. President, Lord Norton. The fresh compositions consisted of Herr Max Bruch's "Lay of the Bell, Rossini's "Moses in Egypt," Saint-Saens' "The Lyre and Harp, " and Mr. C. S. Heap's "Overture in F." Fir.st appearances included Madame Gerster, Miss Anna Williams, Mr. Joseph Maas, and Herr Henschel, Receipts, £11,729; profits, £4,500.
1882, Aug. 29 to Sep. 1. President, Lord Windsor. On this occasion Madame Roze-Mapleson, Miss Eleanor Farnro1, Mr. Horrex, Mr. Campion, and Mr. Woodhall, first came before a Festival audience. The list of new works comprised Gounod's "Redemption," Gaul's "Holy City," Gade's "Psyche," Benedict's "Graziella," Mr. C. H. Parry's "Symphony in G Major," Brahm's Triumphed," with a new song and a new march by Gounod. Receipts, £15,011; profits, £4,704.
1885, Aug. 25 to 28.—President: Lord Brooke. The principal performers were Madame Albani, Mrs. Hutchinson, Miss Anna Williams, Madame Patey, Madame Trebelli; Messrs. Edward Lloyd, Joseph Maas, Santley, Signor Foli. Herr Richter was the conductor. Works performed were:— Oratorio, "Elijah"; new Cantata, "Sleeping Beauty"; new Oratorio, "Mors et Vita"; new cantata, "Yule Tide"; Oratorio, "Messiah"; new Cantata, "The Spectre's Bride"; new Oratorio, "The Three Holy Children."
Music Halls.—Mr. Henry Holder is often said to have been the first who opened a public room of this kind, but there had been one some years before at the George and Dragon, corner of Weaman Street, Steelhouse Lane, which was both popular and respectably conducted.—See "Concert Halls."
​Musical Instruments.—Our grandfathers and grandmothers were content with their harps and harpsichords, their big and little fiddles, with trumpets and drums, horns, oboes, bassoons, and pipes. Clarionets were not introduced into the Festival bands until 1778; the double-bass kettle drums came in 1784; trombones in 1790; flutes, with six or more keys, were not known until 1802; serpents appeared in 1820; flageolets in 1823; theophicleide was brought in 1829, and the monster specimens in 1834, which year also saw the introduction of the piccolo; the bombardon not coming until 1843. Pianofortes were first known in England in 1767, but when first played in Birmingham is uncertain; the first time the instrument is named in a Festival programme was 1808, but the loan of a grand by Mr. Tomkinson, a London maker, in 1817, was an event thought deserving of a special vote of thanks.
Musical Notabilities of the highest calibre have been frequent visitors here, at the Festivals and at the Theatres, though the native-born sons of song who have attained high rank in the profession number but few. Under "Musical Festivals" appear the names of all the leading artistes who have taken part in those world-known performances, the dates of their first appearances being only given, and in like manner in the notice of our "Theatres" and "Theatrical Celebrities" will be chronicled the advents of many celebrated "stars" who have trod our local boards. Considering the position he long held in the musical world, the introduction of Sir Michael Costa to Birmingham has sufficient interest to be here noted. Signor Costa had been sent by his friend Zingarelli to conduct his "Cantata Sacra" at the Festival of 1829. The managers, however, thought so very little of the young gentleman's appearance (he was but nineteen) that they absolutely refused him permission to do so, only allowing his expenses on condition that he went among the singers. It was of no use his telling them that he was a conductor and not a singer, and he had nervously to take the part assigned him. On returning to London, he quickly "made his mark," and fell into his right place of honour and credit.
Musical Services.—The first of a series of week-night musical services for the people took place at St. Luke's Church, September 10, 1877, the instruments used being the organ, two kettle-drums, two trumpets, and two trombones. This was by no means an original idea, for the followers of Swedenborg had similar services as well in their Chapel in Paradise Street (on site of Queen's College), as in New-hall Street and Summer Lane.
Mysteries of Past History.—It was believed that a quantity of arms were provided here by certain gentle-men favourable to the Pretender's cause in 1745, and that on the rebels failing to reach Birmingham, the said arms were buried on the premises of a certain manufacturer, who for the good of his health fled to Portugal. The fact of the weapons being hidden came to the knowledge of the Government some sixty years after, and a search for them was intended, but though the name of the manufacturer was found in the rate books of the period, and down to 1750, the site of his premises could not be ascertained, the street addresses not being inserted, only the quarter of the town thus: "T. S. — — Digbeth quarter." The swords, &.c., have remained undiscovered to the present day.— M(illegible text) 10, 1864, while excavations were being made in the old "Castle Yard," in High Street the skeletons of three human beings were found in a huddled position about 2½ft. from the surface.—The Old Inkleys were noted for the peculiar character (or want thereof) of its inhabitants, though why they buried their dead beneath their cellar floors must remain a mystery. On October ​ 29, 1879, the skeleton of a full-grown man was found underneath what had once been the site of a house in Court No. 25 of the Old Inkleys, where it must have lain at least 20 years.