considerable date, administered by townsmen of property and position. in the town; but this Commission always fought shy of any Sanitary or Drainage improvements, but contented itself by levying town rates up to a very circumscribed area in the town. Periodically, as the funds accumulated, important improvements were occasionally made in the Market Place, by buying up and removing entirely what was then known as the Old Middle Row, of all descriptions of tenements and old and dilapidated buildings, resulting in our now possessing the most spacious Market Place in the county. Both Bush Street and Upper Vicar Street, leading into King Street, were widened by this local Authority. The town rate varied from 1s. to 2s. in the pound annually, but is now extinct.

My book closes with the Life and Trials of Dud Dudley, whose narrative I have printed in its entirety. If ever a public inventor deserved some public recognition for his inventions as "the first Artificer in Iron made with Pit Coale," that man was the renowned Dud Dudley, who lived and died in our midst.

The Ironmasters, Coal Masters and inhabitants of Dudley and its district could not perform a more enduring and graceful act than by placing an iron column in our midst to commemorate the inventions of Dud Dudley, the great Ironmaster.

C. F. G. C.

THE

Curiosities of Dudley

AND THE

Black Country.

1820. In these days Dudley could boast of its vigilant "Pitt Club," and there were very bitter rival factions of Whigs and Tories in the town, the miserable affairs existing betwixt the Prince Regent and his discarded and illused Consort led to much heat and animosity amongst parties in the town, which tended to sever some of those social bonds which add so much to the good feeling of any locality.

On October 1st, 1819, a large public meeting was held in the Town Hall, under the auspices of the Mayor and leading inhabitants of the town, for the purpose of adopting a dutiful and loyal Address to "His Royal Highness George Prince of Wales, Regent of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland." The Mr. Francis Finch, so prominently figuring in this debate, was a highly respectable merchant, resident in the town. Being a gentleman of superior intelligence to his compeers, he was looked upon as the leader of the Whig party in the town, and, accordingly, fought their political battles.

The most notable event which occurred at the commencement of our recital was the Coronation of George IV., 1821. Dudley, though breathing a strong and hard pulsation for the unhappy Queen Caroline's "Stuart-like stains of human weaknesses," was not behind neighbouring towns in loyal demonstrations toward the Royal Family of England. On July 17th, 1821, we find it recorded that "a numerous meeting was held at the Town Hall, to inaugurate the coming Festivities; " The Right Honourable Viscount Dudley and Ward sent fifty guineas towards carrying into effect the loyal purposes of the meeting, "which was accomplished by a public subscription. Divine Service was performed at 10 a.m., at the Parish Church. All the school children in the town were marshalled into the Castle Yard and regaled with suitable eatables; each child received a Coronation Medal, furnished by Messrs. Chinner and Payton. Four sheep and a due proportion of ale were distributed at the Town Hall. Each publican was to provide a dinner, at two o'clock, for poor men and women, and it was ordered that any man or woman obtaining more than one dinner should be prosecuted for fraud. Captain Hawkes, with the Himley and Enville Troop of Yeomanry, was met with a brass band of music by the principal gentlemen and escorted to the Town Hall. Luke Booker, chairman. "The principal inhabitants dined together with great goodwill, and much festivity. :" and the first gentleman in Europe had around the festive boards in Dudley many a hearty congratulation on that memorable occasion.

B

1816. October 25th. St. Thomas' New Church. The Foundation Stone of this noble Church was laid this day by the Rev. Luke Booker, D.D., Vicar of Dudley. This spacious Gothic structure cost upwards of £24,000, and it was restored and beautified by a public subscription in 1861, at a cost of £1,750. The Parish Register attached to this Church is very ancient, commencing in 1520. The early Registers were written by the Monks (Scribes) of St. James' Priory Church, long since demolished.

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On January 30th, 1823, we find that most indefatigable Radical, and energetic townsman, Mr. Samuel Cooke, Draper, issuing the following startling announcement : Whereas, on Friday, June 24th, 1823, I, Samuel Cooke, of Dudley, did apply to Messrs. Bourne, Solicitors, for an inspection of the Vestry Book, appertaining to this parish, and was by them refused an inspection, unless accompanied by a Churchwarden. I hereby give notice, that in consequence of the difficulty attending this mode of access to the Vestry Book, I shall at the next Vestry meeting propose that the said Vestry Book, containing the alleged Secret Order to Mr. Brookes for plans and estimates of Netherton Church, be delivered into the hands of the Churchwardens, to be kept by them for general inspection of ratepayers." Dudley, January 23rd, 1823. It was quite clear that Mr. Cooke was not consulted about the erection of St. Andrew's Church at Netherton; nevertheless, that Church was erected, and has been a great blessing to many souls in that part of the parish. February 2nd, 1823. "One Guinea Reward: Whereas, on Thursday last, about four o'clock, a party of young men (well-known in the town for their nocturnal exploits) was at that unseasonable hour riotously assembled to the disturbance of the peaceable inhabitants; were heard knocking at Surgeons' doors, breaking of lamps and windows, and to threaten the life of an inhabitant; whoever can identify which of the party it was, who maliciously broke the windows of Mr. Samuel Cooke, shall receive the above reward."

THE DEATH OF THE VISCOUNT DUDLEY AND WARD,

BARON OF BIRMINGHAM.

Died, April 25th, 1823, the highly esteemed Viscount Dudley and Ward, of Himley Hall, acknowledged to be "The rich man's model and the poor man's friend." This benevolent nobleman spent his truly valuable life at his estate and amongst his numerous friends and tenantry, dispensing with rare judgment and true benevolence his continual benefactions. The noble lord was not only mindful of the well-being and interests of the rich, "but he ne'er forgot the poor;" and the thousands of colliers working in his extensive coal mines, and adding so much to his wealth and greatness, were at all times special objects of his fostering

care.

In the obituary of a provincial newspaper was inserted at the time this just memorial:-"At his seat, Himley Hall, died on Friday evening, the Right Hon. William, Lord Viscount Dudley and Ward, Baron Ward of Birmingham, and Recorder of Kidderminster. Though we hope we shall be the last to burn incense at the shrine of mere worldly greatness, yet we feel that it would be unjust to withhold from this departed nobleman the tribute of our sincere respect and gratitude. He did not

suffer himself to forget that it belongs to those who are placed on an eminence, and entrusted with a superior portion of the goods of fortune, to be the almoners of Heaven; for it was his delight to encourage honest industry, to provide for the destitute, and to befriend every charitable institution in his neighbourhood. While he lived, his name, wherever it was mentioned, was accompanied with the poor man's benediction; and now his honourable career is finished, his memory will be embalmed in the tears of the widow and the orphan; and he will sleep in that noblest of mausoleums-the bosom of the virtuous and the good."

This good nobleman's character was illustrated in a remarkable manner, which truly developed the gentleman and the kind hearted father of his people, in an event which well-nigh caused "a strike" amongst his numerous colliers. "Strikes," such as we are periodically subject to in our day and generation, (too often projected and fostered by idle designing knaves,) had no existence in those times of a proper respect and feeling existing between master and man. This incident is worth recording if it be for no other purpose than showing that the noble master and his colliers were brought face to face without any underlings to distort the facts or prejudge the grievance. The person who then superintended his extensive collieries, judging it expedient to adopt a different mode of working them, introduced, from Lancashire, a certain number of miners to carry his plan into execution, which so exasperated the native workmen, that, shortly afterwards, not fewer than 3000 of them suddenly assembled and proceeded to the gates of his lordship's park at Himley; thence deputing some of their body to state their supposed grievance to him in person, and obtain an order for the aliens' dismissal. At the same time several of the neighbouring gentry resorted with all speed to the Hall, accompanied by magistrates to render their assistance. After the deputation was admitted and had stated their case, which his lordship desired they would do fearlessly and explicitly, he requested the attendant gentlemen would individually give their candid opinion "whether his agent had acted prudently or not in bringing the foreigners, as they were termed, into the neighbourhood." The opinion being unanimous "that the mines in the strangers' country being very different to the mines in this, the mode of working them is consequently different, and, however competent the men might be to work there, it was conceived that so utterly incompetent would they be to work here, that accidents to themselves might be apprehended, and great loss to their employer." "Well then, gentlemen,' said his lordship, "from your judgment I must infer that the strangers in question have no business here. Then turning to the deputies, in a firm and dignified tone he thus addressed them go and tell those who sent you that the foreigners, as you please to style them, shall depart to-morrow, and if any injury be done to them the injurers will suffer for it. Tell them, also, that I concede the point in deference to the opinions of these gentlemen. Had their opinion coincided with that of the person who brought the men hither I would have ordered them to remain, even if the mob now at my gates should proceed to pull down my hall over my head, and to bury me in its ruins." Accordingly, the next day, the strangers departed in peace and safety, carrying with them an ample remuneration for their journey and loss of time.

His lordship's love of true liberty was most emphatic, for on one memorable occasion when importuned to allow his mighty influence to be used in controlling the civil freedom of some of the inhabitants of Dudley, he strenuously resisted the suggestion, and on being reminded that he had only to make his wishes known to ensure a compliance by his numerous friends, he nobly replied, "I believe I have many friends at Dudley, but I have no vassals there;" a sentiment that will honour his name when his monument shall be crumbled into dust. The venerable nobleman attained the good old age of 73 years.

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'Thus, bow'd with age, must thou, O man! become

A time-worn ruin, on life's beaten shore,

At last to moulder in the darksome tomb;

But, summon'd thence, thou shalt decay no more.

This benevolent nobleman left one son (John William), who became a famous statesman, and was raised in the Peerage, as the first Earl of Dudley.

On November 11th, 1826, Messrs. Bourne and Sons, Solicitors to the Commissioners under the Town Act of 31st of George III, issued a notice to apply to Parliament for an amended Town Act, giving more definite power to the Town Commissioners to remove nuisances, obstructions, &c., and to supply the town with a good supply of pure water, and to further light and pave the same. A Ratepayer issued a placard on November 26th, 1826, condemning in strong terms the intended expense to the ratepayer, and "the unnecessary application for power to supply pure water to the then 15,000 inhabitants. He says, "Water will never be brought to this town but at a great expense; if report be true, the estimate already given in is £17,000; he objected to have a rate levied for the purpose of supplying the town with water, of better lighting it, and of establishing a watch." Poor benighted ratepayer, one would be tempted to think that he belonged to the nocturnal marauders complained of by Mr. Cooke above, for it is clear that he objected to a night watch; water at all events was supplied to the people of Dudley then at a reasonable price, and better quality and quantity than since the ratepayer ventilated his worldly wisdom.

"Grand Fracas between 'Rough Joe and Nimble Dick.' This was a turn up arising out of a misunderstanding o'er a bottle; Rough Joe was in his cups, or rather had given his twine an extra twist, and Nimble Dick had just received a load (not of barley) but of John Blewnose's best. Rough Joe having something to do with rope, fancied he was calculated to rig; now rigging is too knotty a point for Joe, and altho' he squared his yards as if used to pitch into 'em, yet it was evident to all present that Joe's rigging was too coarse to stand long. Nimble Dick, who by the bye, has lately signalised himself in several skirmishes, one in particular, wherein he unfortunately fell foul of a lee shore; on this occasion he was all afloat, and advised Rough Joe to get off his jawing tack, but instead of altering his course, he struck not his flag, but his fist straight ahead into the chops of his would-be pilot, which of course no chap could stand, so clearing the deck and doffing their dabbs, they duly prepared for a broadside, with plenty of seasover room. rushing to work like a tiger, pawed, pinned, and played away, but

Joe