Forest of Rossendale. 251 



others. Whilst sufficiently dogmatic in his ideas regarding 

 machinery and methods of manufacture, he was tolerant of views 

 that differed from his own, and was always ready and even eager 

 to enter into discussion with his managers on such subjects. Mr. 

 Munn also possessed the valuable quality of being able to dis- 

 criminate and judge of the character of men, and, though singularly 

 undemonstrative in his friendships, he was tenacious of the 

 material welfare of those for whom he cared, and seldom omitted 

 an opportunity of promoting by his word and personal influence 

 the interests of those of whose character and abilities he had 

 formed a favourable opinion. In this way, if he was chary at 

 helping them with his purse, he did what is better — he enabled 

 them to help themselves. 



In the pursuits and habits of Mr. Munn there was nothing 

 approaching to luxury, though his considerable wealth might well 

 have justified a more liberal expenditure. His establishments 

 both in Rossendale and in Scotland, whither he annually resorted 

 for a few weeks to enjoy the relaxation of a little shooting on the 

 moors, were plain and unostentatious. Personally he was noted, 

 especially in his younger years, for his neat dapper appearance, 

 and, loyal to his business as a cotton manufacturer, he wore a 

 check cotton neckerchief to the last. He was an expert rider, and 

 twenty-five years ago was to be seen almost daily on horseback in 

 the valley riding to and from the different mills belonging to the 

 firm. 



Mr. Munn qualified as a magistrate of the Hundred of Black- 

 burn in the year 1847, and on the death of Mr. James Whitaker, 

 of Broadclough, he became chairman of the Rossendale bench of 

 justices, a position he held for twenty-two years till his death. As 

 in his business, so on the bench, he was characterised for the 

 clearheadedness of his judgment, and his decisions were generally 

 tempered with as much of mercy as was compatible with justice. 

 He was a guardian in the Haslingden Union, and chairman of the 

 Board for the space of eighteen years. He took part in most of 

 the different educational and other movements in the district, and 



