SOCIOLO(iY. 21 



from frequent imraif;ratioii from other ami distant localities ; — 

 from the town being umlemoralised by antiquities or obsolete 

 cliarities ; — from the number, vai'iety, and excellence of its 

 educational, scientific, and literary institutions (/") ; — from the 

 perfect freedom which all religious communities possess, and the 

 vitality displayed by them ; — from the active and energetic political 

 and civic life which has always characterised its citizens ; — from the 

 remarkable development in almost every direction which the town has 

 exhibited during the present century {g); — from the number and variety 

 of its annual exhibitions (/i) inducing a healthy spirit of emulation 

 both local and distant (witness the Exhibitions of Paintings and 

 Industrial Arts, the Agricultural Exhibition, and the Exhibitions of 

 Domesticated Animals ;— the Horticultural Exhibitions, including 

 specialities in certain flowers, some of which Exhibitions originated 

 here, or are of acknowledged excellence); — from the large spirit of volun- 

 tary beneficence displayed by its inhabitants of all creeds and classes 

 (witness the annual Hospital Sunday and Saturday collections ( i ) for 

 the Charities of the town, both of which originated in Birmingham) ; 

 — from the recreations of the people being both intellectual (witness 



if.' The lirmiugham and Midland Institute was established iu the year 851, 

 since which period upwards of 40,000 students have attended its Scientific, 

 Literary, and Educational Classes, exclusive of the attendance at the Weekly 

 Lectures iu Session. The Mason ^cionce College, which was founded by the 

 generosity of the late Sir Josiah Mason so recently as the year 1880, has now 

 (!883i more than liOO students. Both these institutions are open to male and 

 female students. 



(fir.) Mr. Hughes submitted a table showing that the population, which was 

 4,000 iu 1690, had grown to 73,070 in 1801, and had increased at an average rate of 

 about 24 per cent, iu each decennial period from 1801 to 1881. At 1851 it stood at 

 232,811, and at 1-81 it stood at 402,296. Speaking generally, the population had 

 increased about a hundred-fold iu two hundred years. 



(Ti.i Mr. W. P. Marshall, M.I.C.E.,has called my attention to the fact that "The 

 Bingley Hall Exhibition of Manufactures," which was organised by the Local 

 Committee of the British Association at Birmingham in '819, as a special local 

 attraction for the members of the Association, was the parent of the Great 

 Exhibition of 1851. Prince Albert, who had then the subject of an International 

 Exhibition actively in his mind, having heard of this Birmingham Exhibition, 

 made a special visit to the E.xhibitiou, 12th November, 1819 travelling down 

 from London by a special train in 2i hours , and he exiircssel himself greatly 

 pleased and interested, making a close inspection and questioning the manu- 

 facturers about the work exhibited. It was understood ho was greatly struck by 

 the successful accomplishment of the exhibition, and that the result gave aid 

 of importance in reference to the suggested Great International Exliibition of 

 1851. 



cJ.) The " Hospital Sunday " Annual Collections, — for the suggestion which 

 led to their establishment the town is indebted to the late Mr. Thomas 

 Barber Wright, — were commenced in the year 1859, since which period 

 the sum of £109,564 has been paid over (subject to a nominal -deduction for 

 expenses) by the Committee towards the support of the medical charities of 

 the town. The "Hospital Saturday" Annual Collections were subsequently 

 established, on the suggestion of Mr. J. Samson Gamgee, F.R.S.E., in the year 

 1873, since which period the sum of £44,112 has been paid over by the 

 Committee for the same purposes. 



