22 SOCIOLOGY. 



the triennial Musical Festivals (j) of European celebrity, the Free 

 Libraries, and the Art School) and physical (h) (witness the numerous 

 athletic and similar clubs) ; — from the fact that the extremes of wealth 

 and poverty are not so marked as in many large towns, but that the 

 number of thriving artizans is more numerous (witness the large 

 number of voters on the register as compared with other large towns) ( / ); 

 — most especially from the conspicuously-characteristic earnestness 

 with which work of all kind is undertaken in Birmingham ; — and from 

 a number of analogous factors all of which have their influence, I 

 cannot help— after eliminating to the best of my ability all necessary 

 bias — arriving at a conclusion that, while possessing greater differen- 

 tiation in its inhabitants as regards trades and occupations than those 

 of many other towns, Birmingham also presents unusual advantages 

 for the physical, intellectual, and moral development of its citizens. 

 Its development is of a type peculiar to a large industrial organization, 

 and is in marked contrast to that kind of development which would 

 obtain under a military, or ecclesiastical, or agricultural organisation. 

 In other words, the progress of the town is quite in accordance with 

 the laws of evolution. It illustrates in a large sense the adaptation of 

 the organism to the environment. Many Sociological generalizations 

 made here may, I think, therefore be regarded as typical and unique. 

 And as many of the factors that I have enumerated act and re-act, it 

 follows that Birmingham has most important influence in the work — 

 both immediate and remote — to which it puts its hand. 



It would take up too much of your time for me to mention many 

 illustrations. I just allude to one or two that occur to me. From an 

 educational point of view Birmingliam, by its Education League, 



ij.) The Birmingliam Musical Festivals (held trionnially) were established in 

 the year 170S for the benefit of the General Hospital, iu aid of which noble 

 charity the managers had paid over up to tlie year 1882 the sum of £116,570. 

 From a musical-art point of view their influence has been considerable. The 

 "?t. Paul" and the "Lobgesaug" of Mendelssohn were given in 1837 and 1840, 

 and the immortal "Elijah" was specially written for Birmingham, and 

 produced at the Festival of 181G, under the couductorship of its author. The 

 "Eli" and "Naaman" of Costa iu 1855 and 18G4, and the "Kedemption" of 

 Gounod iu 1882, were specially written for these Festivals, and produced 

 under the couductorship of their respective authors. Numerous minor works 

 of importance have also been written for or first produced at these Festivals. 



(k.) The Volunteer movement, which has always been well supported iu 

 Birmingham and the surrounding districts, would seem to be a " co-ordination of 

 the antagonistic elements. The volunteer in time of peace follows his duties 

 as a citizen, but iu the event of war is prepared to take up arms and defend his 

 country. 



(I.) Mr. Hughes submitted a table showing the average number of Pailia- 

 mentary and Municipal Electors iu four large towns for the three years ended 

 1883, as under : Parliamentary Electors — Birmingham, G3,C93 ; Leeds, 50,179 ; 

 Liverpool, 02,898 ; Manchester, 54,861 ;— mean, 57,'. OS. Municipal Electors— Bir- 

 mingham, 74,392: Leeds, 58,422 ; Liverpool, 70,075; Manchester, 58,899;— mean, 

 65,597. Percentage of Parliamentary Electors to population— Birmingham 15'83 ; 

 Leeds, 1623; Liverpool, 11-40 ; Manchester, 13'93 ;— mean, 14-35. Percentages of 

 Municipal Electors to population— Birmingham, 18'49 ; Leeds, 1B'90 ; Liverpool, 

 12-79 ; Manchester, 14-96 ;— mean, 16-29. 



