172 A TOPOGRAPHICAL 



Glauber and Epsom salts, and every other chemical preparation 

 connected with medicine, manufactures, and commerce, for British 

 and foreign supply. 



A glass-house has been established within these few years, where 

 are made all descriptions of the best white glass. 



There are several steam-engines, working various mills, one of 

 which is upon a large scale, for the spinning of woollen yarn for 

 carpets j at which, and also at another, considerable quantities of 

 musket-barrels were ground and polished during the late war. A 

 mill, called the Union Mill, was established about the year 1812, 

 containing about 14,000 shares at ol. each, for the purpose of 

 grinding corn and baking bread, and is found to auswer extremely 

 well. An indictment was preferred at the Assizes of 1814, at Staf- 

 ford, against the proprietors, as an illegal combination ; a verdict 

 was, however, given in their favour, after a trial before a special 

 Jury of fourteen hours. 



In the adjoining villages and hamlets are made, in addition to 

 the articles before-mentioned, great quantities of nails, chains, 

 gun-locks, and many other similar articles. 



One of the most lucrative branches of trade formerly enjoyed by 

 this town is now nearly extinct, viz. that of rich and elegant ar- 

 ticles in steel, consisting of watch-chains, buttons, buckles, sword- 

 hilts, &c. : watch-chains have been made of the value of 20 guineas 

 each, and buckles at 10 to 15 guineas a-pair, and not unusually 

 sword-hilts at 50 guineas. These articles were generally sent to 

 France, Spain, and Italy, but the French Revolution, and the wars 

 which arose out of it, seem to have put a period to this business. 



Wolverhampton is not remarkable for public buildings worthy of 

 attention. The free grammar-school, founded in 1668 by Sir 

 Stephen Jennings, Lord Mayor of London, is an excellent institu- 

 tion, and very liberally endowed, its revenues being upwards of 

 ,1200. per annum. In it are taught the Hebrew, 43reek, Latin, 

 French, Dutch, and German languages, besides writing, arithmetic, 

 drawing, &c. ; there are several masters, and though education 

 may be obtained here gratis by the children of the inhabitants, but 

 very few comparatively are sent. In 1626, the inhabitants of Wol- 

 verhampton obtained a decree of Chancery against the Merchant 

 Taylors Company, which declares this school free for all England : 

 in a subsequent cause, the management was vested in the Bishop 

 of Lichfield, Sir E. Littleton, Bart, the Hon. Edward Monckton, 

 and others, as trustees. The present school (in John-street), is a 



