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eftablKTicd an exttnfive correfpondence throughout Europf. 

 To obtain and lupport a reputation, every tncouragement 

 was aftordcd to men of genius in drawinj:^, mod--!lMig, and 

 other branches of the arts. An imitation of or mohi in 

 vafes, tripods, and candeLibras, was adopted, accompanied 

 by fo much fkill and elegance, that univerfal approbation 

 followed ; this led to the manufafturc of wrougiit filver, 

 and an application was made to parliament in 1773, for an 

 allay office, to be eftablilhed at Birmingham. The poly- 

 (jniphic art had its origin at Soho. This method of copy- 

 ing pictures in oil, by a mechariical proccfs, was condndted 

 by !•". Eginton, who has fince executed a great number of 

 fine fpccimens of painting, or Gaining of glafs. The 

 tncauftic mode of ilaining glafs, or fixing the vivid and 

 fine graduating colours upon that tranfparent material, was 

 fuppofed to be loft, but it has been revived and brought to 

 great perfection by this gentleman. Since 1784, he has 

 executed feveral large windows for various cathedrals, 

 churches, and gentlemen's manfions. (See Glass-Paint- 

 isG.) Among the various machines, &c. invented and 

 conftrufted at Soho, there is one entitled to dillinguifhed 

 notice for its great national utility and importance. This 

 is the Jieam engine, which has acquired extraordinary 

 force and improvements by Mr. James Watt, one of the 

 proprietors of the Soho firm. To him the fcientific 

 world is much indebted for various other inventions and 

 improvements in mechanics. With a vigorous comprehen- 

 Cvcnefs of mind, he embraces every mathematical and me- 

 chanical fubjeft from the fimpkft to the mod complex and 

 profound. He procured a patent for the fteam engine in 

 1768, and feven years afterwards, entering into partnerfliip 

 with Mr. Boulton, began to conftruft thofe machines at 

 Soho. Since that period, they have been generally adopted 

 in the mines and manufactories all ovjr the kingdom. (See 

 Steam-Engine.) The following liil of curious and ufe- 

 ful articles are manufaftured at thefe work?, which, when 

 fully employed, give fupport to upwards of 600 labourers. 

 Buttons of all kinds ; polilhed fteel, and jettina fteel-tovs ; 

 polilhid ileel watch-chains ; patent cork-ftiews, &c. Buc- 

 kles and lachtts of ail forts ; plated and filver goods for the 

 dining and tea-table, fide-board, &c. ; medals and coins of 

 various Czcs and metals. The late beautiful new coinage 

 of copper, and alfo the re-ftamped dollars ; all come from the 

 Soho mint. The coining mill or engine fii ft erefled here in 

 1783, has been much improved fince that period, and is novsr 

 adapted to work eight machines at once, each of which will 

 ftrike from 70 to 84 pieces p<.r minute, the fize of a guinea ; 

 or between 4,000 and 5,000 per hour. Thus the eight 

 miachines will work between 30,000 and 40,000 coins in 

 one hour. Thefe machines are operated on by the fteam- 

 engine, and perform the following procefiTes : ift. rolling 

 the malTes of copper into fheets ; 2nd, fine rolling of the 

 fame cold, through cylmdrical fteel rollers; 3rd, clipping 

 the blank pieces of copper for the die ; 4th, (haking the 

 coin in bags ; 5th, ftnking both fides of the coin, and mil- 

 ling it, at the fame time dilplacing it, and placing another for 

 the fame operation. To its other properties, this ingenious 

 machine adds the almoft magical one of preventing fraud, 

 by keeping an accurate account of every coin which pafics 

 through it. Dr. Darwin has defcribed this fingular appa- 

 ratus in the following appofite poetical lines : 



" Now his hard hands on Mona's refted creft, 



Bofom'd in rocks, her azure ores aiTcft ; 



With iron lips iiis rapid rollers fcize 



The lengtliened bars in their expanfive fqueeze ; 



Pefcending fcrews with poiid'rous fly-wheels wound 



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The tawny plates, the new medalion's round ;■ 

 Hard dies of fteel, the cupreous circles ciamp. 

 And with quick f.ill, his man"y hammers ftamp. 

 The harp, the hly, and the lion join, 

 And George and Britain guard the fplendid coin." 

 Rolled metals oV all kind of mixtures, are prepared here; 

 befides pneumatical apparatus, large and portable ; alfo 

 copying machines, and in ihort, almoft every fort of article 

 for ufe or ornament. 



Befides the manufaflories already named, Birmingham 

 contains f-vcral others, which are entit'cd to our confidera- 

 tion ; and although we cannot allow fpace for particulars, 

 yet we mull not pafs them altogether unnoticed. 



Mefl'rs. Richa'.-ds's in Higli-ftreet, is ftylcd the toy-fhop of 

 Birmingham ; the elegance and variety of the articles are not 

 to be equalled, with the exception of the ftiow-room at 

 Soho. Mr. Clay's japan manufadory is not lei's celebrated, 

 particularly when it is confidered that the japan is fixed 

 on common brown paper. To thofe may be added Clarke 

 and Aftimore'smanufaift.iry of whips. Gill's gun, bayonet, 

 and fword manufaftory, fuppofed to be one of the beft in 

 the world ; and Galton's for fporting guns. Previous to 

 the reign of William HI. guns were moftly imported from 

 Holland ; but that monarch having once exprelTed fome 

 regret at this circumftance, and deplored the neceflity of 

 fending abroad for the article, Sir Richard Newdi- 

 gate, M. P. for Warwickfliire, being prefent, allured the 

 king that his conftitucnts would undertake to fupp'y the 

 demands of government. An order was given, and being 

 readily and correftly executed, Birmingham has continued 

 from that period to be the great and principal place of 

 manufafture for this deftructive weapon. See Gun. 



Leather appears to have been manufaiSturcd here in great 

 quantities in the early periods of the hiftory of Birmingham j 

 but in 1795, there was but one tanner in the place. 



Within the laft century, the manufadlurc of fteel into 

 almoft every kind of toy and ornament took its rife ; a 

 large ftreet bears the name of Steel-houfe-lane, from the ex- 

 tenfive works carried on there. Here are alfo very large 

 brafs works erefted on the banks of the canal, on the road 

 to the five-ways, near which ftand the ruins of the manfion 

 built by the late John Bafkerville, who made great improve- 

 ments in the art of printing. See Baskfrville. 



Places of Amujcmcnt and Cunofty. In New-ftreet is a 

 mufeum, or repofitory of natural and artificial cnriofities, the 

 property of J. Biifet, a gentleman who has publifhed fome 

 ingenious poems and ufeful books. His " Magnificent 

 Direftory," is a novel, handfome, and ufeful work, in which 

 are contained elegantly engraved emblematical cards of ad- 

 drefs of a great number of the merchant?, manufafturers, 

 tradefmen, &c. throughout England. 



The firft Theatre, eftabliftied at Birmingham, was fituated 

 in Moor-ftreet, about 1740 ; thatiu King- ftreet was erefted 

 1765, and enlarged 1 774; in the fame year, it was tranf- 

 ferred to a religious focicty, and another built in New-ftreet, 

 at an expence of 5660I. and managed with great fuccefs 

 by Mr. Yates. In 1 791, it was burnt by fume incendiaries, 

 who have never been difcovered ; fince that period, the 

 proprietors have re-built it in a very fplendid manner for 

 14,0001. with an affembly room and a tavern annexed to it. 

 Mr. Macready of Covent Garden theatre is the prefent ma- 

 nager, who generally prefents his audiences with the beft; 

 London performers during the fummer months. Concerts 

 and mufical paroles are held weekly during winter ; and 

 the fummer produces a variety of pubHc gardens, the prin- 

 cipal of which are Vaujdiall and Spring-gardens. 



Govern-^ 



