Page:A century of Birmingham life- or, A chronicle of local events, from 1741 to 1841 (IA centuryofbirming01lang).pdf/152



The period embraced in the present chapter is one of great interest and importance. Birmingham seems to have started into new life, and to have been most active in good works. In this decade the General Hospital—still one of our noblest charities—was founded; the first of our Musical Festivals was held; the Birmingham Canal Navigation was commenced; the Act for Lighting and Cleaning the Town was obtained; the first Circulating Library was opened, and other admirable labours were undertaken. The evidences of increased activity are very numerous. Newly-built houses—still with gardens for the most part—are continually advertised; and land, either to be let or sold on building leases, is frequently announced. Large quantities of bricks, numbering in some instances 100,000, are offered for sale. In many ways we obtain proof of an increasing population, of increasing wealth, and with the increase of wealth its certain accompaniments, an increase in the public spirit and the Christian charity of the people. We proceed to select such announcements as afford illustrations of the growing change in the appearance of the town. There is no necessity to connect these advertisements together by any comment. They tell their own story; and, as will be seen, they refer to almost every part of Birmingham. Many of them testify to the growing activity of the people, and the gradual encroachment of the town on the country. To our mind these are among the most interesting of the old advertisements, and we have made rather a numerous, but still a sort of representative selection. The first is dated July 19, 1762.

To be Sold to the best Bidder, On Friday the 23rd of July Instant, between the Hours of Three and Five o'Clock in the Afternoon of the same Day, at the House of Joseph Cooke, known by the Sign of the Golden Coffee-Pot, in the Cherry-Orchard, in Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Two Leasehold Messuages or Tenements, with the Shops, Gardens, and Appurtenances thereunto belonging, situate in Temple-Street, in Birmingham aforesaid, in the Occupation of Mr. John Gisborn and Mr. Walter Adams, and set at the yearly Rent of 19l. 10s.