Page:A century of Birmingham life- or, A chronicle of local events, from 1741 to 1841 (IA centuryofbirming02lang).pdf/367

 the body was opened on that account to investigate the cause of his death, and the parts connected with the operation were found in a natural state, but the lungs were in the highest state of inflammation.—Donations will be received by the Printer of this paper.

The agitation against the Corn Laws was now beginning; and it will be seen by the following quotation that the people of Birmingham early took up the subject, and with their usual earnestness:—

March 13, 1815.—The Town's Meeting which was held at the Madras School, on Wednesday last, to petition the Legislature on the subject of the Corn Laws, was most numerously attended. Several of the Clergy and Magistrates and a considerable number of the most respectable inhabitants of the town were present. After a few introductory remarks from Joseph Purden, Esq., the chairman, the assembly was addressed by W. Villers, Esq., Mr. P. M. James, W. Hamper, Esq., Mr. J. Turner, &c., &c. The resolutions were unanimously carried, and a petition against the Corn Bill agreed to. Many persons, unable to obtain admission, were obliged to remain on the outside of the School Room, in which it is calculated near 3000 individuals were assembled. Immediately upon the breaking up of the meeting skins of parchment were handed round for signatures. We understand that 48,600 names were obtained by four o'clock the following afternoon, when the petitions were forwarded to London. That to the Commons was presented on Friday evening.

The Petition addressed to the House of Commons by the Chamber of Manufacturers in this town was presented on Friday evening.

The old post office was in Bennett's Hill, and was most inconvenient for the public. The growth of the town, and the new postal facilities, had made it inadequate for the wants of the town. Accordingly, we are not surprised to find both the authorities and the public anxious for a change. On June 5, an answer to a complaining correspondent gave the public the following information:—

We would inform "a Townsman" that his suggestion, relative to the inconvenience attending the transaction of business at the Post Office in this town, owing to the confined space appropriated to the public, has been fully anticipated. Upon enquiry we find that steps have been already taken, by some individuals, and a plan, somewhat differing from that proposed by him, is very nearly matured, which we hope to see speedily ratified by a town's meeting, when our correspondent, and other public spirited inhabitants of the town, will have an opportunity of contributing towards the accomplishment of so desirable an alteration.

"We rejoice" to make the next extract. It is the beginning of that social legislation which, in our own day, has culminated in the Factory Acts, and the Regulation of Labour Bill. Such notes are to social questions like a "beam in darkness;" they may reveal the surrounding