Page:A century of Birmingham life- or, A chronicle of local events, from 1741 to 1841 (IA centuryofbirming02lang).pdf/619

  Mail, the Celerity, the Umpire, the Statesman, and the Birmingham and Manchester Mails. The train started slowly, but, upon emerging from the yard, speedily burst off at a rapid race. To those who for the first time witnessed such a scene, it was peculiarly exciting, and the immense multitude, as far as the eye could reach, gave expression to their admiration by loud and long-continued huzzas, and the waving of hats and handkerchiefs. Having in some degree escaped the multitude, power was laid on, and from Perry Barr to Newton-road, the speed could not be less than from thirty to thirty-five miles the hour. The carriages are of the most elegant description. Those of the first-class were divided into three compartments, each compartment accommodating six passengers. In the mails, one compartment is convertible into a bed-carriage. The whole of this class are most superbly fitted up, and equal, if not superior, to the great majority of private carriages.

At half-past eight o'clock. a train of the second class set out amidst similar demonstrations of admiration to those called forth by the first, after the departure of which the chief object of attraction was the arrival of the first train from Liverpool.

The foundation stone of Bishop Ryder's Church was laid on the 23rd of August, by the Right Reverend Robert James Carr, D.D., Lord Bishop of Worcester. The following paragraph will be read with interest:—

August 27, 1837—On Wednesday last, during the assembling of the clergy and gentry who took part in the procession at the laying of the foundation stone of Bishop Ryder's Church, in this town, a very beautiful medallion of the size of life of the late Bishop, the work of our townsman, Mr. Peter Hollins, was exhibited at the Blue Coat School. Many of the Bishop's friends who were present, including the Rev. John Kempthorne, Chaplain to his Lordship when he presided over the See of Gloucester, pronounced the likeness, considering the circumstance under which it was produced (being altogether a posthumous work), a most extraordinary resemblance. It is a profile in low relief, and is intended to form part of the monument to be placed in the parish church of Lutterworth, where this pious and worthy successor of Wickliffe was for many years the affectionate and beloved minister.

The sub-committee appointed to consider and report on the causes of the general depression of trade, presented their report on August 24. It stated "that the alternations of great apparent prosperity and sudden deep distress, which have invariably attended the expansion or contraction of the currency, prove, beyond doubt, that to our monetary system is mainly to be attributed the present general and alarming distress." The only possible source of relief was, in the opinion of the sub-committee, "Such a revision of our present law as shall lead to the adoption of a monetary system adequate to the wants of this great and commercial country."