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Rh MANCHESTER 463 Trafford, in a contiguous building of the same Gothic design as the blind asylum, to which Mr Thomas Henshaw left a bequest of 20,000. There is also an adult deaf and dumb institution, containing a news-room, lecture-hall, chapel, itc., for the use of deaf mutes. Libraries and Museums. Manchester is well provided with libraries. The Chetham library is sometimes spoken of as the oldest free library in Europe, and certainly its doors have been open without let or hindrance for more than two centuries, and the building which it occupies is almost the only relic now left of ancient Manchester. What had once been the barons hall, and afterwards the residence of the clergy, was purchased by the trustees of Humphrey Chetham, and by them applied to the purposes of a blue- coat school and library, provision for the foundation and maintenance of which he had made by will. The library, with its quiet and almost monastic corridors, forms a striking contrast to the busy streets without. The contents now amount to about 40,000 volumes, and include many rare manuscripts and curious books, the gem of the collec tion undoubtedly being a copy of the historical compilation of Matthew Paris, with corrections in the author s hand writing. There is a large collection of matter relating to the history and archaeology of Lancashire and Cheshire. A recent addition to its riches in this department is the ex tensive series of Lancashire manuscripts bequeathed by the late Canon Eaines. The collection of broadsides formed by Mr J. O. Halliwell-Phillips, and the library of John Byrom, rich in mystics and shorthand writers, should also be named. In addition to the library, Chetham left provision for the education of a number of poor boys, and the increase in the value of the endowments has raised the number to one hundred, who receive a good English education and are afterwards put to some useful trade or calling. An ad ditional school has recently been erected from designs by Waterhouse, who has been successful in making the new building harmonize with the quaint and sober architecture of the hospital and library. The Manchester Free Libraries were founded by Sir John Potter, who was instrumental in promoting a public subscription from which a building was bought and stocked with books, and then handed over to the town, by whose municipal authorities the libraries have since been not only maintained but materially increased. There is now a reference library containing about 70,000 volumes, including an extensive series of English historical works and a remarkable collection of books of political economy and trade. The chief object has been to make a good working collection for the student and man of letters. But, although the collection of objects dear to the bibliomaniac has not been considered of first importance, the library now includes some literary curiosities of the first rank, among them specimens of the press of Caxton and Wynkyn de Worde. Affiliated to the central consulting library there are six lending libraries, the Hulme library having 17,000 volumes, Ancoats 15,000, Rochdale Road 15,000, Chorlton and Ardwick 17,000, Cheetham 12,000, and Deansgate 18,000. Each lending library has attached to it a commodious reading-room. There are also libraries in connexion with-the Athenasum, the mechanics institu tion, the Portico, the Owens College, and other institu tions. The sister borough of Salford has also adopted the free library system, and possesses at Peel Park a large reference and lending library, whilst additional lending libraries and news-rooms have been opened at Pendleton, Green gate, and Regent Road. Recreation. The city has always been noted for its love of theatrical amusements, and the German element in its population lias in the last fifty years largely influenced the taste for music by which it is now distinguished. The theatre royal is a patent theatre, and was opened in 1845, its predecessor having been burned in the previous year. It ranks in size with the large metro politan theatres, and has connected with it memories of nearly all the great actors of the present and past generation. The Prince s theatre was opened in 1864, and is an elegant and beautifully finished structure. The Queen s theatre is a substantial building with but small architectural pretensions. A theatre has recently been opened in Salford. The concert-hall will hold twelve hundred people. There are many musical societies ; and amongst other places of amusement may be mentioned the Belle Yue Zoological Gardens, the Pomona Palace, and numerous music-halls, &c. Population. According to the census of 1881, the municipal borough of Manchester contains a population of 341,414 (163,475 males, 177,939 females), while the parliamentary borough has 393,585 (189,005 males, 204,580 females). Salford, on the same authority, has 176,235 (84,610 males, 91,625 females). These figures, however, hardly convey the actual facts of the case. Manchester and Salford are as closely joined as London and Southwark, and are surrounded by populous districts quite as much united as the component parts of what the registrar-general styles &quot;Greater London.&quot; There has been a seeming decrease in the population of the city, which in 1871 was stated to contain 355,655 persons ; but this appearance is fallacious, for, while the progress of city improvements has reduced the number of inhabited nouses in the centre, there has been a large influx into Salford, which has increased by 51,432 persons during the last ten years. The two boroughs, with the urban sanitary districts immediately contiguous, have a population of about 800,000 persons. In the Middle Ages there were in Manchester and Salford probably not more than two or three hundred burgesses and their dependants. In 1588 the population was estimated at 10,000, but the parish is here meant. In 1757 the two towns contained 19,839 persons, who by 1773 had increased to 27,246, and by 1783 to over 39,000. At the first census in 1801 Manchester had 75,275, and Salford 14,477. The last four census statements are : Manchester. Salford. 1851 303,382 63,850 18(!1 338,722 102,44!) 1871 351,189 124,801 1881 341,414 17,235 The increase in rateable value has been equally remarkable. In 1815 Manchester was rated at 357,778 ; in 1882 the estimate was 2,761,469. The corresponding values for Salford were 54,130 and 801,192. Sanitary Condition. Manchester, like other towns, grew more .vapidly than the provision for its wise government ; but determined efforts have been made in the direction of sanitary improvement. The death-rate in 1840 was 34 &quot;3; in 1850, 29 6; in 1860, 28 0; in 1861, 30-4 ; in 1862, 30 3 ; in 1869, 28 9 ; in 1870, 26 52 ; in 1871, 29 8 ; in 1877, 25 4 ; in 1880, 24 7 ; and for nine mouths of 1881 it was 23 3. Whatever maybe the causes of these fluctua tions, it is clear that there is still ample room for further improve ment. The air laden with the products of the combustion. of coal, and the unspeakably filthy rivers, are urgently in need of energetic remedial action. Manufactures and Commerce. As has already been stated, Man chester is the centre of the English cotton industry ; but in the town itself of late years the tendency has been more and more in the direction of commerce. Owing to the enhanced value of land, many mills and workshops have been removed to the outskirts and to neighbouring villages and towns, so that the centre of Manchester and an ever-widening circle around is now chiefly devoted not so much to production as to the various offices of distribution. Large and handsome warehouses and shops abound, and there is every evidence of quick and opulent life. It would be a mistake, however, to regard Manchester as solely dependent upon the industries con nected with cotton. There are other important manufactures which in another community would be described as gigantic. Wool and silk are manufactured on a considerable scale, though the latter industry has for some years been on the decline. The miscellaneous and multifarious articles grouped under the designation of small- wares occupy many hands. Machinery and tools, using the term with its most comprehensive meaning so as to include alike philo sophical instruments and steam-engines, are made in vast quanti ties. The chemical industries of the city are also on a large scale. In short, there are but few important manufactures that are wholly unrepresented. The proximity of Manchester to the rich coal-fields of Lancashire has had a marked influence upon its prosperity ; but for this, indeed, the rapid expansion of its industries would have been impossible. It would probably be difficult to find a community in any part of the world with which Manchester has no commercial relations. The enterprise of its merchants has kept pace with the energy of its manufacturers, and the products of its looms are to be found in every land, though doubtless the supremacy which its cotton goods have held in the markets of the world tends to become _more and more abated by the gradually increasing foreign competition. From figures laid before the Manchester Statistical Society, tin money extent of trading operations at this centre has been cald