Arthur Freeling

“ Any delay in the arrival of a Mail occasions a corresponding delay in the delivery. We shall now take a hasty sketch of the Town, its Public Buildings, Offices, and Institutions. Those devoted to the relief of human sorrow and suffering, are very considerable, not only in the extent of their means but in their number. The fine arts are highly cultivated in this town, the importance of a school of design, and the cultivation of a correct taste, being well appreciated-indeed being essential to the prosecution of the extensive and elegant manufactures for which it is so deservedly celebrated. ”

“ Birmingham has a Philosophical Society, situated in Cannon-street; a Royal Medical School, in Paradise-street; a Horticultural Society, in the Gardens of which are extensive conservatories and hot-houses, situated in the parish of Edgbaston.
A Society of Arts, situated in New-street, and one of the handsomest architectural specimens which the town affords. It has a splendid portico of the Corinthian order. This institution has been of great advantage to the town.
A Mechanics' Institution—but, strange to say, in this town of mechanics, it has not a building specially devoted to its objects. ”

“ Collis and Co.'s Establishment must be visited by every one who intends to have an idea of the state of the manufactures in Birmingham. It is situated in Church-street, adjoining St. Phillip's church-yard. The proprietors, with the greatest liberality, have appointed servants to attend visitors through the workshops and warehouse-rooms. In the former the stranger will see the various processes which are necessary to bring the crude metal to the forms of singular beauty and elegance with which the ware-rooms abound. ”

“ We shall proceed to give a slight sketch of the ancient history of the town, and to direct the stranger to such objects of pleasure, curiosity, and convenience, as will render his sojourn either profitable or pleasurable, according to the pursuit with which he may be occupied. ”

“ The public amusements in this town are not on a very extensive scale, nor indeed are they much patronised. The Theatre is a handsome erection, situated in New-street, opposite the Post-office. Vauxhal Gardens are at Vauxhall, near the Birmingham and Liverpool Railway Station, and are open in the summer months. ”

“ Birmingham is a market town, and a borough by the Reform Bill, in the Hundred of Hemlingford, situated upon a hill near the river Rea, in the county of Warwick, 109 miles from London, 971⁄4 from Liverpool. ”

“ An examination of the neighbourhood has discovered many hundred coal pits which have been abandoned for ages; and the mountains of the refuse of melted ore prove that this manufacture is of equally ancient origin—the roads, also, bearing evidence of contemporary formation, may be traced, worn as they are to the depth of thirty, and even forty feet. ”

“ It is gratuitously circulated, and contains, in addition to the advertisements, commercial and other information required by men of business; no party politics are admitted. The circulation is 4,769 copies per week. ”

“ A.M.—Dublin (when the Packet reaches Liverpool in time) , Liverpool, Manchester, Warrington, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Preston Brook, Newcastle, Eccleshall, Stone, Stafford, Penkridge, Wolverhampton, Walsall. ”

“ Second Railway Mail, Due 4h l5m, P.M.—Liverpool, Manchester, Warrington, Stafford, Wolverhampton.
Sheffield Mail, 4h. 25m. P.M.—Barnsley, Chesterfield, Leeds, Sheffield, Wakefield, Burton, Derby, Nottingham, Lichfield. ”

“ A.M.—Walsall, Wolverhampton, Penkridge, Stafford. Stone, Eceleshall, Newcastle, Market Drayton, Congleton, Nantwich, Middlewich, Northwich, Chester, Preston-Brook, Warrington, Liverpool, Manchester, Prescot, Wigan, Preston, Lancaster, Carlisle, Edinburgh, Glasgow. ”