the town, and to the passing praise of "our Magistrates, who, much to their "honour, sit at the Public Office two or three hours every day for the despatch of "business;" and the emphasized note that (as to the Two Bailiffs, the Two Constables, and the Headborough) "no salary or emolument is annexed to "the offices in Birmingham!" Whether that note of " exclamation" is one of "admiration" or surprise seems somewhat doubtful, but it records a fact. Another note is curious and odd, "Levies for the Poor are collected about eighteen times per annum at the rate of sixpence in the pound, each levy on all houses above six pounds; so that the rate-collector and the rate-payer must have been familiar friends. Another little local picture is worth preserving : Vulcan himself remarked : "Of handsome Hackney Coaches we've our share, But yet no Act to regulate their fare; Of course the coachmen charge whate'er they please, You'll find them steady fellows, and quite willing To drive you several streets' length for a shilling ; Or Eighteenpence The Crescent and The Square; Had better make a bargain ere they go." was less loquacious than his brothers of Olympus, but he "Old Vulcan said, 'Of one thing he was sure-- And though in some things Doctors differ still, One special local peculiarity has long been the subject of jests and sneers, but probably has never been put poetically before : "The Streets are pav'd, 'tis true, but all the stones Are set the wrong way up, in shape of cones, This is followed by "The following authentic anecdote (which) will show how far "custom reconciles people to what others imagine inconveniences: An inhabitant "of Birmingham having been a journey of pleasure up to London, was asked, "on his return, how he liked the place? He said he was much pleased with "everything except the Pavement, for the stones were all so smooth there was no "foothold." Another scrap of verse has an illustrative note, which affords a remarkable contrast with the manufactures of our own day : "To see the Pin-Works, then the Gods repair, To point and cut twelve thousand pins an hour, And fifty thousand heads their shapes require In half that time spun round elastic wire." To which the author adds a note "that he went to Mr. Phipson's Manufactory "to ascertain how many pin-heads could be spun in a short space of time, when "he saw a boy, about twelve years of age, form 7,200 in three minutes." One other extract may conclude these incidental industrial facts connected with the "Ramble "of the Gods," who were still more astonished at Soho, where "Their Names they wrote, and saw with great surprise A poetical version of the fact that the famous "Copying Machine" of James Watt was coming into use. One other fact explains the meaning and use of a word about which there was long a series of disputes. "Yet scarce could tell rich gilt "from semilore" (probably semi l'or), which a note defines as a species of brass, formed by means of exposing Copper to Zinc in a state of evaporation by heat, which bears an excellent polish, and when finished has a great resemblance to gold. On another local invention some details remain to be given as to the "newly "invented Culinary Utensils, which bid fair to rival everything of the kind hitherto "manufactured in cast iron;" produced at Dearman & Francis's "Eagle" Cast Iron Foundry in Broad Street. This summary far from exhausts the number of curious and interesting, local and industrial facts in the unpromising field of rather indifferent poetry which was popular nearly ninety years ago. The "Magnificent Directory" itself is rather a pictorial and artistic, than a literary and historic record. It was originally issued January 1st, 1800, with the following title: "A Magnificent Directory, comprising the Names, etc., of upwards of Three Hundred Professional Gentlemen, Merchants, Bankers, Tradesmen, Manufacturers, etc., of Birmingham. Elegantly Engraved in Superb and Emblematic Plates. Respectfully Inscribed to all Patronizers of the Liberal Arts, by their most obedient and obliged Servant, James Bisset. Printed for the Author by Swinney & Hawkins, High Street, Birmingham. Sold by T. Heptinstall, 304, Holborn, London; Swinney & Hawkins, Birmingham, and all other Booksellers." MUSEUM, BIRMINGHAM, Jan. 1, 1800. As a Frontispiece, the view of " Lloyd's New Hotel and Hen and Chickens "Inn" appears, with an adjoining three-story building with two Dormer windows, and a shop front on ground floor, which was Phipson's Metal Warehouse, and next to that (westward) was a view of the old King Edward's School, with Clock Tower and Cupola. The "Reference to Plates The "Reference to Plates" refers to twenty-four (A to X), to three extra plates numbered 1, 2, 3, and to "a Plan of Birmingham, drawn by "the ingenious Mr. Sherriff, of King's Swinford, late of the Crescent, Birmingham.” The Plates are followed by an Index (or rather a "Directory," with references to the Plates) of fifteen pages; an "Ideal Inference," two pages, and an Address "To the Public," also two pages, by the Author. Some few copies have bound up with them a Prospectus and four other plates, not lettered or numbered, and evidently Plates provided by individuals and not strictly part of the work. In May, 1808, another edition was issued, with an engraved and also a printed title-page, and this was printed (for the Author) by R. Jabet, Herald Office, and sold by "Booksellers in the Imperial Kingdoms." This issue has the twenty-four lettered Plates, and nineteen, instead of three, numbered Plates; and also has a sort of folding Bank Note-Bisset's own Advertisement. Prefixed to the Plates is a "Brief Description of Birmingham," in seven pages, with an extensive list of the various manufactures of the town. Probably, in no other age or country was there ever such an astonishing "display of human ingenuity, as may be found in Birmingham and its vicinity;' "and the following list of Articles here manufactured will, I flatter myself, fully "justify the eulogium. "In 1796 his Majesty's Honorable Board of Ordnance, in order to save time, and get more Arms, established an Ordnance Office here, for proving Musket Barrels, and viewing materials for them in setting up experienced View-Masters were sent down from the Tower, and Government were soon aware of the amazing advantages accruing to the State by having them proved on the spot; (as formerly, all were sent up to London for that purpose). The iron and fuel, and every material for welding Gun Barrels, being had in the neighbourhood, BIRMINGHAM, of course, must be able to produce excellent Muskets, and at a cheaper rate than any other place in the kingdom. There were, upon an average, 4,200 muskets examined and set up every month at the Ordnance Office for the use of Government, exclusive of those proved and finished by the rest of the eminent Gunmakers in Birmingham, for home consumption and exportation. See plates E, K, V, N 4, and VIII. in the Magnificent Directory. JEWELLERY, in all its branches JAPANNED GOODS, of every kind Jews' Harps Lamps. Agitable and for LOCKS, of every denomina tion Links Latches Latchets Mathematical and Optical MEDALS, in Gold, Silver, MILLS for Malt, Coffee, Military Ornaments and Accoutrements Nippers, Nutcracks, Pincers, Needles Nails and Tacks &c. Portable Writing Desks Pencils Pikes Plated Goods Pinking Irons Pocket Books Pots, Kettles, Saucepans, Picture Frames Patten Ties, Patten Rings, PINS, of all descriptions Pewter Goods of every kind Shagreen Cases SWORDS, of a superior Spades and Shovels, Scythes, Sickles, Shears, &c. Sadlers' Ironmongery, &c. Stamps, Lathes, Presses, Steam Engines, from 20 to Spurs, Stirrups, &c. TURNERY, in Ivory, Bone, TYPE FOUNDRY.-See plate Tire, of all kinds Paper or Leather Boxes niture, Parasols, &c. Watch Glasses Weights and Measures Watch Chains, Seals, Keys, Watch and Clock-Makers' Wire, and Wire-Working in "Independent of the above enumeration, a great variety of new manufactures "have lately been introduced. Of these, the extensive China Works, and the "Oxygen, Oil of Vitriol, and Aqua Fortis Laboratories, on an extended scale, "claim particular notice; and the numerous lofty rotundas of the Glass-Houses, "must excite the observation of the traveller. Many Calico Looms have recently "been set to work here, and since our amiable countrywomen have conferred the "smile of approbation on the manufactures of Straw and Chip Hats, those articles "have happily furnished employ for many hundreds of industrious females, as also "for the indigent orphan children at the Asylum. "The Guns, Swords, Buttons, and general Hardwares of Birmingham are very deservedly in greater repute than those of any other place in the world." The Plates are all singularly interesting. Some are engraved in the best style by Radcliffe, F. Eginton, Reynolds, Hancock, Smith and Howe; but the larger number by F. Eginton. The designs generally are excellent; often quaint and curious, as well as valuable records of buildings long ago pulled down. Among the many, some few deserve special mention. The lists of Banks, of Attorneys, of various trades with residences, are very curious. One plate (A) has a charming view of Hockley Abbey and of Soho House. Another (C) has the Theatre Royal [not altered], and Bisset's own "Museum." Another (D) has the Swan Hotel, (then touching High Street) with Aris's Gazette Office, and Richard Prachett's Surgery and a fine view of the old spire of St. Martin's Church. Another (F) has a fine plate by Hancock, showing Swinney's Type Foundry and Shops. [Since pulled down, 1889.] Another (G) has a pleasant picture of the General Hospital and the Canal-side near. Another (H) gives a very fine view of St. Phillip's and the Blue Coat School. Another (J) has a classic design for Henry Clay, and sketches of his Patent Double Cart, and Canal Locks. Another (L) has a most rural sketch of the Brass Works (Broad Street), and of gardens where the canal now runs. Plate M has a pretty view of Birmingham from a distance, and Plate N of St. Paul's before the addition of the spire. Plate O has the Glass Works at Birmingham Heath, scarcely changed in appearance. Plate Q, another microscopic view of Birmingham. Plate S gives a good sketch of Bridge Row, Deritend, and of St. John's Chapel. Plate T, a fine general view of Soho, with curious details of the various "Firms" (eight in number) who controlled the various departments. Plate U gives a good view of the Eagle Foundry, and of Whitmore's works. Plate W, in two views, shows the exterior and the interior of the Aston Glass Works. Plate X, the famous works of Sir E. Thomason, and his “automatic carriage steps." Another Plate (XV.) shows Forrest's Brewery at Warstone, and another (XVII.) a front, familiar some thirty years ago, in High Street, as "Richards's Birmingham in "Miniature "-No. 82 in High Street (a pair of flattish bow windows with a door between), where all sorts of Jewellery and Cutlery were displayed year after year. How far Bisset proceeded with his Grand National Directory is uncertain (he records that he sent hundreds of copies abroad, but this may refer only to the local work). Some of the Plates are lettered as meant for both, and if other towns have as curious and as correct a record of nearly ninety years as our town possesses, James Bisset will not have lived in vain. His great energy and great good taste, his desire to do some great work which could never pay him for his trouble, and which might have ruined him, on a larger scale, entitle him to a front place among Birmingham worthies. His work was original, and has remained unique. The modern exemplars on similar lines are mere vulgarities, and Bisset's work will ever find an honourable place in all good libraries as a record of local history, and as a fine example of local Art. His later years were passed in Leamington, where he died, August 17th, 1832, aged 72. |