occasioned a temporary interruption to these useful and meritorious labours for the benefit of society. But the melancholy scenes which were then exhibited proved the importance of increasing the exertions to instruct and enlighten the labouring classes, so as to prevent their being the dupes and tools of the artful and grovelling advocates of ignorance, who, under the pretext of loyalty, roused the bad passions of an uninformed multitude, which led them to violate every social, civil, and religious obligation.

The ferment produced by the riots had for a time a most unfavourable effect upon friendly intercourse in the town, and for several months the exertions of the Sunday Society were suspended, from the great and unmerited obloquy which, in common with many others, they had experienced. But their ardour for the attainmentof their objects remained undiminished, and in 1792 they resumed their plans, and pursued them with increasing earnestness. Amongst the various improvements introduced was one which consisted in selecting the more intelligent pupils of the Sunday-schools and qualifying them for teachers, who

produce upon the public mind, may it not be fairly anticipated that, during the reign of George the Fourth, liberal sentiments will be so widely diffused as to render bigotry powerless, and to annihilate the spirit of persecution?

should gratuitously instruct others in consideration of the benefits which they themselves had received. This plan of reciprocal instruction proved inestimably advantageous, by creating a useful and a laudable emulation among the boys, both with respect to mental acquirements and moral conduct; and this contrivance has contributed to diffuse a taste for intellectual and moral pursuits among the artizans of Birmingham to an extent unparalleled, perhaps, by any other town in the kingdom. So useful and deserving was the conduct of many of these selected assistants, that, to use the words of one of its most zealous promoters, it led to the formation of " a new intellectual and moral society ;" and in the year 1796, the managers connected them with themselves to carry on their plans in amicable co-operation, under the denomination of "The Brotherly Society." The following is one of the rules which they adopted on that occasion, and it will not only explain the object of the association, but evince its near resemblance to that of the present Mechanics' Institutions :-" The subjects for improvement shall be Reading, Writing, Arithmetic, Drawing, Geography, Natural and Civil History, and Morals; or, in short, whatever may be generally useful to a manufacturer, or as furnishing principles for active benevolence and integrity."Mr. James Luckcock, who was one of the first to

engage in this project, delivered a series of Moral Lectures to this society, which he afterwards published under the title of "Moral Culture;" but, as they were printed in Birmingham, and no London bookseller's name affixed to them, they were probably not so widely known as they otherwise might have been.

In 1794 and 1795, Mr. David Jones delivered some admirable courses of lectures on the Philosophy of the Human Mind as connected with Education, the Theory of Morals, and also on General History: the adınission to all these lectures was gratuitous, and they were very numerously attended by persons of both sexes.

But the disposition to promote the spread of knowledge at this period in Birmingham, is shewn by another circumstance, which is so important that it ought to be recorded. This was the establishment of a Library for the peculiar use of the working classes, and that those who could not afford to purchase books, and yet possessed a taste for useful reading, might enjoy the gratification. This originated with Messrs. Thomas and Samuel Carpenter, (the brothers of Dr. Lant Carpenter,) who had established a Sunday-school which they conducted by their own exertions and supported at their own expense. Mr. Thomas Carpenter also occasionally gave lectures gratuitously, on some useful subject, to the younger

artizans, at his own large room.

But the subsequent account, which the managers of the Artizans' Library published in 1825, conveys so much satisfactory information on this subject, that to pass it without notice would be an act of injustice to its founders and present supporters.

"To the Subscribers and Friends to the Artizans' Library.

"IT having been suggested at the last Annual Meeting of Subscribers to this Institution, that it might be materially benefited, and the number of its Subscribers considerably increased, if its existence were made known to those who are unacquainted therewith, and the great advantages it possesses pointed out to those who know of such a Society only by name.; a Sub-Committee was appointed to draw up a brief report of its origin and progress, to be published for distribution among the Subscribers and Friends to the Institution.

"The Artizans' Library owes its origin to the establishment of a Sunday-school by Messrs. Thomas and Samuel Carpenter, in the year 1797, who, when these institutions, which have conferred lasting benefit on the working classes by enlightening their minds and effecting the happiest change in their morals and pursuits, were yet in their infancy, meritoriously conducted, and, at their own expense, supported one. To excite emulation among their scholars, they offered them, by way of reward, the privilege of using a small collection of books, then wholly donations from the Messrs. Carpenter and their relations, The original number of Subscribers was about twenty, at one penny per

week. Soon the collection was increased by honorary subscriptions from wealthy and benevolent individuals, among whom the name of Mr. Thomas Ryland stands conspicuous. In about two years after, the founders conceived the generous idea of making the Library public; accordingly Subscribers generally were admitted, and a code of laws drawn up for the regulation of the institution, which assumed the name of the Bristol-Street Society,' from the circumstance of its being then situated in that street. In the year 1799, the founders changing their pursuits, the Library was removed into Paradise Street, to the residence of Mr. Thomas Carpenter, and here it took the name of Artizans' Library.' Shortly after, circumstances compelled its removal to other situations; its consequence now was increased, and the entrance raised from one shilling to two shillings and sixpence, and the subscription to one shilling and sixpence per quarter, or five shillings and ninepence per annum, at which it has ever since remained; but the rate of entrance has subsequently experienced another advance to three shillings. After several removals, the Library was at length, in 1811, settled in its present situation, Edmund Street, and the room, having been much enlarged and improved, is in every respect calculated for the accommodation of the Subscribers. It is open for the transaction of business on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday evenings, from half-past seven till nine o'clock; its laws are simple, and such as appear well calculated for the government of the institution, and the security of its funds. The present number of Subscribers is one hundred and eighty-two, and the Library consists of one thousand five hundred volumes, arranged under the