were made to poor people from a fund raised by public subscription.  In the summer of 1840, local trade was so bad that we have been told as many as 10,000 persons applied at one office alone for free passages to Australia, and all unsuccessfully.  Empty houses could be counted by the hundred.  There was great distress in the winter of 1853-4, considerable amounts being subscribed for charitable relief.  In the first three months of 1855, there were distributed among the poor 11,745 loaves of bread, 175,500 pints of soup, and L725 in cash.  The sum of L10,328 was subscribed for and expended in the relief of the unemployed in the winter of 1878-79—­the number of families receiving the same being calculated at 195,165, with a total of 494,731 persons.

Harmonies.—­See “Musical Societies.”

Hats and Hatters.—­In 1820 there was but one hatter in the town, Harry Evans, and his price for best “beavers” was a guinea and a half, “silks,” which first appeared in 1812, not being popular and “felts” unknown.  Strangers have noted one peculiarity of the native Brums, and that is their innate dislike to “top hats,” few of which are worn here (in comparison to population) except on Sunday, when respectable mechanics churchward-bound mount the chimney pot.  In the revolutionary days of 1848, &c., when local political feeling ran high in favour of Pole and Hungarian, soft broad-brimmed felt hats, with flowing black feathers were en regle, and most of the advanced leaders of the day thus adorned themselves.  Now, the ladies monopolise the feathers and the glories thereof.  According to the scale measure used by hatters, the average size of hats worn is that called 6-7/8, representing one-half of the length and breadth of a man’s head, but it has been noted by “S.D.R.” that several local worthies have had much larger craniums, George Dawson requiring a 7-1/2 sized hat, Mr. Charles Geach a 7-3/4, and Sir Josiah Mason a little over an 8.  An old Soho man once told the writer that Matthew Boulton’s head-gear had to be specially made for him, and, to judge from a bust of M.B., now in his possession, the hat required must have been extra size indeed.

Hearth Duty.—­In 1663, an Act was passed for the better ordering and collecting the revenue derived from “Hearth Money,” and we gather a few figures from a return then made, as showing the comparative number of the larger mansions whose owners were liable to the tax.  The return for Birmingham gives a total of 414 hearths and stoves, the account including as well those which are liable to pay as of those which are not liable.  Of this number 360 were charged with duty, the house of the celebrated Humphrey Jennens being credited with 25.  From Aston the return was but 47, but of these 40 were counted in the Hall and 7 in the Parsonage, Edgbaston showed 37, of which 22 were in the Hall.  Erdington was booked for 27, and Sutton Coldfield for 67, of which 23 were in two houses belonging to the Willoughby family.  Coleshill would appear to have been a rather warmer place of abode, as there are 125 hearths charged for duty, 30 being in the house of Dame Mary Digby.