House and Window Tax.—­See “Taxes.”

Howard Street Institute.—­Founded in 1869.  The first annual meeting, for the distribution of prizes, was held in December, 1872.  The many sources for acquiring knowledge now provided at such institutions as the Midland Institute, the Mason College, &c., have no doubt tended much to the end, but, considering the amount of good derived by the pupils from the many classes held in the Howard Street rooms, it is a pity the Institute should be allowed to drop.

Humbug.—­The Prince of Humbugs, Phineas Barnum, at the Town Hall, February 28, 1859, gave his views of what constituted “Humbug.”  As if the Brums didn’t know.

Humiliation Days.—­February 25, 1807, was kept here as a day of fasting and humiliation, as was also September 25, 1832.

Hundred.—­Birmingham is in the Hundred of Hemlingford.

Hungary.—­The first meeting in this town to express sympathy with the Hungarians in their struggle with Austria, was held in the Corn Exchange, May 23, 1849, and several speakers were in favour of sending armed help, but no volunteers came forward.

Hunter’s Lane and Nursery Terrace take their names from the fact that Mr. Hunter’s nursery grounds and gardens were here situated.  The “Lane” was the old road to Wolverhampton, but has a much older history than that, as it is believed to have been part of the Icknield Street.

Hurricanes.—­The late Mr. Thos.  Plant, in describing the great storm, which visited England, on the night of Sunday, 6th January, 1839, and lasted all next day, said it was the most tremendous hurricane that had occurred here for fifty years.  A large quantity of lead was stripped off the roof of the Town Hall, the driving force of the gale being so strong, that the lead was carried a distance of more than sixty yards before it fell into a warehouse, ’at the back of an ironmonger’s shop in Ann Street.—­See “Storms and Tempests.”

Hurst Street, from Hurst Hill, once a wooded mount (the same being the derivation of Ravenhurst Street), was originally but a passage way, leading under an arch at the side of the White Swan in Smallbrook Street (now Day’s establishment).  Up the passage was a knacker’s yard, a shop for the dyeing of felt hats, and a few cottages.

Icknield Street.—­Britain was formerly traversed by four great roads, usually called Roman roads, though there are some grounds for believing that the Ancient Britons themselves were the pioneers in making these trackways, their conquerors only improving the roads as was their wont, and erecting military stations along the line.  These roads were severally called “Watling Straete,” which ran from the coast of Kent, through London, to the Welsh coast in county Cardigan; the “Fosse,” leading from Cornwall to Lincoln; “Erminge Straete,” running from St. David’s to Southampton; and