Year.   Licensed    Beer and   Total.   Population.   Beer, &c.,  Grocers. 
Victuallers.   Wine On.                           Off.
1870     687         1166     1853     337,982         ..         ..
1871     683         1165     1848     343,690         ..         ..
1872     684         1117     1801     349,398         ..         23
1873     684         1083     1767     355,106          4         53
1874     680         1081     1761     360,814          4         53
1875     676         1057     1733     366,522          7         73
1876     675         1059     1734     372,230        171         73
1877     673         1054     1727     377,938        223         74
1878     672         1046     1718     383,646        334         77
1879     671         1061     1732     389,354        433         61
1880     670         1060     1730     395,063        454         63
1881     669         1054     1723     400,774        454         55
1882     670         1054     1724     406,482        459         57

Lifeboats.—­In 1864-65 a small committee, composed of Messrs. H. Fulford, G. Groves, J. Pearce, D. Moran, G. Williams, R. Foreshaw, and G. Lempiere, aided by the Mayor and Dr. Miller, raised about L500 as a contribution from Birmingham to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.  Two boats were credited to us in the Society’s books, one called “Birmingham” (launched at Soho Pool, November 26, 1864), and the other the “James Pearce.”  These boats, placed on the Lincolnshire and Norfolk coasts, were instrumental in the saving of some hundreds of lives, but both have, long since, been worn out, and it is about time that Birmingham replaced them.  Messrs. C. and W. Barwell, Pickford Street, act as local hon. secs.  The “Charles Ingleby” lifeboat, at Hartlepool, was paid for, and the establishment for its maintenance endowed, out of the sum of L1,700, contributed by C.P.  Wragge, Esq., in memory of the late Rev. Charles Ingleby.

Lifford, in the parish of King’s Norton, once boasted of a Monastic establishment, which was squelched by Bluff King Harry, the only remains now to be found consisting of a few more than half-buried foundations and watercourses.

Lighting.—­Oil lamps for giving light in the streets were in limited use here in 1733, even before an Act was obtained to enforce payment of a rate therefor.  Deritend and Bordesley obtained light by the Act passed in 1791.  The Street Commissioners, Nov. 8, 1816, advertised for tenders for lighting the streets with gas, but it was nearly ten years (April 29, 1826) before the lamps were thus supplied.  The Lighting Act was adopted at Saltley April 1, 1875.  Lighting the streets by electricity may come some day, though, as the Gas Works belong to the town, it will, doubtless, be in the days of our grandchildren.