Atlantic Cables.—­It would have been strange if Birmingham had not had a hand in the making of these.  For the cable laid in 1865, 16,000 miles of copper wire, weighing 308 tons, were turned out by Messrs. Bolton and Sons and Messrs. Wilkes and Sons.  The cable itself was 2,300 (nautical) miles in length.

Baby Show.—­Let Mr. Inshaw, of the “Steam Clock,” have the honour of being recorded as the first to introduce the Yankee notion of a “baby show,” which took place at his Music Hall, May 15, 1874.

Bachelors.—­In 1695, bachelors over 24 had to pay a tax of 1s., if “a common person,” the scale running as high as L12 10s. for a duke!  Judging from the increase of the population about that time, we doubt if even a “common” bachelor paid here.  The married folks had not much to laugh at though, for they had to pay duty on every child that was born.  Funny time, those!

Balloons.—­A Mr. Harper was the first to scale the clouds in a balloon from this town, January 4, 1785.  He rose again on the 31, from the Tennis Court, in Coleshill Street, and is said to have sailed a distance of 57 miles in 80 minutes.  Mr. Sadler went up from Vauxhall, October 7th, 1811, and again on October 20th, 1823.  Mr. Green rose from Newhall Hill, July 17th, 1827, and several times after.

Balsall Heath.—­In some ancient deeds called “Boswell Heath.”  The land round Mary street, known as the Balsall Heath estate, was sold in building lots (234) in 1839, the last day’s sale being August 26, and the auctioneers, Messrs. E. & C. Robins.  Edwardes-street takes its name from the last owner of the estate, who, if he could now but glance over the property, would be not a little astonished at the changes which have taken place in the last forty years, for, like unto Aston, it may be said to really form but a portion of the ever-extending town of Birmingham.  Balsall Heath, which is in the parish of King’s Norton, has now a Local Board (with its offices in Lime Grove, Moseley Road) several Board schools, chapels, and churches, a police court, and that sure mark of advancement, a local newspaper.  One thing still wanting, however, is a cemetery.  Though an appropriate and convenient spot near Cannon Hill Park was chosen for the last resting-place, the ratepayers, at a meeting held July 21, 1879, decided that they could not yet afford the required outlay of some L17,000 necessary for the purpose, notwithstanding that the annual rateable value of the property in the neighbourhood is something like L70,000, and increasing by three to four thousand a year.

Banks and Bankers.—­The Birmingham Branch Bank of England (drawing on the parent Bank of England), is in Bennett’s Hill.

The local Branch of the National Provincial Bank of England (Lim.), Bennett’s Hill, also draws on its headquarters.  It commenced business here on New Year’s Day 1827.

The Birmingham Banking Company (Lim.), also in Bennett’s Hill, draws on the London and Westminster.  It opened its doors Sept. 1, 1829, with a nominal capital of L500,000, in L50 shares, L5 being paid up at starting.  An amalgamation took place in the year 1880 with the Stourbridge and Kidderminster Bank (established in 1834) the united company having a paid-up capital of L286,000 and a reserve of L312,000.