“Battle of Birmingham,” which took place on the 3rd of April, 1643.  On that day our town was attacked by Prince Rupert, with some 2,000 horse and foot; being pretty stoutly opposed, his soldiers slew a number of inhabitants, burnt nearly 80 houses, and did damage (it is said) to the extent of L30,000.  It took five days for the news of this exploit to reach London.  In the week following Christmas of the same year, a number of townspeople, aided by a party of the Commonwealth soldiers, laid siege to, and captured, Aston Hall.

Bazaars.—­When originated none can tell.  How much good done by means of them, nobody knows.  But that immense amounts have been raised for good and charitable purposes, none can deny—­and then, “they are such fun!”.  “Grand Bazaars” have been held for many an institution, and by many different sects and parties, and to attempt to enumerate them would be an impossibility, but the one on behalf of the Queen’s Hospital, held in April, 1880, is noteworthy, for two reasons:—­first, because the proceeds amounted to the munificent sum of L5,969, and, secondly, from the novelty of the decorations.  The body of the Town Hall was arranged to represent an English street of the olden time, a baronial castle rising tower upon tower at the great gallery end, and an Elizabethan mansion in the orchestra, with a lawn in front, occupied by a military band.  The sides of the Hall constituted a double row of shops, the upper storeys (reaching to the galleries) being filled with casements and balconies, from whence the doings in the street could be witnessed.

Bean Club.—­The first anniversary we read of was that held July 17, 1752, at which meeting Lord Fielding gave L120 to erect an altarpiece in St. Bartholomew’s.

Beardsworth (John).—­Founder of the Repository, began life as driver of a hackney coach, in which one night he drove a beautiful young lady to a ball.  John went home, dressed, procured admission to the ball, danced with the lady, handed her to the coach, drove her home, and some time after married her.  The lady’s cash enabled him to acquire an ample fortune, being at one time worth nearly a quarter of a million, most of which, however, was lost on the turf.  The Repository was the largest establishment of the kind in the kingdom, and Beardsworth’a house adjoining was furnished in most splendid style, one centre table (made of rich and rare American wood) costing L1,500.

Beelzebub.—­Watt’s first steam engine was so christened.  It was brought from Scotland, put up at Soho, and used for experimenting upon.  It was replaced by “Old Bess,” the first engine constructed upon the expansive principle.  This latter engine is now in the Museum of Patents, South Kensington, though Mr. Smiles says he saw it working in 1857, seventy years after it was made.