as it occurred by those who remained, and, as the Act of 1828 increased their number to no less than 89, perhaps some little excuse may be made for the would-be leading men of the day who were left out in the cold.  Be that as it may, the Charter of Incorporation put them aside, and gave their power and authority into the hands of a popularly-elected representative body.  The Commissioners, however, remained as a body in name until the last day of December, 1851, when, as a token of remembrance, they presented the town with the ornamental fountain formerly standing in the centre of the Market Hall, but which has been removed to Highgate Park.  On the transfer of their powers to the Corporation, the Commissioners handed over a schedule of indebtedness, showing that there was then due on mortgage of the “lamp rate,” of 4 per cent, L87,350; on the “Town Hall rate,” at 4 per cent., L25,000; annuities, L947 3s. 4d.; besides L7,800, at 5 percent., borrowed by the Duddeston and Nechells Commissioners, making a total of L121,097 3s. 4d.

Commons.—­Handsworth Common was enclosed in 1793.  An Act was passed in 1798 for enclosing and allotting the commons and waste land in Birmingham.  The commons and open fields of Erdington and Witton were enclosed and divided in 1801.

Concert Halls, &c.—­The Birmingham Concert Hall, better known as “Holder’s,” was built in 1846, though for years previous the house was noted for its harmonic meetings; the present Hall has seats for 2,200 persons.  Day’s Concert Hall was erected in 1862 the opening night, September 17, being for the benefit of the Queen’s Hospital, when L70 was realised therefor; the Hall will accommodate 1,500.—­The Museum Concert Hall was opened Dec. 20, 1863, and will hold about 1,000 people.—­A very large building intended for use as a Concert Hall, &c., will soon be opened in Snow Hill, to be conducted on temperance principles.—­A series of popular Monday evening concerts was commenced in the Town Hall, Nov. 12, 1844, and was continued for nearly two years.—­Twopenny weekly “Concerts for the People” were started at the Music Hall, Broad Street (now Prince of Wales’ Theatre), March 25, 1847, but they did not take well.—­Threepenny Saturday evening concerts in Town Hall, were begun in November, 1879.

Conferences and Congresses of all sorts of people have been held here from time to time, and a few dates are here annexed:—­A Conference of Wesleyan ministers took place in 1836, in 1844, 1854, 1865, and 1879, being the 136th meeting of that body.  Four hundred Congregational ministers met in Congress Oct. 5, 1862.  A Social Science Congress was held Sept. 30, 1868.  A Trades Union Conference Aug. 23, 1869.  National Education League Conference, Oct. 12, 1869.  National Republican Conference, May 12, 1873.  Conference on Sanitary Reform, Jan. 14, 1875.  A Co-operative Societies Conference, July 3, 1875.  A Conference of Christians in Needless Alley, Oct. 27, 1875.  The Midland Counties’