Bobby Atkins, whose real name was Edward, was the most popular comedian of the Royal, with which he had been connected for more than twenty-five years. He died in 1882, in his 64th year. His bosom friend, John Barton, made his exit from the world's stage April 16, 1875.
Sir. George Rignold's mother is stated by Mr. Thomas Swinbourne (himself a native) to have been a leading actress of the Theatre Royal and very popular, as indeed she would necessarily be, her role of parts including Hamlet and Virginius. The father was, says Mr. S., "an admirable terpsichorean artiste, and George inherits the talents of both parents, with a dash of music besides, for, like William, in 'Black-eyed Susan,' he 'plays on the fiddle like on angel.'"
Two or three of our places of amusement have been turned into chapels permanently, and therefore it was hardly a novelty to hold "Gospel services" in the Prince of Wales's Theatre, October 3, 1875, but it was to their credit that "the gods" behaved themselves.
Time.—When it is exactly twelve at noon here in Birmingham, it is 7min. 33secs. past at Greenwich, 12min. 50secs. past at Dover, and 16min. 54secs. past at Paris; while it wants 1-1/2mins. to the hour at Manchester, 9-1/2min. at Glasgow, 17min. 50secs. at Dublin, and 26-1/2mins. at Cork. At Calcutta, the corresponding time would be 6.1-1/2 p.m., Canton 7.40 p.m., Japan 9.15 p.m., Mexico 5.34 a.m., New Orleans 8.5 a.m., New York 7.11 a.m., New Zealand 11.45 p.m., Nova Scotia 7.55 a.m., San Francisco 4.5 a.m., St., Petersburg 2.10 p.m., Sydney 10.12 p.m., and at Washington just seven o'clock in the morning.
Tithes.—One hundred and fifty years ago (if not, considerably later) the Rector of St. Martin's was paid tithes in cash based on the value of the crops, &c., one acre of good wheat being tithed at 7s. 6d.; an acre of good barley at 4s. 4-1/2d.; an acre of flax and hemp, if pulled, at 5s.; an acre of good oats, peas, or potatoes, and all kinds of garden stuff at 3s. 9d.; for meadow land 4d. an acre, and 2d. for leasow (or leasland); 3d. being claimed for cow and her calf. 1-1/2d. for each lamb, &c. In course of time these payments were changed into a fixed tithe rent, but before matters were comfortably settled, the Rector found it necessary to give notice (April, 1814) that he should enforce the ancient custom of being paid "in kind." The gun trade was brisk at that time, but whether the reverend gentleman took his tenths of the guns, what he did with them, or how the parties came to terms is not recorded.—The tithes formerly due in kind to the Vicar of Edgbaston were commuted by Act passed June 8, 1821, into art annual "corn rent," payable by the occupiers or all kinds in the parish.
Tower.—Originally, all guns made here for Government, had to be put together in London, but when the French Revolution broke out, it was seen that a quicker mode of procedure was necessary, and an establishment in Bagot Street was erected in 1798, where all guns for Government were viewed and stamped with the "Tower" mark. Hence the name.
Town Criers were first appointed in 1526. Jacob Wilson entered into office May 4, 1853, and was pensioned off with 15s. a week in August, 1879, after a family tenure of the office, according to Jacob, of about 350 years. Surely it was a crying shame to stop the children of that family from crying in the future. The last of the criers did not last long after deposition from office, Jacob's last words being uttered in 1881.
Town Improvements.—Some fifty and odd years ago Dobbs, a local comedian, used to sing,
"Brumagem has altered so,
There's scarce a place in it I know;