I think there is an excellent clause in the devisor's will, ordering his bailiff to pay half a crown to any two persons, who, having quarreled and entered into law, shall stop judicial proceedings, and make peace by agreement--He might have added, "And half a crown to the lawyer that will suffer them." I know the sum has been demanded, but am sorry I do not know that it was ever paid.
If money be reduced to one fourth its value, since the days of Lench, it follows, that four times the sum ought to be paid in ours; and perhaps ten shillings cannot be better laid out, than in the purchase of that peace, which tends to harmonise the community, and weed a brotherhood not the most amicable among us.
The members choose annually, out of their own body a steward, by the name of bailiff Lench: The present fraternity, who direct this useful charity, are
Thomas Colmore, bailiff.
George Davis,
Win. Walsingham, dead,
Michael Lakin,
Benjamin May,
Michael Lakin, jun.
James Bedford,
Samuel Ray,
John Ryland,
James Jackson,
Stephen Bedford, dead,
Joseph Tyndall,
Joseph Smith,
Robert Mason,
Joseph Webster, dead,
Abel Humphreys,
Thomas Lawrence,
Samuel Pemberton,
Joseph Webster, jun.
John Richards.
FENTHAM'S TRUST.
In 1712, George Fentham, of Birmingham, devised his estate by will, consisting of about one hundred acres, in Erdington and Handsworth, of the value then, of 20l. per annum, vesting the same in a trust, of which no person could be chosen who resided more than one hundred yards from the Old Cross. We should be inclined to think the devisor entertained a singular predilection for the Old Cross, then in the pride of youth. But if we unfold this whimsical clause, we shall find it contains a shrewd intention. The choice was limited within one hundred yards, because the town itself, in his day, did not in some directions extend farther. Fentham had spent a life in Birmingham, knew well her inhabitants, and like some others, had found honour as well as riches among them: He knew also, he could with safety deposit his property in their hands, and was determined it should never go out,--The scheme will answer his purpose.
The uses of this estate, now about 100l. per annum, are for teaching children to read, and for clothing ten poor widows of Birmingham: Those children belonging to the charity school, in green, are upon this foundation.
The present trust are
Francis Coales, and Edmund Wace Pattison.