BIRMINGHAM, a market town in the hundred of Hemlingford, and in the county of Warwick, is 116 miles from London by Oxford, and 109 by Co ventry. It is about two miles in length, pleasantly situated on the side of a hill by the river Rea ; and the soil, on which it is founded, consists chiefly of a dry reddish sand. It'is remarkably free from damp ; and even its cellars arc described as comfortable habi tations. Its air is naturally exceedingly pure ; and, notwithstanding its close population, continual smoke, and noxious metallic effluvia, it is accounted by Dr Price one of the healthiest towns in England. From the register of burials, in an average of six years end ing in 1801, while the scale of mortality in London was as 1 to 31, and in Manchester as 1 to 37, that of .Tiirminglizm was only as 1 to 59. Instances of Ion gcvity among its inhabitants are strikingly numerous ; I and every mean is employed for the preservation of health, particularly bathing, for which the most corn pletc and extensive accommodation in the kingdom has been provided.
The antiquity of Birmingham is argued from the circumstance of its being contiguous to two Roman roads, the Ilkcnild and Shirley streets ; and it is sup posed to have existed as a town in the reign of King Alfred. It appears, at least, upon record, that, in 1251, William de Birmingham, lord of the manor, procured an additional charter from Edward III. re viving and granting several privileges. It was be. sieged by Prince Rupert in 1613 ; and, being taken after a short resistance, was commanded to be burnt to the ground ; but, by some favourable circumstance, the conflagration was confined to a few houses in Bull street. It suffered very severely from the plague in 1665 ; and after the church-yard was filled with the dead bodies, they were interred in an acre of land at Lady Wood green, which, from this circumstance, has received the name of Pest-ground. It had attain ed some degree of eminence previous to the reign of Charles II. ; but it is from this period, that its rapid increase must be dated. About the year 1700 it did not contain above 30 streets, but now they amount nearly to 250. Its progress may be render
ed more apparent by the 'following statements. In 1779, there were only three houses between the roads to Wolverhampton and Dudley ; in 1780, they in creased to 55 ; in 1781, to 144; and, in 1791, there was an addition of 833. In 1688, the sum disbursed for the relief of the poor amounted to A' 308,17s. 91d. ; but, in 1787, it was ,C12,129, 9s. I Ittl.
The lower part of the town consists chiefly of old buildings, is filled wi:h workshops and warehouses, and is inhabited principally by manufacturers. Al most every artist has a separate house, so that the po pulation is spread over a great extent of surface, and free from many of the evils, which prevail in those great towns where the habitations are larger, and se veral families crowded into one floor. rue upper part of the town has a very superior appearance, consisting of new and regular streets, and containing a number of elegant buildings. There are two pa rish churches ; St Martin's, with a lofty spire, usual ly denominated the old church,. and situated in the lower part of the town, built originally of stone about the year 1300, cased with brick in 1690, and repaired, in 1786, at an expense of R4000: and St Philip's, or the new church, which is a very handsome structure, founded in the year 17]1, built in a light elegant style, and capable of containing more than 2000 persons. It has a square tower adorned with a cupola, a peal of ten bells, and a clock with musical chimes. There are also four chapels in connection with the church of England ; St Bartholomew's, erected in 1749 ; St Mary's, in 1774 ; St Paul's, in 1779; and the house of Dr Ash, a celebrated physi cian in Birmingham, which was converted into an ele gant chapel by a private gentleman, at his own ex pense, in 1789. There is a number of dissenting places of worship ; two presbyterian mecting-houses, and a third in contemplation ; three of independents; three of baptists, several of the methodists, one of quakers, a Romish chapel, and a Jcwish syna gogue.