The soil is rather light, sandy, and weak; and though metals, of various sorts, are found in great plenty, above the surface, we know of nothing below, except sand and gravel, stone and water.  All the riches of the place, like those of an empiric, in laced cloaths, appear on the outside.

The northern part of the parish, for about four hundred acres, to the disgrace of the age, is yet a shameful waste.

A small part of the land near the town, is parcelled out into little gardens, at ten or twenty shillings each, amounting to about sixteen pounds per acre.

These are not intended so much for profit, as health and amusement.

Others are let in detached pieces for private use, at about four pounds per acre.  So that this small parish cannot boast of more than six or eight farms, and these of the smaller size, at about two pounds per acre.  Manure from the sty brings about 16s. per waggon load, that from the stable about 12, and that from the fire and the street, five.

WATER.

I think there is not any natural river runs through the parish, but there are three that mark the boundaries of it, for about half its circumference, described above; none of these supply family use.  After penetrating into a body of sand, interspersed with a small strata of soft Rock, and sometimes of gravel; at the depth of about twenty yards, we come to plenty of water, rather hard.  There are in the lower parts of the town, two excellent springs of soft water, suitable for most purposes; one at the top of Digbeth, the other, Lady-Well.  Or rather, one spring, or bed of water, with many out-lets, continuing its course along the bottom of the hill, parallel with Small-brook-street, Edgbaston street, St. Martin’s-lane, and Park-street; sufficiently copious to supply the whole city of London.  Water is of the first consequence, it often influences disease, always the habit of body:  that of Birmingham is in general productive of salutary effects.

That dreadful disorder, the stone, is seldom found among us.  I can recollect but very few, in my time, under this severe complaint, which is perhaps owing to that valuable element.  I mentioned this remark to an eminent surgeon, who assured me, that, in his long course of practice, he had never been concerned in one operation in that unhappy disorder.

BATHS.

At Lady-Well, are the most complete baths in the whole Island.  There are seven in number; erected at the expence of 2000_l_.  Accommodation is ever ready for hot or cold bathing; for immersion or amusement; with conveniency for sweating.  That, appropriated for swimming, is eighteen Yards by thirty-six, situated in the centre of a garden, in which are twenty four private undressing-houses, the whole surrounded by a wall 10 feet high.  Pleasure and health are the guardians of the place.  The gloomy horrors of a bath, sometimes deter us from its use, particularly, if aided by complaint; but the appearance of these is rather inviting.  We read of painted sepulchres, whose outsides are richly ornamented, but within are full of corruption and death.  The reverse is before us.  No elegance appears without, but within are the Springs of life!  The expence was great, the utility greater.