A regular concert is established, where the music is allowed to excel.  This harmonious science, like other productions of taste, though it be not the general study of the inhabitants, hath made an amazing progress during the last thirty years.

In 1777, a coffee-house was opened at the East end of New-street, the first in this department; which, drawing into its vortex the transactions of Europe, finds employment for the politician.

Assemblies are held weekly, which give room for beauty to figure at cards, in conversation, and in the dance.

The pleasures of the field claim their votaries, but, in a populous country, like that of Birmingham, plenty of game is not to be expected; for want of wild fowl, therefore, the shooter has been sometimes known to attack the tame.

However, the farmer need not be under any great concern for his property; the sportsman seldom does any thing with his arms—­but—­carry them.  We are more famous for making, than using the gun.

A pack of hounds have sometimes been kept by subscription, termed, The Birmingham Hunt; but, as the sound of the dogs and the anvil never harmonised together, they have been long in disuse:  the jocund tribe, therefore, having no scent of their own, fall into that of the neighbouring gentry, many of whom support a pack.

The man of reflection finds amusement in domestic resources; and, in his own mind, if unoppressed.  Here the treasures collected from men, books, and observation, are laid up for many years, from which he draws pleasure, without diminishing the flock.  The universal riches of nature and of art; the part, the present, and a glympse of the future, lie open to his eye.

Two obstructions only bound his ideas, time and space.  He steps from planet to planet, and if he cannot enter immensity, he can verge upon its borders.

I pity the man, who through poverty, cannot find warmth by his own fire-side; but I pity him more, who, through poverty of thought, cannot find happiness.

For the entertainment of summer, exclusive of the two theatres, there are five greens, where the gentlemen are amused with bowls, and the ladies with tea.

There are also great variety of public gardens, suited to every class of people, or which Duddeston, the ancient seat of the Holte family, claims the pre-eminence.

The fishing-rod, that instrument which destroys in peace, must find a place:  other animals are followed with fire and tumult, but the fishes are entrapped with deceit.  Of all the sportsmen, we charge the angler alone with killing in cold blood.

Just as a pursuit abounds with pleasure, so will it abound with votaries.  The pleasure of angling depends on the success of the line:  this art is but little practised here, and less known.  Our rivers are small, and thinly stored; our pools are guarded as private property:  the Birmingham spirit is rather too active for the sleepy amusement of fishing.