Pettitt.—­Mr. Joseph Pettitt, who died Sept. 9, 1882, in his 70th year, was a local artist of note, a member of the Society of Artists, and for many years a regular exhibitor at the Royal Academy, our local, and other exhibitions.  In his younger years Mr. Pettitt was employed in the papier-mache trade, a business peculiarly suited to persons gifted with artistic faculties.  His earliest specimens of landscape attracted attention, and Mr. Joseph Gillott commissioned the painter to furnish a number of Swiss views for the collection of pictures he had began to gather.  Mr. Pettitt pleased the penmaker, and soon made a name for himself, his works being characterised by fine colour and broad vigorous handling.

Phillips, Alderman, died Feb. 25, 1876.  A member of the first Town Council, and Mayor in 1844.  Mr. Phillips long took active part in municipal matters, and was the founder of the Licensed Victuallers’ Asylum.

Pickard, James.—­A Birmingham button maker, who patented, Aug. 23, 1780, the use of the crank in the steam engine to procure rotary motion.  He is supposed to have got the idea from overhearing the conversation of some Soho workmen while at their cups.  The first engine in which it was used (and the fly-wheel) was for a manufacturer in Snow Hill, and was put up by Matthew Washborough, of Bristol.

Plant.—­Mr. T.L.  Plant, who died very suddenly in a railway carriage in which he was coming into town on the morning of August 31, 1883, came to Birmingham in 1840.  As a meteorologist, who for more than forty years had kept close record of wind and weather, he was well known; his letters to the newspapers on this and kindred subjects were always interesting, and the part he took in advanced sanitary questions gained him the friendship of all.  Mr. Plant was a native of Yorkshire, and was in his 64th year at the time of his death.

Playfair, William (brother of the eminent Scotch mathematician) was engaged as a draughtsman at the Soho Works, after serving apprenticeship as a millwright.  He patented various inventions, and was well known as a political writer, &c.  Born, 1759; died, 1823.

Postgate, John.—­This name should be honoured in every household for a life’s exertion in the obtainment of purity in what we eat and drink.  Beginning life as a grocer’s boy, he saw the most gross adulteration carried on in all the varieties of articles sold by his employers, and afterwards being with a medical firm, he studied chemistry, and devoted his life to analysing food and drugs.  Coming to this town in 1854, he obtained the assistance of Mr. Wm. Scholefield, by whose means the first Parliamentary Committee of Enquiry was appointed; the revelations were astounding, but it was not till 1875 that anything like a stringent Act was passed whereby the adulterators could be properly punished.  The author of this great national benefit was allowed to die almost in poverty, uncared for by his countrymen at large, or by his adopted townsmen of Birmingham.  Born October 21, 1820, Mr. Postgate died in July, 1881.