Ringers.—­The St. Martin’s Society of Change Ringers, date from 1755, and have always held high rank among the bellringers of the country.  Many old newspapers have chronicled their mighty doings with bobs and treble bobs, caters and cinques, in all their courses and changes.  In Southey’s “Doctor” (vol. 1, p. 303) mention is made of “eight Birmingham youths who ventured upon a peal of 15,120 bob major, but after ringing for eight hours and a half were so fatigued that the caller brought them round at the 14,224th change, perhaps the longest peal that had ever been rung.”  On February 28, 1881, the ringers achieved a true peal of Stedman cinques, containing 9,238 change, in 6-3/4 hours, being the longest peal ever rung in that method, and noteworthy as the composition of H. Johnson, senr., and rung in honour of his 72nd birthday.  In former days the local ringers were also famed for their skill with handbells, one celebrated performer being Elijah Roberts, an extraordinary adept, who died in 1865.  One of this worthy’s feats was the ringing (at Liverpool, [**]ch 23, 1837) a peal comprising [**] of Kent treble bob maxi[**] hours—­See “Bells.”

Riots.—­In times past the Brums had a bad name for rioting, and when the list is looked over many may think it not undeserved.—­In July, 1715, the Old Meeting House was destroyed in a riot.—­In 1737 the nail-makers from Worcestershire marched into this town and forced the ironmongers to sign a paper allowing an advance in prices.—­Some bigoted brutes got up an anti-Methodist movement in 1751, which culminated in a general riot on Oct. 19, the pulpit and seats being taken out of the meeting-house and burnt.—­The history of “the Birmingham Riots” of 1791 is world-known, and there is no necessity to repeat the disgraceful tale.  The damage was estimated at L60,000; the sufferers recovered only L27,000,—­On Oct. 24, 1793, caused by the enforced collection of the rates levied to pay damages done in riots of 1791.  Two more lives lost.  —­June 22, 1795. on account of scarcity of food and the high prices thereof.  Soldiers called out, and they gave two unfortunates leaden food enough to kill them.—­May 28, 1810, two women fell out over the price of some potatoes, others joined in and a scrimmage ensued.  Constables came and men mauled them, and the result of the unruly wagging of those two women’s tongues was a riot, which lasted four days.  Three men were sentenced to grow potatoes at Botany Bay the rest of their lives.—­March 22, 1813, the chapels in Bond Street, Belmont Row, and Ladywell Walk, with the Jews’ Synagogue in Severn Street, were damaged by a riotous mob.  The Jabet Riots in 1816 were primarily caused by the proprietor of Jabet’s Herald publishing an address showing that “a man, wife, and six children could live on 6s. a week.”  Some cheap food was presented to the printer in the shape of potatoes, with which his windows were smashed.—­Claims for damages arising out of the Chartist riots of 1839