Royal Visitors from Abroad.—­The great workshops of Birmingham, and especially the Soho Works (in their day), have, for the last hundred years, attracted many crowned and coronetted heads from other parts of the world, though, in many respects, it is to be feared our town no longer holds the pre-eminence in manufacture it once did.  The Hereditary Prince of Brunswick came here, January 2, 1766.  The Empress of Russia inspected Soho in 1776.  The Duc de Chartres came on a similar visit, February 22, 1785, and there were newspaper flunkies then as now, for it was gravely recorded that the Duke’s horses were stabled at the Swan Inn.  His Serene Highness the Statholder and the Prince of Orange called at Boulton’s, August 8, 1796.  The Grand Duke Nicholas, afterwards Emperor of Russia, was here, November 9, 1816.  His Serene Highness Prince Nicolas Esterhazy, visited us in the month of August, 1821.  Prince Louis Napoleon, afterwards Napoleon III., was seen here occasionally while in exile.  The King of Portugal went the round of the manufactories, June 26, 1854; Prince Oscar of Sweden, May 8, 1862; the Emperor of Brazil, July 28, 1871; the Sultan of Zanzibar, July 2, 1875; Archduke Randolph, Crown Prince of Austria, and Prince Esterhazy, January 31 1878; and the Duke of Braganza, Crown Prince of Portugal, in December, 1883.

Sabbath Breaking.—­In 1776 the churchwardens threatened to punish everyone caught playing at ball on the Sabbath.  In 1779 they frequently stopped waggons travelling on that day, and fined the owners for so doing.  In December, 1781, thirty-eight publicans were fined for allowing “tippling” on Sundays.

Sailor’s Return.—­There are several public-houses in the town with the sign of “The Sailor’s Return,” but few of the landlords can tell the history of the first so-named, which is in Watery Lane, at the bottom of Lawley Street.  It is near a hundred years ago since “Old Dr. Spencer” was Vicar of Aston Church, and, though he was fond of hunting, and could be “a jolly good fellow” occasionally, few parsons have gone to the grave more lamented, for he was a man without cant,—­a Christian who never thought himself better than his neighbours, be they rich or poor.  His only son was mortally wounded in one of Nelson’s battles, but he lived just long enough to give his watch and a few trifles for his father to the sailor who waited on him.  ’Twas some time before the “old salt” got to land, and he had been in another brush with the French, and had left a leg behind him.  When he delivered his message to the Dr., the latter asked what he could do for him.  “Why, sir,” said the sailor, “I should like to keep a public-house;” and he did, the Dr. christening it “The Sailor’s Return.”

Saltley.—­So far as our ancient histories can tell us, there was a mansion here long previous to the Conquest, and the diligent antiquarian may still find an old Saltley Hall, though it looks wretchedly neglected and desolate.  Saltley is one of the busiest of our suburbs, there being very extensive Railway Carriage and Wagon Works here, besides other factories and the Corporation Gas-works, the population being about 7,000.