Temperance.—­There appears to have been a sort of a kind of a temperance movement here in 1788, for the Magistrates, at their sitting August 21, strongly protested against the increase of dram-drinking; but they went on granting licenses, though.  Father Matthew’s first visit was September 10, 1843; J.B.  Gough’s, September 21, 1853; Mr. Booth’s, in May, 1882.  The first local society for inculcating principles of temperance dates from September 1, 1830; U.K.  Alliance organised a branch here in February, 1855; the first Templars’ Lodge was opened September 8, 1868; the Royal Crusaders banded together in the summer of 1881; and the Blue Ribbons were introduced in May, 1882.  This novelty in dress ornamentation was adopted (so they said) by over 40,000 inhabitants, but at the end of twelve months the count was reduced to 8,000, including Sunday School children, popular parsons, maidens looking for husbands, old maids who had lost their chances, and the unco’ guid people, who, having lost their own tastes, would fain keep others from their cakes and ale.

Temple Row.—­A “parech meeting” in 1715 ordered the purchase of land for a passage way out of Bull Street to St. Philip’s Church.  It was not until 1842 when part of the Royal Hotel stables were taken down, that it was made its present width.  In 1837 the churchyard had some pleasant walks along the sides, bounded by a low wooden fence, and skirted with trees.

Temple Street takes its name from the old summer arbour, wittily called “the Temple,” which once stood in a garden where now Temple Row joins the street.  An advertisement in Gazette of December 5, 1743, announced a house for sale, in Temple Street, having a garden twelve yards wide by fifty yards long, adjoining the fields, and with a prospect of four miles distance.

Theatrical Jottings.—­What accommodation, if any, was provided here for “their majesties’ servants,” the playactors, in the times of Queen Anne and her successor, George I., is not known, but as Hutton tells us that in 1730 the amusements of the stage rose in elegance so far that threepenny performances were given “in a stable in Castle Street,” we may be sure the position held by members of the profession was not very high in the estimation of our townsfolk previous to that period.  Indeed, it would almost seem as if the acting of plays was quite an innovation at the time named, and one that met with approval, for shortly after we read of there being theatres in Smallbrook Street, in New Street, and “a new theatre” in Moor Street.  The first-named closed in 1749 or 1750; the second is supposed to have been on the site of the present Theatre Royal, but it could not have been a building of much importance as we find no note of it after 1744; the third, built in 1739, was taken possession of by the disciples of Wesley, and on March 21, 1764, was opened as a chapel.  Previous to the last event, however, another theatre had been