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and philanthropic institutions, in the establishment or support of which the Vicar has taken a most active part during the seven or eight years of his incumbency. The Free Grammar School has a small endowment. The story has often been told of an option having been given to the people of Birmingham and those of King's Norton, by Edward VI, to have their schools endowed either by a money payment or a grant of land. The Birmingham people are said to have shown their wisdom by choosing the land, the annual income from which now amounts to about £15,000; while King's Norton chose the cash, and consequently to this day receives no more than a miserably small pittance for such a purpose (£15). The idea has been hazarded, however, that the story was only the invention of some inhabitants of the great neighbour-town, in revenge for the equally popular tale that letters were once directed to "Birmingham, near King's Norton." The school has been lately restored, through the exertions of the Vicar, and a very competent master (Rev. A. Smythe, curate) has been appointed. The children of Dissenters are admitted, and are excused from learning the Church catechism on a written request to that effect being made to the visitor of the school. The building in which the school is held is interesting for its antiquity, and contains an ancient library of several hundred volumes, bequeathed for the use of the school and the parishioners by the Rev. T. Hall, who was ejected from the living for nonconformity, and died in 1665. Like the rest of the Puritans, this gentleman was much opposed to sports and recreations. "There were (says he) two May-poles set up in my parish, King's Norton; the one was stolen and the other was given by a profest Papist. That which was stolen was said to be given when 'twas proved to their faces that 'twas stolen, and they were made to acknowledge their offence. This pole that was stolen was rated at 5s. If all the poles, one with another, were so rated, which were stolen this May, what a considerable sum would it amount to! Fightings and bloodshed are usual at such meetings, insomuch that 'tis a