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founded here by Edward VI,* and Oldswinford Hospital for feeding, clothing, educating, and apprenticing boys, founded by T, Foley in 1670 (and both of which institutions are still in existence, the hospital having an income of £3,500 per annum), had no doubt an important influence on the increase and prosperity of the parish; and then the clothing, glass, and iron trades were carried on here for upwards of two centuries by the Foleys, Scotts, Hickmans, and other families, who made large fortunes thereby. The clothing trade expired here about half a century ago. Glass making was introduced to Stourbridge by French Protestant refugees from Lorraine in 1557, and the town has long been the principal seat of this trade. Former restrictive duties kept down the consumption of glass to a comparatively small amount until 1845, when the abolition of the duties took place, and the increase of the manufacture was soon enormous. It is still on the increase, and the principal manufacturers now are Messrs. Thomas Webb and Sons, Dennis Park; W. Walker and Sons, Heath; Richardson and Smith, Holloway End; Joseph Webb, Coalbournbrook; Hodgetts, Richardson, and Co., Wordsley; Webb, Mills, and Stewart, Wordsley; J. Webb and Co., Wordsley; Williams and Stevens, Moor Lane; the Platts Plate-glass Company, and numerous cutting shops. The manufacture of fire bricks and the sale of clay for the glass works has become almost as important an interest as glass itself. This clay is found under the coal strata, and being capable of resisting intense heat is therefore used for glass-house pots, and the bricks in making glass furnaces; it is also exported in large quantities, and formed into crucibles and other vessels requiring great durability. Clay retorts for gasworks and also baths are manufactured. Nails and other articles are likewise fabricated here. Coal mines are a short distance from the town, being a portion of the Staffordshire beds, and iron-stone is abundant. All these and many other industries of the place are greatly promoted by the agency of the canal and the rail. The 0. W. W. Railway (now part of

* Dr. Samuel Johnson studied at this school for one year.