National Society, and £30 from the Pastoral Aid Society. The collections at the opening were £29 18s. 6d. These schools will accommodate 80 boys, 80 girls, and 90 infants, and are used for the purpose of Daily and Sunday Schools.

Moxley Church.

Moxley, the third ecclesiastical district, was formed in the year 1845, from portions of the parishes of Wednesbury, Darlaston, and Bilston, and contains a population of about 3000 souls, chiefly composed of miners, and persons employed in the manufacture of iron. The Rev. Thomas Knight. M.A., was appointed by the Crown to the perpetual curacy.

There is a large school room in this parish, capable of holding 160 children, also a house for the clergyman and the master, built in the years 1837-8, at a cost of £1,100, raised by subscription. The room has been used for Divine worship, as well as for a daily and Sunday school, until the consecration of the church.

The Rev. Thomas Knight resigned the incumbency, on the 11th of August, 1847, and was succeeded by the Rev. Patrick Wilson, M.A., who received his appointment from the Bishop of Lichfield, on the 14th of October, 1847.

The foundation stone of the new church, dedicated to "All Saints," was laid on Friday, May 3rd, 1850, by the Lady Emily Foley, Divine service having been previously celebrated in the school room. The prayers were said by the Rev. G. W. White, M.A., Rector of Darlaston, and the sermon preached by the Rev. W. Dalton, B.D.; after which a collection was made, when the offerings amounted to £32. The church was consecrated on Friday, June 27th, 1851. At the consecration, after a sermon by the Lord Bishop of

the Diocese, £26 7s. 2d. were collected; and on the following Sunday, after sermons by the Revs. G. Fisk, W. Crump, and J. Y. Rooker, the collections amounted to £25 9s. Unfortunately, All Saints' Church, Moxley, although somewhat better than the sister church of S. James, is still far from being what it should be, as to its architecture. It appears to be built after a style of the architect's own, in a great measure; and although there are some who delight to call it "Early English," we feel certain that beautiful and elegant style will not own this paltry modern incongruity. The church contains 635 sittings, 446 of which are free for ever. To complete the whole, about £3,000 are required; but, owing to a considerable deficiency in the funds, the erection of the spire is at present deferred. The following grants have been made to this church :-The Lichfield Diocesan Church Extension Society, £635; the Ecclesiastical Commissioners for England, £500; the Church Commissioners, £260; the Incorporated Society for Building Churches and Chapels, £250; £500 from the Wolver. hampton Deanery Fund; and £50 from "the Peel Memorial" Fund.

The living is in the patronage of the Crown and the Bishop of Lichfield alternately.

The Delves Chapel.

The Delves is an agricultural district, situated two miles from the parish church of Wednesbury, and contains about 160 inhabitants. For the spiritual benefit of this too long neglected people, a small chapel has been erected by voluntary contributions. The foundation stone was laid by the

Rev. I. Clarkson, and the building completed at a cost of £315. It was opened for Divine service, under license from the Bishop of the Diocese, on the 13th of September, 1850. The morning sermon was preached by the Rev. R. Hawes, M.A., Curate of Walsall; and that in the afternoon by the Rev. I. Clarkson; £19 11s. were collected. The chapel has accommodation for 100 persons.

King's Hill Chapel.

King's Hill is a part of the parish of Wednesbury, close to the town of Darlaston, containing a population of colliers, miners, artisans, &c. In 1851 it was determined to erect a small chapel for this part of the parish, and thus provide in some measure for the spiritual welfare of the 2,000 souls living there. The building was erected at a cost of about £400, and opened for Divine Service on the 11th of May, 1851. The Rev. Henry Taylor is Curate of the Delves and King's Hill.

It is pleasing to reflect that every part of the parish is now supplied with a church or chapel in connexion with the Church of England, wherein the people may worship God after the manner of their forefathers, and that the Gospel is brought to the very doors of the inhabitants. A few years ago there was but one church for the whole parish; now there are four, and two chapels, and fourteen services every Sunday; we wish we could add that each church has its daily service, but in this respect Wednesbury is sadly wanting, S. James's being the only parish where the church is open for the worship of God every day. Not fifty years ago, there were regularly two services, every Wednesday and

Friday, and also on every day appointed by the Church to be kept holy, in the Old Church; but it is much to be regretted that this good custom has of late fallen into desuetude.

The Market Place is in the centre of the town and occupies about an acre of land. Here stood formerly the ancient cross, usually erected in such situations, in order to incul cate upright intentions and fairness of dealing. Many beautiful market crosses still remain in the country, and happily, instead of being destroyed, they are now being restored to their pristine beauty. Previous to the demolition of the Wednesbury Market Cross, a school was kept there, for the education of twelve boys and eight girls; but it has been discontinued about fifty years.

The original grant of a market here was made by Queen Anne to John Hoo, of Bradley, Esq., Serjeant-at-law. The following is a copy of the charter :

Third part of Patents in ye 7th year of ye reign of Queen Anne.—A grant to John Hoo, Esq.

The Queen. To all to whom, &c. greeting. Whereas it appears by a certain inquisition indented, taken at yo parish of King's Swinford, in our county of Stafford, the 24th day of May, in ye 7th year of our reign, before James Wood, Esq,, sheriff of the county aforesaid, by virtue of our certain writ of " Ad quod damnum," to ye said sheriff directed, and to ye inquisition aforesaid annexed, by yo oath of good and lawful men of ye county aforesaid, that it would not be to ye damage or injury of us, or of any others, if we should grant to our beloved and faithful John Hoo, of Bradley, in ye county aforesaid, Esq., serjeant-at-law, license that he and his heirs might have and hold, at Wednesbury, otherwise Wedgebury, in ye county aforesaid, two fairs or marts, yearly, for ever (that is to say), one of ye said fairs upon ye 25th of April, and ye other on ye 23rd of July, unless either of the aforesaid days should be Sunday, and then upon ye Monday next following such Sunday, for ye buying and selling of all and all manner of cattle and beasts, and of all and all manner of goods,

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wares, and merchandizes commonly bought and sold in fairs or marts. And also one market on Friday in every week, for ever, for buying and selling corn, flesh and fish, and other provision, and all and all manner of goods, wares, and merchandizes, commonly bought and sold in markets. And further, by the inquisition aforesaid, it appears that it would not be to ye damage or injury of us, or of others, or to ye hurt of neighbouring markets or fairs, if we should grant to the aforesaid John Hoo, license that he and his heirs might have and hold ye fairs or marts, and markets aforesaid, at Wednesbury, otherwise Wedgebury aforesaid, in manner and form aforesaid, as by ye said writ and inquisition remaining of record in ye files of our Chancery more fully doth and may appear. Now, know ye, that we, of our especial grace, and of our certain knowledge and mere motion, have given and granted, and by these presents, for us, our heirs and successors, do give and grant to ye aforesaid John Hoo and his heirs, free and lawful power, license, and authority, that he or they, and every of them, may, from henceforth, for ever, have, hold, and keep, at Wednesbury, otherwise Wedgebury aforesaid, two fairs or marts, yearly, for ever (that is to say), one of ye said fairs on ye 25th of April, and ye other on ye 23rd of July, unless either of ye aforesaid days shall be Sunday, and then upon ye Monday next following such Sunday, for ye buying and selling of all and all manner of cattle and beasts, and all and all manner of goods, wares, and merchandizes, commonly bought and sold in fairs or marts; and also one market on Friday in every week, for ever, for ye buying and selling of corn, flesh, and fish, and other provisions, and all and all manner of goods, wares, and merchandizes, commonly bought and sold in markets; together with courts of pie poudre at ye time and times of ye aforesaid fairs; and with reasonable tolls, tollage, piccage, and stallage for cattle, goods, merchandize, and wares to be sold, or exposed for sale, in the fair and markets aforesaid, to have, hold, and enjoy ye aforesaid fairs or marts, and markets, and courts of pie poudre,* piccage, and stallage, and premises above, by these presents, granted or mentioned, to be granted to ye said John Hoo and his heirs, for ever, to ye only and proper use and behoof of ye said John Hoo, his heirs and

* A court held in fairs to yield justice to buyers and sellers, and for redress of all disorders committed in them; and so called because it is usually held in summer, and the suitors commonly are country people, with dusty feet: or from the expedition intended in hearing of causes proper thereunto, before the dust goes off the plaintiff's and defendant's feet.