The present newsroom was opened in 1867, and shortly afterwards the Mayor, Mr. Edward Whitley, gave a ball in honour of Prince Arthur and the Prince and Princess Christian, the ballroom in the Town Hall being connected with the newsroom by a long corridor constructed of wood. Dancing took place in both rooms. Upon several occasions after a heavy fall of snow, fights with snowballs were waged on the "flags," until, becoming serious, the police were obliged to interfere and put a stop to them. A playful seasonable exchange of snowballs degenerated into a combat with the rougher element which frequented the "flags." I still recall many of the habitués of the Exchange from 1860 to 1870, men who well represented the varied interests of the great port. While frock coats and tall hats were the rule, many still wore evening dress coats, and not a few white cravats. There was old Miles Barton, a picturesque figure, with his genial smile, and his hat drawn over his eyes; Isaac Cook, the Quaker, in strictest of raiment; Harold Littledale, the friend of Birkenhead, and the critic of the Dock Board; Michael Belcher, the opulent and prosperous cotton broker; the two Macraes, the principal buyers of cotton for the trade; Tom Bold, the active Tory political tactician, who in olden days knew the value of every freeman's vote; H. T. Wilson, the founder of the White Star Line and the Napoleon of the Tory party; Edmund Thomson, the pioneer of steamers to the Brazils, who, like most pioneers, was unsuccessful; John Newall, the "king" of the cotton market, who had an enormous clientele of very wealthy men; C. K. Prioleau, the representative of the Confederate Government, who was also the great blockade runner. Mrs. Prioleau was considered to be the most beautiful woman in Liverpool. Mr. Prioleau built the house in Abercromby Square which the Bishop now occupies as his palace. R. L. Bolton, a very successful and bold operator in cotton, though in appearance the most shy and timid of men was another well-known figure; he rarely made his appearance until late in the day, being credited with a love of turning night into day. James Cox, the opulent bachelor, doyen of the nitrate trade, held his court always well attended in one corner of the room. I well remember J. Aspinall Tobin, tall of stature, distinguished in appearance, fluent of speech, a welcome speaker on every Tory platform; John Donnison, famous for his little dinners and excellent port; Sam Gath, the tallest man on the Exchange; Joseph Leather, the forceful partner in Marriotts, a leading nonconformist, who built and lived at Cleveley, Allerton; Maurice Williams, the writer of a cotton circular, and a reputed oracle on cotton--he lived at Allerton Priory, afterwards bought and rebuilt by Mr. John Grant Morris; Thomas Haigh, the courtly and stately chief of Haigh and Co., cotton brokers; Edwin Haigh, his son, and the most vivacious and talkative of men, popular with all; Lloyd Rayner and his