~Fenianism.~--It was deemed necessary in Jan., 1881, to place guards of soldiers at the Tower and Small Arms Factory, but the Fenians did not trouble us; though later on a very pretty manufactory of dynamite was discovered in Ledsam Street.--See "_Notable Offences_." ~Ferrars.~--The De Ferrars were at one time Lords of the Manor, Edmund de Ferrars dying in 1438. The ancient public-house sign of "The Three Horseshoes" was taken from their coat of arms. ~Festivals.~--Notes of the past Triennial Musical Festivals for which Birmingham is so famous, the performances, and the many great artistes who have taken part therein, will be found further on. ~Fetes~ were held in Aston Park July 27, and September 15, 1856, for the benefit of the Queen's and General Hospitals, realising therefore £2,330. The first to "Save Aston Hall" took place August 17, 1857, when a profit of £570 was made. There have been many since then, but more of the private speculation class, Sangers' so-called fête at Camp Hill, June 27, 1874, being the first of their outdoor hippodrome performances. ~Fires.~--When Prince Rupert's soldiers set fire to the town, in 1643, no less than 155 houses were burned.--Early in 1751 about £500 worth of wool was burned at Alcock's, in Edgbaston Street.--May 24, 1759, the stage waggon to Worcester was set on fire by the bursting of a bottle of aqua-fortis, and the contents of the waggon, valued at £5,000, were destroyed.--In November, 1772, Mr. Crowne's hop and cheese warehouse, top of Carr's Lane, was lessened £400 in value.--The Theatre Royal was burned August 24, 1791, and again January 6, 1820.--Jerusalem Temple, Newhall Hill, was burned March 10, 1793.--St. Peter's Church suffered January 24, 1831.--There was a great blaze at Bolton's timber yard, Broad Street, May 27, 1841.--At the Manor House, Balsall Heath, in 1848.--Among Onion's bellows, in March, 1853.--At the General Hospital, December 24, 1853.--At the Spread Eagle Concert Hall, May 5, 1855.--At a builder's in Alcester Street, October 4, 1858.--At Aston Brook Flour mill, June 1, 1862, with £10,000 damage.--At Lowden & Beeton's, High Street, January 3, 1863; the firm were prosecuted as incendiaries.--At Gameson's Tavern, Hill Street, December 25, 1863; six lives lost.--On the stage at Holder's, July 3, 1865; two ballet dancers died from fright and injuries.--At Baskerville Sawmills, September 7, 1867.--In Sutton Park, August 4, 1868.--In a menagerie in Carr's Lane, January 25, 1870. --At Dowler's Plume Works, March 16.--In Denmark Street, May 23; two children burned.--At Worcester Wharf, June 2, 1870; two men burnt.--At Warwick Castle, Dec. 3, 1871.--At Smith's hay and straw yard, Crescent, through lightning, July 25, 1872.--In Sherbourne Street, June 25, 1874, and same day in Friston Street; two men burned.--At the hatter's shop in Temple Street, Nov. 25, 1875.--At Tipper's Mystery Works, May 16, and at Holford Mill, Perry Barr, August 3, 1876.--At Icke and Co.'s, Lawley