_King's Norton_.--In or about 1680, the Rev. Thomas Hall, B.D., founded a curious old Library for the use of the parishioners, and the books are preserved in the Grammar School, near the Church. This is the earliest _free_ library known in the Midlands. ~Licensed Victuallers' Society.~--See "_Trade Protection Societies_." ~Licensed Victuallers' Asylum.~--See "_Philanthropical Institutions_." ~Licensed Victuallers.~--The following table shows the number of licensed victuallers, dealers in wine, beer, &c., in the borough as well as the holders of what are known as outdoor licenses:-- Year. Licensed Beer and Total. Population. Beer, &c., Grocers. Victuallers. Wine On. Off. 1870 687 1166 1853 337,982 .. .. 1871 683 1165 1848 343,690 .. .. 1872 684 1117 1801 349,398 .. 23 1873 684 1083 1767 355,106 4 53 1874 680 1081 1761 360,814 4 53 1875 676 1057 1733 366,522 7 73 1876 675 1059 1734 372,230 171 73 1877 673 1054 1727 377,938 223 74 1878 672 1046 1718 383,646 334 77 1879 671 1061 1732 389,354 433 61 1880 670 1060 1730 395,063 454 63 1881 669 1054 1723 400,774 454 55 1882 670 1054 1724 406,482 459 57 ~Lifeboats.~--In 1864-65 a small committee, composed of Messrs. H. Fulford, G. Groves, J. Pearce, D. Moran, G. Williams, R. Foreshaw, and G. Lempiere, aided by the Mayor and Dr. Miller, raised about £500 as a contribution from Birmingham to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. Two boats were credited to us in the Society's books, one called "Birmingham" (launched at Soho Pool, November 26, 1864), and the other the "James Pearce." These boats, placed on the Lincolnshire and Norfolk coasts, were instrumental in the saving of some hundreds of lives, but both have, long since, been worn out, and it is about time that Birmingham replaced them. Messrs. C. and W. Barwell, Pickford Street, act as local hon. secs. The "Charles Ingleby" lifeboat, at Hartlepool, was paid for, and the establishment for its maintenance endowed, out of the sum of £1,700, contributed by C.P. Wragge, Esq., in memory of the late Rev. Charles Ingleby. ~Lifford,~ in the parish of King's Norton, once boasted of a Monastic establishment, which was squelched by Bluff King Harry, the only remains now to be found consisting of a few more than half-buried foundations and watercourses.