stone, with crocketed pinnacles at the corners and sides, and surmounted by an enriched tabernacle over the centre.

We are indebted to the Minister and congregation of St. Paul's Church for the annexed plate of that beautiful edifice, embracing also the National School connected therewith.

This Church is at present held as a chapel of ease under the Mother-Church; the Incumbents being nominated by the Rector. There have been three during the short period since its erection, viz. :

The Rev. Thomas Nunns, A. M.

The Rev. Robert Mayor

1828 April 1832

The Rev. John Noble, A. B. (present Minister) Oct. 1833

We now proceed to notice the establishment of the Market and Police of the Town of Burslem, under an Act passed in 1825. Long before that time, the regulation of the Market had become an object of importance, which the principal inhabitants were desirous of having legally established, with a view as well to the accommodation of the Public as to the improvement of the town. And, in 1812, negociations were set on foot with Walter Sneyd, Esq., the Lord of the Manor, for obtaining his sanction to an Act of Parliament for legalizing the Market, but proved unsuccessful. They were, however, renewed in 1824, with a different result, and Mr. Sneyd consented to grant an additional lease, of waste land, round the Town Hall, for the purposes of the Market, equal in duration to the term of the original lease for 500 years, at the annual rent of £10, subject to a fine of £50 every 21 years; for which very moderate consideration, he consented to forego his claims to the profits of the Market in perpetuity. Coupled with this object, the inhabitants were desirous of obtaining powers for the better government, watching, and lighting of the Town. We may observe, here, that from the year 1814, one of the principal inhabitants had been annually chosen Chiefconstable, to superintend two or three subalterns, who

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executed the ordinary duties of the office; and that a partial lighting of the Market-place had, for several years, been attempted in the winter months, and paid for from the Market funds.

On the completion of this arrangement, an Act of Parliament was applied for, and obtained, which vested in a body of Trustees, possessing certain qualifications, by Estate, the Town-hall and Market-place, held by lease under the Lord of the Manor; with the most ample powers of holding Weekly Markets, and establishing Annual Fairs, and appointing also a distinct body of Commissioners, for regulating the police, and watching and lighting the Town.*

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The preamble of the Act states, that, "Whereas the "Town of Burslem, in the County of Stafford, is large "and populous, and a place where great and extensive "manufactories of Earthenware are carried on; and the "same, including the Hamlet of Sneyd, and the places "of Longport, Cobridge, Sneyd Green, and other parts 'adjacent, all in the parish of Burslem aforesaid, contains upwards of ten thousand Inhabitants; that Markets on Monday and Saturday, in each week, have been for many years past held at Burslem aforesaid, in a place "there, called the Market-place, for the convenience of "and better supplying with provisions the inhabitants of "the said Town, and its neighbourhood; and a Markethouse, or Town-hall, was many years ago erected, and built upon a piece of waste land, in the Market-place of "the said Town;-That it would be of great advantage "and utility, if the said Market-place were enlarged, and "the Markets put on a permanent footing; and if the

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* See the Act, 6 Geo. IV., cap. cxxxi, intituled, "An Act for regulating the Markets in the Town of Burslem, in the county of Stafford; and for lighting, regulating the Police, and watching the said Town of Burslem, the Vills of Longport, Cobridge, Sneyd Green, and parts adjacent, in the Parish of Burslem. (Passed 10th June, 1825.)

"streets, avenues, and places of the Town were lighted, "and a proper and efficient police and watch established "in the said Parish."

The Act then specifies the qualifications of the Trustees of the Market, which are, that they be rated Inhabitants of the Parish, seised of real estate of the value of £100 per annum, or heirs-apparent of persons seised of £200, or possessed of personal estate of the value of £3000; and to this body, or a quorum of five, the sole management of the affairs of the Market are entrusted, with power to make bye-laws for its better government, and to purchase houses, buildings, or land for the extension of the Marketplace, and for rendering the same more commodious; the tolls and profits of the Markets being directed to be applied, after paying the expences o obtaining the Act, in discharging the rent and fines to the Lord of the Manor, keeping the Town-hall and Market-place in repair, lighting the Town-hall and Market-place, paying the salary of the organist of Burslem Church,* paying off monies borrowed for the use of the Market; and, in the next place, towards such general improvements in the said Parish of Burslem, or for establishing, promoting, or assisting any public works, institutions, or establishments there, as the Trustees should think proper; finally, if any surplus should remain, the same was to go in aid and diminution of the Police-rates.

The qualification, powers, and duties of the Commissioners of Police are as follows:

QUALIFICATION. All occupiers of rateable property within the limits of the Act, at an improved rent of £35 per annum, and owners of real property of the annual value of £70, or of personal estate of the value of £2000.-DUTIES. To light the public streets, and places, within the limits of Burslem Proper, (these are minutely specified, and do not extend 700 yards from the Town-hall in the furthest

* This had been done for a long period before the Act was obtained.