had not followed him up. The answer was they had not found the ticket. The ticket was again found, and the three youths again entered. This dishonest stratagem was carried out successfully during the whole course of Dr. Lardnor's lectures. Though, of course, a reprehensible act, it shows how great in those days was the thirst for knowledge; and perhaps after all there was not so much harm done when the good acquired was weighed against the bad practised. In recent years I have noticed that several series of excellent lectures delivered on scientific subjects at our Mechanics' Institute by eminent men have been but miserably attended, though the prices have been low; so low, in fact, as to be no incentive to the cunning which was practised by Fisher and his companions at the old theatre in Park-street.

To give effect to his lectures at the old Mechanics Institute, Dr. Lardner had an extensive collection of working models, illustrating the various appliances which steam might be put to up to that time. He had models of all kinds of marine steam engines and steamboats, from the first which floated to the last then built. He exhibited a steam gun which would discharge with deadly effect sixty bullets a minute. He had the model of a steam apparatus to pump water out of coal mines and other deep places. I saw this plan afterwards in operation when they were excavating the pit where now stands the large gas holder at the Heaton Norris works, but I never heard of it being put to use in drawing water from a coal pit. He exhibited the model of an apparatus to prevent an enemy boarding a vessel, which has never been put to practice, to my knowledge. The plan was something like this: A steam pipe from the boiler was attached to the mast of the ship, and went a little higher than the mast. A hori. zontal pipe was attached to the top of the former, with a swivel joint. Steam and boiling water was turned into these pipes, which caused the horizontal pipe to revolve and throw a shower of boiling water from its open mouth all round the ship, and none falling on the deck. The doctor made it quite clear to our minds that no foe could board any of our vessels whilst this aqueous infernal machine was at work. His concluding lectures were on astronomy. elucidate this science to our minds Dr. Lardner had a magnificent orrery, which displayed the evolutions of the planetary system in perfect order. Dr. Lardner was a very learned and accomplished person. He was good-looking, fluent in speech, had a winning way in gaining the attention of his listeners, and appeared in every respect a perfect gentleman. Had he remained in Stockport I have

To

no doubt that he would have left an honourable name behind him.

The next I heard of him was that he had eloped with Sir Henry Bishop's wife, one of our best known musical composers, and the affair made a considerable stir at the time. The elopement case was the last I heard of Dr Lardner, and I could bat moralise on the value of accomplishments and knowledge as weighed against honour and virtue. Sir Henry Bishop's home comforts were blighted for ever. Eugland commiserated with him in his sorrow; concerts were given for his benefit in most of the large towns in England; one was held in the Theatre Royal, Fountain-street, Manchester, which Mr Bishop attended, and there were many musicians from Stockport. The music performed at this concert was entirely composed by Mr Bishop. All the artistes, the best Manchester and the surrounding towns contained, also a number from London, gave their services gratuitously. Mr Bishop, who sat in one of the private boxes during the first part of the concert, was called upon to make a speech at the interval, which he acceded to. Amongst the artistes engaged at this concert was a Mr Wood, one of the most accomplished bass singers then in England. Mr Bishop in his speech told an anecdote concerning him. Sir Henry was the musical director and composer to the Theatre Royal, Drury-lane, London, many years. During this period he composed suitable music to the various dramas then introduced on the stage, and converted some of them into operas. I will only name a few out of many :-"The miller and his men," "Ivanhoe," "Rob Roy," and "Guy Mannering."

He had composed the music to the last named work, and he had fixed his mind that a young aspirant to the lyric stage (a pupil of his) should sing the solo part in one of the glees introduced in the piece, I think it was the glee "When winds whistle cold." Sir Henry said he had given the music of this glee to this young man, with the injunction that he was to prepare himself to take his part on the stage on a certain date. A few days before the time the young man appeared at Mr Bishop's residence, and, with a sorrowful counterance, begged to be excused taking his part, as be felt unequal to the task. Mr Bishop encourage. him to persevere, assuring him that he (Mr Bishop' had every confidence in his ability. The opera was performed, and the young man sustained his part to the satisfaction of all concerned.

Mr Bishop (pointing to Mr Wood) said: This is the

young man that was afraid to take his part in one of my glees; you have heard him to-night; I leave it with you to judge what his abilities are. It was after the elopement that the Queen conferred the honour of knighthood on him, and that English musicians did their best to soothe his sorrow, but the Queen's and the nation's sympathy could not heal a broken heart. Sir Henry Bishop died soon after, and there is no doubt that his wife's desertion of him had much to do with his death.

Mr John Gudgeon, the secretary of the Me chanics' Institute, and his compeers vied with each other in providing instruction and amusement for the people of Stockport. Senor Blitze and Mr Benfold were engaged to show us the science of legerdemain. Charles Kemble was invited to come and amuse us with his Shakesperian readings. Mr Pitman was engaged, and he delivered several lectures on phonography. He was also engaged to demonstrate his system of shorthand writing. A gentleman and a number of his pupils were invited to come and show us the system they had of educating the deaf and dumb, which was both instructive and amusing. An oculist from Manchester delivered several lectures on vision, which were well patronised and appreciated. Another came to instruct us how to improve our memory. He tried to make us believe that if we adhered to his instructions we should be able to read a newspaper through, and afterwards recite it from memory. Mr James Leech was present at this lecture, and sat on the stage at the right hand side of the lecturer. Mr Leech was a shrewd person, and it would have taken a very clever man to deceive him This memory man was about twenty minutes after the stipulated time before he put in an appearance, the audience waiting very impatiently during that time. When he did arrive he entered on the stage like a thunderbolt, as if all the world were waiting for his presence. After wiping the perspiration from his brow, and placing his hat and umbrella on the table, and making an apology for his late appearance, he commenced his lecture.

During his lecture I saw Mr Leech give him (as I thought) several incredulous glances. This memory man, who came from Manchester, delivered his lecture, but whilst doing so he forgot the time when the railway train should convey him back to Manchester. He concluded very abruptly, after looking at his watch, and again apologised, and left the institute as abruptly as he entered it. He had only been gone a few seconds when Mr Leech espied the lecturer's umbrella lying on the table.

He picked it up and showed it to those around him, remarking, "Look here, the memory man has for. gotten his umbrella.”

I remember being present when Mr Walter Vaughan delivered a lecture in this institute on astronomy. This was well delivered, and demonstrated that Mr Vaughan was master of his subject. Mr Walter Vaughan was one of three brothersJohn, Walter, and William. All three were conspicuous characters in Stockport at one time. Walter was the proprietor of a high class academy over thirty years ago in the premises adjoining the present Industrial School for girls in Churchgate. Many who now hold responsible positions in the town owe a debt of gratitude to him for their success in life. Mr Walter Vaughan's last occupation was being the actuary in the savings bank, Lower Hillgate.

The further career of Mr John Gudgeon and his connection with the Mechanics' Institution will be continued in my next paper. Stockport.

JOHN GREENHALGH.

1752. Sir Richard Brooke of Norton, bart. 1753. John Leghe of Carden, esq. 1754.

Robert Lawton of Lawton, esq.

1755. Thomas Sloughter of Newton, esq. 1756. Thomas Prescot of Eardshaw, esq. 1757. William Robinson of Whatcroft, esq. 1758. John Egerton of Broxton, esq. 1759. Samuel Harrison of Crannach, esq. 1760. Sir Peter Leicester of Tabley, bart.

GEORGE III.

1761. John Arden of Harden, esq. 1762. Hon. Richard Barry of Marbury. 1763. John Alsager of Alsager, esq. 1764. John Crewe of Crewe, esq. 1765. Hon. John Smith Barry of Belmont. 1766. Peter Brooks of Mere, esq. 1767. Sir Lister Holt of Brereton, bart. 1768. Henry Harvey Aston of Aston, esq. 1769. Philip Egerton of Oulton, esq. 1770. Sir Robert Cunliffe of Saighton, bart. 1771. John Crewe of Bolesworth, esq. 1772. Sir Henry Mainwaring of Peover, bart. 1773. George Wilbraham of Townsend, esq.

Thomas Langford Brooks of Mere, eɛq.

1798. Richard Hibbert of Birtles, esq.

1799. Joseph Green of Poulton Lancelyn, esq.

1800. Roger Barnston of Churton, esq.

1801. William Rigby of Oldfield, esq.

1801. John Scott Waring of Ince, esq.

1802. Lawrence Wright of Mottram, esq.

1803. John Fielden of Mollington, esq.

1804 Sir John Fleming Leicester of Tabley, bart. 1805. George John Legh of High Legh, esq.

1806. Sir Harry Mainwaring Mainwaring of Over

Peover, bart.

1807. Francis Duckenfield Astley of Duckenfield, esq. 1808. Charles Trelawney Brereton of Shotwick Park,

esq.

1808. Wilbraham Egerton of Tatton Park, esq. 1809. Thomas William Tatton of Withenshaw, esq. 1810. Thomas Brooks of Church Minshull, esq. 1811. Booth Grey of Ashton Heys, esq. 1812. Edmund Yates of Ince, esq. 1813. Francis Bower-Jodrell of Henbury, esq. 1814. John Baskervyle Glegg of Gayton, esq. 1815. John Isherwood of Marple, esq. 1816. Samuel Aldersey of Aldersey, esq. 1817. Sir Richard Brooke of Norton, bart. 1818. Henry Charles Aston of Aston, esq. 1819. John Smith Barry of Marbury, esq.

1823. James White of Sutton in Wirral, esq. 1824. Peter Langford Brooke of Mere, esq. 1825. John Daintry of North Rode, esq. 1826. William Turner of Pott Shrigley, esq. 1827. Peter Legh of Norbury-Booths, esq. 1828. Richard Massey of Moston, esq. 1829. Lawrence Armitstead of Cranage, esq.

WILLIAM IV.

1830. George Walmsley of Bolesworth Castle, esq. 1831. Sir Thomas Stanley Massey Stanley of Hooton,

bart.

1832. John Hurleston Leche of Carden, esq.

1833. Rowland Eyles Egerton-Warburton, of Arley, esq.

1834. William Astle of Dukinfield, esq.

1834. Gibbs Crawford Antrobus of Eaton, esq. vice Astley deceased.

1835. Joseph Leigh, esq.

1835. James Heath Leigh of Grappenhall Lodge, esq. vice J. Leigh deceased. 1836. Egerton Leigh of High Leigh and Jodrell esq.

VICTORIA.

1837. Charles Peter Shakerley of Somerford, esq.
1838. George Cornwall Legh of High Legh, esq.
1839. Thomas Hibbert of Birtles, esq.
1840. John Tollemache of Peckforton, esq.
1841. John Royle of Henbury, esq.

1842. Edward Davies Davenport, of Capesthorne, esq. 1843. John Dixon of Astle, esq.

1844. George Wilbraham of Delamere House, esq. 1845. Sir William Thomas Stanley Massey Stanley of Hooton, bart.

1816. James Hugh Smith Barry of Marbury, esq. 1847. Ralph Gerard Leycester of Toft, esq. 1848. Henry Brooke of Church Minshull, esq. 1849. Thomas William Tatton of Withenshawe, esq. 1850. Sir Arthur Ingram Aston of Eston, G.C.B. 1851. Thomas Marsland of Henbury Hall, esq. 1852. George Holland Ackers of Moreton Hall, esq. 1853. John Hurleston Leche of Carden, esq. 1854. Francis Dukinfield Palmer Astley of Dukinfield, esq.

1855. John Chapman of Hill end Mottram, esq. 1856. Richard Christopher Nayer of Hooton Hall, esq. 1857. William Atkinson of Ashton Heyes, esq. 1858. George Fortescue Wilbraham of Delamere

Hcuse, esq.

1859. Arthur Henry Davenport of Capesthorne, esq. 1860. Clement Swettenham of Somerford Booths

esq.

1861. Edward Holt Glegg of Backford, esq. 1862. Thomas Aldersey of Aldersey, esq. 1863. Sir Charles Watkin Shakerley of Somford. 1864. John Ralph Shaw of Arrowe Park, esq. 1865. Wilbraham Spencer Tollemache of Darfold, esq. 1866. Robert Barbour of Bolesworth Castle, esq. 1867. Thomas Henry Lyon of Appleton Hall, esq.

THE BULKELEYS OF CHESHIRE.

No one who knew the late Thomas Brassey-a Cheshire man-can do otherwise than rejoice that his son should have been elevated to the Peerage; but in common with many other antiquarians I very much doubted the propriety of his assuming the title of Lord Bulkeley. He has wisely chosen that of Lord Brassey of Bulkeley, and there can be no reasonable objection made to that. Mr Owen Bulkeley, of Shrewsbury, who claims to be a lineal descendant of the eminent Cheshire family of his name, addressed the following letter to the Standard on the Bulkeley title, and it is worth perusing:

Sir, It is announced in the papers that Sir Thomas Brassey intends taking the title of Lord Bulkeley on his being raised to the Peerage.

As a lineal descendant of the ancient and distinguished family of the Bulkeleys of Cheshire, I protest against his assumption of a title to which he can lay no claim, either by blood or descent.

The title is an old and honoured one, and, although now in abeyance in consequence of missing documental evidence, is treasured amongst the lineal descendants of the Bulkeleys as an inheritance which may one day be proved to belong in right to the next-of-kin; and it is with feelings of astonishment and indignation on the part of the descendants of that illustrious family, that they see an absolute stranger by birth and name laying claim to a title to which he can have no possible right; and which is, moreover, a sacred and

from the days of the Conquest to the present time. If the new peer can substantiate that claim he should do so in the public interest, for it would gratify many of your readers to seethat historical fact substantiated. I have myself tried in vain to do so, having gone carefully into the question in 1859, after a controversy I had with the late Mr Thomas Brassey. It is an honour to have descended from that gentleman, and, of course a far greater one to have done so from the old de Brassies; but to make the latter valuable the evidence in support of the assumption should be beyond all dispute-otherwise it should not be asserted.

A CHESHIRE ANTIQUARY.

Notes.

PARLIAMENTARY HISTORY OF CHESHIRE.

Richard Wilbraham Bootle, esq.

At this period of English history, society, politically considered, appeared to be in a state of dislocation and those movements commenced which, after much agitation, produced, first the change of 1832, and subsequently the still more important ones of 1867 and 1885. The population of the kingdom was between eight and nine millions; of that number not 200,000 were electors; many of those never thought of an independent franchise, but voted as their landlords directed; and this not from any servile spirit, but because they really felt it was their duty to comply with the wishes of their superiors on matters of which they knew so little. This feeling placed the representation of the counties in the hands of the great landowners; and as a rule the question of who should be the county representative (?) was generally settled in a consultation between those gentlemen, as they well knew each other's strength. The representa

tion of boroughs was divided between proprietors and electors. (Hume iii. 125.) Probably more money was never spent in election contests, and boroughs were never at a higher price.

for the

On May 10, the day appointed assembling of the new Parliament, an immense multitude in St. George's Fields, expecting that Wilkes, the member for Middlesex, would be liberated and take his seat. When be did not appear the prison was attacked by the mob with the object of liberating the "Liberator," as he was termed. This and other acts resulted in the reading of the Riot Act, and the dispersing of the mob by the military. In this affray six persons were kilied and fifteen wounded, the event being known in history as the "Massacre of St. George's Fields." Whilst these riots were taking place in St. George's Fields, large crowds assembled in the very neighbour hood of St. Stephen's, but did not proceed to any acts of violence. In the Commons Sir John Cust (ancestor of the Cheshire family of that name) was re-elected Speaker, and the only bill introduced was one to continue the statutes respecting the exportation of corn and flour, when the Houses were prorogued until November 8.

Considering the interest that at this time (1886) is being taken in Irish affairs,it may not be out of place to take a brief glance, and see how they stood a hundred years ago. The English people and the English Parliament of the last century took little interest in the affairs of Ireland, which, with an executive and a legislature entirely separated from and almost independent of those in London. many was looked upon in the light of a foreign coun? or at all events as having no nearer relation to En