ence of the society over L500,000 has been advanced to members, and
that the amount of "receipts and payments" have reached the sum of
L1,883,444. Reserve fund is put at L5,000.

_The Birmingham Building Society, No. 4_, was established in June, 1846,
and claims to be the oldest society in the town. The report, to end of
June, 1883, gave the number of shares as 801-3/4, of which 563-1/4
belong to investors, and the remainder to borrowers. The year's receipts
were L10,432, and L6,420 was advanced. The balance-sheet showed the
unallotted share fund to be L18,042, on deposit L3,915, due to bank
L2,108, and balance in favour of society L976. The assets amounted to
L25,042, of which L21,163 was on mortgages, and L3,818 on properties in
possession.

_St. Philip's Building Society_ was began in January, 1850, since when
(up to January, 1883) L116,674 had been advanced on mortgages, and
L28,921 repaid to depositing members. The society had then 326 members,
holding among them 1,094-1/4 shares. The year's receipts were L13,136,
and L7,815 had been advanced in same period. The reserve fund was
L3,642; the assets L65,940, of which L54,531 was on mortgages, L7,987
deferred premiums, and L2,757 properties in hand.

Several societies have not favoured us with their reports.

~Law.~--There are 306 solicitors and law firms in Birmingham, 19
barristers, and a host of students and law clerks, each and every one of
whom doubtless dreams of becoming Lord Chancellor. The Birmingham Law
Society was formed in 1818, and there is a Society of Law Students
besides, and a Law Library. At present, our Law Courts comprise the
Bankruptcy and County Courts, Assize Courts (held _pro tem_ in the
Council House), the Quarter Sessions' and Petty Sessions' Courts.

~League of Universal Brotherhood.~--Originated by Elihu Burritt, in
1846, while sitting in the "Angel," at Pershore, on his walk through
England. He came back to Joseph Sturge and here was printed his little
periodical called "The Bond of Brotherhood," leading to many
International Addresses, Peace Congresses, and Olive-Leaf Missions, but
alas! alas! how very far off still seems the "universal peace" thus
sought to be brought about. Twenty thousand signatures were attached to
"The Bond" in one year. Far more than that number have been slain in
warfare every year since.

~Lease Lane.~--Apparently a corruption of Lea or Leay Lane, an ancient
bye-road running at the back of the Dog or Talbot