Mr.
Murdoch in the gradual introduction of lighting with gas. In 1807 Mr.
Clegg first used lime as a purifier and in 1815 he patented the water
meter. In addition to his many inventions connected with the manufacture
and supply of gas, Mr. Clegg must be credited with the introduction of
the atmospheric railways, which attracted so much attention some
five-and-forty years ago, and also with many improvements in steam
engines.

_Collins_.--Mr. John Collins, an exceedingly popular man in his day, and
quite a local author, made his first appearance here Jan. 16, 1793, at
"The Gentlemen's Private Theatre," in Livery Street, with an
entertainment called "Collins' New Embellished Evening Brush, for
Rubbing off the Rust of care." This became a great favourite, and we
find Collins for years after, giving similar performances, many of them
being for the purpose of paying for "soup for the poor" in the
distressful winters of 1799, 1800, and 1801. Not so much, however, on
account of his charity, or his unique entertainment, must Mr. Collins be
ranked among local worthies, as for "A Poetical History of Birmingham"
written (or rather partly written) by him, which was published in
_Swinney's Chronicle_. Six chapters in verse appeared (Feb. 25 to April
7, 17[**]6), when unfortunately the poet's muse seems to have failed
him. As a sample of the fun contained in the seven or eight dozen
verses, we quote the first--

"Of Birmingham's name, tho' a deal has been said,
Yet a little, we doubt, to the purpose,
As when "hocus pocus" was jargon'd instead
Of the Catholic text "_hoc est corpus_."

For it, doubtless, for ages was Bromwicham called,
But historians, their readers to bam,
Have Brom, Wich, and Ham so corrupted and maul'd,
That their strictures have all proved a sham.

That Brom implies Broom none will dare to deny,
And that Wich means a Village or Farm;
Or a Slope, or a Saltwork, the last may imply,
And to read Ham for Town is no harm.

But when jumbled together, like stones in a bag,
To make it a Broom-sloping town,
Credulity's pace at such juggling must flag,
And the critic indignant will frown.

Tis so much like the Gazetteer's riddle-my-ree,
Who, untwisting Antiquity's cable,
Makes Barnstaple's town with its name to agree,
Take its rise from a Barn and a Stable."

Collins' own comical notion gives the name as "Brimmingham," from the
brimming goblets so freel