March 26, 1792.—The Reports that have been circulated to my Prejudice oblige me to a Public Vindication of my claim of 240l. as a Compensation for my Loss of Trade for two months. I still aver that my Profit, in the first Instance, is 1,440l. a Year; but it is not to be supposed that I can revel in this Annual Sum. I am obliged to pay, as current Expences, for carrying on the Business, 1,046l, 10s., before I can procure a Shilling for my own Attention and Labour, or the Support of my Family. My loss of Trade, since the Riots, is more than I have claimed, owing to the Want of various sorts of Paper. As the Emoluments were lost and the Expences remained, the Justice of my Claim appears.
The Profits of my Business do not exceed Ten per Cent. upon the Capital employed; for the Reasonableness of which I appeal to every Merchant and Manufacturer in Birmingham. That Capital at the Riots was 14,000l. Whether this Money was my own or another's makes no Alteration in the Case; every one knows 700l. a Year follows this Sum as Common Interest. The necessary Salaries of my Servants, who assist in the Business, amount to 196l. 10s., the extra Rent and Taxes 50l., and my annual Losses 100l., as most of the Attorneys in Birmingham can testify. The remaining small Profit of 393l. 10s. oftener attends a Capital of 1,400l. than 14,000l.
The better supply of fish to the town was still engaging the attention of our public men; and in April this announcement was published:—
Birmingham, March 21, 1792—At a Meeting of Subscribers for procuring a better Supply of Fish for this Market, it was unanimously resolved, at the Recommendation of the Committee, that the whole management of the Business, for one year from this Time, shall be left to six of the Committee, who have generously offered to undertake it. The Public are therefore informed that a constant Supply of Fish will continue to be obtained and sold on the usual low Terms at the New Fish Shop, in Bull Street.
Items of riot news still appear. The first extract points out one of the difficulties which arose in the settlement of claims; and the other speaks well for the High Bailiff:—
April 9, 1792.—The difference between the original claims on the Hundred and those made in Court was occasioned, it seems, partly by its appearing on the trials of the preceding week that the per centum charged on the whole estimates, and some other charges, could not, upon the construction of the Act, be allowed; and partly by some of the sufferers deducting for goods found or returned since the first claim was made.
April 16, 1792.—We have the pleasure to hear that the High-Bailiff, and many other Friends of the late unfortunate Mr. Ashwin, (who died in consequence of a wound received during the riots) intend opening a Subscription in this Town for the Benefit of his relict and her family of eight children; there can be but few instances in which the benevolent inhabitants of the town, and neighbourhood, can be more powerfully called upon to unite.
The next quotation has reference to the Copper and Brass trades:—
Birmingham, April 20, 1792.—At a Meeting of the Merchants and principal Manufacturers of this Town, Consumers of Copper and Brass, held this Day at the Hotel, pursuant to public Advertisements; Mr. Villers in the Chair;
The Chairman having read the Resolutions of the Meeting held at the Shakespeare Tavern on the 22nd of February last, which was convened for the purpose of taking into
