1773.
No. 1 of a History of Manchester was published, to be completed in twenty-two numbers, 8vo, at 6d. each, and with a supplement, in thirty-six numbers, 4 to, at 6d. each, and sold by Harrop, Newton, and Clarke. June.

1773-4.
Enumeration of the houses and inhabitants in the town and parish of Manchester at this time, taken from an actual survey, and deposited by Dr. John Whitaker, April 27, in the College Library :—

— Mrs. Bent’s Charity founded December 31: the interest of £50 to be given to poor housekeepers.

1774.
Thomas Faulkner, the son of an apothecary in Manchester, became a Jesuit, and led a wandering life among that fraternity in South America. On the suppression of the order, in 1765, he returned to Europe, and lingered for some time in a dungeon at Cadiz. At length, being released, he returned to England, after an absence of thirty-eight years, and died in this year.
— Catholic Chapel, Brook Street, erected. Enlarged in 1832.
— “Codrus,” a tragedy, by Dorning Ramsbottom, Esq., one of the Manchester magistrates, is performed once at the Theatre Royal, and afterwards printed.
— The House of Correction, Hunt’s Bank, rebuilt. It had been a prison from the time of Elizabeth. John Howard, the philanthropist, visits Manchester, and found twenty-one prisoners confined inthe House of Correction.
— An Act of Parliament, by which a duty was imposed on printed, painted, and stained cottons, declares the manufacture to be lawful.
— Pleasure boats on the Duke of Bridgewater’s Canal, October 9.
— A cattle market established. It was held in Salford, at the same place as the fair. February 26.
— On pulling down an old house at Stretford, a pot was discovered containing 400 Saxon silver coins, July 7.

1775.
The Manchester ducking-stool in use. It was an open-bottomed chair of wood, placed upon a long pole (balanced on a pivot), and suspended over the large collection of water called Pool House and Pool Fold. It was afterwards suspended over the Daub-holes (Infirmary pond), and was used for the purpose of punishing scolds and prostitutes.
— The Bishop of London opposed the bill for a theatre, on the grounds that Manchester was a manufacturing town, and nothing could be more destructive to the political welfare of the place.
The Earl of Carlisle supported it, because it was become the seat of Methodism. He says: “I know not of any way so effectual to eradicate that dark, odious, and ridiculous enthusiasm as by giving to the people cheerful, rational amusements, which may operate against their methodistical melancholy.”
— Theatre Royal, Spring Gardens, built and opened, June 5.

1775.
The first stone was laid of the Gentlemen’s Concert Room in Fountain Street, by Edward Greaves, Esq., of Culcheth, August 24.
— Several curious gold and silver coins were dug up in Castle Field.
1776. The conduit, which was on the western side of the Old Exchange, ceased to flow its waters, in consequence of the destruction of the spring (at the upper end of King Street), from which it had been supplied.
— St. Thomas’s Chapel, Pendleton, erected at the expense of Samuel Brierley, Esq. It was originally occupied by the Wesleyan Methodists, but was consecrated July 6, this year. The Rev. Mr. Pedley appointed minister.
— Richard Arkwright takes out another patent for carding, drawing, and roving frames.
— An act was obtained for widening several streets near the centre of the town. A subscription was raised for the purpose, and Old Millgate, Cateaton Street, and St. Mary’s Gate opened to their present width.
— The evacuation of New York by the rebels (so termed) was celebrated in Manchester by the ringing of bells, public processions, &c.
— The “Old Bridge” made wider by taking down the dungeon and extending the piers and arches. Until that period it was highly dangerous for foot passengers to meet a carriage; and it was often a work of labour, for persons not very active, to get over the bridge on a market-day, as they were often obliged to take refuge in the angular recesses, which at that time were on both sides of the bridge, to escape from impending danger.

1777.
The shock of an earthquake was felt at Manchester, and several miles round, on Sunday,
September 14. The vibration of the earth was so great that the bells of the Collegiate and St. Mary’s Churches are said to have been rung by it. The congregations in the various places of worship were terrified by the loud noises that accompanied the shock.
— James Hargreaves, the inventor of the spinning jenny, dies in obscurity, unrewarded, in Nottingham workhouse, having had his machinery destroyed, his patent invaded, and his abilities blighted.
— The Manchester Free Grammar School, Long Millgate, built upon the site of the old one.
— Mr. John Philip Kemble, the actor, made his first appearance in Manchester, January 29.
— Green dye. for cotton, invented by Mr. R. Williams.
— The present Exchange Street formed, by pulling down a pile of old buildings, called the “Dark Entry,” a narrow footway leading from the Market Place to St. Ann’s Square. The streets, which were improved by the acts of 1776 and 1777, had long been a disgrace to the town. They had often doomed the unwary passenger to broken limbs, and sometimes to death, to say nothing of the unwholesomeness of the houses in them, from their confined situations.
— A. subscription was commenced, and which amounted to £8,075, for the purpose of raising the celebrated seventy-second regiment, to serve in America during the war, but they were sent to Gibraltar instead, where they distinguished themselves greatly during the siege of that place. It consisted of 1082 men. The people of Manchester were much elated at this display of military ardour; and in an ode, written on this occasion, they are thus eulogised: —

But Britain in this race of fame,
Which of thy daughter-towns may claim
The greatest share of glory for the whole?
‘Tis Manchester that claims the share,
‘Tis Manchester re-urged the war
‘Tis Manchester re-awaked the British soul.

On their return, in 1783, they were received with enthusiasm, and their colours were deposited with much ceremony in the Collegiate Church, from whence they were removed to the College, where they still remain.

1779.
Samuel Crompton, of Hall-i’th’-Wood, near Bolton, invented a combination of the jenny, and the water-frame, called a mule, for spinning, which he gave to the public.
— Serious riots in Manchester and throughout Lancashire, on the introduction of machinery for spinning, October 9.
— Only one stage coach from Manchester to London, and one to Liverpool twice a week.
— “The Manchester and Liverpool Museum; or, The Beauties of all the Magazines Selected.” Printed by and for P. Jefferson, Manchester. Monthly.
— Sir Thomas Egerton, of Heaton Park, raises a regiment of 400 men, at his own expense, called the Royal Lancashire Volunteers. Their colours are in the possession of John Crossley, Esq., of Scaitcliff, Todmorden.

1780.
Wesleyan Methodist Chapel, Oldham Street, built.
— The cotton picked, batted, slubbed, and wound on one spindle up to this period.
— Riots in Manchester on account of military floggings, July.
— The manufacture of muslins introduced.
— The import of raw cotton was upwards of 6,700,000 pounds, and the export of cotton goods was £355,060.
— An old man, who died in this year, remembered the site of St. Ann’s Church, and the present Square (formerly called Acres Field), a corn field.
— The Manchester and Salford Directory. By Elizabeth Raffald, author of “The Experienced English “Housekeeper,” at the Exchange Coffee House, Third edition, price 1s. December 9.

1781.
2,519 houses in Manchester assessed for the house tax.
— The Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society established This society is well known from its very interesting memoirs, which several volumes have been published by the society, and translated into the French and German languages. This society he reflected much credit on the town of Manchester, and has brought it almost as much into notice in the literary world as its manufacture have in the annals of commerce. The hall of the society is in George Street, and the annual session commences on the first Friday evening in October, and ends the last Friday in April. President, John Dalton, Esq., F.R.S., &c., &c., elected 1817. At his death, 1845, Dr. Holme was elected president.
— An association was formed by the master manufacturers of Manchester, by whose
instrumentality the first patent of Richard Arkwright, for carding, drawing and roving machines, was set aside. His second patent was set aside by the same parties in 1785.
— James Artingstall, condemned to be executed at Lancaster, for rioting at Manchester, in July1780, received a pardon.
— The public baths, near the Infirmary, erected.
— Mrs. Elizabeth Raffald died April 19. She was the author of the first “Directory,” 1772, and also of the first “Cookery” published here, December 9, 1780, third edition, 1s.
— The Manchester Chronicle, printed and published by Charles Wheeler, in Hunter’s Lane, Cannon Street, June 23. Harrop’s Mercury was the only one in Manchester when the Chronicle commenced. Charles Wheeler died September 26, 1827, aged 76. He was a native of this town, and served his apprenticeship to Mr. J. Harrop. He was interred in the Collegiate Churchyard. His business was carried on by his eldest son, John, who early retired independent. The paper was discontinued June 23, 1838, but was revived by Josiah Leicester, under the heading of the Manchester Chronicle and Salford Standard, January 5, 1839, 4, St. Ann’s Street; it ceased December 31, 1842. This was the oldest existing paper in the town; aged 50 years.
— Medical officers of the Infirmary commenced to visit patients at their dwellings.
— Pool Fold Market opened, July 28; discontinued, 1803
— Home patients admitted to the benefit of the infirmary.

1782.
A lachrymatory, filled with a transparent fluid, dug up in Castle Field.
— An act obtained for building the New Bailey Prison; Sold by public auction March 13, 1872.
— Holme’s Account and Admeasurement of all the public bridges in the Hundred of Salford, was published here;
— Sir John Mosley, lord of the manor commenced an action against Mr. P. Chadwick and Mr. Holland, for setting up meat stalls in Pool Fold, in violation of the manorial rights; decided in his favour in the Court of King’s Bench, June 26.
— A panic was created in Manchester by the circumstance of 7,012 bags of cotton having been imported between the months of December and April.

1782.
Dr. Mainwaring presented a small collection of medical books, together with a bookcase, thereby founding the present valuable library at the Manchester Royal Infirmary.
— The inhabitants of Manchester raised a corps of volunteers (150 men) to serve during the war in America. Thomas B. Bailey, Esq., Lieut.-Colonel Commandant; George Lloyd, Esq., Major, whose lady presented the regiment with colours, worked by the ladies of Manchester. The officers’ commissions were presented to them in St. Ann’s Square, dated September 24. 1782. November 18.
— The Manchester Printing Society formed at the instigation of the Rev. John Clowes, Rector of St. John’s.
— An Act passed prohibiting the export of engraved copper plates and blocks, and imposing a penalty of £100 or twelve months’ imprisonment, for enticing any workman engaged in calico printing to go beyond the seas.

1783.
Captain Mouncey, of the 79th Regt., and Cornet Hamilton, fought a duel, with swords, in Spencer’s Tavern, in the Market Place, when the former was killed, March 21. The quarrel originated over the respective qualities of two dogs. Mr. Hamilton was acquitted by a coroner’s jury, and Mr. Mouncey was honoured with a public funeral at St. John’s Church.
— An air balloon ascended from the Infirmary gardens, and alighted at Cromford, Derbyshire. The admittance, one shilling, was for the benefit of the Infirmary.
— New Bailey Bridge founded, May 6; opened for passengers and carriages in 1785; toll taken off, January 31, 1803. It was owned by subscribers, who, during eighteen years, received toll, which repaid them for the capital invested and seven-and-a-half per cent. The toll for the last year was let for £1,150.
— The History of Manchester, by a native of the town, price one shilling, was printed by Charles Wheeler, June 24.
— The first nightly watch in Manchester, November.
— The Manchester Regiment (the 72nd) return from Gibraltar; disbanded September 9, and presented with five shillings each, together with their pay and arrears, August 30.
— The river Tib culverted over, and now forms Tib-street.

1784.
The “Fustian Tax” imposed on the suggestion of the Right Hon. William Pitt. Great consternation was excited by this act in Manchester and the neighbourhood; fifteen houses, employing 38,000 persons in different branches of the cotton trade, petitioned against it, and themaster dyers and bleachers announced, that “they were under the sad necessity of declining their present occupation till the next session of Parliament.”
— Sabbath-day schools introduced into Manchester, by the labours of Dr. Cornelius Bayley, who issued an address to the public, August 10; and a meeting was specially convened by the boroughreeve and constables at the Bull’s Head on the 27th. The first building exclusively appropriated to the purpose of a Sunday school is the one in Gun Street, Ancoats, the gift of Mr. S. Newton.