work, as well as for cotton spinning. In 1835, Mr Holladay and his partner, Mr. David Newland, of Rochdale, tea dealer, having entered into the cotton trade, erected a large mill in North street, adjacent to Royton street, which, previous to 1846, was let off in several cotton spinning concerns. In 1846, Mr. Holladay employed 136 hands, and possessed about 16,000 mule spindles. Messrs. Law and Wood erected Roe lane mill, near Clarksfield, about 1831. In 1846, Mr. Law employed 85 hands, and possessed 16,500 spindles. Mrs. Broadbent and Son erected Hopwood mill, Side of moor, in 1831. I have already alluded to the small mill erected, in the vicinity, in 1803, by Mr. Daniel Broadbent; but I omitted to name that the principal concern of the firm was at Vineyard mill, for about twenty-five years. In June, 1833, Mrs. Broadbent and Son employed 106 hands ; but in 1846, the mill had been so greatly enlarged, that the number of hands was 350, and the number of mule and other spindles 36,500.

The number of cotton mills in the township of Oldham, in 1831, was 49, deducting the extinct and unoccupied mills, and not including several portions of mills which might fairly be considered distinct or double mills. The number of manufactories which may be said to have consisted of two or more mills each, in 1831, was 13. If these additional mills are included, the number of mills or factories in the township, in 1831, may be stated to have amounted to 62.

The population of the township of Oldham in 1831, as stated in the parliamentary returns, was 32,381; Crompton, 7,004; Royton, 5,652 ; and Chadderton, 5,476. The aggregate population of the four townships at this period, was 50,513. The increase per cent. of the population of Oldham township, from 1821 to 1831, was 491/2, a greater rate of increase than the place had previously or has since attained. The population of the town, in 1831, exclusive of Greenacres moor and

193