former magnitude and importance in the town. Since that time the operative hatters have suffered greatly, and the great majority of them have been compelled to resort to other occupations in order to gain a livelihood, but more recently the trade has somewhat revived, and there are at present several establishments of considerable extent in the town, the principal of which are -Messrs. Simmons and Woodrow, Manchester street; Messrs. Nelson, &Co., Waterloo; Messrs. C. and J. Gillham, Hargreaves; Messrs. Gee, Hollinwood; Mr. Leonard Haslop, Bank Top; and Mr. VV. Knott, King street. But although the hatting trade in Oldham is not now prosecuted to the same extent as formerly, the town can boast of producing hats celebrated for durability as well as elegance of appearance. Of this incontestible evidence was furnished at the Great Exhibition of 1851, where Messrs. Simmons and Woodrow exhibited specimens of beaver hatting materials from the skin to the hat complete, felt hats and bonnets, and black silk hats, &c., for which they were awarded a prize medal. With reference to this fact it was stated at the time that this firm, by their indefatigable exertions might be fairly said to have resuscitated the almost extinct felt hat trade, and that the beautiful articles they produced well merited the distinguished honour they had received.

A district in which there are so many coal mines, cannot be expected to escape without some serious fatalities. One of the most frightful catastrophes of the kind which ever occurred in Oldham, took place at Bent grange colliery, on the 9th of October, 1850, when 16 men were killed and 6 wounded, by an explosion of fire damp. By this accident thirty-three persons were thrown on the world without support, but in a short time £864 were subscribed for their relief. Another accident of the same character occurred in this colliery on the 9th of July, 1853, in which 17

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