“When found, make a note
of”—
Capt.
Cuttle.
Jan. 4th.—At the meeting of the Town Council, the
Councillors for the St. George’s, Market and Gorleston
Wards refused to appoint Ward Aldermen “as they had no
confidence” in the Aldermen recently appointed by the
casting vote of the Mayor.
The “Water question” was before the public, when,
as to the Ormesby water with which it was proposed to supply the
town, Mr. Cooper, an eminent analytical chemist, stated that such
water “was turbid from the green and brown matter in
it” and that “the large quantity (four grains) of
vegetable organic matter that it contained rendered it wholly
unfit for domestic purposes other than cleansing.”
Jan. 11th.—Chas. J. Palmer had presided at the Annual
Public Library meeting, when it was stated that upwards of 5,000
books belonged to that institution.
J. Tolver, Esq. had sent in his resignation as Clerk to the
Paving Commissioners.
Jan. 25th.—It was stated that a provisional order was
about to be issued, applying the “Health of Town’s
Act” to the Borough, thus threatening the Paving
Commissioners with extinction.
There was great complaint against these Commissioners for not
properly lighting the Denes.
Wm. Sumner, an ex-constable was bound over to keep the peace
at the instance of Samuel Tolver, Esq.
Feb. 1st.—The following notice appears as to No. 4,
South Quay:—
A tradition has long existed in connection with
the Elizabethian House upon the Quay, formerly belonging to John
Carter, the regicide, but now the residence of C. J.
Palmer, Esq., F.S.A., (mentioned by Noble, vol. 2, p. 340), that
of the “many secret consults” which the rebels held
prior to the trial and execution of King Charles I. the fatal and
final one took place in a chamber in the above mentioned house,
in which Carter then lived. A meeting of the chief
Parliamentarian Generals was summoned, and the regicides, it is
said, met early in the afternoon, and the conference, which was
one of ‘great secrecy,’ did not terminate until near
the hour of midnight, the dinner which had been ordered for four
o’clock not being served until the meeting broke up.
This tradition, though generally credited, had hitherto received
no confirmation to render it of historical value. The
important fact has, however, been placed almost beyond a doubt,
as we can state on the authority of F. Worship, Esq., that in the
course of the labours of the Committee recently appointed by the
Town Council to inquire into the ancient records and muniments of
the Borough, a record has been found of the visit of Oliver
Cromwell to our town about the time alluded to, it having never
yet been definitely ascertained that the Protector visited
Yarmouth. We hope this very interesting discovery will
induce the Committee to prosecute their labours, and when the
valuable town documents have been arranged and restored, the
Council will see the propriety and necessity of providing some
suitable depository for them.
Feb. 8th.—The New Mercantile Marine Act had excited much
dissatisfaction, and several handbills had appeared urging the
sailors to take action, and on Tuesday morning having
“struck,” they mustered in groups on the
Hall-quay. Subsequently they formed in procession to the
number of 1,000 and paraded the town for several hours; they had
a band and flags with them, and a board on which was written
“Do not sign the laws” and “Wages £2
15s. Summer and Winter.”
A Seaman’s Union had been formed having 450 members, and
Mr. J. Teasdel having given notice that he did not intend to
reduce the wages paid to his men to 50s. a month, several hundred
of the men on strike, went over the Bridge and manned the yards
of a vessel belonging to that gentleman, for whom they gave some
loud and hearty cheers.
The Magistrates refused to sign a 1s. 9d. Poor rate, but
such rate was subsequently signed by Mr. W. H. Palmer and Mr. J.
Fenn and the rate for that amount made.
Feb. 15th.—A meeting of the shipowners had been held at
the Town-hall to consider the seamen’s grievances, the
Mayor in the chair, when upon the motion of Mr. George
Danby-Palmer, a resolution was carried to obtain a
repeal of the act of Parliament complained of, and a Committee
formed consisting of six owners and six seamen with the Mayor as
chairman to give effect to such resolution; the wages question
was, however, not discussed.
Feb. 22nd.—A further meeting had been held “to
take into consideration the present complaint of seamen
respecting their wages, that the same may be equalized throughout
the year whether by voyage or month.”
About 30 owners were present, and also the Sailors’
Committee; the Mayor was in the chair, and the sailors refused to
be bound by their “old agreement;” the following
account is given of their subsequent proceedings:—
Since the above meeting a letter has been sent to
the Mayor, announcing that the sailors were determined not to
abide for the future by the old agreement; and handbills were
also publicly issued, announcing a “grand procession”
of the seamen of the port for the following day.
Accordingly on Saturday the sailors assembled opposite to their
rendezvous, at the Royal Exchange on the Quay, to the number of
about 1,500, and flags, union jacks, &c., with a band of
music having been procured, a procession was formed, which
paraded the town for several hours. The men were mostly
respectably attired, and wore rosettes of various colours, from
which were suspended the medals of the Shipwrecked
Mariners’ Society. Some of the men were dressed in
various emblematical characters, such as Britannia, Neptune,
Amphitrite, Triton, &c., and were borne upon the shoulders of
the crowd in boats, dolphin cars, &c., which were decorated
with evergreens, &c., in short the whole assemblage seemed
more like a triumphal procession than that of a demonstration
occasioned by one of those unfortunate breaches between employers
and employed, termed a “strike.” Throughout the
crowd a number of placards were distributed, bearing the
following inscription:—“We, the seamen of Yarmouth,
hereby testify our gratitude to the inhabitants, for the handsome
manner in which they have come forward to assist us in obtaining
our just rights.” Also a number of poles, terminating
in tridents, fishes, &c., were borne aloft, together with a
handsomely carved model ship, covered with the flags of all
nations.
Mr. S. S. Barber had applied to the Bench for the assistance
of the civil force to protect his seamen, who had just arrived by
the “Maid of the Yare,” London Trader, and who had
been persuaded to leave their vessel, and even threatened to be
taken away by force if they did not leave. The
Superintendent and some of the police went down to the spot, but,
as the men remained perfectly peaceable, their presence was not
at all required.
The following members of the Council had addressed a letter to
the Treasury protesting against a proposed loan for drainage
purposes, which was said to have been carried by a majority of
the Council at its last meeting:—Sir E. H. K. Lacon, R.
Ferrier, E. H. L. Preston, F. Worship, William H. Palmer, R.
Steward, R. D. Barber, E. R. Aldred, J. C. Smith, J. G. Plummer,
J. Cherry, J. E. Barnby, C. C. Aldred, B. Jay, R. Ferrier, junr.,
S. Miller and William Worship, and thereupon at the Council
meeting a very warm discussion ensued, during which Mr. C. C.
Aldred was accused of having called Mr. George Danby-Palmer
“a liar,” and Sir E. H. K. Lacon (by Mr. Henry
Danby-Palmer) of having made a disturbance by “kicking
against the panels.”
March 1st.—The following Councillors subsequently
addressed a letter to the Treasury in respect of these
proceedings:—D. A. Gourlay, H. Danby-Palmer, J. Bayly, R.
Hammond, J. Lettis, junr., J. Fish, W. T. Clarke, J. Barker, P.
Pullyn, J. Jackson, J. D. Chapman, R. Hammond, junr., G.
Danby-Palmer, W. N. Burroughs, C. E. Bartram, M. Butcher, J. G.
Cannell, H. Boulter, P. White, J. Fiddes and J. Pike.
This issue contains the following report of the Sailors’
Strike and Riot:—
We have this week to record a riot of a serious
nature arising out of the unfortunate strike among the seamen
who, until recently, had conducted themselves in a manner highly
creditable to so large a body of men placed in such
circumstances. Since the ill-advised rejection, by the men,
of the old agreement as to wages, there have been several
mariners (as there always must be with an over-stocked labour
market) quite ready and glad to sail at different rates to those
proposed by those who struck; and forseeing that if such
defections from their camp continued, their strike would be
unavailing, the sailors have during the last week been in the
habit of parading the Quay, in gangs, for the purpose of
unlawfully preventing such as were willing to go to sea from
joining their ships, and partly by force, and partly by threats,
several men have been deterred from fulfilling their
engagements. Although these facts were known to the
authorities, no steps were taken to put a stop to them, in the
hope that the reasonable and peaceable portion of the
sailors would see how unjustifiable was the course they were
pursuing, and how really destructive it was to the interests both
of the owners and men. The same line of conduct was,
however, continued. The first case brought before the Bench
was that of Samuel Graystone, the mate of the schooner
“Ant,” belonging to Mr. S. S. Barber, who applied for
the protection of the police, the men having been taken out of
his vessel on Friday afternoon last. On Saturday morning,
Mr. Barber again appeared before the Mayor to complain that the
master and crew of the “Maid of the Yare” had been
interrupted, and made to go on shore. The master having
come up and corroborated this statement, the crew were sent for
and asked if they were willing to go to sea, having signed
articles. The master and mate said they were, but the men
declined, through fear of personal violence. They were told
that if they did not they must be sent to gaol, but if they were
willing to go they should be protected. They then agreed to
go, and were sent down accordingly with a body of the police; the
master and mate went on board, but the crew refused, and the
police were therefore withdrawn, when some sailors went and
ill-used the mate, throwing him over the bows of his ship on to
the Quay Head. The captain also was pushed on shore.
Subsequently the Bench were informed that the man Graystone had
again been taken out of his vessel, which had gone to sea without
him, and was then lying in Corton Roads. Graystone was sent
for, and said he was not willing to go; but on an information
being taken against him for refusing, he said he would if he
could be protected. A steamtug was therefore ordered to
convey him to his vessel, and on its arriving opposite the Town
Hall at half-past two o’clock, the Magistrates agreed,
before taking any other steps, to try whether the police were not
sufficient to protect the men on board, notwithstanding the
evident determination of a large body of sailors to prevent
him. The Superintendent of Police, therefore, arranged the
whole force, and with Graystone in the centre, surrounded by the
Mayor and Magistrates, the escort left the station-house, distant
not more than one hundred yards from the steamtug. When
about half way down, the crowd, which then consisted of about 200
or 300 sailors, set up a tremendous yell and rushed upon the
police, whose ranks were speedily broken, several of the police
and Magistrates being struck. They rallied, and with the
assistance of the Magistrates, who were mainly instrumental in
preventing Graystone from being rescued, they succeeded in
placing him safely on board the tug. The principal
ringleaders were then picked out, and after some considerable struggling
they were got into the station-house. By this time the
concourse of people had increased to upwards of a thousand.
Some of the men then obtained a spar or boom which was brought
opposite the station-house door for the purpose of using it as a
battering ram to release the six or seven prisoners within.
Several stones were thrown, and a few windows broken; upon which
the Mayor immediately swore in as many persons as were willing to
be special constables, and a sally was made upon the mob, and
with considerable difficulty the spar was got away, and one or
two of those who were using it were taken into custody, but being
completely overpowered, the authorities were compelled to retreat
with the force into the station-house. Shortly after, Capt.
Ellis, R.N., having arrived with a body of the coastguardsmen,
armed with muskets, &c., together with some of the men from
the revenue cutter, they took up a position in front of the Hall
and Police-station. The Mayor then read the Riot Act, the
people not dispersing, but on the contrary rather increasing, as
there must then have been several thousands. Mr. G. D.
Palmer addressed a few words to them from the Hall-door,
imploring them to desist from the foolish course they had taken,
and entreating them to disperse peaceably. A stone was then
hurled at the spot where the Magistrates were standing, but it
fortunately did not take effect, and the man who threw it was
instantly secured and brought into the station-house. The
following proclamation was issued by the Mayor:—
“Borough of Great Yarmouth,
22nd Feb., 1851.
“Notice.—A riot having
this day taken place in this Borough, and the Riot Act having
been read, all peaceable and loyal inhabitants are desired to
keep in their houses until order has been restored. And
notice is hereby further given, that no assemblage of persons
will be allowed.
Charles
Pearson, Mayor.”
After a consultation of the Magistrates, they unanimously
determined to send to Norwich for a troop of the Military
stationed there. A telegraphic message was therefore
despatched, which reached the Norwich Station about half-past
four o’clock. In the meantime nine of the East
Norfolk Militia located here, under Captain Brown, arrived, and
were speedily followed by detachments of the Coastguard from the
stations at Caister, Winterton, Corton, &c., who were all
sworn in as special constables. The total available force
for the protection of the town now amounted to 201, viz., 90
special constables, 81 officers and men of the revenue cutter and
coastguard, 21 policemen, and 9 militia men; and it
was determined to clear the space in front of the station-house,
which, with much difficulty was accomplished, when the police
succeeded in picking out and taking several of the
ringleaders.
Some persons consider that the people might have been entirely
dispersed without the aid of the military, but considering the
overwhelming number of persons present, it could only have been
accomplished by the armed force charging among the people, which
might have involved much bloodshed, if not actual loss of life,
and there can be no doubt that the authorities exercised a wise
and prudent discretion in contenting themselves by keeping the
crowd as it were at bay, until the arrival of the military, a
troop of which, consisting of 35 of the 11th Hussars, under
Captain Douglas, reached the Yarmouth station by special train at
about a quarter to six in the evening. A great mob of
people had assembled at the terminus, and the officer in command
refused to enter the town unless accompanied by a magistrate on
horseback. J. C. Smith, Esq., accordingly having gone down,
the troop, a little before seven o’clock, entered the town
and cantering their horses over the quay and pavements, the crowd
which had remained in front of the Police-court fled in every
direction, some of them in their anxiety to escape the too near
approach of the soldiers’ swords, actually running over one
another. Several women were knocked down by the mob in
their flight, but we believe no injuries, beyond a few broken
heads and bruised limbs, were received by any one. Great
numbers of persons, however, secreted themselves by the river
side, and in the ends of the numerous narrow rows in the town,
under the impression that the military could not dislodge
them. The Mayor, however, having issued orders for the
entire quay to be cleared, the police, aided by a strong body of
special constables, were for some hours engaged in dispersing the
knots of people who had collected in these localities; patrols of
the military and the police were then placed at all the principal
thoroughfares leading to the Town Hall, which had been the scene
of the riot, for the purpose of stopping all persons from coming
that way. About eleven o’clock order having been,
comparatively speaking, restored, the Magistrates consulted with
the commanding-officer, and it was agreed that the military
(which now numbered 75 in all, having been joined by another
troop) should retire to their quarters, holding themselves in
readiness to be called out at a minute’s warning. The
police were sent on their regular beats, but the cutter’s
men and coastguardsmen remained at the Hall during the whole of
the Saturday night, as did also the special constables,
who were divided into three divisions, under regular captains,
for the purpose of relieving each other every four hours.
At half-past nine on Sunday morning, the Mayor and Magistrates
again assembled, but as everything had passed off quietly during
the night, and as there did not seem any disposition on the part
of the persons who were collected round the Hall (more by
curiosity than otherwise) to commit any breach of the peace, the
special constables, with most of the coastguardsmen were released
from further duty until they should be again summoned, if
required, by the alarm bell. At the close of the
morning’s service the Magistrates held a further
consultation, when it was determined to draw up a report of the
occurrences which had taken place, and to transmit the same to
Sir G. Grey, the Secretary of the Home Department, to whom it was
suggested that it would be advisable that a war steamer should be
sent down to the port until order was entirely restored.
We cannot conclude our report without bearing our testimony to
the great and extraordinary exertions to maintain peace and order
made by our excellent Chief Magistrate, ably supported as he was
by everyone of his brother Magistrates, and to the firmness and
determination displayed by the Authorities may be mainly
attributed to the preservation of the public peace, and the
prompt and effectual suppression of the riotious spirit displayed
by some thoughtless and illadvised men. It could hardly
have been supposed that any friends of order could have been
found ready to cast any blame upon the Authorities for the wise
precautions they took, but we regret to say that some persons
who, instead of coming forward to assist in preserving the public
peace, kept, to their shame, in their own houses, and who,
entirely ignorant of the organisation which was on foot, presume
to censure those whom they should have been the first to
support. Such parties are, however, we trust, but few, for
we feel sure that the course pursued on the present occasion by
the Authorities, will receive the unqualified approval and
sanction of all the peaceably disposed and loyal inhabitants of
the town. The conduct of the Police force—as well as
that of the special constables—was most meritorious and
praiseworthy; some of the former especially distinguished
themselves for their courageous conduct, but it would be
invidious to make any distinction between them, as all the men in
the force are equally deserving of praise. They exercised
the greatest forbearance, being most grossly insulted and
ill-used, notwithstanding which they abstained from using their
staves until the spirit of riot being openly manifested, they
were directed to use them by their excellent superintendent,
Capt. B. Love. Police-constable Fuller has been very seriously
injured, it being feared that some of his ribs are broken;
another man who was engaged in the cowardly act of beating
Police-constable Johnson while on the ground, in his turn
received a blow from the truncheon of one of the special
constables, which inflicted a very serious wound on his
head. Many other persons were hurt in the course of the
riot, but not that we can learn to any serious extent. It
is said, however, that a man was severely wounded in the hand by
the sword of one of the soldiers, he having seized the bridle and
nearly thrown the latter.
On the succeeding Monday the several cases were dealt with
arising out of these proceedings.
Mr. I. Preston appeared to prosecute, Mr. C. Cooper
(instructed by Mr. F. S. Costerton) representing the
prisoners.
Robert Watson (for obstructing Captain Love, Surperintendent
of Police) fined 10s.
James King (for threatening E. H. L. Preston, Esq.,) fined
40s.
Samuel Bowles (like offence) fined £3.
John Crow (ditto) fined £1.
James Harvey, William Balls and William Stoddard (ditto)
discharged with a caution.
Samuel Gowing (ditto) fined £1.
Henry Walpole (charged by William Danby-Palmer, Esq., with a
like offence) fined £2.
James Vincent (for creating a disturbance) fined 10s.
George Walton (charged by Mr. S. S. Barber) for a
“rescue,” fined £5.
Alfred Pye (for assaulting Police-constable Lattimore) fined
£2.
William Bee, John Creak, Benjamin Mallett, Edward Brooks, and
Robert Willgrass (charged with having taken part in the riot and
disturbance) were committed for trial, but Bee, Mallett and Creak
were admitted to bail in two sureties of £40 each and their
own recognizances for £68 each.
H.M. ships “Black Eagle” and
“Lightning” had entered the Harbour and laid on the
west side of the river.
The Workhouse (which unfortunately contained a large number of
idle and dissolute characters) had been the scene of frequent
disturbances, and police had been lodged there on that
account. During the riot an outbreak, however, had taken
place, and a ringleader named Charles Girdlestone taken into
custody; he was sentenced to 42 days’ hard labour for this
offence, and would be sent for trial for a ferocious attack on
the police. Three other paupers had been sent to the
treadmill for 21 days each for refractory conduct.
March 8th.—At the Quarter Sessions, (held before N.
Palmer, Esq.), the rioters, John Creak (24), Benjamin Mallett
(34), John Brooks (19), William Bee (26), and Robert Willgrass
(—), were put upon their trial.
Mr. Hotson (with whom was Mr. Mills and Mr. Bulwer)
prosecuted, and Mr. Evans (with whom was Mr. C. Cooper) defended
the prisoners, the Jury (having deliberated for 25 minutes)
returned a verdict of Not Guilty, “which verdict was
received with a loud burst of applause, which lasted two or three
minutes.”
March 15th.—The strike had ended, most of the owners
having consented to sign agreements for giving the men the wages
they asked for, for a period of 12 months.
March 22nd.—The sailors had held a “Grand
Procession with flags, banners, and triumphant cars.”
In the latter were several men attired as Neptune, Britannia,
&c., in the evening they attended at the Vauxhall Gardens,
where there was a grand display of fireworks.—During the
strike 500 stones of flour, 600 lbs. of beef, and 500 cwt. of
coals, had been distributed amongst the families of the men on
strike from the contributions of the inhabitants.
The N.A.O.D. had met at the Trinity Arms to celebrate the 10th
anniversary of the Trinity Lodge, No. 220. Messrs. R. R. B.
Norman, J. P. Hastings, P.A., and F. Palmer took part in the
proceedings.—It was stated there were then three lodges of
this order in the town.
April 5th.—Mr. Ferrier and Sir E. H. K. Lacon had
appealed, without success, against the rating of certain property
on the Denes, on the ground “that it was not within the
town.”
April 12th.—Mr. S. Tolver had instructed Mr. Coppock,
the parliamentary agent, to prepare the petition against the
application of the Public Health Act to the town, and this
document was being numerously signed.
It was proposed to form a “Pilot” Steam Tug
Company (capital, £1,000 in £5 shares.)
George Danby-Palmer and J. Barker, Esqs., had been elected
Haven Commissioners, and D. A. Gourlay and R. Hammond, Esqs.,
Supernumerary Haven Commissioners.
April 19th.—Mr. T. Brightwen was urging the appointment
of a Chaplain at the Workhouse.
The
Conservatives had secured, for the first time, several scats at
the Board of Guardians, the following forming the new
Board:—
Nominated by both parties—Messrs. B. Fenn, S. C. Marsh,
and S. V. Moore.
Liberals—Messrs. G. Danby-Palmer, D. A Gourlay, and T.
Brightwen.
Conservatives—Messrs. R. Ferrier, E. R. Aldred, C.
Woolverton, W. Worship, J. G. Plummer, W. Laws, E. H. L. Preston,
S. Nightingale, J. Cherry, and T. Paul.
Captain Ellis, R.N., had exhibited the model of a fast sailing
yacht.
Captain James Day had been fined £5 for assaulting Mr.
Nolloth, tailor.
The “Public Heath Act” was again being discussed
by the Town Council, where Mr. Burroughs moved, and Mr. Barker
seconded, a petition against the application of the Act to the
Borough, and Mr. F. Worship moved, and Mr. R. Ferrier, jun.,
seconded as an amendment that the Council pass to the next
business on the agenda paper.
Upon a division the amendment was lost by 15 to 23, and the
original motion declared to be carried by 23 to 17 votes.
April 26th.—At a meeting held at the Angel-inn (C. J.
Palmer, Esq., in the chair) it was thought desirable “to
advertise the town, and that a saxhorn band should play daily on
the principal promenades.”
May 10th.—The pilots of Gorleston had succeeded in
establishing a Tug Company, and had purchased a boat of 45
horsepower, called “The Royal Albert.”
J. Hume, Esq., M.P., had introduced a deputation of Ratepayers
opposed to the “Public Health Act” to Lord Seymour
(at the Woods and Forests Office); it consisted of Charles
Pearson, Esq., (Mayor); D. A. Gourlay, Esq., (Deputy-Mayor);
George Danby-Palmer, Esq., and William N. Burroughs, Esq., with
Mr. J. H. Harrison (Secretary), while 18 members of the Council
at the same time petitioned Parliament in favour of the
measure.
The sailors had held a meeting to consider the
“Ticket” system and the “Muster Roll”
fund.
May 17th.—In consequence of the removal of the window
tax, bricklayers were busy throughout the town opening out
windows formerly blocked up.
Mr. Cosgrove’s saxhorn band was to perform on the North
and South Terraces during the season.
The
census head been taken with the following result:—
Houses inhabited.
|
Uninhabited.
|
Total.
|
Building.
|
5,984
|
344
|
6,328
|
78
|
Families.
|
Males.
|
Females.
|
Total.
|
6,154
|
11,544
|
15,014
|
26,558
|
Increase of population per cent., 10.3. This included
347 inmates of the Workhouse.
It was noted that in 1619 Manship estimated the then
population of the town at 1,200 households, which would give a
population of some 7,000.
In 1724 a writer named Andrews stated the population at 13,000
or 14,000; and in 1784 when it was first accurately taken, it was
found to be 12,608.
The then returns were considered disappointing, as it was
expected that the town contained 30,000 persons, but it was noted
that 2,500 sailors belonged to the port, half of whom were
probably not at home when the return was made.
At this time Gorleston had a population of 2,586, and
Southtown of 1,412 persons.
John Annison, the driver of the Sutton coach, had been
convicted for the fourth time of conveying passengers to Yarmouth
at a greater speed than four miles an hour without having a
number plate on his vehicle, and fined £10 with £3
3s. costs.
May 31st.—Visitors were beginning to arrive.
June 7th.—A project was on foot for laying out the
Chapel Denes as an ornamental walk for the public.
June 28th.—A mushroom measuring 29 inches in
circumference, with a stalk about the thickness of a man’s
wrist and weighing 2½lbs., had been grown at Bradwell.
James Gedge, a pauper lunatic, had escaped from the Workhouse,
having only a shirt on.
July 5th.—A Bill had been brought in by Lord Seymour and
Mr. Cornewall Lewis confirming the provisional order to applying
the provisions of the Board of Health Act to the town.
July 19th.—A petition, signed by 1,550 persons, had been
presented to the House, and a deputation had waited on Lord John
Russell with regard to this action of the Government.
The M.P’s. for the town being in favour of the measure,
“had been requested to resign the trust they had
abused.” This action emanated from a
public meeting of ratepayers, over which. George
Danby-Palmer, Esq., presided, and at which Mr. S. W. Bly, Mr. A.
Ames, Mr. W. N. Burroughs, Mr. S. V. Moore, Mr. R. Hammond, and
Mr. T. Parker took part.
July 26th.—The Bill nevertheless passed through
Committee by a majority of 92 against 12.
Sir J. Walmsley had opposed and Lord Seymour supported the
measure, but eventually it passed the House of Commons without a
division.
The paupers were much dissatisfied at not being allowed, as
formerly, to attend places of Worship in the town on Sundays.
Mr. C. Houchen had delivered an address on this subject, and
denounced the action of the Guardians.
Aug. 9th.—It was computed that many hundreds of children
in the North District were entirely without the opportunity for
instruction, and it was proposed to fit up the Priory as a
National School to meet this want.
Evidence had been taken by the Committee of the House of Lords
upon the Public Health Bill being applied to the town, and they
reported the Bill to the House without amendment; thus there was
a “speedy prospect of the town being well drained and made
clean and healthy in spite of its one-idead rulers.”
Captain Smyth, R.N., had been raised to the rank of
Post-Captain.
Six hundred and thirty electors had signed a requisition
calling on Messrs. Rumbold and Saunders to resign their seats as
M.P’s. for the Borough. This would form a majority of
the voters.
The East Norfolk and Suffolk Horticultural Show had been held
under the patronage of the Mayoress, Lady Lacon, and Mr. S. C. J.
Palmer.
Aug. 16th.—The 279th, and last, meeting of the Paving
Commissioners had been held, when there were
present—Messrs. George Danby-Palmer (in the chair), B.
Dowson, W. N. Burroughs, J. Fish, C. E. Bartram, F. Palmer, J. H.
Harrison, S. V. Moore, P. White, J. Cobb, W. Crow, I. Lettis,
jun., and W. H. Bessey.
Mr. Beeching’s newly-built lifeboat had been submitted
to several tests opposite the Crane.
Aug. 23rd.—Mr. Beeching’s model had obtained the
prize in the Lifeboat Competition at Somerset House. There
were 280 models and plans sent in, the first six boats
being—James Beeching, Great Yarmouth; Henry Hinks,
Appledore; J. and E. Pellew, Newbury; William Teasdel,
Great Yarmouth; Harvey and Son, Ipswich, and George Farrow, South
Shields.
Aug. 30th.—The Licensed Victuallers had held a large and
important meeting for the purpose of protecting their interests,
S. C. Marsh, Esq., in the chair.
Mr. G. Blyth (Reporter to the Norfolk News) had been
induced to visit at night a tower in the South-End of the town,
belonging to George Danby-Palmer, Esq., when he had been
assaulted by some person there, and of this he had complained to
the Bench.
Sept. 13th.—The Justices had refused to grant any fresh
licenses at the Brewster Sessions.
The “Reindeer” yawl (manned by Beachmen) had
challenged the “America” yacht to sail for
£105.
Sept. 20th.—The Council meeting had been broken up,
leaving 20 subjects undisposed of, owing to all the Conservatives
and two or three of the Liberal members leaving the meeting,
which was thus reduced below the required number to form a
“quorum.”
Sept. 27th.—Mr. Hilling had been appointed Town Surveyor
at a salary of £30 per annum, and £250 had been
proposed as the salary of the Town-Clerk, he also acting as Clerk
to the newly-formed Local Board of Health. Mr. Clowes,
however, declined to give his assent to serve on these terms
without further consideration.
Oct. 4th.—There had been heavy gales and the Roadstead
presented “a most lamentable scene, crowded with shipping,
which had put in for refuge to the number of some
hundreds.”
Two of the vessels belonging to the Franklin Exploration
Expedition were in the Roads.
Oct. 11th.—Harris Wilshak had been charged with being
concerned in smuggling 14lbs. of tobacco.
At the Revision Court Mr. F. S. Costerton appeared for the
Liberals, and Mr. C. Preston for the Tories. Neither party
claimed any gain from the proceedings on the Parliamentary Lists,
but on the Burgess Roll the Liberals claimed a gain of 19, of
which 15 were in the Regent-ward, where a very warm contest was
expected in November.
Oct. 18th.—Mr. J. W. Crowe had been elected Surgeon to
the Hospital School.
The new Valuation Lists had increased the assessment of the
parish by £47,000.
Active preparations were being made for the Municipal
contests.
Mr.
Wilshak had been acquitted on the charge of smuggling.
George Deacon, known as “The Prophet,” had thrown
himself into the river, as he stated that it was impossible that
he should sink; he would have been drowned but for the help of
the bystanders. When taken to the Station House he was
found to have £18, 2 old gold coins, and 21s. 6d. upon
him.
Oct. 25th.—The Priory was being fitted for National
Schools.
Houchen, who had been preaching against “the powers that
be,” had been bound over to keep the peace in two sureties
of £25 and himself in £50.
Nov. 8th.—The Municipal Election had been hotly
contested and the partizans of the winning party (the Tories)
made it “a boast of having expended in the five wards a sum
of money variously stated from £800 to
£1,200.” The following was the return given
with the poll of 1850 appended to it:—
North
Ward.
|
1851—219
Voters.
|
Mr. S. Nightingale, C.
|
108
|
Mr. W. H. Bessey, C.
|
103
|
Mr. J. Mainprice, L.
|
97
|
Mr. H. D. Palmer, L.
|
95
|
1850—208
Voters.
|
Mr. J. Jackson, L.
|
108
|
Mr. Burroughs, L.
|
105
|
Mr. Nightingale, C.
|
90
|
Mr. Cory, C.
|
68
|
In this Ward the Liberals headed the poll until nearly one
o’clock, when a detachment of Conservative
“runners” with some “dust” turned the
election. The price of votes was high, and ranged from
£8 to £12; and it is said that two polled for the
winning party cost £20!
Market
Ward.
|
1851—270
Voters.
|
Mr. J. E. Barnby, C.
|
148
|
Mr. J. Fenn, C.
|
132
|
Mr. John Cobb, L.
|
120
|
1850—261
Voters.
|
Mr. C. Aldred, C.
|
129
|
Mr. F. Worship, C.
|
123
|
Mr. Owles, L.
|
104
|
Mr. J. S. Cobb, L.
|
84
|
In
this Ward the Liberals did not bring forward two candidates,
being anxious to mark their approbation of Mr. Barnby’s
consistent opposition to the Public Health Act; and here, as in
the North Ward, their candidate headed the poll until the arrival
of the other portion of Conservative workers from the Regent
Ward, when a sufficient number of loose fish were immediately
polled to swamp the majority, at that time about twenty.
The prices of votes ranged from five pounds to ten guineas at a
late hour of the day.
Regent
Ward.
|
1851—244
Voters.
|
Sir E. H. K. Lacon, C.
|
115
|
Mr. J. Cherry, C.
|
114
|
Mr. F. Palmer, L.
|
101
|
Mr. J. Clowes, L.
|
90
|
1850—234
Voters.
|
Mr. Chapman, L.
|
104
|
Mr. Marsh, C.
|
104
|
Mr. Harmer, C.
|
93
|
Mr. F. Palmer, L.
|
84
|
Great exertions were used to secure the return of the
out-going Councillors, and it having been almost publicly stated
that the Conservatives were determined to win “at any
cost,” votes, in consequence, got up the night before the
election to a very high premium—from £5 to £15;
and “split” votes even were in very great demand at
£8 and £10. One case is mentioned of a voter,
in another Ward, who, forseeing the value which votes would
attain, speculated in the purchase of one in this a month before
the election, at the trifling sum of £3, and so profitable
was the investment that on the election morning he sold it for
£10. The money spent in this Ward was stated at
£350.
St.
George’s Ward.
|
1851—256
Voters.
|
Mr. R. Ferrier, jun., C.
|
126
|
Mr. H. Jay, C.
|
126
|
Mr. P. Pullyn, L.
|
76
|
Mr. J. W. Shelly, L.
|
66
|
1850—250
Voters.
|
Mr. J. Plummer, C.
|
130
|
Mr. J. C. Smith, C.
|
116
|
Mr. J. Barker, L.
|
101
|
Mr.
Pullyn and Mr. R. Ferrier, jun., were the outgoing Councillors,
and the former was brought forward again by the Liberals, in
conjunction with Mr. Shelly, the Conservatives selecting Mr. H.
Jay (who had formerly contested the Nelson Ward unsuccessfully)
as a colleague for Mr. Ferrier. Messrs. Pullyn and Shelly
refused even to canvass the electors, and although some of their
friends solicited the suffrages of the Ward for them, there can
be no doubt, however right in principle the non-canvassing may
be, it operated against them, and this, combined with the
constitutional principles upon which their election was
conducted, contributed to their defeat, money being freely spent
on the other side. Much regret is felt at this result, and
especially at the loss of the public services of Mr. Pullyn,
after his having so long served the Ward, and after his twice
filling the office of Chief Magistrate in a manner that won for
him the praise even of his political opponents.
Nelson
Ward.
|
1851—341
Voters.
|
Dr. Impey, L.
|
132
|
Mr. S. V. Moore, L.
|
132
|
1850—317
Voters.
|
Mr. G. D. Palmer, L.
|
121
|
Mr. T. Lettis, L.
|
119
|
The Conservatives did not contest this Ward, and Dr. Impey was
re-elected, in conjunction with Mr. Moore in the room of Mr. J.
Symonds, now non-resident.
Gorleston
Ward.
|
1851—344
Voters.
|
Mr. S. Miller, C
|
136
|
Mr. W. H. Palmer, C
|
135
|
Mr. J. H. Harrison, L
|
76
|
Mr. N. Sterry, L.
|
74
|
1850—337
Voters.
|
Mr. E. H. L. Preston, C
|
185
|
Mr. W. Hammond, C
|
169
|
Mr. S. Crow, L
|
78
|
Mr. Costerton, L
|
64
|
This Ward was contested, but in rather a peculiar way, for
although it was supposed that some opposition to the outgoing
Councillors would be made, it was treated by the Conservatives as
a “sham” one, and such it really seemed up to 12
o’clock, when the state of the poll came out with upwards of
100 for Messrs. Miller and Palmer, and only about two votes for
each of their opponents! This, however, was only a ruse
de guerre, and in a short time the voters came up almost in a
body for Messrs. Harrison and Sterry, who stated in their address
that in “the short space of four hours they obtained 97
promises,” and had they been sooner in the field it is
thought they would have met with better success.
The result of the Elections has been a gain to the
Conservative party of two seats, and this reduces the two parties
to a level in the Council; the Liberals have still, however, a
bare majority, and it is doubted whether they will not be able to
carry the Mayoralty for another year. The Conservatives, it
is said, intend nominating either Sir E. H. K. Lacon, or (which
is more likely) Mr. S. C. Marsh for that office, whilst the names
of Alderman E. R. Palmer and Alderman Bartram are spoken of by
the Liberals.
The Bishop of Norwich, attended by the Rev. S. Hills and his
chaplain, had inspected the Priory buildings, when they were
received by J. H. Hakewell, Esq., (the architect) and C. J.
Palmer, Esq., (the hon. secretary to the Committee).
Mr. Worlledge had moved the Court of Queen’s Bench for a
“quo warranto” to try the legality of Mr.
Hammond’s election as a Councillor for the St.
Andrew’s Ward, and the rule had been granted.
Nov. 15th.—The Hospital was badly supported, and it was
stated that unless £150 a year in additional subscriptions
could be obtained, the assistance afforded to sufferers must be
abridged.
A lecture on “Bloomerism” had been delivered by
Mrs. Knights at the Corn Hall in full “Bloomer”
costume, but she did not appear to have achieved a marked
success.
Dr. Wolff (the traveller) had offered to give some lectures in
the town in aid of the National Priory Schools.
At the Town Council for the Election of Mayor, a great crowd
assembled prior to the meeting, when Sir E. K. Lacon proposed,
and Mr. Fenn seconded, S. C. Marsh, Esq., to fill that office,
and Mr. George Danby-Palmer moved, and Mr. R. Hammond seconded,
the re-election of Captain Charles Pearson, R.N. Upon the
votes being taken, there appeared for Captain
Pearson—Aldermen Pearson, Boulter, Bartram, Bayly, Fiddes,
Hammond, Pike, R. Hammond, jun., E. R. Palmer, and Barker;
Councillors Burroughs, Butcher, Cannell, Clarke, Chapman, Fish,
Gourlay, Impey, Jackson, Lettis, Moore, G. D. Palmer, and P.
White; total, 23. For Mr. Marsh—Alderman B. Fenn;
Councillors C. Aldred, E. Aldred, Barber, Bessey, Cherry, Ferrier,
Ferrier, jun., J. Fenn, W. Hammond, B. Jay, H. Jay, Lacon, Marsh,
S. Miller, Nightingale, W. H. Palmer, Plummer, Preston, Smith,
Steward, F. Worship, and W. Worship; total, 23. And the
Mayor, giving a casting vote for himself, declared himself duly
elected. Subsequently the Town Clerk (Mr. John Clowes)
declared that he would not continue in that office at the salary
of £250, and it having been stated that Mr. Charles Cory
would accept it on those terms, he was elected Town Clerk by 23
against 15 voices. Mr. Cory then attended, was informed of
his election, and an order made on the late Clerk to hand over
the papers relating to the office to him. In conclusion,
the Editor expressed a hope that “on no future occasion
will any parties be allowed to violate order and decorum in a way
so disgraceful as they did on Monday last.”
Nov. 22nd.—A dinner had been given to the Mayor at the
Star-hotel, when 45 members of the Council and others
attended.
A Poor’s Rate of 1s. 2d. in the £ had been
made. Great dissatisfaction existed as to the new
assessment of the parish.
Nov. 29th.—Mr. Joseph Sandars, M.P., had issued a reply
to the requisition of the electors, justifying the course he had
taken with regard to the Public Health Act.
A meeting had been held with regard to the new assessment, Mr.
J. H. Harrison in the chair.
The town had been visited with a tremendous gale, during which
several vessels had been blown out to sea. At the time of
the storm there were 700 sail between this port and
Lowestoft.
The “Enterprise,” 600 tons, had been launched from
Mr. Branford’s Yard; she was christened by Miss Barber and
Miss Holt.
Dec. 6th.—A public meeting had been held at the
Town-hall (Mr. J. H. Harrison in the chair) for the purpose of
considering the Poor’s Rate assessment recently made.
About 400 persons attended, when the same was condemned, and a
subscription commenced for the purpose of disputing the validity
of it.
In respect of such proceedings, Mr. F. S. Costerton had been
engaged as solicitor to the owners of small tenements, and Mr. C.
H. Chamberlin for the general body of appellants, estimated at
from 500 to 600 in number at the least.
Dec. 13th.—At the special meeting of the Town Council,
“a scene of much disorder and confusion arose out of some
recriminations relative the late Town-Clerk, between Mr.
Burroughs and Mr. Preston.”
Dec.
20th.—On the hearing of the assessment appeals, the rate
was quashed by the Justices on the ground of unequal
assessment. In these proceedings Mr. Chamberlin appeared on
behalf of the Committee of Ratepayers, Mr. C. Cory for several
private individuals, and Mr. Cufaude for the Overseers.
Dec. 27th—The Overseers had applied for, and obtained a
fresh rate of 1s. 2d. in the £.
It had been determined in future not to use the “St.
Nicholas’ Seal,” belonging to the Corporation, and
for practical purposes a smaller seal was to be made; the old one
had been in use since about the year 1251.
The Race Committee had issued its report, from which it
appeared that the income had been, for the last year, £512
1s. 3d., as against £523 3s. 11d. expended.
Jan. 3rd.—The new Railway Bridge had been opened.
Jan. 17th.—There was further dissatisfaction in the town
on the subject of the Assessment and the Poor’s Rate; a
summons, obtained by Mr. J. H. Harrison against some officials
for not allowing him to inspect the rate-books, was dismissed
with costs.
Mr. Hammond (one of the Justices) had called the attention of
the Press to the manner in which on certain occasions Magistrates
were “drummed up.”
William Rising, Esq., of Somerton Hall, had entertained a
large party of sporting friends at the Angel Hotel.
A portion of the Gorleston Cliff had fallen away, carrying
with it the Misses Barber, who were subsequently dug out of the
sand below.
A high tide had washed over the west side of the Harbour with
such force that a vessel belonging to W. H. Palmer, Esq., had
been driven from her moorings. On the Beach it flowed past
the Britannia Terrace.
Jan. 24th.—There were more Poor’s Rate appeals,
and Mr. J. H. Harrison being dissatisfied with the result of
them, gave notice that he should carry his case to the Quarter
Sessions,
Jan. 31st.—Captain Manby had received a medal from the
Jurors at the Great Exhibition for the life-saving models which
he had exhibited there.
The parish had been divided into five wards for Poor Law
purposes; prior to this the whole 16 Guardians had been voted for
“en bloc” by the ratepayers throughout the whole
parish.
Mr.
Worlledge had again appeared before the Queen’s Bench in
the case of “The Queen v. Hammond,” and the
Court had granted the rule.
Feb. 7th.—Mr. J. H. Harrison had been fined for an
alleged assault on a constable, arising out of the confusion in
the Court on the late hearing of the Poor’s Rate
appeals. He gave notice of appeal to the Quarter
Sessions.
Feb. 14th.—Mr. Harrison had presided at another meeting
of ratepayers who were dissatisfied with the action of the
Justices as to the assessment.
Feb. 21st.—It was announced by a handbill signed by Mr.
Harrison, that these owners had come to a satisfactory
arrangement with the Overseers, and that further legal
proceedings had been abandoned.
Feb. 28th.—“The Queen Charlotte” and
“Mad Bess” steam-packets were advertised as going to
run between this port and Rotterdam.
March 6th.—A meeting of shipowners had been held (S.
Paget, Esq., in the chair), to consider certain representations
made to them from other places, with regard to the action to be
taken by their class at the next General Election, but no
resolution was arrived at in conformity therewith.
Henry Austin, Esq., (Secretary to the General Board of
Health), had visited and inspected the town.
March 13th.—Mr. Beeching continued to receive numerous
orders for his improved lifeboats.
The Mormons had engaged the School of Industry as a
“Church.”
The following were the tenders for the Priory
Schools:—Mr. John Key £1,120, Mr. R. Page
£1,232, Mr. R. Pratt, £1,310, and a London builder
£1,637. Mr. Norfor and Mr. Stanley were acting with
the successful contractor.
March 20th.—A meeting had been held at the King’s
Head Inn with regard to the representation of the Borough.
Mr. J. W. Shelly was chairman, and Mr. R. Hammond, John Owles,
and C. E. Bartram took part in the proceedings, which eventuated
in a request to Sir Charles Napier, K.C.B., and W. T.
M’Cullagh, Esq., M.P., to contest the Borough in the
Liberal interest.
March 27th.—The Conservatives had held a meeting at the
Angel-hotel for a similar purpose. Mr. E. H. L. Preston
presided. Mr. R. Ferrier moved, and Mr. W. H. Palmer
seconded Sir E. H. K. Lacon as a candidate for the Borough, and
Mr. B. Dowson proposed, and Mr. S. H. Aldred seconded Mr. C.
Rumbold as his colleague.
The
question of the rating of the Vauxhall property had been settled
by the Court finding that the premises were in Norfolk, which
was, in fact, a verdict for the plaintiff. The sum in
dispute was 11s. 8d., and it was estimated that the costs
amounted to about £1,000.
A fire had occurred on Mr. Ecclestone’s premises in the
Broad Bow. G. Danby-Palmer, E. H. L. Preston. R.
Hammond, and W. N. Burroughs, Esqs., were early on the spot and
rendered valuable assistance.
Mr. George Barrett had been elected Master of the Blue Coat
Charity School in the place of the late Mr. Gershom Davie.
Captain Ellis, R.N., and the Coastguard had seized 162 bales
of tobacco on board the collier “Martha.”
A quartett meeting had been held at Noverre’s Rooms, the
performers being William Yetts, Esq., (leader), Mr. D. Hogarth,
Mr. G. Sharp, and Mr. Stonex.
April 3rd.—The Liberal party had held a meeting at the
“Star” for the purpose of receiving Admiral Sir C.
Napier and W. T. M’Cullagh, Esq., M.P., who had arrived in
the town (J. W. Shelly, Esq., in the chair); on the same day a
public meeting of electors had been held in the Corn Exchange
(George Danby-Palmer, Esq., chairman), and on the platform were
R. Hammond, P. Pullyn, J. W. Shelly, J. Bayly, T. Lettis, J.
Jackson, C. E. Bartram, R. Barber, C. Miller, Esqs., Captain W.
Briggs, Messrs. J. D. Chapman, Chris. Steward, J. Mainprice, B.
Bellin, J. Cobb, P. White, and others.
The meeting was a crowded one, and the candidates appear to
have been heartily received.
April 10th.—W. Stirling Lacon, Esq., H.E.C.S., had
invented an appliance for the more easily lowering of
ships’ boats, which was approved by many nautical
gentlemen, including, locally, Admiral Sir E. Travers, R.N., and
Captain Pearson, R.N.
The Rev. Partridge, A.M., had been recommended by the
Committee to the proprietors for the post of Head Master at the
Grammar School.
The Priory Schools had been commenced.
At the Election of Guardians, Mr. J. H. Harrison had been
nominated for all the Wards, but had elected to stand for the
Nelson Ward, in which he resided.
Messrs. W. Green, W. Wright, S. Lessey, and J. Borking had
been re-elected Overseers.
Captain John Pike (one of the Aldermen) had died.
April
17th.—Mr. Rumbold, M.P., had arrived in Yarmouth, as also
had Sir E. H. K. Lacon, Admiral Sir C. Napier, and W. T.
McCullagh, Esq., M.P. The Tories were making a private
canvass in the evenings.
The Rev. Bowyer Vaux had been appointed Chaplain to the
Military Asylum, vice the Rev. C. Davie, M.A., resigned.
The following Guardians had been elected:—
St. Nicholas’ Ward.—Messrs. Thomas
Brightwen, E. H. L. Preston, and S. Nightingale.
Regent.—Messrs. W. Worship, S. C. Marsh, and D.
A. Gourlay.
St. George’s.—Messrs. B. Fenn, R. Ferrier,
and P. Coble.
Market.—There was a contest here as
under:—
E. R. Aldred
|
248
|
W. Laws
|
238
|
Edward Harvey
|
161
|
Edward B. Jay
|
89
|
The first three were elected.
In the Nelson Ward the return was—
George Danby-Palmer
|
327
|
Charles Woolverton
|
286
|
S. V. Moore
|
276
|
W. Yetts
|
176
|
J. H. Harrison
|
147
|
The first four were therefore elected.
Messrs. William H. Palmer and E. P. Youell had been elected by
the pew-holders, Churchwardens of St. Mary’s, Southtown;
and Mr. F. R. King (vice F. S. Costerton resigned) and Mr.
William Hammond had been appointed to similar office at
Gorleston.
At the Yarmouth Vestry (the Rev. G. Hills presiding), Mr. R.
Hammond proposed, and Mr. J. G. Fisher seconded the re-election
of Mr. C. D. Steward, and Mr. B. Fenn proposed, and Mr. F.
Worship seconded the re-election of Mr. E. R. Aldred. The
Church Rate was then 2½d. in the £. At this
meeting Messrs. R. Hammond and J. Davey were re-elected
“auditors” for the ensuing year.
April 24th.—It was said that Lord A. Lennox was ready
“to start” for Yarmouth. Meanwhile Sir E. H. K.
Lacon was canvassing the electors, accompanied by about 30
leading Conservatives, and Mr. Rumbold M.P. was taking a similar
course in company with six or seven personal friends, while Sir
C. Napier and Mr. McCullagh, M.P., were addressing crowded
meetings of electors in the several Wards of the Borough.
At
the Council Meeting, Mr. C. C. Aldred had publicly apologised for
stating as regarded Mr. F. S. Costerton “that a
constituency had been defeated by the advice of a petty-fogging
lawyer.”
The election of an Alderman was then proceeded with, when the
voting—
For Mr. Yetts
|
23
|
,, Mr. Pullyn
|
23
|
And the Mayor gave his casting vote in favour of Mr.
Pullyn.
Mr. Palmer had obtained a rule in the Queen’s Bench for
a new trial in the case of Bradstreet v Hammond.
May 1st.—Contains much matter reflecting on Mr.
Rumbold’s present position as contrasted with his former
one when connected with the Liberal party. Having completed
his canvass, that gentleman had issued a joint address with Sir
E. Lacon, and being seriously indisposed had left Yarmouth for
his country seat.
The Tory Government, which had been in office six weeks, had
appointed Messrs. B. Fenn, T. Brightwen, J. Cherry, R. Steward,
C. C. Aldred, and J. G. Plummer, Magistrates for the Borough.
The Bench previously to this had consisted of Liberals,
Messrs. George Danby-Palmer, R. Hammond, W. Johnson, and J. W.
Shelly, and Conservatives, J. F. Costerton, E. H. L. Preston,
William Danby-Palmer, W. Thurtell, J. C. Smith, William H.
Palmer, B. Jay, W. Yetts, J. Fenn, and W. H. Bessey.
The “Disfranchised Freemen” had held a meeting and
adopted a petition to Parliament, Messrs. Jacob Harvey, Nelson,
Royal, and J. Taylor taking part in the proceedings.
The agents of the Custom House had taken into custody the
landlord of the “Honest Lawyer.”
May 8th.—The coffer-dam at the new Bridge works had
“blown up;” on the following day the old Bridge had
been on fire.
The Cricket Club had been re-established.
The Freemen’s Petition had received 972 signatures.
A tradesman in the town had given a dinner to four old people,
whose united ages amounted to 368 years.
May 15th.—It was stated that the Rev. — Smith had
left £14,000 to endow two scholarships at Caius College for
natives of Yarmouth.
The Poor’s Rate was to be 1s. 2d. in the £, the
sum of £2,521 being required for that purpose by the
Guardians.
May 22nd.—A salmon trout had been caught near Winterton,
having a gutta percha ring on its tail with “192 Tweed
1852” stamped upon it.
At a
mooting of the Sailors’ Association, Mr. J. D. Chapman had
been presented with a silver medal.
The Directors of the Victoria Building Company had dined
together at the Victoria Hotel, (B. Dowson, Esq., in the
chair.)
May 29th.—A meeting of the subscribers to the fund for
“Promoting the Prosperity of Great Yarmouth” had been
held at the Angel, (C. J. Palmer, Esq., F.S.A. in the chair) and
£25 subscribed in the room.
June 5th.—The Tenth Anniversary of the N.A.O.D. had been
held at the Trinity Arms. About 50 members and friends were
present.
June 12th.—The Liberal candidates had completed their
canvass and left the town. Complaint was made that Mr.
McCullagh had been libelled by the “Lacon party.”
Mr. Rumbold, it was supposed, would retire, his case being
considered (by the “Blues”) hopeless.
June 19th.—It was reported that Mr. Rumbold would retire
in favour of Sir Harry Smith. Some of Mr. Rumbold’s
friends, and Sir E. Lacon, had gone to London.
The “Associated Democrats” had held a meeting at
the Masonic Hall, when Messrs. J. T. Blow and Royal took part in
the proceedings.
June 26th.—Contains another attack on Mr. Rumbold, who
was stated to have voted in 121, and been absent in 669 divisions
of the House.
The Trustees of the Southtown Turnpike had obtained power to
light that road with gas.
Gas in Yarmouth had been reduced from 5s. 6d. to 5s. per 1,000
feet.
The British School had been inspected by Mr. Fletcher, who
considered that its state reflected the “greatest
credit” upon Mr. Daniel Tomkins.
At the Sessions, Messrs. C. C. Aldred, B. Fenn, R. Steward and
J. G. Plummer were qualified as Magistrates.
The notice of the rules as to collisions at sea, under 14 and
15 Vic., cap. 79, appear in this issue, to come in force on 1st
of August then next.
July 3rd.—Admiral Sir Charles Napier had returned to
Yarmouth, and the Star Hotel was decorated with several of his
flags and trophies. The hustings were to be erected on the
North side of the Town Hall, and the Liberal polling-booth
opposite the King’s Head, that for the Tories being
opposite the Angel.
George Danby-Palmer, Esq., had presided at a meeting of the
Liberal Registration Association at the Star Hotel, when several
healths had been drunk with “Hieland honours.”
The greatest enthusiasm prevailed on this occasion, and Mr.
Chapman presented each of the candidates with a rosette and some
appropriate lines from the ladies of Yarmouth.
July 10th.—On the morning of the Nomination the walls
were found covered with these placards—“Rumbold the
Champion of the Board of Health,” “Lacon the Patron
of Lowestoft.” The Sailors marched in procession to
the “Star” where the Liberal candidates were staying
with a band, colours, and chariots borne by the men, on which
were “Britannia,” “Neptune,”
“Triton,” &c. Upon the Blue flags appeared
“M’Cullagh and Freedom of Election,”
“True Blue and Victory,” “England expects that
every man will do his duty,” &c.; and on the Red flags
“Lacon our Townsman,” “Lacon and Rumbold for
Ever,” “Church and State,” and “Cheap
Bread and no Monopoly.” Mr. B. Dowson proposed, and
Mr. William Hurry Palmer seconded Mr. Rumbold; Mr. George
Danby-Palmer proposed, and Mr. J. W. Shelly seconded Admiral Sir
Charles Napier, K.C.B.; Mr. R. Ferrier proposed, and Mr. E. H. L.
Preston seconded Sir E. H. K. Lacon; and Mr. R. Hammond proposed,
and Mr. Jackson seconded Mr. William T. McCullagh. The show
of hands was largely in favour of Sir C. Napier and Mr.
MeCullagh, whereupon Mr. B. Dowson demanded a poll for Sir E. H.
K. Lacon and Mr. Rumbold. After these proceedings the
sailors again formed in procession and marched round the town,
and the electors were addressed from the Star by Messrs. Owles,
Jackson, and Shelly. The poll was taken on the following
day as under:—
|
McCullagh.
|
Napier.
|
Lacon.
|
Rumbold.
|
8.30
|
66
|
63
|
46
|
43
|
9
|
118
|
116
|
102
|
101
|
9.30
|
189
|
185
|
199
|
196
|
10
|
239
|
233
|
239
|
234
|
11
|
268
|
264
|
278
|
269
|
11.30
|
344
|
342
|
373
|
352
|
12
|
386
|
384
|
430
|
400
|
12.15
|
410
|
407
|
467
|
423
|
1
|
435
|
430
|
493
|
455
|
2
|
460
|
448
|
519
|
472
|
2.15
|
470
|
455
|
521
|
473
|
At this point (the Editor says) practices which may be
imagined, and which will hereafter be described, decided
the poll, and in a quarter of an hour the numbers stood—
|
McCullagh.
|
Napier.
|
Lacon.
|
Rumbold.
|
|
483
|
463
|
542
|
492
|
3
|
499
|
476
|
572
|
515
|
Mr. S. W. Craske then proceeded to serve notices upon certain
electors before voting, and Mr. McCullagh, in company with Mr.
George Danby-Palmer, and Mr. J. W. Shelly, informed the Mayor
that the proceedings would be questioned.
|
McCullagh.
|
Napier.
|
Lacon.
|
Rumbold.
|
3.30
|
516
|
484
|
601
|
541
|
4
|
521
|
486
|
611
|
547
|
After the close of the poll Mr. McCullagh again addressed the
electors, and a fracas ensued, during which two or three persons
were injured.
July 17th.—From 7,000 to 8,000 visitors had attended the
Regatta, when the Mosquito, Volante, and Secret contended for the
Club yacht prize, which was won by the first-named, yacht; the
Reindeer won the principal yawl prize.
A crowded meeting of the Liberal electors had been held at the
Star-hotel, (W. N. Burroughs, Esq., in the chair), which was
addressed in a speech of two hours’ length by Mr.
McCullagh, with a view to petitioning against the return of Lacon
and Rumbold.
It was stated that the boy who was injured during the election
at Mr. Feltham’s was progressing favourably.
An application had been made to the Bench for compensating the
persons whose property had been injured on the day of
election. It was stated that 40 panes of glass had been
broken at Mr. Feltham’s, and that the windows of the Angel
Hotel had also suffered considerably.
July 24th.—The town was very full of visitors, and the
price of provisions much enhanced thereby.
July 31st.—The Mayor had not attended the Water
Frolic.
Aug. 7th.—A meeting had been held to consider the
question of forming a Company to supply Gorleston and Southtown
with gas, George Danby-Palmer, Esq., in the chair; William
Johnson, S. Crowe, H. Fellows, R. S. Watling, H. Martin, W. T.
Clarke, Esqs., Mr. Page, Mr. Greaves, Mr. Gooda and Mr. Howes
were, with many others, present. An influential committee
was formed and a considerable sum subscribed in the room.
A curious mural painting had been discovered in St.
Nicholas’ Church.
Mr.
Craske had recovered 30s. from George Thurtell, Esq., for damages
to his coat on the Election day.
On the application of Mr. Chamberlin for Mr. Gooderich, and
Mr. F. Ferrier for Mr. Brown, the Magistrates had signed the
following orders for payment of damages and costs arising out of
the Election riot:—
|
£
|
s.
|
d.
|
£
|
s.
|
d.
|
Mr. Brown, damages
|
7
|
0
|
11
|
|
|
|
costs
|
6
|
13
|
0
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
13
|
13
|
11
|
Mr. Gooderich, damages
|
4
|
0
|
0
|
|
|
|
costs
|
6
|
0
|
0
|
10
|
0
|
0
|
Magistrates’ Clerk’s fees
|
|
|
|
5
|
19
|
1
|
|
|
|
|
£29
|
13
|
0
|
Aug. 14th.—The Races had been held. Stewards: Lord
W. Powlett, Sir E. H. K. Lacon, Bart., M.P., and B. Bond Cabbell,
Esq., M.P. The entries were “numerous and
good”; there were several charges brought against
pickpockets before the Justices arising out of these sports.
It was stated that “a Mr. John Cooper” had been
the author of the several paragraphs during the late Election, of
which so much complaint had been made.
The King of Holland had presented Mr. W. Stirling Lacon with a
silver medal for his invention for lowering ship’s
boats. The Great Britain was being fitted with this
apparatus.
Aug. 28th.—Commander Henry J. Lacon had been appointed
to the “Daring,” 12, brig.
W. T. McCullagh, Esq., had been staying with the Mayor, and
had visited Grout’s factory.
Sept. 4th.—There were 182 applicants for renewal of
licenses; no new licenses were granted, although in respect of
one ease the Justices divided five against five, and a
“scene of confusion” ensued.
Sept. 11th.—Messrs. Harrison had launched the
“Water Witch,” 37, smack, from their yard.
The Bridge works had been stopped owing to
“quicksands.”
Sept. 18th.—The Paper appears in mourning for the Duke
of Wellington.
Sept. 25th.—Lieutenant Chambers had ascended in the
Prince of Wales balloon from the Vauxhall-gardens; it contained
36,000 cubic feet of gas. He descended on a marsh near the
Norwich-road at no great distance from the place of ascent.
Dr.
Impey’s sudden and lamented death had caused a vacancy in
the Nelson-ward, and the Conservatives had started Mr. John
Clarke as their nominee.
Oct. 2nd.—The “Lady Haven Estate” in
Southtown had been sold for £7,000.
At the Nelson-ward Election, the opposition to Mr.
Clarke’s return was only a nominal one, the numbers
being—
Mr. J. Clarke (Con.)
|
122
|
Mr. Owles (Lib.)
|
4
|
The numbers in the Council were thus balanced 24 to 24.
Oct. 9th.—Records the death of Admiral Fisher.
An appeal was made for the restoration of the Nelson
Column.
At the Registration Court, Mr. C. Chamberlin appeared for the
Liberals and Mr. Cufaude for the Conservatives, and the former
claimed a gain of 42 upon the revision.
Oct. 16th.—At the Court held for the Revision of the
Burgess Roll, Mr. Chamberlin again appeared for the Liberals and
Mr. Ferrier for the Conservatives, and the former again claimed a
gain upon the proceedings.
It was proposed to erect a monument to the memory of the late
Dr. Impey.
Oct. 23rd.—Peter Le Neve Arnold, Esq., a dumb gentleman,
had been found to be of unsound mind since January, 1840.
This Inquiry was conducted at the Victoria Hotel.
The Bishop of Norwich had confirmed 136 candidates.
Oct. 30th.—A man named Horth had been committed for
trial on the charge of attempting to murder Mrs. Proudfoot.
The names of Messrs. S. C. Marsh, J. G. Plummer, and C. J.
Palmer (the Mayor-Elect in 1835), were mentioned as probable
holders of the Mayoralty during the ensuing year.
Dr. Dunne had been elected Physician to the Hospital (vice
Impey deceased).
Nov. 6th.—Mr. J. S. Cobb had lectured on the
“Objects and Uses of Botany.”
MUNICIPAL
ELECTION.
Regent Ward.—Barber (C) and Fish (L).
St. George’s Ward.—Ferrier and B. Jay
(C).
Nelson Ward.—W. Yetts and C. J. Palmer (C).
Gorleston.—R. Steward (C) and W. T. Clarke
(L.)
The returns for the North and Market Wards could
not be given.
Nov.
13th—At the Council Meeting Mr. Alderman Fenn had proposed,
and Mr. Preston seconded, S. C. Marsh, Esq., as Mayor for the
ensuing year, and that gentleman was thereupon elected without
opposition.
Upon the re-election of Corporation officers, Mr. Bales (the
old officer) was opposed by Mr. Collins as second Mayor’s
officer, and the latter appointed, 8 Liberals voting for Bales,
and 21 Conservatives for Collins.
The Mayor’s Dinner was held at the Town-hall.
Cosgrove’s Brass Band attended and a number of ladies were
in the gallery; the decorations were very rich and elegant; 186
gentlemen were present, amongst whom were—Viscount Le
Franchien, Sir E. Travers, K.H., H. N. Burroughes, Esq., M.P.,
Rev. R. Bent, Messrs. T Browne, T. Brightwen, R. D. Barber, J.
Baker, M. Brown, C. Brown, E. Bell, W. H. Bessey, J. Bracey, C.
Cherry, C. Cory, W. Clementson, J. L. Cufaude, T. W. Clarke, C.
Chamberlin, W. Dowson, C. B. Dashwood, W. H. Diver, Captain P.
Eyton, R.N., R. Ferrier, B. Fenn, J. G. Fisher, Captain Gooch,
R.N. D. A. Gourlay, W. Johnson, H. Jay, B. Jay, J. Jackson,
H. Matchett, S. Nightingale, E. H. L. Preston, Captain Pearson,
R.N., A. Preston, William Danby-Palmer, C. J. Palmer, W. H.
Palmer, P. Pullyn, J. G. Plummer, W. Rising, Captain Smyth, R.N.,
F. Steward, R. Steward, S. W. Spelman, J. C. Smith, W. Thurtle,
H. Teasdel, Rev. B. Vaux, Captain White, R.N., Rev. M. Waters, H.
V. Worship, F. Worship, W. Worship, R. S. Watling, J. D. Waters,
W. Yetts, E. P. Youell, &c.
The “Norfolk,” 300 tons, had been launched from
Mr. Fellows’ yard.
Nov. 20th.—The Right Hon. M. T. Baines had presented the
petition against the return of Sir E. H. K. Lacon and Mr.
Rumbold, whereupon “Mr. Rumbold (who was present) took up
his hat and left the House.”
The funeral of the Duke of Wellington had been observed as a
general day of mourning.
A fire had nearly been occasioned by an accident in the
Town-hall kitchen during the Mayor’s Dinner.
Nov. 23rd.—Sir E. Lacon and Mr. Rumbold (accompanied by
Mr. W. H. Palmer) had had an interview with the Right Honourable
J. W. Henley, and presented the Shipowners’ Memorial.
Sergeant Kinglake and Mr. O’Brien had been retained by
Mr. F. S. Costerton in the matter of the Election petition.
Mr. Robert Steward had caused the Attorney-General to serve
writs on several members of the Town Council, with a view to
testing the validity of the renewal of leases by that body under
a custom then in force in the town. Mr. W. Worship
strongly deprecated this proceeding.
Dec. 4th.—At the Council meeting it was resolved, on the
motion of Mr. Ferrier, seconded by Mr. C. C. Aldred, that the
Town Clerk defend the actions so commenced at the instance of Mr.
Steward.
The petition had been defeated, as the Examiner had reported
“the sureties to the petition to be informal and
invalid.”
The Tories had sent the bellman round the town to announce
this fact.
Captain Fisher, R.N., had been appointed to the command of the
“Magician,” 16 gun steam frigate, 400
horse-power.
It was proposed to start a “Conservative Land
Society” at Yarmouth.
Dec. 11th.—Messrs. George Danby-Palmer, W. N. Burroughs,
John W. Shelly and R. Hammond, junr., had petitioned the House of
Commons for redress as regarded the action of the Examiner as to
the Election petition.
Dec. 18th.—A public meeting had been held to consider
the construction of “a Marine Parade and
Drive.” About 300 or 400 persons were present; the
Mayor presided, and was supported by Charles Pearson, Esq., R.N.,
C. E. Bartram, C. Aldred, J. Jackson, J. Chapman, E. Aldred, C.
J. Palmer, F. Palmer, R. Dowson, C. Miller, E. Preston, J. C.
Smith, R. Ferrier, H. D. Palmer, R. Steward, J. Cherry, W. C.
Reynolds, F. Worship, W. Worship, &c. Mr. C. J. Palmer
moved, and Mr. D. R. Fowler seconded a resolution in favour of
the proposal; and Mr. Amis moved, and Mr. J. Cobb seconded as an
amendment “That those who wanted a Parade should pay for
it,” which amendment the Mayor declared, amid some
confusion, to be carried.
Dec. 25th.—A “wholesale robbery” of fish had
taken place at Mr. Charles Cannell’s office.
The Government had been defeated upon the Budget, Sir E. H. K.
Lacon voting with, and Mr. C. E. Rumbold against, them.
Jan. 8th.—A meeting of Liberal electors had been
addressed by Mr. McCullagh relative to the rejection on technical
grounds of the petition against the return of the M.Ps.
George Danby-Palmer, Esq., occupied the chair, and Messrs. F. S.
Costerton, P. Pullyn, R. Hammond, J. Clowes, C. E. Bartram, J.
Jackson, J. Bayly, W. N. Burroughs, J. D. Chapman, J. Cobb, W.
Livingstone, S. Parker, J. Mainprice, D. R. Fowler, P. White and
others were present.
It
was rumoured that Mr. Rumbold would not again offer himself for
the Borough, owing to his having voted against the Government,
which had angered his Tory supporters.
Jan. 15th.—An election had been held for a Councillor in
the Gorleston Ward, owing to the death of Mr. S. Miller.
The numbers polled were—
For Mr. William Hammond
|
132
|
,, Henry Danby-Palmer, Esq.
|
88
|
Majority
|
44
|
The Tories gave “their usual breakfast. Many of
the electors on both sides did not poll.”
The Rev. Bowyer Vaux had presided at the Annual Public Library
Meeting.
Jan. 22nd.—At the “Great Metropolitan Poultry
Show,” E. H. L. Preston, Esq., Mr. E. Hughes and Mr. Henry
Turrell had won prizes.
One hundred and thirty persons had attended the first
Subscription Ball at the Town Hall.
Jan. 29th.—Considerable progress was being made with the
new Bridge works.
Bro. Oswald Diver had been installed Master of Lodge
Friendship at the Duke’s Head.
Feb. 5th.—The return of paupers showed—In-door,
331: out-door, 1,289; cost of out-relief, £83 15s.
11¾d. for the week.
Feb. 12th.—The Wellington Pier Bill was reported as
having complied with standing orders.
Mr. James W. Crowe had been appointed Medical Officer for the
North District in the place of Mr. Button appointed to a similar
office for the Workhouse.
Feb. 19th.—Mr. C. J. Palmer brought to the notice of the
Council the dilapidated state of the Nelson Monument, and Sir E.
H. K. Lacon, Mr. Palmer, Mr. Burroughs, Mr. Ferrier, Captain
Pearson, and Mr. Steward were appointed a Committee to consider
the subject.
Mr. Palmer also called attention to the state of the
town’s muniments, and it was agreed that Mr. Harrod should
be engaged to arrange same at a fee of £20.
Mr. Chamberlin (Coroner) required the Council to seal his
appointment: this had been neglected in 1848 when he was
appointed to that office.
Feb. 26th.—The Yarmouth Water Works Bill had been read a
second time in the House of Commons.
March
12th.—Mr. Jarvis, jeweller, Broad Row, had been committed
for trial on the charge of attempting to defraud an Insurance
Company by setting fire to his premises.
March 19th.—The House of Commons Committee had decided
that the preamble of the Water Works Bill was proved. Mr.
Webster appeared for the promoters, and Mr. Lynde for certain
landowners who petitioned against it. Evidence was given in
support of the measure by Messrs. R. Ferrier, Charles Cory, W.
Rising, and Spelman.
April 2nd.—At the Vestry Meeting, Messrs. Steward and
Aldred had been re-elected Churchwardens, and a Church rate of
1½d. in the £ voted.
The retiring Guardians had been re-elected.
Sir Charles Napier, K.C.B., had visited the town and called on
several of his more active supporters at the recent contest.
April 9th.—Messrs. Borking, Green, Wright, and Bradbeer
had been elected Overseers.
The Wellington Pier and Water Works Bills had passed the
Commons.
The East Norfolk Militia were to meet for training on April
19th.
April 16th.—The Town Council had proceeded to elect a
Surveyor, when the voting was—
For Mr. Laing
|
22
|
,, Mr. Parker
|
15
|
And Mr. Laing was consequently appointed to that post.
April 23rd.—The East Norfolk Militia had assembled and
paraded in the Lunatic Asylum yard.
April 30th.—At a meeting of the Wellington Pier Company
(S. C. Marsh, Esq., in the chair), it was determined to proceed
with the erection of that structure at once.
May 7th.—The second Subscription Ball had been attended
by upwards of 170 of the principal inhabitants of the town and
neighbourhood, including the Mayor, Mrs. Marsh and party,
Captain, Mrs. and Miss Pearson, Mr. and Mrs. Caldecott, Misses
Caldecott (2) and Miss Leathes, Rev. F. Steward, Mrs. and Miss
Steward, Mr., Mrs., and Miss Brown (Thrigby), Mr. and Mrs.
Harcourt (Burgh Castle), Mr. and Mrs. C. J. Palmer, Rev. S. T.
Preston and Miss Preston, Mr. and Mrs. E. H. L. Preston and Miss
H. Preston, Mr. and Mrs. C. S. Sharpe, Mr. and Mrs. H. Reeve
(Lowestoft), Mr. and Mrs. A. Steward and party, Mr. and Mrs. W.
C. Reynolds and Miss Pellew, Rev. E. B. Frere, Mrs. Frere and
party, Mr. and Mrs. R. Ferrier, Mr. and Mrs. J. Steward and Miss
Stephens. Captain and Miss Money, Colonel Mason and officers of
the East Norfolk Militia, Captain Adsbrighton and the officers of
the 4th Light Dragoons, &c.
May 14th.—Colonel Mason and the officers of the East
Norfolk Militia had been entertained at a Ball at the Town Hall
give by some of the principal inhabitants.
G. W. Haggard, Esq., had delivered a lecture on “The
Militia.”
E. H. L. Preston, Esq., had been offered £31 10s. for
seven chickens, hatched in February, the off-set of his prize
white Cochin China fowls.
May 21st.—The East Norfolk Militia had been
disbanded.
A Spanish hen, the property of Mr. Josiah Stevenson, had laid
an egg measuring 8 inches round, 6½ inches in length, and
weighing more than 3½ ounces.
May 28th.—The Queen’s Birthday had been
celebrated, the Mayor and a number of gentlemen dining at
Bird’s Royal Hotel on the occasion.
The Reform Association of Great Yarmouth had been addressed by
Mr. McCullagh in a speech of two hours’ duration.
June 4th.—Experiments in “table moving” were
being made at the Young Men’s Institute by the Hon. Secs.,
Messrs. John Fellows, S. C. Sothern, John Beattie and Barcham
Sayer.
June 11th.—Sir C. Napier, K.C.B., had been appointed
Vice-Admiral of the Blue.
June 26th.—The driving of the first pile of the
Wellington-pier was advertised to take place on the 28th
inst.
July 2nd.—A report of which event appears in this issue,
when a marquée was erected near the Victoria Hotel, and at
the request of Mr. Waddington (Chairman of the Company), Mr. S.
C. Marsh (the Mayor), performed the ceremony. The following
was the inscription:—“This, the first pile of the
Wellington Pier, was driven on the 28th of June, 1853, by S. C.
Marsh, Esq., Mayor of this borough; David Waddington, Esq., M.P.,
Chairman of the Board of Directors; Peter Ashcroft, Esq.,
Engineer; Charles J. Palmer, Esq., Secretary.” In the
evening between 50 and 60 gentlemen dined at the Victoria Hotel,
the Mayor in the chair and C. J. Palmer, Esq., in the
vice-chair.
July 9th.—At the Regatta the “Phantom,”
“Thought,” and “Maude,” yachts, contended
for the prize, which was won by the former.
July 30th.—At the Water Frolic the “Shannon”
(lateen), Brighten, Beccles, won the first, and the
“Oberon” (cutter), Morton, Aylsham, the second
prize.
The
Monument was still in a dilapidated state.
Aug. 6th—The Baptist Chapel in Row 15 had been re-opened
after extensive repairs.
Aug. 20th.—Mr. W. C. Nutman (clerk to Mr. J. L. Cufaude)
had been elected a Relieving-officer in the place of Mr. Thomas
Thornton.
Sep. 3rd.—John Mortlock Lacon, Esq., had died suddenly;
he was in his 68th year.
At the general Licensing day it was moved by James Cherry,
Esq., and seconded by R. Steward, Esq., “That no fresh
licenses be granted.”
Mr. Clinker Newson had appealed against the poor rate on the
novel ground that he was rated at too low an amount.
Sep. 10th.—The “Clarissa” barque, of 335
tons register, had been launched from Mr. Chapman’s
yard.
Oct. 1st.—Mr. Peter Coble had died suddenly from disease
of the heart before his medical adviser, Mr. C. C. Aldred, could
attend him.
Oct. 8th.—The Registration Court had been held, Mr.
Watson (of Norwich) and Mr. Preston appearing for the Tories, and
Mr. J. Clowes and Mr. W. S. Costerton for the Liberals, who
claimed a gain of 120 on the Borough Register.
Nov. 5th.—Five hundred and fifty feet of the Wellington
Pier had been opened to the public, the Corporation attending,
and in the evening there was a public dinner at the Victoria
Hotel in honour of the event.
At the Municipal Election in the North Ward, Messrs.
Burroughs (L) and Jackson (L) were re-elected without
opposition.
In the Market Ward the polling was—
F. Worship (C)
|
125
|
E. R. Aldred (C)
|
118
|
J. Owles (L)
|
92
|
J. Cobb (L)
|
68
|
In the Regent Ward, S. C. Marsh (C) and J. D. Chapman
(L) and in the St. George’s Ward J. G. Plummer (C)
and J. C. Smith (C) were not opposed.
In the Nelson Ward there was a contest, but no numbers
are given; Dr. Dunn and Mr. W. Thurtell (Cs) opposing the
re-election of Mr. George Danby-Palmer and Mr. Thomas Lettis (Ls)
who were again returned, and in St. Andrew’s Ward
the polling was—
H. Teasdel (C)
|
139
|
E. H. L. Preston (C)
|
134
|
S. Crowe (L)
|
41
|
W. Sterry (L)
|
7
|
The
Conservatives, on the whole, had increased their majority by
one.
The following paragraph appears in this
issue:—“Among the passengers by the
“Argo” s.s. from Sydney, is Mr. Harrison, of Great
Yarmouth, who brings with him 3,000 ounces of gold dust, valued
at between £11,000 and
£12,000.”—Morning Chronicle.
The first Subscription Ball of the season had been held at the
Town Hall, 90 persons being present, the hall had been re-painted
a light green in lieu of the old salmon colour, and four
beautiful statues of “Clio,” “Erato,” and
“The Dancing Girls of Canova,” had been placed in the
niches.
Nov. 12th.—At the Council meeting, on the nomination of
Mr. W. Worship, seconded by Mr. C. J. Palmer, James Cherry, Esq.,
had been elected Mayor.
The following Whig Aldermen then went out of office;—R.
Hammond, jun., E. R. Palmer, H. Boulter, C. E. Barham, and W.
Walpole with B. Fenn (C), and the following voting took place to
fill these vacancies:—
Mr. T. Bunn
|
21
|
,, T. Foreman
|
21
|
,, W. C. Reynolds
|
27
|
,, J. G. Rivett
|
26
|
„ G. S. Shingles
|
26
|
,, E. P. Youell
|
26
|
,, R. Hammond, junr.
|
10
|
,, Boulter
|
6
|
,, J. Brown
|
5
|
,, E. R. Palmer
|
8
|
,, Sir E. Tavers
|
1
|
,, H. Worship
|
1
|
,, S. Paget
|
1
|
Nov. 26th.—Court “Buck of the Forest,”
A.O.F., had been opened at the Buck Inn.
One hundred and nineteen persons had been confirmed by Bishop
Spencer at St. Nicholas’ Church.
Dec. 3rd.—It was proposed to establish a School of
Design in the town.
Captain Manby had attained his 88th year.
Dec. 24th.—A parochial Museum was being formed at the
Priory.
The
Local Board District Rate was signed at 1s. 4½d. in the
£.
Dec. 31st.—Mr. C. J. Palmer had presided at the annual
dinner of the subscribers of the Public Library.
Jan. 7th.—Several houses had been damaged by a
“fearful” storm.
The “Seamen’s Association” had held a
demonstration with a procession round the town. At a
subsequent meeting held at their Club House the following toasts
were given:—“The Queen,” “May British
Sailors weather the Storm,” “England expects every
man will do his duty,” “The Owners and Merchants of
Yarmouth,” “May British Sailors never want for grog
and tobacco.”
Jan. 14th.—The “Eleanor Palmer,” belonging
to W. H. Palmer, Esq., had been “totally lost” on the
coast near Athens. This was the third vessel that gentleman
had lost since 1853.
Jan. 21st.—At a meeting of the Town Council it had been
determined to oppose the “Waveney Valley Drainage
Bill.”
Captain Broadhead, R.N., was engaged at this port raising a
corps of Sea Fencibles.
Jan. 28th.—The first Subscription Ball had been held,
for which Cosgrove’s Band was engaged, and dancing kept up
until four o’clock.
Sergeant Johnson had been charged by Mr. George William Moore
with having been drunk and assaulting him. The parties,
together with Mr. Silvers, Mr. J. H. Harrison, Mr. Ellis, Mr.
Howlett, and Mr. W. Wright appear to have been in
Cosgrove’s public-house at three o’clock in the
morning, when the alleged offences were said to have been
committed.
Jan. 28th.—N.B. This is the first issue of the
Norwich Mercury as a bi-weekly newspaper.
The following improvements were noted:—The now Haven
Bridge and also the Wellington Pier were nearly completed.
The Water Works were being formed.
The Southtown Gas Works would soon be opened.
The new Bank of Messrs. Gurney and Co., was in the course of
erection.
Many new streets were being formed on the North, East, and
South Denes.
The Marine Drive was projected.
The
town had been selected for the Militia Barracks, and it was said
that the Victoria Esplanade was likely to be carried as far as
the South Battery.
On the other hand the state of the Chapel Denes had, however,
long been “a disgrace to the town.”
There had been an “immense fleet” of vessels in
the Roads.
Feb. 1st.—There had been snow-drifts 5 feet deep on the
line between Yarmouth and Reedham.
Feb. 8th.—Mr. Burroughs had, at the Council meeting,
denounced certain gentlemen as “traitors to the town”
and “tools of Mr. Peto.”
Feb. 11th.—A considerable quantity of human bones had
been found near the Caister Road, which were supposed to be the
remains of persons who died of the plague and received burial
from the Leper Houses which formerly existed there.
Feb. 18th.—There had been extremely high tides, a
violent storm, and a heavy gale. Several dockyards had been
overflowed, and about thirty balks of timber had been lost from
Mr. Steward’s yard.
Feb. 22nd.—A Tradesmen’s Ball had been held in the
Town Hall.
Feb. 25th.—A Liberal meeting had been held at the Star
Hotel, (George Danby-Palmer, Esq., in the chair) when resolutions
in favour of Lord John Russell’s Reform Bill and the Ballot
were adopted.
There had been another high tide, the Quay being in several
places inundated; the surf rolling over the old Jetty.
March 1st.—Owing to the sitting of the County Court, the
Council had met in the Grand Jury Room at the Tolhouse.
The Seamen’s wages were so high that they preferred the
Merchant Service to the offers being made by Sir Charles Napier
to join the Navy.
March 4th.—John Eagleton charged with having
fraudulently cheated the Guardians of the Poor by delivering to
poor persons receiving out-door relief bread of short weight, was
found guilty, subject to a case for the opinion of the Court of
Criminal Appeal, (Mr. J. Cobb and Mr. L. A. Meal being his
sureties in £50 each.)
March 8th.—A Tender has arrived to take off the
Coastguardsmen and Naval Volunteers.
Rear-Admiral Plumridge had been summoned to London for the
purpose of hoisting his flag in the Baltic Fleet under Sir
Charles Napier.
A vessel had been sent to sea manned entirely by master
mariners; the rise in wages and the attractions of the Navy
having so reduced the number of common seamen.
March. 11th.—The Baltic Fleet was expected to
pass Yarmouth.
A public meeting in favour of the Reform Bill had been held at
the Corn Hall (George Danby-Palmer, Esq., in the chair), when the
following gentlemen took part in the proceedings:—Mr. W. N.
Burroughs, Mr. McCullagh, Mr. J. W. Shelly, Mr. C. E. Bartram,
Mr. J. Clowes, Mr. J. Owles, Mr. Jackson, Mr. D. A. Gourlay, and
Mr. R. Hammond.
March 18th.—A meeting had been held at the Star Hotel,
Mr. J. H. Harrison in the chair, to consider the rating of
cottage property.
March 25th.—A memorial brass had been placed in St.
Nicholas’ Church to the memory of the late Dr. A.
Impey.
A meeting in favour of “Sabbath Observance” had
been held.
March 20th.—Contains the Royal proclamation of the war
with Russia.
April 1st.—The Baltic Fleet was at Kiel, and Admiral
Plumridge was likely to shift his flag from the
“Leopard” to the “St. Jean d’
Acre.”
April 12th.—At the meeting for the Election of Haven
Commissioners, Captain Scott proposed and Captain Briggs seconded
George Danby-Palmer, Esq.; W. Yetts, Esq., proposed, and C. J.
Palmer Esq., seconded, R. Ferrier, Esq.; J. Jackson, Esq.,
proposed, and Garson Blake, Esq., seconded, J. Barker, Esq.; H.
Palmer, Esq., proposed, and S. Cobb, Esq., seconded, Richard
Hammond, Esq., junr.; and Mr. J. Owles proposed, and Mr. T.
Lettis seconded, D. A. Gourlay, Esq. Mr. Ferrier declined
to go to a poll, and thereupon Messrs. Palmer and Barker were
elected Commissioners and Messrs. Hammond and Gourlay
Supernumerary Commissioners without opposition.
The following had been result of the Guardians’
Election:—
St. Nicholas’ Ward.—James Jackson, cottage
owner, 200, elected; Samuel Nightingale, brewer, 167, elected;
John Mainprice, spirit merchant, 159, elected; Henry Boulter,
confectioner, 129; William Wright, building and cottage owner,
123; Edward H. L. Preston, timber merchant, 112; Abraham Amis,
cottage owner, 107.
Market Ward.—William Laws, grocer, 194, elected;
David Abraham Gourlay, shipowner, 168, elected; Joseph Harvey,
tanner, 132, elected; John Cobb, currier and leather seller, 102;
Robert Tooley, miller, 76; Richard Ecclestone, draper, 71;
William Woolston, cottage owner, 56.
Regent Ward.—Samuel Charles Marsh, wine merchant,
160, elected; William Worship, solicitor, 156, elected; Thomas
Foreman, shipowner and cottage owner, 126, elected; James Denny
Chapman, draper, 116; Frederick Palmer, surgeon, 102;
William Livingstone, draper, &c., 68: John A. Norman, jun.,
cottage owner, 66.
St. George’s Ward.—Richard Ferrier, brewer,
225 elected; Joseph Goulding Plummer, shipowner, 223, elected;
Benjamin Fenn, fish merchant, 222, elected; Cubitt Engal Bartram,
gentleman, 116; Christopher Steward, pawnbroker, 83; Robert Page,
cottage owner, 65.
Nelson Ward.—George Danby-Palmer, shipowner, 258,
elected; James Hargrave Harrison, cottage owner, 235, elected;
Charles Woolverton, plumber, 212, elected: Thomas Brightwen,
gentleman, 206, elected; Samuel Velzi Moore, anchorsmith, 177;
Thomas Lettis, jun., fish merchant, 130; Benjamin Powell,
merchant, 126; John Clarke, shipowner, 158.
April 19th.—Proceedings were threatened with regard to
the Election of Guardians by the Liberals.
April 22nd.—Both Churchwardens had been re-elected by
the Vestry, and a Church rate of 1½d. in the £
voted.
April 26th.—Notice of “the Closing of the
Churchyards” had been issued.
Eleanor Warren had died in the old prison Row, aged nearly 103
years.
April 29th.—The men of the East Norfolk Militia and
Norfolk Artillery Militia had assembled in the Market Place under
the command of Colonel Mason and Lord Hastings, respectively.
May 3rd.—The Stewards for the next Subscription Ball
were to be the Mayor, Captain Pearson R.N., S. C. Marsh, Esq., C.
J. Palmer, Esq., and M. Lacon, Esq.
The following law report appears in this issue:—
COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEAL.
Before the Lord Chief Baron, Mr.
Baron Parke, Mr. Justice Cresswell, Mr. Justice Erle, and Mr.
Justice Crompton.
Regina v
Eagleton.
The indictment in this case contained ten counts, seven of
which charged an attempt to defraud, and the last three an
attempt to obtain money by false pretences. The defendant
had entered into a contract with the Board of Guardians of Great
Yarmouth to supply loaves of bread of the weight of three pounds
and a half to the poor, and had supplied many of the out-door
paupers with loaves weighing only 3lbs. 4 ozs., and had
represented to the Overseers of the poor that the loaves supplied
were of the contract weight, and had endeavoured to obtain
payment accordingly. This case was sent back to the
Recorder of Great Yarmouth to be amended, in order to have the
question fully argued.
Mr.
Bodkin and Mr. Mills appeared for the defendant, and Mr. Bulwer
for the prosecution.
May 10th.—The Rev. R. J. Palmer, M.A., had lectured on
“Mount Sinai and Arabia Petrœa.”
May 20th.—The Earl of Leicester (Lord Lieutenant) had
presented new colours to the East Norfolk Militia, which were
received by Major Sir E. Lacon and Captain Bloomfield, the
service of consecration being performed by the Rev. Bowyer Vaux,
assisted by the Rev. John Bampton.
Lord Hastings entertained several noblemen and gentlemen at
dinner at the Royal Hotel.
The officers of the East Norfolk Militia kept “open
house” at the Victoria from two to six o’clock, and
in the evening gave a ball at the Town Hall, at which the Earl of
Leicester (Lord Lieutenant), Lord Hastings, Lord Walsingham, Lord
Royston, the Hon. Jacob Astley, the Hon. and Rev. Delaval and
Mrs. Astley, Lady Lacon, Mrs. and Miss Lee Warner, Mr. and Mrs.
Hoste, Mr. and Mrs. J. Gay (Thurning), Mr. and Miss Day, the
Officers of the Militia Artillery, Lieutenant-Colonel Custance
and the Officers of the West Norfolk Militia, Captain Norman,
R.N., T. R. Buckworth, Esq., W. Norris, Esq., T. Browne, Esq.,
the Mayor of Yarmouth, Mr. and Mrs. C. Marsh, Mr. and Mrs. C.
Palmer, Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Preston, Mr. E. R., Mrs., and the
Misses Palmer, the Reverend Mr. and Mrs. and Miss Waters, Captain
and Mrs. Marcon, Captain Pearson, R.N., Mr. and Miss Pearson, Mr.
Mortlock Lacon, Mr. and Mrs. A. Steward and the Misses Steward
were present. The refreshments and the supper, both of the
most recherche description, were supplied by Mr. Wilson,
of this city. Weippert’s admirable band was engaged,
and the dance was kept up until near the dawn of day. Thus
ended a day of pleasure without alloy, and next day the Regiment
was inspected by Colonel Kelly.
A fine Russian brig of 400 tons, laden with salt, had been
brought into the Roads, a prize of war. She subsequently
proceeded to Sheerness.
Seven thousand pounds had been expended on the Wellington Pier
works, where the Norfolk Artillery Band occasionally
performed.
May 24th.—The North Denes had been selected for rifle
practice.
The Mayor (J. Cherry, Esq.,) had given a ball to 200 guests at
the Town Hall.
The “Contest” schooner, of 150 tons, had been
launched from Messrs. Beeching’s yard.
May
31st.—Sir James Plumridge had been promoted to be
Rear-Admiral of the White.
The Military Lunatic Asylum was to be converted into an
Hospital for wounded seamen from the Baltic Fleet.
No. 3, Brighton Terrace, and No. 2, Queen’s Road had
been struck by lightning.
June 3rd.—The “Otter,” war steamer, had put
into the Roads.
The “Carolina,” Russian brig, had arrived in this
port for condemnation.
June 14th.—H.M.S. “Zeyphr” had been in the
Roads.
Mr. John Clowes declined to pay £1 2s. due for Board of
Health rate, on the ground that the Board was indebted to him for
services rendered whilst he was Town Clerk. A distress was
ordered to be issued.
June 17th.—Two vessels with wounded seamen were expected
for the Hospital.
A small steamboat, the property of J. Penrice, Esq., had
exploded near the Bridge.
June 21st.—Mr. McCullough, Mr. Chamberlin, Captain
Briggs, and Mr. Scott had attended the Right Hon. E. Cardwell as
a deputation from the “Shipping Association.”
The premises occupied by the Great Yarmouth and Gorleston
Institute had been purchased by C. J. Palmer, Esq., for
£1,780.
July 1st.—The Norfolk Artillery had completed their 50
days’ training, the gun practice being for 24-pounders at a
target range of 1,250.
A meeting to promote the “Roads Regatta” had been
held.
July 8th.—The month of June had been intensely cold on
the East coast.
July 15th.—The mackerel fishing had been very
successful, the returns then amounting to £30,000, which
sum would be probably increased to £40,000 before the boats
made up.
July 22nd.—The “Hornet” screw frigate, 16
guns, had anchored in the Roads, on her way to join Sir Charles
Napier’s Fleet in the Baltic.
Four thousand persons had arrived in one day by excursion
trains from Norwich, Ipswich and Lynn.
S. M. Peto, Esq., M.P., had laid the foundation stone of the
King Street Congregation Chapel; afterwards there was a dejeuner
at the Victoria Hotel, where J. W. Shelly, Esq., presided.
Lord Sondes had been appointed Lord High Steward of the
Borough.
Aug.
2nd.—Many visitors were arriving, chiefly from Cambridge
and the Isle of Ely.
A Poor’s rate of 1s. 6d. in the £ had been
signed.
Aug. 5th.—At the Roads Regatta the following yachts
entered:—
Name.
|
Tons.
|
Owner.
|
Phantom
|
25
|
S. Lane, Esq.
|
Thought
|
28
|
C. Coope, Esq.
|
Sheldrake
|
17
|
Capt. Love.
|
The Sheldrake gave up and the others were timed as
follows:—
|
1st round.
|
2nd round.
|
3rd round.
|
|
H.
|
M.
|
S.
|
H.
|
M.
|
S.
|
H.
|
M.
|
S.
|
Thought
|
12
|
56
|
0
|
1
|
48
|
0
|
2
|
41
|
6
|
Phantom
|
12
|
58
|
45
|
1
|
50
|
48
|
2
|
45
|
5
|
In the yawl match the “Queen Victoria” beat the
“Eclipse,” “Royal Victoria” and
“Cambridge Lass.”
The dinner was held at the Victoria Hotel, the Mayor in the
chair. The Earl of Albemarle, Mr. Butcher, Mr. C. Cory, Mr.
C. J. Palmer, and Mr. Seaman took part in the after dinner
proceedings.
Steamers continued to pass through the Roads on their way to
the Baltic.
Aug. 9th.—Edward Tupman and Edward Gill, captains of
vessels, bound for the North, had been charged with assaulting S.
C. Marsh, Esq., Deputy-Mayor, and fined £5 each or two
months’ imprisonment, and also 50s. each and 15s. damage to
clothes, for assaulting Mr. Joseph Giles (gaoler).
Aug. 12th.—Sir John Walsham had held an Inquiry as to
the Election of Guardians and “impounded” several
voting papers.
The screw frigate “Horatio” had been in the Roads
and visited by numbers of persons.
It was rumoured that some 40 vessels, known as “Barking
Smacks” were likely to be added to the local fishing
fleet.
The Centenary of the Baptist Church, Church Plain, had been
celebrated.
Messrs. Charles Gill and William Sidney had become lessees of
the Theatre.
Aug. 19th.—The “Amateur,” latteen (F.
Brown), Norwich, won the prize at the Water Frolic.
Aug. 26th.—Seven thousand excursionists had been brought
by train from Norwich and other places to the Races.
George Winkfield (Yarmouth), John Chambers (Hull),
George Bell, (Fakenham), Robert Todd (Yarmouth), J. Bitten
(Yarmouth), Charles Reed (Yarmouth), and T. R. Mills (Southtown),
were charged with obstructing the Hall Quay (but in fact for
holding a religious service there.) They were defended by
Mr. Tillett, of Norwich; Chambers was fined 40s. and costs.
Aug. 30th.—“Lodgings was scarcely to be
obtained” in the town.
There was a band of thieves about who had extracted “the
contents of many pockets.”
The question of the “open air preachers” was again
before the Justices, when the fine proposed to be inflicted on
Chambers was abandoned, it being, in fact, admitted that, under
the circumstances of the case there was no power to inflict
it.
Sep. 2nd.—A meeting had been held (the Rev. G. Hills
presiding) to consider the further restoration of St.
Nicholas’ Church.
Thirty boats were gone to the Scotch fisheries, and herring
was selling at from £8 to £14 per last.
A foot race for £5 over 100 yards had been run on the
South-denes, when Mr. Browne beat Mr. George Diver by half a
yard.
Sep. 6th.—The gas lamps at Gorleston and Southtown had
been lighted for the first time.
No minister had attended at St. Mary’s, Southtown, to
conduct the Sunday morning service.
Sep. 9th.—The Justices had again refused to grant any
fresh licenses.
Sep. 18th.—The “Ada,” a barque of 435 tons,
had been launched from Mr. Thomas Barber’s yard.
The Russian Barque “Carolina” had been sold by E.
H. L. Preston, Esq., at the Star, for £1,110, and her cargo
of 321 tons of salt for £347, making a total of
£1,457.
Sep. 20th.—The proposed grant of a piece of land by the
Corporation, for the purpose of a cemetery, had been approved by
the Secretary of State.
Sep. 23rd.—The French frigate “Expeditive,”
20 guns, was anchored in the Roads, and a dead body had been
landed from her for interment.
Sept. 27th.—The coal trade was unusually brisk; during
the week 70 colliers had arrived at the port, and these, with the
other daft there, crowded the Harbour.
After
the 1st of October the drapers had determined to close their
shops at seven o’clock.
Messrs. Mann, Giles, and Freeman, “extensive fish
salesmen,” had been summoned for allowing
“swills” to remain on the Quay longer than necessary
for their business purposes.
Oct. 4th.—At the revision of the Burgess List, the
Liberals had lodged 59 objections and put in 347 new claims, and
the Tories had made 373 objections.
The telegraphic announcement of the great victory of the
allied armies over the Russians (Battle of the Alma) had been
received shortly after eleven o’clock, and created intense
excitement; the flags had been hoisted on the Town Hall and the
Church, and but for the interference with divine service, the
bells, doubtless, would have sent forth a merry peal.
Thanksgivings had been offered in all places of worship for
the abundant harvest.
Oct. 7th.—The Borough Revision Court had been engaged
with the Lists for three days and a half; the Liberals sustained
300 claims, as against 50 sustained by the Tories.
Oct. 11th.—Mr. Wright (who had been objected to) was
charged before the Justices for assaulting Sergeant James Gowen
(the Tory objector) and bound over to keep the peace. There
was a warm discussion on the Bench during these proceedings
between Mr. R. Hammond and Mr. R. Steward.
At the Revision of the Parliamentary List, Mr. Cufaude and Mr.
Preston appeared for the Tories, and Mr. Costerton for the
Liberals, and the latter claimed a gain upon the proceedings.
Oct. 18th.—A “great meeting” of Liberals had
been held at the Star Inn; G. Danby-Palmer, Esq., (chairman),
Captain Pearson, R.N., J. W. Shelly, Esq., R. Hammond, Esq., W.
T. McCullagh, Esq., J. Clowes, Esq., J. Owles, Esq., and Mr.
Jackson took part in the proceedings.
At the Gaol Sessions, N. Palmer, Esq., (Recorder) and R.
Steward, Esq., (acting as Visiting Justices) had dismissed the
Gaol Chaplain (Rev. George Hills). This action was
deprecated by some of the Justices, and ultimately the question
was referred by them to the Quarter Sessions.
An “impudent thief” had picked a woman’s
pocket, while she was in the Police-court.
Oct.
21st.—The New Bridge had been completed, and formally
opened to the public, at a cost of little less than
£60,000.
H.M. yacht “Fairy” had arrived in the Harbour.
Ladies were collecting linen rags for the wounded soldiers in
the East.
Oct. 25th.—Mr. R. Hammond and the Mayor (Mr. Cherry)
were at “loggerheads” with regard to certain
statements made by the former gentleman at the Liberal
meeting.
The “Gælan,” a French man-of-war, had
entered the Harbour for the purpose of coaling.
One hundred and thirteen young persons had been confirmed at
St. Nicholas’ Church by the Bishop of Norwich.
Nov. 1st.—A “patriotic fund” meeting had
been held at the Town Hall, the Mayor (J. Cherry, Esq.) in the
chair. Sir E. H. K. Lacon, Bart., M.P., Sir E. Travers, K.
H., Rev. J. S. Russell, Rev. B. Vaux, Rev. J. B. Bampton, Rev.
McSwiney, C. J. Palmer, R. Steward, R. Hammond, George
Danby-Palmer, J. W. Shelly, C. C. Aldred, Esqs., and Captains
Gilbertson and Roberts, and others were present, and a
subscription list opened, which was headed by donations of
£25 each from Messrs. Gurney & Co., George
Danby-Palmer, Esq., and Sir E. H. K. Lacon, Bart., M.P.
Nov. 4th.—At the Municipal Election “it was
rumoured that no small amount of ready cash had been sent into
circulation.”
The result of the polling was—
St.
George’s Ward.
|
Mr. H. Jay (C)
|
137
|
Mr. R. Ferrier, junr. (C)
|
139
|
Captain Pearson R.N. (L)
|
99
|
Mr. Jas. Scott (L)
|
99
|
Regent
Ward.
|
Sir E. H. K. Lacon, Bart. (C)
|
128
|
Mr. J. Cherry (C)
|
126
|
Mr. John Clowes (L)
|
88
|
Mr. Henry Danby-Palmer (L)
|
87
|
Market
Ward.
|
Mr. J. Fenn (C)
|
186
|
Mr. J. E. Barnby (C)
|
184
|
Mr. J. Cobb (L)
|
133
|
Mr. D. R. Fowler (L)
|
123
|
St.
Nicholas’ Ward.
|
Mr. S. Nightingale (C)
|
203
|
Mr. W. H. Bessey (C)
|
187
|
Mr. R. Hammond (L)
|
187
|
Mr. H. Boulter (L)
|
173
|
And the Alderman gave his casting vote in favour of Mr.
Bessey.
Nelson
Ward.
|
Mr. J. Clark (C)
|
184
|
Mr. S. V. Moore (L)
|
182
|
Mr. J. H. Harrison (L)
|
122
|
Gorleston
Ward.
|
Mr. William H. Palmer (C)
|
131
|
Mr. W. Hammond (C)
|
118
|
Mr. G. Blake (L)
|
61
|
Mr. Sterry (L)
|
46
|
Messrs. Henry Palmer, C. J. Palmer, C. H. Chamberlin, William
T. Clarke, E. R. Palmer, and F. W. Ferrier had been appointed
Admiralty Commissioners.
Nov. 11th.—At the Council meeting Mr. E. H. L. Preston
proposed and Mr. Worship seconded, Charles J. Palmer, Esq., as
Mayor for the ensuing year, and he was elected to that office
without opposition.
Nov. 15th.—The question of the formation of a
“Burial Board” was being discussed.
The Naval Hospital was being prepared for 350 sick and wounded
from the Black Sea fleet.
Nov. 18th.—The Mayor (C. J. Palmer, Esq.), had issued
cards for an entertainment at the Town Hall on the 30th inst.
Mr. J. L. Porter had been appointed manager of the National
Provincial Bank at Yarmouth.
The Police had contributed one day’s pay to the
Patriotic Fund.
The “Tourist,” London passenger steamer, Captain
Dawson, had been lost on the North Sand. She was a very old
vessel, and it was stated that this would have been her last
voyage if no accident had happened to her; she was fully
insured.
Nov. 22nd.—Messrs. Gurney & Co’s. new Bank had
been opened.
A poll had been taken on the question of the formation of a
“Burial Board,” when the voting on the first day
was—
For the Board
|
312
|
Against it
|
311
|
A
meeting of Ratepayers was subsequently held and the scheme
denounced by several speakers.
Nov. 29th.—The Town Council had re-appointed the Rev. G.
Hills, gaol chaplain “with only two
dissentients.”
Nearly £1,000 had been raised for the Patriotic
Fund.
The polling for the Burial Board had closed as
under—
For
|
468
|
Against
|
544
|
Majority
|
76
|
The “Sir William Jolliffe” had been placed on the
station in the place of the “Tourist.”
Dec. 13th.—Messrs. Dumbleton, Bradbeer, Palmer, and Bunn
had complained to the Bench of the obstructions on the Quay.
Dec. 23rd.—The Council had “suspended” the
sexton for alleged misconduct.
The grocers and drapers had determined to close their shops on
the day following Christmas Day.
“The Skimmer of the Sea,” a barque of 320 tons,
had been launched from Mr. Branford’s yard.
Dec. 30th.—The East Norfolk Militia having been
permanently embodied, had assembled under the command of Colonel
Mason, but the Norfolk Militia Artillery had not been called
up.
T. Brightwen, Esq., had qualified as a Magistrate.
Several large packages of warm clothing had been forwarded by
the ladies of the town for the use of the soldiers in the
Crimea.
C. J. Palmer, Esq., had entertained the inmates of the
Gaol.
Pickpockets were again in town, and John Webb had been robbed
by them of £4 15s.
Mr. Smyth had been appointed Surgeon to the Gaol in the place
of Mr. H. Worship deceased.
Jan. 6th.—There had been a high tide and heavy flood;
130 yards of the rails between Yarmouth and Reedham had been
carried away by the latter.
The
following gentlemen had been chosen as the Library
Committee.—The Mayor (C. J. Palmer, Esq.), Rev. J. B.
Bampton, Rev. H. Squire, and Messrs. B. Fenn, R. R. B. Norman, J.
Bayly, and S. C. Burton.
It was considered too cold to drill the Militia on the
South-denes.
Jan. 13th.—The following quantity of fish had been
forwarded from Yarmouth during the preceding year:—
|
Packages.
|
Tons.
|
Cwt.
|
From Jan. to Sep.
|
282,441
|
10,591
|
10
|
,, Oct. to Dec.
|
250,981
|
9,411
|
15
|
Total
|
533,422
|
20,003
|
5
|
During the week 20 men of the East Norfolk Militia had
volunteered for the line.
At the Tract Lenders’ Festival 400 persons had partaken
of tea at the Priory. They were addressed by the Rev. G.
Hills, Rev. G. W. Grogan and other friends.
Jan. 17th.—The Norfolk Artillery Militia had received an
order to be permanently embodied from the 23rd inst.
Jan. 20th.—Sixty more men had volunteered from the East
Norfolk Militia for the line, making a total of 300 of such
volunteers in all.
Winter had set in “with all the vigour and severity
peculiar to this portion of the Eastern Coast.”
Jan. 24th.—The weather continued intensely cold, and the
navigation of the rivers were stopped by the accumulation of
ice.
The District Visiting Society was doing great work in the way
of alleviating distress.
Pickpockets were still at work. A woman had been robbed
by one of them in the Market Row of 8s. 6d., and Mrs. Pole, of
Burgh Castle, had suffered a loss of £2 17s. in this
way.
Jan. 27th.—The Norfolk Artillery Militia had
assembled,—156 non-commissioned officers and men, with the
following officers: Captain Astley, Lieutenants Penrice,
Tredcroft and North, Adjutant Gilberton, and Surgeon C. C.
Aldred. Lord Hastings had not yet joined them.
The Rev. Bowyer Vaux had announced to the Hospital Committee
that the Medical Library of the late Mr. Harry Worship would be
presented to that Institution.
Bro. William Lucia had been elected W.M. of Lodge
“Friendship,” in succession to Bro. Oswald Diver.
Feb.
14th.—The business of the Port had been much affected by
the rigour of the weather.
Feb. 17th.—Thirty-four men had volunteered from the
Norfolk Militia Artillery for the Royal Artillery.
The South-quay was blocked by the coal carts near the Town
Hall, and great complaints being made about this it was suggested
that the colliers should unload at a wider part of the quay.
Feb. 21st.—The Subscription Ball had been attended by
the Mayor and Mrs. Charles Palmer, Lieutenant-Colonel Mason, the
Honourable Mr. Harbord, Mr. Astley, Mr. Graver Brown, Mrs. E.
Graver Brown, Reverend A. B. Smyth, Captain Gay, Captain and Mrs.
Rippingall, Captain and Mrs. Mathew, Captain, Mrs., and Miss
Pearson, Mr. and Mrs. Meadwell, Mr., Mrs., and Miss E. H. L.
Preston, Mr., Mrs., and Miss Marsh, Mr., Mrs., and the Misses
Steward, Mr. and Miss Chevallier, Mr. and Mrs. Freeman, Mr. and
Mrs. Ferrier, Mr. Smith, (East Norfolk Militia) Mr. Smyth (East
Norfolk Militia) and Mrs. Smyth, Mr. Palgrave, Mr. and the Misses
Barber, Mr. Boycott, Mr. Press, Mr. Aldred, Mr. Eyre, &c.,
&c.
The town was infested by a gang of thieves.
Four deserters from the Royal Navy had been captured in the
town.
A meeting had been held for the relief of the poor, the Mayor
presided, and the Rev. G. Hills, and Messrs. R. Hammond, E. H. L.
Preston, T. Brightwen, S. Dowson, R. Steward, R. Ferrier, and W.
N. Burroughs took part in the proceedings. Mr. George
Danby-Palmer sent £10 to the fund, and more than £200
was then collected in the room.
Feb. 24th.—Full power to act as a Burial Board had been
vested in the Town Council, and the following Committee of that
body appointed to carry out the Act:—The Mayor, and Messrs.
R. Ferrier, F. Worship, E. R. Aldred, W. N. Burroughs, J.
Jackson, C. E. Bartram, P. Pullyn, and T. Foreman.
Feb. 28th.—A thaw had commenced, and it was hoped that
the River traffic would soon be able to be resumed.
Mr. Gyngell had superintended a grand display of fireworks on
the Star Quay, which was witnessed by about 7,000 or 8,000
persons.
March 3rd.—A ship of war was likely to be stationed in
the Roads to protect the shipping there.
The first of the frozen-in wherries had been liberated at
Reedham, and the Steam Packet communication had been resumed with
London.
March
10th.—The Norfolk Militia Artillery had been removed to
London en route for Eastbourne; when 170 men and the
following officers, Captain Penrice, Adjutant Gilbertson,
Lieutenants Tredcroft, North, and Micklewaite, left the town.
A meeting, at the Angel Hotel, had been held for the purpose
of establishing a pack of harriers; Mr. H. Grimmer was chairman,
Mr. Jex, of Hopton, undertook to purchase the hounds, and Mr. J.
L. Cufaude to act as honorary secretary to the Committee.
March 14th.—The Market was to be held on Tuesday the
20th, as Wednesday, the 21st, had been proclaimed a day for
fasting and humiliation.
The Batteries were being armed with 24-pounders, and it was
proposed to construct a fort on Gorleston Cliff, to be armed with
68 pound guns.
March 17th.—Lectures had been delivered by the Rev. R.
Cory on “Jerusalem,” and by Mr Craft (a man of
colour) upon “American Slavery.”
Bro. Robert Harmer had presided at the annual dinner of the
“Druids, Trinity Lodge, 220.”
March 21st.—Several complaints had been made of
unprovoked assaults by members of the East Norfolk Militia upon
respectable inhabitants of the town.
March 24th.—At the Quarter Sessions, the Grand Jury
presented the foul state of the Court House at the Tolhouse.
The national Fast Day had been strictly observed.
Robberies continued to be very frequently committed in the
town.
April 4th.—H.M.S. “Harrier” (17 guns) was
then stationed in the Roads, and a rendezvous had been opened for
Volunteers to the North Sea fleet.
Three hundred men of the East Norfolk Militia had claimed a
right to be dismissed, having served 56 days in the then year
under the terms of their enlistments, and they were dismissed
accordingly.
April 7th.—Messrs. Green, Borking, Clayton, and Harbord
had been appointed Overseers, which, as a “partizan”
step, was justified by Mr. C. C. Aldred, and objected to by Mr.
R. Hammond.
April 14th.—A militiaman had been buried with military
honours.
Messrs. Aldred and Steward had been re-elected Churchwardens
by the Vestry.
The Vestry decided on the question of making a Church rate,
when there appeared 64 for and 87 against the rate, but the
majority did not press the matter any further, and ultimately a
rate of 1½d. in the £ was agreed to.
The Guardians’ Election had resulted as
follows:—
North
Ward.
|
Mr. J. Jackson (L)
|
258
|
Mr. J. Mainprice (L)
|
252
|
Mr. J. W. Craske (L)
|
198
|
Mr. S. Nightingale (C)
|
246
|
Mr. E. H. L. Preston (C)
|
214
|
Mr. W. Wright (C)
|
193
|
Market
Ward.
|
Mr. D. A. Gourlay (L)
|
226
|
Mr. C. Steward (L)
|
165
|
Mr. A. Ames (L)
|
136
|
Mr. H. Laws (C)
|
252
|
Mr. C. C. Aldred (C)
|
247
|
Mr. J. Browne (C)
|
200
|
Regent
Ward.
|
Mr. John Clowes (L)
|
120
|
Mr. F. Palmer (L)
|
147
|
Mr. J. A. Norman (L)
|
147
|
Mr. W. Worship (C)
|
198
|
Mr. S. C. Marsh (C)
|
196
|
Mr. T. Foreman (C)
|
164
|
St.
George’s Ward.
|
Mr. T. Lettis, Jun., (L)
|
159
|
Mr. J. Scott (L)
|
127
|
Mr. B. Fenn (C)
|
223
|
Mr. R. Ferrier (C)
|
217
|
Mr. J. G. Plummer (C)
|
194
|
Nelson
Ward.
|
Mr. J. H. Harrison (L)
|
203
|
Mr. G. Danby-Palmer (L)
|
225
|
Mr. S. V. Moore (L)
|
193
|
Mr. W. T. Fisher (L)
|
131
|
Mr. W. C. Reynolds (C)
|
176
|
Mr. J. Clark (C)
|
187
|
Mr. C. Woolverton (C)
|
249
|
Mr. T. Brightwen (C)
|
218
|
April
18th.—A proposal had been made to have all the houses in
the town numbered.
April 25th.—A purse of money had been presented to Mr.
Farrow, the Secretary of the Liberal Association, “for his
long-continued service in the Reform cause.”
April 28th.—The Poor’s Rate was estimated at 1s.
6d. in the £, to meet £3,000 required by the
Guardians for the Quarter, who had then £430 in hand to
meet demands amounting to £1,450.
May 2nd.—Mr. Lane had been appointed Collector of
Poor’s rates for the Market Ward.
George Danby-Palmer, Esq., had almost entirely recovered from
the indisposition which he had been suffering from during the
winter, and it was proposed to entertain him at a public
dinner.
May 5th.—The new burial ground comprised about 10 acres
in extent, and the following tender was recommended by the
Committee to the Council: J. Thompson, for walls, £1,388;
gates, £50; levelling, £110; total, £1,548,
with respect to fitting it for use.
Nelson’s Column was still allowed to fall into
decay.
May 9th.—Mr. Allcock had been appointed Poor’s
Rate Collector for the Nelson and Regent Wards.
The sale of part of the landed property of the late Mr.
Ambrose Palmer had taken place, the ship-yard and docks bringing
£1,100 and £900 respectively. The leasehold
premises on the west side of the river were bought by Mr. Joseph
Powell, and the building sites near Queen’s Road fetched
about 20s. per foot frontage with a ground rental of about 2s.
per yard upon the same.
Letters could now be posted as late as 8.10 p.m.
Water had been conveyed by the Company’s mains to
Yarmouth from Ormesby for the first time. One of these
pipes burst near the “Gallon Can.”
May 12th.—The Victoria Gardens had been laid out and
were likely to outvie any in the neighbourhood.
May 19th.—Mr. Lummis had resigned the office of
Librarian.
The Workhouse had been lighted with gas.
A meeting for the purpose of advocating “Administrative
Reform” had been held at the Town Hall, when Mr. R. Hammond
presided, and Mr. McCullagh delivered a stirring address.
The Tories complained that this meeting was “got
up” by the Liberals for party purposes.
May
23rd.—The Water Company had offered to supply water for
street-watering purposes free of expense.
H.M.S. “Harrier” had been firing shell to a
distance of 1,200 yards in the direction of Scroby; the
Queen’s Birthday had been observed in the usual way.
May 26th.—The Water Works had been opened, and in the
evening 80 gentlemen dined at the Town Hall, under the presidency
of the Mayor (C. J. Palmer, Esq.), who was supported by Sir E. H.
K. Lacon, M.P., and Lieut.-Col. Mason.
Mr. F. Maryson and Mr. D. D. Offord, the candidates for the
post of Librarian, having each obtained 27 votes, the Mayor gave
his casting vote in favour of Mr. Offord, who was thus elected to
the post.
Eight additional gas lamps had been placed on the Wellington
Pier.
May 30th.—The first stone of the Wesleyan Free Church,
on the Regent Road, had been laid by S. C. Marsh, Esq.
June 2nd.—The Russian brig “Phœnix”
had been brought in by a prize crew.
June 9th.—The mackerel fishing was going on badly, and
many boats had lost nets.
July 18th.—A brace of tench, weighing between eight and
nine pounds, had been taken at Ormesby.
Mr. Stracey (afterwards Sir Edward Stracey, Bart.), the Tory
candidate for East Norfolk had visited the town. (He was
returned, on this occasion, without opposition.)
July 21st.—At the Regatta the following prizes were
offered for luggers:—£50, £20, and £10,
and there were ten entries; during the match the
“Race-horse” (Mr. I. Shuckford) was run down by the
“Ocean Star” (Smith and Son). Her crew was
rescued by the yawls “Queen Victoria” and
“Standard,” but the master of the lugger (Lark) had
two of his ribs broken. The “Brothers” (T.
Lettis, jun.) won the first prize, the “Henry” (H.
Swann, jun.) and the “Prima Donna” (J. Minns) taking
the other two prizes. The yawl prizes were not awarded.
The following notice again appeared with regard to the case
of
“REGINA v. EAGLETON.”
“The defendant, John Eagleton, a baker, at Yarmouth, who
had contracted with the Guardians of Yarmouth to supply the poor
with bread, was tried before the Recorder, N. Palmer, Esq., at
the Quarter Sessions in March, 1854, upon an indictment charging
him, in the seven first counts, with an offence at common law, in
fraudulently supplying the poor with bread of short weight; and,
in the three last counts, with attempting to obtain payment from
the Guardians, by falsely pretending that he had supplied full
weight. He was found guilty by the jury, but the Recorder
reserved a case for the opinion of the Court of Criminal Appeal,
as to the proprietory of the conviction in point of law. On
the first argument on April 29th, 1854, before Pollock, C.B.,
Parke, B., Creswell, J., and Williams, J., the case was referred
back to the Recorder, for him to state the whole evidence given
at the trial, which he did accordingly, and the case, as
re-stated, was, on the following 3rd of June, argued before Lord
Campbell, C. J., Alderson, B., Coleridge, J., Martin, B., and
Crowder, J., and they, having doubts as to the proprietory of the
conviction, desired the case to be argued before the 15 judges,
and on the 2nd December, 1854, it was argued before Jervis, C.
J., Pollock, C. B., Parke, B., Maule, J., Wightman, J., Erle, J.,
Platt, B., Martin, B., and Crompton, J., and again on the 3rd of
February last, before Jervis, C. J., Parke, B., Maule, J.,
Wightman, J., Creswell, J., Erle, J., Platt, B., Williams, J.,
Martin, B., and Crompton, J.—Mr. Bulwer appeared in support
of the conviction, and Mr. Bodkin, Mr. Clerk, and Mr. J. H. Mills
on behalf of the Defendant. The Judges took time to
consider, and on July the 9th, Mr. Baron Parke delivered their
judgment, affirming the conviction on the last three
counts. The defendant will, therefore, have to appear
before the Recorder at the next October Sessions to receive
judgment.”
July 25th.—One hundred and thirty ladies and gentlemen
had attended the Regatta Ball at the Town Hall, among whom
were—the Mayor and Mrs. Palmer, Lord Hastings, Sir E. H. K.
Lacon, Bart., M.P., Lieut.-Col. Mason, Captains Longe, Markham
Gay, and other Officers of the East Norfolk Militia,
&c. Howlett’s band attended, and dancing was kept
up until 4.30.
July 28th.—The Grand Jury had found a true bill against
Messrs. R. Ferrier, sen., and R. Ferrier, jun., for assault upon
John William de Caux, and it was stated that the case would be
tried at the next Assizes.
Aug. 4th.—The Mayor had presided at a meeting called to
consider the “Small Tenements Act.”
Eighty-five boats engaged in the Mackerel Fishery had taken
fish to the value of £27,994.
Aug. 18th.—All hope of raising the
“Racehorse,” which was sunk at the Regatta, had been
abandoned. The attempt to do so had cost £150.
Aug.
22nd.—C. J. Palmer, Esq., Sir E. H. K. Lacon, Bart., M.P.,
and Captain D. Lane had acted as Stewards of the Races, and 6,000
persons had been brought to the sports by rail.
Between £170 and £180 had been raised by a bazaar
for the Congregational Chapel, King Street.
Aug. 25th.—Mr. E. H. L. Preston had had the small bone
of his arm broken whilst endeavouring to quell a disturbance
which had arisen between some of the Artillery Militiamen.
Eighty ladies and gentlemen had attended the Race Ball.
Aug. 29th.—Mr. J. H. Tillett had produced the
“Bench Warrant” for the apprehension of the Messrs.
Ferrier for the assault upon Mr. J. W. de Caux, reporter to the
Mercury and Norfolk News; bail was placed at
£100 and two securities of £50 in each case.
Sept. 8th.—150 men of the Horse Artillery had been
encamped on the North Denes, under the command of Captain
Mountain and three Lieutenants.
Sept. 12th.—These troops had been reviewed on the South
Denes in the presence of several thousands of persons.
Sept. 15th.—The news of the evacuation of the Southern
part of Sebastopol by the Russians had been received by the
general public with incredulity, they saying “too good news
to be true.”
Sept. 22nd.—A hare had taken to the sea, and was picked
up by a person who went after it in a boat; having killed it, he
sold it for 2s. 6d.
Oct. 3rd.—Sunday had been a day of thanksgiving for the
success of the allied armies in the Crimea.
Oct. 10th.—The “Scampo,” a Russian prize,
had been brought into the Harbour.
At the Quarter Sessions there was another discussion between
the Recorder and Mr. Steward on the one hand and the Visiting
Justices on the other side, as to the validity of the appointment
of the Rev. G. Hills as Chaplain to the Gaol.
John Eagleton had been sentenced to three months’
imprisonment.
Oct. 17th.—The Liberals claimed a gain of 44 on the
Municipal Revision, when Mr. Costerton appeared for the Liberal,
and Mr. Cufaude for the Tory, party.
Oct. 20th.—A very brisk corn trade was being carried on,
vessels coming in light to load with corn for France and
Holland.
Robert Steward, Esq., had been fined 20s. and costs for
obstructing the Quay-head.
Oct.
27th.—The East Suffolk Railway was projected.
In 1855, 258,121 quarters of corn had been shipped at this
port.
The “Hopton Harriers” had held their first meet at
the Kennel at Hopton. Mr. W. Jex provided luncheon.
The next meet was to be at Haddiscoe.
Oct. 31st.—Messrs. Beeching and Son had launched a
beautiful lifeboat for the Gorleston beachmen.
Nov. 3rd.—Only two Wards had been contested. The
returns were:—
St.
Nicholas’ Ward.
|
W. Worship (C)
|
405
|
J. B. Hilton (C)
|
405
|
Henry Danby-Palmer (L)
|
262
|
John Mainprice (L)
|
262
|
Regent
Ward.
|
R. D. Barber (C)
|
224
|
R. R. B. Norman (C)
|
224
|
John Clowes (L)
|
159
|
John Fish (L)
|
159
|
The names of the other re-elected Councillors are not
given.
Four gun-boats had come into the Roads from the Baltic.
Nov. 10th.—The Mayor of Norwich had given a grand ball,
in St. Andrew’s Hall; Mr., Mrs. and the Misses Marsh, the
Officers of the East Norfolk Militia and Norfolk Artillery
Militia, the Misses Steward, the Mayor of Yarmouth and Mrs.
Palmer, Mr. W. Danby-Palmer, Mr. F. Danby-Palmer, and others had
attended it from Yarmouth.
Nov. 14th.—The “Meander,” 44 gun frigate,
was at anchor off the Monument.
Nov. 28th.—Lieut. Matthew Gooda, late of the East
Norfolk Militia, had died at Southtown, aged 76.
Dec. 1st.—The dinner, commemorative of the re-election
of C. J. Palmer, Esq., to the office of Chief Magistrate, had
been held at the Town Hall. His Worship was supported on
his right by the Hon. H. Byng, Sir E. H. K. Lacon, Bart., M.P.,
Lieut.-Colonel Astley, the Rev. George Hills, and J. Harcourt,
Esq., and on his left by the Recorder (N. Palmer, Esq.), Sir H.
J. Stracey, Bart., M.P., the Mayor of Norwich and Captain
Broadhead, R.N. The Mayor’s guests on this occasion
numbered upwards of 100 persons.
George Danby-Palmer, Esq., had presided at a meeting
called for the purpose of promoting a national testimonial to
Admiral Sir Charles Napier, K.C.B.
Dec. 8th.—Mr. Wright (of the Adelphi) had been
performing at the Theatre.
Dec. 12th.—The Mayor had attended the magnificent
reception given to the King of Sardinia by the Corporation of
London.
Dec. 22nd.—The stormy easterly winds had driven several
vessels on to the Beach.
On the north of the Jetty were four brigs, viz., the
“Friends,” of London; the “George,” of
Yarmouth; the “Boa,” of Colchester; and
another. And on the south, one brig, a sloop (the
“Telegraph,”) and a billy-boy.
Dec. 26th.—The Norfolk Artillery Militia had marched
into the Southtown Barracks under the command of Colonel
Astley.
The following Magistrates had been selected to hear salvage
cases:—George Danby-Palmer, R. Steward, R. Hammond, J. G.
Plummer, J. W. Shelly, B. Fenn, E. H. L. Preston, and W. H.
Palmer, Esqs.
Dec. 29th.—The Hon. Colonel Vereker was spoken of as a
colleague for Sir E. H. K. Lacon, should Mr. Rumbold resign his
seat, but this rumour as to Mr. Rumbold’s resignation, the
Globe stated on authority, was without foundation.
At the Quarter Sessions, a conviction of R. Steward, Esq., by
the Justices, for obstructing the quay, was quashed with
costs.
The question of the legality of the Rev. G. Hills’
appointment as chaplain to the gaol was again considered by the
Recorder and Justices.
N.B.—The file for the
Year 1856 is missing.
Jan. 3rd.—The fourth anniversary of Court “Crown
and Anchor” A.O.F. had been celebrated by a dinner at Bro.
Franklin’s, Hall Quay. Mr. C. B. Dashwood occupied
the chair, and it was stated that the Court then consisted of 90
members.
Jan. 10th.—There had been a loan exhibition at the
Priory Hall.
Messrs. Charles J. Palmer, B. Fenn, Rev. H. Squire, Dumbleton,
R. R. B. Norman, Burton, and J. Bayly had been elected the
members of the Public Library Committee.
Jan. 17th.—The “Britannia Pier Bill” was
projected, and the Wellington Pier Company had determined not to
oppose that undertaking.
The
body of a whale, which had been taken at Winterton, was being
exhibited on the Church Plain.
The Rev. W. D. Wade, the new minister of St. Mary’s,
Southtown, had, before leaving Southsea, been presented with a
purse of £61.
Jan. 21st.—The “Sisters” had been in
collision with one of the stone piers of the Bridge, which it had
considerably damaged.
Feb. 4th.—An Anti-Income Tax meeting had been held at
the Town Hall. The Mayor presided, and the following took
part in the proceedings:—Messrs. George Danby-Palmer,
Bradbeer, Garson Blake, W. Livingston, S. B. Cory, R. Hammond, J.
Clowes, J. H. Harrison, J. Rivett and J. Fiddes. Mr. S.
Bradbeer appeared to be the mover in this matter.
The Poor’s Rate was 1s. 6d. for the quarter.
Feb. 18th.—H.M. Line of Battle-ship
“Blenheim,” 74, had steamed into the Roads.
Feb. 21st.—A “Poor’s Rate” meeting had
been held at the Masonic Hall. Mr. W. Livingston presided,
and a resolution protesting against the 1s. 6d. quarterly rate
was adopted. Messrs J. Rivett, Joseph Neave, Royal, R.
Bailey, Nichols, and F. Starling spoke on the subject, while the
conduct of the Guardians was defended by Mr. J. H. Harrison, one
of the Board.
Feb. 25th.—A case which excited considerable interest,
had been heard at the County Court, Tolhouse-hall, before the
Judge (T. J. Birch, Esq.) The plaintiff was Mr. John Cobb,
leather merchant, for whom Mr. C. H. Chamberlin appeared; the
defendants were Messrs. W. N. Burroughs and G. D. Palmer, who
were represented by Mr. J. L. Cufaude. The plaintiff stated
that he was a candidate for the office of Councillor for the
Market-ward, in November, 1851, and that he became such at the
solicitation of Messrs. W. N. Burroughs and G. D. Palmer.
At the time he became a candidate he distinctly told them that he
would not pay out of his own pocket more than £10 towards
the expenses of the election, and it was understood that the
Liberal party, to which he belonged, would subscribe the
remainder. The evening before the election he received an
estimate of what the expenses were likely to be, and in
consequence of that he at once saw both Mr. Burroughs and Mr. G.
D. Palmer. That estimate, he believed, amounted to about
£45, while the subscriptions altogether amounted to but
£42. After some conversation they agreed to hold him
harmless of the amount of the expenses that might exceed the sum
subscribed, and he and Mr. Burroughs then went to the
Committee-room of the North-ward, where Mr. Burroughs said they
had made arrangements for their friend John Cobb winning the
Market-ward. The expenses of the election, which he (the
plaintiff) lost, amounted altogether to £58 1s. 7d.
The balance, therefore, which he now claimed from the defendants
was £16 1s. 7d.—The plaintiff, in cross-examination
by Mr. Cufaude, admitted that £39 of the whole amount was
for — —.—Mr. Cufaude contended that if, as the
plaintiff stated, the defendants had given him a guarantee for
the surplus expenses, the guarantee ought to have been in
writing. And, assuming the evidence was true, which,
however, he disputed, it was impossible for the plaintiff to
recover, inasmuch as he himself had allowed that a large part of
the whole of the expenses was for — —, which was an
illegal act.—Mr. Chamberlin contended that the plaintiff,
after receiving the promise from the defendants, acted only upon
the faith of that promise, and that therefore, as they had
entered upon an engagement to pay the money, they were
liable. The money, moreover, had not been spent by the
plaintiff, but by the committee appointed to conduct the
election, and until the election was over, the plaintiff was not
aware that any of the money had been spent in —
—.—His Honour said it was clear the guarantee should
have been in writing. He was of opinion, also, that the
plaintiff was not bound to pay the illegal charges, and
consequently he could not bring his action for the money which he
claimed.—The plaintiff was, accordingly, non-suited.
March 4th.—The “Branch,” a schooner of 150
tons, had been launched from Messrs. Fellows and Son’s
yard.
A distress warrant had been issued against the effects of Mr.
James Lawn, draper, Broad Row, for 5s. 3d. due for Church
rate. Mr. Cufaude, who appeared for the Churchwardens,
stated that the amount of defalcations on the present rate was
“about £14 or £15.”
A meeting of the shareholders in the Yarmouth and Haddiscoe
Railway had been held at the Star Hotel. R. Hammond, Esq.,
presided, and there were present—C. C. Aldred, Esq., (the
Mayor), C. J. Palmer, T. Brightwen, William H. Palmer, E. H. L.
Preston, W. C. Reynolds, E. P. Youell, G. G. Day, H.
Danby-Palmer, and William Day, Esqs.
March 11th.—N. Palmer, Esq., (Recorder), had appointed
John B. Bales (late Sergeant-at-Mace) an Inspector of Weights and
Measures in the room of Mr. Wall.
The address of Messrs. Torrens McCullagh and Edward Watkin to
the electors appears in this issue.
March
14th.—The Liberal electors had held a meeting at the Corn
Exchange, J. Shelly, Esq., in the chair, when both candidates
delivered addresses, and a resolution pledging the meeting to
support them was unanimously carried.
Mr. Cufaude had applied for 17 more summonses against Church
Rate defaulters, and Mr. Garson Blake had been summoned for a
like default by the Gorleston Churchwardens.
There had been a high tide, which had dashed over the new
Marine Drive works.
March 16th.—Mr. J. W. Shelly had presided over a meeting
at the ‘Star,’ when Messrs. McCullagh and Watkin were
adopted as the Liberal candidates.
There was a suggestion of a local gentleman’s name as a
candidate, to which the Editor refers to by the
quotation—“and palm to palm is holy
Palmer’s kiss.”
March 18th.—The Liberal electors and non-electors had
been addressed by both the Liberal candidates at the Duke’s
Head public-house at Gorleston. S. Dowson, Esq., presided,
and there were present—Messrs. J. H. Fellows, N. Sterry, A.
Markland, Captains Manthorpe, Stanford, and Tunbridge, and
Messrs. J. Page, A. King, J. Ling, G. Reynolds, C. E. Bartram,
and J. Cobb.
The four candidates, Messrs. McCullagh and Watkin and Sir E.
H. K. Lacon and Colonel Vereker, had been invited to attend a
meeting of electors at the Masonic-hall. None of them were
present, but, nevertheless, a resolution pledging the meeting to
support the Liberal candidates was carried.
The “Venus,” 150 tons register, had been launched
from Mr. Rust’s yard.
March 21st.—D. A. Gourlay, Esq., had presided at a great
Liberal meeting held in the Corn Exchange, when Messrs. J. W.
Shelly, P. Pullyn, S. Dowson, F. S. Costerton, W. Briggs, C.
Sayers, S. Palmer, C. E. Bartram, J. D. Chapman, J. Bailey, F.
Dendy, J. Cobb and others were present.
The Conservatives had also convened a meeting at Crowe’s
Assembly-rooms, Chapel-denes, when E. H. L. Preston, Esq.,
presided. Sir E. H. K. Lacon, Colonel Vereker, and J.
Cherry, Esq., addressed the assembly.
Sir E. N. Buxton, Bart., and Major-General C. A. Windham, the
Liberal candidates for East Norfolk, had held a meeting in the
Corn-hall. Mr. R. Hammond presided, and was supported by Messrs.
Benjamin Dowson, J. Clowes, C. H. Chamberlin, P. Pullyn, A. W.
Biddulph, S. Palmer, T. Burton Steward, F. Palmer, W. N.
Burroughs, C. E. Bartram, E. R. Palmer, J. H. Harrison, J. Owles,
J. Cobb, &c.
George Tewsley, Sergeant in the London Constabulary, had been
elected Superintendent of the Borough Police Force.
The case against Mr. Garson Blake had been heard as to
non-payment of Church Rate and the usual order made.
Mr. S. Waters Spelman had submitted to public competition
various freehold estates, belonging to the late Mrs. Ann Marsh,
which realised £8,672.
March 25th.—The Election was “assuming all the
features of a bitter, as well as a strong contest.”
J. Shelly, Esq., had presided at another Liberal meeting held
in the Corn Hall, and Mr. J. Royal at a meeting of non-electors
in the same interest held at the Masonic Hall.
The Church Rate question had again been before the Justices,
when Mr. Chamberlin appeared for the defaulters, who were Henry
Boulter (baker), 4s. 6d.; Joseph Neave (twine-spinner), 1s.
9½d.; George Goodrich (shoemaker), 3s. 6d.; Henry Blyth
(shoemaker), 4s.; George Clowes (ironmonger), 5s.; William Curtis
(cork-cutter), 5s. 1d.; James Rivett (baker), 4s.; Frederick
Starling (shoemaker), 1s. 10½d.; Angelina Cox and W. P.
Brown (brokers), 4s. 2½d.; John Clowes (grocer), 4s.;
William Livingston (draper), 3s.; Robert Browne (gentleman), 2s.;
George Danby-Palmer (Esquire), 8s. 6¾d.; and George
Danby-Palmer and Salmon Palmer (Esquires), 3s. 6d.
Mr. W. Sidney had again opened the Theatre.
March 28th.—A monster meeting of Liberals had been held
on the Hall Quay in front of the Star, when Mr. W. Briggs
occupied the chair; 500 Liberals had attended a meeting at the
Globe Inn, Gorleston, where Mr. T. Burton Steward presided.
Both meetings were very enthusiastic. It was said the Tory
candidates were “Sir Edmund Lay—on and Colonel
Very—queer.”
April 1st.—The polling had resulted as
follows;—
|
Nine.
|
Ten.
|
Eleven.
|
Twelve.
|
One.
|
Two.
|
Three.
|
Four.
|
McCullagh
|
161
|
304
|
416
|
527
|
562
|
587
|
600
|
609
|
Watkin
|
150
|
296
|
405
|
507
|
541
|
568
|
582
|
596
|
Lacon
|
122
|
234
|
335
|
430
|
443
|
481
|
492
|
521
|
Vereker
|
115
|
220
|
305
|
383
|
393
|
419
|
428
|
451
|
Majority for the Liberals: 158.
After the declaration of the poll Messrs. McCullagh and Watkin
addressed from 12,000 to 15,000 persons from the Star leads.
April 8th.—Messrs. W. Green, J. Borking, J. Clayton, and
W. Harbord had been re-appointed overseers of the parish.
April 11th.—At the Election of Haven Commissioners
Captain Scott proposed, and Mr. J. H. Harrison seconded the
re-election of George Danby-Palmer, Esq., “to whom the town
was greatly indebted for his long and valuable
services.” Mr. T. Lettis, junr., proposed, and Mr.
Henry Danby-Palmer seconded Mr. J. Barker. Mr. F. Palmer
proposed and Captain Briggs seconded H. Hammond Esq.; and Mr. G.
Blake proposed, and Captain Manthorpe seconded Mr. D. A. Gourlay,
whereupon the two former were declared to be elected
Commissioners, and the two latter Supernumerary
Commissioners.
Mr. J. Owles had presided at a meeting of the Liberal
Registration Society.
The following was the result of the Guardians’
Election:—North Ward: Messrs. J. Mainprice, S.
Nightingale, and E. H. L. Preston re-elected. Market
Ward: Messrs. D. A. Gourlay, C. C. Aldred, and W. Laws,
re-elected. Regent Ward: Messrs. W. Worship, S. C.
Marsh, and R. D. Barber, re-elected. St. George’s
Ward: Messrs. B. Fenn and J. G. Plummer, re-elected, with Mr.
T. Foreman in the place of Mr. J. Clark resigned, and in the
Nelson Ward (Mr. J. H. Harrison having resigned) the
polling was—Brightwen 402, Woolverton 431, Reynolds 309,
Clark 339, and Moore 287, Mr. Clark thus taking the place of Mr.
Harrison.
April 18th.—At the annual Vestry Meeting there was a
large attendance. The Rev. George Hills presided, and Mr.
Hammond proposed, and Mr. T. Brightwen seconded, the re-election
of C. S. D. Steward as Churchwarden. Mr. Lawn then proposed
Mr. George Danby-Palmer, but that gentleman declined the honour
and explained that the reason why he would not pay the Church
Rate was that the Churchwardens, while pressing the poor,
discharged the rich, and especially Mr. Talbot, from payment of
that tax. Mr. B. Fenn proposed, and Mr. S. C. Marsh seconded Mr.
Edward Aldred; Mr. J. H. Harrison and Mr. Neave addressed the
meeting amid “great uproar,” and eventually the
appointment of Mr. Steward and Mr. Aldred was carried by a large
majority. Messrs. Hammond, Fenn, and Harrison were
appointed a Committee to look into the question of the St.
Nicholas Estate, and Mr. R. Hammond was re-appointed Auditor of
the Vestry’s accounts.
Measures were being taken by Mr. M. Butcher and others with a
view to establishing a School of Art.
April 22nd.—The Artillery Band was performing on the
Hall-quay.
Trade at the Fair “had been brisk.”
April 25th.—The Rope-walks “which had caused such
great annoyance” were to be removed, and the following
compensations had been paid to owners of them:—Mr. Bracey,
£750; Mr. T. Lettis, jun., £550; Mr. Green, an
annuity for himself and Mrs. Green equal to £420; and to
Mr. R. Barber (who had refused £200), £615 under the
award of C. Evans, Esq., of Norwich.
April 29th.—A meeting had been held at Mr. Paget’s
late residence for the purpose of forming a School of Navigation
in connection with the School of Art.
May 2nd.—A petition in favour of the removal of Jewish
Disabilities was being signed in the town, and the Mayor (C. C.
Aldred, Esq.), George Danby-Palmer, R. Hammond, J. W. Shelly, J.
Fenn, D. A. Gourlay, W. Johnson, P. Pullyn, and R. Steward,
Esqs., had supported the movement.
The East Norfolk Militia Band had performed on the
Hall-quay.
The Poor’s rate was 1s. 4d. for the quarter.
The Insignia belonging to the Corporation had been sent to the
Manchester Art Exhibition.
May 6th.—The entire Police force (with the exception of
the Superintendent) had received one month’s notice to quit
the force, with liberty to apply for re-appointment.
May 16th.—A petition, signed by E. H. L. Preston and R.
Ferrier, Esqs., (Mr. C. Moore being surety for the required
£1,000), was about to be lodged against the return of
Messrs. McCullagh and Watkin.
May 20th.—This petition had been presented to the House
of Commons.
May 23rd.—A young woman, residing in the Star and Garter
Row, had been charged before the Justices “with illegally
detaining a silver mace, the property of the Corporation.”
Defendant said that she did not know where it was, but that her
mother, who had been dead three years, “wished it to be
buried with her.” The case was adjourned for a week,
when the defendant “bounced out of Court.”
May 27th.—Several friends of the sitting Members had
received Speaker’s warrants, as also had Sir E. H. K.
Lacon, who was served as he was about to start on a Continental
tour; Messrs. B. Powell and George Byford had also been
served.
May 30th.—The guarantee fund for opposing the petition
had reached the sum of £2,400.
Two Russian guns had been received by the Corporation.
It was proposed to carry on the trawl fishery by means of
“iron screw welled smacks of 150 tons burden.”
June 3rd.—The police had been re-modelled.
Originally the force consisted of 4 sergeants, 16 privates,
beside 4 non-permanent men who formed the “river
watch.” Of these a sergeant and six privates had been
discharged, and in their stead a sergeant and 13 privates
appointed; the force, therefore, then consisted of a
Superintendent, four sergeants, and 23 privates.
The “small silver mace” above referred to had been
delivered up by the Carter family to the Corporation.
June 6th.—Fourteen hundred persons had visited the town
by excursion train from Norwich on Whit-Monday.
June 10th.—Contains an obituary notice of Mr. Rumbold,
who had died at Brighton on the 31st. ult., aged 69. It was
stated that he had “not left behind him one
enemy.”
The Yarmouth Standard, started three months since as an
advocate “of Conservative and true Christian
principles,” had ceased to exist.
June 13th.—The mackerel fishery had improved, Mr.
Mainprice’s Company of 14 boats had sent in 12,000, and Mr.
Shuckford’s 10,000 fish.
June 20th.—Mackerel were selling from 31s. to 32s. per
100. The “Fisherman” (Mr. James Woolverton)
being the “head boat.”
June 24th.—The “Russian guns” were to be
placed either on the Marine Parade, Hall Quay, or Chapel
Denes.
One thousand silver penny pieces of the reign of King John,
the two first Edwards, and Alexander I. of Scotland had been
found at a depth of about 17 feet in Mr. Ambrose Palmer’s
dry dock.
The “Eastern Unitarian Christian Society” had
celebrated its 44th Anniversary at Great Yarmouth. The Rev.
Dr. Sadler preached from 1 Cor. xii., 27. At the
subsequent meeting, Sir Thomas Beevor, Bart., presided, and Mr.
J. W. Dowson, Mr. Mills (Norwich), Mr. W. N. Burroughs, the Rev.
H. Squint, Mr. S. Dowson, Rev. D. Davis, Mr. Welham and Mr. C.
Freeman took part in the proceedings, afterwards 70 members
partook of a cold collation at the Victoria Hotel.
At the quarterly meeting of the Primitive Methodist Society,
it was stated that their members had increased by 100 during the
last quarter.
One boat had brought in 6 lasts of herring, selling at from
£20 to £28 per last.
July 1st.—A cricket match had been played on
Gunton-denes between the Yarmouth and Lowestoft Clubs, in which
the latter was victorious. The Yarmouth team consisted of
Messrs. Graystone, Jennings, G. Clarke, Reeve, J. S. Browne,
Young, R. Clarke, Vaughan, E. Clarke, Steward, and C. Diver.
Mr. T. Lettis, jun., had been found dead in his
counting-house, and the Jury had returned a verdict “That
deceased destroyed himself while in a state of temporary
insanity.”
July 8th.—Mr. C. E. Bartram had been elected a
Councillor for the Nelson-ward in the room of the late Mr.
Lettis, the polling being—
C. E. Bartram
|
112
|
J. H. Harrison
|
84
|
July 11th.—The Lord Bishop had laid the corner-stone of
St. John’s Church. Mr. J. A. Hakewell was the
architect. Mr. A. W. Morant supervised the erection, and
Mr. R. Steward was the contractor for the entire work at
£1,246.
The Bishop preached from Col. iii., 1, 2, 3 and 4.
July 18th.—There was to be no Regatta this year.
Mr. Harmer’s coloured photographic portraits were much
admired.
Mackerel had been scarce, owing, it was supposed, to the
coldness of the weather.
July 25th.—A detachment of Royal Artillery, about 145
strong, was encamped on the North-denes.
James Ablett a pauper nurse at the Workhouse, had been
committed for trial at the Assizes for the wilful murder of Angus
Steward.
July 29th.—The Committee (which consisted of the Earl of
March, chairman, Mr. H. M. Clifford, Mr. C. J. Dupre, Mr. W. J.
Garnet, and Colonel Maxwell), was sitting upon the petition
against the return of Messrs. McCullagh and Watkin as
M.P.’s for the Borough.
Aug. 1st.—This Committee had unseated both those
gentlemen.
At
the Water Frolic for the first match the following entries were
made:—
Kathleen
|
Messrs. Diver and Chamberlin
|
Belvidere
|
Mr. T. Read, jun.
|
Victorine
|
Mr. J. Fiddes
|
Ontario
|
Mr. F. Frere
|
Pysche
|
Mr. J. Fenn, jun.
|
Iris
|
Mr. A. D. Stone
|
At the finish the Kathleen beat the Belvidere by some 300
yards.
The second match was won by Mr. Green’s
“Enchantress” (latteen.)
Aug. 5th.—There had been a monstre Liberal
Demonstration, when Mr. A. W. Young and Mr. J. Mellor, Q.C., were
accepted as the candidates of that party. Some 10,000 to
12,000 persons were present.
Aug. 8th.—Among the Tories “vacillation,
uncertainty, and lukewarmness prevailed.” Sir Samuel
Hogg, Mr. Mackenzie, and Sir Henry Stracey had been tried without
avail.
The Hon. Ernest Duncombe had visited the Borough, and left
without taking further action; so Sir Edmund Lacon was still
alone in the field as a Conservative candidate.
Aug. 13th.—Sir E. Lacon had retired from the
contest.
The nomination had taken place outside the Town Hall, when Mr.
J. W. Shelly proposed, and Mr. H. Danby-Palmer seconded Mr. A. W.
Young; and Mr. R. Hammond proposed, and Mr. P. Pullyn seconded
Mr. J. Mellor, Q.C., and there being no other nomination, those
gentlemen were declared duly elected.
Messrs. McCullagh and Watkin subsequently addressed the
electors from the Star Hotel.
Aug. 23rd.—About 90 ladies and gentlemen had attended
the Race Ball at the Town Hall.
Mr. Allen’s tender of £3,156 11s. 5d. for the
erection of the Britannia Pier, and Mr. Thompson’s tender
of £200 for making the approaches to it, had been
accepted.
Herrings were selling at from £20 to £26 per
last.
Sept. 12th.—A new organ had been built for St.
Peter’s Church at a cost of £400.
Sept. 23rd.—The Mayor had convened a meeting for the
purpose of raising a fund for the relief of the sufferers by the
Indian Mutiny. Among those present were—Sir Eaton
Travers, the Revs. G. Hills, J. S. Russell, J. B. Brampton, B.
Vaux and D. Oliver, Dr. Dunne, and Messrs. J. W. Shelly, S. Tolver, P.
Pullyn, J. G. Fisher, R. Ferrier, sen., S. Dowson, A. R. Palmer,
G. Blake, E. P. Youell, C. Preston, E. R. Aldred, W. Davie,
&c.; the sum of £233 17s. was subscribed in the
room.
Sept. 30th.—The following shareholders had attended the
ordinary general meeting of the Yarmouth and Haddiscoe Railway
Company:—Sir E. H. K. Lacon (Chairman), Sir M. Peto, R.
Hammond, J. Clowes, B. Fenn, C. E. Bartram, and W. H. Palmer,
Esqs., &c., and power was given to the Directors to raise
£25 000 by way of mortgage.
Oct. 3rd.—The Britannia Pier Works were being actively
pushed on.
Mr. J. H. Harrison (the Ballast lessee) had called a meeting
of 120 masters of vessels at the St. George’s Hall, for the
purpose of receiving a statement from that gentleman, during
which he said that he proposed to give a donation of £8 to
the Fishermen’s Hospital, which sum he had received from a
dispute (in which he did not concur) with the Corporation.
Mr. Harrison was loudly cheered by the meeting, which he regaled
with choice wines and spirits.
The Rev. J. S. Russell had preached his farewell sermon at the
King Street Chapel, where he had laboured for the past 14
years.
Oct. 10th.—The Day of National Fast and Humiliation had
been observed in the town “in a most becoming
manner.”
Herring was selling at from £10 to £18 per
last.
Oct. 17th.—Three hundred pounds had been collected for
the Indian Relief Fund.
Oct. 21st.—Contains the following report:—“A
Vestry meeting was held in the Town-hall, on Friday, for the
purpose of considering the propriety of making a Church
rate. There was a large attendance; the minister of the
parish (the Rev. G. Hills, B.D.), of course presided.—The
Chairman, in opening the proceedings, stated that the rate which
would be proposed would be, in all respects, a legal one; it
would include a charge for St. Peter’s Church, as the
Churchwardens had been advised that that edifice was chargeable
upon the rate in the same way that the Parish Church was.
With regard to the new church of St. John’s, a fund had
been raised which would be invested for keeping it in repair, so
that it might never become chargeable to the parishioners.
The Churchwardens, in order to preserve as much harmony as
possible, would only ask for a rate for the repair of the
fabrics, and for the payment of such legal charges as they were
compelled to include in the rate; the items which would be left out would,
therefore, amount to between £60 and £70, and would
have to be defrayed by voluntary contribution.—Messrs. C.
S. D. Steward and E. R. Aldred, the Churchwardens, moved and
seconded that a rate of 1½d. in the pound be levied for
the ensuing year; the amounts which it was estimated would be
required were—for the Parish Church, £142 5s. 4d.;
for St. George’s Chapel, £32 6s. 6d.; for St.
Peter’s Church £32; and for general purposes
£35.—Mr. W. T. Fisher moved, and Mr. J. Lawn
seconded, “That at a time when it is expected that the
Government will pass a bill for the abolition of Church rates, it
appears to this vestry that it is inexpedient to increase the
rates by including St. Peter’s Church, as it may ultimately
add to increased taxation.” Mr. Fisher also moved,
and Mr. Joseph Neave seconded, “That time be given for the
ratepayers to examine the estimates, and that the meeting do
therefore adjourn for three weeks for that
purpose.”—The Chairman refused to put either of the
above amendments—the first because Mr. Fisher would not
alter it by leaving out the words “By including St.
Peter’s Church,” and the second because he did not
consider it to be a bona fide objection.—Mr. Fisher
entered written protests, signed by himself, against the decision
of the chairman, which protests he requested might be entered in
the Vestry Clerk’s minutes of the meeting.—Mr. J. H.
Harrison moved, “That until after the committee, which was
appointed in April last to confer with the Churchwardens relative
to the property belonging to the Parish Church, had made its
report to a further vestry, it is inexpedient to make a
rate.” Mr. F. Starling seconded the
amendment.—The Chairman, in endeavouring to prevail upon
Mr. Harrison to withdraw his amendment, stated that in March
next, property which now let at from £29 to £30 a
year, and that in September, 1859, property which now realised
£50 per annum, would fall in; he agreed with them that the
greatest care ought to be taken in properly administering this
property, and said he believed its value would be increased
threefold.—The amendment was carried by an immense
majority, and the meeting, therefore, was adjourned sine
die.
Oct. 28th.—Many vessels had been lost, and amongst them
the “Betsy” (G. D. Palmer, Esq., owner), on Palling
Beach. (N.B.—She was at that time the oldest vessel
afloat hailing from the port, and had belonged to the Palmer
family for more than 100 years.)
Oct. 31st.—The Liberal electors had held a grand
soireè at the Town Hall, Messrs. A. W. Young, M.P., and J.
Mellor, Q.C., M.P., being present; 220 persons attended,
amongst whom were R. Hammond, Esq., (Chairman), and Messrs. G. D.
Palmer, J. W. Shelley, W. N. Burroughs, P. Pullyn, C. E. Bartram,
D. A. Gourlay, J. Clowes, G. Blake, W. T. Clarke, F. Palmer, H.
D. Palmer, D. B. Palmer, W. T. Fisher, J. Cobb, J. Mainprice, W.
Briggs, J. H. Harrison, J. Owles, J. Neave, &c. Mr.
McCullagh was unable to attend, but the meeting was addressed by
Messrs. Young, Mellor, and Watkin, and the utmost unanimity
prevailed.
Nov. 4th.—Some 2,000 persons had attended an open-air
Liberal Demonstration on the Hall-quay, at which G. Danby-Palmer,
Esq., presided, and which was addressed by Mr. Watkin.
At the Municipal Election the Tories had been successful, the
Liberals “not going in to win.” At the close of
the poll the Conservative procession, consisting of a band of
music, some flags, bearing such inscriptions as “Cheap
Bread and Economy,” and about four or five cabs formed and
paraded through the principal thoroughfares. The returns
were—
Regent
Ward.
|
Sir E. H. K. Lacon, (C)
|
118
|
J. Cherry, (C)
|
114
|
J. Owles, (L)
|
82
|
F. Palmer, (L)
|
78
|
Market
Ward.
|
J. E. Barnby, (C)
|
128
|
J. Fenn, (C)
|
126
|
J. Scott, (L)
|
110
|
G. W. Clowes, (L)
|
107
|
St.
George’s Ward.
|
W. J. Foreman, (C)
|
121
|
H. Jay, (C)
|
117
|
A. D. Stone, (L)
|
85
|
J. Fill, (L)
|
80
|
Nelson
Ward.
|
S. V. Moore, (L)
|
211
|
J. Clark, (C)
|
151
|
J. Clowes, (L)
|
127
|
North
Ward.
|
S. Nightingale, (C)
|
144
|
W. H. Bessey, (C)
|
132
|
J. Mainprice, (L)
|
126
|
J. Cobb, (L)
|
109
|
St.
Andrew’s Ward.
|
J. Hammond, (C)
|
185
|
William H. Palmer, (C)
|
174
|
Henry Danby-Palmer, (L)
|
164
|
J. Barker, (L)
|
150
|
Mr. J. Clowes had entered a protest against the return in the
Nelson Ward “on the ground of the presiding alderman having
left his post during the election.”
Nov. 7th.—The first general meeting of the Shareholders
of the Britannia Pier Company had been held, the accounts showing
£1,365 received, and £781 12s. 6d expended.
Nov. 11th.—At the Council Meeting, Mr. E. H. L. Preston
proposed, and Mr. Palmer (Deputy-Mayor) seconded, Mr. Francis
Worship for the office of Mayor. Mr. R. Steward then
proposed Mr. W. H. Bessey, who declining the honour, Mr. Steward
suggested the name of Mr. Plummer, who also refusing to serve,
the Mayor declared Mr. Worship unanimously elected to the
office.
The Poor’s rate was 1s. 4d. in the £.
Nov. 14th.—Thirty-six gentlemen had attended the dinner
given to the Ex-Mayor at the Town Hall.
Herring was selling at from £12 to £20 a last.
The adjourned Vestry Meeting for the purpose of considering
the propriety of making a Church rate had been held in the Town
Hall. There was a large attendance of ratepayers, who were,
of course, presided over by the minister of the parish. The
Committee appointed to consider the value of the Church property
recommended that that which had fallen in, and which would fall
in on the 25th of March next, should be re-let on repairing
leases of 14 years’ duration, at a rental of £76
16s.—Mr. J. H. Harrison, one of the committee, gave a
detailed account of all the Church property, both of that which
fell in in September last, and that which will fall in during
next year and 1859 and 1860. He had no doubt, whatever,
that if the property was properly managed, there would be no
necessity for asking for a Church rate after 1860.—Mr. C.
S. D. Steward and Mr. E. R. Aldred, the Churchwardens, moved and
seconded respectively, “That in consequence of the
increased rental of the estate belonging to St. Nicholas’
Church not being available for the current year, a rate of
1½d in the pound be now made and
assessed.”—Mr. J. H. Harrison thought that St.
Peter’s Church ought not to be included in the rate, and
moved as an amendment, “That St. Peter’s Church having
been erected by voluntary contributions, with an understanding
that it should be maintained and supported by its pew rents, and
should in no way become a charge upon the parish, this Vestry
deems it advisable to refuse making a rate until the
Churchwardens do exclude the said Church of St. Peter wholly from
their estimate.”—Mr. J. Lawn seconded the amendment,
but the Chairman refused to put it, on the ground that he could
not consistently with his duty do so.—After considerable
discussion, in the course of which the Clerk stated that St.
Peter’s Church could be legally included in the rate, Mr.
W. T. Fisher moved, and Mr. J. Lawn seconded, on the ground that
the Church property, if re-let at its full value, would realize
more than sufficient for the necessary repairs of the Parish
Church, and that money, which could afterwards be repaid out of
the surplus, could be borrowed to defray the expenses for the
next two years,—“That this meeting resolves to
adjourn for four weeks, to obtain the necessary amount and
thereby to avoid the necessity of making a Church
rate.”—The Chairman conscientiously refused to put
this amendment on the ground that it was not a bona fide
one, and also the following amendment, which was likewise moved
by Mr. W. T. Fisher, “That in order to give the
Churchwardens time to prepare a proper estimate, the Vestry to
adjourn for three weeks.”—Mr. J. H. Harrison then
moved, “That it is inexpedient and inadvisable to make a
Church rate at this meeting.”—The Chairman, however,
refused to put this, as also another amendment by Mr. J. H.
Harrison to the effect, “That a Church rate of a farthing
in the pound be levied.”—After a great deal of
uproar, the motion of the Churchwardens was lost by a
considerable majority. A poll was then demanded, when the
Chairman appointed Mr. J. L. Cufaude to be the assessor, and the
meeting adjourned. The following numbers were polled during
the afternoon:—For the rate 225, against it 195.
Nov. 18th.—The polling of the Vestry had been concluded
as follows:—
For the Rate
|
651
|
Against
|
771
|
and at 10 o’clock on Saturday, Mr. Hills stated that the
poll would not be re-opened.
On the following day (Sunday) the clocks at the Parish Church
and St. George’s Chapel were stopped, and the bells
“tolled” at the hour for performance of divine
service.
Nov.
21st.—Mr. D. Tomkins, of the British School, had again
satisfied the Government Inspector.
R. Hammond, Esq., had presented 40 cwt. of coal to the inmates
of the Fisherman’s Hospital.
Nov. 28th.—It was calculated that there were 400 boats
then engaged in the Herring Fishing belonging to Yarmouth.
Dec. 12th.—The Mayor’s “feast” had
been held at the Town Hall, 120 gentlemen being present,
including Lord Sondes (High Steward), Sir E. N. Buxton, Bart.,
M.P., Sir H. Stracey, Bart., Sir E. H. K. Lacon, Bart., Colonel
Elmhirst, Colonel Sankey, Major Taylor, Captain Nugent, Captain
Dunt, the Revs. B. Vaux, J. Gunn, M. Waters and J. B. Bampton,
Messrs. R. Hammond, W. N. Burroughs, C. J. Palmer, C. Cory, E. H.
L. Preston, E. P. Youell, W. Yetts, R. Steward, B. Jay, C. H.
Chamberlin, R. S. Watling, I. Preston, jun., W. C. Reynolds, R.
Ferrier, W. H. Palmer, C. Preston, F. Palmer, H. D Palmer, J. C.
Smith, D. A. Gourlay, &c.
The “recruiting staff” of the 9th Regiment, then
at Yarmouth, consisted of Lieut.-Colonel C. Elmhirst,
Brevt-Colonel Sankey, Major A. Taylor, Captains W. Dunt, H. F.
Manton, W. Nugent, D. A. Barnett, R. P. O’Shea, J. W.
MacFarlane, — Carden, and J. Graham, Lieutenants H. G. H.
Grubbe, H. Gipps, and A. F. B. Wright, Adjutant Bolton, Ensigns
C. S. Perry, J. L. Bradshaw, S. Lynne and C. T. Coote,
Quarter-Master Arrowsmith, and 19 Sergeants and 10 Corporals.
Dec. 30th.—There were 30 prisoners in the Gaol, and they
had been regaled with a Christmas dinner by the Mayor.
The Clocks at the Parish Church and St. George’s Chapel
had been set going again at the instance of the Town Council.
Jan. 2nd.—Contains the following article on the Old
Year:—“1857 has been a good year for our port.
Our fisheries have prospered; our mercantile and shipping report
is favourable; and our commercial credit has stood firm and
upright against the pressure of a severe monetary crisis.
We have proved the elasticity of our resources, and have
demonstrated the strength and stability of our enterprise.
The fashionable season has also been one on which we have to
congratulate ourselves. During the summer and autumn of
1857, Yarmouth was full of visitors; our beach was crowded with company;
and our hotels and lodging houses were all full. In short,
on New Year’s Day we find that we can strike a balance on
the right side, and look forward with hope based on the solid
foundation of proved success. There is but one great
drawback to the seasonable satisfaction such a state of things
affords. Our political divisions have materially diminished
the account in our favour, and have seriously interfered with the
social harmony of the town. We have suffered ourselves to
be led away into personal altercations, and have so departed from
the straight road of a defined and thought-out principle.
This has been a grave mistake, as we are now beginning to
discover. But generally we have yet to learn that political
zeal is not inconsistent with the courtesies of society, and that
ill-tempered advocacy is worse than useless. Let us hope,
however, that the moderate men of both political opinions, who
must, we are sure, see the error of this course, will for the
future guard against indiscretions, which are as inherently wrong
as they are manifestly prejudicial to any cause that stands upon
Principle and is supported by its own Truth. We know we
express the opinion of the thinking portion of the constituency
in advising an abstinence from the littleness of factious strife,
and in suggesting a more elevated view of political verities, we
are satisfied we are answering to the wish of the most
respectable members of the opposing parties, and are explaining
what is only wanting to consolidate the established prosperity of
Yarmouth.”
The Hospital meeting showed a deficit of from £40 to
£50 on the annual accounts.
Jan. 6th.—It was rumoured than an addition would shortly
be made to the local Magistracy.
Jan. 9th.—Mr. C. J. Palmer occupied the chair at the
annual Library Meeting. It was stated that there were then
nearly 10,000 volumes belonging to that Institution, of which
about 22 were circulated daily.
Jan. 13th.—Mr. Roach (Station-master) was, much to the
regret of the inhabitants, leaving Yarmouth.
Jan. 16th.—Mr. George Danby-Palmer had presided at a
dinner given to B. Fenn, Esq., when that gentleman was presented
with 203 oz. of plate (value £100) by the Great Yarmouth
Provident Fisherman’s Society, of which he had acted as
Hon. Sec. for 30 years.
The Russian guns were to be placed at the South end of the
Hall Quay.
Court
“Star of the East,” A.O.F., had held its anniversary
at the Regent Tavern.
Jan. 23rd.—The Rev. F. W. Johnson had been appointed
minister at St. John’s Church.
A meeting of the Town Council had been held to consider the
question of the proposed appointment of Justices, when Mr. E. H.
L. Preston moved, and Mr. B. Fenn seconded, the adoption of a
memorial to the Lord Chancellor, deprecating the proposed
appointment of Messrs. P. Pullyn, D. A. Gourlay, Frederick
Palmer, William T. Clarke, John Barker, and John Owles, and Mr.
George Danby-Palmer moved, and Mr. Chapman seconded, an amendment
in favour of such appointments, which, on a division, was lost by
25 to 5 votes. The Mayor made some warm remarks of a
personal nature, which brought a similar retort from Mr. Chapman,
and it was stated that “the last portion of these remarks
was given amid applause in the gallery and laughter of the
members, the meeting breaking up in great confusion.”
Feb. 6th.—The same question had been discussed at a
meeting of Magistrates, when the Clerk was directed to apply to
the Lord Chancellor for the correspondence with regard to the
proposed appointments.
Feb. 10th.—This request had been declined by his
Lordship, and it appeared that the Roll had been sent for, which
led to a discussion of a personal character.
Feb. 13th.—The Town Council, on the motion of Mr. C. J.
Palmer, seconded by Mr. Burroughs, had voted an address to the
Queen on the occasion of the marriage of the Princess Royal.
A letter was read at the same meeting, stating that the Lord
Chancellor had added the names of the six before mentioned
gentlemen to the Commission of the Peace.
Feb. 20th.—It was proposed to extend the Marine
Parade.
The 9th Regiment of Foot had left Yarmouth for Bradford.
During its stay here some 200 recruits had been obtained.
Mr. Frederick Palmer had qualified as a Justice of the
Peace.
St. John’s Church had been opened for service, when the
Revs. F. W. Johnson and George Hills preached in the morning and
afternoon respectively.
Feb. 24th.—The cost of the maintenance of the poor of
the parish had increased since the passing of the 9th and 10th
Vic. cap. 56 from about £9,000 to £10,376 per
annum.
Messrs. J. Barker and P. Pullyn had qualified as
Magistrates.
Feb.
27th.—The 24-pounders at the Batteries were to be replaced
by 74 pound guns.
March 6th.—Records the death of Rear-Admiral Sir Eaton
Travers, K.H., aged 70. The dates of his appointments
were—Lieutenant 1804, Commander 1814, Captain 1829,
Rear-Admiral 1855. He had seen much service, and was
nominated a K.H. on 4th of February, 1834. He possessed the
silver naval medal with one clasp, had a good service pension,
and was a D.L. for the county. Sir Eaton married in April,
1815, Anne Palmer, eldest daughter of William Steward, Esq., by
whom he had issue five sons and two daughters.
It was hoped that the Yarmouth and Haddiscoe Railway would be
opened by the 1st of September next.
March 13th.—A dispute had arisen between the Local Board
of Health and George Danby-Palmer, Esq., with regard to certain
land at the south-end of the town, and Mr. Chamberlin, acting as
Mr. Palmer’s solicitor, had complained to the Bench of
having been assaulted by Mr. Morant (Town Surveyor), upon the
“locus in quo,” and what was described as a
“scene” had ensued.
March 20th.—The Naval Hospital was being fitted up for
the reception of sick and wounded men from India; it was noticed
that although fitted up in a similar way during the Russian war,
it had never then been used.
Complaint was made of the “niggardly” way in which
the Southtown Road was lighted.
March 24th.—Lord Sondes had presented a petition from
the Town Council to the House of Lords on the subject of the
Magisterial appointments, but after an explanation by the Lord
Chancellor, who justified his action, “the subject
dropped.”
March 27th.—Mr. J. S. Cobb had delivered a lecture on
“Chemistry.”
April 3rd.—Mr. R. Steward had protested against the
Senior Magistrate taking the chair in Petty Session as a matter
of right.
April 7th.—Ten publicans had been fined for keeping
their houses open at illegal hours.
April 10th.—At the appointment of Overseers, Mr. E. H.
L. Preston moved the appointment of Messrs. William Green, James
Borking, John Clayton, and William Harbord; and Mr. Owles
proposed Mr. James H. Harrison in the place of Mr. Green.
Upon the votes being taken, there appeared: For Mr.
Preston’s list—The Mayor and Messrs. William Danby-Palmer, E. H. L. Preston, J. C. Smith, W. Yetts,
W. Thurtell, B. Jay, W. H. Bessey, J. Fenn, William Hurry Palmer,
J. Cherry, R. Steward, C. C. Aldred, J. G. Plummer, and B. Fenn;
and for Mr. Owles’ list—Messrs. Geo. Danby-Palmer, J.
W. Shelley, W. Johnson, R. Hammond, P. Pullyn, D. A. Gourlay,
Frederick Palmer, W. T. Clarke, J. Barker, and J. Owles.
April 17th.—From 3,000 to 4,000 persons had witnessed
the launch of the “Froderica,” of 600 tons burthen,
from Mr. Branford’s yard.
April 24th.—St. John’s Church had been consecrated
by the Lord Bishop of Norwich.
H.M.S. “Edinburgh,” 74 tons, and two gun-boats had
passed through the Roads.
April 28th.—Mr. John Clowes had been returned as a
Councillor for the Nelson Ward without opposition in the place of
Mr. Samuel V. Moore, deceased.
May 1st.—Ninety ladies and gentlemen had attended a ball
at the Town Hall.
The sum of £137 had been collected at the Consecration
Services at St. John’s Church. The Communion plate
and stone pulpit in this church had been paid for from the
proceeds arising from the sale of the second edition of the
“Story of John Brock.”
May 5th.—Reference is made to the drowning of the only
son of Captain Ellis, R.N., at Southwold.
The Poor’s rate was 1s. 4d. in the £.
The Summer excursion trains had commenced running, and had
brought many visitors from Norwich.
May 8th.—Seventy invalids from Colchester camp were
under treatment at the Naval Hospital. The officers in
charge were Captain Jervois, Commandant; Captain Naylor,
Pay-master; Staff-Surgeons, Bradford and Joy, and Mr. Rippon,
Purveyor.
May 15th.—Disturbances had taken place between some of
the Fermanagh Militia and townsmen at Southtown, and the conduct
of the Mayor was impugned with regard to his desire to repress
the report of this, when Mr. de Caux vindicated the reports sent
by him to the newspapers he represented.
May 22nd.—The mackerel fleet (about 100 sail) were
nearly all at sea, and prices had varied from 35s. to 45s. per
hundred.
The “Nil Desperandum” (500 tons) had been launched
from Mr. Rust’s yard.
June
12th.—Records the death of Sir E. N. Buxton, Bart., one of
the M.P’s. for East Norfolk.
June 16th.—Sir Henry Stracey, a candidate for the seat
thus vacant, had met the Conservative electors at the
Angel-hotel, when Mr. E. H. L. Preston occupied the chair.
It was stated that “Sir Henry is a favourite in Yarmouth
from the interest he has taken in all that relates to the
interest of the town.”
June 19th.—The Liberals had met at the Star Hotel, Mr.
B. Dowson in the chair, when a resolution accepting the Hon.
Wenman Clarence Walpole Coke as the candidate in the Whig
interest had been adopted.
John Berry had committed suicide by shooting himself on the
South Denes.
June 26th.—Mr. Falcke (a gentleman whose father formerly
lived in the town) had given subscriptions to the Hospital and
the Ragged and British Schools.
June 30th.—At the County election, Mr. E. Fellowes,
M.P., proposed, and Colonel Fitzroy seconded Sir H. J. Stracey,
Bart., and Mr. Bulwer proposed, and Mr. Upcher seconded the Hon.
Wenman C. W. Coke; the show of hands was in favour of Sir H. J.
Stracey, whereupon Mr. Bulwer demanded a poll on behalf of the
Hon. Mr. Coke.
July 3rd.—The poll had been declared as
follows:—
The Hon. W. C. W. Coke
|
2933
|
Sir H. J. Stracey
|
2720
|
Majority
|
213
|
An analysis of the polling at Yarmouth showed—
|
Coke.
|
Stracey.
|
Yarmouth Voters
|
288
|
301
|
E&W. Flegg ,,
|
150
|
195
|
Out ,,
|
36
|
58
|
Gorleston ,,
|
6
|
4
|
Southtown ,,
|
14
|
14
|
Mr. Isaac Shuckford had been elected an Alderman in the place
of Alderman T. Foreman deceased.
A fight had taken place on the North Denes between Plumb (of
Bungay) and Swash (of Yarmouth) for £10 a side. It
lasted 1 h. and 35 min., and 93 rounds were fought.
Ultimately Swash was beaten.
July 10th.—The “Minstrel” had been launched
from Mr. Symonds’ and the “Success” from Mr.
Chapman’s yard.
July
14th.—“Frequent collisions” were taking place
between the Irish Militia and the inhabitants.
July 17th.—Britannia Pier had been opened. The
Mayor attended with the “civic authorities;” on his
arrival two rockets were let off and cannon were
discharged. At the “dejeuner” subsequently
held, C. C. Aldred and C. Cory, Esqs., presided at the tables,
faced by D. A. Gourlay, and G. B. Palmer, Esqs.
A “Marine Horticultural Fête” had been held
on this pier.
July 21st.—A Provincial Grand Lodge of Norfolk
Freemasons had been held at the Priory Hall, which 150 brethren
attended. Subsequently a banquet was held at the Town Hall,
when P.G.M. Bro. B. Bond Cabbell presided, Bros. Sir H. J.
Stracey and C. H. Chamberlin occupying the vice-chairs.
July 24th.—Fifty-seven sick and wounded soldiers, mostly
Indian sufferers, had arrived at the Royal Naval Hospital.
July 28th.—It was computed that there were between 8,000
and 9,000 visitors then in the town.
There had been a heavy gale from the S.W.
July 31st.—At the Regatta, which was held from the
Wellington Pier,—umpires, Lieut.-Col. Beckham and Mr. M.
Butcher; hon. secretary, Mr. Henry R. Harmer;—in the first
yacht race the “Violet” (J. E. Kirby) beat the
“Aretion” (J. Goodson, Esq.), and the “Silver
Star” (— Mann, Esq.). The following yawls
competed as under:—
|
|
Came in
|
|
|
H.
|
M.
|
S.
|
Eclipse
|
54 ft.
|
6
|
0
|
32
|
Royal Standard
|
49 ft.
|
5
|
58
|
40
|
Queen Victoria
|
63 ft.
|
5
|
50
|
20
|
Lady Hume
|
59 ft.
|
5
|
54
|
30
|
Young Prince
|
47 ft.
|
withdrew
|
Glance
|
47 ft.
|
6
|
3
|
23
|
In the next race (for small yachts) the “Kestrel”
(W. Butcher) beat the “Belvidere” (T. Read),
“Isabella” (O. Diver), “Rover” (T.
Palmer), and “Gipsy Queen” (Harcourt); there were
several other races. On this occasion 1,700 persons visited
the Wellington Pier, upwards of £40 was taken at the gates,
and it was computed that some 12,000 persons were on the Beach;
3,000 persons visited the Victoria Gardens, where “Sam
Collins” performed, and Mr. Coe had the management of the
display of fireworks.
Aug.
4th.—The acting Charity Trustees, Messrs. George
Danby-Palmer and Thomas Brightwen, had selected the following
additional Trustees of the Town Charity Estate:—The Rev.
George Hills, Sir E. H. K. Lacon, and Messrs. C. J. Palmer, J.
Brightwen, B. Jay, E. H. L. Preston, C. C. Aldred, Charles Cory,
William H. Palmer, R. Hammond, W. P. Dowson, W. N. Burroughs, and
J. W. Shelley. Objection had been taken to the names of Sir
E. H. K. Lacon and Messrs. Aldred, Cory, C. J. Palmer, E. H. L.
Preston, and W. P. Dowson, and the names of Messrs. Pullyn, C.
Miller, G. Blake and J. Fenn proposed as Trustees.
Aug. 7th.—At the Water Frolic, Mr. O. Diver acted as
hon. secretary, and in the first match the following yachts
competed:—
Endora
|
(latteen)
|
Cooke
|
Horstead
|
13 feet
|
Nautilus
|
(cutter)
|
—
|
Bungay
|
12 ,,
|
Clara
|
(cutter)
|
C. Smith
|
Aylsham
|
14 ,,
|
Fairy Queen
|
(latteen)
|
R. Morton
|
,,
|
13 ,,
|
Unique
|
(cutter)
|
W. Teasdel
|
Gorleston
|
14 ,,
|
The Endora won. In the second race the entries
were:—
Belvidere
|
T. Read
|
Yarmouth
|
28 feet
|
Victorine
|
J. Fiddes
|
,,
|
—
|
Iris
|
A. D. Stone
|
,,
|
27 „
|
Tantivy
|
Messrs. Morgan
|
Norwich
|
19 ,,
|
The Belvidere won. The third contest was for a cup,
presented by D. Falcke, Esq., for shrimp boats; the
“Smack” won.
During the sports Mr. Gardiner (editor of the Yarmouth
Independent) was knocked overboard by the boom of Mr.
Diver’s boat, but, being a swimmer, escaped with a
“good ducking.”
Aug. 14th.—A meeting had been held for the purpose of
establishing a “Beachman’s Institute.”
The Mayor occupied the chair, and G. Harcourt, Esq., addressed
the meeting at some length; Mr. Fisher and the Rev. G. Hills also
took part in these proceedings.
A mirage had been seen off the coast, presenting the
appearance of a number of ships sailing between two chalk cliffs,
thought by some to pourtray the Isle of Wight. Nothing of a
similar kind had been seen in Yarmouth for 75 years. It was
noticed the weather had been close and sultry and the tides
low.
Aug. 18th.—The sum of £139 18s. 6d. had been
contributed for the Beachman’s Institute.
Aug.
25th.—The Norfolk Hotel, Marine Drive, had been purchased
by Messrs. Hills and Underwood for the sum of £2,160.
Sept. 1st.—The sum of £448 had been subscribed for
the restoration of the Nelson Monument.
About 100 vessels were then engaged in the North Sea herring
fishing, the fish realising from £12 15s. to £26 per
last.
George Wells Holt, Esq., who had officiated as
Magistrates’ Clerk for more than 22 years, had resigned
that appointment.
Mr. W. Holt (son of the late Clerk), Mr. H. R. Harmer and Mr.
Costerton were candidates for the office.
Sept. 8th.—The following Magistrates attended on the
appointment being filled up:—F. Worship, Esq., (Mayor), R.
Hammond, B. Fenn, J. G. Plummer, W. Johnson, P. Pullyn, F.
Palmer, R. Steward, D. A. Gourlay, W. T. Clarke, J. Fenn, E. H.
L. Preston, B. Jay, W. H. Palmer, W. Yetts, C. C. Aldred, W. H.
Bessey, G. D. Palmer, W. Thurtell, T. Brightwen, J. Owles, and J.
C. Smith, Esqs., and on the motion of Mr. Hammond, seconded by
Mr. Steward, Mr. William Holt was unanimously elected.
The emoluments of the office were then about £375 per
annum.
Messrs. Mellor and Young, the M.P’s. for the town, had
arrived, the former at the Norfolk, and the latter at the Royal
Hotel.
The Artillery Militia had assembled for 21 days’
drill.
There had been further disturbances between the Fermanagh
Militia and the townspeople, which had led to a conference
between the Magistrates and the officer commanding that Regiment,
since which the soldiers had not been allowed to enter the town
after 6.30 p.m., and a picket had been stationed on the
Bridge.
A fancy fair in aid of the Sailors’ Institute was being
held in three marquees fronting the Norfolk Hotel.
H.M.S. “Pembroke,” 60 guns, had sailed for
Harwich, after remaining in the Roads 14 days. During her
stay 40 volunteers had been entered upon her books.
The King of Prussia’s yacht “Grille” had
arrived in the Harbour; she was of 400 tons, and rigged as a
three-masted schooner. The officers on board were Captain
baron Bothwell, Lieutenants Baron St. Paul, Baron Dobenack, and
Count Moate.
Sept. 15th.—The Fermanagh Militia had left Yarmouth for
Bradford, and were to be succeeded by the Louth Rifles.
The
comet (visible with the naked eye) was getting brighter every
night.
Sept. 22nd.—One of a recently-arrived advance party of
the Louth Rifles named John Carret had been found drowned in the
Yare.
Sept. 25th.—Herring were selling at from £3 to
£4 per last for manure.
Sept. 29th.—The subscriptions to the Races amounted to
only £289 18s. 6d., leaving the balance to be raised by
sale of race-cards, &c.
Mr. Colley was acting as House Surgeon at the Hospital.
Oct. 2nd.—The East Norfolk Militia had been inspected by
Colonel Lewis prior to being disbanded.
The Louth Rifles, 500 strong, had arrived, and marched into
the Southtown Barracks. The officers were Colonel Lord
Bellew, Lieut.-Colonel Sir J. Robinson, Bart.; Major Taaffe,
Adjutant Bellingham, Surgeon Dixon, Quarter-Master Edward Burke,
Paymaster J. Burke, Captains O’Reiley, Smith, Singleton,
and Murray, Lieutenants Evans, Osborne, Townley, Murphy, and
Cormack, and Ensigns Mason, Lindsay, Standidge, O’Donald
and Twentyman.
Oct. 6th.—The mortality in the town was then 23 in 1,000
persons.
Oct. 9th.—The fishing had improved, and herring was
selling at from £19 5s. to £22 per last.
William Holt, Esq., had given a dinner at the Crown and Anchor
to the officials connected with the Police Court.
Mr. S. J. F. Stafford had been elected Surgeon for the North
District.
Oct. 16th.—The County Revision had been held before Mr.
R. Couch at the Tolhouse, Mr. Clowes appearing for the Liberals
and Mr. Cufaude for the Tories; also for the Borough, when Mr.
Costerton appeared for the Liberals, and Mr. Cufaude for the
Tories. The Liberals claimed gains on both these
registers.
Oct. 20th.—It was understood that R. Steward, Esq.,
would be Mayor for the ensuing year.
The Mayor (with Messrs. Pilgrim and Cooper as assessors) had
held the Municipal Revision, Mr. Costerton appearing for the
Liberals and Mr. Cufaude for the Conservatives; the former
claimed a gain of 73 on the proceedings.
Oct. 27th.—Lieutenant Mends, R.N., had been presented
with a handsome gold pencil-case by the crew of H.M.S.
“Dolphin,” (Revenue cruiser on this station), on his
resigning his command.
Oct.
30th.—The Bishop of Norwich had confirmed 115 persons at
St. Nicholas’ Church.
Nov. 3rd.—The following Councillors had been elected
without opposition:—North Ward: Messrs. W. Worship
and J. B. Hylton. Market Ward: Messrs. E. R. Aldred
and D. A. Gourlay. Regent Ward: Messrs. R. D. Barber
and R. R. B. Norman. St. George’s Ward:
Messrs. R. Ferrier and B. Jay. Nelson Ward: Messrs.
Charles J. Palmer and Charles Woolverton. St.
Andrew’s Ward: Messrs. Robert Steward and William T.
Clarke.
Captain Ryder, R.N., Government Inspector, had examined 42
pupils at the School of Navigation.
Nov. 6th.—It was “confidently reported” that
the Vicar (the Rev. G. Hills) had been appointed Bishop of
British Columbia.
Nov. 10th—A claim had been made by a person whose father
had served in the army from 1802 to 1816, to sell excisable
articles without a license, under the 56 George III. cap. 67.
Nov. 13th.—At the Council meeting held on the 9th, Mr.
William H. Palmer proposed, and Mr. Hylton seconded, Robert
Steward, Esq., as Mayor for the ensuing year, and he was declared
unanimously elected, but as “the late Mayor was about to
invest him with the chain of office, His Worship rather
prematurely took hold of the chain and placed it on the
seat.”
A complimentary dinner had been given by the Council to the
ex-Mayor, at which C. J. Palmer, Esq., presided.
Nov. 17th.—The Mayor had dispensed with the formality of
being preceded by the maces and other insignia of the Corporation
in attending divine service and taking his seat on the
Bench. He had also declined wearing the gold chain on the
same occasions.
Nov. 20th.—Attention was directed to the “Wonders
of the Microscope, published by Mr. Harmer, the photographist of
Great Yarmouth.”
Dec. 4th.—The Royal National Lifeboat Institution had
sent one of its 30 foot single-banked boats to this station.
The Mayor had issued invitations for a dinner at the Town Hall
to 170 gentlemen connected with the town and district.
The Rev. R. H. Nevill had been appointed to the Vicarage,
which was supposed to be worth some £350 per annum.
Dec. 11th.—Mr. J. H. Harrison had lent the St.
George’s Hall to the tradesmen, who were getting up a
concert for the benefit of the Hospital.
Dec.
15th.—The Mayor, Sir John Robinson, Bart., S. C. Marsh and
C. J. Palmer, Esqs., had acted as Stewards of the first
Subscription Ball, and there were also present—the
Mayoress, Captain Winyard, R.N., Captain O’Reiley, Dr.
Dixon, Captain Smith, Mr., Mrs. and Miss Harcourt, Mrs. and Miss
Gwynne, Mrs. C. J. Palmer, Mr. Cubitt and family, Mr. and Mrs.
Ferrier, Mr. W. Travers, Mr. E. and Miss Preston, Mrs. S. C.
Marsh and family, Mr. H. Lacon, Mr. and Mrs. Barber and family,
Mr. Jolly, Mr. F. Danby-Palmer, Mr. Bullock, Mrs. A. Thompson,
Mr., Mrs. and Miss Venning, Mrs. and Miss Pearson, Dr. Button,
Mr. and Mrs. Biddulph, Mrs. R. Steward, Rev. Mr. Gott and family,
Mr. Harmer, &c.
Mr. J. Petts had been promoted to be Chief Coastguard Officer
at Yarmouth.
Dec. 11th.—It was proposed to present Bishop Hills with
a silver Communion Service.
Jan. 5th.—A meeting had been held (C. J. Palmer, Esq.,
in the chair) for the purpose of raising a fund with a view to
presenting a testimonial to the Rev. George Hills. Sir E.
H. K. Lacon, and Messrs. R. Hammond, T. Brightwen, C. C. Aldred,
E. H. L. Preston, C. S. D. Steward, and C. Cory, took part in the
proceedings, and £145 was raised in the room.
The Mayor (R. Steward, Esq.), had given away 300 cwts. of coal
to poor persons.
Jan. 12th.—It was reported that 20 missionary clergymen
would accompany the Rev. G. Hills to his new mission, and that
Mr. Lupson, Scripture Reader, should be ordained and go as one of
these.
Jan. 15th.—The members of the Ship Insurance Society, to
the number of 30, had held their annual dinner at the
“Crown and Anchor”; Mr. D. A. Gourlay occupied the
chair, and Mr. D. B. Palmer the vice-chair.
Jan. 22nd.—The East Suffolk Railway was to be opened on
the 1st March.
Jan. 29th.—The Rev. G. Hills had preached his farewell
sermon.
The Mayor had given a Juvenile Ball to 130 children at the
Town Hall. Among those present were members of the
following families:—Reynolds, Youell, Harcourt, Cufaude,
Marsh, Impey, Tompson, Clarke, Donald, Norman, Bond, Aldred,
Lettis, Woolverton, Butcher, Barnby, Ayers, Reeve, Laws, Bayly,
Chamberlin, Dashwood, Bracey, Palmer, Shuckford, Smith, Smyth,
Plummer, Barber, &c.
Bro. John Cobb had been installed W.M. of Lodge
“Friendship” by Bros. O. Diver and J. W. Bunn, and he
had appointed the following officers:—Bros. W. Wright,
S.W.; G. Harley, J.W.; C. L. Chipperfield, S.D.; J. H. Bly, J.D.;
and George Knox, I.G.
Feb. 5th.—The ladies had presented plate to the value of
50 guineas to the Rev. G. Hills.
Mrs. Gray had given a “ball and reception” at the
Town Hall.
Feb. 9th.—About 100 Foresters had attended the funeral
of Bro. Hatch, at Gorleston, on Sunday, which proceeding had been
objected to by the Vicar.
Feb. 12th.—A “Reform” Meeting had been held,
Mr. Livingston in the chair.
Feb. 16th.—Mr. Boning, of Cambridge, had accidentally
injured himself while shooting on the Caister Marshes. Dr.
Smyth, Mr. F. Palmer, Mr. Skinner and Mr. Colley (Hospital) were
attending the sufferer.
Feb. 19th.—Mr. Nevill, the new Incumbent, had arrived,
and was going “to read himself in” on the next
Sunday.
Feb. 23rd.—This ceremony had been duly performed by
him.
A Reading-room had been established in connection with the
Subscription Library on the Quay.
Mr. J. C. Smith had presided at Mrs. Sizeland’s annual
dinner at the Royal Hotel.
A high tide had washed over the Beach up to the Marine Drive
wall.
Feb. 26th.—The Foresters had held a dinner at the Corn
Hall; 100 brethren attended. The Chief Ranger (Bro.
Franklin) presided, and Bros. Steele, Horne, E. Stagg, Dr. Smyth,
Dumbleton and Thompson took part in the proceedings.
March 2nd.—Dr. Hills had been consecrated Bishop of
British Columbia at Westminster Abbey.
The first train from Yarmouth had run over the East Suffolk
line.
March 5th.—A search for treasure had been made at the
“Stone Cairn” on the North Denes, it seems from the
report, without effect.
The old Jetty was to be repaired.
The
officers of the Louth Rifles had given a Ball at the Town Hall,
for which about 180 invitations were issued.
March 19th.—Messrs. Mellor and Young had attended a
Reform Meeting at the Corn Hall; from 1,000 to 1,200 persons were
present. Among the gentlemen accompanying the M.P.’s
were Messrs. R. Hammond, P. Pullyn, Gourlay, F. Palmer, Clowes,
Briggs, Barker, &c.
March 23rd—There was a “rage” for new
buildings in the town.
March 30th.—A Court of Foresters had been opened at
Hasbro’, the officiating officers being D.C.R.
Stratford and C.R. Franklin (of Court “Crown and
Anchor.”)
April 2nd.—The question as to who were to be the Liberal
candidates for the Borough was being “mooted”; it was
reported that Mr. McCullagh was to be put on one side, that Mr.
Mellor would withdraw, and that Messrs. Watkin and Young would
take the field.
A new Coastguard Station was being erected at a cost of
£3,500. Mr. Norfor, contractor.
April 6th.—The action of “Morant v.
Chamberlin” had been referred to Mr. Barstow.
April 9th.—Both parties had been waiting for notice of
the Dissolution of Parliament. Sir E. H. K. Lacon and Sir
H. J. Stracey were making a house-to-house canvas, accompanied by
Messrs. W. Yetts, W. Thurtell, R. Ferrier, C. Cory, S. C. Marsh,
W. Worship, E. H. L. Preston, J. G. Plummer, F. Ferrier, J. Fenn,
&c.
The Liberals had held a meeting on the Hall Plain, which 3,000
persons attended. Mr. Briggs occupied the chair, and
Messrs. J. Clowes, R. Hammond, J. Owles, J. W. Shelly, and P.
Pullyn took part in the proceedings, which eventuated in the
selection of Messrs. Watkin and Young as the Liberal
candidates.
April 13th.—Both parties had held meetings, the Liberals
at the “Star” and the Conservatives at the
“Fish Stall House.”
April 16th.—Both parties expressed themselves confident
of success, but it was supposed that Gorleston would turn the
scale; the voters there were described as “dangerous
men.”
The barque “Athelstan” (Captain John Bracey) was
to be launched from Fellows’ yard on the 19th.
April 20th.—The Liberal electors “and their
wives” had met at the Corn Exchange, while the
Conservatives had held a meeting at the Victoria Gardens.
April
23rd.—Contains the following report as to
“THE ELECTION.”
The greatest activity prevails on both sides, and as the
decisive day approaches, the feelings of partizanship are
becoming greatly intensified. The printers have had a
lively time of it, and turn out a great quantity of matter, an
opinion appearing to be prevalent that quality is a secondary
consideration. During the last few days, songs, parodies
upon songs, speeches, and gross personal abuse have been issued
by the supporters of Mr. Watkin, (for it must be admitted that
Mr. Young holds himself aloof from this scurrility) with the
object, we suppose, of doing that gentleman some good. In
our opinion they will have a contrary effect, as we have heard
many respectable Liberal electors express themselves disgusted
with such unnecessary vulgarity. It may be very true, that
in addressing the people, it is necessary to call a spade a
spade, but it cannot be at all requisite that the minds of the
people should be attempted to be influenced by strong specimens
of the Billingsgate vocabulary. Where wit is lacking,
silence is preferable to blackguardism. On the Conservative
side there has also been a fair number of coloured bills and
printed addresses issued; but the writers in this interest have
abstained from attempting to be funny. In printed abuse,
however, they endeavour to rival their opponents. Betting,
if that may be considered a piece of electioneering business, is
decidedly in favour of the Conservative candidates. Each
party attributes motives of the most improper kind to the other,
and it will be seen that Mr. Watkin fears that his opponents may
indulge in “corruption.” On the other hand, Sir
E. Lacon says voters had told him they dare not support him, as
they should be inclined to do, in consequence of persons on the
Liberal side having put the “screw” upon them.
Tradesmen generally will be glad when the contest is over, as it
is daily creating much personal animosity.
The “Athelstan” had been launched; she was of 500
tons burden, and was to take out Bishop Hills’ effects to
British Columbia.
The “Haddiscoe Swamp” had caused a great
difficulty on the East Suffolk line, which was consequently still
not open for traffic.
William Howlett, “Red” bill-poster, and Robert
Crisp, “Blue” bill-poster, had been before the
Magistrates owing to a dispute arising out of the election
placards.
April 30th.—Both parties had been holding nightly
meetings of a “convivial character.” On
Wednesday some 300 to 400 persons had paraded the town shouting
“Down with Lacon and Stracey,” and had broken the
windows of the Red Committee rooms in the Market-place.
“THE NOMINATION”
took place on the Hall Plain; the platform, in the centre of
which was reserved a place for the Mayor and the Candidates and
friends, being on the Crown and Anchor “leads.”
The Blues were to the left of the Mayor and the Reds to his
right; and in front of the house there was at the time
proceedings commenced an assemblage numbering 4,000 or 5,000,
including a number of females. The Liberals were the first
to arrive on the “leads,” and on Mr. Watkin showing
himself to the crowd, he was loudly cheered, a compliment which
the candidate duly acknowledged. Shortly afterwards the
approach of the Conservative party was indicated by the deep
groans of the crowd, who manifested some indications of
hostility: but on its being discovered that the Conservative
cavalcade was headed by a party of very pugilistic-looking
persons, decorated with red ribbon, the threatening attitude of
the crowd was somewhat modified, and the two Baronets, with their
friends, were allowed to ascend to the “leads”
unmolested. When the two parties had taken their places on
the balcony, the Liberals proposed three cheers, which were given
by the great majority, accompanied by the groans of the
minority. A number of “beery” individuals
struggled to the front, and were a source of annoyance to the
speakers throughout. A few minutes before three
o’clock the Mayor arrived in state, preceded by his
sergeants-at-mace, and accompanied in his carriage by Mr. C. J.
Palmer, who acted as his solicitor for the occasion. When
his Worship appeared in the balcony the Blues, for some reason,
commenced hissing him, much to the disgust of several of the
leading gentlemen of the Liberal party, who protested against
such unseemly proceedings. We may state, before attempting
to report the numerous speeches that were delivered, that during
the whole of the proceedings—more especially when it was
the turn of the Conservatives to speak—the crowd was
exceedingly disorderly, and by their loud shouting and groaning
rendered most of the speakers inaudable to persons a few yards
distant from them. The Mayor was grossly insulted at the
commencement, and as the proceedings progressed several fights
were got up, and the interference of the police was frequently
required. Anything more unreasonable and unreasoning than
the majority of the crowd it would be impossible to conceive, and
when the nomination closed there did not seem to be any person in
the balcony opposed to the opinion of the Mayor—that the
“whole thing was a farce.” One side of the
question was not heard at all, and the majority shouted without
knowing what about. This was singularly illustrated during the
speech of Mr. Watkin, when that gentleman took upon himself the
functions of the returning-officer, by calling upon the crowd for
a show of hands, which, singularly enough, was against him.
Mr. Watkin said, “All those that don’t want me to go
to the poll, hold up their hands.” A forest of hands
was exhibited to the great amusement of the Conservatives, who
cheered the result. Mr. Watkin then told his friends that
they were mistaken, and having explained the mistake to them,
assuring them that they were too intelligent to vote him down, he
took another show of hands, which was in his favour. We
shall be excused for commenting upon the proceedings here; but
the disorder and noise was so great that, as most of the speakers
could not be heard, we are necessitated to do it, in order to
make our report intelligible. From the beginning to the end
“noise” had it in numbers; but in fighting the honour
seemed to be with the Reds, who exhibited considerable
proficiency in the pugilistic art. The crowd, which was
very closely packed, was divided into two sections, the Blue and
the Red, the former having about ten to one of the latter.
At times both sections were very ill-behaved, but their
misconduct was kindly overlooked by the whole of the speakers
except Mr. Watkin, who took the liberty of designating the
minority of the “people” as “scoundrels”
and “ruffians.” These polite designations
appeared likely to stir up the ill-blood of the people, inasmuch
as four or five fights immediately commenced, in one of which an
unfortunate fellow sustained a severe fracture of the proboscis,
and it was not until the Mayor had, to use a significant local
word, “checked” Mr. Watkin, and warned him against
the violent nature of his harangue, that comparative order was
restored. The fights in question are deserving of
notice. One began between a female, whose bonnet was
trimmed with yellow ribbon, and a stout man in a blue
guernsey. Gallant Reds and Blues rushed into the affray,
doubtless with the object of protecting the woman, and there was
every probability of a general set-to. The Mayor, however,
directed the police to interfere, and the contest was suppressed,
with apparently no worse results than the infliction of a few
disagreeable blows on the frontispieces of the combatants.
The other fights were of less importance; but altogether this
display of pugnacity had the effect of causing the outside
portion of the crowd to run away from what they considered to be
danger. Other fights, as will be seen from the report, also
occurred. One feature in the general noise was much
remarked by the gentlemen on the balcony, and as it was amusing
we notice it. A half drunken beachman or fisherman, just so
far gone
as to be witty, but who was unmistakeably a Blue, planted himself
in front of the balcony, and by his extraordinary shouting
succeeded in making himself heard above the surrounding
tumult. There was some natural humour about this fellow,
and the way in which he shouted excited the laughter of the Mayor
and both parties on the balcony. The man shouted until the
veins grew large in his forehead; he jumped and screamed—he
laughed and waved his hat, and others laughed with
him—indeed, for a time all laughed with him; he was in a
state of ecstacy or violent enthusiasm. It was difficult
for a time to make out what the man meant, but at length he was
understood, and his fun was appreciated. Sir E. Lacon wears
a full moustache, and so does Sir H. Stracey, and those hirsute
ornaments were the objects of this excited individual’s
enthusiasm. He laughed and shouted—his voice being
heard above the murmur of the crowd,—for fully an
hour,—“The beard! the beard! will nobody shave
him? A shave! a shave! Fetch a barber! fetch a
barber!—(Loud laughter.)—A clean shave! A
shilling for a razor! a razor! a razor! O Lord, a clean
shave,” &c. Ultimately the man climbed to the top
of a post, and threw his hat into the face of a railway porter;
the porter ran to him and struck him in the mouth two or three
times, with a force that evidently astonished him, and as his
scream then became somewhat distressing, he was ignominiously
removed to the outside of the crowd. Many other noticeable
incidents occurred, which will be found mentioned in our
report. But there is one circumstance which did not
altogether develop itself at the meeting, that we feel compelled
to notice. Society, from experience, knows that the prude
is the loudest and severest advocate of virtue; but, as Josephus
has remarked, “Every man will think of this as it seemeth
good unto him.” We have noticed the Gorleston voters,
we have recorded the boastings and professions on both sides, and
we have ventilated rumours which have been so far well
founded. The incident we are about to mention we can vouch
for; it is possible, should circumstances necessitate it, of
being proved. On the Wednesday evening, mob law,
intimidation, corruption, “the screw,” and all the
worst elements of electioneering were resorted to; and we regret
to say that the parties who most publicly exhibited themselves as
disorderlies were persons whom we won’t classify, but who
cried out, “Down with Lacon and Stracey” and
“Three cheers for Watkin.”
“THE
TIN CANISTER.”
A report had been “current that a mysterious old
gentleman had arrived from somewhere with a tin canister full of
sovereigns, and from the way in which he was dressed it was
generally supposed that he was either a Russian or a Shrewsbury
man come for the purpose of bribery. “Said
person,” as the Yankees say, was seen in the rear of the
balcony at the Crown and Anchor, defying anybody to penetrate the
secret of his identity, but occasionally winking and ejaculating,
with an occasionally eructory sound, the words, “All
right—in for Watkin.” This strange gentleman
departed in the evening, minus, it is said, the canister.
We will now pass over the irregularities of the story, and give
you the words of our informant, whose high standing and character
place him beyond suspicion:—“I had attended the
Yarmouth nomination, and took my railway seat, at 8.40 p.m. for
Norwich. There were two or three gentlemen in the
first-class compartment in which I had placed myself; and one
gentleman was a peculiar sort of mysterious individual.
After eyeing the party well, the gentleman gravely said,
“Both sides are buying, I’m afraid, at
Yarmouth.” One of the party doubted the assertion,
but the ancient traveller smiled and said, “No,
no.” Further explanations took place, until at length
our interesting fellow-traveller volunteered this remark, after a
feeler from one of the party, “You know I came down from
Manchester yesterday, to see my particular friend W—.
Deuced clever fellow—one of the best railway men in the
country. He did wonders for the Manchester and Lincolnshire
line, and if we get him in we shall expect him to be one of the
best railway men we have.” One of the party asked,
“Are you a Yarmouth voter, sir?” Old Traveller:
“No, but I wished to see my friend W— on very
particular business, and so I just came down to Yarmouth to see
how his election was getting on as well, and to add my
mite of influence.” This, perhaps, will account for
the story of the tin canister. The rest we shall leave to
the report.”
Mr. J. Cherry proposed, and Mr. R. Dumbleton seconded Sir E.
H. K. Lacon.
Mr. R. Hammond proposed, and Mr. J. Owles seconded Mr.
Watkin.
Mr. E. H. L. Preston proposed, and Mr. S. C. Marsh seconded
Sir H. J. Stracey,
And Mr. J. W. Shelly proposed and Mr. P. Pullyn seconded Mr.
Young.
The show of hands was in favour of Messrs. Watkin and Young,
whereupon a poll was demanded for Sir E. H. K. Lacon and Sir H.
J. Stracey.
May 4th.—The poll had been taken in Wards as
follows:—
|
Lacon.
|
Stracey.
|
Watkin.
|
Young.
|
St. Nicholas’
|
97
|
89
|
76
|
71
|
Market
|
117
|
113
|
100
|
99
|
Regent
|
112
|
108
|
91
|
88
|
St. George’s
|
102
|
94
|
89
|
84
|
Nelson
|
166
|
153
|
119
|
106
|
St. Andrew’s
|
105
|
102
|
93
|
88
|
Total
|
699
|
659
|
568
|
536
|
But
it was stated that “there were many cases of bribery, and
the defeated party threatened a petition against this
‘return.’”
May 7th.—Between £500 and £600 had been
promised as subscriptions to that end.
There had been a fashionable ball at the Town Hall.
The Norfolk Artillery Militia had left for Sheerness.
Miles Swiney had been shot in the side by one of the Louth
Rifles on the North Denes.
May 11th.—It had been proposed to raise a Yacht Club,
Mr. H. Morgan acting as Treasurer, and £100 had been
subscribed for the purpose. (N.B.—This was the
starting of the Norfolk and Suffolk Yacht Club.)
Meetings of electors had been held to promote the
petition.
May 18th.—The petition was “likely to reveal a
‘high state of political morality in the
Borough.’”
May 21st.—Contains the Lord Lieutenant’s
proclamation as to the formation of Rifle Corps.
May 25th.—A few persons were talking of raising one of
such corps at Yarmouth, but no active steps had been taken in
regard thereto.
May 28th.—On the Queen’s Birthday, the Mayor had
given a luncheon and ball at the Town Hall.
The testimonial “consisting of silver candelabra,
&c.,” and the Corporation address had been presented to
Bishop Hills at the Town Hall. Some 250 persons were
present, amongst whom were—Messrs. C. J. Palmer (who
presided at the luncheon), Brightwen, C. Aldred, S. Aldred, Sir
E. Lacon, M.P., Reynolds, Nash, C. Cory, R. Hammond, F. Worship,
W. Worship, E. Frere, F. Palmer, F. Ferrier, T. Brightwen,
Captain Holmes, Dr. Smith, Rev. Nevill, Johnson, &c.
June
1st.—Contains the following report of a
“MEETING TO ESTABLISH A VOLUNTEER RIFLE
CORPS.”
On Friday, a meeting, called by the Mayor, was held at the
Town Hall, to take into consideration certain communications
which his worship had received from General Peel, the Secretary
at War, and Lord Leicester, the Lord Lieutenant of the
County. There was a very numerous attendance. Amongst
the gentlemen present were—Sir E. Lacon, Bart., M.P.,
Lieutenant Colonel Beckham, Captain Naylor, Captain Holmes, Rev.
J. B. Bampton, Rev. T. Lowe, Messrs. J. H. Orde, F. Worship, W.
Worship, W. Yetts, S. C. Marsh, C. C. Aldred, C. J. Palmer, E. H.
L. Preston, J. Clowes, Foreman, &c.
The Mayor stated that he had called the meeting in consequence
of communications he had received from General Peel and the Lord
Lieutenant, and in compliance with a requisition which he had
received, and which was signed by seventy gentlemen. He
read General Peel’s letter and the requisition. He
had prepared no resolution or anything of that sort, but should
leave the gentlemen assembled to propose anything they might
think proper.
Mr. W. Worship said the subject upon which they had been
called together was one upon which there could be no difference
of opinion—(hear, hear)—and in order to put the
proceedings into a practical form, he should move that a
committee be appointed, which would include Sir E. Lacon and Mr.
Orde.
Mr. R. Ferrier said he had much pleasure in seconding the
motion, and he hoped it would be understood that, although they
were forming a military corps, such men as himself might be
allowed to contribute to the expenses which would be incurred in
its formation. There were, doubtless, many men in the town
who could afford to pay for the accoutrements and give up the
necessary time; but there was also in the town a fine class of
men, in every way eligible, who could not afford that. It
was, therefore, in assisting the latter class that such men as
himself could be useful. (Hear, hear.) He should be
glad himself to pay the annual expenses of some man who could not
afford to do it himself; and had no objection to put his name
down at once for £10 a year. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. S. C. Marsh said he did not wish to interrupt the
proceedings; but before they formed the committee he thought they
should, by some resolution, declare it desirable to form a Rifle
Corps. (Hear, hear.) Having decided to form a corps,
the next step would be to form a committee to carry
out the necessary arrangements. He was sure Englishmen
would respond to the offer that had been made them to allow
themselves to form volunteer corps for the defence of the
country. Norfolk had never been behindhand in the
manifestation of patriotic feeling, and he hoped that would not
be the case on this occasion. Yarmouth had before shown
what she could do for the Governments of England and the defence
of the country, and he hoped she was prepared to do something
now. (Hear, hear.) He begged to move “That it
is expedient to establish a Volunteer Rifle Corps for Great
Yarmouth and its vicinity.”
Mr. Ferrier seconded.—Carried unanimously.
Sir E. Lacon, M.P. said he thought it highly essential that a
town like Yarmouth should take a stand and come forward at once
in obedience to the proclamation that had been issued by the
Queen. They must all put their shoulders to the wheel, and
wherever they saw a fine young fellow who was a likely man for
the corps, if he did not come forward they must ask him to do
so. The duty they had to do that day was very slight
indeed, but for his own part, he would say that he should give
the movement all the encouragement that he possibly could.
(Hear, hear.) He should now move that a committee be
appointed, with power to appoint a sub-committee, and with
directions to go round the town and see what force could be got
up. (Hear, hear.) Yarmouth was a large town it was
true, but there were also districts around it out of which to
draw much assistance; but he certainly thought it would be
desirable to take in the Flegg Hundreds and the Island.
Mr. J. Clowes said there were many men in the town who, from
age and other causes, would be unable to serve in a rifle corps,
but who would be very desirous of taking part in the defence of
our shores—men who were too old to sleep all night in the
marsh ditches, or under hedges. (Laughter.) For that
class of men, he thought there should be an Artillery Corps, as
many of them, though not fit to take the field, would be ready to
man a gun or work a battery.
The Mayor said it was out of the scope of the present meeting
to discuss an Artillery Corps.
Mr. Orde said Government had intended that they would sanction
and approve the formation of Artillery Corps.
Mr. Marsh’s motion was then put and carried.
Sir E. Lacon, in answer to Dr. Stephenson, said it would, no
doubt, be a desirable thing to have a mounted Rifle Corps, only
they could not get the horses, and if they could get them, many
would be unable to keep them, besides which he should object, unless he
wished to see some of them killed, to their mounting
horses. (Loud laughter.) But he might say that, at an
agricultural dinner, where he was the other day, he heard the
farmers express themselves strongly in favour of a mounted force
in the Fleggs and the Island.
Mr. C. J. Palmer suggested that all who wished to support the
corps, either by serving in it or by their subscriptions, should
come forward and put down their names at once. (Hear,
hear.)
The Mayor said he would take down the names of any gentlemen
who wished to join the corps. When they saw who were
willing to join, they might name a committee, and appoint some
gentleman to act as secretary. That being done, the future
conduct of the movement would remain with the committee.
The following gentlemen then gave in their names as members of
the corps:—Sir E. H. K. Lacon, M.P., Sir H. Stracey, M.P.,
Lieutenant-Colonel Beckham, S. C. Marsh, C. J. Palmer, B. Jay, R.
Ferrier, W. Worship, F. Palmer, F. Worship, W. J. Foreman, W. C.
Reynolds, S. Aldred, Dr. Stephenson, J. H. Orde, G. Harvey, G.
Baker, Rev. J. B. Bampton, H. Teasdel, J. W. Bunn, Captain
Holmes, C. Brown, J. Tomlinson, H. R. Harmer, G. Diver, H. H.
Barber, J. Franklin, E. Fyson, J. B. Stevens, J. Playford, G. B.
Costerton, H. Teasdel, T. P. Burroughs, Ambrose Palmer, A. W.
Morant, Rev. T. Lowe, and J. Clowes.
Mr. R. Ferrier moved that the foregoing be appointed a
committee to carry out the arrangements for establishing the
corps, with power to appoint a sub-committee; and that Colonel
Beckham be requested to act as honorary secretary.
The motion was carried unanimously, and the book containing
the list of names was ordered to be left at the Police-station
during the ensuing week, to give persons desirous of joining the
corps an opportunity of entering their names.
The proceedings then concluded.
June 8th.—The Norfolk and Suffolk Yacht Club had held
its first meeting on Breydon Water, and subsequently the members
(who appeared in Club uniform) dined at the Club House (Norfolk
Hotel), when the healths of Colonel Wilson, Commodore; F. Brown,
Esq., Vice-Commodore; Mr. Everitt, of Cove Hall, (father of the
Club); Mr. Scott, Aylsham, and others were duly honoured.
Mr.
Bradnum’s shop at Gorleston had been struck by
lightning.
June 11th.—Mr. Mellor, Q.C., M.P. for Nottingham, had
presented the petition against the return of the M.Ps.
June 15th.—The Mayor and the Town Clerk had had a
serious “difference of opinion,” and the former
gentleman had declined to accept the “amende
honorable” tendered him by the latter.
It was stated that some 60 persons were ready to join the
Rifle Corps.
June 18th.—The paper had opened a branch office at No.
31, King Street, Great Yarmouth, with Mr. Clarke as
correspondent.
Lord Chelmsford, before resigning the seals, had appointed Mr.
Francis Worship, Mr. John Clarke, and Mr. E. P. Youell,
Magistrates for the Borough.
June 22nd.—A meeting had been held at St. George’s
Hall, (Mr. Harrison in the chair), for the purpose of taking
steps to advertise the town.
Forty invalid soldiers had arrived at the Royal Naval
Hospital.
June 29th.—There now appeared to be two petitions lodged
against the return of Sir E. H. K. Lacon and Sir H. J. Stracey,
one signed by Mr. John Clowes (solicitor), and the other by Mr.
Bayly (surgeon) and Mr. Pilgrim (draper).
A meeting of the first Company of Volunteers had been held at
Crowe’s Sale-rooms. This body now numbered 90 men,
the second Company having 56 members. Mr. Dumbleton
occupied the chair, and Mr. Marsh having explained the position
of affairs, the following gentlemen were elected
officers:—Mr. Marsh (captain), and Mr. Foreman (first), Mr.
Brown (second), and Mr. Preston (third) Lieutenants.
July 2nd.—The second Company had met at the Angel.
Major Nesbitt presided, and the following officers were
elected:—Mr. Orde (captain), Mr. E. P. Youell (Lieutenant),
and Mr. J. Tomlinson, jun., (ensign).
There were from 8,000 to 10,000 persons on the Piers, Drive,
&c., on Sunday evening.
July 6th.—Mr. Mellor had given notice that he should
call attention to the state of the Yarmouth Bench of
Magistrates.
The following cricket match had been played on the South
Denes:—
Mr. Overend’s Side.
|
Mr. Willis’ Side.
|
Mr. Lawry
|
7
|
Mr. Ling
|
1
|
Mr. Jackson
|
3
|
Mr. Borlase
|
5
|
Mr. Fenner
|
1
|
Mr. Ellis
|
0
|
Lieutenant Townley
|
12
|
Mr. Larke
|
0
|
Mr. Ablitt
|
7
|
Mr. Clarke
|
2
|
Mr. Overend
|
7
|
Mr. Willis
|
1
|
Mr. Cocks
|
0
|
Mr. Davey
|
8
|
Mr. Edwards
|
0
|
Mr. T. B. Stevenson
|
17
|
Mr. Baker
|
0
|
Mr. Tewsley
|
4
|
Dr. Stephenson
|
4
|
Mr. Stolworthy
|
0
|
Mr. Wright
|
4
|
Mr. Green
|
0
|
Byes
|
2
|
Byes
|
5
|
Wides
|
2
|
Wides
|
5
|
Total
|
41
|
Total
|
48
|
Afterwards the players dined at the Crown and Anchor
Hotel.
July 16th.—Owing to his altercation with the Town Clerk,
the Mayor declined to attend the meetings of the Council.
July 20th.—One of the petitions against the M.Ps’
return had been withdrawn.
The Rifle Companies numbered over 200. Mr. Orde’s
Company mustered 80 at their first drill in the Barrack
Square.
There were then on the Parish Books 272 indoor and 1,247
outdoor paupers, as against 1,134 in the preceding year.
July 27th.—Lieutenant-Colonel Mason had retired from the
command of the East Norfolk Militia.
The Foresters had held a “gala” at the Vauxhall
Gardens.
Aug. 3rd.—A very large number of Speaker’s
Warrants had been issued in connection with the Election
Petition.
Aug. 13th.—Eliza, second daughter of S. C. Marsh, Esq.,
had been married to Captain Burke, of the Louth Rifles, at the
Roman Catholic and St. Nicholas’ Churches. The
bridesmaids were Miss Marsh, the Misses Victoria, Louisa and
Emily Marsh and Miss Waters; the bridegroom’s men were
Major Taafe and the officers of the Louth Rifles, and the
carriages of Mr. and Mrs. S. C. Marsh, Mr. and Mrs. Palmer Kemp,
Mr. and Mrs. W. Danby-Palmer, Mr. and Mrs. W. Walpole, Mr. and
Mrs. Dashwood and others were present on the occasion.
The Donegal Regiment was to succeed the Louth Rifles at
Yarmouth.
Aug. 17th.—The transport “Himalaya” had
brought the former, and taken away the latter regiment; the Louth
Rifles had given a ball on board that ship.
Aug. 20th.—The porch of the Parish Church was being
restored.
There
had been a great deal of rain, but the town was very full of
visitors.
Aug. 24th.—It was reported that the shock of an
earthquake had been felt at Hopton.
One hundred and fifty Horse Artillery had been encamped on the
North Denes.
Mr. Marsh’s Company of Volunteers were to be equipped as
Artillery.
Mr. Orde’s Company had drilled on the South Denes in
public for the first time.
The expenses of the Borough Election had been returned by the
auditor as follows:—Conservatives, £809 15s.;
Liberals, £603 17s. 4d.
Visitors were flocking to the town, and it was supposed that
the standard population had thus been doubled; beds were fetching
the “highest prices.”
The “Prophet Jack” was preaching on the Beach.
Sept. 3rd.—Among the company present at the Races were
Count Batthyany, Lord W. Powlett, the Hon. Harbord Harbord,
Colonel Wilson, Sir E. H. K. Lacon, M.P., and Sir H. J. Stracey,
M.P.
Sept. 7th.—Colonel Henderson had attended at Yarmouth to
report on the proposed Artillery Corps, and had informed the
Mayor and Mr. Marsh that it “would have every encouragement
from the Government.”
William Ingram, a labourer, had been scalded to death in Mr.
Frosdick’s Tanning Copper.
Sept. 10th.—The Magistrates had had another
“warm” discussion on Licensing Day, as to the
granting of new licenses.
There were 400 cases of appeal against the Poor’s Rate
from the St. George’s Ward. The Overseers proposed to
compound up to a rental of £6 10s. per annum.
The Rev. W. Griffiths had been “ordained” at the
King Street Chapel.
Two or three “Dutch schuyts” had visited the
port.
The officers of Mr. Orde’s Company had received their
commissions.
The Donegal Militia had marched out for their first drill on
the Denes under the command of Major Todd.
Sept. 17th.—The 6th annual meeting of the Elocution
Society had been held, Mr. W. Gill in the chair, when Mr.
Lovewell Blake, the Secretary, brought up a favourable report of
the proceedings of the Society.
There
were a great number of Rate appeals from the North Ward.
The Mayor having determined to commit a prisoner named Angel,
(in which course the other Justices did not concur) left the
Bench, and had intimated by letter “That he should not sit
again as a Magistrate.” Next day His Worship again
informed the Bench that he had been misled by Mr. Holt, and that
he should not sit.
Sept. 21st.—Three “gents” having hired a
house in Brandon Terrace, had been victimising the tradesmen.
Sept. 24th.—Two of these persons, who gave the names of
Thomas T. George, and William Arnall, had been before the Bench
and ordered to find two sureties for the peace in £50 each,
themselves being bound for £100 each; subsequently George
was bailed out by his stepfather, a London gentleman, who stated
that the prisoner was an articled clerk in receipt of £200
a year from his mother.
The North Sea herring voyage was “fairly alive,”
as much as £30 a last having been realised for some of the
fish.
Sept. 28th.—The following were the tenders for the
Ballast dues:—James Pumfrey. £405; D. S. Bayfield,
£375; and Jacob Preston, £600. The late lessee,
Mr. J. H. Harrison, did not send in a tender.
Mr. Preston, however, subsequently threw up his tender, and
the dues were offered to Mr. Smith (an ex-lessee) for £550
per annum.
There had been a “fine illustration of the Northern
Lights.”
Oct. 1st.—A special meeting of the Council had been held
as to the Ballast question, when Mr. C. C. Aldred stated
“they had been called together through Mr. Preston’s
tomfoolery.”
Captain Marsh and Lieutenant Foreman had received their
commissions, and thereupon taken the oaths before the
Magistrates.
Oct. 5th.—The Revision of the Voters’ Lists had
been proceeded with before Mr. Couch, Mr. W. C. Reynolds
representing the Tories and Mr. Costerton the Liberals. The
latter claimed a gain of four votes as the result of the
proceedings.
Fifty members of the 1st Norfolk Artillery Volunteers had been
sworn in by B. Fenn, Esq., and were subsequently entertained by
their officers at the Crown and Anchor Hotel.
A Poor’s Rate of 1s. 4d. in the £ (to raise
£3,365 3s.) had been signed.
One Corporal and three Privates of the Donegal Militia had
been heavily fined by the Justices for assaulting Mr. Nall
(printer) and several policemen.
Oct.
22nd.—Lord Claude Hamilton and officers of the Donegal
Militia had entertained the officers of the French steamer
“Galilee.”
Oct. 26th.—The appointment of officers and
non-commissioned officers in the Volunteer Companies had been
made, as follows:—
Artillery Company: Captain: S. C. Marsh; Lieutenant: Foreman;
Sergeant-Major: Franklin; Sergeants: Dumbleton, Moody, and
Stolworthy; Corporals: Suffling, Clarke, and Clements;
Armoury-Sergeant: Offord; Orderly Clerk: Sergeant Crowe.
Rifle Company: Captain: J. H. Orde; Lieutenant: Youell;
Ensign: J. Tomlinson, junr.; Sergeants: Harmer, Bunn, Preston,
and James; Corporals: Dick, Willis, Fellows, and Pearson.
Oct. 29th.—Sixty feet of the Britannia Pier had been
carried away by a vessel during a gale which prevailed on the
coast.
Mr. Chapman had retired from the representation of the Regent
Ward.
Nov. 2nd.—The “Shipping Interest” was in a
distressed state.
The Herring Fishing was going on satisfactorily, £15 per
last being given for fish.
Nov. 5th.—Five wards had been contested. In the
Regent Ward Mr. S. B. Cory beating Mr. F. Palmer by one
vote. The following were the Councillors
elected:—North: W. N. Burroughs and H.
Boulter. Market: C. C. Aldred and F. Worship.
Regent: S. C. Marsh and S. B. Cory. St.
George: J. G. Plummer and J. C. Smith. Nelson:
G. D. Palmer and C. E. Bartram. Gorleston: E. H. L.
Preston and H. Teasdel.
Among the company present at a Ball held at the Town Hall,
were—The Mayor and Miss Steward, Lieut.-Colonel Lord
Hamilton, M.P., and Lady Hamilton, the Hon. Harbord Harbord, Sir
H. Stracey, Bart., M.P., and Lady Stracey, Lady Plumridge, Mr.
and Mrs. I. Preston and the Misses Preston, Mr. and Mrs. C. J.
Palmer, Mr. and Mrs. E. H. L. Preston, Mr. and Mrs. A. Steward,
and the Misses Steward, Captain and Mrs. Marsh, Captain J. H.
Orde, Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds, Mr. F. Danby-Palmer, Dr. Smith, Mr.
Tilson, &c.
Herring was making from £18 to £20 per last.
Bribery had been practised (it was stated) in the Regent Ward,
“to a disgraceful extent.”
A drinking fountain was being erected at the north end of the
Town Hall.
On Tuesday, the gale which had commenced on the previous
Tuesday abated, and the weather since that day, had continued to
improve.
The
Regatta Committee Accounts showed a balance in hand of about
£60.
Nov. 12th.—At the Council Meeting, Mr. R. Ferrier
proposed, and Mr. Nightingale seconded, Mr. William Worship as
Mayor, and he was unanimously elected to that office.
The retiring Aldermen were Messrs. T. Bunn, G. S. Shingles, W.
C. Reynolds, J. G. Rivett, I. Shuckford, and E. P. Youell, the
following Aldermen were elected:—Sir E. H. K. Lacon, Bart.,
M.P., T. Bunn, G. S. Shingles, I. Shuckford, E. P. Youell, and R.
Purdy.
Nov. 16th.—Owing to the damage sustained by the
structure, it had been determined to shorten the Britannia Pier
by about 100 feet.
“ON ALDERMANIC SIXES.”
“At Norwich, Tories loud complain,
’Cause Liberals are elected;
At Yarmouth, he’s alleged insane
Who growls that they’re rejected.”
Nov. 23rd.—The Municipal Elections on November 21st had
been held as follows:—
Regent
Ward.
|
Mr. W. C. Reynolds
|
110
|
Mr. Frederick Palmer
|
77
|
St.
Andrew’s Ward.
|
Mr. Richmond elected without opposition.
|
Nov. 26th.—A dinner had been held at the Town Hall in
honour of R. Steward, Esq., the ex-Mayor. Sir E. H. K.
Lacon presided, and C. J. Palmer and J. B. Hylton occupied the
vice-chairs.
It was proposed to raise, by shares, £8,000 for the
purpose of building Assembly-rooms on the Marine Drive.
Nov. 30th.—The Rifle Company had met “in full
dress at the Victoria-gardens,” mustering between 80 and 90
strong on this occasion.
Dec. 3rd.—The foundation-stone of the
“Wherryman’s Church” had been laid by W.
Worship, Esq., the Mayor.
The Mayor had presented rich window hangings and carpets to
the Town Hall.
Dec. 7th.—It was proposed to form a second Company of
Artillery Volunteers.
The Rifle Corps had dined at the Corn Hall, when Captain Orde
presided, and the Mayor, Lord C. Hamilton, Captain Marsh,
Lieutenant Foreman, and Dr. Stephenson (1st N.A.V.), had been
present.
Dec.
17th.—At the Mayor’s Inaugural Dinner, 150 gentlemen
had attended, the Volunteer Officers appearing in full
uniform. The following took part in the after-dinner
proceedings:—The Mayor, Lord C. Hamilton, Rev. H. Nevill,
Lord Sondes, Mr. E. Howes, M.P., Sir E. H. K. Lacon, Bart., M.P.,
Stracey, Bart., M.P., the Recorder, (Mr. N. Palmer), Captain
Orde, Captain Marsh, Mr. F. Worship, the Town Clerk, Mr. R.
Ferrier, and Captain Donelly.
Mr. E. R. Palmer had offered a prize of £3 3s., to be
shot for by the 1st N.A.V.
The Mayor had presented £50 to the District Visiting
Society.
About 100 Rate Summonses had been issued.
Dec. 21st.—The Rifle Volunteers had attended St.
Nicholas’ Church on Sunday in uniform.
The Magistrates were discussing the question as to who was
entitled, in the absence of the Mayor, to the chair at the Petty
Sessions.
Dec. 24th.—The Rev. F. W. Johnson, Minister of St.
John’s, had died in London somewhat suddenly.
Jan. 4th.—The Artillery Company had secured the services
of a band, and armed the trumpeters “with
swords.”
Several herring boats had again proceeded to sea.
Jan. 7th.—Mr. Hulley and Sergeant Cattermole were
playing in the N.A.V. Band.
Jan. 11th.—The “canard” that one of the
M.Ps. intended to retire was denied.
Petitions were being largely signed in favour of marriage with
a deceased wife’s sister.
About 30 gentlemen had attended the dinner of the Amicable
Shipping Club, including Mr. Gourlay (who presided), the Mayor,
Mr. R. Hammond, Mr. Burroughs, Mr. Martin, &c.
Jan. 14th.—It was stated that Mr. French (whose smacks
had been sold under a deed of assignment) had lost his
wife’s stays, in which a sum of £400 was sewn up, and
that the reward offered was £50 or £100.
Jan. 18th.—The daughter of Mr. R. Guthrie (aged 6 years)
had been run over by a cart.
Mr. Bowgin’s house at Southtown had been broken into and
several articles stolen therefrom.
Court
“Bear of the Forest,” 3187, had celebrated its first
anniversary at the Bear Inn, Southtown. Fifty members sat
down to dinner, Bros. Mitchell and Palmer occupying the chair and
vice-chair respectively.
Several houses had been broken into by thieves.
Jan. 25th.—The Rev. H. Nevill had “politely
requested” well dressed persons not to frequent the
Beachman’s Church.
“Ghosts” were said to haunt Southtown, and had
specially amazed one Macdonald, an engine cleaner at the
Southtown Station.
Jan. 28th.—The following further appointments had been
made in the N.A.V.:—Corporal: W. Marsh. Bombardiers:
Rees, J. Fish, J. Taylor, and J. Myhill. Acting ditto.: J.
Bartram, R. Dumbleton, T. W. Larke, and W. Hunt.
Feb. 4th.—At a meeting of the N.A.V., held at the
Victoria Gardens, Lieut. Foreman and Gunner Morant were
recommended to the Lord Lieutenant as Captain and Lieutenant of
the second Battery which it was proposed to raise.
The Donegal Militia had given an entertainment at the Town
Hall from 2.30 to 6.30 o’clock; the Band attended, and the
company enjoyed a dance.
A second Company of Volunteers was being raised.
Bro. W. Wright had been installed W.M. of Lodge
“Friendship.”
Feb. 8th.—It was supposed that the Prince of Orange was
likely to become the husband of the Princess Alice.
Wild rifle practice was being indulged in at Cobholm Island
and other parts of the town, to the danger of the
inhabitants.
Feb. 11th.—W. Rising, Esq. had presided at the annual
Market Dinner at the White Horse, when Mr. Mortlock Lacon had
repudiated the suggestion that Sir Edmund intended to retire from
the representation of the town.
The Medical Staff of the Military Hospital had given a ball to
120 guests at the Town Hall.
Mr. C. Melly had erected a drinking fountain in front of the
Port Dues Office.
“Tom Sayers” was reported to be about to spend
three weeks in the town previous to his “set to” with
Heenan, the American.
Feb. 15th.—W. Worship, Esq., (Mayor and Chairman of the
Board of Guardians) had given a treat to 293 inmates of the
Workhouse.
Feb. 18th.—An amateur performance had been given at the
Theatre in aid of the Hospital. In the first piece Used
Up, Captain Hayes, Mr. Robert Harmer, Dr. Kingdom,
Sergeant-Major Greaves, Captain Darcus, J. McCormick, Esq.,
Ensign Lecky and two professional ladies appeared. Sergeant
Bonner then danced an Irish jig, after which the Irish
Attorney was given, in which the parts of the Attorney and
Hawk were taken by Mr. Courtenay and Mr. Burton Steward, and the
performance terminated with Done on both sides.
About £25 was thus realised for the charity.
There had been a “great fire” on the Middle Market
Road.
Many persons who had promised to subscribe to the
“Petition Fund” were “backing out.”
E. P. Youell, Esq., was to be Captain of the 2nd Company of
Rifle Volunteers.
On Valentine’s Day the ladies took great advantage of
the fact of its being “Leap Year” in sending these
missives to the gentlemen.
Feb. 22nd.—The Donegal Militia had given a second
afternoon dance at the Town Hall.
Mr. T. M. Read had been elected second Lieutenant in the
N.A.V.
“Monday was Cock (antique) or Orange Fair, when the
Market Place was thronged by the usual ‘fair’
attractions.”
March 3rd.—“A most violent and destructive
hurricane” had visited the town and country.
The petition had been heard, and the members retained their
seats, which news had caused great rejoicing amongst the Tories,
while “the money” question was likely to cause some
trouble to the petitioners.
Captain Foreman and Lieutenant Morant had been gazetted to the
first N.A.V.
The following had been elected officers of the second Company
of Rifles:—Captain, Mr. Youell; Lieutenant, Mr. Harmer;
Ensign, Mr. E. Preston.
An untanned leather bag, containing 70 coins of the reign of
Henry VIII. had been found on the Beach after a great thickness
of sand had been blown away by the late westerly gale.
March 10th.—Lieutenant Read and 70 members of the N.A.V.
had escorted Captain Marsh, Captain Foreman, Lieutenant Morant,
and Dr. Stephenson to the Railway Station on their proceeding to
the Leveè; the other officers then present were Captain
Orde, Lieutenant Youell, Ensign Tomlinson, and Surgeon Frederick
Palmer, of the Rifles.
March 24th.—The “Donegals” had celebrated
St. Patrick’s Day, beginning at five o’clock in the
morning. In the afternoon the Officers gave
another dance at the Town Hall and entertained a numerous party
of friends at their mess at the Southtown Barracks.
April 7th.—Mr. J. Lee-Barber had been elected a Second
Lieutenant in the N.A.V.
In the Rifle Corps, Corporals Dick and Pearson and Privates
Barber and Cobb had been elected Sergeants.
April 11th.—On Good Friday both Volunteer Corps had
“fraternised” and drilled together on the Denes; it
was estimated that on this occasion, which was the first
“turn out” of the kind, from 8,000 to 10,000
spectators, including Sir E. Lacon, M.P., Captain Holmes, Major
Todd, and many ladies and gentlemen, were present.
April 14th.—There had been a grand Conservative banquet
at the Theatre, at which 350 persons were present. Mr. R.
Dumbleton occupied the chair, and was supported by Sir E. Lacon,
Bart., M.P., Sir H. Stracey, Bart., M.P., the Mayor (W. Worship,
Esq.), F. Worship, C. Cory, and C. J. Palmer, Esqs., Captain
Marsh, Captain Mansfield, and Officers of the Donegal Militia and
others; Mr. W. Wright and Mr. R. Breeze occupied the vice-chairs;
Mr. Franklin catered for the party.
Messrs. Steward and Aldred had been re-elected Churchwardens
by the Vestry.
April 25th.—The following Volunteer officers had been
entertained at the Donegal Mess:—Captain Marsh, Lieutenants
Burton Steward, A. W. Morant, John Lee Barber, and T. M. Read,
and Dr. Stephenson (1st N.A.V.), and Captain Youell, Lieutenants
Tomlinson, and Harmer, Ensigns Preston and Brown, and Surgeon
Frederick Palmer (4th N.R.V.).
April 28th.—Great complaint was made as to the mode of
levying the Poor’s Rate.
In the Divorce Court, James Cherry, Esq., had obtained a
decree for the restitution of conjugal rites against his wife,
who was entitled to the income derived from a sum of
£8,000.
May 5th.—The Mayor had given a grand Ball at the Town
Hall, when dancing was kept up until four o’clock in the
morning.
The E.N.M. had been inspected on the Denes by Major-General
Douglas. The Rifle Volunteers were also on the ground.
Bro. Hanworth, Secretary of the “Good Samaritan”
Lodge, M.U.O.F., had been presented with an ornamental silver
inkstand.
May 9th.—A Ball “of a very elegant
character” had taken place at the Town Hall.
The
E.N.M. had been disembodied, when “many of the men
celebrated the event by getting drunk.”
The 1st N.A.V. had received 19,000 cartridges and 23,000
percussion caps.
A fine porpoise had been gambolling in the river, near the
Haven Bridge.
May 16th.—The first lot of mackerel (300 fish) had been
landed, and realised £4 per hundred.
May 23rd.—On the Queen’s Birthday, the 1st N.A.V.
had fired a salute from the South Star Battery.
There was a scarcity of labour in the town.
May 26th.—The “launching foy” of the
“Caroline” had been held in the Town Hall (this
vessel had been launched from Powell’s yard, after being
repaired at the expense of £5,000.)
May 30th.—From 40 to 50 lives had been lost off Yarmouth
in a “fearful hurricane,” during which one of the
pinnacles had been blown off St. Peter’s Church and damage
done to the fabric to the extent of some £200.
June 2nd.—Sixty recruits were drilling for the Rifle
Corps.
Mr. Watkin had addressed a “Reform” meeting at the
Corn Hall.
The Roman Catholic Bishop of Northampton had confirmed 50
children and adults at St. Mary’s Church, Regent Road.
June 7th.—It was now stated that eleven fishing luggers
had been lost with all hands.
Twelve fishermen out of the village of Horsey alone had been
drowned.
The 1st. N.A.V. were forming a 3rd Company, of which
Lieutenant Lee-Barber was to be Captain, Mr. Trafford 1st
Lieutenant, and Mr. Green 2nd Lieutenant.
June 13th.—Fayerman (one of the witnesses at the hearing
of the Election Petition) had been charged by Sir E. Lacon with
perjury, while arising out of this charge actions for slander
were being brought against that gentleman by some aggrieved
“Blues.”
June 16th.—A meeting had been held at the Town Hall to
raise a fund for the relief of the widows and children of the
fishermen lost in the recent gales. About £500 was
raised in the room.
June 20th.—The Mackerel voyage was only a
“moderate success.” This fish was making 36s.,
and herring 12s. 6d., per hundred.
June 23rd.—Henry Fayerman had been committed for trial
on a charge of perjury.
The
Rifle Volunteers had shown themselves “remarkably well
instructed in the theory and practice of the rifle.”
£2,240 had been raised for the families of the drowned
fishermen.
“The actions against Sir E. Lacon for libelling the
Liberal Committee had been postponed to next term.”
July 4th contains the following account of the
VISIT OF THE CHANNEL FLEET.
The Channel Fleet has at length visited our Roads, much to the
gratification of thousands of the Queen’s lieges, as well
as to the galling disappointment of thousands of the same
excellent body. The squadron came in in the open day, clear
to the gaze of multitudes, but disappeared like a majestic
phantom in the night. A little more than a week ago we were
informed that the Channel Fleet had, after an anchorage of
sixteen days in St. Margaret’s Hope, Frith of Forth, left
its moorings under canvas, with auxiliary steam power, and
proceeded down the Frith and out to sea, destined for the
Yarmouth Roads. As we stated in our last impression, the
consequence of that information being diffused was to put all the
speculators and quidnuncs of the town and neighbourhood on the
alert. Leaving St. Margaret’s Hope on the Saturday,
the fleet would certainly, it was argued, be here on the Tuesday,
on which day the Marine Parade and the Beach were literally
swarmed with expectant people, whose glasses were searching the
waters in every direction; but, owing either to the perversity of
Admiral Neptune, the weather office, or the Vice-Admiral in
command (who is admitted by everyone to be a pleasant and
courteous gentleman), the fleet did not arrive. Much
disappointment and innumerable prophecies followed, and while
some knowing individuals averred positively, and “on
undoubted authority” that the fleet had passed and would
not come in here, others were equally confident, on the strength
of telegrams and “unquestionable information,” that
the great ships would be seen, on the “next
flood.” As, however, they put in no appearance up to
Friday evening, the conviction that they had omitted us began to
be pretty general, especially when “undoubted
authority” satisfied us that the squadron had been seen
some distance to the south of this port, namely, in the
Wold. A few persons held out, notwithstanding their belief
that the ships would visit us, and were stirring early on
Saturday morning to catch the latest intelligence, when lo! the
rumour spread that the fleet was in sight. People began
hurrying to the Beach, which, between 8 and 10 o’clock a.m.
presented, as to throng and bustle, an appearance equal to that
of Tuesday, with the single exception that the fair sex
had not had time to put on the gay attire in which they looked so
well on that day. As the Royal Albert, three decker, flag
ship of Vice-Admiral Freemantle, came in sight, the cry was,
“There they are!” and as the magnificent vessel
steamed up into the gat there appeared something so triumphant
and majestic in her appearance as to make every one who saw her
feel proud of the “wooden walls,” which have so long
defied all the enemies of Old England. Britannia from the
top of the lofty pedestal in front of the gatway might look down
with pride upon the splendid ship which marched in stately
grandeur “o’er the mountain waves.” The
Royal Albert was seen to be followed by a long dark line of
smoke, and every few minutes other great ships came in sight
moving apparently with ease and controllable but irresistible
force. As the flagship came through the gat of St.
Nicholas, the dense masses of people who lined the shore
expressed in a variety of forms their admiration of the
dimensions and commanding aspect of this great three
decker. The seafaring people looked at the matter with a
professional eye, and amongst them might frequently be heard such
expressions as “Old Rounce (the Gorleston pilot) is
bringing her in stunnin!” On came the great
ship,—as gracefully and as gently as a swan would move upon
the surface of an untroubled lake,—until she was
surprisingly near the shore for a ship of her size. She
then glided round in a most beautiful manner, as if looking for
the best place to drop her anchor, a point which was soon
decided, when it was found that she was in about an exact line
with the Victoria Hotel. The sight in the gatway had now
become grand in the extreme, as all the line of battle ships were
in sight, moving majestically forward by the aid of power unseen,
while the flagship was actively engaged in signalling to the
various ships as they came up as to the respective positions they
were to take. The ships seemed to be managed with perfect
ease, and could be turned or moved in any direction with
surprising celerity. The scene while they were taking up
their positions and dropping their anchors was beautiful and will
not soon be forgotten by those who saw it.
The Locust, steam tender, had arrived in the Roads previously,
and the ships that arrived with the Royal Albert, which has 121
guns, and carries 1,100 men, were the Edgar, 91, flagship of the
Rear-Admiral Erskine, the Mersey frigate, 40; the Donegal, 101;
the Trafalgar, 91; the Conqueror, the Centurion, the Mars, the
Diadem, the Algiers, the Aboukir, and the Greyhound corvette, 17,
acting as tender to the Royal Albert. The fleet anchored in
two lines, and presented a most gratifying spectacle to the
inhabitants, who felt what a security it must be in a time of
war, while at the same time they could not refrain from
reflecting on the terrible havoc that must be committed were
those quiet-looking ships to unbosom their thunders, and vent
their indignation upon the town for a space of about five
minutes. Soon after the Vice-Admiral’s flag ship had
anchored, the Volunteer Artillery fired a salute of 15 guns, but
owing to the regulations of the service, the ship was precluded
from returning the compliment. The band of the Artillery
subsequently played on the Drive, and gave a festive character to
the morning. Reports rapidly got afloat as to how long the
fleet would stay, some contending that it would not go till
Wednesday, as the Admiral and officers had accepted an invitation
to a ball which the Mayor purposed giving at the Town Hall on
Tuesday evening; while, on the other hand, it was asserted that
the fleet would depart in the course of the night, as during the
day they received five or six despatches from the Admiralty, and
thus disappoint the thousands who it was expected would come into
the town by rail on Sunday. Neither of the predictions
turned out to be true. Had the ships not been detained at
sea by the contrary winds, which caused them to keep steam up
even to the last, they would have been here for four or five
days. Before coming in they had for two or three days been
within 60 miles of us, trying to reach here with their sails
alone. They had not been long at anchor before sundry
mariners and bare-footed frolicsome and reckless tars, were seen
ashore, lugging away immense baskets of fresh bread, butter,
&c., and diversifying this duty by fraternising with as many
of the girlhood of the place as they happened to come in contact
with. The Blue Jackets are decided favourites ashore, and
few people seem disposed to prevent them doing as they
please. It would give great satisfaction to the inhabitants
of this town, if, in their annual cruises, the Channel Squadron
would occasionally drop in here, for we are sure that their
present visit, besides being advantageous to the town, will
obtain many seamen; for who would wander about in a rotten and
miserable old collier when he might lead a worthy and a jolly
life amongst excellent fellows, on board a floating tower and
mansion equal to the most convenient and best regulated
establishments ashore? It is a long time since a fleet was
seen in our Roads, although there is probably no point upon the
coast where so much shipping passes as this. The last fleet
that was in the Roads was in 1810, under the command of Admiral
Somers, whose flagship was the Victory (Nelson’s old ship), and that fleet passed here
on its way to the Baltic, the ports of which it was going to
blockade. There were then in the fleet besides the
Admiral’s ship of 98 guns, the Formidable, 98; the St.
George, 98; the Dreadnought, 98, now a hospital ship, and a
number of 74’s, making together fourteen sail, some of
which were with Admiral Sir John Ross, at the blockade of
Dantzic, in 1812 (and frozen up there in 1813). In 1801,
Nelson was in here on his way to Copenhagen, and in 1807, Admiral
Gambier’s fleet was bound for the same place, and sailing
hence fetched in the ships and stores of the Danes. In the
time of those fleets, the North Sea and Baltic Pilots of this
port were of great service—a class of men of whom, we
believe, only one remains. His name is Richard Webb.
He was frozen up in the Baltic in 1812, while acting as pilot
(wintered there during the burning of Moscow), and was altogether
engaged for 15 years in piloting government vessels in the wars
of that time, important services for which the old boy alleges he
has received nothing but unfulfilled promises from the
“great guns” aloft. One would think that an old
sailor who had served in the “battle and the breeze”
for so long a period, and in such momentous times, ought to have
received some substantial recognition of his services.
The fleet and the officers and men from it who came ashore
during the day have been closely scrutinized and gazed at,
parties having been on board the flagship, it became a question
of interest as to what they would do at night. At sunset a
gun was fired from the Admiral’s ship, at the sound of
which, as if by magic, the flags dropped from the stern of every
vessel at the same instant, though the topyards did not go down
as was expected. That was about half-past eight
o’clock, and at nine bang went another gun from the
Admiral’s ship followed by the rattle of musketry on board
the others, and seamen said, ‘There’s the old Admiral
a-fallen down the main hatchway,’ that being the correct
nautical form of indicating that the hands were ordered to
‘turn in.’ At about the same time lights were
shown in front and at the sterns of the ships, producing a
brilliant and lively spectacle, taken in conjunction with the
hundreds of lights on small craft lying at anchor, and as shown
by the screw colliers which were ever and anon passing through
the fleet and flowing out dark volumes of smoke. With
Saturday Mr. Swann’s contract to supply beef at 4½d.
per lb., luckily for him, expired, and he agreed, we believe, to
execute the orders of the fleet at 6½d.
Sunday morning, as had been anticipated by the Yarmouth
innkeepers and others, brought an immense number of people into
the town, the trains from Norwich being very lengthy. The
weather was fine, and as the fleet still remained in the Roads,
there was every prospect of enjoyment. As the excursionists
came into the town they proceeded, after refreshing the inner man
at the earliest opportunity, either to the beach or on board the
three steamers of Fill and Co. (Chesapeake, Volunteer and
Florence Nightingale), which were ready, as soon as filled, to
start for a journey round the fleet. The Chesapeake was the
first to start, and as she steamed down the harbour the
excursionists had a good view of the quays and shipping, and also
of the hamlet of Gorleston. As soon as the bar was crossed,
the great ships were all plainly visible, their sides bristling
with guns, and alive with seamen, who, on the visitors
approaching, exchanged a few friendly shouts with them.
From the middle of the two lines in which they were moored, the
ships had a noble and awe-inspiring effect upon those who had not
before seen such wonders of the sea—they were, in fact, so
many towers of strength filled with dauntless warriors. The
Mersey, the smartest, the swiftest, and most powerful frigate of
the fleet, was greatly admired, as was also the Royal Albert, and
many thought—
“How proud must be our Admiral
Of such a bonny barque.”
Officers and men were at nearly all parts of the ship, and
cordially invited the excursionists to go on board, an offer
which the steamer declined, out of regard to the safety of the
passengers. Small pleasure boats from the beach, however,
were running to the fleet in large numbers, cutting and plunging
through the sea that might have made some persons timid.
The steamers disembarked their freight at the Britannia Pier
(which found Sunday the most prosperous day of its existence) and
continued throughout the day to run to and from that Pier without
intermission. Indeed, in the afternoon the Britannia Pier,
which was crowded almost from end to end, presented a remarkable
spectacle. The beef, potatoes, and greens for the fleet
were brought to the pier-head in carts, and were stacked for
conveyance to the ships in the ships’ boats. The
sailors, amongst whom was the usual per centage of black fellows,
tossed the beef and cabbages into the boats in a manner not at
all ceremonious, and one quarter to a certainty, though some say
three or four, was pitched into Davey Jones’s locker.
This scene of conveying away the carcases of about 60 bullocks
(so the number was stated, though we think over the mark), of a
few sheep, and goodness only knows how many cabbages and loaves,
was very interesting to the public, and kept the pier crowded
with spectators till six or seven o’clock. There was
in the afternoon and evening the largest assemblage of people on
the parade and beach that the oldest inhabitant remembers to have
seen in the town, and it was not till a late hour that the last
disappeared. The effect of so many strangers being in the
town was to effect an entire demolition of most of the eatable
stores in the hands of the innkeepers; and it is sufficient to
say that a great thirst prevailed. The Jacks and officers
who were ashore in some force in the afternoon preferred
wandering into the town and outskirts; and the former, who as a
rule were shoeless, seemed to pick up a good deal of fun.
Besides the usual mode of conveyance of pouring in visitors, we
observed several original vehicles from the country arrive in the
afternoon, laden to excess and to the evident inconvenience of
the passengers. The day passed off so well that the
majority of the inhabitants retired, hoping, we have no doubt,
that the Channel Fleet might remain a week. Sinister
rumours, however, were at work, and some fears were secretly
entertained. Great bags of letters had been taken from and
sent to the Post Office, and report was that despatches had been
received ordering the fleet off to Spithead at once.
When the general bulk of the population awoke on Monday
morning, alas! the fleet—with the exception of the Mars,
which had lost an anchor and was waiting to endeavour to regain
it—were off! They left us between five and six
o’clock; and many have a firm opinion that the Mars was
detained by some Providential influence, so that the thousands of
excursionists who came in on Monday, in the hope of seeing the
Channel Fleet, might not be utterly disappointed. May a
British Fleet honour us again with its presence, at the earliest
opportunity.
The following Commissions had been issued:—“Great
Yarmouth Rifle Volunteer Corps—Frederick Palmer, Esq., to
be Surgeon; Henry Ralph Nevill to be Hon. Chaplain.”
The trident had been struck by lightning from the hand of
Britannia on the Nelson Column.
July 7th.—The “Good Samaritan” Lodge,
M.U.O.F., had voted £5 5s. to the Fishermen’s
Fund.
Mr. Job Smith had presided at a Working Man’s Reform
Meeting, held in Crowe’s Assembly Rooms.
July 21st.—The Fisherman’s Widows and
Orphans’ Fund exceeded £7,300.
The new building for the Sailors’ Home was progressing
rapidly.
“The hot weather had brought large numbers of
excursionists to the sea-side.”
July 25th.—The Donegal Militia had left the town for
Ireland, where they were to be disembodied.
Aug. 1st.—“Benjamin Hollis, a fine young man
belonging to the Artillery Volunteers,” had been buried
with Military honours.
Aug. 4th.—The 3rd and 4th Companies of the Rifle
Volunteers had appeared for the first time in uniform.
A “young lady about twenty years of age had
disappeared” at the same time as the Militia left the
town.
Aug. 8th.—At the Water Frolic the “Iris” won
the cutter match, and the “Enchantress” the latteen
match.
“A reward of £100 had been offered for the
apprehension of John D. Chapman, late of this town.”
At the Regatta the following had been the result of the
matches:—
FIRST GLASS YAWLS.
A Purse of £30, to be sailed for by yawls from all
parts; of not less than 45 feet in length, manned by the beachmen
engaged in saving life from shipwreck. First prize,
£15; second, £10; third, £5. No entrance
fee. The first yawl to pay £1, the second 15s., and
the third 7s. 6d. to the Regatta Fund.
Queen Victoria, Yarmouth
|
1
|
Eclipse, Lowestoft
|
2
|
Gipsy Queen, Winterton
|
3
|
A Purse of £50, to be sailed for by Yachts belonging to
any Royal Yacht Club in Great Britain, above 20 tons and not
exceeding 50 tons register. No restrictions as to sails or
men. The winner to pay five guineas to the second
yacht.
Belvidere, (T. M. Read,) Yarmouth
|
1
|
Kestrel, (W. Butcher), Norwich
|
2
|
A purse of £20, to be sailed for by yawls from all
parts, of not more than 45 feet in length, manned by
beachmen. First prize, £12; second prize, £5;
third prize, £3. First yawl to pay £1, second
yawl 10s., third yawl 5s. to the Regatta Fund.
Good Tidings, California
|
1
|
Volunteer, Yarmouth
|
2
|
Flying Fish, ditto
|
3
|
A
Rowing Match for £15, by six-oared gigs, single banked,
from any part. To be contended for in heats. Four to
start or no race. No entrance fee. First boat to
receive £8; second boat, £5; third boat, £2;
manned by those who usually work as beachmen.
Shooting Star, Winterton
|
1
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Champion, Yarmouth
|
2
|
Quebec, Pakefield
|
3
|
Some more rowing by ships’ boats, sculling, and a duck
hunt brought the programme to a close.
The following were among the persons present at the Regatta
Ball:—The Mayor, Sir E. H. K. Lacon, Bart., M.P., Lady
Plumridge, Miss Plumridge, Lieut.-Colonel Astley, Major and Mrs.
Rushbrooke, Major Penrice, Miss Penrice, Captain the Hon. R.
Harbord, Count Melchoir de Weazle, Captain Longe, Mr. Stracey,
Mr. Bedingfield, Mr. and Mrs. A. Steward and the Misses Steward,
Mrs. F. Steward, Mr. and Mrs. Postle, Mr. and Mrs. Palmer, Mr.
Waters and the Misses Waters, Captain and Mrs. Wynyard, Major
Wodehouse, the Rev. G. Hawes and the Misses Hawes, Mrs. Patridge,
Mr. Molyneux Steel, Mr. D’Eye, Mr. and Mrs. W. C. Reynolds,
Mrs. Mends, Miss Pearson, Miss Hubbard, Mrs. Foster, Miss Foster,
Miss Gwynn, the Misses Cubitt, Mr. E. Frere, Mr. and Mrs. Orde,
Captain and Mrs. Ives, Miss Lennard, Captain Jervoise,
&c.
Aug. 22nd.—The E.N.M. (which had been embodied since the
5th April, 1857) had been disembodied.
Gipsies “infested the Beach” to the annoyance of
the public.
Aug. 25th.—The N.A.M. had been disembodied at
Yarmouth.
Sept. 1st.—Only 58 persons had attended the Race Ball,
among whom were the Mayor, the Hon. H. Harbord, Captain
Bedingfield, Captain Holmes, Mr. Orde, Mr. Marsh, Mr. Palmer,
&c.
Colonel Sir Thomas Troubridge had inspected the Rifle
Volunteers.
Sept. 5th.—The Rifle Corps was holding its first prize
shooting matches on the North Denes, the E.N.M. Band being on the
ground and playing during the firing. Mr. Fenner had won
the Borough Members’ Prize, having at the 500 yards scored
8 against Lieutenant Brown’s 6 points.
A hare had been hunted from the South Denes by “men,
dogs, and boys” to Adam and Eve Gardens, and had been
“transferred to a bake office before 12
o’clock.”
A
roulette table had been an attraction in the town, and several
gentlemen had “dropped” their money at that game.
Sept. 18th.—The following had been the result of the
Prize Shooting:—
1.—Borough Members’ Prize of £10, shot for
at ranges of 300, 400, and 500 yards. Winner, Fenner.
2.—Officers’ Cup, value £5, shot for at
ranges of 200 and 300 yards. Winner, Davis.
3.—A “Turner” Rifle, presented by Major
Orde, shot for at ranges of 500 and 600 yards, for which Pearson
and Leman tied, upon shooting off Leman was the winner.
4.—Ladies’ Challenge Cup, value £35, shot
for at ranges of 650, 700, 800, and 900 yards, the firing for
which was not concluded, but Boreham and Boulton had the highest
scores in this contest.
Sept. 12th.—The Prize Shooting had been completed by Mr.
Bly, (ironmonger) making 12 points out of 20 shots, 5 at each of
the distances of 650, 700, 800, and 900 yards, in the Challenge
Cup competition, and he was declared to be the winner, and the
champion shot of the corps.
The pugilist Mace was training at Yarmouth previous to his
fighting Bob Brettle.
Sept. 19th.—The prizes had been presented to the several
winners in the recent Rifle Corps Competition by the Mayor at the
Town Hall, when amongst those present were Sir E. H. K. Lacon,
Lady and Miss Lacon, Major and Mrs. Orde, Captain Holmes, the
Officers of the Rifle Corps, Major Todd, E. R. Palmer, Esq.,
Captain Jervoise, C. C. Aldred, Esq., Rev. M. Waters, C. J.
Palmer, Esq., &c., &c.
After this, the Mayor invited those present to dance, himself
leading off with Lady Lacon.
Mr. E. R. Aldred had supplied the cups, and champion’s
medal.
The Volunteer Artillery had appeared in “busbies”
for the first time.
Sept. 22nd.—The Yarmouth Volunteers had attended the
Review of the County Corps held on Mousehold Heath, Norwich, by
the Lord Lieutenant, who was accompanied by Major-General Wood,
Lord Suffield, Colonel Astley, and the Hon. Harbord Harbord as
aides-de-camp, and a brilliant staff. The Yarmouth Rifles
numbered 1 Field Officer, 4 Captains, 4 Lieutenants, and 4
Ensigns, 1 Staff Officer, 11 Sergeants, 4 Drummers, and 172
Privates, total 201. The total number of Volunteers on the field
being between 1,100 and 1,200. The spectators are stated to
have said as the Volunteers marched past—“These with
the Hussar hats on are the Yarmouth Artillery,” and
“These are the Yarmouth Rifles—well done
Yarmouth.”
Sept. 26th.—The number of the Volunteer Artillery
present at the Review was stated to have been 156.
Herring was selling at from £23 to £30 per
last.
Sept. 29th.—“Several hundreds of vessels had
passed through the Roads for the North in full sail, and one
close fleet.”
Oct. 3rd.—James Denny Chapman had absconded and been
declared bankrupt, with debts estimated at £30,000.
Oct. 6th.—At the Revision Court Mr. Costerton had
appeared for the Liberals and Mr. Reynolds for the Tories; the
former claimed a gain of 88 votes.
Oct. 20th.—St. Andrew’s Church had been
consecrated by the Bishop of Norwich.
Nov. 3rd.—At the Municipal Election there was a contest
in the Regent Ward, resulting as follows:—
Reynolds (C.)
|
106
|
Wright (C.)
|
101
|
Livingston (L)
|
61
|
For the other wards the following gentlemen were returned
without opposition:—
North—William H. Bessey and Samuel Nightingale
(C’s.)
Market—John Fenn and John E. Barnby
(C’s).
St. George’s—William J. Foreman and Charles
Palmer (C’s).
Nelson—John Clarke (C.) and John Clowes (L).
Gorleston—Samuel C. Richmond and Thomas W. Gooda
(C’s).
It was “darkly hinted” that Mr. S. Nightingale
would be the next Mayor.
Nov. 10th.—The Mayor, the Rev. Mr. Peade, Messrs. C. S.
Marsh, R. S. Watling, S. Nightingale, T. Brightwen, B. Dowson,
and Mr. W. C. Reynolds had been nominated by a Public Meeting as
a Committee for the purpose of founding a “Public Hall and
Assembly Room.” Mr. Palmer and Mr. Falcke had each
offered to take 20 shares of £10 in the undertaking.
Nov. 14th.—At the Council Meeting on the 9th, Mr.
Charles J. Palmer proposed, and Mr. F. Worship seconded, the
election of Mr. Samuel Nightingale as Mayor of the Borough, and, there
being no opposition, he was elected to that office
accordingly.
The “Eleanor,” brig of 300 tons register, had been
launched “in full rig” from Messrs. Beechings’s
yard. She was to proceed to the Mediterranean with
herring.
Nov. 17th.—“A nocturnal exploit of some Volunteer
youths had been much talked of for several days past,” and
a “dashing junior officer” had nearly fallen into the
hands of the police.
Nov. 24th.—“Practical jokes” prevailed, one
“joker” finding next morning that he had been over
night “cracking his own panes.”
The “political actions at law” against Sir E.
Lacon were “in course of settlement.”
Dec. 8th.—An explosion had taken place on board the
“Tonning” steamer at sea, and inquests on several
bodies of the men killed held at Yarmouth.
Dec. 22nd.—The Volunteer Artillery had given a concert
at the Corn Hall, when Messrs. John Franklin, W. Offord,
Clements, J. Bartram, J. Cocks, W. C. Mack and the Masters Nutman
took part in the performance.
The following was the form of apology upon which the actions
against Sir E. Lacon had been settled, upon his payment of
plaintiff’s costs:—
“Great
Yarmouth,
“Nov. 29th, 1860.
“Dear Sir,—Upon full enquiry, I find that the
statements made by me in a speech at the dinner at the Theatre in
April last, and complained of by you as reflecting on yourself as
a member of the committee therein referred to, were made under an
erroneous impression of the facts of the case, as far as yourself
and the committee are concerned.
“Under these circumstances, I have no hesitation in
withdrawing the imputations you and the committee complain of,
and the plea of justification, and in expressing my regret that
legal proceedings were deemed necessary, which, being now ended,
no difference will, I trust, henceforth be made in the friendly
feeling that has previously existed between us.
“Yours truly,
“Edm. H. K. Lacon.”
W. T. Clarke, Esq.”
At the Police Court, Mr. Owles again called attention to the
“practical” joking question, when Sergeant
Barnes stated that the jokers “were attired in cloaks, and
one wore a uniform cap.”
Dec. 29th.—The Rifle Corps, 180 strong, had marched to
Hopton, where Major Orde “regaled them on bread and cheese,
hot sausage rolls, and plenty of old ale.”