Yarmouth Notes Part 10

May 31st.-The "Pantaloon," a fine, large, round-sterned brig of 180 tons, had been launched by her owners, Messrs. A. and G. Steward; and the "Victoria," 350 tons, by Mr. J. Preston.

A meeting had been held at the Town Hall to consider the propriety of establis.h.i.+ng a small Hospital for Great Yarmouth and the East and West Fleggs and Mutford and Lothingland Hundreds. The Hon. and Rev. E. Pellew presided, and amongst those present were all the resident clergy and medical gentlemen of the town, with Messrs. G. D. Palmer, Brightwen, W.

Steward, B. Dowson, Wors.h.i.+p, &c.

June 7th and 14th.-Col. Thompson had been suggested as a candidate for the Borough, and Mr. Northhouse had addressed a meeting on his behalf.

Mr. George Steward was taking an active part in this affair.

June 21st.-Suggestions were being made for the celebration of the Queen's Coronation.

Messrs. Henry Emms and William Simms had been appointed Relieving Officers.

The donations for the proposed Hospital were 200 and the annual subscriptions 280.

June 28th.-This issue contains the following account of how, after a futile effort had been made by the Vicar, which appears not to have been a success, H.M. Coronation was celebrated. At an "adjourned meeting of the subscribers to the fund for celebrating her Majesty's Coronation, by giving a dinner to the poor children of the town on that day, held at the New Hall, on Thursday evening last, the Hon. and Rev. E. Pellew in the chair, those gentlemen who had undertaken to collect subscriptions reported that they had scarcely any further funds to add to those already collected. Under these circ.u.mstances the chairman submitted to the meeting that the proposed plan of feasting the children was a failure from the want of funds. Considerable discussion then ensued as to the propriety of taking steps towards celebrating the Coronation day in any other way, upon which there were many conflicting opinions. At length Mr. Samuel Palmer, after recapitulating all that had been done, and regretting that up to that time nothing had been realized, moved-'That a subscription be now entered into, to provide such amus.e.m.e.nts for the poor of the town on the day of the Coronation as may seem fit to the subscribers, and that a committee be appointed to carry the same into effect.' Mr. Samuel Barber moved, as an amendment, 'that all the poor of the town be regaled with roast beef and plum pudding'; but it appearing to the meeting that as money enough could not be raised to regale the children, it would be impossible to raise a sufficient sum to feast all the poor. The amendment was negatived, and Mr. Palmer's motion was unanimously carried. The Chairman then left the chair, and Mr. George Danby Palmer was called on to preside, when thanks were voted to the late Chairman; a spirited subscription was begun in the room; a committee was appointed to carry Mr. Palmer's motion into effect, and the meeting separated."

"Since that time the gentlemen composing the committee have collected money to the amount of about 200, and a bill of fare has been issued sports and entertainments to take place on the South Denes, amongst which are horse, pony, and donkey races, jumping in sacks, climbing matches, and running after pigs with soaped tails. There will also be sailing matches on the river. A dinner will take place in a marquee erected on the ground, the Mayor in the chair. A stand and several booths have also been built for the accommodation of the public. The amus.e.m.e.nts will conclude with a superb display of fireworks, under the direction of an artist from London."

July 7th contains the following record of the result of such action:-

The festivities and sports which were to have taken place on Thursday last in honour of the Coronation were interrupted by a heavy fall of rain, which commenced at the hour fixed for the fun to begin, and continued nearly, 'sans' intermission, until night. This untoward state of the elements prevented any very great a.s.sembly of mult.i.tude taking place; nevertheless there were some two or three thousand determined holiday-makers congregated on the South Denes, and the horse and pony races came off in spite of the unfavourable state of the weather. The race for hacks was well contested and won by Highflyer, beating Whisc.u.msnivet, the Amba.s.sador, and Sir William.

The pony race was also a good one; we could not learn the name of the winner. Four boats started for the silver cup-value 7-viz., the Coriander (b.a.l.l.s), Leviathian (Preston), Louisa (Fiddis), and Neptune (Green). The wind was light at starting, and towards the end of the match there was so little as scarcely to fill the sails; the Coriander won by about half a length. The remainder of the sports were postponed until Friday afternoon. At four o'clock upwards of 100 gentlemen sat down to dinner in a marquee erected on the Denes, the Mayor (Dr. Penrice) in the chair. After dinner the health of the Queen was drunk with long, loud, and hearty cheers, and the usual loyal and patriotic toasts were given; several excellent songs were sung, and about half-past ten the company returned to the town preceded by a band of music. The children at the various charity schools and the inmates of the Fishermen's Hospital were handsomely entertained. The Temperance people had a tea meeting, and all, as far as the weather would permit, appeared to enjoy themselves in their own way.

On Friday afternoon, at three o'clock, the sports were re-commenced, the weather being most propitious and the sun s.h.i.+ning with surpa.s.sing brilliancy. Yarmouth poured out thousands upon thousands of its working population, and great numbers of all cla.s.ses were present to witness the fun and partake of the amus.e.m.e.nt of the day. The performances, if so they may be called, took place on a stage immediately opposite the stand, which was filled with spectators, under the superintendence and direction of a gentleman, to whose good humoured exertions too much praise cannot be given, and who was ably a.s.sisted by others in providing and bringing out such entertainments for the humbler cla.s.ses as seemed best adapted to their taste and habits. First came two chimney sweeps in _full costume_; they dived in a tub of meal for pieces of money, which they picked out with their mouths. Numberless sneezings and many collisions of sooty heads, now, however, converted into floury n.o.bs, took place during this match, to the great merriment of the a.s.sembled crowds; at length the money was all abstracted, and the performers, well washed, made their bows and retired from the stage. Next came bobbing for oranges in tubs of water, by boys with their hands tied behind them. Then a singing match by boys, which was won by an urchin of the name of John Hutchin, who sung two comic songs with inimitable humour and effect.

A horn pipe match followed, in which the best dancers made up by agility for what was wanting in grace and elegance. Grinning through horse collars succeeded, and here one Billy Derry out-uglied the ugliest-O! for grinning through a horse collar, commend me to Billy Derry. Then we had six old women, drinking scalding hot tea for a prize of one sovereign; the efforts of these poor old creatures to gulp down the almost boiling fluid, were at once both pitiable and ludicrous, but they appeared to enjoy the parts they were acting almost as much as the spectators did, who gave way to the most uproarious laughter we ever remember to have heard, they were all well rewarded for their exhibition. There were also donkey races, climbing soaped poles, gingling matches, running wheelbarrows blindfold, a rowing match, and races after pigs with their tails soaped, and twenty-four barrels of ale were given away to the populace on the ground. At half-past ten at night the Market Place was literally crammed with people to witness the display of fireworks, which was splendid and worthy of the occasion, and concluded the Coronation amus.e.m.e.nts. Immediately after the fireworks had ceased the crowd dispersed, and by twelve o'clock the streets were as quiet as upon ordinary occasions.

July 14th.-The Corporation had voted an address to the Queen, of which the following is the notice:-

"At an a.s.sembly of the Corporation, held on Wednesday, the Mayor read a congratulatory address to Her Majesty the Queen, upon the Coronation, which was unanimously adopted by the Council, and Mr.

Barth, Mr. Robert Palmer Kemp and Mr. Samuel Palmer, were appointed a deputation to carry up and present the same; it being left to the option of any other gentlemen of the Council to join the deputation."

The Mayor, preceded by the Regalia, had walked to church, "unaccompanied by a single member of the Town Council."

July 5th.-Col. Thompson had declined to come forward.

Mr. J. Symonds had given a silver cup, value 5 5s., to be bowled for in honour of the Coronation. There were 34 compet.i.tors, and it was won by Mr. John Porrett, "the veteran bowler."

July 12th.-A meeting of freemen to oppose Mr. Baring's return at the ensuing election had been held at the Masonic Hall, Mr. Joseph Bayly (Chairman). Capt. Love, Mr. John Clowes, jun., Mr. Lawrence, and Mr.

Charles Marsh took part in the proceedings, and the following gentlemen were appointed a committee to carry the resolutions pa.s.sed at the meeting into effect:-Messrs. Joseph Bayly, John Clowes, jun., S. Cobb, E. R.

Palmer, Henry Pickard, Charles Marsh, Thomas Thompson, jun., and Capt.

Love.

The Corporation address to Her Majesty had been presented by Messrs.

Barth, R. P. Kemp, and S. Palmer.

July 26th.-The Water Frolic had been held, when the "Leviathian" (Bessey) beat the "Union" (Barber), the Mayor and Corporation attended the sports in a barge.

Dr. Penrice (the Mayor) and Dr. c.o.x has been elected physicians, and Messrs. Charles Costerton, George Bateman, John Prichard, and John C.

Smith, surgeons to the Hospital.

August 9th.-The Queen had signified her intention of becoming a patron of the Hospital.

August 16th.-The freemen had determined to re-elect Mr. Wilshere free of expense, Messrs. Simon Cobb and George Steward speaking on the subject; and a committee had been formed to further this object, of which Mr. Cobb was chairman, Mr. J. Bayly, secretary, and Mr. J. Clowes, treasurer.

August 16th.-The new Writ had been moved for, and the blue flag with the inscription of "Wilshere, the Reformer," had been displayed at the Committee Room in Regent Street.

August 25th.-Mr. Baring, and Mr. G. Steward (for Mr. Wilshere) had been canva.s.sing the electors. At the nomination the former gentleman was proposed and seconded by Mr. J. Lacon and Mr. E. H. L. Preston, and the latter by Mr. John Clowes, jun., and Mr. Joseph Bayly; Mr. George Steward representing Mr. Wilshere. Mr. Baring then addressed the electors. The result of the poll was declared to be-

For Wilshere 735 Baring 702

A very painful occurrence had happened. A poor fellow "who took some part in the election" declared that if Mr. Baring lost the election he would hang himself. The poll closed at 4, and he had effectually hung himself and was cut down before 5 o'clock.

August 30th.-The friends of Mr. Wilshere had dined together at the "Star."

Mr. G. Steward had been chaired for Mr. Wilshere. Mr. S. Palmer had received a letter from Mr. Wilshere, expressing in the warmest terms his sense of the high honour thus conferred upon him.

Sept. 6th.-Mr. Wilshere had arrived in Yarmouth and addressed the electors.

C. F. Burton, Esq., had died from the effects of a fall from his horse on the Southtown Road.

Sept 17th.-A public dinner of the supporters of Mr. Wilshere had been held at the Town Hall. Admiral Sir George Parker, K.C.B., presided, and amongst those present were Messrs. George Steward, S. Cobb, the Mayor, T.

O. Springfield, Capt. Pearson, Capt. Harmer, J. Fowler, H. Munro, Rev. T.

Fowler, R. Hammond, H. Wors.h.i.+p, C. Bell, S. Palmer, N. Palmer, C. Marsh, E. R. Palmer, J. L. Cufaude, Clowes, &c.

Sept. 20th.-At the Roads Regatta the "Brilliant" was first, the "Red Rover" second, and the "Algerine" third, in the match for the silver cup, weighing 17oz. The "Coastguard" had been practising, under the direction of Capt. Harmer and Lieut. Kisbee.

Sept. 27th.-In consequence of the long continuance of calm weather the millers had not been able to grind any corn for three weeks.

Oct. 4th.-The Revision Court had been held, Messrs. W. Wors.h.i.+p and J. L.

Cufaude appearing for the Reformers, and Messrs. Waters and E. H. L.

Preston for the Tories. The Whigs claimed a majority, on the result of 51.

Oct. 11th.-Lord Tavistock and C. B. Greville (acting as referees) with regard to the recent contest had stated "that if requested by Mr. Baring, Mr. Wilshere is bound to resign his seat for Yarmouth (for which he was elected without his knowledge or consent), and that in the event of Mr.

Baring offering himself again as a candidate for the representation of that borough, Mr. Wilshere is not at liberty to oppose him."

Mr. William Nolloth, jun., had been elected organist of St. George's Chapel.

Oct. 18th.-There had been a strong wind from the W.N.W., and from 150 to 200 vessels had sustained damage. It is contemplated that there were between 2,000 and 3,000 s.h.i.+ps at anchor within sight of the Jetty.

The "Reis Effendi," schooner, had been launched from Messrs. A. Palmer and Son's yard.

Mr. Wilshere was staying with Mr. Palmer, who had entertained most of the princ.i.p.al inhabitants, including the Mayor, Sir George Parker, and W.

Danby Palmer, John Carr, George Steward, Esq., and others.

In case Mr. Wilshere was asked to resign his seat by Mr. Baring, Mr.

Robert Palmer Kemp had been selected as the candidate in the Blue interest.

Oct. 25th.-The Tories had commenced their "Munic.i.p.al campaign."