Yarmouth Notes Part 62

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 fis.h.i.+ng 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 Pet.i.tion) 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 mult.i.tudes, 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 Sat.u.r.day, 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 gla.s.ses 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 pa.s.sed and would not come in here, others were equally confident, on the strength of telegrams and "unquestionable information," that the great s.h.i.+ps 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 s.h.i.+ps would visit us, and were stirring early on Sat.u.r.day 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 s.e.x 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 s.h.i.+p 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 s.h.i.+p 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 s.h.i.+ps came in sight moving apparently with ease and controllable but irresistible force. As the flags.h.i.+p came through the gat of St. Nicholas, the dense ma.s.ses of people who lined the sh.o.r.e 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 s.h.i.+p,-as gracefully and as gently as a swan would move upon the surface of an untroubled lake,-until she was surprisingly near the sh.o.r.e for a s.h.i.+p 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 s.h.i.+ps were in sight, moving majestically forward by the aid of power unseen, while the flags.h.i.+p was actively engaged in signalling to the various s.h.i.+ps as they came up as to the respective positions they were to take. The s.h.i.+ps 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 s.h.i.+ps that arrived with the Royal Albert, which has 121 guns, and carries 1,100 men, were the Edgar, 91, flags.h.i.+p 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 anch.o.r.ed 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 s.h.i.+ps to unbosom their thunders, and vent their indignation upon the town for a s.p.a.ce of about five minutes.

Soon after the Vice-Admiral's flag s.h.i.+p had anch.o.r.ed, the Volunteer Artillery fired a salute of 15 guns, but owing to the regulations of the service, the s.h.i.+p 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 a.s.serted 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 s.h.i.+ps 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 ash.o.r.e, lugging away immense baskets of fresh bread, b.u.t.ter, &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 ash.o.r.e, 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 ash.o.r.e? 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 s.h.i.+pping pa.s.ses as this. The last fleet that was in the Roads was in 1810, under the command of Admiral Somers, whose flags.h.i.+p was the Victory (Nelson's old s.h.i.+p), and that fleet pa.s.sed 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 s.h.i.+p of 98 guns, the Formidable, 98; the St. George, 98; the Dreadnought, 98, now a hospital s.h.i.+p, 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 s.h.i.+ps 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 cla.s.s 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 ash.o.r.e during the day have been closely scrutinized and gazed at, parties having been on board the flags.h.i.+p, it became a question of interest as to what they would do at night. At sunset a gun was fired from the Admiral's s.h.i.+p, 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 s.h.i.+p 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 s.h.i.+ps, 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 pa.s.sing through the fleet and flowing out dark volumes of smoke. With Sat.u.r.day Mr. Swann's contract to supply beef at 4d. per lb., luckily for him, expired, and he agreed, we believe, to execute the orders of the fleet at 6d.

Sunday morning, as had been antic.i.p.ated 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 refres.h.i.+ng 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 s.h.i.+pping, and also of the hamlet of Gorleston. As soon as the bar was crossed, the great s.h.i.+ps 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 s.h.i.+ps had a n.o.ble 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 s.h.i.+p, and cordially invited the excursionists to go on board, an offer which the steamer declined, out of regard to the safety of the pa.s.sengers. 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 s.h.i.+ps in the s.h.i.+ps' 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 a.s.semblage 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 ash.o.r.e 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 pa.s.sengers. The day pa.s.sed 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 a.s.sembly 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 GLa.s.s 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 s.h.i.+pwreck. 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

SECOND CLa.s.s YAWLS.

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.