Norfolk Annals Volume Ii Part 3

Mr. William Bagge and Mr. George Pierrepont Bentinck were the Conservative nominees, and Mr. Anthony Hamond the Liberal candidate.

"Mr. Hamond was formerly a Protectionist, and opposed Mr. Cobden at the Free Trade meeting at St. Andrew's Hall, Norwich, only a week before Sir Robert Peel proposed to repeal the Corn Laws. Mr. Hamond now avows himself a Free Trader." He was nominated at the last moment to fill the vacancy occasioned by the retirement of the Hon. E. K. c.o.ke. The poll was opened on the 20th and 21st, and on the 23rd the result was declared as follows: Bagge, 3,421; Bentinck, 3,143; Hamond, 1,973.

AUGUST.

14.-A general meeting of the Deputy Lieutenants of the County was held at the s.h.i.+rehall, Norwich, for the purpose of carrying into effect the provisions of the Act 15 and 16 Vic., for raising a force not exceeding 80,000 men, of which number 50,000 were to be raised in 1852, and 30,000 in 1855. The Earl of Orford moved, and it was resolved, that the Lord Lieutenant be requested to apply to the Secretary of State to obtain her Majesty's Order in Council for the subdivision districts to be made coterminous with the Superintendent Registrar's districts; and to be furnished with a list of the number of men liable to serve in each subdivision and parish. On September 18th measures were adopted for the enlistment of two regiments of Militia-612 men to serve in the Western Regiment, and a like number in the Eastern Regiment. Sufficient numbers of men were forthcoming without having recourse to the Ballot Act.

(_See_ April 19th, 1853.)

21.-Bylaugh Hall, the stately home of the Lombe family, was completed at about this date. The mansion was erected under the provisions of the will of Sir John Lombe, Bart., who died in 1817. The will directed "that so long as the house remained uncommenced the money should be invested and allowed to acc.u.mulate at compound interest." The new mansion was begun in 1849, under the supervision and control of the trustees in whom the building fund was vested. It was erected from the designs of Messrs.

Banks and Barry, of London, by Messrs. Piper, of Bishopsgate Street, whose contract amounted to 29,389. The interior was decorated by Mr.

Sang "and his German artists." (_See_ July 4th, 1857.)

SEPTEMBER.

14.-Intelligence was received at Norwich of the death of the Duke of Wellington. The m.u.f.fled bells of the city churches were tolled for several hours. On November 18th, the day of the funeral, the princ.i.p.al shops were closed, and the Mayor and Corporation and the military forces stationed in the city attended a special service at the Cathedral.

17.-Mr. S. Chambers, R.N., made a balloon ascent from the Vauxhall Gardens, Yarmouth, and descended on Mautby marshes.

18.-Died at Saham Toney, John Thurston, labourer, in the 105th year of his age.

21.-The Norfolk and Norwich Triennial Musical Festival commenced at St.

Andrew's Hall, Norwich. The opening concert included selections from the works of cla.s.sical composers, and a reading by Mrs. f.a.n.n.y Kemble from the "Midsummer Night's Dream," with incidental music. "Israel Restored" was performed at the morning concert on the 22nd, and selections by popular composers were given in the evening. On the morning of the 23rd, "Jerusalem" (H. H. Pierson) was performed for the first time, and a miscellaneous concert took place in the evening. "The Messiah" was rendered on the morning of the 24th, and a dress ball was held in the evening. The princ.i.p.al vocalists were Madame Viardot Garcia, Madame Fiorentini, Miss Louisa Pyne, Miss Dolby, Miss Alleyne, Signor Gardoni, Mr. Sims Reeves, Mr. Lockey, Signor Belletti, Mr. Weiss, and Herr Formes.

Mr. Benedict conducted. The gross receipts were 4,665 7s. 2d.; gross expenses, 4,171 17s. 1d.; surplus, 493 10s. 1d.

30.-Died, Rear-Admiral William Fisher, captain superintendent of Sheerness dockyard, and author of two naval novels, "The Petrel" and "The Albatross." He was the second son of Mr. John Fisher, of Yarmouth, and was born November 18th, 1780. Admiral Fisher entered the Navy in 1795, and was engaged in many important services. He married, in 1810, Elizabeth, sister of Sir James Rivett Carnac, Bart., Governor of Bombay.

OCTOBER.

5.-A prize-fight took place on St. Andrew's Green, near Bungay, between James Perowne, of Norwich, and James High, of Ellingham. "The former was seconded by a man named Mace," and the other by Smith, of Ditchingham.

The police endeavoured to take possession of the ring, but were put to flight by the mob; and the men fighting to a finish, High was declared the victor. Princ.i.p.als and seconds, with the exception of Mace, were subsequently committed for trial, and at Beccles Quarter Sessions, on October 18th, were bound over to keep the peace. Jim Mace was apprehended at Litcham, on November 2nd, and at Beccles Quarter Sessions on January 3rd, 1853, was ordered to enter into his own recognisances to be of good behaviour.

6.-Died at Quebec, Stephen Codman, for thirty-six years organist of the cathedral church in that city. He was a native of Norwich, where he received his musical education under Dr. Beckwith.

7.-The Priory Schools, Yarmouth, were opened by the Bishop of Norwich.

"The site of the schools originally formed the refectory of the Benedictine friars. Many of the walls of the priory still remain, and the hall has been for many years used for the ign.o.ble purposes of a stable."

27.-A meeting was held at the Guildhall, Norwich, at which a public subscription was opened for the erection of a statue to the memory of the Duke of Wellington. On October 4th, 1853, it was decided that the statue should be of bronze, and Mr. G. Adams was commissioned to prepare the model. (_See_ November 2nd, 1854.)

NOVEMBER.

6.-Died at Ormesby, near Yarmouth, in his 82nd year, Rear-Admiral Black, one of the oldest officers in the Navy. He had seen much active service, and had been employed on the North-West coast of America.

9.-For the office of Mayor of Norwich two candidates were nominated-Mr.

Samuel Bignold and Mr. Richard Coaks. The voting was equal, and the Mayor giving his casting-vote in favour of the latter, Mr. Coaks was declared duly elected. Mr. George Womack was appointed Sheriff. (_See_ November 23rd.)

22.-Election pet.i.tions were laid upon the table of the House of Commons, against the return of Messrs. Peto and Warner, as members for Norwich.

(_See_ February 24th, 1853.)

23.-In the Court of Queen's Bench a rule in the nature of a _quo warranto_ was applied for, calling upon Mr. Coaks, Mayor of Norwich, to show by what authority he exercised that office. The affidavits stated that on November 9th there were two candidates for the Mayoralty, Mr.

Bignold and Mr. Coaks, and that the retiring Mayor refused to record the vote of Mr. Cundall in favour of Mr. Bignold. Consequently the voting was even, and the retiring Mayor gave his casting-vote in favour of Mr.

Coaks. The affidavits further stated, in support of Mr. Cundall's right to vote, that at the election of councillors on November 1st, 1851, Mr.

Cundall was a candidate in opposition to Mr. Robert Wiffin Blake, then one of the aldermen of Norwich, and therefore ineligible to be elected a councillor; and that Mr. Cundall had, prior to the election, given notice of Mr. Blake's disqualification, but that Mr. Blake was elected by a majority of five votes. Subsequently, on a _quo warranto_ being filed against him, judgment of ouster was obtained. Mr. Cundall therefore made the required declaration before two councillors, and took his seat as a councillor at the late election of Mayor, and claimed to have his vote recorded for Mr. Bignold, which, if received, would have placed him in a majority of one over Mr. Coaks; but such vote was rejected by the retiring Mayor. The Court granted the rule. The Attorney-General showed cause against the rule on January 28th, 1853. The Court was of opinion that Mr. Cundall had made out a clear _prima facie_ case, and the rule for the _quo warranto_ was made absolute. Lord Campbell gave judgment in the case on January 21st, 1854. He said it entirely depended on the right of Cundall to vote. He held that on November 9th, 1852, Cundall was a member of the Council, and had a right to vote for Mr. Bignold, and if he had so voted Mr. Bignold would have been duly elected Mayor. Mr.

Coaks had usurped that office, and the _quo warranto_ had been properly issued. Mr. Justice Crompton was of the same opinion. Judgment for the Crown.

DECEMBER.

11.*-"The long-continued rains have increased the floods in the valleys of the Eastern division of the county. Throughout the valley of the Yare, a large extent of land has been for some time under water, on either side of the river, for a distance of thirty miles." At Southery and Feltwell about 8,000 acres were flooded, and upwards of one hundred poor families were compelled to leave their habitations. The estimated loss to the district was between 25,000 and 30,000, and a public subscription was opened for the relief of the sufferers.

21.-The Public Library and Museums Act Committee reported to the Norwich Town Council that it was desirable to hire the Museum for the use of the public for two days in the week, and to erect a building for the purposes of a free library, and that, in compliance with the Act, a rate of one halfpenny in the pound be levied, one-third to be devoted to the former object, and two-thirds to the latter. The principle of the rate was affirmed, and its application postponed for further consideration.

(_See_ September 13th, 1854.)

24.*-"Died at Reedham, a few days since, at the advanced age of 103, Mr.

John Softly. He retained his faculties and was an active man up to the time of his death."

26.-One of the most terrific storms of wind and rain ever remembered at Norwich occurred on this date. In the rural districts many stacks were blown down and scattered in all directions.

1853.

JANUARY.

8.-M. Gompertz's panorama of the invasion of British India by the Sikh Army of the Punjaub was exhibited at the a.s.sembly Rooms, Norwich. One of the scenic attractions was a representation of "the crypt of the Holy Sepulchre, under three distinct aspects," a dioramic illusion which forms a popular feature in similar entertainments at the present day.

13.-A miraculous escape was recorded at Swaffham. A drunken man named Edward Horsepool went into the yard of the Angel public-house, at three o'clock in the morning, with the intention of lying down in a shed. By mistake he opened the door of the covering of a disused well, and stepping in, fell to the bottom, a depth of 117 feet. A tramp sleeping in the shed was awakened by the man's cries, and gave an alarm. Mr.

William Laxon, collar maker, procured ropes, and Horsepool was rescued uninjured, after having been half an hour in 20 feet of water. He had kept his head above the surface by clinging to the broken sides of the well.

22.-In the Prerogative Court, before Sir J. Dodson, was tried the action Gilbert (administratrix of Woolner) _v._ Hammond. It had reference to granting administration, with will annexed, to the goods of Miss Margaret Creak, of Norwich, who died on June 5th, 1850, possessed of personal property of about 30,000 and realty of the estimated value of 500 per annum. The will bore date January 13th, 1844, and its effect was to leave, with some trifling exceptions, the personal property to Mr.

Woolner, a chemist and druggist, who was also appointed executor. The will was originally propounded by Woolner, who afterwards committed suicide, and his sister, Mrs. Gilbert, now applied for probate, as his administratrix, which was, in the first instance, opposed by Mrs.

Hammond, a cousin-german and one of the next-of-kin of the deceased, but she died during the pendency of the suit, and her husband subsequently took up the case. When the disposition of the property became known, a great many rumours were put in circulation, imputing foul play to Mr.

Woolner, which was the cause of his committing suicide. Judgment was p.r.o.nounced, on Feb. 4th, in favour of the will. The Judge said the relatives had a right to inquire into the transaction, and had they confined themselves within due limits would have been ent.i.tled to costs out of the estate; but they had persisted down to the close of the argument in charges which they had failed to prove, and, therefore, in decreeing probate of the will to Mrs. Gilbert, he must accompany it with the condemnation of Mr. Hammond in 100 costs, _nomine expensarum_.

FEBRUARY.

17.-Mr. C. J. Palmer, at a meeting of the Yarmouth Town Council, called attention to the unsatisfactory condition of the Corporation records, and stated that many of the doc.u.ments in existence in Mans.h.i.+p's time no longer existed, whilst several others belonging to the town were in the hands of private individuals in Norwich. A committee was appointed to examine and schedule the charters and rolls, and to avail themselves of the services of Mr. Henry Harrod, of Norwich, "for their better elucidation and cla.s.sification," at an expense not exceeding 20.