Norfolk Annals Volume Ii Part 17

6.-The celebrated dwarf, "General Tom Thumb," held a series of "levees"

at St. Andrew's Hall, Norwich, commencing on this date. "The General left the Hall daily in his miniature carriage, drawn by the smallest ponies in the world, and attended by an African coachman and footman in livery."

19.-A clipper barque named the Athelstan, of 500 tons burthen, was launched from the yard of Messrs. H. Fellows and Son, Yarmouth.

29.-The General Election, consequent upon the defeat of the Derby Ministry on the Reform Bill and the Dissolution of Parliament on April 23rd, commenced in Norfolk on this date. At Yarmouth Sir Edmund Lacon (C) and Sir H. Stracey (C) were returned, with 699 and 659 votes respectively. The Liberal candidates were Mr. A. W. Young, 536, and Mr.

E. W. Watkin, 568.

-The nomination of candidates for the representation of Norwich took place at the Guildhall. The Conservative candidates were Sir Samuel Bignold and Mr. Charles Manners Lus.h.i.+ngton; and the Liberal candidates Mr. W. H. Schneider and Lord Bury. The Mayor announced at the Police-Court that, having received information that probable attempts would be made to prevent voters from exercising their rights, he had obtained the a.s.sistance of a large body of county police, and had telegraphed to Sir Richard Mayne to supply a strong party of Metropolitan constables. The poll was opened on the 30th, and the election resulted as follows: Bury, 2,154; Schneider, 2,138; Bignold, 1,966; Lus.h.i.+ngton, 1,900. (_See_ June 17th.)

-The Earl of Euston and Mr. Baring were returned without opposition as members of Parliament for Thetford. Mr. J. J. Colman, of Norwich, had been invited to become a candidate in the Liberal interest, but declined.

The register contained the names of 220 electors.

-Lord Stanley (C) and Mr. J. H. Gurney (L) were returned unopposed for King's Lynn.

MAY.

2.-Mr. Edward Howes (C) and Col. Wenman C. W. c.o.ke (L) were returned unopposed for the division of East Norfolk.

4.-The Governors elected the Rev. Augustus Jessopp, of St. John's College, Cambridge, head master of Helston Grammar School, to be head master of Norwich Grammar School.

6.-Mr. George William Pierrepont Bentinck (C) and Mr. Brampton Gurdon (L) were returned without opposition members for West Norfolk.

16.-The Mayor of Norwich, in compliance with a requisition, convened a Common Hall, at which a loyal address to the Queen was adopted, praying that there should be no interference in the war which had arisen on the Continent, but at the same time a.s.suring her Majesty of the readiness of the citizens of Norwich to uphold the honour and dignity of her Crown under any circ.u.mstances that might arise.

17.-At a meeting of the Norwich Town Council, Mr. J. H. Tillett moved that a pet.i.tion be presented to Parliament praying for a full, searching, and impartial inquiry into corrupt and illegal practices at elections for members of Parliament for Norwich. The motion was adopted, and a committee appointed to draft the pet.i.tion, which was presented for the approval of the Council on June 21st. It a.s.serted that extensive and systematic bribery was practised; that it was rumoured a fund was raised in London prior to the last General Election for election purposes, and a considerable contribution from that fund was sent down to Norwich for the purpose of being used at the late election; and that a large sum of money had been subscribed in Norwich for the same purpose. The Council adopted the pet.i.tion, and requested Mr. J. Bright, M.P., to present it to the House of Commons. The pet.i.tion was presented on July 11th, and was ordered to lie upon the table. At a meeting of the Town Council on July 19th, it was agreed "That it be referred to a special committee to consider the propriety and expediency of applying in the next Session of Parliament for an Act for better regulating the election of members to serve in Parliament." The Special Committee reported on August 8th, and recommended the Council to resolve that as soon as it should be known that an election for a member or members was to take place, the candidates with their influential and active supporters, to the number of not less than twenty on each side, be called upon to sign a declaration pledging themselves to abstain, both directly and indirectly, from and to discountenance treating and every form of corrupt or illegal practice or expenditure, and also engaging not to practice canva.s.sing; that in case of infraction of the above-named, it be referred to the Right Hon.

William E. Gladstone, M.P., and the Right Hon. Spencer Horatio Walpole, M.P., as referees, or to such third person as they might name, to determine whether the understanding had been honourably carried out or not, and the member or members returned should be bound to abide by such decision and to resign his or their seats if it were adjudged that his or their election was secured or promoted by the violation of such understanding, and that the other candidates and parties subscribing such declaration should also abide by the decision of such referees or umpire.

The report was adopted, and a committee appointed to give effect to it.

On October 29th a meeting was held at the Guildhall, convened by the following circular, issued by the Mayor (Mr. Middleton) and the Deputy-Mayor (Mr. Field): "Having heard from various quarters that an unusual effort will be made by each political party to secure the majority at the approaching munic.i.p.al elections, we take upon ourselves the responsibility of asking our fellow-citizens to meet . . . with the view of saving the city, if possible, from a repet.i.tion of those disgraceful proceedings which have recently taken place in Norwich." At the meeting the Deputy-Mayor moved the following resolution: "That, in the opinion of this meeting, the business of the Town Council and the Corporation of Guardians ought henceforth to be conducted without reference to political interests, but alone with the view of promoting the best interests of the citizens." The discussion showed that the principle of the resolution was not agreeable to the meeting, whereupon Mr. Field withdrew it, and the proceedings ended.

23.-Miss G.o.ddard, a tragic actress of some repute, appeared at Norwich Theatre, in the character of Hamlet. "Hamlet is now played by a woman,"

wrote the critic, "infinitely better than it has been played by almost any of the opposite s.e.x who have ever attempted it."

24.-The Queen's birthday was celebrated in Norwich by the entertainment at dinner at St. Andrew's Hall, of nearly 700 of the poor of the city, at the joint expense of the Mayor and Sheriff.

26.-A _dejeuner_ was given at the Town Hall, Yarmouth, in honour of the Bight Rev. Dr. Hills, Bishop of Columbia, and formerly inc.u.mbent of the parish, who was presented with an address and several gifts by the townspeople.

-The Volunteer movement commenced in Norfolk on this date. A public meeting, convened by the Mayor of Norwich, by request of the Lord Lieutenant of the county, was held at the s.h.i.+rehall. It was decided that the inhabitants of the city and neighbourhood be invited to enrol themselves as active and honorary members of the Norwich Rifle Corps Club. All members were to provide their own uniform, the expense of which was not to exceed 3 or 4, and if the Government did not provide arms, the Committee would a.s.sist in individual cases to such an extent as the funds would permit. Honorary members were to pay an annual subscription of one guinea. The drill required from active members was not to exceed two hours a day on three days a week, and they were a.s.sured that "on no occasion could they be called from Norwich except in case of actual invasion or rebellion." Many Volunteers were enrolled at the conclusion of the meeting. Similar meetings were held in all the towns of the county, and the movement soon became general. At an adjourned meeting, held at the s.h.i.+rehall, Norwich, on July 2nd, and presided over by Lieut.-Col. FitzRoy, "to consider the best patterns for the clothing and accoutrements of the Rifle Corps in the towns throughout the county,"

it was resolved, "That the uniform for the city of Norwich and the boroughs in the county be a gray cloth tunic coat with black mohair braid and b.u.t.tons down the centre, with a low, upright collar, and trousers of the same colour and material, and with a shako of hair cloth of the same colour as the uniform, that a plume be worn, and that the appointments be a patent leather black waistbelt, with pouch bags; the officers' dress to be distinguished by some embroidery above the cuff of the coat and by a pouch-belt, with bronzed whistle and chain, and a slung waistbelt, with sword and steel scabbard." A general meeting of the members of the three companies formed in Norwich-the Mayor's Company, the Sheriff's Company, and Mr. Hay Gurney's Company-was held at the Guildhall, on July 5th, when the officers were elected as follows: For the Mayor's Company, Mr. R.

Seaman lieutenant, and Mr. A. J. Cresswell ensign. For the Sheriff's Company, Mr. Henry Morgan lieutenant, and Mr. Charles Foster ensign. For Mr. Hay Gurney's Company, Mr. Croker lieutenant, and Mr. Charles Henry Gurney ensign. The captains were respectively Mr. Middleton (Mayor), Mr.

H. S. Patteson (Sheriff), and Mr. Hay Gurney. In the month of September two additional companies were formed, one commanded by Mr. J. H. Orde, with Mr. E. P. Youell as lieutenant and Mr. J. Tomlinson as ensign; and the other by Mr. William Swatman (brevet colonel), with Mr. F. J.

Cresswell as lieutenant. The first public parade of the corps took place on October 7th, when the muster was 220, and "Capt. Black, an honorary member of the corps, kindly consented to put them through their evolutions on the Cricket Field." Mr. Simms Reeve, the honorary secretary, announced on November 5th that long Enfield rifles had been supplied by Government free of cost; and on December 5th, at a general meeting of the corps, Major Brett was elected Major Commandant.

JUNE.

17.-A pet.i.tion against the return of Lord Bury and Mr. Schneider as members of Parliament for Norwich, was presented in the House of Commons.

Bribery and other corrupt and illegal practices were alleged. The Special Committee appointed to inquire into the pet.i.tion sat on July 29th, and on July 30th decided "That the election of Lord Bury and Mr.

Schneider was a void election, and that both, by their agents, were guilty of bribery." Sir Samuel Bignold, on his return from London, on the 30th, was welcomed by an immense crowd at Thorpe Station, and, escorted by a torch-light procession headed by a band of music, his carriage was dragged in triumph to his residence in Surrey Street.

23.-A writ was issued for the election of a member of Parliament for Norwich, in consequence of a vacancy caused in the representation of the city by the acceptance of the appointment of Comptroller of Her Majesty's Household by Viscount Bury. The nomination took place at the Guildhall, on the 28th, when the candidates were Viscount Bury, Sir Samuel Bignold, and Col. Henry George Baldero. The show of hands was in favour of Lord Bury, and a poll was demanded on behalf of Sir Samuel Bignold and Col.

Baldero. The poll was opened on the 29th, and declared on the 30th, as follows: Bury, 1,922; Bignold, 1,561; Baldero, 39. Lord Bury was declared elected. (_See_ March 9th, 1860.)

JULY.

3.-Died in London, in his 90th year, the Right Rev. Dr. Maltby, formerly Bishop of Durham. He was born in the parish of St. George Tombland, Norwich, on April 9th, 1770, and at the age of nine years was sent to the Free Grammar School, then under the masters.h.i.+p of Dr. Parr. On the resignation of Dr. Parr, Maltby, who was then head boy, proceeded to Winchester, and entering Pembroke Hall, Cambridge, he there gained a University scholars.h.i.+p. He was seventh or eighth wrangler and first medallist, and obtained a prize for Greek epigrams. Maltby afterwards became domestic chaplain to the Bishop of Lincoln. He was author of "Sermons on the Christian Religion," and editor of Morell's "Thesaurus,"

and wrote a very learned and judicious book on "Divinity." He held one of the prebends of Lincoln Cathedral and the living of Brickdon. In 1831 he was consecrated Bishop of Chichester, and was translated to Durham in 1836. Under Act of Parliament he resigned the latter see in September, 1856, and was allowed an annuity of 4,500.

7.-Died at Roydon Rectory, the Rev. Temple Frere, canon of Westminster and rector of Roydon, aged 78. He was son of Mr. John Frere, for some years member of Parliament for Norwich, and took his B.A. degree at Trinity College, Cambridge, in 1802, as eighth junior optime, migrating afterwards to Downing College. Ordained deacon in 1804 and priest in 1805, he was presented, in 1820, to the family living of Roydon (valued at 400), which he held until his death. He owned the greater part of Diss, and was an active magistrate in that division of the county.

Having served some time as chaplain of the House of Commons, he was gazetted to a canonry in Westminster Abbey in 1838. Canon Frere was remarkable for his businesslike habits, and is said to have considerably improved in value the Abbey estates.

12.-The new "marine promenade" at Wells-next-the-Sea, for which the town was indebted to the Earl of Leicester, was opened on this date. The work of construction was commenced in March, 1857. The length of the embankment is 1 mile 132 yards, and its height at the highest part 22 ft.

6 in.

14.-A fire occurred on the premises of Mr. n.o.ble, organ builder, Pottergate Street, Norwich. The entire stock was destroyed. The building adjoined the hospital for invalids of the West Norfolk Militia.

"Ten sick Militiamen escaped from the house in great alarm, and only partially dressed."

18.-Messrs. Butcher, of Norwich, commenced the sale of the Earl of Orford's estates; the proceedings concluded on the 21st. The Tivetshall estate realised 73,775; the Saxthorpe estate, 99,740; the Briston and Corpusty estate, 8,427; and the Burnham and Weybourne estate, 6,182.

AUGUST.

3.-Mr. Spurgeon made his first appearance in Norwich, on his mission for procuring funds to erect a "monstre tabernacle in London to accommodate the immense congregations drawn together by his peculiar pulpit oratory."

About 2,500 persons a.s.sembled at St. Andrew's Hall to hear his sermon.

In the evening Mr. Spurgeon preached in the open air, in Chapel Field, to a congregation of more than 10,000. "The collection at the afternoon service amounted to 28, which Mr. Spurgeon took occasion to say, in introducing another collection in the evening, was the shabbiest collection he had ever had." In the evening 23 was contributed.

12.-The Donegal Militia, 300 strong, arrived at Yarmouth, in the ss.

Himalaya. Lieut.-Col. Lord Claud Hamilton was in command of the regiment, which relieved the Louth Rifles (Militia).

13.-A meeting of landowners and others interested in a proposed line of railway from Norwich to Aylsham and Cromer was held at the Royal Hotel, Norwich, under the presidency of Sir Henry Stracey, Bart., M.P. The meeting favoured the scheme, and appointed a provisional committee.

18.-The first recorded angling match took place on this date, at Limpenhoe Reach, on the Yare, for prizes given by Mr. C. J. Greene, of Rose Lane, Norwich. The total weight of fish taken by the 28 compet.i.tors in the course of eight hours was 16 st. 7 lbs. 1 oz. Mr. G. Harman secured first prize, with a catch of 33 lbs. 3 ozs.

28.-A remarkable case of protracted abstinence from food was discovered at St. Faith's. A man, who gave the name of William Watling, of Felmingham, aged 60, was found in a prostrate and apparently dying condition in a plantation. His statement was to the effect that five weeks previously, when tramping the country, he was overcome with heat and crawled into the plantation. From that spot, he declared, he had not moved for five weeks, and although persons pa.s.sed very near the wood, he failed, in consequence of physical exhaustion, to attract their attention. He had neither food nor drink during the whole time, and ate nothing but the gra.s.s and leaves around him, and a few blackberries.

"His bones almost protruded through his skin, and his flesh was nearly all dried up." The medical opinion was that he would not recover, but there is no further record of the case.

31.-The ceremony of laying the first stone of the new church of Holy Trinity, Norwich, was performed by the Mayor (Mr. Middleton). A special service was held at St. Peter Mancroft, when the sermon was preached by the Ven. Archdeacon Bouverie, and, after the laying of the stone, a large gathering was held in a temporary building adjoining the site. (_See_ August 8th, 1861.)

SEPTEMBER.