Norfolk Annals Volume I Part 75

11.-The new Beer Bill came into operation. At Lynn "the day was kept as a jubilee by all the devotees of Sir John Barleycorn. Nearly 50 new houses were opened for the sale of beer, and drunkenness, rioting, and fighting were prevalent in many of the streets."

23.-Mr. J. G. Johnson was elected a.s.sistant-surgeon at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital, in place of Mr. B. H. Norgate, appointed one of the surgeons.

-A county meeting was held at the s.h.i.+rehall, Norwich, at which it was decided to pet.i.tion Parliament for the repeal of the duty on malt. Great disorder was occasioned by an operative in the gallery exhibiting a placard bearing the words, "Englishmen, remember the expensive and b.l.o.o.d.y reign of George III."

NOVEMBER.

2.-A common hall was held at the Guildhall, Norwich, for the purpose of pet.i.tioning the Legislature for the repeal of the duty on coals. The requisition had been signed wholly by persons of the "Purple and Orange"

party, much opposition resulted, and the meeting dissolved in confusion.

10.-Mr. Edward Hall Alderson, son of the Recorder of Norwich, and Mr.

John Patteson, son of the Rev. Henry Patteson, of Drinkstone, Suffolk, and nephew of Mr. Alderman Patteson, of Norwich, were appointed Judges of the High Court.

-On this date began the machine-breaking riots and stack firing, which gradually extended over the greater part of the county. The first fire occurred on the farm of Mr. J. Hill, of Briston, and a reward of 1,000 was offered by Sir Jacob Astley for the discovery of the offenders. On the 16th a mob destroyed the agricultural machinery belonging to Mr. John Girling, of Paston. The outrages became so numerous that the princ.i.p.al agriculturists got rid of their thres.h.i.+ng-machines, and Col. Wodehouse, the Lieutenant of the County, issued a circular to the magistrates, requesting them to swear in special constables in every parish. At Melton Constable, on the 22nd, it was feared that an attack would be made upon the Hall, but the gentlemen in the neighbourhood went to the a.s.sistance of Sir Jacob Astley, and, meeting the rioters at Hindolvestone, seized the ringleaders and conveyed them to Walsingham Bridewell. Another mob a.s.sembled on the 23rd, and further arrests were made. The High Sheriff (the Hon. G. J. Milles), antic.i.p.ating a further attack, despatched a messenger to Elmham Park, requesting the a.s.sistance of the gentlemen of the Norfolk Hunt, who had a meet there that day. The summons was immediately obeyed, and the hors.e.m.e.n, on arriving at Melton Constable, dispersed the rioters and made several arrests. The same day detachments of the 1st Royal Dragoons were sent from Norwich to do duty in the disturbed districts. At Norwich, on the 29th, the mob destroyed the sawmills of Mr. Calver, at New Catton, and the looms at Messrs.

Willett's factory in St. Martin's, and broke the windows of the silk factory. The Sheriffs and the magistrates were in daily and nightly attendance at the Guildhall, and the Chelsea pensioners in the city, to the number of 200, were called out to a.s.sist in preserving the peace. On December 4th the county of Norfolk was included in his Majesty's proclamation, offering a reward of 50 in respect of every person convicted of any outrage upon property. At the Norfolk Quarter Sessions, held on December 18th, two Committees were appointed, one for East and the other for West Norfolk, "to arrange and put the constabulary force on the most efficient footing to preserve the peace and protect the persons and property of the inhabitants of the county." The thanks of the Court were given to the 1st Royals for their services, and to the Mayor and magistrates of Norwich for their cordial co-operation with the county authorities in the suppression of the disturbances.

20.-A whale, which had stranded upon a sandbank four miles below the harbour, was landed on the common staith at King's Lynn. "It was placed on two trucks, dragged by six horses, and measured 21 ft. 3 in. in length, and 13 ft. 6 in. in circ.u.mference."

25.-Mr. Robert Grant, one of the members for Norwich, having accepted the office of Judge Advocate under the new Administration, a fresh election was rendered necessary, and the writ was received on this date. The right hon. gentleman was returned unopposed on November 30th. He was afterwards appointed a Government Commissioner for the affairs of India.

DECEMBER.

6.-Died at his house, St. Giles' Terrace, Norwich, Joseph Stannard, artist.

11*.-"On Sunday, November 7th, were deposited in Lakenham churchyard the remains of Elizabeth Watts, aged 24 years; and on the 28th of the same month a brother of the deceased died. He expressed the wish to be buried in the same grave with his sister. It was found that the grave had been opened and the body of the sister taken away. The shroud remained."

11.-Died, in consequence of a fall from his horse, the Very Rev. Edward Mellish, M.A., formerly of Trinity College, Cambridge, rector of East Tuddenham, vicar of Honingham, and Dean of Hereford.

16.-Died at Costessey, Captain William Bolton, R.N., eldest son of the Rev. William Bolton, "and one of the few surviving Norfolk heroes who accompanied Nelson in his deeds of fame."

18.-It was announced that Mr. Robert Alderson had resigned the Recorders.h.i.+p of Norwich. Mr. Isaac Preston, Steward of the city, was, on the 23rd, appointed to fill the vacancy. Mr. Fitzroy Kelly was appointed Steward on February 3rd, and presented with the freedom of the city on April 29th, 1831.

-Official notification was given of the completion of the Gas Works at Bishop Bridge, Norwich, and of the extended service of gas in the city.

24.-A frost commenced on Christmas-eve, and became so intense that in the course of forty-eight hours the mill-streams and rivers were frozen over, and navigation between Norwich and Yarmouth was obstructed by ice. On the night of the 26th the thermometer fell to zero, "a degree of cold never before observed in this country." On the 27th there was a sudden change, and on the 31st the thermometer stood at 48 degrees.

25.-Died at Lakenham Grove, aged 74, Mr. Joseph Gurney, banker, of Norwich. At the funeral in the Gildencroft burial-ground, "Mr. J. J.

Gurney and Mrs. Fry offered up impressive prayers."

1831.

JANUARY.

1.-The non-commissioned officers and privates of the 1st Royal Dragoons were entertained by public subscription at dinner at the a.s.sembly Rooms, East Dereham, in recognition of their services during the recent disturbances.

5.-Died at Hilborough Hall, aged 54, Mr. Ralph Caldwell. "He was among the first promoters of the Norfolk Foxhunting Society."

-The calendar of the Norfolk Quarter Sessions contained the names of 205 prisoners, of whom 108 were indicted for taking part in the machine-breaking riots during November and December, 1830. The trials, which took place before Mr. Serjeant Frere, Lord Suffield, and other magistrates, concluded on the 12th. Sixty-seven of the rioters were found guilty of machine-breaking, and 41 were acquitted or otherwise discharged. One was sentenced to 14 years' transportation; 8 to seven years; 1 to two years' imprisonment; 1 to fifteen months; 4 to one year; 5 to nine months; 10 to six months; 6 to four months; 14 to three months; 8 to two months; 4 to one month, and 1 to fourteen days. Fifty were charged with rioting and other outrages. Of these, 18 were discharged on their own recognisances; 9 were acquitted, and 23 convicted. One was sentenced to imprisonment for two and a half years; 2 for two years; 3 for eighteen months; 4 for one year; 2 for six months; 3 for four months; 4 for three months; 2 for one month; 1 for three weeks; and 1 for one week. There were reserved for a higher tribunal three capital offences of machine-breaking, and five or six cases of arson.

17.-At the Norwich Quarter Sessions, an indictment was preferred against one William Lamb, for receiving a bribe at the election of Mr. Alderman Steward. The Grand Jury made a presentment that the bill of indictment should have included Mr. Charles Turner and Mr. Samuel Woodc.o.c.k Mealing, as there was conclusive evidence that they had bribed the defendant. The Recorder (Mr. Preston) adjourned the case until January 31st. A further adjournment was made till February 1st, when the Recorder, after a long legal argument with counsel, decided that the case could not proceed. A rule absolute was obtained in the Court of King's Bench against Mr.

Mealing, and the case came on for trial before Lord Lyndhurst at the Norwich a.s.sizes on July 29th, when the jury found the defendant guilty, and recommended him to mercy. In the Court of King's Bench, on November 8th, an unsuccessful motion was made for arrest of judgment. Finally the defendant appeared before that Court on November 23rd, and was sentenced by Mr. Justice Parke to pay a fine of 100.

19.-The honorary freedom of the city was conferred upon the Right Hon.

Lord Viscount Sidmouth, on the occasion of a visit to his son-in-law, the Hon. and Very Rev. the Dean of Norwich.

-The agitation for Parliamentary Reform began at Norwich, this year, with a meeting held at St. Andrew's Hall, when resolutions were pa.s.sed in favour of the measure. On March 19th the Right Hon. Robert Grant, member for Norwich, presented in the House of Commons a pet.i.tion signed by 7,000 citizens in support of the Bill, and Sir William ffolkes presented similar pet.i.tions from the inhabitants of the several Hundreds in the county. A great meeting took place at St Andrew's Hall on September 29th, at which it was decided to pet.i.tion the House of Lords on behalf of the Bill, on the ground "that the tranquillity and happiness of this kingdom depend on the complete pa.s.sing of this great national measure."

The Bill having been thrown out by the Peers, a requisition was presented to the Mayor of Norwich for a Common Hall, which was held at St. Andrew's Hall on October 18th. A procession, headed by bands of music, started from the Castle Ditches at ten o'clock, and, after parading the streets of the city, arrived at the Hall at noon. About 5,000 persons were present, and the Mayor presided. Mr. Thomas Bignold, jun., one of the princ.i.p.al speakers, moved a series of resolutions expressive of the "ardent hope that such const.i.tutional measures as may be completely effectual for the attainment of this most important object will be forthwith adopted by his Majesty, under the advice and with the a.s.sistance of his Ministers." An address founded on the resolutions was ordered to be presented to the King. A county meeting took place at the s.h.i.+rehall on November 19th, under the presidency of Mr. Anthony Hamond, "for the purpose of expressing confidence in his Majesty's Ministers, and of adopting such proceedings as may be deemed expedient to forward the great measure of Reform." On the 26th was issued for signature "the Norfolk Declaration" which expressed "alarm at the extensive innovations proposed by the late Reform Bill," and grat.i.tude to the House of Lords for "generously exercising the prerogative power vested in them for the good of the people, and for refusing to concur in so dangerous an experiment." The year's agitation closed with the issue, on December 3rd, of another Declaration, "founded on a const.i.tutional basis and manifesting a conciliatory spirit." This movement was known as "the Conservative Reform." (The word "Conservative," in the political sense, was, on this occasion, used locally for the first time.)

21.-At the county magistrates' meeting, Mr. John Stracey reintroduced the subject of the removal of the Lent a.s.sizes from Thetford to Norwich, and announced that Lord Chancellor Brougham had addressed to the Lieutenant of the County a letter, in which he promised to advise the Secretary of State to cause the a.s.sizes to be held in future at Norwich. On February 1st the Corporation of Norwich pet.i.tioned the Lord Chancellor in favour of the removal. On March 9th the Home Office intimated that the Judges of a.s.size for the Norfolk Circuit proposed to hold an adjourned a.s.sizes for the trial of eight prisoners at Norwich on March 24th. The a.s.sizes were held accordingly on that date by adjournment from Thetford.

26.-Died at his house in Portland Place, London, aged 86, Mr. Richard Paul Jodrell, F.R.S., F.A.S., D.C.L., formerly member of Parliament for the borough of Seaford. "It may be regarded as an almost unprecedented instance, that Mr. Jodrell had lived to be in possession of his paternal estates 80 years, his father having died at an early age in 1751." He was distinguished as a scholar, and as author of "The Ill.u.s.trations of Euripides" and other literary works. Mr. Jodrell was the last surviving member of Dr. Johnson's Club.

FEBRUARY.

12.-Died at St. George Colegate, Norwich, James Horth, aged 42. "He was a journeyman dyer, but devoted his leisure hours to the highest branches of mathematical science; his knowledge of astronomy was profound; he was deeply read in the modern a.n.a.lysis of the French, and possessed the esteem of some of the most celebrated mathematicians of this country."

13.-Died at Bath, Sir Edward Berry, Bart., K.C.B., Rear-Admiral of the Red. He was born in 1768, and was fourth son of a London merchant. On December 12th, 1797, he married Louisa, eldest daughter of the Rev.

Samuel Forster, D.D., then head-master of the Norwich Free Grammar School. At the restoration of peace, in 1814, Sir Edward returned to Norfolk, and took up his residence at Catton, where he remained some years. Thence he proceeded to Bath, for the benefit of his health. He was buried at Walcot Church, Bath, on February 22nd.

14.-Died, aged 74, Mr. William Betts, Lieutenant and Quartermaster in the West Norfolk Militia. He entered the service as a private on April 29th, 1778; was appointed Corporal, July 18th, 1780; Sergeant, June 10th, 1790; Quarter-master, April 23rd, 1803, and held the appointment till June 24th, 1829, after a total service of 51 years 57 days.

19.*-[Advt.] "The annual grand main of c.o.c.ks, between the gentlemen of Norfolk and the gentlemen of Suffolk, will be fought at the Maid's Head Inn, St. Simon's, Norwich, on Tuesday, March 8th, and two following days (three double-days' play), for 10 a battle and 100 the main. To commence fighting each day in the morning at 12 o'clock, in the evening at seven. Feeders: Stafford for Norfolk; Nash for Suffolk."

23.-Died at his house, at Thorpe, Mr. Michael Stark, aged 83. "Mr. Stark was a native of Scotland, and descended from an ancient and honourable family in the county of Fife. He was apprenticed to a dyer, and, having been engaged in London, was induced to come to Norwich. To Mr. Stark Norwich was indebted for the introduction of many valuable discoveries and improvements which tended considerably to the success of its manufactures."

27.-Died at the Royal Military College, Bagshot, Captain Charles Stone, paymaster at that inst.i.tution, aged 84. He was a native of Norwich, and served in the 16th Light Dragoons, which he accompanied to America in 1775, and was personally concerned in the taking of General Lee. On his pa.s.sage home from America, in 1781, he was captured in the British Channel by a French privateer, and carried to France, where he was detained a prisoner 12 months. In 1784 he was appointed Adjutant of the 16th, and in due time attained the rank of Captain. He was appointed paymaster of the College in 1802, and resigned in 1827.

MARCH.

2.-The freedom of the city was presented to the Hon. and Very Rev. G.

Pellew, D.D., Dean of Norwich.

6.-Died at Dulwich College, aged 66, the Rev. Ozias Thurston Linley, A.B., a junior fellow of that inst.i.tution, and formerly a Minor Canon of Norwich Cathedral. He was the eldest son of Mr. Thomas Linley, patentee of Drury Lane Theatre, and brother of Mrs. Sheridan, the first wife of Richard Brinsley Sheridan.

21.-The elections for the Common Council commenced at Norwich. "They were conducted upon correct principles, the voters were left free from the temptation of corruption, and the result was the renewed ascendancy of the 'Orange and Purple' party, who won the representation of three wards out of four."