Norfolk Annals Volume I Part 91

12.-Lord Suffield's staghounds met on Crostwight Common. The stag crossed the road to Beeston Hall, and ran thence by Rackheath to Wroxham, Salhouse, Woodbastwick, Ranworth, Burlingham, Upton, and Acle; crossed the Bure and made for Stokesby, Thrigby, and Caister, going within a mile of Yarmouth. He then took to Breydon, where he was secured. Distance from point to point, 18 miles; country covered, from 25 to 30 miles.

16.-At the meeting of the county magistrates, at Norwich, it was decided that in future the Quarter Sessions be adjourned to Swaffham instead of to Lynn.

17.-Died at Diss, in his 83rd year, Mr. Meadows Taylor. "It is a singular fact that Mr. Taylor and his uncle, the late Mr. Meadows, had carried on business as solicitors in the same town and the same house for the long period of 97 years."

19.-Died, Mr. Thomas Bray, farmer, of Diss, aged 79. "He was the sole proprietor of Bray's Diss waggon, which has travelled over the road under the same name for upwards of a century. He was interred on the 26th, when the hea.r.s.e was followed by his children and descendants in eight gigs."

22.-Henry Pettett, a convict under sentence of fifteen years'

transportation for horse stealing, broke out of his cell at Norwich Castle. "He made a rope of his blanket, which he tied round a ring in his cell and the rest round his irons, to prevent their clanking, and let himself down into the arch. Thence he proceeded to the top of the Castle, but suddenly falling down he pitched his head into a bucket, by which he was somewhat seriously injured."

28.-In a letter addressed to the officers, non-commissioned officers, and privates of the Norfolk Yeomanry Cavalry, Lord Sondes announced that the Government had disbanded a great part of the Yeomanry force raised under precisely similar conditions to their own. He added that he had resigned his commission as Major-Commandant, and advised the regiment to disband themselves and not wait to be dismissed. The Lord Lieutenant afterwards appointed Capt. Loftus to the vacant command; and the Dereham troop, partially disorganized by Lord Sondes' resignation, was re-formed in the Eastern division as the Hingham troop, and placed under the command of Captain Ives. The uniform of the regiment at this date "was like that of the 2nd Life Guards, with silver instead of gold lace."

-Sir James Flower, of Eccles Hall, accompanied by Lady Flower, arrived in Norwich to attend the Judges of a.s.size as High Sheriff of Norfolk. He was escorted to the Swan Inn by a cavalcade of farmers. At Attleborough and Wymondham crowds of people welcomed the High Sheriff with bands of music. Throughout the a.s.size week he gave official and other dinners, upon a scale of princely magnificence, and the festivities, for such they were, concluded with a bespeak at the Theatre, where "Mr. Martin sang the song of the Eccles Hunt, 'The Apple-green Coats with the Collars of Blue.'"

30.-Died at Little Walsingham, Mrs. Elizabeth Jackson, aged 82. "She was one of the earliest supporters of the Wesleyan Methodists in Lynn, and often enjoyed the honour of entertaining the venerable founder of the society, the late Rev. John Wesley, Dr. c.o.ke, and others."

31.*-"Last week was buried, at Diss church, Susanna Baldry, widow, in the 104th year of her age. She was born in the year 1734, in the seventh of George II., and was a subject of four Kings and a Queen."

-*"We regret to announce the death, in his 77th year, of Lord Berners, so long known as the sporting Col. Wilson, of Newmarket. His lords.h.i.+p's falconry establishment at Didlington was also well known, as he gave annually several flights of hawks at the Newmarket meetings." His horse Phosphorus won the Derby in 1837. His lords.h.i.+p was succeeded in his t.i.tle and estates by his brother, the Rev. Henry Wilson.

APRIL.

4.-At the Norwich a.s.sizes, before Mr. Baron Bolland, Jonathan Whitley Cooper, gentleman, was placed at the bar charged with the wilful murder of Cornelius Moor, at Catton. Mr. Byles and Mr. Roberts were for the prosecution, and Mr. Fitzroy Kelly, Mr. O'Mally, and Mr. William Cooper for the defence. The jury returned a verdict of not guilty of murder, but guilty of manslaughter. A verdict of acquittal was taken in the further charge against the prisoner of maliciously shooting at a man named Ford. He was sentenced to be imprisoned in the House of Correction for one year.

11.-An election pet.i.tion, presented by Mr. T. O. Springfield and others, against the return of Mr. Edmond Wodehouse and Mr. H. N. Burroughes for East Norfolk, was withdrawn.

16.-The popular burletta, "Jim Crow, or the Flight to America," was produced at Norwich Theatre. Mr. Dunn appeared as Jim Crow, and "gave the celebrated song as sung by him upwards of 3,000 times." "We dare scarcely give our opinion of this composition, finding ourselves, as we do, at such complete variance with the taste of the great Metropolis, which has run wild in ecstatic enthusiasm over this precious piece of jingling nonsense."

18.-Died at Binham, aged 89, Thomas Row, "the last of a body of woolcombers who had been employed there from time immemorial."

23.-The cuckoo was not heard until this date, "being the latest indication of the vernal season since 1767, in which year it did not sing till May 7th, and the latest ever known in 51 years, according to the late Mr. Marsham's observations at Stratton Strawless."

28.-The hearing of the pet.i.tion against the return of Mr. C. E. Rumbold and Mr. William Wilshere, as members for Yarmouth, commenced before a Committee of the House of Commons. "A compromise was effected, by which one of the members vacates, and Mr. Baring is to succeed. Counsel for the pet.i.tioners unfolded a scene of profligate corruption to an unparalleled extent. If the pet.i.tion had been prosecuted with the vindictive feeling and party spirit exhibited on a former occasion, the committals to Newgate would have been so numerous and the prosecutions so sweeping as to have carried ruin into many of the princ.i.p.al families."

At the election, which took place on August 23rd, Mr. Baring was opposed by Mr. Wilshere, and the poll was declared as follows:-Wilshere, 735; Baring, 702. "A poor man who felt much interest in the result of the election declared that if Mr. Baring lost he would hang himself in less than an hour after the poll closed, and he actually did it."

MAY.

7.-Mr. Sinclair, of Drury Lane and Covent Garden, appeared for a short season, commencing on this date, in a round of operatic parts at Norwich Theatre, after an absence of seventeen years.

9.-The Norwich Town Council adopted, on the motion of Mr. Barwell, a memorial to the Board of Trade in favour of the establishment of a school of design.

11.-A Committee of the House of Commons commenced the hearing of the pet.i.tion of Isaac Wiseman and others against the return of the Hon.

Robert Campbell Scarlett and the Marquis of Douro, as members for the city of Norwich. The princ.i.p.al allegations were bribery and corruption and the improper keeping of the poll. On May 12th, after an examination of the poll-books, the Committee pa.s.sed the following resolution:-"That Arthur Wellesley, commonly called the Marquis of Douro, is duly elected; that Robert Campbell Scarlett is not duly elected; and that Benjamin Smith is duly elected, and ought to have been returned." The Orange and Purple Club, at a meeting held at the Norfolk Hotel, on May 30th, under the presidency of Mr. W. J. Utten Browne, voted an address to Mr.

Scarlett, acknowledging the services he had rendered to the Conservative cause.

18.-At a meeting of the Norwich Town Council, Mr. Brightwell moved that a pet.i.tion be presented to the House of Commons in favour of a national system of education. The proposed pet.i.tion stated that "every individual in the country in early life, without regard to sect or party, should be afforded the opportunity of obtaining the elements of useful knowledge and an acquaintance with the sacred Scriptures." Mr. Barwell seconded.

Mr. Seppings moved, as an amendment, the insertion of the clause: "Your pet.i.tioners pray that you will not sanction any schemes of education which do not include with the daily reading of the Holy Scriptures a full measure of religious instruction based upon the Word of G.o.d, nor any general system of national education which does not secure the careful a.s.sistance and superintendence of the National Church." The amendment was negatived, and the original motion adopted.

24.-At Norwich Theatre was performed for the first time a drama ent.i.tled, "The Siege of Lynn." Another new piece was produced on May 31st, called "Pickwick, or the Sayings and Doings of Sam Weller."

26.-John Folker, a mariner, who had seen much active service, died at Lynn at the age of 86. "He was the only survivor of the many Lynn seamen who fought in the memorable battle of April 12th, 1782, when the British Fleet, under the command of Sir George Bridges Rodney (afterwards Lord Rodney), engaged and defeated the French Fleet, under Count de Gra.s.se, in the West Indies. Folker steered Admiral Rodney's flags.h.i.+p through the whole of that eventful conflict. He was buried in St. Margaret's churchyard, and was carried to the grave by six seamen on a bier over which was the Union flag, supported by six naval warriors who had served on board the British Fleet."

JUNE.

2.*-"It was Mr. George Borrow, formerly of this city, who was arrested in Spain for publis.h.i.+ng the Testament in Spanish and the translation of the Gospel of St. Luke into the gipsy language, but was liberated at Sir George Villiers' request. Count Ofalia declared that Mr. Borrow had been discharged from his confinement with unspotted honour and reputation.

He, moreover, ordered the policeman on whose evidence he had been arrested to be punished, and promised the expenses should be paid by the Government."

17.-Upwell church was opened after restoration. The Bishop of Norwich, who preached the sermon, referred to "the boundless munificence of the Rev. W. Gale Townley, through whose exertions and mainly at his expense had been produced one of the most richly ornamented edifices in the kingdom."

19.-Pockthorpe Guild was held at Norwich. "The annual amus.e.m.e.nts took place, and the 'Mayor,' upon taking office, delivered an address on the green at Patteson's Cellar House, to the effect that he would endeavour to remove the duty off tea and sugar, which was received with great cheering. The evening terminated with the accustomed sports, as climbing the greasy pole, grinning through collars, and a variety of other entertainments. The celebration of the anniversary of Pockthorpe Guild can be traced as far back as the year 1772."

28.-The Coronation of Queen Victoria was celebrated in Norwich with great rejoicings. At half-past ten the Mayor and members of the Corporation a.s.sembled at the Free School, and proceeded thence to the Cathedral, where the sermon was preached by the Rev. Samuel Stone, the Mayor's chaplain, from the text, "And who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" (Esther iv. 14.) The "Hallelujah Chorus" was rendered. At noon a troop of the 4th Dragoon Guards, under Major Makepeace, formed up in the Market Place "and fired a _feu de joie_ with their pistols, and afterwards gave three cheers, flouris.h.i.+ng their drawn swords above their heads in honour of the Queen." The officers then retired to the Guildhall, where the Mayor, in the presence of a large company, proposed the Queen's health. The paris.h.i.+oners of St.

Peter Mancroft entertained, at the Corn Exchange, 750 poor persons, and similar feasts were given to the poor of other parishes. One thousand workpeople employed at the Yarn Factory dined in ten parties at ten public-houses, and formed afterwards an imposing procession, with Mr.

Bignold at their head. In the evening the city was illuminated, and there was a grand display of fireworks in the Market Place. The Mayor entertained 160 guests at dinner at Chapel Field House, and the members of the Orange and Purple Club dined at the Theatre, "which, by throwing a flooring of boards from the stage over the pit, was converted into a commodious banqueting room. In the background was a drop scene, giving a view of St. Andrew's Hall on a banqueting day." Mr. W. J. Utten Browne presided, and many ladies who graced the gathering by their attendance were provided with seats in the dress circle. Similar celebrations took place at Yarmouth, Lynn, and other towns in the county. Every village commemorated the event, "and everywhere it was a joyous day, for

The squire's wide hall And the cottage small Were full of good English cheer."

On the 29th the Corporation of Norwich held a special meeting, and voted an address to the Queen, "after a long and angry debate, in consequence of the address containing sentiments in which the Conservative party could not concur." The result was the framing of another address, signed by 5,000 freemen, freeholders, and citizens, praying her Majesty "to preserve inviolate the Union between Church and State."

28.-The Norwich Race Meeting, called on this occasion the "Coronation Races," took place on Mousehold Heath, and was attended by 30,000 spectators.

JULY.

6.-At the county magistrates' meeting, at Norwich, a resolution was adopted for the erection of a new s.h.i.+rehall at Swaffham, and at the meeting on October 9th a committee was appointed to further the scheme, which was estimated to cost 1,750. On January 4th, 1839, the justices ordered the carrying out of plans prepared by Mr. Browne, the cost not to exceed 2,141.

7.*-"A handsome boat, completely fitted out as a phaeton, has been built by Mr. Philip Neale, of St. Giles's Gates, and is now exhibited to the public. It is built for a sporting gentleman, and is capable of containing bedding and luggage, the fore part being enclosed by hatches, and altogether of a novel description."

11.-A meeting of Norwich camlet weavers was held at the Green Hill Gardens, for the purpose of hearing a report from the deputation sent to Yorks.h.i.+re by the union to enquire into the truth of the statement of the employers with reference to the cause of the reduction of wages, namely, the great quant.i.ty of camlets manufactured in and exported from Yorks.h.i.+re. It was resolved, after hearing the deputation, "that the proposed reduction was perfectly unnecessary, and that they were determined to support a strike by all legal means in their power." The business of Mr. Robberds was obstructed by persons being prevented from taking work at reduced prices. On August 27th a number of weavers complained to the magistrates that they had been subjected to intimidation on proceeding to work at Mr. Robberds', and on the 29th they were escorted to the factory by a large force of police. The military were held in readiness in case of disturbance. In consequence of work having been cut from the looms, the houses of all the weavers were strongly guarded.

19.-Mr. Owen, of New Lanark, expounded "his visionary projects for the new organization and cla.s.sification of society," in a series of lectures which commenced at St. Andrew's Hall, Norwich, on this date.

23.-A remarkable case of body-stealing came before the Norwich magistrates. Mary Maxey, the widow of John Maxey, complained that Mr.

George Perowne, a veterinary surgeon, practising in the parish of All Saints, had gone to her house during her absence and removed the body of her husband, who died on July 8th. On the 12th she saw the body at Mr.

Perowne's, where the deceased had formerly worked; and on the 14th she saw it again, but the heart had been taken out and the corpse otherwise "cut and hackled." On the 15th, accompanied by the mourners, she went to take the body away for burial, but Mr. Perowne drove them out of the yard with a gun, alleging that the corpse was his property, and that he had paid for it sixteen years previously. It was afterwards taken to the steeple of All Saints' church, where it remained without a shroud. Mr.

Perowne was too drunk to appear at court on that day, but he was apprehended, and on the 24th taken before the magistrates, to whom he stated that he had purchased the body of the deceased during his lifetime, and contended that it was his property. He had "cut it up" in the interests of science. The magistrates reminded Mr. Perowne that his practice did not require a knowledge of the anatomy of the human body, and that his premises were not licensed for anatomical studies. Mr.

Perowne replied that he was a member of St. Bartholomew's Hospital. The Bench committed him for trial at the a.s.sizes, which were held on August 6th, before Mr. Justice Littledale, who said he understood that no bill would be presented in the case. The accused was called upon and formally discharged.

30.-Mr. Farren, of Drury Lane and Covent Garden, commenced a six nights'

engagement at Norwich Theatre, as Lord Ogleby ("The Clandestine Marriage"). His other characters were Uncle Foozle, Sir Peter Teazle, Pierre Galliard ("The Soldier of 102"), Admiral Kingston ("Naval Engagements"), Robert Bramble ("The Poor Gentleman"), Odbody ("Advice Gratis"), Sir Abel Hardy ("Speed the Plough"), &c. Mr. Farren afterwards performed at Yarmouth Theatre.