Norfolk Annals Volume Ii Part 34

6.-A collision occurred off Happisburgh, between the screw steamer Swan, of and for Newcastle, and the paddle steamer Seagull, of Hull. The Seagull, which foundered, with the loss of a pa.s.senger, was valued at 15,000, and her cargo at 10,000.

13.-During a run of the Norfolk and Suffolk Harriers over land at West Tofts, in the occupation of Mr. Colman, the hare was shot by a gamekeeper in the service of that gentleman. During the altercation which ensued Mr. Colman appeared, and blows were exchanged between the members of the Hunt and himself. Reinforcements came to Mr. Column's a.s.sistance, and the engagement became general, the conflict ending in favour of the Hunt.

At the Norfolk a.s.sizes, on March 31st. before Mr. Baron Martin, was tried the action, Colman _v._ Larkman, in which the plaintiff claimed damages for injury done to his crops and fences and for being a.s.saulted with a hunting-whip by the defendant. The special jury gave a verdict for the plaintiff, damages 50.

15.-Died at his residence, St. Giles' Street, Norwich, Mr. Arthur Dalrymple, who had held the office of Clerk of the Peace since 1856. He was a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, a lover of science and art, and possessed a unique and valuable collection of Norfolk portraits.

19.-In the Court of Exchequer, before the Lord Chief Baron, Messrs. Henry Morgan and others, as a.s.signees of the estate and effects of Messrs.

Riches and Watts, engineers, of Norwich, brought a claim against William Cafferata, engineer, of Newark, for the recovery of 5,000 damages which had been sustained by the estate of the bankrupts by reason of the explosion of a steam boiler which they purchased of the defendant and had supplied to Mr. Richard John Stark. It was warranted to be of the very best metal, but was really of inferior quality, and burst with disastrous consequences. The defendant accepted a verdict against himself of 2,000 damages.

20.-Died at Portsmouth, Rear-Admiral Robert Sharpe, K.T.S., aged 76 years. A native of Tunstead, he entered the Navy in 1807, on board the Mars (Captain Lukin), and retired with the rank of Rear-Admiral in 1865.

"Whilst in command of the Siska, he conducted the King of Musquito from Blasford to Belize to be crowned."

MARCH.

8.-Died at Thetford, in his 73rd year, Mr. Isaac Carr. He was described as "a veteran politician of the old school, who was deputed some two years since by Mr. Harvey, M.P., to compile a history of Thetford, which he had not completed at the time of his death."

9.-The ceremony of laying the foundation-stone of the new dock at Lynn was performed by Mrs. Jarvis, wife of Mr. L. W. Jarvis, chairman of the Dock Company. (_See_ July 7th, 1869.)

10.-The first screw steamboat built in Norwich was launched from Field's boatbuilding yard, Carrow Abbey. She was named the Alexandra, and was intended for pa.s.senger traffic on the local rivers. Mr. John Hart Boughen was the owner of the vessel.

-Mr. Elijah Crosier Bailey was appointed Clerk of the Peace for the city and county of the city of Norwich.

-The Norwich Town Council, on the motion of Mr. Field, adopted a resolution affirming the desirability of arranging with the Board of Guardians for the collection by one set of paid collectors of all the public rates within the corporate district of Norwich. On April 21st the Town Council adopted the report of a joint committee of the Corporation and the Guardians, who recommended that the corporate district be divided into eight districts; that the then four collectors be retained at the salary of 140 per year each; that four new collectors be appointed, at the salary of 100 a year each; that in future two poor rates be made yearly, namely, one in January and one in July, both of such rates to be collected in two instalments, the first in January and July, and the second in April and October; and that a like arrangement be made as to the making and collection of the rates of the Board of Health. This arrangement was known as the consolidation of the rates.

27.-Died at North Creake, in his 71st year, the Ven. R. E. Hankinson, M.A., Archdeacon of Norwich. He was educated at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, where he took his B.A. degree in 1821, and was ordained in the same year by Bishop Bathurst, of Norwich. For some years he was minister of Well Walk Chapel, Hampstead; in 1847 was presented by the Dean and Chapter of Norwich to the inc.u.mbency of St. Margaret and St. Nicholas, King's Lynn, which he held until 1863, when he was presented to the rectory of North Creake; and was appointed to the Archdeaconry of Norwich in 1857. He was succeeded by the Rev. Augustus Macdonald Hopper, honorary canon and rural dean, and proctor for the Archdeaconries of Norfolk and Norwich, who was collated on April 26th.

31.-At the Norfolk Hotel, Norwich, a meeting of the Conservative and Const.i.tutional a.s.sociation pa.s.sed a resolution condemnatory of Mr.

Gladstone's resolutions on the Irish Church. Many meetings were held for the same purpose in different parts of the county, and on April 23rd the Norwich Diocesan Church a.s.sociation recorded its protest against the measure.

APRIL.

8.-A complimentary dinner, attended by about 150 gentlemen, was given to Lord Hastings at the Royal Hotel, Norwich, in recognition of the successful manner in which he had hunted the East Norfolk Foxhounds.

13.-The English Grand Opera Company, managed by Mr. G. B. Loveday and Mr.

Oliver Summers, commenced a season's engagement at Norwich Theatre.

Madame Haigh-Dyer was the _prima donna_, and Mr. Henry Haigh and Mr.

Henry Rowland were members of the company. The works produced included "Un Ballo in Maschira," "Fidelio," "Masaniello," "Faust," "Lurline," "Il Trovatore," "Satanella," "Rose of Castile," and "Crown Diamonds."

14.-The headquarters of the 15th Hussars marched from Norwich Cavalry Barracks, _en route_ to York.

17.-East Raynham church was re-opened, after restoration. The Marquis Townshend had entirely rebuilt the nave, at the cost of upwards of 4,000, and the rector, the Rev. R. Phayre, the chancel, at the cost of 1,000. The work was commenced in May, 1866, by the contractor, Mr.

William Hubbard, of East Dereham.

25.-Died at Ballycroy, Ballina, co. Mayo, where he had occupied an extensive farm, Mr. T. J. Birch, Judge of the Norfolk County Court circuit. The second son of Mr. Wyrley Birch, of Wretham Hall, he was born prior to the settlement of the family in the county. He was educated at Eton, and having graduated at Oxford, entered the Inner Temple, and was called to the Bar on November 18th, 1831. His first official connection with the county was as a magistrate and joint chairman of the Court of Quarter Sessions. After the pa.s.sing of the first County Courts Act, the Liberal Government of the day appointed him, in March, 1847, to the judgeship of the Norfolk district. He was succeeded in his appointment by Mr. William Henry Cooke, Q.C., Recorder of Oxford.

MAY.

1.-Died at the South Kensington Hotel, London, Mr. Albemarle Cator, of Woodbastwick Hall, aged 55. He was one of the most prominent sportsmen in the county, was a Conservative in politics, and was upon the Commission of the Peace. In the year preceding his death he served the office of High Sheriff of Norfolk.

4.-At a special meeting of the Norwich Town Council, an address was adopted congratulating the Queen upon the failure of the attempted a.s.sa.s.sination of the Duke of Edinburgh.

25.-The Queen's birthday was observed at Norwich as a public holiday.

The Rifle Volunteers fired a _feu de joie_ in the Market Place, and the Artillery Volunteers a salute on the Castle Hill. The Mayor's _dejeuner_ at the Drill Hall was attended by 1,000 guests, and his entertainment at the Corn Hall by over 1,000 of the aged poor, among whom were an old lady aged 98 and her daughter aged 80.

30.-Died at Thetford, Mr. Leonard Shelford Bidwell, aged 86. Mr. Bidwell had several times served the office of Mayor, was upon the Commission of the Peace for the county and for the borough, and was senior Alderman of the Corporation. In politics he was a Conservative, and had always given his support and influence to the house of Baring in the representation of the borough.

JUNE.

11.-Died at his residence, Burrator, Devon, Sir James Brooke, K.C.B., Rajah of Sarawak.

13.-The name of Lord Ranelagh, High Sheriff of the county, was brought into unpleasant prominence at Bow Street Police Court, during the hearing of a charge against Madame Rachel for fraudulently obtaining from a Mrs.

Borradaile the sum of 1,000, upon pretence of making her "beautiful for ever." Madame Rachel had informed her dupe that Lord Ranelagh had fallen desperately in love with her, and was ready to marry her "providing he had 1,400 for Volunteering purposes." Lord Ranelagh emphatically denied having had anything to do in the matter further than that he had received letters from Mrs. Borradaile, and had suggested to her family that she should be taken care of, believing that she was under delusions.

-Died at his residence, the Crescent, Norwich, in his 83rd year, Mr. J.

N. V. Cooper, who was for more than 56 years clerk to the Governors of the Bethel Hospital.

18.-In the House of Commons it was agreed, on the motion of Mr. Howes, that the three divisions of the county be thenceforth known as North, South, and West Norfolk, instead of "North Eastern, South Eastern, and West."

-The annual show of the Norfolk Agricultural a.s.sociation commenced at Downham Market, and was continued on the 19th. Mr. W. Amhurst Tyssen Amherst was President.

20.-The Norwich Volunteers attended the review held by the Queen in Windsor Park. The Rifles, under the command of Lieut.-Col. Black, numbered 455; and the Artillery, under Capt. Barber, 111. Both corps mustered on Tombland at 5.30 a.m., left Thorpe Station at 6.15 a.m., and returned from Windsor the same day.

27.-The 1st Administrative Battalion Norfolk Volunteers went into camp at Hunstanton Park, 500 strong, and remained under canvas until July 2nd.

The battalion was inspected by Col. Boileau.

30.-The Norwich Electoral Union selected Mr. Jacob Henry Tillett as Liberal candidate for the city, in view of the pending General Election.

JULY.

23.-A two days' cricket match commenced on the Lakenham Ground, Norwich, between a team of "Aboriginal Australians" and the Carrow Club. The Australians showed surprising skill with the bat, and in the first day's play made 177, against the Carrow score of 82.

26.-Died, Robert Monsey Rolfe, Baron Cranworth of Cranworth. His lordship was the eldest and only surviving son of the Rev. Edward Rolfe, and was born December 18th, 1790. His father, like his uncle, grandfather, and great grandfather, was a plain country clergyman, holding the livings of c.o.c.kley Cley and of Cranworth, and it was at the rectory house of the latter parish that he was born, and from which he selected his t.i.tle just 60 years afterwards. His mother was a Miss Alexander, a granddaughter of Dr. Monsey, the physician of Chelsea Hospital. Having received his early education at Bury St. Edmund's, he was transferred to Winchester College, and in due course proceeded to Cambridge, took his B.A. degree as 17th wrangler in 1812, and was elected to the Fellowship of Downing College. He entered Lincoln's Inn, and was called to the Bar in 1816. One of his first public appointments was that of Recorder of Bury St. Edmund's, and he more than once, as a Liberal, contested the representation of the borough against the powerful interest of the Marquis of Bristol. In 1832 he obtained a silk gown, and in the same year was returned to Parliament. On becoming Solicitor-General, in 1834, he received the honour of knighthood, and at the close of 1839 accepted a puisne judgeship as one of the Barons of Exchequer. In 1850 he was nominated a Vice-Chancellor, a post which, in the following year, he exchanged for that of a Justice of Appeal in Chancery, which he continued to hold until the Great Seal of the kingdom was entrusted to his hands by Lord Aberdeen, on the formation of the Coalition Cabinet in December, 1852. In the same year he was raised to the Peerage, and as Lord Cranworth again held the Great Seal in 186566. His lordship married Miss Carr, of Froghall Park, Hampstead.

27.-Mr. Simmons ascended in his large balloon from the Victoria Gardens, Yarmouth, and descended at Caister. On August 6th he made an ascent from the Greenhill Gardens, Norwich, and descended in Horstead Park. Mr.

Simmons, on August 13th, exhibited the balloon in Norwich Market Place, where, in a captive state, it made several ascents. The aeronaut, accompanied by Mr. William Maris, then ascended to the height of 10,000 feet in the s.p.a.ce of two minutes, when the balloon drifted away in a north-easterly direction. The pa.s.sengers made a perilous descent near the sea coast. They narrowly escaped with their lives by jumping out of the car, and the balloon, blown out to sea, fell into the water two and a half miles off Sheringham. The voyage from Norwich lasted only fifteen minutes.

29.-A great Volunteer _fete_ and _al fresco_ entertainment took place in the grounds of Quebec House, East Dereham, the residence of Capt. Bulwer.

The _fete_, which was attended by many hundreds of persons, was in aid of the funds of the corps.