Norfolk Annals Volume Ii Part 49

Proficient in the use of the etching needle, she ill.u.s.trated her father's works on "Infusoria." "A singular evidence of Miss Brightwell's skill in etching may be found in the British Museum, where, side by side with the work of Rembrandt, known as 'The Long Landscape,' is a copy by her which the gentleman then in charge of that department could not believe to be such until vouched for by others."

MAY.

6.-The hearing of the election pet.i.tion against the return of Mr. Jacob Henry Tillett as member of Parliament for the city commenced at the Shirehall, Norwich, before Mr. Justice Lush. Mr. Giffard, Q.C., was leading counsel for the pet.i.tioner, and Mr. Hawkins, Q.C., for the respondent. It was alleged on the part of the pet.i.tioner that a large number of voters had received employment of a colourable character.

"Wherever possible a voter was made a messenger, clerk, or something.

The majority for Mr. Huddleston at the General Election was between 40 and 50, but by this kind of device the Conservative majority was converted into a minority of one under 800." The inquiry proceeded, and on the 15th Mr. Hawkins announced that "Mr. Tillett had come to the conclusion it had been sufficiently established that a great number of the lower cla.s.s voters were employed unjustifiably in his behalf, and he felt he could not struggle further to retain the seat." After hearing the evidence of Mr. Tillett and a few other witnesses, his lordship said: "The result is the respondent has become disqualified by reason of this corruption by his agents, and I have nothing more to do than to declare the election void and award costs to the pet.i.tioner." (_See_ August 16th.)

13.-The centenary of the banking house of Messrs. Gurneys and Co. was celebrated by a dinner given at Stoke Holy Cross, the seat of Mr. Henry Birkbeck. "The original founders of the Bank were John and Henry Gurney, who, in addition to their ordinary trade, that of merchants, carried on a banking business, first in Pitt Street, and afterwards in Magdalen Street. They were the sons of John Gurney, who earned the t.i.tle of the 'Weavers' Friend,' by reason of his advocacy of their cause. The Gurneys having, in 1779, devoted themselves exclusively to banking, the business was transferred to Bartlett Gurney (son of Henry Gurney), who removed to the present premises on Bank Plain, having as a partner his uncle, John Gurney. Bartlett Gurney died in 1803, and John Gurney was left sole proprietor, being joined shortly by his cousins, Richard and Joseph Gurney. John Gurney lived at Earlham Hall, Richard Gurney at Keswick, and Joseph Gurney at Lakenham. Changes from time to time occurred, and Hudson Gurney, Richard Hanbury Gurney, James John Gurney, Henry Birkbeck (the father of the present head of the firm), and Simon Martin became at subsequent periods partners in the great banking house. The panics of the years 1792 and 1825, which caused the failure of many banking houses, only resulted in establishing the Gurneys on a firmer and more prosperous basis, for they not only survived these financial disasters, but a.s.sisted others to tide over their difficulties. The year 1866 will be remembered as one which tested the stability of the house. The run on the Bank in that and the following year was as remarkable for its intensity as it was lasting. The run having ended, the business was further extended in 1870 by the addition of that of Harveys and Hudsons, the goodwill of which was purchased, and, by the liberality of the firm, that which might have ended in a catastrophe for Norfolk was averted. It is now by far the largest private banking house in the provinces."

JUNE.

5.-The Reedham Hall estate was sold by auction by Messrs. Spelman, at the Rampant Horse Hotel, Norwich, for 31,568. The purchaser was Mr. John Rose.

8.-Mr. Frank Buckland, Inspector of Salmon Fisheries, opened an inquiry at Yarmouth, at the request of the Home Secretary, into the crab, lobster, and other sea fisheries on the Norfolk coast, with the view of ascertaining the expediency of adopting regulations for the prevention of waste and the preservation of fish. Similar inquiries were held at Lynn, Wells, and Cromer.

16.-The annual show of the Norfolk Agricultural a.s.sociation opened at Fakenham, and was continued on the 17th. Mr. Anthony Hamond was president for the year.

19.-An important meeting was held at the Guildhall, Norwich, for the purpose of conferring with Mr. Frank Buckland as to the possibility of extending legislative protection to the fishing in the rivers and broads of Norfolk. Mr. Buckland expressed his full concurrence in the necessity of an Act of Parliament, for placing restrictions on the fishing, and resolutions to that effect were adopted. (_See_ January 22nd, 1876.)

21.-The centenary of the opening of the bells of St. Peter Mancroft, Norwich, was celebrated by the ringers of that church.

JULY.

3.-Extracts from an article in the "Natal Mercury" of May 11th, on the life and labours of Mr. Thomas Baines, F.R.G.S., "just then deceased,"

were published. Mr. Baines was a native of King's Lynn, where he was born in 1822. At an early age he gave evidence of artistic instincts, and of his love of travel and adventure. His first experiences of the kind were in South Australia. When little more than a youth, he took part in an expedition which traversed a then unpenetrated portion of the Continent. He and his companions carried their lives in their hands, and many were the hairbreadth escapes from the perils of both sea and savages. Baines arrived in South Africa about the year 1848, and took an active part in the Kaffir wars of 18505152. In 1860 he joined Dr.

Livingstone's expedition to Zanzibar, but differences arose between him and his ill.u.s.trious chief. The next few years were spent in devious travel, and in 1866 he returned home and published several important works. He subsequently went to Natal as leader of a party sent out by the South African Gold Fields Exploration Company, and it was at Natal that he spent a large portion of the last few years of his life.

8.-Died at Mulbarton, Mary Ann Todd, aged 100 years.

22.-The Norfolk polled cattle and flock of pure Southdown sheep on the North Elmham estate were sold by Messrs. Thornton and Long. The total amount realised was 4,953 5s.

23.-The last detachment of the 7th Hussars left Norwich for Manchester by special train; and on the 24th the dismounted party of the 6th Dragoon Guards (Carabiniers), from Shorncliffe, took over the Cavalry Barracks.

AUGUST.

2.-A vessel named the Ponda Chief, intended for trading between this country and Port Natal, was launched from the shipyard of Messrs. J.

Fellows, at Southtown, Yarmouth. She was 140 feet long, 26 feet beam, 14 ft. 6 in. deep, and 416 tons register. This was one of the largest vessels ever built at the port.

3.-H.M.S. Favourite, an armour-plated corvette of 2,094 tons and 490 horse-power, ran upon the south spit of Scroby Sand, when endeavouring to make the gatway. At the flood tide the vessel floated off and steamed out to sea.

9.-At the Norfolk a.s.sizes, before Mr. Justice Mellor, William Harper Stewardson, printer, of Norwich, was charged with publishing in a newspaper called the "Herald and Dispatch," a malicious and defamatory libel of and concerning Frederick Lawrence Phillips, editor of the "Norwich Argus." The jury returned a verdict of guilty, and the defendant was fined 20, and ordered to enter into his own recognisances of 100 to be of good behaviour for twelve months.

16.-A Royal Commission, issued in consequence of the report of Mr.

Justice Lush, "that he had reason to believe corrupt practices extensively prevailed at the election which took place in Norwich on March 5th, on the elevation to the Bench of Mr. Baron Huddleston,"

commenced its proceedings at the Shirehall, Norwich. The Commissioners were Mr. John Morgan Howard, Q.C., Mr. Patrick MacMahon, and Mr. Gabriel Prior Goldney, with Mr. Tyndal Atkinson as secretary. On the 43rd day, Wednesday, October 28th, the court terminated its sittings in Norwich, and the inquiry was resumed in the House of Lords on November 8th. The fiftieth day was reached on December 3rd, when a further adjournment took place. (_See_ March 15th, 1876.)

26.-The marriage was solemnised, at Latimer, of the Earl of Leicester and the Hon. Georgiana Cavendish, eldest daughter of Lord and Lady Chesham.

SEPTEMBER.

20.-The Norfolk and Norwich Triennial Musical Festival commenced with an evening performance of "Elijah." The morning performances were as follow: 22nd, "Hymn of Praise" and selection, "Jerusalem"; 23rd, "Stabat Mater" and "Woman of Samaria"; 24th, "The Messiah." Miscellaneous concerts were given on the evenings of the dates named, except on the 24th, when a dress ball took place. The princ.i.p.al vocalists were Mdlle.

Albani, Mdlle. Mathilda Enequist, Madame Lemmens Sherrington, Mdlle. Anna de Belocca, Miss Enriquez, Madame Patey, Mr. Edward Lloyd, Mr. H. J.

Minns, Mr. Henry Guy, Mr. J. L. Wadmore, and Signor Foli. Sir Julius Benedict conducted.

26.-Died at his residence, Bracondale, Norwich, Mr. Frederic Brown, aged 67. He served the office of Sheriff in 186364, was a magistrate of the city, and a director of the Norwich Waterworks and Corn Exchange Companies.

OCTOBER.

4.-Don Edgardo Colona, a Mexican tragedian, appeared at Norwich Theatre, and during a week's engagement played a round of Shakesperian and cla.s.sical characters.

9.-The foundation-stone of Yarmouth Aquarium was laid by Lord Suffield.

The building was opened on September 5th, 1876.

16.*-"Her Majesty has been graciously pleased to approve the Norfolk Regiment of Artillery Militia being in future designated the Prince of Wales' Own Norfolk Artillery Militia, and of the officers, non-commissioned officers, and men of the regiment being permitted to wear, as a distinctive badge, on the collars of the tunics, the Prince of Wales' plume and the motto, 'Ich Dien.'"

20.-During a severe gale, the barque Young England, of Middlesbrough, 371 tons (Captain Brown), bound from the Baltic to London with deals, drifted on the c.o.c.kle Sand. The crew of twelve men and a boy took to the boat, which was capsized, and all, with the exception of the boy, were drowned.

26.-A public meeting was held at Yarmouth, to consider a project for constructing a railway from that town to Stalham, _via_ Caister, Ormesby, Martham, Potter Heigham, and Catfield. Sir E. H. K. Lacon, Bart., M.P., presided, and resolutions were adopted affirming the desirability of the undertaking, which was estimated to cost 70,000. (_See_ August 7th, 1877.)

28.-A preliminary meeting of landowners and others interested in the construction of a new line of railway from March to Wymondham, to be known as the Central Norfolk Railway, was held at the Crown Hotel, Watton, under the presidency of Mr. W. A. Tyssen-Amherst. Mr. A. F.

Jerningham, C.E., described the proposed route, and it was agreed that the railway was desirable. Its cost was estimated at 450,000, or 10,000 per mile. A Bill for the promotion of the undertaking was introduced in Parliament, but was withdrawn in January, 1876.

NOVEMBER.

5.-Mr. Charles Tadman, for many years manager at Norwich Gasworks, committed suicide by shooting himself with a revolver.

8.-Mr. Anthony Hamond, Master of the West Norfolk Hunt, was presented with his portrait, painted by Mr. Graves, R.A. Sir William ffolkes, Bart., made the presentation, on behalf of 400 subscribers.

9.-Mr. Jacob Henry Tillett was elected Mayor, and Mr. Henry Stevenson appointed Sheriff of Norwich.

10.-The first Poor-law Conference, attended by delegates from twenty-two Norfolk unions, was held at the Guildhall, Norwich, under the presidency of Mr. C. S. Read, M.P., "to take counsel on the important point of the more uniform administration of poor relief."

13.-Died at St. Leonard's, the Rev. Dr. William Brock. Dr. Brock, who was upwards of 70 years of age, was formerly minister of the Baptist congregation, in Norwich, and resigned that post about twenty-five years previously, and became minister of Bloomsbury chapel, London, then recently built. There he remained until he retired from the ministry.

Dr. Brock was one of the most popular ministers in the Baptist denomination, and took an active part on the Liberal side in many of the political movements of his time.