Norfolk Annals Volume I Part 78

30.-A jury empanelled to try a civil action at the Lent a.s.sizes at Thetford had a remarkable experience. The trial commenced at four o'clock in the afternoon of the 30th, and terminated at eight o'clock on the evening of the 31st, when the jury retired to consider their verdict.

They were locked up all night, and did not find a verdict until 11 o'clock on the morning of April 1st. The case came before the Court of King's Bench on April 19th, when application was made for a new trial, on the ground that refreshments had been given to one of the jurors!

31.-The thanks of the Norwich Court of Mayoralty were unanimously voted to Lieut.-Col. Somerset and officers of the 1st Royal Dragoons, "for the highly satisfactory manner in which they had conducted themselves whale stationed in the city, and for aiding in the suppression of riotous and tumultuous a.s.semblies," and to the non-commissioned officers and privates "for the way in which they had discharged their duty as connected with the peace of the city."

APRIL.

2.-A steeplechase took place from a field near Wheatacre White House to Thurlton Church (distance between four and five miles), between a bay mare, the property of Mr. Charles Duppa, of Kent (owner up), and a chestnut horse belonging to Mr. John Carr, of Beales (ridden by his whipper-in, R. Warner). The mare won easily. Protest entered. On the same day another steeplechase was ridden from Gissing Church to Thurlton Church, between "the celebrated little grey horse," the property of Mr.

Charles Ellis, of Shelfanger Hall, and a "grey mare of hunting celebrity," belonging to Mr. Williams, of Diss. The horse won.

5.-The first outbreak of cholera in Norfolk occurred at Stow Bridge, and in two months 33 cases were reported, of which 13 terminated fatally.

The disease made its appearance at Cawston on May 25th; and in Crown Court, St. Peter Hungate, Norwich, on August 15th. The Board of Health directed the bodies of all persons who had died of cholera to be interred within twenty-four hours, the clothes and bedding of the deceased to be destroyed, and surviving friends to be indemnified by the Corporation of Guardians. The medical men of the city gratuitously superintended the parishes allotted to each. On September 12th several cases were reported at the Bethel, and eight inmates died. The last official return was made on October 18th, when it was stated that the total number of cases in Norwich was 320, and the deaths 128. Thanksgiving services were held at the Cathedral and parish churches on November 11th, on the termination of the outbreak.

9.-A sloop of 60 tons burden, intended for the coasting trade, was launched from Mr. Thomas Bailey's yard, at Carrow.

12.-A new building, known as the Royal Norfolk and Norwich Bazaar, in St.

Andrew's Street, Norwich, was opened. It was erected for the encouragement of "female and domestic industry." Counters were let at small rents to "respectable females recommended by the lady patronesses."

14.-Died at Earl's Terrace, Kensington, aged 25, the Lady Henrietta Ann, wife of Mr. Charles Knight Murray, and sister of the Earl of Rothes.

15.-Died at his house, at Southtown, Yarmouth, aged 69, the Rev. Edward Valpy, B.D., for many years head master of the Norwich Free Grammar School. He was rector of Thwaite All Saints and vicar of South Walsham St. Mary the Virgin.

16.-Married at the Hotel of the British Amba.s.sador, Paris, by the Rev.

Thomas Sayers, Mr. Isaac Preston, Recorder of Norwich, to Frances, daughter of the Rev. J. Jephson, Prebendary of Armagh, and brother of Sir Richard Jephson, Bart.

23.-Mr. and Mrs. Wood (formerly Miss Paton) appeared at Norwich Theatre as Hawthorn and Rosetta ("Love in a Village"). On subsequent evenings they played the parts of Tom Tug and Wilelmina ("The Waterman"), Malcolm and Zelinda ("The Slave"), Steady and Gillian ("The Quaker"), Henry Bertram and Julia Mannering ("Guy Mannering"), and Masaniello and Princess Elvira ("Masaniello").

MAY.

1.-Mr. S. W. Stevenson, one of the proprietors of the NORFOLK CHRONICLE, was elected Mayor of Norwich.

3.-At a meeting of the Common Council at Norwich, Mr. W. J. Utten Browne moved that a pet.i.tion be presented to the House of Lords against the Reform Bill, which he described as "a tissue of fraud, folly, and injustice, hideous in its anomalies, and displaying more profound ignorance of sound const.i.tutional law than any other production he had ever witnessed." The motion was adopted by 40 votes against 9. An address to the King was circulated in Norwich on May 12th, acknowledging "the patriotic course adopted by his Majesty in rejecting the pernicious and unconst.i.tutional counsel of Ministers completely to overwhelm the free deliberations of the House of Peers by creating a large addition to that body pledged to carry through the measure, in opposition to the recorded sentiments of the large majority of that right honourable House." The address and signatures were inscribed in three closely-written columns on thirteen yards of parchment. On the 14th a public meeting was held at St. Andrew's Hall, "for the purpose of adopting such measures as may be deemed expedient at the present momentous crisis for securing to all cla.s.ses of the people the benefit of the Reform Bill brought before Parliament by Earl Grey and members of the late Administration." A "Norfolk Address" to the King was circulated, acknowledging "the recent proofs of his Majesty's desire to maintain the rights and privileges of the House of Lords." The intelligence of the pa.s.sing of the Bill by the House of Lords was received at Lynn and other places on June 5th with great rejoicing. The celebration at Norwich was deferred to July 5th, when a procession of about 2,400 persons, decorated with blue and white favours, marched from the Castle Ditches to the Cricket Ground. A cavalcade of 95 hors.e.m.e.n was headed by Mr. R. H.

Gurney, M.P., accompanied by Mr. W. W. Windham, Mr. Anthony Hudson, Mr.

W. Foster, and Mr. Peter Finch. Dinner was served for 2,000 in a marquee which extended the length of the field. The greatest order and regularity were observed throughout the day.

5.-His Majesty issued a writ, upon the report and recommendations of the Committee of Privileges of the House of Lords, certifying that Col.

Wilson, of Didlington Hall, had made out his claim as the oldest co-heir to the Barony of Berners.

12.-The Norwich and Newark Union Coach commenced to run daily (Sundays excepted), from the Norfolk Hotel, Norwich, through Dereham, Swaffham, Lynn, Boston, and Sleaford, to Newark, where connection was effected with the northern coaches.

27.-One of the large buildings comprised in Messrs. Grout, Baylis, and Co.'s factory in Barrack Yard, Yarmouth, was destroyed by fire. The building was five storeys high, 105 ft. long, and 55 ft. wide, and its erection, in 1818, cost about 7,000. Between 400 and 500 girls employed by the firm were thrown out of work, and the loss sustained was estimated at from 12,000 to 15,000.

28.-The Rev. Arthur Iveson, of South Lynn, was murdered by a pistol shot fired by his son, the Rev. Thomas Iveson, a person of unsound mind. The deceased was rector of East Bradenham and perpetual curate of Shouldham and Shouldham Thorpe, and Tottenhill. At Lynn Quarter Sessions, on July 9th, Thomas Iveson was placed on his trial for the murder of his father.

The jury found that he was insane at the time the crime was committed, and he was ordered to be detained in custody. He remained in Lynn Gaol until September 3rd, when he was removed to "the lunatic asylum, in St.

Lawrence," Norwich.

JUNE.

16.-Dr. Yelloly resigned his office as a physician of the Norfolk and Norwich. Hospital. Dr. Edward Lubbock was elected to fill the vacancy on July 7th.

16.-The case of the King _v._ the Mayor and Recorder of Thetford came before the Court of King's Bench. The defendants were required to show why they should not hold a weekly Court of Pleas at the Guildhall, according to the charter of Queen Elizabeth, which directed that the Court should proceed according to the rules and customs of a similar Court at Norwich. It was objected that the affidavits did not show the existence of the Norwich Court at the date of the Thetford charter, but only that a certain Court of Pleas was granted to that city by a charter of Charles II. On the other side it was alleged that the Thetford Court had actually been held within fifty years. Lord Tenterden: The charter of Charles II. may have confirmed a previous grant. We think the objection has been answered. The rule must be absolute.

18.-Robert Woodrow, gamekeeper to Col. Peel, was summoned before the magistrates at Thetford for seizing the rods of two persons fishing in the river of that town. It was contended that Col. Peel merely hired the manor of Mr. A. Baring, and that he could not show a right to the fishing, the river being navigable, and, as such, _prima facie_ public to the inhabitants, who had immemorially enjoyed the right. The magistrates decided to the contrary on both points, and dismissed the complaint.

19.-Guild Day was observed at Norwich as usual. The Mayor-elect (Mr. S.

W. Stevenson) entertained 830 guests at the Guild feast, and gave a ball at the a.s.sembly Rooms in the evening.

26.-An address, congratulating the King "on his happy escape from the late atrocious attack on his Royal person at Ascot," was presented to his Majesty at a Levee at St. James's Palace by the Mayor (Mr. S. W.

Stevenson), the Deputy-Mayor (Sir J. H. Yallop), and Lieut.-Col. Harvey, on behalf of the Corporation of Norwich.

30.-The electors of the division of East Norfolk, const.i.tuted under the provisions of the new Reform Act, met at Norwich for the purpose of adopting candidates. The friends of Mr. Peach, M.P., and Lord Henry Cholmondeley, M.P., the Tory candidates, met at the Rampant Horse Inn, and the supporters of Mr. William W. Windham and Major Keppel, the Whig candidates, at the Angel Inn.

JULY.

7.-Intelligence was received at Norwich that the Right Hon. Robert Grant, M.P., "at about the time his const.i.tuents were remembering him in their flowing cups at the Reform dinner," had issued an address to the electors of Finsbury. On the 13th Lord Stormont and Sir James Scarlett were adopted Conservative candidates, and on the 14th it was announced that Mr. R. H. Gurney would have as his colleague Mr. H. b.e.l.l.e.n.den Ker. A third candidate, Mr. William Eagle, entered the field, but his principles were doubtful. At a meeting held at the Bowling Green Inn, on August 7th, he stated that he belonged to neither party, for "he looked upon the Tory as a highwayman and the Whig as a pickpocket." Mr. Eagle retired before the nomination took place. The Conservative candidates made their first public appearance at a dinner held at St. Andrew's Hall, under the presidency of Mr. J. S. Patteson, on July 17th, and from that date onwards prosecuted a vigorous canva.s.s. (_See_ December 10th.)

16.-Died at Binham, aged 98, Mrs. Elizabeth Leake, who "for upwards of fifty years travelled as daily post from Binham to Wells, from which employment she had retired about 14 years."

23.-Died at Hardingham Rectory, aged 74, the Rev. Walter Whiter, M.A., formerly Fellow of Clare Hall, Cambridge. He was inst.i.tuted to the rectory in 1797, and was the author of some ingenious works on literature and criticism, and more particularly of the 'Etymologicon Universale,' a work of the greatest labour and research, and replete with new and ingenious views of the origin and affinity of languages."

28.*-"Died in London, of cholera, last week, Mr. William Willement, manufacturer, of Colchester. The deceased went to London on the Sat.u.r.day previous, was taken ill on the Sunday, and died and was buried on Monday.

He served the office of Sheriff of Norwich in 1816."

30.-Norwich Theatre re-opened for the a.s.size week. Mr. Gill, a comic actor, who afterwards became a great favourite on the Norwich stage, made his first appearance here. Mr. Braham on this date commenced a five nights' engagement, and appeared in a round of his princ.i.p.al characters.

AUGUST.

6.-George Borrow, writing to the NORFOLK CHRONICLE on this date, suggested the derivation of the word "Tory." "Tory," he wrote, "is composed of three Irish words, and doubtless originated amongst the Irish adherents of Charles II. at the time they were suffering under the sway of Cromwell and were sighing for the Restoration. The words are Tar a Ri, and their p.r.o.nunciation is the same as that of 'Tory,' or if there be any difference, it consists in a scarcely distinguishable drawl. Their meaning is, 'Come, O King.'"

-Died at East Dereham, aged 73, Mr. Fisher, many years manager of the Norfolk and Suffolk Company of Comedians. "Mr. Fisher made his first appearance as an amateur at Norwich Theatre, in the character of Lubin ('The Quaker'). Mr. Barrett, who was then manager, was so much gratified with the performance that he persuaded him to make the stage his profession, and offered him a liberal engagement, which he accepted, and remained with the company some years. As manager of the Norfolk and Suffolk Company, he raised it to a degree of respectability equal to any provincial theatre in the kingdom. As a manager he was esteemed, and by his indefatigable industry he has been enabled to leave his sons eleven theatres, many of which have been recently built and elegantly decorated.

As an actor he displayed much talent. He was an affectionate parent and warm friend, and in the strictest sense an honest, just, and upright man."

14.-Messrs. Bell and Deane, divers, engaged in exploring the Guernsey Lily transport, lost off Yarmouth in the year 1799, recovered one of the bra.s.s guns, which they fired in token of success. The Guernsey Lily was returning from Holland with a large and valuable freight of military stores, when she got upon the Cross Sand and foundered in Yarmouth Roads, as nearly as possible three miles due east of the jetty. Many of her stores were recovered, little the worse for an immersion of 33 years.

28.-A sharp contest took place at Norwich on the election of the freemen's Sheriff. Mr. William Foster was the "Blue and White," and Mr.

Alderman Steward the "Purple and Orange" candidate. "Bribery to a vast amount was resorted to, and the last few votes cost a heavy sum."

Result: Foster, 1,282; Steward, 1,275. A scrutiny was demanded by both sides, and was commenced by the Mayor on September 8th. After an enquiry lasting twelve days, Mr. Foster was declared elected.

30.-Died at Cringleford, aged 50, Mr. John Staniforth Patteson. He was eldest son of Mr. John Patteson, of St. Helen's, served the office of Sheriff of Norwich in 1811, was elected Alderman for the Great Ward of Mancroft in 1830, and was Mayor in 18234. He was also a magistrate, and a deputy-lieutenant for the county of Norfolk, and held the Lieut.-Colonelcy of the East Norfolk Militia. His remains were buried at St. Peter Mancroft church, on September 4th.