Norfolk Annals Volume I Part 86

1.-Mr. Sheridan Knowles and Miss Elphinstone made their first appearance in a four nights' engagement at Norwich Theatre, as Master Walter and Julia, in his play "The Hunchback." They also appeared on ensuing evenings as St. Pierre and Mariana ("The Wife"), Pierre and Velerdera ("Venice Preserved"), William Tell and Emma ("William Tell"), and as Petruchio and Catherine.

7.-Died, aged 71, Mr. Richard Langton, many years librarian at the Public Library, Norwich.

17.-The north segment of North Walsham steeple was blown down. The bells fell in a ma.s.s of ruins.

17.-During a heavy gale at Yarmouth the tide overflowed many parts of the Quay, and inundated the houses. The foundations of several buildings fronting the beach were undermined by the water, and the sands presented a scene of devastation and ruin.

20.-A facing of brickwork by which the south side of the Guildhall had been disfigured for more than a century was removed and replaced by a beautiful specimen of flint work and masonry, from designs by Mr. J.

Stannard, architect.

21.-Died at Ipswich, aged 64, Mrs. c.o.c.kle, daughter of Mr. Charles Roope, of Pulham Market. "She was well-known as the author of some valuable works on female education, and of literary and poetical productions."

25.-The Northern and Eastern Railway Bill, for making a line from London to Cambridge, and thence to Norwich and Yarmouth, as planned by Mr. James Walker, was read a first time in the House of Commons. It pa.s.sed the remaining stages, and was read a third time in the House of Lords on July 27th. On February 25th also the Commons Committee on the Eastern Counties Railway Bill determined that the standing orders had been complied with. This Bill was read a first time on March 10th. During that month a deputation from the London directors met the friends and supporters of the line at Norwich, Lynn, and Yarmouth; and on April 14th pet.i.tions in favour of the railway were presented in the House of Commons from Norwich by Lord Stormont, and from Yarmouth by Mr. Praed. The second reading was carried by a majority of 74. Mr. Gladstone remarked, in the course of the debate, that the pet.i.tion from Norwich "had been got up by the foulest means-by means of eating and drinking. Every person who went in and put his name to the pet.i.tion got a good lunch." On May 2nd and 3rd Norwich and Norfolk witnesses gave evidence in favour of the Bill, which was read a third time on June 1st. It was announced on July 2nd that the Bill had pa.s.sed through all stages in both Houses of Parliament.

MARCH.

1.-The new police went on duty for the first time at Norwich. "The 18 new policemen under the superintendence of Mr. Wright appeared for the first time on Tuesday last in an uniform dark blue dress with waterproof capes similar to those worn by the police in London."

5.-Died at his house in King Street, aged 69, Mr. William Taylor, "a gentleman whose intellectual endowments and extraordinary range of varied acquirements had gained for his name a celebrity which, far from being confined within the walls of his native city, extended itself widely through the world of British, European, and Trans-Atlantic literature.

The friend and biographer of Dr. Sayers, the a.s.sociate of Dr. Southey and other distinguished characters, Mr. Taylor stood pre-eminent for his scholastic and critical knowledge of the great writers of Germany."

12.*-"The Gas Company of this city (Norwich) have determined to reduce the price to those who consume by meter from 13s. per 1,000 cubic feet to 10s. This reduction will place Norwich in a much better situation than almost any town in the kingdom."

22.-Five hundred children under seven years of age a.s.sembled at St.

Andrew's Hall, Norwich, and underwent the system of examination introduced by Mr. Wilderspin, the originator of infant schools. On April 7th a public meeting was held at the Guildhall, at which it was decided to establish a society to promote the extension of the infant school system in the county and city.

-Died, suddenly, of apoplexy, while hunting with Sir James Flowers'

hounds at Tibenham, Mr. William Chambers, of Norwich, who served the office of Sheriff from Michaelmas, 1834, to January 1st of this year, and was the last Sheriff elected under the old system. Mr. Chambers was in his 45th year.

24.-Died at his house in Bethel Street, Norwich, aged 62, Mr. Robert Hawkes, who was elected Alderman of the Mancroft Ward in 1818, served the office of Sheriff in 1819, and that of Mayor in 1822. In consequence of Mr. Hawkes' death, the Judges of a.s.size, whose official lodgings were at his house, were invited by the Very Rev. Dr. Pellew to stay at the Deanery. At the Norfolk Quarter Sessions, on April 8th, the thanks of the county were accorded to Dr. Pellew.

29.-At the Norwich a.s.sizes, before Mr. Justice Gaselee, the case of John Pilgrim was further respited, in consequence of the illness of one of the prosecutors. (There is no further record of this case.)

APRIL.

1.-At the Norfolk a.s.sizes, before Mr. Justice Gaselee, Peter Taylor was found guilty, as an accessary before the fact, of the murder of Mary Taylor, his wife, at Burnham Westgate, on March 12th, 1835. The prosecution arose out of the trial of the women Frarey and Billing, who were executed as princ.i.p.als in the murder. Taylor, who to the last protested his innocence, was hanged on the Castle Hill, Norwich, on April 23rd.

-At the same a.s.sizes, before Mr. Justice Gaselee, John Sucker (23), Thomas Ba.s.sett (40), Joseph Bruce (21), Thomas Dawes (25), and James Staines (37) were indicted, Sucker and Ba.s.sett for the murder of William Case, on November 30th, 1835, and the other prisoners for aiding and a.s.sisting in the commission of the crime while poaching on the lands of Mr. W. L. Jones, at Methwold. They were found guilty and sentenced to death. The jury subsequently delivered to his lordship at the Deanery the following declaration: "Our opinion is that the prisoners were guilty of manslaughter, not murder, and it was our intention so to find had we not been called upon to give our opinion as to the facts." The execution was deferred for the opinion of the Judges a.s.sembled in the Court of Exchequer. On April 23rd Lord Denman stated that the Judges, after hearing counsel on both sides, were of opinion it would not be proper to execute the prisoners for the crime of murder.

2.-A vessel of 500 tons burden, intended for the trade between England and the Mauritius, was launched from the ship-yard of Mr. Richardson, Friars' Fleet, Lynn.

4.-On the occasion of the presentation of a piece of plate to the Rev. A.

Goode, of Terrington St. Clement, 800 villagers accompanied the deputation, with flags and banners, and "86 young females attending the Sunday School bore branches of laurel." The plate was borne upon a tray by "two respectable parishioners," supported by "some emblematical characters, one of whom personated the renowned Tom Hickathrift, the Marshland giant of the olden time, and the bold defender of the ancient rights of Marshland Smeeth. The representative of Hickathrift delivered an appropriate speech."

8.-At the Norfolk county magistrates' meeting, Mr. J. Brown was elected Surveyor of the county, and Mr. James Watson surveyor of bridges.

-The Lord Lieutenant of the county, accompanied by Mr. Samuel Bignold, visited the factory of the Norwich Yarn Company. "There are now 300 workmen, upwards of 60 reelers, and about 200 children constantly at work in the establishment, and the labour bill exceeds 200 a week."

-Francis Widdows, "who was upwards of 50 years leader of the company of singers in St. Mary's chapel," died at Doughty's Hospital, Norwich, in his 80th year.

13.-One hundred and ninety-five emigrants from villages in the neighbourhood embarked at Friars' Fleet, Lynn, on board the ship Anne, bound for Quebec. Mr. Daniel Gurney distributed among them Bibles, Prayer-books, &c. Large numbers of emigrants left the county during the spring. By May 17th 1,625 had sailed from Yarmouth. From the same port, on May 25th, sailed the Morning Star, with 212 emigrants, chiefly labourers, from Suffolk, and the Brunswick, with 447 agriculturists from East Norfolk. By July 2nd the total number embarked at Yarmouth for Quebec and Port St. Francis on the St. Lawrence was 3,200.

22.-Died, aged 72, at St. John Timberhill, Norwich, Mr. J. P. c.o.c.ksedge, who served the office of Sheriff in 1827.

27.-Died, aged 37, "the eccentric and whimsical John Gudgeon, the celebrated shuttle-maker, of Norwich."

28.-In consequence of the Mayor and Sheriff of Norwich having declined to extend the customary patronage to the Theatre, the performance on this night was under "the immediate patronage of the Conservatives of Norwich." The pieces produced were "The Rivals" and "The Mayor of Garrat."

-The three troops of the 6th Inniskilling Dragoons stationed at Norwich Cavalry Barracks, marched on their route to Canterbury and Brighton, and were replaced by three troops of the 17th Lancers from Manchester.

30.*-"The King has been pleased to confer the honour of knighthood on a native of Norwich, Dr. W. J. Hooker, Professor of Botany at Glasgow, and a Companion of the Third Cla.s.s of the Royal Guelphio Hanoverian Order."

MAY.

1.-The celebration of May Day, which, from time immemorial, has been observed at Lynn by children parading the streets with garlands of flowers and the sounding of horns, was this year prohibited by the authorities of the borough.

25.-Miss Read, a native of the city, appeared at Norwich Theatre as Belvedera ("Venice Preserved"). "Her performance was marked by talent and feeling very creditable in so young an actress."

26.-A specimen of the common plant _valerian rubra_ was exhibited at the show of the Norfolk and Norwich Horticultural Society with the following inscription upon the label attached: "This plant was raised from seed found in a cement coffin discovered beneath the ruins of Wymondham Priory church. The period of interment is proved antecedent to 1300."

31.-Married at Kensington, by the Rev. T. B. Murray, the Rev. George William Murray, of Merton College, Oxford, a.s.sistant minister of St.

Peter's, Pimlico, fifth son of Charles Murray, formerly of Norwich, to Marianne, second daughter of Major-General Sir William Douglas, K.C.B., of Timperdean, Roxburghshire.

JUNE.

4.*-"Died lately, aged 68, William Brett, an ingenious and eccentric individual, generally known as 'Duke Brett,' of Swaffham, by trade a shoemaker, but a perfect factotum in all manner of handicraft, and a celebrated opium-eater, having for many years consumed large quant.i.ties of this drug daily."

8.-At a meeting of the Norwich Town Council, Capt. Money moved a resolution in favour of the admission of the public to the discussions of that body, "because it would make the members more measured in their language, more careful, and more honest." Mr. Burt moved a negative resolution, and stated that "if they could not restrain their language in the company of gentlemen of education and respectability, they would not do so in the presence of a school of persons casually admitted." Capt Money's motion was negatived.

28.-A meeting of the directors and proprietors of the Norwich Yarn Company was held at the Guildhall, at which it was stated that the factory was incapable of supplying even one-third of the quant.i.ty of yarn required for manufacturing purposes in the city and neighbourhood. It was decided that the capital be increased by the creation of 700 additional shares of 100 each. (_See_ December 1st, 1836.)

JULY.

4.-A novel feat of pedestrianism was performed on the Norwich Cricket Ground, in the presence of a great number of spectators. "Sixty yards of cord were wound round a pole one foot in circ.u.mference. The pedestrian took the end of the cord and ran round the pole until the whole was off, which was to be completed in the s.p.a.ce of four hours, the distance being computed to be 20 miles. The pedestrian, John Baldwin, a native of Norwich, performed the arduous task in less than three and a half hours."

7.-The Yarmouth Town Council ordered the removal of the Market Cross, upon the pet.i.tion of certain inhabitants of the borough.