Norfolk Annals Volume I Part 89

24.-The attainment by her Royal Highness the Princess Victoria of her legal majority on her eighteenth birthday was celebrated with much enthusiasm. The Corporation of Norwich held a special meeting, at which, on the motion of Mr. Bignold, seconded by Mr. Barwell, an address was voted to her Royal Highness. The members then proceeded in state to the Cathedral, where a special service was held and the sermon preached by Prebendary Wodehouse. Upon returning to the Guildhall, refreshments were provided by the Mayor, who, in the evening, gave a dinner at the Swan Inn. At Yarmouth a Royal salute was fired in the Roads by his Majesty's revenue cutters; and at East Dereham the West Norfolk Conservatives celebrated the event by dining at the a.s.sembly Rooms, under the presidency of Mr. Charles Loftus. The day was also observed in other towns and villages.

25.-At a meeting held at the Guildhall, Norwich, under the presidency of the Mayor, a movement was inaugurated for the erection of a monument in the Cathedral to the memory of Bishop Bathurst.

29.-The birthday of William IV. falling this year on Sunday, was celebrated, for the last time, on the following day (the 29th), the anniversary of the Restoration of Charles II.

JUNE.

3.-At the a.s.sembly Rooms, Norwich, was exhibited "Monsieur Daguire and Co.'s celebrated grand spectacular revolving dioramic panorama, representing views of the city of Paris and the conflicts of the memorable days of July, 1830, and also the battle of Navarino." There were ten views, each 35 ft. in width, and the whole painted on 16,000 square feet of canvas.

7.-The first annual general meeting of the proprietors of the East of England Bank was held "in the board room of the extensive premises now rapidly completing for the Bank in the Old Haymarket, Norwich."

10.*-"Married, lately, at Stoke Dammeral, Devon, Mr. Charles Thurtell, R.N., to Ann Augusta, youngest daughter of Mr. John Morgan, surgeon, R.N."

21.-This day was received at Norwich intelligence of the death of his Majesty King William IV. The bells of all the city churches were tolled throughout the day. On the 25th (Sunday) the pulpits, communion tables, and reading-desks of all churches were draped in black, and special sermons were preached. In consequence of the funeral taking place on Sat.u.r.day, the 7th, the public markets at Norwich were held on the 6th.

On the day of the interment, the shops in the city, without a single exception, were closed, and public business entirely suspended. The Mayor and Sheriff, with members of the Corporation, attended the special service at the Cathedral, where the sermon was preached by Dean Pellew.

23.-The accession of her Royal Highness the Princess Alexandrina Victoria to the Crown of the United Kingdom was proclaimed in Norwich with the customary formalities. The members of the Corporation a.s.sembled at the Guildhall and took the oath of allegiance, after which they proceeded to the leads, where, amid a scene of great enthusiasm, the Mayor read the Proclamation, and "G.o.d save the Queen" was played by a band in the Market Place. The civic procession, escorted by the 17th Lancers, under the command of Major St. Quintin, made a detour of the city, and the Proclamation was read at various places _en route_. The accession was officially proclaimed also at Yarmouth and Lynn.

27.-The 17th Lancers, commanded by Major St. Quintin, marched from Norwich Barracks, and were replaced by three troops of the 3rd Dragoon Guards, under the command of Major Huntly.

JULY.

1.-Mr. W. J. Utten Browne, one of the leaders of the Conservative party in Norwich, issued his address as Parliamentary candidate for Ashburton, Devonshire. (At the election Mr. Browne polled 83 votes, against 98 recorded for his opponent, Mr. Lushington.)

6.-Notice was given of the appointment of Mr. Charles Drake as registrar for the Conesford district; Mr. W. P. Nichols, Mancroft district; Mr.

William Henry Taylor, West Wymer district; and Mr. William Tawell Roper, Coslany district, under the new Act of Parliament for the registration of births, deaths, and marriages. Mr. John Oddin Taylor was appointed registrar of marriages for the whole of the districts above-named, and Mr. Francis John Blake was superintendent registrar.

9.-At a special meeting of the Norwich Town Council, addresses of congratulation to the Queen and of condolence with the Queen Dowager were unanimously adopted.

21.-The elevation to the Peerage of Mr. T. W. c.o.ke, of Holkham; by the names, styles, and t.i.tles of Viscount c.o.ke and Earl of Leicester, was announced in the "London Gazette" of this date.

24.-The nomination of candidates for the representation of Norwich took place, consequent upon the death of the King, at the Guildhall. Arthur Richard Wellesley, Marquis of Douro, was nominated by Sir Robert John Harvey, and seconded by Mr. Samuel Bignold; the Hon. Robert Campbell Scarlett by Lieut.-Col. Harvey, seconded by Mr. E. T. Booth; Mr. Benjamin Smith (son of the late member) by Mr. Edward Trafford, seconded by Mr. W.

Dalrymple; and Mr. W. Mountford Nurse by Mr. J. W. Robberds, seconded by Dr. Evans. Polling commenced on the 25th, and the result was declared on the 26th, as follows:-Douro (C), 1,863; Scarlett (C), 1,865; Smith (L), 1,843; Nurse (L), 1,831. On the 27th the newly-elected members dined with their supporters at the Norfolk Hotel, and the chairing took place on the 28th.

-The nomination of candidates took place at the Town Hall, Yarmouth, and the polling on the 25th resulted as follows:-C. E. Rumbold (L), 790; W.

Wilshere, 779; Lord Baring, 699; and C. S. Gambier, 685. The two first-named were elected.

-Major Keppel, the Liberal candidate, made a triumphal entry into Lynn, accompanied by a band of music and escorted by the Holkham tenantry and the tenantry of Sir W. B. ffolkes. The nomination took place on the 25th, and upon a poll being demanded voting commenced at once. The result was declared as follows:-Lord George Bentinck (C), 473; Sir Stratford Canning (C), 389; Major Keppel (L), 367. The two first-named were declared elected.

AUGUST.

4.-The result of the polling at the West Norfolk election was declared at Swaffham; Mr. William Bagge (C), 3,178; Mr. W. L. W. Chute (C), 2,877; Sir W. B. ffolkes (L), 2,838; Sir Jacob Astley (L), 2,713.

5.-The nomination of candidates for East Norfolk took place at Norwich.

Mr. Edmond Wodehouse and Mr. H. N. Burroughes (Conservatives) entered the city escorted by upwards of 400 hors.e.m.e.n. The Liberal candidates were Mr. William Howe Windham and Mr. Richard Hanbury Gurney (who was confined to his house by a severe attack of gout). The polling was held on the 8th and 9th, and the result was declared on the 10th:-Wodehouse, 3,645; Burroughes, 3,523; Windham, 3,237; Gurney, 2,978. The majority on the first day's poll being 170 against them, the Liberal candidates withdrew from the contest. Mr. Burroughes celebrated his return by giving a _fete champetre_ at Burlingham Hall on the 16th.

12.-A dreadful murder was committed at Aylmerton. James Moy, a labourer, after rocking his infant son to sleep, cut the child's throat with a pocket-knife. At the inquest the Coroner's jury returned a verdict of wilful murder, and the prisoner was committed to Norwich Castle to await his trial. At the Norfolk a.s.sizes, in April, 1838, before Mr. Justice Bolland, the jury found that the man was insane and incapable of pleading, and his lordship directed his detention at Thorpe Asylum.

23.-Died at Ramsey Abbey, Huntingdonshire, Mr. William Henry Fellowes, of Haveringland Hall, aged 69. "He was for upwards of 30 years one of the representatives of that county in Parliament, and was universally esteemed in all relations of life, and particularly by his extensive tenantry, to whom he was a kind and indulgent landlord."

24.-A public discussion took place at St. Andrew's Hall, Norwich, between the notorious Richard Carlile and the Rev. John Green, a Dissenting minister, upon the subject of the validity of the Scriptures. "The discussion was conducted in an orderly and peaceable manner. Mr. Green held Carlile firmly to the point on all questions, and compelled him to acknowledge himself unable to overthrow the testimony he quoted." A second discussion was held on the 28th, when Carlile was again beaten by his opponent; and on the 29th he was hooted from the Market Place for attempting to address a meeting. On Jan. 5th, 1838, Mr. Green was presented with a set of books purchased by public subscription, "as a testimony of esteem and grat.i.tude for the very able and satisfactory manner in which he had conducted the controversy."

26.-Royal licence and authority were granted to Mr. William Blake, of Swanton Abbots, to a.s.sume and use the surname of Jex in addition to and before that of Blake, and to bear the arms of Jex quarterly in the second quarter with those of Blake.

26.*-"The Incorporation of Tunstead and Happing comprises 41 parishes, and it is remarkable that there is not one able-bodied man either an inmate of the Workhouse or receiving parochial relief. Such has not been known since the Workhouse was built in the year 1787."

-*"Last week a number of youngsters at Norwich had an election for the members of the Lilliput Parliament. The polling took place at the Old Library. After a severe contest, during which it was alleged by the 'Purples' that a great deal of cooping, bribery, treating, and double voting took place on the part of the 'Blues,' and that sums to the amount of two pence were given for a vote, the 'Blues' claimed the victory, and chaired their members on the following day, with a splendid procession, banners and flags flying, and the band playing, 'Wave your Blues and Whites.' The 'Purples' did not acknowledge this defeat, and on Tuesday last they also chaired their candidate with a procession equal in grandeur, after which the leading characters dined at the Bell Inn, and an election ball took place in the evening, at which 320 persons were present."

SEPTEMBER.

1.-Heavy rain and hailstorms occurred throughout the county. "At Stibbard and Guist during a severe thunderstorm 300 worth of damage was done on several occupations. Barley and wheat were completely beaten out by the hailstones, which lay six inches deep in places on the following morning."

9.-A shocking affair took place at Catton. Mr. Jonathan Whitley Cooper, an attorney practising in Norwich, was driving in a gig with his clerk (Thirkettle), when he was accosted by a man named Cornelius Moor. Mr.

Cooper drew a pistol, discharged it at the man, and wounded him severely.

Moor was conveyed to the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital, where he died the same night. On the following day Mr. Cooper was apprehended and committed to the Castle on the charge of killing Moor, and also of shooting at a man named Ford near the same place, on the same evening, with intent to murder. The case caused great excitement in Norwich. It was alleged that the prisoner had entertained malice towards the deceased arising out of circ.u.mstances connected with the Norwich election. Mr.

Cooper had been professionally engaged on the Conservative side, and it was stated that the deceased, having promised to vote for that party, voted for the Liberals. At the Coroner's inquest the imputation of malice or any preconceived design was so completely negatived by the evidence, and more especially by the dying declaration of Moor, who was quite unknown to the prisoner, that the jury returned a verdict of manslaughter, which so greatly excited the indignation of the populace that they were with difficulty prevented from a.s.saulting the jurymen on their leaving the Coroner's court. There was also a hearing of the case before the Recorder (Mr. Preston) and another magistrate, with the result that the prisoner was committed to the Castle on the _mittimus_ of the magistrates, and confined in one of the felons' cells. Application was made to the county magistrates for bail, and was refused. Under these circ.u.mstances, counsel was instructed to apply to the Judge of the Queen's Bench for an order on the Norfolk justices to admit the prisoner to bail. Mr. Justice Littledale made the order accordingly, and the accused was released in his own recognisances of 500 and four sureties of 100 each. (_See_ April 4th, 1838.)

17.-Died in Norwich, aged 77, Mr. John Whitaker Robberds. He was elected Alderman in 1806, served the office of Sheriff in 1807, and was Mayor in 1814.

25.-A prize-fight took place at Thurton for 5 a side, between Ostler and Cricknell, well-known Norwich pugilists. "After a contest of one hour and a quarter, Ostler having broken a bone in his hand by a fall, was obliged to give in, and Cricknell was declared the victor."

-"What was termed a temperance festival" took place at St. Andrew's Hall, Norwich. Upwards of one thousand persons were present, and five hundred applications for tea tickets were refused. The Lord Bishop of Norwich delivered an address. Supper followed, and "everything was conducted in good order."

OCTOBER.

2.-Died at Rome, Mr. Henry Bernes. "This artist was not long since a visitor in Norwich, and was known as Mr. Burlowe, a name he took to distinguish himself from his brother, the celebrated sculptor, which branch of art he also followed. Amongst other works of his hand is the last bust taken of Dr. Bathurst, our late venerable Bishop, in his 88th year."

8.-Died at Grosvenor Street, London, in her 75th year, the Dowager d.u.c.h.ess of Leeds. Her grace was mistress of the robes to the Queen Dowager. She was a daughter of Mr. Thomas Anguish, and married the Duke of Leeds in October, 1788.

9.-Died in St. Clement's, Norwich, aged 55, Mr. Richard Shaw, who was elected Sheriff in 1818, Alderman in 1835, and was one of the Town Councillors for the Seventh Ward.

16.-M. Thalberg, "the extraordinary pianist," appeared at a concert given at the a.s.sembly Room, Norwich, by Mr. Mori. Miss f.a.n.n.y Woodham and Mr.

Parry, jun., were the other performers.

-The Bishop of Norwich concluded his "circuit of confirmations." The total numbers confirmed during the circuit were 3,354 males and 6,919 females.

18.-Died, at the age of 77, Mr. James Robinson, of St. John Maddermarket, "the oldest medical pract.i.tioner in Norwich." For 38 years he filled the office of City Surgeon, and was for 45 years surgeon to the House of Correction.

23.-Mr. R. W. Dowson, of Geldeston, was presented with a piece of plate by the agriculturists of Norfolk and Suffolk, "as a testimony of their sincere regard and high estimation of his strict integrity in mercantile pursuits manifested during the last half century."