Norfolk Annals Volume I Part 98

4.-A correspondent writing to the NORFOLK CHRONICLE on this date announced the discovery, in the old Library Room at St. Andrew's Hall, Norwich, of an antique chest containing the remains of a valuable collection of Roman and English coins. John Kirkpatrick, in his will, dated July, 1727, made the following bequest: "I give to the Mayor, Sheriffs, citizens and commonalty of Norwich all my ancient MSS. and all my medals and antient coins of silver and bra.s.s, to be deposited in the library of the new Hall" (the Guildhall). The coins found at St.

Andrew's Hall formed the remnant of that collection.

7.-The thermometer fell to zero at Norwich. The cold was so intense that fowls under cover were frozen to death. Great distress prevailed, and meetings were held at Norwich, Yarmouth, and Lynn, to adopt measures for the relief of the poor.

9.-Died in the Cathedral Precincts, Norwich, in his 77th year, the Rev.

Peter Hansell, one of the Minor Canons of the Cathedral, an office which he had held for upwards of fifty-four years. For more than half a century he was minister of St. John de Sepulchre. His remains were interred, on the 15th, in the south transept of the Cathedral.

-Died, aged 52, Samuel Thurston, for more than 30 years a ringer at St.

Peter Mancroft, Norwich. "As a practical ringer and theorist combined, the art has lost one of its brightest ornaments. The date tablets erected in different parishes throughout the city and county record his fame as a ringer."

16.-All the marshes and low-lying lands in the vicinity of Norwich were flooded upon the breaking up of the frost. Owing to the heavy state of the roads, the mail and stage coaches were delayed several hours beyond their usual time. The weather was remarkably warm and brilliant in the last week of the month.

FEBRUARY.

3.-Wintry weather set in with increased severity, the rivers were icebound, and navigation was completely stopped at Lynn.

-The Mayor of Norwich (Mr. Ed. Willett) entertained a large party at the Royal Hotel, in celebration of the christening of the Princess Royal.

"Four swans formed a conspicuous figure in the second course, and the ancient and costly Corporation plate was brought into requisition on this occasion. Previous to the removal of the cloth the beautiful antique ma.s.sive gilt dishes were pa.s.sed round with rose water in them." In the evening a ball was held at the a.s.sembly Rooms.

8.-Miss Ellen Tree commenced a six nights' engagement at Norwich Theatre.

Her impersonations included Julia ("The Hunchback"), Let.i.tia Hardy, Mrs.

Haller, Constance ("The Love Chase"), Juliana ("The Honeymoon"), and Pauline.

12.-Died, at East Dereham, in her 101st year, Mrs. Carter, widow of the Rev. John Carter, formerly minister of the Independent chapel, Mattishall.

-Died, Sir Astley Paston Cooper, Bart., aged 78 years.

27.-Died at Scarning, aged 67, the Rev. L. Walton, perpetual curate of Wendling and Longham, and many years master of the Free Grammar School, Scarning.

MARCH.

5.-The Norwich Philharmonic Society, established on the dissolution of the Hall Concert, gave its first concert.

22.-The Mayor of Yarmouth (Mr. S. Palmer), "a.s.sisted by the lodge of Free and Accepted Masons," laid the first stone of the Victoria Hotel at Yarmouth. "Corn, wine, and oil, emblems of plenty, were offered and poured upon the stone." The hotel, and adjoining houses known as Kimberley Terrace, were erected by the Victoria Building Company, "for the reception of families of the highest distinction."

APRIL.

5.-At the Norfolk a.s.sizes, before Mr. Justice Bosanquet, Charlotte Yaxley, _alias_ Middleton, aged 22, was indicted for the murder of Lavinia Kerrison, the thirteen months old illegitimate child of her husband, by drowning it in a duck-pond at Yarmouth, on March 23rd. She was found guilty, and sentenced to transportation for life.

10.-Intelligence was received at Norwich of the ma.s.sacre, by Malay pirates, in the Straits of Timor, of the crew of the Pilot Southseaman in June, 1840. The captain, first officer (Mr. Gidney, brother of Mr. J. W.

Gidney, of East Dereham), and twenty-five seamen fell victims whilst gallantly defending the ship.

13.-Died, aged 85, John Rayson, of Pulham. "For nearly half a century he had been deprived of the use of his legs, but this did not prevent his travelling daily between Pulham and Harleston as postman or letter carrier, for 47 years."

17.-A new "local drama," ent.i.tled, "Rose Maynard, the Factory Girl of Norwich," was produced for the first time at Norwich Theatre. "The piece is of home manufacture, but we cannot compliment the _weaver_ of this dramatic _warp_ and _woof_ of his judgment in laying such a _fabric_ before an audience in Norwich." The scenery, by Thorne, included views of St. Saviour's church, the Palace Gate, St. Martin-at-Palace Plain, and Whitefriars' Bridge.

27.-Died at South Walsham, aged 75, Mr. Henry Codling. "Una.s.sisted by the aid of any tutor, he acquired no mean degree of mathematical knowledge. He understood the doctrine of fluxions, and delighted in his favourite author, Maclaurin. He was a constant annual correspondent with the 'Ladies' Diary,' to within a few years of the close of his life, and received prizes for the solution of the most knotty questions contained therein."

28.-The headquarters of the 8th Royal Irish Hussars marched from Norwich for Manchester, and on the same day two troops of the 7th Dragoon Guards marched in, under the command of Major Bolton.

-Died at Chigwell Row, Mr. Luke Greaves Hansard, aged 61. "He was printer to the House of Commons, and eldest son of Luke Hansard, a native of Norfolk."

MAY.

5.-The Bishop of Norwich confirmed 500 persons at Diss. His lordship, in the course of this visitation, confirmed 10,464 young persons.

11.-Mr. Carter, "the celebrated African Lion King," appeared at Norwich Theatre "with his troupe of acting animals, consisting of lions, tigers, leopards, and panthers, in a new drama, ent.i.tled, 'The Lion of the Desert.'" Mr. Carter took the part of "Abdallah, a dumb Arab." "It requires no little nerve on the part of the actors and actresses to play to such rough customers, and much credit is due to the members of the Norwich Company who took a share in the performance."

17.-At Norwich, R. Coates, "the great London pedestrian," walked 50 miles in twelve hours; on the 18th ran 50 miles, on the 19th ran 40 miles backwards, on the 20th ran a pair of wheels 22 miles, rowed a boat 10 miles, jumped 300 flights of hurdles placed ten yards apart, and threw 100 somersaults. "All these events on the several days were performed in the s.p.a.ce of twelve hours." At the Green Hill Gardens, Norwich, Coates undertook to walk, on June 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, fifty miles in twelve hours each day, "half backwards and half forwards, and accomplished this extraordinary feat the last day with ten minutes to spare." At the same gardens, on June 30th, he commenced walking 1,000 half miles in 1,000 successive hours. "He has to walk a half mile every succeeding half hour day and night, but he has the privilege of walking two half miles together, the last and first part of the hour." Coates was credited with the due accomplishment of the feat. On August 10th a man named Charles Thurlow began a walk of 1,000 miles in 1,000 hours at Richmond Hill Gardens, Norwich, and completed what was said to have been a genuine performance on September 21st. Another pedestrian named Henry Raven, started to walk the same distance in the same time on the Lord Nelson ground, Lakenham, on September 29th, and completed his undertaking on November 10th.

-The Norfolk Yeomanry Cavalry, under the command of Major Loftus, marched into Norwich, headed by their bra.s.s band, and on the following day proceeded to Yarmouth for a week's permanent duty.

18.-Sir Jacob Astley, of Melton Constable, Norfolk, and of Seaton Delaval, Northumberland, took his seat in the House of Peers as Baron Hastings. The termination of the long-pending abeyance of the Barony of Hastings in favour of Sir Jacob was celebrated with great festivities at Foulsham and Holt. "According to the date of his barony, the 18th of Edward I., 1290, next below Lord de Roos, Baron Hastings is the most ancient baron of the United Kingdom."

20.-Mr. G. V. Brooke commenced a six nights' engagement at Norwich Theatre.

JUNE.

2.-At a meeting held at the a.s.sembly Rooms, East Dereham, under the presidency of Lord Sondes, it was agreed "that in consequence of the unprincipled attacks made upon the owners and cultivators of the soil by the employment of hired agitators to inflame the minds of the lower orders of society against them, it is expedient that some steps be adopted for the protection and defence of those interests." It was also decided to form an a.s.sociation which was known as the Central Norfolk Society for the Protection of Agriculture, and was affiliated to the British Agricultural Protection a.s.sociation, an organization which worked in opposition to the Anti-Corn Law League.

2.-A meeting was held at St. Andrew's Hall, Norwich, in pursuance of a requisition addressed to the Mayor, stating that "her Majesty's Ministers had been guilty of an act of gross and wanton injustice and spoliation in depriving the freemen of this and other cities and boroughs of their vested munic.i.p.al rights; that by their unremitting endeavours to uphold and perpetuate in all their unmitigated harshness and severity the heartless and oppressive provisions of the new Poor Law they had evinced an utter disregard to the wants, feelings, and rights of the poor, and that their recent attempts to deprive the colonial and agricultural interests of the empire of a just protection under the specious and delusive pretext of supplying a deficiency in the revenue which their own mismanagement had occasioned, had rendered them wholly unworthy of the confidence of the country." Between two thousand and three thousand persons were present, and the greatest confusion prevailed, owing to the action of a large body of Chartists, led by the notorious John Dover. It was proposed that Col. Harvey should take the chair, but the Chartists elected one Matthew Smith, a working man. On the latter a.s.suming the presidency of the meeting, Col. Harvey, Mr. Bignold, and other gentlemen left the hall. A number of resolutions of a revolutionary character were adopted, and Dover, at the conclusion of the meeting, congratulated his followers on the success of the gathering, remarking that "it had cost the Tories 20 for bills, and the Whigs 20 for bullies." The proceedings, which were of a very orderly character, concluded with three cheers for Fergus O'Connor. Meanwhile the gentlemen who had convened the original meeting adjourned to the Norfolk Hotel, where they pa.s.sed a series of resolutions emphasising the statements contained in the requisition. During the whole of the proceedings the hotel was besieged by a riotous mob, several serious a.s.saults were committed, and on the 3rd some of the rioters were charged before the magistrates.

9.-Litcham Races took place on this date. Among the other local meetings was that at East Dereham, on June 23rd, where the commencement of the sport was announced by the ringing of the church bells, and the cup was won by Mr. Column's c.g. Day Star. The trophy "weighed 41 oz., and contained by admeasurement eight pints of Howard's sparkling champaign, which the fortunate winner twice filled, and the company partook of it with true English feeling." The Yarmouth meeting took place on July 20th and 21st, the Norfolk and Norwich Races were held on Mousehold Heath, Norwich, on September 8th and 9th, and Swaffham Races on September 15th.

19.*-"For nearly the middle of June, so cold a season has never perhaps been experienced as during all last week. Fires and great coats were in general requisition, and coachmen and guards were to be seen m.u.f.fled up as if we had been in the depth of winter."

28.-The Marquis of Douro and Mr. Benjamin Smith, the retiring members, were nominated for the representation of Norwich in Parliament. Dover, the Chartist, nominated a third candidate, Mr. William Eagle, of Lakenheath, Suffolk. "Conservatives and Whigs, in the show of hands, voted against Eagle, and the Sheriff declared the Marquis of Douro and Mr. Smith duly elected." Dover thereupon demanded a poll for Eagle, but was unable to deposit one-third of the expense (about 200). The proceedings were temporarily adjourned. "Dover then went out of the room, and, after the lapse of half an hour, _something_ took place which our readers will guess by the result. When Dover came back there was no further demand for a poll-we believe Dover received 50 to withdraw the nomination." The rumour quickly spread among the Chartists that Dover had "sold" them. The mob waylaid him in Dove Lane, and he retreated to the Guildhall for protection. The windows of the room in which he was supposed to have taken refuge were demolished by the stones thrown by the mob, and the police who went out to quell the disturbance were a.s.sailed by volleys of brickbats and other missiles. The 7th Dragoon Guards were called out, the Mayor read the Riot Act, and in the excitement and confusion Dover left the Guildhall unnoticed. On the 29th the Chartists a.s.sembled in force and went to the King's Head, St. George's Colegate, where Dover lived with a woman named Charlotte Humphrey. They burst into the house and found him armed with his Chartist weapons, which were wrested from him; he was knocked down, brutally belaboured, and hurried to the river, and would have been thrown from the bridge had it not been for the piteous intercession of one of his children. The mob were moving towards the Market Place with their prisoner when he was rescued by the police. At the same time a detachment of dragoons, commanded by Cornet Crofts, with the Mayor at their head, rode up, a coach was procured, and Dover, having been placed inside, was conveyed, under military escort, to the City Gaol, where his serious injuries were attended to by the surgeon of the prison. On the 30th several persons appeared before the magistrates and were punished for taking part in the disturbances.

Public tranquillity was somewhat restored the same day by a procession in which "Philip Augustus, the musical pieman," and "Jerry, the lucifer match seller, in a military costume, with an immense plume of feathers in his cap," were "chaired."

28.-Lord George Bentinck and Sir Stratford Canning were returned unopposed for the borough of King's Lynn.

-Mr. W. Wilshere, Mr. C. E. Rumbold, Mr. Thomas Baring, and Mr. Joseph Soames were nominated candidates for the representation of Yarmouth. The proceedings were marked by great disorder. The polling, on the 29th, resulted as follows:-Wilshere, 945; Rumbold, 943; Baring, 501; Soames, 494. The two first named were declared elected.

30.-Thetford election took place. The Hon. W. Bingham Baring (Conservative), 86; Lord Euston (Whig), 71; Sir James Flower (Conservative), 71. Before a Committee of the House of Commons, on May 4th, 1842, a pet.i.tion was presented on behalf of Sir James Flower, on the ground that several votes polled for Lord Euston were bad, as the voters had lost their qualifications. His lordship declined to take any part in these proceedings. The objection against one voter having been sustained, Sir James Flower was placed in a majority, and the Committee then pa.s.sed the following resolution:-"That the Right Hen. Henry FitzRoy, commonly called the Earl of Euston, was not duly elected member for the borough of Thetford; that Sir James Flower, Bart., was duly elected, and ought to have been returned; and that the Committee have altered the poll by striking off the vote of William Burlingham from the poll of the Earl of Euston."

JULY.