Yarmouth Notes Part 36

Samuel Bowles (like offence) fined 3.

John Crow (ditto) fined 1.

James Harvey, William b.a.l.l.s and William Stoddard (ditto) discharged with a caution.

Samuel Gowing (ditto) fined 1.

Henry Walpole (charged by William Danby-Palmer, Esq., with a like offence) fined 2.

James Vincent (for creating a disturbance) fined 10s.

George Walton (charged by Mr. S. S. Barber) for a "rescue," fined 5.

Alfred Pye (for a.s.saulting Police-constable Lattimore) fined 2.

William Bee, John Creak, Benjamin Mallett, Edward Brooks, and Robert Willgra.s.s (charged with having taken part in the riot and disturbance) were committed for trial, but Bee, Mallett and Creak were admitted to bail in two sureties of 40 each and their own recognizances for 68 each.

H.M. ships "Black Eagle" and "Lightning" had entered the Harbour and laid on the west side of the river.

The Workhouse (which unfortunately contained a large number of idle and dissolute characters) had been the scene of frequent disturbances, and police had been lodged there on that account. During the riot an outbreak, however, had taken place, and a ringleader named Charles Girdlestone taken into custody; he was sentenced to 42 days' hard labour for this offence, and would be sent for trial for a ferocious attack on the police. Three other paupers had been sent to the treadmill for 21 days each for refractory conduct.

March 8th.-At the Quarter Sessions, (held before N. Palmer, Esq.), the rioters, John Creak (24), Benjamin Mallett (34), John Brooks (19), William Bee (26), and Robert Willgra.s.s (-), were put upon their trial.

Mr. Hotson (with whom was Mr. Mills and Mr. Bulwer) prosecuted, and Mr.

Evans (with whom was Mr. C. Cooper) defended the prisoners, the Jury (having deliberated for 25 minutes) returned a verdict of Not Guilty, "which verdict was received with a loud burst of applause, which lasted two or three minutes."

March 15th.-The strike had ended, most of the owners having consented to sign agreements for giving the men the wages they asked for, for a period of 12 months.

March 22nd.-The sailors had held a "Grand Procession with flags, banners, and triumphant cars." In the latter were several men attired as Neptune, Britannia, &c., in the evening they attended at the Vauxhall Gardens, where there was a grand display of fireworks.-During the strike 500 stones of flour, 600 lbs. of beef, and 500 cwt. of coals, had been distributed amongst the families of the men on strike from the contributions of the inhabitants.

The N.A.O.D. had met at the Trinity Arms to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Trinity Lodge, No. 220. Messrs. R. R. B. Norman, J.

P. Hastings, P.A., and F. Palmer took part in the proceedings.-It was stated there were then three lodges of this order in the town.

April 5th.-Mr. Ferrier and Sir E. H. K. Lacon had appealed, without success, against the rating of certain property on the Denes, on the ground "that it was not within the town."

April 12th.-Mr. S. Tolver had instructed Mr. Coppock, the parliamentary agent, to prepare the pet.i.tion against the application of the Public Health Act to the town, and this doc.u.ment was being numerously signed.

It was proposed to form a "Pilot" Steam Tug Company (capital, 1,000 in 5 shares.)

George Danby-Palmer and J. Barker, Esqs., had been elected Haven Commissioners, and D. A. Gourlay and R. Hammond, Esqs., Supernumerary Haven Commissioners.

April 19th.-Mr. T. Brightwen was urging the appointment of a Chaplain at the Workhouse.

The Conservatives had secured, for the first time, several scats at the Board of Guardians, the following forming the new Board:-

Nominated by both parties-Messrs. B. Fenn, S. C. Marsh, and S. V. Moore.

Liberals-Messrs. G. Danby-Palmer, D. A Gourlay, and T. Brightwen.

Conservatives-Messrs. R. Ferrier, E. R. Aldred, C. Woolverton, W.

Worship, J. G. Plummer, W. Laws, E. H. L. Preston, S. Nightingale, J.

Cherry, and T. Paul.

Captain Ellis, R.N., had exhibited the model of a fast sailing yacht.

Captain James Day had been fined 5 for a.s.saulting Mr. Nolloth, tailor.

The "Public Heath Act" was again being discussed by the Town Council, where Mr. Burroughs moved, and Mr. Barker seconded, a pet.i.tion against the application of the Act to the Borough, and Mr. F. Worship moved, and Mr. R. Ferrier, jun., seconded as an amendment that the Council pa.s.s to the next business on the agenda paper.

Upon a division the amendment was lost by 15 to 23, and the original motion declared to be carried by 23 to 17 votes.

April 26th.-At a meeting held at the Angel-inn (C. J. Palmer, Esq., in the chair) it was thought desirable "to advertise the town, and that a saxhorn band should play daily on the princ.i.p.al promenades."

May 10th.-The pilots of Gorleston had succeeded in establishing a Tug Company, and had purchased a boat of 45 horsepower, called "The Royal Albert."

J. Hume, Esq., M.P., had introduced a deputation of Ratepayers opposed to the "Public Health Act" to Lord Seymour (at the Woods and Forests Office); it consisted of Charles Pearson, Esq., (Mayor); D. A. Gourlay, Esq., (Deputy-Mayor); George Danby-Palmer, Esq., and William N.

Burroughs, Esq., with Mr. J. H. Harrison (Secretary), while 18 members of the Council at the same time pet.i.tioned Parliament in favour of the measure.

The sailors had held a meeting to consider the "Ticket" system and the "Muster Roll" fund.

May 17th.-In consequence of the removal of the window tax, bricklayers were busy throughout the town opening out windows formerly blocked up.

Mr. Cosgrove's saxhorn band was to perform on the North and South Terraces during the season.

The census head been taken with the following result:-

Houses inhabited. Uninhabited. Total. Building.

5,984 344 6,328 78 Families. Males. Females. Total.

6,154 11,544 15,014 26,558

Increase of population per cent., 10.3. This included 347 inmates of the Workhouse.

It was noted that in 1619 Manship estimated the then population of the town at 1,200 households, which would give a population of some 7,000.

In 1724 a writer named Andrews stated the population at 13,000 or 14,000; and in 1784 when it was first accurately taken, it was found to be 12,608.

The then returns were considered disappointing, as it was expected that the town contained 30,000 persons, but it was noted that 2,500 sailors belonged to the port, half of whom were probably not at home when the return was made.

At this time Gorleston had a population of 2,586, and Southtown of 1,412 persons.

John Annison, the driver of the Sutton coach, had been convicted for the fourth time of conveying pa.s.sengers to Yarmouth at a greater speed than four miles an hour without having a number plate on his vehicle, and fined 10 with 3 3s. costs.

May 31st.-Visitors were beginning to arrive.

June 7th.-A project was on foot for laying out the Chapel Denes as an ornamental walk for the public.

June 28th.-A mushroom measuring 29 inches in circ.u.mference, with a stalk about the thickness of a man's wrist and weighing 2lbs., had been grown at Bradwell.