Norfolk Annals
Chapter 142 : The work of renovation was carried out by Mr. J. W. Lacey, from designs by Mr. Barry,

The work of renovation was carried out by Mr. J. W. Lacey, from designs by Mr. Barry, the City Surveyor. The cost, about 1,500, was defrayed by public subscription.

19.-Three troops of the 18th Hussars, with headquarters, marched into Norwich, under the command of Lieut.-Col. Knox, formerly Major in the 15th Hussars.

-A great archery _fete_ was held at Crown Point, Norwich. The societies represented were the Norfolk and Norwich Archery Club, the East Norfolk, West Norfolk, East Suffolk, West Suffolk, Westwick, Long Melford, Waveney Borderers, Waveney Valley, Yarmouth, and Copdock Archers.

31.-Died at his residence, the South Quay, Great Yarmouth, Mr. Samuel Charles Marsh, aged 53. He occupied for many years a conspicuous public position in the borough, and twice served the office of Mayor-in 1844 and 1852.

SEPTEMBER.

10.-Died at Raynham Hall, his Norfolk seat, Rear-Admiral the Marquis Townshend. His lords.h.i.+p was riding in the park on the 9th, when he was seized with a paralytic stroke. John Townshend was son of Lord John Townshend, second son of George, first Marquis Townshend. He was born March 28th, 1798, and succeeded to the family honours on the death of his cousin, George Ferrars, third Marquis, in December, 1855. He married, August 18th, 1825, Elizabeth Jane, eldest daughter of Rear-Admiral Lord George Stuart, who survived him, and left issue an only son, John Villiers Stuart, Viscount Rainham, M.P., and three daughters. He entered the Navy as mids.h.i.+pman in 1814, but his services, owing to the peace of 1815, were not distinguished. Before his accession to the House of Lords he was elected member for Tamworth. In politics he was a p.r.o.nounced Liberal, "being in advance of the political party to which he professed to belong, for he had voted in favour of the ballot, and was also for the admission of Jews into Parliament and the removal of all religious disabilities."

14.-The Earl of Leicester, as Lord Lieutenant of the county, reviewed the Volunteers of Norfolk and Norwich, on Mousehold Heath. Upwards of 2,000 were on parade, and were inspected by Col. McMurdo, Inspector-General of the Volunteer Forces. The troops were afterwards entertained at dinner at the Corn Hall. The Mayor (Mr. Patteson) presided, supported by the Lord Lieutenant and many distinguished guests.

-The Norfolk and Norwich Triennial Musical Festival commenced with an evening performance of "Judas Maccabaeus." On the evenings of the 15th, 16th, and 17th, miscellaneous concerts were given. "Joash" (E. Silas), conducted by the composer, was produced on the morning of the 16th, followed by "Scene at the Gates of Nain," from "Emmanuel," and a portion of the "Stabat Mater"; "Elijah" on the morning of the 17th, and "The Messiah" on the morning of the 18th. The princ.i.p.al performers were Mdlle. Tietjens, Madame Lemmens Sherrington, Madame Weiss, Miss Wilkinson, Miss Palmer, Mdlle. Trebelli, Mr. Sims Reeves, Signor Bettini, Mr. Montem Smith, Mr. Santley, Signor Bossi, and Mr. Weiss. Mr. Benedict conducted. A "full dress" ball was held on the night of the 18th.

21.-James Naylor, of Elsing, aged 51, murdered his wife, Charlotte Naylor, aged 81. "From the time he was committed to Norwich Castle to take his trial at the a.s.sizes, he endeavoured to lead people to imagine that he was not of sound mind." He died in prison on November 23rd, from cancer in the stomach.

30.-At a dinner held at St. Nicholas' Hall, East Dereham, Capt. Bulwer, the commanding-officer of the 15th Norfolk Rifle Volunteers, was presented with an alb.u.m containing photographs of every member of the company, "in recognition of his valuable services in promoting the success and efficiency of the corps." A presentation was also made to Mrs. Bulwer.

OCTOBER.

2.-Died in London, Sir William Bellairs, of Mulbarton Lodge, in his 70th year. From 1811 to 1819 he served in the 15th Hussars, and went through the campaigns of 1813 and 1814. He was present at Vittoria, the Pyrenees, Orthes, Tarbes, Toulouse, and other engagements, and also served in the campaign of 1815, had a horse killed under him in the retreat from Quatre Bras, and received two wounds at the battle of Waterloo. In 1837 he was appointed exon of the Yeomen of the Guard, which he held up to 1849. He married, in 1822, Miss Hooke, daughter and heiress of Mr. Edmund Hooke, of Mulbarton Lodge.

10.-Died at his residence, St. Catherine's Cottage, Norwich, in his 62nd year, Mr. William Matchett, senior proprietor of the NORFOLK CHRONICLE.

He was the second son of Mr. Jonathan Matchett, a former proprietor of the journal. Educated at Norwich Grammar School, under the Rev. Dr.

Valpy, he became a partner in the establishment in 1827, from which time until his death he took an active share in its management. "In former days, before the science of shorthand writing had become a business in itself, Mr. Matchett, like his school-fellow and contemporary, Mr. R. N.

Bacon, performed for this newspaper all those duties which the exigencies of the present age require should be distributed amongst a 'staff of reporters,' and as the representative of the CHRONICLE attended most of the princ.i.p.al meetings in the city and county, the proceedings at which were ably condensed for the public eye by the aid of his brief notes and singularly retentive memory. Under the old Corporation, and for a short period under the new _regime_, Mr. Matchett was connected with the Norwich Town Council for upwards of eight years, and at all times took a warm interest in the welfare and improvement of his native city.

27.-Elihu Burritt, "the Learned Blacksmith," delivered a lecture to the Norwich Young Men's Christian a.s.sociation, on "The Higher Law and Mission of Commerce."

29.-Mdlle. Carlotta Patti appeared at St. Andrew's Hall, Norwich, accompanied by Madame f.a.n.n.y Huddart, Herr Reichardt, Signor Ferranti, and MM. Vieuxtemps and Ascher (violin and pianoforte). "Mdlle. Patti had been offered an engagement at the Festival, but had declined to come unless she was paid 500 gs. The Festival Committee were justified in rejecting her terms, which could only be accorded to a second Jenny Lind, which she is not. Nevertheless she is a wonderful singer."

NOVEMBER.

7.*-"The gales that have visited the coast during the last week have been terrific. For days there has been an enormous fleet of southward bound colliers in Yarmouth Roads. With other vessels, the coast, extending from Caister to Corton, a distance of several miles, has been crowded with s.h.i.+pping, and several s.h.i.+pwrecked crews have been landed at the Sailors' Home."

9.-Died at Norwich, in his 76th year, Mr. William Stark, F.G.S. He was well-known in his day as an able chemist, and was one of the first dyers of fabrics of Norwich manufacture, "particularly of the colour called Turkey red, the manufacturers in the North sending large quant.i.ties of goods for dyeing." He devoted much of his time to the prosecution of scientific studies, and was a Fellow of the Geological Society. In the days when Dr. Rigby, William Taylor, Dalrymple, Crosse, C. Austrin, Dr.

Evans, &c., belonged to the Norwich Philosophical Society, Mr. Stark contributed many papers at its meetings, in which he bore a distinguished part. For many years he had been afflicted by partial loss of sight, and a few months before his death became totally blind.

9.-Mr. Osborn Springfield was elected Mayor, and Mr. Frederick Brown appointed Sheriff of Norwich.

14.-A meeting for the promotion of the East Norfolk Railway was held at the Swan Hotel, St. Peter Mancroft, Norwich, under the presidency of Lord Suffield. A resolution emphasising the importance of the scheme was adopted, and the following motion was also unanimously pa.s.sed: "That the offer of the Great Eastern Railway Company to render substantial help in the formation of lines of railway to North Walsham, Aylsham, and Cromer, and to work the same when made at 50 per cent. upon the gross receipts, should be cordially accepted by the district, as conferring the means of accomplis.h.i.+ng public works of the greatest benefit, and which otherwise must have been indefinitely postponed." (_See_ May 5th, 1864.)

16.-Mr. James Caird, M.P., Mr. G. Shaw Lefevre, M.P., and Professor T. H.

Huxley, the Commissioners appointed to enquire into the condition of the sea fisheries of the United Kingdom, attended at the Sailors' Home, Yarmouth, for the purpose of hearing evidence. The objects of the inquiry were to ascertain (1) whether the supply of fish from the fisheries of the United Kingdom had increased of late years, remained stationary, or diminished; (2) whether any of the methods of catching fish involved the wasteful diminution of fish sp.a.w.n, and whether legislative interference was required to increase the supply; and (3) whether any existing legislative enactments operated prejudicially against fisheries. The Commissioners afterwards visited King's Lynn.

22.-The death occurred at Yarmouth, in his 43rd year, of Hales, the Norfolk Giant. He was born at West Somerton, and for some years was engaged in seafaring pursuits, until his enormous height, 7 ft. 6 inches, gained for him such notoriety that he was induced to abandon the sea and exhibit himself. During his nomadic career he visited almost every town in the kingdom, and scarcely a fair was considered complete without the huge yellow caravan which formed his temporary abode. Becoming tired of his wandering life. Hales took up his abode in London, and whilst there had the honour of appearing before the Court and of receiving from the Queen a handsome gold watch and chain. Shortly after his appearance at Court, the fame of the Norfolk Giant reached Barnum, who lost no time in engaging his services. Hales remained with Barnum for some years, in the course of which he visited most of the cities and towns in America. On his return to England he resumed his wanderings, and, in the course of the summer of 1862 came to Yarmouth, where his presence on the Britannia Pier attracted large numbers of visitors. Hales's parents were conspicuous for their great height, his father being 6 ft 6 ins., and his mother 6 ft. He had five sisters, who averaged 6 ft 6 ins. One of them, Mary, was 7 ft. 2 ins. in height, and for some years travelled with her brother. She died in Guernsey. His four brothers averaged 6 ft 5 inches. A few days before his death, Hales was walking about Norwich, where he attracted great crowds by his immense size.

23.-Died at the Rectory, Long Stratton, Mr. George Birch Jerrard, son of Major-General Jerrard. Born at Bodmin, on November 24th, 1804, he acquired considerable fame as a mathematician, and was the author of "Mathematical Researches" and of "An Essay on the Resolution of Equations." In his first-named work, "he made a great step in Algebra, and one acknowledged by all mathematicians, namely, the taking away of _three_ terms from equations of any degree. In his latter work he maintains he has solved _the_ great problem of Algebra, namely, the resolution of _all_ equations." At the time of his death he was engaged in writing a work on "Prophecy," a subject in which he was greatly interested.

26.-Brother Ignatius, "a clergyman of the English Church, who has the temerity to come before a public audience attired as a Benedictine monk, with bare head and bare feet, carrying a rosary and crucifix, which in this country are regarded as symbolic only of the Romish Church, and calling himself by a name not accorded to him by his G.o.dfathers and G.o.dmother," lectured at St. Andrew's Hall, Norwich, on "Monks and Monasteries for the English Church." (_See_ February 13th, 1864.)

DECEMBER.

2.-A gale of unusual violence began in the night, and prevailed during the whole of the 3rd. There was hardly a street in Norwich in which the roofs of houses escaped damage. Many vessels were lost off the Norfolk coast. One hundred and forty-four men and boys were drowned, and 68 widows and 105 children were left dest.i.tute. A public subscription, to which the Queen contributed 100, was opened at Yarmouth to relieve their distress.

9.-A meeting of weavers was held at Norwich, to consider the rates of payment for work. It was stated that in 1846 a list of prices was agreed to by the manufacturers and operatives for all fabrics then made. These prices had, with few exceptions, been maintained in Norwich, but a great deal of work was sent into the country, where it was done at the reduced rate of 5d. per dozen skeins, or considerably more than 50 per cent.

difference. The weavers resolved that any departure from the list of prices would be alike injurious to employers and employed, and a deputation was appointed to wait upon the manufacturers to enforce this view.

-Mr. David Fisher gave, at Noverre's Rooms, Norwich, his entertainment, ent.i.tled, "Facts and Fancies," with which he had achieved great success during the London season. Mr. Fisher was known in Norwich not only as an excellent actor and accomplished musician, but as a vocalist of much taste.

21.-At the Norwich a.s.sizes, before Mr. Baron Martin, James Margatroyed Hubbard (24), described as a general dealer, and son of a Norwich brewer, was indicted for forging a bill of exchange for 45, and sentenced to 20 years' penal servitude.

25.-The weather was very mild. A picotee bloom and rose were gathered in a garden at Norwich.

26.-Mr. H. J. Byron was the author of the pantomime produced at Norwich Theatre. It was ent.i.tled, "Ali Baba, or the Thirty-nine Thieves."

-A revolting performance was given at one of the shows at the Norwich Christmas Fair. "A man and woman, said to be Kaffirs, actually fed upon live rats, in the presence of continually succeeding audiences." The details, as published in the newspaper, are too horrible to be quoted.

The Mayor, on being informed of the proceedings, prohibited the exhibition, after which raw flesh was subst.i.tuted for live rats. At Walsingham, a few days afterwards, the show was visited by many hundreds of country folk; at Wells the police expelled the performers from the town.

1864.

JANUARY.

6.-The mild weather of Christmas week was succeeded by frost of great intensity. On this day the thermometer stood at 14 degrees, and the river above the New Mills at Norwich was frozen. Large numbers of golden plover made their appearance in the neighbourhood of Thetford, and an extraordinary quant.i.ty of wild fowl came within the bounds of Shadwell, where Sir Robert Buxton prohibited their being shot or molested.

9.-Early in the morning intelligence was received at Norwich that the Princess of Wales had, on the previous evening, given birth to a son (Prince Albert Victor). Throughout the day rejoicing peals were rung upon the bells of St. Peter Mancroft, the Royal Standard was displayed at the Guildhall, and on the 19th the Corporation sent a congratulatory address to the Queen and to the Prince and Princess of Wales.

19.-Died at Norwich, Mr. George Fisher, a member of the talented and well-known local family of that name, and of the Norfolk and Suffolk Company of Comedians. On retiring from the stage, he conducted a school at Swaffham, and subsequently resided at Lynn, where he was for many years known as an enthusiastic votary of the violin, and a useful member of the band of the Musical Union. He was author of a curious and voluminous work, ent.i.tled, "A Companion and Key to the History of England," printed by Skill, of Swaffham, and published in 1832.

20.-Died at Hove, Brighton, Captain J. J. B. E. Frere, R.N. He entered the Navy in 1826, and had been for nearly twenty-five years engaged on active service-against the pirates in the Mediterranean, in the operations on the coast of Syria, in the Pacific with Lord George Paulet, and as commissioner for the Government of the Sandwich Islands, while held temporarily under the British flag.

21.-The hearing of the action, c.o.x _v._ Wise, arising out of the inundation in Marshland, was resumed in the Court of Queen's Bench, and, after three days' argument for the rule in support of the verdict, and against the rule to set it aside, the case was closed. Their lords.h.i.+ps reserved judgment until May 24th, when Mr. Justice Mellor held that the Middle Level Commissioners were trustees for public purposes, acting without reward and deriving no tolls from the works; they had not the means of raising funds except for the specific performance of the objects of their private Act. He was of opinion that they were not liable for damages, and that the rule must be made absolute. Mr. Justice Blackburn was of the contrary opinion; he thought the plaintiff had a right to his verdict, and that the rule should be discharged. Lord Chief Justice c.o.c.kburn thought the defendants were not liable, and said that the rule must be made absolute. Rule absolute accordingly. (_See_ June 9th, 1865.)

FEBRUARY.