Norfolk Annals
Chapter 125 : 10.*-"Died last week, at Lincoln, Mr. Benjamin Whall, Cathedral organist of that

10.*-"Died last week, at Lincoln, Mr. Benjamin Whall, Cathedral organist of that city, in his 75th year. He was a native of Norwich, and at an early age was distinguished for his splendid voice. At 19 he was appointed master of the choristers of Lincoln Cathedral, and subsequently organist, and held this situation for 56 years. He was distinguished as an organist, and was celebrated for his pure style of playing the old ecclesiastical compositions."

20.-In consequence of the high price of provisions, the inclemency of the weather, and the want of employment, it was decided, at a meeting held at the Guildhall, Norwich, to start a public subscription to aid the District Visiting Society in the relief of the poor.

24.-The dignity of a baronetcy was conferred on Mr. Peto, in appreciation of his services, "and more especially of his disinterested and patriotic conduct in retiring from the representation of Norwich to carry out the construction of the railway from Balaclava, originated by the Duke of Newcastle."

26.-Died at Downham Green, Wymondham, Mr. James Neave, aged 68, "chairman of the market table at the Norfolk Hotel, Norwich." When hundreds of small farmers in the county were threatened with ruin after the great hailstorm, in August, 1842, Mr. Neave suggested to his brother agriculturists the introduction of a voluntary rate, by which about 10,000 was raised for the relief of the sufferers. Subsequently was established the Norwich Hailstorm Society, of which Mr. Neave was an active promoter.

MARCH.

9.-The Norwich police appeared in a new uniform. "The princ.i.p.al alteration in the clothing consists in the subst.i.tution of a frock-coat for the unsightly long-tailed coat, which is certainly a most becoming uniform for a civil force."

21.-This day was observed as one of solemn fasting and humiliation, in accordance with Royal Proclamation. The Mayor and Corporation of Norwich attended service at the Cathedral, and there were numerous congregations at other places of wors.h.i.+p.

22.-At the Norfolk a.s.sizes, before Lord Chief Baron Pollock and a special jury, was tried the libel action, Waldron, clerk, _v._ Bates, clerk. The Rev. Frederick William Waldron was a clergyman of the Church of England, and had been chaplain on board H.M. frigate Amazon, lying off the East India and China stations. On his return to England he became curate to the Rev. William Bates, rector of Burnham. After two years' service, plaintiff gave the defendant three months' notice of resignation. Mr.

Bates supplied plaintiff with testimonials, by which he obtained the appointment of headmaster of a public school at Wymondham, in Leicesters.h.i.+re. In subsequent correspondence with the trustees of the school, the defendant stated he had "irrefragable proofs of the exceeding wickedness" of the plaintiff's character, and, he added, "I call upon you, in the name of all that is holy and good, to dismiss him instantly from his employment." After a trial extending over two days, the jury gave a verdict for the defendant.

26.-The battery of Royal Artillery marched from Norwich Barracks for Woolwich, whence they proceeded to the Crimea for active service. They were replaced, on April 4th, by the D battery, from Chatham, commanded by Capt. Mountain.

29.-At the Norwich a.s.sizes, before Mr. Justice Wightman, Mary Ann Fisher, aged 28, was indicted for the wilful murder of her husband, George Wright, at Norwich, on November 28th, by poisoning him. The jury acquitted the prisoner.

-Died at Cambridge, James Rattee, who was born at Fundenhall in 1820.

After serving his apprentices.h.i.+p with Mr. Ollett, carver, of Norwich, he commenced business for himself at Cambridge, at the age of 22. He was a.s.sociated with Mr. Pugin in restoring the choir of Jesus College Chapel.

Most of the designs were made by Rattee himself, and submitted to Pugin before execution. He carried out Mr. G. G. Scott's designs for the carvings in Ely Cathedral, and by the advice of that gentleman spent part of the year 1852 on the Continent, where he studied the carved woodwork and artistic wrought ironwork and sculptured stone of Quintin Matsy and the other master spirits of Louvain and neighbouring cities. Returning to England, he constructed at Ely the reredos composed of choice stone and alabaster, highly enriched with delicate carving and inlaid with gold and gems, forming the most glorious piece of art workmans.h.i.+p executed since the Reformation. His work is to be found in churches in every county in England.

31.-Capt. Wodehouse was backed to run one mile in six minutes, on the Earlham Road, Norwich. In the presence of a large number of spectators, he ran the first half mile in less than three minutes, and accomplished the second half in 2 minutes 56 seconds. He was attended by Jim Mace.

On the 31st Capt. Wodehouse performed the feat of walking one mile in 8 mins. 16 sees.

APRIL.

1.-The remains of Richard Peck, an agricultural labourer, aged 69, were buried in Docking churchyard. "The deceased had worked for forty-two years on the Choseley Farm, an extra-parochial place, and _cottage property_, distant from Docking two and a half miles, where he was obliged to reside, no labourers being permitted to live at Choseley.

Thus he walked to and from his work five miles per day, 30 miles per week, 1,560 miles per year, and the extraordinary number of 65,520 miles during his forty-two years' employment. This circ.u.mstance might be multiplied by numbers in England in general, and West Norfolk in particular, showing cogent reasons for Mr. Baines' Poor-law Bill being made the law of the land."

6.-Died at her residence, St. Martin-at-Palace, Norwich, aged 38, Harriet Gurney Gordon, many years a favourite actress at Norwich and at different metropolitan and provincial theatres.

16.-Mrs. f.a.n.n.y Kemble commenced a course of Shakesperian readings at the a.s.sembly Rooms, Norwich.

28.*-"Mr. Clare Sewell Read, son of Mr. George Read, of Plumstead, near Norwich, has been awarded by the Royal Agricultural Society the prize for the best essay on the farming of Buckinghams.h.i.+re. Mr. Read obtained last year the society's prize for his essay on Oxfords.h.i.+re, and had also been a successful compet.i.tor in a former year for his essay on farming in South Wales."

29.-Died, aged 86, Mr. J. Watts, of Yarmouth, for many years coachman of the Telegraph coach running between Norwich and Yarmouth.

MAY.

3.-A dinner to celebrate the freeing of Duke's Palace Bridge, Norwich, was held at the Duke's Palace Inn, under the presidency of the Mayor (Mr.

Robert Chamberlin). "Upwards of twelve years have elapsed since the abolition of the above toll-bridge was first mooted, and the citizens are to be congratulated on the removal of the toll."

15.-A public meeting was held in the hall of the Bazaar (Victoria Hall), Norwich, presided over by the Mayor, in furtherance of the movement in favour of administrative reform. An address was delivered by Mr. W. S.

Lindsay, M.P., and a resolution was adopted affirming "that, without wis.h.i.+ng to exclude the aristocratic cla.s.s from the position in the public service to which their talents and patriotism may ent.i.tle them to a.s.sert, merit is the only principle by which appointments to public offices should be attained."

18.-Among the officers who received the Crimean medal on this date at the hands of her Majesty were Capt. Bulwer, Capt. Bathurst, Capt.

Micklethwaite, Lieut. Cator, and Lieut. Cresswell.

24.-Yarmouth Waterworks were opened, with great public festivity.

29.-The Norfolk coast was visited by a violent gale, which caused considerable destruction to life and property. Off Yarmouth the smack Ruby was lost, with her crew of nine men and a boy.

JUNE.

6.-An exhibition of the Norfolk and Norwich Fine Arts a.s.sociation was opened at Norwich. The collection included works by O. Short, J. B.

Ladbrooke, C. J. W. Winter, H. B. Willis, Frederick Howes, C. L. Nursey, F. R. Pickersgill, R.A., John Wilson, Alfred Cooper, D. Hodgson, J.

Stark, M. E. Cotman, J. J. Cotman, Mrs. J. Stannard, &c.

13.-Colours were presented to the West Norfolk Militia, on the Cricket Ground, Norwich, by the Countess of Albemarle. Lord Orford, as colonel of the regiment, received the colours, and the consecration prayers were read by the Rev. C. W. Madden, "who wore the Waterloo medal on his breast." The non-commissioned officers and men were entertained at dinner, provided by public subscription, at St. Andrew's Hall. The Mayor (Mr. Chamberlin) presided, and Lord and Lady Albemarle, Lady Augusta Keppel, and other distinguished visitors were present.

23.-Notice was given that on and after June 30th the new Newspaper Act would be in operation, and stamped and unstamped editions of the NORFOLK CHRONICLE would be published. "In compliance with the request of the Postmaster-General, we would remind such of our subscribers as may desire to send the stamped edition through the post that the paper must be folded so that the whole stamp denoting the duty shall be distinctly visible on the outside. Such papers must be posted within 15 days of publication."

-The Norton Subcourse and Raveningham estate was sold by Mr. George W.

Salter, at the Norfolk Hotel, Norwich, for 16,632.

JULY.

2.-A ten mile match, for 20 a side, was run at the Green Hill Gardens, between Robert Bunn, of Norwich, and John Lovett, of London. The first-named won; time, 58 minutes.

3.-The West Norfolk Militia, under the command of Lieut.-Col. Custance, left Norwich for Aldershot. In December the regiment was transferred to Dublin.

-Great festivities took place at Ellingham Hall, in celebration of the coming of age of Mr. Henry Smith, son and heir of Lieut.-Col. Smith. A dinner, at which 160 guests were present, was followed by sports, and in the evening dancing was opened upon the lawn by Mr. Smith and Miss Foster in a "Sir Roger de Coverley."

5.-The marriage took place at East Dereham, of Captain William Earle Gascoyne Bulwer, late Scots Fusilier Guards, eldest son of Mr. William E.

Lytton Bulwer, of Heydon Hall, and Mary Anne Dering, only daughter of Mr.

William Wilson Lee Warner, of Quebec House. The officiating clergy were the Rev. G. Dashwood, rector of Stow Bardolph, and the Rev. B. J.

Armstrong, vicar of East Dereham.

7.-Mr. Edmond Wodehouse, M.P., announced that it was his intention to retire from the representation of East Norfolk, in consequence of his continued ill-health. Mr. Henry Josiah Stracey was adopted as the Conservative candidate, and was returned unopposed on the 17th.

8.-Died at Ems, Sir William Edward Parry, R.N., Lieut.-Governor of Greenwich Hospital. He was an LL.D. of Oxford, a F.R.S. of London and Edinburgh, a member of the Imperial Academy of Sciences at St.

Petersburg, and author of a work ent.i.tled, "Thoughts on the Parental Character of G.o.d." He married first, on October 23rd, 1826, Isabella Louisa, fourth daughter of Lord Stanley of Alderley, by whom he had issue two sons and two daughters. She died on May 13th, 1839. On June 29th, 1841, he married, secondly, Catherine Edwards, daughter of the Rev. R.

Hankinson, of Walpole, and widow of Mr. Samuel h.o.a.re, jun., of Hampstead, by whom he had issue two daughters. Sir William was an honorary freeman of the city of Norwich. He had commanded four Arctic expeditions, in all of which he gained high professional renown. For these services he received the honour of knighthood, and was presented by the Government with 1,000, his portion of a reward for reaching the meridian of 110 degs. W. within the Arctic circle.

18.-Died, at an advanced age, at Norwich, John Osborne. "He was a well-known character, and for many years drove the Yarmouth coach, and for some time the mail coach between Norwich and Ipswich. The railway, however, put an end to his vocation. Every morning he attended service at the Cathedral. Even when he was the driver of the coach to Yarmouth he stipulated he should have his Sunday, in order that he might be in his accustomed place at the Cathedral."