Norfolk Annals
Chapter 121 : 18.-The first snowfall of the season occurred on this date, and was heavier than had b

18.-The first snowfall of the season occurred on this date, and was heavier than had been known for several years. The mails were delayed, and great inconvenience occasioned. The morning train from London was detained for fourteen hours at Lakenheath. At Lynn, on the 23rd, the tide rose to a great height, and the low-lying parts of the town were under water. A breach occurred in the river bank near Magdalene, and occasioned the loss of much live stock and farm property.

21.-Died at Leeds, aged 69, the Rev. Robert Fountaine Elwin, rector of Wilby-with-Hargham. He was well known in Norwich for the active part he had taken in the Musical Festivals from their commencement. A few years before his death he retired to Leeds, where he resided with his only daughter, Mrs. Hyde. Mr. Elwin not only possessed fine musical taste, but was skilled in mechanics, and an excellent connoisseur of the fine arts. "Whether in the company of the great, presiding at the Choral Society's meetings, or lecturing to mechanics, it was always delightful and instructive to listen to him." Mr. Elwin's paternal grandfather married a granddaughter of Oliver Cromwell.

24.-In the House of Commons, Capt. Baldero presented a pet.i.tion from certain electors at Norwich, who had pet.i.tioned the House against the return of the sitting members, complaining that their pet.i.tion had been withdrawn without their consent, and praying that the order discharging the pet.i.tion might again be put on the orders of the House. Mr. T.

Duncombe presented a protest from Col. d.i.c.kson, complaining of the withdrawal of the pet.i.tion. It was alleged that Mr. Brown, the Parliamentary agent, had been guilty of a breach of privilege by withdrawing the pet.i.tion. A motion for printing the pet.i.tion was agreed to. On March 2nd a Select Committee was appointed to inquire into the matter. The investigation commenced on March 10th, and concluded on March 17th, on which day Mr. Duncombe brought up the report of the Committee. They were of opinion that Mr. Brown had received no instructions to withdraw the pet.i.tion, but as they could find no precedent as to the proper mode of proceeding under the circ.u.mstances, they left it to the House to determine whether it could comply with the prayer of the pet.i.tioner. On March 12th a great Liberal meeting was held at St. Andrew's Hall, Norwich, under the presidency of the Mayor (Mr.

Coaks), at which resolutions were adopted expressing indignation at the allegations made before the Select Committee with regard to Messrs. Peto and Warner. A duel was to have been fought between Col. d.i.c.kson and Col.

Forester (a witness before the Committee) on March 19th, but "at the eleventh hour the matter was fortunately adjusted by the friendly interposition of an hon. member who sits on the opposite side of the House. Mr. Culpepper represented Col. d.i.c.kson, and Mr. Craven Berkeley, M.P., was the friend of Col. Forester." It subsequently transpired that the withdrawal of the pet.i.tion formed part of an arrangement and compromise entered into between Mr. Henry Edward Brown and Mr. James Coppock, solicitor, in pursuance of which eight pet.i.tions were simultaneously withdrawn, as implicating the seats of ten members of the House, namely, Norwich, 2; Kidderminster, 1; Gloucester, 1; Middles.e.x, 1; Youghal, 1; County Down, 2; and West Norfolk, 2.

24.-At Norwich Quarter Sessions, before the Recorder, Mr. Prendergast, the appeal case, Colman _v._ Clarke, was heard. Mr. Evans and Mr. Palmer were for the appellants, and Mr. Hawkins and Mr. Bulwer for the respondent. It was proved that in the early part of May, 1852, Messrs.

Colman established at Carrow a business for the manufacture of cake from refuse rice, and it was alleged that after the process had been carried on for a short time offensive smells were observed in the neighbourhood.

The firm were summoned before the magistrates for permitting a nuisance, and were fined. They now appealed against the conviction, on the ground of informalities in the original proceedings, and of want of jurisdiction on the part of the magistrates. The conviction was quashed.

28.-Hengler's Circus and Roman Amphitheatre, Castle Meadow, Norwich, was opened with the production of a grand equestrian spectacle, ent.i.tled, "Kenilworth Castle."

MARCH.

9.-Died at his residence, Great Stanhope Street, London, in his 78th year, General Sir Edward Kerrison, Bart., K.C.B., G.C.H. He entered the Army in 1796, as Cornet in the 6th Dragoons, and received the rank of General in 1851. He served at the Helder in 1799, and in 1808 took part in the campaign of Sir John Moore, and was present at the battle of Corunna. As Colonel Kerrison, he commanded the 7th Hussars from 1813 to 1815, through various campaigns. At the battle of Orthes he received a severe wound, and he was again wounded in the battle of Waterloo, where his horse was shot under him. Sir Edward Kerrison received his baronetcy in 1821, when he was nominated a G.C.H., and in 1840 a K.C.B. In 1830 he was appointed to the colonelcy of the 14th Light Dragoons. For forty years he was member of Parliament for Eye. He married a daughter of Mr.

Alexander Ellice, and left a son and three daughters.

12.-Died at Pulham, Mr. Cornelius Whur, the author of several volumes of poems. He was known as "the Suffolk Poet."

19.-The Rev. William Beauchamp was driving down the hill into Trowse when his horse ran away and upset the gig. In his fall he sustained a severe fracture of the skull and died instantly. Mr. Beauchamp, who was the second son of Sir William Beauchamp Proctor, Bart., of Langley-park, was 35 years of age, and had been rector of Chedgrave about ten years. He left a widow and five young children.

21.-Three hundred members of the Manchester Unity of Oddfellows dined at the Royal Hotel, Norwich, and presented to Mr. Samuel Daynes, Past Grand Master of the Unity, a purse of 133 sovs., in recognition of his exertions in promoting the interests and extension of the Order during his year of office.

29.-A vessel named the Reindeer, belonging to the port of Yarmouth, owned by Mrs. King, of Gorleston, and commanded by Captain Wilson, was on her voyage from Valparaiso to Monte Video when the crew mutinied, and murdered the captain, steward, and two Roman Catholic priests (pa.s.sengers). The mutineers then launched a boat, filled it with the most valuable portion of the cargo, and scuttled the s.h.i.+p.

APRIL.

4.-A fire occurred at Hunstanton Hall. The rooms were quickly cleared of the paintings and furniture, which were safely deposited in the school house. There being no possibility of saving the south and west sides, great efforts were made to preserve the north and east sides, with which object the communicating portions of the building were broken down, and the flames thus prevented from extending. In a few hours the roof of the west side fell in. "The bed in which it is generally believed Queen Elizabeth slept was not injured in the slightest degree." The damage to the hall was estimated at 10,000.

7.-Intelligence was received at Norwich of the birth of a Prince (Prince Leopold), at Buckingham Palace. Flags were hoisted on the public buildings, and peals rung upon the bells of St. Peter Mancroft.

19.-The men enrolled to serve in the First or West Norfolk Regiment of Militia a.s.sembled at Norwich for twenty-eight days' training. The officers were: Col. the Earl of Orford, Lieut.-Col. Nelthorpe, Major William E. Lytton Bulwer, Captains Hamilton F. Custance, Charles Bedingfeld, the Hon. Fred. Walpole, George A. Marsham, Mordaunt Gla.s.se, H. L. Styleman le Strange; Lieutenants M. Gooda, Gordon Calthrop, Thomas S. Clarke, H. D. Walff, C. Girling, Chas. E. Bignold, John Edwin Day, A.

W. Smith, Robert G. Hawtayne; Ensign Thomas Edward Baker; Adjutant and Acting Paymaster and Acting Quartermaster A. W. Smith; Surgeon Thomas W.

Crosse; a.s.sistant Surgeon T. E. Baker. The mess was at the Swan Hotel.

"The corps consists of 612 men, and notwithstanding the vulgar sneers, reproaches, ridicule, and even hooting which they experienced from the rabble on their first appearance in the streets, in no instance was this conduct resented. We are glad that the conduct of our Liberals, by publicly parading disgusting flags, and the Peace Society in circulating exciting and seditious handbills, with the view to holding up this force to contempt and ridicule, has signally failed." The East Norfolk Militia a.s.sembled at Yarmouth on the same date. "Their appearance was much more respectable than might have been expected, and many of those who were prepared to ridicule them acknowledged that they were a much better cla.s.s than they expected." The officers were: Col. the Hon. Berkeley Wodehouse; Lieut.-Col. William Mason; Major Sir E. K. Lacon; Captains John Longe, the Hon. Bertram Wodehouse, John Marcon, Henry Cormick, George Grenville Glover, John Gay; Lieutenants William Robert Freeman, Richard Hall, Henry Thomas Knapman, William Danby Palmer, Richard Lee Mayhew, William Reed, Frederick John Reyne, George Chester Wood, Alexander Robert Chamberlin; Adjutant William P. K. Browne; Surgeon John Capern Smith; a.s.sistant-Surgeon Spencer Thomas Smyth. Of the 612 men enrolled, 571 appeared on parade. The Earl of Leicester, as Lord Lieutenant of the county, inspected the East Norfolk Regiment at Yarmouth on May 12th, and the West Norfolk Regiment at Norwich on the 13th. The men of the latter corps were entertained at dinner at St. Andrew's Hall after the inspection. The cost of the entertainment was defrayed by public subscription.

26.-The foundation-stone of the Wayland Hall, Watton, was laid by Lady Walsingham. The hall was opened on November 3rd, on the occasion of the annual meeting of the Wayland Society, at which Lord Walsingham presided.

27.-A fine schooner, named the Ocean Child, was launched from the s.h.i.+p-yard of Mr. Southgate, at Wells-next-the-Sea.

30.*-"Died lately at Bergh Apton, at an advanced age, Mr. John Dawson, deputy registrar for the Loddon Union. He was likewise known as an active peace officer. Previous to the establishment of the police force, the whole business of thief-taking devolved upon petty constables, but as the requisite tact and intelligence was not found in every parish, what was called a running constable was usually appointed in each petty sessional division, who was considered the detective-officer of the district. Mr. Dawson was justly considered one of the first of his profession. Upon the formation of the new force these hitherto indispensable functionaries were entirely superseded, and Dawson, among others, found his occupation gone."

MAY.

20.-There were no prisoners in Lynn gaol. To celebrate the unique circ.u.mstance the prison doors were thrown open, and the Mayor entertained the whole of the police force and borough officials to a dinner, served within the building.

JUNE.

7.-The Norwich Diocesan Training Inst.i.tution for school-mistresses was removed to s.p.a.cious premises in St. George's Colegate. The Inst.i.tution was founded in 1840.

9.-A cricket match between eighteen of Norwich and eleven of All England, commenced on the new Cricket Ground, Newmarket Road, Norwich, and concluded on the 11th. Norwich, 110-46; All England, 58-70.

14.-The City of Norwich Waterworks New Bill received the Royal a.s.sent.

"By this Bill power is given to the Corporation of Norwich to convert Chapel Field into a public pleasure garden."

18.-Announcement was made of the resignation of Superintendent Dunne, of the Norwich police "on the ground that he had been so much obstructed by those who ought to have a.s.sisted him in the discharge of his duties, that no alternative had been left him but to resign." On July 6th Mr. Stephen English, of Pontefract, was elected to the post.

25.-Died, at Doughty's Hospital, Norwich, in her 81st year, Miss Tubby, "well-known as box-keeper at our Theatre for many years, and highly respected." She possessed a remarkable fund of information upon local theatrical matters, and for nearly half a century "Miss Tubby's night"

was one of the princ.i.p.al events in the Norwich season.

28.-The new cult of "table-turning" or spiritualism was introduced in Norwich for the first time at a _seance_ given at St. Andrew's Hall by a Mr. King.

-The first piles of the Wellington Pier at Yarmouth were driven by the Mayor (Mr. S. C. Marsh), Mr. D. Waddington, chairman of the United Norfolk and Eastern Counties' Railway Companies and of the Pier directors, and by the Mayoress. A dinner was held at the Victoria Hotel in celebration of the event. The Pier was opened by the Mayor on October 31st.

JULY.

1.-At the Norfolk Quarter Sessions it was reported that the Secretary of State for the Home Department had ordered the formation of a corps of Artillery Militia for the county.

9.-A thunderstorm of great severity occurred at Norwich. The main sewer in London Street burst from the enormous pressure upon it, and its contents inundated the adjacent business premises. Every house at the bottom of Exchange Street was flooded, and fire-engines were afterwards employed to pump the water from the cellars. The weather continued to be very stormy during the succeeding week. The newly-completed tower and spire of Mundham church were wrecked and became a heap of ruins.

23.-Three troops of the 6th Dragoon Guards (Carabineers), under the command of Capt. Sawyer, marched into Norwich from Chobham Camp. The headquarters were stationed at Ipswich.

25.-Miss f.a.n.n.y Vining appeared at Norwich Theatre as Margaret Elmore in "Love's Sacrifice."

30.-The NORFOLK CHRONICLE announced the repeal of the advertis.e.m.e.nt duty and of the duty upon newspaper supplements.

31.*-Died at Sh.o.r.editch Workhouse, London, Benjamin Reeder, of Helhoughton, who was in many respects a very remarkable character. He had served sixteen years as a private in the 2nd Dragoon Guards. "Altho'

of an obtuse and somewhat forbidding appearance, he possessed an uncommon faculty for mathematical attainments. He had Euclid at his finger ends, while his knowledge of algebra and logarithms enabled him to solve in a few minutes the most difficult questions. He once had the management of a school, but his irregularities reduced him to the level of a common labourer, and eventually he ended his days in the union house."

SEPTEMBER.

3.*-"The degree of Doctor of Music has been recently conferred on Mr.

Buck, organist of Norwich Cathedral, by the Archbishop of Canterbury, in the exercise of the privilege possessed by his Grace as Primate of bestowing that and other degrees in divinity and arts upon persons of merit in any of those faculties."

4.-An interesting ceremony took place in the tower of the dilapidated church of Eccles-next-the-Sea. The Rev. Edward Evans, of St. Stephen's, Norwich, who had recently been presented to the vicarage, read himself in, and preached to a congregation of about 200 persons. "Owing to the want of the church, which has been destroyed upwards of 200 years by the encroachments of the ocean, this is a sinecure benefice, and the inhabitants use the neighbouring church of Hempstead. The tower of the church in which the ceremony took place is embedded in sand to the height of the former walls of the church."