Norfolk Annals
Chapter 102 : Frederick Vining, of the Haymarket Theatre, London, and his daughter, Miss Vining, app

Frederick Vining, of the Haymarket Theatre, London, and his daughter, Miss Vining, appeared on the 16th in the parts of Benedict and Beatrice, and fulfilled an engagement of seven weeks. The season, one of the most successful that Mr. Smith had experienced, was chiefly remarkable for the large number of "bespeaks" given, amongst others, by the officers of the 13th Light Dragoons, the Royal and Norfolk Hotel Wine Clubs, the Governor and Deputy-Governor of the Court of Guardians, &c.

5.-A heavy fall of snow on this day was accompanied by lightning and thunder.

6.-The first annual meeting of the Norfolk Flax Society, the object of which was "to promote the cultivation of a plant for the produce of which vast sums of money are annually sent abroad," was held at Norwich. It was stated that the soil and climate of the county were "equal and perhaps superior to any in the world for the growth and perfection of the plant, and its cultivation would be more profitable than that of any other crop." The method of "forming linseed into compound to fatten cattle" was demonstrated in a booth on the Castle Meadow, and an exhibition of articles manufactured from flax was held at St. Andrew's Hall. The Hon. W. R Rous was President of the Society, to which about eighty prominent agriculturists belonged. M. Demann, a Belgian agriculturist, was engaged as the Society's agent, and many meetings were held in the county in furtherance of the movement.

7.-The promoters of the scheme for the erection of the Leicester monument appointed a "committee of taste," who recommended the building of a column, of artistic design. At a meeting held at the Norfolk Hotel, on January 21st, the much vexed question of the site was discussed and a decision was given in favour of Holkham Park, mainly by the votes of a number of subscribers of ten s.h.i.+llings each in the neighbourhood of Wells. Efforts were made to secure the erection of the monument at Norwich, and the supporters of either place were invited to vote upon the subject. After the poll a scrutiny was held, and on August 5th it was announced that 322 votes had been given in favour of Holkham, and 281 in favour of Norwich.

9.-Died, aged 60, at Birmingham, Mr. Vaughan, "the highly respectable musician and once excellent tenor singer." He was a native of Norwich, and when quite young was a member of the choir of St. George's Chapel, Windsor. He was afterwards engaged at Westminster Abbey, St. Paul's Cathedral, and the Chapel Royal. On the death of Mr. Harrison, in 1812, Mr. Vaughan was appointed princ.i.p.al tenor at the King's Concerts of Ancient Music, he sang at most of the provincial musical festivals, and was a member of several musical clubs in the Metropolis.

FEBRUARY.

14.-The first touring circus in Norfolk at which performances were given under canvas was that belonging to Batty, "sole proprietor of Astley's Royal Amphitheatre," who on this date erected at Lynn Mart a tent 65 ft.

in height and 300 ft. in circ.u.mference. It was the same tent placed on the site of the Royal Exchange when Prince Albert laid the first stone of the new building, and on that occasion it afforded accommodation for 1,400 persons. In the autumn of the same year Richard Sands' American circus toured the county, giving one performance only in a "s.p.a.cious pavilion" at each town visited. A procession of "twenty-five caparisoned horses" was a feature of the show. After this date the circus touring system became general during the summer and autumn months.

22.-Died at Caen, Normandy, aged 76, the Rev. T. D'Eterville, "a well-known and respected inhabitant of Norwich for upwards of forty years, who retired a few months ago to end his days in his native country." [Borrow's "preceptor in the French and Italian tongues."]

23.-The coach from London to Norwich, driven by Thomas Wiggins, ran into a brewer's dray at Tasburgh, during a thick fog and was overturned. Mr.

Scott, of Newton Maid's Head, one of the outside pa.s.sengers, was jammed between the coach and a tree, which had to be cut down to extricate him, Wiggins was thrown head first off the box seat and severely injured, and the guard, Thomas, was dashed against a tree stump and killed outright, "his head being completely split open." It was not until January 22nd, 1844, that Wiggins was able to resume his duties. It was then stated: "So highly is this excellent whip esteemed along the line of road, that at the several inns where the coach stopped to change horses it appeared as if the landlords had determined to celebrate the circ.u.mstance by making it a general gala day."

26.-Died at Cheltenham, aged 60, Major-General Sir John Thomas Jones, Bart., K.C.B., of Cranmer Hall. He served in the Royal Engineers during the campaign in Calabria, and was present at the Battle of Maida and the attack on Scylla Castle; in the Peninsular campaign he was in the retreat to Corunna; he accompanied the expedition to Walcheren and was present at the reduction of Flus.h.i.+ng, served in the campaigns of 1810, 1811, and 1812 in the Peninsula, received the medal for Badajos, and was shot through the ankle joint at the siege of Burgos, in October, 1812. He entered the service as second-lieutenant on August 30th, 1798, and retired with the rank of major-general on January 10th, 1837.

27.-Yarmouth Orange Fair was held. "Like the generality of fairs, it has fallen sadly out of repute, and but for the immense quant.i.ty of fruit from which it takes its name anyone might have pa.s.sed the Market Place without noticing it."

MARCH.

17.-At a special meeting of the Norwich Town Council, on the motion of Mr. A. Dalrymple, a pet.i.tion to Parliament was adopted in opposition to the Income Tax, on the ground that it was "unjust, unwise, repugnant, and unproductive."

18.-The Watton coach, on its way from Norwich, with six female outside pa.s.sengers, stopped at Barford c.o.c.k. During the temporary absence of Allen, the coachman, the horses started off at full gallop, and were not stopped till they arrived at Hingham. With the exception of a wheel being taken off a pa.s.sing vehicle, no damage was done.

APRIL.

4.-At the Norwich a.s.sizes, before Lord Chief Justice Tindal, was tried the case, the Queen against Edward Painter. The prosecution, for a.s.sault, was inst.i.tuted by Mr. Jeremiah Cross, corn merchant, of Norwich.

An indictment had been preferred at the Norwich Quarter Sessions and a true bill returned, which the defendant removed by writ of _certiorari_, and the case now came on for trial on the civil side of the Court. The plaintiff, in June, 1842, was invited to the Rising Sun Inn, kept by Mr.

John Abel, and he was there met by Painter, who for several minutes thrashed him with an ash stick so severely that for a considerable time afterwards plaintiff was under medical treatment. For the defence it was alleged that Cross had grossly insulted the defendant's daughter, hence the thras.h.i.+ng. The jury found a verdict of guilty, and on May 10th, when defendant appeared before the Court of Queen's Bench to receive judgment, he was fined one s.h.i.+lling and discharged. On June 24th the following advertis.e.m.e.nt was published: "Ned Painter having been subjected to the expense of wanton and persecuting litigation, his friends intend giving him a benefit at the Pantheon, Royal Victoria Gardens, on which occasion the Stars of the Fancy have resolved to rally round and support an old and tried veteran of the Prize Ring. Among the prominent professors of the Pugilistic Art who will appear are Tom Spring, Champion of England, and Ben Caunt, the modern champion."

7.-Great excitement was created in Norwich by the conviction at the a.s.sizes before Mr. Justice Coleridge, of John Harper, a well-known auctioneer, on the charge of stealing cloth entrusted to him for sale at North Walsham by a Leeds manufacturer named Jonas Driver. Mr. S.

Bignold, Mr. Beckwith, solicitor; Mr. T. M. Keith, solicitor; the Rev. S.

Stone, the Rev. W. Hull, and other prominent citizens testified to the general honesty and integrity of the prisoner, who, amid a strong manifestation of feeling in Court, was sentenced to seven years'

transportation.

7.-Mr. Cobden, M.P., Col. Thompson, and Mr. Moore, representatives of the Anti-Corn Law League, addressed a large meeting held at St. Andrew's Hall, under the presidency of Mr. J. H. Tillett. A body of Chartists created some disorder. On the 8th a meeting of farmers "of the most complete party complexion" took place at the Hall, when Mr. A. Morse, of Swaffham, "author of one of the prize essays of the League," presided, and addresses were delivered by Mr. Cobden and his friends. The League at this date was actively promulgating its principles in all parts of the county.

15.-The s.h.i.+p Phya sailed from Lynn for Quebec, with emigrants. "Whilst the population keeps increasing, and machinery keeps lessening the demand for manual labour, many thousands must seek to provide for themselves and families in distant regions."

20.-The construction of the Yarmouth and Norwich Railway commenced on this date on the Postwick Hall Farm (in the occupation of Mr. Gillett), near Thorpe Asylum. The excavation of the New Cut from Trowse Hythe to Whitlingham Reach was begun on May 6th. In October an engine with ballast waggons was running between Reedham and Yarmouth; and in November another engine appeared on the Postwick end of the line. "Its marvellous facility in whirling along any number of loaded waggons elicited exclamations of astonishment from the many hundreds of Norwich people who went out to see it." (_See_ April 12th, 1844.)

-In the waistband of the trousers of a notorious housebreaker, named James Fisk, who was apprehended at Surlingham on this date, "was found sewed up the Lord's Prayer, written backwards, which he carried about with him as a fancied protection against the power of human law."

-The marriage of the Earl of Leicester and Miss Whitbread, daughter of Mr. S. C. Whitbread, at Cardington church, Bedfords.h.i.+re, was celebrated with great rejoicings at Wells-next-the-Sea, where 800 school children were entertained, and 1,400 of the poor inhabitants had dinner on the b.u.t.tlands.

21.-At Norwich Theatre was performed a new drama, ent.i.tled, "Mokanna, or the Veiled Prophet of Khora.s.san," written by Mr. William Cooper, barrister, and originally produced at Lynn Theatre. An anonymous handbill, printed by J. Fletcher, Upper Haymarket, Norwich, was afterwards circulated, describing the play as a "barefaced exhibition of profligacy," and calling upon the citizens to denounce it. The strictures were grossly unfair.

25.-The foundation-stone of St. Mark's church, Lakenham, was laid by the Very Rev. Dean Pellew. The architect was Mr. John Brown, and the builder Mr. James Worman. The church was consecrated by the Bishop of Norwich on September 24th, 1844.

28.-The two troops of the 13th Light Dragoons marched from Norwich Barracks for Hounslow. They were replaced on May 22nd by the Scots Greys, commanded by Col. Clarke. Mainly through the influence of the Duke of Wellington and the Marquis of Douro, the headquarters of the regiment were stationed at Norwich.

MAY.

4.-Business was entirely suspended in Norwich on the occasion of the funeral of H.R.H. the Duke of Suss.e.x. The Corporation attended service at the Cathedral, and afterwards a.s.sembled at the Guildhall and adopted addresses of sympathy.

6.-At the Norwich Police Court, a woman named Kedge complained to the magistrates that another woman, of the name of Clarke, had bewitched her "by sending her and her children a vast number of vermin." Clarke replied that Mrs. Kedge had harboured her (Mrs. Clarke's) husband, and had given her a small piece of paper, whereon was very small writing. It was found to be the Lord's Prayer. Mrs. Kedge acknowledged having given this to Mrs. Clarke, and said it would "prevent her from doing her further injury, for when she had herself put it in defendant's hands, all danger from witchery was over."

13.*-"One day last week a steam coach, constructed on a new principle, was tried at Witton, on the Yarmouth road, before a large concourse of spectators, but although the steam was put on, the coach would not move an inch. When pushed it proceeded a short distance and stopped. The experimenters at last lifted the coach from the road, when the wheels went round with alarming velocity." On May 27th the carriage was advertised for sale by private contract, by Mr. Joseph Emmerson Bane, at the King's Head Inn, Blofield.

-The Norfolk Yeomanry Cavalry, commanded by Major Loftus, commenced their annual eight days' training at Fakenham.

17.-The inhabitants residing in the vicinity of Duke's Palace Bridge memorialised the Norwich Town Council to take the necessary steps to free the bridge from toll.

18.-Died at his residence in Union Street, South Lynn, Mr. Peter Lewis Dacheux, an immigrant from France, aged 83. "He had resided at Lynn for many years, and had long officiated as Roman Catholic priest in that town. He was a schoolfellow of Bonaparte, and in his boyish days had many a scuffle with that celebrated personage."

23.-Mr. Braham, a.s.sisted by his son and pupil, Mr. Charles Braham, gave a concert at St. Andrew's Hall, Norwich.

JUNE.

13.-The Norwich Town Council decided, on the motion of Mr. Barwell, to memorialise the House of Commons in favour of Mr. Rowland Hill's scheme of penny postage.

14.-Norwich Theatre was re-opened for a limited number of nights at the close of the regular season, when "The Tempest" was produced from the original text, with Miss Grant as Ariel, and Miss Vining as Miranda. On the occasion of her benefit, on June 27th, Miss Grant took the part of Tom Tug, in "The Waterman."

15.-On opening the East of England Bank at Lynn, it was discovered that during the preceding night upwards of 4,000 had been stolen. A clerk, named William Henry Sangar, aged nineteen, had committed the theft, in the absence of Mr. Spiller, the manager, and had absconded. He was apprehended on July 3rd, at Pooley Bridge, Ullswater, with 4,300 in his possession. At Lynn Quarter Sessions, on July 17th, he was charged before the Recorder, Mr. Martin J. West, with stealing 4,362 1s. 6d., and, on pleading guilty, was sentenced to fourteen years' transportation.

The Recorder expressed the hope that he would not have to appear at the a.s.sizes to answer the still more serious charge of forgery. He was, however, indicted at the Norfolk a.s.sizes on August 3rd, on two counts, for forgery, and on pleading guilty was sentenced by Baron Alderson to transportation for life.

16.-For nearly three hours "the sun was surrounded by a bright and beautiful halo, whilst several others appeared in its vicinity, intersecting the main one in several directions." A similar appearance was observed in the summer of 1826.

JULY.

1.-The fares by the Royal Norwich mail from the Star, Haymarket, to the Belle Sauvage, Ludgate Hill, were reduced from this date to 16s. inside and 8s. outside.