Norfolk Annals
Chapter 96 : 20.-At a meeting of the county magistrates, held at the s.h.i.+rehall, Norwich, Mr. Hen

20.-At a meeting of the county magistrates, held at the s.h.i.+rehall, Norwich, Mr. Henry Champion Partridge and Mr. Isaac Jermy, Recorder of Norwich, were elected Chairmen of the Norfolk Quarter Sessions.

29.-Died in St. Giles' Street, Norwich, aged 47, Mr. Christopher Edwards, formerly a solicitor. "The deceased was better known by the appellation Cutty Edwards, and was possessed of considerable talent and natural wit.

No man experienced more the vicissitudes of fortune. He once had a comfortable property, but latterly felt the bitter pangs of want."

30.-Norman's School, erected in the parish of St. Paul, Norwich, by the trustees of Alderman Norman, who died May 10th, 1724, "he bequeathing his property upon trust for ever for the purpose of boarding, clothing, and educating the sons of his own and his first wife's relations," was opened. The "claimants," with their children, marched in procession from Chapel Field to the bowling-green of the New Inn, St. Augustine's Gates, where the boys were regaled with buns. A party numbering 500 was entertained to tea in the school-room, when Mr. Samuel Daynes proposed "The Memory of Alderman Norman." On July 28th the "claimants" presented a silver cup to Mr. Daynes, "as a memorial of their esteem for his indefatigable exertions in obtaining and establis.h.i.+ng the claims of those who could prove descent from their munificent benefactor."

31.-The Judges of a.s.size, Sir James Parke and the Hon. Sir Edward Hall Alderson, arrived at Norwich. Their lodgings on this occasion were at St. Catherine's Hill.

APRIL.

1.-A match against time took place on Swaffham Racecourse. "Mr. B.

Land's celebrated chestnut mare Lady Jane was backed to do 20 miles in an hour for 100 guineas." Odds of 5 to 4 were laid against the mare, "but she accomplished the task with the greatest ease, having one minute and a half to spare, and trotted in the last few yards."

6.-A meeting of the freemen of Norwich was held at St. Andrew's Hall, for the purpose of pet.i.tioning Parliament "to repeal so much of the Munic.i.p.al Reform Act as debars freemen of the right to be enrolled as burgesses under the same, and to confer on the freemen and burgesses of all cities, boroughs, and towns corporate within the operation of the Act the right to vote at all munic.i.p.al elections." Mr. John Culley presided, in the absence of the Mayor, and the pet.i.tion was adopted. On May 4th the freemen went in procession with a band of music and numerous flags and banners, from the Pope's Head to the Greyhound Inn, Surrey Street, where, through Col. Harvey, they presented the pet.i.tion to the Marquis of Douro, M.P., who promised to support it in the House of Commons. The pet.i.tion to the House of Lords was presented by Lord Mansfield, formerly Lord Stormont, one of the members for Norwich.

17.-Died in St. George Colegate, Norwich, aged 41, Emily, eldest daughter of John Crome, founder of the Norwich Society of Artists. "In her pictures of fish, fruit, and flowers it may be justly said that no one has represented these objects with greater fidelity to nature, combined with a tasteful and picturesque manner of grouping them."

18.*-"Children who are sickly are taken to a woman living in St.

Lawrence, Norwich, for the purpose of being cut for a supposed disease called the spinnage. The infants are on a Monday morning taken to this woman's, who, for threepence, with a pair of scissors cuts through the lobe of the right ear, then makes a cross with the blood upon the forehead and breast of the child. On the following Monday the same barbarous and superst.i.tious ceremony is performed upon the left ear, and on the succeeding Monday the right ear is again condemned to undergo the same ceremony, and in some cases it is deemed necessary to perform the ridiculous operation nine times."

MAY.

2.*-"Married lately at St. Peter's, in London, by the Rev. Thomas Grose, George Henry Borrow, Esq., for many years a resident in Spain, and a native of Norwich, and only surviving son of the late Captain Borrow, to Mrs. Mary Clarke, of Oulton Cottage, in Suffolk."

3.-Died at Bath, Mr. Thomas Manning, of Orange Grove, Dartford, and formerly of Diss. "An eminent linguist, he accompanied Lord Amherst's emba.s.sy to China, and was considered the best Siamese scholar in Europe, Dr. Morrison and Mr. St. Julien being his only rivals. He was able to speak fluently fifteen languages, and maintained a correspondence with the _literati_ of the world. For months he resided at H'la.s.sa, in the kingdom of Thibet, and was the only Englishman who had ever penetrated to the metropolis of the Lama. There he spoke during his sojourn only Latin, and on his departure received the benediction of the Lama."

6.-Died, aged 76, Mr. James Sillett, of King Street, Norwich. "As an artist he stood unrivalled in his minute and accurate delineations of fish, fruit, and flowers. From 1781 to 1790 he studied from the figure at the Royal Academy, under Professors Reynolds, Barry, and others, whose lectures he also attended. He began to exhibit at Somerset House in 1796, which he continued at intervals for upwards of 30 years, part of which time he practised as a miniature painter with great success. He afterwards settled in his native city, and gained pre-eminence in his skilful and faithful delineations in oil and water colours. In later days he undertook architectural subjects. In 1815 he was President of the Norwich Artists' Society, of which he was one of the original members, but, in consequence of disputes arising, he and two other of the original members quitted it. He continued annually to exhibit, although he never afterwards joined the society, which, from want of encouragement, gradually dissolved in a few years."

7.-A public meeting was held at the Guildhall, Norwich, "to take into consideration the propriety of pet.i.tioning Parliament to afford to every part of the United Kingdom the advantage now enjoyed by the Metropolis of not having any post delivery on the Sabbath day."

9.*-"Married lately at Catfield, by the Rev. J. Prowett, Mr. John Curtiss, aged 85, to Miss Rogers, an agreeable young lady. The morning was ushered in with the ringing of bells and firing of guns. A large barge was prepared for the accommodation of the company to row on the lake in front of his mansion. In the evening an excellent band of music tended to the great amus.e.m.e.nt of hundreds who a.s.sembled on the cheerful occasion, when all the younger ones joined in the rustic dance, which was kept up till a late hour, after which there was a grand display of fireworks."

13.-Matthew Rackham, over seventy years of age, started from Norwich at four o'clock in the morning and walked to Yarmouth, where he arrived at nine o'clock, and returned to Norwich by six o'clock in the evening, "without experiencing any fatigue, although he had to contend with an adverse wind accompanied with rain during the whole of his journey out."

18.-Mr. G. V. Brooke took his benefit at Norwich Theatre as Hotspur in "King Henry the Fourth" (Part 1). "The degree of estimation in which this young actor is held was displayed in a general call for him at the end of the piece, a proceeding which is frequently resorted to in London, but which we are not aware of having seen occur here before."

22.-The remaining troop of the 9th Royal Lancers marched from Norwich Barracks, under the command of Capt. Whalley. Two troops and the headquarters of the 8th Royal Irish Hussars, commanded by Col. the Hon.

G. B. Molyneaux, took over the Barracks on June 5th.

25.-The Norfolk Yeomanry Cavalry, commanded by Major Loftus, commenced permanent duty at Cromer. The regiment consisted of three troops, namely, the Rainham Troop (Capt. H. B. Caldwell); the Hingham Troop (Capt. Ferdinand Ives); and the Holt Troop (Capt. John Mott). "The uniform and appointments a.s.similate closely in cut and other details with those of her Majesty's regiments of Dragoon Guards."

JUNE.

1.-Died at Thetford, aged 63, Mr. Thomas Withers Gill, an alderman of the borough, who had twice served the office of Mayor.

-The publication commenced in bi-monthly s.h.i.+lling parts of "The Eastern Arboretum: a new Botanical Work on the Trees of Norfolk," by James Grigor; ill.u.s.trated by T. Ninham. London: Longman and Co.; Norwich: John Stacy, Old Haymarket.

4.-A public meeting, presided over by the Dean, was held in Norwich, "to receive a report on the city National Schools, established in the year 1708, and to consider the best means of advancing the benevolent objects of these most ancient charitable inst.i.tutions." Resolutions were pa.s.sed pledging the meeting to support the schools, "which were the first and for a long time the sole means of educating the children of the poor, and also the cause of similar inst.i.tutions in later years."

5.-The tender of the Rev. Mr. Kent, of East Winch, for the purchase of the patronage of St. Mary's Church, Bury St. Edmund's, at 3,000 guineas, was opened and accepted by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners.

9.-Mr. W. M. Warcup, surgeon, of East Dereham, was presented with a piece of plate by the inhabitants of Swanton Morley, "in testimony of their respect for his skilful and successful treatment of the poor of that parish during fourteen months when typhus fever of a very malignant character extended itself into the family of almost every poor person in the village."

-The question of the practicability of paving Guildhall Hill, Norwich, with wood, "in order to prevent the noise and interruption from carriages pa.s.sing up and down the hill during the holding of Quarter Sessions, a.s.sizes, and magistrates' sittings," was introduced by the Mayor (Capt.

Money) and referred to a Committee of the Paving Commissioners, who, on October 13th, reported that "a wood pavement was not suitable for declivities." A macadamised road was thereupon ordered to be made.

13.*-"We regret to find some of the finest parts of the antient church of Yarmouth are doomed to destruction. Handbills inviting tenders for the work have for some time been in circulation. The princ.i.p.al object of demolition is the splendid east window of the south isle, one of the most elaborate examples of a highly-enriched style of architecture in the county. This capacious building has long been suffering from the effects of mutilations which every admirer of our antient ecclesiastical architecture must lament. The modern and ghastly eastern windows of the north isle and chancel are deformities which would disgrace a dilapidated church of the meanest village."

15.-Mr. Farren, of Covent Garden, and Mr. J. Vining, of the same theatre, formerly a favourite actor in the Norwich Company, commenced a short engagement at Norwich Theatre. The plays in which they appeared included "The Clandestine Marriage," "The Day after the Wedding," "The School for Scandal," &c.

-A public meeting, convened by the Mayor, was held at the Guildhall, Norwich, "for the purpose of congratulating her Most Gracious Majesty and his Royal Highness Prince Albert on their late most happy escape from the atrocious attempt at a.s.sa.s.sination." The address was moved by Col.

Harvey, and seconded by Dr. Wright. The notorious Chartist, Dover, moved a direct negative, which the Mayor refused to accept. The address was then adopted. An address was also agreed to by the Town Council on the 15th, and on the 21st the Mayor and Corporation attended the thanksgiving service at the Cathedral. Addresses were adopted by the Corporations of Yarmouth and Lynn, by the clergy of the diocese, and by various public bodies in the city and county, and a special form of prayer was used at all the churches. A county meeting took place at the s.h.i.+rehall, Norwich, on June 27th, at which congratulatory addresses to the Queen, the Prince Consort, and the d.u.c.h.ess of Kent were adopted. Dover and a party of Norwich Chartists occupied the gallery and created much disturbance.

16.-John Mountjoy, the pedestrian, commenced a series of remarkable feats at Norwich. At Ranelagh Gardens he performed the task of taking up with his mouth, without touching the ground with his knees, 100 eggs placed a yard apart and dropping them into a bucket of water without breaking them, and leaping over 50 hurdles 4 ft. high placed ten yards apart, making a distance of 6 miles. He undertook to do this in one hour, and accomplished it in 58 minutes 56 seconds. On June 22nd he began his walk from the s.h.i.+rehall Tavern, Castle Ditches, to Symonds' Gardens, Yarmouth, and back twice a day for six successive days, a distance of 76 miles. He finished the undertaking on Sat.u.r.day, June 27th. After he had crossed Foundry Bridge on his last return journey he was followed by a tremendous crowd, who bore the toll collectors before them and made a free pa.s.sage.

The only remuneration Mountjoy received for his self-imposed task were the contributions prompted by the generosity of the public. On July 13th, at Ranelagh Gardens, he ran a mile, walked backwards a mile, ran a wheelbarrow half a mile, trundled a hoop a mile, hopped 200 yards, picked up with his mouth 40 hazel nuts placed a yard apart without putting his knees to the ground, and jumped over 30 hurdles ten yards apart within five minutes of the time stipulated, one hour. On August 31st he started to walk to London and back, by way of Cambridge, in 48 hours. Leaving Ranelagh Gardens at four o'clock in the morning, he reached Wymondham at 5.5 and Thetford at 9.20, Barton Mills before 11, and Newmarket at 12.45.

After leaving Newmarket, he incautiously drank some cold water, which had such an effect upon him that he lay for an hour and a quarter outside the Swan Inn at Bottisham. Having somewhat recovered, he resumed his walk and reached Cambridge a little before five o'clock, and Melbourne at nine, where he was again taken ill and obliged to lie down for an hour.

He then struggled on to Royston, where "he was obliged to lie down under a hedge, with none but strangers around him." On reaching Buntingford he was advised to give in, but he pursued his course to within a mile of Ware, when he was obliged to relinquish the undertaking. Mountjoy, on September 10th, jumped 144 hurdles and ran twelve times round the racecourse on Mousehold Heath in 1 min. 4 sees, under the hour (distance not stated); and on September 13th walked 20 miles backwards and 20 forwards on the Catton Road, starting at 9 a.m. and finis.h.i.+ng at 7.4 p.m.

18.-Died at Coltishall, aged 62, Mr. Thomas Stallard Webb, historical engraver to the Queen. "For the long term of 38 years this eminent artist most a.s.siduously devoted his great talents, in conjunction with the late Thomas Holloway and Richard Slann, who survives, exclusively to the engraving of the celebrated cartoons of Raphael from the original paintings in the possession of her Majesty, the last plate of which series was completed only a few weeks before his death. This splendid work will carry down his name to posterity amongst the first artists of the age."

23.-The foundation-stone of Christ church, New Catton, was laid by the Hon. and Very Rev. Dean Pellew, after a special service at the mother church of St. Clement, at which the sermon was preached by the Hon. and Rev. J. T. Pelham, rector of Bergh Apton. The architect was Mr. Brown, the contractors Messrs. Wright and Cattermoul and Messrs. Watson and Neale, the site was given by Mr. S. D. Page, and the entire cost of the work was 2,400. "More than 300 years have elapsed since a parish church has been raised in this city. Of the 36 churches, St. Andrew's is the last that was erected, or rather rebuilt, about the year 1500, on the site of an ancient church."

JULY.

1.-On the opening of the Eastern Counties Railway from Sh.o.r.editch to Brentwood, the London coaches from Norwich, Yarmouth, and other places in Norfolk and Suffolk there transferred their pa.s.sengers and mails to the trains in communication with the Metropolis.

4.*-"The very antient _lectorium_ or reading-desk which has for many years lain neglected in Norwich Cathedral has, by order of the Hon. the Very Rev. the Dean, recently been restored, and is now placed in the choir. It was originally adorned with figures, which, in the time of the usurpation, were destroyed or mutilated. These figures have been replaced by others cast in bra.s.s and elaborately chased by Mr. John Herbert, from models furnished by Mr. Ollett."

9.-Died in St. Stephen's, Norwich, aged 81, Mr. John Stafford, "a man well known in the sporting world, having been many years a noted c.o.c.k-feeder."

18.*-[Advt.] "The public are respectfully informed that the Angel Inn, Market Place, Norwich, having been recently disposed of, is now refurnis.h.i.+ng and fitting up with every convenience for the reception of families and commercial gentlemen, and will in future be known as the Royal Hotel."

23.-In recording the anniversary of an Oddfellows' Lodge at Lynn on this date, the NORFOLK CHRONICLE stated: "The name 'Oddfellows,' by which the Order is distinguished, scarcely does justice to the inst.i.tution, as corresponding with its importance and its n.o.ble and generous principles.

To those who are unacquainted with the real merits of the society, there is a sort of peculiarity in the t.i.tle of 'Oddfellows' which may seem to imply something of buffoonery united with thoughtless revelling."

30.-Died, aged 50, Mr. B. Harrison, many years a popular actor on the Norwich stage.

31.-Married, Mr. Charles Fisher, of the Norfolk and Suffolk Company of Comedians, to Miss Richardson, only daughter of Richard Richardson, gent., of Swafield, North Walsham.

-The non-commissioned officers and men of the East Norfolk Yeomanry Cavalry presented to Major Charles Loftus a silver candelabrum, in "testimony of the sincere regard and admiration which they bear towards him both as their commanding officer and as a private gentleman." The presentation was made by Lord James Townshend, at a dinner given at the King's Arms Inn, East Dereham, under the presidency of Quarter-Master Wood.