Norfolk Annals
Chapter 83 : 6.-Died, aged 85, Mrs. Bray, wife of Mr. Thomas Bray, "proprietor of the Diss and

6.-Died, aged 85, Mrs. Bray, wife of Mr. Thomas Bray, "proprietor of the Diss and Norwich waggons to Ipswich, which have regularly travelled from the Star in the Market Place, Diss, to the Star in the Market Place, Norwich, under the name of Bray, for more than a century and a half."

10.-Died, aged 77, Mr. Edmund Reeve, of St. Augustine's, Norwich. He served the office of Sheriff in 1796.

15.-On the Abbey Farm, Thetford, Sir Richard Sutton, Bart., in the presence of a large gathering of sportsmen, killed in seven hours 222 head of partridges, in 246 shots.

OCTOBER.

6.-At the Guildhall, Norwich, John Cozens, merchant, and Joseph Colman, solicitor, were summoned by George Arthur Dye for endeavouring, by threatening to prosecute an action in the Court of King's Bench, for supposed acts of bribery alleged to have been committed by the complainant, to extort from him a large sum of money, viz., the sum which he (Cozens) had expended in pet.i.tioning the House of Commons against the return of Lord Viscount Stormont and Sir James Scarlett, as members of Parliament for Norwich. The defendants were committed for trial, and at the adjourned Quarter Sessions for the city, on October 28th, a true bill was found against them. They entered into recognisances to appear at the Lent a.s.sizes, which were held in March, 1835, before Mr. Baron Vaughan, when the case was settled without proceeding to trial.

9.-The Hall Concert Room, St. George's Bridge Street, Norwich, was sold by auction. It was afterwards converted into a carpenter's workshop.

"The Hall Concert Society, after existing for upwards of half a century, has been dissolved. Without the a.s.sistance of this amateur musical society, the Norwich Musical Festival, and its most prominent feature, the chorus, would never have been called into existence."

11.*-"Died, lately, at Swainsthorpe, aged 75, Robert Utting, commonly called 'Blind Bob.' He could find any place to which he was sent in Norwich, and was for more than 50 years postman from that city to Swainsthorpe."

27.-The Pilot coach was on its journey from Norwich to Lowestoft, with eight outside and two inside pa.s.sengers, when the leader of the unicorn team became restive, on Bracondale Hill, and turning sharply into Martineau's Lane, overturned the vehicle. Mr. Benson Rathbone, of Geldeston, one of the pa.s.sengers, sustained a fracture of the skull, from which he died an hour afterwards, at the Pine Apple public-house, at Trowse. Several other pa.s.sengers were injured.

NOVEMBER.

4.-The members of the Orange and Purple Club (president, Mr. W. J. Utten Browne), at the Norfolk Hotel, Norwich, presented a piece of silver plate to Mr. A. A. H. Beckwith, in recognition of his important services to the Conservative cause.

19.-At the Guildhall, Norwich, Mr. Samuel Bignold was presented with a silver candelabrum, valued at 200, "to perpetuate the remembrance of his ability and independence as a magistrate, his munificent hospitality, and his important public services."

-The Hon. W. H. Beresford and Mr. W. M. Praed were adopted Conservative candidates at Yarmouth. Mr. Beresford afterwards withdrew in favour of Mr. Thomas Baring.

26.-The annual meeting of the Norfolk and Norwich Museum was held for the first time "in the new building in Exchange Street," which was informally opened on that occasion.

29.-The Rev. A. Sedgwick, M.A., F.R.S., Woodwardian Professor in the University of Cambridge, was installed a Prebendary of Norwich Cathedral.

DECEMBER.

2.-A meeting of Nonconformists was held at Edwards' Room, Orford Hill, Norwich, in defence of their civil and religious liberty. Alarm was expressed at the dismissal of Lord Melbourne and his colleagues from office, and at the management of the affairs of State "being consigned to individuals who had proved themselves the enemies of Reform and of the claims of Protestant Dissenters." The Hon. Edward Vernon Harbord was requested to become a candidate for the representation of Norwich.

5.-Died at his house in St. Giles', Mr. William Simpson, Town Clerk of Norwich and Treasurer of the County.

8.-Died at Carlton Hall, Mr. Thomas Marsham. "He commenced farming with slender means, and notwithstanding his liberality to the labourers on his estate, and his hospitality to his brother farmers, he acc.u.mulated a property of near 30,000."

13.*-"Died, last week, Mr. Richard Mingay, well known in Norwich as a violin player. He was a man of many and very versatile talents, which, among other modes, have been displayed upon the stage in the character of Crack, in 'The Turnpike Gate,' which he performed with great humour."

15.-At a special a.s.sembly of the Common Council, Mr. Beckwith, City Chamberlain, was elected Town Clerk of Norwich; Mr. Skipper, Speaker of the Common Council, was appointed City Chamberlain; and Mr. James Winter was elected Speaker.

17.-The Orange and Purple Club entertained 768 Conservative voters at dinner at St. Andrew's Hall, Norwich. It was announced by the Mayor that Sir James Scarlett, M.P., had been appointed Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer. Lord Stormont and Mr. Robert Campbell Scarlett, the prospective candidates for the city, were received with great enthusiasm.

On the 18th dinner was served to 1,004 Conservative electors. Mr. W. J.

Utten Browne presided on both occasions.

20.-Mr. Richard Hanbury Gurney and Mr. W. Windham were announced to be the "Blue and White" candidates for East Norfolk. The former gentleman addressed the merchants at the Norwich Corn Exchange. Lord Stormont and Mr. Scarlett also spoke, and were attacked by a disorderly crowd. Mr.

Gurney went to the a.s.sistance of his lords.h.i.+p. On the 22nd Mr. Edward Butcher was ordered by the magistrates to find sureties for having taken part in the disturbance. At a subsequent meeting of the Orange and Purple Club, Lord Stormont acknowledged the "honourable conduct" of Mr.

Gurney.

24.-Died at Cork, Major-General Sir Robert Travers, elder brother of Sir Eaton Travers, of Ditchingham Lodge, and of Major Travers, of Hedenham Hall. He was riding in Patrick Street, Cork, when his horse was frightened by the band of Wombwell's Menagerie. The general was thrown, and received fatal injuries.

27.-The Hon. E. V. Harbord and Mr. Frank Offley Martin were adopted Liberal candidates for the representation of Norwich.

1835.

JANUARY.

5.-Yarmouth Election-T. Baring (C), 777; W. M. Praed (C), 768 (elected).

Hon. Col. Anson (L), 680; C. E. Rumbold (L), 675.

6.-Norwich Election-Lord Viscount Stormont and the Hon. Robert Campbell Scarlett, Conservatives; the Hon. E. Vernon Harbord and Mr. Francis Offley Martin, Liberals, were nominated, and polling commenced on the same date. The books remained open until 5.30 p.m. on the 7th, when the result was declared as follows:-Stormont, 1,892; Scarlett, 1,878 (elected). Harbord, 1,592; Martin, 1,585.

7.-Lynn Election-The polling commenced on this date, and concluded on the 8th. Lord George Bentinck, 531; Sir Stratford Canning, 416 (elected); Sir John S. Lillie, 238.

12.-The nomination of candidates for the representation of West Norfolk took place at Swaffham. Mr. William Bagge, the Conservative candidate, was escorted to the town by a procession, headed by the hunting establishment of Mr. Henry Villebois. Sir William ffolkes and Sir Jacob Astley were accompanied by Mr. T. W. c.o.ke and numerous supporters. A dispute arose between Lord Charles Townshend and Sir Jacob Astley, who were ordered by the justices to enter into their recognisances to keep the peace towards each other. The polling commenced on January 15th, at Swaffham, Downham, Fakenham, Lynn, Thetford, and East Dereham, and closed on the 16th. The poll was declared on the 19th.-ffolkes, 2,299; Astley, 2,134; Bagge, 1,880. The two first-named were elected.

17.-The nomination of candidates for the East Norfolk Division took place at Norwich. Lord Walpole and Mr. Wodehouse, Conservatives, entered the city by St. Giles' Gates, escorted by between three hundred and four hundred hors.e.m.e.n; Mr. W. Windham and Mr. R. H. Gurney (Liberals) rode at the head of 196 mounted supporters. The polling commenced on the 20th, at Norwich, Yarmouth, Long Stratton, and Reepham, and concluded on the 21st. The poll was declared on the 23rd, as follows:-Walpole, 3,188; Wodehouse, 3,474; Windham, 3,089; Gurney, 2,879. The two first-named were elected.

-At the Norwich Court of Mayoralty, Mr. Alderman Bignold read a letter from the Right Hon. Lord Abinger, Baron of Abinger in the county of Surrey and of the city of Norwich, intimating his lords.h.i.+p's desire that the Mayor and Corporation would permit him to take as the supporters of his arms the supporters of the arms of the city. The Court unanimously granted the request. It was also announced that his lords.h.i.+p had appointed as his chaplain the Rev. Charles Turner, son of the Mayor.

27.-The supporters of Messrs. Harbord and Martin, to the number of 900, were entertained at dinner at St. Andrew's Hall by leading persons of the Liberal party. On the 28th 1,000 were similarly entertained. Mr. W.

Foster presided on both occasions, and on the second day Mr. Martin delivered a speech of two hours' duration.

FEBRUARY.

7.-A "moveable panorama" of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway, painted by Mr. Thorne, was exhibited at the Theatre Royal, Norwich.

19.-Married, Mr. J. V. Jermay, of Wroxham, to Mrs. Sarah Landimore, of the same place. "The above-named female has been twice married, having entered the matrimonial state at the age of 14. She became a widow at 15, and is now a wife again at 17."

23.-Died, at New Lakenham, aged 66, Mr. William Cole, the author of "Rural Months," and other poems.

24.-The Corporation of Norwich voted the honorary freedom of the city to the Hon. Robert Campbell Scarlett, M.P.

-A committee was appointed by the Corporation of Norwich to prepare a memorial to the Postmaster-General, for an acceleration of the mail coach service. A letter was received from Lord Stormont, M.P., on March 27th, stating that the Postmaster-General had made the following arrangements: the Norwich and Yarmouth letters to go by the Ipswich mail instead of by the Newmarket coach, the Ipswich mail to arrive at Norwich at 7.30 a.m., and to leave Norwich at 7 p.m.

28.-Died at his residence in Portman Square, London, aged 78, the Right Hon. and Rev. Earl Nelson, Duke of Bronte, "brother of the hero of Trafalgar." The t.i.tle and estates descended to Mr. Thomas Bolton, jun., son of Susannah Nelson, sister of the first two Earls, and of Thomas Bolton, who was born in 1786, and married, in 1821, Elizabeth, daughter and sole heir of John Maurice.