Norfolk Annals
Chapter 70 : 1.-Mr. William Martin, a native of Norwich, and the painter of the two large pictures i

1.-Mr. William Martin, a native of Norwich, and the painter of the two large pictures in St. Andrew's Hall-"The death of Lady Jane Grey" and "Queen Eleanor, Consort to Edward I.," was lodging in indigent circ.u.mstances at the Trowel and Hammer public-house, St. Stephen's, whence he issued a circular on this date, asking for subscriptions for two engravings-"Interior of an English Cottage Home" and "Children going to bed." The Corporation, on February 24th, 1829, voted him a grant of 100 guineas.

12.-Died at his seat at Terrington, near Lynn, in his 91st year, Sir Andrew Snape Hamond, Bart., a post-captain in the Royal Navy, formerly Lieutenant-Governor of the Province of Nova Scotia, and subsequently Commodore and Commander-in-Chief in the River Medway. He was many years Comptroller of the Navy, twice member of Parliament for Ipswich, and one of the Brethren of the Trinity House.

29.-The ceremony of swearing in the Sheriffs of Norwich was performed at the Guildhall, amid a scene of great disorder. The windows of the lower court had been screwed down, to prevent persons entering by that way before the arrival of the magistrates. The court was crowded, the heat intolerable, and the Mayor (Mr. Thurtell) ordered the windows to be broken. Upon the Sheriffs-elect, Mr. Stevenson and Mr. Grout, presenting themselves, the latter was objected to, on the ground that he was not a freeman; and Mr. Stevenson declined to serve unless he received legal indemnity from his colleague. The Recorder (Mr. Alderson) disposed of the legal difficulty in Mr. Stevenson's case, but the uproar was so great that an adjournment had to be made to the Aldermen's Chamber, where the Town Clerk administered the oath to Mr. Grout, notwithstanding a protest by Col. Harvey. At a meeting of the Common Council, on October 2nd, a notice signed by eight of the "Purple and Orange" Aldermen was read, intimating that any act done by the Council would not be valid, as one of the Sheriffs was improperly elected. They therefore declined to attend the meeting. The Mayor complained that he was being set at defiance, and threatened to appeal to a higher power. On November 8th a motion was made in the Court of King's Bench, to show cause why an information in the nature of a _quo warranto_ should not be filed against Mr. Grout, to show by what authority he exercised the office of Sheriff; the Court granted a rule _nisi_. On February 24th the Corporation unanimously conferred on Mr. Grout the freedom of the city. The case, after being several times before the Court, was finally disposed of on June 28th, 1830, when Mr. Justice Bailey delivered judgment, and said that the Court were of opinion that it was essential to the validity of election to the office of Sheriff that the individual chosen should be a freeman.

Judgment of ouster was therefore entered. Retaliatory proceedings were taken in the Court of King's Bench by the other political party against Mr. Alderman Patteson for holding the office of Treasurer of the city, and against Mr. Alderman T. S. Day, for acting as Corn Inspector. A rule _nisi_ was obtained against Mr. Patteson on May 30th, 1829, and was made absolute on July 4th, after that gentleman had resigned the treasurers.h.i.+p.

29.-The 6th Inniskilling Dragoons marched from Norwich for Chesterfield and Manchester.

OCTOBER.

6.-A troop of the 12th Lancers arrived at Norwich, from Canterbury.

7.-Died, aged 72, at New York, Mr. John B. Murray, eldest son of Dr. John Murray.

9.-Died, aged 74, at his residence, in Carlow, Major John Beevor, formerly of the 9th Dragoons, and for 30 years inspecting-officer of Yeomanry Cavalry in the districts of Waterford and Wexford. He was second son of Sir Thomas Beevor, of Hethel.

11.-The Norwich Corn Exchange, "one of the finest edifices of its kind in Europe," was opened to the public. "Mr. Riches, merchant, of Norwich, bought of Mr. Riches, of Thorpe, the first sample of corn (barley) in the new building, for which he gave 18s. 6d. per coomb." A commemorative dinner was held in the Exchange on November 28th, at which Mr. T. W.

c.o.ke, M.P., presided, supported by the High Sheriff (Sir W. B. ffolkes), Lord Lyndock, Lord Neville, Lord Suffield, Mr. Edmond Wodehouse, M.P., and other prominent personages.

18.*-"The proprietors of the Norwich Cloth Establishment have taken a contract for supplying the two battalions of Portuguese troops lately formed at Plymouth out of the refugees from that distracted country with jackets and trousers. These troops are intended to accompany the young Queen of Portugal, whither she will shortly proceed to claim the Crown."

25.*-"The portrait of Mr. Alderman Francis, painted by Lane, was hung in St. Andrew's Hall, Norwich, this week."

-*"Died lately at Wimbotsham, near Downham Market, aged 52, Mr. William Henry Ware, many years composer of music, and director of the orchestra at Covent Garden Theatre, and one of the masters of the Royal Academy, Woolwich."

29.-Died, at his son's house, in Southampton Street, Bloomsbury, aged 79, Mr. Luke Hansard, many years printer of the Journals, private Bills, &c., of the House of Commons. "He was born at Watton, served his apprentices.h.i.+p with Mr. White, printer, of Norwich, was afterwards an a.s.sistant of the late Mr. John Crouse, who originally established the NORFOLK CHRONICLE in the year 1761, and had ever since been a much attached and valued friend of all his successors."

NOVEMBER.

3.-The following curious incident was recorded as having taken place at Tunstead on this date. A Chelsea pensioner was about to be married to a widow, and "early in the morning the parties, accompanied by three witnesses, repaired to the cross-ways in the road a short distance from the village, where the intended bride crossed the road _in puris naturalibus_, and was received on the opposite side by the bridegroom, who entertains the idea that by the due performance of this ceremony he is discharged from all liability of paying the debts of the former husband."

4.-Lord Neville, rector of Berghapton, sent a letter to the NORFOLK CHRONICLE, denying a statement made by Mr. Cobbett, at a dinner at Maidstone, that he (Lord Neville) was "rector of a parish in Norfolk and at the same time enjoyed half-pay as a captain of Dragoons." His lords.h.i.+p wrote: "I admit being rector of a parish in Norfolk, but I a.s.sure you upon my word that a considerable time before I took orders I resigned my commission, and consequently ceased from that time to enjoy either half or full pay."

9.-The King's letter, "authorising collections to be made for the building and enlarging of churches and chapels (instead of by briefs, as formerly)," was read in the churches in the city and county.

15.-A hamper conveyed by Messrs. Marsh and Swan's London van from King's Lynn, was found to contain the dead body of a young woman, supposed to have been taken from a grave at Lynn.

-*"Mr. Suckling's beautiful yacht, the Marmion, has lately arrived at Buckenham Ferry, to be laid up for the winter. In December last she was laid down and built upon his estate at Woodton, under his immediate plans and directions, and in May last dragged from thence upon a sledge to the water's edge at Carrow Bridge, to the surprise of the natives, who a.s.sembled in great number. She dropped down the river and boldly cleared out to sea, on her pa.s.sage to London, which voyage, though blowing very fresh, she performed much to the satisfaction of those on board. She afterwards went to Calais, made two journeys to Holland, and sailed many times up the ca.n.a.ls."

29.-Mr. B. H. Norgate was elected a.s.sistant-surgeon of the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital, in the room of Mr. Henry Carter, previously elected surgeon, on the resignation of Mr. Martineau.

-Died at his house in St. Giles' Street, Norwich, aged 72, Mr. John Hammond Cole, an Alderman of the Great Ward of Mancroft. He was Sheriff in 1797; Mayor in 1811; Receiver of Stamp Duties, Treasurer of the Boys'

and Girls' Hospital, and of the Norwich Dispensary, and Treasurer and Secretary of the Norfolk and Norwich Savings Bank.

DECEMBER.

1.-Died at New York, aged 64, Mr. James Valentine Murray, third son of Dr. John Murray, of Norwich.

4.-The Norwich Brunswick Const.i.tutional Club, "for preserving the integrity of the Protestant Const.i.tution, and upholding the principles which placed the House of Brunswick upon the Throne of these realms," was formed at a meeting held at the Norfolk Hotel.

6.-Died, aged 48 years, Capt. Sir William Hoste, Bart, R.N., K.C.B., eldest son of the Rev. Dixon Hoste, of G.o.dwick Hall. "He was among the many brave youths from this county on board the Admiral's flags.h.i.+p, the Vanguard, at the memorable battle of the Nile."

8.-Master W. R. Grossmith, "the celebrated young Roscius, 9 years old,"

gave, in the Concert Room, St. George's, Norwich, his entertainment, "consisting of rapid transitions of dress and characters."

19.-Died at Yarmouth, aged 79, Mr. John Watson, Mayor of that borough in 1785. In 1799 he was elected Town Clerk, and resigned the office in 1822.

20.*-"Died, last week, at Lakenham, aged 45, Mr. Roger Jean, an eminent miniature painter, leaving a wife and seven children to lament his loss.

Although Mr. Jean possessed very superior abilities as a miniature painter, owing to his long-continued illness his latter days were embittered by most distressing privations, and his wife, a well-educated woman, is left in very dest.i.tute circ.u.mstances."

24.-The weather on Christmas Eve was described as "very close and warm."

The whole month was remarkable for its unusual mildness.

26.-Mons. Batty opened his Circus at the Pantheon, Ranelagh Gardens, Norwich.

30.-A "grand match of c.o.c.ks" was fought at the New Inn, Aylsham, between gentlemen of that town and of North Walsham. The sport was continued on the 31st. North Walsham won 9 battles out of 12. The winning c.o.c.ks were "fed" by Stafford, of Norwich.

1829.

JANUARY.

1.-Died, aged 76, Mr. Philip Meadows Martineau, one of the surgeons of the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital from its foundation in 1772.

"Pre-eminently successful as an operator, and most intimately acquainted with the theory of his profession, Mr. Martineau was celebrated in every part of England and throughout Europe. He directed his attention to cases of lithotomy with distinguished success." He was buried at Thorpe, on January 9th.

10.-c.o.c.key Lane, Norwich, was for the first time accorded its new designation, "London Street."

14.-At the Norfolk Quarter Sessions, it was ordered that the east end of Norwich Castle, including the south end b.u.t.tress, be put into proper repair, at an expense not exceeding the sum of 600.

17.*-"The sales at Garraway's and the Auction Mart of landed estates in Norfolk last year exceed 110,000. The princ.i.p.al Norfolk estates sold in London during the last 12 months were as follow:-Wellington Hall, 1,724 acres, with house, gardens, &c., 41,000; Clippesby Hall 1,100 acres, with house, &c., 48,110; Mr. Watson's estate at Saxlingham, 137 acres, with house, &c., 7,000."

21.-A meeting of the medical pract.i.tioners of the city and county was held at the Guildhall, Norwich, "to pet.i.tion the Legislature upon the increasing difficulties of pursuing anatomical studies in the public schools."

31.-Mr. Alexander Thurtell, nephew of the Mayor of Norwich, was returned fourth wrangler at Cambridge. He was of Caius College, and was educated by Mr. Bowles (formerly of Norwich Theatre), at the Academy, Yarmouth.

-Norwich Theatre was opened for the season. Mons. Decour, a "strong man," exhibited feats of strength and juggling.

-A disastrous fire occurred on the premises of Messrs. Trivett and Cozens, ironmongers, Exchange Street, Norwich. The 12th Lancers rendered efficient service in saving adjoining property. The NORFOLK CHRONICLE Office narrowly escaped destruction.