Tuesday last was a proud day for the friends of Reform, comprising as
they do a vast majority of all ranks of our town’s-people. It having
been announced by hand-bill the day previous that Col. Anson and Mr.
Rumbold would arrive the following day, as early as the hour at noon,
the Southtown Road was crowded with pedestrians and equestrians of
all classes. Between twelve and one o’clock the entire body of the
Political Union (full 400 strong) assembled at the Guardian Angel,
with blue ribbons and their badges round their necks. The worthy
candidates having arrived at the above inn, the procession began to
move in the following order:—Two trumpeters on horseback;
banner—Yarmouth Union of the Working Classes; flags—Union Jack, Royal
Standard of England; ‘Universal Suffrage and Vote by Ballot’; ‘Short
Parliaments and Liberty of the Press’; ‘The love of our Country leads
us’; ‘Close Corporations abolished’; ‘Equal Laws and Equal Rights’;
‘United we stand, divided we fall’; banners of the King and Reform.
Flags—‘Gorleston and Southtown Voters’; ‘Anson and Rumbold’;
‘Friends.’ Flags—‘The People’s Cause’; ‘The Poor Man’s Rights’;
‘Reduction of Taxation’; ‘Close Corporations Opened’; ‘Abolition of
Slavery’; ‘Cheap Government and Equal Rights’; ‘The Liberty of the
Press’; ‘Knowledge is Power’; ‘Civil and Religious Liberty’; ‘Freedom
of Election.’ The procession, on entering the town by the Bridge,
was welcomed by the exultant shouts of an innumerable concourse of
expectant individuals, who had by this time lined the new Hall Quay,
eager to witness the imposing spectacle. The blue pennons of
numerous ships, ‘floating in the breeze,’ added not a little to the
joyousness of the occasion. The procession moved on, adding to its
numbers as it advanced along the Quay, up South Street, along King
Street, down our beautiful Market Place, and back to the Committee
Rooms, from the windows of which the assembled multitude (consisting
certainly of not less than 5,000 persons) were addressed by Mr.
Alderman Barth, Col. Anson, Mr. Rumbold, and J. Shelly, Esq. The
weather was till towards noon rather showery; fortunately it then
cleared up. Such, however, appeared to us the general enthusiasm,
that it seemed as if no weather could have damped the universal
feeling of delight, nor have abated the desire to witness the
proceedings of this memorable day. Numbers of well-dressed females
from the windows of the houses, as the procession passed along, were
to be seen, with approving smiles, shaking blue flags, elegant
banners, &c., &c., thus demonstrating their hearty participation in
the high feeling of satisfaction which displayed itself all around.
Too much praise cannot be given to Capt. Garson and Mr. Gamble for
the judgment shown by them in marshalling the procession. Nor ought
we to omit mentioning, in terms of high commendation, the excellent
conduct of the Union on the occasion—conduct which was noticed in the
evening at the King’s Head, by the Chairman (Mr. T. Hammond) making a
very handsome acknowledgment of their services, and giving as a toast
(which was drank with three times three and very general applause)
‘The Council of the Political Union.’ Surely, if it had been before
possible for the Conservatives (as they improperly styled themselves)
to have mistaken the feeling of the town, the proceedings of Tuesday
last must have entirely undeceived them, and enabled them to see the
utter hopelessness of a contest with our late excellent
representatives. Monday next is the day of election, when we shall
see whether these hardy and obstinate men are still determined to
pull down certain ruin on their party.
On Thursday night Messrs. Anson and Rumbold, addressing their
numerous friends from the balcony of the Crown and Anchor, were
insulted by water thrown upon, and it is reported tiles at them, from
a small _red_ inn adjoining. This roused the indignation of the
multitude, and the destruction of the windows was the consequence. A
spirited youth resented still further indignity offered to his
friends by springing from the balcony and seizing upon and destroying
the enemy’s blood-red standard.
Dec. 15th.—The nomination took place at the “Tol-hall,” and after the
Mayor had opened the proceedings, Col. Anson was nominated by William
Barth, Esq., seconded by Mr. Thomas Clowes, Mr. Rumbold by John Shelly
and John Brightwen, Esqs., and A. Colville, Esq., by John Lacon, Esq.,
and Mr. B. Gooch. The show of hands was in favour of Messrs. Anson and
Rumbold. The poll for the first day was—
Rumbold 715
Anson 699
Colville 631