On Monday the Mayor and the Mayor Elect (J. Danby-Palmer, Esq.),
accompanied by the Earl of Orford and the members of the Corporation,
attended divine service at St. Nicholas’ Church, by the Hon. and Rev.
Edward Pellew, after which the Rev. Thomas Baker, Chaplain to the
Body Corporate, preached an excellent sermon. After service the
Corporation adjourned to the Guildhall, where the Mayor-Elect was
sworn into office with the customary ceremonies.
The Recorder (Mr. Sergeant Merewether) being absent, the Town Clerk,
previous to presenting the patent of appointment as Lord High Steward
of the Borough to the Earl of Orford, addressed his Lordship,
observing that the Corporation entertained a high sense of the honour
conferred upon them by his Lordship’s acceptance of an office which
(as constituted by one of the charters of the borough) assimilated
with that of Lord High Steward of England, an office of great power
and authority, having under the King the regulating the
administration of justice, which had not since its forfeiture in the
reign of Henry the Third, by its hereditary possessor, been granted
to any one except upon and for particular occasions, and had only
been presented to one of the Nobility and a Lord of Parliament. So
by the Charter of King Charles, the High Steward of the borough of
Yarmouth must be ‘unus praeclarus vir,’ the meaning of which might be
gathered from the appointment of William, Earl of Yarmouth, to be the
first modern High Steward, and that to the present time the office
had been filled by noblemen distinguished by their talents and
services as statesmen, or great naval and military commanders.
Amongst them were the celebrated Sir Robert Walpole, Earl of Orford,
a second Robert Earl of Orford, and George Earl of Orford, who
together held that office for nearly 60 years, much to the honour and
advantage of the Borough. Although their connection with that noble
family had been interrupted, it had not been forgotten by the
Corporation, who were happy in having the honour of renewing it in
the person of his Lordship, in whom they found that ‘praeclarus vir’
pointed out by the charter, and they doubted not but that his
Lordship would support them in all transactions grounded in honour,
honesty, and good faith, and having for their object the public good,
and that he would defend and maintain their ancient rights,
privileges, and immunities. The Town Clerk then presented Lord
Orford with his appointment, and assured his Lordship that his
presence among them would always be hailed with pleasure by the
Corporation.
The Earl of Orford was then sworn, and immediately addressed the
Mayor and Corporation in an eloquent speech, in which he said he
claimed no merit to himself for the choice which had been made by the
Corporation, but attributed it solely to the recollection of the
former connection of the borough with his ancestors, which had been
so handsomely alluded to by the Town Clerk, and to that firm line of
conduct in political life which he had thought it his duty
steadfastly to pursue, which it was his pride and pleasure to
maintain, and that although the Corporation might have selected a
person of more influence than himself, yet he would yield to no one
in zeal, and no exertion on his part would be spared to uphold the
rights, privileges, and immunities of the Corporation, which had that
day been entrusted to the Mayor, and which it was to be hoped he
would be permitted to resign unimpaired to his successor. He himself
should always feel it his duty and pleasure to render his services
available to the true interests of the borough.
The other annual officers were then sworn, and the Mayor, accompanied
by the High Steward and the Corporate Body, walked to the Town Hall,
where a most splendid entertainment was provided for upwards of three
hundred and thirty gentlemen, among whom were the Right Hon. the Earl
of Orford, the Right Hon. Viscount Nevill, the Hon. Mr. Justice
Alderson, the Hon. the Rev. E. Pellew, the Hon. P. H. Abbott, Sir E.
K. Lacon, Bart., Vice-Admiral Sir George Parker, K.C.B., Col. Petre,
Col. Mason, Robert Marsham, Esq., J. Postle, Esq., Stratton Marsham,
Esq., E. H. K. Lacon, Esq., W. M. Praed, Esq., Rev. C. Penrice, Rev.
J. Humfrey, Rev. — Clarke, Rev. J. Gunn, Rev. B. Winthorp, John
Penrice, Esq., R. Rising, Esq., S. Palmer, Esq., W. Carpenter, Esq.,
Capt. Onslow, R.N., Capt. M. Kelly, R.N., Capt. Travers, R.N., Major
Travers, Capt. Carew, R.N., H. Munro, Esq., B. Caldecott, Esq., &c.,
&c.
The healths of their Majesties—the Princess Victoria and the rest of
the Royal Family—his Majesty’s Ministers, and the Duke of Wellington,
were drank. On the health of the Earl of Orford being given, the
noble Lord, in returning thanks, alluded to the commission for
investigating Corporations, declaring ‘that he denounced the
illegality of the commission.’ His Lordship gave the health of the
Mayor and Prosperity to the Town of Yarmouth, for which the Chief
Magistrate expressed his acknowledgment, stating his determination to
do all he could to forward the best interests of the town on every
occasion.
On the health of Mr. Justice Alderson being given, the learned Judge
spoke of the Constitution of this country as being so framed as to
allow all who had the talents and industry to arrive at the very
highest dignities the King could confer, and concluded by saying that
the question for the people to consider was whether they would close
the avenues to those dignities. The healths of Lord Nevill, Mr.
Charles Palmer (the son of the Mayor), Sir E. K. Lacon, Lord Walpole
and the House of Wolterton, Lord Wodehouse and the House of
Kimberley, and a variety of other toasts were given; after which the
Mayor and a large party adjourned to the Ball at the Bath Rooms,
where dancing continued till a late hour.
Oct. 31st.—“On Monday evening last, as Mr. Marsh, of the house of Marsh
and Barnes, wine and spirit merchants, was returning in his gig from
Beccles, he overtook a female on the road near Fritton, who, as Mr. M.
passed, implored assistance. He pulled up, and finding the poor creature
in an exhausted and high state of nervous excitement, and that she was on
her way to this place, he took her up, when she stated as follows—that
she had walked from Yarmouth to Heckingham House to obtain relief for a
relative residing in Yarmouth, that she had obtained 3s., was returning
home across the Marshes, and when near the New Cut and bridge over the
dam, she saw two men, who appeared to come from a wherry, and when they
met her one of them presented a pistol and threatened to shoot her, but
she answering in the negative to the enquiry of “Do you know us,” one of
them said, “Don’t shoot her.” They then searched, took from her 2s. 6d.,
some halfpence, and a handkerchief with some trifles, knocked her down by
a blow on the face, and so left her. When she recovered she proceeded on
her journey till the above gentleman humanely assisted her into the town
and relieved her; but she was so weak from the fright as to stagger when
she left the gig. She states that she thinks she could recognize one of
the men. Might not some enquiry as to what wherry was moored in the Cut
at that time lead to the detection of the perpetrators of so diabolical
an act as that of distressing the distressed. We respectfully submit to
the gentlemen who are the guardians for the hundred of Heckingham if some
safe plan could not be devised to relieve non-resident paupers, so as to
obviate the necessity of a journey by them of so many miles.”
Dec. 5th.—The winter assemblies having been discontinued for two years
had been revived, and the first assembly had been held at the Town Hall,
(the Mayor (J. Danby Palmer, Esq.) and Vice-Admiral Sir George Parker,
K.C.B., Stewards). It was attended by all the principal families of the
town and neighbourhood.
Dec. 12th.—A fine schooner named the Fairy Queen, 150 tons register, had
been launched from W. Lubbock’s yard.
Dec. 28th.—The altar piece presented to St. Peter’s Church by Col. Mason
was put up on Christmas Eve.
1834.
Jan. 9th.—Samuel Tolver and Charles John Palmer, Esqs., had been
appointed Perpetual Commissioners for the counties of Norfolk and
Suffolk.
Jan. 16th.—News had been received that the Lion, belonging to G. D.
Palmer, Esq., had arrived at Civita Vecchia on the 26th ult.
Jan. 30th.—Two schooners of about 80 tons register, named the Norwich
Trader and Lowestoft Merchant, had been launched from Mr. Thomas W.
Branford’s yard.
A requisition was being signed for the purpose of having the “upper”
ferry established.
Feb. 6th.—Messrs. Buckle and Hogg, two of H.M. Municipal Commissioners,
had arrived for the purpose of holding an Inquiry into the doings of the
Corporation.
A crowded meeting had been held to petition Parliament for an abolition
of Church Rates. J. Shelly, Esq., was called to the chair, and the
following gentlemen took part in the proceedings:—Rev. Mr. Betts, J. B.
Palmer, Esq., Rev. T. Tait, Mr. D. Chapman, Rev. H. Squire, and Rev. A.
Creak.
Feb. 20th.—Capt. Manby had given “an elegant and fully attended fete” at
the Barracks.
Feb. 29th.—The Municipal Commissioners were sitting at the Tolhouse.
March 6th.—The Commissioners having finished their investigation were
entertained by Alderman Bath at Dinner.
April 10th.—Mr. G. Garson had been appointed Lloyd’s Surveyor.
The annual silver cup, given by Mr. Bales to the members of the “Yarmouth
British Yacht Club,” was to be sailed for in May.
April 17th.—A meeting had been held to oppose certain clauses in the
proposed Haven and Pier Bill then before Parliament, Mr. Alderman Barth
in the chair, the following took part in the proceedings:—Messrs. J.
Brightwen, J. Shelly, A. Palmer, S. Cobb, R. Ferrier, G. D. Palmer, B.
Dowson, P. Stead, and William Barber.
April 24th.—The Baltic (belonging to I. Preston, Esq.) and The Venus
(belonging to G. D. Palmer, Esq.) had sailed with emigrants for North
America.
May 1st.—A brig called the Friends, of 190 tons register, had been
launched from Mr. A. Palmer’s yard.
May 15th.—The “New Proprietary Grammar School” had been opened, John
Danby Palmer, Esq., being Chairman during the proceedings.
June 5th.—The Misses Seaman had been appointed postmistresses.
June 12th.—“A remarkably fine ship of 374 tons” had been launched from
the dockyard of Ambrose Palmer, Esq.
June 26th.—Contains the following notice of an “Ingenious Invention”:—“A
few weeks since a young lady having lost her left leg by amputation, four
inches below the knee, applied to Mr. W. B. Neslen, shoe and last maker,
of this town, complaining of the inconvenience she experienced from the
wooden substitute she had procured. Mr. N. immediately set about
remedying this, which he eventually accomplished by the making of a leg,
which for useful purposes has in a very great measure supplied the loss
of the original limb. It was composed of light sycamore wood, cased with
leather, with elastic springs for the foot. It was shown to several
mechanics in the neighbourhood, who all gave an opinion highly favourable
to the ingenuity of its construction. It weighs 3lbs. (the former
substitute weighed 7lbs.) and is connected with the knee by springs. The
lady is enabled to make very nearly the same use of the artificial as she
previously had done with the real limb.”
The anniversary of the King’s accession to the Throne had been observed,
the Corporation attending divine service, when the Rev. T. Baker preached
“an appropriate sermon.”
July 24th.—Mr. William Mabson had been chosen a Common Councilman in the
room of Mr. John Robson, deceased.
July 31st.—The annual water frolic had been held, Mr. Stephen Miller’s
Water Witch taking the prize.
Aug. 14th.—Messrs. C. Davie, Samuel Palmer, Frederick Paget, Capt.
Todman, R.N., and the Rev. Mark Waters had been elected Paving
Commissioners.
Aug. 21st.—A dinner had been given (G. D. Palmer, Esq., in the chair) to
Messrs. T. Hammond and R. B. Fenn, as a compliment for services rendered
by them to the fishing interest.
Aug. 28th.—The Stratheden, 400 tons register, had been launched from Mr.
F. Preston’s yard.
Sept. 2nd.—The following had been chosen Corporate officers for the
ensuing year:—Isaac Preston, jun., Esq., Mayor; Mr. J. E. Laws,
Chamberlain; J. Danby Palmer, and E. H. L. Preston, Esqs., Churchwardens;
Sir E. K. Lacon, Bart., Isaac Preston, Esq., and Messrs. R. Ferrier and
William Yetts, Auditors; J. D. Palmer, Edmund Preston, Robert Cory, jun.,
William Barth, Esqs., and Messrs. E. H. L. Preston, S. B. Cory, C. J.
Palmer, Vestry; J. Baker, Esq., and Mr. James Jay, Collectors; and
Messrs. F. Preston and Samuel Jay, Muragers.
Oct. 2nd.—Contains the following report of the proceedings on the
“Mayor’s Day”:—
Monday being the feast of St. Michael, the day was ushered in by
ringing of Bells, flags at the New Hall, Church, &c. The Mayor-Elect
(I. Preston, jun., Esq.) ordered twopenny buns to be given to the
children of the different charity schools in the town, and it was
really gratifying to observe the number of happy boys and girls, with
cheers parading Gaol-street, the Quay, &c., with their gifts in their
hands. About two o’clock in the afternoon the Mayor and Corporation
attended divine service at St. Nicholas’ Church, where a sermon was
delivered by the Rev. F. Baker (son of the Rector of Rollesby) from
Acts, chapter 23rd, 4th and 5th verses, which in the days when
passive obedience and non-resistance reigned might have been
considered an excellent one. Happily, however, those days are past,
and few, probably, of the rev. gentleman’s hearers accorded with him
when they heard him denounce from the pulpit the great majority of
those who sought Reform in the Church, and other acknowledged abuses
as infidels, atheists, and anarchists, and those who aimed at the
overthrow of the Church, the Altar, and the Crown. From the Church
the Corporation proceeded to the Guildhall, where the Mayor-Elect
(after having taken the oath of office) spoke to the following
effect:—“Gentlemen, previous to assuming the chair of Chief
Magistracy, which I am about to fill, you will allow me to thank you
for the proof that you have given me of your confidence. Gentlemen,
I sought not this office; I have accepted it only that I might
endeavour to render myself useful to my fellow townsmen. Gentlemen,
it is not the pageantry, the sword and mace (though even these may be
of use in their way) that have allured me to this office—no; had I
been capable of being actuated by such motives, I should have been
indeed unworthy of taking (as I have just taken) the Holy Gospels in
my hand, and to have sworn before my God, to execute to the best of
my ability, the important duties of Chief Magistrate of my native
town. I would now address myself to my proper brethren, I would
address myself to all, high or low, rich or poor, and exhort them to
do all that in their power lie to promote the decorum of social life,
by cheeking vice, immorality, and debauchery. Gentlemen, I thank you
very much for the patience with which you have heard me.” This
address was delivered with much firmness, and at the same time with
considerable emotion, and was received with great applause. After
the ceremony of robing, and the other routine business had been gone
through, the newly-elected Mayor, Deputy-Mayor, &c., proceeded
(escorted by the town band, flags, &c.) to the New Hall, where a
sumptuous dinner was served to a numerous and highly respectable
assembly of the Body Corporate, and the friends of the Chief
Magistrate. The dessert, which was fine and abundant, was, we
understand, served by Mr. Brooks, of the Market Row.
Oct. 9th.—Harry Worship, Esq., had delivered a very interesting lecture
on the “Philosophy of Dreams.”
Oct. 16th.—The frequency of robbery at sea had induced the fishermen to
keep an unusually sharp look out.
Oct. 23rd.—Charles J. Palmer, Esq., had been elected an Alderman in the
place of Dr. Bateman, deceased.
It appears from the report of the proceedings at the Revision Court that
the lower ferry was then let at £30 a year only.
Oct. 30th.—The “Blues” claimed a gain of 50 on the revision of the
Freeman’s list.
The fishing was reported as going on “very badly.”
Nov. 6th.—A public meeting had been held on the subject of the Port and
Haven Bill, the Mayor in the chair, when Messrs. George Danby Palmer,
Shelly, Brightwen, Ferrier, Barth, and Dowson took part in the
proceedings.
Nov. 20th.—The Conservatives had held a meeting at Bammant’s Green, Mr.
William Mabson in the chair, pledging themselves to support the Hon. W.
H. Beresford and W. M. Praed.
Nov. 27th.—Col. Anson had spoken from the Committee Room in Regent
Street, when Messrs. George Steward and J. Shelly took part in the
proceedings.
The “Political Union” required Col. Anson and Mr. Rumbold to pledge
themselves to support “Corporation Reform, Triennial Parliaments,
Extension of the Suffrage, and Vote by Ballot.”
Dec. 4th.—A meeting of voters in the Blue interest had been held at the
Crown and Anchor Tavern, when it was determined “to sink all minor
differences” in order to secure the return of Col. Anson and Mr. Rumbold.
Mr. N. B. Palmer addressed a crowded assembly from the Committee Rooms.
Dec. 11th.—Thomas Baring, Esq., had arrived as Mr. Praed’s colleague, and
both gentlemen had addressed the electors from the Newcastle Tavern, and
a house on the South Quay, which they had engaged as a Committee Room.
Dec. 18th.—The contest was progressing, Col. Anson assuring his
supporters “that at that moment their canvassing book stood better than
he had ever known it to stand since he had known Yarmouth.”
Dec. 23rd.—There had been a “violent scuffle” between the Reds and the
Blues, during which “the son of a Baronet was pulled from his horse and
beaten violently.”
1835.