“It is with feelings of the deepest sorrow that we announce that our
late members, Messrs. Anson and Rumbold, are ousted from the
representation. We said last week that nothing but the most gross
and unblushing bribery could possibly unseat these gentlemen, and
these means have been had recourse to, to an unprecedented extent.
Messrs. Baring and Praed are returned, not by the free and
independent voice of the people, but by a bought majority, bought by
means most disgraceful both to giver and receiver, although we cannot
help thinking that the larger portion of disgrace attaches to the
former—for what can be more discreditable, what can be more contrary
to the high honour which ought to distinguish the gentleman, than to
take advantage of the poor freeman, and by (in this instance doubly
accursed) gold to make him forfeit his solemn promises? Do our
opponents ask for proofs of this? We have them in the infamous
system of cooping (a system which we had hoped was confined to a
neighbouring city, but which has been now imported into this till now
uncorrupt borough), which has been with a bold unblushing front
carried on to a large extent in certain houses in the town. We have
them in the number of freemen who were to be seen on both election
days coming up to the Red booth with Blue colours in their hats, and
in the madness of infuriating drink, flinging them in the face of and
grossly abusing a highly respected and respectable fellow townsman of
ours, while at the same time they recorded their votes for Messrs.
Baring and Praed. We have it in the fact that four sovereigns, with
a promise of as much more, and £2 10s., with a like promise, were
given to two poor freemen of the names of Boyce and Stevenson, to
induce them to vote for the Reds, but who, with a truly noble spirit
that cannot be too highly appreciated, brought the money into their
hands to the Blue booth, and then polled for Messrs. Anson and
Rumbold. But, unfortunately for the good cause, these glorious
examples were not generally followed. The Red Leaders took good care
for the most part of their deluded and purchased victims, by plying
them with drink, keeping them in strong hold, &c., to allow them to
return to the paths of rectitude. We do think that the feelings of
our late members are rather to be envied by those of the present, the
former having lost with honour, the latter owing their election not
to the feeling of the town (that we confidently say, without fear of
contradiction, is with Messrs. Anson and Rumbold), but to the
exercise of the most abominable and venal means to effectuate it. If
anything like the sums which we have heard mentioned have been
expended in this shameful warfare of gold against principle, our
opponents may truly say with one of yore, ‘another such victory will
ruin us!’ The most active measures are being had recourse to (and
may they be successful) either by substantiating the individual
instances of bribery, which we know have to a great extent taken
place to oust the members from those seats which they so unjustly
obtained by bad means, manifestly against the feeling and real wishes
of the town to oust Messrs. Baring and Praed from the ill-earned
honours so surreptitiously procured for them, or at any rate to make
the guilty individual perpetrators pay the penalty of such acts!”
“The nomination of the candidates took place at the Guildhall, on
hustings erected outside. The Town Clerk (S. Tolver, Esq.) having
read the precept, the Mayor, in a loud voice, requested a patient
hearing for those who might address them. Mr. Alderman Barth, in a
neat speech, proposed the Hon. Col Anson as a fit and proper person
to represent the borough. B. Dowson, Esq., seconded the nomination.
Vice-Admiral Sir G. Parker, K.C.B., in a very manly and
straightforward speech, proposed Mr. Rumbold, when Mr. Shelly
presented himself as the seconder. A picked party of his opponents,
evidently brought there for the purpose, attempted by every
discordant noise to prevent his being heard; by dint of perseverance,
however, and the powerful support of his numerous friends, Mr. S.
with even more than his usual eloquence, at considerable length
supported the nomination. Messrs. R. Ferrier and A. Palmer proposed
and seconded Mr. Baring, and Mr. J. Penrice proposed and Mr. J. Lacon
seconded the nomination of Mr. Praed. The Hon. Col. Anson spoke at
great length, and with all his wonted power, in the course of a
really luminous speech, he expressed the surprise he had felt on
finding Mr. A. Palmer (a gentleman who had before honoured him with
his support) among the ranks of his opponents. Mr. P. explained by
saying it was because Col. A. had allied himself to Radicals and
destructives. The Hon. Col. said he was surprised at having such a
reason assigned. It was known to all that he had never succumbed to
the Radicals. That deeply grateful as he was for their support, he
had, and should again, unless convinced of their necessity, oppose
their great measures of vote by ballot and triennial parliaments.
That he was so far independent appeared in this, that with the ballot
he believed the present opposition would scarcely have occurred, or
if it had it would have been but a very few hours ere it would have
terminated in the triumph of himself and Mr. Rumbold. (Loud cheers.)
The other candidates also addressed the assembled multitude. The
poll commenced the following day, and from the activity with the Pink
and Purples, or Reds, or Conservatives, for in the motley assemblage
of coalition of colours we scarcely know what exactly they call
themselves, brought up their voters, it was feared that they would
head the first day’s poll. The event proved the correctness of the
prediction, for at four o’clock it was found that the Tories had a
majority of 192; although the Blues rallied next morning, that
majority could not be altogether overcome. The final close of the
poll left Messrs. Baring and Praed a majority of 88.
Anson 680
Rumbold 675
Baring 772
Praed 768
“Col. Anson and Mr. Rumbold addressed an immense concourse of
persons, by whom they were repeatedly and loudly cheered, from the
King’s Head windows. They were preceded by Mr. Alderman Barth, Col.
Anson’s very deep emotion not enabling him immediately to come
forward. When he did come forward he said no language which he could
use could sufficiently express his sorrow at the dissolution of the
connection so long subsisting between them; their present members
would find their task a comparatively easy one; they would find that
such attention had been paid to the town that the path would be plain
before them, and that little indeed would remain to be done. (Loud
cheers.) They had been defeated by means most flagitious. Let not
the present members, however, be too certain of their seats, for if
by any means these foul proceedings could be sifted to the bottom,
measures would be taken to remove them from their ill-acquired
honours. With him and Mr. Rumbold, he was happy to say, still
remained the real voice of the people. (Cheers.) He was proud of
this, and would in conclusion assure them that whether in or out of
Parliament their interests would ever have a prominent place in his
regards. (Loud cheers.) Mr. Rumbold spoke under the influence of
great agitation, and in the course of a very luminous speech adverted
to the disgraceful fact of having in his pocket a proof that, in a
room in this town a bribe was offered in the presence and with the
cognizance of a Magistrate. (Cries of ‘Shame, shame.’) He should
carry into retirement with him the deepest sense of their uniform
kindness, and a determination ever to forward the interests of any of
his former constituents, who might apply to him, to the best of his
ability. The chairing of to-day was hailed by numbers with
demonstrations which must have been the very reverse to the members;
indeed, we are sure that if the Blues had shown in full strength
their exasperated feelings (and they did not do this alone in
compliance with the advice of their leaders), there could have been
no chairing. A dinner of our late members’ friends is now about
taking place at the Masonic Hall, very numerously attended. A
subscription for the purchase of a piece of plate for them is
commenced, and will include the smallest amount. This will confirm
us in our conviction that the sense of the town is with the Blues.”
Jan. 15th.—About 100 supporters of Messrs. Anson and Rumbold dined at the
Masonic Hall, when both those gentlemen were present.
Jan. 22nd.—The polling for East Norfolk showed a majority of 149 in the
town for Windham and Gurney. Mr. Hume, M.P., Mr. Windham, and Mr. Palmer
had addressed the electors.
Feb. 12th contains the following account of a sailing match from Yarmouth
to Venice:—
“The Lion, Punchard, having some time been considered the fastest
ship out of this port, a brig was built, and launched in the middle
of September, called the Vivid (Captain M. Butcher, jun.) and matched
against the Lion, for Venice, which vessel sailed at 3 p.m. on the
2nd of December, and the Vivid sailed at 6 p.m. on the following day,
being 27 hours difference in favour of the former vessel; since which
period letters have been received from Venice from each Captain,
stating that the Vivid passed the Gut of Gibraltar on the 22nd of
December and the Lion on the 29th. They also state that the Vivid
arrived at Venice on the 17th ult, and the Lion on the 24th ult.”
A meeting of the subscribers to the plate to be presented to the late
M.P.’s (Messrs. Anson and Rumbold) had been held, when it appeared that
3,685 persons had contributed £370 0s. 8d.
March 2nd.—Mr. C. Aldred had given a lecture on the “Philosophy of
Sleep.”
There had been “a most tremendous hurricane,” and it was stated that “the
oldest seaman does not recollect so much damage occurring on this coast
with an off-shore wind.”
March 16th.—£100 had been deposited by three gentlemen “as the issue of a
voyage to be performed by the Vivid, Lion, and Rapid, from these Roads to
the Naze of Norway and back.”
March 26th.—The ladies of Yarmouth were about to present two very elegant
silver mugs to Miss Anson and Miss Emily Anson, the daughters of the late
M.P. for the borough.
April 16th.—Mr. W. Davie, Trinity Agent, had been appointed a
Sub-Commissioner of Pilotage in the room of John Fisher, Esq., on the
recommendation of John Danby Palmer, Esq., and W. J. Hurry, Esq., the
other Commissioners.
Mr. F. Preston had launched a very fine vessel of 464 tons called the
Mary Anne.
A Society for promoting the Purity of Election had been formed.
April 23rd.—The members (Messrs. Baring and Praed) attended a dinner to
which they had been invited by their constituents, at the Town Hall. Sir
E. K. Lacon, Bart., presided. John Penrice, Esq., sat at the head of the
right hand table, and Ambrose Palmer, Esq., at the head of the left. Mr.
Paget was vice-president. Among the company were Lord Walpole, M.P., E.
Wodehouse, Esq., M.P., Sir Thomas Gooch, Bart., Sir Jacob Preston,
Bart.,— Lawson, Esq., M.P., the Mayor of Yarmouth, John Danby Palmer,
Esq., Captains Onslow, Gunthorpe, Manby, and Grint; M. Lacon, J. M.
Lacon, W. Fisher, I. Preston, J. Preston, R. Ferrier, J. G. Fisher, E.
Leathes, G. E. Francis, R. Cory, W. Yetts, F. Preston, and Chas. J.
Palmer, Esqs.; the Revs. T. Baker, C. Penrice, W. Lucas, — Green, and
about 250 electors.
May 14th.—The smuggler “Nancy, of London,” was brought in by the Badger,
cutter, having on board 150 tubs of brandy, a few bags of tea, and some
dry goods.
June 18th.—A meeting of Reformers had been held at the Star Hotel, when
G. Danby Palmer, Esq., moved that a petition should be presented in
favour of the Corporation Reform Bill.
June 25th.—Another meeting on the same subject had been held at the
Mechanics’ Hall. Messrs. William Barth, R. Wall, Thomas Hammond, E.
Sewell, S. Cobb, and J. Shelly taking part in the proceedings.
July 2nd.—Mr. Praed had presented a petition against the Corporation
Reform Bill from the town.