“At the Ward meeting of the constituency of St. George’s Ward, on
Friday night, not one of the Councillors attended, and the result was
that Mr. George Playford being called to the chair, a resolution was
come to, to return Messrs. Ferrier and Benjamin Jay _if they could_.
An effort was made, a poll was demanded, even the partizans of the
Blue candidates themselves forgot, for once, the distinction of
party. Our friends at least will have the pleasure of knowing that
if they have two opponents, they, at least have two honourable
gentlemen, whose intimate acquaintance with business will qualify
them for the office.”
On Monday evening last a supper was given by the two re-elected
Councillors of the Regent Ward, Samuel Palmer, Esq. and J. D. Chapman,
Esq., to the ratepayers in the above Ward, at the “Crown and Anchor”
tavern. The chair was taken by B. Fenn, Esq. The cloth having been
removed, the healths of “Her Majesty the Queen,” “Prince Albert and the
Royal Family,” “The Members for the Borough,” “The re-elected
Councillors,” &c., were given. Several songs were sung during the
evening, and appropriate speeches were delivered by several gentlemen
present, and the parties retired at a late hour highly pleased with the
evening’s entertainment. Great credit is due to the hostess (Mrs. Reeve)
for so excellent a collation which was served up in the best style.
Nov. 14th.—Mr. W. N. Burroughs had been elected Mayor, and a dinner given
at the Star to celebrate the event.
Nov. 21st.—The Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft Steam Packet Company was
providing suitable vessels for the station.
F. R. Reynolds, Esq. had been appointed Receiver of Admiralty Droits for
Yarmouth.
Nov. 28th.—And Samuel Palmer, Esq. to the like office for the Norfolk
coast.
It was stated that the New Catholic Church would be 100 feet in length,
50 feet wide, and have a steeple 70 feet in height.
Dec. 5th.—It had been resolved to place gas lamps on the South Market
Road.
Dec. 12th.—Spencer T. Smyth, Esq., had lectured at the Young Men’s
Institute on “Physiological Anatomy.”
£2,256, 12s. 4d. had been raised for S. Nicholas’ Church restoration.
Dec. 19th—An ancient footpath, nearly 6 feet below the present surface of
the street leading from the Quay to Regent Street, had been discovered.
Dec. 26th.—Upwards of £200 had been subscribed for the Ragged School on
the Caister Road.
The Chancel of S. Nicholas’ Church was being cleared for Divine Service;
the Sunday School service and teaching being then conducted in the Guild
Hall and North aisle of the Church.
About 80 electors of St. George’s Ward had given a dinner to Messrs
Ferrier and Jay “to commemorate their recent triumph” at the Masonic
Hall. Among the guests were W. S. Ferrier, R. Ferrier, jun., C. C.
Aldred, J. C. Smith. Esqs., and Messrs. J. T. Bracey, J. G. Plummer, J.
Playford, B. Miller, C. Woolverton, Bradbeer, W. Nolloth, P. Coble, W.
Green, &c., &c., Mr. G. S. Shingles occupying the chair.
1847.
Jan. 2nd.—The Mayor had purchased a seventy stone ox, and distributed the
meat from it to the poor.
Jan. 9th.—Chas. J. Palmer, Esq., had been appointed Receiver of Admiralty
Droits in the place of F. R. Reynolds, Esq., deceased.
Jan. 16th.—A meeting had been held to consider the distress in Ireland,
and a subscription list opened for the purpose of affording relief.
A meeting had been held to consider and forward, if possible, the
building of a new bridge over the river.
The frost in Holland had caused the steamers to cease running between
that country and Yarmouth.
Jan. 23rd.—A densely crowded Railway meeting had been held at the Town
Hall.
Charles John Palmer, Esq., had been appointed Clerk to the Southtown
Turnpike Trust, in the place of F. R. Reynolds, Esq., deceased.
Jan. 30th.—There had been heavy gales, at one time approaching a
“complete hurricane.”
Feb. 6th.—Seven persons had recently died in the Workhouse, whose joint
ages amounted to 562 years.
A meeting had been held to protest against the “light dues” on shipping.
Feb. 13th.—There had been a heavy fall of snow accompanied by frost, and
the traffic with Rotterdam was again interrupted.
The Chancel of S. Nicholas’ Church was already occupied for Divine
service.
Feb. 27th.—The Rev. W. Stokes had delivered a lecture upon the subject
that “All war is inconsistent with the Christian religion, and the best
interests of nations.”
March 6th.—James Paget, Esq., had been elected one of the Assistant
Surgeons of St. Bartholemew’s Hospital, London.
There was at this time a uniform depth of nine feet of water on the bar
at low water.
Joseph Turner, of Row 14, having applied to the Guardians for relief, his
house had been searched by the Relieving-Officer, when £40 was found in
it, and he and his sister appeared also to have £180 to their credit on a
banking account.
March 13th.—Mrs. Gooderham had bequeathed £500 to be invested for the
benefit of the New Meeting House.
A Commission of inquiry had been opened on the state of mind of Philip
Blundell Nesbitt, Esq., a gentleman aged 35, and entitled to property
valued at £100,000, when the Jury found “that Mr. Nesbitt had been of
unsound mind since the 21st October, 1813, without any lucid intervals.”
March 20th.—There was only one prisoner for trial at the Sessions, an old
man charged with stealing a cask of pickled herring, for which he was
sentenced to one month’s imprisonment.
Mr. C. J. Palmer had addressed a letter to the local press on the subject
of the discoveries made during the restoration of S. Nicholas’ Church.
Mr. Hilling, engineer, had prepared a scheme for draining the town.
March 27th.—The Dissenters were agitating against the proposals of the
Committee of the Council on education.
A solemn fast had been observed.
April 3rd.—Miss Lettis had been presented with a silver salver by the
poorer members of the Unitarian Congregation.
The “Media” had been launched from Mr. Henry Fellows’ yard.
March 10th.—The burial ground at the east-end of the Churchyard had been
consecrated by the Lord Bishop of Norwich.
J. T. Birch, Esq., the newly-appointed Judge, had held the first County
Court “simply for the appointment of officers”; causes were to be heard
on the 20th inst.
The right of appointing overseers had been claimed by Mr. E. H. L.
Preston on behalf of the Justices generally, the Mayor also claiming the
right personally to appoint them as theretofore.
The Church Trustees having liquidated, the church debt had become
“extinct.”
Both the Churchwardens had been re-elected by the Vestry, and a Church
rate agreed to.
April 17th.—A Shipowner’s Protection Society had been formed, the
necessary funds to be raised by a subscription of 7d. per ton register.
The weather at the Fair had been cold and the business transacted of a
“limited amount.”
April 24th.—The new Terrace on the North Beach was to be commenced
immediately by Mr. C. Cory. It was described as being “at the beach end
of Regent Road on the late site of Pilch’s Mill and to extend to Page’s
and Ansell’s Buildings.” Mr. Scholes was the architect.
Judge Birch had held his first Court for trials at the Tolhouse Hall,
there were only three cases heard—“Lettis _v._ Dye,” “Vale _v._ Fenn,”
and “Nolloth _v._ Rooke,” all for the recovery of small debts.
May 1st.—The Bishop of Norwich had confirmed 383 young people, (of whom
270 belonged to Yarmouth) at S. Nicholas’ Church.
It was stated at the Council that while the prisoners cost 4s. 6½d., the
paupers only cost 2s. 9d. per head.
May 8th.—The first stone of a new Jews’ Synagogue had been laid by Mr. D.
L. Cohen.
May 15th.—Mr. Samuel Wm. Aldred had received the first prize for
midwifery at St. Bartholomew’s Hospital.
The annual general meeting of the Victoria Building Company had been
held, B. Dowson, Esq., in the chair, when the Hon. W. R. Rous, Sir E.
Travers, R.N., J. Garnham, W. Baynes, T. F. Steward, J. C. Smith, H. V.
Worship, R. Steward, A. Woods, C. J. Palmer, W. Worship and W. C.
Reynolds, Esq., were present, and dividends of 2s. 6d. per share upon the
original shares, and £5 per cent. upon the new shares were recommended.
The poor’s rate was 1s. 10d. in the £ for the current quarter, being
nearly double the former average.
May 22nd.—Eighty cases had been entered in the County Court.
June 5th.—Mr. Wilshere had determined to retire from the representation,
and as Mr. Rumbold was not likely to be again supported by the
Dissenters, it was thought possible that Col. Anson would be asked to
contest the Borough.
The figures of the boy and girl had been placed in front of the Charity
School, they had previously been in S. Nicholas’ Church.
Messrs. C. C. Aldred and F. Palmer had complained to the Justices of the
dirty state of the fish market.
There had been a plague of mice in the Fleggs, 400 combs of wheat had
been destroyed in one stack by them, and when the corn was threshed the
machine literally ran with their blood.
June 12th.—A rule had been granted for a writ of certiorari to remove the
appointment of Overseers into the Queen’s Bench.
Col. Anson had declined to stand for the Borough. It was said that Mr.
Rumbold had spent £40,000 in his contests, and that “with the blue party
it seemed Yarmouth is all too _dear_ a place to contest.”
Samuel Palmer, Esq., S. Cobb, Esq., and Mr. D. A. Gourlay had gone to
town to find a candidate.
“Marsh _v._ Travers.—In compliance with Mr. Chancellor Evans’ order on
Saturday last, the defendant (Dame Anne Palmer Travers) duly performed
retraction in the house of the Minister at Yarmouth.”
The foundation of Britannia Terrace was progressing slowly.
June 19th.—Mr. Wynn Ellis had been suggested as a successor to Mr.
Wilshere in the “Blue” interest, while the “Reds” had held a meeting at
the Fish Stall House (Mr. Thomas Paul in the chair.)
Mr. D. A. Gourlay was spoken of as Mayor for the ensuing year.
Mr. C. J. Palmer had resolved to print Manship’s Yarmouth, the M.S. of
which was in his possession.
A Caister yawl had upset near Caister Rails, and three men, Church, Key,
and Howes, drowned.
A meeting of electors had been convened to meet the deputation which had
been in London searching for a Candidate, when nearly an hour having
elapsed without George Danby Palmer, Esq., putting in an appearance as
chairman, Mr. W. Johnson was called on to preside; Mr. Rumbold was
accepted as a candidate, and Mr. Wynn Ellis requested to meet the
electors.
June. 26th.—“A portion of the electors” had held a meeting at the “Crown
and Anchor” when Mr. Lawn presided, and it was alleged that Mr. Goldsmid
had been requested to come forward and that an attempt had been made “to
sell the Borough.”
The Dissenters also had held a meeting at which Mr. I. W. Shelly took the
chair.
“At the Quarter Sessions, the Recorder sat without his wig, that
appendage having been stolen.”
A batch of informations had been laid against “respectable bakers” for
selling short weight bread; they were fined 11s. each and cautioned.
July 3rd.—Upwards of 40 fish-owners had signed a notice stating their
desire to suppress smuggling.
Another meeting of electors had been held at the “Star,” and the
following Committee appointed to consider the position:—Messrs. J.
Brightwen, B. Dowson, J. W. Shelly, R. Hammond, Thomas Clowes, George
Danby Palmer, H. V. Worship, S. Cobb, C. Davie, Thomas Hammond, D. A.
Gourlay, J. Bayly, J. Jackson, J. Fish, T. Lettis, jun., W. Johnson, and
J. Lawn.
The Paving Commissioners had given leave to put down posts to stop the
carriage traffic past the Tolhouse during the sittings of the Council and
the County Court.
The subscriptions to the Hospital “continued to decline” and then
amounted to only £315 16s. per annum.
July 10th.—Gorleston Cliff had been strongly recommended “by the
Faculty,” and among the recent arrivals there, were the Dowager Lady
Suffield and Mrs. Thurlow and family.
Mr. Wynn Ellis had declined to visit the Borough, and R. J. Bagshaw,
Esq., had been requested by the Committee to come before the electors.
Another meeting had been held at the “Star” (Mr. S. Cobb in the chair)
when the charge of “selling the Borough” was made against Mr. Samuel
Palmer by Mr. Cufaude; this was repudiated by that gentleman, and after a
warm discussion, during which Mr. B. Dowson stated “he thought there was
a good deal of treachery going about the town,” it was ultimately decided
“to call a meeting of all electors, and a handbill had been issued
convening such meeting on the Hall Plain for Thursday evening.”
July 17th.—Mr. Bagshaw had arrived in Yarmouth and held a meeting at the
“Star” Hotel, which was “not so fully attended as evening meetings
usually were.” Among those present were Messrs S. Cobb, W. Johnson, B.
Dowson, W. Worship, J. W. Shelly, R. Hammond, T. Hammond, D. A. Gourlay,
S. Rice, Thompson, Worship and S. Palmer, when a resolution was carried,
inviting Mr. Bagshaw to become a candidate for the Borough.
Another meeting had also been held at the same place, present—Sir George
Parker, B. Dowson, W. Briggs, William Hurry Palmer, W. Worship, P.
Pullyn, C. Pearson, J. W. Shelly, and others, when a resolution was
carried by 19 to 6 requesting Mr. Rumbold to retire from the contest.
Mr. Goldsmid had held a public meeting at the Masonic Hall, Mr. M.
Butcher in the chair, when a resolution was passed pledging the meeting
to support that gentleman at the ensuing contest.
The Regatta had been held, when the Town Plate, value £50, was won by the
“Alarm,” 18 tons. G. Cooke, Esq., R.T.Y.C., and the Purse of £20 for
yawls, by the “Morning Star,” Star Company.
The Regatta Ball was attended by about “40 or 50 couples,” amongst whom
were the Dowager Lady Suffield, Lady Durrant, R. J. Bagshaw, Esq., and
Mrs. Bagshaw, Miss Burton, R. Marsham, Esq., jun., B. Caldecott, Esq.,
Mr. and Mrs. H. Muskett and family, Capt. Pearson, RN., Capt. Ellis,
R.N., Dr. Robinson, I. Preston, Esq., and Miss Preston, Mr. and Mrs. S.
Palmer, Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Palmer, Mr. and Mrs. Walpole, Mrs. and Miss
Burton, Mr. W. and Miss Worship, &c.
July 24th.—About 50 or 60 Nonconformist electors had held a meeting at
the Congregational Schoolroom, when the pledges of Mr. Bagshaw were
considered satisfactory to the meeting.
A public meeting of the friends of Mr. Rumbold had been held at the
Masonic Hall, (William H. Palmer, Esq., in the chair) when a resolution
that Mr. Rumbold was a fit and proper person to represent the Borough was
carried.
Lord Arthur Lennox and O. E. Coope, Esq., had been met by their friends
at the “Greyhound Inn,” Gorleston, and escorted into the town, the
“procession” consisting of one private carriage, followed at a long
distance by flag bearers and about half-a-dozen gentlemen on horseback
preceding a carriage containing the candidates and their friends. On
arriving at the Market Place at nine o’clock these gentlemen mounted a
balcony, when R. Ferrier, in a few words, amidst tumultuous cheering
introduced Lord A. Lennox; I. Preston, Esq., did the like service for Mr.
Coope, and the candidates having addressed the meeting, which was also
addressed by Messrs. Harvey, Charles Cory, and R. Ferrier, jun.,
dispersed.
Mr. Goldsmid had also addressed the electors at the “King’s Head.”
The Mayor and Corporation had attended the Water Frolic (Mr. Fiddes
acting as Admiral). Mr. Bagshaw was of the party, but Mr. Goldsmid,
although expected, did not put in an appearance.
The Mayor’s bespeak at the Theatre for the benefit of the Hospital had
raised £25 6s. 6d.
July 31st.—Mr. D. A. Gourlay had been toasted at the Water Frolic by Mr.
S. Palmer, as Mayor elect.