F. Worship (C) 125
E. R. Aldred (C) 118
J. Owles (L) 92
J. Cobb (L) 68
In the _Regent Ward_, S. C. Marsh (C) and J. D. Chapman (L) and in the
_St. George’s Ward_ J. G. Plummer (C) and J. C. Smith (C) were not
opposed.
In the _Nelson Ward_ there was a contest, but no numbers are given; Dr.
Dunn and Mr. W. Thurtell (Cs) opposing the re-election of Mr. George
Danby-Palmer and Mr. Thomas Lettis (Ls) who were again returned, and in
_St. Andrew’s Ward_ the polling was—
H. Teasdel (C) 139
E. H. L. Preston (C) 134
S. Crowe (L) 41
W. Sterry (L) 7
The Conservatives, on the whole, had increased their majority by one.
The following paragraph appears in this issue:—“Among the passengers by
the “Argo” s.s. from Sydney, is Mr. Harrison, of Great Yarmouth, who
brings with him 3,000 ounces of gold dust, valued at between £11,000 and
£12,000.”—_Morning Chronicle_.
The first Subscription Ball of the season had been held at the Town Hall,
90 persons being present, the hall had been re-painted a light green in
lieu of the old salmon colour, and four beautiful statues of “Clio,”
“Erato,” and “The Dancing Girls of Canova,” had been placed in the
niches.
Nov. 12th.—At the Council meeting, on the nomination of Mr. W. Worship,
seconded by Mr. C. J. Palmer, James Cherry, Esq., had been elected Mayor.
The following Whig Aldermen then went out of office;—R. Hammond, jun., E.
R. Palmer, H. Boulter, C. E. Barham, and W. Walpole with B. Fenn (C), and
the following voting took place to fill these vacancies:—
Mr. T. Bunn 21
,, T. Foreman 21
,, W. C. Reynolds 27
,, J. G. Rivett 26
„ G. S. Shingles 26
,, E. P. Youell 26
,, R. Hammond, junr. 10
,, Boulter 6
,, J. Brown 5
,, E. R. Palmer 8
,, Sir E. Tavers 1
,, H. Worship 1
,, S. Paget 1
Nov. 26th.—Court “Buck of the Forest,” A.O.F., had been opened at the
Buck Inn.
One hundred and nineteen persons had been confirmed by Bishop Spencer at
St. Nicholas’ Church.
Dec. 3rd.—It was proposed to establish a School of Design in the town.
Captain Manby had attained his 88th year.
Dec. 24th.—A parochial Museum was being formed at the Priory.
The Local Board District Rate was signed at 1s. 4½d. in the £.
Dec. 31st.—Mr. C. J. Palmer had presided at the annual dinner of the
subscribers of the Public Library.
1854.
Jan. 7th.—Several houses had been damaged by a “fearful” storm.
The “Seamen’s Association” had held a demonstration with a procession
round the town. At a subsequent meeting held at their Club House the
following toasts were given:—“The Queen,” “May British Sailors weather
the Storm,” “England expects every man will do his duty,” “The Owners and
Merchants of Yarmouth,” “May British Sailors never want for grog and
tobacco.”
Jan. 14th.—The “Eleanor Palmer,” belonging to W. H. Palmer, Esq., had
been “totally lost” on the coast near Athens. This was the third vessel
that gentleman had lost since 1853.
Jan. 21st.—At a meeting of the Town Council it had been determined to
oppose the “Waveney Valley Drainage Bill.”
Captain Broadhead, R.N., was engaged at this port raising a corps of Sea
Fencibles.
Jan. 28th.—The first Subscription Ball had been held, for which
Cosgrove’s Band was engaged, and dancing kept up until four o’clock.
Sergeant Johnson had been charged by Mr. George William Moore with having
been drunk and assaulting him. The parties, together with Mr. Silvers,
Mr. J. H. Harrison, Mr. Ellis, Mr. Howlett, and Mr. W. Wright appear to
have been in Cosgrove’s public-house at three o’clock in the morning,
when the alleged offences were said to have been committed.
Jan. 28th.—N.B. This is the first issue of the _Norwich Mercury_ as a
bi-weekly newspaper.
The following improvements were noted:—The now Haven Bridge and also the
Wellington Pier were nearly completed.
The Water Works were being formed.
The Southtown Gas Works would soon be opened.
The new Bank of Messrs. Gurney and Co., was in the course of erection.
Many new streets were being formed on the North, East, and South Denes.
The Marine Drive was projected.
The town had been selected for the Militia Barracks, and it was said that
the Victoria Esplanade was likely to be carried as far as the South
Battery.
On the other hand the state of the Chapel Denes had, however, long been
“a disgrace to the town.”
There had been an “immense fleet” of vessels in the Roads.
Feb. 1st.—There had been snow-drifts 5 feet deep on the line between
Yarmouth and Reedham.
Feb. 8th.—Mr. Burroughs had, at the Council meeting, denounced certain
gentlemen as “traitors to the town” and “tools of Mr. Peto.”
Feb. 11th.—A considerable quantity of human bones had been found near the
Caister Road, which were supposed to be the remains of persons who died
of the plague and received burial from the Leper Houses which formerly
existed there.
Feb. 18th.—There had been extremely high tides, a violent storm, and a
heavy gale. Several dockyards had been overflowed, and about thirty
balks of timber had been lost from Mr. Steward’s yard.
Feb. 22nd.—A Tradesmen’s Ball had been held in the Town Hall.
Feb. 25th.—A Liberal meeting had been held at the Star Hotel, (George
Danby-Palmer, Esq., in the chair) when resolutions in favour of Lord John
Russell’s Reform Bill and the Ballot were adopted.
There had been another high tide, the Quay being in several places
inundated; the surf rolling over the old Jetty.
March 1st.—Owing to the sitting of the County Court, the Council had met
in the Grand Jury Room at the Tolhouse.
The Seamen’s wages were so high that they preferred the Merchant Service
to the offers being made by Sir Charles Napier to join the Navy.
March 4th.—John Eagleton charged with having fraudulently cheated the
Guardians of the Poor by delivering to poor persons receiving out-door
relief bread of short weight, was found guilty, subject to a case for the
opinion of the Court of Criminal Appeal, (Mr. J. Cobb and Mr. L. A. Meal
being his sureties in £50 each.)
March 8th.—A Tender has arrived to take off the Coastguardsmen and Naval
Volunteers.
Rear-Admiral Plumridge had been summoned to London for the purpose of
hoisting his flag in the Baltic Fleet under Sir Charles Napier.
A vessel had been sent to sea manned entirely by master mariners; the
rise in wages and the attractions of the Navy having so reduced the
number of common seamen.
March. 11th.—The Baltic Fleet was expected to pass Yarmouth.
A public meeting in favour of the Reform Bill had been held at the Corn
Hall (George Danby-Palmer, Esq., in the chair), when the following
gentlemen took part in the proceedings:—Mr. W. N. Burroughs, Mr.
McCullagh, Mr. J. W. Shelly, Mr. C. E. Bartram, Mr. J. Clowes, Mr. J.
Owles, Mr. Jackson, Mr. D. A. Gourlay, and Mr. R. Hammond.
March 18th.—A meeting had been held at the Star Hotel, Mr. J. H. Harrison
in the chair, to consider the rating of cottage property.
March 25th.—A memorial brass had been placed in St. Nicholas’ Church to
the memory of the late Dr. A. Impey.
A meeting in favour of “Sabbath Observance” had been held.
March 20th.—Contains the Royal proclamation of the war with Russia.
April 1st.—The Baltic Fleet was at Kiel, and Admiral Plumridge was likely
to shift his flag from the “Leopard” to the “St. Jean d’ Acre.”
April 12th.—At the meeting for the Election of Haven Commissioners,
Captain Scott proposed and Captain Briggs seconded George Danby-Palmer,
Esq.; W. Yetts, Esq., proposed, and C. J. Palmer Esq., seconded, R.
Ferrier, Esq.; J. Jackson, Esq., proposed, and Garson Blake, Esq.,
seconded, J. Barker, Esq.; H. Palmer, Esq., proposed, and S. Cobb, Esq.,
seconded, Richard Hammond, Esq., junr.; and Mr. J. Owles proposed, and
Mr. T. Lettis seconded, D. A. Gourlay, Esq. Mr. Ferrier declined to go
to a poll, and thereupon Messrs. Palmer and Barker were elected
Commissioners and Messrs. Hammond and Gourlay Supernumerary Commissioners
without opposition.