For the Rate 651
Against 771
and at 10 o’clock on Saturday, Mr. Hills stated that the poll would not
be re-opened.
On the following day (Sunday) the clocks at the Parish Church and St.
George’s Chapel were stopped, and the bells “tolled” at the hour for
performance of divine service.
Nov. 21st.—Mr. D. Tomkins, of the British School, had again satisfied the
Government Inspector.
R. Hammond, Esq., had presented 40 cwt. of coal to the inmates of the
Fisherman’s Hospital.
Nov. 28th.—It was calculated that there were 400 boats then engaged in
the Herring Fishing belonging to Yarmouth.
Dec. 12th.—The Mayor’s “feast” had been held at the Town Hall, 120
gentlemen being present, including Lord Sondes (High Steward), Sir E. N.
Buxton, Bart., M.P., Sir H. Stracey, Bart., Sir E. H. K. Lacon, Bart.,
Colonel Elmhirst, Colonel Sankey, Major Taylor, Captain Nugent, Captain
Dunt, the Revs. B. Vaux, J. Gunn, M. Waters and J. B. Bampton, Messrs. R.
Hammond, W. N. Burroughs, C. J. Palmer, C. Cory, E. H. L. Preston, E. P.
Youell, W. Yetts, R. Steward, B. Jay, C. H. Chamberlin, R. S. Watling, I.
Preston, jun., W. C. Reynolds, R. Ferrier, W. H. Palmer, C. Preston, F.
Palmer, H. D Palmer, J. C. Smith, D. A. Gourlay, &c.
The “recruiting staff” of the 9th Regiment, then at Yarmouth, consisted
of Lieut.-Colonel C. Elmhirst, Brevt-Colonel Sankey, Major A. Taylor,
Captains W. Dunt, H. F. Manton, W. Nugent, D. A. Barnett, R. P. O’Shea,
J. W. MacFarlane, — Carden, and J. Graham, Lieutenants H. G. H. Grubbe,
H. Gipps, and A. F. B. Wright, Adjutant Bolton, Ensigns C. S. Perry, J.
L. Bradshaw, S. Lynne and C. T. Coote, Quarter-Master Arrowsmith, and 19
Sergeants and 10 Corporals.
Dec. 30th.—There were 30 prisoners in the Gaol, and they had been regaled
with a Christmas dinner by the Mayor.
The Clocks at the Parish Church and St. George’s Chapel had been set
going again at the instance of the Town Council.
1858.
Jan. 2nd.—Contains the following article on the Old Year:—“1857 has been
a good year for our port. Our fisheries have prospered; our mercantile
and shipping report is favourable; and our commercial credit has stood
firm and upright against the pressure of a severe monetary crisis. We
have proved the elasticity of our resources, and have demonstrated the
strength and stability of our enterprise. The fashionable season has
also been one on which we have to congratulate ourselves. During the
summer and autumn of 1857, Yarmouth was full of visitors; our beach was
crowded with company; and our hotels and lodging houses were all full.
In short, on New Year’s Day we find that we can strike a balance on the
right side, and look forward with hope based on the solid foundation of
proved success. There is but one great drawback to the seasonable
satisfaction such a state of things affords. Our political divisions
have materially diminished the account in our favour, and have seriously
interfered with the social harmony of the town. We have suffered
ourselves to be led away into personal altercations, and have so departed
from the straight road of a defined and thought-out principle. This has
been a grave mistake, as we are now beginning to discover. But generally
we have yet to learn that political zeal is not inconsistent with the
courtesies of society, and that ill-tempered advocacy is worse than
useless. Let us hope, however, that the moderate men of both political
opinions, who must, we are sure, see the error of this course, will for
the future guard against indiscretions, which are as inherently wrong as
they are manifestly prejudicial to any cause that stands upon Principle
and is supported by its own Truth. We know we express the opinion of the
thinking portion of the constituency in advising an abstinence from the
littleness of factious strife, and in suggesting a more elevated view of
political verities, we are satisfied we are answering to the wish of the
most respectable members of the opposing parties, and are explaining what
is only wanting to consolidate the established prosperity of Yarmouth.”
The Hospital meeting showed a deficit of from £40 to £50 on the annual
accounts.
Jan. 6th.—It was rumoured than an addition would shortly be made to the
local Magistracy.
Jan. 9th.—Mr. C. J. Palmer occupied the chair at the annual Library
Meeting. It was stated that there were then nearly 10,000 volumes
belonging to that Institution, of which about 22 were circulated daily.
Jan. 13th.—Mr. Roach (Station-master) was, much to the regret of the
inhabitants, leaving Yarmouth.
Jan. 16th.—Mr. George Danby-Palmer had presided at a dinner given to B.
Fenn, Esq., when that gentleman was presented with 203 oz. of plate
(value £100) by the Great Yarmouth Provident Fisherman’s Society, of
which he had acted as Hon. Sec. for 30 years.
The Russian guns were to be placed at the South end of the Hall Quay.
Court “Star of the East,” A.O.F., had held its anniversary at the Regent
Tavern.
Jan. 23rd.—The Rev. F. W. Johnson had been appointed minister at St.
John’s Church.
A meeting of the Town Council had been held to consider the question of
the proposed appointment of Justices, when Mr. E. H. L. Preston moved,
and Mr. B. Fenn seconded, the adoption of a memorial to the Lord
Chancellor, deprecating the proposed appointment of Messrs. P. Pullyn, D.
A. Gourlay, Frederick Palmer, William T. Clarke, John Barker, and John
Owles, and Mr. George Danby-Palmer moved, and Mr. Chapman seconded, an
amendment in favour of such appointments, which, on a division, was lost
by 25 to 5 votes. The Mayor made some warm remarks of a personal nature,
which brought a similar retort from Mr. Chapman, and it was stated that
“the last portion of these remarks was given amid applause in the gallery
and laughter of the members, the meeting breaking up in great confusion.”
Feb. 6th.—The same question had been discussed at a meeting of
Magistrates, when the Clerk was directed to apply to the Lord Chancellor
for the correspondence with regard to the proposed appointments.
Feb. 10th.—This request had been declined by his Lordship, and it
appeared that the Roll had been sent for, which led to a discussion of a
personal character.
Feb. 13th.—The Town Council, on the motion of Mr. C. J. Palmer, seconded
by Mr. Burroughs, had voted an address to the Queen on the occasion of
the marriage of the Princess Royal.
A letter was read at the same meeting, stating that the Lord Chancellor
had added the names of the six before mentioned gentlemen to the
Commission of the Peace.
Feb. 20th.—It was proposed to extend the Marine Parade.
The 9th Regiment of Foot had left Yarmouth for Bradford. During its stay
here some 200 recruits had been obtained.
Mr. Frederick Palmer had qualified as a Justice of the Peace.
St. John’s Church had been opened for service, when the Revs. F. W.
Johnson and George Hills preached in the morning and afternoon
respectively.
Feb. 24th.—The cost of the maintenance of the poor of the parish had
increased since the passing of the 9th and 10th Vic. cap. 56 from about
£9,000 to £10,376 per annum.
Messrs. J. Barker and P. Pullyn had qualified as Magistrates.
Feb. 27th.—The 24-pounders at the Batteries were to be replaced by 74
pound guns.
March 6th.—Records the death of Rear-Admiral Sir Eaton Travers, K.H.,
aged 70. The dates of his appointments were—Lieutenant 1804, Commander
1814, Captain 1829, Rear-Admiral 1855. He had seen much service, and was
nominated a K.H. on 4th of February, 1834. He possessed the silver naval
medal with one clasp, had a good service pension, and was a D.L. for the
county. Sir Eaton married in April, 1815, Anne Palmer, eldest daughter
of William Steward, Esq., by whom he had issue five sons and two
daughters.
It was hoped that the Yarmouth and Haddiscoe Railway would be opened by
the 1st of September next.
March 13th.—A dispute had arisen between the Local Board of Health and
George Danby-Palmer, Esq., with regard to certain land at the south-end
of the town, and Mr. Chamberlin, acting as Mr. Palmer’s solicitor, had
complained to the Bench of having been assaulted by Mr. Morant (Town
Surveyor), upon the “locus in quo,” and what was described as a “scene”
had ensued.
March 20th.—The Naval Hospital was being fitted up for the reception of
sick and wounded men from India; it was noticed that although fitted up
in a similar way during the Russian war, it had never then been used.
Complaint was made of the “niggardly” way in which the Southtown Road was
lighted.
March 24th.—Lord Sondes had presented a petition from the Town Council to
the House of Lords on the subject of the Magisterial appointments, but
after an explanation by the Lord Chancellor, who justified his action,
“the subject dropped.”
March 27th.—Mr. J. S. Cobb had delivered a lecture on “Chemistry.”
April 3rd.—Mr. R. Steward had protested against the Senior Magistrate
taking the chair in Petty Session as a matter of right.
April 7th.—Ten publicans had been fined for keeping their houses open at
illegal hours.
April 10th.—At the appointment of Overseers, Mr. E. H. L. Preston moved
the appointment of Messrs. William Green, James Borking, John Clayton,
and William Harbord; and Mr. Owles proposed Mr. James H. Harrison in the
place of Mr. Green. Upon the votes being taken, there appeared: For Mr.
Preston’s list—The Mayor and Messrs. William Danby-Palmer, E. H. L.
Preston, J. C. Smith, W. Yetts, W. Thurtell, B. Jay, W. H. Bessey, J.
Fenn, William Hurry Palmer, J. Cherry, R. Steward, C. C. Aldred, J. G.
Plummer, and B. Fenn; and for Mr. Owles’ list—Messrs. Geo. Danby-Palmer,
J. W. Shelley, W. Johnson, R. Hammond, P. Pullyn, D. A. Gourlay,
Frederick Palmer, W. T. Clarke, J. Barker, and J. Owles.
April 17th.—From 3,000 to 4,000 persons had witnessed the launch of the
“Froderica,” of 600 tons burthen, from Mr. Branford’s yard.
April 24th.—St. John’s Church had been consecrated by the Lord Bishop of
Norwich.
H.M.S. “Edinburgh,” 74 tons, and two gun-boats had passed through the
Roads.
April 28th.—Mr. John Clowes had been returned as a Councillor for the
Nelson Ward without opposition in the place of Mr. Samuel V. Moore,
deceased.
May 1st.—Ninety ladies and gentlemen had attended a ball at the Town
Hall.
The sum of £137 had been collected at the Consecration Services at St.
John’s Church. The Communion plate and stone pulpit in this church had
been paid for from the proceeds arising from the sale of the second
edition of the “Story of John Brock.”
May 5th.—Reference is made to the drowning of the only son of Captain
Ellis, R.N., at Southwold.
The Poor’s rate was 1s. 4d. in the £.
The Summer excursion trains had commenced running, and had brought many
visitors from Norwich.
May 8th.—Seventy invalids from Colchester camp were under treatment at
the Naval Hospital. The officers in charge were Captain Jervois,
Commandant; Captain Naylor, Pay-master; Staff-Surgeons, Bradford and Joy,
and Mr. Rippon, Purveyor.
May 15th.—Disturbances had taken place between some of the Fermanagh
Militia and townsmen at Southtown, and the conduct of the Mayor was
impugned with regard to his desire to repress the report of this, when
Mr. de Caux vindicated the reports sent by him to the newspapers he
represented.
May 22nd.—The mackerel fleet (about 100 sail) were nearly all at sea, and
prices had varied from 35s. to 45s. per hundred.
The “Nil Desperandum” (500 tons) had been launched from Mr. Rust’s yard.
June 12th.—Records the death of Sir E. N. Buxton, Bart., one of the
M.P’s. for East Norfolk.
June 16th.—Sir Henry Stracey, a candidate for the seat thus vacant, had
met the Conservative electors at the Angel-hotel, when Mr. E. H. L.
Preston occupied the chair. It was stated that “Sir Henry is a favourite
in Yarmouth from the interest he has taken in all that relates to the
interest of the town.”
June 19th.—The Liberals had met at the Star Hotel, Mr. B. Dowson in the
chair, when a resolution accepting the Hon. Wenman Clarence Walpole Coke
as the candidate in the Whig interest had been adopted.
John Berry had committed suicide by shooting himself on the South Denes.
June 26th.—Mr. Falcke (a gentleman whose father formerly lived in the
town) had given subscriptions to the Hospital and the Ragged and British
Schools.
June 30th.—At the County election, Mr. E. Fellowes, M.P., proposed, and
Colonel Fitzroy seconded Sir H. J. Stracey, Bart., and Mr. Bulwer
proposed, and Mr. Upcher seconded the Hon. Wenman C. W. Coke; the show of
hands was in favour of Sir H. J. Stracey, whereupon Mr. Bulwer demanded a
poll on behalf of the Hon. Mr. Coke.