H. H. Barber (Lib.) 150
S. K. Smith (Con.) 117
And “the proceedings throughout the day had all the characteristics of a
general election.”
Messrs. C. S. D. Steward and E. R. Aldred had been re-elected
Churchwardens by the Vestry.
May 13th.—The “George” schooner had been launched from Mr. Rust’s yard.
May 27th.—There had been no special demonstration of loyalty on the
Queen’s birthday.
The Dowager Lady Lacon had bequeathed £200 to the Hospital.
A “French Club,” of which M. Butel was the tutor, was meeting at the
Norfolk Hotel.
June 7th.—A meeting of the Conservative party had been held at the Star
Hotel, which was attended by Sir E. H. K. Lacon and Mr. Goodson, and an
active canvass had been commenced on behalf of those gentlemen, as the
Conservative candidates for the Borough.
June 10th.—The Liberals had met at the Angel Hotel, when Mr. E. W.
Watkin, by letter, strongly recommended Mr. A. Brogden, and Mr. J. C.
Marshman to the electors, and those gentlemen were, on the motion of Mr.
Livingston, seconded by Mr. Moore, requested to visit the Borough with
Mr. Watkin.
June 17th.—H.M.S. “Dauntless,” 31 guns, was anchored in the Roads.
Mr. S. Barge had obtained the contract for enclosing the land to the east
of the Naval Hospital.
Mr. H. R. Harmer had been presented with an elegant silver salver upon
the occasion of his resigning his commission of Lieutenant in the Rifle
Volunteers.
June 21st.—The Liberals had held a monster meeting in the Market Place,
when Mr. J. Clowes occupied the chair, and the Liberal candidates
(Messrs. Brogden and Marshman) had delivered addresses.
The Conservatives had also held a meeting, convened by circular, which
had been addressed by Sir E. H. K. Lacon and Mr. Goodson.
July 1st.—Both parties had held meetings at Gorleston, which had been
addressed by their respective candidates; each of the candidates spoke of
“certain success, with fair play.”
July 5th.—The Editor states “that it is evident from the numbers who hold
back their promises, that there is a great expectancy that the value of
votes will rise in the market.”
July 8th.—The Liberals had been holding meetings in each of the Wards,
and it was stated that “both parties are professedly confident of
achieving a victory.”
July 12th.—Mr. Marshman had suddenly and unexpectedly retired from the
contest, and Mr. Brogden had issued an address stating that Mr. Vanderbyl
would take Mr. Marshman’s place as a candidate for the Borough; it was
evident that “the struggle would be one of no ordinary character.”
The farmers in East Norfolk were agitating for a repeal of the Malt Tax,
and had adopted Mr. Clare Sewell Read as their candidate.
July 15th.—Sir Thomas B. P. Beauchamp, Bart., had been selected as a
colleague of the Hon. Colonel Coke, the sitting Liberal Member for that
Division of the County.
At the Borough nomination the appearance of the Liberal candidates “was
the signal for a regular ovation.” When something like a hearing could
be obtained, Mr. E. H. L. Preston proposed, and Mr. Dumbleton seconded,
Sir Edmund Henry Knowles Lacon, Bart., Mr. R. Hammond proposed, and Mr.
J. Scott seconded, Alexander Brogden, Esq.; Mr. W. Worship proposed, and
Mr. C. Woolverton seconded, James Goodson, Esq.; and Mr. G. Blake
proposed, and Mr. J. Owles seconded, Philip Vanderbyl, Esq.
The show of hands was by an “immense majority” found in favour of Messrs.
Brogden and Vanderbyl.
The polling took place on the following day, and this description is
given of
“THE ELECTION.”
The very general expectation that prevailed as to the severity of the
contest drew early together large numbers of persons, who thronged
the vicinity of the polling places and the streets throughout the
day. The polling from eight to nine o’clock was very rapid, both
parties striving their utmost to bring up men so as to head the poll.
The popular feeling, which manifested itself unmistakeably in favour
of the Liberal cause, was sadly damped between the hours of nine and
ten o’clock by the appearance of a placard bearing the state of the
poll, and showing that the Conservatives, notwithstanding the
activity displayed by the other side, had stolen a march upon them,
and meant winning. The result of the next hour’s polling had
considerably increased the Conservative majority, and, as a large
proportion of the electors had voted, it became evident that the
battle, as far as Liberal interests were concerned, was all but lost.
As the day advanced, the position of the Liberals on the poll became
worse, and all chance of retrieving their position was hopeless. The
excitement was very great in the town, but the crowd continued to
conduct themselves pretty quietly, contenting themselves with venting
their disappointment by groaning heartily at every vehicle bearing
placards of “Vote for Lacon and Goodson.”
State of the Poll.
Nine o’clock.
Lacon 298
Goodson 294
Brogden 235
Vanderbyl 226
Ten o’clock.
Lacon 541
Goodson 526
Brogden 447
Vanderbyl 425
Eleven o’clock.
Lacon 608
Goodson 574
Brogden 506
Vanderbyl 481
Twelve o’clock.
Lacon 746
Goodson 712
Brogden 595
Vanderbyl 557
One o’clock.
Lacon 758
Goodson 708
Brogden 610
Vanderbyl 571
Two o’clock.
Lacon 798
Goodson 757
Brogden 618
Vanderbyl 573
Four o’clock.
Lacon 828
Goodson 784
Brogden 634
Vanderbyl 589
The following detail is given of the polling in the various Wards.
Lacon. Goodson. Brogden. Vanderbyl.
St. 91 86 78 74
Nicholas’
Market 146 140 120 109
Regent 152 146 106 99
St. George’s 104 100 96 91
Nelson 189 173 138 130
Southtown 146 139 96 86
Total 828 784 634 589
July 19th.—At the Nomination for East Norfolk, Sir T. B. P. Beauchamp
(failing to satisfy the Malt-tax Repeal party), Mr. Clare Sewell Read
was proposed as a candidate for the Division, as also were Colonel
Coke, Mr. Howes, and Sir Thomas; the show of hands being in favour of
Howes and Read, a poll was demanded for the Whig candidates (the Hon.
Colonel Clarence Wenman Walpole Coke and Sir Thomas Brograve
Proctor-Beauchamp, Bart.,) who proceeded to Yarmouth, where their
agent (Mr. F. Danby-Palmer) at once organised a meeting of 6,000
persons in the Market-place, Mr. R. Hammond presided, and General Sir
Charles A. Windham, Colonel Coke, Viscount Bury, and Sir Thomas
Beauchamp addressed the assembly.
The Tories also held a meeting in front of the Crown and Anchor
Hotel, which was addressed by the Mayor (R. Steward, Esq.), Mr. C. S.
Read, and Mr. E. H. L. Preston; the crowd then, however, gave “three
cheers for Brogden and Vanderbyl, and as many groans for Howes and
Read.”
July 22nd.—The voting in the town of Yarmouth had been, with regard to
this contest, as follows:—
Coke 340
Beauchamp 314
Howes 297
Read 267