4.--The driver of the Brandon, Fakenham, and Wells coach, benumbed with
cold, fell from the box seat unknown to the passengers, and was severely
injured. The accident occurred at Toftrees. "The horses proceeded at
their usual pace, turning all corners, crossing Hempton Common, up the
narrow street into Fakenham, and passing several carts and other vehicles
on the way. They pulled up at the Crown Inn, as usual, and waited for
the porters and ostlers. The coach stops on alternate nights at the
Crown and Lion Inns, and this was the proper night for it to stop at the
Crown."
7.--The Yarmouth election petition against the return of Lord Arthur
Lennox and Mr. Octavius E. Coope, on the ground of corrupt practices,
came before the Committee of the House of Commons. On the 14th the
Committee found that "gross, systematic, and extensive bribery prevailed
amongst the freemen at the last and previous elections, and considered it
their duty to express to the House their unanimous opinion that the
freemen should be disfranchised, and that no writ should be issued for
the borough until legislative measures had been taken for the purpose of
such disfranchisement." The members were unseated. The Disfranchisement
Bill received the Royal assent on June 30th, and the names of 1,106
voters were struck off the list, leaving the constituency at 876. On the
same day the writ was issued for the election. Mr. C. E. Rumbold, Mr.
Joseph Sandars, and Mr. Bagshaw were nominated candidates on July 7th; a
poll was demanded, and the result was declared on the 8th, as
follows:--Sandars, 416; Rumbold, 386; Bagshaw, 300.
27.--Died at Hill's Farm, Attleborough, Mr. Theophilus Smith, aged 68.
"He was a man of considerable talent and mechanical skill. In 1841 he
had, through the kindness of the Earl of Albemarle, an introduction to
Prince Albert at Windsor Castle, when a variety of ingenious models
invented by Mr. Smith for improving the construction of the plough were
submitted to and obtained the approbation of his Royal Highness, and a
patent was subsequently taken out for what has become well known to
agriculturists as 'Smith's Patent Albert Plough.' Mr. Smith presented
two poems to Prince Albert, addressed, 'To the Queen' and 'To the Prince
of Wales,' and shortly after a beautiful family Bible, elegantly bound
and emblazoned with the Royal Arms, was transmitted from Windsor Castle
to Mr. Smith, with an inscription intimating that it was presented 'by
command of her Majesty.' The Royal autograph and that of Prince Albert
were, at Mr. Smith's request, inserted."