1.--In the Vice-Chancellor's Court application was made in the suit Jermy
_v._ Jermy for the administration of the estate of the late Mr. Jermy, of
Stanfield Hall. The only question that arose was about certain timber
growing on the estate and fines of copyholds. But a difficulty of a
novel character had occurred. Since the murder the mansion had been
untenanted. Although many persons were willing to take it they could not
procure servants who would live in the house, so great was the
superstitious feeling which existed. It was stated that the parties were
willing to allow the house to be occupied for two years for nothing, in
order to overcome the prejudice. The Vice-Chancellor said that Mrs.
Jermy Jermy was entitled to a third of the timber and fines, and he
expressed surprise that such prejudices existed against the house.
3.--Died, at her residence on the Castle Meadow, Norwich, in her 85th
year, Amelia Opie, widow of John Opie, R.A., and only daughter of Dr.
James Alderson. After her marriage with Opie in 1798 her numerous
literary productions gained her considerable reputation, and as a
novelist she moved in the highest literary circles. Her works included
"Father and Daughter," "Simple Tales," 4 vols. (1806); "New Tales," 4
vols. (1818); "Temper, or Domestic Scenes," 3 vols.; "Tales of the
Heart," 4 vols.; "Detraction Displayed" (moral treatise); "Illustrations
of Lying," "Lays of the Dead," and other poems. Mrs. Opie was a member
of the Society of Friends, and her remains were interred in the Quakers'
Burial Ground, Gildencroft, on December 9th.
17.--The provision of a time-ball connected by electric telegraph with
Greenwich Observatory, and exhibited in a prominent position in Norwich
Market Place, was, in consequence of the irregularities of the public
clocks, advocated in the NORFOLK CHRONICLE on this date.
20.--A meeting of the landowners, farmers, and tradesmen of Harleston and
the district was held at the Corn Hall in that town, to consider the
desirability of promoting the construction of a railway from Tivetshall
station on the Eastern Union line. In 1851 an Act of Incorporation was
obtained for making a railway from Tivetshall to Bungay, but from various
causes, chiefly from the depression in the railway world, no further
steps were at that time taken.
22.--Died, at the house of his son-in-law at Cambridge, aged 69, Mr. Seth
William Stevenson, F.S.A., one of the proprietors of the NORFOLK
CHRONICLE. He was elected Sheriff of Norwich in 1828, he became alderman
in the same year, and in 1832 served the office of Mayor. Literary
pursuits, especially of an antiquarian character, engrossed his leisure.
In early life Mr. Stevenson made several Continental tours. The year
after the battle of Waterloo, he, in company with Capt. Money, visited
the scene of the struggle, and afterwards published "A Journal of a Tour
through part of France, Flanders and Holland, including a Visit to Paris
and a Walk over the Field of Waterloo in the Summer of 1816." The work
was dedicated to the Norwich United Friars Society, of which literary
body he was almost the last surviving member. In 1828 appeared the
account of a second tour in Italy, Switzerland, Germany, and the
Netherlands. The book to which he devoted no inconsiderable portion of
the last ten years of his life was the complete "Dictionary of Roman
Coins."
24*.--"We have received from Mr. Garthon, one of the district surgeons of
Norwich, a return in a tabular form showing the extraordinary number of
96 cases of small-pox in Heigham and St. Benedict's, during the last
three months. These arose from the strong prejudice still existing
amongst ignorant and poor people against the only
preventive--vaccination."
--The funeral of the Marchioness of Wellesley took place at Costessey
Hall, whither the remains had been removed from Hampton Court. "In
accordance with the good old charitable practice a dole of bread was
given to the poor of Costessey on the occasion of the funeral."
26.--Mr. Joseph Clarence produced at Norwich Theatre his grand Christmas
pantomime, entitled, "Harlequin Prince Bluecap and the King of the Silver
Waters, or the Three Kingdoms, Animal, Vegetable, and Mineral."
1854.