1.--Intelligence was received at Norwich of the victory of the allied
armies at the Alma on September 20th. The bells of St. Peter Mancroft
were rung after service in the afternoon. A fictitious message reached
Norwich on the same day (Sunday), announcing the fall of Sebastopol, and
the tricolour was hoisted on St. Peter's steeple. Regret was afterwards
expressed that facilities existed "for circulating such hasty and
erroneous despatches."
7.--Died, at Brandon Parva, aged 100, Mary Goward, widow.
17.--A remarkable discussion arose at Norwich Quarter Sessions as to
certain irregularities which were said to have occurred at Heigham Hall
private lunatic asylum. The minutes of the proceedings of the visiting
justices at an inquiry held by them on June 22nd were read. Dr. Hull
alleged that the Rev. ---, then acting as chaplain at the Asylum, had
been wrongly admitted as a patient. In his evidence he stated that in
June, 1852, Mr. Nichols informed him that a country clergyman, a member
of a high county family, had committed a rape, that his family wished to
make him out to be mad, and that, in order to save him from a criminal
prosecution, they desired to get him into a mad-house. Mr. Nichols
requested Dr. Hull to grant a second medical certificate. Dr. Hull
refused to comply. Mr. Nichols emphatically denied that he had used the
expressions attributed to him by Dr. Hull. The justices came to the
conclusion: "(1) That the Rev. Mr. ---, by being placed in the asylum
under the circumstances disclosed in the inquiry, was rescued from the
grip of the law on a criminal charge; (2) that the order and medical
certificates upon which he was admitted into the asylum were regular and
in the form prescribed by the Act of Parliament; (3) that in the opinion
of the visitors the Rev. Mr. --- is not a proper person to have been
appointed or to continue to officiate as chaplain to the asylum." A
letter from the office of the Commissioners in Lunacy was read, in which
they stated they were satisfied that when the Rev. Mr. --- was admitted
he was a proper person to be placed under medical care in the asylum. It
was also asserted that the Commissioners had recognised him as the
chaplain of the asylum. Mr. Palmer, who had moved that the licence to
Heigham Hall be refused, ultimately withdrew his motion, and the incident
terminated. At a meeting of the city magistrates in December, a memorial
was addressed to the Secretary of State, asking that a "searching
investigation be made, with power to call before the Commissioners all
parties who may be able to give evidence upon the various points embraced
in the case." (No further action was taken.)
18.--The new bridge at Yarmouth was opened by the chairman and members of
the Haven and Pier Commission. The contract price for the work of
construction was 24,500 pounds, but the total cost, including the sums
paid for property in the vicinity of the bridge, was estimated at 60,000
pounds.
19.--In an "extraordinary edition" of the NORFOLK CHRONICLE, published on
this date, was given a "nominal return of the casualties among officers
in the action on the River Alma." "1st Division--Scots Fusilier Guards:
Captain W. G. Bulwer, wounded severely."
25.--The first detachment of the V Battery Royal Artillery arrived at
Norwich; and the second detachment marched in on the 26th. "The last
time artillery were stationed in this city was in 1813, and they were
then commanded by General Cockburn, father of Major Cockburn, of
Bracondale."
--At a public meeting held at the Guildhall, Norwich, a committee was
appointed to carry out the objects of the Patriotic Fund, in accordance
with the terms of the Royal Commission.
--Killed at Balaclava, Lieut. Henry Astley Sparke, 4th Light Dragoons,
eldest son of the Rev. J. H. Sparke, of Gunthorpe Hall, and nephew of
Lord Hastings.