8.--A writ was received at Norwich for the election of a member to supply
the vacancy caused by the resignation of Mr. Peto, M.P., "in consequence
of the opinion of the law officers of the Crown that though he had
consented to construct a railway in the Crimea without profit to himself,
he would be liable to heavy penalties if he continued to sit in the House
of Commons." (_See_ December 27th.)
9.--A description was published of the new Corn Hall at Diss, erected by
a public-spirited resident, Mr. T. L. Taylor. The building was designed
by Mr. George Atkins, jun. "Mr. Taylor intends vesting it in trustees
for the purposes of a corn market at a nominal rental, and he further
intends appropriating a spacious apartment for a reading-room and
library."
16.--Wombwell's Menagerie arrived at Norwich, and was advertised under
its new title, "Edmonds', late Wombwell's." The exhibition was removed
from its usual quarters on Castle Meadow to the Market Place.
22.--Died at his residence in Berkeley Square, Mr. William Howe Windham,
of Felbrigg Hall. He was one of the representatives of the Eastern
Division of Norfolk in 1832, when he was returned with the Hon. George
Keppel, their opponents being Lord Henry Cholmondeley and Mr. Nathaniel
Peach. In 1835 he came forward with Mr. R. H. Gurney, in opposition to
Mr. Edmond Wodehouse and Lord Walpole, when the two last named were
returned. In 1837 another election occurred, when Lord Walpole having
retired, Mr. H. N. Burroughes was brought forward in conjunction with Mr.
Wodehouse. Mr. Windham and Mr. Gurney, who opposed them, were again
unsuccessful. Mr. Windham, who was a staunch Whig, was the oldest son of
Vice-Admiral Windham (formerly Lukin), who took the name and arms in
pursuance of the will of his uncle, the Right Hon. William Windham, in
1824, on succeeding to the estate on the death of Mrs. Windham. On the
decease of his father, the Admiral, Mr. Windham succeeded to the Felbrigg
property. He married, in 1835, Lady Sophia Hervey, daughter of the
Marquis of Bristol, by whom he had one son, then in his fourteenth year.
Mr. Windham died at the age of 53.
26.--Mr. J. F. Young, who for many years afterwards was a favourite actor
in Norwich, made his first appearance at the Theatre Royal, in the
character of Sir Edward Mortimer ("The Iron Chest"). The play was
followed by a pantomime, entitled, "Harlequin St. George, or the Geni
Czarnickholdofallhecan and the Fairy of Contentment."
27.--The West Norfolk Militia assembled at Norwich for the annual
training. The East Norfolk Militia were embodied on the same day, at
Yarmouth.
--Sir Samuel Bignold and Mr. Anthony Hamond, of Westacre, were nominated
candidates at the election at Norwich rendered necessary by the
retirement of Mr. Peto. A poll, demanded on behalf of Mr. Hamond, took
place on the 28th, and the result was officially declared on the 29th, as
follows: Bignold, 1,901; Hamond, 1,635. After this election were
published, for the first time, the expenses of the respective candidates.
In Mr. Hamond's accounts, under the heading, "hire of horses and
carriages," was the item, "W. Slaughter, Sedan chair, 15s."
--Died, the Rev. Sir George Stracey, Bart., rector of Rackheath. "It is
rather a singular circumstance that there has been but one presentation
to the living of Rackheath during a period of 115 years. The late rector
held the living from 1796, and his predecessor was presented to it in
1739."
30.--A serious railway accident occurred between Thetford and Brandon.
The up mail from Norwich, which left Thetford soon after 11 p.m., was
detained two and a half miles beyond the station by a breakdown of the
engine. Twenty-three minutes later a cattle train, travelling at full
speed, dashed into the rear of the mail train. The engine-driver of the
mail, John Burton, who was at work beneath his engine, was killed
instantly, and three passengers in the rear carriage seriously injured.
One, Mr. Meagher, a London undertaker, who had been attending the funeral
of Mr. Windham, afterwards died. At the inquest, on January 15th, 1855,
the jury found that the accident resulted from the inefficiency of the
railway company's rules in allowing a heavily-laden cattle train to
follow a mail train at unlimited speed without telegraphic communication
from the preceding station.
1855.