2.--Mr. Edward Howes (C) and Col. Wenman C. W. Coke (L) were returned
unopposed for the division of East Norfolk.
4.--The Governors elected the Rev. Augustus Jessopp, of St. John's
College, Cambridge, head master of Helston Grammar School, to be head
master of Norwich Grammar School.
6.--Mr. George William Pierrepont Bentinck (C) and Mr. Brampton Gurdon
(L) were returned without opposition members for West Norfolk.
16.--The Mayor of Norwich, in compliance with a requisition, convened a
Common Hall, at which a loyal address to the Queen was adopted, praying
that there should be no interference in the war which had arisen on the
Continent, but at the same time assuring her Majesty of the readiness of
the citizens of Norwich to uphold the honour and dignity of her Crown
under any circumstances that might arise.
17.--At a meeting of the Norwich Town Council, Mr. J. H. Tillett moved
that a petition be presented to Parliament praying for a full, searching,
and impartial inquiry into corrupt and illegal practices at elections for
members of Parliament for Norwich. The motion was adopted, and a
committee appointed to draft the petition, which was presented for the
approval of the Council on June 21st. It asserted that extensive and
systematic bribery was practised; that it was rumoured a fund was raised
in London prior to the last General Election for election purposes, and a
considerable contribution from that fund was sent down to Norwich for the
purpose of being used at the late election; and that a large sum of money
had been subscribed in Norwich for the same purpose. The Council adopted
the petition, and requested Mr. J. Bright, M.P., to present it to the
House of Commons. The petition was presented on July 11th, and was
ordered to lie upon the table. At a meeting of the Town Council on July
19th, it was agreed "That it be referred to a special committee to
consider the propriety and expediency of applying in the next Session of
Parliament for an Act for better regulating the election of members to
serve in Parliament." The Special Committee reported on August 8th, and
recommended the Council to resolve that as soon as it should be known
that an election for a member or members was to take place, the
candidates with their influential and active supporters, to the number of
not less than twenty on each side, be called upon to sign a declaration
pledging themselves to abstain, both directly and indirectly, from and to
discountenance treating and every form of corrupt or illegal practice or
expenditure, and also engaging not to practice canvassing; that in case
of infraction of the above-named, it be referred to the Right Hon.
William E. Gladstone, M.P., and the Right Hon. Spencer Horatio Walpole,
M.P., as referees, or to such third person as they might name, to
determine whether the understanding had been honourably carried out or
not, and the member or members returned should be bound to abide by such
decision and to resign his or their seats if it were adjudged that his or
their election was secured or promoted by the violation of such
understanding, and that the other candidates and parties subscribing such
declaration should also abide by the decision of such referees or umpire.
The report was adopted, and a committee appointed to give effect to it.
On October 29th a meeting was held at the Guildhall, convened by the
following circular, issued by the Mayor (Mr. Middleton) and the
Deputy-Mayor (Mr. Field): "Having heard from various quarters that an
unusual effort will be made by each political party to secure the
majority at the approaching municipal elections, we take upon ourselves
the responsibility of asking our fellow-citizens to meet . . . with the
view of saving the city, if possible, from a repetition of those
disgraceful proceedings which have recently taken place in Norwich." At
the meeting the Deputy-Mayor moved the following resolution: "That, in
the opinion of this meeting, the business of the Town Council and the
Corporation of Guardians ought henceforth to be conducted without
reference to political interests, but alone with the view of promoting
the best interests of the citizens." The discussion showed that the
principle of the resolution was not agreeable to the meeting, whereupon
Mr. Field withdrew it, and the proceedings ended.
23.--Miss Goddard, a tragic actress of some repute, appeared at Norwich
Theatre, in the character of Hamlet. "Hamlet is now played by a woman,"
wrote the critic, "infinitely better than it has been played by almost
any of the opposite sex who have ever attempted it."
24.--The Queen's birthday was celebrated in Norwich by the entertainment
at dinner at St. Andrew's Hall, of nearly 700 of the poor of the city, at
the joint expense of the Mayor and Sheriff.
26.--A _dejeuner_ was given at the Town Hall, Yarmouth, in honour of the
Bight Rev. Dr. Hills, Bishop of Columbia, and formerly incumbent of the
parish, who was presented with an address and several gifts by the
townspeople.
--The Volunteer movement commenced in Norfolk on this date. A public
meeting, convened by the Mayor of Norwich, by request of the Lord
Lieutenant of the county, was held at the Shirehall. It was decided that
the inhabitants of the city and neighbourhood be invited to enrol
themselves as active and honorary members of the Norwich Rifle Corps
Club. All members were to provide their own uniform, the expense of
which was not to exceed 3 or 4 pounds, and if the Government did not
provide arms, the Committee would assist in individual cases to such an
extent as the funds would permit. Honorary members were to pay an annual
subscription of one guinea. The drill required from active members was
not to exceed two hours a day on three days a week, and they were assured
that "on no occasion could they be called from Norwich except in case of
actual invasion or rebellion." Many Volunteers were enrolled at the
conclusion of the meeting. Similar meetings were held in all the towns
of the county, and the movement soon became general. At an adjourned
meeting, held at the Shirehall, Norwich, on July 2nd, and presided over
by Lieut.-Col. FitzRoy, "to consider the best patterns for the clothing
and accoutrements of the Rifle Corps in the towns throughout the county,"
it was resolved, "That the uniform for the city of Norwich and the
boroughs in the county be a gray cloth tunic coat with black mohair braid
and buttons down the centre, with a low, upright collar, and trousers of
the same colour and material, and with a shako of hair cloth of the same
colour as the uniform, that a plume be worn, and that the appointments be
a patent leather black waistbelt, with pouch bags; the officers' dress to
be distinguished by some embroidery above the cuff of the coat and by a
pouch-belt, with bronzed whistle and chain, and a slung waistbelt, with
sword and steel scabbard." A general meeting of the members of the three
companies formed in Norwich--the Mayor's Company, the Sheriff's Company,
and Mr. Hay Gurney's Company--was held at the Guildhall, on July 5th,
when the officers were elected as follows: For the Mayor's Company, Mr.
R. Seaman lieutenant, and Mr. A. J. Cresswell ensign. For the Sheriff's
Company, Mr. Henry Morgan lieutenant, and Mr. Charles Foster ensign. For
Mr. Hay Gurney's Company, Mr. Croker lieutenant, and Mr. Charles Henry
Gurney ensign. The captains were respectively Mr. Middleton (Mayor), Mr.
H. S. Patteson (Sheriff), and Mr. Hay Gurney. In the month of September
two additional companies were formed, one commanded by Mr. J. H. Orde,
with Mr. E. P. Youell as lieutenant and Mr. J. Tomlinson as ensign; and
the other by Mr. William Swatman (brevet colonel), with Mr. F. J.
Cresswell as lieutenant. The first public parade of the corps took place
on October 7th, when the muster was 220, and "Capt. Black, an honorary
member of the corps, kindly consented to put them through their
evolutions on the Cricket Field." Mr. Simms Reeve, the honorary
secretary, announced on November 5th that long Enfield rifles had been
supplied by Government free of cost; and on December 5th, at a general
meeting of the corps, Major Brett was elected Major Commandant.