8.--Died, in the 100th year of her age, Mary Tallowin, of Bowthorpe.
11.--Charles Dickens gave a reading, at St. Andrew's Hall, of the
"Christmas Carol" and the trial scene from "The Pickwick Papers," and on
the 12th read the story of Little Dombey and of Mrs. Gamp. "The
reception of Mr. Dickens, on his first appearing in front of a very
artistically arranged screen, was cordial and enthusiastic. His voice
was far from powerful, but he had remarkable expression and the power of
exhibiting this in face as well as in voice. As a pecuniary speculation,
it must have been highly profitable to Mr. Dickens."
17.--The town of Attleborough was, for the first time, lighted with gas,
an event which was celebrated by a public dinner at the New Inn.
20.--At the Norwich Quarter Sessions, John Plummer (25), shoemaker, was
indicted for stealing a model of a gold nugget, the property of the
trustees of the Norfolk and Norwich Museum. Mr. Reeve, the curator of
the Museum, stated that the model was worth only a few shillings, but it
was an attractive object, and generally supposed by visitors, and no
doubt by the prisoner, to be a piece of genuine gold. The prisoner was
sentenced to seven years' penal servitude.
21.--At the Norfolk Quarter Sessions, the Police Committee called
attention to an Act of Parliament passed in the previous month of August,
empowering the substitution of policemen for javelin men at the Assizes,
and recommending that the Chief Constable be authorised, on the
application of the High Sheriff, to employ a sufficient number of
constables for that purpose, the High Sheriff engaging to pay such sum as
would, in the estimation of the Chief Constable, be sufficient to meet
the additional expense of such employment. The matter was adjourned for
further consideration. (_See_ January 5th, 1860.)
--Mr. R. M. Phipson was elected County Surveyor.
24.--A singular question came before the Norwich Town Council, in
relation to the right of the Corporation to the property of convicts.
The Police Committee reported they had been informed by the Chief
Constable that on the apprehension of one George Valentine, on a charge
of felony, a large sum of money was found in his possession. Valentine
having been tried and convicted at the Quarter Sessions, the Town Clerk
had stated that the city was entitled to the convict's money. The Chief
Constable wished to know how he should dispose of the money. The
Committee were advised that, after the conviction, the city had become
entitled to the money under a Royal charter granted during the reign of
Henry IV. The Council ordered that the money remain in the hands of the
City Treasurer, pending further inquiry. The question was again
considered by the Council on May 12th, 1863, when the Town Clerk reported
that after Valentine's conviction it was found that, in addition to the
sum in question (90 pounds), he had 60 pounds deposited in a savings bank
in London. The Town Clerk had given notice to the bank directors that
the Corporation claimed the money, but since the liberation of the
prisoner he had been pressed to withdraw the notices, and had refused to
do so without the sanction of the Corporation. The difficulty under
which the Corporation laboured was that the money was out of their
jurisdiction, and they had no control over it beyond the notice that had
been given. If further steps were taken the question would arise whether
it was a forfeiture to the Corporation or to the Crown, but as this would
involve an inquisition, the cost of which would probably exhaust the
money enquired about, it was for the Council to say whether, the man,
having served his term of three years' penal servitude, and having
petitioned for some relief from the fund to place him in a position to
gain an honest livelihood, they would authorise the withdrawal of the
notice. It was agreed that the notice be withdrawn.
25.--A severe storm occurred off the Norfolk coast. At Winterton two
vessels were wrecked and thirteen lives lost. At Yarmouth there were
several wrecks, and for miles the shore was strewn with remains of
cargoes and portions of vessels. The sloop James and Jessie drifted on
to the Britannia Pier, and severed the structure into two parts.
26.--Mr. and Mrs. German Reed gave, at the Assembly Rooms, Norwich, their
entertainment entitled, "Seaside Studies."