3.*--"Died last week, at Rackheath, Phoebe Clayburn, at the advanced age
of 103 years. She had 22 children, and her eldest son is now living at
Bramerton, aged 80 years; her grandchild is 50; her great-grandchild is
20, and her great-great-grandchild is now two years of age."
4.--The large tract of land known as the Middle Level of the Fens, which
had been greatly improved by the construction of the Middle Level Drain,
a small river which collected the waters of the district and discharged
them into the Ouse near Wiggenhall St. German's, was inundated, in
consequence of a breach in the sluice erected at the point where the two
streams joined. The tide, no longer confined to the channel of the Ouse,
rushed up the drain, broke through the bank on the west side at two
places, and, in a wild torrent, overspread the adjacent lands. Efforts
were at once made to strengthen the dams, by placing vast quantities of
clinch and gravel at the foot of the piles. On June 20th, a meeting of
the owners and occupiers of land was held at the Globe Hotel, Lynn, under
the presidency of the Rev. Henry ffolkes, at which resolutions were
passed requiring the Middle Level Commissioners to take prompt and
efficient measures to prevent the recurrence of such a disaster. It was
also agreed that more satisfactory means for redress for damage should be
given than were afforded by the Middle Level Act, and that application be
made to Parliament for the insertion in the Middle Level Bill then before
the House of Lords of necessary provisions for securing both objects. At
the Norfolk Assizes, on July 29th, before Lord Chief Justice Cockburn,
commenced the long course of litigation resulting from the inundation.
Mr. William Mason, lessee of 18 acres of land at Tilney All Saints,
within the Marshland Fen district, sued Mr. Wise, clerk to the Middle
Level Commissioners, for the recovery of 500 pounds damages sustained
through the alleged negligence of the Commissioners in making and
maintaining the Middle Level Sluice and Drain. Leave was given to both
sides to move in the Common Pleas or Queen's Bench for the removal of the
trial to London. On August 16th it was announced that the expenses
incident to the disaster were estimated at about 25,000 pounds, to meet
which 20,000 pounds had been taken up by way of temporary loan. A second
disaster occurred on October 4th. One of the outfall sluices of the
Marshland Smeeth and Fen Drain, an important arterial drain running into
the Ouse about 200 or 300 yards northward of the ruined Middle Level
Sluice, gave way, and again a wide extent of country was submerged. Four
hundred navvies were at once set to work to form a dam of many thousands
of sacks filled with earth. On the 5th the temporary dam gave way
bodily, and the entire mass having been carried a score yards up the
drain, sank out of sight. The tidal water having overcome the obstacle,
went with a rush and a roar on its work of devastation, carrying with it
great quantities of earth and timber. About 1,000 acres were flooded;
4,000 acres were under water before the completion of another temporary
dam on the 8th. After that the water was removed by means of huge
syphons. On November 10th the Court of Common Pleas refused a rule for
the changing of the venue of the trial of the action, Mason _v._ Wise,
from Norfolk to Surrey, and with this decision ended the first stage of
the legal proceedings. (_See_ January 31st, 1863.)
5.--The Braham Grand English Opera Company commenced a six nights'
engagement at Norwich Theatre, with the performance of "Il Trovatore."
The other operas produced during the engagement included "The Bohemian
Girl," "Robin Hood," "The Daughter of the Regiment," "Der Freischutz,"
"Cinderella," and "Lucia Di Lammermoor." Among the principals were Miss
Fanny Ternan, Miss Maria Ternan, Mdlle. A. Kemp, Mr. Brookhouse Bowler,
and Mr. Hamilton Braham.
24.--The Norfolk Volunteer Service Association was formed at a meeting
held at the Shirehall, Norwich, under the chairmanship of the Lord
Lieutenant, who was elected president. Its objects were, "the promotion
of rifle shooting and giving permanence to the Volunteer corps throughout
the county." The first prize-meeting was held on the Mousehold Range,
Norwich, from September 8th to 11th.
27.--The Channel Squadron, under the command of Rear-Admiral Robert
Smart, arrived in Yarmouth Roads, and on June 1st was joined by the St.
George, with H.R.H. Prince Alfred on board. The Squadron sailed for the
Downs on the 4th.