1.--Died in Florida, while on leave of absence from Montreal,
Lieut.-General Sir Charles Ashe Windham, K.C.B., commanding the forces in
Canada. He was the fourth son of Vice-Admiral Windham, of Felbrigg Hall,
who was the son of the Rev. George William Lukin, Dean of Wells, and who
assumed the name of Windham on succeeding to the estates of his
distinguished relative, the Right Hon. William Windham. His mother was
Anne, daughter of Mr. Peter Thellusson, of Broadsmouth, Yorkshire, and
sister of the first Baron Rendlesham. He was born at Felbrigg in 1810,
and married first, in 1849, Marianne Catherine Emily, daughter of Admiral
Sir John P. Beresford, Bart., K.C.B., who died in 1865; and secondly, in
1866, Charlotte Jane, eldest daughter of the Rev. Henry Des Voeux.
Educated at Sandhurst, he entered the Army in 1826, as ensign and
lieutenant in the Coldstream Guards, and served in Canada during the time
of the rebellion, from 1838 to 1842. He continued with the regiment
until the outbreak of the war with Russia, when he accompanied the
Eastern Army as Assistant Quarter-master General of the 4th Division, and
served from September, 1854, to July, 1856, without a day's absence. He
was present at the battle of the Alma, at Balaclava, and at the repulse
of the powerful sortie on October 26th, 1854, and was with Sir George
Cathcart when the latter was killed at the battle of Inkerman. At the
second assault on the Redan, on September 8th, 1855, Windham (then
Colonel) greatly distinguished himself by his personal daring and
gallantry in command of the storming party of the second division, and
for his intrepid conduct was promoted Major-General. In September, 1855,
he was appointed Governor of the British portion of Sebastopol, and in
the following month was entrusted with the command of the 4th Division.
For his services in the Crimea he received numerous clasps, medals, and
orders. In 1857 General Windham proceeded to India and commanded a
division in the field, under Lord Clyde, during the advance to Kallee
Nuddee. On June 17th, 1861, he was appointed to the command of the 46th
Regiment of Foot, and in October, 1867, became Commander of the Forces in
Canada. On the return of General Windham from the Crimea, in July, 1856,
he was enthusiastically received at Norwich and presented with two
handsome swords, purchased by public subscription. In April, 1857, he
was returned to Parliament for East Norfolk, and remained its member for
two years.
5.--A meeting of the Norwich Diocesan Church Association was held at the
Church Societies' Rooms, Norwich, for the purpose of discussing the
question of national education, a subject which was brought prominently
before the country during this year. The Bishop of Norwich presided, and
the Dean moved, "That in any legislative enactments for promoting the
education of the children of the working classes called for by the
destitution in this respect of many places in England and Wales, the
inculcation of Christian truth ought to form an essential feature, and
that provision for this purpose can be best made under existing
circumstances through the medium of parochial and other schools attached
to the Church of England or to other religious communions." A further
resolution was moved by the Hon. Frederick Walpole, M.P., "That the
present system, which has been successfully in operation during the last
thirty years, carried on by means of voluntary efforts, and maintained by
school fees, charitable contributions, and grants from the Consolidated
Fund, is capable of further extension and improvement, and is able, if
adequately assisted by the State, to supply the national wants of the
country without resorting to local taxation for the purpose, unless in
those extreme cases for which provision can be made in no other way." A
third resolution was moved by Mr. C. S. Read, M.P., "That compulsory
education, except under especial circumstances, such as the case of
vagrant, criminal, and destitute children, would be an unnecessary
interference with the rights and responsibilities of parents, and unless
applied to all classes of the community, create an unjust and invidious
distinction between rich and poor, and its enforcement by pains and
penalties would cause a general feeling of hardship and discontent, while
its objects could be attained by other means, such as the extension,
under due restrictions, of the Factory Acts and of similar measures
regulating the employment of children's labour." The final resolution
was moved by the Rev. Canon Heaviside, "That in the opinion of this
meeting it is expedient that the promoters of Church education should
consent that in schools aided by the Government grant provision should be
made for securing perfect liberty of distinctive religious teaching
combined with perfect liberty of declining it." These resolutions were
adopted. The Elementary Education Bill, introduced by Mr. W. E. Forster
on February 17th, was passed, and received the Royal assent on August
9th. On October 11th a meeting of the clergy was held, under the
presidency of the Mayor (Mr. A. F. C. Bolingbroke), at the Girls' Model
School, Norwich, "for the purpose of consulting as to the steps to be
taken under the Elementary Education Act," and it was resolved to convene
a public meeting for the discussion of the question. This meeting was
held on October 19th, at the Free Library, and was composed of "school
managers and supporters of Church education." The Mayor again presided.
The Lord Bishop moved, "That, with the view of carrying out the objects
of the Elementary Education Act, 1870, in this city, steps be immediately
taken to supply and maintain sufficient, efficient, and suitable schools
on the voluntary principle, in order to secure in Church schools
religious education in accordance with the teaching of the Church of
England." This was seconded by Mr. Henry Birkbeck. The Sheriff (Mr.
Henry Morgan) moved, "That an immediate appeal be made to the citizens of
Norwich to provide funds on the voluntary principle for carrying out the
object of this meeting." A further resolution was adopted, "That the
Bishop of the Diocese, with the clergy of the city, the managers of
Church schools, and such donors and subscribers as may be willing to act
be constituted a council, and shall appoint, as soon as possible, a
committee to carry out the former resolutions, and to report progress to
the council from time to time." The body thus constituted was afterwards
known as the Church Education Council. On November 28th the supporters
of voluntary education held a large meeting at St. Andrew's Hall, at
which were adopted resolutions framed on similar lines to the foregoing.
The supporters of unsectarian education held a meeting at the Free
Library on the 30th, under the presidency of Mr. Jacob Henry Tillett, at
which the Rev. G. S. Barrett moved, "That a request be sent to the Mayor
to convene a common hall, in order that steps may be taken immediately
for the formation of a School Board in the city." The Rev. J. Hallett
seconded the motion, which was unanimously adopted, and a committee was
formed for the purpose of carrying it into effect. The Church Education
Council, on December 13th, announced that sufficient subscriptions had
been obtained for providing necessary school accommodation in Norwich.
At a special meeting of the Town Council on December 20th, the return
made under the provisions of the Act to the Education Department of the
Privy Council was approved. It stated that the estimated population of
the city was 82,000, the rateable value 212,129; the total number of
assessments, 21,397; and the number of voters on the municipal register,
10,909. "The returns from elementary schools as being in operation were
93; the number of schools to which forms were delivered but refused to
fill them up was 27." (_See_ February 28th, 1871.)
6.--Died at Bethel Street, Norwich, in his 78th year, Mr. Henry Browne.
He was the youngest son of Mr. Alderman John Browne, and a liberal
supporter of the charitable institutions of Norwich. In his early days
of business life Mr. Browne was led to join in those well-intentioned but
unfortunately not permanently successful enterprises, the Yarn Company
and the movement for making Norwich a port by communication with the sea
at Lowestoft.
9.--Strong gales from the E. and E.N.E., accompanied by snow squalls,
prevailed off the Norfolk coast, and increased in severity until the
14th. Several shipping disasters occurred. On the 13th the screw
steamer Sea Queen, with her crew, was lost on the Scroby Sands, and the
American-built barque Victoria, 700 tons, bound from North Shields to
Barcelona, with a cargo of coals, went down. Of her crew, several hands
were lost.
12.--The Assembly Rooms, erected in 1862, on the Victoria Esplanade,
Yarmouth, at the cost of 6,000, were destroyed by fire.
24.--Sir R. J. H. Harvey declined to accede to a memorial signed by 3,000
electors of Norwich, requesting him to allow himself to be adopted as
Conservative candidate for the city.
26.*--"Since January 1st several rare birds have been met with in the
neighbourhood of Swaffham, namely, a fork-tailed petrel, picked up at
Gooderstone; little gull (_Larus minutus_), in good condition, and
weighing only 3 ozs., shot at Beechamwell; stormy petrel, picked up at
Narborough; bittern, shot at Weeting; pied thrush, shot at Cockley Cley;
pied common partridge, shot at Didlington; dusky grebe, shot at
Castleacre; and a peregrine falcon, a fine old female bird weighing 43
ozs. and measuring 47 inches from tip to tip of its wings, shot at
Beechamwell."
28.--The organ at Yarmouth parish church was opened after restoration.
The instrument was built by Jordan, Bridge, and Byfield, in 1733,
repaired by England (Jordan's grandson) in 1812, and again in 1840 by
Gray. It was finally restored and enlarged by Messrs. Hill, of London.