14.--A meeting of the agriculturists of the county, whose interests were
affected by the action of the Labourers' Union, was held at the Norfolk
Hotel, Norwich, "to take action with reference to the demands now being
pressed upon the occupiers of the soil." It was decided to form a
Norfolk Farmers' Labour Defence Association. Another meeting took place
on April 25th, for promoting the objects of the association. Many
meetings were held throughout the county by the Labourers' Union during
this year, and much strong feeling was manifested. At the Norfolk Lent
Assizes, on March 28th, before Mr. Justice Blackburn, the Rev. John
Spurgin, vicar of Hockham, brought an action against Mr. John Edward
Matthew Vincent, of the "Labourers' Union Chronicle," for publishing a
false and malicious libel, "whereby he was injured in his credit and
reputation as a clergyman." The paper, which was published at
Leamington, alleged that the "reverend divine" claimed tithe on charity
coals supplied to the poor parishioners, and "had two tons out of the
twenty carted to his divine rectory, for his own consumption." The
defendant afterwards expressed deep regret for publishing the imputation,
and the jury found a verdict for the plaintiff--damages 100.