6.--The hearing of the election petition against the return of Mr. Jacob
Henry Tillett as member of Parliament for the city commenced at the
Shirehall, Norwich, before Mr. Justice Lush. Mr. Giffard, Q.C., was
leading counsel for the petitioner, and Mr. Hawkins, Q.C., for the
respondent. It was alleged on the part of the petitioner that a large
number of voters had received employment of a colourable character.
"Wherever possible a voter was made a messenger, clerk, or something.
The majority for Mr. Huddleston at the General Election was between 40
and 50, but by this kind of device the Conservative majority was
converted into a minority of one under 800." The inquiry proceeded, and
on the 15th Mr. Hawkins announced that "Mr. Tillett had come to the
conclusion it had been sufficiently established that a great number of
the lower class voters were employed unjustifiably in his behalf, and he
felt he could not struggle further to retain the seat." After hearing
the evidence of Mr. Tillett and a few other witnesses, his lordship said:
"The result is the respondent has become disqualified by reason of this
corruption by his agents, and I have nothing more to do than to declare
the election void and award costs to the petitioner." (_See_ August
16th.)
13.--The centenary of the banking house of Messrs. Gurneys and Co. was
celebrated by a dinner given at Stoke Holy Cross, the seat of Mr. Henry
Birkbeck. "The original founders of the Bank were John and Henry Gurney,
who, in addition to their ordinary trade, that of merchants, carried on a
banking business, first in Pitt Street, and afterwards in Magdalen
Street. They were the sons of John Gurney, who earned the title of the
'Weavers' Friend,' by reason of his advocacy of their cause. The Gurneys
having, in 1779, devoted themselves exclusively to banking, the business
was transferred to Bartlett Gurney (son of Henry Gurney), who removed to
the present premises on Bank Plain, having as a partner his uncle, John
Gurney. Bartlett Gurney died in 1803, and John Gurney was left sole
proprietor, being joined shortly by his cousins, Richard and Joseph
Gurney. John Gurney lived at Earlham Hall, Richard Gurney at Keswick,
and Joseph Gurney at Lakenham. Changes from time to time occurred, and
Hudson Gurney, Richard Hanbury Gurney, James John Gurney, Henry Birkbeck
(the father of the present head of the firm), and Simon Martin became at
subsequent periods partners in the great banking house. The panics of
the years 1792 and 1825, which caused the failure of many banking houses,
only resulted in establishing the Gurneys on a firmer and more prosperous
basis, for they not only survived these financial disasters, but assisted
others to tide over their difficulties. The year 1866 will be remembered
as one which tested the stability of the house. The run on the Bank in
that and the following year was as remarkable for its intensity as it was
lasting. The run having ended, the business was further extended in 1870
by the addition of that of Harveys and Hudsons, the goodwill of which was
purchased, and, by the liberality of the firm, that which might have
ended in a catastrophe for Norfolk was averted. It is now by far the
largest private banking house in the provinces."