6.--The Norwich Diocesan Conference commenced its sittings at Noverre's
Rooms, Norwich. The proceedings ended on the 7th.
7.--The new building erected on St. James's Road by the Corporation of
Lynn, for the reception of the Stanley Library, was opened. The Bishop
of Carlisle (Dr. Harvey Goodwin, son of Mr. Charles Goodwin, of Lynn)
delivered an inaugural address, in the course of which he reviewed the
changes and improvements in his native town since he last visited it
twenty-five years previously.
10.--Mr. John Hotblack was elected Mayor and Mr. William Howard Dakin
appointed Sheriff of Norwich.
18.--At a meeting of the Norwich Town Council the Parliamentary and
Bylaws Committee reported that counsel was of opinion "that the
Corporation should for the present hold its hand and not make any further
distribution among the freemen of the funds arising from the Town Close
Estate." The recommendation of the Committee "that the question of
payment remain in abeyance until the next meeting," was adopted by 45
votes against 11. At an adjourned meeting held on December 16th "to
consider the case submitted to the Solicitor-General and Mr. Asquith,"
Mr. Hackblock moved the adoption of the recommendation of the
Parliamentary and Bylaws Committee "that the City Treasurer be directed
to carry the amounts of the rents of the Town Close Estate in his hands
to a separate account, with the view of affording an opportunity for
obtaining a judicial decision as to the rights of the freemen to the
estate." Mr. Joseph Stanley moved "That the freemen be paid as usual."
The amendment was defeated by 26 votes against 21. On the adjournment of
the Council a writ issued by Mr. Stanley on behalf of four freemen, and
directed against the Mayor, Aldermen, and Councillors and her Majesty's
Attorney General, was served upon the Town Clerk. It claimed for the
freemen a declaration that the Corporation was seized and entitled to the
receipt of the rents and profits of the Town Close Estate upon trust only
for the benefit of the plaintiffs and others the freemen of the city, and
an account of the rents and profits of the estate which had been received
by the Corporation. The appointment of a receiver was asked for, and in
addition the plaintiffs sought an injunction to restrain the Corporation
from admitting to the freedom of the city by servitude any persons who
had served only under articles of clerkship to a solicitor for not
exceeding five years, and had not served seven years' apprenticeship to a
freeman trader. The Corporation was also desired to furnish an account
of all persons so admitted from September 9th, 1835, it being contended
by the freemen that the profession of law was not a trade or business as
required by the Act, and that no man could be admitted under less than a
seven years' apprenticeship. (_See_ March 21st, 1887.)
30.--Died, at Costessey Park, the Right Hon. Henry Valentine Baron
Stafford. He was a son of George William, eighth lord (in whose favour
an attainder was reversed in 1824), by his first wife, Frances Henrietta,
youngest daughter and co-heiress of Mr. Edward Sulyarde, of Wetherdon,
Suffolk, and was born January 2nd, 1802. His lordship was twice married,
first on February 13th, 1829, to Julia, second daughter of Mr. Edward C.
Howard, F.R.S., and niece of the 12th Duke of Norfolk, who died in
November, 1856; and, secondly, in September, 1859, to Emma Eliza,
daughter of Mr. Frederick S. Gerard, of Aspull House, Lincolnshire, and
niece of Robert Lord Gerard, by whom he was survived. He was one of the
first Roman Catholics who sat in the House of Commons after the passing
of the Roman Catholic Relief Bill, when he was chosen member for
Pontefract. On the occasion of the visit of the Prince and Princess of
Wales, the Queen of Denmark, and the Duke of Edinburgh to Norwich, in
1866, Lord Stafford entertained them at Costessey Park. In recognition
of his munificent liberality on that occasion a subscription was
inaugurated by the Corporation of Norwich for a full-length portrait of
his lordship, which was placed in St. Andrew's Hall. Lord Stafford was
the courtliest of gentlemen and the most liberal of landlords.