2.--A meeting, convened by the Lord Lieutenant of the county (the Earl of
Leicester) and the High Sheriff (Mr. S. Gurney Buxton), was held at the
Shirehall, Norwich, to consider what steps should be taken to provide a
present from Norfolk to the Duke of Clarence and Avondale and Princess
Mary Victoria on the occasion of their marriage. It was resolved to open
a public subscription. A similar movement was inaugurated by the
citizens of Norwich.
--The Norfolk County Council appointed Mr. H. C. Bolingbroke "accountant
officer" to fill the vacancy occasioned by the retirement of Mr. H. W.
Day from the office of County Treasurer.
14.--Died, at Sandringham, his Royal Highness the Duke of Clarence and
Avondale. The intelligence of the death of the young Prince was received
in Norwich with many manifestations of public sorrow and sympathy. The
church bells were tolled, flags were hoisted at half-mast upon all public
buildings, and the windows of business establishments and private
residences were shaded. The High Sheriff at once sent to the Comptroller
of the Household of the Prince and Princess of Wales a telegram of
sympathy on behalf of himself and the whole county of Norfolk, and on the
15th a special meeting of the Norwich Town Council was held, and
addresses of condolence were ordered to be sent to the Queen, the Prince
and Princess of Wales, and Princess Victoria Mary of Teck. On Sunday,
the 17th, many touching references to the sad event were made in Church
and Nonconformist places of worship; and on the 20th, on which day the
remains of the deceased Prince were removed from Sandringham to Windsor
for interment, a memorial service, attended by the Mayor and Corporation,
was held at Norwich Cathedral, and the Dean preached an eloquent sermon.
At Prince's Street Congregational church, at Trinity Presbyterian church,
and at St. Mary's Baptist chapel similar services were held, business was
suspended in the city, and the licensed victuallers and hotel proprietors
closed their establishments from two o'clock until five o'clock. In
every town and village the day was observed with profound solemnity.
18.--An important meeting was held at the Deanery, Norwich, to discuss
what measures should be taken to complete the sum of 2,500 then being
raised by the Church Schools' Aid Association for the special purpose of
increasing and improving the accommodation of the Church day schools in
the city. It was resolved that it was the imperative duty of Churchmen
to preserve the Church schools in a state of efficiency, and with this
object it was decided that the clergy and laity form local branches to
augment the fund.
19.--Another series of "Science Lectures for the People" commenced at St.
Andrew's Hall, Norwich, when Sir Robert Stawell Ball spoke on "Invisible
Stars." On February 16th the Rev. J. Miller Hamilton lectured on "The
Forth Bridge"; and on March 14th Dr. Andrew Wilson on "The Curiosities of
Brain Action, Dreams, Mesmerism, and Ghost Seeing." A second course
began on November 16th with a lecture by Sir Robert Ball on "How came the
Great Ice Age?" (_See_ January 12th, 1893.)
23.--Influenza raged with great severity in city and county, and many
prominent people were attacked by the complaint. "It is producing many
deaths among the aged; the mortality in Norwich last week was 40.1 per
thousand." In the week ending January 30th the mortality in the city had
increased to 44 per thousand.
30.--Died, at the Shrubbery, St. Stephen's Road, Norwich, Mr. Jacob Henry
Tillett. He was born November 1st, 1818, at Quay Side, St.
Martin-at-Palace, Norwich, and was son of Mr. Jacob Tillett, a dyer. His
grandfather was a schoolmaster, whose attainments in mathematics,
navigation, and gunnery brought him into some prominence in his day.
Young Tillett was educated at King Edward VI. Grammar School, and on
leaving school served his articles with Mr. John Rising Staff, then a
leading solicitor in Norwich. In 1839 he opened an office for himself in
Post Office Street, and obtained a large and lucrative connection.
Literary rather than legal work best accorded with Mr. Tillett's natural
tastes. In 1845 he founded the "Norfolk News," and with the conduct of
that journal he was thenceforward associated throughout his life, as
chairman of the company and as editor, in which position he not only
controlled the policy of the paper, but weekly contributed its leading
articles. For many years Mr. Tillett was a member of the Town Council,
and twice served the office of Mayor, first in 1859-60 and again in
1875-76. He was twice returned to a seat on the Norwich School Board,
and on the second occasion was elected Chairman. In 1874 he was
appointed a justice of the peace, but he never qualified. Although he
was not attached to any particular sect, he identified himself with
various religious movements in the city. Mr. Tillett was the most potent
political personal force that the century produced in Norwich. He
contested the city in 1868 unsuccessfully, Sir Henry Stracey and Sir Wm.
Russell being returned. That election was invalidated on petition. In
May, 1870, when a new writ was issued for the vacant seat, Mr. Tillett
was returned by 4,236 votes against 3,874 polled by Mr. J. W. Huddleston.
A petition followed, and Mr. Tillett was unseated. At the dissolution in
1874 the Conservatives brought forward Sir Henry Stracey and Mr.
Huddleston, and the Liberal cause was again championed by Mr. Tillett,
with Mr. Colman as his colleague. Mr. Colman was returned at the head of
the poll with 6,138 votes, and Mr. Huddleston was the other successful
candidate, with 5,823 votes. Mr. Tillett polled 5,776 and Sir Henry
Stracey 5,290 votes. Early in 1875 Mr. Huddleston was raised to the
judicial bench, and at the bye-election Mr. Tillett entered the lists
against Colonel Wilkinson. The contest took place on March 5th, and
resulted in Mr. Tillett's return by a majority of 799. Then came the
third petition, on which Mr. Tillett was again unseated, and a Royal
Commission followed. The writ was suspended until the dissolution in
1880, when the Conservatives were represented by Mr. H. Harben and the
Hon. Massey Mainwaring. The seats were carried by Mr. Colman and Mr.
Tillett on a poll of 6,549 for the former and 6,512 for the latter, the
votes for the Conservative candidates being 5,242 for Mr. Harben and
5,032 for Mr. Mainwaring. The successful candidates were allowed to
retain their seats undisturbed; but Mr. Tillett reached the goal of his
ambition too late to derive any satisfaction from it, and the five years
he spent in Parliament were among the most irksome and worrying of any in
his life. At the dissolution in 1885 he announced his intention not to
again offer himself for the representation of the city; but in 1886 he
was once more induced to stand, and, with Mr. Colman, opposed the return
of Mr. Samuel Hoare and Mr. C. S. Read. The result of the poll was as
follows:--Colman, 6,295; Hoare, 6,156; Tillett, 6,119; Read, 5,564. With
this campaign Mr. Tillett practically closed his electioneering career.
Whatever the Conservative party may have thought of his political faults
and shortcomings, Mr. Tillett was no Socialist or Revolutionist. He was
staunch in his loyalty to the Throne, and would have strongly opposed any
attack upon the free monarchial constitution. Although he stood at the
1886 election as a Gladstonian, his convictions were in favour of the
maintenance of the Union. For the private character of this eminent
citizen it was impossible to entertain but one sentiment, that of the
highest esteem and regard, for he was naturally of a kind, considerate,
and affectionate disposition.