Leading Events (_continued_).
WE resume our chronological list of the leading events of the century:—
* * * * *
1825. January 5th. At a public meeting held at the Guildhall, a
Mechanics’ Institution was established, and it was continued for some
years in the rooms above the Bazaar, St. Andrew’s.
March. Cleansing week passed off without opposition for the second time.
April 7th. The clergy of the archdeaconry of Norwich agreed to petition
in favour of the claims of the Catholics to have the same political
rights and privileges as other people.
April 18th. At a public meeting, held in St. Andrew’s Hall, a petition
for a revision of the Corn Laws was adopted unanimously. The petition
afterwards received 14,385 signatures, and was forwarded on the 26th to
be presented to parliament. As yet it was not proposed to _repeal_ the
Corn Laws, which were then a monstrous injustice.
May 1st. The election for mayor took place, and the numbers were for
Alderman Day, 679; Alderman Booth, 597; Alderman Leman, 152; Alderman
Burt, 150. Thomas Starling Day, Esq., was elected.
May 3rd. The corporation adopted a petition against the Catholic claims,
the members going quite out of their way to perpetuate a great wrong.
May 31st. The anniversary of the birthday of the Rt. Hon. William Pitt
was celebrated by the members of the castle corporation.
June 11th. The first stone of the new theatre was laid, and it was
erected on the present site. The building is only a piece of patch-work,
and has no pretensions to architectural design. It is no credit to the
city in any respect. It was opened on March 27th, in the following year.
June 21st. The mayor (T. S. Day, Esq.,) was sworn into office; he
afterwards gave a dinner to upwards of 460 gentlemen in St. Andrew’s
Hall.
August 30th. A contest took place for freemen’s sheriff; at the close of
the poll the numbers were for Mr. Brookes, 865; Alderman Springfield,
501. The former was returned.
September 1st. The corporation presented a piece of plate, of the value
of 100 guineas, to William Simpson, Esq., chamberlain, in testimony of
their high esteem for the ability and integrity displayed in the
discharge of his official duties; and of their unanimous approbation of
his long and faithful services.
November 2nd. Sir Thomas P. Hankin, Lieut. Colonel of His Majesty
regiment of Royal North British Dragoons, was interred in the Cathedral
with military honours.
November 21st. At a public meeting, held in St. Andrews Hall, a Society
was formed for promoting the Abolition of Colonial Slavery. The late J.
J. Gurney and all his family were great advocates of negro emancipation,
but the diabolical injustice of slavery continued for many years to be
the disgrace of England. At many meetings held in this city, the late J.
J. Gurney denounced the atrocities of the slave trade, and advocated its
abolition. This object was at last accomplished after a violent
agitation throughout the country, at a cost of twenty millions sterling!
* * * * *
1826. January. This year, in consequence of the iniquitous corn laws,
bread was dear, work was scarce, and the poor were destitute. Nearly
£5000 was subscribed for their relief.
March. Cleansing Week ward elections passed off without opposition,
except in the Wymer ward, where it was merely nominal.
May 1st. The election of mayor took place. Messrs. Booth and Patteson
were returned to the court of aldermen without opposition, and Mr. E. T.
Booth was elected.
May 30th. The anniversary of Mr. William Pitt’s birthday was again
celebrated by the members of the castle corporation. The dinners of this
and other clubs served to keep alive party spirit.
June 20th. This being Guild day, E. T. Booth, Esq., was sworn into the
office of chief magistrate; after which, the Rt. Hon. Robert Peel,
secretary of state for the Home department, and Jonathan Peel, Esq., the
new member of parliament for the city, were admitted to the freedom of
the city.
August 29th. A contest took place for the office of freemen’s sheriff.
At the close of the poll the numbers were for Mr. James Bennett, 1164;
Mr. Alderman Springfield, 1079. The former was returned.
November. Parish meetings were held in many parts of the city, and votes
of thanks were passed to Crisp Brown, Esq., for his strenuous exertions
in preventing impositions in paying public money for the new jail, then
considered a job.
November 21st. William Simpson, Esq., was elected town clerk and clerk
of the peace for this city, in the room of the late Elisha De Hague,
Esq., who died on the 11th inst., at the age of 72.
December 6th. Robert Alderson, Esq., was unanimously elected recorder of
the city, on the resignation of Charles Savill Onley, Esq., and on the
12th, Isaac Preston, Esq., was elected steward of the corporation, vacant
by the resignation of Mr. Alderson.
* * * * *
1827. January 7th. On the intelligence being received here of the death
of his late Royal Highness, Duke of York and Albany, the bells of the
different churches were tolled for some time, and the shops were
partially closed on the following days.
January 20th. This being the day appointed for the funeral of his late
Royal Highness the Duke of York, the melancholy occasion was observed by
a general suspension of business; the corporation attended divine service
at the Cathedral, and the bells of the parish churches were tolled.
January 26th. At a meeting of the clergy, a petition was adopted in
favour of the Catholic claims.
April. Cleansing Week ward elections came on with several severe
contests. Conisford ward, J. Marshall, 213; T. Edwards, 212; J. Kitton,
205 (nominees); J. Angell, 204; A. B. Beevor, 203; J. P. Cocksedge, 202.
Mancroft ward, no opposition, J. Goodwin, T. Eaton, C. Hardy (nominees).
Wymer ward, W. Foster, 435; J. S. Parkinson, 434; G. Kitton, 429
(nominees). Northern ward, S. S. Beare, 424; R. Shaw, 415; H. Martineau,
420 (nominees); G. Coleby, 237; T. Grimmer, 244.
May 1st. The election of mayor took place; at the close of the poll the
numbers were, Alderman Finch, 918; Alderman Yallop, 867; Alderman
Patteson, 566; Alderman Browne, 565. Peter Finch, Esq., was elected. He
lived for many years in a large house built of flint in St. Mary’s.
June 19th. This being Guild day, Peter Finch, Esq., was sworn into the
office of chief magistrate.
August 28th. The election for freemen’s sheriff came on; at the close of
the poll the numbers were for Mr. Alderman Springfield, 1210; Mr. F.
White, 474. The former was returned.
September 12th. There was a severe contest for the office of alderman of
Conisford ward in the room of the late William Herring, Esq., who died on
the 8th, aged 74. At the close of the poll the numbers were for J.
Angell, 218; J. Marshall, 196; and the former was returned. A scrutiny
was demanded by Mr. Marshall’s friends, but was afterwards abandoned.
This month Mr. Myher Levi, a Jew, and his wife Hannah Levi, a Jewess,
having been converted, were baptised in the parish church of St.
Stephen’s, and received the name of Herbert.
* * * * *
1828. January 10th. The members of the castle corporation celebrated
their sixty-third anniversary.
March. Cleansing Week elections. Conisford ward, J. Marshall, 240; T.
Edwards, 240; A. B. Beevor, 239, (nominees); J. Skipper, 225; S. W.
Mealing, 226; R. Merry, 225. No opposition in the other wards, but for
Mancroft ward, J. Bennett, A. Beloe, and C. Hardy (nominees); and for the
Northern ward, S. S. Beare, R. Shaw, and H. Martineau (nominees).
May 1st. A contest for mayor, which lasted two days; at the close of the
poll the numbers were for Alderman Yallop, 1212; Alderman Thurtell, 1210;
Alderman Angell, 1097; Alderman Patteson, 1020. The two former were
returned to the court of aldermen, who elected T. Thurtell, Esq.
May 5th. At a public meeting held at the Guildhall, resolutions were
passed and a petition to parliament was adopted for the immediate
alleviation and ultimate extinction of slavery in the West India
colonies. The petition afterwards received the signatures of 10,125
persons, and was 150 feet in length.
June 12th. The anniversary of the birthday of the late Rt. Hon. William
Pitt was commemorated by a dinner of the Tories at the Assembly Rooms.
About 160 gentlemen were present.
In August, the new Exchange Street was opened, and on October 11th, a new
Corn Hall was opened to the public.
* * * * *
1829. January and February. Petitions were adopted against the claims
of the Roman Catholics by the Brunswick Constitutional Club, and other
inhabitants of this city; but counter declarations from the clergy of the
diocese of Norwich, and from a “Society of the friends of civil and
religious liberty,” were agreed to. The agitation on this vexed question
had now reached its height in the country.
February 17th. Even the common council now agreed to present an address
to the king for the removal of Roman Catholic disabilities.
March. Cleansing Week ward elections came on. Conisford ward, J.
Marshall, 258; T. Edwards, 259; J. Youngs, 253, (nominees); J. Skipper,
83; S. W. Mealing, 84; R. Merry, 82. Mancroft ward, no opposition, J.
Bennett, A. Beloe, and C. Hardy (nominees). Wymer ward, W. Foster, 466;
G. Kitton, 464; A. Barnard, 464 (nominees); J. Culley, 397; J. Brookes,
396; E. Newton, 394. Northern ward, S. S. Beare, 342; R. Shaw, 343; H.
Martineau, 341 (nominees); T. Grimmer, 63; E. Hinde, 64; W. Fromow, 64.
May 1st. T. O. Springfield, Esq., and John Angell, Esq., were returned
to the court of aldermen for the office of mayor without opposition, and
the former was chosen mayor.
June 16th. This being Guild day, T. O. Springfield, Esq., was sworn into
the office of chief magistrate; after which he gave a grand dinner to
upwards of 800 ladies and gentlemen in St. Andrew’s Hall.
July 15th. A public dinner was given to Thomas Thurtell, Esq., at the
Norfolk Hotel, attended by 80 gentlemen, in testimony of their approval
of his honourable, impartial, and upright conduct in the performance of
his duties as mayor during the previous year.
* * * * *
1830. January. Great disturbances took place in the city in consequence
of differences between the manufacturers and weavers concerning wages.
On the 12th, between 3000 and 4000 weavers collected in the avenues to
the workhouse, where they greatly interrupted the business of the court
of guardians, but they were dispersed by the magistrates and patroles.
Munificent donations of £200 from Hudson Gurney, Esq., and £400 from
London were distributed amongst the distressed weavers in bread and coal,
under the direction of a committee. A general subscription was
afterwards raised in the city, amounting to £2300, for the relief of the
poor.
March. Cleansing Week ward elections. Conisford ward, T. Edwards, 251;
J. Youngs, 251; W. G. Edwards, 249 (nominees); J. Skipper, 233; S. W.
Mealing, 232; R. Merry, 228. Mancroft ward, J. Bennett, 195; H. Newton,
196; B. Boardman, 196 (nominees); W. Burt, jun., 50; W. J. Robberds, 50;
P. Nicholls, 50. Wymer ward, J. Culley, 521; J. Winter, 520; J.
Bexfield, 516 (nominees); W. Foster, 376; G. Kitton, 374; A. Barnard,
374. Northern ward, T. Grimmer, 292; E. Browne, 290; W. Fromow, 289
(nominees); H. Martineau, 278; R. Shaw, 276; W. Newson, 276.
March 29th. On the evening of the Conisford ward election, the gates
leading to the workhouse were pulled down and destroyed, and considerable
injury was done to the offices adjoining, by a great concourse of persons
riotously assembled, and who were returning from a procession formed by
the defeated party.
May 1st. John Angell, Esq., was elected to serve the office of mayor.
May 3rd. The common council adopted a petition to the lord chancellor
for two general jail deliveries in the year. This was subsequently
granted.
December 23rd. At a special meeting of the council, Isaac Preston, Esq.,
(afterwards Jermy) was elected recorder of the city in place of R.
Alderson, Esq., who had resigned.
* * * * *
1831. January 12th. At a meeting held in the Old Library Room, St.
Andrews Hall, a petition to parliament was adopted, praying for the
entire abolition of slavery in the British colonies.
February 1st. At a special assembly of the corporation, Fitzroy Kelly,
Esq., was unanimously elected steward of that body, and he held that
office till the passing of the Municipal Reform Act.
March 22nd. A petition was sent from the city against the
disfranchisement of the freemen by the proposed Reform Bill. The
signatures were limited to freemen, denizens, and apprentices.
March. Cleansing Week ward elections. Conisford ward, J. Skipper, 270;
R. Merry, 265; B. Bunting, 237, (nominees); T. Edwards, 169; J. Youngs,
167; W. G. Edwards, 167. Mancroft ward, no opposition, J. Bennett, H.
Newton, and B. Boardman (nominees). Wymer ward, no opposition, J.
Culley, J. Winter, W. J. U. Browne (nominees). Northern ward, S. S.
Beare, 344; R. Shaw, 337; W. Enfield, 347 (nominees); T. Grimmer, 222; E.
Browne, 220; W. Fromow, 220.
This year the Lent assizes were held in Norwich by adjournment from
Thetford.
May 1st. J. H. Yallop, Esq., was elected mayor for the second time, and
he gave a grand dinner in St. Andrew’s Hall.
In this month a census of the population was taken, showing 27,910 males,
33,437 females; total 61,347. Inhabited houses, 13,283; uninhabited
houses, 1,082; total 14,365.
June 20th. Samuel Bignold, Esq., was elected an alderman without
opposition in the room of John Patteson, Esq., who had resigned.
August 22nd. The new act of the court of guardians received the royal
assent, and came into operation. This act has since been superseded by
another.
September 12th. The election of guardians took place under the new act.
* * * * *
1832. January 11th. At a court of mayoralty it was resolved to present
a memorial to the Home Secretary and the Lord Chancellor, praying that
Norwich might be included in the ensuing circuit of the judges. A
committee was appointed to prepare the memorial. A special court was
convened on the 14th to receive the report, and a memorial was adopted
which was presented by the members for the city. The petition was
granted, and the council passed a vote of thanks to the Lord Chancellor.
April. Cleansing Week for ward elections. Conisford ward, J. Skipper,
266; R. Merry, 264; B. Bunting, 266 (nominees); T. Edwards, 157; J.
Youngs, 159; R. Mills, 157. Mancroft ward, no opposition, J. Bennett, B.
Boardman, and H. Newton (nominees). Wymer ward, J. Culley, 489; J.
Winter, 484; W. J. U. Browne, 485 (nominees); W. Foster, 388; A. Barnard,
383; T. Edwards, 382. Northern ward, S. S. Beare, 380; R. Shaw, 371; W.
Enfield, 381 (nominees); T. Grimmer, 101; E. Browne, 109; H. Steel, 107.
May 1st. The election of mayor took place without opposition. Mr.
Alderman Stevenson, and Mr. Alderman Bignold were nominated, and they
were duly returned; the aldermen chose S. W. Stevenson, Esq., then
proprietor and editor of the _Norfolk Chronicle_. After being sworn in
on the Guild day he gave a grand dinner to about 900 ladies and gentlemen
in St. Andrew’s Hall.
August 28th. The election for freemen’s sheriff was severely contested.
At the close of the poll the numbers were for William Foster, Esq., 1282;
Mr. Alderman Steward, 1275; and after a scrutiny the former was declared
duly elected. This was a triumph for the blue-and-white party.
September 3rd. An election took place for an alderman of Mancroft ward
in the place of J. S. Patteson, Esq., deceased. Charles Turner, Esq.,
was elected; F. Morse, Esq., being the other candidate.
November 11th. This day, at all the churches in the city, thanksgiving
services were performed for the cessation of the cholera, and for the
mild manner in which the inhabitants had been afflicted as compared with
other places. The Norwich Lying-in Charity for delivering poor married
women at their own homes was established, and it has been of great
benefit to the poor.
* * * * *
1833. January. The town clerk of this city received a circular from the
secretary of state, requesting to be informed of the mode of electing
members of the corporation. The town clerk forwarded his answer on the
21st.
March. Cleansing Week for ward elections. Conisford ward, no contest,
J. Skipper, R. Merry, and B. Bunting (nominees). Mancroft ward, no
opposition, J. Bennett, B. Boardman, H. Newton (nominees). Wymer ward,
J. Culley, 486; J. Winter, 484; W. J. U. Browne, 486 (nominees); G.
Kitton, 122; R. Miller, 122; C. W. Unthank, 121. Northern ward, S. S.
Beare, 300; R. Shaw, 298; W. Enfield, 300 (nominees); T. Grimmer, 206; H.
Steel, 204; J. Sinclair, 203.
May 1st. At the election for mayor, Aldermen Bignold and Turner were
returned to the court without opposition, and S. Bignold, Esq., was
chosen to serve the office. On the Guild day he was sworn in, and on
this occasion he gave a magnificent banquet to about 1100 ladies and
gentlemen in St. Andrew’s Hall. The same place was the scene of great
festivity on June 20th and 21st, when dinners were given to the electors
in the orange-and-purple interest, those in the Conisford and Northern
wards to the number of 750 on the first day, and those of the Wymer and
Mancroft wards 912 on the following day. Great was the rejoicing, but it
was of short duration. The days of the old corporation were numbered.