1832.
Jan. 5th.—The Hon. and Rev. E. Pellew had distributed the prizes to the Sunday School children.
Jan. 12th.—Dr. Cox had delivered a very interesting lecture on “Physiology.”
Feb. 2nd.—The Rev. Henry Squire was advertised to deliver a course of lectures at the Old Meeting.
The case of the King against the Aldermen of Yarmouth is reported.
Feb. 9th.—With regard to which the following notice appears this week:—
THE KING AGAINST THE ALDERMEN OF YARMOUTH.
We are authorized to state that the Report of the hearing of this cause, in our last week’s paper, is incorrect, Lord Tenterden having observed that there was no ground for an attachment, as the parties had acted bona fide; that the business of the Corporation must be done, and directed that the rule should be enlarged, to give the Defendants an opportunity of doing so. The Counsel for the Defendants said they were ready to proceed, but could not compel the Mayor to call an Assembly, or the Common Councilmen to meet,—whereupon his Lordship, on the motion of Defendants’ Counsel, directed a mandamus to be issued for the filling up all vacancies, and then transacting the other necessary business; and upon a Return being made to the Writ, the Rule will be discharged.
Feb. 16th—A general meeting of the inhabitants was proposed to be held to take into consideration the expediency of erecting a new Workhouse, “it appearing by a report of the select Vestry now published, that the present one is quite inadequate to the purpose, both as to extent and arrangement, and as being utterly incapable of affording room for that classification which is indispensable to the moral improvement and employment of its inmates, and also to the comfort of the aged and infirm. It is now about fifty years since any room was added to it. The increase of inhabitants in the town, and not less so of pauperism during that period, calls for enlarged accommodation. It appears by the report that they are without a day room for the females, or any means of separating the sick from the healthy, and so cramped for lodging room, that a considerable number of the inmates are compelled to sleep three in a bed. It is intended to proceed agreeably to the directions of the 59th Geo. III. cap 12, and 1st and 2nd of William IV. cap. 42.”
March 22nd.—The National Fast had been observed “with a decent solemnity.”
April 5th.—The appointment of a Recorder is noticed as follows:—“At a Corporate Assembly, held on Tuesday last, the long-contested question of ‘who should fill the office of Recorder for the borough?’ (vacant by the resignation of Robert Alderson, Esq.,) was decided. The first business which came before the Court was the accepting of that gentleman’s resignation, after which Isaac Preston, Sen., Esq., proposed the Sub-Steward (I. Preston, Esq.,) to fill the vacant office; this was seconded by C. Symonds, Esq. R. Cory, Esq., then proposed Mr. Sergeant Merewether; this nomination was seconded by Samuel Paget, Esq. On a ballot being demanded, the numbers were found to be equal, viz., 20 for Merewether and the same number for Preston. There were 41 members of the body present, one of whom declined voting. A second ballot was proposed and acceded to, and the same result followed. The Deputy-Mayor (who presided in consequence of the extreme ill health of the Mayor) then said that he would give the members of the Court the chance of a third ballot, on which the gentleman before mentioned voted for Merewether, which gave the learned Sergeant a majority of one, the numbers being for Merewether 21, for Preston 20. Thus has terminated this long agitated question, the product of much squabbling, aye, and of much litigation too. Lord Viscount Exmouth was unanimously chosen Lord High Steward; Isaac Preston, Jun., Esq., and J. Baker, Esq., were elected Aldermen; and Messrs. J. E. Lacon, E. H. L. Preston, Henry Costerton and Samuel Jay, Common Councilmen. At this Court, Mr. J. Seaman received the appointment of Parish Clerk, and Mr. J. Daniel, Sexton; 50 guineas were also voted to St. Mary’s Church, Southtown; £15 per year granted to Mrs. Breeze (widow of the late hall-keeper), and £12 annuity settled on Mrs. Absolon (widow of the late Parish Clerk.) It was likewise ordered that the usual fee of 20s. upon apprentices’ indentures should be taken off. It is only right to state that the entire business of the day was conducted in the most amicable way possible, and that the greatest good temper and gentlemanly feeling was displayed during the discussion on the pending Recordership.”
April 12th.—The thanks of the Corporation were voted to the Rev. R. Turner upon his resignation of his office of Chaplain to that body.
The Sylvan (owned by J. H. Palmer, Esq., and commanded by Captain W. Gilham) and the Preston (belonging to I. Preston, Esq.) had respectively sailed with 100 and 110 emigrants.
April 19th.—Two more emigrant vessels, the Syren and Miser, were advertised to sail for America.—On Friday, then last, (here commonly called Black Friday) the annual meeting had been held at the Guild Hall for the purpose of “reading over” the income and expenditure of our local affairs when “secundum custom (sic.) it was proved that the receipts of any sum, say £5,299, and the payment of £5,298 was balanced by £1 being added to the credit side.” Mr. Shelly and other gentlemen protested against the manner in which these accounts were made out and presented to the freemen.
April 26th.—The newly elected Common Councilmen, Messrs. John Lacon, E. H. L. Preston, Henry Costerton, and Samuel Jay entertained the Corporation and others. John Lacon, Esq., presided, and the following toasts were given:—The King, Queen Adelaide, Princess Victoria, and the Royal Family, Lord Hill and the Army, Sir James Graham and the Navy, Lord Viscount Exmouth, the County Members, &c.
Burglaries had been committed on the premises of Mr. William Green, Messrs. Bracey and Son, Mr. Benjamin Welch, and Mr. Joseph Stevenson, and a man named Woolsey had been charged with the offences.
May 3rd.—The Fair had been held without “A Yarmouth Fair Wind,” and was “very numerously and respectably attended, nor could its visitants complain of lack of amusements, for of remarkable giantesses, as remarkable dwarfs, optical dioramas, &c., &c., there were quantum suff, while roundabouts, Russian swings, and ups-and-downs displayed themselves in abundance to allure the juvenile part of the company out of their stray half-pence and pence.”
May 10th.—The southern bastion of the fort had fallen “with an immense crash.”
The “first fruits of the fishing season” had been landed by a boat, (No. 3), belonging to Mr. George Giles. The night’s haul had produced 48 mackerel, which sold at 1s. 6d. each.
The following vessels had been launched:—The brig Sarah, 190 tons (from Messrs. Tuck’s yard), and the brig Sarepta, 160 tons (from Mr. Lubbock’s yard.)
May 17th.—The news that the Duke of Wellington had “given in and that Lord Grey was then at the palace” was received with joy, and the bells had been rung.
May 24th.—The Rattlesnake (180 tons) had been launched from Mr. F. Preston’s yard.
The mackerel fishery was going on badly, and there was great distress in the town, as thousands depended on that industry for a living.
May 31st.—There had been a great fire at Messrs. Grout and Co’s. Factory, the loss estimated at £12,000, the premises were uninsured.
Two female factory hands, aged respectively 16 and 17, had “fought it out” on the Denes, the prize, a “young tar,” when the “shorter combatant” proved victorious.
June 7th.—The King’s birthday had been celebrated with a great display of flags, the firing of the Church bells, salutes from the Forts, batteries, etc.
June 14th.—The following notice appears as to the Reform Act:—
REFORM.
For some days previous to the passing of the new Magna Charta of our liberties, the Reform Bill, the friends of that great and really Conservative measure had met at the Ship Tavern, for the purpose of considering the best method of celebrating the anticipated triumph. At their first meeting it was determined to open a subscription, leaving the precise manner in which the proceeds should be expended as a matter for future consideration. District Committees were forthwith appointed to manage the collections. The subscription, which is not yet closed, is expected to amount to something very handsome. It was first intended to give the freemen a dinner, but on sounding the latter it was found that they (without any exception) preferred receiving a pecuniary present; it was therefore at a subsequent meeting resolved, that each of those persons should receive a donation in money, and that the friends of Reform should dine together at a time and place hereafter to be appointed. The news of the passing of the unmutilated Bill was received here with every demonstration of joy. The vessels at the Quay displayed a profusion of flags, as did also the principal taverns and inns in the town—indeed everything seemed to show a universal gladness of heart. On Friday last, however, when information arrived of the Royal sanction having been given to the Bill, the fullness of joy exhibited on the occasion knew no bounds. Expectant of the event, a large party of our townsmen (of every grade and condition in life) had proceeded along the Southtown Road on the forenoon of the day, accompanied by a band, flags with appropriate mottoes, &c., to meet the Telegraph. Singular enough, however, the guard of that coach refused to take up the colours, and in answer to repeated enquiries declared “there was no news,” although it was afterwards ascertained that he had read from a newspaper in his possession an account of the Royal signature to the inhabitants of Gorleston while passing through that village. The Reformers of Yarmouth, to show their indignant sense of such conduct, refused to wait at night for the Morning Star (that coach being under the same proprietory as the Telegraph), but instantly sent a courier to Lowestoft to announce their intention of meeting, in procession, the Old Blue. Ultimately, that coach, surrounded by a profusion of elegant and appropriate flags, bands playing, &c., paraded the town. It was really a most animating and exhilarating spectacle; numbers of elegant and beautiful females assembled at the windows to witness the heart-cheering sight of a countless multitude of persons, composed of all ranks in life, alike animated by one feeling, that of exultation and delight. Surely after this our enemies will no longer prate of a reaction! At any rate, such a flagrant attempt at delusion would be scouted by our patriotic townsmen, as one of the basest of libels on old Yarmouth * * * * The public dinner, rejoicings, &c., will, we have just heard, not take place till after the passing of the Scotch and Irish Bills. The dinner, will, we believe, be held at the Town Hall, there being no reason to doubt that the Mayor, with his accustomed gentlemanly feeling, will grant the building for that purpose. Wm. Barth, Esq., is expected to preside.
During the Spring eight vessels had sailed from Yarmouth to different parts of the Canadas, carrying 916 passengers.
June 21st.—The Haven and Pier Commissioners had attended for the purpose of examining the Harbour Works, and it was hoped that extensive improvements would be made therein.
The Conservatives had not announced any candidates, and it was considered probable that Messrs. Anson and Rumbold would be re-elected.
The Rev. Mr. Griffith, junr., had delivered a very impressive sermon on board the Cyrus under the Bethel Flag.
June 28th.—The Corporation had voted an address to the King upon his escape from the late “atrocious” attack upon him.
A vessel was lying off the Pier Head with the Yellow Flag (cholera) flying.
July 5th.—A public dinner was to be held to celebrate the passing of the Reform Bill, and Mr. Windham, the Liberal candidate for E. Norfolk, was to meet his friends, Major Keppel being unable to accompany him.
July 12th.—The Dreadnought lugger (having on board a large cargo of smuggled goods) had been captured.
The Sylvan (belonging to J. H. Palmer, Esq.,) had arrived at Quebec with emigrants.
July 26th.—The annual water frolic is thus noticed: “Monday last was our annual water frolic. The heavens, which appeared inauspiciously to lour during the early part of the day, cleared about noon, and a cloudless and sun-lit sky enabled the admirers of boating excursions to enjoy with high zest the pleasures afforded them by the recurrence of this aquatic treat. The beautiful bosom of Breydon was literally covered with craft of every description, from the stately barge and elegant pleasure boat, down to the humble punt. Three boats, the Coriander, Balls; the Emerald, of Lowestoft, Col. Jones; and the Hornet, of Beccles (the two latter latteeners), were the competitors for the cup. The former had the start, and kept the lead during the three heats, and eventually won by 400 yards. About five o’clock p.m. the boats drew up for dinner. The toute ensemble was at this time picturesque in the extreme, the river, as we have said, studded with boats of various descriptions; the rond (which at this time was more than usually dry and firm) crowded with well-dressed persons of both sexes, whose joyous countenances showed that they looked gratifyingly on the sight; the beautiful ruins of Burgh Castle (the Garianonum of the ancients) in the distance, gilded with the gloomy brightness of a western sun—the declivity of the hill bedecked with many tea-drinking parties, all presented a scene which must have given delight to every true lover of his species. On the following day a cup (the gift of the spirited landlord of the Berney Arms) was sailed for by five 14 feet boats, which was won by the Sultan, George Alexander, who beat her antagonists hollow. We are happy to say that the general feeling of pleasure was not alloyed by the occurrence of a single accident.”
The Theatre had opened with Guy Mannering and Damp Beds. There was a very poor house.
The brig Ida (188 tons) had been launched from Mr. F. Preston’s yard.
August 23rd.—The following estimate of the number of electors under the Reform Act had been made:—Freemen 1,063; £10 householders in Yarmouth, 492; and in Gorleston, 144; total, 1,699.
The Summer Fishing had commenced; 300 lasts of herring had already been brought in.
August 30th.—Messrs. Windham and Keppel (the Liberal candidates for East Norfolk) had dined with about 50 electors at the King’s Head (B. Dowson, Esq., in the chair.)
The following Corporate officers had been elected:—
Mayor-Elect—John Baker, Esq.
Chamberlain—Mr. R. Ferrier.
Churchwardens—John Preston and Charles Symonds, Esqs.
Auditors—I. Preston, John Danby-Palmer, T. F. Garwood, and Charles J. Palmer, Esqs.
Collectors—John Danby-Palmer, Esq., and Mr. Henry Costerton.
Sept. 6th.—The Races had been held and proved very successful.
Sept 13th.—Mr. C. E. Rumbold (Col. Anson being detained in Derbyshire by illness) made a public entry into this town, when the carriage containing the Hon. Member and N. B. Palmer, Esq., had supported on its roof a most elegant silk flag bearing the words “Gorleston and Southtown Voters” upon it.
Sept. 20th.—A public dinner had been given by the Gorleston voters to Messrs. Anson and Rumbold, when 52 gentlemen attended, and W. Barth, Esq., occupied the chair.
Oct. 4th.—The inaugural dinner to the Mayor was held at the Town Hall, and was attended by “nearly 500 guests, among whom were a large number of the nobility and gentry residing in or near Yarmouth.”
Oct. 11th.—The herring fishing had been very unsuccessful. This was attributed to warm weather.
Oct. 18th.—The following notice as to the Wandering Piper appears:—“The Wandering Piper, who has attracted so much notoriety, is expected to visit Yarmouth in the course of a very few days. He is of a rank in life which few suspect who are not acquainted with his private history. He was for a considerable time an officer in the Army, served under Sir John Moore and the Duke of Wellington, and sold his commission after the battle of Waterloo. His opponent is Count Bender, a French Nobleman, but educated in Scotland at the same school with the piper, and betwixt him a great friendship subsisted. They met in London in 1825, when a dispute arose between them concerning the hospitality of different nations, which ended in both parties finally agreeing, for the sum of £5,000, to travel in disguise, the one as a fiddler in France and Belgium, and the other (our hero) as a piper in Britain and Ireland, to subsist upon what the public might be pleased to give them unsolicited, and whoever should have most money in the end was to gain the prize. They both commenced their wanderings in the summer of 1825, but an uncle of the piper’s, who then held a high official situation, having got notice of the freak, put a stop to the proceedings before the end of three months; this gentleman, however, died in 1827, which left both parties free from restraint, in consequence of which they started in August, 1828, the one from Stonehaven, in Scotland, and the other from Calais, in France. This important campaign was only intended to last three years, and would have been finished before now had not the piper received a severe hurt from the upsetting of a stage coach in Ireland, which confined him for fifteen months—during which time there was a secession of hostilities on both sides. The piper during his illness lay at the house of Sir Thomas Butler, Bart., Ballintemple, county Carlow, where he met with the greatest kindness; indeed, the Irish, high and low, seem to have completely entered into the spirit of the undertaking. He was never allowed in any one instance to pay anything at the hotels where he put up, waiter, chambermaid, boots, and porter all refused to accept of any remuneration for their services, nay, the very beggar wished his ‘honour good luck and a safe journey,’ without laying him under further contribution. He says that he has been charged in all instances to the very utmost extent in England; we could have wished it had been otherwise, for the honour of our national character. During his rambles, it is said he had given £550 to different charities, that receipts for which are lodged for safety with John Stuart, Esq., of 19, Cleveland Row, Finsbury Square, London.”
Oct. 25th.—The wandering piper had begun his rounds and had lunched with the Mayor.
Nov. 8th—Electioneering partizanship was displaying itself. A “True Red Committee (composed of the lowest order of beer-loving Burgesses) had been formed” and Andrew Colville, Esq., had been requested to stand for the Borough in that interest.
Nov. 15th.—Mr. Colville had arrived in the Borough and addressed the electors from the “Star” balcony.
Dec. 6th.—Contains the following article:—
Tuesday last was a proud day for the friends of Reform, comprising as they do a vast majority of all ranks of our town’s-people. It having been announced by hand-bill the day previous that Col. Anson and Mr. Rumbold would arrive the following day, as early as the hour at noon, the Southtown Road was crowded with pedestrians and equestrians of all classes. Between twelve and one o’clock the entire body of the Political Union (full 400 strong) assembled at the Guardian Angel, with blue ribbons and their badges round their necks. The worthy candidates having arrived at the above inn, the procession began to move in the following order:—Two trumpeters on horseback; banner—Yarmouth Union of the Working Classes; flags—Union Jack, Royal Standard of England; ‘Universal Suffrage and Vote by Ballot’; ‘Short Parliaments and Liberty of the Press’; ‘The love of our Country leads us’; ‘Close Corporations abolished’; ‘Equal Laws and Equal Rights’; ‘United we stand, divided we fall’; banners of the King and Reform. Flags—‘Gorleston and Southtown Voters’; ‘Anson and Rumbold’; ‘Friends.’ Flags—‘The People’s Cause’; ‘The Poor Man’s Rights’; ‘Reduction of Taxation’; ‘Close Corporations Opened’; ‘Abolition of Slavery’; ‘Cheap Government and Equal Rights’; ‘The Liberty of the Press’; ‘Knowledge is Power’; ‘Civil and Religious Liberty’; ‘Freedom of Election.’ The procession, on entering the town by the Bridge, was welcomed by the exultant shouts of an innumerable concourse of expectant individuals, who had by this time lined the new Hall Quay, eager to witness the imposing spectacle. The blue pennons of numerous ships, ‘floating in the breeze,’ added not a little to the joyousness of the occasion. The procession moved on, adding to its numbers as it advanced along the Quay, up South Street, along King Street, down our beautiful Market Place, and back to the Committee Rooms, from the windows of which the assembled multitude (consisting certainly of not less than 5,000 persons) were addressed by Mr. Alderman Barth, Col. Anson, Mr. Rumbold, and J. Shelly, Esq. The weather was till towards noon rather showery; fortunately it then cleared up. Such, however, appeared to us the general enthusiasm, that it seemed as if no weather could have damped the universal feeling of delight, nor have abated the desire to witness the proceedings of this memorable day. Numbers of well-dressed females from the windows of the houses, as the procession passed along, were to be seen, with approving smiles, shaking blue flags, elegant banners, &c., &c., thus demonstrating their hearty participation in the high feeling of satisfaction which displayed itself all around. Too much praise cannot be given to Capt. Garson and Mr. Gamble for the judgment shown by them in marshalling the procession. Nor ought we to omit mentioning, in terms of high commendation, the excellent conduct of the Union on the occasion—conduct which was noticed in the evening at the King’s Head, by the Chairman (Mr. T. Hammond) making a very handsome acknowledgment of their services, and giving as a toast (which was drank with three times three and very general applause) ‘The Council of the Political Union.’ Surely, if it had been before possible for the Conservatives (as they improperly styled themselves) to have mistaken the feeling of the town, the proceedings of Tuesday last must have entirely undeceived them, and enabled them to see the utter hopelessness of a contest with our late excellent representatives. Monday next is the day of election, when we shall see whether these hardy and obstinate men are still determined to pull down certain ruin on their party.
On Thursday night Messrs. Anson and Rumbold, addressing their numerous friends from the balcony of the Crown and Anchor, were insulted by water thrown upon, and it is reported tiles at them, from a small red inn adjoining. This roused the indignation of the multitude, and the destruction of the windows was the consequence. A spirited youth resented still further indignity offered to his friends by springing from the balcony and seizing upon and destroying the enemy’s blood-red standard.
Dec. 15th.—The nomination took place at the “Tol-hall,” and after the Mayor had opened the proceedings, Col. Anson was nominated by William Barth, Esq., seconded by Mr. Thomas Clowes, Mr. Rumbold by John Shelly and John Brightwen, Esqs., and A. Colville, Esq., by John Lacon, Esq., and Mr. B. Gooch. The show of hands was in favour of Messrs. Anson and Rumbold. The poll for the first day was—
| Rumbold | 715 |
| Anson | 699 |
| Colville | 631 |
And at the close on the second day—
| Rumbold | 838 |
| Anson | 829 |
| Colville | 751 |
Dec. 20th.—A dinner had been held to celebrate the return of these gentlemen, “when William Barth, Esq., presided, C. Sayers, Esq., was his vice, and N. Palmer and John Shelly, Esqs., headed the tables to the right and left of him.”
1833.
Jan. 3rd.—The prisoners in the Gaol and Bridewell returned thanks to the Mayor (J. Baker, Esq.) for the plentiful dinner of roast beef, plum pudding, and a quart of ale each, which he gave them on Christmas Day.
Jan. 10th.—A large alligator had been taken by a Dutch fishing boat off Orford Ness.
Jan. 14th.—H.M. frigates Castor (Capt. Lord J. Hay) and Conway (Capt. Eden), together with the French frigate Arcade, came into the Roads to victual and get a supply of water.
Jan. 17th.—A number of ladies and gentlemen visited the men-of-war; and on the following Tuesday the vessels proceeded “out of the Cockle,” accompanied by the Royal Charlotte cutter (Lieut. Harmer), she “keeping to windward until lost to view.”
Jan. 31st.—A suggestion had been made at the Corporation assembly as to reform of that body, but was not supported.
Feb. 7th.—A fine vessel of 216 tons had been launched from Mr. Preston’s yard, and it was stated that “It is now allowed by merchants from all parts of the world that the finest and handsomest vessels are now built in this port.”
Feb. 21st.—The Flora, a French frigate, had arrived in the Roads.
Feb. 28th.—The petition against the return of Messrs. Windham and Keppel (M.P.’s for East Norfolk) had “excited much surprise and indignation amongst the numerous friends of these gentlemen in the town.”
March 7th.—It was proposed to start a steam packet for the conveying of goods and passengers to Hull.
A warrant from the Speaker of the House of Commons had been received, requesting the attendance of the Mayor and Town Clerk before a Committee of the House “to give an account of all matters relating to the town and Corporation; consequently J. Baker, Esq., and S. Tolver, Esq., had left Yarmouth on Monday.”
A public meeting on the question of Corporation Reform had been held, Mr. C. Sayers in the chair. Messrs. J. Shelly and S. Cobb spoke, and a petition was adopted, which received 1,958 signatures.
A petition had also been adopted by the members of the “Yarmouth Union of the Working Classes” against “The Irish Coercion Bill.”
March 14th.—The Inquiry as to the administration of Corporate affairs was proceeding in London, when the following gentlemen were there upon that business on behalf of the Corporation:—The Mayor, the Town Clerk, and the Water Bailiff, while Messrs. Worship, Barth, Shelly, and Barrett represented the Town Committee.
March 21st.—The works at St. Peter’s Church were “at a stand” for the want of funds, £600 being required.
April 4th.—The Haven Commission were indebted £25,000.
The Sessions were held with the “light calendar of 15 prisoners.”
April 18th.—Lord Orford had accepted the office of Lord High Steward of the Borough, rendered vacant through the death of Lord Exmouth.
The Rev. Mark Waters had been appointed one of the ministers of St. George’s Chapel.
April 24th.—The Rev. Mr. Clarke of Norwich, had accepted the ministry of St. Peter’s, the ladies proposed to present the communion plate to this Church.
May 23rd.—The mackerel fishing had been very unsuccessful.
A meeting had been held to approve of the proposed Rules for the intended Proprietary Grammar School.
May 30th.—A Commission had been appointed to inquire into Corporate affairs “on the spot.”
Sir F. Palgrave had obtained from H.M. Commissioners of Records the presentation of some valuable publications to the Library.
June 13th.—Lord Exmouth had arrived in his yacht, and subsequently sailed with his brother, the Vicar (the Hon. E. Pellew), for St. Petersburgh.
June 20th.—Vice-Admiral Parker had been appointed a K.C.B.
July 11th.—The following is the account of the Burgh Water Frolic:—
“Monday last being the day appointed for our annual water frolic, an immense quantity of boats (from the splendid pleasure barge to the humble punt) started from our Bridge at eleven o’clock a.m. with a favourable and somewhat stiff breeze from the N.E. At two o’clock the various crafts laid-to in the Narrows to witness the sailing match. The competitors were the Venus (cutter-rigged boat), Last; Algerine (latteener), Craske; Emerald, (latteener) Col. Jones; and the Hornet, Everett. The prize (an elegant silver cup) was won by the Venus. At starting the Hornet had the lead for a short distance, when she was passed by the Venus, and on rounding the upper cross stake the latter boat and the Emerald were close together, and remained so, till they got within the Narrows, when the Colonel succeeded in passing her, winning the first by about half a minute. In two minutes after the Venus recovered her lost ground and passed her opponent, and succeeded in rounding the stake one minute before the Emerald, who, however, neared so fast that had not the Venus rounded the flag very closely she must have lost the match, the Colonel being to windward. The oldest boater never remembers so closely contested a run. After sailing, the various crafts (which absolutely studded the river) got under weigh, and proceeded towards the ancient Garianonum, opposite to which they dined. At seven o’clock p.m. the boats started for home, where they arrived in about an hour, all safe, nothing having occurred to damp the pleasures of the day, which was an extremely fine one. At Burgh, Chase, the spirited proprietor of the Neptune Gardens, was completely at home, while on the adjacent hills, opposite the cage, various groups of happy faces were to be seen enjoying tea, &c. This, together with the immense crowd of company that congregated on the road, presented a scene that must have been witnessed to have been fully appreciated. Among the company were our worthy Mayor and a large party of fashionables in the handsome barge belonging to W. Fisher, Esq., S. T. Berney, and J. Penrice, Esqs., in the former’s fast-sailing boat Meteor, Mr. Alderman Barth in the admiral’s (Green’s) boat, &c., &c. This, together with the countless multitudes that crowded the decks of the tug, Royal Sovereign and Emperor steamers, made the river appear a sort of floating fair. On the next day a number of boats, barges, &c., sailed to the Berney Arms to witness a rowing match (for a silver cup, given by Mr. Barnett, the landlord of the house) by four-oared gigs, which was won by the Wasp, a Norwich boat, belonging to William Gallant, jun. Nearer home we observed an unusually large number of stalls, &c., at our bridge foot. On the whole, there seemed nothing wanting to make this annual festival worthy of brighter days, but the presence of the Corporation barge, without which (although no brawlers against innovation) we cannot but think the Regatta is shorn of much of its glory.”
July 18th.—A fight had taken place on the Factory Denes, for one Sovereign, between Thomas Purdy, of Caister, commonly known as “The Caister Champion,” and George Elliott, of Ingham. At the 133rd round (the battle lasted 1 h. 50 min.) Elliott was declared the victor.
Two men (Seager and Hanson) had quarrelled in the Bear Tap, when Nathaniel Lacey, in trying to part them, was knocked down and his leg broken.
August 22nd.—“As early as nine o’clock on Friday morning an immense concourse of genteely-dressed persons had congregated before St. Peter’s Church, anxious not to miss the opportunity of witnessing the solemn and imposing ceremonial about to take place. At ten o’clock the principal door was thrown open, and this large assemblage entered. The greatest order and decorum prevailed, owing certainly to the excellent arrangement of C. Symonds, Esq., one of the Churchwardens for the year, who, to prevent confusion, had issued tickets, which were left at the houses of the respectable housekeepers, without the least distinction, as also at the various lodging houses for the use of the visitors. About eleven o’clock the Mayor (John Baker, Esq.), with the customary regalia, attended by several other members of the Corporate body entered the church, and were shown to the pews appropriated for their reception. The Bishop of Winchester soon arrived with his Chaplain and Registrar and proceeded up the middle aisle to the altar, where the service began by the latter gentleman presenting the petition to the Bishop, who redelivered it to the Registrar, when it was by him read aloud. The Right Rev. Prelate then pronounced the following words, in a solemn, appropriate, and sonorous tone of voice—“I am now ready to give my full consent to that which you have desired, and may Almighty God bless the good work in which we are about engaging.” His Lordship then, with his officers and clergy, walked to the west end of the church and back again to the altar, repeating alternate versicles of the 42nd Psalm. The Bishop having seated himself at the table, the Deed of Consecration was read by the surrogate (the Very Rev. the Dean of Norwich), after which his Lordship read the exhortation, prayers, &c., appointed for the occasion. The usual morning prayers were read from the desk by the Hon. and Rev. E. Pellew, with the exception of those parts especially appropriated to the occasion, which were read by the Bishop. The reading Psalms most judiciously selected for the occasion were the 84th, 122nd, and 132nd; the lessons, parts of the 8th chapter of 1st Kings, and of the 10th chapter of Hebrews. After the prayers, verses 6, 7, and 8 of 26th, with Gloria Patri, was performed by a very full orchestra of instrumentalists and vocalists. The common service was performed by the Bishop, with the exception of the Epistle and the Nicene Creed, which were read by his Lordship’s Chaplain, the Rev. Alexander Dallas. The 100th Psalm (Tate and Brady’s version) was then sung by the whole choir. The sermon, a striking, apposite, and eloquent one, was preached by the Rev. Mr. Clark, the appointed minister of the Church, from Genesis, chapter 28th, verses 16 and 17—“And Jacob awaketh out of his sleep, &c.” [832 young persons were confirmed by the Bishop of Winchester.]”
August 29th.—The Races had been held, and on “Tuesday and Wednesday the great annual main of cocks had been fought at the Bush Tavern, South Quay, between the gentlemen of Norwich and the gentlemen of Yarmouth for £5 a battle and £50 the odds, which was won by Norwich, who were six battles a head.”
Sept. 15th.—The smack Endeavour, of London, had been seized with 65 casks and 16 bales (2,800 lbs. in weight) of tobacco on board her.
The following Corporate officers had been chosen:—John Danby-Palmer, Esq., Mayor; Mr. James Jay, Chamberlain; F. R. Reynolds, Esq., and J. M. Bell, Esq., Churchwardens.
The late gales had caused an immense quantity of sand and shingle to be washed into the Harbour, so as to form a point opposite the South Pier.
Oct. 3rd.—The following is the report of the Yarmouth Guild Day:—
On Monday the Mayor and the Mayor Elect (J. Danby-Palmer, Esq.), accompanied by the Earl of Orford and the members of the Corporation, attended divine service at St. Nicholas’ Church, by the Hon. and Rev. Edward Pellew, after which the Rev. Thomas Baker, Chaplain to the Body Corporate, preached an excellent sermon. After service the Corporation adjourned to the Guildhall, where the Mayor-Elect was sworn into office with the customary ceremonies.
The Recorder (Mr. Sergeant Merewether) being absent, the Town Clerk, previous to presenting the patent of appointment as Lord High Steward of the Borough to the Earl of Orford, addressed his Lordship, observing that the Corporation entertained a high sense of the honour conferred upon them by his Lordship’s acceptance of an office which (as constituted by one of the charters of the borough) assimilated with that of Lord High Steward of England, an office of great power and authority, having under the King the regulating the administration of justice, which had not since its forfeiture in the reign of Henry the Third, by its hereditary possessor, been granted to any one except upon and for particular occasions, and had only been presented to one of the Nobility and a Lord of Parliament. So by the Charter of King Charles, the High Steward of the borough of Yarmouth must be ‘unus praeclarus vir,’ the meaning of which might be gathered from the appointment of William, Earl of Yarmouth, to be the first modern High Steward, and that to the present time the office had been filled by noblemen distinguished by their talents and services as statesmen, or great naval and military commanders. Amongst them were the celebrated Sir Robert Walpole, Earl of Orford, a second Robert Earl of Orford, and George Earl of Orford, who together held that office for nearly 60 years, much to the honour and advantage of the Borough. Although their connection with that noble family had been interrupted, it had not been forgotten by the Corporation, who were happy in having the honour of renewing it in the person of his Lordship, in whom they found that ‘praeclarus vir’ pointed out by the charter, and they doubted not but that his Lordship would support them in all transactions grounded in honour, honesty, and good faith, and having for their object the public good, and that he would defend and maintain their ancient rights, privileges, and immunities. The Town Clerk then presented Lord Orford with his appointment, and assured his Lordship that his presence among them would always be hailed with pleasure by the Corporation.
The Earl of Orford was then sworn, and immediately addressed the Mayor and Corporation in an eloquent speech, in which he said he claimed no merit to himself for the choice which had been made by the Corporation, but attributed it solely to the recollection of the former connection of the borough with his ancestors, which had been so handsomely alluded to by the Town Clerk, and to that firm line of conduct in political life which he had thought it his duty steadfastly to pursue, which it was his pride and pleasure to maintain, and that although the Corporation might have selected a person of more influence than himself, yet he would yield to no one in zeal, and no exertion on his part would be spared to uphold the rights, privileges, and immunities of the Corporation, which had that day been entrusted to the Mayor, and which it was to be hoped he would be permitted to resign unimpaired to his successor. He himself should always feel it his duty and pleasure to render his services available to the true interests of the borough.
The other annual officers were then sworn, and the Mayor, accompanied by the High Steward and the Corporate Body, walked to the Town Hall, where a most splendid entertainment was provided for upwards of three hundred and thirty gentlemen, among whom were the Right Hon. the Earl of Orford, the Right Hon. Viscount Nevill, the Hon. Mr. Justice Alderson, the Hon. the Rev. E. Pellew, the Hon. P. H. Abbott, Sir E. K. Lacon, Bart., Vice-Admiral Sir George Parker, K.C.B., Col. Petre, Col. Mason, Robert Marsham, Esq., J. Postle, Esq., Stratton Marsham, Esq., E. H. K. Lacon, Esq., W. M. Praed, Esq., Rev. C. Penrice, Rev. J. Humfrey, Rev. — Clarke, Rev. J. Gunn, Rev. B. Winthorp, John Penrice, Esq., R. Rising, Esq., S. Palmer, Esq., W. Carpenter, Esq., Capt. Onslow, R.N., Capt. M. Kelly, R.N., Capt. Travers, R.N., Major Travers, Capt. Carew, R.N., H. Munro, Esq., B. Caldecott, Esq., &c., &c.
The healths of their Majesties—the Princess Victoria and the rest of the Royal Family—his Majesty’s Ministers, and the Duke of Wellington, were drank. On the health of the Earl of Orford being given, the noble Lord, in returning thanks, alluded to the commission for investigating Corporations, declaring ‘that he denounced the illegality of the commission.’ His Lordship gave the health of the Mayor and Prosperity to the Town of Yarmouth, for which the Chief Magistrate expressed his acknowledgment, stating his determination to do all he could to forward the best interests of the town on every occasion.
On the health of Mr. Justice Alderson being given, the learned Judge spoke of the Constitution of this country as being so framed as to allow all who had the talents and industry to arrive at the very highest dignities the King could confer, and concluded by saying that the question for the people to consider was whether they would close the avenues to those dignities. The healths of Lord Nevill, Mr. Charles Palmer (the son of the Mayor), Sir E. K. Lacon, Lord Walpole and the House of Wolterton, Lord Wodehouse and the House of Kimberley, and a variety of other toasts were given; after which the Mayor and a large party adjourned to the Ball at the Bath Rooms, where dancing continued till a late hour.
Oct. 31st.—“On Monday evening last, as Mr. Marsh, of the house of Marsh and Barnes, wine and spirit merchants, was returning in his gig from Beccles, he overtook a female on the road near Fritton, who, as Mr. M. passed, implored assistance. He pulled up, and finding the poor creature in an exhausted and high state of nervous excitement, and that she was on her way to this place, he took her up, when she stated as follows—that she had walked from Yarmouth to Heckingham House to obtain relief for a relative residing in Yarmouth, that she had obtained 3s., was returning home across the Marshes, and when near the New Cut and bridge over the dam, she saw two men, who appeared to come from a wherry, and when they met her one of them presented a pistol and threatened to shoot her, but she answering in the negative to the enquiry of “Do you know us,” one of them said, “Don’t shoot her.” They then searched, took from her 2s. 6d., some halfpence, and a handkerchief with some trifles, knocked her down by a blow on the face, and so left her. When she recovered she proceeded on her journey till the above gentleman humanely assisted her into the town and relieved her; but she was so weak from the fright as to stagger when she left the gig. She states that she thinks she could recognize one of the men. Might not some enquiry as to what wherry was moored in the Cut at that time lead to the detection of the perpetrators of so diabolical an act as that of distressing the distressed. We respectfully submit to the gentlemen who are the guardians for the hundred of Heckingham if some safe plan could not be devised to relieve non-resident paupers, so as to obviate the necessity of a journey by them of so many miles.”
Dec. 5th.—The winter assemblies having been discontinued for two years had been revived, and the first assembly had been held at the Town Hall, (the Mayor (J. Danby Palmer, Esq.) and Vice-Admiral Sir George Parker, K.C.B., Stewards). It was attended by all the principal families of the town and neighbourhood.
Dec. 12th.—A fine schooner named the Fairy Queen, 150 tons register, had been launched from W. Lubbock’s yard.
Dec. 28th.—The altar piece presented to St. Peter’s Church by Col. Mason was put up on Christmas Eve.