1839.
Jan. 3rd.—The first half-yearly meeting of the governors and subscribers to the Hospital had been held, and is reported as follows:—
“On Friday the first half-yearly meeting of the governors and subscribers to the Hospital was held at the Town Hall, the Hon. and Rev. Edward Pellew in the chair. Mr. A. Drew was unanimously elected resident Dispenser, at a salary of £60 per annum. Some alterations of the rules were agreed upon. Mr. S. S. Barber then moved that the votes for officers to the institution should be taken by ballot, and not by voting papers, as at the first meeting, which was lost by a majority of 17 to 13. It is intended to bring the question forward again at the next meeting. The Rev. J. North, honorary secretary to the institution, stated that at the last yearly meeting of the old Dispensary, in October, it was resolved that an application be made to the subscribers to the Hospital for a grant from their funds to discharge the additional bills. At Lady-day last they had moved into the house at present used for the Hospital. They soon felt they could not maintain the increased expenditure with the same funds, and a meeting was called of the subscribers, when the proposition was first started for the Hospital, and in the end the Hospital was established. At the close of the year, owing to circumstances over which he could not say who had the control, it was found that the managers of the Dispensary could not pay their liabilities by £33. They had furniture which was valued at £7 10s., leaving them minus £25 10s. 0¼d. He now asked whether they would make a grant of that amount from the funds of the Hospital. B. Dowson, Esq., proposed that a transfer be made of that sum to defray the deficiency, the new institution having been established on the old one. C. Nichols, Esq., seconded it on the further ground that the old institution had deferred several applications for assistance for the benefit of the Hospital, such as sermons at church, &c. Mr. North said all their funds had been merged into those of the Hospital. John Lacon, Esq., thought it would be better to raise the sum among themselves, which proposition, after a great deal of discussion, was ultimately carried, and 13 sovereigns were subscribed in the room. The decision was extremely satisfactory to all the new subscribers to the Hospital.”
A very handsome vessel named the “Jenny Jones” had been launched from Mr. F. Preston’s yard.
Jan. 10.—Edward Woodrow, baker, had been committed for trial on the prosecution of the Guardians, for selling them short weight bread for the paupers.
Jan. 17th.—The Poor Law Commissioners having complained of the Board of Guardians because they had presented a Christmas dinner to the paupers, the Guardians justified such proceedings.
Jan. 24th.—A subscription had been entered upon for the purpose of relieving the families of those seamen who had been lost in the recent gales. £115 was collected in the room.
Jan. 31st.—An Anti-Corn Law meeting had been held at the Town Hall.
Feb. 7th.—Meetings of the freemen had been held as to the question of whether Mr. Wilshere should be called on to resign his seat.
At the Quarter Sessions, Mr. Edward Woodrow was convicted for selling “short weight” bread to the Guardians, and sentenced to pay a fine of £50, which he paid, but “not until the Recorder (N. Palmer, Esq.) had twice threatened to commit him for contempt of Court.”
Feb. 14th.—The Town Council adopted a petition for the abolition of the Corn Laws with only two dissentients.
Feb. 21st.—Mr. John Owles had been elected a Councillor in the place of Mr. Cobb, who had been raised to the Aldermanic Bench.
Mr. Wilshere had presented the town petition against the Corn Laws; it was signed by 2,355 persons.
Mr. Owen had delivered a lecture on “Socialism.”
March 7th.—The use of the Town Hall had been refused to Mr. Hallock, a “Socialist” lecturer.
March 14th.—Mr. Rumbold had presented the Corporation’s petition for the repeal of the Corn Laws.
A meeting of the Chartists had been held at the Masonic Hall, Mr. Fleet in the chair, and was addressed by Messrs. Gill and Deegan, delegates.
March 21st.—The Rev. W. Squire had lectured at the Masonic Hall in reply to Mr. Owen. More than 1,200 persons were present.
March 28th.—The sixteen Liberal candidates had been elected Guardians.
April 4th.—A meeting had been held for the purpose of forming a local branch of the Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society, S. Cobb, Esq. (Mayor) in the chair. Sir George Parker and Messrs. James H. Palmer, Matthew Butcher, and George Danby Palmer took part in the proceedings.
April 11th.—The election of Haven Commissioners had resulted as follows:—
| For George Danby Palmer | 511 |
| W. Barth | 473 |
| E. H. L. Preston | 380 |
| C. J. Palmer | 277 |
April 18th.—A petition had been adopted in favour of a penny postage.
May 2nd.—Mr. Pickard (a Guardian) had complained to the Mayor that he was continually being insulted by Mr. E. Woodrow since that person had been convicted at the Sessions.
May 9th.—An endeavour was being made to revive the “Dutch Fair,” in order to which such vessels were to be exempted from dues from the 17th to 30th September.
There were 23 prisoners for trial at the Sessions.
May 23rd.—An address had been voted to the Queen to congratulate her upon the issue of the “Bed Chamber” plot. The Mayor was in the chair and G. Penrice, R. Palmer Kemp, William Danby Palmer, W. Johnson, George Steward, and E. H. L. Preston, Esqs., took part in the proceedings.
May 30th.—Sixty gentlemen dined at the King’s Head to commemorate the Queen’s Birthday. The Mayor presided, and the following toasts were given:—“The Queen,” “The Duchess of Kent,” “Capt. Harmer and the Navy,” “The Army,” “The Mayor,” “The Borough Members,” “George Danby Palmer, Esq.,” “Mr. George Steward,” “Lord Durham,” “Mr. William Johnson,” “The Vice-Chairman,” “The Mayoress and Ladies of Yarmouth,” and a number of other toasts. The meeting separated “at a late hour.”
June 13th.—A large assemblage of ladies and gentlemen had witnessed a Jewish wedding at the Town Hall, performed by Rabbi Sternbergh; it was publicly performed.
The Races were not likely to be held, owing to a want of funds.
June 20th.—The Rev. George Anguish, of Somerleyton Hall, had given £50 towards the Hospital fund.
July 4th contains the following as to the Yarmouth Hospital and Dispensary:—
The first annual meeting of this Institution was held at the Town Hall on Friday last, on which occasion the Worshipful the Mayor was in the chair. He felt gratified by the honour that meeting had done him in calling him to the chair. In looking over the programme of the meeting, he found the accounts were to be audited—they were requested to pay their subscriptions, to elect annual officers, and to take into consideration the erection or purchase of a building for a new Hospital.
William Steward, Esq., read abstracts from the secretary and treasurer’s books, by which it appeared that the benefactions amounted to £292 9s. 6d., subscriptions to £435 19s., and interest at the bankers £8 15s. 2d., and that there had been expended for fitting up and furniture, £141 8s. 10d.; for housekeeping, salaries, and wages, £94 15s. 9d.; chemists’ bills, drugs, &c., £90 15s.; books, stationery, and printing, £35 14s. 9d.; rent and incidentals, £33 3s. 1d.; leaving a balance in treasurer’s hands of £341 6s. 3d. Mr. Steward stated that the accounts had been made out with great care, and examined by two auditors. The total number of patients that had been admitted from October 1st, 1838, to June 1st, 1839, was 532, being 35 in and 439 out-patients, of whom 5 in and 9 out remained on the books.
J. Tidswell, Esq., moved that the report now read be received, that it be ordered to be printed, and a copy placed in the hands of each of the subscribers, which was seconded by the Rev. W. F. Clarke, and carried unanimously.
The meeting then proceeded to the election of such officers as retire annually, when all the old officers were unanimously elected, with one alteration. The Rev. M. Waters, who had been on the Committee, having accepted the office of honorary secretary, vice Rev. J. North, who had left the town, J. Tidswell, Esq., was chosen in his room.
The Chairman said the next business was of considerable importance. It was to consider the propriety of erecting or purchasing a building for the use of the Institution.
William Steward, Esq., would submit to the meeting a proposal he held in his hand, which was to raise a building fund of £1,000, in shares of £10 each, on which interest at £3 per cent. per annum is to be paid till the fund will enable them to liquidate it; and in the interim every shareholder to have the right of recommending one out-patient for each share annually. One object in raising the fund now was, that they had £151 in hand from the benefactions, and Mr. Anguish had sent them £50 towards the building fund. The interest would not amount to what they now paid for rent. They hoped the Corporation would grant them an eligible site for the intended new building.
The Rev. M. Waters was sure there would be no difficulty in raising the required fund, as they would soon have £300 paid in donations, which would prevent any risk to the shareholders.
The Chairman suggested that it would be better first to resolve that it would be expedient to erect or purchase a building, and then to submit the means for raising the money, in which opinion J. Brightwen, Esq., fully concurred, when
Mr. S. S. Barber proposed, that it is the opinion of this meeting that it is expedient that an Hospital should be built, which was seconded by Mr. E. H. L. Preston.
Mr. W. S. Lacon thought it premature to build at present; the Hospital had only been in operation a few months, and at the last meeting, when certain resolutions were proposed, certain gentlemen, who did not like those resolutions, said they would withdraw. He would propose that the consideration of the question be postponed to that day twelve months, which was seconded by Dr. Sabine.
J. G. Fisher, Esq., thought the building of an Hospital would promote the object they had in view, and could not agree with Mr. Lacon, in which he was supported by the Rev. M. Waters.
The amendment being put, only six voted for it, and the original motion was carried.
Mr. E H. L. Preston then proposed that the plan for raising a fund, as proposed by Mr. Steward, be adopted, and that a paper be laid on the table to receive the names of persons willing to take shares, which was seconded by Mr. Barber.
J. G. Fisher, Esq., proposed the thanks of the meeting to the Mayor for his conduct in the chair, which was carried by acclamation.
The Mayor, in returning thanks, expressed his determination to do all in his power to procure them an eligible spot on which to erect the new edifice. Those present having paid their subscriptions, the meeting separated.
A band of music had been engaged to perform near the Jetty on Wednesday and Saturday evenings during the summer.
July 11th.—A vessel named the “Cadmus” had been launched from Teasdell’s Wharf.
An inquest had been held at Shrublands, Gorleston, the residence of William Danby Palmer, Esq., upon the body of a boy who had been killed by a fall from a stack. Verdict, “Accidental death.”
July 18th.—The “Galatea” (schooner) had been launched from Mr. A. Palmer’s, jun., yard.
Aug. 1st.—Another meeting in connection with the Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society had been held. Sir George Parker, the Hon. and Rev. E. Pellew, George Danby Palmer, Esq., and the Rev. Mr. Sidney took part in the proceedings.
Pleasure yachts were allowed to enter the Harbour free of dues.
August 10th.—The Races had been held for the following stakes:—Gold, cup, £10 each, and £20 added; the Members’ Plate of £50; the Vauxhall Coronation Cup, £25; and the Innkeepers’ and Tradesmen’s Silver Cup, £50. The following local gentlemen entered or named horses at this meeting:—Mr. Wilshere, Mr. Rumbold, Mr. Webber, Mr. Wodehouse, Mr. Burroughes, Mr. R. P. Kemp, Mr. Samuel Palmer, Mr. A. Tompson, Mr. John Kerrison, and Mr. William Danby Palmer.
Madame Vestris and Mr. Charles Matthews were filling the Theatre nightly.
At the Regatta, “The Widgeon,” a London yacht, had carried off the prize.
The Dissenters, not approving of these sports (the Regatta and Races), had had a meeting of their own in the shape of a choral festival.
August 15th.—Sir Jacob Preston, John Penrice, and Charles Steward, Esqs., were announced as Stewards of next year’s Races.
August 22nd contains the following:—“We hear from the most undoubted authority that Mr. John E. Lacon, with a munificence almost unparallelled, has equally divided the large property left to him by his father between himself and his brother, the present Sir Edmund H. K. Lacon, Bart.”
Sept. 5th.—Mr. Preston had launched the “George Lord,” of 205 tons register.
Oct. 3rd.—The Revision Court had been held, and the Liberals claimed a gain of 58 on the return.
Oct. 17th.—At a Liberal meeting held at the “Crown and Anchor,” G. D. Palmer, Esq., had proposed the health of Samuel Jay, Esq., as “Mayor-Elect.”
There were “nightly depredations” taking place at Gorleston.
Oct. 31st.—Fortunatus Robert Townshend Crisp was indicted for publishing on the 13th October a certain filthy and libellous paper called the “Paul Pry,” containing a slanderous and malicious libel on Henry Holmes Baker. The Jury were locked up two hours before returning a verdict of guilty, on which Crisp was fined £5.
Nov. 7th.—The Earl of Lichfield had given £30 to the Hospital Fund.
The old members of the Council had been re-elected, except in St. Andrew’s Ward, where William Hurry Palmer, Esq., was returned. The only Ward contested was the Regent, with the following result:—C. Davie, 81; J. Fish, 76; J. G. Plummer, 71; S. Miller, 62. A meeting of Liberals was afterwards held, and Mr. Jay’s health (as Mayor-Elect) drunk with three times three.
Nov. 14th.—At the Council on the 9th, Mr. G. D. Palmer proposed Mr. Jay as Mayor for the ensuing year, and he was elected to that office.
Dec. 5th.—Capt. Pearson had been elected an Alderman in the place of John B. Palmer, Esq., deceased.
An anti-poor law meeting had been held; only 52 persons present.
Dec. 19th.—The Mayor (S. Jay, Esq.) had commenced a round of Civic entertainments of a most “recherchê” character.
The Yarmouth Savings’ Bank had 2,137 accounts and £63,513 13s. 7d. on deposit.
Dec. 26th.—The Mayor and Corporation had attended St. Nicholas’ Church, after which his Worship entertained a large party of friends at lunch.
The “Blue” freemen had held a meeting to receive a very handsome blue banner, inscribed “Presented to the freemen in commemoration of their victory over the attempt to enslave them, and ‘United we stand, divided we fall. Wilshere’s majority 38.’”