1818.
Trade began to revive and agriculturists again to be hopeful—principally as the result of the favourable exchanges bringing us large quantities of the precious metals from the continent, which gave ease to the banks and encouraged the liberal use of money in various undertakings. Thus employment became abundant, and the working classes were contented. The gradual disappearance of the precious metals for several years past had been a source of much disquietude to our statesmen, and was no doubt one cause of the great fall in prices which took place on the advent of peace; but it must principally be attributed to the absence of that demand by Government for men and money which, during the war, was so great. Consols averaged 79; wheat averaged 86s. 3d.
January—The Worcester Fire Office dissolved in favour of the Phœnix Fire Office.
January—The price of hops at this time averaged from £26 to £31 per cwt.
March 29—At the County Quarter Sessions, Earl Beauchamp, the chairman, severely lectured the farmers, through the grand jury, on paying their labourers such miserably low wages—as breaking down all independence of spirit, and necessarily tending to the increase of crime.
April 7—The Worcester Gas Company formed at a meeting held at the Guildhall, William Wall, Esq., in the chair. The share list, subscribing £12,000, was filled up in a few hours, and the shares—on the deposit of 20s.—were, in two days, at 50s. premium.
May 14—The Worcester Savings Bank established at a meeting held at the Guildhall, with Earl Beauchamp in the chair. It was opened in June, at a temporary office in Foregate Street, and £745 were paid in, in small sums, the first day. It has ever since continued to be a flourishing and most useful institution.
August—Six men charged before the magistrates of Worcester with garden robbing, were ordered to be publicly whipped in the several parishes where the offences were committed.
August 31—The Worcester Society of Arts exhibited their pictures—the first exhibition of the kind in Worcester—at the Town Hall. The paintings principally consisted of landscapes by Thornycroft, Smith, Doe, and Young; animals by Pitman; some Scripture subjects by Bacon; portraits by Millichap; and several contributions by amateurs.
September 2—Twenty-seven illegal fishing nets and three large wheels, found in use at a mill near Worcester, were seized by order of the Worcester Severn Association committee, and publicly burnt in the Corn Market.
September 7—The Grand Duke Michael, brother to the Emperor of Russia, visited Worcester, for the purpose of inspecting porcelain manufactories, and ordered a large service of Messrs. Chamberlain.
September 25—Eight men killed by an explosion of fire-damp in the Buffery Colliery, Dudley.
October 19—A bull baited on Pitchcroft. The poor animal was most barbarously mangled, and, after the “sport,” was driven through the principal streets to the slaughter house, writhing in torture.
Local Acts—For lighting Worcester and Kidderminster with gas; for enclosing lands at Great Comberton.