1838.
Irish Tithes and Corporations—Church Rates—Jamaica and the Negro Apprenticeship System, and the Canadas—formed the subjects of discussion in Parliament. In the year previous had commenced that series of deficits which contributed so much to the weakness and ultimate downfall of the Melbourne administration: for finance is, after all, the life-blood of a ministry. The Whigs could not, however, fairly be blamed for the state of the national exchequer, which, in truth, was the unavoidable consequence of the measures of former years. Immediately after the restriction of small notes, in the year 1829, the prices of merchandise and the amount of mercantile transactions rapidly declined; though as the seasons were unfavourable, speculators managed, by aid of the sliding scale, to keep up the price of corn till 1833, when it fell to less than 40s. a quarter. Speculation in the American trade gained for a time the appearance of prosperity; but on the failure of the United States Bank in 1836, affairs were brought to a crisis, and our manufacturers and merchants were plunged into extreme distress—trade was utterly stagnated—and when the scarcity of 1839 necessitated large importations of corn, and a drain of gold to pay for it, the Bank of England was well nigh brought into the peril of 1825. Consols averaged 93; wheat averaged 64s. 7d.
January—The Worcestershire Chronicle established by a joint stock company, at the head of which were some of the leading Reformers of the city and county. It was designed to supply a want, then beginning to be generally felt by this party, of an organ for the advocacy of their opinions, and the advancement of their interests through the medium of the press. The first number was published on the 3rd of January, 1838. In the year 1842 the concern passed into private hands, and was transferred to the present proprietors.
January 22—Mr. Pakington made his Parliamentary debût in a speech on Canadian affairs, which was very well received.
January—Subscriptions at Evesham, Redditch, and Pershore, for the relief of the local poor during an inclement season.
February—George Williams, Esq., surgeon, of Bewdley, nominated by Lord John Russell as a magistrate of that borough, and the Town Council thereof very indignant at not having been consulted. The Liberals afterwards fêted Mr. Williams at a dinner at the George Inn.
March 27—Celebration of Lord Ward’s majority at Himley, Sedgley, Dudley, &c., by a succession of dinners and donations to the poor. The barrel of ale called “Big Ben,” which had been brewed on Lord Ward’s natal day, and reserved especially for this occasion, was tapped and distributed. His lordship layed the first stone of a new church at Gornal, and afterwards entertained a party of fifty gentlemen to a sumptuous feast at Himley Hall. He declared himself a Conservative.
June 28—Celebration of Her Majesty’s coronation in Worcester and other county towns. In Worcester the Yeomanry and Militia, the Town Council, 5,000 Sunday school children, and the various trade companies made up a procession to the Cathedral, where a sermon was preached by Dr. Faussett. 2,100 poor people dined at the public expense in the Guildhall, Market House, and Sansome Walk. 200 gentlemen dined together at the Shire Hall; George Allies, Esq., Mayor, in the chair. Fireworks in the evening; and a public breakfast for the ladies next morning in the Shire Hall.
October 4—At the annual assembly of the Yeomanry this year, Colonel Clive presented Captain Emmott with a splendid service in silver, which had been subscribed for generally by the regiment. The officers this year gave a grand ball in the New Shire Hall.
October 27—A man named George Burrows committed from Droitwich for stealing hay, made his escape from the County Gaol, having managed to secrete himself in the yard until all the rest of the prisoners were marched into the chapel to attend service. All his gaol clothes were found returned one morning, being thrown into the court yard of the prison.
December 4—Consecration of the church of St. Peter the Great, Worcester, by the Lord Bishop of the Diocese. The sermon was preached by the Rev. C. Benson. The old building would only accommodate 350 persons; the present church contains 408 appropriated, and 624 free sittings. The total cost was £3,600. £169 were collected after the services this day.
December 6—Consecration of Christ Church Chapel, Catshill, near Bromsgrove, by the Lord Bishop of Rochester. This chapel, built for the accommodation of a populous district, contains 520 sittings. £45 were collected after a sermon by the Bishop.
December 16—Great excitement created at Bromsgrove and its neighbourhood, by the supposed murder of a Redditch needle pointer, named Joshua Hollier. He went to the Malt Shovel public house at Burcott, and was drinking, quarrelling, and fighting there during the whole of this (Sunday) afternoon, with “navvies” who worked on the Birmingham and Gloucester line then making in the neighbourhood. He went out of the house about eight o’clock, and was soon after found lying on the ground insensible. His shoes had been taken away. He was brought into the house, and shortly afterwards died without having spoken. The coroner’s jury, after six days’ examination of witnesses, returned a verdict of wilful murder against John Rose, a “navvie” who went to the house with him, and was supposed to have kicked the deceased as he lay on the ground, and so caused his death. He was heard afterwards to say he “had given him enough,” and such like expressions. The grand jury before whom the case came threw out the bill.