A Comprehensive History of Norwich

by A. D. Bayne

After the prolonged inquiry, a special meeting of the corporate body was held on January 9th, 1834, to determine what should be done in consequence of the course pursued by the commissioners. A great deal of virtuous indignation was expressed, and it was resolved—

“That it is the confirmed opinion of this assembly, that this corporation would have been perfectly justified in refusing their sanction to the attendance of their members and officers, and in declining to allow the production of their charters and muniments before the commissioners, considering themselves well advised in regarding the commission as an assumption of power contrary to law, and as an exercise of prerogative, totally at variance with those constitutional principles which, in defining the limits of regal authority, guarantee alike the public rights and the private of the subject.”

“That on these grounds, and influenced solely by a strong sense of duty, the assembly of the 15th November last, recorded their protest against a commission so dangerous in precedent, so menacing to the privileges of chartered institutions, and so hostile to the cause of civil liberty. Yet, at the same time, animated with reverential attachment to the king, unwilling to be deficient in proper respect towards functionaries acting in the sovereign’s name, and above all being unconscious of having, either in a corporate or magisterial capacity, done any act calculated to prejudice the interests of the city, or to bring discredit on themselves as a body, the assembly of the 15th November last, ordered that the town clerk and other officers should give the fullest documentary information for which the commissioners might think fit to call.”

“That this corporation not only by such order, but also by subsequently permitting oral evidence to be given by their members and officers, now feel themselves the more imperatively called upon to express their mingled sentiments of regret and disapproval at the course of examination pursued, an examination governed by no rules of evidence recognised in any English courts of law, but carried on in a manner irregular, vague, and arbitrary, precluding the slightest hope of arrival at such a conclusion as can possibly conduce to the ends of truth and justice, still less such as can prove congenial to the good feelings of any well-regulated, candid, and impartial mind.”

“That this assembly, considering that the great mass of information received by the commissioners, emanated from the most decided and unscrupulous partizans; that many of them were intimately connected with, and implicated in the transactions to which allusions were made; that those allusions involved charges against highly respected and honourable individuals, since deceased, whose representatives had no means of refuting the aspersions cast upon their memories; that many also of those who came forward as the most material witnesses to impugn the conduct and character of the corporate body, stand self-convicted as the active unblushing agents of gross corruption, and by their own admissions have proved themselves unworthy of credit—considering all these things, and looking moreover to the incontrovertible fact, that not one farthing of the corporate funds has been either appropriated to electioneering purposes or diverted from its originally destined and legitimate, object”—

“Do PROTEST against any report being made by the municipal commissioners respecting the corporation of Norwich, based on statements so utterly unfit to justify parliament in legislating on so important a subject, and do most respectfully towards the crown, but with firmness and fidelity to the obligation of their oaths as corporators, deem it their duty to resist every attempt to exact from them a surrender of the charters of the city and, therewith, of the rights and privileges of the freemen of Norwich.”

“That this assembly invite the various corporations throughout the kingdom to make common cause with them in endeavouring by every lawful and constitutional means of resistance to defeat any design that may be in contemplation for wresting from them their ancient charters, franchises, and liberties.”

A committee was appointed for this purpose, and to devise means for protecting the charters, rights, and privileges of the corporation. But all this opposition proved to be of no avail, and the Municipal Reform Act came into operation in 1835.

1835. In January, 1835, the number of registered voters was 4018. At the election in this month, the bribery oath was administered to every voter. Sir James Scarlett, who had represented the city in parliament from 1832 to 1834, on being made Chief Baron of the Court of Exchequer, was raised to the peerage by the title of Baron Abinger of Abinger, in the county of Surrey, and of the city of Norwich. He took for his motto, “Stat viribis suis,” and on application to the corporation, was permitted to use the two angels, supporters to the city arms, as supporters to his own.

On January 28th, the first conversazione of the Norfolk and Norwich Museum was held, and was well attended. On the 27th and 28th, a dinner was given to the electors who voted for the defeated candidates, Messrs. Harbord and Martin, at the late election. About 1000 dined on the first day.

March 23rd. A meeting of the hand-loom weavers was held in the Cellar House, at St. Martin’s at Oak, to petition the legislature to establish local boards of trade.

In April an alteration was made in the conveyance of letters to and from London, being transmitted by the Ipswich instead of the Newmarket Mail, by which means the citizens got their letters earlier. On the third of this month the mayor and corporation waited on Lord Abinger, at the lodgings of the judges, with an address of congratulation on his first visit to the city in his judicial capacity.

June 16th. William Moore, Esq., was sworn into office as mayor of the city. This was the last Guild day under the old corporation. It was celebrated with all the customary civic splendour. The Latin speech was delivered at the porch of the Free School by Master Chambers, son of John Chambers, Esq., of the Close, and he was presented with books to the value of £5 5s., as was also Master Norgate, the orator of the preceding year. At the dinner in St. Andrew’s Hall about 800 ladies and gentlemen sat down to a sumptuous repast.

July 14th. A meeting of the freemen was held in St. Andrew’s Hall to petition parliament to preserve to them and their children the privileges they had so long enjoyed, but they soon lost their exclusive privilege of voting for members of the corporation. The Municipal Reform Bill passed on September 8th, and received the royal assent on the following day. On Sunday, September 27th, the mayor and corporation attended divine service in the Cathedral for the last time under the old charters. The Hon. and Very Rev. the Dean (Dr. Pellew) preached the funeral sermon of the old corporation.

Michaelmas day this year passed over without the customary ceremony, owing to the new Municipal Act coming into force. From 1403 it had been customary to swear the sheriffs into office on that day, and for many years they had given inauguration dinners. Mr. Winter, the last speaker of the old corporation, was presented with a handsome piece of plate by that body on October 21st; and at a special assembly held on December 17th, a vote of thanks was passed to the mayor, William Moore, Esq. This was the very last meeting of the old corporation under the ancient charters of the city.