SEPTEMBER.
1.—Mr. William Martin, a native of Norwich, and the painter of the two large pictures in St. Andrew’s Hall—“The death of Lady Jane Grey” and “Queen Eleanor, Consort to Edward I.,” was lodging in indigent circumstances at the Trowel and Hammer public-house, St. Stephen’s, whence he issued a circular on this date, asking for subscriptions for two engravings—“Interior of an English Cottage Home” and “Children going to bed.” The Corporation, on February 24th, 1829, voted him a grant of 100 guineas.
12.—Died at his seat at Terrington, near Lynn, in his 91st year, Sir Andrew Snape Hamond, Bart., a post-captain in the Royal Navy, formerly Lieutenant-Governor of the Province of Nova Scotia, and subsequently Commodore and Commander-in-Chief in the River Medway. He was many years Comptroller of the Navy, twice member of Parliament for Ipswich, and one of the Brethren of the Trinity House.
29.—The ceremony of swearing in the Sheriffs of Norwich was performed at the Guildhall, amid a scene of great disorder. The windows of the lower court had been screwed down, to prevent persons entering by that way before the arrival of the magistrates. The court was crowded, the heat intolerable, and the Mayor (Mr. Thurtell) ordered the windows to be broken. Upon the Sheriffs-elect, Mr. Stevenson and Mr. Grout, presenting themselves, the latter was objected to, on the ground that he was not a freeman; and Mr. Stevenson declined to serve unless he received legal indemnity from his colleague. The Recorder (Mr. Alderson) disposed of the legal difficulty in Mr. Stevenson’s
case, but the uproar was so great that an adjournment had to be made to the Aldermen’s Chamber, where the Town Clerk administered the oath to Mr. Grout, notwithstanding a protest by Col. Harvey. At a meeting of the Common Council, on October 2nd, a notice signed by eight of the “Purple and Orange” Aldermen was read, intimating that any act done by the Council would not be valid, as one of the Sheriffs was improperly elected. They therefore declined to attend the meeting. The Mayor complained that he was being set at defiance, and threatened to appeal to a higher power. On November 8th a motion was made in the Court of King’s Bench, to show cause why an information in the nature of a quo warranto should not be filed against Mr. Grout, to show by what authority he exercised the office of Sheriff; the Court granted a rule nisi. On February 24th the Corporation unanimously conferred on Mr. Grout the freedom of the city. The case, after being several times before the Court, was finally disposed of on June 28th, 1830, when Mr. Justice Bailey delivered judgment, and said that the Court were of opinion that it was essential to the validity of election to the office of Sheriff that the individual chosen should be a freeman. Judgment of ouster was therefore entered. Retaliatory proceedings were taken in the Court of King’s Bench by the other political party against Mr. Alderman Patteson for holding the office of Treasurer of the city, and against Mr. Alderman T. S. Day, for acting as Corn Inspector. A rule nisi was obtained against Mr. Patteson on May 30th, 1829, and was made absolute on July 4th, after that gentleman had resigned the treasurership.
29.—The 6th Inniskilling Dragoons marched from Norwich for Chesterfield and Manchester.
OCTOBER.
6.—A troop of the 12th Lancers arrived at Norwich, from Canterbury.
7.—Died, aged 72, at New York, Mr. John B. Murray, eldest son of Dr. John Murray.
9.—Died, aged 74, at his residence, in Carlow, Major John Beevor, formerly of the 9th Dragoons, and for 30 years inspecting-officer of Yeomanry Cavalry in the districts of Waterford and Wexford. He was second son of Sir Thomas Beevor, of Hethel.