17.—At the Norwich Quarter Sessions, an indictment was preferred against one William Lamb, for receiving a bribe at the election of Mr. Alderman Steward. The Grand Jury made a presentment that the bill of indictment should have included Mr. Charles Turner and Mr. Samuel Woodcock Mealing, as there was conclusive evidence that they had bribed the defendant. The Recorder (Mr. Preston) adjourned the case until January 31st. A further adjournment was made till February 1st, when the Recorder, after a long legal argument with counsel, decided that the case could not proceed. A rule absolute was obtained in the Court of King’s Bench against Mr. Mealing, and the case came on for trial before Lord Lyndhurst at the Norwich Assizes on July 29th, when the jury found the defendant guilty, and recommended him to mercy. In the Court of King’s Bench, on November 8th, an unsuccessful motion was made for arrest of judgment. Finally the defendant appeared before that Court on November 23rd, and was sentenced by Mr. Justice Parke to pay a fine of £100.
19.—The honorary freedom of the city was conferred upon the Right Hon. Lord Viscount Sidmouth, on the occasion of a visit to his son-in-law, the Hon. and Very Rev. the Dean of Norwich.
—The agitation for Parliamentary Reform began at Norwich, this year, with a meeting held at St. Andrew’s Hall, when resolutions were passed in favour of the measure. On March 19th the Right Hon. Robert Grant, member for Norwich, presented in the House of Commons a petition signed by 7,000 citizens in support of the Bill, and Sir William ffolkes presented similar petitions from the inhabitants of the several Hundreds in the county. A great meeting took place at St Andrew’s Hall on September 29th, at which it was decided to petition the House of Lords on behalf of the Bill, on the ground “that the tranquillity and happiness of this kingdom depend on the complete passing of this great national measure.” The Bill having been thrown out by the Peers, a requisition was presented to the Mayor of Norwich for a Common Hall, which was held at St. Andrew’s Hall on October 18th. A procession, headed by bands of music, started from the Castle Ditches at ten o’clock, and, after parading the streets of the city, arrived at the Hall at noon. About 5,000 persons were present, and the Mayor presided. Mr. Thomas Bignold, jun., one of the principal speakers, moved a series of resolutions expressive of the “ardent hope that such constitutional measures as may be completely effectual for the attainment of this most important object will be forthwith adopted by his Majesty, under the advice and with the assistance of his Ministers.” An address founded on the resolutions was ordered to be presented to the King. A county meeting took place at the Shirehall on November 19th, under the presidency of Mr. Anthony Hamond, “for the purpose of expressing confidence in his Majesty’s Ministers, and of adopting such proceedings as may be deemed expedient to forward the great measure of Reform.” On the 26th was issued for signature “the Norfolk Declaration” which expressed “alarm at the
extensive innovations proposed by the late Reform Bill,” and gratitude to the House of Lords for “generously exercising the prerogative power vested in them for the good of the people, and for refusing to concur in so dangerous an experiment.” The year’s agitation closed with the issue, on December 3rd, of another Declaration, “founded on a constitutional basis and manifesting a conciliatory spirit.” This movement was known as “the Conservative Reform.” (The word “Conservative,” in the political sense, was, on this occasion, used locally for the first time.)
21.—At the county magistrates’ meeting, Mr. John Stracey reintroduced the subject of the removal of the Lent Assizes from Thetford to Norwich, and announced that Lord Chancellor Brougham had addressed to the Lieutenant of the County a letter, in which he promised to advise the Secretary of State to cause the Assizes to be held in future at Norwich. On February 1st the Corporation of Norwich petitioned the Lord Chancellor in favour of the removal. On March 9th the Home Office intimated that the Judges of Assize for the Norfolk Circuit proposed to hold an adjourned Assizes for the trial of eight prisoners at Norwich on March 24th. The Assizes were held accordingly on that date by adjournment from Thetford.
26.—Died at his house in Portland Place, London, aged 86, Mr. Richard Paul Jodrell, F.R.S., F.A.S., D.C.L., formerly member of Parliament for the borough of Seaford. “It may be regarded as an almost unprecedented instance, that Mr. Jodrell had lived to be in possession of his paternal estates 80 years, his father having died at an early age in 1751.” He was distinguished as a scholar, and as author of “The Illustrations of Euripides” and other literary works. Mr. Jodrell was the last surviving member of Dr. Johnson’s Club.
FEBRUARY.
12.—Died at St. George Colegate, Norwich, James Horth, aged 42. “He was a journeyman dyer, but devoted his leisure hours to the highest branches of mathematical science; his knowledge of astronomy was profound; he was deeply read in the modern analysis of the French, and possessed the esteem of some of the most celebrated mathematicians of this country.”
13.—Died at Bath, Sir Edward Berry, Bart., K.C.B., Rear-Admiral of the Red. He was born in 1768, and was fourth son of a London merchant. On December 12th, 1797, he married Louisa, eldest daughter of the Rev. Samuel Forster, D.D., then head-master of the Norwich Free Grammar School. At the restoration of peace, in 1814, Sir Edward returned to Norfolk, and took up his residence at Catton, where he remained some years. Thence he proceeded to Bath, for the benefit of his health. He was buried at Walcot Church, Bath, on February 22nd.
14.—Died, aged 74, Mr. William Betts, Lieutenant and Quartermaster in the West Norfolk Militia. He entered the service as a private on April 29th, 1778; was appointed Corporal, July 18th, 1780; Sergeant, June 10th, 1790; Quarter-master, April 23rd, 1803, and held the appointment till June 24th, 1829, after a total service of 51 years 57 days.