30.—The electors of the division of East Norfolk, constituted under the provisions of the new Reform Act, met at Norwich for the purpose of adopting candidates. The friends of Mr. Peach, M.P., and Lord Henry Cholmondeley, M.P., the Tory candidates, met at the Rampant Horse Inn, and the supporters of Mr. William W. Windham and Major Keppel, the Whig candidates, at the Angel Inn.
JULY.
7.—Intelligence was received at Norwich that the Right Hon. Robert Grant, M.P., “at about the time his constituents were remembering him in their flowing cups at the Reform dinner,” had issued an address to the electors of Finsbury. On the 13th Lord Stormont and Sir James Scarlett were adopted Conservative candidates, and on the 14th it was announced that Mr. R. H. Gurney would have as his colleague Mr. H. Bellenden Ker. A third candidate, Mr. William Eagle, entered the field, but his principles were doubtful. At a meeting held at the Bowling Green Inn, on August 7th, he stated that he belonged to neither party, for “he looked upon the Tory as a highwayman and the Whig as a pickpocket.” Mr. Eagle retired before the nomination took place. The Conservative candidates made their first public appearance
at a dinner held at St. Andrew’s Hall, under the presidency of Mr. J. S. Patteson, on July 17th, and from that date onwards prosecuted a vigorous canvass. (See December 10th.)
16.—Died at Binham, aged 98, Mrs. Elizabeth Leake, who “for upwards of fifty years travelled as daily post from Binham to Wells, from which employment she had retired about 14 years.”
23.—Died at Hardingham Rectory, aged 74, the Rev. Walter Whiter, M.A., formerly Fellow of Clare Hall, Cambridge. He was instituted to the rectory in 1797, and was the author of some ingenious works on literature and criticism, and more particularly of the ‘Etymologicon Universale,’ a work of the greatest labour and research, and replete with new and ingenious views of the origin and affinity of languages.”
28.*—“Died in London, of cholera, last week, Mr. William Willement, manufacturer, of Colchester. The deceased went to London on the Saturday previous, was taken ill on the Sunday, and died and was buried on Monday. He served the office of Sheriff of Norwich in 1816.”
30.—Norwich Theatre re-opened for the Assize week. Mr. Gill, a comic actor, who afterwards became a great favourite on the Norwich stage, made his first appearance here. Mr. Braham on this date commenced a five nights’ engagement, and appeared in a round of his principal characters.
AUGUST.
6.—George Borrow, writing to the Norfolk Chronicle on this date, suggested the derivation of the word “Tory.” “Tory,” he wrote, “is composed of three Irish words, and doubtless originated amongst the Irish adherents of Charles II. at the time they were suffering under the sway of Cromwell and were sighing for the Restoration. The words are Tar a Ri, and their pronunciation is the same as that of ‘Tory,’ or if there be any difference, it consists in a scarcely distinguishable drawl. Their meaning is, ‘Come, O King.’”