26.—Petitions were presented from Yarmouth, complaining that bribery had been practised at the election of members for that borough. They were not election petitions; they did not complain of the return; and did not impute bribery to the members or their agents. But it was alleged that two guineas had been paid to many of the voters at the house of a person who had been an active partisan of the sitting members. The petitions were referred to a Committee of the House. On July 30th the Chairman of the Committee reported that Mr. Prentice, one of the witnesses, refused to answer certain questions, on the ground that the answers would incriminate himself. He was sent to Newgate on August 6th. On the same day the Chairman reported that three other witnesses, Messrs. Preston, Lacon, and Green, had refused to answer any questions at all. Mr. Preston was brought to the bar and informed by the Speaker that the House had decided he was bound to submit to be examined by the Committee without prejudice to his right to object to any questions, the answers to which might tend to criminate himself. Mr. Preston and Messrs. Lacon and Green attended the Committee. They objected to the very first question which at all tended to bear on the matter, because, they said, the answers might criminate them. The Committee agreed that the answers would have that tendency, and discharged the witnesses from further attendance. On August 11th Mr. Prentice was likewise discharged from Newgate, and on his arrival at Yarmouth, on August 14th, was welcomed by a
large crowd, who escorted his carriage through the town, with a band playing. At the Norfolk Assizes, on March 31st, 1836, before Mr. Justice Parke, Messrs. Preston, Green, and Lacon were charged with the alleged acts of bribery, but each case was disposed of without one of the persons against whom the charges were preferred being required to enter upon any defence whatever.
29.—In consequence of the general recommendation of the Poor-law Commissioners that the allowances to the “surplus poor” be made in kind, instead of in money, the labourers at Great Bircham and Bircham Tofts struck work, and caused a riot, upon the ground that labourers had been imported from neighbouring villages. The houses of Mr. Ketton and Mr. Hebgin were attacked, and the Melton and Rainham troops of Yeomanry Cavalry were called out to quell the disturbance. The preventive men from the coast and the 6th Inniskillings from Norwich were also summoned. At Walsingham Quarter Sessions, on July 10th, several persons were sentenced to terms of imprisonment for participating in the riot.
JULY.
6.—The Royal Mail coach from Yarmouth (through Norwich) to Birmingham commenced running. “In equipment and management this coach is not excelled by any in the kingdom.”
—Died at Vernon House, London, from the effects of injuries received by a fall from his horse in St. James’s Park, on June 30th, the Right Hon. Lord Suffield, aged 54. The intelligence arrived at North Walsham at the time fixed for the celebration of his lordship’s birthday by a dinner at the King’s Arms Inn. The body of the deceased nobleman reached Norwich on July 15th, and remained at the Rampant Horse Inn that night. On the following day it was conveyed to Gunton, and buried in the chapel in the park.
14.—A handbill was circulated in Norwich announcing that “the Dutch Hercules, Mynheer Kousewinkeler van Raachboomstadt, professor of gymnastics and Maître des Armes to the 5th Regiment of Royal Jaagers,” would give his “celebrated series of gymnastic exercises” in Chapel Field. Some thousands of persons were hoaxed.
AUGUST.
1.—Mr. Charles Kemble made his first appearance at Norwich Theatre in the character of Julian St. Pierre (“The Wife”). During the remaining nights of his engagement he performed the parts of Benedict, Mercutio, Colonel Freelove (“The Day after the Wedding”), Octavian (“The Mountaineers”), Petruchio, and Charles Surface. He afterwards visited Yarmouth.
6.—Evidence was given before the House of Lords in opposition to the Municipal Reform Bill by Mr. E. T. Booth, Col. Harvey, Mr. Isaac Preston (Recorder), and Mr. E. Newton, of Norwich. A petition, adopted at a meeting of the freemen on July 11th, and signed by 1,600 persons of both parties, had already been presented, praying their lordships “to preserve to Norwich the privileges granted by the charters