7.—The nomination of candidates for the representation of Norwich took place at the Guildhall. The show of hands was in favour of Messrs. Peto and Warner, and a poll was demanded on behalf of the Marquis of Douro and Col. Dickson. The polling-booths were opened at eight o’clock on the morning of the 8th, and closed at four o’clock in the afternoon, and the result was officially declared at one o’clock on the 9th: Peto, 2,190; Warner, 2,145; Douro, 1,592; Dickson, 1,465. The issues on which the election was fought were Free Trade and Protection.
—Mr. C. E. Rumbold and Sir E. Lacon, “Moderate Conservatives,” and Mr. W. T. M’Cullagh and Sir C. Napier, Whig-Radicals, were nominated Parliamentary candidates for Yarmouth. The polling took place on the 8th: Lacon, 611; Rumbold; 547; M’Cullagh, 521; Napier, 486.
8.—Lynn election: Lord Jocelyn, 627; Lord Stanley, 551; Mr. Robert Pashley, Q.C., 383. The two first-named were returned.
9.—The Hon. Francis Baring and the Earl of Euston were returned unopposed for the borough of Thetford.
12.—Mr. Edmond Wodehouse and Mr. Henry Negus Burroughes were returned unopposed as members for East Norfolk.
17.—The nomination of candidates for West Norfolk took place at Swaffham. Mr. William Bagge and Mr. George Pierrepont Bentinck were the Conservative nominees, and Mr. Anthony Hamond the Liberal candidate. “Mr. Hamond was formerly a Protectionist, and opposed Mr. Cobden at the Free Trade meeting at St. Andrew’s Hall, Norwich, only a week before Sir Robert Peel proposed to repeal the Corn Laws. Mr. Hamond now avows himself a Free Trader.” He was nominated at the last moment to fill the vacancy occasioned by the retirement of the Hon. E. K. Coke. The poll was opened on the 20th and 21st, and on the 23rd the result was declared as follows: Bagge, 3,421; Bentinck, 3,143; Hamond, 1,973.
AUGUST.
14.—A general meeting of the Deputy Lieutenants of the County was held at the Shirehall, Norwich, for the purpose of carrying into effect the provisions of the Act 15 and 16 Vic., for raising a force not exceeding 80,000 men, of which number 50,000 were to be raised in 1852, and 30,000 in 1855. The Earl of Orford moved, and it was resolved, that the Lord Lieutenant be requested to apply to the Secretary of State to obtain her Majesty’s Order in Council for the subdivision districts to be made coterminous with the Superintendent Registrar’s districts; and to be furnished with a list of the number of men liable to serve in each subdivision and parish. On September 18th measures were adopted for the enlistment of two regiments of Militia—612 men to serve in the Western Regiment, and a like number in the Eastern Regiment. Sufficient numbers of men were forthcoming without having recourse to the Ballot Act. (See April 19th, 1853.)
21.—Bylaugh Hall, the stately home of the Lombe family, was completed at about this date. The mansion was erected under the provisions of the will of Sir John Lombe, Bart., who died in 1817. The will directed “that so long as the house remained uncommenced the money should be invested and allowed to accumulate at compound interest.” The new mansion was begun in 1849, under the supervision and control of the trustees in whom the building fund was vested. It was erected from the designs of Messrs. Banks and Barry, of London, by Messrs. Piper, of Bishopsgate Street, whose contract amounted to £29,389. The interior was decorated by Mr. Sang “and his German artists.” (See July 4th, 1857.)