—The Prince of Wales visited Yarmouth and laid the foundation-stone of the new hospital. On the 19th his Royal Highness inspected the 2nd Brigade Eastern Division Royal Artillery, and in the evening attended a ball given by the officers.
24.—The Queen’s birthday was celebrated in Norwich by a review on Mousehold Heath of the 19th (Princess of Wales’ Own) Hussars, the 3rd Battalion Norfolk Regiment, and the 1st Volunteer Battalion Norfolk Regiment. The Mayor (Mr. Harry Bullard) gave a banquet at Blackfriars’ Hall in the evening. Earlier in the day his worship and the Sheriff (Mr. F. Oddin Taylor) entertained the inmates of the Workhouse.
25.—An “anti-coercion demonstration,” held under the auspices of the National Liberal Federation, was addressed at the Agricultural Hall, Norwich, by Mr. John Morley, M.P.
JUNE.
1.—Died, at Yarmouth, where he had resided four years, the Rev. Joseph Philip Knight, the composer of many popular songs. The youngest son of the Rev. Francis Knight, D.D., he was born at the Vicarage, Bradford-on-Avon, on July 26th, 1812. His love for music displayed itself at an early age, and at fifteen he began to devote himself to the study of harmony and composition. When about twenty Mr. Knight composed his first six songs under the name of Philip Mortimer. Among these were “Old times,” sung by Henry Philips, and “Go, forget me,” extremely popular both in this country and in Germany. After this he used his own name, and, in company with Haynes Bayly, produced a number of highly successful songs, amongst which the most famous were “Of what is the Old Man thinking?” “The Veteran,” “Days Gone By,” “The Grecian Daughter,” and “She wore a Wreath of Roses.” He subsequently composed the song and duet to the words written for him by Thomas Moore, “The Parting” and “Let’s take this World as some Wild Scene.” In 1839 Mr. Knight visited the United States, where he remained two years. To this time are due, among other popular songs, his celebrated “Rocked in the Cradle of the Deeps” sung with immense success by Braham, and “Why Chime the Bells so merrily?” On his return to England he produced “Beautiful Venice,” “Say, what shall my Song be To-night?” “The Dream” (words by the Hon. Mrs. Norton), “Amy Robsart,” and “Queen of the Silver Bow,” all more or less the rage in their day. Some years afterwards Mr. Knight married, and lived for a long time in France and Germany, doing very little in the way of composition, but on his return to England he wrote many other songs, “Peace, it is I,” “The Lost Rose,” “The Watchman,” “The Anchor,” “Where is the Place of thy Rest?” and the duet, “Where the Roses Grow,” all of which, enjoyed great popularity. His songs, duets, and trios number 225.
4.—Queen Kapiolani, and the heiress presumptive to the Hawaiian Throne, the Princess Lilivokalani, consort and sister respectively of Kalakana, King of Hawaii, on a visit to England for the purpose of attending the celebration of the Jubilee of Queen Victoria, arrived at Rackheath Hall, where they were entertained as the guests of Captain and Mrs. Steward. During the stoppage of the train at Trowse station, the visitors were waited upon by the Mayor and Mayoress of Norwich (Mr. and Mrs. Bullard), who were attended by the Town Clerk and other civic officials. On the 5th (Sunday) the Queen and Princess attended service at the Cathedral, at which the Mayor, Sheriff, and members of the Town Council were present; and on the 6th they visited the Cathedral, St. Andrew’s Hall, St. Peter Mancroft church, and the Castle, and were entertained to luncheon at the Guildhall by the Mayor and Mayoress. In the afternoon they proceeded to Pine Banks, Thorpe, and were entertained by Mr. I. O. Howard Taylor. On the 6th the Queen and Princess departed for London.
15.—The Summer Show of the Norfolk Agricultural Association opened at Blickling Park. The Marquis of Lothian presided at the public luncheon. The show was continued on the 16th.
19.—The celebration of the Jubilee of Queen Victoria began in Norwich on this day (Sunday) with a thanksgiving service at the Cathedral, and with special services at the Roman Catholic and other Nonconformist places of worship. The Mayor and Corporation attended the Cathedral in the morning, and Prince’s Street Congregational chapel in the evening. On the 20th a special meeting of the Town Council was held on the requisition of forty-four members, at which it was unanimously resolved to confer the honorary freedom of the city upon Mr. Harry Bullard as Mayor of Norwich. The 21st was observed as Jubilee Day. Early in the morning intelligence was telegraphed to the city that the Mayor was among the eleven chief magistrates in the kingdom who had received the honour of knighthood. The day’s proceedings commenced with a special service at the Cathedral, attended by Churchmen and Nonconformists, by a detachment of the 19th Hussars, under Colonel French, and the Norwich Artillery Volunteers and Rifle Volunteers. At noon 11,000 school children assembled in the Market Place and sang the National Anthem, after which Sir Harry and Lady Bullard were “at home” at the Guildhall, and entertained a large company to luncheon. In the afternoon there was a military parade of the 19th Hussars and Volunteers on Dix’s Land, Unthank’s Road; the school children had tea at their respective schools, and in the evening the city was illuminated and a grand display of fireworks was given on the Castle Meadow. The festivities were continued on the 22nd, when the Mayor and Sheriff entertained 1,100 of the aged poor at the Agricultural Hall, and in the evening Sir Harry and Lady Bullard gave a soirée at St. Andrew’s Hall. On the 23rd the inmates of the Workhouse were entertained. The 21st was observed with great rejoicing in every town and village in the county, and the weather being beautifully fine, the proceedings were of a most successful character. The amount subscribed in Norfolk to the Women’s Jubilee offering to the Queen was £1,565 2s. 6d.
29.—Ringland church, restored at the cost of £2,000, was re-opened.