9.—A meeting of the citizens was held at St. Andrew’s Hall, Norwich, for the consideration of the Norwich Corporation Bill, which, during the preceding year the Town Council had decided to present to Parliament. The Mayor (Mr. J. Farrar Ranson) presided, and the proceedings were of a most disorderly character. At the adjourned meeting on the 23rd similar scenes were witnessed. The Bill, which was very comprehensive, and contained provisions relating to infectious diseases, police regulations, private street works, hackney carriages, the employment of children, consolidation of parishes, &c., passed through Select Committee of the House of Commons on June 18th.
14.—The first of another series of “Science Lectures for the People” was given, under the Gilchrist Educational Trust, at St. Andrew’s Hall by Sir Robert Stawell Ball, Astronomer Royal for Ireland, on “The Sun, the Fountain of life and Light.” Dr. Lant Carpenter, on January 28th, lectured upon “Electric Lighting”; Dr. Andrew Wilson, February 9th, on “Some Animal Architects: Chalk Builders and Coral Makers”; Professor Miall, February 25th, on “The Life-history of the Earth”; Professor Seeley, March 11th, on “Water and its Action in Land-shaping”; and the Rev. Dr. Dallinger, F.R.S., F.L.S., president of the Royal Microscopical Society, March 25th, on “Contrasts of Nature—the Infinitely Great and the Infinitely Small.” The Corporation in December arranged a series of lectures independently of the Gilchrist Trust. On the 4th of that month Sir Robert Ball lectured on “Shooting Stars,” and on the 18th Dr. Andrew Wilson discoursed on “The Heart and its Action.” (See March 5th, 1890.)
21.—The freemen of Norwich unanimously agreed that it was undesirable to take any steps in opposition to the Attorney-General’s motion for declaring the Town Close Estate a charity. In the Court of Appeal, on June 22nd, before Lords Justices Cotton, Bowen, and Fry, Mr. Ingle Joyce informed their lordships that a scheme was to be devised for the management of the estate; the Corporation were to retain a sufficient sum to cover their costs, and the plaintiffs in the action were to have their costs as between party and party. Their lordships sanctioned the agreement. “All that now remains to be done in the original action is to settle the roll by striking off the names of freemen wrongfully admitted.” At a meeting of the Town Council on August 27th it was reported that the estimated costs in the litigation amounted to £5,000. (See February 6th, 1892.)
23.—Died, at Yarmouth, Mrs. Rose Ellen Thackeray, widow of the Rev. Joseph Thackeray, many years rector of Horstead and Coltishall. Mrs. Thackeray, who was in her 79th year, was the authoress of “Social Skeletons,” and “Pictures of the Past,” and a contributor of poetical sketches to various magazines. She was the youngest daughter of Captain John Robinson, of the Scots Guards.
24.—Mr. and Mrs. Kendall commenced a three nights’ engagement at Norwich Theatre in “The Queen’s Shilling.” “A Scrap of Paper” was performed on the 25th, and “Two Friends” on the 26th.
26.—Died, at St. Andrew’s Hall Plain, Norwich, Mr. Alfred Stannard, artist, in his 83rd year. He was the last survivor of the Norwich School of Artists, which commenced with Old Crome. He was the younger brother of the famous Joseph Stannard, and father of Miss Stannard, the well-known painter of fruit and flowers. During the last few years of his life Mr. Stannard was in receipt of an annual pension of £50 from the Turner Fund of the Royal Academy.
26.—Died, at the Cathedral Close, Norwich, Mrs. Elizabeth Taylor, widow of Mr. John Oddin Taylor, aged 81. She was the eldest of the twelve children of Mr. John Brewer, of Mile End House, Eaton. Among her brothers were Professor Brewer, Preacher at the Rolls-Chapel, and editor of the State Papers of the time of Henry VIII.; Dr. William Brewer, Chairman of the Metropolitan Asylums Board, and sometime Member of Parliament for Colchester; and Dr. Cobham Brewer, the well-known author of the “Guide to Science” and other educational works. Born on November 9th, 1807, she was educated with her brothers at Mile End School, and there acquired that proficiency in the classics and love of literature generally which she maintained and cherished throughout her life. Among the pupils attending her father’s school was John Oddin Taylor, who was destined to become her husband. Early in life she manifested an ardent enthusiasm for music, and studied under Dr. Crotch, and for her great proficiency in the art was on two occasions awarded a medal. With her high intellectual gifts were combined broad and liberal sympathies, and she won the confidence and affection of all.
29.—Mr. T. P. O’Connor, M.P., addressed a Gladstonian Liberal meeting held at the Agricultural Hall, Norwich, under the presidency of Mr. J. J. Colman.
FEBRUARY.
5.—A series of military tournaments, given by the 20th Hussars in aid of the city charities, commenced at the Agricultural Hall, Norwich, and concluded on the 9th.