24.—Supt. Robert Hitchman, of Devonport, was appointed Chief Constable of Norwich, in place of Mr. English.
31.—The first fall of snow during the winter, which had been very mild, occurred on this date. On April 6th and 7th the thermometer recorded 90 deg. in the sun.
APRIL.
6.—The celebrated dwarf, “General Tom Thumb,” held a series of “levées” at St. Andrew’s Hall, Norwich, commencing on this date. “The General left the Hall daily in his miniature carriage, drawn by the smallest ponies in the world, and attended by an African coachman and footman in livery.”
19.—A clipper barque named the Athelstan, of 500 tons burthen, was launched from the yard of Messrs. H. Fellows and Son, Yarmouth.
29.—The General Election, consequent upon the defeat of the Derby Ministry on the Reform Bill and the Dissolution of Parliament on April 23rd, commenced in Norfolk on this date. At Yarmouth Sir Edmund Lacon (C) and Sir H. Stracey (C) were returned, with 699 and 659 votes respectively. The Liberal candidates were Mr. A. W. Young, 536, and Mr. E. W. Watkin, 568.
—The nomination of candidates for the representation of Norwich took place at the Guildhall. The Conservative candidates were Sir Samuel Bignold and Mr. Charles Manners Lushington; and the Liberal candidates Mr. W. H. Schneider and Lord Bury. The Mayor announced at the Police-Court that, having received information that probable attempts would be made to prevent voters from exercising their rights, he had obtained the assistance of a large body of county police, and had telegraphed to Sir Richard Mayne to supply a strong party of Metropolitan constables. The poll was opened on the 30th, and the election resulted as follows: Bury, 2,154; Schneider, 2,138; Bignold, 1,966; Lushington, 1,900. (See June 17th.)
—The Earl of Euston and Mr. Baring were returned without opposition as members of Parliament for Thetford. Mr. J. J. Colman, of Norwich, had been invited to become a candidate in the Liberal interest, but declined. The register contained the names of 220 electors.
—Lord Stanley (C) and Mr. J. H. Gurney (L) were returned unopposed for King’s Lynn.