11.—Charles Dickens gave a reading, at St. Andrew’s Hall, of the “Christmas Carol” and the trial scene from “The Pickwick Papers,” and on the 12th read the story of Little Dombey and of Mrs. Gamp. “The reception of Mr. Dickens, on his first appearing in front of a very artistically arranged screen, was cordial and enthusiastic. His voice was far from powerful, but he had remarkable expression and the power of exhibiting this in face as well as in voice. As a pecuniary speculation, it must have been highly profitable to Mr. Dickens.”
17.—The town of Attleborough was, for the first time, lighted with gas, an event which was celebrated by a public dinner at the New Inn.
20.—At the Norwich Quarter Sessions, John Plummer (25), shoemaker, was indicted for stealing a model of a gold nugget, the property of the trustees of the Norfolk and Norwich Museum. Mr. Reeve, the curator of the Museum, stated that the model was worth only a few shillings, but it was an attractive object, and generally supposed by visitors, and no doubt by the prisoner, to be a piece of genuine gold. The prisoner was sentenced to seven years’ penal servitude.
21.—At the Norfolk Quarter Sessions, the Police Committee called attention to an Act of Parliament passed in the previous month of August, empowering the substitution of policemen for javelin men at the Assizes, and recommending that the Chief Constable be authorised, on the application of the High Sheriff, to employ a sufficient number of constables for that purpose, the High Sheriff engaging to pay such sum as would, in the estimation of the Chief Constable, be sufficient to meet the additional expense of such employment. The matter was adjourned for further consideration. (See January 5th, 1860.)
—Mr. R. M. Phipson was elected County Surveyor.
24.—A singular question came before the Norwich Town Council, in relation to the right of the Corporation to the property of convicts. The Police Committee reported they had been informed by the Chief Constable that on the apprehension of one George Valentine, on a charge of felony, a large sum of money was found in his possession. Valentine having been tried and convicted at the Quarter Sessions, the Town Clerk had stated that the city was entitled to the convict’s money. The Chief Constable wished to know how he should dispose of the money. The Committee were advised that, after the conviction, the city had become entitled to the money under a Royal charter granted during the reign of Henry IV. The Council ordered that the money remain in the hands of the City Treasurer, pending further inquiry. The question was again considered by the Council on May 12th, 1863, when the Town Clerk reported that after Valentine’s conviction it was found that, in addition to the sum in question (£90), he had £60 deposited in a savings bank in London. The Town Clerk had given notice to the bank directors that the Corporation claimed the money, but since the liberation of the prisoner he had been pressed to withdraw the notices, and had refused to do so without the sanction of the Corporation. The difficulty under which the Corporation laboured was that the money was out of their jurisdiction, and they had no control over it beyond the notice that had been given. If further steps were taken the question would arise whether it was a forfeiture to the Corporation or to the Crown, but as this would involve an inquisition, the cost of which would probably exhaust the money enquired about, it was for the Council to say whether, the man, having served his term of three years’ penal servitude, and having petitioned for some relief from the fund to place him in a position to gain an honest livelihood, they would authorise the withdrawal of the notice. It was agreed that the notice be withdrawn.
25.—A severe storm occurred off the Norfolk coast. At Winterton two vessels were wrecked and thirteen lives lost. At Yarmouth there were several wrecks, and for miles the shore was strewn with remains of cargoes and portions of vessels. The sloop James and Jessie drifted on to the Britannia Pier, and severed the structure into two parts.
26.—Mr. and Mrs. German Reed gave, at the Assembly Rooms, Norwich, their entertainment entitled, “Seaside Studies.”
NOVEMBER.
9.—At a meeting of the Norwich Town Council, Mr. J. H. Tillett was elected Mayor, and Mr. Joseph Underwood appointed Sheriff.