Nov. 28th.—It was calculated that there were 400 boats then engaged in the Herring Fishing belonging to Yarmouth.
Dec. 12th.—The Mayor’s “feast” had been held at the Town Hall, 120 gentlemen being present, including Lord Sondes (High Steward), Sir E. N. Buxton, Bart., M.P., Sir H. Stracey, Bart., Sir E. H. K. Lacon, Bart., Colonel Elmhirst, Colonel Sankey, Major Taylor, Captain Nugent, Captain Dunt, the Revs. B. Vaux, J. Gunn, M. Waters and J. B. Bampton, Messrs. R. Hammond, W. N. Burroughs, C. J. Palmer, C. Cory, E. H. L. Preston, E. P. Youell, W. Yetts, R. Steward, B. Jay, C. H. Chamberlin, R. S. Watling, I. Preston, jun., W. C. Reynolds, R. Ferrier, W. H. Palmer, C. Preston, F. Palmer, H. D Palmer, J. C. Smith, D. A. Gourlay, &c.
The “recruiting staff” of the 9th Regiment, then at Yarmouth, consisted of Lieut.-Colonel C. Elmhirst, Brevt-Colonel Sankey, Major A. Taylor, Captains W. Dunt, H. F. Manton, W. Nugent, D. A. Barnett, R. P. O’Shea, J. W. MacFarlane, — Carden, and J. Graham, Lieutenants H. G. H. Grubbe, H. Gipps, and A. F. B. Wright, Adjutant Bolton, Ensigns C. S. Perry, J. L. Bradshaw, S. Lynne and C. T. Coote, Quarter-Master Arrowsmith, and 19 Sergeants and 10 Corporals.
Dec. 30th.—There were 30 prisoners in the Gaol, and they had been regaled with a Christmas dinner by the Mayor.
The Clocks at the Parish Church and St. George’s Chapel had been set going again at the instance of the Town Council.
1858.
Jan. 2nd.—Contains the following article on the Old Year:—“1857 has been a good year for our port. Our fisheries have prospered; our mercantile and shipping report is favourable; and our commercial credit has stood firm and upright against the pressure of a severe monetary crisis. We have proved the elasticity of our resources, and have demonstrated the strength and stability of our enterprise. The fashionable season has also been one on which we have to congratulate ourselves. During the summer and autumn of 1857, Yarmouth was full of visitors; our beach was crowded with company; and our hotels and lodging houses were all full. In short, on New Year’s Day we find that we can strike a balance on the right side, and look forward with hope based on the solid foundation of proved success. There is but one great drawback to the seasonable satisfaction such a state of things affords. Our political divisions have materially diminished the account in our favour, and have seriously interfered with the social harmony of the town. We have suffered ourselves to be led away into personal altercations, and have so departed from the straight road of a defined and thought-out principle. This has been a grave mistake, as we are now beginning to discover. But generally we have yet to learn that political zeal is not inconsistent with the courtesies of society, and that ill-tempered advocacy is worse than useless. Let us hope, however, that the moderate men of both political opinions, who must, we are sure, see the error of this course, will for the future guard against indiscretions, which are as inherently wrong as they are manifestly prejudicial to any cause that stands upon Principle and is supported by its own Truth. We know we express the opinion of the thinking portion of the constituency in advising an abstinence from the littleness of factious strife, and in suggesting a more elevated view of political verities, we are satisfied we are answering to the wish of the most respectable members of the opposing parties, and are explaining what is only wanting to consolidate the established prosperity of Yarmouth.”
The Hospital meeting showed a deficit of from £40 to £50 on the annual accounts.
Jan. 6th.—It was rumoured than an addition would shortly be made to the local Magistracy.
Jan. 9th.—Mr. C. J. Palmer occupied the chair at the annual Library Meeting. It was stated that there were then nearly 10,000 volumes belonging to that Institution, of which about 22 were circulated daily.