Jan. 31st.—Sad accounts continued to arrive from the Fishing Fleet, inconsequence of the late gales, “scarcely a smack arriving without bearing some marks of its fury, and the loss of spars and gear, while many of the crews have tales of horror to recount of vessels foundering, and all hands perishing before their eyes without the possibility of rescue.”
Feb. 4th.—A meeting of the inhabitants had been held to consider what steps should be taken to celebrate the marriage of the Prince of Wales.
Feb. 14th.—Harriet Cattermole had jumped into the river, but had been floated by her crinoline until rescued by the police.
Feb. 21st.—P.G. J. C. Smith, Surgeon, had presided at the annual dinner of the “Prince of Wales’” Lodge, M.U.O.F., held at the Market Tavern, 46 members and friends being present on the occasion.
Feb. 25th.—C. J. Palmer, Esq., (the President), had taken the chair at the meeting of the Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society, when it appeared that 215 seamen and widows had been relieved during the past year, and that the income was £177 18s. 4d., as against an expenditure of £219 14s. 4d.
Feb. 28th.—At the revision of the Proxy Book, it appeared that a number of persons claiming to act as proxies for the owners of property, were not authorised to do so by such owners, and Mr. Neave intimated that “the loss of his election last year was due to the scandalous manner in which the proxies had been worked against him.”
March 16th.—The town had been en fete upon the occasion of the marriage of the Prince of Wales, when the Corporation had attended St. Nicholas’ Church; a special sermon had been preached by the Rev. H. R. Nevill, the Artillery had fired a salute of 21 guns from the South Battery, and the Rifles a feu de joie in the Market-place.
A Council meeting had also been held, when loyal addresses were moved, and seconded to the Queen and to the Prince and Princess of Wales by Messrs. E. H. L. Preston and John Clowes, and C. J. Palmer and W. Worship respectively.
A volunteer banquet had been held on this occasion at Messrs. Lacon and Co.’s stores, when the following arrangements were made:—First table, Nos. 1 and 2 companies Artillery, (Captains J. L. Barber and W. Foreman); second table, 1 and 2 companies Rifles, (Captain Tomlinson and Lieutenant Harmer); third table, 3 and 4 companies Artillery, (Captains Green and Brown); fourth table, 3 and 4 Companies Rifles, (Captains W. Holt and H. Barber); the fifth table, Staffs of E.N.M., and N.M.A. Regiments. In addition to the Volunteers, the following gentlemen were present as guests of Sir E. H. K. Lacon, the Mayor (R. Steward, Esq.), Rev. H. Nevill, Rev. B. Vaux, Captain Long, Major Penrice, Major Orde, Adjutant Gilbertson, Adjutant Smith, J. C. Smith, Esq., E.N.M., C. C. Aldred, Esq., Captain Dods, Lieutenant W. Danby-Palmer, E.N.M., Mr. Petts, Quarter-Masters Smith and Hardiment, &c.
In the evening “the illuminations were on a most extensive scale, scarcely a house without a transparency or device. The designs on the Town Hall and Hospital School were very beautiful, while many others on private houses were greatly admired. On the Town Hall, facing the north, was fixed the principal illumination, consisting of a magnificent plume of feathers, having the letters “A. A.” on either side, and partly encircled with a wreath of oak leaves and acorns. The height of the design was 18 feet by 30 feet in width, and was drawn by Mr. Morant, Town Surveyor, and manufactured by Mr. Doughty, of Gaol Street. The fireworks were continued to a late hour, and we are happy to record that, notwithstanding the pressure of the crowd, no accident occurred to mar the pleasure of the day. The arrangements of the police throughout were most satisfactory, and to the credit of our townsmen it must be stated that at the Police Court the following morning, the magistrates’ business was finished in two minutes and a half, the only charge being a case of drunkenness, which was graciously forgiven. The ball at the Town Hall was fashionably and numerously attended and dancing was kept up to the music of Hulley’s quadrille band with unflagging spirit until an early hour the following morning. During the day the inmates of the Workhouse and Gaol were regaled, the former at the expense of the Guardians, and the latter by the Mayor. The inmates of the Fishermen’s Hospital were also regaled with plum pudding and roast beef, each man having, in addition, a pipe of tobacco, with a liberal supply of stout. The women also partook of tea, with a plentiful supply of cake. The inmates expressed themselves deeply grateful to the trustees of the charity for thus enabling them to participate in the festivities of the day.”