“There was an unusual quantity of business transacted at the Corporation Assembly on Wednesday last. It was first proposed that a petition should be addressed to the King, praying for four Sessions of Oyer and Terminer a year. It was suggested that the Recorder should be allowed £60 a year. To this Mr. E. L. Preston objected, who moved that it should be £50. To this it was replied that the latter sum was allowed by the late Corporation when Sessions were only held twice a year. The original motion was carried unanimously, Mr. E. Sewell observing that Mr. P’s was a false economy. It was next moved by Mr. S. Cobb that the Great Seal should be called that of the Town Council, and not of St. Nicholas. He had no objection to all remaining as it was except the expensive name of St. Nicholas. This was warmly opposed by Mr. Preston. It was, however, carried unanimously. Mr. Richard Hammond read a list of persons to form the Committee of Finance. To this plan Mr. Preston warmly objected, saying he had no notion of names being got up “ready cut and dried.” It was stated in answer that the list (to which no objection was then made) was agreed to at the Watch Committee, of which Mr. P. formed one, and which he might have attended if he pleased. Mr. B. Sherrington (of the same politics as Mr. P.) was on the Committee, and was present. The Finance Committee agreed to were, the Mayor (who is appointed ex-officio on all Committees), Messrs. S. Cobb, R. S. Lonsdale, Charles Nicholls, B. Dowson, Martin, G. D. Palmer, C. Sayers, W. Johnson, and Burroughs. On the Mayor explaining the duties of the Borough Lands Committee, it was suggested and agreed to, that the tradesmen employed solely by this Committee should be only for small jobs. This being a most important business, it was determined that all the Council should form the Committee. On the Water-Bailiffs and Met Farm Office Committee, it was resolved, on the motion of Mr. S. Cobb, that it be called “Committee of Port Dues”; the officer “Collector of Port Dues.” The Committee appointed were Messrs. W. Barber, G. D. Palmer, T. Pitt, R. Teasdel, Martin, J. B. Palmer, Thomas Hammond, Fenn, Butcher, and Dowson. Market and Corporation Tolls’ Committee: Messrs. Johnson, Brightwen, S. Cobb, Sayers, Nicholls, Sherrington, R. Hammond, S. Palmer, Symonds, J. B. Palmer, and Martin. Committee for Caister Causeway: Messrs. R. P. Kemp, S. Palmer, Nicholls, Fenn, Tomlinson, R. Hammond, and Sayers. Church Trustees: Messrs. Larke, Kemp, Burroughs, J. Dowson, Starling, B. Cobb, S. Palmer, E. N. Clowes, Marsh, Tomlinson, Garson, Grave, Butcher, Barber, Robinson, Preston, Martin, Symonds, Sherrington, and G. D. Palmer. All the outstanding drawbacks arc to be referred to the Port Dues Committee. The ringers’ bill, £12 10s. for five days’ ringing, was disallowed. Admiralty Court: R. Cory, jun., returned that he had in five years received as registrar £1,483 16s. 8d., and claimed as compensation £200 per year for his natural life. Proctors: C. J. Palmer claimed £1,036 7s., C. Sayers £1,196 5s. 6d., I. Preston £692, E. R. Palmer £497. Thomas King, gaoler, petitioned for continuance of place, stated emoluments, and asked £13 7s. 4½d. compensation, as Marshall of the Court of Admiralty. Mrs. King, as matron, received £10 per year, and prayed to be continued. Alfred King, turnkey, received 14s. per. week, and prayed for continuance. The five sergeants-at-mace sent a return of their emoluments for five years, and petitioned for their continuance. B. Welsh, chapel clerk, made about £47 per year, and prayed for continuance. The Rev. Thomas Baker, as lecturer, received £120 per year. The Hon. and Rev. E. Pellew received from the late Corporation £40 per year and a house, for which he pays 1s. per year rent. John Seaman, parish clerk, receives no salary, but averages about £80 per annum. The Revs. J. Homfray and Mark Waters declined the statement of their proceeds, as they conceived the returns did not apply to them as Ministers of a Chapel endowed by Act of Parliament. They begged their refusal might not be considered as arising from discourtesy. Their communication was rejected. These returns were referred to a Committee of the Mayor’s assistants.”
Jan. 21st.—The Earl of Orford had been removed from his office of High Steward and the Earl of Lichfield elected in his place.
The following gentlemen were suggested as Magistrates:—William Barth, Esq., Sir George Parker, K.C.B., George Danby Palmer, H. V. Worship, J. Brightwen, C. Nicholls, R. Palmer Kemp, S. Cobb, and S. Palmer, Esqs., and Capt. Larke, R.N., by the Council.
Sixteen new watch and policemen, and two superintendents had been appointed.
The Mayor and Town Council had attended service at St. Nicholas’ Church, “The Mayor with no other insignia of office than the chain and the sword carried by an officer.”
Feb. 4th.—The Tories had held a dinner in the Theatre in honour of Messrs. Baring and Praed. Seven hundred persons attended.
Feb. 18th.—Has the following report of a high tide:—
“The scene of devastation on our beach, occasioned by the late high tides, exceed the powers of description. Wednesday morning, in some measure, prepared us for the event; the sea was at that time breaking over the jetty, and reached as high as the houses. It was prophesied by nautical men that if the next tide was equally high the consequences would be most disastrous, and, unfortunately, it so proved. The sea in the evening undermined the foundations of most of the dwellings, throwing down the walls of many, to the great injury of those of the inmates who had not taken the precautions to remove their property. Furniture was seen floating in all directions, in the presence of the astonished and alarmed multitude. The summer residence of the Right Hon. Lord Berners is more than half destroyed, while the house of the Misses Ansell and the Right Hon. Lord Nevill were surrounded; in fact, such a scene of general devastation never in the memory of the oldest inhabitant presented itself. The sea at one time reached some way up the Jetty Road. While a person was assisting the landlord of the Holkham Tavern to remove his beds, &c., to a back warehouse, the sea burst in and broke down the front wall. At one part of the South Denes the sea and river might be seen meeting. Part of the South Quay was flooded. It was unusually high at the bridge, and likewise some of the lower parts of the town. Amidst this wide spreading destruction, we are glad to say, no lives were lost.”
Feb. 22nd.—The Lord High Steward (the Earl of Lichfield) had been sworn in, and a dinner given in his honour. The noble lord was accompanied by the Mayor, Lord Suffield, the Hon. George Anson, Mr. Rumbold, Sir W. Ffolkes, and Mr. Adair.
March 10th.—A meeting had been held, the Hon. and Rev. E. Pellew presiding, to consider the establishment of a penny library for the working classes.