1849.

Jan. 13th.—The “Cosmopolite,” 312 tons register, had been launched from Mr. Brandford’s yard.

Feb. 3rd.—There were 1,145 boys and 1,461 girls attending the Sunday Schools, about 1,000 of whom belonged to the Established Church.

Feb. 10th.—Mr. John Lomas Cufaude had been unanimously elected Clerk of the Peace, in the place of Mr. J. Barth resigned.

Feb. 17th.—Mr. Ferrier, upon wishing to leave the Council found the door locked, and made a disturbance by kicking it “with great violence.”

The Mayor was requested to take notice of this, and on the motion of Mr. W. Worship the following resolution was passed:—That “we as a Council hold the Mayor blameless for taking anyone into custody in protecting this Council in its deliberation.”

March 3rd.—Complaint was made as to the decay of the South Quay trees.

March 10th.—A religious service had been held on board the “Cosmopolite,” before her first voyage, she being bound to Singapore.

The Mayor (P. Pullyn, Esq.) had entertained the Recorder, the Bar, and several friends at a sumptuous dinner at the “Star.”

March 30th.—Contains a full account of the trial of Rush for the Stanfield Hall murders.

April 14th.—The appointment of Overseers having become vested in the general body of the Justices by Act of Parliament, the first appointment by them had been made. The following Justices being present:—The Mayor, S. Cobb, R. Hammond, G. D. Palmer, and J. W. Shelly, Esqs., (Whigs), and Geo. Bateman, W. H. Bessey, W. Thurtell, W. Yetts, J. C. Smith, Wm. Danby-Palmer, J. F. Costerton, E. H. L. Preston, and B. Jay, Esqs. (Tories). The following were appointed:—Wm. Green, James Borking, John Key, and Samuel Lessey.

The Vestry meeting at the Guildhall had been crowded to suffocation. R. Hammond proposed Mr. C. S. D. Steward for re-election, and Mr. Burroughs nominated Mr. F. Worship for re-election, and they were re-elected accordingly churchwardens for the ensuing year.

April 21st.—One hundred and ten ladies and gentlemen had attended the second Subscription Ball.

April 28th.—Mr. Gourlay had been elected chairman, and Messrs. Lawn and S. Norman, vice-chairmen, of the Board of Guardians. There had been no contest at the election of the Board.

May 19th.—The Mayor had given a dinner at the Star.

June 2nd.—The “Yarmouth Bridge Bill” had passed the Committee stage, and it was confidently expected that Breydon would now be deepened.

On Whit-Monday the Temperance Society had held a meeting at the Masonic Hall, Mr. W. T. Fisher in the chair.

Captain Wm. Larke, R.N., had received from the Admiralty a war medal issued for the action fought off Cape St. Vincent, on the 14th February, 1797, in which glorious engagement he was signal midshipman on board the “Prince George,” 98 guns.

A petition in favour of a national poor’s rate was in course of signature.

June 9th.—Col. Mason had presented a very handsome carved lectern to St. Nicholas’ Church.

Most of the lodging houses on or near the Victoria Terrace were let. The Marchioness of Wellesley was staying in the town.

June 16th.—The report of the British School showed that there were then 200 scholars at that establishment.

June 23rd.—A tailor, on tramp, had (having procured a bed at the Neptune Public-house) drank 9 pints of beer at night and 4 the next morning before proceeding to Lowestoft.

June 30th.—The Lord Lieutenant, with Lady Leicester, several members of the Digby family, Mr., Mrs. and Miss Whitbread, the Hon. Mr. Coke, Col. Porter, Lord Hastings, the Hon. Mr. Astley, Mr. F. Astley, and Mr. Norris, had secured rooms at the Victoria Hotel.

The Guildhall was in progress of demolition.

There had been a good catch of mackerel, one boat having brought upwards of 6,000 fish.

July 14th.—At the Regatta the following yachts competed:—“Hilda,” R.T.Y.C., 25 tons; “Cynthia,” R.V.Y.C., 50 tons; “Foam,” R.V.Y.C., 20 tons; “Mosquito,” R.T.Y.C., 50 tons; “Secret,” R.T.Y.C., 20 tons; and the “Juvenile,” R.H.Y.C., 15 tons.

The “Cynthia,” won the cup.

Upwards of 2,300 passengers were conveyed to Yarmouth by the Railway to witness these sports.

The Mayor’s windows had been broken and a reward of £10 offered.

Aug. 25th.—Complaint was made that when fishing boats arrived at the Quay on Sunday, a crowd collected round the door of some public-house, and on the arrival of a salesman he was accompanied into such house and held a sale there of the fish, and that the police never interfered to prevent this violation of the Sabbath.

Sept. 1st.—Lady Agnes Buller, Sir William and Lady Wimper, and Mr. and Mrs. Wood had taken houses on Brandon Terrace.

An individual resident in the town, had, for the wager of a bottle of rum, driven a pony and cart to the end of the Jetty, for which he was taken before the Justices and fined 20s.

Great complaint had been made of persons smoking cigars on Victoria Terrace to the annoyance of ladies.

Reports as to the appearance of cholera were prevalent in the town.

Sept. 8th.—G. D. Palmer, Esq., had presided at a meeting of sixty of the paving Commissioners, and with a view to the threatened appearance of cholera, the following special committee as to scavengering was appointed:—Messrs. G. D. Palmer, J. Fish, C. E. Bartram, C. Pearson, and W. Squire.

St. Peter’s Church had been lighted with gas and opened for evening service.

Sept. 15th.—The Theatre had been closed after a disastrous season, it was considered that Mr. Clarence had lost £100 by this venture.

Mr. Cufaude and another gentleman amateur had appeared at the Theatre, inA new way to pay old Debts, and had been received with “rapturous applause.”

The Drainage question had been discussed at a meeting of the inhabitants (the Mayor in the chair).

Sept. 22nd.—The transfer of the parsonage house from the Corporation to the Vicar, had been virtually completed.

Oct. 13th.—The tide had flowed up to Britannia Terrace.

A bed of oysters had been discovered between the Monument and North Pier.

“Dogfish” had damaged the fishermen’s nets and devoured a “large quantity of herring.”

Oct. 20th.—Friday having been the day appointed for “Humiliation and Prayer,” upwards of 2,900 persons attended St. Nicholas’ Church services; in the morning the Rev. Geo. Hills preached from Micah vi., 6, 7 and 8; in the afternoon the Rev. H. Neville; in the evening the Rev. G. Hills, from Numbers xxi., 48. The collections amounted to £100.

Nov. 3rd.—The Market and Regent Wards had been contested. Messrs. Gourlay and Steward (Whigs) against Messrs. W. Aldred and Fyson (Conservatives) in the Market Ward, and Messrs. J. Fish and J. D. Chapman (Whigs) against Messrs. R. D. Barber and H. R. Harmer (Conservatives) in the Regent Ward. The elections terminated in favour of Messrs. Barber and Fish in the Regent, and Messrs. Aldred and Gourlay in the Market Ward.

In the North, St. George’s, and Nelson Wards there were no contests, consequently Messrs. Wm. Worship, P. White, R. Ferrier, B. Jay, G. Cannell, and M. Butcher had been re-elected. In the Gorleston Ward Messrs. Clarke (Whig) and R. Steward (Conservative) had been returned.

Nov. 10th.—At the Council meeting on the 9th, Mr. Owles proposed, and Mr. W. Johnson seconded, Mr. D. A. Gourlay for the Mayoralty, and Mr. R. Steward proposed and Mr. Cherry seconded, the election of Mr. E. H. L. Preston to that office, when the voting was, for Mr. Gourlay 27 and for Mr. Preston 14.

Nov. 17th.—A “Sanitary Inquiry” had been held before Wm. Lee, Esq.

Dec. 22nd.—Mr. Jas. Jackson had been elected a Councillor for the North Ward in the place of Richard Hammond, Esq., who had been appointed an Alderman, vice S. Cobb, Esq., deceased.

Dec. 30th.—£35 13s. 6d. had been paid by Mr. Sloman to the funds of the Hospital, on account of the profits derived from the sale of hymn books.

The inmates of the Workhouse had been regaled with a dinner of plum pudding and roast beef, with a pint of strong beer each.

Jan. 5th.—At the Hospital meeting it was stated that £96 4s. 11d. had been collected for that institution on the general Fast Day. Mr. B. Dowson occupied the chair, and Messrs. G. D. Palmer, J. G. Cannell, W. Steele, W. H. Palmer, and Dr. Impey took part in the proceedings.

Jan. 12th.—The Haven Commissioners were being urged to lengthen the Jetty, to enable vessels to land there when they could not enter the port.

Jan. 19th.—An address of condolence had been voted by the Town Council to the Queen on the occasion of the death of the Queen Dowager.

The parsonage house had been purchased from the Corporation by private subscription.

The Revs. J. Everitt, S. Dunn, and W. Griffiths, three Wesleyan Ministers, expelled by the Conference, had held a meeting of their friends at the Corn Hall.

Jan. 26th.—The annual meeting of the Royal Life Fund had been held, W. H. Palmer, Esq., in the chair, when the expenditure for the year appeared to have been £174 11s. 9d., as against assets amounting to £172 15s. 9d.

The Rev. Bowyer Vaux had delivered a lecture on “Nineveh.”

The “Enterprise,” steamer, was being repaired by Mr. A. R. Palmer, prior to her resuming her passage between this port and Rotterdam.

Feb. 9th.—The fishery business was in a very depressed state, and it was computed that from £15,000 to £20,000 less cash would on that account be circulated in the town.

Ninety volumes of books had been given to the library of the Young Men’s Institute by the Mayor (D. A. Gourlay, Esq.), Admiral Hills and Robert Steward, Esq.

Feb. 16th.—An endeavour was being made to reduce the wages paid to coalheavers.

Feb. 23rd.—Disturbances had arisen on this account, and a man named Lightning had complained to the Mayor that he had been assaulted by James Miller and others because he agreed to the owners’ terms.

Mr. Henry Pickard (relieving officer) had been charged before the Magistrates for the manslaughter of Sarah Auger (aged 20) and acquitted.

The smack “Good Intent” had been seized and condemned as a smuggler, and Richard Parmenter, of the White Swan Inn, and George Shirley, fish curer, had been committed to Norwich Castle upon Exchequer writs for £8,230 each.

A meeting had been held with regard to the legalisation of marriage with a deceased wife’s sister (the Mayor in the Chair), when a petition in favour of that measure was adopted.

March 9th.—The “Sacramento” (400 tons) had been launched from Mr. H. Fellows’ yard.

March 16th.—Mr. Worship, Mr. Ferrier, and Mr. Jay, had attended a meeting of the Haven Commissioners, and suggested that the first stone of the bridge should be laid with Masonic honours.

Mr. Benjamin Button had been appointed one of the parish surgeons in the place of Mr. William Burgess deceased.

The highest tender for the ballast dues had not been taken owing to a mistake of the Deputy Town Clerk.

The conduct of the prisoners in the gaol had been of an extremely disorderly character.

March 23rd.—The “Eagle” (recently launched from the yard of Mr. T. Barber) had been lost off Jaffa. Mr. Barber was insured to the extent of £4,000.

Five wherries had broken adrift at night and fouled the Haven bridge but they had all been secured by the river watch.

March 30th.—There had been a heavy fall of snow and intense cold, the thermometer standing at 23 deg.

Two new oyster beds had been discovered in the roadstead, and oysters vended at 1d. to 3d. per quarter.

April 6th.—The first boilers ever made in the town had been manufactured by Mr. S. V. Moore, for the “Enterprize,” and fixed in her at the Crane. They weighed 13 tons each.

William Barth, Esq., had died in London.

Mr. Robert Waters’ mill at Southtown had been burnt. It was insured for £1,600 in the Sun and Norwich Union Fire Offices.

April 13th.—The death of Admiral Hills is recorded.

The following Guardians had been elected:—The Mayor (D. A. Gourlay, Esq.), T. Brightwen, James Jackson, George Danby-Palmer, S. C. Marsh, J. Fish, J. Fiddes, and B. Fenn, Esqs., and Messrs. M. Blowers, R. Ecclestone, C. Steward, J. Lawn, T. Lettis, jun., S. Norman, J. D. Chapman, and S. J. Fill.

April 20th.—A petition for the abolition of Church Rates was being signed in the town.

April 27th.—The Congregationalists had determined to build a new chapel upon part of the site of the late Mansion of John Penrice, Esq., in King Street, and £1,107 10s. 7d. had already been subscribed.

Dr. Smyth had delivered a lecture on “Respiration and Atmospheric Air,” at the Y.M.I. The attendance was small.

May 4th.—Contains the record of the death of Samuel Palmer, Esq., from the effects of an accident. Mr. Palmer was taking a drive in the afternoon, and while going over the Bridge his pony took fright at the firing of some cannon in commemoration of the marriage of Miss Costerton, Mr. Palmer in attempting to jump out of his gig was thrown with great force upon his head, which injury proved a fatal one.

A finely-toned bell weighing 10 cwt. 3 qrs. 14 lbs. in the key G, bearing the inscription “Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam,” had been fixed in the tower of the new Roman Catholic Church.

The Poor’s box in the Parish Church had been broken open, and the contents, believed to be a large amount, stolen.

May 11th.—Mr. E. H. L. Preston had been appointed Receiver of Admiralty Droits in the place of Mr. Samuel Palmer deceased.

The following compensation had been awarded, with regard to the properties taken for the approach to the new bridge:—

Mr. Puncher

£1,757

Mr. Teasdel

£418

Messrs. Preston’s case was going to a Suffolk jury.

May 18th.—The “Bear Hotel,” was being demolished for the new bridge approach.

The Jury impannelled in the case of Prestonv.The Haven Commissioners, after hearing the evidence of the plaintiff, and Mr. Palmer in reply, awarded them £950 damage and £100 for the value of the land taken.

May 25th.—Rustic sports had been provided on the South Denes, at Whitsuntide, when there had been a great influx of people brought by rail and the “Earl of Liverpool” steamer.

The “Prince of Wales,” Revenue cutter, Lieut. John Allen, had brought into the harbour the “Seaflower,” having on board 122 parcels of leaf tobacco of 50 lbs. each.

June 1st.—The Queenv.The Justices of Great Yarmouth, as to rating Vauxhall Gardens, had been heard and the rule obtained for the parish, discharged with costs. Mr. O’Malley appeared for Mr. C. Cory, and Mr. Palmer for the parish.

The Southtown tolls had been let by auction to Mr. W. Matson for £344 per annum. In 1820 these tolls had only realised £248.

A large meeting had been held at the Angel inn on the subject of the exceedingly high Poor’s rate levied in the parish, Mr. Richard Ferrier in the chair.

June 15th.—It appeared from the Guardians accounts that 25 per cent. was allowed in their accounts “for waste in the consumption of meat.”

June 22nd.—The following persons had been elected Poor’s rate collectors, viz., Mr. Robert Bullen, Mr. Thomas Kelf, Mr. High, Mr. R. Harbert, and Mr. William Nutman.

Bro. Richard Ferrier had entertained his brother Masons at Burgh Castle, in commemoration of the completion of his new mansion, the foundation of which was laid with Masonic honours.

July 6th.—Mr. Joseph Clarence had obtained a license for the Theatre for six months, subject to certain more stringent regulations than had previously prevailed.

July 13th.—The flag on the church and the town flags on the hall had been hoisted at half-mast upon the day of Sir R. Peel’s funeral.

William Johnson, Esq., of Southtown, had given an entertainment on the occasion of the marriage of his daughter to William Mart, Esq., of London.

July 27th.—A meeting had been held with regard to the “Public Health Act.”

Aug. 3rd.—A Mrs. Baker (a visitor) had attempted to commit suicide in one of Mr. Brown’s bathing machines.

Aug. 10th.—Youell’s nurseries were in full bloom.

Mr. John Morton, of Caister, had taken the degree of a M.C.S. Edin.

Aug. 17th.—The late high tide had removed nearly 60 acres of beach and sandbanks at Caister, and a shoal called the Hood, lying to the North of the village had disappeared. Consequent upon this there had been a large deposit of sand upon Yarmouth Beach.

Robert Rising, Esq., the auditor, having applied for a summons against Mr. Henry Pickard, late assistant overseer and rate collector, on a charge of embezzling £675 13s. 8¾d., at the hearing of such information the prisoner pleaded “guilty,” and failing sufficient distress he was sentenced to two months’ imprisonment. He had sureties to the amount of £400 who were being proceeded against.

Aug. 24th.—Col. Peel, M.P., J. S. Dunkald, Esq., and Sir E. H. K. Lacon, Bart., had acted as Stewards of the Races.

The Ferries had been let by William Walpole, Esq., by auction, the upper ferry for £250, and the Gorleston ferry for £175 per annum.

Aug. 31st.—Lady Bolton, a niece of Lord Nelson, had visited Capt. Manby, who had been a schoolmate of his Lordship 79 years previously.

Sept. 14th.—The churchwardens and overseers had been summoned before the Justices to show cause why they neglected or refused to pay over to the Guardians the sum of £789, in accordance with their order, and the hearing of the case adjourned.

Sept. 21st.—A supplemental rate of 2d. in the £ had been made to meet this demand. It appeared that the Guardians asked for £2,800 for the current quarter, but the overseers insisted that £2,200 would suffice, and only in the first instance raised that amount, hence the deficiency.

Sept. 28th.—There was likely to be an appeal against this supplemental poor’s rate.

A meeting of the electors for the Regent Ward had been held at the “Star and Garter” Inn, at which Mr. Thomas George presided, when S. C. Marsh and R. H. Harmer, Esqs., offered themselves as candidates, the determination of D. Turner, Esq., to retire was announced by Mr. W. Worship.

Oct. 12th.—The season, in consequence of the high position Lowestoft had taken as a watering place, had been far from prosperous.

Sept. 26th.—The new Roman Catholic Church had been licensed for marriages.

The following tenders had been sent in for the draining the Denes:—J. Thompson, (Yarmouth), £4,424; W. Johnson, (London), £4,393; G. Piggins, (Yarmouth), £4,234 19s.; R. Page, (Yarmouth), £3,922; and R. Pratt, (Yarmouth), £3,715. The lowest tender was accepted; about 7,400 feet of sewer being required.

A Vestry Meeting had been held as to the Rating of small tenements, when the poll taken on an amendment in favour of applying the Act, was 329 as against 68 against it.

A special Sessions had been held to hear upwards of 250 appeals against the recently made Poor’s Rate.

Mr. J. H. Harrison’s was the case taken, and after hearing Mr. Chamberlin on his behalf, and examining the Rate Book, Mr. Preston moved and Mr. G. Danby-Palmer seconded, and it was carried by the vote of the bench that an unequal assessment existed and the rate was accordingly quashed. Mr. Cufaude on behalf of the Overseers, then stated that he agreed to this. The decision was received with applause.

Sir J. Walmesley, M.P., J. Hume, Esq., M.P., and T. Norton, Esq., attended a meeting as a deputation from the Financial Reform Association.

Nov. 9th.—The result of the Municipal Election had left the parties equally balanced in the Council; the means used in these contests having in most instances been “disgusting and disgraceful.”

The following was the polling:—

Gorleston Ward.

E. H. L. Preston, (C)

185

W. Hammond, (C)

170

S. Crowe, (L)

F. S. Costerton, (L)

North Ward.

J. Jackson, (L)

108

W. N. Burroughs, (L)

105

S. Nightingale, (C)

C. Cory, (C)

Regent Ward.

S. C. Marsh, (C)

105

J. D. Chapman, (L)

103

H. R. Harmer, (C)

F. Palmer, (L)

St. George’s Ward.

J. G. Plummer, (C)

130

J. C. Smith, (C)

116

J. Barker, (L)

101

Nelson Ward.

G. D. Palmer and T. Lettis, (unopposed).

Market Ward.

C. Aldred, (C)

129

F. Worship, (C)

123

J. Owles, (L)

104

J. Cobb, (L)

Nov. 16th.—At the Council Meeting on the 9th, 46 members being present, Mr. George Danby-Palmer proposed and Mr. P. Pullyn seconded Capt. Charles Pearson, R.N., for the office of Mayor, and Mr. Wm. H. Palmer proposed and Mr. E. H. L. Preston seconded, Sir E. H. K. Lacon, Bart., for that office.

Upon taking the votes it appeared 25 were for Capt. Pearson and 21 for Sir E. H. K. Lacon. Mr. Ferrier then remarked “The majority for Capt. Pearson is 4, and as 10 Aldermen voted for him, he is in fact returned by gentlemen who are now out of office.” Messrs. J. Fyson, Chas. J. Palmer, J. C. Smith, H. Jay, W. Yetts, (Conservatives) and the Mayor and Messrs. J. Pike, J. Fiddes, J. Bayly, J. Barker and B. Fenn, were then nominated for Aldermen, when 42 members voted for Mr. Fenn and 21 for the other 5 party candidates, whereupon Mayor gave his casting vote in favour of the Whig Nominees.

The Mayor’s dinner was held at the “Star” on the following Monday, when His Worship occupied the chair and R. Hammond, Esq., the Vice-chair. D. A. Gourlay, Esq. (Deputy-Mayor) P. Pullyn, G. Danby-Palmer, H. Worship, F. Palmer, W. N. Burroughs, Esqs., and the principal Liberal members of the Corporation were present.

The price of Gas had been reduced to 5s. per thousand cubic feet.

H. Palmer, Esq., had notified his intention to resign the Town Clerkship.

Mr. Cufaude, Mr. C. Cory, and Mr. J. Clowes, were spoken of as probable candidates.

Mr. G. Johnson had been elected master of the Workhouse.

Nov. 23rd.—The crew of a Sheringham smack had been fined £100 each, or six months’ imprisonment for smuggling 2,760 lbs. of tobacco.

Dec. 14th.—Several houses on the Denes had been broken into, and some brushes stolen from Mr. J. Palmer’s warehouse at the Bridge foot, where the thieves missed taking a considerable amount of gold and silver carelessly left on the premises.

Dec. 21st.—W. Lee, Esq., had held an Inquiry as to the drainage of the Denes.

Decorative graphic

“When found, make a note of”—Capt. Cuttle.

“When found, make a note of”—

Capt. Cuttle.

Jan. 4th.—At the meeting of the Town Council, the Councillors for the St. George’s, Market and Gorleston Wards refused to appoint Ward Aldermen “as they had no confidence” in the Aldermen recently appointed by the casting vote of the Mayor.

The “Water question” was before the public, when, as to the Ormesby water with which it was proposed to supply the town, Mr. Cooper, an eminent analytical chemist, stated that such water “was turbid from the green and brown matter in it” and that “the large quantity (four grains) of vegetable organic matter that it contained rendered it wholly unfit for domestic purposes other than cleansing.”

Jan. 11th.—Chas. J. Palmer had presided at the Annual Public Library meeting, when it was stated that upwards of 5,000 books belonged to that institution.

J. Tolver, Esq. had sent in his resignation as Clerk to the Paving Commissioners.

Jan. 25th.—It was stated that a provisional order was about to be issued, applying the “Health of Town’s Act” to the Borough, thus threatening the Paving Commissioners with extinction.

There was great complaint against these Commissioners for not properly lighting the Denes.

Wm. Sumner, an ex-constable was bound over to keep the peace at the instance of Samuel Tolver, Esq.

Feb. 1st.—The following notice appears as to No. 4, South Quay:—

A tradition has long existed in connection with the Elizabethian House upon the Quay, formerly belonging to John Carter, the regicide,but now the residence of C. J. Palmer, Esq., F.S.A., (mentioned by Noble, vol. 2, p. 340), that of the “many secret consults” which the rebels held prior to the trial and execution of King Charles I. the fatal and final one took place in a chamber in the above mentioned house, in which Carter then lived. A meeting of the chief Parliamentarian Generals was summoned, and the regicides, it is said, met early in the afternoon, and the conference, which was one of ‘great secrecy,’ did not terminate until near the hour of midnight, the dinner which had been ordered for four o’clock not being served until the meeting broke up. This tradition, though generally credited, had hitherto received no confirmation to render it of historical value. The important fact has, however, been placed almost beyond a doubt, as we can state on the authority of F. Worship, Esq., that in the course of the labours of the Committee recently appointed by the Town Council to inquire into the ancient records and muniments of the Borough, a record has been found of the visit of Oliver Cromwell to our town about the time alluded to, it having never yet been definitely ascertained that the Protector visited Yarmouth. We hope this very interesting discovery will induce the Committee to prosecute their labours, and when the valuable town documents have been arranged and restored, the Council will see the propriety and necessity of providing some suitable depository for them.

Feb. 8th.—The New Mercantile Marine Act had excited much dissatisfaction, and several handbills had appeared urging the sailors to take action, and on Tuesday morning having “struck,” they mustered in groups on the Hall-quay. Subsequently they formed in procession to the number of 1,000 and paraded the town for several hours; they had a band and flags with them, and a board on which was written “Do not sign the laws” and “Wages £2 15s. Summer and Winter.”

A Seaman’s Union had been formed having 450 members, and Mr. J. Teasdel having given notice that he did not intend to reduce the wages paid to his men to 50s. a month, several hundred of the men on strike, went over the Bridge and manned the yards of a vessel belonging to that gentleman, for whom they gave some loud and hearty cheers.

The Magistrates refused to sign a 1s. 9d. Poor rate, but such rate was subsequently signed by Mr. W. H. Palmer and Mr. J. Fenn and the rate for that amount made.

Feb. 15th.—A meeting of the shipowners had been held at the Town-hall to consider the seamen’s grievances, the Mayor in the chair, when upon the motion of Mr. George Danby-Palmer, a resolution was carriedto obtain a repeal of the act of Parliament complained of, and a Committee formed consisting of six owners and six seamen with the Mayor as chairman to give effect to such resolution; the wages question was, however, not discussed.

Feb. 22nd.—A further meeting had been held “to take into consideration the present complaint of seamen respecting their wages, that the same may be equalized throughout the year whether by voyage or month.”

About 30 owners were present, and also the Sailors’ Committee; the Mayor was in the chair, and the sailors refused to be bound by their “old agreement;” the following account is given of their subsequent proceedings:—

Since the above meeting a letter has been sent to the Mayor, announcing that the sailors were determined not to abide for the future by the old agreement; and handbills were also publicly issued, announcing a “grand procession” of the seamen of the port for the following day. Accordingly on Saturday the sailors assembled opposite to their rendezvous, at the Royal Exchange on the Quay, to the number of about 1,500, and flags, union jacks, &c., with a band of music having been procured, a procession was formed, which paraded the town for several hours. The men were mostly respectably attired, and wore rosettes of various colours, from which were suspended the medals of the Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society. Some of the men were dressed in various emblematical characters, such as Britannia, Neptune, Amphitrite, Triton, &c., and were borne upon the shoulders of the crowd in boats, dolphin cars, &c., which were decorated with evergreens, &c., in short the whole assemblage seemed more like a triumphal procession than that of a demonstration occasioned by one of those unfortunate breaches between employers and employed, termed a “strike.” Throughout the crowd a number of placards were distributed, bearing the following inscription:—“We, the seamen of Yarmouth, hereby testify our gratitude to the inhabitants, for the handsome manner in which they have come forward to assist us in obtaining our just rights.” Also a number of poles, terminating in tridents, fishes, &c., were borne aloft, together with a handsomely carved model ship, covered with the flags of all nations.

Mr. S. S. Barber had applied to the Bench for the assistance of the civil force to protect his seamen, who had just arrived by the “Maid of the Yare,” London Trader, and who had been persuaded to leave their vessel, and even threatened to be taken away by force ifthey did not leave. The Superintendent and some of the police went down to the spot, but, as the men remained perfectly peaceable, their presence was not at all required.

The following members of the Council had addressed a letter to the Treasury protesting against a proposed loan for drainage purposes, which was said to have been carried by a majority of the Council at its last meeting:—Sir E. H. K. Lacon, R. Ferrier, E. H. L. Preston, F. Worship, William H. Palmer, R. Steward, R. D. Barber, E. R. Aldred, J. C. Smith, J. G. Plummer, J. Cherry, J. E. Barnby, C. C. Aldred, B. Jay, R. Ferrier, junr., S. Miller and William Worship, and thereupon at the Council meeting a very warm discussion ensued, during which Mr. C. C. Aldred was accused of having called Mr. George Danby-Palmer “a liar,” and Sir E. H. K. Lacon (by Mr. Henry Danby-Palmer) of having made a disturbance by “kicking against the panels.”

March 1st.—The following Councillors subsequently addressed a letter to the Treasury in respect of these proceedings:—D. A. Gourlay, H. Danby-Palmer, J. Bayly, R. Hammond, J. Lettis, junr., J. Fish, W. T. Clarke, J. Barker, P. Pullyn, J. Jackson, J. D. Chapman, R. Hammond, junr., G. Danby-Palmer, W. N. Burroughs, C. E. Bartram, M. Butcher, J. G. Cannell, H. Boulter, P. White, J. Fiddes and J. Pike.

This issue contains the following report of the Sailors’ Strike and Riot:—

We have this week to record a riot of a serious nature arising out of the unfortunate strike among the seamen who, until recently, had conducted themselves in a manner highly creditable to so large a body of men placed in such circumstances. Since the ill-advised rejection, by the men, of the old agreement as to wages, there have been several mariners (as there always must be with an over-stocked labour market) quite ready and glad to sail at different rates to those proposed by those who struck; and forseeing that if such defections from their camp continued, their strike would be unavailing, the sailors have during the last week been in the habit of parading the Quay, in gangs, for the purpose of unlawfully preventing such as were willing to go to sea from joining their ships, and partly by force, and partly by threats, several men have been deterred from fulfilling their engagements. Although these facts were known to the authorities, no steps were taken to put a stop to them, in the hope that the reasonable and peaceable portionof the sailors would see how unjustifiable was the course they were pursuing, and how really destructive it was to the interests both of the owners and men. The same line of conduct was, however, continued. The first case brought before the Bench was that of Samuel Graystone, the mate of the schooner “Ant,” belonging to Mr. S. S. Barber, who applied for the protection of the police, the men having been taken out of his vessel on Friday afternoon last. On Saturday morning, Mr. Barber again appeared before the Mayor to complain that the master and crew of the “Maid of the Yare” had been interrupted, and made to go on shore. The master having come up and corroborated this statement, the crew were sent for and asked if they were willing to go to sea, having signed articles. The master and mate said they were, but the men declined, through fear of personal violence. They were told that if they did not they must be sent to gaol, but if they were willing to go they should be protected. They then agreed to go, and were sent down accordingly with a body of the police; the master and mate went on board, but the crew refused, and the police were therefore withdrawn, when some sailors went and ill-used the mate, throwing him over the bows of his ship on to the Quay Head. The captain also was pushed on shore. Subsequently the Bench were informed that the man Graystone had again been taken out of his vessel, which had gone to sea without him, and was then lying in Corton Roads. Graystone was sent for, and said he was not willing to go; but on an information being taken against him for refusing, he said he would if he could be protected. A steamtug was therefore ordered to convey him to his vessel, and on its arriving opposite the Town Hall at half-past two o’clock, the Magistrates agreed, before taking any other steps, to try whether the police were not sufficient to protect the men on board, notwithstanding the evident determination of a large body of sailors to prevent him. The Superintendent of Police, therefore, arranged the whole force, and with Graystone in the centre, surrounded by the Mayor and Magistrates, the escort left the station-house, distant not more than one hundred yards from the steamtug. When about half way down, the crowd, which then consisted of about 200 or 300 sailors, set up a tremendous yell and rushed upon the police, whose ranks were speedily broken, several of the police and Magistrates being struck. They rallied, and with the assistance of the Magistrates, who were mainly instrumental in preventing Graystone from being rescued, they succeeded in placing him safely on board the tug. The principal ringleaders werethen picked out, and after some considerable struggling they were got into the station-house. By this time the concourse of people had increased to upwards of a thousand. Some of the men then obtained a spar or boom which was brought opposite the station-house door for the purpose of using it as a battering ram to release the six or seven prisoners within. Several stones were thrown, and a few windows broken; upon which the Mayor immediately swore in as many persons as were willing to be special constables, and a sally was made upon the mob, and with considerable difficulty the spar was got away, and one or two of those who were using it were taken into custody, but being completely overpowered, the authorities were compelled to retreat with the force into the station-house. Shortly after, Capt. Ellis, R.N., having arrived with a body of the coastguardsmen, armed with muskets, &c., together with some of the men from the revenue cutter, they took up a position in front of the Hall and Police-station. The Mayor then read the Riot Act, the people not dispersing, but on the contrary rather increasing, as there must then have been several thousands. Mr. G. D. Palmer addressed a few words to them from the Hall-door, imploring them to desist from the foolish course they had taken, and entreating them to disperse peaceably. A stone was then hurled at the spot where the Magistrates were standing, but it fortunately did not take effect, and the man who threw it was instantly secured and brought into the station-house. The following proclamation was issued by the Mayor:—“Borough of Great Yarmouth, 22nd Feb., 1851.“Notice.—A riot having this day taken place in this Borough, and the Riot Act having been read, all peaceable and loyal inhabitants are desired to keep in their houses until order has been restored. And notice is hereby further given, that no assemblage of persons will be allowed.Charles Pearson, Mayor.”After a consultation of the Magistrates, they unanimously determined to send to Norwich for a troop of the Military stationed there. A telegraphic message was therefore despatched, which reached the Norwich Station about half-past four o’clock. In the meantime nine of the East Norfolk Militia located here, under Captain Brown, arrived, and were speedily followed by detachments of the Coastguard from the stations at Caister, Winterton, Corton, &c., who were all sworn in as special constables. The total available force for the protection of the town now amounted to 201, viz., 90 special constables, 81 officers and men of the revenue cutter and coastguard, 21 policemen, and 9 militiamen; and it was determined to clear the space in front of the station-house, which, with much difficulty was accomplished, when the police succeeded in picking out and taking several of the ringleaders.Some persons consider that the people might have been entirely dispersed without the aid of the military, but considering the overwhelming number of persons present, it could only have been accomplished by the armed force charging among the people, which might have involved much bloodshed, if not actual loss of life, and there can be no doubt that the authorities exercised a wise and prudent discretion in contenting themselves by keeping the crowd as it were at bay, until the arrival of the military, a troop of which, consisting of 35 of the 11th Hussars, under Captain Douglas, reached the Yarmouth station by special train at about a quarter to six in the evening. A great mob of people had assembled at the terminus, and the officer in command refused to enter the town unless accompanied by a magistrate on horseback. J. C. Smith, Esq., accordingly having gone down, the troop, a little before seven o’clock, entered the town and cantering their horses over the quay and pavements, the crowd which had remained in front of the Police-court fled in every direction, some of them in their anxiety to escape the too near approach of the soldiers’ swords, actually running over one another. Several women were knocked down by the mob in their flight, but we believe no injuries, beyond a few broken heads and bruised limbs, were received by any one. Great numbers of persons, however, secreted themselves by the river side, and in the ends of the numerous narrow rows in the town, under the impression that the military could not dislodge them. The Mayor, however, having issued orders for the entire quay to be cleared, the police, aided by a strong body of special constables, were for some hours engaged in dispersing the knots of people who had collected in these localities; patrols of the military and the police were then placed at all the principal thoroughfares leading to the Town Hall, which had been the scene of the riot, for the purpose of stopping all persons from coming that way. About eleven o’clock order having been, comparatively speaking, restored, the Magistrates consulted with the commanding-officer, and it was agreed that the military (which now numbered 75 in all, having been joined by another troop) should retire to their quarters, holding themselves in readiness to be called out at a minute’s warning. The police were sent on their regular beats, but the cutter’s men and coastguardsmen remained at the Hall during the whole of the Saturday night, as did also the specialconstables, who were divided into three divisions, under regular captains, for the purpose of relieving each other every four hours. At half-past nine on Sunday morning, the Mayor and Magistrates again assembled, but as everything had passed off quietly during the night, and as there did not seem any disposition on the part of the persons who were collected round the Hall (more by curiosity than otherwise) to commit any breach of the peace, the special constables, with most of the coastguardsmen were released from further duty until they should be again summoned, if required, by the alarm bell. At the close of the morning’s service the Magistrates held a further consultation, when it was determined to draw up a report of the occurrences which had taken place, and to transmit the same to Sir G. Grey, the Secretary of the Home Department, to whom it was suggested that it would be advisable that a war steamer should be sent down to the port until order was entirely restored.We cannot conclude our report without bearing our testimony to the great and extraordinary exertions to maintain peace and order made by our excellent Chief Magistrate, ably supported as he was by everyone of his brother Magistrates, and to the firmness and determination displayed by the Authorities may be mainly attributed to the preservation of the public peace, and the prompt and effectual suppression of the riotious spirit displayed by some thoughtless and illadvised men. It could hardly have been supposed that any friends of order could have been found ready to cast any blame upon the Authorities for the wise precautions they took, but we regret to say that some persons who, instead of coming forward to assist in preserving the public peace, kept, to their shame, in their own houses, and who, entirely ignorant of the organisation which was on foot, presume to censure those whom they should have been the first to support. Such parties are, however, we trust, but few, for we feel sure that the course pursued on the present occasion by the Authorities, will receive the unqualified approval and sanction of all the peaceably disposed and loyal inhabitants of the town. The conduct of the Police force—as well as that of the special constables—was most meritorious and praiseworthy; some of the former especially distinguished themselves for their courageous conduct, but it would be invidious to make any distinction between them, as all the men in the force are equally deserving of praise. They exercised the greatest forbearance, being most grossly insulted and ill-used, notwithstanding which they abstained from using their staves until the spirit of riot being openly manifested, they were directed to use them by their excellent superintendent, Capt. B. Love. Police-constableFuller has been very seriously injured, it being feared that some of his ribs are broken; another man who was engaged in the cowardly act of beating Police-constable Johnson while on the ground, in his turn received a blow from the truncheon of one of the special constables, which inflicted a very serious wound on his head. Many other persons were hurt in the course of the riot, but not that we can learn to any serious extent. It is said, however, that a man was severely wounded in the hand by the sword of one of the soldiers, he having seized the bridle and nearly thrown the latter.

“Borough of Great Yarmouth, 22nd Feb., 1851.

“Notice.—A riot having this day taken place in this Borough, and the Riot Act having been read, all peaceable and loyal inhabitants are desired to keep in their houses until order has been restored. And notice is hereby further given, that no assemblage of persons will be allowed.

Charles Pearson, Mayor.”

After a consultation of the Magistrates, they unanimously determined to send to Norwich for a troop of the Military stationed there. A telegraphic message was therefore despatched, which reached the Norwich Station about half-past four o’clock. In the meantime nine of the East Norfolk Militia located here, under Captain Brown, arrived, and were speedily followed by detachments of the Coastguard from the stations at Caister, Winterton, Corton, &c., who were all sworn in as special constables. The total available force for the protection of the town now amounted to 201, viz., 90 special constables, 81 officers and men of the revenue cutter and coastguard, 21 policemen, and 9 militiamen; and it was determined to clear the space in front of the station-house, which, with much difficulty was accomplished, when the police succeeded in picking out and taking several of the ringleaders.

Some persons consider that the people might have been entirely dispersed without the aid of the military, but considering the overwhelming number of persons present, it could only have been accomplished by the armed force charging among the people, which might have involved much bloodshed, if not actual loss of life, and there can be no doubt that the authorities exercised a wise and prudent discretion in contenting themselves by keeping the crowd as it were at bay, until the arrival of the military, a troop of which, consisting of 35 of the 11th Hussars, under Captain Douglas, reached the Yarmouth station by special train at about a quarter to six in the evening. A great mob of people had assembled at the terminus, and the officer in command refused to enter the town unless accompanied by a magistrate on horseback. J. C. Smith, Esq., accordingly having gone down, the troop, a little before seven o’clock, entered the town and cantering their horses over the quay and pavements, the crowd which had remained in front of the Police-court fled in every direction, some of them in their anxiety to escape the too near approach of the soldiers’ swords, actually running over one another. Several women were knocked down by the mob in their flight, but we believe no injuries, beyond a few broken heads and bruised limbs, were received by any one. Great numbers of persons, however, secreted themselves by the river side, and in the ends of the numerous narrow rows in the town, under the impression that the military could not dislodge them. The Mayor, however, having issued orders for the entire quay to be cleared, the police, aided by a strong body of special constables, were for some hours engaged in dispersing the knots of people who had collected in these localities; patrols of the military and the police were then placed at all the principal thoroughfares leading to the Town Hall, which had been the scene of the riot, for the purpose of stopping all persons from coming that way. About eleven o’clock order having been, comparatively speaking, restored, the Magistrates consulted with the commanding-officer, and it was agreed that the military (which now numbered 75 in all, having been joined by another troop) should retire to their quarters, holding themselves in readiness to be called out at a minute’s warning. The police were sent on their regular beats, but the cutter’s men and coastguardsmen remained at the Hall during the whole of the Saturday night, as did also the specialconstables, who were divided into three divisions, under regular captains, for the purpose of relieving each other every four hours. At half-past nine on Sunday morning, the Mayor and Magistrates again assembled, but as everything had passed off quietly during the night, and as there did not seem any disposition on the part of the persons who were collected round the Hall (more by curiosity than otherwise) to commit any breach of the peace, the special constables, with most of the coastguardsmen were released from further duty until they should be again summoned, if required, by the alarm bell. At the close of the morning’s service the Magistrates held a further consultation, when it was determined to draw up a report of the occurrences which had taken place, and to transmit the same to Sir G. Grey, the Secretary of the Home Department, to whom it was suggested that it would be advisable that a war steamer should be sent down to the port until order was entirely restored.

We cannot conclude our report without bearing our testimony to the great and extraordinary exertions to maintain peace and order made by our excellent Chief Magistrate, ably supported as he was by everyone of his brother Magistrates, and to the firmness and determination displayed by the Authorities may be mainly attributed to the preservation of the public peace, and the prompt and effectual suppression of the riotious spirit displayed by some thoughtless and illadvised men. It could hardly have been supposed that any friends of order could have been found ready to cast any blame upon the Authorities for the wise precautions they took, but we regret to say that some persons who, instead of coming forward to assist in preserving the public peace, kept, to their shame, in their own houses, and who, entirely ignorant of the organisation which was on foot, presume to censure those whom they should have been the first to support. Such parties are, however, we trust, but few, for we feel sure that the course pursued on the present occasion by the Authorities, will receive the unqualified approval and sanction of all the peaceably disposed and loyal inhabitants of the town. The conduct of the Police force—as well as that of the special constables—was most meritorious and praiseworthy; some of the former especially distinguished themselves for their courageous conduct, but it would be invidious to make any distinction between them, as all the men in the force are equally deserving of praise. They exercised the greatest forbearance, being most grossly insulted and ill-used, notwithstanding which they abstained from using their staves until the spirit of riot being openly manifested, they were directed to use them by their excellent superintendent, Capt. B. Love. Police-constableFuller has been very seriously injured, it being feared that some of his ribs are broken; another man who was engaged in the cowardly act of beating Police-constable Johnson while on the ground, in his turn received a blow from the truncheon of one of the special constables, which inflicted a very serious wound on his head. Many other persons were hurt in the course of the riot, but not that we can learn to any serious extent. It is said, however, that a man was severely wounded in the hand by the sword of one of the soldiers, he having seized the bridle and nearly thrown the latter.

On the succeeding Monday the several cases were dealt with arising out of these proceedings.

Mr. I. Preston appeared to prosecute, Mr. C. Cooper (instructed by Mr. F. S. Costerton) representing the prisoners.

Robert Watson (for obstructing Captain Love, Surperintendent of Police) fined 10s.

James King (for threatening E. H. L. Preston, Esq.,) fined 40s.

Samuel Bowles (like offence) fined £3.

John Crow (ditto) fined £1.

James Harvey, William Balls and William Stoddard (ditto) discharged with a caution.

Samuel Gowing (ditto) fined £1.

Henry Walpole (charged by William Danby-Palmer, Esq., with a like offence) fined £2.

James Vincent (for creating a disturbance) fined 10s.

George Walton (charged by Mr. S. S. Barber) for a “rescue,” fined £5.

Alfred Pye (for assaulting Police-constable Lattimore) fined £2.

William Bee, John Creak, Benjamin Mallett, Edward Brooks, and Robert Willgrass (charged with having taken part in the riot and disturbance) were committed for trial, but Bee, Mallett and Creak were admitted to bail in two sureties of £40 each and their own recognizances for £68 each.

H.M. ships “Black Eagle” and “Lightning” had entered the Harbour and laid on the west side of the river.

The Workhouse (which unfortunately contained a large number of idle and dissolute characters) had been the scene of frequent disturbances, and police had been lodged there on that account. During the riot an outbreak, however, had taken place, and a ringleader named Charles Girdlestone taken into custody; he was sentenced to 42 days’ hard labourfor this offence, and would be sent for trial for a ferocious attack on the police. Three other paupers had been sent to the treadmill for 21 days each for refractory conduct.

March 8th.—At the Quarter Sessions, (held before N. Palmer, Esq.), the rioters, John Creak (24), Benjamin Mallett (34), John Brooks (19), William Bee (26), and Robert Willgrass (—), were put upon their trial.

Mr. Hotson (with whom was Mr. Mills and Mr. Bulwer) prosecuted, and Mr. Evans (with whom was Mr. C. Cooper) defended the prisoners, the Jury (having deliberated for 25 minutes) returned a verdict of Not Guilty, “which verdict was received with a loud burst of applause, which lasted two or three minutes.”

March 15th.—The strike had ended, most of the owners having consented to sign agreements for giving the men the wages they asked for, for a period of 12 months.

March 22nd.—The sailors had held a “Grand Procession with flags, banners, and triumphant cars.” In the latter were several men attired as Neptune, Britannia, &c., in the evening they attended at the Vauxhall Gardens, where there was a grand display of fireworks.—During the strike 500 stones of flour, 600 lbs. of beef, and 500 cwt. of coals, had been distributed amongst the families of the men on strike from the contributions of the inhabitants.

The N.A.O.D. had met at the Trinity Arms to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Trinity Lodge, No. 220. Messrs. R. R. B. Norman, J. P. Hastings, P.A., and F. Palmer took part in the proceedings.—It was stated there were then three lodges of this order in the town.

April 5th.—Mr. Ferrier and Sir E. H. K. Lacon had appealed, without success, against the rating of certain property on the Denes, on the ground “that it was not within the town.”

April 12th.—Mr. S. Tolver had instructed Mr. Coppock, the parliamentary agent, to prepare the petition against the application of the Public Health Act to the town, and this document was being numerously signed.

It was proposed to form a “Pilot” Steam Tug Company (capital, £1,000 in £5 shares.)

George Danby-Palmer and J. Barker, Esqs., had been elected Haven Commissioners, and D. A. Gourlay and R. Hammond, Esqs., Supernumerary Haven Commissioners.

April 19th.—Mr. T. Brightwen was urging the appointment of a Chaplain at the Workhouse.

The Conservatives had secured, for the first time, several scats at the Board of Guardians, the following forming the new Board:—

Nominated by both parties—Messrs. B. Fenn, S. C. Marsh, and S. V. Moore.

Liberals—Messrs. G. Danby-Palmer, D. A Gourlay, and T. Brightwen.

Conservatives—Messrs. R. Ferrier, E. R. Aldred, C. Woolverton, W. Worship, J. G. Plummer, W. Laws, E. H. L. Preston, S. Nightingale, J. Cherry, and T. Paul.

Captain Ellis, R.N., had exhibited the model of a fast sailing yacht.

Captain James Day had been fined £5 for assaulting Mr. Nolloth, tailor.

The “Public Heath Act” was again being discussed by the Town Council, where Mr. Burroughs moved, and Mr. Barker seconded, a petition against the application of the Act to the Borough, and Mr. F. Worship moved, and Mr. R. Ferrier, jun., seconded as an amendment that the Council pass to the next business on the agenda paper.

Upon a division the amendment was lost by 15 to 23, and the original motion declared to be carried by 23 to 17 votes.

April 26th.—At a meeting held at the Angel-inn (C. J. Palmer, Esq., in the chair) it was thought desirable “to advertise the town, and that a saxhorn band should play daily on the principal promenades.”

May 10th.—The pilots of Gorleston had succeeded in establishing a Tug Company, and had purchased a boat of 45 horsepower, called “The Royal Albert.”

J. Hume, Esq., M.P., had introduced a deputation of Ratepayers opposed to the “Public Health Act” to Lord Seymour (at the Woods and Forests Office); it consisted of Charles Pearson, Esq., (Mayor); D. A. Gourlay, Esq., (Deputy-Mayor); George Danby-Palmer, Esq., and William N. Burroughs, Esq., with Mr. J. H. Harrison (Secretary), while 18 members of the Council at the same time petitioned Parliament in favour of the measure.

The sailors had held a meeting to consider the “Ticket” system and the “Muster Roll” fund.

May 17th.—In consequence of the removal of the window tax, bricklayers were busy throughout the town opening out windows formerly blocked up.

Mr. Cosgrove’s saxhorn band was to perform on the North and South Terraces during the season.

The census head been taken with the following result:—

Houses inhabited.

Uninhabited.

Total.

Building.

5,984

344

6,328

Families.

Males.

Females.

Total.

6,154

11,544

15,014

26,558

Increase of population per cent., 10.3. This included 347 inmates of the Workhouse.

It was noted that in 1619 Manship estimated the then population of the town at 1,200 households, which would give a population of some 7,000.

In 1724 a writer named Andrews stated the population at 13,000 or 14,000; and in 1784 when it was first accurately taken, it was found to be 12,608.

The then returns were considered disappointing, as it was expected that the town contained 30,000 persons, but it was noted that 2,500 sailors belonged to the port, half of whom were probably not at home when the return was made.

At this time Gorleston had a population of 2,586, and Southtown of 1,412 persons.

John Annison, the driver of the Sutton coach, had been convicted for the fourth time of conveying passengers to Yarmouth at a greater speed than four miles an hour without having a number plate on his vehicle, and fined £10 with £3 3s. costs.

May 31st.—Visitors were beginning to arrive.

June 7th.—A project was on foot for laying out the Chapel Denes as an ornamental walk for the public.

June 28th.—A mushroom measuring 29 inches in circumference, with a stalk about the thickness of a man’s wrist and weighing 2½lbs., had been grown at Bradwell.

James Gedge, a pauper lunatic, had escaped from the Workhouse, having only a shirt on.

July 5th.—A Bill had been brought in by Lord Seymour and Mr. Cornewall Lewis confirming the provisional order to applying the provisions of the Board of Health Act to the town.

July 19th.—A petition, signed by 1,550 persons, had been presented to the House, and a deputation had waited on Lord John Russell with regard to this action of the Government.

The M.P’s. for the town being in favour of the measure, “had been requested to resign the trust they had abused.” This action emanatedfrom a public meeting of ratepayers, over which. George Danby-Palmer, Esq., presided, and at which Mr. S. W. Bly, Mr. A. Ames, Mr. W. N. Burroughs, Mr. S. V. Moore, Mr. R. Hammond, and Mr. T. Parker took part.

July 26th.—The Bill nevertheless passed through Committee by a majority of 92 against 12.

Sir J. Walmsley had opposed and Lord Seymour supported the measure, but eventually it passed the House of Commons without a division.

The paupers were much dissatisfied at not being allowed, as formerly, to attend places of Worship in the town on Sundays.

Mr. C. Houchen had delivered an address on this subject, and denounced the action of the Guardians.

Aug. 9th.—It was computed that many hundreds of children in the North District were entirely without the opportunity for instruction, and it was proposed to fit up the Priory as a National School to meet this want.

Evidence had been taken by the Committee of the House of Lords upon the Public Health Bill being applied to the town, and they reported the Bill to the House without amendment; thus there was a “speedy prospect of the town being well drained and made clean and healthy in spite of its one-idead rulers.”

Captain Smyth, R.N., had been raised to the rank of Post-Captain.

Six hundred and thirty electors had signed a requisition calling on Messrs. Rumbold and Saunders to resign their seats as M.P’s. for the Borough. This would form a majority of the voters.

The East Norfolk and Suffolk Horticultural Show had been held under the patronage of the Mayoress, Lady Lacon, and Mr. S. C. J. Palmer.

Aug. 16th.—The 279th, and last, meeting of the Paving Commissioners had been held, when there were present—Messrs. George Danby-Palmer (in the chair), B. Dowson, W. N. Burroughs, J. Fish, C. E. Bartram, F. Palmer, J. H. Harrison, S. V. Moore, P. White, J. Cobb, W. Crow, I. Lettis, jun., and W. H. Bessey.

Mr. Beeching’s newly-built lifeboat had been submitted to several tests opposite the Crane.

Aug. 23rd.—Mr. Beeching’s model had obtained the prize in the Lifeboat Competition at Somerset House. There were 280 models and plans sent in, the first six boats being—James Beeching, Great Yarmouth; Henry Hinks, Appledore; J. and E. Pellew, Newbury; WilliamTeasdel, Great Yarmouth; Harvey and Son, Ipswich, and George Farrow, South Shields.

Aug. 30th.—The Licensed Victuallers had held a large and important meeting for the purpose of protecting their interests, S. C. Marsh, Esq., in the chair.

Mr. G. Blyth (Reporter to theNorfolk News) had been induced to visit at night a tower in the South-End of the town, belonging to George Danby-Palmer, Esq., when he had been assaulted by some person there, and of this he had complained to the Bench.

Sept. 13th.—The Justices had refused to grant any fresh licenses at the Brewster Sessions.

The “Reindeer” yawl (manned by Beachmen) had challenged the “America” yacht to sail for £105.

Sept. 20th.—The Council meeting had been broken up, leaving 20 subjects undisposed of, owing to all the Conservatives and two or three of the Liberal members leaving the meeting, which was thus reduced below the required number to form a “quorum.”

Sept. 27th.—Mr. Hilling had been appointed Town Surveyor at a salary of £30 per annum, and £250 had been proposed as the salary of the Town-Clerk, he also acting as Clerk to the newly-formed Local Board of Health. Mr. Clowes, however, declined to give his assent to serve on these terms without further consideration.

Oct. 4th.—There had been heavy gales and the Roadstead presented “a most lamentable scene, crowded with shipping, which had put in for refuge to the number of some hundreds.”

Two of the vessels belonging to the Franklin Exploration Expedition were in the Roads.

Oct. 11th.—Harris Wilshak had been charged with being concerned in smuggling 14lbs. of tobacco.

At the Revision Court Mr. F. S. Costerton appeared for the Liberals, and Mr. C. Preston for the Tories. Neither party claimed any gain from the proceedings on the Parliamentary Lists, but on the Burgess Roll the Liberals claimed a gain of 19, of which 15 were in the Regent-ward, where a very warm contest was expected in November.

Oct. 18th.—Mr. J. W. Crowe had been elected Surgeon to the Hospital School.

The new Valuation Lists had increased the assessment of the parish by £47,000.

Active preparations were being made for the Municipal contests.

Mr. Wilshak had been acquitted on the charge of smuggling.

George Deacon, known as “The Prophet,” had thrown himself into the river, as he stated that it was impossible that he should sink; he would have been drowned but for the help of the bystanders. When taken to the Station House he was found to have £18, 2 old gold coins, and 21s. 6d. upon him.

Oct. 25th.—The Priory was being fitted for National Schools.

Houchen, who had been preaching against “the powers that be,” had been bound over to keep the peace in two sureties of £25 and himself in £50.

Nov. 8th.—The Municipal Election had been hotly contested and the partizans of the winning party (the Tories) made it “a boast of having expended in the five wards a sum of money variously stated from £800 to £1,200.” The following was the return given with the poll of 1850 appended to it:—

North Ward.

1851—219 Voters.

Mr. S. Nightingale, C.

108

Mr. W. H. Bessey, C.

103

Mr. J. Mainprice, L.

Mr. H. D. Palmer, L.

1850—208 Voters.

Mr. J. Jackson, L.

108

Mr. Burroughs, L.

105

Mr. Nightingale, C.

Mr. Cory, C.

In this Ward the Liberals headed the poll until nearly one o’clock, when a detachment of Conservative “runners” with some “dust” turned the election. The price of votes was high, and ranged from £8 to £12; and it is said that two polled for the winning party cost £20!

Market Ward.

1851—270 Voters.

Mr. J. E. Barnby, C.

148

Mr. J. Fenn, C.

132

Mr. John Cobb, L.

120

1850—261 Voters.

Mr. C. Aldred, C.

129

Mr. F. Worship, C.

123

Mr. Owles, L.

104

Mr. J. S. Cobb, L.

In this Ward the Liberals did not bring forward two candidates, being anxious to mark their approbation of Mr. Barnby’s consistent opposition to the Public Health Act; and here, as in the North Ward, their candidate headed the poll until the arrival of the other portion of Conservative workers from the Regent Ward, when a sufficient number of loose fish were immediately polled to swamp the majority, at that time about twenty. The prices of votes ranged from five pounds to ten guineas at a late hour of the day.

Regent Ward.

1851—244 Voters.

Sir E. H. K. Lacon, C.

115

Mr. J. Cherry, C.

114

Mr. F. Palmer, L.

101

Mr. J. Clowes, L.

1850—234 Voters.

Mr. Chapman, L.

104

Mr. Marsh, C.

104

Mr. Harmer, C.

Mr. F. Palmer, L.

Great exertions were used to secure the return of the out-going Councillors, and it having been almost publicly stated that the Conservatives were determined to win “at any cost,” votes, in consequence, got up the night before the election to a very high premium—from £5 to £15; and “split” votes even were in very great demand at £8 and £10. One case is mentioned of a voter, in another Ward, who, forseeing the value which votes would attain, speculated in the purchase of one in this a month before the election, at the trifling sum of £3, and so profitable was the investment that on the election morning he sold it for £10. The money spent in this Ward was stated at £350.

St. George’s Ward.

1851—256 Voters.

Mr. R. Ferrier, jun., C.

126

Mr. H. Jay, C.

126

Mr. P. Pullyn, L.

Mr. J. W. Shelly, L.

1850—250 Voters.

Mr. J. Plummer, C.

130

Mr. J. C. Smith, C.

116

Mr. J. Barker, L.

101

Mr. Pullyn and Mr. R. Ferrier, jun., were the outgoing Councillors, and the former was brought forward again by the Liberals, in conjunction with Mr. Shelly, the Conservatives selecting Mr. H. Jay (who had formerly contested the Nelson Ward unsuccessfully) as a colleague for Mr. Ferrier. Messrs. Pullyn and Shelly refused even to canvass the electors, and although some of their friends solicited the suffrages of the Ward for them, there can be no doubt, however right in principle the non-canvassing may be, it operated against them, and this, combined with the constitutional principles upon which their election was conducted, contributed to their defeat, money being freely spent on the other side. Much regret is felt at this result, and especially at the loss of the public services of Mr. Pullyn, after his having so long served the Ward, and after his twice filling the office of Chief Magistrate in a manner that won for him the praise even of his political opponents.

Nelson Ward.

1851—341 Voters.

Dr. Impey, L.

132

Mr. S. V. Moore, L.

132

1850—317 Voters.

Mr. G. D. Palmer, L.

121

Mr. T. Lettis, L.

119

The Conservatives did not contest this Ward, and Dr. Impey was re-elected, in conjunction with Mr. Moore in the room of Mr. J. Symonds, now non-resident.

Gorleston Ward.

1851—344 Voters.

Mr. S. Miller, C

136

Mr. W. H. Palmer, C

135

Mr. J. H. Harrison, L

Mr. N. Sterry, L.

1850—337 Voters.

Mr. E. H. L. Preston, C

185

Mr. W. Hammond, C

169

Mr. S. Crow, L

Mr. Costerton, L

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