Feb. 11th.-About fifty tradesmen had dined at the "Star" to commemorate the baptism of the Princess Royal.
Feb. 18th.-A local committee had been formed in connection with the "Marine Penitent Female Refuge," with the Hon. and Rev. E. Pellew, president; Mrs. C. S. D. Steward, treasurer; and Mrs. G. Danby-Palmer, secretary.
On Tuesday, the whole of the London traders, sixteen in number, were lying in the harbour, owing to the late frost.
A meeting of the Conservative ratepayers had been held to protest against the 1s. 3d. poor"s rate.
Feb. 25th.-A meeting had been held at the Town Hall for promoting a railway from Yarmouth to London.
March 11th.-The works of the Victoria Building Company had been commenced, and the Mayor had been requested to lay the first stone.
The "Saucy Jack," 250 tons, had been launched from Mr. I. Chapman"s yard.
March 18th.-Wm. Barth, Esq., had received an appointment in the Money Order Office of the Post Office, London.
March 25th.-Records the laying of the first stone on the Victoria Building Company"s Estate, when Captain Harmer, R.N., (W.M. of Lodge "United Friends,") addressed the a.s.sembly as follows:-
"At the request of the Directors of the Victoria Building Company, we are here a.s.sembled as Masons to a.s.sist our Worthy Brother, who now occupies the civic chair of this borough, to lay the foundation stone of this important and interesting work-important and interesting indeed to Yarmouth. May the work prosper, and from the foundation about to be laid, may structures arise ornamental to the town, beneficial to its inhabitants, and advantageous to the builders. May the promoters of these buildings live to see their great and spirited design carried out, and when it shall please the Grand Leveller of human greatness to call them from hence, may they arrive at the point or centre where the World"s Great Architect lives and reigns for ever."
Bro. Richard Ferrier, P.M.-"So mote it be."
The Mayor then proceeded to deposit two coins of her present Majesty in the stone, over which a bra.s.s plate was laid bearing the following inscription:-
"The first stone of Kimberley Terrace, Great Yarmouth, to be erected by the Victoria Building Company, was laid by Samuel Palmer, Esq., Mayor of Great Yarmouth, on the 22nd day of March, in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Forty One, and in the Fourth year of the reign of Queen Victoria. William Steward, Esq., Chairman of the Board of Directors; Thomas Marsh Nelson, Esq., Architect."
A public dinner was afterwards held at the Royal Hotel, George Danby-Palmer, Esq., in the chair.
April 1st.-The election of Guardians had ended in "the signal defeat of the Tories."
April 15th.-Messrs. C. Davie and D. A. Gourlay had been elected Churchwardens by the Vestry.
April 22nd.-Mr. F. Preston"s shipyard was likely to be given up, thus throwing many men out of employment.
An Ecclesiastical inquiry had been held "to make inquiry into a certain charge preferred by one James Laws, a sailmaker, living in Row 99, against the Rev. - -, Clerk in Holy Orders. Nathaniel Palmer, Esq.
(instructed by Messrs. Tolver, Preston and Tolver) appeared for the respondent. The charge was that of soliciting the chast.i.ty of the complainant"s wife by sending her letters, one of which was as follows:-Meet me to-night about nine or half-past nine between Penrice"s and the beach." This charge, in the absence of the letter, was p.r.o.nounced by the Commissioners not to have been proved.
May 6th.-At the Levee, S. Palmer, Esq., and Sir E. H. K. Lacon, Bart., had been presented by W. Wilshere, Esq., M.P.
Six hundred persons had been confirmed at St. Nicholas" Church by the Bishop of Norwich.
The "Indiaman," 821 tons, had been launched from Mr. Preston"s yard for Mr. Somes. She was estimated to cost 18,000.
May 13th.-The "Highlander," 122 tons, had been launched from Mr. D.
King"s yard.
Mr. W. Johnson had been appointed a "tradesman to Her Most Gracious Majesty."
May 20th.-A merry peal was rung upon St. Nicholas" Church bells in consequence of Sir Jacob Astley having made good his claim to the Barony of Hastings.
The Norfolk Yeomanry, under the command of Major Loftus, had entered the town for seven days" duty.
May 27th.-The Officers of this corps had given a splendid ball at the Bath Rooms, at which 200 persons were present.
Mr. G. Blake had been summoned for refusal, on conscientious grounds, to pay the Church Rate.
June 3rd.-A meeting had been held "in support of Her Majesty"s Ministers."
June 10th.-Messrs. Rumbold and Wilshere had issued their address to the electors; Lord George Somerset and Mr. Smythe had been named as probable Tory candidates for the Borough.
June 17th.-Mr. G. Blake had been ordered to pay 1s. 6d., the amount of the Church Rate, "which he did and departed."
The census had been taken, showing a population of 25,000.
During the week the roof had been placed on the hotel and houses forming the south end of Kimberley Terrace.
June 24th.-The Mayor "having received the precept for the election proceeded to the Market Place, and Guild Hall, accompanied by several hundred gentlemen, when such precept was read," no opposition being yet announced.
The "Norfolk," 120 tons, had been launched by Mr. A. R. Palmer.
July 3rd.-The election had taken place when Sir George Parker proposed, and Mr. J. Brightwen seconded Mr. C. E. Rumbold; Mr. Geo. Danby-Palmer and Mr. B. Dowson proposed and seconded Mr. Wilshere; Mr. R. Ferrier and Mr. Lacon proposed and seconded Mr. Thos. Baring; and Mr. E. H. L.
Preston and Mr. W. H. Bessey performed the like office for Mr. J. Soames.
These proceedings lasted from eleven o"clock until half-past two o"clock, during which time "it rained hard and many got wet to the skin," but, notwithstanding that, "a more disorderly attendance" had never been seen.
After the nomination the late members were chaired round the town, when there was a scuffle in the Market Place and one man was seriously wounded. Next day the poll was held and the numbers declared-
C. E. Rumbold 943 W. Wilshere 945 T. Baring 501 J. Soames 491
July 15th.-Alex. Shafto Adair, Esq., (the late candidate for East Suffolk) had accompanied S. Palmer, Esq. (with whom he was staying), to church.
The "Vanguard," built by Mr. W. Teasdel, had sailed for London.
Six shipwrights, who had gone out with the "Norfolk" to finish her at sea, were capsized on their return journey in their boat, one of them named Cole being drowned.
July 22nd.-"Mr. R. R. B. Norman, surgeon dentist, had been admitted a Licentiate of "Apothecaries" Hall, London."
The "Good Samaritan" Lodge had held its anniversary at the Gallon Can, Gaol Street.
Mrs. Barnwell (late Miss Shipston), a native of Yarmouth, had given a concert at the Town Hall to a very "genteel" audience. Among those present were W. Wilshere, Esq., M.P., A. S. Adair, Esq., Rev. C. Penrice, Mrs. G. D. Palmer, the Misses Chevalier, and G. Borrett, and A. Tompson, Esq.
An explosion of fireworks had taken place at the Vauxhall Gardens, but, fortunately, no one was injured.
The Races had been held, when the "Gold Cup," value 100, was won by Mr.
S. Palmer"s "Langolee." The 50 plate by Mr. Rogers" "Jessica." The Vauxhall Coronation Cup Stakes by Mr. Munro"s "Clifton." The Town and Country Gentlemen"s plate by Mr. Horman"s "Blanche." The Handicap Stakes by Mr. Bradford"s "Vigilance," and the Tally-Ho Stakes (for Hunters) by Mr. Wm. Danby-Palmer"s "Daniel."
July 29th.-The Mayor had proceeded to the Narrow Waters for the Water Frolic, accompanied by Messrs. W. Wilshere, M.P., S. Jay, G. D. Palmer, J. Tomlinson, W. Johnson, and several other members of the Corporate body. The cup was won by the "Red Rover," the property of Mr. S. C.
Marsh.
At night the Vauxhall Gardens had "a b.u.mper."
August 5th.-A splendid terrace, road, and promenade was being formed on the Victoria Building Company"s Estate by Mr. George Fenn.