"On Friday night, Mr. Prentice, of whose contumacy before a Committee of the House of Commons our readers have heard so much, arrived here, having been recently released from Newgate. The day previous handbills made their appearance, inviting the friends of Messrs.
Baring and Praed to accompany Prentice into town. About seven o"clock on the first-mentioned evening a party of from twenty to thirty left the house of a publican in Chapel Street, preceded with band, colours, and banners down Regent Street, over the bridge, and so on to Hopton. On the arrival of the "Morning Star" coach Prentice was taken out and placed in an open landau, in which he stood upright, bowing, as he went along, to the a.s.semblage, which by this time had become very large, induced thereto by the novelty of the scene. The procession with much mock gravity moved on to the bridge, by torch light, went round the town, and thence proceeded to the Bowling Green, where the lion of the night spoke from a window. He described the present as the proudest, the happiest day of his life-said that although the Reform Bill had given him a vote, yet he hated it,-he hated also the Corporation Reform Bill, and hoped that the Lords would so mutilate it that Lord John Russell might not know his own child again."
October 8th contains the following paragraph:-
"Some admirers of the Corporation met on Tuesday sen"night to celebrate Michaelmas Day at the Angel Inn, Mr. F. Paget in the chair.
We understand that some of the leading members of the expiring body were present."
October 18th contains a notice of Brock"s miraculous escape from drowning.
Oct. 22nd.-The first Oddfellows" funeral in this town is thus recorded:-
"On Thursday afternoon last the novel ceremonial of an Oddfellows"
funeral took place in processional order. The deceased, Nathaniel Spilman, had been for many years a member of the two lodges in this town, and, it having been his request, he was interred with the usual honours appertaining to the Order. Accordingly, the brethren of the two lodges proceeded in the following order to the house of the deceased:-officer of the lodge with his drawn sword, secretary bearing the scroll, two officers with their wands, two of the head officers of each lodge, two officers with wands, two of the second officers of the lodges, a large concourse of the brethren adorned with their numerous silver medals, ap.r.o.ns, &c., two of the wardens carrying their badges. On their arrival at the house they proceeded to the churchyard in the above order, with the addition of the Hon.
and Rev. Edward Pellew preceding the body, which was carried by six of the brethren of the lodge, with six others as pall-holders, wearing their different medals and ap.r.o.ns. When at the grave the Hon. and Rev. E. Pellew read the burial service, and at the conclusion the scroll was thrown in, each of the brethren throwing in sprigs of rosemary. The secretary to both lodges read the funeral obsequies over the grave. They then returned to the house of the deceased"s relatives, and after leaving the family (who had attended the remains to the grave) proceeded in the same order to the lodge-room, where they soon after separated. Certainly nothing could have been more solemn and impressive than was the whole of this ceremonial. At a meeting of the brethren on the Monday following, it was unanimously resolved, that the secretary should issue a circular to the Hon. and Rev. E. Pellew, thanking him for the great condescension and kindness evinced by him in attending the funeral of their late departed brother."
Nov. 5th.-A meeting to consider the question of constructing a railway had been held. Admiral Sir G. Parker, William Barth, Esq., Ambrose Palmer, Esq. (who prognosticated that by means of a railway the fisheries would become so immense as to be the astonishment of all), R. S.
Lonsdale, Esq., R. Ferrier, Esq., R. Palmer Kemp, Esq., and others took part in the proceedings.
Nov. 12th.-The following gentlemen had been nominated by the Whig party as the candidates for election to the Reformed Corporation:-_Gorleston Ward_: William Barth, Thomas Hammond, J. S. Bell, H. Martin, P. Stead, and J. W. Dowson. _Nelson Ward_: George Danby Palmer, R. Palmer Kemp, S.
Robinson, J. Symonds, G. W. Garson, and M. Butcher. _St. George"s Ward_: C. Sayers, H. V. Worship, Thomas Lettis, William Grave, George Penrice, M.D., and William Barker. _Regent Ward_: John Brightwen, S. Palmer, S.
C. Marsh, C. Davie, B. Dowson, and J. Tomlinson. _Market Ward_: E. M.
Clowes, William Johnson, W. Hammond, S. Cobb, E. Sewell, and B. Cobb.
_St. Nicholas" Ward_: Thomas Thornton, A. Sewell, Joseph Fiddes, R.
Hammond, W. N. Burroughs, and C. E. Doughty. It was reported that the Tories had held "secret meetings" and were prepared to nominate Messrs.
S. H. Aldred, J. E. Laws, B. Sherrington, P. Moore, E. H. L. Preston, and - Moore. Messrs. J. G. Plummer, D. Hook, and S. Sherrington had also issued a joint address in the South Ward; R. Ferrier and F. Preston had offered themselves for the St. George"s and St. Andrew"s Wards, and R.
Wall for the South Ward.
Nov. 26th.-It is recorded that in the month ending October, then last, there entered "inwards" at the Custom House of this port 306 vessels, the tonnage of which amounted to 24,933 tons, and with cargoes "outwards" 120 vessels, of a tonnage of 8,560 tons. The "Old Spring," a ship of nearly 400 tons (belonging to George Danby Palmer, Esq.), had arrived from Archangel with timber, and came up to the Quay without unlading any part of her cargo.
Dec. 10th.-The retiring Aldermen (except Mr. Barth) were entertained by their Tory friends previous to their quitting office.
Dec. 20th.-About 120 gentlemen retaliated upon this course by giving a dinner to Mr. Barth, S. Cobb, Esq., in the chair. S. Palmer, H. Worship, Thos. Hammond, George Danby Palmer, R. Palmer Kemp, H. V. Worship, C.
Bell, Thomas Green, Esqs., Capt. Jeffries, and Messrs. Burroughs, W. J.
Mason, B. Cobb, Grave, R. Hammond, T. Lettis, and S. Robinson took part in this entertainment.
1836.
Jan. 2nd.-The following is the account of the first election of Town Councillors under the Munic.i.p.al Reform Act:-
"The election of Town Councillors took place here on Sat.u.r.day last.
The polling commenced at nine o"clock in the morning, and finished at four in the afternoon. The return was published on Monday by the Mayor, as follows:-
NORTH WARD.
Richard Hammond 108 William N. Burroughs 99 Abraham Sewell 94 Charles George Doughty 91 Benjamin Sherrington 90 E. H. L. Preston 89 MARKET WARD.
Simon Cobb 135 William Johnson 134 William Hammond 131 Benjamin Cobb 129 Edward N. Clowes 128 Edward Sewell 124 REGENT WARD.
John Brightwen 98 Samuel Palmer 98 S. C. Marsh 98 Joseph Tomlinson 98 C. Davie 97 Benjamin Dowson 95 ST. GEORGE"S WARD.
C. Sayers 91 W. Grave 91 George Penrice, M.D. 91 W. Barber 91 H. V. Worship 90 Thomas Lettis 89 SOUTH WARD.
G. D. Palmer 147 R. P. Kemp 137 George Garson 127 M. Butcher 124 John Symonds 122 Samuel Robinson 118 GORLESTON AND SOUTHTOWN, OR ST.
ANDREW"S WARD.
J. S. Bell 115 Thomas Hammond 111 J. W. Dowson 105 William Barth 101 Hezekiah Martin 91 P. Stead 87
It is a matter of great congratulation that 34 out of the 36 Councillors are Reformers. This election was conducted with tranquility. Devoutly it is to be wished that parliamentary elections were managed in the same way. The laborious portion of our population had no inducement held out to them to lose a single hour.
It is a little curious that Mr. William Prentice-that very Mr.
Prentice who made so conspicuous a figure in our election parliamentary investigation, proved one of the most formidable antagonists with whom the Liberal candidates in the town had to contend."
Jan. 7th.-The first meeting of the Reformed Corporation is reported as follows:-
"The Town Council met on Thursday last at the Tolhouse Hall, John Brightwen, Esq., in the chair, (Isaac Preston, Esq., having, we understand, ceased to exercise the functions of Mayor since his publication of the Council List), for the purpose of choosing twelve Aldermen. The choice fell on the following gentlemen:-Messrs. J.
Brightwen, Benjamin Dowson, Robert Teasdel, Joseph Starling, J. B.
Palmer, R. S. Lonsdale, Thomas Pitt, Captain William Larke, R.N., Benjamin Fenn, Robert Wall, Christopher Nicholls, and Captain James Jefferies. On the following day the Aldermen and Council met at the same place for the election of a Mayor and for other public business.
Mr. E. H. L. Preston proposed Mr. Richard Hammond. Mr. H. thanked Mr. P. for the proposition, and said that he should still more thank his friends if they voted against him. William Barth, Esq., was then chosen Mayor, amidst loud cheering. Mr. B. was then, together with the Aldermen, sworn in. The Court was then thrown open to the public, when the front and side galleries were instantly filled by a very respectable concourse of persons, the body of the hall being appropriated to the Council. Several gentlemen were named for Magistrates to be recommended to the Crown. Accounts were ordered touching the property (and profits arising from such property) held by the late Corporation, together with accounts of the official persons employed, their salaries, &c., for the last five years. J.
Tolver, Esq., was then chosen, during pleasure, as Town Clerk."
"Our Conservatives had dined together on Thursday to celebrate the anniversary of the return of Messrs. Baring and Praed. They have been obliged to put themselves on a level with the Reformers, and be content with three shilling tickets instead of fifteen. The dinner took place at the Angel Inn, J. E. Lacon, Esq., in the chair."
Jan. 14th contains the following report:-
"There was an unusual quant.i.ty of business transacted at the Corporation a.s.sembly on Wednesday last. It was first proposed that a pet.i.tion 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, pet.i.tioned for continuance of place, stated emoluments, and asked 13 7s. 4d.
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 pet.i.tioned 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 a.s.sistants."
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:-