CHAPTER XVII.

Leading Events (_continued_).

WE resume our chronological list of the leading events of the century:—

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1825. January 5th. At a public meeting held at the Guildhall, a Mechanics’ Institution was established, and it was continued for some years in the rooms above the Bazaar, St. Andrew’s.

March. Cleansing week passed off without opposition for the second time.

April 7th. The clergy of the archdeaconry of Norwich agreed to petition in favour of the claims of the Catholics to have the same political rights and privileges as other people.

April 18th. At a public meeting, held in St. Andrew’s Hall, a petition for a revision of the Corn Laws was adopted unanimously. The petition afterwards received 14,385 signatures, and was forwarded on the 26th to be presented to parliament. As yet it was not proposed to _repeal_ the Corn Laws, which were then a monstrous injustice.

May 1st. The election for mayor took place, and the numbers were for Alderman Day, 679; Alderman Booth, 597; Alderman Leman, 152; Alderman Burt, 150. Thomas Starling Day, Esq., was elected.

May 3rd. The corporation adopted a petition against the Catholic claims, the members going quite out of their way to perpetuate a great wrong.

May 31st. The anniversary of the birthday of the Rt. Hon. William Pitt was celebrated by the members of the castle corporation.

June 11th. The first stone of the new theatre was laid, and it was erected on the present site. The building is only a piece of patch-work, and has no pretensions to architectural design. It is no credit to the city in any respect. It was opened on March 27th, in the following year.

June 21st. The mayor (T. S. Day, Esq.,) was sworn into office; he afterwards gave a dinner to upwards of 460 gentlemen in St. Andrew’s Hall.

August 30th. A contest took place for freemen’s sheriff; at the close of the poll the numbers were for Mr. Brookes, 865; Alderman Springfield, 501. The former was returned.

September 1st. The corporation presented a piece of plate, of the value of 100 guineas, to William Simpson, Esq., chamberlain, in testimony of their high esteem for the ability and integrity displayed in the discharge of his official duties; and of their unanimous approbation of his long and faithful services.

November 2nd. Sir Thomas P. Hankin, Lieut. Colonel of His Majesty regiment of Royal North British Dragoons, was interred in the Cathedral with military honours.

November 21st. At a public meeting, held in St. Andrews Hall, a Society was formed for promoting the Abolition of Colonial Slavery. The late J. J. Gurney and all his family were great advocates of negro emancipation, but the diabolical injustice of slavery continued for many years to be the disgrace of England. At many meetings held in this city, the late J. J. Gurney denounced the atrocities of the slave trade, and advocated its abolition. This object was at last accomplished after a violent agitation throughout the country, at a cost of twenty millions sterling!

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1826. January. This year, in consequence of the iniquitous corn laws, bread was dear, work was scarce, and the poor were destitute. Nearly £5000 was subscribed for their relief.

March. Cleansing Week ward elections passed off without opposition, except in the Wymer ward, where it was merely nominal.

May 1st. The election of mayor took place. Messrs. Booth and Patteson were returned to the court of aldermen without opposition, and Mr. E. T. Booth was elected.

May 30th. The anniversary of Mr. William Pitt’s birthday was again celebrated by the members of the castle corporation. The dinners of this and other clubs served to keep alive party spirit.

June 20th. This being Guild day, E. T. Booth, Esq., was sworn into the office of chief magistrate; after which, the Rt. Hon. Robert Peel, secretary of state for the Home department, and Jonathan Peel, Esq., the new member of parliament for the city, were admitted to the freedom of the city.

August 29th. A contest took place for the office of freemen’s sheriff. At the close of the poll the numbers were for Mr. James Bennett, 1164; Mr. Alderman Springfield, 1079. The former was returned.

November. Parish meetings were held in many parts of the city, and votes of thanks were passed to Crisp Brown, Esq., for his strenuous exertions in preventing impositions in paying public money for the new jail, then considered a job.

November 21st. William Simpson, Esq., was elected town clerk and clerk of the peace for this city, in the room of the late Elisha De Hague, Esq., who died on the 11th inst., at the age of 72.

December 6th. Robert Alderson, Esq., was unanimously elected recorder of the city, on the resignation of Charles Savill Onley, Esq., and on the 12th, Isaac Preston, Esq., was elected steward of the corporation, vacant by the resignation of Mr. Alderson.

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1827. January 7th. On the intelligence being received here of the death of his late Royal Highness, Duke of York and Albany, the bells of the different churches were tolled for some time, and the shops were partially closed on the following days.

January 20th. This being the day appointed for the funeral of his late Royal Highness the Duke of York, the melancholy occasion was observed by a general suspension of business; the corporation attended divine service at the Cathedral, and the bells of the parish churches were tolled.

January 26th. At a meeting of the clergy, a petition was adopted in favour of the Catholic claims.

April. Cleansing Week ward elections came on with several severe contests. Conisford ward, J. Marshall, 213; T. Edwards, 212; J. Kitton, 205 (nominees); J. Angell, 204; A. B. Beevor, 203; J. P. Cocksedge, 202. Mancroft ward, no opposition, J. Goodwin, T. Eaton, C. Hardy (nominees). Wymer ward, W. Foster, 435; J. S. Parkinson, 434; G. Kitton, 429 (nominees). Northern ward, S. S. Beare, 424; R. Shaw, 415; H. Martineau, 420 (nominees); G. Coleby, 237; T. Grimmer, 244.

May 1st. The election of mayor took place; at the close of the poll the numbers were, Alderman Finch, 918; Alderman Yallop, 867; Alderman Patteson, 566; Alderman Browne, 565. Peter Finch, Esq., was elected. He lived for many years in a large house built of flint in St. Mary’s.

June 19th. This being Guild day, Peter Finch, Esq., was sworn into the office of chief magistrate.

August 28th. The election for freemen’s sheriff came on; at the close of the poll the numbers were for Mr. Alderman Springfield, 1210; Mr. F. White, 474. The former was returned.

September 12th. There was a severe contest for the office of alderman of Conisford ward in the room of the late William Herring, Esq., who died on the 8th, aged 74. At the close of the poll the numbers were for J. Angell, 218; J. Marshall, 196; and the former was returned. A scrutiny was demanded by Mr. Marshall’s friends, but was afterwards abandoned.

This month Mr. Myher Levi, a Jew, and his wife Hannah Levi, a Jewess, having been converted, were baptised in the parish church of St. Stephen’s, and received the name of Herbert.

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1828. January 10th. The members of the castle corporation celebrated their sixty-third anniversary.

March. Cleansing Week elections. Conisford ward, J. Marshall, 240; T. Edwards, 240; A. B. Beevor, 239, (nominees); J. Skipper, 225; S. W. Mealing, 226; R. Merry, 225. No opposition in the other wards, but for Mancroft ward, J. Bennett, A. Beloe, and C. Hardy (nominees); and for the Northern ward, S. S. Beare, R. Shaw, and H. Martineau (nominees).

May 1st. A contest for mayor, which lasted two days; at the close of the poll the numbers were for Alderman Yallop, 1212; Alderman Thurtell, 1210; Alderman Angell, 1097; Alderman Patteson, 1020. The two former were returned to the court of aldermen, who elected T. Thurtell, Esq.

May 5th. At a public meeting held at the Guildhall, resolutions were passed and a petition to parliament was adopted for the immediate alleviation and ultimate extinction of slavery in the West India colonies. The petition afterwards received the signatures of 10,125 persons, and was 150 feet in length.

June 12th. The anniversary of the birthday of the late Rt. Hon. William Pitt was commemorated by a dinner of the Tories at the Assembly Rooms. About 160 gentlemen were present.

In August, the new Exchange Street was opened, and on October 11th, a new Corn Hall was opened to the public.

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1829. January and February. Petitions were adopted against the claims of the Roman Catholics by the Brunswick Constitutional Club, and other inhabitants of this city; but counter declarations from the clergy of the diocese of Norwich, and from a “Society of the friends of civil and religious liberty,” were agreed to. The agitation on this vexed question had now reached its height in the country.

February 17th. Even the common council now agreed to present an address to the king for the removal of Roman Catholic disabilities.

March. Cleansing Week ward elections came on. Conisford ward, J. Marshall, 258; T. Edwards, 259; J. Youngs, 253, (nominees); J. Skipper, 83; S. W. Mealing, 84; R. Merry, 82. Mancroft ward, no opposition, J. Bennett, A. Beloe, and C. Hardy (nominees). Wymer ward, W. Foster, 466; G. Kitton, 464; A. Barnard, 464 (nominees); J. Culley, 397; J. Brookes, 396; E. Newton, 394. Northern ward, S. S. Beare, 342; R. Shaw, 343; H. Martineau, 341 (nominees); T. Grimmer, 63; E. Hinde, 64; W. Fromow, 64.

May 1st. T. O. Springfield, Esq., and John Angell, Esq., were returned to the court of aldermen for the office of mayor without opposition, and the former was chosen mayor.

June 16th. This being Guild day, T. O. Springfield, Esq., was sworn into the office of chief magistrate; after which he gave a grand dinner to upwards of 800 ladies and gentlemen in St. Andrew’s Hall.

July 15th. A public dinner was given to Thomas Thurtell, Esq., at the Norfolk Hotel, attended by 80 gentlemen, in testimony of their approval of his honourable, impartial, and upright conduct in the performance of his duties as mayor during the previous year.

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1830. January. Great disturbances took place in the city in consequence of differences between the manufacturers and weavers concerning wages. On the 12th, between 3000 and 4000 weavers collected in the avenues to the workhouse, where they greatly interrupted the business of the court of guardians, but they were dispersed by the magistrates and patroles. Munificent donations of £200 from Hudson Gurney, Esq., and £400 from London were distributed amongst the distressed weavers in bread and coal, under the direction of a committee. A general subscription was afterwards raised in the city, amounting to £2300, for the relief of the poor.

March. Cleansing Week ward elections. Conisford ward, T. Edwards, 251; J. Youngs, 251; W. G. Edwards, 249 (nominees); J. Skipper, 233; S. W. Mealing, 232; R. Merry, 228. Mancroft ward, J. Bennett, 195; H. Newton, 196; B. Boardman, 196 (nominees); W. Burt, jun., 50; W. J. Robberds, 50; P. Nicholls, 50. Wymer ward, J. Culley, 521; J. Winter, 520; J. Bexfield, 516 (nominees); W. Foster, 376; G. Kitton, 374; A. Barnard, 374. Northern ward, T. Grimmer, 292; E. Browne, 290; W. Fromow, 289 (nominees); H. Martineau, 278; R. Shaw, 276; W. Newson, 276.

March 29th. On the evening of the Conisford ward election, the gates leading to the workhouse were pulled down and destroyed, and considerable injury was done to the offices adjoining, by a great concourse of persons riotously assembled, and who were returning from a procession formed by the defeated party.

May 1st. John Angell, Esq., was elected to serve the office of mayor.

May 3rd. The common council adopted a petition to the lord chancellor for two general jail deliveries in the year. This was subsequently granted.

December 23rd. At a special meeting of the council, Isaac Preston, Esq., (afterwards Jermy) was elected recorder of the city in place of R. Alderson, Esq., who had resigned.

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1831. January 12th. At a meeting held in the Old Library Room, St. Andrews Hall, a petition to parliament was adopted, praying for the entire abolition of slavery in the British colonies.

February 1st. At a special assembly of the corporation, Fitzroy Kelly, Esq., was unanimously elected steward of that body, and he held that office till the passing of the Municipal Reform Act.

March 22nd. A petition was sent from the city against the disfranchisement of the freemen by the proposed Reform Bill. The signatures were limited to freemen, denizens, and apprentices.

March. Cleansing Week ward elections. Conisford ward, J. Skipper, 270; R. Merry, 265; B. Bunting, 237, (nominees); T. Edwards, 169; J. Youngs, 167; W. G. Edwards, 167. Mancroft ward, no opposition, J. Bennett, H. Newton, and B. Boardman (nominees). Wymer ward, no opposition, J. Culley, J. Winter, W. J. U. Browne (nominees). Northern ward, S. S. Beare, 344; R. Shaw, 337; W. Enfield, 347 (nominees); T. Grimmer, 222; E. Browne, 220; W. Fromow, 220.

This year the Lent assizes were held in Norwich by adjournment from Thetford.

May 1st. J. H. Yallop, Esq., was elected mayor for the second time, and he gave a grand dinner in St. Andrew’s Hall.

In this month a census of the population was taken, showing 27,910 males, 33,437 females; total 61,347. Inhabited houses, 13,283; uninhabited houses, 1,082; total 14,365.

June 20th. Samuel Bignold, Esq., was elected an alderman without opposition in the room of John Patteson, Esq., who had resigned.

August 22nd. The new act of the court of guardians received the royal assent, and came into operation. This act has since been superseded by another.

September 12th. The election of guardians took place under the new act.

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1832. January 11th. At a court of mayoralty it was resolved to present a memorial to the Home Secretary and the Lord Chancellor, praying that Norwich might be included in the ensuing circuit of the judges. A committee was appointed to prepare the memorial. A special court was convened on the 14th to receive the report, and a memorial was adopted which was presented by the members for the city. The petition was granted, and the council passed a vote of thanks to the Lord Chancellor.

April. Cleansing Week for ward elections. Conisford ward, J. Skipper, 266; R. Merry, 264; B. Bunting, 266 (nominees); T. Edwards, 157; J. Youngs, 159; R. Mills, 157. Mancroft ward, no opposition, J. Bennett, B. Boardman, and H. Newton (nominees). Wymer ward, J. Culley, 489; J. Winter, 484; W. J. U. Browne, 485 (nominees); W. Foster, 388; A. Barnard, 383; T. Edwards, 382. Northern ward, S. S. Beare, 380; R. Shaw, 371; W. Enfield, 381 (nominees); T. Grimmer, 101; E. Browne, 109; H. Steel, 107.

May 1st. The election of mayor took place without opposition. Mr. Alderman Stevenson, and Mr. Alderman Bignold were nominated, and they were duly returned; the aldermen chose S. W. Stevenson, Esq., then proprietor and editor of the _Norfolk Chronicle_. After being sworn in on the Guild day he gave a grand dinner to about 900 ladies and gentlemen in St. Andrew’s Hall.

August 28th. The election for freemen’s sheriff was severely contested. At the close of the poll the numbers were for William Foster, Esq., 1282; Mr. Alderman Steward, 1275; and after a scrutiny the former was declared duly elected. This was a triumph for the blue-and-white party.

September 3rd. An election took place for an alderman of Mancroft ward in the place of J. S. Patteson, Esq., deceased. Charles Turner, Esq., was elected; F. Morse, Esq., being the other candidate.

November 11th. This day, at all the churches in the city, thanksgiving services were performed for the cessation of the cholera, and for the mild manner in which the inhabitants had been afflicted as compared with other places. The Norwich Lying-in Charity for delivering poor married women at their own homes was established, and it has been of great benefit to the poor.

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1833. January. The town clerk of this city received a circular from the secretary of state, requesting to be informed of the mode of electing members of the corporation. The town clerk forwarded his answer on the 21st.

March. Cleansing Week for ward elections. Conisford ward, no contest, J. Skipper, R. Merry, and B. Bunting (nominees). Mancroft ward, no opposition, J. Bennett, B. Boardman, H. Newton (nominees). Wymer ward, J. Culley, 486; J. Winter, 484; W. J. U. Browne, 486 (nominees); G. Kitton, 122; R. Miller, 122; C. W. Unthank, 121. Northern ward, S. S. Beare, 300; R. Shaw, 298; W. Enfield, 300 (nominees); T. Grimmer, 206; H. Steel, 204; J. Sinclair, 203.

May 1st. At the election for mayor, Aldermen Bignold and Turner were returned to the court without opposition, and S. Bignold, Esq., was chosen to serve the office. On the Guild day he was sworn in, and on this occasion he gave a magnificent banquet to about 1100 ladies and gentlemen in St. Andrew’s Hall. The same place was the scene of great festivity on June 20th and 21st, when dinners were given to the electors in the orange-and-purple interest, those in the Conisford and Northern wards to the number of 750 on the first day, and those of the Wymer and Mancroft wards 912 on the following day. Great was the rejoicing, but it was of short duration. The days of the old corporation were numbered.