Part 24

FEBRUARY—A dispute between the physicians and surgeons of Worcester, the former (Dr. Cameron, Dr. Wilson, and Dr. Barnett) declaring that they would not meet the surgeons in consultation in any medical cases unless the surgeons would refrain from acting as consulting physicians. They defined the department of the surgeon to be—any external or local disease unaccompanied by any general affection of the system but what the local disease itself produced and requiring manual assistance in its treatment. Messrs. Yeomans, Rayment, Nash, Hill, Hebb, and Romney consented to the physicians’ terms; Messrs. Cole, Sandford, and Carden refused them.

FEBRUARY 25—The Hon. Mr. Ward presented a petition to the House of Commons from the freeholders and rackrenters of Worcestershire and Herefordshire, praying to be allowed to employ five horses in narrow wheeled waggons.

MARCH 29—The following advertisement appeared in the _Worcester Herald_ of this date:

“COCKING: A main of cocks will be fought at the house of Mr. John Lloyd, the sign of the Pheasant, New Street, Worcester, between the gentlemen of Worcestershire and the gentlemen of Gloucestershire, to show and weigh thirty-one cocks on each side in the main, for four guineas a battle and fifty guineas the odd battle; and twenty cocks on each side in the byes, for two guineas a battle. To weigh on Saturday the 18th of April, 1805, and fight on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, the following week, being Easter week.

FEEDERS: GOSLING, Worcestershire. HAYNES, Gloucestershire.”

MAY 1—The Loyal Worcester Volunteers inspected by General Bingham, and afterwards marched to Gloucester, there to remain twenty-one days on permanent duty.

MAY 6—The Worcester Yeomanry Cavalry, under the command of the Hon. Colonel Cocks, marched to Hereford, there to remain on fifteen days’ permanent duty.

MAY 20—The Volunteers return from Gloucester laden with honours and encomiums. The officers of the regiment invited to a dinner at the Crown Inn by the Mayor and Corporation.

JULY 22—The Young Roscius performed in Worcester Theatre with the same success as elsewhere. The exorbitant prices which the manager, in the first instance, wished to charge for admission caused considerable excitement and a sort of O. P. riot, and the manager was obliged to yield.

SEPTEMBER 25—A boy, gathering nuts in a wood at Crowle, accidentally removed a piece of turf, and found beneath it a trap door and chimney. He called several men to the spot, who immediately descended through the door, and discovered a subterranean cave divided into several apartments with much care and ingenuity. In one of the rooms there was a quantity of cold meat, and in another a number of skins with entrails, &c. It had evidently been the retreat of sheepstealers and general thieves, though none happened to be there at the moment of discovery.

DECEMBER 11—An address presented to the King from the Corporation of Worcester, congratulating him upon the glorious victory of Trafalgar, and lamenting the death of Nelson. As much as £400 collected in Worcester for the wounded marines, and the widows and orphans of those who fell in the action.

LOCAL ACTS—For building a chapel of ease at Redditch; for enclosure of waste lands at Rushock.

1806.

THIS year Pitt and Fox both passed from the scene. Pitt was only in the forty-seventh year of his age; and though he had conducted the affairs of the kingdom during a longer period, and with greater popularity, than perhaps any other statesman in modern times, yet he may be said to have died of chagrin at the defeat of all his favourite schemes. Grenville and Fox succeeded him at the helm of affairs, and the general election which then took place furnished them with a strong body of supporters in the House of Commons. The new ministry were pacifically inclined, but found it impossible to negociate with Buonaparte. A loan of twenty millions was negociated to carry on the war, and the property tax increased from 6¼ to 10 per cent. Consols stood at about 60; wheat averaged 79s. 1d.

FEBRUARY 19—A Malvern carrier, returning to Worcester, drove his horse and cart over the side of Powick bridge, at a place where the wall had fallen down and the road broken in. He was carried a considerable distance down the stream, but help came in time to save his life. The dangerous state of the bridge was accounted for by there being a dispute between the Earl of Coventry and the parish of Powick, as to who was liable to the repairs. The matter had been tried at Gloucester Assizes in 1802, and a verdict given for the parish; nevertheless, his lordship had not repaired it.

APRIL 7—A man stopped by footpads on the road between Droitwich and Worcester (about two miles from the former place), and robbed of all the money he had, about 8s.

MAY—The Worcester Lying-in Charity established.

JULY 29—At the Summer Assizes, Michael Crockett found guilty of a fraud at Bromsgrove, was ordered to be pilloried in that town on the succeeding market day, and afterwards to be imprisoned for two years.

SEPTEMBER 5—The Prince of Wales and the Duke of Clarence visited Evesham and Kidderminster.

LOCAL (PRIVATE) ACTS—For enclosure of lands in Wick and St. Andrew, Pershore; ditto in Crowle.

1807.

THE abolition of the slave trade, under the short Grenville ministry, must ever be remembered as the feature of this year. Lord Howick having brought in a bill for securing to all His Majesty’s subjects the privilege of serving in the army or navy without regard to religious opinions, the King’s “scruples” were aroused, and he called a new administration, with the Duke of Portland at its head, to his councils. They dissolved Parliament, and the elections were attended with great excitement. By means of the cry of “the Church in danger,” a remarkable reaction was effected, and the ministry found themselves commanding large majorities in the new House. One of the first acts of the new ministry was one which marked by how long an interval they were separated from the minister in whose steps they professed to follow. At the request of our merchants, whose ships were under various disadvantages from which those of neutral states were free, they issued Orders in Council that neutral vessels, _whithersoever bound_, should put into some port connected with England, and there obtain a license to continue their trade! A general suspension of American navigation and trade consequently took place, and these orders eventually led to the war with America in 1812. They contributed also in various ways to the depreciation of our bank paper, and their folly was thus terribly and speedily avenged upon ourselves. Consols averaged 63; wheat averaged 75s. 4d.

FEBRUARY 25—A woman, named Mary Davies, publicly whipped at Kidderminster by order of the magistrates, for embezzling a quantity of yarn.

APRIL 2—Captain Bund appointed to the Colonelcy of the Worcestershire Militia, _vice_ Colonel Charlton, deceased.

APRIL 27—Mr. Robarts, member for Worcester, offered to erect a steam engine for supplying the city with water. The waterworks which have ever since been made to serve for that purpose, were erected in consequence of this generous offer.

MAY 1—Sir Thomas Winnington fell from his horse, near Bromyard, while accompanying Colonel Foley to his canvass in Herefordshire, and broke his leg.

JUNE 23—A riot in Worcester between the mob and the military in barracks there, and several parties taken into custody. A recruit, for aiding and abetting the populace, was sentenced to receive 500 lashes!

JUNE 28—A meeting of the Worcester glovers, with Mr. J. Knapp in the chair, to resist a combination of the “grounders, stoners, and white leather parers” to obtain an advance of wages. The names of fifty-six firms were appended to the resolutions—“John Dent and Son” standing sixth.

AUGUST 10—The North Worcester Volunteers, commanded by Colonel Villiers, assembled in a field near Bromsgrove, and were presented with a pair of colours by the Right Hon. Lady Beauchamp.

AUGUST 19—H.R.H. The Duke of Gloucester visited Worcester, and proceeded to Witley Court. Next day, accompanied by Lord and Lady Foley, the Dean of Worcester, &c., he inspected the porcelain manufactory of Messrs. Barr, Flight, and Barr, and ordered a superb service.

SEPTEMBER 23—The Prince of Wales, Duke of Sussex, and a large party of other nobility visited the Marchioness of Downshire at Ombersley Court. The Mayor and Justices of Worcester, with the Town Clerk and several of the Council, waited on H.R.H. there, and presented an address to him.

SEPTEMBER 25—The Prince of Wales and a large party this day visited Worcester, were met by the Recorder, Earl of Coventry, and partook of a collation at the Town Hall. The streets were lined by the Worcester and Birmingham Volunteers. A visit was paid, and orders given, at both china manufactories. Messrs. Chamberlain and Co. appointed porcelain manufacturers to H.R.H.

LOCAL ACTS—For enclosure of lands at Aldington and Broughton Hackett.

1808.

MATTERS at home remained quiet, and much as in the preceding year, the public mind being taken up with the expedition to Spain, discussing the battle of Vimiera, and Convention of Cintra. Three per Cents. stood as high in June as 70⅜, and averaged throughout the year 65½. This was the only year during this century in which our exports of wheat exceeded our imports: average price, 81s. 4d.

MARCH 2—The mail from Birmingham to Bristol took on two passengers only from Worcester, a young lady named Capper and a little child. On getting to Severn Stoke the horses became restive, and at Ripple altogether ran away. The reins broke, and both coachman and guard got down to stop the horses, but were unable to do so, and the coach was soon out of their sight. The young lady, while the vehicle was at its utmost speed, became so alarmed that she threw herself out of the coach door, and her neck was broken by the fall.

MAY 26—The Mayor of Worcester committed two journeymen bootmakers to prison for combining with others against their master, Mr. J. Garner, to demand an increase of wages. It was shown that industrious men could obtain at that trade from 30s. to 50s. a week.

JUNE 24—A society formed in Worcester for the prevention of vice—such as Sabbath breaking, &c.

JULY 6—The Rev. Rowland Hill preached in the Countess of Huntingdon’s Chapel, Worcester, this (Wednesday) evening.

JULY 28—The Prince of Wales and Duke of Sussex again visited Ombersley Court.

OCTOBER 21—A new double-bodied post coach advertised to run from Worcester to London three days a week, starting from Worcester at twelve at noon and arriving in London at eight next morning.

DECEMBER 6—Lieutenant Carden, of the Worcester militia, on his return from Ombersley was stopped close to the Barbourne turnpike by three recruits, and forced to deliver up his gold watch and money. They afterwards beat a girl, and attempted to rob the Bewdley post boy; but Mr. Carden having raised an alarm as soon as he got into the town, a number of people started after them, and two out of the three were apprehended the same night.

LOCAL ACTS—To amend and enlarge the acts relating to the Worcester and Birmingham Canal Navigation; for enclosure of lands at Bredon.

1809.

PARLIAMENT was principally occupied with the inquiry which led to the Duke of York’s resignation of the commandership of the army. Money was so plentiful that a loan of eleven millions was raised at a lower rate of interest than the public creditor had ever before consented to receive. Consols stood at 68; harvest indifferent; wheat averaged 97s. 4d.

JANUARY—The first steps taken to establish a Lancastrian school in Worcester. Up to this time there had been no day school at which it was possible for the children of the poor to obtain an education. Sunday schools had only been established a few years—that at Angel Street Chapel (Independent), opened in 1797, being the first. In April, Mr. Lancaster lectured on education, at the Hoppole Inn; and a meeting was held at the Unicorn, John Williams, Esq., in the chair, at which resolutions were come to to open a Lancastrian school immediately—all religious parties uniting in its support on the common basis of the scriptures; the Apostles’ Creed and Dr. Watts’s hymns being taught to all the children, and the Church Catechism to those only whose parents requested it.

APRIL 26—A fire broke out, about eleven p.m., in the china manufactory of Messrs. Grainger, Wood, and Co., Lowesmoor, Worcester, which in the course of two hours reduced the whole premises to ruins. The property was insured, but not by any means to its full amount.

MAY 5—In the _Worcester Herald_ of this date the Rev. Thomas Foley, rector of Oldswinford, published, as an advertisement, a long vindication of Joanna Southcote. The charge of her having sold her “seals” for half-a-crown a piece he declared to be “an infamous falsehood;” as she gave them away without money and without price “to all that had faith to believe in her inspired writings.” He concluded by giving a summary of her doctrines in most enthusiastic language.

JUNE 31—The toll on foot passengers passing over Worcester bridge discontinued, as the flourishing state of the receipts had reduced the debt to £5,000. The first stone of the present bridge was laid in 1771, and it was opened to the public in 1781. The bridge and quays cost £29,843.

JUNE 22—A young woman, named Harris, most inhumanly murdered at Honeyborne, near Evesham. She was called up from bed, and, on opening the door, was attacked by some person with a pitchfork, and at last dragged to a horsepond and drowned in it. Suspicion fell on a young man by whom she was pregnant, but the coroner’s jury returned a verdict of “Wilful murder against some person or persons unknown.” The murderer was never discovered.

OCTOBER 25—The celebration of the National Jubilee—fiftieth year of His Majesty’s reign. At Worcester a subscription was raised for the relief of the poor instead of illuminations. Dinner at the Guildhall—Earl of Coventry in the chair—and 252 guests were present; and a ball at the College Hall. A great number of benefactions throughout the county from the rich to their poorer brethren. Meetings in all the towns of the county to present addresses to the King. The debtors in the County Gaol were released by subscriptions, and with the aid of the High Sheriff and Lord Somers.

NOVEMBER 13—Thomas Freeman, glove manufacturer, fined £50 by the magistrates of Worcester, for having in his possession four oil leather skins and eleven pairs of gloves, which had been purloined from other masters’ warehouses, and of which he could not give a satisfactory account. A moiety of the penalty given to the Infirmary (a public charity), in compliance with the terms of the act of Parliament.

LOCAL ACTS—To amend the road from Teddington to the turnpike road between Evesham and Pershore; for enclosure of lands at Iccomb.

1810.

CONSIDERABLE commercial embarrassment was experienced this year; not, however, arising from the unprecedented situation in which England found herself placed—in having almost single handed to oppose the growing power of Buonaparte—but from speculative trading in the markets of South America. The depreciation of bank paper procured the appointment of a bullion committee. The early part of the year was occupied with the affair of Sir Francis Burdett; and the latter with the appointment of the Prince of Wales as Regent, in consequence of the increasing incompetence of the King to attend to business. Consols stood at 68. The imports of wheat this year amounted to 1,491,300 quarters; average price, 106s. 5d.

MARCH 10—At the Lent Assizes, Francis Morris—for stealing a quantity of unwinnowed barley, the property of Mr. G. Thomas of Hanbury—was sentenced to be publicly whipped for the space of 100 yards on the next market day at Worcester.

MARCH 21—R. Ellins, post boy, carrying the bag from Bewdley to Stourbridge, was detected opening the bag and stealing out of it two letters containing upwards of £3,000 in bank notes.

APRIL 6—The Mansion House at Glasshampton, Astley, the residence of the Rev. J. J. Denham Cookes, burnt to the ground.

JUNE 3—(Sunday)—Dreadful fire in Kidderminster, consuming three dwelling houses, a large carpet manufactory, barns, stables, waggons, carts, implements, timber, &c. Believed to have been the act of incendiaries.

JUNE 11—A Sir Francis Burdett riot at Kidderminster. Two persons were brought prisoners to the County Gaol for being concerned in it, and the mob in Worcester attempted their rescue, and broke to pieces the carriage in which they were being conveyed. They also broke the windows of several obnoxious persons; but the magistrates, with the help of the Yeomanry and Militia then on duty in the city, very speedily repressed the tumult.

JULY 6—The Boys’ Subscription Free School opened in Worcester.

JULY 28—Advertisements in this day’s _Worcester Herald_ of a project to open a “Bristol and Severn Canal,” in which the merchants of Worcester were conceived to be much interested, and therefore invited to take shares. And another of twelve acres of growing flax to be sold by private contract.

LOCAL ACTS—For enclosure of waste lands at Holt, Sedgeberrow, Pensham, Bonehill, Tibberton, and Eckington.

1811.

OUR military operations on the continent, and the large amount of specie sent abroad in the previous year for the purchase of corn, continued and increased the depreciation in the value of bank paper; and upon Lord King giving notice to his tenants that he should require his rents paid in guineas—or, if in notes, at an increase of £17. 10s. per cent. upon their nominal value—a bill was hastily passed which made it illegal to give more money for gold coin than was authorised by the mint, or to take Bank of England notes for less than their ostensible value! The other Parliamentary event of the year was the signal defeat of Lord Sidmouth’s attempt to abrogate the Toleration Act, by requiring that Dissenting ministers should find six householders to answer for their respectability, before a license could be granted to them to preach. Consols stood at 64; wheat averaged 95s. 3d.

APRIL 27—A prisoner, named Elizabeth Townshend, made her escape from the County Gaol, having worked a hole in the wall.

MAY 9—Mr. Barr of Worcester, and three gentlemen from Burslem, had an interview with the Chancellor of the Exchequer to represent to him the impolicy of imposing a pottery tax as he proposed. The minister appeared to be convinced, and no more was heard of it.

MAY 31—Lucien Buonaparte came to reside at Thorngrove House.

AUGUST 12—The Mayor and Corporation of Worcester dined at Croome. A most sumptuous entertainment was provided for them.

NOVEMBER 3—The Worcester Association for the Severn Fisheries established a fish market in Worcester—none having before existed. They took very active steps in preserving the river from illegal and injurious fishing, and a great number of condemned nets and wheels were publicly burnt in the Corn Market.

NOVEMBER 8—The Directors of the Worcester House of Industry issued a considerable number of copper tokens, which were much in demand on account of the great want of small change in the country. The exchange was immediately vested in the funds, and the interest applied to the assistance of the poor rates. A meeting of tradesmen was afterwards held (Mr. W. Beeken in the chair) at which resolutions were unanimously passed to resist the introduction of any other copper tokens into the trade of the city excepting those issued by Government and the Worcester House of Industry. They asserted that there was a sufficiency of copper coinage in the country. A counter meeting of manufacturers was held at the Star and Garter immediately afterwards, asserting that the business of the city could not be carried on without more change, and they, therefore, determined to continue the issue of their own penny and halfpenny tokens, which they declared to be equal in weight to the legal coin of the realm, and that they always paid twenty shillings in the pound for them.

LOCAL ACTS—For enclosure of lands at Astley, Overbury, North, Middle, and South Littleton, and Churchill.

1812.

MR. PERCIVAL’S ministry was continuing to increase in power and in popularity, principally on account of the warm support which they had given to the Spanish cause, when Mr. Percival himself was suddenly assassinated in the lobby of the House of Commons, by Bellingham. After the Prince Regent, by the Earl of Moira and Lord Wellesley, had unsuccessfully, and to all appearance insincerely, negociated for the formation of a new ministry, in which Lords Grey and Grenville should have a part, the Earl of Liverpool was appointed First Lord of the Treasury, and the rest of the old ministry remained as before. The Regent henceforth forsook the Whig friends of his youth, and became a good Tory. The orders in council respecting navigation, which had been so obnoxious to the Americans were repealed under Lord Liverpool. A motion, pledging Parliament to an early consideration of the Catholic claims, was carried in the Commons by 300 to 215, but defeated in the Lords by 174 to 103. The Parliament, having nearly run out its term, was dissolved in October; but the elections did not produce much excitement, or change in the position of parties. Considerable disturbances took place in the manufacturing districts, on the introduction of new machinery. The Three per Cents. did not average 60 throughout the year; wheat averaged 126s. 6d.

JANUARY 19—The coming of age of T. C. Hornyold, Esq., celebrated at Blackmore Park, by a series of splendid dinners, balls, and other entertainments.

MARCH 27—An anonymous letter having been sent to Sir William Smith, Bart., one of the commissioners of taxes for the hundred of Doddington, threatening him with vengeance if he confirmed surcharges, a reward of £100 was offered in the _Gazette_ for the discovery of the writer.

APRIL 26—The Worcester Church of England School, conducted on Dr. Bell’s principles, first opened in Frog Lane.

APRIL—Wheat again risen to 18s. and 20s. per bushel, and the price of potatoes also exorbitant, so that the poor had the greatest difficulty in procuring the necessaries of life—in some places there had been riots. In Kidderminster £500 was raised by subscription to purchase potatoes and sell them to the poor at a reduced price.

AUGUST 7—The coachman of M. Lucien Buonaparate, now staying at Thorngrove, stabbed by a fellow servant named Luigi Vespasiani, in the heat of a dispute on some trifling subject. The coachman for a long while remained in a very dangerous state.

AUGUST 24—A _fête_ on the occasion of the opening of the Severn Horse Towing Path from Worcester bridge to the Lower Parting.

OCTOBER—The Hon. Lieutenant Colonel Cocks, eldest son of Lord Somers, fell at the siege of the Castle of Burgos—Peninsular War. An address of condolence was sent to Lord Somers from the Mayor, magistrates, and citizens of Worcester. Lieutenant Cocks had been frequently noticed in the Marquis of Wellington’s despatches in a most gratifying manner.

LOCAL ACTS—For enclosure of lands at Holdfast (Ripple), Shipston-on-Stour, and Badsey.

1813.