Chapter III: Preface (3)

“There was an unusual quantity of business transacted at the
Corporation Assembly on Wednesday last. It was first proposed that a
petition 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, petitioned
for continuance of place, stated emoluments, and asked £13 7s. 4½d.
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 petitioned 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 assistants.”

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:—

“The scene of devastation on our beach, occasioned by the late high
tides, exceed the powers of description. Wednesday morning, in some
measure, prepared us for the event; the sea was at that time breaking
over the jetty, and reached as high as the houses. It was prophesied
by nautical men that if the next tide was equally high the
consequences would be most disastrous, and, unfortunately, it so
proved. The sea in the evening undermined the foundations of most of
the dwellings, throwing down the walls of many, to the great injury
of those of the inmates who had not taken the precautions to remove
their property. Furniture was seen floating in all directions, in
the presence of the astonished and alarmed multitude. The summer
residence of the Right Hon. Lord Berners is more than half destroyed,
while the house of the Misses Ansell and the Right Hon. Lord Nevill
were surrounded; in fact, such a scene of general devastation never
in the memory of the oldest inhabitant presented itself. The sea at
one time reached some way up the Jetty Road. While a person was
assisting the landlord of the Holkham Tavern to remove his beds, &c.,
to a back warehouse, the sea burst in and broke down the front wall.
At one part of the South Denes the sea and river might be seen
meeting. Part of the South Quay was flooded. It was unusually high
at the bridge, and likewise some of the lower parts of the town.
Amidst this wide spreading destruction, we are glad to say, no lives
were lost.”

Feb. 22nd.—The Lord High Steward (the Earl of Lichfield) had been sworn in, and a dinner given in his honour. The noble lord was accompanied by the Mayor, Lord Suffield, the Hon. George Anson, Mr. Rumbold, Sir W. Ffolkes, and Mr. Adair.

March 10th.—A meeting had been held, the Hon. and Rev. E. Pellew presiding, to consider the establishment of a penny library for the working classes.

March 24th.—A bet had been made by Mr. Ringer, of the Elephant and Castle liquor shop in the Market Place, “that on Monday he would sell 1,000 glasses of ale and porter from six o’clock in the morning and close the same night. Mr. R. closed at 10, after selling 2,454, at one penny per glass.”

Mr. F. Preston had launched a fine ship of 370 tons from his yard.

April 2nd.—Mr. Edward H. L. Preston and Mr. Green had been tried and acquitted upon charges of bribery alleged to have been committed by them at the General Election, when Messrs. Baring and Praed were returned for the borough.

April 7th.—A poll had taken place for two Haven and Pier Commissioners, as follows:—

George Danby Palmer 375 William Barth 375 Sir E. Lacon 207 Samuel Paget 168

and Messrs. Palmer and Barth were consequently elected.

April 14th contains the following paragraph as to the recent bribery prosecution:—

“Yesterday there was a grand public dinner at the Angel Inn, to
celebrate what the Tories call ‘the defeat of the Attorney-General
and the Yarmouth Radicals;’ but what we should say was a fortunate
escape of the accused parties, arising from the glorious uncertainty
of the law. John Lacon, Esq., was in the chair. Richard Ferrier,
Esq., presided at the left hand table. The two vice-presidents were
Mr. Aldred and Mr. John Clarke. A very handsome silver teapot and
ewer were presented to Mr. William Green, by John Penrice, Esq., in
an appropriate speech, for his exertions at the last election. We
were not present, but had these particulars from a Tory friend, who
also said ‘he thought ’twas hard poor Prentice hadn’t something, as
he did as much as Green, and more too.’ There were about 70 persons
present.”

Twenty gentlemen, all of Reform principles, had been elected select Vestrymen.

Five hundred merchants and others had attended a public meeting to protest against the proposal of the Eastern Counties’ Railway Company to construct a line to Harwich.

April 28th.—The seamen had “struck” for an increase of wages.

Several persons had been fined for keeping disorderly houses.

Seven vessels had been cleared with emigrants for America, carrying 850 adults and 600 children, and several other vessels were fitting out for the same voyage.

May 5th.—The town was suffering from a number of dogs prowling about, one of which had severely bitten a young lady.

May 19th.—Mr. William Ferrier had been elected Coroner by the Council, which body had voted, by a majority of one, to retain the Market Cross.

June 9th—Mr. Jefferies Barth had been elected Clerk of the Peace.

June 17th.—Nathaniel Palmer, Esq., had been appointed Recorder.

June 23rd.—A fine new schooner (The Clipper) had been launched for William Hurry Palmer, Esq., and was expected to be the fastest sailing vessel out of the port.

June 30th.—The Cross was ordered to be pulled down.

July 14th.—It was stated that “Yarmouth is very full of strangers, who flock here from all parts of the country to enjoy the cool sea breezes. We believe there is not any other place that affords so excellent a view of shipping in motion as Yarmouth Roads, it being the great thoroughfare for all vessels trading to the North. The Bath Room is one of the principal attractions to visitors, as it is a most agreeable lounge during the heat of the day, and frequent undress balls enliven the youthful part of the company. The Bath Room has been well attended this year, and we are happy to say the list of subscribers gives promise of a good season.”

The destruction of the Cross is thus noticed:—

“On Friday last the Market Cross was sold by public tender for £55
6s., and on Monday morning workmen commenced pulling it down. It has
now entirely disappeared, to the gratification of the residents in
the Market Place, to whom it had long been a great annoyance, in
consequence of its having become a rendezvous for idle and dissolute
persons. The Tories lament the loss of it, and call the Corporation
destructives for having removed a public nuisance! We know not what
claim it had upon their sympathies, except in being a fit emblem of
the late Body Corporate, for like that it perhaps was of service at
some bygone period of time, but having long ceased to be useful, it
had fallen to abuse and rottenness, and to complete the resemblance
it has, after some struggles, been swept away by the current of
public opinion.”

August 9th.—The Hon. and Rev. E. Pellew had been presented with plate of the value of £100 by the parishioners.

August 25th.—The Races had been held, the Stewards being the Earl of Orford, Lord Henniker, and T. Baring, Esq., M.P. About 160 ladies and gentlemen attended the Race Ball, and 2,000 persons patronized the Vauxhall Gardens.

Sept. 1st.—The Regatta had been held, and the Theatre had been well filled on the Stewards’ bespeak, when an attempt to get up a cry of “Baring and Rumbold” proved a failure.

Sept. 22nd.—172 persons holding Corporation leaseholds had intimated their desire to purchase the freehold of their properties, at prices amounting to £6,911.

Oct. 6th.—The price of herrings was £23 to £24 per last.

Oct. 13th.—The compensation awarded to the Town Clerk for loss of his offices of Magistrates’ Clerk and Clerk of the Peace had been settled at £222 per annum.

Nov. 3rd.—The result of the Municipal Election is reported as follows:—

“Our Municipal Election took place on Tuesday last. The contest in
the St. Nicholas’ Ward was a severe one. It was neck and neck
between Mr. Nuthall and E. H. L. Preston all day. At length the
election was carried by a _worthy_, who, after promising constantly
to vote for Nuthall and Sherrington, was suddenly not to be found;
but about five minutes before the close of the poll he was brought
out of the Saracen’s Head, a low public-house, in a state of
intoxication, his voting paper having been changed or altered to
Preston and Fiddes. This decided the thing in Mr. Preston’s favour,
as before that time the numbers for him and Mr. Nuthall were 102
each. Such a mode of gaining an election is quite in keeping with
Tory practices, and needs no comment. The validity of the election
is, however, disputed on the grounds of a bad vote on the Tory side,
and an informality in the appointment of an Alderman to preside in
the absence of the Aldermen of the Ward. The following is a list of
Councillors returned:—_St. Nicholas’ Ward_: Mr. Sherrington and Mr.
Preston. _Market_: Mr. E. N. Clowes and Mr. Sewell. _Regent_: Mr.
Cufaude Davie and Mr. John Fish. _St. George’s_: Mr. Worship and Mr.
Lettis. _Nelson_: Mr. Robinson and Mr. Symonds. _St. Andrew’s_: Mr.
Martin and Mr. Frederick Preston.”

Nov. 10th.—A dinner, attended by 200 gentlemen, had been given to William Barth, Esq. (the Mayor.)

Nov. 24th.—The old Bridge had been sold in one lot for £96.

Dec. 22nd.—Mr. F. Preston had launched a beautiful brig called the “Catherine,” of 212 tons register.

Dec. 29th.—Heavy weather prevailed, with so much snow that the coaches were obliged to cease running.

1837.

Jan. 5th.—The “Isis,” of this port, and a sloop belonging to Wells, had been towed off the beach into the harbour.

Jan. 12th.—Eleven vessels still remained on the beach, and the jetty had been damaged by the Henry, of North Shields, having run into it.

Improvements were being effected at the Bath Rooms.

A floating-light was to be placed at St. Nicholas’ Gat.

Jan. 19th.—The increase in the Customs for the year ended 5th January, 1837, was £7,000.

Feb. 2nd.—The Town debt was stated to have been left by the late Corporation at £11,000, with 19s. 6d. in hand to meet that demand.

Feb. 16th.—A meeting had been held for the purpose of moving for the abolition of Church Rates.

Feb. 23rd.—Mr. Kay, Assistant Poor Law Commissioner, had been down with a view to bringing the Town under the Poor Law Amendment Act.

March 23rd.—The “Export Merchants” had given a dinner to their friends at the Star Hotel, when George Danby Palmer, Esq., presided.

March 30th.—At the Vestry meeting the parishioners claimed and exercised the right of electing both Churchwardens.

April 6th.—The nomination for the first Board of Guardians (N. Palmer, Esq., acting as Returning Officer) had been sent in. The following gentlemen were elected:—Messrs. John Brightwen, H. V. Worship, S. V. Moore, S. Miller, jun., E. N. Clowes, W. Chambers, J. Fish, G. Harley, S. Cobb, R. P. Kemp, S. Palmer, and W. Grave.

April 20th.—The following officers were elected by the Board:—R. P. Kemp, Chairman; S. Cobb, Vice-Chairman; J. L. Cufaude, Clerk; D. Turner, Treasurer; B. L. Love, Auditor; Harry Worship and Joseph Bayly, Registrars; Charles Bell and Henry Palmer, Joint Superintendent Registrars; and — Kemp, Governor of the Workhouse.

May 4th.—The Guardians had fixed the site for the new Workhouse on the North Denes.

May 11th.—Mr. Harry Worship and Mr. J. Bayly had been elected parish surgeons.

May 18th.—Mackerel were selling at £2 14s. per hundred.

May 25th.—The inhabitants had voted an address to the Princess Victoria.

June 22nd.—The paper appears in mourning for the King. It contained a notice that “The proclamation of Her Majesty the Queen was to be made to-morrow” (_i.e._, on 21st June.)

June 29th.—Mr. Baring had given £25 to the Methodist Chapel.

The Queen had been proclaimed by the Mayor “in front of the Hall” and at other places in the town.

Kerrison Kerrison, Esq., son of M. Kerrison, Esq., of Ranworth, had been drowned while bathing from the beach.

July 13th.—S. Palmer, Esq., had called a meeting at his own house to consider the question of selecting candidates for the representation of the Borough, when Mr. Rumbold and Mr. Wiltshire were introduced to the electors.

July 29th.—The election is reported, when Mr. Baring was proposed and seconded by Messrs. Ambrose Palmer and Richard Ferrier; Mr. Rumbold by Sir George Parker and Mr. Brightwen; Mr. Gambier by Mr. J. Penrice and Mr. J. E. Lacon; and Mr. Wilshere by Mr. Robert Palmer Kemp and Mr. B. U. Dowson.

The poll closed—

Rumbold 790 Wilshere 779 Baring 699 Gambier 685

August 24th.—The Races had been held, Mr. Wilshere, M.P., staying with Mr. S. Palmer, while Mr. Rumbold, M.P., was at the Mayor’s house.

Sept. 7th.—First meeting of the “Reform” Magistrates for the purpose of granting licences; present—The Mayor, Dr. Penrice, G. Danby Palmer, S. Cobb, Charles Nicholls, and William Hammond, Esqs., and “the first step taken towards breaking up the monopoly which had hitherto been enjoyed by brewers and spirit merchants.”

Sept. 14th.—The “Foxhound” (Captain Betts), belonging to G. Danby Palmer, Esq., had sailed with 1,250 barrels of herrings for Venice.

The schooner “Wilshere” had been launched from Messrs. Fellows’ yard for Messrs. Barker and Stone, who entertained their friends on the occasion at the Star Hotel.

Sept. 21st.—£21 had been voted for pulling down the Pudding Gates.

Sept. 28th.—The Lord Bishop had held a confirmation, and received an address from the Corporation at the Guild Hall.

Oct. 5th.—The Reformers claimed a gain of 56 at the Revision Court.

The “Parroch Hall,” a fine ship of 450 tons, had been launched from Mr. I. Preston’s yard.

Oct. 26th.—Joseph Bonaparte, ex-King of Spain, had visited the town.

The “Tantivy,” schooner had been launched from Messrs. Fellows’ yard.

Nov. 2nd.—The Liberal candidates had been re-elected in all the Wards without opposition.

Nov. 9th.—Dr. Penrice was elected Mayor, after a ballot, by 20 votes, as against 14 votes given for Mr. S. Cobb; Samuel Jay, Esq., was elected an Alderman in the place of Mr. Wall.

Nov. 23rd.—Mr. Joseph Fiddes, James N. Sherrington, and James Raven had been elected Commissioners of the Borough Court of Requests.

The “Harlequin,” 350 tons burthen, had been launched from Mr. L Preston’s yard.

Dec. 7th.—The Tories had petitioned against the return of the sitting members, but had suggested a compromise, which had been “rejected with the ridicule it deserved.”

Mr. Joseph Bayly had been elected a Councillor for St. George’s Ward.

Dec. 21st.—Mr. William Danby Palmer had been elected a Councillor for St. Andrew’s Ward, in the place of Mr. Dowson, deceased.

Dee. 28th.—A Temperance sermon had been preached by the Rev. T. Clowes from I. Cor., viii., 8, 13.

The weather had been remarkably mild, warmer than it was often in May and June.

1838.

April 19th.—Winter had come again, and the frost had blocked up several pumps. The nights were extremely dark, and great complaints had been made by inhabitants of the total absence of lights in the streets.

Coaches had been engaged to take up the Tory witnesses for the hearing of the election petition, while the Whigs were going to London by the “Ailsa Craig” steam packet.

April 26th.—The following Committee had been struck for the hearing of such petition:—The Hon. E. Grimshaw, Charles Rushout, H. Thomas, E. Baker, W. C. Brodie, J. C. Holmes, and J. Bailey (Tories), and J. E. Vivian, R. W. Hunt Lord M. Hill, and the Hon. George Byng (Whigs).

May 3rd.—This Committee had come to the resolution—That C. E. Rumbold and W. Wilshere, Esqs., are duly elected, but that the petition was not frivolous or vexatious.

May 10th.—This decision appears to have been the result of an arrangement made by a few gentlemen of the Whig and Tory parties, that one of the members (it is believed Mr. Wilshere) would accept the Chiltern Hundreds at the end of the present Session of Parliament. It was believed in that event Mr. Baring would be opposed. It is stated that “of late our members have not reposed on a bed of roses.”

May 17th.—The schooner “Stamboul” had been launched from Messrs. A. Palmer and Son’s yard.

May 24th.—A suggestion appears to found a Dispensary in Yarmouth and that the Council fund should be applied towards this end. This fund then consisted of £2,500, and was formed by the contributions of each Alderman of £10 and each Common Councilman £5 on his election.

May 31st.—The “Pantaloon,” a fine, large, round-sterned brig of 180 tons, had been launched by her owners, Messrs. A. and G. Steward; and the “Victoria,” 350 tons, by Mr. J. Preston.

A meeting had been held at the Town Hall to consider the propriety of establishing a small Hospital for Great Yarmouth and the East and West Fleggs and Mutford and Lothingland Hundreds. The Hon. and Rev. E. Pellew presided, and amongst those present were all the resident clergy and medical gentlemen of the town, with Messrs. G. D. Palmer, Brightwen, W. Steward, B. Dowson, Worship, &c.

June 7th and 14th.—Col. Thompson had been suggested as a candidate for the Borough, and Mr. Northhouse had addressed a meeting on his behalf. Mr. George Steward was taking an active part in this affair.

June 21st.—Suggestions were being made for the celebration of the Queen’s Coronation.

Messrs. Henry Emms and William Simms had been appointed Relieving Officers.

The donations for the proposed Hospital were £200 and the annual subscriptions £280.

June 28th.—This issue contains the following account of how, after a futile effort had been made by the Vicar, which appears not to have been a success, H.M. Coronation was celebrated. At an “adjourned meeting of the subscribers to the fund for celebrating her Majesty’s Coronation, by giving a dinner to the poor children of the town on that day, held at the New Hall, on Thursday evening last, the Hon. and Rev. E. Pellew in the chair, those gentlemen who had undertaken to collect subscriptions reported that they had scarcely any further funds to add to those already collected. Under these circumstances the chairman submitted to the meeting that the proposed plan of feasting the children was a failure from the want of funds. Considerable discussion then ensued as to the propriety of taking steps towards celebrating the Coronation day in any other way, upon which there were many conflicting opinions. At length Mr. Samuel Palmer, after recapitulating all that had been done, and regretting that up to that time nothing had been realized, moved—‘That a subscription be now entered into, to provide such amusements for the poor of the town on the day of the Coronation as may seem fit to the subscribers, and that a committee be appointed to carry the same into effect.’ Mr. Samuel Barber moved, as an amendment, ‘that all the poor of the town be regaled with roast beef and plum pudding’; but it appearing to the meeting that as money enough could not be raised to regale the children, it would be impossible to raise a sufficient sum to feast all the poor. The amendment was negatived, and Mr. Palmer’s motion was unanimously carried. The Chairman then left the chair, and Mr. George Danby Palmer was called on to preside, when thanks were voted to the late Chairman; a spirited subscription was begun in the room; a committee was appointed to carry Mr. Palmer’s motion into effect, and the meeting separated.”

“Since that time the gentlemen composing the committee have collected money to the amount of about £200, and a bill of fare has been issued sports and entertainments to take place on the South Denes, amongst which are horse, pony, and donkey races, jumping in sacks, climbing matches, and running after pigs with soaped tails. There will also be sailing matches on the river. A dinner will take place in a marquee erected on the ground, the Mayor in the chair. A stand and several booths have also been built for the accommodation of the public. The amusements will conclude with a superb display of fireworks, under the direction of an artist from London.”

July 7th contains the following record of the result of such action:—

The festivities and sports which were to have taken place on Thursday
last in honour of the Coronation were interrupted by a heavy fall of
rain, which commenced at the hour fixed for the fun to begin, and
continued nearly, ‘sans’ intermission, until night. This untoward
state of the elements prevented any very great assembly of multitude
taking place; nevertheless there were some two or three thousand
determined holiday-makers congregated on the South Denes, and the
horse and pony races came off in spite of the unfavourable state of
the weather. The race for hacks was well contested and won by
Highflyer, beating Whiscumsnivet, the Ambassador, and Sir William.
The pony race was also a good one; we could not learn the name of the
winner. Four boats started for the silver cup—value £7—viz., the
Coriander (Balls), Leviathian (Preston), Louisa (Fiddis), and Neptune
(Green). The wind was light at starting, and towards the end of the
match there was so little as scarcely to fill the sails; the
Coriander won by about half a length. The remainder of the sports
were postponed until Friday afternoon. At four o’clock upwards of
100 gentlemen sat down to dinner in a marquee erected on the Denes,
the Mayor (Dr. Penrice) in the chair. After dinner the health of the
Queen was drunk with long, loud, and hearty cheers, and the usual
loyal and patriotic toasts were given; several excellent songs were
sung, and about half-past ten the company returned to the town
preceded by a band of music. The children at the various charity
schools and the inmates of the Fishermen’s Hospital were handsomely
entertained. The Temperance people had a tea meeting, and all, as
far as the weather would permit, appeared to enjoy themselves in
their own way.

On Friday afternoon, at three o’clock, the sports were re-commenced,
the weather being most propitious and the sun shining with surpassing
brilliancy. Yarmouth poured out thousands upon thousands of its
working population, and great numbers of all classes were present to
witness the fun and partake of the amusement of the day. The
performances, if so they may be called, took place on a stage
immediately opposite the stand, which was filled with spectators,
under the superintendence and direction of a gentleman, to whose good
humoured exertions too much praise cannot be given, and who was ably
assisted by others in providing and bringing out such entertainments
for the humbler classes as seemed best adapted to their taste and
habits. First came two chimney sweeps in _full costume_; they dived
in a tub of meal for pieces of money, which they picked out with
their mouths. Numberless sneezings and many collisions of sooty
heads, now, however, converted into floury nobs, took place during
this match, to the great merriment of the assembled crowds; at length
the money was all abstracted, and the performers, well washed, made
their bows and retired from the stage. Next came bobbing for oranges
in tubs of water, by boys with their hands tied behind them. Then a
singing match by boys, which was won by an urchin of the name of John
Hutchin, who sung two comic songs with inimitable humour and effect.
A horn pipe match followed, in which the best dancers made up by
agility for what was wanting in grace and elegance. Grinning through
horse collars succeeded, and here one Billy Derry out-uglied the
ugliest—O! for grinning through a horse collar, commend me to Billy
Derry. Then we had six old women, drinking scalding hot tea for a
prize of one sovereign; the efforts of these poor old creatures to
gulp down the almost boiling fluid, were at once both pitiable and
ludicrous, but they appeared to enjoy the parts they were acting
almost as much as the spectators did, who gave way to the most
uproarious laughter we ever remember to have heard, they were all
well rewarded for their exhibition. There were also donkey races,
climbing soaped poles, gingling matches, running wheelbarrows
blindfold, a rowing match, and races after pigs with their tails
soaped, and twenty-four barrels of ale were given away to the
populace on the ground. At half-past ten at night the Market Place
was literally crammed with people to witness the display of
fireworks, which was splendid and worthy of the occasion, and
concluded the Coronation amusements. Immediately after the fireworks
had ceased the crowd dispersed, and by twelve o’clock the streets
were as quiet as upon ordinary occasions.

July 14th.—The Corporation had voted an address to the Queen, of which the following is the notice:—

“At an assembly of the Corporation, held on Wednesday, the Mayor read
a congratulatory address to Her Majesty the Queen, upon the
Coronation, which was unanimously adopted by the Council, and Mr.
Barth, Mr. Robert Palmer Kemp and Mr. Samuel Palmer, were appointed a
deputation to carry up and present the same; it being left to the
option of any other gentlemen of the Council to join the deputation.”

The Mayor, preceded by the Regalia, had walked to church, “unaccompanied by a single member of the Town Council.”

July 5th.—Col. Thompson had declined to come forward.

Mr. J. Symonds had given a silver cup, value £5 5s., to be bowled for in honour of the Coronation. There were 34 competitors, and it was won by Mr. John Porrett, “the veteran bowler.”

July 12th.—A meeting of freemen to oppose Mr. Baring’s return at the ensuing election had been held at the Masonic Hall, Mr. Joseph Bayly (Chairman). Capt. Love, Mr. John Clowes, jun., Mr. Lawrence, and Mr. Charles Marsh took part in the proceedings, and the following gentlemen were appointed a committee to carry the resolutions passed at the meeting into effect:—Messrs. Joseph Bayly, John Clowes, jun., S. Cobb, E. R. Palmer, Henry Pickard, Charles Marsh, Thomas Thompson, jun., and Capt. Love.

The Corporation address to Her Majesty had been presented by Messrs. Barth, R. P. Kemp, and S. Palmer.

July 26th.—The Water Frolic had been held, when the “Leviathian” (Bessey) beat the “Union” (Barber), the Mayor and Corporation attended the sports in a barge.

Dr. Penrice (the Mayor) and Dr. Cox has been elected physicians, and Messrs. Charles Costerton, George Bateman, John Prichard, and John C. Smith, surgeons to the Hospital.

August 9th.—The Queen had signified her intention of becoming a patron of the Hospital.

August 16th.—The freemen had determined to re-elect Mr. Wilshere free of expense, Messrs. Simon Cobb and George Steward speaking on the subject; and a committee had been formed to further this object, of which Mr. Cobb was chairman, Mr. J. Bayly, secretary, and Mr. J. Clowes, treasurer.

August 16th.—The new Writ had been moved for, and the blue flag with the inscription of “Wilshere, the Reformer,” had been displayed at the Committee Room in Regent Street.

August 25th.—Mr. Baring, and Mr. G. Steward (for Mr. Wilshere) had been canvassing the electors. At the nomination the former gentleman was proposed and seconded by Mr. J. Lacon and Mr. E. H. L. Preston, and the latter by Mr. John Clowes, jun., and Mr. Joseph Bayly; Mr. George Steward representing Mr. Wilshere. Mr. Baring then addressed the electors. The result of the poll was declared to be—

For Wilshere 735 Baring 702

A very painful occurrence had happened. A poor fellow “who took some part in the election” declared that if Mr. Baring lost the election he would hang himself. The poll closed at 4, and he had effectually hung himself and was cut down before 5 o’clock.

August 30th.—The friends of Mr. Wilshere had dined together at the “Star.”

Mr. G. Steward had been chaired for Mr. Wilshere. Mr. S. Palmer had received a letter from Mr. Wilshere, expressing in the warmest terms his sense of the high honour thus conferred upon him.

Sept. 6th.—Mr. Wilshere had arrived in Yarmouth and addressed the electors.