Yarmouth Notes Part 70

The Dutchmen had already arrived "in the schuyts or sea-tubs" for the fis.h.i.+ng.

Nov. 1st.-Several s.h.i.+pments of herring had been made for the Mediterranean.

Nov. 5th.-At the Munic.i.p.al election Mr. Mainprice had taken the place of Mr. Burroughs (who retired), and Mr. Rose had ousted Mr. S. B. Cory, who refused "to the curb to yield."

Nov. 8th.-Line fis.h.i.+ng from boats and the Britannia Pier had become a fas.h.i.+onable amus.e.m.e.nt.

Nov. 12th.-The Town Council had voted an address of loyalty to the Queen, and to the Prince of Wales, upon the latter attaining his majority.

Sir E. H. K. Lacon proposed, and C. J. Palmer, Esq., seconded, the re-election of the Mayor, which motion was carried _nem. dis._, and the retiring aldermen, Messrs. J. T. Bracey, J. Bunn, B. Fenn, H. R. Harmer, W. Laws, and W. Mabson were re-elected.

Nov. 19th.-The prizes recently shot for by the Rifle Volunteers had been distributed at the Victoria Gardens by the Mayor.

Nov. 22nd.-The local Charity Trustees' scheme for the establishment of a Grammar School had been approved by the Charity Commissioners.

The Lancas.h.i.+re Relief Committee was in full work, and the following articles had been forwarded to Manchester:-63 coats, 70 cloaks and shawls, 21 dresses, 20 children's frocks, 20 blankets and quilts, 28 pairs of boots, 42 flannel waistcoats and s.h.i.+rts, 34 pairs of trousers, 36 hats, and 361 other articles of clothing.

In one day 1,500 lasts of herring had been brought into the harbour.

Nov. 26th.-A public meeting in aid of the Lancas.h.i.+re Relief Fund had been held (the Mayor in the chair), and 160 subscribed in the room.

Dec. 13th.-Two hundred barrels of herring had been sent to Manchester for the Relief Fund by the fish merchants.

Dec. 17th.-The following rota of magistrates for salvage purposes had been appointed:-R. Hammond, E. H. L. Preston, J. W. Sh.e.l.ly, R. Steward.

B. Jay, J. Clark, J. Fenn, and P. Pullyn.

Dec. 20th.-During the week more than 600 articles of wearing apparel had been forwarded to Manchester for the Relief Fund.

The fis.h.i.+ng had proved a "successful and profitable season."

Dec. 24th.-Mr. Rust had launched a fine new brig for the Mediterranean trade.

Dec. 27th.-850 had been raised for the Lancas.h.i.+re Relief Fund.

The town tolls had let as follows:-Market, 550 per annum; Fish Market, 55; and Ballastage, 660; the lessees being Messrs. Bowen and Co. of Leeds.

Dec. 31st.-Steps were being taken to induce the Norfolk Agricultural a.s.sociation to visit Yarmouth.

The Rev. B. Vaux had presided at the Hospital meeting.

The Artillery and Rifle Volunteers had been brigaded together on the South Denes.

1863.

Jan. 10th.-An inquiry was being held in respect of certain charges against the crew of the lifeboat.

Mr. B. Fenn had presided at the annual library meeting.

Jan. 14th.-At the lifeboat inquiry, after hearing evidence, the Rev. Mr.

Steward moved, and Mr. Fellows seconded, "That the Beachmen were in no way culpable on the occasion, and that, on the contrary, their conduct was all that it ought to have been," which motion was carried unanimously.

Mr. E. P. Youell had executed some sleight-of-hand tricks _a la Frickel_ with neatness and dexterity at the Priory Entertainment.

Jan. 17th.-Four hundred persons sat down to tea at the Tract Lenders'

Festival.

A prize fight had taken place near the town, on a marsh next the Acle Road.

Jan. 24th.-There had been a "tremendous gale."

Jan. 28th.-The following Charity Trustees had met for the purpose of appointing a head master of the Grammar School-Messrs. Charles J. Palmer (chairman), C. Cory, R. Hammond, W. N. Burroughs, E. H. L. Preston, B.

Jay, and C. C. Aldred, when the Rev. H. J. Evans was elected; the other candidates being the Revs. Merryman, W. Algar, J. Partridge, C. Bachelor, and S. Eld.

Jan. 31st.-Sad accounts continued to arrive from the Fis.h.i.+ng Fleet, inconsequence of the late gales, "scarcely a smack arriving without bearing some marks of its fury, and the loss of spars and gear, while many of the crews have tales of horror to recount of vessels foundering, and all hands peris.h.i.+ng before their eyes without the possibility of rescue."

Feb. 4th.-A meeting of the inhabitants had been held to consider what steps should be taken to celebrate the marriage of the Prince of Wales.

Feb. 14th.-Harriet Cattermole had jumped into the river, but had been floated by her crinoline until rescued by the police.

Feb. 21st.-P.G. J. C. Smith, Surgeon, had presided at the annual dinner of the "Prince of Wales'" Lodge, M.U.O.F., held at the Market Tavern, 46 members and friends being present on the occasion.

Feb. 25th.-C. J. Palmer, Esq., (the President), had taken the chair at the meeting of the s.h.i.+pwrecked Mariners' Society, when it appeared that 215 seamen and widows had been relieved during the past year, and that the income was 177 18s. 4d., as against an expenditure of 219 14s. 4d.

Feb. 28th.-At the revision of the Proxy Book, it appeared that a number of persons claiming to act as proxies for the owners of property, were not authorised to do so by such owners, and Mr. Neave intimated that "the loss of his election last year was due to the scandalous manner in which the proxies had been worked against him."

March 16th.-The town had been _en fete_ upon the occasion of the marriage of the Prince of Wales, when the Corporation had attended St. Nicholas'

Church; a special sermon had been preached by the Rev. H. R. Nevill, the Artillery had fired a salute of 21 guns from the South Battery, and the Rifles a _feu de joie_ in the Market-place.

A Council meeting had also been held, when loyal addresses were moved, and seconded to the Queen and to the Prince and Princess of Wales by Messrs. E. H. L. Preston and John Clowes, and C. J. Palmer and W. Wors.h.i.+p respectively.

A volunteer banquet had been held on this occasion at Messrs. Lacon and Co.'s stores, when the following arrangements were made:-First table, Nos. 1 and 2 companies Artillery, (Captains J. L. Barber and W. Foreman); second table, 1 and 2 companies Rifles, (Captain Tomlinson and Lieutenant Harmer); third table, 3 and 4 companies Artillery, (Captains Green and Brown); fourth table, 3 and 4 Companies Rifles, (Captains W. Holt and H.

Barber); the fifth table, Staffs of E.N.M., and N.M.A. Regiments. In addition to the Volunteers, the following gentlemen were present as guests of Sir E. H. K. Lacon, the Mayor (R. Steward, Esq.), Rev. H.

Nevill, Rev. B. Vaux, Captain Long, Major Penrice, Major Orde, Adjutant Gilbertson, Adjutant Smith, J. C. Smith, Esq., E.N.M., C. C. Aldred, Esq., Captain Dods, Lieutenant W. Danby-Palmer, E.N.M., Mr. Petts, Quarter-Masters Smith and Hardiment, &c.

In the evening "the illuminations were on a most extensive scale, scarcely a house without a transparency or device. The designs on the Town Hall and Hospital School were very beautiful, while many others on private houses were greatly admired. On the Town Hall, facing the north, was fixed the princ.i.p.al illumination, consisting of a magnificent plume of feathers, having the letters "A. A." on either side, and partly encircled with a wreath of oak leaves and acorns. The height of the design was 18 feet by 30 feet in width, and was drawn by Mr. Morant, Town Surveyor, and manufactured by Mr. Doughty, of Gaol Street. The fireworks were continued to a late hour, and we are happy to record that, notwithstanding the pressure of the crowd, no accident occurred to mar the pleasure of the day. The arrangements of the police throughout were most satisfactory, and to the credit of our townsmen it must be stated that at the Police Court the following morning, the magistrates' business was finished in two minutes and a half, the only charge being a case of drunkenness, which was graciously forgiven. The ball at the Town Hall was fas.h.i.+onably and numerously attended and dancing was kept up to the music of Hulley's quadrille band with unflagging spirit until an early hour the following morning. During the day the inmates of the Workhouse and Gaol were regaled, the former at the expense of the Guardians, and the latter by the Mayor. The inmates of the Fishermen's Hospital were also regaled with plum pudding and roast beef, each man having, in addition, a pipe of tobacco, with a liberal supply of stout. The women also partook of tea, with a plentiful supply of cake. The inmates expressed themselves deeply grateful to the trustees of the charity for thus enabling them to partic.i.p.ate in the festivities of the day."

March 18th.-A project had been suggested for the amalgamation of the two local Volunteer Corps, under the command of Lieut.-Col. Sir E. Lacon, Bart.

March 21st.-At an adjourned meeting of the Rifle Corps this question was introduced by Major Orde, who advocated the suggestion, which was opposed by Ensigns Watling and Cobb, and the project was thereupon rejected by a majority of nearly 100; consequently the officers, (who were generally in favour of the movement), threatened to resign their commissions.

March 28th.-The Poor's Rate, (which had been 1s. 8d.), was reduced to 1s.

2d. in the .

W. Yetts, Esq., had died at the age of 68; he had been for many years a member of the Corporation, and a Justice for the Borough. "Mr. Yetts was possessed of considerable talent as an artist, and as a musician, and was at all times a liberal patron of the fine arts."