Chronological Retrospect of the History of Yarmouth and Neighbourhood Part 27

May 9th. Hon. E. Harbord and S. Lus.h.i.+ngton, Esq., returned to Parliament. Votes-H., 627; L., 604; William Jacob, 341; A. Upcher, 21.

July 3rd. Mrs. Cooper, relict of the Rev. D. Cooper, of Yarmouth, died.

This lady, with an ardent desire to inculcate Christian morality, penned several publications, viz., "f.a.n.n.y Meadows," "The Daughter," "The School for Wives," and "Exemplary Mother."

July 26th. The fleet, under Lord Gambier and Vice-Admiral Stanhope (69 pennants in all), sailed from Yarmouth Roads. Sir W. Sidney Smith sailed in Gambier's flag-s.h.i.+p, "Prince of Wales," 98 guns. Soon afterwards was fought the second battle of Copenhagen (Sept. 7th). Most of their prizes were brought to Yarmouth-64 vessels mounting 1,994 guns.

Aug. 14th. E. H. K. Lacon born. He was educated at Cambridge, and created a baronet in 1820 on the death of his father.

Sept. 7th. Norwich Volunteer Infantry marched to Yarmouth for garrison duty.

Oct. 29th. Several transports lost off Yarmouth and Lowestoft.

Nov. 14th. Privateer "Le Decide" brought into this port by the frigate "L'Amiable." She had made no less than 30 prizes.

Nov. 2nd. Louis XVIII. (under the t.i.tle of Count de Lille) landed at Yarmouth from a Swedish frigate. The Dukes d'Angouleme and De Berri, and several French n.o.blemen, came with him. This was the first time since the memorable battle of Poictiers, in 1356, that a King of France had been in England.

Dec. A Telegraph erected upon the hill at Thorpe communicating with Yarmouth. An order from the Admiralty Office in London was received at Yarmouth in seventeen minutes.

North Gate removed to widen the roadway. It was flanked with square towers of curious workmans.h.i.+p.

One hundred and forty-four dead bodies washed ash.o.r.e in this vicinity after a heavy gale.

A new peal of ten bells put in the tower of St. Nicholas' Church, and first rung out on May 2nd, 1808. Cost 1,161 8s. 4d. The spire of the Church was also rebuilt the same year.

1808.

Jan. 10th. Lord Hutchinson and Lord Gower landed here from the "Bellette" sloop-of-war, from St. Petersburgh.

March 30th. Silver eel, 6 ft. long and 21 in. in girth, and weighing 42lbs., caught a mile below Yarmouth bridge in the harbour.

May 10th. Expedition, consisting of 105 transports, under Admiral Keats, left the Roadstead for the Baltic and the protection of Sweden. Sir John Moore commanded the troops. He sailed in the "Mars," and Major-Generals Paget and Murray in the "Audacious."

Aug. 20th. First pile of the present Jetty driven, and finished building and opened to the public Jan. 13th, 1809, at a cost of 5,000; 450 ft.

long, and platform 21 ft. wide. Extended 60 ft. in 1846 at a cost of about 900, and again 60 ft. in 1870 at a further cost of 859 10s.

Constructed on the site of one built in 1560.

Charles Townshend, Lord Bayning, High Steward of the Borough.

Shrops.h.i.+re and Cambridges.h.i.+re Militia left the town.

1809.

Jan. 28th. Owing to a rapid thaw and the inundation of the meadows the barges proceeding from Norwich to Yarmouth were obliged to return, because the men were unable to find the channel of the river.

Oct. 25th. Fiftieth anniversary of George III.'s reign celebrated in Yarmouth as a jubilee.

One thousand four hundred and sixty-four pounds of fresh salmon from Scotland landed in one day, and sold in Yarmouth market owing to the embargo on all s.h.i.+pping.

A very productive herring fishery.

1810.

May 10th. Vice-Admiral Sir J. Saumarez's fleet left the Roadstead for the Baltic; also the "Victory" (100 guns) and seven other sail of the line.

May 20th. The Eight Hon. Charles, Lord Bayning, of Honingham Hall, a Privy Councillor and High Steward of Yarmouth, died in London, aged 81 years.

Aug. Yarmouth Annual Races first established by the Officers of the Berks.h.i.+re Militia.

Berks.h.i.+re Militia left the town.

Mrs. Hunter died, aged 102.

By the Paving Act, provision was made against placing materials on the Quays or other public places for a longer time than was necessary for removing and housing the same.

Nov. 2nd. The Beach from Yarmouth to Wells covered with wrecks and dead bodies after a heavy gale. Another gale and high tide on the 10th, and many vessels and lives lost.

Nov. 14th. Gustavus Adolphus IV., ex-King of Sweden, who had abdicated his throne, landed on the Beach from the sloop "Tartar." He a.s.sumed the t.i.tle of Count Guttorp, and afterwards proceeded to London.

1811.

March 28th. Count Guttorp sailed from Yarmouth on his return to the Continent.

Vice-Admiral Murray appointed to the Naval command of Yarmouth. In 1815 Admiral Drake was appointed Port-Admiral of Yarmouth, the last who held the appointment.

Census taken. Population of Yarmouth, 17,977; with Gorleston and Southtown, 19,691.

The Royal Hospital or Asylum built by Government at a cost of 120,000.

Foundation-stone laid by Admiral Billy Douglas in 1809. (See 1815.) The building was erected by Mr. Peto (father of Sir S. Morton Peto), from designs by H. Parkington, Esq., for a naval Hospital. The 11 acres of ground to the east cost the Government 11,000 in 1875.

1812.

March 13th. The South Gate sold for 26 to Jonathan Poppy.

July 27th. General Viscount Cathcart's emba.s.sy to the Court of Russia left the Roadstead in the frigate "Aquilon." Lord Walpole, secretary of Legation to Lord Cathcart, sailed in the "Calipso" to the headquarters of the Russian army.