Yarmouth Notes Part 8

"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 mult.i.tude. 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 a.s.sisting 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 n.o.ble 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 cla.s.ses.

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 gla.s.ses 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 gla.s.s."

Mr. F. Preston had launched a fine s.h.i.+p 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 s.h.i.+pping in motion as Yarmouth Roads, it being the great thoroughfare for all vessels trading to the North. The Bath Room is one of the princ.i.p.al attractions to visitors, as it is a most agreeable lounge during the heat of the day, and frequent undress b.a.l.l.s 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 paris.h.i.+oners.

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 Munic.i.p.al Election is reported as follows:-

"Our Munic.i.p.al 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. Wors.h.i.+p 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 s.h.i.+elds, 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.