Norfolk Annals Volume Ii Part 75

24.-The Queen's birthday was celebrated in Norwich by a review on Mousehold Heath of the 19th (Princess of Wales' Own) Hussars, the 3rd Battalion Norfolk Regiment, and the 1st Volunteer Battalion Norfolk Regiment. The Mayor (Mr. Harry Bullard) gave a banquet at Blackfriars'

Hall in the evening. Earlier in the day his wors.h.i.+p and the Sheriff (Mr.

F. Oddin Taylor) entertained the inmates of the Workhouse.

25.-An "anti-coercion demonstration," held under the auspices of the National Liberal Federation, was addressed at the Agricultural Hall, Norwich, by Mr. John Morley, M.P.

JUNE.

1.-Died, at Yarmouth, where he had resided four years, the Rev. Joseph Philip Knight, the composer of many popular songs. The youngest son of the Rev. Francis Knight, D.D., he was born at the Vicarage, Bradford-on-Avon, on July 26th, 1812. His love for music displayed itself at an early age, and at fifteen he began to devote himself to the study of harmony and composition. When about twenty Mr. Knight composed his first six songs under the name of Philip Mortimer. Among these were "Old times," sung by Henry Philips, and "Go, forget me," extremely popular both in this country and in Germany. After this he used his own name, and, in company with Haynes Bayly, produced a number of highly successful songs, amongst which the most famous were "Of what is the Old Man thinking?" "The Veteran," "Days Gone By," "The Grecian Daughter," and "She wore a Wreath of Roses." He subsequently composed the song and duet to the words written for him by Thomas Moore, "The Parting" and "Let's take this World as some Wild Scene." In 1839 Mr. Knight visited the United States, where he remained two years. To this time are due, among other popular songs, his celebrated "Rocked in the Cradle of the Deeps"

sung with immense success by Braham, and "Why Chime the Bells so merrily?" On his return to England he produced "Beautiful Venice," "Say, what shall my Song be To-night?" "The Dream" (words by the Hon. Mrs.

Norton), "Amy Robsart," and "Queen of the Silver Bow," all more or less the rage in their day. Some years afterwards Mr. Knight married, and lived for a long time in France and Germany, doing very little in the way of composition, but on his return to England he wrote many other songs, "Peace, it is I," "The Lost Rose," "The Watchman," "The Anchor," "Where is the Place of thy Rest?" and the duet, "Where the Roses Grow," all of which, enjoyed great popularity. His songs, duets, and trios number 225.

4.-Queen Kapiolani, and the heiress presumptive to the Hawaiian Throne, the Princess Lilivokalani, consort and sister respectively of Kalakana, King of Hawaii, on a visit to England for the purpose of attending the celebration of the Jubilee of Queen Victoria, arrived at Rackheath Hall, where they were entertained as the guests of Captain and Mrs. Steward.

During the stoppage of the train at Trowse station, the visitors were waited upon by the Mayor and Mayoress of Norwich (Mr. and Mrs. Bullard), who were attended by the Town Clerk and other civic officials. On the 5th (Sunday) the Queen and Princess attended service at the Cathedral, at which the Mayor, Sheriff, and members of the Town Council were present; and on the 6th they visited the Cathedral, St. Andrew's Hall, St. Peter Mancroft church, and the Castle, and were entertained to luncheon at the Guildhall by the Mayor and Mayoress. In the afternoon they proceeded to Pine Banks, Thorpe, and were entertained by Mr. I. O. Howard Taylor. On the 6th the Queen and Princess departed for London.

15.-The Summer Show of the Norfolk Agricultural a.s.sociation opened at Blickling Park. The Marquis of Lothian presided at the public luncheon.

The show was continued on the 16th.

19.-The celebration of the Jubilee of Queen Victoria began in Norwich on this day (Sunday) with a thanksgiving service at the Cathedral, and with special services at the Roman Catholic and other Nonconformist places of wors.h.i.+p. The Mayor and Corporation attended the Cathedral in the morning, and Prince's Street Congregational chapel in the evening. On the 20th a special meeting of the Town Council was held on the requisition of forty-four members, at which it was unanimously resolved to confer the honorary freedom of the city upon Mr. Harry Bullard as Mayor of Norwich. The 21st was observed as Jubilee Day. Early in the morning intelligence was telegraphed to the city that the Mayor was among the eleven chief magistrates in the kingdom who had received the honour of knighthood. The day's proceedings commenced with a special service at the Cathedral, attended by Churchmen and Nonconformists, by a detachment of the 19th Hussars, under Colonel French, and the Norwich Artillery Volunteers and Rifle Volunteers. At noon 11,000 school children a.s.sembled in the Market Place and sang the National Anthem, after which Sir Harry and Lady Bullard were "at home" at the Guildhall, and entertained a large company to luncheon. In the afternoon there was a military parade of the 19th Hussars and Volunteers on Dix's Land, Unthank's Road; the school children had tea at their respective schools, and in the evening the city was illuminated and a grand display of fireworks was given on the Castle Meadow. The festivities were continued on the 22nd, when the Mayor and Sheriff entertained 1,100 of the aged poor at the Agricultural Hall, and in the evening Sir Harry and Lady Bullard gave a _soiree_ at St. Andrew's Hall. On the 23rd the inmates of the Workhouse were entertained. The 21st was observed with great rejoicing in every town and village in the county, and the weather being beautifully fine, the proceedings were of a most successful character.

The amount subscribed in Norfolk to the Women's Jubilee offering to the Queen was 1,565 2s. 6d.

29.-Ringland church, restored at the cost of 2,000, was re-opened.

JULY.

13.-"As You Like It" was for the first time performed locally as a "pastoral play" in the grounds of Mousehold House, Thorpe Hamlet, the residence of Mr. W. H. Hackblock. The comedy was represented by amateurs on the occasion of a garden _fete_.

16.-The new prison on Plumstead Road, Norwich, designed by the surveyor to the Prison Department, and built by Messrs. W. and T. Denne, of Walmer, Kent, was completed on this date. The prisoners were transferred from the Castle to the new prison on August 2nd. On September 12th the Prison Commissioners gave formal possession of the Castle to the Mayor and Corporation. The late Governor (Mr. A. E Dent), in handing the keys to the Town Clerk (Mr. H. B. Miller), remarked that the Castle had for many generations-since 1345, when it was first used as a county prison, been in the hands of governors, and he was glad, as the last of that long line, to hand over the building to the Corporation to be employed for a different purpose in the future. (_See_ July 27th, 1891.)

20.-Mr. Henry Chaplin, M.P., was the princ.i.p.al speaker at a great Primrose League _fete_ given in Melton Constable Park by Lord Hastings.

25.-Died, at his resident, at Sevran, in the environs of Paris, Mr.

William Bateman, aged 75. He was second son of Mr. John Bateman, of Norwich, and brother of Dr. Bateman. At the age of 29 he settled in Paris as a merchant and acquired an ample fortune. During his mercantile career Mr. Bateman established extensive commercial operations in Spain, and in 1870 King; Amadeus conferred upon him the dignity of Knight of the Order of Charles III. of Spain. Mr. Bateman married the eldest daughter of Mr. William Harrison, of Yarmouth.

27.-The Premier (Lord Salisbury) visited Norwich. His lords.h.i.+p was received at Thorpe station by the High Sheriff (Sir Alfred Jodrell, Bart.), the Mayor (Sir Harry Bullard), and Lieutenant-Colonel Bignold, the leader of the Conservative party in the city. Escorted by a cavalcade of fifty hors.e.m.e.n, among whom were several leading residents in the county and city, Lord Salisbury drove to Harford Lodge, the residence of Colonel Bignold. In the evening the Premier addressed a great meeting, held at the Agricultural Hall, under the presidency of Colonel Bignold, and at the conclusion of the proceedings travelled by special train to Coltishall, whence he drove to Horstead Hall as the guest of Sir Edward Birkbeck, M.P., and the Hon. Lady Birkbeck. Lord Salisbury returned to Norwich on the 28th, and after attending a luncheon given at the Guildhall by the Mayor, proceeded to the Agricultural Hall, where he received addresses presented by deputations from many Conservative a.s.sociations in East Anglia. Having delivered a further address his lords.h.i.+p departed from Thorpe station by the 3.25 train for London.

AUGUST.

3.-The Cricket Week theatrical performances commenced at Norwich Theatre, and were continued on the 4th and 5th. The pieces produced by Sir Kenneth Kemp's company of amateurs were "The Parvenue" and "Woodc.o.c.k's Little Game."

9.-Died, at 3, Belgravia Square, Edward Fellowes, first Baron de Ramsey.

His lords.h.i.+p, who was raised to the Peerage on July 5th, was the second son of Mr. William Fellowes, of Ramsey Abbey, Huntingdons.h.i.+re, by his wife, Emma, fourth daughter of Mr. Richard Benyon, of Englefield House, Berks. He was born in 1809, and entering Parliament for Huntingdons.h.i.+re in 1837, sat in the House of Commons without interruption until the General Election in 1880, when his eldest son, Captain Fellowes, succeeded to the seat which had been successfully defended against Liberal a.s.saults during forty-three years. For more than half a century Mr. Fellowes was chairman of the Commissions which had the management of the Middle Level and Ouse Outfall Works.

19.-Died, at Alfred Place, South Kensington, Mr. John Palgrave Simpson.

He was the second son of Mr. William Simpson, Town Clerk of Norwich and Treasurer for the county of Norfolk, and of his wife Katherine, daughter of Mr. William Palgrave, of Coltishall. Intended for the Church, he was educated under a private tutor at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, where he took the degree of B.A., and proceeded M.A. in due course.

Abandoning the idea of adopting the clerical profession, Mr. Simpson travelled on the Continent and in the East. He was in Paris when a sudden and severe reverse of fortune, consequent upon the failure of a bank, compelled him to seek means of repairing his losses. Literary occupation seemed the only course open to him, and, as he confessed, he succeeded in his efforts beyond expectation. For some years he contributed to the leading magazines-"Blackwood's," "Bentley's,"

"Frazer's," and others, and published three novels, "Second Love and other Tales," "Gisella," and "The Lily of Paris, or the King's Nurse."

Mr. Simpson's career as a writer for the stage was mainly due to accident. He seldom visited theatres, but it chanced one night that he went to the Strand Theatre, and was so pleased with the performance of William Farren, Leigh Murray, and Mrs. Stilling that he conceived the idea of writing a play for them, and the result was the comedy drama in one act, ent.i.tled "Poor Cousin d.i.c.k," which was played with considerable success at the house on April 8th, 1850. Subsequently Mr. Simpson wrote several successful plays, the princ.i.p.al of which was the famous three-act comedy, "A Sc.r.a.p of Paper," produced at St. James's Theatre on April 23rd, 1861.

SEPTEMBER.

2.-A gale, which prevailed throughout England, was severely felt on the Norfolk coast. A large number of vessels ran into Yarmouth Roads for shelter, among them H.M.S. Narcissus and her escorts Valorous and Echo.

A fine vessel, the Falls of Bruar, 1,742 tons register, the property of the Glasgow s.h.i.+pping Company, was wrecked, and only five hands out of the crew of twenty-nine were saved.

21.-The Sheriff of Norwich (Mr. F. Oddin Taylor) gave a _soiree musicale_ at Blackfriars' Hall, at which the princ.i.p.al performers were M. Leopold G.o.dowsky, Miss Alexes Leighton, Senor A. Gimenez Manjon, Signor Bottesini, and Mr. Odell.

26.-The first of many protracted discussions took place at a meeting of the Norwich Town Council, upon a report furnished by the City Engineer (Mr. P. P. Marshall) upon the state of the sewerage system of the city.

The old sewers were said to be in a defective state, and it was proposed to abandon the low-level system, and to adopt the separate system with a new rising main, at an estimated cost of 78,000.

29.-The church of St. Michael-at-Plea, Norwich, which for many years had been in a dilapidated state, was opened after restoration at the cost of 3,000.

-At the annual dinner of the North Walsham and Aylsham Agricultural a.s.sociation, held at North Walsham, cigarettes, made from tobacco grown in Norfolk by Sir Edward Birkbeck, M.P., were handed to the guests. The President (Lord Suffield) described the tobacco as "very good," and said that Sir Edward, who had taken considerable interest in the experiment, "believed that its growth was really going to do something for the benefit of Norfolk farmers."

OCTOBER.

4.-Died, at 6, St. Augustine's Road, Camden Square, N.W., Mr. David Fisher, who for thirty years had held a prominent position upon the London stage as a leading comedian. Mr. Fisher was born at East Dereham, which was one of the towns on the circuit of the Norfolk and Suffolk Company of Comedians, under the control of the Fisher family. Like his father, uncle, and grandfather, Mr. Fisher was highly respected in Norfolk and the sister county, and his periodical visits to the scenes of the former theatrical successes of his predecessors were always regarded with pleasure by a large circle of friends and admirers. On those occasions Mr. Fisher gave dramatic and musical recitals, in which he was a.s.sisted by his talented daughter, Miss Mary Fisher. His career in London commenced with Charles Kean at the Princess's Theatre, where, on November 2nd, 1853, he appeared as Victor in "The Lancers." In 1859 Mr.

Benjamin Webster, then at the Adelphi, secured his services, and until 1863 Mr. Fisher performed at that Theatre with considerable success in many important parts. For a short time he severed his connection with the stage, and gave his single-handed performance, "Facts and Fancies,"

at Hanover Square Rooms and St. James's Hall. Subsequently he joined Mr.

Vining's company at the Princess's, and afterwards appeared at Drury Lane and other leading Metropolitan theatres.

9.-Died, the Rev. Kirby Trimmer. Born in London on December 22nd, 1804, he was the son of Joshua Kirby Trimmer, of Chiswick, eldest son of Mrs.

Sarah Trimmer, the auth.o.r.ess. After a short residence at Vendome, he graduated at St. Alban's Hall, Oxford, and was ordained in February, 1829. He served the curacies of Burnham Overy, Burnham Sutton, Great Bircham, and Stanhoe, and in 1840 became curate of St. George's Tombland, Norwich, to which living he succeeded in 1842. In the pursuit of botany, Mr. Trimmer attained to great distinction, and published the well-known, standard work, the "Flora of Norfolk." His other literary efforts embraced a series of "Conversations" on the Thirty-nine Articles, and he interested himself greatly in the "Philological Dictionary" in course of publication at the time of his death.

11.-The Norfolk and Norwich Triennial Musical Festival commenced at St.

Andrew's Hall, Norwich. The vocalists included Madame Albani, Miss Liza Lehmann, Miss Annie Marriott, Miss Hilda Wilson, Miss Lena Little, Mr.

Edward Lloyd, Mr. Charles Wade, Mr. Barton McGucken, Mr. Santley, Mr.

Alex. Marsh, Mr. Brockbank, and Mr. Barrington Foote. Mr. Alberto Randegger was conductor. The opening performance included the "Jubilee Ode," "The Heavens Declare," and the "Hymn of Praise." On the morning of the 12th were produced the "Garden of Olivet" (Bottesini), a devotional oratorio composed expressly for the Festival, and conducted by the composer; and the "Stabat Mater." On the 13th the morning performance comprised the oratorio, "Isaiah" (Mancinelli), composed expressly for the Festival, and conducted by the composer; and the "Fourth Ma.s.s"

(Cherubini). The "Messiah" was given on the 14th. A miscellaneous programme was performed on the evening of the 12th; the evening performance on the 13th included "The Irish" (C. V. Stanford), conducted by the composer, and the cantata, "The Golden Legend," composed and conducted by Sir Arthur Sullivan. The concluding performance on the evening of the 14th was the dramatic legend, "Faust." The Festival yielded a surplus of 719 3s. 1d.

20.-The new Town Hall at Downham Market, erected at the cost of 1,230, was opened by Mr. W. A. Tyssen Amherst, M.P.

21.-An extensive range of premises in St. George's Bridge Street, Norwich, formerly the drapery establishment of Mr. Henry Snowdon, was destroyed by fire. The damage was estimated at between 12,000 and 15,000.

25.-Died, at Queen Anne's Mansions, S.W., Sir Philip Edmond Wodehouse, G.C.S.I., K.C.B., aged 76. He was the eldest son of Mr. Edmond Wodehouse, of Sennowe Lodge, and was for many years in the Civil Service and in the Foreign and Colonial Offices.

NOVEMBER.