Part 22

29.--The Norfolk and Norwich Triennial Musical Festival commenced with an evening performance of "Israel in Egypt." Miscellaneous concerts were given on the evenings of October 30th and 31st and November 1st. On the morning of October 31st were given an anthem by Spohr (the first time of performance) and "Naaman" (the first time of performance in Norwich), conducted by the composer, M. Costa; on the morning of November 1st, "Saint Cecilia" (composed expressly for the Festival), a selection from the Passion Music (the first time of performance "in any country"), and the first and second parts of "The Creation"; and on the morning of November 2nd, "The Messiah." The principal performers were Mdlle. Tietjens, Madame Rudersdorff, Miss Edith Wynne, Mdlle. Sinico, Madame De Meric Lablache, Mdlle. Anna Drasdel, Mr. Sims Reeves, Mr. W. H. Cummings, Signor Morini, Mr. Santley, Mr. Weiss, and Signor Gassier. Mr. Benedict conducted. The Festival concluded with a "full dress" ball on the evening of November 2nd. The total receipts amounted to 5,783 11s., and the balance in favour of the committee to 971 7s. 3d.

30.--The Prince and Princess of Wales, with her Majesty the Queen of Denmark and suite, left Sandringham, on a visit to Lord and Lady Stafford, at Costessey Park. They were accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh, who had accepted the invitation of the High Sheriff (Mr. W. A. Tyssen Amhurst) to spend the Festival week in Norwich. The Royal party, who travelled by special train to East Dereham, where the Volunteers formed a guard of honour, were received by Lord Stafford and the Earl of Leicester at the station, whence they travelled by road to Costessey, and were enthusiastically greeted by a large gathering in the park. On the morning of the 31st the illustrious visitors, escorted by the 1st Norfolk Light Horse Volunteers, under Capt. Hay Gurney, proceeded to Norwich, and were received by the Mayor (Mr. W. P. Nichols), the Sheriff (Mr. W. J. Cubitt), and other civic dignitaries at the city boundary, and by members of the Corporation and Guardians and representatives of friendly societies, &c., at St. Giles' Gates. At the Guildhall addresses were presented to the Prince and Princess and the Queen by the Corporation and by the Bishop and clergy of the diocese. The party then proceeded to St. Andrew's Hall, to attend the Musical Festival. During the interval at the performance, the Mayor gave a luncheon in one of the rooms to the Prince and Princess, the Queen of Denmark, and their suite; and the Princess was presented by Miss C. M. Nichols, on behalf of the ladies of Norwich, with an album containing photographic views of the city, &c. Their Royal Highnesses then drove to Chapel Field and planted two trees, in commemoration of their visit, and the day's proceedings ended with the opening, by the Prince of Wales, of the new Volunteer Drill Hall, the first stone of which was laid a few months previously by Mrs. Nichols, who was presented with a silver trowel designed for the occasion. A ball, preceded by a dinner, was given at Costessey in the evening. At the dinner the party comprised only the Prince and Princess, the Queen of Denmark, Lord and Lady Stafford, and Mr. and Mrs. Nichols. On November 1st the Royal party passed through Norwich, escorted by a squadron of the 1st King's Dragoon Guards (from Colchester), on their way to Thorpe Station, whence they departed for Sandringham. The city was lavishly decorated in honour of the Royal visit, and on the night of the 30th there were illuminations and fireworks. The Duke of Edinburgh stayed with the High Sheriff at Mr. Firth's house in St. Giles' Street, where a distinguished company was invited to meet his Royal Highness.

NOVEMBER.

5.--A remarkable outrage was perpetrated at Little Walsingham church. A few minutes after the clerk had tolled the "curfew" bell, a violent explosion took place in the south transept. It was found that a charge of gunpowder had been placed beneath the organ and ignited by a train of cotton. The instrument, with the exception of the swell organ, was scattered to pieces, the south transept window entirely destroyed, and other windows seriously damaged. The organ was purchased in 1862, at the cost of 250, and the total amount of damage done by the explosion was about 300. A reward of 200 was offered for information that would lead to the conviction of the perpetrator of the outrage.

9.--Mr. Frederick Elwin Watson was elected Mayor, and Mr. William Copeman Clabburn appointed Sheriff of Norwich.

16.--Eight vessels were wrecked and five lives lost, on the Norfolk coast, between Mundesley and Palling.

17.--A Bohemian waxwing (_Bombycilla garrulus_) was observed at Old Buckenham, and another was shot the same day near Thetford. By the first week of December the birdstuffers received at least 22 specimens, from Mutford, Worstead, Northrepps, St. Faith's, Rollesby, Cawston Woodrow, Wroxham, and other districts. In the last week of December it was stated that more than one hundred specimens had been procured. "With the exception of one or two stragglers, this species has not been noticed here since 1863, when some sixteen specimens were killed in Norfolk."

DECEMBER.

3.--A storm of terrific violence occurred off Yarmouth, and several ships were lost and men drowned. A new gas-holder of 100,000 cubic feet capacity, surrounded by massive iron columns, was blown over at Yarmouth Gas Works, and considerably damaged.

4.--The Rev. Edward Meyrick Goulburn, D.D., incumbent of St. John's, Paddington, was installed Dean of Norwich by the Rev. Canon Heaviside, in the absence of the Bishop of Norwich.

10.--The Prince and Princess of Wales and the Duke of Edinburgh arrived, by rail, at Diss, whence the Prince and Princess proceeded to Oakley Park, on a visit to Sir E. C. Kerrison, Bart., M.P., and Lady Caroline Kerrison; and the Duke to Thornham Hall, on a visit to Baron and Lady Hartismere. Their Royal Highnesses returned to Sandringham on the 13th.

--An extraordinary charge was preferred before the Walsingham magistrates, against Mr. Miles Brown, a large farmer, of Houghton St. Giles, and his brother, Mr. William Brown. It was alleged that they had exhibited in the window of a cottage in High Street, Walsingham, "an apparatus revolving before a light, and exhibiting in a glass behind an upright coffin, on the lid of which was a photograph of the Rev. Septimus Henry Lee Warner, such public exhibition being a threat on the part of the defendants to take away the life of the said complainant." The defendants were bound over in the sum of 1,600 to keep the peace.

15.*--"The old lighthouse at Cromer, which had for so many years been a conspicuous object on the edge of the lofty hill, toppled over the other day, and was immediately buried by a great fall from the cliff, which followed it. It was first erected in the year 1719, and was lit by a coal fire until oil lamps with powerful reflectors were introduced."

17.--The Duke of Edinburgh arrived at Norwich, _en route_ to Gunton Park. Before proceeding on his journey, his Royal Highness visited the Cathedral.

25.--Died at East Dereham, aged 65, Mr. William Drake, many years Conservative registration agent for West Norfolk.

26.--The pantomime at Norwich Theatre, written by Mr. R. Soutar, was founded upon the story of the intrigue of Henry II. and Fair Rosamond.

31.--A heavy fall of snow occurred, and the roads in many parts of the county were rendered impassable.

--The Prince and Princess of Wales arrived at Holkham, on a visit to the Earl and Countess of Leicester. "So considerable was the destruction of hares, rabbits, pheasants, &c., during the Royal visit that on one day 2 tons 19 cwt. of game were forwarded from Wells Station to Leadenhall Market." The Prince, with the Duke of Edinburgh, who was also a guest of the Earl and Countess, left on January 10th, 1867, for Marham House, on a visit to Mr. and Mrs. Villebois.

1867.

JANUARY.

6.--During a severe storm off Yarmouth, the brigs Ark, of Sunderland, and Sarah, of the same port, had a collision in the Roads, and were lost, with their crews of sixteen hands.

7.--The actions arising out of the Middle Level inundations now took the form of an arbitration. The arbitrators were laymen, appointed by both

## parties, with a legal umpire, and their investigation of the merits of

the case or cases commenced on this date, at the Incorporated Law Society's house, Chancery Lane, London. The proceedings were protracted. In the first week of March several of the claimants, among them Mr. Mason, in whose name the first action was brought, accepted offers made by the Commissioners. The offers were in excess of the following items: (1) a year's rent, tithes, taxes, and outgoings; (2) all expenses on the crops destroyed (tillage, seed sowing, &c.) up to the day of the inundation; (3) damage to fences, buildings, &c., and (4) the amount of a full year's rent, tithes, and drainage taxes as profits to the tenants. In May the cases Coe _v._ Wise and Sharpe _v._ the Commissioners were argued in the Rolls Court, before Mr. Serjeant Hayes and Mr. Durrant and Mr. Bailey Denton, the arbitrators; and on June 22nd it was announced that Mr. Coe had been awarded 2,575, and Mr. Sharpe 405, the former getting 500 and the latter 100 more than the defendants offered. The defendants, therefore, were ordered to pay costs, and the litigation ended.

12.--Died at Bedford, Colonel Vincent Matthias, Madras Army, aged 73. Born at Norwich, he was of a family of fifteen, and nine of his brothers entered either the Navy or Army. He was appointed a cadet in 1810, and received his commission as ensign on August 24th, 1811, Colonel Mathias' service extended over a period of more than thirty years. He was an ardent sportsman, and while in India made a valuable collection of natural history specimens, which he presented to the Norfolk and Norwich Museum.

15.--The proceedings of the Town Council relative to the Norwich sewerage scheme commenced this year with the payment to Mr. P. E. Hansell, solicitor, of 205, the amount of taxed costs allowed to the informants in obtaining the injunction restraining the Corporation from putting sewage into the river Wensum. On the 22nd the Council, after considerable debate, decided that the dry earth system advocated by Mr. Edward Boardman was not applicable to the district. The Court of Reference appointed by the House of Commons to try the merits of the Norwich Local Board of Health Bill with reference to its engineering details and the estimated cost of the proposed works, commenced its investigations on March 11th. The object of the Bill was "to provide for the better sewering of the city and the applying of the sewage to the irrigation of land." The referees reported to the House on the 14th that the works and estimates were sufficient for the objects proposed. The Bill was before a Select Committee of the House of Commons on March 13th, and on March 26th it was, with certain amendments, reported to the House. (_See_ January 28th, 1868.)

16.--A deep snow caused considerable inconvenience to railway traffic. A train from Norwich to Lowestoft came to a standstill in the Mutford cutting, and was not got out until the afternoon of the 17th. The snow drifted to the depth of seven feet upon most of the lines, some of which remained closed for three days. Many of the roads were impassable for vehicular traffic, and in some instances the mail bags were carried across country on foot. Great distress prevailed amongst the poor, and special funds were raised in several towns for their relief. At Norwich the amount contributed was 2,227. On the 22nd a rapid thaw commenced.

FEBRUARY.

14.--Sir S. W. Baker, the discoverer of the sources of the Nile, delivered a lecture at St. Peter's Hall, Norwich, upon the political condition of Egypt. The Mayor presided over the large audience, who accorded a warm reception to Sir Samuel, who, at that time, was a resident in the county.

MARCH.

19.--The boiler of an engine at work in a field near Watlington Station exploded, killing five persons outright, and injuring seven others, two of whom died on the following day. Such was the force of the explosion that the boiler was blown a distance of forty yards. It was proved at the inquest that the accident resulted from the tying down the safety-valve.

29.--Charles Dickens appeared at St. Andrew's Hall, Norwich, and read, before a numerous audience, "Dr. Marigold" and the trial scene from "Pickwick."

APRIL.

5.--Mr. Sothern appeared at Norwich Theatre, in the character of Lord Dundreary. On the 6th he performed the part of David Garrick. The house was crowded to excess on both occasions.

22.--Mr. Loveday's English Grand Opera Company commenced an engagement at Norwich Theatre. Madame Haigh-Dyer was the _prima donna_, and Mr. and Mrs. Aynsley Cooke were of the company. The works produced included "Robert le Diable," "The Fairy and the Cobbler," "The Puritan's Daughter," "The Barber of Seville," "Faust," "Don Giovanni," "Satanella," "The Quaker," &c.

24.--Lord Hastings and Mr. Anthony Hamond, masters of Norfolk foxhounds, were entertained at dinner at the Corn Hall, Fakenham, "in appreciation of their efforts to provide sport during the season." The Earl of Leicester presided.

MAY.

8.--Died at Yarmouth, aged 76, Lieut. William Simpson, R.M., of North Walsham. He was one of the officers who received the Emperor Napoleon on board the Bellerophon, on July 15th, 1815.

14.--A great public meeting, in support of the United Kingdom Alliance, was held at St. Andrew's Hall, Norwich, and was addressed by General Neal Dow, who had taken a prominent part in the passing of the Maine Liquor Law.

18.--A meeting of the Norfolk Chamber of Agriculture, presided over by Mr. C. S. Read, M.P., was held "to discuss the future aggregate representation of the county in Parliament, in the event of the loss of three of its borough members," namely, of two on the disenfranchisement of Yarmouth, and of one on Thetford being constituted a "single membered" borough. The following motion was adopted: "That the attention of the Chamber having been directed to the clauses in the Bill before Parliament for the redistribution of seats, it is resolved that the proposal to take away three members from the county is unjust, and that the most strenuous efforts be made to retain twelve members, to which it is justly entitled, by reason of its population, wealth, and importance." It was announced on June 15th that, under the redistribution scheme, Norfolk would in future have three divisions, namely, West, North-East, and South-East. The Boundary Commissioners appointed under the provisions of the Representation of the People Act held inquiries at Thetford on September 24th, at Norwich on September 27th and October 9th, at Lynn on October 2nd, and at the Shirehall, Norwich, on October 7th. (_See_ June 18th, 1868.)

21.--Died at West Bilney Hall, Mr. Thomas William Coke. He was born in January, 1793, and was the eldest son of Edward Coke, of Longford, Derbyshire. In his youth he was frequently at Holkham, and was long regarded as heir to the estate, but this prospect ended by the marriages in 1822, of his uncle, Thomas William Coke (created Earl of Leicester in 1837), to Lady Anne Keppel, the issue of which was the large family of whom the present Earl is the head. Mr. Coke was very popular, and in early life was a fearless and accomplished horseman.

24.--The Queen's birthday was observed at Norwich by a parade of the Volunteers and the firing of a _feu de joie_ in the Market Place. The Volunteers were entertained at dinner at the Drill Hall, 700 old people were invited by the Mayor and Sheriff to a feast at the Corn Hall, and luncheon was served at St. Andrew's Hall for many of the leading residents in city and county.

28.--A modified observance of the old custom of "beating the bounds" took place in the parish of Colkirk. "The existence of tithe maps and other circumstances halving rendered actual perambulation comparatively unnecessary, the circuit of the parish was omitted; but two brief services were held in the pretty green lanes at the opposite extremities of the parish, and were attended by 60 or 70 persons, including the little children of the village school, who marched through the village singing hymns, preceded by a modest banner." An address was given at both services by the Rev. W. A. Chapman.

JUNE.

4.--Died, at the age of 53, Dr. W. H. Ranking, formerly of Norwich. He was descended from a family living on the borders of Norfolk and Suffolk, who had for three generations been engaged in the practice of medicine. Dr. Ranking received his early education at Hastings, and subsequently entered the University of Cambridge. After spending some time in the hospitals of Paris, he settled at Bury St. Edmund's, and became physician to the Suffolk General Hospital, a post which he filled for seven years. After the death of Dr. Lubbock, Dr. Ranking removed to Norwich, and became physician to the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital, and editor of the Journal of the Council of the Provincial Medical and Surgical Association. "He was a most uncompromising enemy to quackery in all its forms, and he always testified to the absurdity of what he considered the fashionable humbug of the age--homoeopathy."

19.--The annual show of the Norfolk Agricultural Association commenced at Fakenham, and was continued on the 20th. By special permission granted by the Privy Council, at the request of a deputation introduced on May 9th by Mr. C. S. Read, M.P., cattle were exhibited under certain restrictions. At the dinner, presided over by the Earl of Kimberley, Mr. E. C. Bailey was presented with a handsome testimonial, on his resignation of the office of secretary, after twenty-five years' service.

24.--The First Administrative Battalion of Norfolk Volunteers, commanded by Col. James Duff, encamped in Hunstanton Park.

JULY.

5.--Mr. J. L. Toole commenced a two nights' engagement at Norwich Theatre, and appeared in "The Spitialfields Weaver," "Ici on parle Francais," and "The Area Belle."

6.--Died, in his 70th year, at his residence, Surrey Road, Norwich, Mr. William Day, who for upwards of forty years had held the office of magistrates' clerk.

9.--Died, Sir George James Turner, the senior Lord Justice of Appeal. He was born at Great Yarmouth in 1798, where his father, the Rev. Richard Turner, was for thirty years vicar. His education commenced at the Charterhouse (of which he was afterwards a governor), and finished at Pembroke College, Cambridge, where his uncle, Dr. Joseph Turner, Dean of Norwich, was then master. In 1819 he took his degree as wrangler, and was soon afterwards elected a Fellow of Pembroke. Having entered at Lincoln's Inn, he was called to the Bar in 1821, and became Queen's Counsel in 1840, and from 1847 to 1851 sat in the House of Commons as member for Coventry. In 1851 he was selected as a Vice-Chancellor, and in 1853, when Lord Cottenham was appointed Lord Chancellor, he was promoted Lord Justice of the Court of Appeal. Sir George married in 1823, Louisa, youngest daughter of Mr. Edward Jones, of Brackley, Northamptonshire.

AUGUST.

1.--A new lifeboat, the cost of which had been generously defrayed by a lady residing at Bath, was launched at Sheringham. It was named the Duncan, and was housed in a commodious building, with reading-room attached for the use of the fishermen.

8.--At the Norfolk Assizes, before Mr. Justice Byles, Hubbard Lingley, aged 22, was indicted for the murder of Benjamin Black, his uncle, by shooting him at Barton Bendish, on May 17th. The prisoner was found guilty and sentenced to death. The execution was carried out by Calcraft, on the Castle Hill, Norwich, at eight a.m. on August 26. "The holding of an execution upon Monday instead of on the market-day (Saturday) is a vast improvement, but it is to be hoped the time is not far distant when executions will take place within instead of outside the prison walls." (This was the last public execution in Norwich.)

--Died at her residence, at Weybridge, Mrs. Austin (Sarah Taylor, of Norwich). She was born in 1793, and married, in 1820, Mr. John Austin, a barrister on the Norfolk Circuit. A miscellaneous writer of some repute, she never aspired to original literary compositions, but devoted the singular power of her pen to the reproduction in English of many of the best contemporary works of German and French literature. Her translations, from the German especially, were of the highest excellence.

12.--Chapel Field, Norwich, which had for some months been closed to the public, was re-opened. Several portions of the old city wall had been removed, and railings erected, and efforts were also made to level the area.

14.--The Norfolk and Eastern Counties Working Classes Exhibition and Industrial Festival was opened at St. Andrew's Hall, Norwich, by the Mayor (Mr. F. E. Watson). The exhibition consisted of works of art, industry, and mechanical invention, and remained open for one month.

30.--Mr. George Buttler Kennett, formerly of Great Yarmouth, was appointed clerk to the justices of Norwich, in place of Mr. William Day, deceased.

SEPTEMBER.

4.--A new lifeboat, named the "Licensed Victualler," was launched at Hunstanton. Its cost was defrayed by a fund inaugurated by Mr. James Wyld, editor of the "Licensed Victuallers' Guardian."

10.--A surf lifeboat was launched at Caister-next-the-Sea. It was provided, at the cost of 300, by means of a fund raised by the editor of "Routledge's Magazine for Boys," and was christened by Mrs. Routledge, "The Boys' Lifeboat."

11.--The Royal Commission appointed to inquire into and report on the employment of children, young persons, and women in agriculture, for the purpose of ascertaining to what extent and with what modifications the principles of the Factory Acts could be adapted for the regulation of such employment, and especially with the view of the better education of such children, commenced its investigations in Norfolk in the Docking Union. The Assistant-Commissioner (the Rev. James Frazer) held similar inquiries in other parts of the county, and, in an address to the members of the Norfolk Chamber of Agriculture, on September 28th, said he had met at forty-eight meetings 500 Norfolk farmers, "and not on one occasion had he heard a single painful or discourteous word drop from anybody's lips."

16.--The first annual regatta of the Norfolk and Norwich Rowing Club was held at Whitlingham.

17.--The Norfolk and Norwich Licensed Victuallers' Association was formed at a meeting held at the Three Pigeons, Charing Cross, Norwich.

19.--A new church erected at Overstrand, in place of the old church, which had fallen into decay, was consecrated by the Bishop of Norwich. The architect was Mr. A. Salvin, of London, and the builder Mr. R. Cornish, of North Walsham. The necessary funds were provided principally by the Dowager Lady Buxton and the descendants of Sir Thomas Fowell Buxton, deceased, by Mr. Gurney Hoare, Mr. Joseph Hoare, and others.

21.*--"A destructive parasitical weed has made its appearance on some of the small farms at Navarina, an open district forming a part of the very extensive manor of Lord Ashburton, at Thetford. It is known as 'the dodder.' It completely absorbs or destroys the crop wherever it appears, and leaves the land barren of all but its own hair-like fibres. So powerful and fatal is the grasp of this singular plant, that even the hardy and prickly gorse succumbs to the pressure of its delicate fibres."

OCTOBER.

1.--The 15th Hussars, from Aldershot, marched into Norwich, under the command of Col. F. W. J. Fitzwygram.