Part 24 (2/2)

1796.

June. Lord C. P. T. Townshend and Colonel S. Howe returned to Parliament. Lord Charles on the day following his election was found dead in his carriage, shot in the mouth by a pistol ball. The same year (Oct. 26th), Major-General W. Loftus and H. Jodrell, Esq., were elected to Parliament. Votes-L., 599; J., 561; Sir J. Jervis, K.B., 418.

June 25th. First time that a squadron of men-of-war s.h.i.+ps entered Yarmouth Roads. There were 13 British and 3 Russian, under the command of Admiral Macbride.

Freedom of the Borough presented to Captain Trollope, for defeating 8 French s.h.i.+ps of war off the coast of Holland.

Aug. 19th. Whilst Thelwall, a political lecturer, was declaiming in a room at Yarmouth, a party of armed sailors from the s.h.i.+ps in the Roads broke in, and in their attempt to seize the orator, knocked down every person who opposed them. Upwards of 40 persons were wounded in the scuffle; the orator escaped unhurt.

1797.

June 1st. Mutiny on board the North Sea Fleet at Yarmouth, and several sail of the line hoisted the red flag of defiance.

Sept. 18th. Admiral Duncan a.s.sumed the command of the North Sea Fleet in the Roadstead, _vice_ Admiral Macbride.

Oct. 3rd. Admiral Duncan put into Yarmouth Roads, and six days afterwards went in search of the Dutch fleet, which was totally defeated (Oct. 11th) off Camperdown. The British fleet returned in triumph to Yarmouth Roads, bringing seven sail of the line as prizes. The wounded men were landed and conveyed to the Barracks and to Norwich-there being no Naval Hospital. Yarmouth for several days was thronged with visitors to see the victorious British fleet and their prizes. A subscription was raised on behalf of the wounded.

A high tide nearly demolished the Bath House.

Somerset Militia quartered in the town.

Captain Rysoort, of the ”Hercules” (one of Admiral Duncan's prizes), died in Yarmouth, and was buried with military honours.

A boat on the river Breydon upset, and six out of seven youths drowned.

Freedom of the town presented to Lord Duncan and Sir Richard Onslow for their victories over the Dutch fleet; also to Earl St. Vincent for the victory over the Spanish fleet on the 14th of February.

Mutiny broke out at the Nore, and extended itself to the vessels in Yarmouth Roads, but was quickly suppressed.

1798.

Mar. 2nd. Through financial pressure at the Bank of England, Yarmouth banks paid in their own notes, and fractional parts were paid in specie.

Two Volunteer Companies of Yeomanry Cavalry formed at Yarmouth under Samuel Barker and H. Wors.h.i.+p, Esqs.

Oct. 1st. Intelligence of Admiral Viscount Nelson's ever memorable victory off the mouth of the Nile received at Yarmouth with great rejoicing.

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