Part 44 (1/2)

Jan. 28th.-The first Subscription Ball had been held, for which Cosgrove's Band was engaged, and dancing kept up until four o'clock.

Sergeant Johnson had been charged by Mr. George William Moore with having been drunk and a.s.saulting him. The parties, together with Mr. Silvers, Mr. J. H. Harrison, Mr. Ellis, Mr. Howlett, and Mr. W. Wright appear to have been in Cosgrove's public-house at three o'clock in the morning, when the alleged offences were said to have been committed.

Jan. 28th.-N.B. This is the first issue of the _Norwich Mercury_ as a bi-weekly newspaper.

The following improvements were noted:-The now Haven Bridge and also the Wellington Pier were nearly completed.

The Water Works were being formed.

The Southtown Gas Works would soon be opened.

The new Bank of Messrs. Gurney and Co., was in the course of erection.

Many new streets were being formed on the North, East, and South Denes.

The Marine Drive was projected.

The town had been selected for the Militia Barracks, and it was said that the Victoria Esplanade was likely to be carried as far as the South Battery.

On the other hand the state of the Chapel Denes had, however, long been ”a disgrace to the town.”

There had been an ”immense fleet” of vessels in the Roads.

Feb. 1st.-There had been snow-drifts 5 feet deep on the line between Yarmouth and Reedham.

Feb. 8th.-Mr. Burroughs had, at the Council meeting, denounced certain gentlemen as ”traitors to the town” and ”tools of Mr. Peto.”

Feb. 11th.-A considerable quant.i.ty of human bones had been found near the Caister Road, which were supposed to be the remains of persons who died of the plague and received burial from the Leper Houses which formerly existed there.

Feb. 18th.-There had been extremely high tides, a violent storm, and a heavy gale. Several dockyards had been overflowed, and about thirty balks of timber had been lost from Mr. Steward's yard.

Feb. 22nd.-A Tradesmen's Ball had been held in the Town Hall.

Feb. 25th.-A Liberal meeting had been held at the Star Hotel, (George Danby-Palmer, Esq., in the chair) when resolutions in favour of Lord John Russell's Reform Bill and the Ballot were adopted.

There had been another high tide, the Quay being in several places inundated; the surf rolling over the old Jetty.

March 1st.-Owing to the sitting of the County Court, the Council had met in the Grand Jury Room at the Tolhouse.

The Seamen's wages were so high that they preferred the Merchant Service to the offers being made by Sir Charles Napier to join the Navy.

March 4th.-John Eagleton charged with having fraudulently cheated the Guardians of the Poor by delivering to poor persons receiving out-door relief bread of short weight, was found guilty, subject to a case for the opinion of the Court of Criminal Appeal, (Mr. J. Cobb and Mr. L. A. Meal being his sureties in 50 each.)

March 8th.-A Tender has arrived to take off the Coastguardsmen and Naval Volunteers.

Rear-Admiral Plumridge had been summoned to London for the purpose of hoisting his flag in the Baltic Fleet under Sir Charles Napier.

A vessel had been sent to sea manned entirely by master mariners; the rise in wages and the attractions of the Navy having so reduced the number of common seamen.

March. 11th.-The Baltic Fleet was expected to pa.s.s Yarmouth.