Volume Ii Part 2 (1/2)

1852.

JANUARY.

5.-Died at Letheringsett, Johnson Jex, originally a blacksmith and afterwards a manufacturer of watches. He was born at Billingford in or about the year 1778. After the death of his mother, in about 1830, he led a life of complete solitude, and became a scientific anchorite. ”The first watch ever constructed by Jex was made after he had settled at Letheringsett, for his friend the Rev. T. Munnings, of Gorgate Hall, near East Dereham. Every part of this watch, including the silver face, and every tool employed in its construction, was of Jex's own making.”

10.*-”Dr. Woolley is resigning the head masters.h.i.+p of King Edward VI.

Grammar School (Norwich), on his appointment as princ.i.p.al of the University College and professor of cla.s.sical literature in the University of Sydney.” He was succeeded by Dr. Vincent.

10.-Mr. Justice Patteson retired from the Bench. With the exception of Barons Parke and Alderson, he was, in point of official service, the oldest judge on the Bench.

19.-After many delays, the statue of Lord Nelson, executed by Mr. Milnes, of London, arrived in Norwich, and was placed in St. Andrew's Hall for public inspection. The estimated cost of the statue was 700. A public subscription was opened in Norwich in 1847; by 1848 175 had been contributed; in October, 1849, the fund reached 268, and in October, 1851, 300. ”At present (1852) the whole amount subscribed, which is scarcely 400, will not repay the sculptor for the purchase of the block and his out-of-pocket expenses.” (_See_ March 24th, 1856.)

21.-Died in London, Lieut.-Col. John Smith, of Ellingham Hall, ”a generous supporter of the trade and interests of the district.” He served several years in India, in the 2nd Madras Light Cavalry, and resigned his commission shortly after succeeding to the Ellingham estate.

The funeral took place at Ellingham, on February 27th.

MARCH.

2.-A requisition, signed by one thousand persons, was presented to Mr. T.

O. Springfield, soliciting him to offer himself as a candidate for the representation of Norwich. Mr. Springfield declined the request, on the ground that Parliamentary duties would tend to the shortening of his life.

6.*-”Died, lately, on the West Coast of Africa, in the 19th year of his age, Charles, youngest son of Mr. Wood, of Morston. He was a mids.h.i.+pman on board H.M.S. Sampson, and was put in charge, under Lieut. Gilbert Elliott, with twelve of the best seamen and one carpenter, in October last, of a slave felucca captured by the Sampson, and was last seen off the island of St. Thomas on the 31st, and departed on that day for Badajoz, a distance of five or six days' sail; but although anxiously expected, and notwithstanding several s.h.i.+ps of war having since pa.s.sed over her track, she has never been heard of since. Some heavy tornados are said to have occurred about the time she was missed.”

12.-A special meeting of the Norwich Town Council was held, ”to take into consideration the recent gross insult to the citizens of Norwich in the person of their Chief Magistrate.” The Conservative members, with one or two exceptions, abstained from attending. It was resolved, ”That the Mayor of Norwich for the time being is, by prescription and charter, the first citizen of Norwich, and by custom and courtesy has been always so esteemed in public and private; that the Council learn with regret that a gross insult has been offered to the Mayor in a place of public amus.e.m.e.nt, and it is the opinion of the Council that the conduct of the individual who offered the insult is derogatory to him as a magistrate and a citizen.” The resolution was adopted, and it was further agreed ”That a copy of the resolution with respect to the insult offered to the Mayor by Capt. Ives, with the seal of the Council affixed, be transmitted to the Secretary of State, to the Lord Lieutenant of the county, and to the Mayor.” (No details were published.)

19.-At the Norfolk a.s.sizes, before Mr. Serjeant Adams (sitting as Commissioner in place of Mr. Justice Crompton), Hannah Neale was indicted for the wilful murder of William Neale, her husband, by poisoning him, at Outwell, in July, 1851. The jury acquitted the prisoner.

24.-Died at Woolwich, Col. Courtenay Cruttenden, R.A. He served in the Army 48 years, and was present at the capture of Guadeloupe, in 1815.

For several years he was inspector of drills in the garrison at Woolwich.

27.*-”The late Edward Lombe, Esq., of Melton Hall, Wymondham, recently deceased at Florence, has left his personal property, subject to a life interest to his wife, to University College Hospital. The property is estimated at more than 25,000.”

APRIL.

10.-A statement was published as to the proposed disposal of the sum of 1,263 4s. 5d. realised by the two concerts given by Jenny Lind in 1849.

It was her wish ”that the money should be employed in founding and supporting some new charity, and, if possible, a lasting one, for the poor of Norwich.” The committee, ”feeling that no charity could be permanent which was not in a great measure self-supporting,” resolved to devote the money to establis.h.i.+ng public baths and wash-houses. A large malthouse in St. Stephen's, formerly the property of Mr. Crawshay, was to be purchased for 700, and plans and specifications for converting the building into baths had been prepared by a London architect, ”but unfortunately the lowest tenders exceed by a very large amount the sum at the disposal of the committee. They find that unless they can raise 1,000 in addition to their present fund, they must entirely give up the undertaking.” The Mayor was requested to convene a public meeting, which was held at the Guildhall on April 21st, when Mr. Samuel Bignold moved a resolution in favour of the adoption of the baths scheme. Mr. Henry Browne strongly protested against the proposed misappropriation of the money, and the question was adjourned for a month. Meanwhile several local charities made claims for a.s.sistance, and on May 27th a further adjournment was decided upon. The matter was in abeyance until February 7th, 1853, when Dr. W. H. Ranking, in a letter to the NORFOLK CHRONICLE, advocated ”the endowment of an additional ward or wards in the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital, to be appropriated to the treatment of diseases of children.” On May 30th, 1853, a public meeting was held at the Guildhall, under the presidency of the Lord Bishop, ”for the purpose of promoting the establishment of an inst.i.tution for sick children.” It was resolved, on the motion of Mr. J. G. Johnson, seconded by the Mayor (Mr.

Coaks), ”That an infirmary for the treatment of the diseases of sick children be established in Norwich, to be called the Jenny Lind Infirmary for Sick Children.” The first meeting of the supporters of the new inst.i.tution was held under the presidency of the Mayor (Mr. Samuel Bignold), ”in the house in Pottergate Street taken for the Charity,” on December 16th, 1853.

17.*-”The premises of the old Waterworks Company have been purchased of the Corporation by the new company, who have liberally offered to give up their interest in Chapel Field to the Corporation on condition that the latter shall undertake to lay out the Field as a park and pleasure-ground, so as to render it an ornament to the city. The Corporation will have a considerable surplus fund in hand when the company have paid the purchase-money for the Waterworks. By a plan submitted by Mr. Lynore, engineer of the Waterworks, the Field will be enclosed by a dwarf wall and railings, with handsome entrance-gates at the Theatre Street, Crescent, and St. Giles' corners, and a porter's lodge at the latter. The interior is to be laid out in the style of the London parks, the reservoir to be retained, but altered in shape, and the present tower to be ornamented and furnished with waiting-rooms, it is also proposed to place the Nelson statue on an elegant fountain pedestal in the centre of the reservoir.”

18.-Died, Mr. George Bennett, comedian, aged 76.

MAY.