Volume Ii Part 16 (1/2)

SEPTEMBER.

6.-The stone statue above the entrance to the Corn Exchange at East Dereham was inaugurated on this date. Mr. W. Freeman, of Swanton, was the princ.i.p.al promoter of the public fund with which the statue was purchased. It weighed upwards of three tons, and was cut out of a solid block of stone weighing over seven tons, taken from the Isle of Portland.

Mr. Butler, of London, was the sculptor. The luncheon in celebration of the inauguration was presided over by Lord Sondes.

11.-Donati's Comet was viewed with interest by thousands of the citizens of Norwich. ”The extreme heat of the present month has impressed many that the comet has something to do with it.”

28.-A public testimonial, consisting of a piece of plate and a portrait of himself, painted by Mr. Boxall, of London, was presented by the inhabitants of Diss to Mr. Thomas Lombe Taylor, in recognition of his munificence in building, at his own expense, a Corn Hall for the use of the town, at the cost of 7,000. The presentation took place at the Corn Hall, where dinner was served, under the presidency of the Earl of Albemarle.

30.-The Congregational chapel, Chapel Field, Norwich, was opened for public wors.h.i.+p. The special preacher was the Rev. Newman Hall, LL.B.

The chapel was erected at the cost of 3,000, by Mr. Horace s.e.xton, from the plans of Mr. Joseph James, architect, Furnival's Inn. It was intended to accommodate one thousand persons.

OCTOBER.

2.-The theft was reported, from the nave of St. Michael-at-Coslany, Norwich, of a bra.s.s which measured 14 in. by 5 in., and had engraved upon it five lines of Latin verse, commemorating Richard Wallour, and bearing date 1505.

5.-A meeting was held at the a.s.sembly Rooms, Norwich, to initiate measures for insuring to schools in Norfolk the advantages afforded by the Cambridge Middle Cla.s.s examinations. Sir J. P. Boileau presided.

The first examination was held at the Free Library, on December 14th, by Mr. H. M. Butler, when 31 boys were presented.

15.-Died at Sprowston, Mr. John Stracey, in his 86th year. He was born at Fort William, on November 26th, 1772, and was fifth son of the first baronet. In 1790 he went to India as a cadet in the Civil Service, and rose afterwards to be a judge, an appointment which he held for several years. On his return to England he took an active part in the business of the county, and was instrumental in obtaining the Act of Parliament for the removal of the Lent a.s.sizes from Thetford to Norwich. He was twice married, and left three children-Col. Edward Stracey, of the Scots Fusilier Guards; the Rev. William Stracey, rector of Buxton and Oxnead; and Emma, widow of Mr. Arckwright.

23.-Died at his residence, Heigham Lodge, Norwich, Mr. Timothy Steward, aged 64. Early in life he came from Yarmouth, where he was born, to take a leading part in one of the largest commercial establishments of the city-the Pockthorpe Brewery. A member of the old Whig party, he was elected, after the pa.s.sing of the Munic.i.p.al Reform Act, to the Town Council, but after three years had expired be declined to offer himself for re-election, and retired from munic.i.p.al duties with the Gurneys, Birkbecks, and Geldarts. In 1855, however, he was unexpectedly called upon to discharge the duties of the Shrievalty. He was a director of the East of England Bank and of the Norwich Union Fire Office, and was vice-president of the Norwich Union Life Office.

31.-The William Corry and Reliance steam vessels, with the North of Europe submarine cable on board, arrived off Weybourne and commenced laying the cable to the island of Bork.u.m, at the mouth of the Ems, whence it was continued to Emden, in Hanover. The work was completed on November 4th. A line of telegraph was erected between Weybourne and Norwich, and continued along the old coach road, _via_ Newmarket to London.

NOVEMBER.

3.-The Gresham Grammar School, at Holt, founded in 1554 by Sir John Gresham, was re-opened by the Fishmongers' Company, of London, the trustees of the foundation. The new building was erected from designs by Mr. Suter, the architect to the Company, by Mr. Orman, of Ipswich. A commemoration service was held at the parish church, and luncheon was served in the school-house, under the presidency of the Prime Warden, Mr.

Thomas Boddington.

9.-Mr. George Middleton was elected Mayor, and Mr. H. S. Patteson appointed Sheriff of Norwich.

20.-A meeting of agriculturists and merchants was held at the Royal Hotel, Norwich, presided over by the Mayor, with the object of raising a fund for the erection of a new Corn Exchange, ”upon a site next London Street and Exchange Street,” at the cost of 20,000. (_See_ February 3rd, 1859.)

DECEMBER.

2.-Died at Bedford Place, Camden Hill, Kensington, aged 27, Robert Howlett, ”well known by his successful applications of photography.” He was a son of the Rev. Robert Howlett, of Longham, where he spent his early days. He determined to devote himself to the scientific application of photography to the ill.u.s.tration and advancement of the fine arts. He had just perfected a method of transferring microscopic views of minute dissections to photographic agency without the necessity of intermediate drawings. The Queen and the Prince Consort were among his distinguished patrons.

21.-Mr. T. Townsend, M.P. for Greenwich, appeared at Norwich Theatre, in the character of Shylock. He also performed the parts of Hamlet and Richard the Third. He was announced ”to address the public, giving he reasons for a Parliamentary orator adopting the stage as a profession.”

27.-The Christmas pantomime at Norwich Theatre was written by Mr. J. B.