Volume Ii Part 29 (1/2)

8.-A prize-fight took place on Grimstone Common, between Pooley Mace and a man named Rackaby. After five rounds had been contested, the police stopped hostilities, and Rackaby's party declining to resume the fight, the stakes were awarded to Mace.

30.-Died at Clive House, Beckenham, Kent, in his 71st year, Lieut.-Col.

Henry Alexander, 96th Foot. He was born at Caister, and entered the Army as ensign in the 28th Foot in June, 1811. He received the war medal with six clasps for Vittoria, Pyrenees, Nivelle, Nive, Orthes, and Toulouse.

OCTOBER.

3.-The first Church Congress commenced at Norwich. The Congress sermon was preached at the Cathedral by the Archbishop of York, and the first general meeting was held at St. Andrew's Hall, presided over by the Bishop of Norwich. The final meeting took place on the afternoon of the 5th, after which the members of Congress attended luncheon, given at the new bank by Mr. R. J. H. Harvey, M.P. Two thousand guests were present.

On the morning of the 6th, the Bishop of Oxford preached the annual sermon at the Cathedral on behalf of the Five Religious Societies.

9.-Died at the house of Mrs. Church, Lady Lane, Norwich, Bartholomew Gattey, ”the eccentric but clever flute-player at the Theatre Royal.”

For forty years he had scarcely been absent from his place in the orchestra of the theatres in the Norwich circuit, ”a position to which he fondly clung, in spite of many most favourable offers of engagement that were made to him, and which, if accepted, would, no doubt, have resulted in his obtaining a position in the musical world of honour and emolument.

At length a mind never very strong gave way, and he was obliged to have recourse to the a.s.sistance of his friends. Mr. Hewlett and other gentlemen got up a concert for him in December, 1863, and 50 was realised, which, with Mr. Gattey's simple habits, was sufficient for his maintenance until his death.” He was a son of Mr. Gattey, a yarn manufacturer, and a native of Norwich, and had attained his 64th year.

14.*-”Died at his residence, Bury St. Edmund's, Mr. Frederick Ladbrooke, portrait painter. The deceased was the youngest son of the late Mr.

Robert Ladbrooke, one of the founders of the celebrated Society of Norfolk and Norwich Artists. He was a painter of considerable power.”

18.-The ceremony of cutting the first sod of the East Norfolk Railway was performed on the estate of Mr. C. Jecks, Sheriff of Norwich, by Lady Suffield, in the presence of a large number of spectators. In the evening a dinner, attended by representatives of most of the princ.i.p.al families in the county, was held at St. Andrew's Hall, Norwich, in celebration of the event. Lord Suffield presided. (_See_ August 13th, 1870.)

21.*-”The Queen has been pleased to grant to Edward John Stracey, of Sprowston, Lieut.-Colonel of the Scots Fusilier Guards, her Royal licence and authority that he and his issue may, in compliance with a clause contained in the last will and testament of James c.l.i.therow, take and use the name of c.l.i.therow in addition to that of Stracey.”

25.-A new lifeboat, named the James Pearce, was launched at Yarmouth. It was built at the cost of 350, subscribed by the artisans of Birmingham, and presented through the Royal National Lifeboat Inst.i.tution to the Caister station.

30.-Died at Hilgay, aged 110 years (as was originally stated), Mr. John Naylor, formerly landlord of the Crown Hotel, Downham Market. An amended notice, published on November 18th, says: ”The late Mr. John Naylor, who died on the 30th ult., and was supposed by his eldest son to be _only_ 110 years of age, appears from the parish register of Welney to be 117, he having been born on the 29th of May, 1748. In 1825 the deceased retired from his business as a publican, he having kept the Crown at Downham and the George and Dragon at Hilgay in succession, and had since lived on a small property of his own in the latter village. He was always a smart, active man, and constant in taking his walk up to October, 1860. Since that time he had been confined to his house, but used to sit up in his chair for some portion of the day until June, 1864, when he did so for the last time. His sight had failed him, but his hearing was so good that he could distinguish the voices of his friends, and he was rational until within six weeks of his death.”

NOVEMBER.

1.-Died of apoplexy, at his residence, Acton Green, Middles.e.x, John Lindley, F.R.S., Ph.D., and formerly Professor of Botany at University College. He was born at Catton, near Norwich, in 1799, and was the son of a nurseryman. His first literary effort, after devoting much of his early youth to the practical details of botany, was the translation of Richard's ”a.n.a.lyse de Fruit” from the French, and the contribution of some papers to the Transactions of the Linnaean Society. Afterwards he proceeded to London, where he was engaged by Mr. Loudon to a.s.sist in the production of the ”Encyclopaedia of Plants.” In 1832 he published his ”Introduction to Systematic and Physiological Botany,” but his _chef d'uvre_ was the ”Vegetable Kingdom.” For more than a quarter of a century Dr. Lindley filled the chair of Botany at University College, London, and in 1860 was appointed examiner in the University of London.

He was a member of several learned bodies, and edited the horticultural department of the ”Gardeners' Chronicle” from its commencement in January, 1841, to the time of his death.

7.-Lord Hastings, master of the East Norfolk Foxhounds, was presented with his portrait in oil, subscribed for by 400 gentlemen of the Hunt.

The portrait was painted by Mr. Eddis, and his lords.h.i.+p was depicted in hunting dress, mounted on Archer, his favourite hunter. Sir Willoughby Jones, Bart., made the presentation, on behalf of the subscribers.

8.-The Marquis and Marchioness Townshend, whose marriage had taken place a few weeks previously, were welcomed with great enthusiasm on their return to Rainham, and were presented by the tenantry with a handsome silver epergne.

9.-Mr. William Peter Nichols was elected Mayor, and Mr. William Jary Cubitt appointed Sheriff of Norwich.

DECEMBER.

2.-Died at Necton Hall, Colonel William Mason. He was the head of an old county family, whose head, Paul Miller Mason, a citizen of London, built Necton Hall in the time of Henry VII. Col. Mason served the office of High Sheriff in 1849, was for many years a chairman of Quarter Sessions at Swaffham, and was Lieut.-Colonel of the East Norfolk Militia.

4.-The Prince and Princess of Wales left Sandringham, on a visit to Lord and Lady Suffield, at Gunton Park. Their Royal Highnesses travelled by special train from Wolferton to Lynn and thence to East Dereham, where they were received by Lord Suffield, Viscount Hamilton, and the Hon.

Harbord Harbord. A guard of honour was formed by the 15th Norfolk Volunteer Company, under the command of Capt. Bulwer, and their Royal Highnesses, entering a carriage drawn by four greys, proceeded along Norwich Road and the Market Place. Three triumphal arches were erected in the town, which was handsomely decorated, guns were fired, and the church bells rung, and in the evening there was a display of fireworks.

After leaving Dereham, the Royal visitors proceeded by way of Swanton, Bylaugh, and Bawdeswell to Reepham, where the Aylsham Volunteers, commanded by Capt. Scott, provided a guard of honour. At Aylsham their Royal Highnesses were welcomed with great enthusiasm, and at Gunton Park gates the North Walsham corps, commanded by Major Duff, mounted a guard of honour. On the 5th and 6th the Prince shot over the estate, and on the evening of the last-named day a dinner and ball were given at the hall. On the 7th his Royal Highness attended a meet of the East Norfolk Foxhounds, and on the 8th shot on the Hanworth side of the hall. The visit terminated on the 9th. The Prince and Princess had arranged to honour Lord Sondes by attending luncheon at Elmham Hall, but, owing to intelligence received of the critical condition of the King of the Belgians, the visit was postponed. Their Royal Highnesses left Elmham station by special train, and arrived at Sandringham the same afternoon.