tion against its operating prejudicially to such service in future, no claim on the part of the Ports' barons were necessary to be made; nevertheless, the Corporation were willing to give Messrs. Stringer and Ledger, as solicitors to the ports, to communicate with the Committee of Privileges, provided that all the expenses be defrayed out of the moneys now in their hands. Signed by Wm. Duke, Mayor, on behalf of himself and the Aldermen and Burgesses of Hastings,, April 20 1838.
Sir Cloudesley-Shovell House
A noted character is brought to mind by a somewhat ordinary event which occurred in Hastings during the year under consideration. It was in 1838, that the house now known as 117 All Saints' street, replaced an older building that was the reputed dwelling of Mrs Shovel(sic), the mother of Sir Cloudesley Shovel(sic), who, with the whole of his crew, perished by shipwreck off the Scilly Isles n the 20th of October, 1705. It is stated in De la Pryme's Diary, quoted in the Sussex Archaeological Collection, as well as in some of the local guides, that as Sir Cloudesley was sailing over against the town of Hastings, he called out "Pilot put in here; I have a little business on shore." He went on shore, accompanied by a gentleman; and, having walked about half a mile came to a little house. "Come," said he, "my business is here; I came on purpose to see the good woman of this house." Upon this they knocked at the door and out came a poor old woman when Sir Cloudesley kissed her and then falling down on his knees, begged her blessing. He was mightily kind to her, and she to him; and after he had made his visit he left her ten guineas, and took leave with tears in his eyes and departed to his ship.
For a full account of Sir Cloudesley Shovell (who spelt his name Showell) see Historico-Biographies vol. III pp. 130 & 135 to 145.
And now, as Sir Cloudesley Shovel took leave of his mother to again try his fortune on the sea, so I will take leave of 1838 with a notice of those who on the 8th of November were the recipients of good fortune on the sea. The Hastings fishermen on that date landed no fewer than 127 lasts of herrings each last containing 13,200 fish, which being sold for as little as 1/- the long hundred (132 fish), realised at even that low price, the sum of £838 4s.
