der, or that in nine days after its birth the "Tory bantling" ceased to live. This information was conveyed in the following political skit:-
Died on the 30th of December, in Mr. Henry Williams's shop, the Loyal Constitutional Association. It is supposed that the deceased swallowed, in the afternoon of the above-named day, too strong a dose of the Pillula Guardiance which caused almost instantaneous death. A post-mortem examination of the body has been forbidden, lest by the corrupt habits to which the deceased was known to be addicted, the contagion should be imbibed, and its fatal consequences spread around. Its friends, fearing also the expense of an inquest, declared that it died a natural death, and hurried the loathsome remains into their hiding place before the Coroner or the public got scent of it - Requiescat in Pace.
To the chagrin of the "Rads," however, the said Association grew into a substantial reality, a fact which will speak for itself when the time arrives for me to describe the grand banquet which its members held on the 31st day of March, 1837 - day that was additionally, but sorrowfully, memorable for the death of the founder of St. Leonards.
As Christmastide approached there was a rumour of the probable dissolution of Parliament, and Mr. Richard Denne was spoken of as a likely candidate. It was also stated that there were forty parishioners of All Saints bent on losing their votes in the event of a contested election. This they hoped to do by refusing to pay the shilling[1] which was then demanded for registration; but they were reminded that the overseers might summons them, and that their intentions would be thus frustrated.
On the 21st of June, the sad tidings of Capt. Daniel's death reached Hastings and St. Leonards, and a general feeling of regret prevailed throughout the borough that so noble a member of his professions should have come to so untimely an end. Capt. Daniel was a son of Mr. Thomas Daniel, of the Anchor Inn, George street, and he had been several years in the Honourable East India Company's service. He had made several voyages to New South Wales, and on his last voyage home from Sydney, his good ship "Hercules," during a storm, was struck by a terrific wave which carried away her poop-deck, mizenmast, etc. The master the mate, the surgeon and two passengers were at the same time washed overboard. On a previous voyage Capt. Daniel was attacked by a pirate, and for the gallant conduct he then displayed he received the formal thanks of the Government and the colony.
The foregoing notice of the unfortunate Capt. Daniel brings to mind some other noteworthy deaths of Hastings people during the same year. On the 8th of April, the death of Mr. Henry Stone, a much-respected schoolmaster, took place. He had for several years been deprived of one leg by amputation, and at the time when the Hastings Theatre was in course of erection close to his residence, the present writer was one of Mr. Stone's scholars, he having been transferred from the rudimentary establishment of an abecedarian kept by Mrs. Stone's sister, and where he had for schoolfellows two younger brothers of the lamented Capt. Daniel. A fortnight after the demise of Mr. Stone, the widow of Mr. Nicholas Wingfield was removed by death, after 22 years of suffering; and within four days of the latter event the death was announced of Mr. John Coussens, sen., at the age of 86. Mr. Coussens was highly respected, and before his death he was said to be the oldest Hastings man then living. I will close these memorials of the departed by adding to them the death of Dr. Ryder, Bishop of Litchfield (sic) and Coventry, which also occurred at Hastings in 1836. The prelate's remains were deposited in the catacombs of St. Mary-in-the-Castle.
On the 4th of July the Hastings Commissioners appointed their officers for the year, and on the 19th of December, their committee reported upon a scheme for improvements by pulling down several old houses. They also recommended £50 to be applied towards the expense of thoroughly draining the Priory water. This gave rise to contention in the following year as to the legality of applying such money, the Recorder being ultimately appealed to to decide the matter. The Commissioners present on this occasion were Messrs. John Mannington (chairman), Alfred Vidler, John Dengate Thwaites, John Risby, W. L. Yates, Hy. Beck, John Tree, Joseph Beal, and John Murray. Where now are all there members of a corporate body when with that of the Town Council held the divided and not very well defined command of the old town? Alas! they have long since gone to their final account, although both their names and their features must be as familiar to many who survive them as they are to myself.
Equally well remembered by the older inhabitants of both towns must be the form and fame of Lieut. Mann, of the Government House Coastguard-station. To such persons the following jeu d’esprit may be an acceptable reminiscence. “On Saturday, the 26th of November, in the year of grace One-thousand-eight-hundred-and-thirty-six, was witnessed a never-to -be-forgotten Naval Achievement. A valiant lieutenant in MANNLY uniform met a girl in the street with a basket covered with a cloth. This excited the suspicion of the watchful son of Neptune, who proceeded with great gravity to lift the concealing article of drapery, when, lo! he discovered an entire bottle of spirits! The redoubtable coastguard poured forth a broadside, carried the smuggling craft sword in hand, and bore away with her in the full consciousness of having captured a valuable prize. It was said that so gallant an exploit deserved the highest recognition, and that he there been any other than a Whig Government, this meritorious officer would have been elevated to the rank of Admiral of the Blue."
During the unparalleled snowstorm described in Chapter XV, the wind being violent from the N.E., the schooner "Hastings" that had been lying in the roadstead, drifter westward, with only two apprentices on board, of whom one was mere boy, the master and mate being ashore at the time. It was a dreary night when this occurred, and in the morning when the absence of the vessel was discovered, a large boat was despatched in pursuit, but without success. The recovery of the vessel was thought to be impossible, but on the following Saturday, as soon as the week's mails could be got through the deep snow, a letter arrived reporting the vessel to be safe at Weighmouth, into which port the youth and the boy, unassisted, had gallantly sailed her.
- ↑ An explanation of old currency and coinage may be found at the following website Pre-decimal currency, accessdate: 16 June 2022
